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VS.


The Seahawks find themselves travelling to Ohio on their magical mystery tour from the bottom of multiple power rankings to the quiet 20 somethings. The Browns and Mike Holmgren will host a Seattle team that has proven it's defensive worth by stopping the run and playing better as games wear on. The Offense has gotten a massive kick start from the no huddle's pace and the young pups in the Offensive Line have starting to protect and maul. The Browns are sniffing blood in the water, though, as the Seahawks come in with major injuries to Marcus Trufant and Tarvaris Jackson.



Injury update:



Seahawks-

QB Tarvaris Jackson is doubtful, C Max Unger is doubtful, TE Zach Miller is out with a neck injury, CB Marcus Trufant is out of the year with a back injury.

Browns

LB Scott Fujita head injury, RB HIllis has lingering knee issues

Things to Watch:

*based on the news that unger is out I'm adding a 1-A thing to watch: The center-QB exchange. Whitehurst has had some issues with this aspect and I expect a backup center could complicate things.

1-Charlie vs the Chocolate Factory
No more chanting... it's Charlie Time. Whitehurst came in cold and did some good things vs the Giants- this week will be best opportunity to make a statement for keeping a starting spot. He'll need to be tough and he'll need to avoid interceptions and strip sacks.

2-Doug Baldwin
By now we knows he's pretty dang good and tough as nails. I'll be watching this week at the adjustment teams will be making against him now that the secrets out.

3-Lynch
The best thing about the no huddle according to Tom Cable is that it forces the D to play Nickel reads. If the ankle is feeling good and he's matched up against nickelbacks, expect Lynch to drag some people for extra yardage. With Charlie in there it's likely we will see a few more run attempts, as well, so... 100+ yards finally?

4-Mike Williams/Golden Tate
Quietly Golden in reduced snaps has been much improved and a vicious blocker at times. BMW has not gone off yet this year. We know Charlie likes both of these guys, so this could equal more targets for them.

5- Okung
He has not had a very good year, not terrible, but nothing like his rookie year (when healthy). Pete made a point to say Russ looked hungry and healthy after the bye week rest. He must avoid penalties and currently is a league leader in that area.

6-CB
Take the bandaid off it's time for the hard hitting tandem of Browner and Thurmond. If a whipping boy comes out of this game, it's likely to be one of them, though.


Predictions-

Seattle 24 Browns 21

I think we're just the better team at this point. I might not have said that earlier on in the season. Even though we're on the road, I think we pull this game out. Cleveland's kind of banged up at a few key positions, their running game isn't doing too well, and if we can put pressure on their QB and not get a bad case of the TO's, I think that will be enough.

Well, if we do win, I certainly didn't expect a 3-3 record start to the season. Our division, excepting SF, is even worse than I had previously thought.

If we can keep improving throughout the year, obtain a good QB prospect in the draft, continue to strengthen the roster in the off-season, we should be okay moving forward. The QB position will remain our achilles-heel till we get some longer range plan in place there. It remains our glaring problem.

Hawks 27 Browns 20. Or something like that.

I'd agree that we're probably the better team. Plus, it appears Joe Haden's not likely to be active on Sunday. That's a huge loss for the Browns and huge gain for Charlie.

Hawks 24 - Browns 13

Risdon's at it again... saying perhaps only Rams have fewer weapons than we do. Does this guy watch any games or even read names on a roster?

Rice, Williams, Baldwin, Obamanu, and Tate are formidable receiving corpse, unlike the Ram's wideouts.

Lynch, Washington, and Forsett are an above avg unit, as well. Who hired this guy?

On our first drive we had a holding call, 2 false starts [both on Carpenter], and a delay of game. Unacceptable.

Charlie's problem comes from not being able to confidently make split-second decisions. There's an indecisiveness about him that oftentimes seems to cost him more than the risk of making a split-second decision, and letting it rip. At some point, you've got to trust your abilities more.

It seems that if we could muster any kind of offense, we'd win this game. Perhaps even somewhat handily. Our defense is playing quite aggressive. I like that.

And yes, quit making mistakes, like that last penalty on the punt.

Red Bryant is a monster so far.

Bulltalk wrote:Charlie's problem comes from not being able to confidently make split-second decisions. There's an indecisiveness about him that oftentimes seems to cost him more than the risk of making a split-second decision, and letting it rip. At some point, you've got to trust your abilities more.

When he came in against the Giants he looked confident and decisive. Today, he's looked hesitant. A very poor performance by Charlie. This is the type of start that could kill any thoughts anyone might have that he should be challenging Tarvaris.

Bulltalk wrote:It seems that if we could muster any kind of offense, we'd win this game. Perhaps even somewhat handily. Our defense is playing quite aggressive. I like that.

Bryant's been a beast, as has Chancellor [who just broke up a pass]. They're the only reason this isn't a blowout.

Yeah, talk about Charlie doing his best to put an end to the QB debate. What a blown opportunity for him so far.

Real nice pick by Hawthorne there.

OK Charlie, time to do SOMETHING!

Bulltalk wrote:OK Charlie, time to do SOMETHING!

And a three and out it is! He keeps throwing it to McCoy, and McCoy keeps dropping it. Why mess with a good thing?

Good God!. We just can't get out of our own way this game.

Questionable call, though.

BULL**** block in the back call on Washington's return.

TTown wrote:BULL**** block in the back call on Washington's return.

The way things are going that lousy call could cost us the win. Even with the good field position Charlie can't make anything happen.

Wow! Give it right back to them. Terrible pass. Gave the defender WAY too much of an opportunity to intercept it.

The time of possession is going to be the thing to kill us this game if we don't get some points FAST! Our offense is putting far too much pressure on our D, which has played splendidly so far.

One thing I've really noticed in retrospect. Curry really sucked. He was so often out of position, as the play of KJ Wright and David Hawthorne have shown me by their play.

Charlie even screwed up that pass. Should have been an easy TD.

Don't tell me we're only going to get 3 points here.

How do you get out of that with a lousy field goal? Jesus...they even gave you a fresh set of downs with a facemask.