The Power of 12

Hello? Anyone?

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:37:00 +0000

So I've been writing this blog for a few weeks now, and I have absolutely no idea whether anyone is reading this thing. There was one comment on my second post, but other than that, nada. Do me a favor if you're reading this and leave me a comment. I don't care if you tell me I completely suck -- I just want to know that someone...anyone...is actually checking in from time to time.

Thanks.

Snow? Really? This is so not good.

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:39:11 +0000

Ah, Seattle: one thing you can say about Seattle, the winters are pretty easy to get through. Just clouds and rain, with the occasional hint of snow. But, see, we're right next to the Pacific Ocean, which keeps us from getting too cold, and the Cascades protect us from the cold air blowing from the East, so it's just smooth sailing all winter long...

Although it does on occasion dump a ton of snow and go into an Arctic deep freeze that leaves everything between the ocean and the mountains under a three-inch sheet of ice. Imagine a hockey rink with a completely indecent number of hills and you'll have the general idea. And it's only slated to get worse over the weekend. This is the weather situation as we head into Mike Holmgren's final home game as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, and it completely blows for a couple of reasons.

First, obviously, a lot of fans (myself included, unfortunately) probably won't even be able to get to the game. What should be a jam-packed thank-you/farewell party will be reduced to those folks who live close enough to walk to the game. I've had my share of frustrations with Holmgren over the years, but he's also the man who pulled the Seahawks from the depths and turned them into a perennial playoff team (this year notwithstanding -- but it doesn't help when everyone on the roster, including the beer vendors and the dude who stands outside the stadium every game selling tickets, is injured). He is, simply put, The One who put us on the map, and he will be missed. So, Mike, in case I can't make it, here's to you for everything you've done for the Seahawks and their fans.

Turning to the game itself, the weather is a problem because we're facing none other than the bad-weather wizard himself, Brett Favre (yeah. Favre is here for Holmgren's last home game. Couldn'ta planned that any better). He learned to play quarterback during the last Ice Age, so the weather won't even faze him. Seneca, on the other hand, is unlikely to fare so well, especially given that we now have NO starting offensive lineman left. Holmgren's going to have to suit up the stadium peanut vendor and three Sea Gals just to have backups available on the line. As much as I'd love to say we're going to rise to the occasion and send Mike Holmgren out with a final home victory, this one just isn't lining up for us. My prediction: Jets 24, Hawks 3. And team doctors will have to surgically pry the frozen tears off Mike's jowls afterward.

Finally!

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:06:09 +0000

The Seattle Seahawks finally notched their third win of the season, defeating the St. Louis Rams for the eighth consecutive time. As I anticipated in an earlier post, it was a hard-fought, entertaining game between two teams desperate for a win. The outcome wasn't decided until the final seconds of the game, with Olindo Mare kicking the winning field goal with two seconds left. The sense of relief on the Seahawks' sideline was palpable.

There were a number of positives in this game. First, Mike Holmgren made a series of fantastic half-time adjustments, something that hasn't always happened this season. He adjusted the defensive approach to mix up coverages and, most of all, he adjusted to a quick-hit, up-tempo offensive approach to neutralize the blitz and let Seneca hit some passes and get some confidence. The most important thing I saw in this game, though, was the emotion and intensity with which the players approached the game. At 2-11, with half of the squad injured, it would have been so easy to just mail it in and collect a check. Instead, our guys absolutely sold out and left everything on the field. That's the character of this team: keep your chin up, keep working hard, don't complain, and never give up. It might sound cliche', but there are a lot of teams out there that could learn from it.

Incognito

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:51:59 +0000

I don't usually write entries during the game, but this is too good: Incognito has just had consecutive penalties for a false start and ineligible receive down field. And he's taunting his home-town crowd for booing him. What an idiot. Any St. Louis fans out there want to defend him?

On a different note, Seneca is off today, so the Hawks are in major trouble.

Preview of Hawks vs. Rams

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:43:39 +0000

Two 2-11 teams don't typically make for an exciting late-season game, but Sunday's game between the Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams might prove to be an exception to the rule. With a history of bad blood between the two teams and both squads desperate for a win, this could turn out to be a great game.

A few issues that could add intrigue to the game:

1. Richie Incognito. The St. Louis offensive lineman seems to generate an inordinate amount of controversy. His teammates and coaches point to an aggressive style of play and commitment to winning, while opponents claim he's a dirty player. Several Hawks have strongly implied that Incognito will be a particular target this week after making a number of dirty plays in the first meeting this season. From what I've seen of him, he's a dirty player who looks for opportunities to put opponents out of the game. He's a jerk and everyone in the league knows it. Here's hoping you get busted up and good, buddy!

2. Josh Brown. Brown was possibly the most beloved place kicker in the league during his time in Seattle. While his departure hasn't been significant statistically, a lot of Seattle fans have hard feelings about him leaving, and they let him know about it in the first game, which was played in Seattle. If he gets a chance to kick an important field goal late in the game, he could win the game for St. Louis.

3. Walter Jones and Mike Wahle. The future Hall-of-Famer is out again this week (for the rest of the season, probably), leaving an ailing Matt Hasselbeck with even less protection. Frankly, I'm not sure that St. Louis has much of a pass rush to worry about, but Jones's absence is still a concern, especially with Wahle out as well.

Bottom line: The Hawks aren't a good team this year (it REALLY hurts to type that sentence!), but St. Louis is dreadful. Maurice Morris is starting again, which is a good sign that we're going to run the ball. Last week a makeshift offensive line controlled a stout New England defense for most of the game. If they play like that against St. Louis, they'll steamroll the Rams. Look for Morris to rack up big numbers and for Hasselbeck to spread the ball to a number of receivers, particularly John Carlson and Koren Robinson. My prediction: Seahawks 28, Rams 10.

Hawks Lose Another Close One

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:58:21 +0000

Once again, the Seattle Seahawks played well enough to win a game against a quality opponent only to give the game away in the final minutes. The Hawks led the New England Patriots for most of the game, until a long Patriots touchdown drive and ensuing fumble by Seneca Wallace with under two minutes left decided the game. Still, it was actually one of the better efforts by the Hawks recently, especially considering that half the starting offense was out with assorted injuries. Four backup linemen and we still ran the ball? That's pure effort and pride, and it was great to see.

I was at the game, and it was one of the more unusual games I've been to this season. First, the place wasn't full. Qwest field is always packed to the rafters; today, I was able to move from my nose-bleeds to sit with some friends in their much, much better seats, with no problem. I could have brought half a dozen people with me. It wasn't empty, by any means, but there were more empty seats than I've seen in a long, long time.

There was also a sense of fatalism (I thought) in the crowd, even when the Hawks were ahead. We've gone through a difficult time as fans this season, from optimism to shock and confusion, and finally through anger, disbelief and frustration. There's a lack of confidence I haven't seen since 2002, the last losing season we had. The team and fans used to go for the jugular when we were up in a game; now, we're all just hanging on and hoping for the best. It's a depressing turn of events, to say the least.

That's not to say that attending the game was a total loss from a fan stand point. Qwest is a beautiful stadium even when it's raining, and you still get to yell your guts out for the greatest team in the NFL (yes, I realize we're 2-11; still, I haven't noticed any Seahawks shooting themselves in the leg, or getting suspended for doping, or any of the other nonsense so many other teams deal with). There's one home game left, against the Jets on December 21. I'm challenging all you Hawks fans out there to get to the game and scream your head off. The team deserves nothing less.

Hasselbeck out for Patriots Game

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:57:13 +0000

Given the way this season has played out, you probably could have seen this coming: Matt Hasselbeck is out for tomorrow's game against the New England Patriot. Seneca Wallace will start in his place. After being sacked seven times on Thanksgiving, Matt's body just couldn't rebound, and it became clear late in the week that he wouldn't be ready to play on Sunday. This comes on the heels of Chris Spencer being placed on IR and the announcement that Mike Wahle will miss the game as well. This makes an already reeling offense even more suspect.

There are some major concerns about Seneca starting in Matt's place. The most obvious is that Matt Hasselbeck is a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback who led his team to the Super Bowl a few seasons back, while Seneca Wallace is at most an adequate back up, with far less experience and game savvy. With a make-shift line and still-decimated receiving corps, Seneca's limited experience will become even more glaring.

The third concern, which I'll admit is not directly related to tomorrow's game, is that it's still not clear whether Seneca actually is an NFL-level quarterback: for my money, he's a great (if slightly fragile) athlete who should have been playing receiver all these years. We could have had a fantastic package of plays built around him. The situation points out one of Mike Holmgren's biggest short-comings: once he believes a thing about a player, virtually nothing will change his mind. One of the team's best athletes has sat on the bench for most of his career; when he's had a chance to play, the results have been mixed at best.

Holgrem's insistence on preserving Wallace as his backup quarterback has been a double loss: not only do we lack a legitimate second quarterback to take over when Hasselbeck is hurt, but we have no prospects for the future at the position. With a 33-year-old quarterback who's been absolutely pounded over the course of his career and has a bad back, the Seahawks are going to need a new quarterback in the near future (full disclosure: I'm a huge Hasselbeck fan; when he retires it will be a huge loss for the Hawks). Instead of drafting a college kid and letting him develop for a few years before taking over the reins, the Hawks will, in the near future, be forced to either a) trade for a quality veteran QB, a trade they won't come out ahead on, or b) draft a college kid and force him into a starting role too soon, which rarely works out well.

Getting back to the Patriots game: I'll be there yelling my guts out, but without Matt playing, I don't hold out much hope. Here's hoping I'm wrong about tomorrow's game, at least.

Seahawks Vs. Patriots : Differences on Injuries?

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:23:16 +0000

This Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks will host the New England Patriots at Seahawks Stadium, and it will feature two teams that have had extremely different results from the loss of players due to major injuries this season. While the Seahawks have struggled to win anywhere including at home are 2-10, the New England Patriots (7-5) have positioned themselves into a Wild Card possibility.

In the first week of the season, the media questioned the "Brady-less" Patriots and predicted a lost season due to his season ending injury. No one gave them a chance with Matt Cassel at the controls, but this team has grown to believe in his abilities and allowed him to flourish.

No, Matt Cassel is not Tom Brady, but back-to-back 400 yard passing games and winning seven games without ever starting a game since high school, will make you think twice about the "Brady factor" and thinking he is what makes the Patriots unbeatable. He's just a student of the system and Cassel is proving that.

Now that Matt Hasselbeck has returned to form after a few games to warm up, these Seahawks are almost ready to be a team again.. it's just too late. This season has been a nightmare for Mike Holmgren and the team. They have been unable to recover from the major losses, unlike the Patriots.

When Brady went down, the entire NFL looked at their divisions and went "We can get there and win it this year. The Patriots are out!" The chances of a new AFC Champion were now there, where the mighty Patriots once stood. All of this due to a low hit in preseason, and a back-up that had been a back up since high school.

     Seattle's post season hopes were dashed before the season even started, losing too many key personnel to injuries, Deion Branch and Hasselbeck being the most important. Seattle's post season hopes were dashed before the season even started, losing too many key personnel to injuries, Deion Branch being the most important. Branch was traded to the Seahawks in 2006 after a contract dispute with the Patriots. Seattle eventually gave up a first-round pick for Branch, then signed him to six-year, $39 million deal.

     Injuries have limited Branch's contribution in Seattle, so to this point the trade has not been as rewarding as the Seahawks would expect. He has caught 115 passes and scored eight touchdowns in 29 games with Seattle.

     "Certainly, we needed someone to step forward and kind of be the leader of the group, and he never really got the chance to," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday.

     The man New England drafted with Seattle's first-round pick, Brandon Meriweather, is the Patriots' starting strong safety and leads the team in interceptions (four) while ranking fifth in tackles (55).

This game will all come down to who can play better defense. If Seattle allows another 400 yard day for Cassel, can't stop the run, and/or Randy Moss has his way downfield.., the day will be long and ugly!

PREDICTION: Matt Hasselbeck will have a good game. It is great to have him back with the rest of the WR's, but it will not be enough. The Patriots passing game and a depleted Seahawks defense will not give Mike Holmgren a great start for December.

Patriots 27 Seahawks 20

HOF career tarnished by injuries and hard times?

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:08:30 +0000

As the NFL enters the final quarter of the 2008 season, the future Hall of Fame coach glares at his next challenge of his final year, and wonders how it could have been. How could he have lost so many players to injury during the 1st two weeks of the season, and lose the 2005 league MVP due to a career ending foot injury? How could everything have changed so fast?

What happened is nothing short of just old fashioned bad luck, and Mike Holmgren knows it.

When everyone that votes for the Hall of Fame inductees for 2013, there will be a coach that will be listed on that ballot that will remind everyone once again, Bill Walsh knew talent when he saw it. There was no difference for players and coaches when it came to Walsh, so everyone was either good enough to work with him, or not. Holmgren is no different.

From the 1^st time that the Seattle area got a glimpse of their own future in Super Bowl XXXI, the belief that he would lead them to the promise land was embedded into everyone's heart. They knew that Mike Holmgren was worth every ounce of his 8yr contract, and believed in him. He has done nothing short of prove them right. He had compiled a franchise record or 82-62 before this year, 4 straight NFC West Champions, plus leading them to a Super Bowl appearance and that is nothing short of a miracle after living through the horrific 45-47 combination of Dennis Erickson and Tom Flores before him. Before Holmgren left Green Bay in 1998, the last great leader the Seahawks had seen patrolling the sidelines was from 1983-1991, HOF coach "Ground Chuck" Knox, and everyone in Seattle missed a good team.

When the 2008 season began, there were holes all over the offensive side of the ball, and the defense wasn't fairing much better. Deion Branch and Bobby Engram were both missing from day one. Shawn Alexander was lost because of a foot injury that never really healed well, and they had to release the greatest running back ever to dawn a Seahawk uniform. With no one to throw to and no one to run the ball, the offense was non-existent from the start. Then to top off some more of his Sunday's, 16 others have spent time on the IR list including: Pro Bowl QB Matt Hasselbeck , RB Maurice Morris, T Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack, T Walter Jones, WR Koren Robinson, LB Lofa Tatupu, and DE Patrick Kerney just to name a few. This team has had more of its starting line-up injured than any other team in the NFL, and it has shown in the win column.

You may doubt some of his front office decisions, of which include loss of Steve Hutchinson to the Minnesota Vikings, but he has groomed this Seahawk team into something that it was not, a winner. He taught them to believe in each other, and that they could be in the Super Bowl. They believed, and they made it.

Joe Montana, Steve Young, Bret Farve, and Matt Hasselbeck all have been taught by him to win. Every one of his former and present players knows that he is the reason that they have succeeded in this league, and know that his leadership had no bounds. From San Francisco, to Green bay, all the way to Seattle; Mike has given it his all and it shows.

From the first day of his illustrious 10yr tenure here in Seattle, to the last game this injury plagued debacle of a season, Mike Holmgren has been one of the reasons there is a beautiful new Seahawks Stadium for the people of Washington to watch their team in a cathedral for gladiators. He has given this NFL community the greatest ride of their lives, and they have loved him dearly for it. All of this losing in one season will never replace the joy that he has brought to this place, and his induction into the Hall of Fame will prove it.

Seahawks vs. Patriots: Preview

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:24:41 +0000

The 2-10 Seattle Seahawks will host the 7-5 New England Patriots at Qwest Field in a 1:15 pm game on Sunday, December 7. With an impressive array of high-impact players on both sides of the ball, the Patriots present a difficult challenge for the struggling Seahawks.

So, how can the Seahawks pull off the upset? It is possible, but it's going to take a few major adjustments.

1. Re-tool the defensive approach. John Marshall has consistently called zone coverage at the wrong times, giving opposing quarterbacks way too much time to make their reads and find the open receiver. The Hawks need to open up the blitz package and bring pressure from every possible angle, as much as possible. Matt Cassel isn't Tom Brady, so get in his face and keep him off balance. Or rush four, play a soft zone, and give him time to find Randy Moss. It should be an obvious choice: if Cassel has time, the Hawks are doomed.

2. Use all available offensive weapons. The west coast offense is based on using the tight end, fullback, and half-back in the receiving game. John Carlson, a rookie tight end, is the team's leading receiver; Leonard Weaver is a tight end converted to fullback, with soft hands and a punishing running style; and Mo Morris and Julian Jones are multi-faceted weapons who can catch and pick up yardage after the catch. All four players need to be heavily involved in the passing game for the Seahawks to win.

3. Do something big early. The Qwest Field crowd has the ability to overwhelm an opponent with sheer volume, and fans are waiting for a reason to explode. Unfortunately, too often the Hawks have fallen behind early, and Coach Holmgren has taken the crowd out of the game with timid play calling. So, make a statement: go for it on fourth and two. Run a gadget play or an onside kick. Just show the crowd that you're in the game to win, Coach, and we (I'm a season ticket holder) will have your back. My throat will be shredded come Monday morning regardless, but a lot of fans aren't going to get loud unless they feel like the team (and coach) are playing to win.

4. Get Randy Moss frustrated. Moss is one of the most talented players in the league, and he has improved his focus and work ethic since joining the Patriots. Still, he's a lot like a running back in that he needs to get his touches early and get in a rythm or he loses a little focus. Get Marcus Trufant up on the line and jam Moss hard on every play. He doesn't like contact, so hit him and keep hitting him. If he's frustrated, the entire Patriots offense will be out of sync. He'll still get his catches, but if Tru can keep him in check and off balance, the Seahawks have a much better chance of winning.

Easy? Likely? Probably not, especially given Mike Holmgren's conservative (read: timid) approach this year. But it is possible, and all it will take is a willingness to make a few adjustments.

The Seahawks: Who's to Blame?

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:03:45 +0000

In a Seahawks season filled with frustration, anger and disappointment, there's been plenty of blame to go around. Under-performing athletes. A defense that couldn't slow down a junior-high offense. Injuries to virtually every receiver on the team. The lion's share of the blame, however, must be placed squarely on head coach Mike Holmgren and defensive coordinator John Marshall.

Let's start with Holmgren. Seattle fans have always had something of a love/hate relationship with him: he brought the team to the elite level of the league, but he's seen as overly loyal to under-performing players and unwilling to open up the playbook enough. When he announced his pending retirement during the off-season, followed closely by Jim Mora's anointment as the official heir, a lot of fans worried that a)Holmgren wouldn't be able to bring the same fire and intensity as in past years, and b)the situation with Mora would be a distraction to players and fans.

Both fears appear to have been well-founded. Instead of going out on a high note, Mr. Holmgren seems content to limp his way through a final farewell tour. This is the man who told his team prior to the Thanksgiving Slaughter that they were out-manned against the Cowboys, so they should just go out and have fun. Out-coached is closer to the mark. And Mora? Any time players spend practice time asking a position coach about his philosophy and practice schedule next season, it can't be a positive development. Football teams need one clear coach. Mora's promotion -- through no fault of his own -- has muddied the waters.

The biggest shock for Seahawks fans this year, however, has been the porous defense, and for this John Marshall must take the blame. The problems are rampant, but they boil down to lousy schemes. This is a man who has consistently called a 15-yard-deep zone defense in third and ten situations. Not once, or a few times, but over and over and over, in every game. Someone should let him know that teams are allowed to throw to the middle of the field on third and long. It's almost unbelievable how wide-open the short middle passing game has been for opponents this season. With a team built for speed and aggression, Marshall has consistently been content to lay back and give up yardage. The problem is so bad that Seahawks defensive starters are beginning to grumble about it to the local media, something almost unheard of in Seattle. The linebackers, in particular, have been wasted on ill-timed blitzes or stunningly poor coverage schemes.

Unfortunately, with only four games left, the coaching staff isn't going to change. Holmgren will continue to alternate between bemused and resigned -- his only discernible sideline emotions this year -- while John Marshall will continue to sit in the coach's box and look befuddled. One hopes, however, that Jim Mora is taking careful notes and learning from the mistakes of the current regime. If he isn't, his time in Seattle could (and should) be brief.

Seahawks vs. Eagles preview

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:35:40 +0000

Its weird to think that the Eagles (4-3), who have a winning record, are last in their division. The Seahawks are 2-5 and are tied for second in their division.

The Eagles are a great football team with a high octane offense. After missing a bulk of the season last year, Donovan McNabb has done a great job leading his team this season. It's too bad the Eagles play in the highly competitive NFC East. However, they are getting back Brian Westbrook for tomorrow's game and they've been on a three-game winning streak.

The Seahawks on the otherhand had a huge game of their own last week with a win over division rival San Francisco. This week, they are scheduled to play a fourth straight game without Pro-Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. However, back-up QB Seneca Wallace did have a strong game last week, but will he be ready for the Eagles? They have the seventh best defense in the league, while the Seahawks are 27th.

The Eagles are averaging 28 points per game, but all the while the Seahawks are giving up about 26 points per game. However, if Seattle is looking to pull out a win they must protect Wallace in the pocket. The Eagles are fourth in sacks this season led by DE Juqua Parker and DE Darren Howard, who each have four. They need to protect Wallace and give him time to find open men.

Defensively, they need to limit opportunities for Westbrook. Holding Westbrook is important because it will also help them with McNabb.

However, above everything else, the 12th man must come to yell, scream and shout. Qwest Field is one of the toughest places to play and they are going to need to be there to support the men in blue. They're going to need every bit of it come game time.

Seahawks move into three-way tie

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:16:58 +0000

In a must-win game the Seahawks welcomed new 49er coach Mike Singletary by steamrolling past San Francisco 34-13 handing them their fifth straight loss. Seattle played great complimentary football. When the offense needed to do their thing, they did it. When the defense needed a big stop, they got it. And they did this all without the play of Matt Hasselbeck.

For those of you who read my game preview, you know how much I was ripping on back-up quarterback Seneca Wallace for his lack of consistency and leadership in last week's loss to Tampa Bay. Well, what a perfect way to redeem himself and boost his confidence. In today's win, Wallace threw for 222 yards and 2 TD's. He played great fundamental football and made smart passes when he needed to. Perhaps it was because he was going against a weak 49er defense, but whatever the case may be this was exactly the game that he needed to have.

But Wallace wasn't the only one who had a break-out game... Leonard Weaver, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN??? He was the difference maker in the game. On just six touches, Weaver had 129 all-purpose yards. He 'weaved' his way right through the Niners defense turning two short passes into a 62 and 43-yard touchdown.

The defense also did a great job of pressuring J.T. O'Sullivan. After three turnovers, one of which was a 75-yard interception return by Josh Wilson, Singletary had seen enough. He benched O'Sullivan and gave the honors to longtime back-up QB Shaun Hill. But at that point it was just too little too late.

With the victory, the Seahawks improve to 2-5, which now puts them at a three-way tie with St. Louis and San Francisco. The truth of the matter is is that even though Seattle has had a dismal start to Mike Holmgren's last season, they are still right in the thick of things.

The Seahawks need to focus on carrying over the same intensity and commitment to next week's game against the Philadelphia Eagles (4-3). The important thing is that they need to come prepared. The Eagles are a great football team that knows how to score a lot points fast. The defense will be put to the test, but if they can play the way they did today and contain Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook, the Seahawks might just be able to pull out the upset.

Seahawks look to get back at 49ers

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 03:22:22 +0000

The Seahawks are looking to avenge their loss against the 49ers from Week 2. It's a battle of the two worst teams in the NFC West. Both teams have been struggling to find any sort of rhythm thus far this season.

Matt Hasselbeck will be out of action for a third straight week and Seneca Wallace will be starting for the second week in a row. However, the truth of the matter is t he Seahawks are just not the same without Matt Hasselbeck. We are a completely different team when he's not the guy that's leading our offense.

With that said it's not a secret that Seneca Wallace has some big shoes to fill. In the past two weeks, he and third-string QB Charlie Frye have thrown for a total of 153 yards with 3 INT's. So far, they have both shown me why they are the second and third string QB's in the league. The Seahawks need to start off the game with a bang. If they can be effective on their opening drive, it will help set the tone for rest of the game. Seneca Wallace needs to focus on making smart passes. If he can establish the passing game early, it will help create some big holes for Julius Jones. In Week 2, Jones had a huge game against the 49ers running for 127 yards on 26 carries.

Defensively, it's been rough watching our secondary getting run over week in and week out. The biggest concern is the fact that the defensive line hasn't been able to disrupt to flow of the offense, with the exception being the game against the Rams four weeks ago.

The Seahawks need to put pressure on J.T. Sullivan and his offense. If they can get in his face, it will help out the secondary maintain their coverage. The more time they give Sullivan to throw eventually he'll find someone open, so the key for Seahawks is to get to him before he can set up and find an open receiver.

Season continues to go downhill

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:41:33 +0000

The Seahawks are 1-5. Do I really need to say anymore? It's been a horrible start to horrendous year for all Seattle sports.

First, the Mariners...the first franchise to lose over 100 games with a payroll over $100 million. Second, the Sonics...I mean Oklahoma City Thunder. Yes seriously...they changed their name to the Thunder! Third, the Huskies...with Jake Locker they were 0-3; after Jake Locker, 0-6.

And now the Seahawks join the list of disappointing Seattle sports.

Yesterday, the Seahawks played their second straight game without Matt Hasselbeck leaving the ball in the hands of back-up QB Seneca Wallace. Being under the Sunday Night Lights proved to be too much for Wallace as he struggled to find any sort of rhythm. He connected on just 12 of 23 passes for a meager 73 yards. The Seahawks barely scrapped together 10 points; seven of which came with two minutes to go.

Seattle's defense didn't play bad. They held Tampa Bay to 20 points when it could've been a lot more. Jeff Garcia threw for 310 yards and produced a QB rating 109.7. He was definitely the player of the game as he led his team up and down the field at will. Luckily the defense was able to hold them to a couple field goals, otherwise it might have turned into a massacre. The end result proved to be a lot better on paper than it was in real time.

The Bucs beat the Seahawks 20-10, improving their record to 5-2.

Man, how good is it to be a Tampa Bay fan right now!