Dec 30 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn (9) checks off in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

When I heard that Seattle signed Quinn instead of Seneca Wallace or Matt Leinart, I was confused. I thought that Quinn was the least likely to be chosen.  Quinn lacks the raw foot speed of Russell Wilson. However, he does have good footwork in the pocket and is able to shuffle his feet well enough to create room.  Don’t expect Quinn to be running the ball out of the zone read option anytime soon, though.

I was comfortable with Wallace as Matt Hasselbeck’s backup. He is not great by any measure, but he has a strong arm and can make plays with his legs. He is also someone who can take care of the ball and limit mistakes.

Following the Quinn signing I had to find out more about his abilities. What did Pete Carroll see in him above Wallace, Leinart, and Thigpen? Carroll likes players who bring a unique skill set to the team. What is  Brady Quinn’s? He had flamed out in Cleveland, Denver, and Kansas City. All three teams basically said, “thanks, but no thanks.”

After doing some reading, I learned that Quinn is, in fact, very unique, at least to Carroll. In Matt Flynn, Seattle had one of the best backups in the NFL as well as a good starter. Seattle hopes Quinn will be able to share his experience with Russell, and Russell with Quinn to create a strong quarterback room.

During my research I found an interview with Quinn’s former quarterback Coach in Kansas City, Jim Zorn. In it Zorn praised Quinn for his football IQ, work ethic, and attitude. He spoke highly of Quinn’s ability to make calls at the line of scrimmage and predict what the defense is trying to do, and put the offense in a position to be successful. This carries some weight since Zorn himself was a quarterback and has coached the likes of Trent Dilfer, Matt Hasselbeck, and Joe Flacco.

While Zorn’s opinion is valuable, the fact that Quinn has not translated his skill set onto the field for an extended period of time is troubling. He has shown flashes of being a solid NFL quarterback but has yet to prove he can play consistently at a high level.

Having a solid offensive foundation in place, including an above average receiving corps, may help Quinn out. I do believe having a quarterback who is willing to talk things out with Russell Wilson will benefit both players. Flynn was not known to share Wilson’s regimen of arriving first and leaving last, which may have been a big factor in trading him. I do not believe Carroll would have signed Quinn if he felt that Quinn would be unwilling to help the growth of Russell Wilson in the film room and playing field.

My ideal quarterback situation is to have a starter who makes those around him better, and, if needed, can take games over. I believe Seattle has that in Russell Wilson. The backup must be able to competently run the offense, not make too many mistakes, and put the ball in other play-makers’ hands. In other words, play completely and comfortably within himself and the system

It remains to be seen if Quinn is a lock to be the number two quarterback behind Russell Wilson.  Josh Portis, is also a talented quarterback who Seattle likes and resigned with the team during the off-season. The NFL draft will include players such as USC’s Matt Barkley, who played under Pete Carroll for a season, and Matt Scott, who has risen up draft boards since the combine. Scott is raw as a passer, but is able to move around well, and run the same offense that was installed for Russell Wilson.

It remains to be seen whether Quinn can live up to that standard. I will be excited to see the steps he takes in preseason to better both himself and the team.

Aug 30, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Josh Portis (2) throws a pass against the Oakland Raiders at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 21-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle made another roster move Thursday night signing former quarterback Josh Portis. Seattle signed Portis to be the 3^rd string Quarterback in 2011 backup Tavaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst.  Portis then served on the practice squad last season before being let go later in the season. With the trade of Matt Flynn Seattle needed another quarterback who knew the system and decided to go with Portis.

Is Portis the quarterback Seattle feels can be the primary backup to Russell Wilson? I believe the answer is no. Portis shares many of the same skills that Wilson does, he is mobile, he can throw the ball down field and he can avoid pressure. Portis was a highly recruited Quarterback coming out of High School he attended Florida for a year before transferring to Maryland due to a lack of playing time. He was later suspended for the 2007 season due to cheating on an exam. Portis later transferred to California (PA). The fact that he was not able to find stability with a coaching staff his entire college career is concerning to me.

The problem I have with Josh Portis is he is not a great thrower in 2011 he played in three preseason games and failed to complete 50 percent of his passes coming out at an pedestrian 41.7  percent. The guy is simply not a great passer at this point and with Seattle aiming for a super bowl this year they need a backup quarterback who can move the offense. I believe if Portis gets thrown into a game that matters he will falter.

I really do like Portis as quarterback to develop for another year and see if he progresses, but the fact that Seattle was not willing to carry him on the practice squad for the entire year and another team did not take a chance on him is telling. I fully expect Seattle to sign another veteran quarterback such as Thigpen or Leinart and maybe draft a young quarterback too. Seattle needs a veteran quarterback with experience during Matt Hasselbeck’s tenure in Seattle his backups included Trent Dilfer, Brock Huard, Seneca Wallace, and Charlie Fry all Quarterbacks who had experience under their belt.

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.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

This Super Bowl was just plain weird. I didn’t really care who won, but I’m glad San Francisco lost. I don’t like Jim Harbaugh and I don’t like San Francisco fans, at least not the ones I have had contact with. (You know who you are…)  Just kidding!  Seriously!  You’re great people, really…

First its time to talk some smack.  Since the Seahawks got totally screwed by the NFL with that early morning game in Atlanta I didn’t really have a dog in this fight (so much for journalistic impartiality). The way the 49ers fans thought they deserved to be in this game after the butt whoopin’ the Hawks dropped on them in Seattle was just ignoring the truth.  The Niners backed into this game by not having to face Seattle and they know it.  Sure they beat Atlanta…barely.  Try doing that at 0-dark thirty west coast time.  If not for San Francisco’s tie against the Rams the Hawks would have had your conference title and your home game and a bye week.  San Francisco is no longer the only elite team in the west.  They have company.  But I digress…

Did anyone else go get a pedicure during the national anthem? MAN that was long! Well done, but tooooo looooong.  And that whole halftime show was BOOOOORING. Sorry.  Beyonce is a lovely and talented singer/dancer but I think she sang the same word for something like 15 minutes! Besides that, it was like watching a 30 minute Bud Light commercial.  Where’s a good marching band when you need one?

The power outage was interesting. I’ve seen a quarterback change make a game turn. I’ve seen a snow storm make a game turn. But I’ve never seen a power outage totally turn a game around. The Seahawks should remember that trick next time they find themselves down by 20 at home. In the end, the 49ers got screwed by the refs on that last non-call for holding; so welcome to Seattle’s world San Francisco.  One wonders if they might have gotten “Bettised”; you remember the love-fest the league and network gave the retiring Jerome Bettis before the Seattle/Pittsburgh 2008 Super Bowl in which Seattle suffered a number of bad calls.  There is something especially heart warming to think the refs might have been “letting ‘em play” for Ray Lewis, a guy who plea bargained away a double homicide a few years back, getting 12 months probation instead of double life in prison.  (There I go digressing again!  Hmm, did I just stumble on another reason for not being excited for either team to win?).  Yes, getting hosed by the refs in the Big Game is great fun, and now the Niners know how it feels.  And so ends their 5-0 Superbowl streak.

But this Super Bowl week did have some redeeming value.  For instance, I didn’t know there was so much to know about deer antlers.  And the whole thing about too much power actually causing the lights to turn off???  Amazing stuff!  And what about the demonstration of injustice to women struggling with their weight everywhere when a Ravens cheerleader got canned for being 2 pounds overweight?  We haven’t heard the end of that one, hopefully!

Now it’s on to the NFL draft and next season.  I fully expect it will be the Seahawks and Russell Wilson who will get it done next year.  With his learning curve well in the past, Wilson will be unstoppable.  I wish I could have seen him in this game, but next year will be even more incredible.  Seattle was the team no one wanted to play the second half of the year.  Next year, it will be that way from  week one on because Russell is ready.  As for the rest of the NFC West, don’t get too excited.  You’re getting better, but as long as Wilson, Carroll, and Schneider are in the picture it’s going to be tough going to get past Seattle.

Dec 23, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated San Francisco 42-13. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

I just got back from a weekend of skiing and finally feel like I can look back at the Seahawks’ 2012 season without feeling too large a pang of disappointment. Sometimes it takes stepping away to gain some perspective. The only football I watched was the third quarter of the NFC Championship game and had to walk away because I saw two teams Seattle could certainly beat.

If someone had asked me nine months ago how I’d feel if Seattle were to go 11-5 with a playoff win on the road I would have taken it in a heartbeat. However, winning makes a person greedy and leaves them craving more. Once it was apparent that Pete Carroll and John Schneider stacked all of that talent and potential onto their roster, and that a playoff game was possible, even with a team that had some significant weakness, I set my sight on an even further horizon. When Seattle wasn’t able to advance, the loss left the city, and myself, in somewhat of a state of shock. The emotional whiplash that took place in the fourth quarter of the game in divisional game gave me hope and then took it away.

All cities are unified when their sports teams do well. It’s one of the great things that sports teams bring to communities. I believe that Seattle is a little different from cities like Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, and Miami. Every team has their true fans, but Seattle itself seems to suffer when the Seahawks don’t do well (everyone is used to the Mariners sucking). It’s easy to lose sight of that when the team has a few rough years but is obvious when look at the incredibly civic pride and enthusiasm that takes place when the team succeeds. In that regard Seattle is like a Cleveland, Kansas City, or Green Bay. Labeling Seattle fans fair weather is ridiculous and ignorant. Fair weather fans don’t cause seismic activity last time I checked.

The Seahawks over 2012 reminded Seattle why they stuck with a team that had been disparaged and struggled for the last six years. The team from South Alaska that was always too small, too hurt, too slow, too whatever became big, strong, loud, and a force unto themselves. Win or lose, a team was going to remember that they played Seattle last Sunday. Watching that and experiencing it with a great community of 12^th Men made it that much hard to realize it was over. Even my dad who can be very jaded and reserved when it comes to sports (game 7 of the 1993 Western Conference finals between the Sonics and Suns is still very much remembered) couldn’t help but get excited at what just might be.

I bring up these seemingly random aspects of the 2012 season because they stand out the most when I look back on this season. Seattle became a team that would walk up to anybody and punch them in the mouth. Led by a calm, cool, and incredibly talented quarterback, a team comprised of many castoffs and unknowns turned into a wrecking ball with the 12^th Man as the crane that swung it. The connection between the team and fans in Seattle can’t be overstated. From completely open training camps to showing up at Children’s Hospital every week the connection is real. That is what I love. I realize that I’m not an actual player on the team, but to feel part of it is either the greatest marketing gimmick ever or proof of a true community-franchise connection. I choose to believe it’s the latter in this case. (Every article I write, I have to go and take out any “we’s” and replace them with “Seahawks.”)

Fortunately, Seattle doesn’t have many free agents going into the off-season which means that many of the personalities and people that the make up this great team will be back. And they will be hungry; hungry to prove to themselves and the 12^th Man that they are good enough to win a Super Bowl. For that, I am just as excited as I was this season.

So this begs the obvious question; how does the Seahawk defense put pressure on Brady?  This is an interesting problem.  Brady isn’t one to sit around in the pocket and wait for the pressure.  He gets rid of the ball fast.  If he has time he can hit receivers on medium to long routes.  Seattle can shut those routes down most of the time.  So Brady will be looking for quicker passes over the middle, inside the hash marks.  For this he has two world class tight ends who make their living 5 or 10 yards at a time.  New England is a disciplined team.  They can do that all day long, mistake free, every series.  And if Seattle’s defense starts hanging out in the middle trying to stop those short passes, Brady can burn them on the outside with his wide receivers.  They also have a decent running game which is designed to open up with the help of multiple tight end sets.

In my estimation, Seattle’s job will be to force things outside to the wide receivers.  That’s right, I said OUTSIDE.  This is a choice between the lesser of two evils, short quick plays or longer plays that take time to develop.  They need to shut down the quick over the middle passes to the tight ends.  Period.  That is the Patriots bread and butter and they wear down defenses with it.  Seattle has to stop that tactic.  With the short, quick passes unavailable, Brady will have to wait in the pocket for his wide receivers to get open downfield.  When Brady holds the ball for too long, his completion rate goes way down…if there is pressure.

Enter Bruce Irvin.  He needs to have not just a good game, but a GREAT game.  Same with Chris Clemons.  If either of them can get a paw on Brady they will spoil his comfort level in the pocket, causing his accuracy to suffer.  Accuracy is important if you’re trying to hit a streaking wide receiver in single coverage.  This is what Seattle did to a much more mobile Aaron Rogers.  Without Rogers-like mobility, Brady will look like a giraffe in a hanging lamp store if he’s constantly getting hurried.  Seattle’s defensive backs are the strength of the team.  If Brady’s passes are just slightly off target, the best thing he can hope for is an incompletion.

Well, there it is.  The Seahawks game plan in a nutshell.  Or I could be completely wrong.  We may see Russell Wilson be given the keys to the playbook and go wild for 400+ yards on a mediocre Patriots defense, thereby keeping Brady and friends off the field.  Hawks fans can only hope.  Wilson and the Seattle offense did look better last week, making 50% of their third downs.  Still, their red zone performance was about what we’ve seen all year long.  Ok, I think this second scenario is pretty unlikely, but it’s still fun to wildly fantasize about…oh…maybe…two touchdowns???  Yeah I know; the Seahawks D had better show up big time!

Golden Tate is now missing practices he can’t afford to miss. Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

A lot of attention has been paid to Pete Carroll’s emphasis of the running game, with his acquisition of another bruising back in Robert Turbin, and his stated philosophy of putting a tough, punishing rushing team on the field.  But a quick check of the league’s 2011 statistics reveals a few interesting realities.

The top running teams in the league are not all that common among the 12 playoff teams.  The top 2 rushing teams, Denver and Texas were playoff teams.  But the number 3 team was Carolina which finished well out of the running.  In fact only 5 of the 12 playoff teams were top 12 rushing teams.  So where did Seattle fall last year?  Most people wouldn’t think this if asked that question, but Seattle finished just 21st out of 32 in rushing in 2011.  Interestingly, 2011 Super Bowl loser New England was just 20th in rushing.  Even more surprising, Super Bowl winner NY Giants were dead LAST in rushing.

So, it must be the passing game that leads to the playoffs, right?  Well, not so fast.  While it’s true more passing teams (7) were in the top 12 last year, there were 5 who were not in the top 12 in passing (the same 5 who were top 12 rushing teams).  Last years surprise team the SF 49ers, were 29th in receiving yards.  The Ravens, Texans, Broncos, and Bengals were also not in the top 12 in receiving but made the playoffs.  Many other top receiving teams including Carolina, San Diego, Tennessee, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Oakland finished out of contention.

So what gives?  Do the Seahawks need to be a good rushing team or a good passing team to make the playoffs in 2012?

The answer is; Both would be nice.  They could be top 12 in rushing and mediocre in the passing game and possibly make it to the post season.  Or they could be top 12 in passing and mediocre in rushing and have a slightly better chance of making it.  But the best chance the Hawks have at making the post season, looking strictly at Offensive performance, is to have a more balanced output. A top 10 finish in rushing and perhaps a top 15 in passing might do it.  That would put them in Steelers/Falcons/Lions territory.

This analysis doesn’t take into consideration the Defensive and Special Teams statistics, so the Hawks could help themselves, as did San Francisco last year by having a top 5 Defense .  That obviously will produce wins even with low to middle of the pack Offensive stats.  So given where the Seahawks were at the end of last year, where did Pete Carroll put his resources?

Well, Offensively, he definitely upgraded the QB position with the addition of Wilson and Flynn.  He added a playmaker in Braylon Edwards at WR.  He drafted another bruising RB in Turbin to back up Lynch to avoid those Cleveland games of last year.  The O-line didn’t necessarily improve, but they seem at least as good as last year’s bunch and did get a little younger by getting rid of Robert Gallery.  If Carpenter makes an early return at Guard around mid season he could give a timely boost to the offense.

The only thing to do now is wait and see if the new additions perform as expected.  The receiving corps, particularly Golden Tate, will need to show marked improvement over last year.  Edwards will have to show why he made the team using his height and jumping ability and Sydney Rice needs to live up to his reputation.  The running game improved the last half of last season and should continue to get better as the blocking gels.  If Carroll’s changes can propel the Seahawks into the top 12 either rushing or receiving, playoffs are within the realm of possibility.  If they finish in the top 12 in both, as only the Saints did last season, and the defense is top 5 or 6 as expected, their odds of going to the playoffs skyrockets.  An early season win over one or two of last years playoff teams should be an indicator of things to come.

Nov 6, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll congratulates defensive end Chris Clemons (91) on a defensive stop against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

The Brian Banks story with Seattle, which was covered by yours truly and Keith over the last two weeks, continues on for at least one more chapter as Banks will join the Seahawks for their mini-camp this week.  After Seattle lost two OTAs due to too much contact, Banks was given a private tryout.  Even though no tryout details have been released so far, he has been invited back.  Banks also met with the San Diego Chargers, who did not extend an invitation, and will try out with the Kansas City Chiefs today before returning to Seattle to attend the mini-camp on Tuesday.

As a fan, this is what I love seeing my team do.   This move also highlights a key element of Pete Carroll and John Schneider’s strategy when it comes to building a team.  Banks has the build of a model linebacker even though Carroll has stated that he is not yet in playing shape.  More importantly, though, Banks is hungry, and after all the humanitarian reasons that do exist within Seahawks HQ, this is something Carroll and Schneider love. They have had pretty good success with “hungry” players in the past – players that are on the down and out for various reasons and looking to prove something. It could be for another shot in the NFL (Mike Williams) or a big contract somewhere (Alan Branch last year and hopefully Jason Jones this year).  And, if you’re good enough and have proven yourself you might get an extension or offer from Seattle (Marshawn Lynch, Red Bryant, and, I’d like to think soon, Chris Clemons).

If the talent just isn’t there, the Seahawks won’t extend a contract, to Banks or anyone else.  That’s just the way the business works, but it is always refreshing when business and humanity are able to overlap.  If Banks makes the team in Seattle, or anywhere else, his story would be just as dramatic and riveting as Michael Oher’s.  I’m looking forward to watching the Brian Banks story continue.

Round 1 Draft Trades:

- Cleveland sent picks 4(round 1), 118(4), and 139(4) to Minnesota for 3(1).

- Jacksonville sent picks 7(1) and 101(4) to Tampa Bay for 5(1).

- Dallas sent picks 14(1) and 45(2) to St. Louis for 6(1).

- Philadelphia sent picks 15(1), 114(4) and 172(6) to Seattle for 12(1).

- New England sent picks 27(1) and 93(3) to Cincinnati for 21(1), also handing over picks 31(1) and 126(4) to Denver for 25(1).

- Minnesota sent picks 35(2) and 98(4) to Baltimore for 29(1).

- Tampa Bay sent picks 36(2) and 101(4) to Denver for 31(1) and 126(4).

Stay posted as history shows that there will still be many trades in the draft.

Matt Flynn. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Green Bay backup Matt Flynn could be making his way here to Seattle to be the Seahawks new starting quarterback. If the move works out anything like it did with another former Packers backup we all know (Matt Hasselbeck for those of you who have been living on the moon) it will be well worth it. It’s been extremely difficult to cut through all the hype on Matt Flynn and truly evaluate his skillset. This is probably because the league is so starved for quarterbacks right now it still hasn’t forgotten about people like Matt Leinart. However, anyone who beats Aaron Rodgers to set two franchise single game records in passing and touchdowns deserves some interest. Even despite the fact he only has two starts under his belt.

Kevin Kolb was the free agent quarterback jackpot of last year, but his payoff has yet to justify the price Arizona paid. This scares a lot of people when thinking about getting into a bidding war with the Miami Dolphins over Flynn. Yet despite all the failed backups gone free agency and turned starters such as Matt Cassell, we need to remember that many former backups do end up becoming franchise quarterbacks like Matt Hasselbeck and Matt Schaub. One team’s second string trash can really become another team’s first string gold. Furthermore, if John Schneider decides to go ahead and really make an offer on Flynn we will know he is franchise material. Schneider was the head of football operations for Green Bay in 2008 when Flynn was drafted. He will know all the upsides and downsides to Matt Flynn.

The biggest reason it has been difficult to evaluate Flynn is that he has only started two games in his career. This leaves a lot to be said about his consistency, leadership, study habits, and all the other intangibles. Right now you can only evaluate what you see on the field in his two games and I put a high price on what happens off the field, especially with quarterbacks. This is the only thing that truly concerns me about Matt Flynn.

However exceptional Matt Flynn looked against the Lions and Patriots a lot of credit needs to be given to his wide receivers. Not only was he playing with one of the most exceptional if not thee most exceptional receiving corps in the NFL, but the Lions and Patriots secondary were doing them a lot of favors. Almost every completion in these games garnished another 10 to 20 yards after the catch if not more. Likewise Flynn was dumping it off short on a lot of screens or getting it off to his hot read who most times was able to run for considerable yardage. However, even if he was dumping it off short it left reason to be impressed.

What Matt Flynn clearly displayed in his two starts was the ability to not only be a playmaker, but a smart playmaker. He showed that he clearly has a good football IQ if not a high football IQ, something Tarvaris Jackson clearly lacks. When you watch both games you can see that he keeps his eyes moving through his progressions. If his throw down the field isn’t there he dumps it off short rather than take a sack. He also doesn’t lock onto one receiver until he is forced into a coverage sack. The ability for Flynn to keep his head on a swivel and find the open man quickly is definitely a positive.  This is something Tarvaris Jackson is notorious for not doing. He focuses in on his first read (usually Sydney Rice) and never allows himself to enter into his progressions.

Right away Flynn’s ability to go through his motions would be an instant upgrade over Tarvaris. If you watch the game Flynn played against the Patriots you can see he was under an inordinate amount of pressure the whole game. Nonetheless he was able to feel that pressure coming and either dump it off short or throw the ball away. He wasn’t perfect when being under siege the whole time, no quarterback is, but he was good enough to impress. Plus it was his first start in the NFL which makes it even more impressive. Even if Flynn didn’t lead them to win that game he still posted a performance of three touch downs to one interception with a completion rating of 64.9%. Something I would take from a quarterback under that much duress any day. Also Flynn displayed some mobility in getting away from pressure. This is one thing we know the current Seahawks regime values. Also it’s another improvement over Tarvaris who was supposed to be mobile but was too indecisive and blind to pressure to know when to use it.

Flynn also showed he had the capability to throw a decent deep ball. Some of the deep throws I saw him make were perfect, while others were good but a little underthrown. However, each one was accurate and left no room for the defensive back to intercept it. As we all know this ability is paramount for a quarterback playing in the Seattle scheme. He also was able to thread the needle on a handful of throws when he needed to. Flynn showed in his two starts that he can make throws accurately at all three levels.

All in all I think the Seahawks have to make a move for Matt Flynn. From what I see he is the most promising prospect out there right now. Furthermore we have the cap room to try and lure him away from Miami who is the most likely landing spot for him. Honestly the only thing I see keeping Flynn from going to Miami would be if someone offered him more money. Hopefully the Seahawks will be that team and get into some type of bidding war. However, if John Schneider doesn’t make a move for Matt Flynn we will know he wasn’t worth it. Although from what I have seen I do not think that is the case. Matt Flynn has your prototypical NFL arm, he is good under pressure, and he goes through his reads quickly. There is no doubt in my mind he would be an instant upgrade to Tarvaris Jackson.

What do you guys think?

Vai Taua vs. Oakland Raiders Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

In observance of Keith’s weekend of lists, I’ve brought to light 5 possibly forgotten Seahawks players who could allow more versatility in the draft. This article is also kind of a catch-all for a couple other thoughts: the Super Bowl and Tez’s Hall of Fame bid.

1) Vai Taua RB

He’s a relative unknown among casual Seahawks fans. Personally, I’ve been high on Taua since scouting his college teammate Colin Kaepernick last year. The Bills picked him up as a UDFA but was claimed by the Hawks nine days after being released from Buffalo. He was cut by the Seahawks as well but re-claimed when Kentwan Balmer was released. He’s currently signed on a futures contract.

Taua is 5’10″, 213lbs but only ran a 4.6 forty yard dash at the combine. His college highlight tape is a collection of long runs, but he’ll neither get the huge gaps to run through nor will that “breakaway” speed translate against superior competition in the NFL. What he does possess is excellent pass protection, very good pass catching ability in underneath routes, and a bruising, pounding skill set similar (albeit less violent) to Marshawn Lynch. He averaged 6.5 yards/carry over four seasons with Nevada and in one preseason game with the Hawks ran 46 yards on 9 carries (5.1 avg) and a TD against Oakland.

He’s a durable back with immense lower body strength, and, in my opinion, would be an excellent third down complement to Lynch. He should get a long look in training camp.

2) Dexter Davis DE

In his end of season press conference, Pete Carroll reminded us that Dexter Davis is still waiting to show what he’s got. Davis’ ability obviously won’t prevent PC/ JS from drafting a superior talent like Courtney Upshaw but it could allow the front office to spend later round picks addressing depth at other positions like tight end or safety (where starters aren’t needed but promising depth is sparse).

I’m intrigued by his potential, as he was a very good special teamer and flashed pass rush ability in his first two preseason games (sack vs. TEN, sack/ fumble vs. GB). He had a solid yet unspectacular 2010, playing special teams and situational DE, but has been on IR  nearly the entire 2011. It will be fun to see him compete with whomever Pete drafts and it’s a storyline I’m sure we’ll follow closely next year.

3) Jameson Konz H-Back (sort of)

Konz is another 2010 draft pick whose career thus far has been sidetracked by injuries. He sat on IR the entire 2010 season with a hip injury, was cut in 2011, re-signed to the practice squad, played special teams in one game against the Giants this year, then tore his ACL and has been on IR since.

He’s a guy Pete has kept around based purely on intrigue and potential. He doesn’t have a set position, as he’s been used at TE, DE, and LB, but his potential is similar to Aaron Hernandez of the Patriots, whom we’ll get to see in a few hours in the Super Bowl.

Konz as an H-back, that is, a blocker and receiver from the TE position as well as a backfield runner, is a wrinkle this offense would love to implement. He could be a nightmare matchup for opposing D-coordinators and he’s one of the players I’m most excited about following next preseason. I love what the Pats are doing with Hernandez, creating and exploiting mismatches, and I hope the Seahawks can eventually get the talent to implement a similar model.

Konz has the potential to be that touchdown maker Pete Carroll covets.

4) Ricardo Lockette

These last two entries will be short, as these guys aren’t so much forgotten as they are waiting to be used. Lockette is another guy with intriguing capabilities as a big play receiver, as evidenced by his 61-yard TD against Arizona. He’s also another guy Carroll mentioned in his end of season presser, as someone who can become the playmaker, the touchdown getter.

This draft class is deep at WR, and our current corps of pass catchers is fairly deep as well. With Mike Williams reportedly trying to slim down this offseason, it doesn’t seem like the position will be addressed early in April. That being said, Sidney Rice’s injury risk may raise dark horse candidates like Justin Blackmon or Kendall Wright up the Hawks’ big board.

5) Walter Thurmond

Before the season began, after quarterback of course, I was most worried about the cornerbacks. Marcus Trufant hadn’t been the same since his injury and Walter Thurmond had shown potential but had yet to prove himself. Both players got injured early. Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner’s emergence as viable starters was the single biggest surprise to me this season and I would even go so far as to say Sherman can be the next elite lock-down corner in the NFL. Browner matched up well with bigger receivers and now has a pro bowl on his resume. Imagine how spectacular this secondary could be with a consistent pass rush.

That’s great and all, but remember that cat Walter Thurmond? He’ll be back from injury and ready to push the starters to play better than they already have. He’s good enough, in my opinion, to overthrow Browner, but at the very least his presence will elevate the level of play from every player in the secondary.

On a side note, I give a huge congrats to Cortez Kennedy and his bid into the Hall of Fame. He deserves it, and I’m proud to see another Seahawk going to Canton. Tez was one of, if not the most, dominant defensive tackles during his career and it’s nice to see him recognized with the highest honor.

Also, enjoy the Super Bowl! I was going to write about possible free agent targets playing today but there’s really nobody I’d imagine Carroll would show interest in. There are a few ex-Seahawks playing (Deon Grant, Deion Branch, Niko Koutouvides, Rocky Bernard) as well as players I had really hoped the Hawks would draft (Jason Pierre- Paul, Patrick Chung). I absolutely love what the Patriots do on offense (as I mentioned above), putting guys like Woodhead, Edelman, and Hernandez all over the field, exploiting mismatches, and it’s also fun to watch the Giants pass rush (and Victor Cruz).

Well, let’s hope for a good game, I’m off to the grocery store for some pizza and beer.

Will Seattle find an upgrade at QB? Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

1) Quarterback – Tarvaris Jackson played better than we thought he would, but he was a below average player at the game’s most important position.While the Seahawks may still go into 2012 with Jackson at QB, there’s no doubt that this team cannot reach it’s potential until they find an upgrade at QB.

2) Weak Side Linebacker - Leroy Hill is a popular player among fans, but he was awful in 2011. The Seahawks ranked dead last against running backs on passing plays in 2011, and much of that is the fault of Hill. While he is decent against the run, there were few LBs worse against the pass that Hill in 2011.

3) Split End – This is the wide receiver position manning in 2011 by big Mike Williams. Williams struggled all season. He finished the year with just receptions 18 for 236 yards and 1 TD. For a guy who started 15 games, those numbers are completely unacceptable. If the Seahawks are going to take the next step forward on offense, they must get more production out of whoever is playing opposite of Sydney Rice.

4) Right Tackle -  This one is tough to put on this list, because I think that James Carpenter has a bright future, but if the Seahawks are going to win in 2012 they need to upgrade this position. Carpenter will be out for the entire offseason and likely most of training camp (and possibly the first 6-8 weeks as well if they place him on the PUP list) so the Seahawks need someone at RT no matter what. While Giacomini played decently, his presence in the starting lineup meant that TE Zach Miller was used to help block way too often. An upgrade at RT would mean another target for the passing game on most passing plays.

5) Pass Rush Specialist – The Seahawk defense is built around stopping the run first. Both Alan Branch and Red Bryant are beasts against the run. The problem is that neither is all that useful against the pass. Since the Seahawks use specialists (last season is was Anthony Hargrove and Raheem Brock) to replace those two in passing situations, new starters aren’t needed. Just the specialists need upgraded, but serious upgrades must be made.

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.

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Pro Football Focus, a site dedicated to a statistical analysis of football, puts together an All PFF-team each week, given to the players who do the most to at their position to help their team win. They don’t use traditional stats at all. They look play by play and “grade” ever block, every route run, etc. It’s pretty cool the way they do things. Well guess who made the All-PPF team this week with the best performance by an offensive tackle in the NFL? that’s right, Breno Giacomini!

Tackles:  Levi Brown, ARZ (+5.2) and Breno Giacomini, SEA (+5.2)

Yes you are reading the team of the week, and no I haven’t got my tackles mixed up with those who should be appearing on the ‘Had a Bad Day’ team. Brown, who is playing better than he ever has, was near flawless against Cleveland, while Giacomini looked the part against the Bears. Two things I didn’t expect heading into the week.

You can find the original article HERE.

Carlson finished his rookie season among fan favorites.

Remember when everyone still liked Ruskell?  (hey, stop throwing things at me already!)

John Carlson was a TR pick, and at the end of his first season, it looked like he was going to be a pro bowl type player provided he keeps developing beyond that great rookie season of 55 catches for 627 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Unfortunately for Carlson and the Seahawks, that would be his best season to date.

I really liked this guy.  Everyone seemed to.  What wasn’t to like?  Carlson was a hardworking kid from Notre Dame who seemed to say all the right things. He was a bright spot on an otherwise drab team coached by Mike Holmgren during his last year in Seattle.

Carlson’s second season with the Hawks was filled with promise and optimism.  He was a sleeper in everyone’s Fantasy Football league and a fan favorite after a single season.  His jersey riddled the stadium, and he was one of the loudest cheers during player introductions despite the fact that he simply ran out of the tunnel with little to no theatrics.

Despite his new found popularity, Carlson remained humble and kept his personality intact.  Unfortunately his statistics remained the same too.  Carlson actually caught less passes this season despite the fact that he started all 16 games (He only started 9 the previous season).  Carlson ended the season with 51 receptions (4 less), 574 yards (53 less), and 7 tds (2 more). (more…)