What Can Atlanta Learn From Seattle?
By Ben Sullivan
Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) runs in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
3. The Running Game Still Matters
Seattle didn’t run the ball particularly well in the Super Bowl, but they ran it well throughout the season. Sure, the NFL is changing and running is becoming less and less important, but one area where it will never go away is late in games when your team needs to lock down a win.
That’s what Seattle did so well this season. Marshawn Lynch rarely went into beast mode until the second half, when they used him and his battering-ram style of running to break the will, and the backs, of defenders.
Lynch couldn’t have done that without the help of a tough, efficient run-blocking offensive line. The Falcons need massive upgrades on the offensive line this offseason, and those upgrades will allow Steven Jackson to wear down defenses in the second half of games next year.