The Preseason doesn't count, but it does matter

That play was a microcosm of the Seattle Seahawks.  An overlooked and discarded player on a team full of them, making a play from inside of his own endzone and taking it the other way, in a preseason game.  Sure, the rest of the country will be quick to dismiss the Seahawks dominance so far throughout this preseason.  After all, the games don't actually count and the staggering point differential they've accumulated so far will all be reset to zero.  However, while it does not count, it certainly does matter and what's important is that the Seahawks are playing intense, competitive football for ALL 60 minutes.  Literally down to the last snap.  The way football was meant to be played, after all.

Gotta love the shaky, grainy "bigfoot" footage.  That's another perfect example of Seattle Seahawks football though.  The play, not the grainy footage.  The Seahawks D gets thoroughly dissected by Peyton Manning and company, and literally the very next play Jermaine Kearse takes it to the house.  You want to talk about dealing with adversity?  Being able to take a punch?  Well, that right there is eating the right cross and immediately delivering a Haymaker for the TKO and the win.  This rapid turnaround helped seal the win (not that the result matters, but the actual level of play itself does) and helped give the Seahawks the confidence to play the rest of the game out with literally nothing to lose.

What's obvious is that the Seahawks are willing to outwork their competition.  Whether you've been to Training Camp to see the unreal tempo they practice with, the relentless energy spent by EVERYONE at the complex in order to be the best they possibly can be, or whether you've just tuned in for the preseason, it's obvious to everyone that this team is special.  Most Seahawks teams in the past would already have us shaking our heads, as the laundry list of injured players throughout Camp has been eye-opening.  Throughout however, Pete Carroll has remained confident that most of the guys will be ready to go come September 8th.  I believe him, and I believe the Hawks have been doing the right thing in allowing the injured guys some time to get healthy, while also getting an opportunity to look at the quality of depth they have.  

And my lord is the depth top quality or what?  Guys are making a name for themselves left and right, taking advantage of opportunities, improving, and playing well beyond their years and reputations.  As a Seahawks fan, you've just gotta love that and you've got to love how the team is shaping up this season.  The foundation for an outstanding 2013 season was laid the day the Seahawks left the field at the Georgia Dome and Russell Wilson proclaimed that the future is amazingly bright.  They haven't stopped working to demand and attain greatness ever since.

John Moffitt Traded to Cleveland, errr, Denver

What a crazy 24 hours for our boy, John Moffitt.  I'm sad to see him go, as he was a solid player for the Hawks and his uncle is a great guy as well, who I had the pleasure of getting to know.  The Seahawks must have loved their younger options in Rishaw Johnson, Alvin Bailey, and Michael Bowie, as well as being thoroughly convinced that JR Sweezy will take the RG job and run with it.  It's no secret that Sweezy was the chosen one, his athleticism and nasty streak are through the roof so it's easy to understand why.  Still, Moffitt was a refreshing change of pace from what most pro athletes have become, and you've always got to love a dude with the humility and self-deprecating humor of a John Moffitt.  We (uhh, just me then I guess) here at Seafense wish you the best John...  unless of course the Seahawks and Broncos meet again in the Super Bowl!

Revenge in Lambeau

Allow me to flip the script a little bit.  I'll be watching this Friday with every hope in the world that the Seahawks absolutely destroy and humiliate the Green Bay Packers.  I used to respect the Packers but after the whining and complaining they and their fans did (and the league as their mouthpiece did) after not getting their way in a close call was absolutely disrespectful to the game of football and to any shred of integrity.  Not shaking hands and just walking to the locker room?  Seriously?  What are you guys, 10 year olds?  Although it does make sense.  Much in the way that the Seahawks follow the lead of their hard working, never complaining franchise quarterback Russell Wilson, the Green Bay Packers follow the lead of their pouting, hormonal Aaron Rodgers.  Who handles adversity about as well as Garo Yepremian did in Super Bowl VII in 1973.  His 0-18 record when trailing teams with a 500% winning percentage or better when heading into the fourth quarter would probably agree.

So while everyone is talking about the Packers getting revenge (hey wait, I thought preseason didn't matter?!  Isn't that what everyone else has been telling Seahawks fans?), it should be the Hawks who want revenge for being vilified by the nation, Packers, and NFL in the days, weeks, and months after the Golden Tate Hail Mary TD.  Go in there, into Lambeau, and get the job done boys!

THAT'S why I love the preseason!

Hustle Wilson's so elusive, even the cameraman can't catch him!

No doubt about it, the Seahawks first unit's showed a little bit of rust in their preseason opener against the Chargers last night.  Luckily the young guns were ready for a chance to shine.  And that they did.  A number of promising, young Seahawks turned in fine performances in a game that showcased Seattle's impressive depth at multiple positions.  It definitely showed in the final score, Seahawks 31, Chargers 10.

Ironically enough, yours truly, much like a huge chunk of the Seahawks roster, was forced to miss the action at Carlow East with an injury.  Reports say that Pete Carroll wanted to take it easy with Barrionuevo, considering the grueling gauntlet of games he's going to attend in person later this season.  "I've always preached, it's not how you start but how you finish.  We truly believe in that around here and think David will come back and be able to do a really cool job for us", the iconic coach quipped.  In his place, the Carlow East crowd was reportedly rocking and in mid-season form already.  Tell me this fan-base isn't ready for a championship!

Not only was I out for the game and forced to watch from home, being from out of town means that NFL Network it was for random live look-in's of the game, scattered around various clips from other games going on around the league.  Speaking of which, props to Pat White for making a few nifty plays in the clips they showed from the Redskins/Titans game.  I liked Pat in college and don't think he'll ever be more than an acceptable backup quarterback in the league, but I like his style and the fact that he's been able to come back and possibly stick around.  Good job Pat!

So with the deck stacked against me, I was still able to watch most of the game and came away impressed with quite a few players.  In no particular order...

Stephen Williams - WR
I thought Williams had a phenomenal showing by a preseason game's standards.  He had the two big receptions for touchdowns, should have drawn a pass interference call, and nearly hauled in another pass from Brady Quinn on 3rd down that he might think he should have had.  He bounced back though and made John Schneider look right for being excited about him when they first picked him up off of waivers from Arizona.  Could he be what Ricardo Lockette never turned out to be for the Hawks?  Speaking of Lockette, NFL Network did cut to a play where he absolutely destroyed Broncos Punt Returner Trindon Holliday.  It was a boneheaded play by Holliday to try and field the punt at his own 2, but Lockette still laid the wood and blew him up.  What could have been Ricardo, what could have been...  Anyways, Williams looks promising.

Allen Bradford - LB
Led the team in tackles but not only that, he was blowing people up out there!  This guy's a pretty special football player if he can play both RB and LB at the NFL level, even if he isn't a star.  I really hope he makes this football team though, because I like him a lot as a backup to Bobby Wagner.  I love Heath Farwell, but I'd feel much more comfortable with Bradford in there rather than Heath.  Heath's value lies in special teams, but he's probably going to feel some heat from John Lotulelei, the UDFA from UNLV, whose also shown to be a force on special teams so far, and might be the better option as a reserve linebacker.  Tough decisions abound.  Bradford eloquently stated his case though with a fine performance and a nasty one at that.

John Lotulelei - LB
Just mentioned him above, Lotulelei was active both on special teams and on defense last night.  He might be a litle too aggressive at this point in his career, but his ability to be around the ball is pretty impressive, especially when you consider his stature.  He's not the biggest guy the Hawks have at LB but he's definitely not afraid to play like he's bigger and throw his body around and dig through trash.  Plus, he's the only long-haired guy on the team at the moment.  Plenty of dreads, but we don't have our long-haired Islander.  Lotulelei fits the bill and I hope he sticks for hair sake alone.

Tarvaris Jackson - QB
For merit's sake, my game-ball would go to TJack!  It was great to see him sling the rock like that in his return to the Hawks.  Brady Quinn looked solid but unspectacular and has earned some more looks in the hunt for the #2 job, but Tarvaris was just ice cold out there!  He was unconscious, on fire, en fuego, you name it!  He threw right, he threw left, he avoided pressure, he completed jump passes.  This might be the only time this year that we see this type of performance from Tarvaris so I applaud the man for absolutely killing it last night.  Man he was throwing a pretty deep ball!  When Stephen Williams makes the final 53, he owes Tarvaris dinner for sure.

*Funny story, I overheard a fan say at Training Camp that he wanted to turn down an autograph from Tarvaris because "he's a nice guy, but he's a horrible player."  Yeah, I bet that guy's feeling pretty dumb right about now.  You better cherish that autograph, wherever you are!  Bad form.

Jaye Howard - DT/DE
This might be the most exciting performance from last night because it comes at a position the Seahawks sorely need production from.  Jaye Howard looked like a flat out monster most of the time last night, mostly lining up at the 3Tech but even kicking it outside at the 5Tech.  Either way, he was wreaking havoc and creating pressure from either position.  What was most impressive was that he actually looked really good against the run as well.  Maybe that 15 extra pounds and being around Dan Quinn were good for the soul?  Either way, Howard was playing like a man possessed.  Time and time again he would just destroy the pocket almost single handedly, before turning up into the backfield to snuff out the play.  If Howard were to be able to propel his game to the next level this season, it could go a long way in getting the Seahawks to the Super Bowl.  Rocky Bernard without the question mark in the run-stop department?  Sure, I'll take it.

Michael Bennett - DT/DE
I'm really excited about Bennett.  He's already become one of my favorite Seahawks with his awesome beard and laid back, realistic personality.  On the field though, he's even more impressive.  He was causing carnage out there.  In my mind, he plays the game with the kind of nasty streak that Jason Jones lacked at times.  Bennett is not only trying to erase the quarterback, but he's looking to snuff out the run as well, something Jones didn't always excel at.  I think by season's end we'll be looking at this move as the steal of the off-season.  Bennett's up there with Tate as my breakout (on a national level) performers from 2013.

Christine Michael - RB
You can definitely tell that this dude is one explosive mofo and that he can take it to another level extremely quickly.  He didn't always follow his blocks, hit the correct gap, or even spin the right way sometimes but he definitely showed that in time he's probably going to be a fantastic running back in the NFL.  He's got that rare size/speed combo that front office's drool over and luckily our guys are the ones that pulled the trigger on him.

Jordan Hill - DT
Another interior lineman who impressed last night for the 'Hawks.  Maybe it was just the residual effect from Jaye Howard being such a badass, but Jordan Hill was getting into the backfield as well and making his presence felt.  Just like with Jaye Howard, if he could develop right in front of our eyes this season, the Seahawks will have improved themselves at the 3Tech immensely in the course of just one off-season.  We've seen them do that at other positions during the Carroll/Schneider era, but that doesn't make it any less amazing when it happens.  What a great combo those two are.  Thank you so much Pete and John!

Byron Maxwell - CB
Who woulda thought that Maxwell would turn in the finest performance from the secondary last night?  Well, he did.  He made an impressive play coming back to a ball and diving to intercept it, then having the presence of mind to get up and make a nice return out of it.  He also had another pass where he was close to making a play on the ball and was stout in coverage most of the time he was out there.  He was kind of a forgotten man at CB heading into this season but now he's probably giving the Hawks coaching staff some reasons to wonder if they should think about keeping 6 CB's this season.

Derrick Coleman - RB
Thomas Clayton 2.0?  Another extra effort type of guy who not only ran the ball with authority, but also took an excellent angle en route to an outstanding tackle on a kick return late in the game.  This dude gives it his all and makes the most out of his opportunities, weather it be blocking, running, or receiving out of the backfield.  I'm glad he got that TD reception towards the end of the game to cap off his nice night.

Alvin Bailey - OL
One of the surprises of camp.  I don't think anyone had any expectations for Bailey outside of maybe Bailey and Tom Cable.  I kept an eye on him and most of the time he was getting a nice amount of push and occasionally wrecked his man off the line.  Could he be another UDFA gem for the Hawks?  I wouldn't doubt it at this point.  

Benson Mayowa - DE
This guy is one of my ultimate favorite underdogs on this team.  He's not from a traditionally dominant SEC school, no, in fact quite the opposite as he went to the University of Idaho.  He also doesn't have the video game college stats or the eye-popping measurables.  What he does have are some pretty decent pass rush moves.  He's got some wiggle to him and I like the fact that he finishes the play and usually gets the sack.  Lord knows we've seen so many guys get close over the years only for QB's to worm their way out of there and actually make something out of what should have been nothing.  I don't know if Benson makes the team or not, but I would hope that he at least gets a chance to stick with the Practice Squad.  Nice opening showing from Mayowa.

There were plenty of other players who had solid showings like Spencer Ware, Jermaine Kearse (what a camp he's having, huh?), and others.  This wasn't the greatest barometer of where the team is at at this point in time because of the level of competition and the lack of any real production from the first units.  You know that that's going to change.  No, what this game demonstrated is that the Seahawks have an excellent understanding that in order to win it all in this league, you need depth, and not just warm bodies but quality depth.  

Rest assured, there will be other teams lining up at the chance to pick up some of Seattle's leftovers.

More Photos from Training Camp 2013

Seahawks Heaven.

Best view in the NFL.

A sight to behold.

The most physical corner in the league, maybe ever, Brandon Browner

Blitz being Blitz.

Doug E Fresh and the boys getting some encouragement from a coach.

The man, the myth, the legend...  Tony Ventrella

Sherm's older brother, Branton.  Pretty cool dude.

Time to add to that banner count!

The Sleeping Giant

Seattle Knows

Hustle Wilson sure does have a magical glow about him.

And with that, my first trip to Seahawks Training Camp is in the books.  I've traded the amazing backdrop of Lake Washington for that of the gritty streets of Brooklyn.  Gone are the eye opening number of Seahawks jerseys (for an outsider) and in their place stand the fashionable Nets, Knicks, and Yankees gear that locals wear only to match with the rest of their outfit.  Gone are the hope and optimism that is abound in Seattle and it's surrounding towns, replaced instead by non-stop talk of Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees tailspin, and PED's.

For a moment there, the rest of the sports world didn't matter to me.  I was in Seahawks heaven.  As a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays, I was impressed with the number of Jays fans who swarmed downtown Seattle.  Still, despite being one of the original reasons for my trip, I didn't watch an inning of baseball until the Bottom of the 7th Inning in Game 3 of a 3 game set.  I had a 5:40 flight to catch out of SeaTac but I decided that finally catching some action at Safeco would be worth the possibility of missing my flight.  Luckily it was, because I missed my flight.  But for $18, just $6 an inning, I couldn't go wrong.  Plus, I ended up getting home safely anyway so it was definitely worth the experience.

And as the Jays lost 9-7 in another disaster of a game where they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, I couldn't help but not care.  The people I met, the stories I have, and the energy for the Seahawks that exists in Seattle at the moment is at crazy levels.  Something special is in the air.  Take this for example.  I passed by a 7-11 and decided to step in to grab a Gatorade.  To my delight, they had a 2 for 3 special running on limited edition Strawberry Lemonade Gatorade.  Major win.  As I get to the counter, my eye fixes on to a Seahawks scratcher.  I'm not much of a gambler, but I had to spring for this.  I ask for 2, thinking I'll just take one home with me also.  It's not 'til after I start scratching the first one that I realize the ticket will be absolutely useless in the state of New York.  So I decide to hell with it, I'll scratch em both!  

As I'm scratching off the first ticket, my "lucky" number pops up.  38, after my birth date, March 8th.  I finish scratching the winning numbers and then head for the my numbers section.  Bam!  Right away, 38, it's my lucky day.  The prize is only $5 but I figure hey, that basically paid for the 2nd one that I didn't really want.  I head back to 7-11 and hand the dude behind the counter my ticket.  He scans it with the gun and tells me, "You're a 15 dollar winner, sir."  Shocked, I hesitate and go "really?!  15?!" to which he replies "I can keep it if you don't want it!"  I take my money and go to celebrate by drinking the now free Gatorade's I just bought.  The number 38 would make another cameo a few hours later when I popped out of my friend's car in his parking lot, only to look down and see that I was standing in space #38.  No superstitions or any crazy talk like that.  This just let me know that I was doing the right thing at the right time, in the right place.

Black magic aside, I was blown away by the amount of people who saw me wearing my Russell Wilson jersey and rolled down their car windows to yell GO Hawks!!!  There was a bus driver on the 101 route who drove me to Renton who felt the same way as I do about this being the Hawks magical year, and you could tell he believed it with every fiber of his being too.  He was a good man too, as he could tell I wasn't from around those parts and tried to help me along the way.  That man, William (which is coincidentally my fathers name as well), now knows the greatest nickname of all-time, Hustle Wilson.  He was even kind enough to direct me to another bus, the 105, that would take me the rest of the way to the Renton Inn.  The driver of that bus introduced himself as Doug AKA Doug E Fresh AKA the man who made sure I finally got to the Renton Inn to catch some Zzz's.

The next morning I woke up for Training Camp an hour before my alarm and a half hour before I told my girlfriend back home to call me to wake me up.  I was so amped that I couldn't sleep.  Showered, got ready, and headed out the door to find "The Landing" in order to finally check in for Seahawks Training Camp.  As I ran down Houser Way with my backpack on, afraid that I might miss check in, I couldn't help but feel like a million bucks.  The sun was shining, the weather was perfect, and I could sense that I was very close to my destination, the VMAC.  

When I got to the Landing, the massive line was snaked all around the movie theater and local businesses around it.  So many people at 8:45 in the morning, just to watch the Seahawks practice.  I was in awe.  I took my spot at the end of the line but it wasn't long before I was up to check in.  Just like that I was on a yellow school bus for the first time in well over a decade.  A man sitting across for me turns to his son and says, "I told you he'd make it."  He explains to me that his son was afraid that I wasn't going to make it in time.  He tells me that he was about to pick me up but that I looked like I was doing fine and that I was "in the zone."  He's right, I was.  The bus grinds to a halt and everyone begins to rise.  I now know what time it is.  It's what I've been waiting for.

The cheerful, witty bus driver tells us to enjoy and GO Hawks! and sends us on our way.  I can't be bothered by merchandise or anything like that when the field is so close, so I pick up a Seahawks Yearbook that they are handing out and head towards the hill in the distance.  And that's when it happened.  That's when I saw it.

Like a kid about to enter FAO Schwarz for the first time, I scurry up the hill excitedly and then look out to my right for Lake Washington.  There it is, in all it's glory.  My heart skips a beat as I hear the music blaring, trying to make sense of it all.  I jog down the hill towards the protective barricade that's meant to keep nut jobs like me from trying to live out their dream and run out onto the field, except, unlike people running out onto the field during a game I'm not looking to avoid the guards, players, etc.  No.  I'd be looking to get laid out, as long as it wasn't by Kam Chancellor.

I meet a 12 named Josh who WOULD take the hit from Chancellor.  Me and him rap about the Seahawks for minutes, maybe even an hour, barely stopping for air.  This is the 6th session he's been to so far in Training Camp.  Brett Swain makes a tough grab in front of us before being leveled by Brandon Browner from behind and hurting his knee.  We simultaneously mention that Swain went to San Diego State.  It was then that I knew that we as Seahawks fans are certifiably insane.  Well, actually, it was long before then that I knew but anyways, we know the details on even the 7th stringiest of players.  The camp fodder.  That's the love of the game right there.

I'm chatting it up with people so I don't catch every little second of action on the field.  Even if I was totally zeroed in, I doubt I'd be able to pass for a good "camp note taker" like some.  The Hawks practice at a frenetic pace where even the dudes working for the team, helping move equipment and stuff are hustling non-stop throughout the entire practice.  It seems rough but at the same time it seems like a dream come true.  From what I can make of it all, Marshawn Lynch looked to me like he had the best practice of the day.  His vision and ability to burst through the hole saw him draw many a cheer from the crowd.  A few of the receivers made some excellent grabs despite some tight coverage from the Seahawks DB's.  Once again, Russell Wilson continues to show that his ability to make receivers make exceptional plays is no fluke.  He sometimes places the ball where his receiver is the only one who can make a play on the ball, even if that means the pass is a little far in front or a little high.  Still, time and time again, guys go up and make the phenomenal play.  It's something that can be traced back all the way to his days at NC State and it's something that's becoming more and more tangible.

It's true that there were a bunch of Hawks watching from the sidelines, and while that's discouraging something tells me that the Hawks understand the opportunity they have this season and don't want to risk ruining it by rushing injured guys out there for Training Camp.  I'm okay with this approach and think that it's the way to go actually.  Not only do we know what most of these guys can do already, but it gives an opportunity for some of the younger, more unheralded guys to step up and make a name for themselves.

With a few blows of an air horn, practice was over.  Now, it was time for the post-practice autograph session that was scheduled.  From the sounds of it, this session was actually pretty similar to most post-practice autograph sessions the team runs, except there were hardly many "name" players out there.  Doesn't matter to me, but I'm sure some of those kids must have been wondering who Darren Fells is and whether he'd make the team or not.  I'm not much of an autograph guy myself, so I just let the kids go down by the rail for autographs instead.  As I was about to leave and head back to the buses, something told me to stick around for a bit and take in the minute.  As I was standing there as the hill started to clear out, Doug Baldwin came out from the amazing gym inside of the VMac to talk to some kids and sign autographs.  Benson Mayawa did the same, well after he was supposed to signing autographs, which was really nice to see.  Ryan Seymour also signed, as well as Kearse, Zach Miller, Fells, Phil Bates, Bryan Walters, and a few others.

When I saw Baldwin however, I immediately ran over to him.  I reassured him that he was going to have a phenomenal season and that he would make fans forget the loss of Percy Harvin.  He simply nodded and said "okay."  Extremely business-like and I respect that a lot.  I then mentioned that I came out to camp from New York City and that it's my first stop following the team across the country this season.  His response of "I like that" was again, very short and to the point.  You can just tell from the look in his eyes that Doug Baldwin wants badly to be great.  He puts in the work and has put up the production in the past.  I'm fully expecting him to go off this year in Percy's absence.  I then ask him if he would mind signing my Russell Wilson jersey to which he replies, "Okay, but you need to get a better jersey."  Don't worry Doug, I'm definitely putting in an order for a #89 jersey!  It wasn't until a day after he signed it that I realized that not only was the driver of the 105 named Doug, but that me and Baldwin share the same initials too.  Yet another sign from the universe that I'm heading down the right path, in my mind.

And like that, it was over.  The swarm of people walked back to the yellow cheese buses that the team provided and everyone was on their way.  All in all it was a pretty amazing day.  The weather was perfect, practice was sharp, and the company was great.  What seemed like an eternity when I was waiting for my connector flight in Charlotte (coincidence that my qwest started in Charlotte, just like the Seahawks will a month from today?  I think not!), had now come and gone.  However, the memories and connections I forged along the way made this trip unforgettable.  My belief in this being the Seahawks year is even more steadfast, if that's at all possible, and I now know that the boys will be ready to destroy this man in just a month's time...

Victim numero uno

Take it in Seahawks fans, take it all in.  Enjoy the ride, because that's what forges the strongest and greatest of memories.  It's not just about winning a Super Bowl and that seemingly amazing feeling as confetti streams down from the rafters.  It's about every step of the way.  It's about always competing, and earning everything.  Ultimately leaving no doubt, 24/7.  Destiny is upon us my fellow feathered friends, and she WILL NOT be denied!

Percyverance

Happier times.  Oh, but don't worry, they lie ahead as well.

Yeah, I can't believe that isn't a hashtag yet either.  

As I get ready to embark upon my first of hopefully 20 trips (yeah, we're getting a first round bye and home field throughout) to watch our beloved Seahawks (GO Hawks!!!) take on the "world" in a qwest to meet the lofty expectations of destiny, and not to mention the 12th Man, and secure NFL domination...  the main story is of course the health of Percy Harvin.  Not that it should be, but it is.  The media loves it when bad things happen and the sports media is no different.  

Not that losing Percy Harvin 'til around Thanksgiving is a good thing.  No, it sucks actually.  However, if there's something the Seahawks are good at, it's persevering.  Not only is that ability to rise up with your back up against the wall one of the things both Pete and John look for in potential Seahawks, and not only is it one of the core beliefs of Russell Wilson via his father's infamous "3 P's" from the most amazing Levi's commercials ever... [dim lights please]

But perseverance is often the mark of a champion.  And this team is full of champions, even if they don't have any rings to prove it just yet.  In time my friends.  People jumping off the Space Needle and media zealots everywhere jumping off the bandwagon need not jump back on later this year.  No, in fact I'd prefer it if you stayed away because the Seahawks perform FAR better when they've got that chip on their shoulder.  So while everyone goes nuts about the loss of the Hawks newest addition, those who have paid close attention to this entire rebuild know that this could be the type of thing that forges a champion.  The final road block between youth and potential and glory.  

One need not look too far for examples of how previous Super Bowl champions had to endure a tough bout with the injury bug en route to winning it all.  The Ravens injury woes were well documented last season (Suggs, Lewis, Webb) and they even had to overcome the lost of All-Pro DT Haloti Ngata in the actual Super Bowl itself.  Still, they persevered and left New Orleans with the game's ultimate reward.  Joe Flacco rose above all and dominated in the playoffs, almost as if he was single-handedly willing the Ravens to victory.

Before the Ravens, it was the 2011 New York Giants who had to deal with a mountainous injury list and a disappointing 9-7 record in the regular season.  However, key injured players returned late in the season just in time for the playoff push and stellar performances from key reserves helped support a great playoff performance from Eli Manning as the Giants stunned the nation and won another Super Bowl.

And that's just the last 2 years.  It appears that a team can overcome injuries in the NFL, so long as they are patient and have solid depth and a quarterback who can perform well in the playoffs.  Russell Wilson appears to be the type of big-game quarterback that Seahawks fans have yearned for for decades.  My brain and my heart especially, tell me that if Joe Flacco and Eli Manning can find continued success in the post-season, then Russell Wilson most definitely will too.  I guess my point is, unless #3 himself goes down *knock on wood* the Seahawks will always be in good shape.

Harvin's dynamic ability and versatility can not be replaced or replicated.  However, the remaining Seahawks wide receivers bring a lot to the table in their own right, and I'm inclined to believe that they will rise to the occasion in Percy's absence.  Blind homerism?  Maybe.  Then again, maybe not.  Golden Tate is entering a contract season and appears primed to break out with Percy out.  I've been beating this drum for a while now, but I'm thinking Golden has a year similar to Jordy Nelson's in 2011 for the Packers.  Nelson was entering his fourth season, like Tate, and also like Golden his numbers in his first 3 seasons weren't quite what everyone had hoped they'd be upon being drafted in the 2nd round by their respective teams.

Golden Tate's career stats / Jordy Nelson career stats

In fact, Golden's year 3 was actually better than Jordy's.  Will his 4th year in the league be just as good as Nelson's?  That's tough, but if he can even come close he'll definitely have earned himself a whole lot of cash.  I'm expecting an absolutely monstrous season from Tate, one that will have people drawing comparisons to him and a young Steve Smith from his earlier days with the Panthers.  Smith might have been more of a burner than Golden is, but Golden's definitely got him beat in the YAC department.  The reason I lump them together is because both have an uncanny ability to win jump balls despite their height "disadvantage."  Both are quite stout for their size though so that's probably what gives them the ability to not only high point the ball, but fight off defenders and haul in the grab as well.  One can only imagine what Chris Harper will look like on jump balls with his stocky frame a few years down the road.

Then, there's Dougie Fresh.  The 3rd year man out of Stanford has looked great in camp so far by all accounts and he's a noted hard worker who is constantly trying to improve his game.  He now becomes the de facto slot guy for the Hawks and at times he flashed the skills that made him the first UDFA rookie receiver to lead his team in receptions since the merger.  He also showed good chemistry with Russell, as evidenced by his TD grabs against New England and especially against San Francisco.  However, he also showed that the injury bug that bit him in college might have stuck with him in the NFL.  While his durability is a concern, I'm thinking Doug rises to the occasion this season and creates visions of Bobby Engram in 12's heads everywhere.  3rd and 9?  No problem, Dougie Fresh is there with the grab and 11.

Probably the least talked about reality that the Harvin injury now creates is that it opens up a spot for one of the younger, more unheralded receivers on this team.  Jermaine Kearse (Huck the Fuskies!) has been one of the stars of camp so far, with many crediting his noticeable improvement on the LASIK surgery he had to correct his vision.  I've worn contacts and I'll tell you that it can be a pain having to deal with them when playing sports.  And that was in high school and in rec leagues, not to mention the NFL where every possible advantage matters!  Stephen Williams, a player whom John Schneider was very excited to acquire off waivers from Arizona, has been making the plays in camp that he did with the Cards.  It never quite materialized in to results on the field but the potential and talent is certainly there.  People have raved about his ability on jump balls and his big play ability.  Another Ricardo Lockette?  We shall see.

Chris Harper and Phil Bates round out the guys I see as in the mix to stick on the final 53.  Harper is the 4th round rookie out of KState who reminds most of a young Anquan Boldin, while Bates is the 2nd year man who was with the team as a member of the practice squad at times last season.  Both are former quarterbacks and both have unique frames by the modern NFL receivers standards.  Harper is a monster at 6'1", 234 pounds while Bates is no slouch either at 6'1", 220 pounds.  Their styles differ a bit, Harper is more your typical possession guy who uses his frame to box defenders out and bully them when battling for position.  Bates is more of an explosive playmaker with the ball in his hands, someone who can make guys miss in the open field and isn't afraid to lower his shoulder for extra yards.  Noticing a trend yet?  The Seahawks love tough, physical football players.  They also love guys who have played multiple positions at some point in their lives.

And then there's the enigma.  Sidney Rice.  The man who was set to benefit from the addition of Percy Harvin the most.  He just went to Switzerland to have a non-surgical procedure on his knee and he's been injured before, so naturally we have to keep our fingers crossed with Sid, but when healthy he made plays for this team last season.  He's got a good, natural rapport with Russell Wilson and was so money on those sideline throws last season.  His length and soft hands are tough for defenses to defend against, and having a guy like Harvin wreaking havoc on defensive gameplans would have allowed Sidney to fully capitalize like he did with Harvin (and Favre) in Minnesota.  While news about his knee certainly isn't good news, it's not too bad either.  Numerous athletes have begun to go to Europe for similar procedures and the early results appear to be positive.  Hopefully Sidney can add his name to the list of success stories.

The "next man up" phrase gets tossed around far too loosely in sports these days, but here's a case where it actually applies.  Somebody's going to have to step up and hold it down in Percy's absence.  We pretty much know what to expect from guys like Rice, Tate, and Baldwin when they're healthy.  However, not much is known about guys like Kearse, Williams, Harper, and Bates (no disrespect to Brett Swain and company.)  What we do know is that there's usually a few guys that come completely out of nowhere and end up providing huge dividends for the Hawks every season.  It's been a trademark of Pete and John's.  Something we can hang our hats on.  It's just flat out ridiculous how good those 2 are at evaluating talent.

So fear not, 12's.  Step back from that ledge you're standing on and take a look at the silver lining.  This team will grow because of this and when Percy is healthy enough to return, it'll be just in time for the stretch run and when it matters most.  Right now, who knows who it'll be to step up in Percy's absence?  Hell, it might not even be a wide receiver, it might be someone like RB Christine Michael, who by all accounts has looked outstanding in Camp.  Whoever it is, it's gonna happen.  It's just what the Seahawks do.  It's what this whole thing was built upon.  That intense belief that no matter what happens, no matter what obstacles stand in the way, this team will fulfill it's destiny and be remembered in history as champions.