Seahawks Extract Revenge over the Rams 20-13

"Fatality!  Noob Saibot WINS..."

Well, that wasn't pretty.  In a game that featured more random penalties than big plays, the Seahawks were able to overcome numerous miscues to secure a win in the season finale.  Still unbelieveable to think that this season is already over.  I'm glad that I've enjoyed the ride because it was over in the blink of an eye.  Now the focus will shift to the postseason, with a Sunday matchup with a Julius Jones bowl or DJ Hackett Bowl looming in the distance.

While this game with St. Louis wasn't the laugher many expected (myself included), it's important to point out that the Rams played a solid, tough game.  It's not going to be fun having to play Jeff Fisher's boys twice a year in the future but we should be up for it.  Hats off to Fisher and his coaching staff for preparing his team extremely well, putting a great gameplan in place, and attempting to outphysical the Hawks.  They actually were for a while there.

After the madness that was the last 3 weeks, you almost had to know that a game like this was in the offing.  It would be icredibly difficult for a team as young as the Seahawks to put together four consecutive blowouts.  I'm ok with that.  The fact that they gutted this one out despite clearly lacking the edge that they had the past 3 weeks was encouraging to see.  Let's not forget, this team was built to win "street fights."  They achieved what they set out to do.
Funny how the Regular Season sort of came full circle.  The season started WAY back in September with a tough divisional game.  The opposition attacked Russell Wilson and was able to consistently generate pressure.  That was probably the most shocking thing about today's game, the Rams ability to consistently dominate the Seahawks at the Line of Scrimmage.  The Cardinals were able to do that to Seattle in Glendale as well. 

Unlike the season opener, when the Seahawks got the chance to punch the ball in the end zone late they got it done.  I'm shocked that Russell Wilson's stats were what they were to end the game.  He was getting abused all day long and kept coming back for more.  He also tied Peyton Manning's Rookie Passing TD record with 26, became the first Rookie QB to go undefeated at home, and finishes the season with a 100.2 QB Rating, the highest in team history.  Gotta love seeing Hass show Russ some love on twitter after the game.  Classy.  All in all, a great day for the new Seattle legend.  Seriously, we love ya Russ!

The second most shocking item of the day had to be the Seahawks complete lack of pass rush.  I think some of it might stem from the fact that Pete Carroll and Gus Bradley don't want to put anything new on film for their 1st Round opponent.  We started seeing some blitzes late in the game and finally saw Bradford take some shots.  Another part of it was the Rams O-Line having an excellent day.  The Hawks rushed out of their Base 4 a lot in this game and were consistently dominated.  Not the most encouraging sign in the word but I suspect we'll see a more creative gameplan next week.

It was incredibly fitting that the game would end on an interception by Richard Sherman.  After the week he had, he deserves getting to enjoy this.  That play was classic Sherm.  He baited Sam Bradford and made an outstanding play on the ball.  The dude is a natural, just so smooth out there!

Funny that Marshawn Lynch was a bit of a question mark in some minds of the 12th Man prior to the season.  With the new contract and his offseason DUI, some were worried that it would be a down year for Beast.  Guess not.  There's not many things in this life that I enjoy more than watching Marshawn Lynch drag a pile or just run in general.  One day I'll be showing my grandkids old highlight clips of Marshawn and what it was like watching a REAL running back play!

As I write this, the Skins are up 14-7 over the Cowboys in the 3rd Quarter.  I embrace the challenge that either team presents and fully believe that the Seahawks will prevail.  I am a diehard after all.  If I had to pick the team I'd rather face it's probably Dallas.  I just can't see that Cowboys team beating a team as tough and nasty as the 2012 Seahawks.  Alfred Morris and Robert Griffin Tres present a tough task for Gus Bradley and Pete Carroll.

Whoever the Hawks end up playing next week, they'll have to do it on the road, and I'm okay with that.  Can this team undertake the "Road Warrior" mentality and embrace it on their way to a possible Super Bowl?  I don't see why not.  After all, all of these guys are noted for their tremendous chip on their shoulder.  This could be just what this team needs.  More adversity. 

Oh, and Browner's back!  Can't wait for Sunday already!  How are you all feeling, my fellow 12's? 

Go Hawks!
 

An Alternate Reality Called the Pro Bowl

Sherm Says He Ain't Mad Bro

In every sport, there's always a massive screwjob, the snubbing of all snubs, a disgrace so sickening that the process used to select these "all-stars" is thrown under the microscope.  As luck would have it, the Seahawks were involved, as they always seem to be of late.  I never mentioned this, but anyone find it ironic that the man in the center of the blown call TD run during the Texans/Lions game on Thanksgiving was Justin Forsett, Ex-Seahawk?  Everywhere we go, even when it's to other teams, controversy soon follows.  Anyways, back to the annual All-Star game travesty.

This year's laughable error in the selection process didn't come at the hands of Colts Rookie QB Andrew Luck.  Nope, not by a long shot.  Seahawks CB Richard Sherman is most definitely this Pro Bowl's equivalent to the kid on the back of a milk carton.  Sure, he's got a possible suspension looming over his head but that was not a factor in the selection process which consists of fan voting, NFL players, and coaches.  Regardless, innocent until proven guilty, right?

Let the record show that Richard Sherman shall go down as the greatest snub in professional sports all-star game history. My suspicions that 95% of the rest of humanity are idiots has been confirmed.

This is perfect though. No, seriously. Part of what makes Sherman, the proud owner of 61 tackles, 7 int's, 3 forced fumbles, 2 TD's, and 23 pass breakups (according to Hawkblogger, only the 3rd player in NFL history to do this) so great is the size of the chip on his shoulder that he plays with. He's going to win his appeal and this will all just be more fuel for his fire. Sherman knows that the Pro Bowl "don't mean nothing."  I'm sure he's way more preoccupied with the decision of his hearing and potentially winning a Super Bowl to give a damn about the Pro Bowl. 

My sincerest thanks go to the NFL for continuing to set the bar so low.

What's beautiful about this is that in year's past I would've been screaming at the top of my lungs, now I'm just laughing at this like I'm the town cynic.  I would've clung to Pro Bowl spots as validation that at least somebody out there knew that a Seahawk had a great season.  I used to actually tune in just to catch a glimpse of how they'd look in those generically awful NFC jerseys.  Now?  I simply don't care.  We're out here gunning for Super Bowls and the Pro Bowl game is played the week before the Super Bowl.  Hopefully, these guys won't even get a chance to play in the game, making their selections kind've useless anyway. 

Now, I'll have a really big problem in believing that ANY of these accolades and awards mean ANYTHING if "Tricky Dick" Sherm isn't on the list for All-Pros.  Somewhere over time, Pro Bowl nomations became something broadcasters and hack journalists would trot out over the years as a glorious accomplishment on the part of the player.  If only somebody with the brains back then would've realized that being selected an All-Pro should be the less useless nomination that gets thrown about 10 times a telecast.

Bottom line is, this snub although absolutely awful and logic defying, doesn't faze me at all.  There are bigger fish to fry, a championship to be won.  I expect more snubs in the Rookie of the Year awards.  Something tells me that the voters would love to give a Packer yet another award after the "grave injustice" they suffered early in the year, so Casey Heyward will probably win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.  The media also has a huge hardon for QB's Robert Griffin Tres and Andrew Luck, so I wouldn't expect any Offensive Rookie of the Year honors for Russell Wilson either. 

I can't wait to see Sherm just absolutely go off on whichever poor field analyst it is that gets the pleasure of interviewing him while he's hositing the Lombardi Trophy.  That's some must see TV waiting to happen right there.  You know CBS would have this thing ready, but we'd hang on every word.

 

Trailblazin' Tanzania - The Russell Wilson Story

Everyone applauds John Schneider's genius, even Tanzania.

The year is 2039. The place? Moshi, Tanzania. Population 206,728. Moshi is the 10th most populated city in Tanzania and is situated on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano and the tallest mountain in all of Africa. After a lengthy career of covering the Seahawks for a living, as the replacement to Tony Ventrella after his retirement, I finally raised the funds to open up the first ever Seattle Seahawks bar in Tanzania back in 2032! It's been a huge success! The bar's name "Kumi na mbili mtu" means "Twelfth Man" in the native tongue, Swahili.
 

Natives had been clamoring for a Seahawks bar in Tanzania for decades after Seahawks QB Russell Wilson brought the city of Seattle it's first Super Bowl in the 2012-13 season. After uttering "I'm going to Disneyland" and his famed "Go Hawks!", Wilson then smiled and said "This one's for Tanzania!" Word caught on all the way from Dar es "Rashaan" Salaam to Zanzibar that the people of Tanzania finally had a Super Bowl MVP.
 

Wilson, of course, went on to win 14 more Super Bowl's and Super Bowl MVP's, although he donated most of his rings and MVP trophies to retired teammates, family members, and notable Seahawks draft busts during the era despite pleas from the 12th Man to hire retired QB Colin Kaepernick, formerly of the rival San Francisco 49ers, to hold his other 5 rings during public appearances. In typical fashion, Wilson said that he "hoped Kaepernick found peace and happiness after the years of abuse he took from the Seahawks and the 12th Man." He also finished his career with every single passing record of all-time, except for All-Time Interceptions and Times Sacked, both lists where is a noticeable absentee.
 

Many were shocked that Wilson didn't go for one of the greatest records of all. Most seasons played. When he retired last year, he said that he had too much respect for what George Blanda had done for the game for him to attempt to outlast his record. He then chimed in that "playing til I'm 50 was good enough for me, Go Hawks!" Wilson's 26 years with the Seahawks is the longest such run in modern sports history, let alone the NFL, leading the Brits to call him "The Sir Alex Ferguson of Seattle."
 

I'm writing this memoire today, to be sent back to the future by a new time machine created by Russell Wilson, to tell you about today's great event. Russell Wilson is here, in Tanzania, at Kumi na mbili mtu, for the unveiling of the golden statue that the locals have erected for him. The solid gold statue is life-like in size and weighs one whole ton. It took 12 years to complete. Wilson, the man that he is, agreed to come to Tanzania for this preseason's opener in order to raise the ceremonial 12th Man Flag that sits atop the bar. He did not sleep once on his flight over, instead, he studied the history of Tanzania and the Rosetta-Stone Swahili edition. He had mastered the language after the 19 hour flight from Sea-Tac. This is what he said to the people.
 

"Hakuna muda wa kulala. Sisi wote tulipata sisi wote tunahitaji. Mtu wa kumi na mbili na Seattle Seahawks upendo Tanzania. Nenda Hawks!"

Which of course in English means:
 

"There is no time to sleep. We all we got we all we need. The Twelfth Man and the Seattle Seahawks love Tanzania. Go Hawks!"

Now, let's get back to reality!

Trail-Blaz-er... Merriam-Webster defines it as "a person who makes a new track through wild country" or "a pioneer; an innovator." Synonyms include pioneer - pathfinder. You could also add a basketball team hailing from the Pacific Northwest region. Ironically, there's a new trailblazer in the Pacific Northwest, and his name is Russell Wilson and damn Damon Stoudamire and the rest of the infamous "Jail Blazers" squads could have used him for a role model! If you looked in the dictionary in 2039, after Russell Wilson's 26 year career is over, you'll probably see his face next to the word trailblazer.

He's seemingly erased years of suffering from the minds of 12th Men and Women everywhere and replaced it with a feeling of hope and pride. He's made it so that a 5'10 Quarterback (funny how after the draft everyone wanted to scramble to give him inches, now it makes for a better story if he's even shorter) coming out of high school doesn't have to abandon his dreams of being a professional quarterback. Fittingly, he can try and become the next Russell Wilson. The question marks surrounding Johnny Manziel's stature and whether he can succeed in the NFL now suddenly start to go away.

Russell Wilson is to undersized quarterbacks what Jackie Robinson was to African-American baseball players back in the day. Obviously, the context and magnitude of Robinson's achievements are much more impressive and historically important, no matter what Wilson achieves. However, in terms of breaking down barriers for those that follow behind you, they are one in the same.

I've sat in amazement over Wilson for the past few weeks as he's continued to progress at lightyear speed and my brain can hardly register it. As Seahawks fans, we're not used to this kind of success. This kind of instant gratification. Well get used to it 12's, because with #3 at the helm this team is going to be an amazing team with legitimate Championship aspirations every damn year for over a decade. You can just feel it.

 

I could hardly care if this comes across as huge homerdom. I hope it does. Russell Wilson is giving us reason after reason to be a homer. It's fun watching him play, it's incredible to see how he handles himself, and it's amazing to see how he handles real life and other people. He's a genuine role model not just for kids, but for human beings everywhere. All the people who complain about modern athletes need take one look at Russell Wilson to realize that they're not all the same and that some of them are real, good people. He's honestly the first athlete I can think of, that when faced with a tough real life situation a few weeks ago I thought... "What Would Russell Do?" Shit, it helped! It made me work hard and keep focused on what was at stake. And I've never met the guy!

With Russell, we know what we get. Hard work, consistency, improvement, leadership, poise. You get so much from this guy out on the field and off the field. No moping around like Eli (yeah, 2 rings, whatever), disinterest like Cutler, throwing teammates under the bus like Brady, none of that. That's honestly part of what's making it so fun to watch this guy succeed. There ought to be a meme going around by now that shows a picture of Wilson and then says "Sends dick pics... to his wife."

And hey, not to say everybody's got to be a saint out there. After all, Saints are being falsely accused of being sinners now anyways. Wouldn't want that. We've got our Marshawn's, Leroy Hill's, and we love them too. But just once, finally once! We have our "Face of the Franchise." A genuinely elite player who makes a fan out of everybody. The only people who will be able to dislike him are the ignorant and the miserable. Sure, his enemies will always hate him, but they'll always respect him and what he can do to beat you.

Trust me, I know what you're feeling right now. You're head and your heart are at war right now. Your heart is telling you to believe that Russell Wilson and the Seahawks can overcome any obstacle yet your head is telling you to remember all the times you've imagined success for the Seahawks only to see it come up short in a blaze of agony. Don't worry, you can believe in Russell Wilson! It's what Russell Wilson would do.

Tunes from the Jukebox: I Guess it rains down in Africa? Had a solid rotation of "3030" by Deltron 3030 and "Toto" by Africa playing for this one.

Discuss. Does Russell Wilson go down as the greatest human being in the history of life? In the words of Mike Leach... "well, that's a stupid question."

 

Marshawn's Last 21 Carries on Earth

Would YOU want to tackle this man?!?

It would be completely fitting for the Mayans to be correct and the world to end this Friday.  After all, the Seahawks appear to have found their franchise quarterback (just kidding about the appear part!), look like the most dominant team in the NFL, and I'm attempting to have some fun with numbers.  All clear signs that the world will probably end this weekend.  For those who don't know, I'm atrocious at math.  I won't mince any words.  When I was a kid I was a numbers prodigy when it came to sports but that was more because of my photographic memory and that's still the case.  However, when thinking about Marshawn Lynch's production from the past 2 demolitions, I had to investigate. 

At a glance, the numbers are simply incredible.

ATT/Yds/YPC/TD/Lng
21/241/11.4/4/54

Don't forget to sprinkle in 6 First Downs.  So 10 of the 21 carries, nearly 50%, have resulted in either ANOTHER SEAHAWKS FIRST DOWN! or a Touchdown!  When you look at that line, you just can't help but smile.  I know I can't!  The first thing that pops out to me is that it looks like something Lynch probably put up in a game against Cal-Poly or UC Irvine while he was at Cal.  You see games like this in college all the time.  When you sit back and reflect upon the fact that this is actually TWO games against NFL defenses, in back to back weeks, it's even more amazing.

Really, since the Chicago game Beast Mode has been especially, uhh... beasty?  Beastly?  Whatever the case may be, it's obvious that Marshawn is following suit with the rest of the offense and thriving with the continued use of the Zone-Read Option.  The hesitation it causes when diagnosing the play is an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses.  Not being able to anticipate the run and swarm Lynch is getting a lot of "defenseless" players roughed up out there.  There's probably not many things scarier than Marshawn Lynch coming at you with a full head of steam while you haven't even decided whether or not he has the ball.  As you stand there flat flooted and scrambling to recover, a calm washes over you as you realize that the Oakland Tech product is going to leave you a mangled mess laying in a cloud of dust.

The fun with numbers doesn't stop there.  I wanted to dig deeper to see where 'Shawn's successful runs were coming from.  I'm broke as a joke, so NFL Replay for me this year.  Next year, it will be a required buy for me as I further try to advance my coverage of the Seahawks.  I'd be really interested to see these 21 runs broken down by formation.  That's what's missing here.  However, let's have fun with what we've got, shall we?

Marshawn Lynch Carries By Quarter (ATT/Yds/YPC/TD)
1st Quarter - 10/90/9.0/2/2nd Quarter - 7/98/14.0/1
3rd Quarter - 4/28/7.0/1
4th Quarter - NOT FREAKIN' AVAILABLE!

If I told you that the Seahawks would be crushing teams at the end of the season and that Marshawn Lynch would have ZERO, zilch, nada, goose egg carries in the 4th quarter over a 2 game stretch you'd be doing cartwheels.  When you consider 'Shawn's history with back/foot problems this can only bode well for the Seahawks as the season continues.  Getting your workhorse back quality rest down the stretch while annihilating the opposition is extremely rare.  Consider the fact that the Beast has only carried the ball four times in the second half of the past 2 games COMBINED and you further get the picture of how devastating this offense has been.

Marshawn Lynch Production By Direction (ATT/Yds/YPC/TD)
When Shaun Alexander was in town, the misconception was that Alexander achieved all of his success running behind Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson. While it's true that that remains one of the greatest LT/LG duo's in football history, the Seahawks still managed to have success running behind Robbie "I think I sharted" Tobeck, Chris "50 Shades of" Gray, and Sean "Not Heather" Locklear. Similarly, a developing common theme amongst 12's is that Russell Okung is holding it down while Breno Giacomini is holding back the Seahawks. Let's take a look at Marshawn's production going left, middle, or right over the past 2 historic games.

LEFT - 9/88/9.7/3
MIDDLE - 5/79/15.8/0
RIGHT - 7/74/10.5/1

Keep in mind that Marshawn's 54 yard run up the middle against Buffalo obviously alters the numbers just a little.  I would not expect the Seahawks to rack up 15.8 YPC while rushing up the middle.  However, the point is that Marshawn has been picking up chunks of yardage no matter who he's designed to run behind.  Giacomini caught a lot of grief, from myself as well, for his penalties plague from earlier in the season.  He's put aside the penalties of late and has been impressive in run blocking.  He deserves some credit.  Another guy who deserves credit is John Moffitt.  Asides from being one of my favorite Seahawks, John's also been the Seahawks good luck charm.  It just seems that whenever he's in the lineup the Seahawks have put up monster games on the ground.  Maybe he's rubbing fruit on his jock strap for good luck like Pedro Cerrano in the movie Major League.  Maybe he has a voodoo doll named JoBu.  Whatever he's doing, it's working and his good juju is rubbing off on the Hawks offense.

Also interesting to note that 'Shawn has scored 3 times when running behind Russell Okung and Paul McQuistan.  Leon Washington and Russell Wilson have also ran it in when running to the left side.  They'll never be confused for Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson but Okung and McQuistan have been mauling, as well as ass-blocking, the opposition as of late.  Back to Marshawn and his beastliness...

Marshawn Lynch Production by Down (ATT/Yds/YPC/TD)
Let's take a closer look at Marshawn's production by down over the past 2 games, shall we?

1st Down - 13/96/7.3/2
2nd Down - 7/112/16.0/1
3rd Down - 1/33/33.0/1

That 3rd Down stat certainly stands out, huh?  Beautiful.  It's obvious that the Seahawks have been extremely successful running on 1st and 2nd down over the past 2 games.  Hell, they've been extremely successful at everything.  While they haven't had many 1st downs this shows that the team is leaning on Russell Wilson on 3rd downs.  The few opportunities Wilson has faced on 3rd down have usually ended up in a Seahawks First Down, which is great news.

Want to know what's really incredible about Marshawn's production over the past 2 games?  Over that span he has not had a carry for negative yardage or no gain.  He's had 3 carries of 2 yards, 2 carries for 1 yard, and 1 for 3, otherwise every other rush he's attempted has ended up going for at least 4 yards, which is usually the benchmark for a "solid" run.

The Niners come in to town, so it's time to put these numbers aside and focus on preparing for a legitimate All-World defense.  11 Yards Per Carry just ain't gonna happen.  Last season at the CLink, we saw Marshawn score the first rushing touchdown the 49ers had allowed all season.  Skittles rained down from the stands and the frustration on the face of the 49ers defenders was visible.  However, San Fran got the last laugh.  Hopefully this time it'll be Marshawn who laughs last.



Hold My Dick, the Remix

Seahawks Back in Preseason Form; Bully Bills 50-17

Remember way back in August when Russell Wilson burst onto the scene and stole our collective hearts with some of the most inspired play from a Seahawks QB in team history?  The defense was opportunistic, hard hitting, and fearsome.  The team looked dynamic in all three phases of the game in cruising to a 4-0 record and a massive point differential.  Optimism was sky high in the Emerald City and for good reason, the team looked dominant.  Remember that?  I know, seems like an eternity ago but it's really been just four months.  So much has transpired since then but somehow the Seahawks have regained their preseason form, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

It's funny.  I was walking to work yesterday morning and thought to myself "Wow, I can't believe Russell Wilson hasn't rushed for a touchdown yet this season..."  Somehow, Russell read my mind and ended up going off on the Bills, especially on the ground with 9 rushes for 92 yards and 3 TD's!  That's a 10.2 YPC my brotha's, which is absolutely fantastic.  Granted, the Bills looked absolutely clueless when faced with the Zone-Read Option but kudos to the coaching staff for noticing this and exploiting it and to Russell Wilson for executing the gameplan to perfection.  So we now know that Russell Wilson, along with being a franchise quarterback, can read minds.  Is there ANYTHING this kid can't do?!

Entering the game the 12th Man was on high alert at the potential for a letdown.  As Seahawks fans we're used to the prospect of the Seahawks laying an egg on the road against an inferior opponent.  Some downright expect it.  Too many times this season the Hawks had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory so you can understand the fanbases guarded state.  Well, I think it's time that we realize that this team is different from any other Seahawks team before them.  I don't care who the opposition is, 108 points in consecutive games is INSANE!  2 straight games cracking 50 points?  If I would have told you that would happen before the season started you woulda labeled me a loon.  The only loons now are the few remaining 12's out there who feel that Murphy's Law and Seahawks football are still synonomous.  It's time to get on board my brotha's!

Special shoutouts go to K.J. Wright for playing one of the best games of his life.  Earl Thomas gets some love for his INT and amazing return for a TD.  He didn't drop that one!  Zach Miller gets some praise for making it two straight games with a touchdown reception.  I love the fact that Marshawn has only carried the rock 21 times in the past 2 games.  I love what he's done with those 21 carries even more!  4 of those 21 carries have gone for touchdowns and he's averaged 11.4 YPC, breaking the 100 yard marker both times, while also getting some rare rest for this stage of the season.  While other teams are fighting tooth and nail to try and secure a playoff berth, the Seahawks are taking their game to a whole nother level.  The offense in particular is operating on a nearly flawless level, a level they haven't played at since the preseason when the games didn't count.  It was easy for Seahawks and Russell Wilson detractors alike to explain away the team's success due to it being the preseason...  well, not anymore!

Friday is a huge day for the Seahawks season.  That's the day when Richard Sherman's appeal will be heard and a 4 game suspension might ensue.  If Sherman is suspended like many think, that would have him missing the Rams game and the first 3 playoff games, if the Hawks get in of course.  That would be a tough blow for sure as Sherman is the Seahawks best player on defense, hands down.  However, the loss would be offset by the return of fellow CB Brandon Browner for the Wild Card round.  Having at least one of those guys out there during the playoffs certainly beats not having either of them, obviously, especially if Walter Thurmond Part Three can shake off the injury bug and hold down Sherm's place in his absence.  I know, that's asking for a lot with Thurmond's injury history but we can only hope for the best at this point.

I thought the wolf grey uni's looked pretty sharp.  Definitely prefer the blue's but as an alternate it makes for a pretty interesting jersey.  As long as the Hawks keep playing like this I don't think it'll matter what they where to play.  I know people will moan and groan over the fake punt the Seahawks ran while already being up huge over Buffalo but big deal.  I wouldn't be upset if the roles were reversed.  Regardless, this will give the hack media their chance to tee off on Pete Carroll for "running up the score" two weeks in a row.  Kind of interesting to be the ones accused of running up the score for a change.  I think I could get used to this.

Despite the news about Sherman I'm definitely pumped up about next Sunday's game against the 9ers, as should every person who calls themselves a football fan even if they're on the East Coast.  Under the lights at the CLink against our hated rival and their douche of a coach?  The league's hottest team against arguably the league's best team?  What more could you ask for?  I suspect this game will be a bloodbath with a lot of usage of the phrase "chippy affair" by Collinsworth and co.  At least I hope so.  I want to see the Hawks play with the same swagger and intensity that they have right now.  I just hope that the potential loss of Richard Sherman two days prior to the game doesn't distract them or bring morale down.  What's funny is that in the past I'd genuinely have to worry about this.  However, with Russell Wilson leading this team I feel comfortable that the gang will follow his lead with his unflappable demeanor and just roll with the punches.  Who knows?  Maybe Sherman is innocent and avoids a suspension.  Wouldn't that be something.

Here's a preview of how I think the game will unfold come Sunday.  Think of the Seahawks as the bus driver in this video and the 49ers as the girl.  The Seahawks deliver a mean tiger uppercut to the face of the loudmouth 49ers.  The 49ers are tough though, so they can take a punch.  However, the only thing people will remember this game for is that nasty tiger uppercut to the jaw delivered by the Seahawks.  Enjoy!  Oh, and I think this video qualifies as officially "not safe for work."

Accelerating the 4 Year Plan

Schneider: I didn't know the University of Phoenix had a football team!  58-0?!!?
Pete: Good one, John.

January 19, 2010.  Already feels like an eternity ago, huh?  This is one of the biggest dates in the history of the Seattle Seahawks.  John Schneider, director of football operations for the Green Bay Packers at the time, is handpicked by new Seahawks President and Head Coach Pete Carroll to be the Seahawks General Manager.  The result?  Many moments like the one captured in the picture above and a genuinely excellent working relationship between the two.  Much of this stems from a shared football philosophy and common beliefs the two share on roster construction.  One of these beliefs has been the "4 Year Plan."  We've heard about it time and time again from both men but could this be one of the few times they've been wrong?

The old saying goes, you hope for the best but prepare for the worst.  With regards to the Seahawks, I can see the perpetually optimistic Pete Carroll constantly thinking about the positive possibilities while John Schneider's job is to sort of "prepare for the worst", in a sense.  Schneider is the yin to Carroll's effusive yang.  This isn't good cop/bad cop though, no.  This is the ever rare good cop/good cop routine.  A positive outlook is just one of the many things that Pete Carroll and John Schneider share in common.  Which brings me back to the 4 Year Plan.

When these guys took over they laid out their blueprint for a self-sufficient, sustained Super Bowl contender.  So far, they've followed that blueprint to near-perfection.  The first order was gutting an aging, overpriced, and talent bare roster and stocking the cupboards with young, affordable, and controllable talent.  Mission accomplished.  Next up was going outside the organization and accelerating the process by adding young free agents with existing upside and potential.  Check.  Then, the most daunting task of them all, finding the much talked about but seldom seen "Franchise Quarterback."  I think it's safe to say they found him.  Finally, allowing the team to grow together and gel through game experience.  That's the phase we're currently witnessing.  Things seem to be going according to plan, right?  What if I told you this team might actually be ahead of schedule?

After all, stranger things have happened in the NFL.  The New York Giants were all set to fire Head Coach Tom Coughlin before ending last season on a magical run capped off by a Super Bowl crown.  Why can't this team accelerate the process and cash in in Year 3 of the 4 Year Plan?  Carroll and Schneider said that Year 4 would be the year they expect this team to start consistently competing year in and year out for Lombardi trophies but the football gods may be smiling favorably upon them for their hard work.  Remember the days when the Hawks couldn't go a day without making a roster transaction?  That due diligence and amazing work ethic is finally paying off.

In a sense it already did when Marshawn Lynch ran through all of the Bayou and into the endzone en route to a shocking upset of the defending champion Saints in the NFC Wild Card game in 2010.  However, that appears to simply be a taste of things to come.  The question is, how soon can we expect greatness? 

For starters, Schneider and Carroll couldn't have known that by Year 3 they would find their mythical franchise quarterback, and I'm not talking about Blaine Gabbert here.  Russell Wilson has the savvy of a 7 year veteran, not that of a typical rookie.  He has the poise and polish to thrive down the stretch and into the playoffs.  While the team may have hoped that by Year 3 they'd have their guy, they couldn't have envisioned him being so NFL ready and so ready for success.

How about guys like Richard Sherman and Bobby Wagner?  While I'm sure Carroll and Schneider have always believed in their players abilities, they couldn't have imagined Sherman's meteoric rise or Wagner's emergence all happening so quickly.  The same can be said for guys like Brandon Browner and Kam Chancellor.  Even the most optimistic of Hawks fans would've had a hard time predicting how quickly they'd take to the NFL game.

This is what leads me to believe that while Pete and John were preparing to compete by Year 4 of the plan, they were really hoping for the best all along.  Winning it all in Year 3.  There's just been so many "best case scenarios" that have unfolded for the Hawks when it comes to player development that it's hard NOT to believe.

I know a few of you are probably cringing right now but screw it!  We haven't even clinched a playoff spot and here I am talking about playoffs.  I'm sure Jim Mora Sr. would have something to say about that.  When the season started, I wasn't alone in picking the Hawks to go 10-6 with a playoff berth so I know there are believers out there.  In fact, it's still possible for the Hawks to one up that prediction by finishing 11-5 and potentially winning the NFC West.  Unbelieveable when you consider how this season has transpired. 

Here are a few of the keys to "accelerating the 4 Year Plan."

Battle Tested
If this team does fulfill it's destiny in the Year of the 12 by making the playoffs and possibly doing more, no one will be able to say they didn't earn it. Don't let the people at ESPN fool you, this team is already and will be further battle tested upon completion of the season. You know all about the 5 Quality Wins, the Opponents Winning Percentage, all that good stuff that makes us glow with excitement. I feel that all of the close games and even the heartbreaking defeats have accelerated the growth of this team from young and untested to tough and battle scarred all throughout the course of a single season. The Seahawks finally showed their potential to play dominant football this past Sunday. Pretty impressive when you consider that it came in Week 14. Lesser teams would have broken by now and would be praying for the finish line. Not this team, they appear to be getting stronger. The game in Toronto will continue to tell this story...

Street Fighter
It's something I've commonly referred to and it's one of the quotes that made me fall in love with John Schneider. The players he's looking for are guys that could "win a street fight." Lucky for John, the Seahawks have played in their fair share of street fights this season and they stand at 8-5. It hasn't always been pretty and it's always been nerve-racking but this team is taking the shape of one that John Schneider could be proud of. I think this desire for "street fighters" also has a lot to do with the fact that the Seahawks have remained relatively healthy throughout the season, KNOCK ON WOOD! This team is built tough and the road ahead is a tough one, so it would appear that they are well-suited for whatever the football gods are ready to throw at them.

Generating a Consistent Pass Rush
This one is the major key for me. It's true, sacks are overrated. Pressure is not however and if the Seahawks are to make a long playoff run to eventual glory, they'll have to do a better job of consistently creating pressure. Wreaking havoc is the name of the game and in the games where Seattle has lost they have failed to force poor throws and capitalize. Whether it be through dialing up the blitz or getting better pressure from the Front 4, this team will need to harrass opposing QB's at a better rate. If they can do this, it should have a trickle down effect on the team's production. More pressure means more forced throws which potentially means more turnovers which means more possession on offense which means more success for the team as a whole. Something tells me that Gus Bradley has an ace up his sleeve and that we'll see it unleashed down the stretch.

Next Man Up!
Traditionally, this is the part of the season where you tend to see more and more injuries. Sidney Rice is wearing a boot because of a foot bruise and his status for Sunday is uncertain. That would be a major blow to Russell Wilson and the rest of the offense, but it's not something that can't be overcome. When Leroy Hill, Brandon Browner, and Marcus Trufant went down with injuries/suspension it was uncertain how Walter Thurmond Tres and Malcolm Smith would perform in their absence. So far, the results have been stellar. It's this "Next Man Up" mentality that this team will need to survive the march for the Lombardi trophy. What I really appreciate is the fact that no one is pointing fingers at Brandon Browner for his suspension. Yes, the team and fans are let down by the news, but no one has thrown BB under the bus and have actually been rather supportive of him and Sherm. I like it. Tim Ryan said during the Cardinals broadcast that this team is tight like a family. Of course, we've known that all along, but it's great to see it even during tough times.

Balance on Offense
It's what all teams strive for but few actually achieve. The Seahawks have the potential to be a well balanced machine on offense the rest of the way. With the potential emergence of Anthony McCoy, the Seahawks now look dangerous in 2 Tight End sets. You know Pete Carroll just LOVES that. Now that opposing defenses have to account for McCoy as a receiver it opens things up a bit for Darrell Bevell and Russell Wilson, not to mention Marshawn Lynch. This team can now pass or run out of 2 TE sets with equal effectiveness. When opposing defenses can't stack the box to shut down Beast Mode, it makes life nearly impossible. Just ask the Cardinals. Keep in mind the Seahawks will always be a run first team. Creating more balance on offense has and will continue to help the team fulfill it's goal of establishing the run and passing out of play-action. You couldn't dream of a more perfect situation for Russell Wilson.

Demand Greatness
Finally, the key to cashing in on success this season. Next season needs to be a distant thought in the back of everyone's mind. We all know that this team is going to be a force to be reckoned with next season and beyond, but it's important to realize that they already are one when they're on top of their game right now. I'm sure the confidence in the locker room is sky high right now. If you were to look any one of these guys in the eye and tell them they aren't Super Bowl contenders this season they'd be sure to let you know how wrong you are. They believe and rightfully so. They know what will be required of them in order to pull this whole thing off and that's greatness. We saw it on display on Sunday, let's hope that it infects the team down to their core and they have no choice but to fulfill their destiny in the year of the 12!
 

Pete Carroll and John Schneider have been steadfast in their commitment to the 4 Year Plan.  However, this talented group of Seahawks might be good enough to accelerate the process.  I'm sure Carroll and Schneider and 12's everywhere could live with it actually being a 3 Year Plan.

Dia del Hombre Doce

So THAT'S what Mama Blue would look like as a Sugar Skull...  I honestly don't know what to say.  Don't get me wrong, I expected a Seahawks victory, but the game didn't come close to following the script I had already written in my head.  See, my script started with two narratives.  The Seahawks, coming off a tough road win in overtime would be hard-pressed to match their effort from the Chicago game just a week later.  Meanwhile, the Cardinals were coming in having lost 8 in a row and needed a win desperately to keep their once promising season alive.  Throw in the fact that the Cardinals defense had given the Seahawks FITZ in the past (see what I did there?!) and John Skelton had often looked like Houdini wiggling out of danger at the last possible second to find open receivers and you could understand why one would be expecting the possibility of a tight game.  Well, that's what I get for building narratives.  A nice reality check!

No, this ain't your grandaddy's Seahawks.  Every time we think we know what these guys are going to do on Sunday because of past experience, they defy us.  I'm sure most, myself included, thought the Hawks were done when they were down 13 to the Pats.  Instead of an L, what we got was Russell Wilson's coming out party and the Seahawks defense shutting down Tom Brady when they needed it most.  Chicago?  I never lost faith in Russell Wilson, but after the Hail Mary to Brandon Marshall and ensuing field goal, who couldn't help but feel like they just got a swift kick to the nuts?  Apparently Russell Wilson, because the dude came out cold as ice in overtime and nailed down the victory with the help of his friends on offense.

Sure, there's been some tough ones along the way.  The road games in 'Zona, St. Louis, Frisco, Motown, and Vice City aka every single loss comes to mind.  However, that has to be expected when a team is coming of age as the season progresses.  Of course, it's easy to say that now in retrospect.  I know I wasn't too happy after any one of those losses.  Many an alcoholic beverage was consumed and many a cigarette smoked by yours truly but usually, after moping around the rest of the day, I was able to realize that there was definitely a bright side, an extremely bright side actually.  Which probably explains most of the disappointment, as is often the case when you get your hopes up.

However, that's all in the past.  Let's live in the moment, shall we?  As you probably noticed, today is 12/12/12 or Day of the 12th Man.  The Seahawks are going the extra mile to show how much they love and appreciate the 12th Man, so stand up and take a bow folks.  I already knew they loved me when they pounded out the Cardinals 58-0, never once stopping to survey the damage and take it easy on our divisional rivals.  They knew that most of our hearts and nails needed a break from all the intense, down to the wire action and made sure that this past Sunday wouldn't be another meltdown of our sanity and our livers.  To that, I am eternally grateful!

In honor of this day, I'm going to take a look back at my 12 favorite Seahawks moments in no particular order.  I'm only going to list the ones I saw with my own two eyes, my apologies for being born in 1987.  I know I'm missing a bunch of great ones.  This is the price I pay for youth...

#1) Seahawks beat Eagles 42-0 on Monday Night Football
This game makes my top 12 because I was there!  Me and a few buddies made the short trip up from NYC to Philly for the game.  As the snow started to fall, the Hawks scored on their opening drive on a pass from Hass to Engram.  Me and my buddies, all non-Seahawks fans but great supportive friends, went nuts and started to celebrate...  Eagles fans were none too pleased.  The ensuing 5 minute shower of profanity from the fans in the Upper Deck got the point across that "we weren't in Seattle anymore" and that we should "sit the fuck down!"  We didn't, of course.  There was a dude in a Dilfer dude in front of us who refused to acknowledge us for fear of his own safety.  Very well, the Hawks were cruising by halftime and the fans flooded the exits.  One Eagles fan even pointed to the heavens and said "I'm sorry you had to watch this Reggie..."  His drunken buddy gave him a hug and helped him out of the stadium.  It was Reggie White's induction into the Eagles Hall of Fame.  Beautiful moment to be a Seahawks fan!

#2) Shaun Alexander rushes for 266 yards in upset over Oakland
The Seahawks didn't get too many primetime games back then, so I remember being PSYCHED for this one!  Little did I know that "Alexdancer" was set to have one of the best games of his career and against a much hated rival no less!  I used to have a replica Alexander Puma jersey.  I wish I could find it.  I wouldn't be able to fit in it, but it would be awesome to hang it up in a frame around the house, despite the cheap numbers and letters beginning to peel off.  SA went nuts that game for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns and the Raiders went down at Husky Field.  I remember watching that game knowing that SA was going to be a Seahawks legend.  I wasn't his biggest fan but I respect and appreciate everything he did for the team and the 12th Man!

#3) Shaun Alexander scores 5 TD's in first half against Minnesota
This game kind of had the feel of the Cardinals game from Sunday.  A laugher where every single play seemed to go the Seahawks way.  The result was never in question.  SA was on display for the entire nation to see and again he didn't fail to deliver.  Everyone remembers that long TD on a screen pass from Dilfer that ended up going 80 for yet another score.  He was bobbin and weavin all across the field with Vikings defenders nowhere in sight.  Thanks for the memories, Shaun!

#4) Seahawks beat Panthers 34-14 in NFC Championship Game
We're going to the Super Bowl!  What a euphoric feeling...  ahh, those were good times.  Super Bowl XL can go to hell, but they'll never be able to take away the feeling that we all felt when the clock struck 00:00 and we knew we'd finally made it!  Tatupu crushing Nick Goings, Walter Jones blocking Mike Rucker into the endzone, Steve Smith whining and moaning all over The Stadium Formerly Known as Qwest, Seneca Wallace making an over the shoulder catch on Ken Lucas, I could go on and on.  This definitely not only ranks as one of the happiest Seahawks moments of my life but of life in general.  Euphoria and unbriddled optimism heading into the game that shall not be mentioned.  I get the feeling we'll all be feeling that special feeling soon enough.

#5) Seahawks beat Cardinals 21-10 in 2006 Home Opener
This makes the list because, again, I was there!  After the atrocity that was XL, I enrolled at Washington State University.  One of the perks was my proximity to Seattle.  Me and some friends made the trip down from the Palouse to Seattle and got to witness Cortez Kennedy's induction into the Seahawks Ring of Honor as well as the raising of the 2005 NFC Champions banner.  It was pretty bittersweet but I'm still glad that I was there.  I got to watch the Hawks beat the stuffing out Kurt Warner, another one of my least favorite players of all-time, and cost to a victory at my first game EVER in Seattle.  I specifically remember Leroy Hill hitting Warner so hard that I thought he suffered a spinal-cord injury.  Good times!

#6) 12/16/00, A Diehard is Born - Seahawks beat Raiders 27-24
This is the game that turned me into the diehard that I am today.  You can read more about it in detail right here, A Diehard is Born, but the short version of the story is that I was stuck watching the game on a Saturday on CBS.  I always had a little bit of love for the Seahawks because of how downtrotten and outcast they were but it wasn't until I watched this massive display of heart and effort that I was ALL IN!  The key play was Ricky Watters, still one of my all-time favorite Hawks, scampering down the field on a huge run only to be chased down from behind by Charles Woodson.  Woodson forced a fumble and Marquez Pope recovered the ball but slid into the endzone due to the downpour at Husky Field.  It was ruled a safety, Gruden went nuts, and the Seahawks ended up winning the game on a TD pass from Jon Kitna (another all-time favorite) to Darrell Jackson.  Jackson did the Squirrel dance that he later abandoned for the Sprinkler and my love for the Seahawks was born!  I'll never forget this one...

#7) Seahawks Shred Cardinals 58-0
It happened less than a week ago but it instantly makes my top 12 list.  This felt less like a professional football game and more like a party that the Seahawks were holding in honor of Dia del Hombre Doce being right around the corner.  It was the opposite of Murphy's Law and it couldn't have happened to a nicer team, the Cardinals whom have been a thorn in the Seahawks side for quite some time now.  I'll never forget where I was on December 9th, 2012.  Hopefully I'll get to see one or two more of those over the course of the rest of my life.

#8) Seahawks beat Jets 28-7 in 2012
Another game that makes the list because I was in attendance.  Keep in mind I hadn't been to a Seahawks home game since 2006, or #5 on this list.  This time, instead of Kurt Warner getting rocked to sleep it was Mark Sanchez, yet another one of my least favorite players in the NFL right now.  The sight of Sanchez getting annihilated by Chris Clemons, sending the ball flying to the sidelines, is forever engrained in my warped, Seahawks-overrun memory.  What made things better was that in rained for this one.  Add in Golden Tate's TD pass to Sidney Rice and the fact that two of my best friends were there to witness the defeat while cheering on Gang Green and it was a perfect day for this 12.

#9) Russell Wilson answers my prayers, Seahawks beat Packers!
I was at Carlow East for this one, THE Seahawks bar in NYC, and it was NUTS!  Needless to say I had a little too much to drink and ended up leading the 12th Man in cheer atop the bar at Carlow after Golden Tate came down with the snag for the win!  My cousin was there with me and kept telling me "you guys got this!" before the final play started.  This list is comprised of Seahawks moments that gave me "that feeling" afterwards.  You know which one I'm talking about.  The one where your head hurts from screaming and you feel like your floating atop the world?  Yeah, that one.  I DEFINITELY had that feeling after this one...

#10) Russell Wilson tops Brady, Seahawks beat Chowduheadz
This was another Carlow East classic.  I hadn't gotten much sleep the night before and was in a pretty shitty mood overall.  The fact that Brady and co. were shredding the Hawks early and often had me feeling a certain shade of Seahawks blue that only true diehards know of.  I thought I knew how the script was going to unfold.  I thought I knew it all.  I was terribly wrong though.  That feeling that I was talking about after the Packers game?  That feeling of being invincible?  Yeah, that was definitely in supply after Wilson hit Rice in the endzone and the Seahawks D shut the door on the Patriots final drive.  The feeling of comradery that was in the air amongst the 12th Man was contagious.  That's the game that made me realize to NEVER count this team out.

#11) Brandon Browner Pick Six leads Hawks over Giants
I still have the ticket stub for this one as well.  I was getting abused by the Giants "faithful" all game long, with my girlfriend right next to me to boot.  I'm a pacifist for sure, but these guys nearly took me over the edge.  Thankfully, the nicest lesbian couple in Giants history were in attendance to take my back and get the rest of the Giants fans off of mine.  Still, the feeling of vindication and glory I felt when watching Brandon Browner run towards the endzone for the game-sealing TD was straight magical.  I just remember screaming "Wooo!" at the top of my lungs for nearly 5 minutes, while my girlfriend sat and questioned why she ever had faith in me as a man.  I kid, but that feeling has only been topped twice in my life.  Once was when I first held my baby sister for the first time.  The other, was...

#12) BeastQuake
Need I say more?  This is the moment that validated my existance as a Seahawks fan, not that I needed it.  For weeks I was getting abused by countless friends over the Seahawks being a "disgrace" for "backing into the playoffs" at 7-9.  People questioned whether the league should do away with automatic playoff berths for division winners for christ's sake.  Remember that?  All of that was washed away when the Seahawks upset the defending Super Bowl Champs!  There were so many great memories from that game but obviously the most lasting one was watching Marshawn Lynch drag the entire Saints organization into the endzone to seal the deal.  There were literally hundreds of people at Carlow East and girls were "stagediving" off of the bar and into the SEA of humanity below them.  The feeling from that night has not been duplicated since.  I'm hopeful that it will be in the near future...


Hopefully, I'll be making the trip to Toronto this weekend.  As a diehard fan of not only the Seahawks but the Blue Jays as well, this game represents sort of a "sports mecca" for me, if you will.  The Hawks playing a game on my favorite baseball team's field?!?  Unreal!  It'll be a grueling 10 1/2 bus ride to Toronto and then a 10 1/2 hour bus ride back to NYC but it'd be well worth it.  Who knows, maybe I'll have a new great memory that can unseat one of the 12 I listed above. 

This is YOUR day Hawks fans.  We'll have many more to come in the near future but for today, just remember how great it is to be a part of the 12th Man!

Evolution of the Seahawks Offense

My initial thoughts from Sunday's game were that Seattle had it's running game, and it's entire offense for that matter, running at it's best on their final two drives of the game.  After watching the game on replay last night, I'm not quite sure if I've seen the Seahawks offense string together two beautiful drives like that so far this season.  They were efficient, methodical, and innovative.  They were unpredictable.  What especially stood out was the use of the running game.  We all know that Pete Carroll has wanted to create a run-first team since arriving in Seattle in 2010. However, just because a team is dedicated to running the ball does not mean that a bit of balance would do them harm.  With the emergence of Russell Wilson through the air and on the ground, we're starting to see the evolution of the Seahawks offense.

Through the first 56 minutes of the game, we saw much of the same of what we've come to expect from the Seahawks offense.  The potential to string together long, successful drives has existed throughout the season but is far too inconsistent to be considered reliable.  Much of that has stemmed from the fact that when teams are able to stack the box with 8 and 9 defenders to slow down Marshawn, the passing game has not been able to make the defense pay often enough to keep them honest.  We've seen Green Bay, New England, Miami, and to a certain extent Detroit (minus the long TD run by Beast Mode, of course) be able to force the Seahawks to the air to try and beat them.  Funny enough, when the Seahawks have resorted to airing it out with the rook, they've gotten it done.  When they've stayed committed to the running game til the bitter end is when they've gotten burnt.

We all know what happened with Green Bay...  the beginning of Golden Tate's greatness of course!

New England was able to shut down Lynch and it wasn't until the final 2 drives on offense, when the Seahawks had no choice but to put the ball in Wilson's hand, that the Seahawks were able to defeat New England.  Miami had success plugging up the middle with Starks and Soliai and the Seahawks offense never could quite get over the hump despite an excellent second half from Russell Wilson.  The Seahawks stayed determined to running the ball into the teeth of the Dolphins defense, which ultimately may have been their demise.

The Detroit game is a bit different because in essence the Seahawks offense was able to march down the field and score the go-ahead touchdown only for the defense to give it right back on the game's final drive.  Russell Wilson and company got the job done this time, which appears to be the case more often than not this season.

Now let's look at the Chicago game.  A signature win for Pete Carroll and his coaching staff and a game where the offense appeared to run ideally towards the end of the game.  Running backs were kept fresh all throughout the game, which led to their continued effectiveness down the stretch.  The Zone-Read was featured heavily down the stretch and left the Bears with no clue as to what was coming their way.  The WRs and TEs also did a great job of holding their blocks and allowing the running lanes to the outsides that were available for Wilson late.  While the Seahawks actually threw the ball more than they passed (37/32) on Sunday, the running game was still extremely effective to the tune of 176 yards or a 5.5 YPC.  After all, it's the quality of the carries not the quantity that matters for elite rushing teams.  

There's no denying that the leaps forward from the offense have been nothing short of amazing.  It was, rightfully so, the Achilles Heel of the team at the beginning of the season and is now one of the team's most exciting weapons.  It's almost as unexpected as the sudden, apparent decline of the Defense.  I still have faith that they'll get their shit together, even potentially without Sherman and Browner being out, but I certainly didn't see the lack of pass rush being such an issue by this point in the season.  Shows how much I know.

Let's take a lot at some of the ways that the Seahawks can continue to evolve on Offense.


Continuity Along the Offensive Line
With news that last year's First Rounder James Carpenter, is headed to I.R., it's important that the Seahawks let John Moffitt get as many snaps as he can handle and allow the same group of 5 linemen to play together as much as possible the rest of the way.  As tempting as it will be to rotate promising rookie J.R. "It Ain't Easy Bein" Sweezy with Moffitt, I think it's important that the Seahawks line get as much time to gel together as possible.  Ask any Offensive Lineman or coach and they'll tell you that continuity along the line and cohesiveness amid the group is one of the most important factors for having a successful offensive line.  Moffitt has looked solid two weeks in a row now off the bench when replacing Carpenter.  He did a great job of peeling back and sealing off his block on Marshawn's TD run against Chicago and looked equally impressive in space against the Dolphins.  I like his ability to get to the second level as well.  With Carpenter out, it's time to let #74 take the job and run with it.

Greater Use of the Zone-Read Option
The Zone-Read can be a huge weapon for Russell Wilson with the way his game is tailored and the weapons that he has.  It's no secret that teams will now have to be aware of where Wilson is at all times.  He's proven that he can now not only beat teams with his arm but he can also do it with his legs. I think Pete Carroll's strategy to have him stay in the pocket for the early stages of his NFL career to establish his ability to consistently make throws in the pocket is helping Russell here.  Had the Seahawks given the rookie the green light to scramble at will from the get-go, he might not be as polished and poised a thrower as he is now.  Then again, I don't want to put anything past the kid, he's that damn good.  Where the Skins are able to utilize Robert Griffin The Third's explosive running style as a key component of their offense, the Seahawks are wise to not focus their offense around Wilson's scrambling capabilities.  Instead, it makes the Seahawks much more DangeRuss if they have Wilson's ability to scramble as a 3rd or 4th option, which is exactly what the Zone-Read Option allows and what makes it a great weapon for Darrell Bevell.  When running the Zone-Read, defenses now have to try and decide whether it's Marshawn taking the handoff, Wilson keeping it and dropping back to pass, or Wilson either dropping back to pass and scrambling or Wilson just running it from the get-go.  As we saw against Chicago in the 4th Quarter and Overtime, this can be even too much for an elite defense to try and solve.

Keeping the Running Backs Fresh
While Marshawn Lynch will always be the featured back, it's important that the Seahawks continue to get Robert Turbin, and even Leon Washington involved.  Washington was used exclusively during the 1st Half in the 2 Minute Drill, which is interesting.  I think it makes sense considering he's got the surest set of hands of all the RB's and is good on Draws, quick hitters, and screens which you tend to see a lot of in the 2 Minute Drill, especially in the First Half.  Marshawn got the bulk of the playing time, as expected, but he only received 19 carries, which definitely kept him fresh for when the Seahawks needed him most.  This team needs Marshawn Lynch to be fresh to close out games, no doubt about it.  Robert Turbin only received 1 carry for his troubles, but got a handful of snaps and was solid in pass protection.  I'm still waiting for Turbin's role to increase in the offense and I feel that now would be the perfect time to utilize him.  The Cardinals have allowed over 170 yards rushing to opposing backfields in consecutive weeks.  This could be a good week to gash the opposition with Turbin while still keeping Beast Mode fresh.

Here's an excellent chart from Field Gulls showing the Hawks snap count analysis.  Interesting to note Michael Robinson's decline in playing time with the emergence of the Zone-Read.

Seahawks Vs Bears Week 13 Player Snap Counts Quick Analysis

Resurgence of Doug Baldwin/Emergence of Tight Ends
This one is huge in my mind.  Baldwin's had a tough season in which he just hasn't been able to stay healthy, until now let's hope.  With Sidney Rice and Golden Tate becoming a solid, playmaking 1-2 punch, it's imperative that the Seahawks now try and find ways for Baldwin to exploit the middle of the field.  Baldwin showed genuine ability last season and wasn't just the product of having nobody else around him for Tarvaris Jackson to throw to.  It helped pad his production but the level of his play was still quality, especially when working out of the slot.  With Rice and Tate both showing the ability to take the top off of opposing defenses, this should create more room for Baldwin to work 1 on 1 underneath seeing as how opposing defenses will now have to respect the potential of the deep ball.  Health is certainly the key here though and if the Seahawks can get Doug going at just the right time it could be a tremendous boost to the consistency of the offense in general, especially on 3rd downs.  

Also, we've heard Pete Carroll and company gush over the potential of having two quality tight ends to utilize.  It's never quite come to fruition as Pete would have probably envisioned before the season, although Miller has been getting open a good deal this season.  McCoy has also made plays when called upon, while Moore has done virtually next to nothing.  Much like Baldwin, the production of Rice and Tate on the outside should have a trickle down effect to the tight ends that Pete so desperately wants to use.  Hopefully Zach Miller can continue to get open and hopefully Wilson will start bringing down some of the throws he's aired over Zach's head.  The 4th and 3 was huge, as was McCoy's catch and attempted hurdle over nobody for a key first down when the Hawks were pinned deep.  It's important that these 3 guys all make their presence felt and exploit the 1 on 1 opportunities they get, especially Doug.

Expect the Unexpected
There's nothing worse than being in a crowded bar full of Seahawks fans who all know which play is coming next.  The only thing that might be worse is seeing that the defense already knows what's coming too.  The Miami game was full of such scenarios and I'm very impressed with the job Darrell Bevell did in crunch time to keep the Bears off balance and keep them guessing all the way down to the final play of the game.  I love this team's smash mouth identity more than anybody and I fully expect to continue to see that identity for as long as Pete Carroll is in charge, especially on short yardage situations.  That's actually where you don't want to get too cute with this team.  However, having a more balanced offense will allow the Seahawks to keep that smash mouth identity while also having another way of beating opponents.  The more the ball is in the hands of Russell Wilson, the more confident I am in victory, and I'm sure his teammates would agree.  If Bevell can mix the Zone-Read Option, with getting his best receivers the ball, with smash mouth elements, and some trick plays sprinkled in, I think this team can make a run deep into the playoffs provided the defense show a little more consistency.

Tom Cable said earlier this season that "you run to win, throw to score."  I agree with this sentiment, but if the Seahawks and Russell Wilson continue to evolve, they might be able to do both.

Game Balls for the Liver and the Heart

Credit to who made this, it's amazing stuff!

Every time I think I know something about this season, it turns out I know nothing at all.  Having said that, I still thought it entirely possible in the buildup to this game that the Seahawks could pull one out.  What did surprise me was the fashion in which the Hawks won.  Matter-of-factly, the Hawks stole this one from the refs.  Russell Wilson carried the team on his back and nearly everyone on offense made clutch play after clutch play to will this team to victory.  That's the extremely short version.

The previous week in Hawkville had that shitstorm vibe to it that normally comes along with a Seahawks road letdown.  That vibe is usually erased by a shocking Seahawks victory in a game where hardly anyone who doesn't bleed blue and green gave them a chance.  It defies logic.  Seeing that the Hawks rank near the top of the NFL in "Strength of Victory" while also having the lowest "Strength of Losses" does not.  Inconsistency is the mark of young and talented teams in the NFL and the Seahawks are certainly that.  The funny thing is inconsistency has often been the mark of the eventual Super Bowl Champion in recent years, so maybe it's not such a bad thing after all?

Last season, it was the Giants who overcame a mountain of injuries and inconsistent play en route to a 9-7 regular season record, only to go on a memorable tear through the playoffs and all the way to a Super Bowl victory.  If that storyline feels vaguely familiar, it's because in 2007 the Giants had a similarly reasonable regular season record, this time 10-6, securing a wild card berth and an improbable string of playoff road victories en route to a massive upset over the undefeated Patriots.  Think it's just the Giants?  The 2010 Packers, much like the 2007 Giants, finished second in their division with a 10-6 record.  However, Aaron Rogers, James Starks, Tramon Williams, Desmond Bishop, Charles Woodson and company were able to lead the Packers to 3 straight road victories and yet another Lombardi Trophy.  I refuse to discuss the 2005 Pittsburgh Stealers and their similar quest.

The point is, the potential for greatness in 2012 still exists.  That's a complete 180 in comparison to last week when everyone was convinced that we were done after losing to Miami.  This past Sunday was about getting back to the basics for me.  I tried to make it a point to not get too down over the course of the game but it's just impossible for me.  It can't be done.  Especially not when there's $5 Red Hook readily available and not when the game is as insane as this Bears game was.  I honestly don't know how much of this my heart and my liver can take, so far that, they get the Game Balls from the win in Chicago.  It's been a long, winding road for the two of them this season so it's time they collect their props.  Thanks guys!  Here, another beverage for your troubles!

True Champions!

While my night ended up a shitshow, the Seahawks night most certainly did not.  While the defense continues to raise eyebrows, the offense does not.  Russell Wilson has arrived as a viable threat to pull any game out of his ass, no matter how awful the refs are, and the receiving core continues to turn heads with big plays in clutch situations.  Factor in an ideal performance from the running game as a collective and you've got mostly all the ingredients for a big Seahawks win despite those damn striped bastards.

I'm sorry, I can't get over how shockingly awful Mike Carey and his crew were.  Actually, shocking isn't the proper term since this is always the case when Mike Carey and his crew get dispatched to do a Hawks game.  This win bumps the Seahawks all-time record in games officiated by Carey to 2-6.  Uninspiring to say the least.  The calls are what's actually worse.  You've got the phantom block in the back during the Cleveland game last season on Leon Washington's punt return TD and now you can choose from a litany of bad calls to add to the list.  Look, I know bad calls are a part of the game and are going to happen but at least be equally shitty to both teams.  This game was nuts in that regard.  I was literally going nuts watching the game unfold.

Mike Carey and his officiating crew

Despite losing my shit all day long, a certain calm came over me when the Hawks were left with the ball at their own 3 yard line, staring down the barrel of a gun named the Chicago Bears defense.  It's no secret that I've been a stern believer in Russell Wilson, above all else things Seahawks this season.  While I've had my doubts about certain players, coaches, etc. I've always believed that if the Seahawks just put all of their faith in Wilson they would be rewarded.  It was an absolutely great feeling watching him march the team down the field converting key 3rd down after key 3rd down either with his legs or his feet.  And of course let's not forget the 4th down completion to Zach Miller as a truly money play.  You could tell just by watching that this was the first game where Russell was truly allowed to improvise late with the game fully in his hands coming from behind for the potential win.  Golden Tate sealed the heroic drive with some heroics of his own and the rest was history...

Not quite.  It wouldn't be a Seahawks road game without another late twisting dagger into the side of your rib cage.  Miraculously to everyone outside of the Pacific Northwest, Brandon Marshall hauls in another monster catch and is somehow able to scamper down field, out of bounds, and into field goal position.  Gould drills the field goal just like the script says and all of Seahawks Nation is dejected.  The world was growing black and the light at the end of the tunnel was slowly disappearing.  Life was closing in on me.  Okay, that's a little bit over the top but it comes close to how things felt as the game headed to overtime.  

However, unsung hero Matt Flynn called tails in one of the biggest decisions of the afternoon.  Tails never fails.  It didn't this time and the Hawks were back in business.  I've never felt this way in the past but for some reason I still believed that Russell Wilson would get it done, again.  If it was going to happen, it was going to have to happen on that opening drive of OT and it was going to have to be a touchdown.  No field goals allowing the Bears one last chance, no three and outs due to shoddy playcalling and a disdain for going out and grabbing a win by the horns, none of that.  It was going to take a gutsy drive from a rookie who had just turned 24 days prior.  In typical Russell Wilson fashion, #3 was the one giving the 12th Man a massive birthday gift after his own birthday.  Just imagine what he might deliver right before Christmas when the Hawks seek revenge against the suddenly inconsistent 49ers!  That's another story for another time, though.

This story is just as sweet.  So sweet that I assume we'll talk about it for years to come.  When Sidney crossed the plane a total sense of relief washed over me.  All the BS calls, all the stupid penalties that the Hawks COULD control, all the non-existent pressure on Jay Cutler was all over.    All that mattered was that the Hawks got it done when it counted most and walked off of hostile territory with a massive notch underneath their weathered belts.  The maturation of Russell Wilson continues at lightyear speed on a weekly basis and importance of that can not be underestimated.  If this team continues to follow Russell's lead and fully goes all in, we might see another great underdog run.  With possible suspensions to key players looming in the shadowy distance, it'd be especially important for this team to embody the "Joe Cool" personality of it's leader, especially when shit hits the fan.  And if that happens?  Well, we might just be looking at another inconsistent Super Bowl Champion.