Seattle's Defense Relies On a Brazen Tactic: Rampant Interference

[JonLP24]

The Seattle Seahawks—the favorites to make the Super Bowl out of the NFC—employ an exasperating defensive game plan: They blitz rarely and drop an army of defenders into pass coverage. And those defenders mug, obstruct and foul opposing receivers on practically every play.

Quietly, the Seahawks have achieved a 13-3 record and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs by exploiting a loophole: NFL referees are reluctant to throw endless flags for pass interference and defensive holding, even if defenses deserve them.

<snip>

Pereira said aggressive pass-coverage teams like Seattle "test" referees early in the game with a few potentially obvious pass-interference infractions. "They want to see what kind of tone the officials are going to set," he said, adding that he expects to see a couple of penalties called but also the usual brand of Seahawks grabbing.

Game-film analysis reveals plenty of instances in which more penalties could have been called. Facing a third-and-10 on the first possession of their Week 5 matchup with Seattle, the Indianapolis Colts called for a pass to star receiver Reggie Wayne. As soon as the ball was snapped, Wayne was engulfed in a bear hug by Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner, who proceeded to grab the Colts receiver by his shoulder pads, spin him around and force Andrew Luck's pass to fall incomplete.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303754404579310500005285822

[madinmaryland]

1. Dammit, jon! You gave my computer a virus with that linkie!!

You linked to the Murdoch Street Urinal!

[Auggie]

2. 49ers were asked about that yesterday ...

seems no one cares that much. I just ask the officials be consistent in whether they call it or not for both defensive teams.

San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh complained about Seattle's strong-arm tactics to the league office in 2012 but hasn't brought it up since. Receiver Anquan Boldin, not one to back down from a challenge, said basically, it is what it is.

"If you get called for it, it's holding; if not, it's not holding," he said. "So, you just play football."

SNIP

The Seahawks had a league-high 13 pass interference calls against them this season, and 10 more defensive holding penalties. And they deserved a lot more.

"They look at it and say, 'We may get called for one but not 10,' " former NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira told the Wall Street Journal.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=post&forum=1204&pid=40111

[mythology]

3. And rampant performance enhancing drug use as well

An NFL high 9 Seahawks have failed tests in the last 3 years. The NFL really needs to start banning players for a year or two on the first offense. I find it a bit sickening how often Sports Illustrated has Richard Sherman write for them given that he was busted for performance enhancing drugs and escaped on a technicality.