On this date
A look at the memorable – and not-so-memorable – moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Jan. 2:
1983: Dave Krieg passes to Roger Carr for a 19-yard touchdown with 47 seconds to play, as the Seahawks wrap up the strike-shortened 1982 season with a 13-11 victory over the Broncos at Mile High Stadium. Krieg’s game-winning TD pass caps a 10-play, 87-yard drive. Kenny Easley leads the defensive effort with seven solo tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery, while linebackers Shelton Robinson and Bruce Scholtz combine for 27 tackles.
1994: The Seahawks close their 1993 season by rallying from a 24-3 deficit but fall to the Chiefs 34-24 at Arrowhead Stadium. John L. Williams rushes for 102 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown. Rick Mirer becomes the first rookie QB to start all his team’s games since 1973 and sets then-rookie records for attempts (486), completions (274) and passing yards (2,833).
2000: The Seahawks wrap up the AFC West title, despite losing 19-9 in their 1999 regular-season finale to the Jets in the Meadowlands, because the Raiders also beat the Chiefs. The Seahawks finish 9-7 after starting 8-2, but it’s still their best record since 1990. Also, Cortez Kennedy is voted to his then-club record eighth Pro Bowl.
2002: Walter Jones and John Randle are named to the Pro Bowl.
2005: The Seahawks clinch the NFC West title for the first time in their 2004 regular-season finale as they stop a two-point PAT attempt on the final play of a 28-26 victory over the Falcons in Seattle. Matt Hasselbeck passes for two touchdowns and runs for a third, which gives the Seahawks a 28-20 lead with 4½ minutes to play. Matt Schaub throws a TD pass on the final play, but Warrick Dunn’s run for the tying PAT is stopped by Chad Brown and Rocky Bernard.
2011: The Seahawks capture the 2010 NFC West title with a 16-6 victory over the Rams in the regular-season finale in Seattle on Sunday night. Charlie Whitehurst starts for an injured Matt Hasselbeck and passes to Mike Williams for the Seahawks’ only touchdown, as Olindo Mare kicks three field goals. Raheem Brock leads the defensive effort with 2½ sacks.
Wednesday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 2:
FOCUS ON
Tarvaris Jackson. The Seahawks’ starting quarterback stepped back in as the starter in practice today for the first time since straining the pectoral in his right shoulder in the Week 5 upset of the New York Giants.
Jackson took the starter reps during the 105-minute session and is on track to start Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys after sitting out the loss to the Cleveland Browns two weeks ago and then replacing backup Charlie Whitehurst in the second quarter of last week’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
“He feels the best he’s felt, but he’s still not well yet,” coach Pete Carroll said. “But we’ll manage him through it and hopefully have a week of continuity and his comfort with the game plan and all of that will help.”
Last week, Jackson did not take significant snaps in practice until Friday and the coaches then decided to try and buy him another week to rest his throwing shoulder by starting Whitehurst. This week, it’s Jackson’s show to run after he passed for a season-high 323 yards against the Bengals.
Jackson’s return also could mean a return to the productivity the offense was getting with its no-huddle before he was injured.
“Tarvaris has a great handle on it. He really does a nice job,” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said after practice. “He understands the tempo that we’re looking for. He understands that he can speed it up as fast as we need to. But then there’s times where you’re just trying to make sure you’re doing the right things, so he can slow it down, as well.
“You can play many different tempos by not huddling, and I think he’s really got a real feel for that.”
Carroll went that one better, offering, “I think it’s really something that Tarvaris is special at – he has a knack. … He’s a bigger factor in it than maybe we would have thought when we first started out.”
PLAYER WATCH
Kam Chancellor. Whenever a Seahawks player gets some national recognition, it’s a good thing. Being named to a midseason All-Pro team? All the better.
Chancellor, the second-year strong safety who’s in his first season as the starter, made Peter King’s midseason team that will be included in this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated.
Chancellor has three of the team’s eight interceptions, also leads in passes defensed (six) and ranks fourth with 43 tackles.
King on Chancellor: “The 6-3 Chancellor conjures memories of giant Cincy safety David Fulcher. Chancellor hits like his hero, Sean Taylor.”
Chancellor on King’s selection: “It feels good to get recognized, but I’ve still got to stay humble and keep playing and improving my game.”
OPPONENT WATCH
Jon Kitna. The Cowboys’ backup QB is no stranger. Kitna started 33 games for the Seahawks from 1997-2000 after signing with the club in 1996 as a free agent out of Central Washington University.
Since leaving the Seahawks, the former QB from Tacoma’s Lincoln High School has played with the Bengals (2001-05), Detroit Lions (2006-08) and, for the past three seasons, the Cowboys. He started nine games last season when Tony Romo was injured, passing for 2,365 yards with 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
“Jon’s been great,” Romo said today during a conference-call interview. “He’s a consummate professional. He comes to work every day, he’s got a great attitude. He knows the game. I’ve said for awhile, he’s by far, I think, the best backup in the league and we’re lucky to have him.”
High praise, indeed, for a kid from Tacoma whose improbable NFL career is now in its 15th season.
“I was such an admirer of his throughout his career when he was playing other places – just kind of the player he’s been and also the kind of person he’s been,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “We had an opportunity to get him a couple years ago (in a trade with the Lions) and were really excited about that. He’s been just a tremendous asset to our team.”
“He’s a guy who helps your football team in so many different ways. He certainly helps our quarterback room, but he helps everybody. He’s a very competitive guy, but also understands team and understands how to bring the best out of everybody.”
OH, BABY
Safety Chris Maragos made a hasty departure from CenturyLink Field after Sunday’s game. That’s because his wife had just given birth to a son in Michigan. Micah Maragos checked in at 6 pounds, 11 ounces.
His wife is from Michigan, so when Maragos was released by the San Francisco 49ers in September she went there rather than to Seattle.
“I found out Saturday that they were going to induce her,” Maragos said. “I kind of hemmed and hawed and talked to her about hopping on a plane and missing the game. But we talked about it and just felt like I needed to be there playing, and then come back after the game.”
IN ’N OUT
Here’s the official injury report:
Did not practice
LB Leroy Hill (knee)
TE Cameron Morrah (toe/knee)
Limited participation
DT Alan Branch (knee/hip)
SS Kam Chancellor (knee)
WR Mike Williams (hamstring)
Full participation
QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral)
Rookie Malcolm Smith got a lot of work in practice for Hill, while Atari Bigby replaced Chancellor, Ben Obomanu filled in for Williams and Anthony Hargrove worked for Branch during team drills.
For the Cowboys:
Did not practice
CB Mike Jenkins (hamstring)
RB Felix Jones (ankle)
OG Kyle Kosier (foot)
LB Sean Lee (wrist)
Limited participation
P Matt McBriar (foot)
Full participation
QB Tony Romo (ribs)
Lee is holding out hope that he’ll be able to play Sunday with the wrist he dislocated in last week’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, but the Dallas Morning News is reporting that club officials are skeptical that Lee will be available. They’re still trying to decide if Lee can wear a cast on the wrist or if surgery is the best option. Keith Brooking and Bradie James will play in the base and nickel defenses if Lee can’t go.
STAT DU JOUR
As good as the Seahawks defense has been this season, the league’s 13th ranked unit has been even better in the second half. The defense has allowed two second-half touchdowns to lead the league. Here are the top NFL teams in that category:
Team TDs allowed
Seahawks 2
Ravens 3
Browns 4
Lions 4
UP NEXT
“Turnover Thursday,” when the players will have an afternoon practice. Carroll always stresses taking the ball away, but the Seahawks have forced 10 turnovers compared to turning the ball over 13 times. Their minus-3 ratio ties for 22nd in the league.
YOU DON’T SAY
“I’m seeing the things that he’s able to do that gives us a chance to run an offense like we like to run it and he’s added to what we thought he could do by growing with him and learning about it.” – Carroll on Jackson
Cyber surfing: Wednesday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Nov. 2:
Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times looks at how Pete Carroll is handling his team being 2-5, which is unfamiliar territory for the Seahawks’ second-year coach. Offers O’Neil: “Carroll has never had a losing record after seven games as an NFL head coach. No team of his has been 2-5 since 2001, his first season at USC. And this time there’s no Las Vegas Bowl to shoot for. As Carroll gave his status report after Sunday’s game, he offered a most comprehensive summary on Seattle’s present difficulties (which are significant), his optimism for the team’s future (which is unrelenting) and a timeline for improvement (totally uncertain). ‘I can only think of what we can become,’ he continued. ‘I look at our guys and I see a much better group than how we’re performing right now. I’m not going to step back until we see it. It’s going to take us a little while.’ ”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald looks at the same topic. Says Boyle: “The real measure of their success will come in the next couple seasons when we find out if this rebuilding project will yield results. For now, success will be measured in how this team responds to a bad start, and how Carroll handles a season in which the postseason is not a realistic goal.”
Eric Williams at the News Tribune looks at a Seahawks defense that has allowed only two second-half touchdowns this season. Says Carroll of the defensive effort against the Bengals on Sunday: “The guys played very physically. They got after it on the running game. … It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to put us in a position to win.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com has his weekly “NFC West Stock Watch,” and Carroll and QB Charlie Whitehurst are included among the “fallers.” Says Sando: “Carroll’s patience with Whitehurst finally ran out against the Bengals. Whitehurst is likely finished in Seattle unless an injury forces him into the lineup and he suddenly performs at a high level for an extended stretch. The team needed to find out about Whitehurst this season. Carroll made it clear he’s seen enough when he benched Whitehurst after only seven pass attempts Sunday. Whitehurst took two sacks during his brief time on the field. He appeared unsettled by the rush and unsure what to do.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we have our weekly behind-the-scenes look at game day with Ben Malcolmson’s “From the Sidelines” and Rod Mar’s photo blog. Says Malcolmson: “Behind lack of execution, penalties, a low-powered offense and controversial in-game decisions, the Seahawks fell to 2-5 after Sunday’s setback against the Bengals. Carroll took all the blame for the latest defeat and the team’s second straight loss, but he did not take all the responsibility from here on out. ‘We’re so much better than that,’ Carroll told the players. ‘I’m calling on you to do what you’re capable of. We’ve got what it takes. We’ve got to get right and I need you to do your part.’ ”
We’ve also got a look at defensive end Chris Clemons, who is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season. Fellow end Red Bryant on Clemons: “Clem is underrated. But that’s what he fuels off of. But those of us in this locker room, we hold him in high regard and we know what he brings to the table. He’s non-stop, relentless, mean, tough.”
There’s also the daily report from “Hawkville,” as well as an “up next” look at this week’s opponent – the Dallas Cowboys. And then there’s “A tale of two Jakes.”
Mike Freeman at CBSSports.com examines the two sides of Ryan Leaf, the former NFL and Washington State QB. Says Freeman, and Leaf: “This is Ryan Leaf. No, not that one. Not the horse’s (rear end). Not the selfish one. Not the painkiller addict who needed rehab. Not the guy arrested for burglary. Not the bully. Not the “knock it off” guy. This, this is him. ‘I let myself get caught up in all of the trappings of being an NFL quarterback,’ he said in a phone interview. ‘I became a bad guy. When it was Peyton (Manning) picked first and then me, it was presented as ‘Peyton was the good guy and I was the black sheep,’ and I went with it. What happened to my career and my life was no one else’s fault but mine. When you’re an NFL quarterback, you think the world revolves around you. Everyone tells you how great you are. Some guys handle it well and some guys don’t. I didn’t handle it well.”
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: Saturday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Oct. 29:
The story of the day, of course, is Tarvaris Jackson’s sudden emergence at practice on Friday after doing so little in Thursday’s practice. Charlie Whitehurst continued to get the starter reps as the Seahawks prepared for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals at CenturyLink Field, but Jackson took snaps in every phase of the workout – with the players practicing without pads or helmets. Jackson is listed as questionable and coach Pete Carroll said the decision on who starts will be made after seeing Jackson in pregame warm-ups.
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times: “No one made any definitive statements about whether Jackson would start or if Whitehurst subs for Jackson for the second week in a row, but Jackson is certainly going to be a consideration.”
Eric Williams at the News Tribune: “Jackson said it will be important to see how his body recovers from the throwing session, but that he feels good about his chances of playing Sunday. ‘It will be interesting to see just exactly how I feel after doing that. But I don’t think it will have any affect, or I’ll have a setback after throwing. I think it will be fine, but I guess we’ll see, because it’s kind of a thing where it feels good one day, and the next day it won’t.’ ”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald: “This week’s official NFL injury report indicates Tarvaris Jackson has a 50-50 chance of playing Sunday. His words – as well as his actions – on Friday suggested the Seahawks’ starting quarterback has much better odds of playing against Cincinnati.”
Christian Caple at PI.com: “Pete Carroll remains non-committal as to who the Seahawks’ starting quarterback will be against the Bengals on Sunday. Tarvaris Jackson is, after all, still listed as questionable on the official injury report. But listening to both Carroll and Jackson speak about the way Jackson threw the ball during Friday’s practice, it appears as if Jackson has a better chance to start this week than originally thought.”
Here at Seahawks.com: “Said coach Pete Carroll, ‘It’s encouraging. I think he has a chance to play if he can get through these two days.’ So the big question now: How will the shoulder on his throwing arm feel on Saturday morning after Jackson’s extended stint on Friday afternoon? ‘Tarvaris had his best day in the last couple weeks,’ Carroll said. ‘He’s just started to come out of it and threw the ball well. He’s still questionable, but we’ll take it to the next couple days here and see where we are. But it’s is a very good sign. He felt the best, he had the most work. So we’ll see what happens with that.’ ”
We’ve also got the word on the returns of Marshawn Lynch, Zach Miller, Max Unger and Roy Lewis in “Friday in Hawkville,” as well as Tony Ventrella’s daily video report.
Mike Sando at ESPN.com has his “final word” on the NFC West entering Week 8, including this item on the Seahawks and Bengals: “Something has to give Sunday when the Seahawks flood the field with wide receivers against a Bengals defense that hasn’t had its cornerback depth tested much. Seattle ranks 12th in pass plays featuring three or more wide receivers. The Bengals’ defense leads the league in fewest yards per pass and carry when opponents use these personnel groupings. However, only four teams have faced fewer dropbacks than the Bengals against three-plus wideouts. That helps explain why Morgan Trent (15.5 percent of defensive snaps) and ex-Seahawk Kelly Jennings (7.5) are the Bengals’ only backup corners to play this season. The Bengals have used three safeties, including backup Gibril Wilson, roughly a quarter of the time. Pacman Jones’ expected activation as the Bengals’ third corner adds another dynamic. The Seahawks need to win their matchups when Sidney Rice, Mike Williams, Doug Baldwin, Ben Obomanu and/or Golden Tate are on the field together. They also need better quarterback play, but that’s another conversation.”
Sando also offers his thoughts on what to do with Whitehurst and Jackson. Says Sando: “If Jackson gives the Seahawks their best chance at winning and he’s healthy enough to practice, the team needs to play him, right? Naming Jackson the starter under these circumstances would stand more as a reflection of Jackson’s availability than as a repudiation of Whitehurst.”
Cyber surfing: Friday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Oct. 28:
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times profiles Red Bryant, the Seahawks’ extra-large defensive end who has been so important to their No. 11-ranked run defense and gets his inspiration from his father-in-law – Jacob Green, the franchise’s all-time sack leader. Offers O’Neil: “They wear the same No. 79. They went to the same school, Texas A&M, and Bryant is married to Janelle, one of Green’s three daughters. The similarities only go so far, though, because they followed very different paths to end up at the same position on Seattle’s defensive line.”
Eric Williams at the News Tribune looks Marshawn Lynch, the team’s leading rusher who is expected to return for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals at CenturyLink Field after sitting out last week’s game because of back spasms. Says Williams: “Lynch said he has been dealing with a nagging back issue for a while, but it never got to the point where he had to miss a game. ‘It’s frustrating, but at the same time going out and doing battle the way we do, you’ve got to listen to your body sometimes,’ he said. ‘I took the time and actually listened to it, and it told me it wasn’t what I thought it was. Sometimes things happen like that.’ ”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald says, as it has turned, the Bengals aren’t who the Seahawks thought they were. Writes Boyle: “Back in August and early September, the Bengals were a team many though would contend for the worst record in the league, but instead they’re contenders in the tough AFC North. How have the Bengals gone so quickly from pushovers to a team that is favored on the road this weekend? Well, the biggest reason for their resurgence has been the defense, which ranks second in the league in yards allowed, and fourth in terms of points surrendered.”
Christian Caple of PI.com checks in with Charlie Whitehurst, who could be the Seahawks’ starting QB for the second consecutive game. Says Caple: “Thursday at the VMAC means it’s time for the Seahawks’ starting quarterback to speak with the media. And even though coach Pete Carroll has left open the possibility that Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral) could play this week, it was Charlie Whitehurst who was made available to answer questions from reporters, another indication that he will likely make his second consecutive start in Jackson’s place. If that’s the case, Whitehurst is hoping things go a little better against the Bengals than they did against the Browns last week.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we look at Bryant’s reaction to being moved from tackle to end last year: “When Red Bryant heard that he was being moved to defensive end, he was overcome by one sudden and overpowering sensation. ‘I thought I was getting ready to get cut,’ Bryant said. Instead, Bryant has become a sudden and overpowering cut-above force at the five-technique spot in a Seahawks’ defense that ranks 11th in the league in average rushing yards allowed and tops the NFL in per-carry average allowed entering Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals at CenturyLink Field.”
We’ve also got Thursday’s practice covered in words, pictures and video, as well as Tony Ventrella’s weekly “Seahawks Insider” that features fresh-off-the-practice-field fullback Michael Robinson.
For a look at the rest of the league entering Week 8, there John Clayton’s “First and 10” at ESPN.com; and Peter King’s “Weekend Pickoff” at SI.com, including this assessment of the Seahawks-Bengals game: “Best young safety tandem in football? Seattle’s Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas. They force the run well, are like linebackers when they rush, and are good hitters with very good ball skills down the field. Chancellor’s got a sack and two picks and a forced fumble in his last three games. He idolized the late Sean Taylor and, at 6-foot-3 and (232) pounds, packs the same kind of wallop Taylor did. Chancellor and Thomas will be the key to making Andy Dalton turn it over, if he does, and turning this game Seattle’s way. I say Dalton is affected by them but not ruined, and makes enough plays to move Cincinnati to a surprising 5-2.”
Thursday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Oct. 27:
FOCUS ON
CenturyLink Field. You remember the place. It’s where the Seahawks play their home games.
But it has been awhile. The Seahawks have not played at home since Oct. 2, and that was only their second home game in the first seven weeks of the season. Those two home games were sandwiched between pairs of road games, and the gap in the second set of road games was extended by the Seahawks having their bye week in the middle.
That will change Sunday, when the Seahawks host the Cincinnati Bengals. The coaches and players are ready to make the most of the situation against a Bengals team that is 4-2 and riding a three-game winning streak.
“Well, I feel like I’ve said this every time we’re coming home – that it feels good to be coming home and to be playing here at CenturyLink,” coach Pete Carroll said. “Getting prepared to do that is exciting for our team.
“Again, it just feels like we haven’t been here very much, but it’s good to be getting back.”
That haven’t-been-here feeling is warranted. The Seahawks opened the season by losing back-to-back road games at San Francisco and Pittsburgh. They then came home to grab their first victory, over the Arizona Cardinals; and almost stole a game the following week in a two-point loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Then, it was back on the road, where they upset the Giants in the Meadowlands before their bye and then lost a post-bye three-point to decision to the Browns in Cleveland last week.
It’s not a great secret that this team plays better at home, as do most teams in the league. But the special ingredient at CenturyLink Field is the 12th MAN crowd that turns the place into a noise factory when the opposing offense is on the field.
And this week, that opposing offense will be quarterbacked by a rookie – Andy Dalton, whose previous road games have been at Cleveland (win), Denver (loss) and Jacksonville (win).
“It’s an advantage with the crowd noise. It’s a tough place for opposing offenses to come in,” Seahawks quarterback Charlie Whitehurst said. “It’s always good to be home, but especially in Seattle.”
PLAYER WATCH
Roy Lewis. Not the Roy Lewis who likely will ride to the rescue of an injury-depleted secondary this week by being activated off the physically unable to perform list and sliding in as the nickel back, but the flipside – which has been Lewis’ A-side during his first three NFL seasons: Special teams.
Lewis was the special teams captain last season, and he has been missed during the first six games this season.
“Roy was a real central figure in our surge last year with bringing our special teams to the front because of his playmaking,” Carroll said. “He was a real big factor for us. When we lost him, it was different.”
That was in December, when Lewis got a season-ending knee injury that required surgery and forced him to begin this season on PUP.
As much as the defense needs him, the special teams also will welcome him back.
“To get him to come back is another boost to that group,” Carroll said. “That’s the obvious place, as well as the nickel back spot, that he can help us.”
Asked about being ready to slip back into his leadership role on special teams, Lewis offered his favorite phase, “Without a doubt,” before adding, “That’s always on the menu.”
IN ’N OUT
Center Max Unger (foot) and tight end Zach Miller (neck/head) had their most extensive practice stints today since being injured in the pre-bye win over the Giants. Running back Marshawn Lynch (back spasms) also did more today than on Wednesday, participating in all phases of practice.
Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (strained pectoral) threw some passes in the early individual drills and also handed off during the 9-on-7 run drill, but Whitehurst continued to get the starter reps with the Seahawks offense.
“This week, I’m preparing to start again,” said Whitehurst, who got the start against the Browns last week. “I’m not sure what will happen.”
Also, cornerback Brandon Browner returned to practice after being excused on Wednesday.
Here’s the official injury report:
Did not practice
S Atari Bigby (hamstring)
S Jeron Johnson (ankle)
Limited participation
QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral)
Full participation
S Kam Chancellor (knee)
RB Marshawn Lynch (back)
TE Zach Miller (neck/head)
C Max Unger (foot)
Johnson tweaked his ankle early in practice on Wednesday, while Bigby’s hamstring started bothering him before practice today.
For the Browns
Did not practice
LB Rey Maualuga (ankle)
Limited participation
CB Nate Clements (knee)
LB Dan Skuta (groin)
LB Thomas Howard (hamstring)
Full participation
CB Kelly Jennings (hamstring)
CB Adam Jones (PUP, neck)
THURMOND SURGERY
Second-year cornerback Walter Thurmond had surgery today on the left ankle that was fractured in Sunday’s loss to the Browns. He is looking at a four-to-six month rehab.
The procedure was performed by team doctors Ed Khalfayan and Mike McAdams at Seattle Surgery Center.
STAT DU JOUR
Middle linebacker David Hawthorne had his second game this season with double-digit tackles against the Browns to take over the team lead with 40. Hawthorne has led the club in tackles the past two seasons, and is looking to become the sixth player in franchise history to make it a three-peat. Here’s a look at Hawthorne’s games with double-digit tackles during his run:
2011
Opponent Total Solo Asst.
Browns 11 7 4
Falcons 10 3 7
2010
Giants 12 9 3
Saints 12 10 2
Chiefs 13 8 5
Panthers 14 11 3
2009
Bears 16 15 1
Cardinals 11 10 1
Vikings 15 11 4
Texans 10 6 4
Buccaneers 10 6 4
UP NEXT
The players will hold their final full practice before Sunday’s game on Friday, and then have a walk-thru on Saturday morning.
Due to the closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the club is encouraging fans to arrive early for the game, and WSDOT is suggesting that fans use public transportation options to avoid congestion in the area around the stadium and the viaduct.
Tickets for Sunday’s game are available and can be purchased here.
YOU DON’T SAY
“It’s like having a computer on a jugs machine. It’s like, read the defense, bam, ball; read the defense, push the ball there; read, the defense, put the ball there; read the defense, run it here. It’s hard to stop that.” – rookie cornerback Richard Sherman, who played at Stanford, when asked about Cardinal QB Andrew Luck
Cyber surfing: Wednesday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today. Oct. 26:
Mike Sando of ESPN.com has his weekly “risers and fallers” in the NFC West, and middle linebacker David Hawthorne checks in at No. 1 among the “risers.” Says Sando: “Eleven tackles, one sack and one interception constituted a rebirth for Hawthorne, who seemed to play more freely than at any point this season. I was tempted to list teammate Red Bryant in this spot after Bryant blocked two field goal attempts and provided strong run defense, but Bryant was already regarded as one of the most important players on the team. His stock was already high, in other words. Also, the penalty against Bryant for head-butting Browns tight end Alex Smith killed whatever fleeting hopes the Seahawks had for a last-minute comeback victory.”
Sando also has five observations from the Browns game, including: “Seattle’s wide receivers had not dropped a single pass heading into this game, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Ben Obomanu and Doug Baldwin dropped passes Sunday. Throw in (tight end Anthony) McCoy’s two drops and Seattle suffered four in this game, one more than in the previous five games combined. Whitehurst targeted wide receivers 15 times, completing only four through a combination of errant throws and drops. Seattle had been much better in the passing game recently and I suspect they will be much better in the future. This was an unusually horrible game on that front.”
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times looks at the Seahawks offense against the Browns, or the lack of it. Offers O’Neil: “The Seahawks were starting over, so to speak, going back to the beginning of this season when it was hard to know what — if anything — this offense could rely upon. The Seahawks scored a total of 37 points in the first 14 quarters and were considered among the worst offenses in the NFL. The no-huddle offense had been Seattle’s salve for the previous game and a half. Seattle scored 57 points in the previous six quarters entering Sunday’s game while using a no-huddle, hurry-up offense almost exclusively. All the progress and promise of the past game and a half disappeared on Sunday afternoon in Cleveland when the Seahawks managed 137 yards of total offense, its second-lowest total in a game in the past 10 years.”
Eric Williams at the News Tribune also examines the Seahawks never finding their offensive rhythm against the Browns. Says Williams: “The Seahawks have to put this one behind them and quickly figure out how to establish some offensive rhythm with Cincinnati coming to town Sunday. The Bengals are a surprising 4-2 and have the No. 2-ranked defense in the league.”
Dave Wyman, writing on the mynorthwest.com blog at 710 ESPN, says not to overreact to Charlie Whitehurst’s performance against the Browns. Offers the former Seahawks linebacker: “Whitehurst certainly did not play well – I think we can all agree on that. But now some are asking for third-string quarterback Josh Portis. That’s Josh Portis, undrafted rookie free agent from Division II California University in Pennsylvania. I always say that the most popular player on any NFL team is the backup quarterback. But it’s a never ending cycle when you jump on that bandwagon. Makes me wonder how many quarterbacks there would have to be on the team before people stopped asking to ‘get the next guy in there.’ “
Here at Seahawks.com, we got the weekly behind-the-scenes look at Sunday’s game with Ben Malcolmson’s “From the Sidelines” and Rod Mar’s photo blog.
We also examine the disparity in the Seahawks’ past two performances; take look at this week’s opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals; and recap the day in Tuesday in Hawkville. If that’s not enough, there’s also Shelly Son’s touching story about Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Tony Ventrella’s video report from Marcus Trufant’s Bowling and Billiards Classic.
Mike Pereira at FoxSports.com takes a look at the controversial block-in-the-back call that cost the Seahawks what would have been Leon Washington’s 81-yard punt return for game-winning touchdown against the Browns. He has a bigger problem with Fox analyst, and former Seahawks coach, Jim Mora calling it a “phantom call” than the call itself. Says Pereira: “The other thing that makes it difficult is the fact you’re officiating on ground level and often looking through bodies. It’s so much easier when we see the game from television cameras at a higher vantage point. On this play, you could see contact between Cleveland’s James Dockery and Cox, but Dockery was falling down, which made it appear like it was a block in the back. Maybe I’ll buy my buddy Mora a dictionary so he can look up the word ‘phantom.’ Like I said, this wasn’t a ‘phantom call.’ “
Photoblog: Mistakes by the Lake
The Seahawks came off their bye week looking for a second straight road win, this time visiting the Cleveland Browns.
Seahawks players relax in the lobby of the team hotel in-between meetings on Saturday in Cleveland.
The team took charter buses to Case Western Reserve University for their Saturday walk-thru on a field located between picturesque campus dormitories.
On Sunday, defensive lineman Alan Branch was on the field hours before kickoff, playing a little air guitar before taking on the Browns in the city that houses the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
Deon Butler signed autographs for members of the 12th MAN who attended the road game.
Starting running back Marshawn Lynch took the field for pregame warmups before back issues prevented him from playing.
Red Bryant, the heart and soul of the Seahawks defense, fired up his teammates on the field during pregame.
Newly signed free-agent Heath Farwell heads out of the tunnel with the team during pregame introductions.
Seattle quarterback Charlie Whitehurst had a tough day and was sacked three times including this nine-yard loss in the game's opening drive.
Whitehurst was hit from behind and lost the ball on a fumble on this second quarter play.
Seattle's defense pressured Cleveland's offense all afternoon, and Red Bryant put a hard knock on Colt McCoy during the first half.
Colt McCoy is sacked by Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor, who was flagged for a personal foul on the play.
Head referee Mike Carey announces the penalty against Chancellor as Seattle's Chris Clemons seeks an explanation.
Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman upends Cleveland tight end Evan Moore.
Kam Chancellor and Leroy Hill celebrate a stop on third down during the second quarter.
Seattle's Chris Clemons continued his fine play with two quarterback sacks of Cleveland's Colt McCoy.
Seahawks medical staff attends to cornerback Walter Thurmond, who suffered a season-ending leg injury.
The Seahawks defense stood stout and David Hawthorne intercepted a McCoy pass deep in Seattle territory.
Leon Washington broke free on a punt return for an apparent touchdown that would have given the Seahawks the lead, but officals flagged Kennard Cox for an illegal block on the play.
Sidney Rice looks for the end zone on Seattle's lone excursion into Cleveland's red zone. The Seahawks were forced to settle for a field goal.
Red Bryant (79) blocked two field goals on the afternoon, including this key block in the fourth quarter.
Red Bryant celebrates with teammates Raheem Brock, David Vobora, and Sidney Rice after blocking the field goal.
Wide receiver Mike Williams fights but can't reach a ball thrown to him in double coverage on Seattle's final drive.
Offensive tackle Russell Okung leaves the sideline at the end of the 6-3 loss.
Head coach Pete Carroll walked through the locker room and spoke to each player after the game.
Cyber surfing: Tuesday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Oct. 25:
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times looks at the possibility that Charlie Whitehurst could get another start in this week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals at CenturyLink Field. Offers O’Neil: “Backup quarterbacks are like communism. They tend to work better in theory, while real-world applications can be a little more problematic. … ‘It was a hard go,’ coach Pete Carroll said (of Whitehurst’s effort against the Browns). ‘I think that’s the toughest time Charlie has had in the games that he’s played in. I know he didn’t feel real good about it.’ Hard to think of anyone outside of Cleveland who felt good about it. But Whitehurst is still the backup, and he may be needed again this week since Carroll could offer no guarantee Jackson will be ready for Sunday’s game.”
O’Neil also offers “three things we learned” from the loss to the Browns, including: “The growing pains aren’t over: So you thought the Seahawks turned a corner, huh? You believed the last game and a half constituted the Great Leap Forward as the Seahawks scored a total of 57 points. Well, that wasn’t a step backward in Cleveland or a stumble, but a full blown face plant. Seattle gained 137 yards, the second fewest of any game going back to the start of the 2001 season. Ouch. The offensive line that had shown so much improvement gave up another three sacks in the first half, and rookie James Carpenter was penalized twice for false starts. For all the promise Seattle showed in the second half against Atlanta and its victory at New York, Sunday’s game showed Seattle still has a long way to go.”
There’s also “three things we already knew,” including: “Red Bryant is the most important single comment of this defense. He is the strongest player on Seattle’s defense and the biggest reason the Seahawks have been so rugged against the run. The fact that he was able to block not one field-goal attempt, but two, is further testament to his size and significance. Seattle suffered injuries across its defensive line last season, but it was the loss of Bryant in the first half of Game 7 that took the biggest toll. A free agent at the end of the season, his importance to this defense is no longer a question.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com offers “silver linings” from the Seahawks’ loss to the Browns on Sunday, including: “Seattle’s defense held the Browns to six points and 298 yards even though its offense held the ball for only 17 minutes.”
Dave Boling at the News Tribune also weighs in on the quarterback situation. Says Boling: “True enough. Injuries kept running back Marshawn Lynch, tight end Zach Miller and center Max Unger from playing. Add those guys to the offense and the Seahawks might have been able to crack double figures in scoring. But their absence did not alter the validity of critical assessments of Whitehurst’s efforts on plays when he did have time to throw, and when receivers did manage to shake free.”
John Boyle of the Everett Herald runs through the Seahawks’ lengthy injury list, including cornerback Walter Thurmond needing surgery on the ankle he broke in Sunday’s game. Says Boyle: “And while Thurmond’s injury is the most serious, it is hardly the only one that affected the Seahawks in Sunday’s loss. Seattle went to Cleveland knowing it would be without quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral), tight end Zach Miller (concussion) and center Max Unger (foot), then lost Marshawn Lynch just before the game when he had a flare up of back spasms during pregame warm ups.”
Also at the Herald, Scott Johnson continues his “The Game of My Life” series with a look at Eugene Robinson. Says Robinson: “The game I remember the best isn’t a game we won or a game of much significance for the team, but it was the game when I made my biggest hit when I really needed to. Before the season, Coach Chuck Knox wanted to go in a different direction, so he traded for a safety named Johnnie Johnson, who he knew from the Rams. He wanted him to play free safety. Incidentally, I had to do a lot of praying for Coach and a lot of praying for myself so I wouldn’t have a bitter attitude. But I was pretty hot. My wife kept reminding me to pray, to pray for Coach Knox. I was angry, and I took it personally, so there was a lot of prayer that year. In the end, I took my frustration out on Keith Jackson.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we look at the haunting elements of Sunday’s loss in our “Monday Metatarsal Musings,” offering: “The list of plays the Seahawks didn’t make, and allowed the Browns to make, could be turned into a miniseries. Those plays were the difference between being 3-3 and riding the emotional wave that would have come with winning three of their past four games, and being 2-4 and wondering how to right everything that went wrong on Sunday.”
There’s also Tony Ventrella’s video recap of the game, as well as coverage of Monday’s events in words and video.
