October 18, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is sacked by San Francisco 49ers defensive end Justin Smith (94) during the first quarter at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

After 7 weeks of the 2012 NFL season Seahawks fans have to start asking themselves who this Seahawks team is. We know that the Seahawks have a top 5 defense. But, the Seahawks offense goes from good to bad not by the game but by the quarter or even by the drive. One drive they are able to move the ball up and down the field and the next series they move straight backwards. Is it because of the 12th Man, is it because of their young Quarterback or is there a noticeable difference when they are on the road vice at home. It is obvious that this team has struggled moving the ball at home sometimes, but the offense seems to struggle even worse when the Seahawks are on the road.

It is not a new thing for the Seahawks to struggle on the road. They are 1-3 on the road this season, but 3-0 at home after beating the Cowboys, Packers and Patriots. The Seahawks are 9-27 in the last 5 years on the road counting this season; they are winning 25% of their games on the road. At home they are 18-17 which is a winning percentage of 51%; that is a drastic difference of wins and losses. The sports world has heard how loud Century Link Field is; just ask Eli Manning and the Giants offensive Lineman after their 11 false starts in the 2005 match-up at then Quest Field. So we know there is a huge advantage to playing at home for the Seahawks.

The Seahawks being tucked up in the Great Northwest have always struggled going across the country due to the fact that they have to travel further than any other team in the NFL. They struggled against the Rams in week 4 this year being in the Central time zone. But when they traveled to the Eastern time zone the team responded with a win against the Panthers. So in 2012 it doesn’t seem like the distance traveled is the culprit for the offensive rollercoaster ride.

The thought is that maybe it is the woes of having a Rookie Quarterback who is getting use to playing in different surroundings. Russell Wilson stats at home are 41/68 pass attempts, 574 passing yards, 6 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in 3 games. Although his stat line on the road looks a lot different 63/107 pass attempts, 656 passing yards, 2 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 4 games. It is expected for rookies to struggle, especially on the road but those numbers are drastically different especially the touchdown passes to interception ratio. This team has been able to run the ball more when at home and that is due in part to the lack of turnovers thus keeping the offense on the field and letting Marshawn Lynch continue to grind out the tough yards. The more touches that Lynch gets the less 3rd downs Wilson has to throw on.

This 2012 version of the Seahawks has show that they have a dominant defense, particularly when they are able to rest. But when this defense is constantly put back on the field due to their offense going 3 and out, they cannot use their strengths of speed and size to their advantage. As usual in the NFL this Seahawks team is only going to go as far as their quarterback will take them and from the looks of things they will only predominantly win the games they play at home. This is Russell Wilson’s team for this year and the years to come; he has sold his talents to Coach Pete Carroll and the 12th Man. But for this TEAM to truly become a dominant force on both sides of the ball, Wilson and his offense must learn to grind games out on the road because their defense will keep them in almost all games they play in.

As members of the 12th man, we’ve heard all the accolades. We all know about the false starts we’ve caused. The accusations of “piping in noise” fuel us. The doubters only make us louder. It’s time to take our game to another level, and I know we can do it.

Earlier this week, Brady talked about trying to get us to boo our own team. That can’t happen. If the Seahawks stumble, we need to pick them up. And yes, I’m even referring to polarizing QB Russell Wilson. Even if he plays poorly, lets choose not to boo on game day. Any negativity can wait until after the final whistle. Lets not given the Patriots the satisfaction.

Brady also talked about silencing us by jumping out to a early lead. We have to make sure that doesn’t happen. We need to be as loud, or louder, if the Seahawks are down by 2 TDs. Lets choose to be the fans that can’t be silenced. Lets be the fans that never sit down. Lets be the exactly what we are.

We are the best, and loudest fans in the nation.

Sept 16, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks fans above the north end zone of CenturyLink Field unfurl a banner before kickoff against the Dallas Cowboys. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

-          Clay Matthews has been a force in this league since his arrival as a first round selection out of USC. Already off to a torrid start this season with 6 sacks in 2 games, its imperative the Seahawks identify and communicate his location on the field at all times. Not to diminish the fact that all of Green Bay’s front 7 can get to the passer, it starts with Matthews. Line calls, and checks by Russell Wilson will prove vital to the Seahawks ability to handle the Packers ferocious pass rush.

Sep 16, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the 2nd half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

2)      Opposites Day

-          It’s pretty obvious that a key for both teams to be successful will be trying to offset each other’s strengths, and force each other into their supposed weaknesses. For Green Bay, look to Seattle to play aggressive man-coverage and force the Pack to beat them with the run, while it’s the other way for the Packers. Stop the run, and make Seattle beat them with a rookie QB. What may be surprising to both teams, and their respective fan bases, is that both of these ‘weaknesses’ could end up being keys to victory. Russell Wilson flashed signs of brilliance in the preseason, while Cedric Benson had yet once again been left for dead, however comes out and shocks everyone with his continued physical running style and is now the Packers featured back. Aaron Rodgers and Marshawn Lynch may be the keys for each team’s defense, but watch out for Russell Wilson and Cedric Benson as well.

3)      The Legion of Boom    

 -          Green Bay will assault its opponents with aerial efficiency and domination. With 5 readily capable WR’s in Greg Jennings (who is said to be active tonight), Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Donald Driver, and the ever-dangerous Randall Cobb, the barrage won’t stop here. With that, it’s up to Seattle’s feared defensive backfield to take the proverbial ‘wind’ out of the Packers offensive ‘sails’ with its usual physical, bruising style of play. The unit’s cohesiveness and ability to communicate effectively throughout the ballgame will determine the ability Green Bay has to move the ball through the air. Look for a lot of nickel and dime packages from the Seahawks as they try to create difficult matchups for the quick, yet undersized Packer receiving corps. Pressing receivers at the line, and disguised blitzes will certainly force the decisive Aaron Rodgers into thinking twice before he throws the ball. A pass-rushers dream.

4)      Hit em’ in the Mouth

-          Seattle’s offensive line was marvelous last week against the Cowboys. The Seahawks were able to march the ball down the field with its physical running game, and efficient passing attack. The recipe Pete Carroll has been developing since his arrival. While Dallas is no slouch up front on defense, Green Bay is a different animal. The 3-4 attack style defense they play causes nightmares for opposing D-coordinators. Clay Matthews, A.J. Hawk, B.J. Raji, and co. are going to key on stopping the run on 1^st and 2^nd down, and forcing the ‘Hawks into 3^rd and longs with the hope they can rattle Russell Wilson into making rookie mistakes. A nice game plan, certainly. What will be key is the Seahawks O-lines’ ability to once again punch the opposition in the mouth play after play. Out playing them with the physical, deflating style that has become their identity. The Seahawks have good depth on the line, and reports that Russell Okung is said to be back healthy only adds to this key factor for victory. As the old football adage goes, “So what if they know what we’re going to run, they still have to stop us.” If the O-Line looks like it did last week, good luck to you Green Bay.

5)      The 12^th Man + Monday Night Football > Ear-Popping Decibels

-          So, we’re right up against it 12^th Man. Monday Night Football returns to Seattle. John Gruden loves coming here, as much as he loves our new QB. It’s always a blast to hear him talk about how great the atmosphere is at the Clink, and that’s because of you my friends.  I can only imagine the walk up to the stadium as kick-off approaches. 1^st Avenue will be an avalanche of both confidence, and hope. A statement win on National T.V. brings the Seahawks to the forefront of the already hot button topic of the surprising NFC West. The nation will be watching 12^th Man. Let’s let em’ hear it as well.

Jul 28, 2012; Renton, WA, USA; NFL: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn (15) stretches before a training camp practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

It’s always sort of like taking a new car out for a test ride when a new quarterback takes the field.  It always helps to have done a little homework on the various options and differences with that new car prior to setting out for the dealership.  Many fans have only seen short snippets of the 3 Seahawks’ QBs on the evening news, but have read a good deal about them.  So, in this first pre-season game what are the fans going to be looking for versus what Pete Carroll might focus on regarding the play of his QB?  Is it possible for Matt Flynn to have a great game but be a disappointment to his coaches?  Might what looks like a great play to fans be a “fail” to his coaches?  For example, what if Flynn misses all his reads when he comes up behind center, scrambles for his life, and miraculously finds an open receiver for a touchdown?  Is that a good play?  Or will coaches give him bad marks for missing the reads and failing to audible out of the play?

On the other hand here are some of the things Flynn might do which could appear as “bad” plays to fans that Pete Carroll will absolutely love;

1. Flynn drops back to pass, can’t find a receiver and throws the ball away.  That might be marked as a positive on the part of the QB for not throwing a risky pass into coverage and getting intercepted, unless film later shows there was an open receiver.

2.  Flynn comes to the line, looks over the defense and calls a time-out.  Rather than going ahead with a play that will go nowhere, he can go talk it over with coaches and discuss the look the defense was giving him and plan an appropriate audible for the next time that look comes up.

3.  Flynn drops back to pass, and drops to the turf for an easy sack.  Some of the worst game-changing QB mistakes come on plays where the QB tries to make something out of nothing.  If the defense is getting the better of Flynn’s protection, it’s a veteran move to go down and live to throw another play.  Maybe the coaches can change the protection to stop the problem with their pass rush or call a play that could take advantage of over-aggressive defenses.

Of course, we would all like to see Matt Flynn come out and tear up the opposing defense.  Here’s what I’m going to be watching for in the seconds between the drop back and the release of the ball.  If Flynn does these things well, he could very well avoid the mistakes new quarterbacks make that turn the game against them.

1.  Quick decision making.  I hope to see Flynn’s head moving around as he checks off his first, second, and third options instead of locking in on one receiver.

2.  If the first option is open, I will be looking for NO hesitation before the throw.  We had a whole year of that with T-Jack and we all know what that looks like.  So do defenses, and they’re going to exploit any hesitation.

3.   Sensing pressure.  This is a critical skill for any QB.  Flynn seemed to have a great feel for the pocket in Green Bay.  If he is to be successful, he needs to feel that pressure and take a few steps away from the pressure as he’s looking for his receivers to open up.

Intangibles.

1.  I’ll be watching the huddle.  You can see body language by both the QB and the other players in the huddle as the play is being called.  Also the break and how the team approaches the line can indicate how players feel about how things are going.

2.  When a play is over, whether it’s successful or not, I’ll be watching for players attitudes when they come back to the huddle.  Are they frustrated?  Are they “pumped and jacked” as Pete Carroll likes to see them?  Are they communicating positively or in an exasperated way?

3.  What’s happening on the sidelines when Flynn is talking to coaches?  Is it relaxed, tense, animated?

4.  I want to see Flynn congratulate his receivers when they make a play, but also maybe have a short conversation to get things straight after an incompletion.   This is key to Flynn building his leadership with the team.

Red Zone.

1.  Quick decision making.

2.  Avoiding the forced throw.

3.  ”Touch” on the pass.

4.  Throwing high to the corner or back of the end zone where only the receiver can make the play.

5.  Adapting to the short field with more compact coverages.

So, how will this “test drive” go for Flynn and what will the implications be?  Keeping in mind this is the first game and defenses are almost always ahead of offenses this early in the pre-season, I’m thinking it could be pretty ugly for our new QB in a new system on a new team.  But if it is, it’s possible to be ugly in a positive way.  Flynn could have a good game with a bad result and still come out on top of the QB battle as long as his decisions are sound.

I’ll be watching all these things and taking notes for both QBs during both halves of the game so I can report back next week on what I saw.  On the other hand, maybe I’ll just grab a bowl of nachos and a 6 pack and yell at the TV for two and a half hours, scare my dogs, and make a general nuisance of myself to my family.  Ahhh yesssss!  Football season is FINALLY HERE!

Oct 30, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez raises the Seattle Seahawks 12th man flag before the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Like many of you, I am suffering from pre-training camp depression and am also often at a loss for things to write about.  So I decided to make a list of activities that would help kill time for the next month or so.  Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments section and enjoy.

1. Make every single one of these.
2. Write a thesis paper on why the economic model used by the NFL should be used by the whole world.
3. Patch the Tarvaris Jackson inspired holes in my wall created during last season.
4. Put foam padding on objects routinely thrown in anger and celebration during games.
5. Bake cookies, deliver, and ask for forgiveness from neighbors offended by obscenities yelled during last season.
6. Sound-proof doors, windows, and basically entire apartment to prevent future offending.
7. Brew enough beer to last through season.
8. Make enough jerkey (of various sorts) to last through season.
9. Learn meditation and proper anger management methods to be used during games.
10. Learn flower arrangement.
11. Assemble shrine to the 12^th Man and Pete Carroll/John Schneider; both of which may or may not be desecrated and rebuilt many times during the season.
12. Order new 12^th Man flag to replace one that was lost during a storm.
13. Prepare Christmas cards to be air-dropped on San Francisco after the Seahawks beat the Niners in prime time in October.
14. Preemptively apologize for all false promises made, and consequently not kept, to a variety of deities and sky-gods during tense and critical moments of a game.
15. Teach my dog to do this. (Also yet another reason dogs are better than cats.)
16. Read all the books I intend to read during the season but know I will never get around to.
17. Catch up on season two of Boardwalk Empire and Tremé.
18. Watch all previous seasons of Breaking Bad in preparation for the final season.
19. Create a liquid form of Skittles to be mainlined when Beast Mode takes place.
20. Decide whose jersey to get when I am in Seattle in August.

You Know You Like It. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

I am just so upset I didn’t get to see Ryan Tannehill perform in the Underwear Olympics. How do you project a college quarterback’s performance in the NFL without first seeing how he would look in spandex? Isn’t it a league requirement that all rookie quarterbacks spend a year somewhere in the cheerleading depth chart? Maybe I’m wrong, but what about knowing how high he can jump? I don’t know how to feel about a quarterback unless he can LeGarrette Blount hurdle his offensive line and run 34 yards for a touchdown. Kind of like Tim Tebow after drinking a Red Bull (only Tebow reference I promise).

NFL Combine B.S. aside the truth is Ryan Tannehill does have wings, but thankfully he is nothing like ‘He Who Shall Not Be Named.’ The former wide receiver turned quarterback can not only run… but run routes, run the offense, run after the catch, throw on the run, well you get the picture. What’s not to like?! Ryan Tannehill is another freakish college athlete trying to make it in the NFL. However, freaking athleticism does not always work for a quarterback at the pro level, unless Cam Newtons start to grow on trees, but I’ll put my money on Fig Newtons remaining the only Newton to come off of a tree (only Fig Newton reference ever I promise… well maybe not). Quarterbacks need a lot more in their repertoire to be successful at this level and honestly Ryan Tannehill looks like a bit of a project. Here’s what I saw in the three games he played this year.

The Positives

Ryan Tannehill has great mobility. Not only is he capable of making plays with his feet, but speed isn’t his only weapon. This guy was a former wide receiver and a good receiver at that. He can make people miss tackles all over the place. However, this type of running in the NFL can get you killed. Someone is going to need to teach Tannehill how to slide or else he is going to meet Patrick Willis on the wrong side of a scramble.

Furthermore, Tannehill’s mobility doesn’t come without the ability to throw on the run. He reminds me of Sam Bradford when he does this. The accuracy is just unbelievable. Tannehill can make throws accurately while moving to short, intermediate, and deeper intermediate ranges. To do this with his amount of precision is pretty incredible. Tannehill’s accurate throwing is so apparent because most of the plays he makes are roll out passes to the sidelines. This is something Tannehill is very talented at. He slides left and right with his receiver depending on the direction they are running and waits for the perfect moment to put the ball out of bounds where only they can catch it.

Despite Tannehill’s mobile play it is important to note that he really is a pocket passer. He can stand in the pocket and make throws under duress, even with a defender inches away from tackling him. Additionally, he has good footwork most of the time and with a little NFL coaching Tannehill should make the change to having good footwork all the time.  Furthermore, Tannehill gets the ball out quickly and with very good velocity. He can put a lot of zip on the ball when he needs to.

The Negatives

Tannehill can throw accurately from the pocket to almost all three ranges, however at the deep ranges his balls can be a little underthrown. In the games I watched he never really allowed his receivers to run under the ball and catch it in stride. This will get you picked off in the NFL, you can’t allow the defender the ability to adjust on the ball and box out your wide receiver. Also Tannehill threw a little behind his receivers at times as well. He has good accuracy, but it’s his sideline passes that make him look most accurate.

What disappointed me the most in Tannehill’s game was his decision making. There were a few plays that left me questioning his sanity. In one of them he literally threw the ball straight to the defender without one of his receivers within ten yards of the football. It was like he forgot what color his team was wearing. The defensive back was so surprised he didn’t even catch the ball! Tannehill forces throws and this will get him picked off every time in the NFL. You can’t throw the ball when your receiver has three guys covering him and this is something I saw Tannehill do.

Not only can Tannehill be far too aggressive at times, but he often doesn’t allow himself to make good decisions. He frequently rolls out of the pocket before going through all of his reads. It’s like he totally forgets about the other side of the football field. This was the one piece of his game that struck me as his worst quality. The first thing I look for when evaluating a quarterback’s skillset is his eyes. A quarterback needs to keep his head on a swivel. Wide receivers can be covered one moment and open the next. The NFL game moves fast.

Overall I think Ryan Tannehill is a great athlete with a good solid arm and above average accuracy for a college quarterback. It’s his instincts and decision making that scares me. If Tannehill forces passes in the NFL like he did in college he will get intercepted and get his wide receivers killed. However, Tannehill is a project. He has great upside if his forceful throws are only experience and not tendency.

Although when watching Tannehill there was nothing I saw that showed me he had a good ‘on the field football IQ.’ He may be an intelligent prospect, but I have not seen that intelligence translate into his play. Ryan Tannehill has trouble reading defenses and I foresee the NFL game moving very fast for him. I honestly don’t know how I would feel if the Seahawks draft Tannehill. He really isn’t the sexy pick and I definitely don’t think he deserves to be picked in the first round. If we don’t sign Mario Williams I would rather see us go after Melvin Ingram or another DE/OLB. Furthermore, if we do sign Mario Williams I still don’t think we should draft him at 12. It’s just too high for a quarterback of his stature. I would like the Seahawks to forget about Tannehill unless he falls to us in the second round and only if defensive end has been taken care of. Honestly I kind of like Russel Wilson (at first glance mind you), I know about his height but he looked phenomenal at the Combine.

What do you guys think?

Leadership

One thing that I take very seriously in evaluating a team is leadership. This is one reason I always doubted Tarvaris Jackson. In all of his press conferences this year he looked scared and confused, as well as mumbling every word he spoke. It was almost like he didn’t really want to be our starting quarterback, as if his mom was forcing him to go out for the team.

All year long I have been trying to decipher who our leaders are. With the absence of Marcus Trufant, Lawyer Milloy, Lofa Tatupu, and Matt Hasselbeck it has been difficult for the Seahawks. We are definitely a young team in transition waiting for leaders to emerge. So with this article I am going to do my best to evaluate which leadership roles have been filled as well as try and spotlight roles where leadership is still needed.

I’m going to start with the two emotional leaders of the team since they are definitely the most fun to watch (as well as being my favorite players). Our two emotional leaders are unquestionably Marshawn Lynch on offense and BIG Red Bryant on defense. The emotional leader on an offense or a defense is the guy that thrusts energy into the heart of every player before kick-off as well as being the one to keep that energy pulsating as the game wears on. They also help pick the team up in situations when they are down, whether with a play on the field or through encouragement on the sideline. Richard Sherman is a player to watch in this regard, for he is too emotional not to become a leader.

(more…)

The Seahawks Beat the Rams, 30-13 in Monday Night Football Contest:

The 12^th man lives

There’s been an energy shift. If you haven’t been to the stadium, maybe it’s palpable through network coverage. Maybe it’s not. After pouring heartfelt emotions into game after game this year, it seems the energy has finally converged into a perfect pitch. The connection is made. Whether you plug the Seahawks into the 12^th man or the 12^th man into the Seahawks, it’s an instant jolt.

I noticed it last night. Our second network night game in 10 days. I wondered if it was obvious to others… Could viewers in Connecticut tell? What about Denver? Or the sports writers on the East coast? Would the game commentators be able to pick up on it? Or would they continue to make inane comments about how the other team was just losing because of poor clock management, or too many turnovers?

The truth is that being the 12^th man is to be linked to the team on the field. Earlier in the season, the link was tenuous, hesitant. We responded when the defense signaled, we hollered on 3^rd down, we held our breath in a redzone offense, but it was delayed… muffled.

These last two games have been different. The Eagles and the Rams can testify to that. But what has been the difference? The network exposure? The heartbreaking loss of the Redskins game? Or the realization that there are so many good pieces on this team and the audible click as they snap together?

Last night, every communication between those on the field and those in the stands was instantaneous. You could hear the constant roar and swell with each series. We responded instantly to the defense’s calls for noise. We rose in our seats when the Beast hit the streets. We booed in vain to bad calls on the field. In turn, the team connected and celebrated with us, pointing and cheering at us… taking us with them on the journey.

We may not have the respect of the national media. We may not have the big name players. But we have something unique and indefinable that other teams yearn for.

Hope?

Optimism?

Belief?

Magic?

Weak words for what exists in the heart of the 12^th man. Or the heart of a Seahawk.

Whatever the rest of the season holds, this dynamic has been well worth the wait. While I don’t know if I’ll be able to see the connection on a televised game, I know that when I’m back in my seat on the 24^th, “it” will be there, waiting.

If you don’t believe me, drop by section 333. I’ll show you.

I have touched a few times on the humble rise of Seattle’s rookie QB, Josh Portis; before sports news headlines ever eluded to him playing for the Seahawks. So, for those of you who still don’t know much about him, please click on the following link to get caught up to speed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Portis.

The first pre-season game of the year for the Seahawks started off a little shaky, as the hosting San Diego Chargers defense penetrated the ‘Hawks young, inexperienced offensive line with ease.

Seattle’s running game, for the most part, was inefficient. Their passing game started off slow, but eventually gained speed. Especially as the Chargers began to rotate their defensive backups onto the field.

Perhaps the brightest spot during the game, is when the ‘Hawks newly acquired third-string QB,  Portis, came into the game during the second half.

He started off a little off-balance, throwing high, and a bit off-target, but he seemed to rapidly adapt to the quick pace of the NFL.

After a few misguided throws, his ball guidance seemed more in rhythm with his step. His passes gained  speed and found their intended targets. There was even a play where he was being pursued on his blind side by a charger defender and was very close to being brutally sacked. But, he remained poised in the pocket, focused, and released a bullet for a completion just before his pursuer could reach him.

When receivers weren’t open, Portis also showed his ability to run with the ball. Ducking, dipping, juking, and bolting (mostly) for positive yardage.

Was Portis’ performance a lucky start for a bright-eyed youngster? Or, will he again shock us with his veteran-like confidence when the Seahawks host the Vikings this Saturday?

Much remains to be seen, not only of Portis, but of the entire, revamped Seahawks team.

It appears the Seahawks have taken a break from dipping into the fountain of youth for new players–for now–and have instead opted to bring in some veteran help for a rosy-cheeked secondary. At 5′-11″, 200 plus lbs, Atari Bigby, who most recently played for last year’s Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers, has average height and speed, and should be a serviceable backup for the team’s current starters Earl Thomas, and Kam chancellor. Bigby missed most of last season due to ankle surgery last August, but found his way back into the lineup by early November. After losing Jordan Babenieux–the Seahawks’ most recent, experienced backup safety–to the Tennessee Titans this year in free agency, Bigby is a new face younger players can look to for leadership.