Official 2011 Seattle Seahawks Thread

[Howie_16]

Tough game for Browner in Pittsburgh yesterday...

[Howie_16]

Seahawks injury report: Sidney Rice, Malcolm Smith full participants

Offensive line continues to be Seattle's problem

VIDEO: Pete Carroll talks about Arizona, pursuit of Kevin Kolb

Story time: Arizona’s defense might be in trouble

Seahawks notes: Pete Carroll says Tarvaris Jackson isn’t missing open receivers

[browna]

Jackson has looked *ok* so far, better than expected IMO, and the line has done a decent job protecting him. Just no play makers on offense without Rice and certainly no running game with Lynch or Forsett to speak of, just like last year. Teams are keying IMO on Williams now, and Obamanu ust is an average receiver, and Tate is still a work in progress. Miller is doing great as blocking, but I think he's also getting attention from other teams, like Williams. Rice needs to come back to open things up for those two guys a little more.

Browner did have a tough one, the whole secondary was giving Pittsburgh far too much respect at receiver, playing bump coverage, without the bump, or, 3 yards off. But they certainly kept picking on him once they had him rattled.

The line and backs are getting to the QB, however, and stiffening up on the run pretty well, both of which are better then the last few iterations of the defense who couldn't stop 4 yard runs and didn't threaten QB's in the pocket.

Must win this week simply to put everything together and get some momentum...plus, may very well be tied for the division lead with a win over AZ and SF in CIN.

Don't want to lose another division game either, methinks those could be the tiebreakers in this years NFC West championship run. Still could be a long year but with the next two at home, getting back to .500 would be great.

[Howie_16]

'Hawks win! 'Hawks win! 'Hawks win! Yeah ba-bee!

[browna]

Originally Posted by Howie_16

'Hawks win! 'Hawks win! 'Hawks win! Yeah ba-bee!

Lynch being able to run and get decent yardage, and the defense getting good pressure and stopping the anemic Cardinals running game, was the difference.

Not sure why Kolb didn't at least give Fitzgerald a chance...he didn't get a catch in the second half, after his theft of a touchdown away from Browner and Thomas.

Jackson doing enough to get the win, and certainly his comfort level is with Rice, who looks pretty good even with a damaged shoulder. Hopefully that confidence will get some of the other receivers some balls to spread out the offense...Williams too was a non factor again last week, but he is drawing #1 coverage. The catcalls for Whitehurst in the first half may grow louder, but Jackson at least has the running element which Whitehurst doesn't have.

Atlanta next week, who come in banged up and certainly not off to the start they wanted....pull out a win and Seattle can get back to .500 and be only 1 game back of .500, at worst, going into their week 6 bye, with CLE and CIN right after the bye.

[Howie_16]

TJ's role is to serve as cannon fodder, or to at least be mobile enough to avoid becoming cannon fodder, while the Seahawks continue to rebuild the OL. One of the comments that stuck with me was that the Seahawks have had 13 different starters at right guard since Hutchinson was lost to the Vikings after the 2005 season.

VIDEO: Pete Carroll recaps Sunday’s win, discusses safety play
Wasn't pretty, but Seattle will take 1st win
Seahawks poll: How early in the season is it OK to boo?
Jackson's TD run lifts Seahawks over Cards 13-10
Fitzgerald disappears in Cards' loss to Seattle
VIDEO: Tarvaris Jackson talks about his touchdown
Carroll on Tarvaris Jackson criticism: ‘They need to give him a chance’
Tarvaris Jackson doesn’t mind being booed if it means he wins

[browna]

Tough loss today. Give the Seahawks another 30 seconds, and they win that game.

Again, nothing in the first half to speak of, other than a long pass, with a free play from Jackson.

But in the second half, started rolling with an opening drive TD. Tip drill INT in ATL's endzone took one away.
Defense played well, without getting a turnover, or a sack...Seattle was rolling with every drive in the second half on offense.

Couple things at the end, ATL got a couple cruical 3rd down plays in the last 6 min drive, after great stops on the first two downs. In the end, that killed an extra minute or two from the end, with SEA's offense itching to get back on the field and with a lot of momentum

The fact that SEA blew timeouts, leaving only one, affected the last drive play calling.

When they did, great 40 yard drive with just over a minute to go..a false start from Rice was critical, moving them back 5 yards. An incomplete pass next play meant a 61 yard attempt. Fell short...had Seattle had the time/timeouts to be able to run one or two more plays, I think they could've got into manageable FG range and win that game.

All in all, tough to lose that one after looking so good on both sides in the second half after SEA made some great adjustments. Jackson with 3 TD and 319 yards, his career high. (Wonderig if MIN would like him back at this point). Would've been great in the standings...with SF pulling out the improbable win, and ARI choking one away last minute, SEA could keep pace with the lead in the division and seperate from ARI and STL.

Next week in NY (SEA haven't won in eastern time zone for a few seasons now), then the bye week...today was there and would've had them at .500 at worst going into the bye. But a step forward for sure, certainly for the offense, so can work from that.

[browna]

Figured its time to update this:

Big win for Seattle on Sunday, but really could've been over at halftime, save two redzone fumbles.
Seattle went no huddle in the first half, and then again in the 4th quarter, and the Giants had no answer. Save for a couple miraclous catches (and, two fumbles) for Diaz, Seattle was full value for the win.
Whitehurst stepped in and took over from Jackson and didn't miss much of a beat. Jackson should be ok, but the calls for Whitehurst will be louder if Jackson falters at any point.
Defense played solid, they are really coming into their own.
Miller was hurt on a bad, probably fine-able (edit, Kenny Phillips was fined $20K), hit to the head, and Williams was out, so hopefully the week rest can get them back in a week and a half.
Doug Baldwin certainly the surprise of the season so far.

Always nice to beat an overhyped and media-centric team. Of course, the loss was 100% due to the Giants playing horrible and losing, and 0% credit given to the Seahawks, but Seattle fans, and most west coast teams, are used to that for decades now.

SEA headed into bye, with CLE and CIN next on the list. With SF now two wins up, Seattle needs to beat these teams before things get a little tougher, to keep pace with SF...the week one loss, being so close until the 2 PR and KR TD's put the game away late, hurts, and SEA doesn't get their shot at SF until the final game of the year.

Also today, the Seahawks finally cut ties with A. Curry...the 2009 draft bust which seemed to have nothing but promise as a legitimate top 5 guy out of college. But never picked up the pro game.

[Howie_16]

The cutting of ties to Hasselbeck, Tatupu and Curry has been a huge surprise to me, and makes me wonder how the world of CP would react to Iggy and Kipper being let go.

Still, the 'Hawks are about 15 yards away from being 3-2, and still have a legitimate shot at winning a second consecutive division championship despite overhauling their team.

[Howie_16]

Pete Carroll has a Seahawks jersey ready for LeBron James

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Howie_16

Pete Carroll has a Seahawks jersey ready for LeBron James

Someone said it best on the Saints forum: LeBron should play hockey because there's no 4th period.

[browna]

Fun fact of the day, for the least likely to be watched MNF game in a while:

Seattle has the best record on Monday Night Football %wise, in the league, at 16-8 all time. First time the Seahawks have been on Monday in 4 years.

Bill Leavy, the head ref who's crew botched numerous calls in Super Bowl XL, is officiating the game. He did a Seahawks game earlier in the year, and a preseason game as well, at the time, admitting him and his crew blew some calls in that game, but first time he's reffed in Seattle.

A long shot, as help is needed, but Seattle can possibly get a Wild Card spot. Obviously they have to win out to get to 9-7, but its the Rams, Bears (who will be upset after yesterday, but who Seattle beat in CHI last year in the regular season) 49'ers in Seattle, and Arizona in AZ. With Wild Card tie breakers over many teams (Bears and Giants at least, probably others given the fact that they'll have won a lot of conference games) that are looking at Wild Cards, they'll need some help, but not out of the realm.

[Howie_16]

'Hawks win again! Still alive with 2 winnable games left! Me likey!

Completely speculative: if the Colts decide to draft Andrew Luck and let Peyton go, could Manning possibly end up in Seattle?

[moon]

Is Jackson still starting for the Seahawks and if so is he actually playing well?

Hard to believe that the Seahawks can be in play-off contention (as slight as their chances are) with Tavaris being the starting QB.

[browna]

Originally Posted by moon

Is Jackson still starting for the Seahawks and if so is he actually playing well?

Hard to believe that the Seahawks can be in play-off contention (as slight as their chances are) with Tavaris being the starting QB.

Yes, and yes.

Getting better every game. He can roll with the adjustments...the Bears stuffed Lynch all day, and held Seattle to no offense in the first half. Play calls were then made to have passes go down the middle of the field, and he was being accurate with throws, no INT in last few games.

By no means is he winning games singlehandedly, but playing smart football and making more or less smart decisions to not lose the game. 61% completion on the season.

The biggest kick in the nuts is going to be the Cleveland game where he (and Lynch) didn't play, and lost 6-3 in a horrible game. That's the last time Whitehurst has seen the field, and Seattle has done ok since.

Will be a tough call if Seattle goes with a QB in the draft...Jackson is progressing nicely, Carroll strongly believed in him to bring him in with Bevell as OC, and, the way their playing now, they'll be nowhere near the top 10 in the draft anyways to pick up a guy.

[Sylvanfan]

The thing with Jackson is that he's finally been able to practice the past three weeks here, and the offence of the Hawks has been respectable. If the Tackles were healthy and the Hawks get the run game going, Jackson just needs to make a few plays.

I have to give Carrol and co. Credit here, they seem to have something moving in a positive direction. That defense is monumentally better than it was a year ago.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

The Seahawks defence has been stellar the last few weeks. They're playing some fantastic ball. The offence is coming around. A healthy line and receivers would be a big help. Next year they should be a lot better and could potentially contend for the division again

[browna]

The Raiders pissing away a 13 point lead against Detroit hurts. Detroit has to lose both, but they play SD (who is looking to have won tonight, so they still have an outside shot at the division and thus something to play for) and GB in GB on the final day, with the Packers probably favourites there and tuning up for the playoffs. That happens and the Seahawks get in.

(assuming SEA wins the next two)

There's another more wild scenario where the Lions win one of two, but the Bears win the last two, the Falcons lose two, and the Seahawks somehow get in on a tiebreaker.


But yeah, the Cardinals and Seahawks are 7-1 in past 4 weeks combined. The overhyped NFC east gets far too much airtime and media confusion on why those average teams lose games. There is a chance that the Eagles could still get a spot over Dallas and the Giants, which I would love actually.

This is a great link to see the playoff scenarios play out:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

[browna]

Congrats to all the Seahawks making it to the Pro Bowl. Earl Thomas in as starter, and Chancellor, Ryan, Robinson and Brandon Browner in as alternates.

Many of those alternates may play with the injuries and potential Superbowl players ahead of them.

Hats off to Browner, silenced a lot of local critics saying he couldn't cut it in the NFL. To go from safety to corner, and get this award is fantastic. Still a work in progress, and but the ints don't lie, and nor do the numbers showing the reluctance in the last half of the year for opponents to throw his way.

Huge congrats to the former Stamp for working towards this goal at 27, and, from must be said, coach Pete Carroll for sticking with him all season to prove himself, in the cutthroat NFL.

[browna]

Meh game today, sloppy on both sides. Blocked FG in the 3rd was the difference, as was Fitzgerald making some crazy catches all game including OT.

ARI and SEA go 10-4 combined in last 14 games. Hard to believe SEA ends with the same record as last year (and behind ARI this year)...miles better overall team then the 2010 edition.

Plenty of time to analyze over the next 9 months. Some bad losses early, but as soon as they got rid of Curry (how'd that work out, Oakland?) the defense came together and were awesome the rest of the way. The linebackers, line, corners (with injuries on the other side of Browner) and safeties were great and kept the team in it most games. Huge improvement over the porrous defense from past 4 years on the run and on the pass.

Offense is another story. Jackson was ok, not as skecthy as advertised coming in, and, to be honest, didn't do any worst than Hasslebeck would've. But with Baldwin the first rookie to ever lead a team in receptions, it says something. Rice is good player the 1/2 season a year he is't hurt, Mike Williams was completely, completely invisible (and broke his leg 2 weeks ago). Paid Zach Miller a lot, and used him as a blocking TE (and Carlson was hurt in preseason) as no SEA TE's caught a TD this year. That has to change, big time...play makers. Lockette is a pure speed guy, which is like Joey Galloway (except taller) but Williams and or Rice needs to be consistent next year to allow a few weapons along with Baldwin. The O-line under Cable played well, protecting Jackson, and, of course Lynch, who really emerged this year. But, a contract year for Lynch, and Seahawks fans remember all to well what happens when you pay a RB (its never really a good idea, see Chris Johnson this year) a bunch of long term money from Shaun Alexander. The way Lynch plays too, hard hitting and pushing piles on his own, durability becomes a factor.

Be interesting to see how it plays out...a new backup QB is needed too, unless Jackson becomes the new backup (although he will only have 1 year left on his deal next year).

Plus, with this loss, the Seahawks get the 11th or 12th pick (depending on a coin toss with KC)...a nice bonus, for a team that played well most weeks, better then the 18th or 19th best team in the league.