Pass protection again an issue in Seahawks’ loss to Rams
Sep 13, 2015, 4:14 PM | Updated: 6:12 pm
Russell Wilson was sacked six times in Seattle's loss to St. Louis, bringing the Rams' total to 31 in their last seven games against the Seahawks. (AP)
(AP)
BY
Former Seattle Sports Host
ST. LOUIS – Russell Wilson completed 78 percent of the passes he threw in Sunday’s game, the best mark in his career. It was a couple of passes he didn’t throw, however, that he cited for the reason he was sacked six times.
“A little bit is on me,” Wilson said. “See if I can find a way to get the ball out a little bit quicker, and continue just to work.
“I think the offensive line did a tremendous job, especially in the second half.”
It was definitely better because for the first three quarters of the Seahawks’ 34-31 loss, the Rams’ pass rush was preventing Seattle from finding any sort of consistency on offense.
“This is an excellent front,” coach Pete Carroll said of the Rams. “This is as athletic a group as we face, and they had an edge on us early.”
Seattle has two new starters on the offensive line in center Drew Nowak and right tackle Garry Gilliam. Justin Britt started last year but is now at a new position: left guard.
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The Seahawks’ difficulties against St. Louis’ defense are not new. The Rams sacked Wilson six times in the final regular-season game of his rookie season. They sacked him seven times on Monday night a year later. In fact, the Rams are responsible for three of the six games in which Wilson has been sacked five or more times in his NFL career.
“They’re one of the best defensive lines in the National Football League,” Wilson said.
That may be, but left tackle Russell Okung said that doesn’t let him off the hook.
“We give them their respect,” Okung said. “I just have to play better. I’ve got to protect the quarterback better. That’s unacceptable.”
Okung was beaten by the Rams’ Eugene Sims on the second-to-last play of the fourth quarter, resulting in St. Louis’ sixth and final sack while squelching any chance Seattle had of a game-winning field goal in the final seconds.
“I thought the young guys played very hard,” said Okung, now in his sixth year. “I’ve said it a couple of times, I definitely have to play better. Those guys are really good up front, and they got the best of us today.”
