Seattle Bounces Back Against the Rams

Seattle has been up and down in its Football ERA rating, but finally got a win out of its efforts against the lowly Rams. Football is a bit of a whacky game in that the final outcome is often not dictated by the team that attempts to control the line of scrimmage--given things like turnover, red zone efficiency, broken plays, special teams and the like.



The Football ERA attempts to look beyond these factors and open field plays--that often determine the outcome of games--to bring a unique perspective to game analysis by viewing it from a different angle--one more centered around what happens in the trenches. Seattle's Football ERA ratings have not been as low as their win-loss record so far--particularly in Week 2 when they let the 49ers back into the game. They have made just enough mistakes to shoot themselves in the foot thus far this season before St Louis helped them begin to turnaround their early season woes.





Sea 1457.863333
StL -446.92













The St Louis Rams suffered from more adversity and injuries in 2007 than almost any other team in the league. Their starting lineup was in complete turmoil and had more changes week to week than any other team. Sometimes this adversity can serve to build depth on a team's roster by giving valuable experience to younger players on the depth chart. However, the Rams lineup has been anything but stable since 2007, and their performance thus far in 2008 has reflected this.
Seattle's lineup, in contrast, has benefited from much more continuity as they work to right their ship in the right direction while the season is still young. Here are the lineups that Seattle and St Louis have fielded so far in 2008 with changes from 2007 and/or previous weeks highlighted in Bold.




On Defense, all three starting linebackers from 2007 returned to the starting lineup for 2008. DT Brandon Mebane from California replaces the departed DT Chuck Darby--now playing for Detroit, while rookie DE Lawrence Jackson from USC replaces DE Darryl Tapp from the 2007 lineup. DT Craig Terrill started in place of suspended DT Rocky Bernard in Week 1, but Bernard returned to the lineup in Weeks 2 and 3.

On offense, Free-Agent Guard Mike Wahle was brought in from Carolina to replace the retired G Chris Gray while steady backup G Floyd Womack filled in for the injured G Rob Simsin Weeks 2 and 3. Also out of the lineup due to injury is Right Tackle Sean Locklear who has been replaced by T Ray Willis so far in 2008.

++++++++++Seattle Seahawks++++++++++

Defensive Fronts:


Leroy Hill Lofa Tatupu Julian Peterson


Patrick Kerney Brandon Mebane Rocky Bernard Lawrence Jackson(R)


Offensive Line:


Walter Jones Mike Wahle Chris Spencer Floyd Womack Ray Willis




+++++++++++St Louis Rams++++++++++

LB Brandon Chillar is now a Packer and has been replaced by the promising 2nd year LB Quinton Culberson. Top draft choice rookie DE Chris Long is starting in place of James Hall who was inserted in the lineup in Week 3 for the injured DE Leonard Little.
On offense, Guard Adam Goldberg played for injured former Titan free-agent acquisition Jacob Bell in Weeks 2 and 3. Bell had replaced Mark Setterstrom (who is on IR) from last season's lineup while C Nick Leckey won the starting center job from Brett Romberg.




Defensive Front:


Quinton Culberson Will Witherspoon Pisa Tinoisamoa


Chris Long(R) La'Roi Glover Adam Carriker James Hall





Offensive Line:


Orlando Pace Adam Goldberg Nick Leckey Richie Incognito Alex Barron


_____________________