Seahawks’ grades of the game: All phases get low marks in opening loss to Rams

ST. LOUIS — For all that happened in the Seahawks’ often-dizzying, 34-31 overtime defeat against the Rams on Sunday, coach Pete Carroll said the prognosis of what went wrong was fairly simple.

“In general, we didn’t play sharp enough to get a win today and they did,’’ Carroll said. “I think all three phases, and coaches, we need to do better. We need to play better. I am disappointed across the board that we weren’t sharper than we looked out there.’’

Here are our grades with a review of some of what went wrong (and a little of what went right):

OFFENSE

The rebuilt offensive line’s struggles with the Rams’ defensive front was expected — all that was in debate was the degree.

Early, the Seahawks were pretty much torched up front with four punts, two field goals and an interception on their first seven possessions. But going to an up-tempo offense and a quick passing game got the offense going a bit in the second half.

Line coach Tom Cable said the main issue early was that the timing was out of whack — Seattle’s primarily zone blocking scheme requires the linemen to work in unison on many plays. The no-huddle, he said, helped that. “That’s what we did it for, was to get on time,’’ he said.

Still, the Rams had three sacks in each half and when the Seahawks needed a yard on fourth down to keep the game going, they couldn’t get it.

Carroll said he thought the receivers played well, including tight end Jimmy Graham, who had five of his six receptions after halftime. Carroll also credited quarterback Russell Wilson for giving Seattle “a chance to win the game.’’ His completion percentage of 78.05 was a career high, surpassing the 77.8 percent when he hit on 21 of 27 at Miami in 2012.

But, ultimately, the Seahawks averaged just 4.3 yards per play — tying the lowest mark of last season in the home defeat against Dallas — and scored a touchdown on just one of 11 possessions.

Grade: C.

DEFENSE

The Seattle defense, conversely, gave up 6.4 yards per play, more than any game last season other than the defeat at Kansas City (6.5).

And that was against a St. Louis offense that had two rookies starting on its line and had to go with third-team tailback Benny Cunningham.

St. Louis quarterback Nick Foles finished with a passer rating of 115.8, higher than all but two games for a Seahawks opponent last season (defeats at San Diego and St. Louis).

Seattle defenders talked about not communicating as well as needed on some of the midrange passes the Rams were able to hit against the Seahawks’ zone.

“Just a few miscommunications,’’ cornerback Richard Sherman said. “Just got to communicate better. Kick off some of the rust. It’s week one.’’

There were definite highlights, such as the corner blitz that resulted in Cary Williams’ sack and fumble return for a touchdown, the kind of aggressiveness that might be more common with first-year coordinator Kris Richard.

And Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett were disruptive throughout.

But there were far too many missed tackles, and the Rams also were 6 for 11 converting third downs — 3 for 3 on the final scoring drive in regulation that tied the game. That touchdown came when Dion Bailey — in his first NFL game and filling in for holdout Kam Chancellor — got his feet tangled and fell.

That will get most of the notice, but it was far from the only misplay by the defense.

Grade: C-minus.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Talk about a mixed bag.

Tyler Lockett’s 57-yard punt return for a touchdown the first time he touched the ball was as electric of a debut as could have been imagined. Lockett also added a 35-yard kick return and Jon Ryan had a 61-yard punt that helped swing the game in the Seahawks’ favor in the fourth quarter.

But the Seahawks also allowed a 75-yard punt return by Tavon Austin — the second return for a touchdown allowed here in two seasons, though this one without any tricks.

And then the ill-fated kickoff by Steven Hauschka that was supposed to be a bloop to around the 15-yard line or so turned into a failed onside kick, giving the Rams the ball at the Seattle 49.

As was the story of the game, ultimately the bad outweighed the good.

Grade: C-plus.