Last season http://www.ramsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-john-sullivan-jersey , the Seattle Seahawks led the league nt while the national anthem played.To start this season, that wave of Seahawks has dwindled to only two players.Linemen Duane Brown and Quinton Jefferson walked off the field and waited in the tunnel while a field-sized American flag was unfurled and the national anthem played before their season opener Sunday in Denver.In a league where more than 200 players once took some sort of action to protest police brutality and social injustice in America during the anthem, The Associated Press counted fewer than 10 across the league who did so on the NFL's opening Sunday. Only two of them — Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills of the Dolphins — kneeled while the "Star-Spangled Banner" played.None of which bothered Brown much. He says he's committed to what he's doing."I made my decision," he said. "That was my decision. I wasn't paying attention to what other teams or other players are doing."The lower numbers might reflect a new strategy many players are embracing to draw attention to the issues Colin Kaepernick raised when he began kneeling for the anthem in 2016. The then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback was looking to shine a light on issues impacting African American communities.Since then, a group of NFL players have formed the Players Coalition . They want to move the focus away from the anthem, which has become a lightning rod, in part because of President Donald Trump's continued criticism of players who don't stand during the anthem."We're trying to move past the rhetoric of what's right or what's wrong in terms of the anthem, and really focus on the systematic issues that are plaguing our communities," said Malcolm Jenkins of the Eagles, one of the group's co-founders, who is no longer protesting during the anthem.And yet, if Kaepernick is on board with all of that, it wasn't clear Sunday. He took to twitter to praise Wilson and Stiles ."My Brothers (Stills) and (Wilson) continue to show their unwavering strength by fighting for the oppressed," Kaepernick said in his tweet. "They have not backed down, even when attacked and intimidated. ... Love is at the root of our resistance."Kaepernick's message got through to his friends in Miami."I know he has our back," Stills said. "Really, there has been a huge difference between when we first started protesting and now. A lot of people are reaching out and supporting us, so I really appreciate that. To everybody out there ... let's keep doing our best to make positive change and have these conversations and make our country a better place."Since opting out of his contract after 2016, Kaepernick has been unable to land a job with an NFL team and is suing the league for collusion.But his voice is still being heard. Last week, Nike introduced an ad featuring the quarterback and his message: "Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything."Other than Stills, Wilson and the two Seahawks, Dolphins defensive lineman Robert Quinn raised his fist during the anthem. Niners receiver Marquise Goodwin did the same at San Francisco's game at Minnesota. In Los Angeles Cory Littleton Jersey , Chargers left tackle Russell Okung raised his fist. And back in Denver, Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas and linebacker Brandon Marshall retreated to their tunnel while the anthem played.Marshall sent out a statement touting a charity designed to help people who are on the verge of homelessness."It is time that we build social currency by way of empowering our future generations," Marshall said. "This begins by addressing the most fundamental needs — by feeding the minds and bodies."This came hours after Trump opened the day with a tweet that took digs at the NFL, linking low ratings for Thursday night's opener between Atlanta and Philadelphia (lowest for an opener since 2008) to players who refuse to stand for the anthem."If the players stood proudly for our Flag and Anthem, and it is all shown on broadcast, maybe ratings could come back? Otherwise worse!" he tweeted.CBS and Fox, which carried Sunday afternoon's games, did not televise the anthem.However, NBC did show the anthem Thursday night (but not before Sunday night's Bears-Packers game), and no players kneeled or protested in other ways.But while the tumult over the anthem appears to be dying down, the NFL still hasn't collaborated with the players union to come up with a definitive solution.In May, the league briefly put a policy in place, but rescinded it after the union filed a grievance. The union and league are still negotiating. Brown, of the Seahawks, said he has not received any message from the union to tamp down the protest."I don't think that would be the best idea to try to get people to move on from it," he said. "The country hasn't moved on from it, so I'm not going to move on from it either." OverviewThe Professor walked into the class today, looked around the room, took attendance and missing were the Seattle Seahawks Legion of Boom, their running game, and both an offense and defensive line.The Seahawks are are 2-2. Their two wins came at the expense against a weak Dallas Cowboys team and an unimpressive win against 0-4 Arizona Cardinals, who started rookie QB Josh Rosen. After four games, Seattle’s defense still ranks a respectable 10th against points allowed Authentic Ndamukong Suh Jersey , 7th in yards allowed per game, 5th in passing yards allowed per game, but a deplorable 27th in rushing yards allowed per game. They play our Los Angeles Rams offense who after four games ranks 2nd in points, 1st in total yards per game, 2nd in passing yards per game and 7th in rushing yards per game.On defense, the Rams rank 5th in points per game, 9th in yards allowed per game, 15th in passing yards allowed per game and 5th in rushing yards allowed per game compared to the Seahawks’ lifeless offense which ranks 24th in points scored, 28th in yards allowed per game, 29th in passing yards allowed per game and 17th in rushing yards allowed per game.Oh, how the mighty have fallen.If the Seahawks have any chance of winning this game, they have to slow down the Rams’ offense, which no one has been able to do thus far. They also must put up points against a pretty good Rams defense.Absent game changing turnovers, the likelihood of this happening is slim as the Rams remain a 7-point favorite to best the Seahawks and send the 12th Man home thinking about how their team is going to catch Los Angeles being three games out.The Seahawks are well aware of their position in the standings. They’re a team right now, needing a win in divisional rivalry game, desperately. The Rams on the other hand should approach this game as just another chance to solidify their grip on the NFC Western Division and at the the same time sticking it to a team, who finally gets to feel what its like to have the shoe on the other foot for a change.What the Rams need to do on offenseThe Rams’ offense needs to play as if the game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football never ended. They need to find the advantageous matchups against the Seahawks’ secondary who are now without Pro Bowl S Earl Thomas and exploit them.Statistically, the Seahawks biggest weakness is in the run game. So Rams RB Todd Gurley needs to get over 100 yards on the ground while Head Coach Sean McVay continues to be aggressive in his playcalling. When the Rams offense is clicking, they can easily score 30 points. That should be more than enough to come out with a win.The Rams’ offensive line has to open the holes for Gurley and keep defenders off QB Jared Goff. If QB Goff has time and his wide receivers Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks have the kind of game like they did against the Vikings, forget it. This game will be a blow out.What the Rams need to do on defenseRams fans are completely focused on the Fearsome Threesome comprised of Michael Brockers, Ndamukong Suh and especially Aaron Donald turning Seattle QB Russell Wilson into a rag doll.The Rams’ defense needs to shut down any hopes of Seattle winning this game by totally shutting down what little run game the Seahawks have. Without a run game, it will force Wilson to throw the ball and that’s when the sacks and turnovers will come.Wilson is an elusive quarterback. He often runs to throw. But in order for Wilson to make plays Youth Robert Woods Jersey , the Rams’ pass coverage must be tighter than a drum. When Wilson tries to escape looking to make a big play down the field, the Rams have to leave him with little or no options. This is when the Rams’ law firm of Johnathan Franklin-Myers and his associate Matt Longacre coming from off the edge must force Wilson back into the pocket lying in wait for Donald, Suh or Brockers to chew him up.It’s easy for Rams fans to fall into the trap that what happened to Wilson last year In Seattle is sure to happen again. I too would love to see that, but there were a lot of X-factors going into that game such as the schedule timing and fact that the division championship was on the line. This is not a factor in this game. And don’t forget what happened in Week 5 last year...I’m not as interested in seeing Wilson suffer as I am with the Rams winning the game, But, if both happen, then it’s double my pleasure.What the Rams need to do on special teams.Who knows what new K Cairo Santos is capable of. I’m not giving him a pass by any means. If you’re on my Rams team, I expect him to make the field goals when called upon and most importantly, do not miss any extra points.KR/PR JoJo Natson might be able to play. If so, my only concern here is catching the punts coming off a broken hand injury. Returners’ hands are first and foremost their most important tool. If JoJo muffs the first punt, I’m going to go crazy not just for the short term. It’s the long-term mental effects that will concern me.P Johnny Hekker needs to kick out of his funk—no shanks. Pretty sure I don’t have to be too concerned about that; however, you never know until the game is played.The one consistent factor the Rams have had against the Seahawks is the ability to come up with some crazy special teams play under Special Teams Coordinator John “Bones” Fassel, leaving Seattle Head Coach Pete Carroll running up and down the sidelines with that dumbfounded look on his face.Does coach Fassel have trick up his sleeve? We’ll have to wait and see.The X-factorSeattle has been a nightmare for the Rams over the years. Many students of mine come to class as the 12th man. They sit there at their desks talking about their dominance over Rams over the this last decade and their one and only Super Bowl victory. They’re very loud and relentless taking great pleasure making derogatory about the Rams.While I do my best to ignore the clamor and move forward, we reach a point in our studies called “Coaching to win the big game” mentioning the great Vince Lombardi, Chuck Noll, Don Shula and Bill Walsh. As I conclude my remarks, I say the words Pete Carroll and immediately, the Seattle contingent starts hooping and hollering. USC National Championship. Super Bowl Champions. Blah, blah. I inform these raucous bunch of students who are uninterested in actually learning the game, that Pete Carroll is on this list because this topic is about coaching to win the big game and I decided to mention Pete Carroll as being the dumbest coach in the history of football. I remind the 12th man that Instead of running the ball with Marshawn Lynch to win a second Super Bowl, Carroll and his team of geniuses decided to throw a crossing pattern into the end zone which was picked off by CB Malcolm Butler leading to the improbable result of the Patriots winning the game.When the 12th Man students leap immediately to defend their head coach. I must respectfully ask them to leave since any statements made in support of that decision receives an automatic F. They should just pick up their books and exit the classroom. No one wants to hear from them.That’s what this Sunday is all about. No one wants to hear from Seahawks fans about how great their team was or how they still own the Rams or anything close to that.It’s time to shut these guys up.