Oct 13, 2012; Shreveport, LA, USA; Texas A

One of the biggest and most common questions that I keep being asked is: “Why did the Seahawks use their top pick on a RB, when they already have Lynch and Turbin, and when there were bigger needs on the roster?”

The answer to that question is a complex one. Part of it has to do with the talent that was available, but was clearly not the deciding factor here. Christine Michael is an amazing talent, but it is difficult to make a case for him being definitely better some of the other players who were available.

From the interviews given by both Pete Carroll and John Schneider, and from what we know of the team’s contract situation, we know that all three of the below factors contributed to the decision to draft Michael. I just have no idea which of these 3 factors weighed most heavily in this choice. 

The Team’s Offensive Identity

Russell Wilson may be the face of the franchise, but Marshawn Lynch is still the identity of the offense. Everything the Seahawks do is based around his ability to run the football.

So what would happen if Lynch was injured and had to miss time? Robert Turbin’s acquisition a year ago gave the team some insurance against this, but not enough. If Turbin was forced to into the starting lineup, there wouldn’t be anyone to pick up his old share of the carries.

The team would also be be just 1 nasty hit away from not having it’s identity anymore. Likely, if either Lynch or Turbin were injured, the Seahawks would be forced to run less to try and avoid a 2nd injuy, and thus would put more pressure on the defense and Wilson in order to win games.

Michael provides the team with a 3rd option, which will remove all concerns about the team’s ability to stick to it’s running identity if there is an injury.

Keeping Marshawn Healthy

Lynch came to Seattle in 2010 with a nagging back issue that has never gone away. He already doesn’t practice on Wednesdays in an effort to manage the condition. In 2011, Lynch missed the Cleveland game unexpectedly when his back flared up on him unexpectedly on game day. 

Lynch also wore down in 2012 in a way. While his overall yards and yards per carry remained high, his yards after contact dropped as the year went on.

Having Michael take carries away from Lynch throughout the year will help keep Lynch healthy and ready to unleash his “beast mode” once the playoffs begin.

Future Cost Reduction

The upcoming cap problems for the Seahawks are well documented. Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas are going to be paid very well, and the money to pay those 3 is going to have to come from other positions.

Lynch is still among the best in the backs in the NFL, but in 2 years he’s likely to be on the decline. At that time, the team will be able to save $7.5 million in cap room if they choose to move on from him to a younger option.

The problem with that idea is that Lynch is such a huge part of this offense. There’s no way the team can make that decision unless the back who’ll replace him is already on the team and has proven he can get the job done.

Getting Michael on the roster now gives the team a chance to evaluate him and make the final call on whether or not he can truly be the heir to Seahawk’s running game.

January 19, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; West running back Christine Michael of Texas A&M

The Seahawks have finally made their first pick in the 2013 draft. It just took until the final pick of the second round to get here. With that pick, Seattle took Christine (pronounced Chris-TIN) Michael, a running back from Texas A&M. Chances are you’re wondering who the hell that is. Allow me to enlighten you.

According to NFL.com, Michael’s strengths include a “low center of gravity” but with a “thickness throughout his frame to take and give out punishment.” He has more speed than one would think when he is able to break open as well. Overall, Michael is a bruiser that will be a nice compliment to Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin. Both Lynch and Turbin are hard to bring down, and Lynch will occasionally level a tackler, but Michael has the ability to straight damage some defenders. Michael is also a good blocker that is able to lead the ball into the second level.

According to CBS Sports, Michael started 2012 rated by some as the “top senior running back in the country.” Attitude issues, however, took him out of the starting role, and the spotlight, which is probably a big reason he was relatively unknown and is yet another “what the what” pick by Pete Carroll and John Schneider.

Michael has had injury issues and missed the ends of both his sophomore and junior year. He broke his right leg in 2010 and the following season he tore his ACL. However, in 13 games he ran for 1,530 yards and 12 touchdowns. If he can check his attitude issues at the door and stay healthy, Michael should have an opportunity to contribute greatly in Seattle.

If Seattle starts utilizing a running back by committee approach it could be a very different dynamic on offense and make them harder to prepare for and defend. Diversity is a killer.

Another thing that I just thought of is whether or not Seattle might consider lining up Michael at full back and getting all three backs (Lynch, Turbin, and Michael) on the field at the same time. This could also give Seattle more flexibility when it comes to dealing with Michael Robinson’s contract.

This pick could also have fantasy implications as it might limit carries by Lynch.

No matter what, I think we should all get #inpcjswetrust trending because I expect a lot more unexpected picks out of Seattle for the rest of the draft.

Dec 12, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) reacts after scoring on a 16-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

It just might be. It’ll be tough to convince most fans of the Seattle Seahawks that it’s not, but what about the rest of the NFL fans? Turns out the rest aren’t as impressed.

The “bracketology” on NFL.com has lined up the 64 greatest NFL plays of all time and had them compete in head to head matchups over the past few weeks. Only 4 remain.

A pair of 3 seeds are matched up for the right to go to the finals: Marshawn Lynch’s “beast quake” run and Steven Young’s crazy TD scramble vs the Vikings in 1988.

In all honesty, both plays are amazing.

Ultimately though, I have to give the nod to Lynch and the Beast Quake. The fan’s reaction at Qwest (now CenturyLink) was so huge it was recorded as an earthquake at the University of Washington (hence the “Beast Quake” name). Yes, that’s me being a Seahawks homer. It’s also because there’s a difference in the stage.

Lynch’s run was in the playoffs vs. the defending Super Bowl champions. That run was the exclamation point on the arrival of the Seahawks as a contender under Pete Carroll. Steve Young’s run happened in October. Nothing that happens in October, no matter how amazing, is bigger than a playoff statement like the Beast Quake.

As of the time I’m writing this, Steve Young’s TD has a huge lead.

Voting ends tomorrow. So if you want to see the Beast Quake immortalized as the best single play in NFL history, you better get over there and vote. (Seriously, click the above link and vote! just do it!)

Oh, and here’s the Beast Quake in video form, because we can never possibly see it too many times.

Dec 2, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) breaks a tackle by Chicago Bears strong safety Major Wright (21) to score a touchdown during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve all heard and talked about a lot of things since Percy Harvin was acquired by Pete Carroll and Co. about a month ago. Everybody’s been talking about what a deep threat he presents to Russell Wilson, how he will help the receiving corps stretch the field and make Sydney Rice even more effective in one-on-one situations and the formations/unique options he presents to the coaching staff. We’ve even discussed how he helps the run game by getting the ball from the backfield and how his running back skills will change the Seahawks’ run game.

Lest we forget, the more some things change, the more they must stay the same. Such is the case in Seattle. Yes, Harvin presents all of that trick-ability, smoke, mirrors and raw electricity when all of that ends with his hands on the ball. But overuse of even the terrific Percy Harvin will not be good for the Seahawks. He’s not here to take over the show, it’s already really good without him. He’s here to add the whip cream and even the cherry to the banana split. That’s right baby, he’s here to add that flavor!

October 14, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin (12) runs with the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 38-26. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Pete Carroll said (I believe during the press conference introducing Harvin) that the Seahawks plan to pass more this upcoming season because Russell is obviously farther along and they kept the shackles on him a little bit early. Just like the rest of the 12th Man should be concerned by that, I’m really not sure that’s wise with the weapons the Seahawks possess at running back, not including Percy. Even with all of the hype (and even though I kinda dismissed it), the statement when it was made automatically scared me, a lot. If his arrival means the end of the running game as it is, Seattle won’t be better off, it’s that simple.

Not to worry though because after careful consideration of the context in which the statement was made, I don’t believe Carroll meant to say that the Seahawks were going to move away from the run game, even mostly. In fact I’m now convinced he doesn’t actually want to pass the ball more in their overall scheme. What I think what he meant to say is that the Hawks will not HAVE to run when they don’t want to or can’t afford to, especially early in the season like they did last year.

But don’t get it twisted, this team is built to be a run-first outfit with Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin needing the ball in their hands. Again, they need the ball in their hands. NEED! I do think that Turbin in particular will get more involved after his small breakout at the end of his rookie season. It will be a great addition to Beast Mode’s production and Turbin’s ability to catch the ball is going to become as important as any other part of the offense on third down.

Here’s the biggest factor for me, all of that Harvin talk and the ability to do a thousand things with him and all this is going to make Marshawn more dangerous than ever before per carry, because he’ll likely be facing one less defender in the box on a much more regular basis. What’s that mean? Well, Beast Mode will be seeing the ball a whole heck of a lot, which is great for the Seahawks!

What do you think 12′s, does Marshawn come close to his 1,590 yards on 315 carries that ranked 3rd in both categories among running backs last season, in 2013? More pressingly, how important is it that he does approach that mark to protect Russ, even with all of the outside weapons now stockpiling?

January 25, 2013; Ko Olina, HI, USA; Hawaiian hostesses Aureana Tseu (far left) and U

The Seattle Seahawks have stolen the stage during the offseason by signing Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, and trading for wide receiver Percy Harvin. Seattle added these three players to an already lethal squad that includes Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Zach Miller, and of course Russell Wilson. Seattle finished the 2012-2013 season in a gut wrenching loss to the Atlanta Falcons, losing a slim lead in the last 30-seconds to a Matt Bryant field goal. A lot of hype is headed Seattle’s way after adding the trio, and some are calling them the team to beat for the 2013-2014 NFL Season.

The addition of Percy Harvin has made Seattle even better on offense. Harvin will give Seattle a much needed deep threat at the wide receiver position that they lacked during Pete Carroll’s three first years in Seattle. Harvin also gives Seattle another element in the zone-read option. He often lined up as running back during his time at Florida with Tim Tebow. Minnesota also used Harvin at running back on third down situations.  The addition of Harvin also takes pressure off of Sidney Rice, and Golden Tate, and will give Russell Wilson another weapon who will haul in a lot of receptions, and be able to gain yards after the catch, much like Golden Tate was able to last year.

On the defensive side of the ball Seattle has added defensive end Cliff Avril, and Michael Bennett who can play tackle and defensive end much like Jason Jones was able to do last year for Seattle. These two combined for 18.5 sacks last year, add that to Seattle’s total of 36 last year that is a total of 54.5 sacks.  I find it hard to believe Seattle will be able to rack up that many total sacks, especially with Chris Clemons, who led the Seahawks in sacks last year with 11.5, is recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in the playoffs, and may not be ready for the 2013 NFL season. However it is not hard to believe with the growth of rookie defensive ends Bruce Irvin and Greg Scruggs that those two can’t add to their sack total. Irvin led all rookies with eight sacks, and fellow rookie Greg Scruggs totaled just two sacks in a very limited role. I expect both players to up their sack totals next year.  I see no reason Seattle can’t get at least 42 sacks which would put them in the top half of the league.

Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks to Russell Wilson (3) against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter in the NFC divisional playoff game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

In the latter part of the 2012 season Seattle arguably played better than any other team in the league. They dominated on offense and defense, and showed little overall weakness. A slow start in the playoff game against the Falcons led to the end of the season for Seattle, despite outscoring Atlanta 28 to 10 in the second half. Seattle is now one of the most complete teams in the NFL, with two deep threats at wide receiver, one of the best running backs in the league, and a young roster. Seattle is bringing back every starter on offense, and nine of eleven starters on defense. It is logical to think this team is only going to be better.

Some fans are calling this team the “Dream Team.” Is it true? Is Seattle the best team in the league, and the team everybody else does not want to play? Is Seattle the most talented team in the entire league? My quick answer to all three of these questions is simply, yes. I am, however, scared of a team that originally dubbed themselves the “Dream Team” (something no Seattle player has done, which I am very thankful for). The team I am speaking of is the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles, like the Seahawks, brought in big-name players to a team that went 10-6 the year before, and had one of the most lethal quarterbacks in the NFL in Michael Vick. They had a seasoned coach in Andy Reid.

The Eagles decided to add to an already potent roster and brought in All-Pro corner back Nnamdi Asomogha, former Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Babin and veteran defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins. Philadelphia also added former first round picks Ronnie Brown and Vince Young. The talented roster, along with these new additions, formed what was supposed to be the “Dream Team,” as Vince Young famously called them.

What happened to this so called Dream Team? A 11-5 NFL football team, ended up going 8-8. Poor coaching and management of the team by Andy Reid is the simple answer. Andy Reid made the mistake of hiring Juan Castillo, who coached the offensive line, to become his defensive coordinator. I failed to see the logic in this at the time and still do.

Dec 18, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA;Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo during warmups prior to playing the New York Jets at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Jets 45-19. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Reid also tried to buy himself a championship team, something you can’t do in the NFL He added a lot of high priced guys who did not fit with his or his staff’s system. Injuries to Michael Vick also led to the demise of the Eagles’ season but that should also be blamed on Reid. He failed to give his franchise quarterback a stable offensive line to protect him. I highly doubt this fate will be Seattle’s. The Seahawks go into 2013 with the same coaching staff besides defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who became the head coach in Jacksonville. Pete Carroll replaced him with Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who worked as Seattle’s defensive line coach from 2009-2010.  As long as Seattle stays with the system they have run under Carroll, I see no reason why the defense should suffer with the arrivals of Avril, Bennett, and Dan Quinn.

The 2007 New England Patriots also used free agency to improve an already talented team who went 12-4 the year before. The result turned into a 16-0 regular season and a loss in the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.

The Patriots’ first move in the offseason before 2007 was trading for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Wes Welker, giving up a 2^nd and 7^th round draft pick to acquire the veteran pass catcher. The Patriots continued to boost a wide receiving group that lacked explosiveness and signed free agent wide receiver Donte Stallworth.  New England finished off by adding Randy Moss. The end result was a 16-0 season and both Brady and Moss shattered the touchdown record for their respected positions on the football field.  Moss was the biggest risk as many felt he played lazy and uninspired football during his stint with Oakland. Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick was able to keep the talented wide receiver happy. All three wide receivers contributed greatly to the season. Moss finished the season with 98 receptions, 1493 yards, and 23 touchdowns. Welker had 112 receptions, 1175 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Donte Stallworth finished his season with 46 receptions, 697 yards, and three touchdowns.  Spending in free agency can work if you have a good coach, stability at the quarterback, and a solid franchise. The Patriots clearly had that. The Eagles, well they are still looking.

So will the Seahawk’s season end in flames like the Eagles’, or will it end in record breaking success like the Patriots. I feel somewhere in between. I do not believe Russell Wilson will throw for 50 touchdowns, or that Harvin will haul in 21 touchdown receptions, or even 112 receptions. The team is too balanced for that to happen. Nor do I believe they will go 16-0 at the moment. I do believe, however, they can achieve something the 2007 New England Patriots were not able to, and that is a Super Bowl. I do believe this Seattle team is the Dream Team and team to beat for the 2013 NFL season.

Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (95) and Peria Jerry (94) tackles Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) during the second quarter in the NFC divisional playoff game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Here is the LINK to NFL.com that carries a better explanation of the rule that has everybody up in arms right now. Watch and listen to the video on that page it explains from the committee where they are going with it, and it’s great if you ask me.

Listen, as a fan I understand the complaint on this rule. But I don’t think the rule is being understood all that well. It’s not that a running back cannot attack a defender, even with his helmet leading into the defender. For example the Marshawn run featured above would not be a penalty… ever!

The rule (should) come into effect only in those rare instances when there is a 1-on-1, non-imminent collision in the open field (outside of the tackle box) and the running back launches himself to the chin/face of the defender. He doesn’t have to leave the ground, but when the back intentionally uses the CROWN OF HIS HELMET to dislodge the defender. It also protects (to some extent) defenders that are easing up, trying to avoid a late hit on the sidelines.

Basically that rare hit that everyone would cringe at and say “GOD that was dangerous, I hope either player is ok” (again OUTSIDE of the tackle box) is what the League is trying to eliminate. The problem with lowering your head is that it completely exposes your vertebrae and paralysis becomes a major possibility with momentum, especially if you get pulled to the ground and your neck is still bent downward. Trying to eliminate that to an extent is something I’m all for! But even in the instance of little Jacquizz Rodgers truck-sticking Earl Thomas in the NFC Divisional game, it wouldn’t be a penalty, because it happened inside the tackle box.

I don’t believe I’ve seen a Marshawn hit yet that should be called a penalty under the new rule. He uses his helmet but rarely in a 1-on-1 situation in the open field. He’d rather hit you with his entire upper body, run you over and keep trucking down the field. That should be entirely legal in all instances, according to the clarification by the league officials, as stated in that video. It’s also been stated that in a situation where the running back is trying to get across the goal line or the first down marker or taking on multiple defenders, unless it’s INTENTIONAL it should not be called. It’s supposed to save a “defenseless” defender from receiving an UNNECESSARY facial that could result in injury. If it’s a necessary maneuver it’s supposed to be deemed “incidental”.

A play that you could point to as a penalty under this new rule would be back in the Chicago/Seattle game, when Michael Robinson (FB) caught a ball in the flats and ducked his head, knocking out the defender on the sideline.

How that will play out in the eyes of the referee is to be determined, but the rule is not a bad rule, it’s a good rule and should also save a running back who would otherwise lower his head and result in instant concussion. Will it be applied well? Maybe not immediately, but hopefully sooner than later.

January 27, 2013; Honolulu, HI, USA; NFC quarterback Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks (3) runs past a tackle attempt by AFC defensive tackle Geno Atkins of the Cincinnati Bengals (97) in the third quarter during the 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. The NFC defeated the AFC 62-35. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson competed eight of ten passes for 98 yards, and threw for three touchdowns.  Marshawn Lynch scored a touchdown and led all rushers with a modest 21-yards.  Leon Washington added a 92-yard kickoff return to set up a score. Earl Thomas also contributed with an interception. Max Unger and Russell Okung provided solid protection. In the end, the NFC put up a record number of points in the 62-35 victory.

In fact, the NFC dominated in all three phases of the game, offense, defense and special teams.  They scored six passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and two field goals.

Jan 26, 2013, Honolulu, HI, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) flips on his head as Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) watches in the 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

In the face of criticism, the players seemed to play with an appropriate mix of caution and competition.  The game also included some fun all-star moments. Russell Wilson connected with Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown pass.  Earlier in the game, JJ Watt lined up as a receiver but failed to catch either of his two targets.

While the stakes were still lower than some fantasy football games, it was fun to watch.  The broadcast included scenic shots from Hawaii and several on-field interviews. It was also a chance to see some of this year’s players get a bit of recognition for their hard work.

Jan 26, 2013, Honolulu, HI, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles during the 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. The NFC defeated the AFC 62-35. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Wilson is the most notable. He threw 3 TD passes with 0 picks leading the NFC to the win. His 147.1 rating was the highest of any of the 6 QBs who played in the game.

Most people believe he should have been named the games MVP, but that award went to Minnesota TE Kyle Rudolph. I wasn’t surprised though; leagues never seem to give rookies the MVP award for any all-star game no matter how well they play.

Marshawn Lynch added a TD and led all rushers. Leon Washington had 167 kick return yards including a 92 yarder that set up a score. Left tackle Russell Okung and center Max Unger both dominated. Even safety Earl Thomas shined in this game. He had an interception and a key pass breakup to go along with his 2 tackles.

Unlike recent ProBowl games, the defensive effort in this game was decent. You might not think that from the 97 total points scored, but it’s true. The AFC averaged just 1.4 yards rushing, and the NFC averaged just 2.9. There were also 6 sacks in this game, 3 by each team. Considering that blitzing and stunting is forbidden, and the games best offensive linemen are in the game, that’s an impressive sack total.

Notably absent from this game was Richard Sherman. The league’s best CB and first team All-Pro was not on the ProBowl roster for reasons that simply make no sense.

Jan 28, 2012; Honolulu, HI, USA; NFC quarterback Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers (1) hands off to NFC running back Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks (24) during the NFC practice on Ohana Day at the 2012 Pro Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Six Seattle Seahawks are headed to the Pro Bowl this year. The big question that everyone is asking is, “Does anybody care?” Last year’s players were accused of not competing, not playing hard enough, and basically playing a boring game. It resulted in a 59 to 41 AFC victory. Earlier this season, when asked about his Prow Bowl snub, Seattle’s own Richard Sherman seemed indifferent. He stated only that he wanted to be listed on the all-pro team.

In fact, criticism of the NFL’s all star game has grown so strong that there has been speculation that Roger Goodell may cancel future Pro Bowls if this year’s game is a flop. If he did, it would be a shame for the NFL’s youngest fans, the kids, who really believe that watching their heroes in an all star game is an exciting event.

My strongest memory of the Prow Bowl was in 1995. That year, Seahawks’ running back Chris Warren broke the Prow Bowl record for yards in a game at 127. Soon after that, his own AFC teammate, Marshall Faulk (then of the Indianapolis Colts) broke Warrens record by gaining 180 yards. Yes, the same record went down twice in one game by players from the same team.

I was young that year, and knew more about NCAA football than I did about NFL football. Maybe that was why I was so excited to see a Seattle player take a record in a bowl game. Then, when Marshall Faulk topped Warren’s record, I felt like I would feel years later when Shaun Alexander lost his share of the single season TD title to LaDainian Tomlinson the next season.

Jan 24, 2013; Honolulu, HI, USA; Seattle Seahawks center Max Unger (60) at NFC practice for the 2013 Pro Bowl at Hickam air force base. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

On Sunday, Marshawn Lynch, Russell Wilson, Earl Thomas, and Leon Washington all have chances to put their names in the record books. All though, for Russell Wilson to get in the record books, he would have to put up impressive individual numbers. Peyton Manning owns most quarterback career marks. Perhaps playing behind his linemen Max Unger and Russell Okung will work to Wilson’s advantage.

It is true that some fans may be turned away from the Pro Bowl by the lack of hard hits, the no-blitz-allowed rule, mandatory 4-3 defense, Maddenesque scoring, and overall lack of competitiveness. There is still potential for some good performances by the best players that the NFL had to offer this season; at least the players not playing in the Super Bowl. In a way, the next two weeks are like a curtain call. The supporting cast coming out to take their bow first, and the biggest stars coming out to play one more game for the title.

In addition to the game itself, the event has always been a nice event for the city of Honolulu, and the State of Hawaii. If Seattle fans feel isolated having their team playing in the northwest, imagine how Hawaian fans feel being so far removed from the rest of the country as to not have a team.

Not only is the Pro Bowl a good chance to involve Hawaii in the world of professional football, this year, the league is reaching out across the pacific. The NFL is using the Pro Bowl weekend to help promote American football in Japan. To help strengthen the bond between American Football and Japanese American Football, the Pro Bowl squads will feature practices at Pearl Harbor, and coaching exchanges with Japanese coaches.

Jan 24, 2013; Honolulu, HI, USA; General view of NFC practice for the 2013 Pro Bowl at Hickam air force base. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Believe it or not, football is actually played in Japanese high schools, colleges, and they have a semi-pro league that features a mix of Japanese and international players. Their championship is now called the X-bowl, and dates back to 1987. For the big picture of the growth of American football, building this international connection can only be seen as a positive.

While the Ichiro of football still may be a few generations away, this weekends prow bowl is dominated by American players. At the end of the day, the bloated statistics, and fanfare in Hawaii may not be as exciting as the Harbaugh brothers playing chess in between rounds of million dollar commercials. However, it is still football, and I’m going to watch it. Let’s hope that the players put on a good show, and that our Seattle Seahawks players give us something to cheer for.

Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) warms up before the NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

As the season comes to an end, it comes time to reflect on not only what happened in 2012 but Seattle’s outlook for the future. I suppose I could save you and I some time and say that the outlook is “bright” and/or “good” but I tend to be a more thorough person than that. When looking into the crystal ball at a team’s future you have to evaluate their “core”. If the core is too old or too flawed then the team is likely to struggle down the road, unless it can find new core players, probably in the draft, to build around.

When we talk about the core and core players it’s hard to know exactly what it is we are talking about. Usually a core player is someone worth building around; someone you know is going to stick around for a while. As is always the case, the contract is almost as important as the talent level. It’s hard to think of someone as part of the core of your team if they have an expiring contract, unless the plan is to franchise tag them every year like the Seahawks did with Walter Jones for a time. To summarize, the two major criteria for a core player are talent and a contract.

That being said it has always been a bit of a feel thing for me. Similar to how some players feel like Hall of Famers and some don’t even when their objective differences might be slight. That ambiguity is why I’ve developed a mental exercise to determine who the core of this team is. I simply ask myself, “would I consider buying that X player’s jersey?” and if the answer is yes they are probably a core piece. This is particularly pertinent to my life at the moment as my most up-to-date Seahawks jerseys are a Ken Hamlin jersey and a Shaun Alexander jersey. I understand that everyone has their own thoughts on jerseys and some people just buy their favorite player’s jersey but considering the expense, and my desire for the jersey to remain current for as long as possible, I’ve always considered it a big commitment/something worth putting a lot of thought into. In the case of Ken Hamlin I gambled and lost (largely due to very unfortunate circumstances) in 2005, thinking he was a core Seahawk coming out of his 2^nd year on the way up. I don’t want to get burned again.

As a result this article can either be seen as identifying/evaluating the Seahawks’ core or a column on jersey buying advice. Whatever floats your boat….. We’ll start on offense.

OFFENSE

Firstly, I’d put a disclaimer that I haven’t included o-lineman here, mainly because very few people seem to buy those jerseys. That being said Okung and Unger are both absolutely jersey worthy core players but if I had to choose I’d go with Unger because of his less scary injury history.

Russell Wilson: Wilson was the 4^th ranked passer in the NFL as a rookie. He also was ranked 4^th in the all-important yards per attempt statistic. He tied the rookie record for TD passes, without setting any records for interceptions like a certain Peyton Manning did. Wilson was also a fantastic runner which opened up some deadly read-option looks for this offense. His game isn’t perfect and he may suffer through some struggles down the road and a little bit of regression to the mean but I can’t conceive of a single reason not to not only consider him part of Seattle’s core but its most important part and to be very happy about this fact. Gushing over. Verdict: I would be proud to don his jersey.Wilson is the present and future.

Marshawn Lynch- To put it succinctly Lynch is a definite yes. Even so, running backs break down like it’s nobody’s business and Lynch does take a pounding so it’s not as much of a slam dunk as you might think. The thing is his accomplishments with the Seahawks so far and his superstar Beast Quake moment are already so legendary that his jersey would be a credible one to own 20 years from now even if he had a career ending injury tomorrow. In terms of his real life value to the Seahawks, he is under contract for three more years and is still in his prime (26) so he’s very much a core piece. Verdict: Yup.

Sidney Rice- Now we are out of the obvious candidates things get a little bit tricky. Rice is 26, he’s under contract for 3 more years, he’s Seattle’s #1 receiver and he’s good so all signs point to a yes here. The problem is twofold. Firstly, Rice has been immensely injury prone and that could severely alter his career path making your Rice jersey look foolish in the years ahead. Secondly, wide receiver is a position group that the Seahawks are trying to improve, probably fairly aggressive and possibly with the addition of another big-ticket free agent acquisition like Dwayne Bowe. It’s not so much that Rice is likely to be displaced or dislodged as there is a risk his importance diminishes over time. The development of Golden Tate could also be a factor. Verdict: Rice is a great receiver, but I can’t bring myself to confidently identify him as a core player for the Seahawks or purchase his jersey. Which hurts because I really like Rice.

Honorable Mention: Golden Tate- Although Tate is two years younger than Rice and seemingly on the way up you are banking heavily on a fair amount of additional development by calling him a core player. Also he hasn’t signed a contract extension and has yet to reach the level of value to the team wherein said extension is an inevitability.

DEFENSE

Richard Sherman- There is a strong argument to be made that Richard Sherman is the best player on the Seahawks and at 24 he’s clearly a core piece for the future. My only concern is that he is only under contract for two more years but he’s a player that I’d seriously consider extending this off-season even though the first team all-pro has so much leverage coming off a great year. I think a deal gets done; I’m not suuuure I’d buy the jersey until it does but that’s probably overly cautious on my part. Verdict: Love Sherman, he’s incredibly important to the club and his jersey is a must-own.

Earl Thomas- Everything that I just said about Sherman applies to Thomas. Thomas is actually younger at 23 even though he has played an additional year in the NFL. He is a two time Pro Bowler at 23 and despite being posterized by Jacquizz Rodgers last week is an essential core piece. Same contract situation as Sherman although his lofty draft status has him far better compensated at this moment, likely making an extension less of a priority. Verdict: Earl Thomas is a fantastic player and wearing his name on your back will only make you a better person by extension.

Bobby Wagner- He’s already a great anchor for this defense and there is no reason why he shouldn’t get better and better with experience. An underrated find by Pete Carroll and Co. Absolutely a core player and not a free agent until 2016. One of the best players on arguably the best defense in the league already. Verdict: Buy the damn jersey

Brandon Browner: Although controversial in his playing style Browner has been undeniably effective since making the leap from the CFL to the NFL. He does play second fiddle to Sherman to an extent but is a Pro Bowl corner in his own right coming out of only his second year. This all sounds promising but there are two issues. One is that Browner turns 29 this year playing a position at which it is difficult to age gracefully. The second is that his contract only takes him through 2013 (to be fair he’ll be an RFA after).Browner is going to command big money, money that the Seahawks may well be saving for Richard Sherman. I can’t say with a great deal of confidence that Browner will be in Seattle in 3 years and even if he is he will be 31 and likely not quite what he once was. Great player, not a core player. Verdict: I’d steer clear of a Browner jersey, though you could do a lot worse.

Kam Chancellor: My personal favorite Seahawk. This one hurts. Chancellor is only 24 and has a Pro Bowl berth to his name in 2011. The problem is he’s only signed through 2013 (followed by UFA unlike Browner), I’m inclined to think that he’ll get an extension but unfortunately that isn’t the only problem. At this point I’m not exactly sure how good Kam Chancellor is. Aside from a couple of highlight reel hits he wasn’t a big factor in 2012. Chancellor did very little in coverage this year with his INT’s falling from 4 in 2011 to 0 in 2012 and his PD’s dropping from 12 to 4. He wasn’t a liability he just wasn’t a game changer. Verdict: My heart says, “yes, yes, yes, yes, yes” and my head says, “no”. Regardless if I see someone in a Chancellor jersey my going in assumption is that we will be best friends.

Honorable Mentions: Basically every starter on defense was considered here but most had enough red flags to not be worth delving too far into. Here’s a quick summary.

Chris Clemons- too old, current nasty injury

Red Bryant- not a game changer this year, not convinced they won’t dump his hefty contract at some point

K.J Wright & Brandon Mebane- check all the boxes in theory but neither are quiteee good enough. As I said this is a bit of a feel thing.

Bruce Irvin- too large a range of outcomes for his career, still a complementary player

Overall there are a lot more options on defense than offense which really shouldn’t come at a surprise given the way this team is designed. At the end of the day we wind up with a “core” of Wilson, Lynch, Wagner, Sherman and Thomas, to which you can add Unger and Okung.  None of these players are above the age of 26 and 5 of the 7 have made Pro Bowls. That sounds like a pretty impressive core not only for 2013 but for many many more years as well. Not only are these players in their prime but they are also still developing and getting better. I’m not sure if you guys know this but this Seahawks team is really good, and it’s going to be really good for a while. Having done all this I don’t know which jersey I would buy, but that’s sort of a first world problem. The fact there are too many great players on my favorite team is something I can live with.

Jan 6, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; A Washington Redskins fan sits in the stands after the Redskins

That was an excellent win. I can’t lie and said I felt good about it the whole time, though. During the first quarter, make that first three quarters, my tension levels were through the roof. Seattle goes down 14-0. Then blows some red zone opportunities and goes into half-time 14-13. Yes, they caught up. But place kicker Steven Hauschka was hurt and Seattle seemed inconsistent on offense. For some reason the zone-read was used intermittently for whatever reason and Russell Wilson missed a few wide open receivers downfield. Fortunately, Seattle’s defense must have smelled some coffee and decided to wake up and Washington wasn’t able to score for the rest of the game.

Michael Robinson and Zach Miller decided to have amazing games and show why they are both integral parts of the Seahawks team. In my opinion the game ball would have to go to one of those two guys. Russell Wilson did well but there were a few plays where he held onto the ball to long and scrambled for a sack instead of just throwing the ball away. I had to force images of Tarvaris Jackson out my head in those instances.

Marshawn Lynch also had a good game rushing for over 100 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, he also fumbled to ball on the one yard line but at least partially made up for it with his one-handed fumble recovery and 18 yard rush after Wilson lost the ball. He must have just seen a giant Skittle bouncing around and wasn’t going to let it get away. It was so smooth it was kind of ridiculous to watch. Lynch didn’t even break stride.

I also loved watching Big Red Bryant chase after Robert Griffin. Griffin managed to scramble for a gain of a yard, but the effort put out by a man the size of Bryant to chase after Griffin was impressive. Not a fair fight but you have to love the determination.

This was Seattle’s first playoff game on the road since before I was born. That is very surprising at first because I am starting to think of myself as old and second because I am used to Seattle teams that are always at least somewhat dangerous. Then I remember that there was a long stretch in there (1988-1999) where Seattle didn’t make the playoffs at all and being a Seahawks fan was more depressing than mania inducing. That weakness on the road appears to be a thing of the past now, though.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t spend some time pissing on the legacy of one, Daniel Snyder. (Don’t worry Dan, it’s just rain.) Dan Snyder provided the worst possible playing surface he could and when Robert Griffin decided to audition for a stunt-double role in “Thiesmann: A Football Life”, it didn’t turn out so well. Griffin ended the game throwing for just 99 yards and should have been taken out at half-time. At least Griffin can look forward to a bright future of selling yet another wiener-pill.

Chris Clemons tore his ACL. Kory Lichtensteiger re-aggravated his ankle sprain. Steven Hauschka sprained his calf. Saying that the field was anything less than complete crap would be an overstatement. I guess Snyder likes his field to match his personality. The NFL and Roger Goodell have once again demonstrated that “player safety” is on par with the NCAA’s “student athlete.” (Seriously, who doesn’t laugh during March Madness when the announcers forcibly use “student athlete” to the point that it’s insulting to your own intelligence?)

Apparently “player safety” is a way for owners and the “shield” (another garbage term turned into NFL propaganda) to regulate player-on-player infractions. Owners like Daniel Snyder, on the other hand, can’t be forced to stop counting their billions and provide the same kind of surface – FieldTurf – that is now common at many high schools. Forcing owners to provide ideal conditions for their athletes isn’t worth regulating aggressively, apparently. Sure there are “rules” but they are token at best. And after players get hurt what difference does it make? I’d love to see a report showing how many injuries occur at each field.

Soldier Field in Chicago is also a terrible field but in a different way. It’s soft, lumpy, and a borderline mud pit. FedEx field is crap-grass growing out of hard dirt with some extra dirt thrown on top for aesthetics. A cleat planted in soft lumpy dirt will give a little when the player’s foot and leg twist. A cleat planted in hard-packed dirt won’t give at all. That’s how we get to see disgusting things like knees bending 90 degrees the wrong way. The warning sign should be that players have to wear ridiculously long cleats to play on a certain field. Give me a freaking break. Hopefully Dan Snyder is taking a long walk off of a short pier right now and the waters below are filled with sharks that have laser beams attached to their heads and the Sharks are all pissed off Cowboy’s fans. I almost forgot to mention that Snyder pumps artificial noise into his stadium.

I really hope Chris Clemons’ injury is better than they are currently thinking. I feel bad that a guy who has busted his ass all year gets done in by the greed and negligence of another team’s owner in the first game of the playoffs. Never mind the fact that it hurts Seattle’s defensive line. He needs to get better because Seattle is lucky enough to play in Snyder’s joke of a stadium again next season!

I like our odds against Atlanta. Currently the Falcons are favored by about 2.5 points, but that might close to 1.5. Atlanta has yet to win a playoff game under Matt Ryan and Seattle has one under their belt already with Wilson. Hopefully Browner is better than he was yesterday because we’ll need him and Sherman to shut down Roddy White and Julio Jones. Anyway, those are topics for an article later this week.

2) Wear Em’ Out
- On the other side of the ball, the Redskins gave up an average of 378 yards to opposing offenses on the year. This bodes well for a peaking Seattle Offense, and its power run game. While Washington did hold opponents to just under a 100 yards per game on the ground, look for the ‘Hawks to ‘Feed the Beast’, and rely heavily on Marshawn Lynch as well as it’s vertical passing game out of play-action to keep the aging Redskins defense on the field for extended periods of time in the fridgid, bone aching cold of FedEx Field. I would look for Sidney Rice to benefit greatly in this matchup, as he must be frustrated from the lack of looks he received against St. Louis on top of the fact the Redskins pass-D has been giving up an average of almost 300 yards per game. Could be a big game for the Seahawks Wideouts.

3) Mirror-Mirror
- While there are distinct differences in schematics, and approach, the Seahawks and Redskins adopt very similar philosophies when it comes to their offensive game plans. Run the football, utilize their youth and athleticism at the Quarterback position, and maintain field position and game clock dominance. In doing this, both teams have the advantage of having seen a version of what the other team is going to be doing come Sunday, to a degree, in practice. While the Redskins utilize the Pistol formation in most of its read-option packages, the Seahawks Defense will have had a good amount of familiarity in defending this type of offense, as it does so a weekly basis at the VMAC. While both teams can claim to have this advantage, I think it can only bolster a team’s chances on the road in the playoffs.

4) Road Warriors
- The Seahawks haven’t won on the road since 1983. It’s been well documented in the lead up to the game. It’s true, winning on the road in the playoffs, let alone in the regular season, is a tough hill to climb. If the Seahawks have any chance of moving on in the tournament, they’ll have to knock down the 29 year old roadblock that stands in their way in our Nation’s Capitol. One could cite numerous occasions when a Wild Card team has ran the house on the road to end up in the Big Game. The Giants did it just recently. But it’s not commonplace. Not by a long shot. However, this Seattle team has found a new resilience, a new gusto, born in the last 2 drives in Chicago and has been with them ever since. With the Smooth Operator in Wilson at the helm, and a ferocious Defense on the road, the formula for success is in place. It’s up to the Seahawks to execute it.

5) Silence is Golden
- While the 12th Man will be represented with a strong showing in Washington D.C., it will still be a rough go for the ‘Hawks if the 85-90,000+ at FedEx Field get going in a frenzy. As is true with any road game, the deflation of any home team momentum goes a long way to the overall feel and ‘buzz’ of the game. Look for the Seahawks to get things going early with a shot or 2 down the field to muzzle the efforts of the Redskins faithful. A nice completion to a streaking Golden Tate off of play-action on 2nd and 2 would definitely put a hush on the largest capacity venue in the NFL. Hey, maybe the 12th Man will turn it into a home game of sorts for the visiting Hawks. One can only hope…Best of luck to our beloved Seahawks, and all my 12th Men and Women around the world. I 3elieve. HAWKS!!

Sep 30, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Kellen Heard (96) talks with Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (92) after the game at Edward Jones Dome. The Rams defeated the Seahawks 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle approaches their week 17 game with the Rams on Sunday with a chance to go 11-5, their best record since their magical run to the Super Bowl in 2005. The Seahawks are peaking at the right time coming off four straight wins, three of the blowout variety. The Rams are a better team than they are given credit for with a 7-7-1 record, including 4-0-1 within the NFC West. In order to preserve a perfect home record (with an asterisk) the Seahawks need to take care of business against the plucky Rams. Without further ado, here’s 2012’s last (regular season) edition of “Matchups of the Game”.

Matchup #1: Russell Wilson vs. The Rams Secondary

Russell Wilson comes into this game with 25 touchdowns through the air and needs two more to break Peyton Manning’s rookie record of 26. Given all Russell has done this year I’d like to see him get an individual accolade like that. The problem is that the Ram’s pass defense, especially in the Red Zone, can be very stingy. The Rams have only allowed 15 passing touchdowns all year while nabbing 17 interceptions. With the power of the 12th man and the way this offense has been rolling 2 touchdowns for Wilson has to be considered within reach but it’s far from a slam dunk. Russell doesn’t seem like a me-first selfish guy but I’m sure this record will cross his mind once or twice during the game. Let’s hope he gets it sealed away early on.

Matchup #2: Marshawn Lynch vs. James Laurinitis

I always like to see two of the best in the business go head-to-head and this is a classic example of one of those cases. Lynch is having an incredible season with career highs in carries, yards, and, most impressively, yards per carry (5.0 compared to a previous career high of 4.2). He has been everything one could reasonably expect and more as the battering ram that makes this Seahawks offense go. Lynch is a mortal lock to reach 1,500 yards for the season in this game (he needs 10 yards) a milestone that is rarer and rarer as most teams are no longer using pure feature backs. Laurinitis is a tackling machine who has 115 solo tackles this year which leads the league by a solid margin. He is tough as nails, smart and instinctive and just about everything you could ask for in a MLB. If Lynch is the heart and soul of the Seahawks offense then Laurinitis is the heart and soul of the Rams defense. It has the makings of an epic stalemate but in reality I just don’t see anyone stopping Beast Mode right now.

Matchup #3: Brandon Mebane vs. Robert Turner

Mebane was very explosive early in the year and really hasn’t showed as much of late. A big game going into the playoffs might get Mebane going and when he is going the Seattle defense is even more dynamic. Mebane has been a jack of all trades this year with a respectable 3 sacks and 5 quarterback hits rushing the passer as well as 4 tackles for loss and a 1.07 tackle factor suggesting quality run-stopping production. Today he has an opportunity to expand on those numbers against journeyman G Robert Turner. After spending 5 years on the Jets with only 2 starts to his credit Turner has become a full time starter for the first time this year with the Rams. A former undrafted free agent, Turner has largely stuck around due to his versatility and ability to play center. There just aren’t a lot of guys who go undrafted, sit on the bench for 5 years, and become studs, so my guess is Turner is the sort of guy Mebane can handle. If he is, it could be a field day for the Seahawk defense with Mebane causing serious disruptions to both the Rams running game and passing game.

Seattle has locked up their playoff berth and likely their seeding as well, barring a miracle win by Arizona against the 49ers. It would be easy to say that they don’t have a lot to play for in this game. I don’t think this is the case. Firstly, you don’t want to lose to a divisional opponent twice in one year. Secondly, I think remaining unbeaten at home is meaningful even if they are unlikely to play a home game from here on out. Lastly, the Seahawks have some serious momentum going at the moment that should not be jeopardized going into the playoffs. For these reasons I think the Seahawks will be motivated and effective on Sunday and end the season with a win, or more precisely, five wins.

On offense Marshawn Lynch, Max Unger, and Russell Okung were all named to the team. Okung will start at LT, which is a much deserved honor. Okung has clearly beent he best LT in the NFL this season. Unger and Lynch will both play later in the game.

The only Seahawks defender selected was Earl Thomas. Thomas is deserving, but so are many other Seattle defenders. The fact that the league’s #1 defense in terms of points allowed only has one player headed to the game is a complete joke. At the very least, Kam Chancellor and Chris Clemons should be joining him. Richard Sherman has been the best CB in the NFL this season. His exclusion is a complete travesty.

Leon Washington makes the team as well. He will be the NFC’s kick and punt return specialist.

The Pro Bowl has been garbage for over a decade now. After last season’s unwatchable debacle, the league almost removed the game entirely. At this point, I pretty believe they should. Don’t agree? read on then:

• The 10 win Seahawks and the 2 win Chiefs have the same number of players selected. ya, that makes sense.
• the 49ers defense had 6 players selected. Seattle’s defense which is better in almost every statistical category, had just 1.
• The Vikings, who’s RB is likely to break 2000 yards this season, have 0 offensive linemen selected.
• Speaking of offensive linemen, Jeff Saturday, who’s played so poorly for most of the season that he is no longer a starter, was selected.
• Eric Berry and LaRon Landry were selected at Safety for the AFC. Both have been completely awful this season.

There’s more, but that’s clearly enough for you to get the picture. The Pro Bowl is a joke.

Dec 23, 2012, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider looks at the Seahawks bench in between during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

All I can say is that waiting was the worst part. The week before this game had my nerves all twisted and blood pressure at a consistently unhealthy level. I tried to avoid conversations about football with any of my friends in San Francisco and stay focused on the game at hand. When kickoff finally rolled around I had so much adrenaline in my system that I didn’t know how to process it. Cry? Yell? Run around in circles like a jack-rabbit on amphetamines? I realize I might have taken this game way too seriously, but I can’t help it. I hate losing, as many of you probably already know. But more than just losing, I hate losing to the 49ers.

Anyway, by the time kick off finally arrived, it seemed like the game had taken on a sense of inevitability. There was just so much energy, support, and emotion behind the Seahawks that it would have taken a Herculean effort to stop the Seahawks yesterday. Even with Justin Smith I don’t think San Francisco could have taken down the Seattle team that showed up Sunday night. The fans simply would not let it happen.

Russell Wilson continued his odyssey of dismantling opposing defenses with an almost scientific precision. Marshawn Lynch continued to punish opposing linebackers and secondaries. Speaking of secondaries, ours played out of their

Dec 23, 2012, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll stands on the sideline during during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

minds. Kam Chancellor laid down the hit of the season on Vernon Davis. A completely legal hit, I’d like to add. Sherman had an interception and a recovered blocked field goal. Red Bryant had his fourth blocked kick in two years. The game was so complete that I could basically list every play and talk about how great it was.

I was worried that Colin Kaepernick’s mobility would present problems for Seattle. Especially with demonstrated weakness across the middle in various pass plays. The defensive line held strong though and on top of that they made Frank Gore look like a below average running back. Seeing Seattle beat Chicago, Green Bay, New England, and now San Francisco. I just wish I could see them play Atlanta, Houston, and Denver just so the complete set of the NFL’s top teams would be in the record.

After this game, the national media has finally started to pay attention to the wrecking ball coming out of Seattle. Russell Wilson is finally getting the attention he deserves for rookie of the year consideration. I honestly don’t especially care about individual awards such as rookie or players of the year. They’re nice but ultimately meaningless.

Aldon Smith was in the running for defensive player of the year but didn’t get a single sack against Seattle because his front man, Justin Smith, wasn’t there to block for him. Does that mean Aldon or Just in is more valuable? Anyway, if Wilson gets it, great. If not, who cares? It’s not like the sports media complex has demonstrated any sort of integrity or fairness when reporting sports in the last few years. Looking at you, ESPN. The new attention is nice but I’d rather keep the chip on the team’s shoulder and use that to steamroll their way through the post season.

Alright, that’s enough words on this great victory. Seattle has punched its ticket to the post season and I expect them to do some damage while they are there. I wish I was in the Northwest to experience this with the 12^th Man. Someday soon, hopefully.

Also want to send shout-outs to Doug Baldwin who reemerged this game and made an awesome catch in the end zone showing great spatial awareness. Also, Red Bryant for being nothing less than Big Red. And finally Chris Clemons who chased down Kaepernick to tackle him from behind on a play that wasn’t a sack but a great demonstration of his intensity and determination.