Seahawks starters versus Chiefs: How did they do?

In what may be the final tune up for many of the Seahawks starters this preseason, Seattle’s first team played well. The Seahawks led 19-10 when the second unit came in in the third quarter. I think we may have learned some things about who will make the Seahawks in 2017.

Running back Chris Carson got a lot of reps with the first team. And he looked great. Carson had 75 yards of total offense in the first half and average 5.3 yards per carry. Plus, he can catch! Carson finished with 46 yards on eight carries. And he had 44 yards on two receptions.

Jermaine Kearse is going to make the team too. He was calm and Russell Wilson looked to him. Kearse picked up a first after spinning out of a tackle and gaining five more yards. Kearse had three catches for 59 yards on three targets when Wilson was the quarterback. Kasen Williams may also make the team. But after watching the game versus the Chiefs, Kearse is a lock. Williams may not be.

Wilson was sharp. Still, he threw one ill-advised pass that should have been a clear interception that the Chiefs just dropped. Either Wilson underthrew the ball by 10 yards (not a joke) or the receiver ran the wrong route.

But this is nitpicking. When Wilson finishes a game with stats that read 13-19 for 200 yards plus a touchdown with a quarterback rating of 120, one is not going to complain. He made several great throws, especially a laser over the middle to Jimmy Graham that set up a first and goal.

One aspect that really helped Wilson was the offensive line’s pass blocking. Wilson was sacked once – and that one was on Rees Odhiambo – but not until the first drive of the third quarter.

Overall, the line blocked well for the pass and the run. The Chiefs have some good defensive players. The line wasn’t playing against Little Sisters of the Poor (NFL champions in 1923). And Odhiambo held his own. That’s good news.

The first-team defense gave up a field goal on the Chiefs first drive.

This marked the third straight game the opposing team has scored on their first drive. Yeah, I get it. It’s preseason. But when the first-team is getting beat up the middle on straight runs, it’s a little concerning. This is probably nitpicking as well. There is no game-planning that goes into preseason games. And after those first drives, the Seahawks defense doesn’t give up much.

The kicking game might get an F, though. The Seahawks tried to pick up players to help improve their kick coverage this offseason. Yet they gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown. Kearse actually made a bad read out wide as safety and got himself out of position.

Jon Ryan also had a punt blocked. In regular season games, this cannot happen.

But are you kidding me with all the flags the referees were throwing? It was unbelievable. And really uncalled for in a preseason game. I understand infractions occur, but the refs do not have to call one on seemingly every play. With 14:19 left in the fourth quarter there had been 22 flags. Twenty. Two.

Overall, however, Seattle’s starters did well. Again, they led at halftime for the third straight game. They looked in control. Seattle’s preseason schedule hasn’t been full of bad teams either. There is great hope for the Seahawks in 2017.

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