What a glorious experience the NFL season truly is for everyone. Any given year you really don’t know what to expect and this year definitely didn’t disappoint.

The Dolphins won the division. Tom Brady missed basically the whole year due to injury. Dallas, Denver, and the New York Jets all fell apart late to lose their playoff spots. The Chargers proved they CAN win a big game. And even the Arizona Cardinals proved anything can happen.

The offseason looks to be just as crazy as already Mike Shanahan has been fired. So has Eric Mangini and Romeo Crennel. Brett Favre has been ripped by his teammates and Bill Cowher has turned down the head coaching job in New York because of… Brett Favre? I’m sure there’s much more to come.

As a football fan, it was fun. As a Seahawk fan it was rough. As my job is to focus on the ‘Hawks, I will once again turn all of my attention to our team. Here is what I learned from the 2008 NFL experience.

1. Mike Holmgren is a class act through and through. Never one to blame anyone else, Coach Holmgren took this season on his shoulders early after right away being hit with the injury bug. He knew it was his last season and that fate had dealt him a weak hand, but he stood up and took it.

2. The window for the offense is much smaller than it once appeared. Look at the facts. Matt Hasselbeck is 33. Walter Jones is turning 35. Mike Wahle is mid 30’s. Bobby Engram is going to be 36. And no one appears to have the ability to stay healthy anymore. Sure there were flashes of really good here and there, but nothing great. Nothing to savor and really chew on for a year. When healthy, Deion Branch looked very good. John Carlson is a bright spot. Leonard Weaver is now not only a good runner, but a decent blocker as well. Seneca Wallace can still get the job done in a back-up role, but I just didn’t see the explosiveness that once was the Seahawk offense.

3. Our big “D” wasn’t always so big. It used to be, our front line was scary, our linebackers were feared, and our defensive backs were weak. Now, you never know which defense is going to show. Is it the run stopping, Quarterback pressuring, turnover inducing defense that can totally dictate the flow of a game like against the New York Jets? Is it the can’t quite get to the Quarterback, still lockdown the wide outs and make plays defense? Or is it neither. Is it the defense that showed up against Arizona in week 17 that couldn’t so much as mount a slow down, let alone a stop when needed?

4. Our special teams weren’t always so special. Olindo Mare was really just okay. He was not a liability by any means, but he wasn’t a game changer either. John Ryan was mediocre, and did we even run a kick back for a score this year? Early on everyone was hyping Justin Forsett. I guess he did alright, but he didn’t dazzle me the way Nate Burleson does or the way Charlie Rogers used to (yeah… I went there). Kick coverage was decent. No real complaints and they did force a few turnovers so… I guess that’s a plus.

Position by Position thoughts.

QB — Matt Hasselbeck - I am a huge Hasselbeck fan. I love the guy. He works hard and really wants to win. He’s cocky and confident and I love that as well. “We want the ball and we’re gonna score!” Heck yes Matt! I mean, do you really want a quarterback that doesn’t think that way? But… time does catch up to us. This year was Matty’s worst as a pro and it’s not looking any better as of yet. His last few seasons have been injury filled and without upgrading our protection I don’t see him staying healthy through a full season. Now granted we do have a serviceable backup in Seneca Wallace and when Matt is healthy he can still sling it, but… when was the last time he played all 16 games? 2005?

HB — Maurice Morris - Julius Jones - TJ Duckett - Well… I don’t even know where to start here. I really thought that bringing in Jones and Duckett was a good move. I thought it would really help fill the void left by punch-drunk Shaun Alexander but it really didn’t. Julius Jones never stepped up and he was very fumble prone, Maurice Morris couldn’t stay healthy and Duckett showed promise but often times looked like a faded version of what he once was in Atlanta. Maybe Mora will help that this season. None of these guys seem like the long term answer, and keep in mind I really want Maurice Morris to work. I want him to be the guy, but… I just don’t see it.

FB — Leonard Weaver - When Weaver had to take over suddenly for Mack Strong many Seahawk fans started wiping the nervous sweat from their brow and watched closely. Who was this kid from Carson-Newman? As it turned out, Weaver was a part time half back, part time full back and full time playmaker. This season his focus was on blocking and it sure showed. His protection was much improved although it still leaves a bit to be desired and it is still nowhere near Mack Strong, it is a steady improvement and a big positive. The only real question I have here is, Why didn’t the offense feature him a bit more? It seemed like he was always productive and then we just sort of went away from him, then remembered and came back. Hopefully this year we’ll get more plays called for him.

TE — John Carlson - The tight end of the future for Seattle and finally a good fit for the offense. Just in time to change things up. Carlson fit right in to the gameplan and showed big play ability. He showed consistency and a good work ethic. His blocking is mediocre and his speed is average, but he always seemed to find the holes and make the catch. Good pick for us and I look forward to watching his sophomore season.

WR — Bobby Engram - Nate Burleson - Deion Branch - Courtney Taylor - Koren Robinson - Jordan Kent - Logan Payne - and the guy in the fifth seat of the ninth row. That was pretty much how is spelled out in the Seahawk programs this year. I mean who didn’t get hurt? Anyone? At one point, Hasselbeck was throwing it to Big Lo (Seattle’s biggest sports fan) behind the goal post. I think Nate will bounce back and be fine. Deion Branch is like a box of chocolates (you never know what you’re gonna get), and Bobby Engram is playing from a wheelchair and collecting social security during road trips. Courtney Taylor showed some promise toward the end of the season, after coming back from an injury. Koren Robinson is a wild card. Who knows what’s going to happen with him. Smart guy, talented, a playmaker, but which Koren is going to be in or more importantly out of the clubhouse?

LT — Walter Jones - Big Walt got voted to another pro-bowl by his peers, and for most of the season he played on one leg and was still better than anyone else we had. He had surgery on his knee this offseason and is looking to make a full recovery. When healthy he’s still the best. In Mike Holmgren’s words “Walter Jones is the best offensive football player I have ever coached.” He’ll be 35 next year and plans on returning. He still has a passion for the game and as long as he wants, he’ll stay a Seahawk and protect Matty’s backside. You just have to wonder how much is left and how that knee will heal up?

LG — Mike Wahle - A former pro-bowler and solid lineman, Wahle’s season was cut short due to… wait for it… injuries. When healthy he’s solid and has a bit of a mean streak like Hutch used too (don’t get me started on that whole deal). But is he going to be able to stay healthy?

C — Chris Spencer - A solid center and definitely makes our line better. Injured. Most of the season. Go figure. I think he’ll respond well and comeback strong.

RG — Rob Sims - Floyd Womack - Rob Sims showed early promise last season. He and Spencer made some young mistakes, but they both learned quickly and stayed solid. Hopefully he can stay healthy and comeback early to training camp. Floyd Womack is the back-up (and currently ended the season starting at LG). Womack has bee alright. I think he’s overrated as a lineman, but the franchise has stuck with him.

RT — Sean Locklear - Ended the season on the IR. Surprising. Locklear actually had a pretty solid year even though he started the season on the DL and finished on the IR. I think they benched him late because the season was over and why risk a major injury. He probably could have played, but instead he’ll look on to next year and along with everyone else, getting back to where they need to be. Healthy and ready to fight.

LE/RE — Patrick Kerney - Darryl Tapp - Lawrence Jackson - Kerney can still it done. He’s in his early 30’s now and for the third straight season he’s had shoulder surgery. We’ll see how healthy he feels next year. Darryl Tapp played well and so did Jackson. Neither of them put much pressure on the opposing QB, but they both played solid and helped stuff the run for the most part. I’m hoping both show big improvement next year.

DT — Rocky Bernard - Brandon Mebane - Craig Terrill - Red Bryant - Red Bryant looked decent early, then… well you know… IR. Craig Terrill helps fill some holes and gives the starters a rest. Brandon Mebane looked pretty good all year and Rocky Bernard was solid, but I didn’t see that explosiveness he used to have. I wonder if he was playing through injuries as well?

LOLB - LeRoy Hill - Ended the year injured. Solid Linebacker and big playmaker. One of the foundation pieces of this defense. He’s a free agent this year and so far both sides are pretty far apart in contract talks. He may end up being franchised although that would take a bit out of the cap for us.

MLB - Lofa Tatupu - Had his worst season yet. He is still very good, but he set the bar pretty high for himself with his play in his first three seasons. His tackling faltered a bit, and his reads weren’t always on the money, but for a kid who hasn’t really had a bad season, this one is kind of a mulligan. We’ll look past it. I think next year he kicks some serious butt.

ROLB — Julian Peterson - Is his age starting to catch up to him? He didn’t look as dominant or explosive all year. He made a ton of plays and was very solid, but he didn’t take over any games like the last few years. Hopefully is was just a byproduct of a rough year for everyone.

CB — Marcus Trufant - Josh Wilson - Kelly Jennings - Trufant was solid all year. He keeps getting better and better but gets picked on without much help, so he occasionally gives up the big play. Josh Wilson and Kelly Jennings are both good corners, but they’re both undersized. That’s really what it all comes down to for them. They just get beat up and really can’t do much about it. Physically.

Safety — Brian Russell - Deion Grant - Grant had a solid season. He was rarely out of place and often had big hits and tackles. Russell played well, but I think both were hurt by the lack of pressure up front. I mean no one can really guard the likes of Terrell Owens for 10 seconds. That is often times what they were asked to do.

K/P — Olindo Mare/John Ryan - Olindo was okay. Ryan was mediocre. Both could be upgraded as neither was a real game changer.

KR/PR — Justin Forsett - The good thing about having him to return kicks is… at least no one else could get hurt.

Draft — TBD - Last year’s draft proved positive. Lawrence Jackson was a starter and contributed quite a bit. John Carlson is the tight end of the future and as years in the past, Tim Ruskell has found more players in the later rounds than in the first. We’ll see if that trend changes as the Seahawks have the 4th overall pick in this years draft. I think maybe they should look into a trade. Bring in someone on the offensive or defensive line that could really contribute. Maybe on both sides? I mean if Randy Moss is worth a 6th round pick, then why not? The ‘Hawks do have two first round picks this year.

That is all for now. I will be updating as I hear news or as I feel the need to comment on that state of the franchise. Thanks for a good season and good luck in all you do.

MenojewFenderman signing off for the 2008 regular season.

We’ll be back for the playoff comments this weekend. (Even though we’re not invited.)

Mike Holmgren says he’s going to spend more time with his family. He also plans on working more with his charity.

Lots of speculation on whether or not Mike Holmgren will be in football next season. Most predict that if San Francisco were to give him total control, he would go back to work immediately, but with San Fran now talking about resigning Mike Singletary to a long term deal it appears those rumors are totally unfounded.

The truth is the Seahawk’s head man has earned the right to take a year off. He’s 60 years old and has been in the game since Bill Walsh and the 49ers signed him on. He needs a little time to relax with the family.

But then where?

For me, it’s easy to see him going to the niners after his hiatus. He loves the area and has always publicly stated he would like to return. He plans on staying up to date with the NFL and has no plans on cutting the game totally out of his life. The rumors of him going to the Cowboys or Redskins don’t seem to have too much ring to them. I really can’t see him playing for Jerry Jones or Daniel Snyder.

Anyway, go on Mike. It’s been real. Good luck in all you do coach.

‘Hawks rule!

Happy Holidays everyone. Hopefully you all enjoy your family get togethers, and lots of food. I know I am. I love eating and talking sports with the fam.

Not going to spend a whole lot of time here tonight because hey… it’s Christmas eve and we should all be doing other stuff, but if you’re a die hard like me, you want a little football talk.

Looking forward to this weeks match-up with the Cardinals. Arizona is a dangerous team and could definitely be a handful, but it all depends on which teams shows up. ‘Zona will probably sit most of their starters but there is a chance they will play just to try to get back on track before their first playoff game.

I’m going to go ahead and pick the Seahawks to win on the road behind strong play by Seneca Wallace.

Final score: Seahawks 27 Cardinals 14

Merry Ho Ho and Happy all that stuff! Be well and blessed during this Holiday season.

‘Hawks rule!

The Seattle Seahawks beat the New York Jets 13-3 on Sunday sending Mike Holmgren out a winner at home. In Mike Holmgrens ten seasons as head coach, the Seahawks have visited the playoffs six times and won the division five times. This season, by far Holmgrens worst as a member of the Seahawks organization, the ‘Hawks are now 4-11 with Arizona next week.

Other quick NFC West notes:

Arizona vs. New England - The Cardinals actually forgot to show up for this one. New England won 47-7 and since they’ve clinched a playoff birth the Cards have been a bit sluggish. Next week against Seattle at home.

San Francisco vs. St. Louis - The 49ers won in the last moments of the game 17-16. The Rams have now secured last place in the division while the niners have a chance to finish 7-9. Not bad for a team in transition.

Next season should be very interesting. The Cardinals should be strong, the Niners could be dangerous and a healthy Seahawk team is still the best in the division if not the entire NFC. The Rams have a ton of questions that need to be answered and I think are at the beginning of a total rebuild. Bulger isn’t getting any younger and Steven Jackson is their only real consistent offensive threat. Torry Holt is still a very capable wide out, but he might thrive in a change of scenery. All in all, this division is hard to predict, but we will be watching closely in the off season to see what moves are made.

Now that we’ve gotten way ahead of ourselves, let’s get back to next week. I can already tell you that I’m picking Seattle to win, by how much and what factors come into play… well, we’ll get in to that later in the week. Arizona should be setting most of their starters for the game to avoid any major injuries.

Check back in a few days for a new blog and updates for this weeks upcoming game.

‘Hawks rule!

Well… the Seahawks offensive line is now completely on the shelf. Sean Locklear was listed as doubtful and will probably not play Sunday vs. the New York Jets. Seneca Wallace will be starting even though Matt Hasselbeck will be active. Matty will be listed as third string for the game.

Also in doubt for the game on Sunday is linebacker LeRoy Hill. Hill did not practice all week nor did D.D. Lewis although he is expected to see time.

One storyline for the game and probably the most prominent theme of the day is Mike Holmgren’s last game at Qwest field. No doubt emotions will be high and his team, even though injured, will want to send him off with a W.

Storyline two, Julius Jones brother Thomas Jones will be in the house. The Jones brothers will square off making that matchup a  little more intriguing. Maybe with a little extra pep for this game, Julius Jones will show up and play the way we know he can.

Storyline three doesn’t have all the glitz and emotion of the other two, but it’s an oldy but goody. Brett Favre vs. Mike Holmgren. The former Green Bay nucleus and Superbowl champion duo have faced off several times both in regular season and playoffs, but this one should have a bit more emotion because of Holmgren’s upcoming self imposed hiatus and of Favre’s always wavering status of possible retirement.

Bottom line, the Jets are playing for a spot in the post season and the Seahawks are playing for pride. The one huge knock on this game is the fact that the Seahawks, who have been comically injured this season, are going to be using their entire depth chart. The Jets are relatively healthy and fighting, but I think the ‘Hawks are going to be a handful. 

My thoughts are that the Jets will probably pull this one out, but being the die hard Seahawk fan that I am I am going to make the following prediction:

Seahawks 21 Jets 20

I think the ‘Hawks pull one out in the last seconds against a Jets team that doesn’t always look like they know how to play together. Mike Holmgren goes out of Seattle’s home a winner and the Seahawks carry momentum into next weeks game against our rival Arizona Cardinals in Arizona.

Go ‘Hawks!

Make it nine in a row for big Walter Jones. The Seahawks all world left tackle was chosen for the ninth time of his hall of fame career. Also, Julian Peterson and Leanard Weaver were chosen as alternates. Now because of the injury that ended Walter Jones season he will NOT be playing in the Honolulu classic, but should someone else come up lame, Peterson and Weaver will be waiting in the wings.

In other quick notes, my prediction was way off last Sunday. I picked the Seahawks to beat the Rams 24-17 and I was horribly wrong. They won 23-20. Sorry, I’ll try to make better use of my resources next time. Stay tuned for this weeks predictions the night before game day.

Good things were happening all over the place in last weeks game. Bobby Engram made a huge catch that helped grab momentum in the late moments, Deion Branch looked like the guy we traded for, and Maurice Morris ran effectively as the Seahawks came from behind to beat our rivals and help Lofa Tatupu stay undefeated against the four legged freaks from St. Louis.

This week Qwest field welcomes Brett Favre and the rest of the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets! Look for a more in depth preview and prediction Saturday night.

Until then, congratulations Walter Jones, Julian Peterson and Leanard Weaver. Hopefully next year we’ll send a few more.

Go HAWKS!

As of today, Walter Jones joins three other offensive line starters on the IR. Jones who suffered a microfracture in his knee and has been playing injured, will now sit out the rest of the year after having surgery.

Coach Holmgren is confident that Jones will be back next year in time to start mini camp. Coming in to this season Walter hadn’t missed a game due to injury. The next question for the Seahawks is, will Matt Hasselbeck play out, or sit out? See last blog for my thoughts.

As for this week…

The ‘Hawks go into St. Louis using four Grid Kid players on the offensive line and hoping that Maurice Morris will run away with the game, or that Julius Jones will run well and maybe even hold on to the football sometimes.

Seneca Wallace is playing with confidence, while Bobby Engram and Deion Branch hope to finally find a groove in the offense.

For the Rams, Torry Holt hopes to end the season strong and the Rams themselves hope to prove they can actually play something that remotely resembles the game of football. I know this game is going to be ugly, but I’m still picking the Seahawks to go on to a 24-17 win, then they will quickly take the above stated offensive line out for ice cream and cake.

Go Hawks!

An interesting article in the Oregonian asked the question, should Hasselbeck be put on the shelf for the rest of the season? With the ‘Hawks just (2-11) and looking at a potential top five pick in the draft, is it time to rest some of our veterans and plan ahead for next year?

My answer is a most definite and emphatic YES. I love Matt Hasselbeck and have been a fan since day one. I covered the Seahawks when Trent Dilfer took over as starter and Matty sat. I talked to him and saw the disappointment in his eyes when he couldn’t get on the field and contribute. Knowing that, the best contribution he could make right now is prepping for next season. Let Seneca get some reps and allow some of the youngsters to get some game time.

What about Big Walt? Bobby? Deion? Same answer for all of them except Branch. He should play. After we traded for him and he contributed for the first few weeks then proceeded to sit on the bench game after game with a wide variety of injuries, now he’s out on the field. He should finish the season on the field.

Next question. Who do we draft? Almost everyone I talk to says Quarterback. I say nonsense. What a waste of a draft pick. The Seahawks went downhill once they lost Hutchinson, so we should start by rebuilding an offensive line with more holes than an OJ alibi. Jones has a few good years left. Wahle could end up being a bust. Spencer is showing steady improvement. Sims could be good soon and Wrotto is showing early promise. Locklear is solid and still young. But where is the attitude? The heart? Hutch used to love running people over and making holes. Walter has always been more of a laid back tackle who prefers to sit back and pass block, rather than run block. We need someone who wants to hit the defense. Someone with a real mean streak in them.

Bottom line. Sit the vets. Get healthy. Get a good draft pick and take home our fifth NFC West title in six years next season. Build a foundation that can get us to the bowl and win it this time.

So this is what it feels like to post  victory.  Like an old friend I haven’t seen in awhile, it feels like old times.  Lets just hope that our friend doesn’t pack his bags to leave before we get  chance to get reaquinted.

I am certainly not one to bash Tim Ruskell for what he has or hasn’t done for my beloved Hawks but with Deion Branch out again this week, we are certainly bordering on considering his acquisition a complete and utter bust.  And to think, getting Branch from New England cost us a first round pick, and then New England turned around and acquired Randy Moss for a fourth…hmmm.  So did we over pay, or did Oakland under sell?  Let me know.