Tuesday in Hawkville
A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Dec. 27:
FOCUS ON
Zach Miller. The Seahawks’ tight end went to the Pro Bowl last season while playing for the Oakland Raiders, in large part because he caught 60 passes and had 66 receptions the previous season.
Not this season, when the injury problems on the Seahawks’ line have called for Miller to use his skills as a blocker more than those as a receiver. Miller has 25 receptions heading into Sunday’s season finale against the Cardinals in Arizona, which ranks sixth on the team.
But don’t call his first season in Seattle a disappointment. Not in front of coach Pete Carroll.
“He’s had a real solid year for us,” Carroll said when asked about Miller not being as involving in the pass-catching aspect of the passing game. “He’s played really well. He’s consistently been there for us. He’s tough. He’s disciplined. You can count on him.
“We haven’t gotten the ball to him as many times, but I think just as we grow together – everything happened so darn fast at the beginning of this thing. The fact that he’s not caught 60 balls like he has in other years, that’s a different team, a different time and all that.”
With this team, at this time, Miller the pass-blocker has been needed more than Miller the pass-catcher. But that can change as the Seahawks move forward.
“I just think we’ll grow together,” Carroll said. “I’m not worried about it at all, and Zach is a heckuva player and he’s a big part of our team. He’s such a good dude, he doesn’t care. He’d like to help more, but he’s doing everything that we ask of him. He’s a real winner, so I’m not worried about that.”
THOMAS TO THE PRO BOWL
Free safety Earl Thomas is the starter on the NFC Pro Bowl team, which was announced today. He becomes the first Seahawk to be voted to the NFL all-star game since 2008.
The Seahawks also had five players get alternate status: cornerback Brandon Browner, strong safety Kam Chancellor and fullback Michael Robinson, who are first alternates; running back Marshawn Lynch, who is a second alternate; and punter Jon Ryan, who is a third alternate.
For more on the Pro Bowl selections, click here.
STAT DU JOUR
Chuck Knox and Mike Holmgren always said that with team success come individual honors, and the winningest coaches in franchise history were definitely right when it came to the Pro Bowl. The Seahawks’ two largest contingents to the NFL’s all-star game came in the seasons when they won 13, under Holmgren in 2005; and 12 games, under Knox in 1984. Here’s a look at the seasons the most Seahawks were voted to the Pro Bowl:
2005 (13-3 record, seven players): RB Shaun Alexander, QB Matt Hasselbeck, LG Steve Hutchinson, LT Walter Jones, FB Mack Strong, MLB Lofa Tatupu, C Robbie Tobeck.
1984 (12-4 record, seven players): CB Dave Brown, SS Kenny Easley, K Norm Johnson, QB Dave Krieg, WR Steve Largent, DT Joe Nash, ST Fredd Young.
2007 (10-6 record, six players): QB Matt Hasselbeck, LT Walter Jones, DE Patrick Kerney, LB Julian Peterson, MLB Lofa Tatupu, CB Marcus Trufant.
1986 (10-6 record, five players): KR Bobby Joe Edmonds, DE Jacob Green, WR Steve Largent, RB Curt Warner, LB Fredd Young.
1987 (9-6, five players): SS Kenny Easley, DE Jacob Green, WR Steve Largent, RB Curt Warner, LB Fredd Young.
UP NEXT
The players return from their “off” day to begin preparing for Sunday’s season finale against the Cardinals in Arizona with a walk-through, meetings and practice on Wednesday.
YOU DON’T SAY
“To know that Earl is a starter and that Brandon and Kam are both first alternates, that’s pretty darn good.” – Carroll on the Pro Bowl announcement
On this date
A look at the memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Dec. 22:
1984: Dan Doornik carries the ball 29 times for 126 yards as the Seahawks rush for 205 yards in handing the defending Super Bowl champion Raiders a 13-7 loss in a wild-card playoff game at the Kingdome. Dave Krieg, who completes only four of 10 passes, throws 26 yards to Darryl Turner for the Seahawks’ only touchdown. The defense shuts out the Raiders until midway through the fourth quarter as it sacks Jim Plunkett six times, including 2½ by Jacob Green, and intercepts him twice.
1991: The Seahawks win their final game under coach Chuck Knox 29-9 over the Rams in the season finale at the Kingdome as James Jones runs for two touchdowns. Knox would return to the Rams as their coach in 1992.
1996: Michael McCrary registers four sacks, Lamar Smith runs for two touchdowns and Joey Galloway catches a 32-yard TD pass from Gino Torretta as the Seahawks rally for a 28-21 victory over the Raiders in Oakland. The sack barrage in the season finale allows McCray to finish with an AFC-leading 13½.
2002: Shaun Alexander runs for two touchdowns, Matt Hasselbeck passes for 303 yards, Rian Lindell kicks three field goals, Reggie Tongue intercepts two passes and Anthony Simmons has 11 tackles and an interception in a 30-10 victory over the Rams in Seattle.
On this date
A look at the memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Nov. 20:
1977: The Seahawks are held to 129 total yards, including a 2-of-15, 19-yard passing effort by Jim Zorn, in a 22-10 loss to the Oilers at the Kingdome.
1983: Dave Krieg passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns and Paul Johns catches nine passes for 116 yards, but it’s not enough in a 38-27 loss to the Broncos in Denver. The Seahawks then won three of their last four games to advance to the playoffs for the first time in Chuck Knox’s first season as coach.
1994: Mack Strong scores on a 7-yard run with 42 seconds remaining in a 22-21 victory over the Buccaneers at the Kingdome. Chris Warren also runs for 116 yards.
2005: The 49ers score the final 13 points, but the Seahawks hang on for a 27-25 victory in San Francisco – win No. 6 in what will become a franchise-record 11-game winning streak. Shaun Alexander runs for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
On this date
A look at the memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Nov. 11:
1979: Sherman Smith runs for three touchdowns, including one in the fourth quarter, as the Seahawks pull out a 29-24 victory over the Browns in Cleveland.
1990: Dave Krieg throws a 25-yard touchdown pass to Paul Skansi as time expires, after whirling from what appears to be an eighth sack by Derrick Thomas, as the Seahawks beat the Chiefs 17-16 in Kansas City. It is the Seahawks’ first win at Arrowhead Stadium since 1980; as well as the 159th of coach Chuck Knox’s career, moving him into seventh place on the NFL’s all-time list.
2001: Shaun Alexander runs for a franchise-record 266 yards and three touchdowns, including an 88-yarder, in a 34-27 victory over the Raiders at Husky Stadium.
On this date
A look at the memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Nov. 6:
1983: Dave Krieg throws touchdown passes to Steve Largent and Paul Johns and Curt Warner runs for 134 yards in a 27-19 victory over the AFC West rival Denver Broncos at the Kingdome, a key victory in a 9-7 season that saw the Seahawks advance to the playoffs for the first time in their first season under coach Chuck Knox.
1994: The Cincinnati Bengals spoil the Seahawks’ return to the Kingdome as Doug Pelfrey kicks six field goals, including a 26-yarder 8:14 into the overtime, in a 20-17 victory. The Seahawks played their previous three home games at Husky Stadium after ceiling tiles fell at the Kingdome.
2005: Shaun Alexander rushes for 173 yards and two touchdowns, including an 88-yarder to tie his franchise record, in a 33-19 victory over the Cardinals in Arizona that is win No. 4 in what will become a club-record 11-game winning streak.
2006: The Seahawks register nine sacks, including three by defensive tackle Craig Terrill, in a 16-0 victory over the visiting Oakland Raiders on “Monday Night Football.”
On this date
A look at the memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Sept. 11:
1971: Mack Strong, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and the fullback on the Seahawks’ 35th Anniversary team, was born in Columbus, Ga.
1983 – The Seahawks win their first game under coach Chuck Knox, 17-10 over the New York Jets, as Curt Warner rushes for 128 yards on 24 carries and the team sets a club record with 57 rushing attempts. And you wonder why they called Knox’s offense Ground Chuck.
1994 – Rick Mirer passes for three touchdowns and Chris Warren scored two touchdowns (one receiving and one rushing) as the Seahawks beat the Raiders 38-9 in Los Angeles.
For the record
More than a quarter of the Seahawks’ 35 seasons have produced a 9-7 record.
Increase that to include 8-8 and 7-9 records – the center and other edge of parity – and the percentage increases to more than .500. That’s right, the Seahawks have finished 9-7 nine times, 7-9 five times and 8-8 four times.
The only other record to crack the more-than-four mold is 6-10; a mark the team has finished with five times.
The Seahawks have had winning records 14 times, including 13-3 in 2005 and 12-4 in 1984. They have had losing records 17 times, including 2-14 in 1992 and 2-12 in 1977.
The longest gap between winning seasons? Eight, as the Seahawks were 9-7 in 1990 and didn’t post another 9-7 record until 1999. The 1990 season is the latest in our series of articles recapping the first 35 years in franchise history.
The longest streak of winning records? Five, as they went 10-6, 9-7, 13-3, 9-7 and 10-6 from 2003-07.
The coach with the most winning records? Mike Holmgren. He was in charge during the 2003-07 run and also had 9-7 records in 1999 and 2001, giving him seven in 10 seasons. Chuck Knox had six winning records in nine seasons.
Here’s a look at the team’s record in each of the first 35 seasons:
1976: 2-12
1977: 5-9
1978: 9-7
1979: 9-7
1980: 4-12
1981: 6-10
1982: 4-5
1983: 9-7
1984: 12-4
1985: 8-8
1986: 10-6
1987: 9-6
1988: 9-7
1989: 7-9
1990: 9-7
1991: 7-9
1992: 2-14
1993: 6-10
1994: 6-10
1995: 8-8
1996: 7-9
1997: 8-8
1998: 8-8
1999: 9-7
2000: 6-10
2001: 9-7
2002: 7-9
2003: 10-6
2004: 9-7
2005: 13-3
2006: 9-7
2007: 10-6
2008: 4-12
2009: 5-11
2010: 7-9
Cyber surfing: Thursday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, June 30:
Mike Sando at ESPN.com continues his best-of look at the NFC West with some coaching honors. He tabs the Seahawks’ Pete Carroll as “Best Ambassador,” because of the coaching-philosophy clinics he held recently. Says Sando: “The Seahawks’ second-year head coach has led five coaching philosophy clinics over the past three months, meeting with coaches from various levels in Los Angeles, Seattle and at two universities, TCU and Stanford. ‘If we don’t change you one bit, that’s OK,’ Carroll told attendees in the first of two sessions in Los Angeles, ‘but if we make you think, if we challenge you to look at what you are doing and what your world is all about in your coaching, and if you decide to accept what we’re all about, that’s cool, too.’ Carroll speaks from experience, having questioned and ultimately reinvented his approach after the New England Patriots fired him in 2000. Carroll doesn’t need whatever benefits flow his way from these clinics. His passion and eagerness to share is admirable.”
Also from Sando, a look at what he expected to be a competitive division race in the NFC West. Says Sando: “I’m looking forward to a division race that should remain competitive deep into the season. Only the AFC North plays as many division games as the NFC West after Week 8. The AFC West features only three division matchups after Week 12, half as many as in the NFC West, AFC North and NFC South.”
Free-agent-to-be safety Lawyer Milloy returned to his Tacoma roots to host a football clinic for kids, and Eric Williams of the New Tribune was there to file this report. Also on hand were running back Marshawn Lynch and wide receiver Deon Butler. Milloy on his hands-on approach to the clinic: “I don’t want to be a guy that sits on the sidelines. That’s not what I’m about. These parents want their kids to get something, and they want them to get it from me. That’s why my name’s on it. And so I think it’s important for me to get out there and have fun with the kids. And it comes natural when you’re having fun.”
For the give-us-this-day-our-daily-labor-update item, the Associated Press is reporting that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith are back in Minnesota to continue their talks aimed at reaching a new CBA after spending Wednesday morning in Florida to address the incoming rookie class. According to the report: “This week, the two sides are working on some tedious components of a possible deal, including a rookie wage system.”
At NFL.com, Albert Breer says Goodell and Smith will be rejoined by representatives from the owners and players on Thursday. Offers Breer: “Legal teams for the NFL and players have met for three days at a Minneapolis-area law firm under the auspices of U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, marking the first time that owners and players haven’t been involved in the clandestine talks that started May 31.But owners and players will return to the proceedings Thursday.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we continue our series of articles on the franchise’s first 35 seasons with a look at 1991 – the last of Chuck Knox’s nine seasons as coach.
The 100 Club
A coach winning 100 games in any sport, at any level, is a big deal. But doing it in the NFL definitely pumps some extra-special into the accomplishment.
Three of the eight coaches in the franchise’s first 35 seasons have done it while with the Seahawks: Chuck Knox, Tom Flores and Mike Holmgren.
Knox arrived in 1983 with 91 regular-season victories from his stints with the Los Angeles Rams (54 from 1973-77) and Buffalo Bills (37 from 1978-82). He hit No. 100 when the Seahawks knocked off the New England Patriots at the Kingdome in the regular-season finale of his first season. The win put the Seahawks into the playoffs for the first time, and Knox in some impressive company.
Holmgren arrived in 1999 with 75 regular-season victories from his nine-season stay with the Green Bay Packers. He made it to No. 100 when the Seahawks knocked off the Minnesota Vikings at then-Seahawks Stadium in Week 4 of the 2002 season – after dropping their first three games.
Flores never made it to 100 regular-season victories. When he took over the Seahawks in 1992, he had 83 from his time with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. With 14 wins in three seasons with the Seahawks, Flores left the coaching ranks after the 1994 season with 97 regular-season wins.
But add in his playoff victories and Flores hit No. 100 in the 1994 opener – a 28-7 win over the Redskins in Washington. The Seahawks were 2-14 in Flores’ first season and 6-10 in the second.
That prompted this response when he finally hit 100: “After last year and the year before, I didn’t think it was going to happen in my lifetime.”
A look at 1994 is the latest in our series of articles reviewing the Seahawks’ first 35 seasons.
Three-and-out
In nine seasons as coach of the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, Tom Flores won a pair of Super Bowls and had six winning records. In three seasons with the Seahawks, he never even broke even.
From 1992-94, when Flores was the third full-season coach in franchise history, the Seahawks went 2-14 and 6-10 twice. We’ve examined 1992 and 1993 in our ongoing series of stories featuring the franchise’s first 35 seasons.
But then compiling winning records with the Seahawks has been a three-plus coach accomplishment.
Mike Holmgren (seven), Chuck Knox (six), Jack Patera (two) and Mike McCormack (interim coach for seven games in 1982) have posted winning records with the Seahawks.
Here’s a look at the franchise’s coaches – with seasons; seasons with a winning record; best record:
Jack Patera (1976-82): six-plus seasons; two winning seasons; 9-7 in 1978 and 1979
Mike McCormack (1982): seven games; one winning season; 4-3 after replacing Patera
Chuck Knox (1983-91): nine seasons; six winning seasons; 12-4 in 1984
Tom Flores (1992-94): three seasons; no winning seasons; 6-10 in 1993 and 1994
Dennis Erickson (1995-98): four seasons; no winning seasons; 8-8 in 1995, 1997, 1998
Mike Holmgren (1999-2008): 10 seasons; seven winning seasons; 13-3 in 2005
Jim Mora (2009): one season; no winning seasons; 5-11 in 2009
Pete Carroll (2010-present): one season; no winning seasons; 7-9 in 2010
