The Seahawks/Redskins game left me with a number of observations, mostly positive. However, there are a few scenarios that simply left me baffled with the Redskins ball club. Let’s start with those…

I’m really puzzled at who is actually in charge in DC because it certainly doesn’t appear to be Shanahan. In his post-game interview, RG3 made 2 telling statements regarding who is really in charge on the Redskin team.

1. “I’m the quarterback of this team,” Griffin said. “My job is to be out there if I can play. … I don’t feel like me being out there hurt the team in any way. I’m the best option for this team, and that’s why I’m the starter.”
2. He was then asked what would his reaction have been had Shanahan pulled him against his will for Kirk Cousins. His answer? “I probably would have been right back out there on the field,” he said. “You respect authority and I respect Coach Shanahan, but at the same time you have to step up and be a man sometimes, and there was no way I was coming out of that game.”

Either Robert Griffin the Third believed all the hype and praise heaped on him throughout the regular season made him the expert or Shanahan never utilized his authority at any time since drafting him. You don’t get this far into the post season race with this being the first indicator that the coach doesn’t have his hand on the wheel. Imagine Russell Wilson making a statement like this… yeah, I can’t either. One of the hallmark components of a champion is humility, something RG3 seems to lack and something RW3 has in abundance.

Secondly, who’s asleep at the switch with the field condition? I watched the Mike Robinson cell phone video of the field during the Seahawk walk through and found it appalling, not only the dirt, but the divots and holes in the field. And this isn’t an observation about the Seahawks, but about the field in general. Why would you ask your own players to play on that nonsense? Why would you spend all that money on RG3 and then give him that crap surface to play on? And he wasn’t the only Redskin player that had leg issues… A quick check of the Redskins 1/4/13 injury report, showed 11 of 15 players had foot, ankle or knee injuries. Coincidence?

Perhaps because of this field? This picture was seen on the internet post game showing the comparison between the Redskins and Ravens field just a few miles apart. (Redskins on the right, Ravens on the left) I submit that if owner, Dan Snyder, was concerned enough to travel to Florida with his star QB to get the scoop on his knee, perhaps he should have been concerned enough not to send him out to play in an eroded cow pasture to begin with!

Enough about the Redskins. Now Seahawks!!

So proud of our team for winning yet another road game! So proud of our Hawks for coming back from 14-0 and shutting down the Redskins for the next 3 quarters! There are too many players to mention and I think that’s a great sign that the Hawks are not one dimensional or overly reliant on one player! Lots of weapons, lots of energy!

I think the single most important component to this game is one that we’ve seen all year. I asked Pete Carroll about it midseason and you can read his answers here. I’m referring to the ability of the Seahawks to make adjustments. It hasn’t been that long ago that we had a Hawks team that seemed to script the entire game and either couldn’t implement adjustments or made them too late in the game to win. The fact that this team can make them throughout the game, not just at halftime, is a testament to the coaching staff and bodes well for their plans to continue through the playoffs.

Just a quick note to acknowledge the contributions of Chris Clemons and Steven Hauschka this season. Both were injured in the cow pasture at Fed Ex field and moved to the Injured Reserve list. Additional thanks to Jon Ryan for stepping up to do kick offs. Our special teams squad has been amazing this year!

Off to Atlanta!

#GoHawks

August 27, 2011; Englewood, CO, USA; Seattle Seahawks punter Jon Ryan (9) before the start of a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE

I think it goes without saying that this is a ridiculously important game. I also think that it’s ridiculous that every time the phrase “it goes without saying” is used the person then goes on to say what supposedly goes without saying. That, however, is a separate issue. Tonight the Seahawks travel to San Francisco for a Thursday night game that could define this season. A win tonight would put the Seahawks at 5-2 with all remaining divisional games at the Clink where they are undefeated and undoubtedly a better team. That’s what they call the driver’s seat. A loss would put them back in the pack at 4-3 with quite a bit of clawing to do if they hope to win the division. This will be the Seahawks’ most challenging test so far:an elite team to compete with in a hostile environment. They will need their A game and a couple of breaks here and there to escape Candlestick with a win. Today we look at some of the matchups the Seahawks need to win to make that happen.

Matchup #1: Marshawn Lynch vs. Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman

Despite not putting up gaudy touchdown totals Marshawn Lynch is having himself a career year. He is averaging 91.5 yards a game, as opposed to 80.3 last year. More impressively he is averaging 4.3 yards a carry, another career high, despite the fact every defense he faces is loaded up to stop him. Running between the tackles is where Lynch excels but he faces a stiff challenge in the Pro Bowl duo of Willis and Bowman. These ILB’s have absolutely terrorized opposing running games making offenses one dimension and creating opportunities for the 49ers pass rush and secondary. Last week Ahmad Bradshaw put up 116 yards against the 49ers, a virtually unheard of number against this defensive front led by Willis and Bowman. Lynch will be hoping this is the start of a trend rather than a one-time fluke but I doubt he will be so lucky.

Matchup #2: Sidney Rice vs. Carlos Rogers

Last week Rice showed us what we’ve been paying for. During his time with the Seahawks it has been hard to isolate Rice’s struggles from the struggles of the quarterbacks throwing to him and as such hard to evaluate his performance. Now it appears he might just be starting to click with Russell Wilson and the numbers we’ve been expecting might begin to follow. It also helps that he seems healthy for once. Today he faces Carlos Rogers, a cornerback on the wrong side of 30 having a career renaissance. Rogers was a first round pick but largely nothing special during his tenure with Washington but something about the move to the 49ers energized Rogers as he set a career high in interceptions last year at 6 (his previous season high was 2 and he had 8 total in 6 years with the Redskins). Rogers is a bigger corner at 6-0 199 (not like Seahawks corner big, but bigger) and could make things difficult for Rice today. I do think Rice is beginning to hit his stride though so look for a couple big catches and maybe a pass interference drawn (Fun Fact: Sidney Rice has drawn the most pass interference yardage in the league this year with 74 yards).

Matchup #3: Jon Ryan vs. Ted Ginn Jr.

Like a fine wine from Saskatchewan, Jon Ryan gets better with age. The Regina native is booting it 50.7 yards a kick so far this year coming off a year where he put up a career high 46.6 yards an attempt. Having a star punter may not win you many headlines but it sure is useful. Ryan is a field position weapon and in a battle between two elite defenses field position can be everything. You may recall, even though you would really rather not, that the Seahawks have had some problems with Ted Ginn Jr. in the past. Despite being comically over-drafted, Ginn is exactly the electrifying return talent that he was expected to be, although not a complete game changer of Hester’s caliber. Pinning Ginn to the side lines will be important in containing him and I wouldn’t complain if Ryan wanted to simply punt it out of bounds and let Alex Smith try and beat the Seahawks defense. It will be interesting to see what strategy the Seahawks use and what kind of job Ryan and his coverage team does at containing one of the most explosive men in the league.

If you are a connoisseur of punting this might be the game for you. Two defenses like this are bound to keep it close and interesting to the end. This is the sort of game that is extremely difficult to win, especially on the road, but at this point I’m just about done thinking there is anyone the Seahawks don’t have a chance against. With any luck the 49ers loss to the Giants is a sign of a complete and utter collapse to follow. Don’t count on it. Count on a good game.

Jan 8, 2010; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Leon Washington (33) heads up field on a kickoff return in the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the New Orleans Saints at Qwest Field. The Seahawks defeated the Saints 41-36. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

I was wondering what I should write this week when I read that the Niners resigned “Pro-Bowl Punter” Andy Lee to a contract extension.  This made me think of the Seahawks’ punter Jon Ryan, a great punter but one who is just a smidge behind Andy Lee in the eyes of the league and fans.  This got me thinking, when are the Seahawks finally going to move out from just behind the Niners and pass them?

Punters are just one example.  Admittedly, Lee’s numbers are better than Ryan’s.  Part of this is due to injuries on Seattle’s special teams unit which was much more dominant in 2010.  Lee averaged just over five more yards a punt than Ryan (44.6 to 39.3), but Ryan is right there. Another example is the position of kick returner.  Leon Washington, who was deadly in 2010, was a shadow of his former self in 2011.  Instead Ted Ginn, Jr., a receiver who couldn’t cut it in Miami, became a star returner for the Niners.  You can blame it on the rule changes if you want, but both had to deal with the same rules.  Ginn returned two kicks for touchdowns (one punt and one kickoff) while Washington had none, and Ginn averaged 2.5 yards more per kickoff and 1 yard more per punt.  It might not seem like a lot, but over many returns it adds up. I hope this is an area that we can improve upon this season.

In the last ten months Seattle acquired two Pro-Bowl tight ends – Zach Miller last season and Kellen Winslow this week.  Miller, unfortunately, had to block most of the 2011 season which didn’t allow Seattle to maximize his potential.  Meanwhile Vernon Davis was resurrecting his career and lighting it up in San Francisco.  This month, Seattle traded for Winslow who is a physical freak, but has some attitude issues that I hope Carroll can resolve.  Seattle lost the tight end comparison with San Francisco in the 2011 season, but they have the pieces to move ahead this year.  Seattle now has two top-tier tight ends and hopefully we can utilize them to stack the box and pass or throw after forcing the defense to show its hand.

At running back, Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch have incredibly similar stats.  Both average about 4.3 yards a carry with just over 280 carries each last season.  Lynch had more touch downs (12 to 8 ) but Gore had more carries for 20+ yards (11 to 4).  Lynch finished much stronger than he started, however, largely due to an offensive line that was finally getting its act together.  If Lynch had played all season the way he played the last third, his stats would blow Gore’s away.  I’m looking forward to watching Lynch go full-on Beast Mode for 16+ games this season.  (I’ve already stockpiled some celebratory Skittles in anticipation.)

You might be asking yourself why I am comparing Seattle to San Francisco and being a little down on Seattle, and those are fair questions.  I hate the 49ers.  (They are right up there with the Stealers and Patriots in my opinion.  I lived in San Francisco for five years and there was nothing I wanted more than to stomp on San Francisco twice a year.)  If I ever hear the fallback argument of “how many rings does your team have” again, I’ll break something.  Both teams, however, are being built around a similar model:  a smash-mouth running game, brutal defense, and quarterbacks that are more game managers than game changers.

San Francisco, however, has managed to turn itself into a Super Bowl caliber team.  You can argue that the pieces were all there and that they just needed a coach that could get the players’ heads on straight.  Harbaugh is a guy that can do that.  Comparatively, Seattle had a roster that was old, injury-prone, and unable of playing to the level that Seahawks fans had come to expect after the Holmgren era.  Pete Carroll and John Schneider are surely turning that around. The Seahawks are younger, more hungry, and, I would argue top-to-bottom talented than the Niners, and I am tired of being just behind San Francisco in the NFC West.

I can see the pieces there, now if only I, as a fan, could just will them into place.  In 2012, I want Ryan’s punts to go just a few more yards than Lee’s.  I want our tight end tandem to have around 100 receptions for 1000 yards and 10 TDs.  I want Lynch to run over defenders the way he did at the end of 2011 all season and smoke Gore’s stats.  I want Leon to return to his 2010 form, rule changes be damned.  And I want to see it showcased in week 1 against Arizona in the desert.  Let’s set the tone right from the beginning.  Based on what the Cards and Seahawks have done in the offseason, there is no reason Seattle should lose that game.

I realize that all Seahawks fans want this, but I needed to vent some frustration that was triggered by the Andy Lee extension headline. It also gave me a reason to dig around in my beloved Excel and stats databases to see just how close Seattle’s key players are to being better than San Francisco’s.  Hopefully some of you have been able to vent your frustration vicariously through this post as well, and I thank you for indulging mine.

Year End Awards

I had some quality quiet time last night and put my brain to good use considering how to sum up this year with the Seahawks. I had some ideas going into the season regarding who the contributors would be and how the season would go. Much like a really good book, by the time you hit the last quarter of the season, the story lines have changed, the characters have evolved and there is no guarantee of happy ending.

But when you put the book down, some moments stick with you… some snippets of dialogue, some changes in plot, some surprise developments just cry out for recognition. With that in mind, I present my awards for the Seahawks 2011-2012 season.

Best Back up Contributor – Paul McQuistan – Even though he didn’t start the entire season, his starts in the last 7 games provided stability an injured offensive line. That stability, although it came with a few penalties, provided protection for Tjack and aided in Marshawn’s running game.

Least Surprising Rookie – Richard Sherman – Now ranked as the #7 rookie of the year by Pro Football Focus… if anyone is surprised by Sherman’s performance this year, they obviously didn’t attend any of the Bing training camps at VMAC. Tall, fast and determined, Sherman stood out and this writer isn’t surprised at his excellent rookie season or the recognition he’s now getting.

Best On Field Attitude – TIE between Big Red Bryant (who really knows how to celebrate whether it’s a blocked kick or an interception and a high step into the endzone) and Anthony Hargrove (who energizes the 12^th man with his excellent play, fan encouragement , on field celebrations with his teammates and excellent dancing).

Most likely to play through injury – Tavaris Jackson. Playing through an injury that probably should have required surgery makes TJack a no brainer for this award!

Takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’ – Marshawn Lynch. You know he had to be hurting as much as he ran the ball and got tackled, And lets not forget the back spasm incident or the sideline vomiting.

I’m ready for my close up Mr. DiMille – Golden Tate – This maple bar aficionado dedicated himself to watching film this year and it paid off! Better routes, better catches and more opportunities to wow the crowd and create his own film highlights!

Where have you been all my life – Doug Baldwin – Undrafted and seemingly appearing out of nowhere, Baldwin had many teams scratching their heads, wondering how they had missed this uber talented receiver in their own scouting?

He’s got Leg, he knows how to use it – Jon Ryan – No year-end list would be complete without mentioning the mighty leg of Jon Ryan and his excellent punting throughout the year. Definitely one of the bright spots on our special teams!

The Natural – Earl Thomas – Likewise, we have to add Mr. Thomas to this list. With a natural instinct for where the ball is, is going and who has it, Mr. Thomas unerringly finds himself in the middle of each defensive play. We’re looking forward to finding him following his instincts just as craftily next season!

Honorable Mentions -

• The locker room dance off between Anthony Hargrove and Richard Sherman! http://www.twitvid.com/6IEP2
• Atari Bigby’s long ass dreads flying as he makes plays!
• Raheem Brock’s Game Day Twitter Tap In
• Endzone Skittles Blowers (they need their own uniforms)

Riley is like a brother to me, but I thought he was way off base with his choice of Matt Hasselbeck. The offense this past season was the worst it may have ever been with Hasselbeck under center. He must bear a good portion of the responsibility for that.

Hasselbeck did have some very good games, notably the regular season wins at Chicago and Arizona and both games against New Orleans. However, when I think of Hasselbeck’s play last season, the first thing that comes to mind is the third quarter meltdown against Atlanta. Then there was the horrendous showing at San Francisco, as well as at Denver and St. Louis. I cannot ignore the decline in quality and consistency of performance. (more…)

There has been a lot of coverage this week on big hits around the National Football League, so I should point out that Bennett’s hit was legal and did not appear to be malicious. If the league decides to start suspending players who deliver illegal blows, Bennett’s would not warrant punishment.

“We think Jon’s going to be all right,” Carroll told the media yesterday. “The docs thought he was going to be able to make it for the week. He’s pretty banged up.”

Even though he might be hurt, it is just good news that his injury is nothing serious. If you missed the big hit, check out the video below (after jump).

(more…)

12. Justin Forsett, worried he’s going to lose his starting job, sends Marshawn Lynch a big bag of some of the finest northwest weed and plants a gun in Lynch’s car.

11. Matt Hasselbeck invites Charlie Whitehurst over for dinner and then coats the front steps in oil, in hopes the heir apparent slips and injures himself.

10. Chester Pitts spends the bye week in the trainer’s room after he strains his back unpacking his suitcase for the umpteenth time.

9. Julius Jones updates his resume and finally signs up for LinkedIn.

8. John Schneider takes a break from constantly revamping the roster to finally update his fantasy football team.

7. Pete Carroll ignores the criticism over his trick plays and draws up 24 more for their upcoming game against the Bears. Get ready for the Statue of Liberty, double reverse, halfback pass.

(more…)

A lot of Seattle’s players performed well, and most of the starters played the entire first half of the game. Most importantly, the Seahawks escaped without any serious injuries – Chris Spencer, however, did suffer a quadriceps injury.

Just like last week, here is a rundown of the good, bad, and ugly performances from the game against the Denver Broncos:

THE GOOD

Nick Reed: I think it is safe to say that the undersized defensive end from Oregon has played his way onto Seattle’s 53-man roster. Again, Reed was an absolute machine on the field. He recorded three tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a blocked punt. It will be extremely difficult for Tim Ruskell and the front office to find a good reason not to keep Reed on the roster entering the regular season.

Matt Hasselbeck: Hasselbeck had an extremely efficient night, regardless of the constant pressure and beating he was forced to endure. He completed 69.5 percent of his passes, throwing for 171 yards and two touchdowns. His two touchdown passes were both perfectly thrown, including a 34-yard bomb to rookie wide receiver Deon Butler. Hasselbeck also guided Seattle to a touchdown drive right before the first half expired, connecting with T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the corner of the end zone.

Deon Butler: After a complete no-show the previous week, Butler returned to make several plays against the Denver Broncos. He reeled in a perfect 34-yard pass from Hasselbeck in the first quarter from for a touchdown, and later made a great diving catch on third and long to extend a drive. Butler finished the night with 47 receiving yards.

Justin Forsett: Forsett was the most effective back on Saturday, displaying his versatility and quickness against Denver. Although he only averaged 2.5 yards per carry, Forsett had seven catches, good for 58 yards receiving. He showed that he is extremely effective on screens, and usually won’t go down after initial contact is made. Forsett has all the moves, and will likely have an opportunity to contribute this season.

Jon Ryan: Again, Jon Ryan proved that he is more than capable of handling the punting duties for the Seahawks. Of his seven punts, three were downed inside the 20-yard line. His long of 52 yards was no match for the previous week’s 77 yarder, but he was efficient and displayed good strength the entire game.

C.J. Wallace: In a crowded defensive backfield, C.J. Wallace is making a case for a spot on the 53-man roster. With the starting safeties pretty much established, the other players will have to show their worth on special teams. Wallace made a couple of big hits and performed well in kick coverage, and even forced a fumble late in the third quarter. Although he may not have the future potential that Jamar Adams or Courtney Greene have at safety, Wallace could be more valuable to Seattle now.

THE BAD

Brandon Coutu: Coutu actually had another efficient night kicking field goals, making every field goal attempted (two) with a long of 52 yards. Unfortunately for Coutu, his accuracy and power on field goals isn’t helping the team on kickoffs. He needs to display more distance on his kicks; Coutu kicked the ball off five times, and none of them were touchbacks. In fact, of his five kicks, only one was fielded inside of Denver’s five yard line.

T.J. Duckett: With Julius Jones out with a minor leg injury, Duckett was given the opportunity on Saturday to prove that he is more than just a short-yardage back. Oops. Duckett was ineffective at best, and doesn’t seem like a back who can shoulder a lot of carries. He appeared sluggish and unable, averaging only 2.8 yards on six carries.

THE UGLY

Sean Locklear: Like Duckett, injuries have allowed Locklear the opportunity to prove himself in a new role – Walter Jones’ injuries forced Locklear over to left tackle. Unfortunately for the Seahawks and Matt Hasselbeck, Locklear looked terrible against the Broncos. He failed to recognize a stunt by the opposing defense that resulted in a sack. He appeared hopeless against outside speed, and was even bull rushed by opposing defenders. It became very apparent after Saturday’s game that Sean Locklear is not Walter Jones.

Jordan Kent: Kent has all of the physical tools to be a successful wide receiver: height, long arms, speed, and quickness. Unfortunately for Seattle, it hasn’t translated into success on the field. Kent has a good opportunity to make the team, but he needs to make plays and separate himself from the competition. So far, not good: one catch for eight yards in San Diego, and zero catches on Saturday against the Broncos.