NFL WEEK 3
But Week 1 wasn’t much better. The Seahawks beat the Miami Dolphins 12-10 on a late touchdown pass from Wilson to Doug Baldwin, but they forced no turnovers, created no 30-yard plays and rushed for 112 yards.
The Seahawks couldn’t get out of their own way in Los Angeles. Jermaine Kearse was twice whistled for offensive pass interference. Cassius Marsh sacked Keenum on the Rams’ final drive, with 2:39 left, but used the face mask to do it and gave the Rams a first down.
Kam Chancellor’s face-mask call provided the Rams a boost on their first drive, which ended with Greg Zuerlein’s field goal. Carroll, standing on the same Coliseum sideline that was his throne during dominant years of coaching Southern California, was furious with officials after an offensive pass-interference call on penalties.
“I thought the official was in a difficult position to call what he called,” Carroll said. “But I’m going to contest calls all the time. The offensive pass-interference calls were disruptive and had a huge impact on the game. They were crushers.”
One reason is the upheaval in the offensive line. Okung and guard J.R. Sweezy signed elsewhere. Unger left after the 2014 season.
The only current starter on the line who is still occupying his 2015 position is Garry Gilliam at right tackle.
Left tackle Bradley Sowell is a free agent from the Arizona Cardinals. Center Justin Britt is in his third year, left guard Mark Glowinski is an NFL sophomore. Right guard J’Marcus Webb is on his fifth team in five years. They had the same trouble most experienced lines have with the Rams’ active front. William Hayes had three sacks last year when the Rams beat the Seahawks, and he and Robert Quinn led the charge Sunday.
“I don’t think it’s the offensive line,” Carroll said. “I just think we have to do better, be more complete, convert more on third downs like we did in the second half of last year.”
Seattle is 9-for-29 on thirddown tries in two games. Without retired Lynch, opponents find it more comfortable to deal with Seahawks pass catchers, particularly Graham, who was a monster with the New Orleans Saints but hasn’t been prominent in Seattle.
As for the Rams, they haven’t scored a regular-season touchdown as the home team at the Coliseum since Eddie Hill’s 1yarder on Dec 15, 1979. (They moved to Anaheim in 1980.)
Keenum hit enough big plays to keep the chains moving and allow Hekker to put the Seahawks into a corner. Lockett is one of the NFL’s most electric returners, but he
Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY Sports
and Sherman were denied a single yard on six punt returns.
Mostly the Rams were thrilled with the rowdy crowd of 91,046 and relieved that they were able to show their true selves.
“They were loud,” Keenum said. “They’ll learn that when we signal to keep the noise down, that doesn’t mean chug your beer and start the wave.
“But when I was standing in the tunnel and getting ready to run on the field, I made sure to savor that moment. I think I’m going to write some of that stuff down because I want to remember that forever.”
As for the Seahawks, don’t write down any conclusions that you can’t erase. But it’s difficult to recognize their signature.