Tuesday in Hawkville
A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Dec. 20:
FOCUS ON
Ben Obomanu. With Mike Williams undergoing season-ending surgery today to repair the left ankle he broke in Sunday’s game against the Bears in Chicago, Obomanu steps into the starting lineup. Again.
Obomanu, remember, started five games earlier this season when first Sidney Rice was out and then Williams. Now, the Seahawks have neither of their intended starting wide receivers, so it will be up to Obomanu and Golden Tate to get the job done in Saturday’s game against the NFC West champion 49ers at CenturyLink Field.
“Ben is a different-style receiver,” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said after today’s 90-minute practice. “He’s got good speed. He’s got good quickness. He knows what we’re doing. He can play multiple positions – he’s been our Z, he’s been out X, he’s kind of been all over the place.
“So he does a lot for us.”
Obomanu and Tate showed what they can combine to do on the opening drive of the second half against the Bears, as Tarvaris Jackson went to Tate for a 33-yard pass play on third-and-9 and then found Obomanu for a 43-yard gain on a drive that ended with Marshawn Lynch scoring on a 3-yard run.
Because Obomanu already has started at split end (three games for Williams) and flanker (two games for Rice), his flexibility and experience will help the passing game compensate for its latest loss.
In 14 games, nine players have led, or shared the lead, in receptions for the Seahawks: leading receiver Doug Baldwin (seven times), Rice (four), Williams (two), Tate (two), Obomanu (one), running back Leon Washington (one), Lynch (one), fullback Michael Robinson (one) and tight end Zach Miller (one).
“A new guy has kind of stepped up every week,” Bevell said. “Doug has made big plays. Golden has made big plays the last couple of weeks. You saw Ben catch a couple. So there are guys making plays. We just have to use the skills that they have and try to get them open.”
Obomanu is tied for second on the team with 32 receptions for 379 yards, and led the team with four catches in the Week 2 loss to the Steelers. Tate is third with 27 catches for 320 yards, including four against the Bears to share team-high honors with Miller.
Baldwin (46 for 731) will continue to get ample work in the slot. Deon Butler and Ricardo Lockette, who was signed off the practice squad last week, get bumped up to the fourth and fifth spots.
“We’ve been able to mix those guys in enough that where we really had five guys that at any point could really play all those positions,” Bevell said. “So we kind of, I don’t want to say don’t miss a beat, but the next guy up has been able to do a nice job.”
PLAYOFF PATTER
Winning five of their six games to begin the second half of the season has the once 2-6 Seahawks at .500 and on the cusp of the NFC playoff picture. The easier scenario to comprehend, if not accomplish, for the Seahawks to advance to the playoffs for a second consecutive season is to have them beat the 49ers and Cardinals and have the 9-5 Lions lose their games against the Chargers and Packers. The Seahawks would advance based on a better conference record.
But the players are not spending their time worrying about scenarios. They’re focused on the 49ers.
“It feels good,” Robinson said of having the Seahawks and playoffs used in the same sentence. “But at the same time, we’re just looking at it one game at a time. We can’t go to the playoffs if we don’t win this game. We couldn’t go to the playoffs if we didn’t win the last game. So you win the next game. Just win the game you have in front of you and let everything else take care of itself.
“Even if we don’t make the playoffs, the fact that if we can finish on a strong note, it’s a great stepping stone, a great building block for years to come.”
IN ’N OUT
Cornerback Phillip Adams was signed to fill Williams’ spot on the 53-man roster, as last year’s leading receiver had his surgery performed by team doctors Ed Khalfayan and Mike McAdam at the Seattle Surgery Center.
Adams, a seventh-round draft choice by the 49ers in 2010, was with the Patriots this season until being released Nov. 29. The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Adams played his college ball at South Carolina State.
The player practiced without pads or helmets in the indoor practice facility, but the team does not have to release an injury report until tomorrow.
STAT DU JOUR
Just how good has Jackson been in the Seahawks’ three-game winning streak? In a word: very. In a number: 104.5. That’s Jackson’s passer rating in the wins over the Eagles, Rams and Bears. He’s not only feeling better, more than two months after spraining the pectoral in his throwing shoulder during the Week 5 upset of the Giants; he’s managing the game better, as evidenced by the fact that he has not thrown an interception since his final pass in the Week 12 loss to the Redskins. Here’s a closer look at Jackson’s performances in the past three games:
Opponent Att. Comp. Yds. Pct. TD Int. Rating
Eagles 16 13 190 .813 1 0 137.0
Rams 32 21 224 .656 1 0 96.4
Bears 31 19 227 .613 1 0 94.4
Totals 79 53 641 .671 3 0 104.5
UP NEXT
The players will be back on the practice field Wednesday, which will be Thursday in his short week to prepare for Saturday’s game against the 49ers.
Tickets are available for the Christmas Eve game and can be purchased here.
YOU DON’T SAY
“That game seems like, I mean I didn’t even remember it was this year it’s so long ago. We’ve been through so much. We’ve changed so much. We’ve transitioned. We’re a much different team, and they’re a much different team. They’re a strong defense, it was evident last night. But we’re a much better offense than we were when we faced them at that point.” – Bevell on the season opener against the 49ers in San Francisco
Photoblog: Monday Night Madness
Monday Night Football returned to Seattle for the first time since 2007, and the Seahawks did not disappoint as they defeated the St. Louis Rams, 30-13 at CenturyLink Field.
In the broadcast booth hours before the game, microphones waited for Monday Night Football announcers Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron “Jaws” Jaworski.
Monday Night Football play-by-play man Mike Tirico reviews his notes in the booth long before the stands at CenturyLink Field were filled with members of the 12thMAN.
Safety Earl Thomas warms up on the field as the last of the December sun fell on CenturyLink Field.
Skittles-mania has overtaken Seattle thanks to Marshawn Lynch, and sure enough, a bag could be found in the depths of his locker before the game.
Marshawn Lynch greets his mom on the sidelines during pregame. When asked about the Skittles habit after the game, Lynch replied, "you've got to ask my Mama."
Head coach Pete Carroll speaks briefly to the team before they took the field.
Customarily one of the last players to leave the locker room, Marshawn Lynch "taps in" as head coach Pete Carroll follows.
Chris Clemons, who Pete Carroll identifies as a key acquisition last season, stares into the television camera before leaving the tunnel during pregame introductions.
Defensive lineman Alan Branch and linebacker K.J. Wright combine to put a vicious hit on St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford.
Michael Robinson scooped up Doug Baldwin's blocked punt and returned it for a touchdown, setting the tone for the Seahawks victory.
Members of the Seahawks special teams celebrate in the end zone after they blocked a punt for a touchdown.
This member of the 12th MAN didn't feel the need for a hat in the winter cold, he just painted a helmet on his bald head instead.
St. Louis safety Darian Stewart lost his helmet in an effort to bring down Seattle receiver Ben Obomanu.
Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner collected his team-high fifth interception of the season, sitting in wait for a route he remembered from the two teams first meeting in St. Louis earlier in the season.
Doug Baldwin continued to improve and impress as he not only caught seven passes for 93 yards and a touchdown, but also blocked a punt that the Seahawks returned for a touchdown.
Tight end Zach Miller has been a stalwart blocking for the running game, but also caught two passes against St. Louis.
Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, Brandon Mebane and his teammates dominated the Rams for the second time this season.
Safeties Earl Thomas and Atari Bigby celebrate after forcing St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford into an intentional grounding penalty in the red zone.
Seattle's running game features Marshawn Lynch, who went "Beast Mode" in the second half on his way to a game-high 115 yards.
Lynch's 16-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for the Seahawks.
After Lynch's touchdown, Skittles rained down on the turf in the end zone. Skittles are Lynch's "go-to" candy before, during and after game as was widely-publicized after his last prime-time performance on Thursday Night Football two weeks ago.
Head coach Pete Carroll lets out a yell after the final touchdown, as he saw his team win its fourth game in the last five outings. Seattle travels to Chicago as they seek to continue their newfound success.
Photoblog: Prime Time Performance
The Seahawks returned to CenturyLink Field after only a four day break to face the visiting Philadelphia Eagles in front of a national television audience in prime time. Seattle did not disappoint, thumping the Eagles 31-14 to improve their record to 5-7.
Seattle's 12th MAN was loud and proud on Thursday Night Football, filling CenturyLink Field with noise and passion all game long.
Tarvaris Jackson, center, and his offensive teammates wait to be introduced during pregame.
Marshawn Lynch was the final Seahawks starter to be introduced, and he proudly waved the 12th MAN flag amid the smoke and fog as he entered the field.
Paul McQuistan (67) and the offensive line protected Jackson all night, who achieved his highest quarterback rating of the season.
Marshawn Lynch escaped from a pileup that looked to be a rush for no gain and turned it into a touchdownn a run that observers say nearly compares to last year's "Beastquake" run against the New Orleans Saints.
Lynch poses for the fans after his touchdown run.
Wide receiver Ben Obomanu, starting in place of injured Sidney Rice, leapt high to make this catch in the first half.
Seattle rookie linebacker K.J. Wright makes a diving tackle on Philadelphia's LeSean McCoy.
Marshawn Lynch outraced everyone to the corner on a 40 yard touchdown run to give the Seahawks a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.
Golden Tate also stepped up, catching four passes for 47 yards.
Tate obeyed NFL rules after his leaping touchdown catch in the third quarter, and gave a celebratory dance instead of falling to the ground that cost him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Washington.
Brandon Browner comes back to the sidelines and receives congratulations from K.J. Wright and Richard Sherman after Browner picked off his second pass of the game.
Wright came up the middle on a blitz and leveled Philadelphia quarterback Vince Young, who fumbled only to recover it as he went to the ground. Wright had five tackles and a sack on the night.
Seattle's defensive backfield was tough all night, including this play in the end zone in which Richard Sherman deflected away a pass intended for the Eagles' Jason Avant.
The Eagles drove deep once more into Seattle territory, but David Hawthorne stepped in front of a Vince Young pass for an interception.
With nothing between him and the end zone, Hawthorne raced untouched 77 yards to put the game away.
On the sidelines, coach Pete Carroll let out a yell as Hawthorne strode into the end zone.
Seattle's victory was soured in the final minutes when Philadelphia's Trent Cole flipped Seattle's Russell Okung to the ground after the whistle. Okung suffered a season-ending injury as a result.
General manager John Schneider greets David Hawthorne in the locker room after the win.
In the postgame locker room, Carroll held up four fingers to signify the the four takeaways by the defense.
Cyber surfing: Wednesday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Nov. 30:
Dave Boling at the News Tribune looks at Chris Clemons, or “the best Seahawk player about whom you know the least,” as Boling puts it. But he’s a what-you-see-is-what-you-really-need-to-know force at defensive end: “The man plays with such unrelenting energy that he’s an example of what’s known in the league as a high-motor guy. Revving up at the red line on every play.”
Also at the News Tribune, Eric Williams looks at Sidney Rice, who got a concussion in Sunday’s game and isn’t expected to play against the Eagles on Thursday night: “ ‘We have to take care of him,’ coach Pete Carroll said. ‘There’s not a helmet that he could put on his head that he could play with this weekend.’ Carroll all but ruled out Rice for Thursday’s game against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, saying he’s more concerned about the go-to receiver’s long-term prospects in Seattle.”
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times looks at the Seahawks’ other starting receiver, as Mike Williams is coming off a no-catch performance in the loss to the Redskins: “The question of whether Mike Williams gets back is more metaphorical at this point. He finished without a catch Sunday for the third time this season and played sparingly in the second half because of a sore shoulder. What has happened to the player who was the Seahawks’ most unexpected success in 2010? He had 10 or more catches in three different games last season, but hasn’t caught more than four balls in any game this year. ‘I feel like I prepare the same way,’ Williams said. ‘I work just as hard. People who think, ‘Oh, well he was hungry in 2010. He was more hungry last year.’ I don’t think that’s it.’ “
Mike Sando at ESPN.com has his weekly “NFC West Stock Watch,” and Williams is among those “falling”: “The team’s leading receiver from 2010 dropped passes and did not adjust to his scrambling quarterback during a 23-17 home defeat to the Redskins. Williams’ career revival made for an appealing storyline last season. Lately, though, Williams is more closely resembling the disappointing player he became earlier in his career. He finished with zero receptions against the Redskins.”
Sando also has a look at dropped passes among the division’s receivers.
With Rice likely out, the Seahawks turn once again to Ben Obomanu, and we check-in with the versatile wide receiver here at Seahawks.com. Says QB Tarvaris Jackson: “You can always count on him. He always does everything right. He can make plays for you. In my eyes, he’s like a starter. Whenever Mike is down or Sid is down, he can step in and we’re not really losing a lot. In some things, he may even do better.”
We’ve also got practice covered in “Tuesday in Hawkville” and Tony Ventrella’s video report, as well as an “Up Next” look at the Eagles.
And because it was Tuesday, there’s also a look back at Sunday’s game with Rod Mar’s photo blog and Ben Malcolmson’s “From the Sidelines”: “It was theirs for the taking. A win, a continuation of positive momentum and a strong statement to start a three-game homestand — they were all not only options, but clear in the Seahawks’ grasp. And then they weren’t. A 16-point barrage by the Redskins in the final 10 minutes turned a feel-good victory into a heartbreaking defeat for the Seahawks, who fell to 4-7 after the 23-17 loss on Sunday. ‘There’s a game in our hands and then we lose,’ Coach Pete Carroll said to start his postgame speech in the locker room. ‘It hurts. These are hard lessons.’ ”
Wednesday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 23:
FOCUS ON
Talking turkey. What else would you do on Thanksgiving Eve? And that exactly what Tarvaris Jackson did today. After, of course, discussing Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins at CenturyLink Field.
The Seahawks’ quarterback is cooking Thanksgiving dinner – or actually deep-frying his birds – with an assist from wide receiver Sidney Rice. Or, “the assistant chef,” as Jackson called him.
Asked what he was thinking about heading into the holiday, Jackson offered, “I’m thinking about eating good. I’m cooking, too, so hopefully we can get out of here a little early – hint, hint.”
Coach Pete Carroll is on the same page – or schedule – with his QB. The players will practice earlier on Thursday so the players can spend the afternoon with family, friends and teammates.
“I’m just looking forward to laying back, chillin’ and spending time with the family,” Jackson said. “Maybe some of the teammates will come over and get a taste of my cooking.”
Carroll also is doing the players a favor by having the weekly weigh-in on Thursday, rather than Friday like other teams.
“We get to weigh-in before we go eat, so that’s good,” Jackson said.
That wasn’t the case when Jackson and Rice played for the Vikings.
“We had to weigh-in on that Friday,” he said. “And with Thanksgiving on a Thursday and you got to weigh-in Friday morning, you can’t really enjoy your food because you’re thinking about how you have to weigh-in.”
What else is on the Jackson-Rice menu? “A little dressing, potato salad, mac-and-cheese,” Jackson said. “We’re going to try to do it up.”
OPPONENT WATCH
Roy Helu. The Redskins’ running back is averaging a team-leading 4.9 yards per carry and is in line to get more carries against the Seahawks after Tashard Choice was released on Tuesday.
As has been the case with so many players the Seahawks face, Carroll has a history with the rookie from Nebraska.
“Pat Ruel (assistant line coach) and I went and saw him in high school and we talked to him and visited him in recruiting,” said Carroll, who was coaching at USC at the time. “And we didn’t go after him.”
So Helu, who played at San Ramon Valley High School in California, headed to Nebraska.
“Kicked butt at Nebraska,” Carroll said. “Here he is now … running like crazy, catching balls everywhere.
“We definitely missed on Roy. He’s a really good player and he’s really fast – way faster than I ever thought he was if we had taken him.”
IN ’N OUT
Rice and fellow wide receiver Ben Obomanu sat out practice today, so Golden Tate got a lot of work with the No. 1 offense opposite Mike Williams. Defensive tackle Alan Branch also did not practice, so Clinton McDonald filled in for him.
Defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove and safety Atari Bigby returned to practice after missing Sunday’s victory over the Rams in St. Louis with hamstring injury they got the previous week in the win over the Ravens at CenturyLink Field.
Official injury report:
Did not practice
WR Sidney Rice (knee)
WR Ben Obomanu (ankle)
DT Alan Branch (ankle)
CB Byron Maxwell (ankle)
Limited participation
QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral)
Full participation
S Atari Bigby (hamstring)
DE Anthony Hargrove (hamstring)
For the Redskins:
Did not practice
LB London Fletcher (ankle)
WR Niles Paul (toe)
Limited participation
OT Jammal Brown (groin)
S DeJon Gomes (knee)
OG Maurice Hurt (knee)
OT Sean Locklear (ankle)
OT Trent Williams (knee)
CB Josh Wilson (hamstring)
Full participation
LB Keyaron Fox (infection)
S LaRon Landry (Achilles)
WR Santana Moss (hand)
WR Donte Stallworth (foot)
STAT DU JOUR
Not so much a stat as a really? Chris Clemons’ selection as NFC Defensive Player of the Week makes him the first Seahawks defensive end to be honored since Michael McCrary in 1996, and only the third since the league started the weekly awards in 1984. Really. Pro Bowl end Patrick Kerney? Nope. Do-it-all end Jeff Bryant? Not him, either. Sack-master end Michael Sinclair? Another no. Grant Wistrom and Chike Okeafor? No, and no. Here’s the short list that Clemons became a part of today:
Year (week) Player
1986 (12) Jacob Green
1988 (2) Jacob Green
1990 (17) Jacob Green
1996 (17) Michael McCray
2011 (11) Chris Clemons
UP NEXT
Pigskin, then turkey. At least for the players, as they will practice earlier on Thursday so the players will have time to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Tickets are available for Sunday’s game, as well as next Thursday’s game against the Eagles and the Dec. 12 “Monday Night Football” game against the Rams. They can be purchased here.
YOU DON’T SAY
“That’s what we want. We want people to expect us to win. … We want to go into the game expecting to win and just take it from there.” – Jackson when asked about outside expectations being heightened because of the team’s two-game winning streak and its next three games being at home against teams with losing records
Monday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 21:
FOCUS ON
Two thumbs up. That was coach Pete Carroll’s review from the video review of Sunday’s 24-7 victory over the Rams in St. Louis.
The convincing victory gave the Seahawks back-to-back wins for the first time since midseason last year and sets the table for even better things to come with the team playing its next three games at home – starting with Sunday’s matchup against the Washington Redskins at CenturyLink Field.
“There’s a lot of energy in here today,” Carroll said during his weekly day-after news conference. “The guys were really excited about the defensive effort, and the special teams, and winning on the road, and winning a division game and all that kind of stuff.
“It wasn’t pretty, particularly in the beginning, but we rallied and we played really hard and really tough. Across the board, we were physical.”
As you can tell, the coach was pretty pumped, too, because the Seahawks played the style of ball he envisions becoming the team’s calling-card: a tough, physical, aggressive defense, supported by a strong running game.
“I liked that we stayed with the running game and it kind of complemented the way we played on defense,” Carroll said. “We kept hammering away and good things started to happen. So it was a good day.”
By the end of the day, the Seahawks were 4-6 because they limited the Rams to 185 yards – only 42 rushing – and continued running the ball even though the yards were tough to come by. The Seahawks had more than 100 rushing yards for a third consecutive game, and for the first time since the end of the 2008 season.
“We put together a nice win,” Carroll said. “And to get back-to-back wins for us at this time is important.”
POSITION WATCH
Right guard and right tackle. That’s where Paul McQuistan and Breno Giacomini played against the Rams, and will continue to play, because rookies John Moffitt and James Carpenter were lost to season-ending knee injuries last week.
“I thought Breno really held up his own,” Carroll said. “I thought Paul had a little harder time getting started. He had two penalties that are going to distract me from giving him a real good grade on the day. But I was impressed with Breno … I thought he looked a little farther along and comfortable.”
This was Giacomini’s second NFL start, while McQuistan filled in at left guard for three games earlier this season when Robert Gallery was out with the groin injury.
“When Paul played earlier in the year, he started slowly in the first game,” Carroll. “He did a little bit of that in this game, and then got more comfortable.
“We really functioned a lot better in the fourth quarter than we did early in the game. So that’s a good sign.”
INJURY UPDATES
Wide receiver Ben Obomanu got a sprained ankle and knee injury against the Rams that could force him to miss practice time early in the week.
Asked if the situation could prevent Obomanu from playing, Carroll said, “I don’t know that yet. He’s pretty sore today. We’ll get to Wednesday and see what happens. It’s not so bad that they can call that he’s ‘out.’ It’s not that kind of deal. But he’s a really tough dude and comes back from stuff. We’ll give him a chance because he’s overcome a lot of stuff in the past.”
Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who has a sprained pectoral in his throwing shoulder, came out of the game “the best he has felt the day after a game,” Carroll said. “I don’t know what that means. But we’re encouraged by anything on the positive side.”
Safety Atari Bigby and defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove did not play against the Rams because of hamstring injuries, but Carroll said he expects them to practice on Wednesday but that they’ll be eased back into it.
“Both were running at the end of last week, and both were kind of making a pitch for themselves that they could play,” Carroll said. “So they’re really close. I would think that they’ll be all right.”
REMEMBERING HALMAN
Carroll began his news conference by extending his thoughts to the family of Mariners outfielder Greg Halman, who was stabbed to death today in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
“I want to take a moment to pass out our condolences to the family of Greg Halman and the loss to the whole Mariner organization,” Carroll said. “It’s a tragedy and a terrible thing to happen. We’re aware of it and we’re talking about it, so we want to make mention that we’re concerned.”
STAT DU JOUR
The Seahawk have faced three pretty-productive running backs in their past three games and held each to below-average performances. Here’s a look at the numbers those backs put up against the Seahawks compared to those averages in their starts leading up to the matchup with Seattle:
Week 11
Back, team Avg. yards Per-carry avg.
Steven Jackson, Rams 78.6 5.1
vs. Seahawks 42 2.8
Week 10
Back, team Avg. yards Per-carry avg.
Ray Rice, Ravens 66.5 4.0
vs. Seahawks 27 5.4
Week 9
Back, team Avg. yards Per-carry avg.
DeMarco Murray, Cowboys 163.5 9.9
vs. Seahawks 139 6.3
UP NEXT
The players are off Tuesday before returning on Wednesday to begin preparing for Sunday’s game – the first of three homes games in a row, including Thursday night and Monday night matchups with the Eagles (Dec. 1) and Rams (Dec. 12).
Tickets are available for all three games and can be purchased here.
YOU DON’T SAY
“It’s rare. Really, he had to reach back into yesteryear to pull out that drop. And if you saw him, he broke down really good, had his hands out and was ready to go.” – Carroll on defensive end Red Bryant dropping into coverage and coming up with the first interception of his career against the Rams on a pass that tipped by nose tackle Brandon Mebane
Photoblog: Seahawks vs. Bengals
The Seahawks returned home to CenturyLink Field for the first time in nearly a month to face the resurgent Cincinnati Bengals.
Hours before kickoff, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and head coach Pete Carroll conferred on the field. Jackson, hampered by injury, would eventually enter the game in the second quarter.
Cornerbacks Richard Sherman, left, and Brandon Browner got face-to-face right before being introduced as starters.
Cincinnati's Bernard Scott is tackled low by Seattle's Brandon Mebane and hit high by Brandon Browner.
The 12th MAN raised their voices loud enough to force Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton to shout adjustments to teammates at the line of scrimmage.
Charlie Whitehurst started at quarterback for the Seahawks and was sacked on Seattle's opening drive.
Defensive line coach Todd Wash talks with defensive end Red Bryant during a break in the action.
Seattle's Leroy Hill (56) and Earl Thomas (29) pounce on Bengals running back Bernard Scott.
Anthony Hargrove talks strategy with his defensive teammates on the sidelines between plays.
Heath Farwell made his home debut with the Seahawks and showed his special teams prowess with this hard tackle of Bengals returner Brandon Tate.
Seahawks defender Kam Chancellor brings down Cincinnati's Brian Leonard.
Chris Clemons celebrates a tackle with teammate Alan Branch.
Head coach Pete Carroll talks to an official after Cincinnati's Andy Dalton lost the ball near the end zone. The play was ruled an incomplete pass.
Players from both teams try to find the football after a fumble by Seattle's Marshawn Lynch that was eventually recovered by the Bengals.
Tarvaris Jackson entered the game and sparked the Seahawks offense, throwing for a career high 323 yards.
Wide receiver Sidney Rice races upfield after a catch as Russell Okung looks to make a block.
Rookie cornerback Richard Sherman, in his first NFL start, makes an interception on a long pass near the end zone.
Doug Baldwin celebrates with Sherman after the interception. The two were college teammates at Stanford before entering the NFL this season.
Seattle's receivers found space to work in the second half, and Tarvaris Jackson delivered the ball on the mark to Ben Obomanu for 55 yards on this play.
Doug Baldwin caught this pass in traffic along the sideline to keep a drive alive.
Sidney Rice got open near the Seahawks sideline to make this diving catch.
Cincinnati's Brandon Tate splits punter Jon Ryan and linebacker David Vobora on this 56-yard punt return as the Bengals scored 17 fourth quarter points to put the game out of reach.
Tarvaris Jackson was sacked and then threw an interception as Seattle's offense faltered late in the game.
Cyber surfing: Tuesday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Nov. 1:
Mike Sando at ESPN.com has his “silver linings” from the Seahawks’ loss to the Bengals on Sunday, including this one: “Seattle finished with two 100-yard receivers even though starter Mike Williams did not play. Sidney Rice caught seven passes for 102 yards. Ben Obomanu caught four passes for 107 yards. Rookie Doug Baldwin came relatively close to joining them, catching five passes for 73 yards. The team has upgraded dramatically at wide receiver.”
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times looks at what has been a season-long problem of the Seahawks: penalties. Offers O’Neil: “At 2-5, the Seahawks have lots of room for improvement, and nowhere is that more evident than the penalties. Seattle has been penalized 60 times this season, fourth-most in the NFL.”
Eric Williams at the News Tribune looks at how losing is affecting coach Pete Carroll, who hasn’t been 2-5 since his first season at USC. Says Carroll: “We do have to push aside what’s gone on behind us. We can’t do anything about that. That’s a discipline that we talk about and we deal with this topic a lot. It happens in games sometimes, in particular. So we’ve got to do it one day at a time and both sides of the ball – my meeting as well with the full team, we all addressed what’s going on right now, what the issue is and how we want to get in focus, and we want to play like we’re capable of playing and catch the balls we’re supposed to catch and stay (onside) when we’re supposed to stay (onside) and give ourselves a chance to play like we’re capable of playing.”
Christian Caple at PI.com has the word on Tarvaris Jackson stepping back in as the starting QB after coming on to replace Charlie Whitehurst on Sunday. Says Caple: “Carroll said Jackson came out of the game fine, physically. His performance Sunday indicated to Carroll that he would be ready to play again this week.”
Scott Johnson at the Everett Herald continues his “Game of My Life” series with a look at former fullback John L. Williams. Says Johnson: “As he once promised fellow dual-threat running backs Thurman Thomas and Roger Craig during the week leading up to one of his two Pro Bowl appearances, Williams found a way to do things that few other runners had ever done. During a 10-year career he caught 546 passes, which marked the second-most receptions by an NFL running back when he retired in 1995.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we take a look at Richard Sherman’s big day in his first NFL start in our “Monday metatarsal musings”: “Sherman was served from the entire NFL smorgasbord of situations and emotions in his first NFL start. The rookie gave up a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jerome Simpson in the first quarter. He got his first interception as a pro in the third quarter – at the Seahawks’ 9-yard line – to stop a Bengals’ scoring threat and help set up a 25-yard field goal by Steven Hauschka. He finished with five tackles and three passes defensed – to tie and set career highs in the seventh game of his NFL career. ‘First start, everything goes,’ Sherman said with a smile.”
We’ve also got a look at Jackson’s status; another strong effort by the defense in “Monday in Hawkville”; and Tony Ventrella has video reviews of Sunday’s game and Carroll’s Monday news conference.
Monday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Oct. 31:
FOCUS ON
The defense. Somewhat overshadowed by the continuing problems on offense and breakdowns in the coverage units on special teams during Sunday’s 34-12 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was how well the Seahawks defense played.
Again.
“The thing that does get lost a little bit in here is that we played very tough on defense again,” coach Pete Carroll said today. “We did a very good job in the second half, in particular.”
Say what? The Bengals put up 34 points. But two of their touchdowns came on late returns – the first on a punt for 56 yards, the second on an interception for 75 yards. Also, both the Bengals’ field goals also were set up by big returns – a 63-yard punt return and a 45-yard kickoff return.
The defense held the Bengals to that one field goal in the second half, not to mention 84 yards.
“The defense gave us a chance to hang in that football game, if we could make a few plays,” Carroll said. “The guys played very physically. They were intent on getting after the running game. It wasn’t perfect, but there was enough to put us in position to win.”
Again.
PLAYER WATCH
Ben Obomanu. When split end Mike Williams could not play against the Bengals because of a sore hamstring, Obomanu stepped in to catch four passes for 107 yards. On his 28th birthday, no less.
“That’s pretty neat,” Obomanu said after the game. “I’m glad the fans can take something away from the game. I know it’s pretty rare for somebody to play on their birthday. I know for me that may not have happened since I was a little kid playing Pee-Wee football, so I just wanted to come out and play hard and help our team get a win.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t do that. But at the same time, at least the fans can take something away from the game.”
Asked if Obomanu was pushing for more playing time, Carroll offered, “Ben’s always been pushing. Ben’s been a starter here and he’s a really good football player. Ben again came through and did a very nice job. It’s a competitive position for us.”
INJURY UPDATE
Carroll said he expects Williams to be OK for practice this week. Tight end Cameron Morrah bruised a knee in the game, so his status is uncertain for practice.
Also, wide receiver Deon Butler remains the last of the players on the physically unable to perform list after cornerback Roy Lewis was activated last week and Morrah the week before. Butler is ready to return, but Carroll said his situation is day-to-day.
STAT DU JOUR
To say that the Seahawks are playing “winning” defense is not just hyperbole. They rank No. 13 in the NFL coming out of Sunday’s games, and eight of the teams ranked above them have winning records. Here’s the Top 13, with the records of those teams:
Team Record
Ravens 5-2
Steelers 6-2
Texans 5-3
Chargers 4-2
Bengals 5-2
Browns 3-4
Jaguars 2-6
Jets 4-3
Cowboys 3-4
49ers 6-1
Eagles 3-4
Lions 6-2
Seahawks 2-5
UP NEXT
The players are off Tuesday, but will return Wednesday to begin preparing for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington.
YOU DON’T SAY
“The Niners’ magic number to win the NFC West is six. Not since Nixon-McGovern has there been less drama in a race two months before it ends.” – Peter King, in his “Monday Morning Quarterback” on SI.com
Happy birthday to …
John Moffitt. The Seahawks’ rookie right guard is celebrating his 25th birthday today. The team’s second-round pick in April’s NFL Draft has started all six games, and will make it seven in Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals at CenturyLink Field.
And speaking of Sunday, defensive end Chris Clemons will turn 30 and wide receiver Ben Obomanu will be 28 on game day – when they’re having a party for 66,000 of their closest fans.
