Cowboys’ pass rush will feast on Russell Wilson, Seahawks

Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks’ offense will be feasted on by the pass rush of the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3.

Getting a pass away hasn’t just become an adventure for Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks’ offense. It’s a nightmare morphing into painful reality for the pint-sized quarterback every time he drops back behind a woeful line providing next-to no protection.

Wilson is in for another beating in Week 3 when the Dallas Cowboys bring a swarming pass rush to CenturyLink Field. The Cowboys can bring pressure from various angles thanks to an active line united in the single purpose of shattering the pass pocket.

Dallas rushers kept NFC East rivals Eli Manning and the New York Giants under siege in Week 2:

Wilson must wince when he watches film of Manning running for his life with Cowboys rushers in pursuit. He’ll feel Manning’s pain after taking six sacks himself in Monday Night’s loss to the Chicago Bears. Wilson was also sacked six times by the Denver Broncos in Week 1.

Khalil Mack and Co. sauntered by Seattle’s attempts at blocking. Wilson barely had time to set his back foot before he was swarmed upon in The Windy City.

It’s also true the NFL’s half-size Houdini was guilty of holding onto the ball too long on occasion. Wilson’s always had a habit of extending plays if he needs to, but it’s becoming a crutch without star wide receiver Doug Baldwin in the lineup.

Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Baldwin missed practice on Wednesday as he continues dealing with a knee injury, per R.J. White of CBS Sports.

Wilson has to trust the receivers he has more and start getting the ball into their hands quicker. The Cowboys won’t give him a choice.

The Dallas pass rush is potentially dominant because of the athletes up front. Ends DeMarcus Lawrence and Taco Charlton are exceptional, while tackles Tyrone Crawford and Maliek Collins waste little time getting though gaps.

What can make this group special are the schemes coordinator Rod Marinelli is adding to the core talent. This isn’t just a four-man rush scheme, but one also including double A-gap pressure and blitzes from the secondary.

Charlton’s sack of Manning was a prime example of the wrinkles the Cowboys have added. It came out of a nickel call that sent linebackers Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith through the A-gaps.

New York’s O-line responded by condensing inside to meet the blitzing backers. It left Charlton unblocked off the edge.

Marinelli isn’t known for blitzing, but he wasn’t shy about dialling up pressure against the Giants’ struggling front. He regularly sent defensive backs from the slot to wreck the play-action game.

Wilson will likely face the same since Marinelli and the Cowboys have to find ways to keep him in the pocket. Boxing him in with delayed pressure off the edges will overwhelm a line sure to struggle against Lawrence, Crawford and Co.

Aside from blitzes off the slot, the men in front of Wilson can expect to see multiple games and twists. Lawrence loves an inside move between right tackle and guard. Crawford, a converted end, is excellent wrapping around and charging the outside lane.

Seattle offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer can get cute with his run calls to counter the pressure. Dallas linemen tend to play the run only as an afterthought on the way to the quarterback.

The hard-charging up front is vulnerable to trap plays and a sprint draw or two.  Chris Carson is the kind of tough and decisive runner who can find daylight quickly on these calls.

Carson’s 5.8 per carry average makes him a candidate for a busy Sunday.

Wilson wasn’t able to do it all himself in losses to the Bears and Broncos. He has to know he’ll need a mountain of help to handle the Cowboys and their rampaging pass-rushers.

Head coach Pete Carroll had better rein Wilson in the way he’s hinted at or the Seahawks will be dealing with an 0-3 start.