Seahawks should use Harvin’s departure as a boost to beat Rams

Marshawn Lynch could be in line for a huge game against St. Louis after the Percy Harvin trade. (AP)

The Percy Harvin trade has thrown another intriguing element into Sunday’s game against the Rams.

I thought it might move the betting line, but it hasn’t. The Seahawks are still favored by 6.5 points, just like they were earlier in the week.

What kind of an impact will it have on the Seahawks? I’m guessing it’s all positive – they won’t have to worry about incorporating Harvin and all of his horizontal stuff into the offense anymore. They can get back to the run-first offense with Marshawn Lynch that took them to the Super Bowl last year.

Plus it should have an uplifting effect with the wide receivers, if not the entire locker room. When the cause of friction disappears, it’s a relief, and it should show on the field.

There are other factors in the game to consider. If you base a Seahawks-Rams prediction on the second half of the 49ers-Rams Monday night game, you’d expect Pete Carroll’s team to easily beat Jeff Fisher’s team.

Quarterback Austin Davis looked like a rookie as San Francisco raced back from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit to win 31-17.

The Rams are winless at home and 1-4 overall. Their only victory was a 19-17 win over the hapless Buccaneers.

Other statistical numbers are equally sad. They’re 30th in the NFL, allowing 30 points a game. They have only one sack in five games. Robert Quinn, who had 19 last year, has none this year. Their rush defense is terrible, giving up 140 yards a game.

Adding those things up, Lynch should run for 100 yards, the Seahawks should score 30 points, Russell Wilson should not be sacked, and Seattle should win by double digits.

So why are the Seahawks favored by only 6.5 points? And why is there so much concern about this game?

Well, you know the reasons – the Seahawks are 2-2 in their last four games and coming off a 30-23 loss to Dallas in which the Cowboys pushed them around on their home field.

No one’s used to seeing the Seahawks lose anywhere, much less at home. Compared to the Super Bowl team, I figured they’d be better on offense this year and just as good on defense. Neither has happened.

The defense has been more of a disappointment to me. I’m surprised to see the Seahawks ranked 19th in the league in passing yards allowed at 252 a game.

Maybe this will be the week that Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Bruce Irvin turn into a three-headed sack monster. There’s a good chance of that since the Rams have given up more than three sacks a game.

With consistent pressure against a young quarterback, the Seahawks should get an interception or two. Thus far, they have only two all year.

Or if you want to look at the glass half-empty, you could justifiably wonder if this will be another down day for the defense. It will play without its leading tackler, Bobby Wagner (turf toe). It’s likely to play without right cornerback Byron Maxwell (calf strain).

And now we hear that Cassius Marsh is out with a broken foot, and Jordan Hill won’t play because of an ankle injury. This is bound to weaken the defensive-line rotation. Greg Scruggs, who was cut last week, was re-signed and could play this week.

Plus with Maxwell out, the Legion of Boom won’t be as good with Marcus Burley replacing him. Or maybe it will be Tharold Simon returning from a knee injury, but what’s interesting about that, how can you count on a defensive back who has yet to play in his first NFL regular-season game?

If I were defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, I’d dial up some blitzes if the four-man pass rush isn’t working. Constant pressure won’t allow a flustered Davis to go through his progressions and find receivers. I don’t care if it makes you more vulnerable down-field, blitzing is worth the risk against a quarterback making his fifth start.

Then you’ve got to account for history. Doesn’t it always seem like the Rams play the Seahawks tough? Last year it took a goal-line stand to preserve a 14-9 win in St. Louis. The Seahawks’ offense was awful that night, rolling up all of 132 yards. The year before that the Seahawks lost in the Edward Jones Dome.

For as bad as he looked in the second half of the 49ers game, Davis had a pair of 300-yard passing games against Philadelphia and Dallas, the same team that held Wilson in check last Sunday.

And you could point to the fact that St. Louis used a backup quarterback, Kellen Clemens, last year and nearly beat the Seahawks.

I’m going to guess the loss to Dallas triggered criticism that the Seahawks will use to prove they’re still as good as they were last year. They should get an additional boost from Harvin’s absence. Those factors, along with superior talent, should be enough to beat the Rams and cover the spread.

Prediction: Seahawks 34, Rams 10
Season record against the spread: 1-4

The Go 2 Guy also writes for SeattlePI.com and KitsapSun.com. You can reach Jim at jimmoorethego2guy@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @cougsgo.