Photoblog: Ten Memorable Action Images From the 2011 Season
Here’s a look back at ten of the most memorable meaningful action photos of the season.
Marshawn Lynch Flips into the End Zone (Seahawks vs. Atlanta, October 2, 2011).
Marshawn Lynch decided to "flip" himself into the end zone at the end of an 11-yard touchdown run against the Atlanta Falcons at CenturyLink Field.
Seahawks defense forces Eli Manning to fumble (Seahawks at NY Giants, October 9, 2011)
Seattle's visit to New York resulted in one of their best victories of the season which featured Chris Clemons forcing Giants quarterback Eli Manning to fumble.
Doug Baldwin’s Crowd Silencing Touchdown (Seahawks at NY Giants, October 9, 2011)
Undrafted rookie Doug Baldwin played fearlessly against New York, and his 27-yard touchdown reception from Charlie Whitehurst with 2:37 left in the game silenced the pro-Giants crowd at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Brandon Browner’s Pick-Six Seals the Win (Seahawks at NY Giants, October 9, 2011)
With the Seahawks trying to protect a fragile lead late in the game at the New York Giants, the defensive backfield came up big in the final minutes. An Eli Manning pass intended for Victor Cruz was tipped by Kam Chancellor and intercepted by Brandon Browner, who raced 94-yards for a game-sealing touchdown.
Chris Clemons Smiling and Sacking (Seahawks at Chicago, December 18, 2012)
Chris Clemons smiles as he sacks Chicago quarterback Caleb Haney during Seattle's victory at Chicago. Clemons equaled his 2010 output with 11 sacks again in 2011.
Big Red Heads to the House (Seahawks at Chicago, December 18, 2011)
Big Red Bryant does his best high step as he returns an interception to the end zone for a touchdown in the Seahawks 38-14 victory at Soldier Field.
“Feetball” (Seahawks vs. San Francisco, December 24, 2011)
Seattle's Marshawn Lynch reaches the ball into the end zone amid a sea of feet for a touchdown during the divisional battle with the San Francisco 49ers on Christmas Eve at CenturyLink Field.
Heath Farwell’s Blocked Punt (Seahawks vs. San Francisco, December 24, 2011).
Heath Farwell joined the Seahawks during the 2011 season and made a huge impact on special teams. His blocked punt against San Francisco set up a touchdown by Marshawn Lynch, the first rushing touchdown the 49ers had given up all season.
D-Backs Double-Team (Seahawks at Arizona, January 1, 2012)
Cornerback Brandon Browner and safety Earl Thomas both earned Pro Bowl honors for the 2011 season, and plays like this double-team against Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald in Week 17 were part of the reason why.
Rocket Launches (Seahawks at Arizona, January 1, 2012)
Rookie Ricardo Lockette earned his way into the active roster in Week 16 and wasted no time making his mark. This juggling catch on a deep route resulted in a 61-yard touchdown against the Cardinals. His season totals? Two catches for 105 yards (52.5 ypc) and a touchdown. Expect big things from Lockette in 2012.
Tuesday cyber surfing: NFC West rivalries; Post-Draft Grades
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Jan. 17, and was “out there” while we combined a few vacation days with the long weekend:
Dave Boling at the News Tribune looks at the budding rivalries in the NFC West, as the 49ers have advanced to the NFC Championship Game: “Before the Seahawks were shifted from the AFC West to the NFC West in 2002, rivalries with Denver and the Oakland Raiders were historic – but had fallen from currency because Seattle had so rarely contended. The NFC West looked even less welcoming at the time, with St. Louis coming off two Super Bowl appearances in the previous three seasons, while San Francisco had a 12-4 record in 2001. But in the subsequent 10 seasons, the Seahawks dominated with five division titles and five seasons above .500. Remarkably, the other three divisional teams combined for just five plus-.500 seasons in that span. No wonder it’s taken time for rivalries to ripen. There was more guilt by association than bragging rights involved.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com looks at how the 49ers’ defense has put a hurt on opposing running backs this season, and the accompanying chart shows just how impressive Marshawn Lynch’s 107-yard, one-TD effort against San Francisco in Week 16 really was: “(The Saints’ Pierre) Thomas became the seventh starting running back to leave a game against the 49ers after suffering an injury.”
Mel Kiper at ESPN.com has revisited his post-draft grades, and the Seahawks improved from a D-plus to a B-minus. There’s no link because it’s an “Insider” feature, but here’s what he had to say about the Seahawks: “In the grades file, I wrote: “By passing on Andy Dalton, the clear impression is that Seattle has other plans at quarterback. … I hope the Seahawks have better plans at quarterback than they did in terms of adding value here.” Look, Tarvaris Jackson could be the answer, but I don’t think anybody is ready to say he or she is 100 percent sold on that idea after a 7-9 season. And while James Carpenter became the starter on the right side, I just wasn’t in love with the value. He got injured after Week 9. John Moffitt also started but also was injured. So early on, I still see questions. However, the draft actually gains momentum from there. The emergence of No. 99 overall pick K.J. Wright was big, and allowed the Seahawks to move Aaron Curry to Oakland and recoup at least an ounce of value. In a loaded fifth round, Richard Sherman has emerged as a total steal and, along with former CFL star Brandon Browner and a pair of fantastic safeties, has made the Seattle secondary one of the best in the NFL in a really short period. It gets pretty quiet after that, mostly because I’m not allowed to factor in fabulous UFA signing Doug Baldwin. Regardless, a D-plus draft in terms of value got a lot better, although if Carpenter and Moffitt don’t become a solid right side, the Hawks have nothing to show for the early rounds. And the quarterback question is perhaps even bigger now, because there’s enough talent elsewhere to compete.”
At Seahawks.com, we concluded our three-part series with the coordinators by taking looks at the special teams with Brian Schneider and the defense with Gus Bradley.
On the special teams: “The board does not lie. Just outside the main entrance to the Seahawks’ locker room hangs Brian Schneider’s impossible-to-miss performance board for his special teams units. Each week, the special teams coordinator grades his group in 12 categories, with a Seahawks logo being placed in the box if the goal has been achieved. For the just-completed 2011 season, the logos run from a high of 11 (three times) to a low of three. Is there a better indication of just how inconsistent Schneider’s units were? When they were good, as against the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants and St. Louis Rams with those 11-logo performances, they were very good. But when they weren’t so good, as in the three-logo outing in the season opener against the 49ers in San Francisco and a four-logo game against the Cincinnati Bengals, well, the special teams’ efforts were not special enough to help the Seahawks win. ‘We really started off shaky,’ Schneider said. ‘We were young and then we had a bunch of injuries in those first couple games, so it just took us three or four games to find our rhythm. But we kept doing what we believe in and we kept talking about playing with 100 percent effort. So I was pleased with how we just kept fighting throughout the season.”
On the defense: “Where to begin with just how good the Seahawks defense was during the 2011 season? Where all the roads to improvement converged: At the unit’s No. 9 ranking in average yards allowed. The Seahawks last ranked among the Top 10 in the NFL in 1997, and had done it only five other times in franchise history (1984, 1990-92 and ’97). And, they did it with first-year starters at strong safety (Kam Chancellor), cornerback (Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman), strongside linebacker (K.J. Wright) and defensive tackle (Alan Branch); and second-year starters at free safety (Earl Thomas) and the ends (Chris Clemons and Red Bryant). That in itself is reason enough to believe the defense will only be better in 2012. ‘There are so many positive things to look toward when you think of how young this team was and how much natural jump occurred between Year One and Year Two for the first-year guys,’ coach Pete Carroll said.
There’s also a video report on Marcus Trufant’s visit to present an area elementary school with a check for $7,000.
2011 honor roll
Seahawks.com passes out its honors for the just-completed season:
MVP: Marshawn Lynch. Beast Mode. Skittles-back. Free spirit. Call him what you will, but the hard-running Lynch proved his value week after week, game after game, down after down – especially in the second half of the season after the coaches decided that running the ball was the offensive indentity. Lynch finished with career-highs in rushing yards (1,204) and touchdowns (13), and 941 of those yards and 10 of those scores came in the final nine games – when his totals were league-highs over that span. And with Lynch, it wasn’t so much what he did, but how he did it. The entire team followed his refuse-to-go-down lead.
Best offensive player: Doug Baldwin. All the rookie free agent did was lead the team in receptions (51), receiving yards (788) and touchdown catches (four). Not bad for a guy who was passed over by all 32 teams in the NFL Draft. In fact, coach Pete Carroll tabbed Baldwin as the player who most surprised him this season, offering, “I think that’s the biggest surprise – that he could take it that far.”
Best defensive player: Earl Thomas. This is a tough choice, despite Thomas’ selection as the starting free safety on the NFC Pro Bowl squad, because of the efforts of strong safety Kam Chancellor, who finished second on the team in tackles (94) and tied for second in interceptions (four); end Chris Clemons, who tied his career-high with 11 sacks; and end Red Bryant, who returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown. But each of those players point to Thomas’ contributions in allowing the defense to rank No. 9 in the league, and the other players and coaches in the conference were impressed enough that they made Thomas the Seahawks’ first Pro Bowl selection since 2008.
Best special teams player: Jon Ryan. The Seahawks’ Canadian-born punter broke his own team records for average (46.6) and net average (39.3) and tied the mark for punts inside the 20 with a league-high 34. Oh, and his 77-yarder in the season-opener against the 49ers? Another club record, this time bettering a 16-year-old record that was held by Rick Tuten (73 yards).
Best offseason addition: Tom Cable. This just in: The former Raiders head coach can coach. Cable was hired on Jan. 18 with the title of assistant head coach/offensive line coach. But the running game was his baby, and boy did it deliver down the stretch when the Seahawks rushed for 100-plus yards in eight of their last nine games – a run that was capped by the season-high 178-yard performance in the finale against the Cardinals. And a lot of this was done with Breno Giacomini, Lemuel Jeanpierre and Paul McQuistan stepping in for the injured starting trio of right tackle James Carpenter, right guard John Moffitt and left tackle Russell Okung. It was Cable’s belief in his system that made believers of the players, and eventually even the skeptics.
Best free-agent addition: Brandon Browner. The 6-foot-4 cornerback wasn’t even your typical free agent. He was signed to a future contract in January after playing the past four seasons in the CFL. He stepped in on the right side during training camp because Walter Thurmond was out with a sprained ankle and stayed there. Browner led the team with six interceptions; and the conference in secondary intimidation. His 94-yard interception return for a TD in Week 5 not only iced the upset of the Giants, it broke a team record that had lasted since 1979 (91 yards by Sammy Green). Browner added a 42-yarder for a score against the Bears and a 68-yarder against the Eagles in racking up 220 return yards to demolish the team record (179 by Dave Brown in 1984).
Best rookies: It’s a Stanford thing, as it’s impossible to separate Baldwin and cornerback Richard Sherman. After Marcus Trufant and Thurmond were lost to season-ended injuries, Sherman was the third option on the left side. In 10 starts, the fifth-round draft choice produced four interceptions, 17 passes defensed and 53 tackles. In addition to his team-leading totals as a receiver, Baldwin had a five-minute span against the Rams where he popped a 37-yard kickoff return, downed a punt at the 6-yard line and then blocked a punt that Michael Robinson returned for the touchdown.
Best in-season addition: Heath Farwell. He not only led the Seahawks, but the league with 21 coverage tackles on special teams. And he wasn’t signed until Oct. 19. He had multiple tackles in eight of the 11 games he played and also blocked a punt against the 49ers.
Comeback player of the year: Bryant. After playing in only seven games in 2010, Bryant returned to start all 16 this season. In addition to intercepting two passes, he also anchored the stout run defense and blocked a club record four kicks (three field goals and a PAT). His teammates rewarded Bryant by voting him the Ed Block Courage Award and the Steve Largent Award.
What would they do without …: McQuistan. Like Browner, the versatile offensive lineman was signed to a future contract in January. Like Browner, McQuistan never was expected to start. But start he did, in 10 games – three at left guard for an injured Robert Gallery; three at right guard for Moffitt; four at left tackle for Okung. If Chuck Knox was still around, he’d present McQuistan with a symbolic lunch pail and a hardhat.
Best third-day draft choice: K.J. Wright. A bit of a contrived category, but the rookie linebacker deserves some mention. He started the season opener at middle linebacker because David Hawthorne was out with an injury. Wright started the final 12 games on the strong side because, well, he was too good to keep off the field – and good enough that former first-round draft choice Aaron Curry was traded to the Raiders for a couple of draft choices that could turn into another Wright. He finished fifth on the team in tackles (61), including two sacks. He’s just one of the many young players on this team that needs a pair of shades, because his future is so bright.
Best win: Week 5 over the Giants. The Week 10 upset of the Ravens also deserves mention, but the upset of the Giants came on the road, in a 10 a.m. Seattle-time start, when the Giants were 3-1. The game featured the Seahawks scoring a touchdown on their first possession, which they did only twice all season; Charlie Whitehurst stepping in for injured QB Tarvaris Jackson to throw a go-ahead TD pass to Baldwin in the fourth quarter; and Browner’s record-breaking interception return to snuff the Giants’ late bid to steal the game.
Worst loss: Week 12 to the Redskins. Again, the 6-3 loss to the Browns in Cleveland in Week 7 deserves consideration, but the Seahawks played without Lynch and Jackson that day. The loss to the Redskins came at home to a team that had lost six in a row. It also came because the Seahawks allowed a team that had been averaging 16 points a game to score 16 in the fourth quarter.
Best quote: It was the choice at midseason, and no one said anything better or more telling than this evaluation from general manager John Schneider after the team’s 2-6 start: “I always likened it to the ‘Three Little Pigs.’ You can build it with straw or sticks. Or you can work your tail off and know that you’re doing the right thing and kind of do it the old-fashioned way and have a big, strong, sturdy foundation. Then you can weather all the storms.”
Photoblog: Overtime and Out.
The Seahawks traveled to the Valley of the Sun for the season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams sought a victory to finish the season with an 8-8 record, but the Cardinals prevailed in overtime, 23-20.
The roster says he's a rookie but receiver Ricardo Lockette looked All-Pro in a three-piece suit as he boarded the team charter.
Upon arrival in Phoenix, Tarvaris Jackson walks from the plane to the buses in the warm sunshine.
On game day, injured left tackle Russell Okung talks with general manager John Schneider during the early warmup period.
Rookie receiver Doug Baldwin listens to music as they players make final preparations to take the field.
Players including Chris Maragos gather for their traditional team prayer shortly before leaving the locker room prior to kickoff.
Chris Clemons takes a moment to himself on the sidelines as the Seahawks wait for the Cardinals to be introduced.
Leon Washington is brought down after a gain in the first quarter.
Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson stiff-arms Arizona's Daryl Washington in the backfield.
Arizona's dangerous receiver Larry Fitzgerald is brought down by Seahawks linebacker David Hawthorne, who led Seattle's defense with nine tackles.
Seahawks defensive tackle Alan Branch breaks through to sack Arizona quarterback John Skelton.
Running back Leon Washington dives for the corner of the end zone to score Seattle's first touchdown on a 48-yard run in the third quarter.
Cornerback Brandon Browner (39) and safety Earl Thomas (29) both leap high to prevent a completion to Arizona's intended receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
David Hawthorne's hard hit on Arizona's Andre Roberts sent the Cardinal receiver's helmet flying.
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman races down the left sideline after intercepting a pass that set up a Seattle field goal.
Atari Bigby put a big hit on Arizona's kickoff returner A.J. Jefferson with the help of Earl Thomas.
Seattle's biggest offensive highlight came when rookie receiver Ricardo Lockette made a juggling one-handed catch for a 61-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was pumped after Lockette's touchdown tied the game at 20-20 in the fourth quarter.
Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald showed why he's one of the best in the game, hauling in three catches on the final drive of overtime.
Seattle's Red Bryant had blocked three field goals already this season, but couldn't get his big hands on the final kick in overtime.
In the quiet locker room after the game, players brought their hands together for the final time of the 2011 season.
Head coach Pete Carroll spoke on the phone as the team boarded the charter bound for Seattle after the game.
Each member of the team's traveling party has a name plate above their seat, and the Seahawks Director of Video Thom Fermstad's was waiting for him on his final road trip. Fermstad is retiring after the season and has been with the club since Day One of its existence.
Cyber surfing: Thursday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Dec. 29:
Mike Sando at ESPN.com looks at the mold-breaking strong safeties in Sunday’s season finale – the Seahawks’ Kam Chancellor and the Cardinals’ Adrian Wilson: “(They) tower over the other strong safeties in the NFC this season. That is true not only in their accomplishments – Wilson is a Pro Bowl starter, Chancellor a first alternate – but in their physical dimensions. They are the biggest starting strong safeties in the NFL at a time when the prevailing NFL trends have led teams in another direction at the position. Wilson stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 230 pounds. Chancellor goes 6-3 and 232. The other 30 starting strong safeties average 6 feet and 207 pounds.”
Sando also has a look at the injury situations that matter for both teams. First, the Seahawks: “The Seahawks, like the Rams, have a long list of players on injured reserve. Unlike the Rams, their 53 active players are relatively healthy, and they have developed young depth throughout the roster. Linebacker David Hawthorne and receiver Ben Obomanu missed practice Wednesday. Both have knee injuries. Depth at receiver is a concern for the Seahawks now that Sidney Rice and Mike Williams are on injured reserve. The team expects to have Obomanu against Arizona on Sunday.” But also the Cardinals: “It’s looking like John Skelton will remain the Cardinals’ starting quarterback while Kevin Kolb continues to work through concussion-related symptoms. Kolb is practicing on a limited basis. Skelton was the player Cardinals officials made available to Seattle reporters on a conference call Wednesday. Patrick Peterson’s injured Achilles’ tendon will not require surgery, but his availability for Sunday remains in question. Peterson, right tackle Brandon Keith and free safety Kerry Rhodes missed practice Wednesday. Playing without Peterson on Sunday would affect the Cardinals significantly in the return game and on defense. Running back Beanie Wells was limited. His knee injury remains a factor. Wells has not exceeded 15 carries in any of the Cardinals’ past three games. He has had no runs longer than 9 yards in the four games since setting a franchise record with 228 yards against St. Louis.”
Joshua Mayers at the Seattle Times looks at Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Shaun Alexander in 2005: “ ‘I feel I became a pro this year,’ said Lynch.”
Also at the Times, Danny O’Neil checks in with Brandon Browner, who has gone from CFL cornerback to Pro Bowl alternate in his first season with the Seahawks: “ ‘I kept my room TV on the NFL Network,’ he said. ‘Throughout the whole time I was in the CFL. It never left the NFL Network unless I was playing a video game. That was a must-have.’ That long-distance relationship is what makes this season, and Browner’s selection as a Pro Bowl alternate, one of the most unlikely, endearing stories not just on the Seahawks, but in the entire league. ‘Brandon just comes out of nowhere,’ coach Pete Carroll said.
Eric Williams at the News Tribune says the selection of Earl Thomas to the Pro Bowl and the first alternate status of Browner and strong safety Kam Chancellor indicates the secondary should be an area of strength for seasons to come: “Seattle defensive backs coach Kris Richard sensed this group was special during training camp. ‘I’m very humbled by the acknowledgement,’ Richard said. ‘And it’s a testament to the guys’ hard work and their dedication. And it’s been emphasized from Day 1. They set high standards for themselves, and have competed well to live up to or surpass those standards.’ ”
Also at the News Tribune, Dave Boling says Thomas earned his Pro Bowl berth: “Many players in the NFL say they aspire to greatness. Far fewer are willing to put in the work it takes to earn it. Earl Thomas is one of those. And this week it was recognized when Thomas was voted the Seahawks’ first Pro Bowl starter since 2008. ‘We always know what we’re going to get out of Earl,’ defensive end Red Bryant said. ‘He’s the hardest worker. He studies hard. He’s all about his teammates and he’s all about business.’ ”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald looks at how the depth on the injury-depleted offensive line has helped the second-half surge in the running game: “As seems to be the case every year with the Seahawks, offensive line injuries have piled up this season, but unlike the past couple of seasons when injuries have caused the offense to go stagnant, the Seahawks have managed to show continuous growth even as starters go down with season-ending injuries.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we look at how Earl Thomas, a Pro Bowl starter, and cornerback Brandon Browner and strong safety Kam Chancellor, first alternates, shared their recognition with their teammates on the Seahawks’ ninth-ranked defense: “Said Thomas, ‘As a whole, we’ve been playing great together. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for those guys. You’ve got guys that deserve to be here – guys like ‘Big Red’ (defensive end Red Bryant); ‘Clem’ (defensive end Chris Clemons); Kam has been playing great; both our corners (Browner and rookie Richard Sherman). I could name the whole defense. It’s just great when you have that kind of chemistry back there and everybody knows each other.’ ”
We’ve also got a look at Michael Robinson’s real role in “Wednesday in Hawkville”: “In official Pro Bowl parlance, the Seahawks’ lead-blocker is listed as the first alternate at fullback to the NFC squad that was announced Tuesday. But Tom Cable has a different take on the situation. ‘I have a running joke, I think the fullback is just a pseudo guard,’ Cable, the team’s assistant head coach/offensive line coach said today after practice. ‘I think he has to buy in like they do up front (on the line) about where he fits. You can’t fit in the middle; you’ve got to fit on the outside half. Or you’ve got to fit in the middle on this. Or whatever it is, to where you fit. So you’re just like a lineman to me. You have to be in the right place at the right time. Mike has been exceptional at growing that way.’ ” And there’s also Tony Ventrella’s video recap.
Peter King at SI.com gives a thumbs-up to Thomas’ selection to the Pro Bowl in this video report. And Doug Farrar at YahooSports.com looks at hidden Pro Bowl players on defense, including the Seahawks’ Chris Clemons, Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor; and on offense, including Marshawn Lynch, Michael Robinson and Doug Baldwin.
Unwanted no more
Gregg Easterbrook at ESPN.com is over-looking the Pro Bowl selections that will be announced later today by unveiling his All-Unwanted All-Pro team.
And the All-Unwanted Player of the Year is …
Seahawks rookie wide receiver Doug Baldwin. Really, you can read all about it here.
This is what Easterbrook had to say about the Seahawks’ leading receiver, who was signed after being passed over by every team in the league during the NFL Draft:
“Two rookie wide receivers named Baldwin entered the NFL this season. Jonathan Baldwin, a No. 1 draft selection, has been nearly invisible with his team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Doug Baldwin, undrafted, became the leading receiver for the Seattle Seahawks and also is a special-teams ace, with a punt block that caused a Seattle touchdown on ‘Monday Night Football.’ Baldwin graduated from Stanford University. In high school, he was a member of the National Honor Society and of the math and Spanish national honor societies. His success shows that athletics is not antithetical to education — and that it doesn’t matter what round you are drafted in, or if you are drafted at all.”
Interestingly, the player of the year on this “Tuesday Morning Quarterback” team landed only second-team honors – along with teammates Robert Gallery, on the offensive line; and linebacker David Hawthorne.
The first-team berths at wide receiver went to the Patriots’ Wes Welker and Giants’ Victor Cruz.
Photoblog: A Close One on Christmas Eve
The Seahawks hoped to continue their five-game winning streak with a Christmas Eve game against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. Santa hats were everywhere, but the 49ers played the part of the Grinch and escaped with a hard-fought 19-17 victory, essentially eliminating the Seahawks from playoff contention.
Seahawks fans were both in the Christmas spirit and the Skittles spirit as they hoped for a big day from Skittles-loving running back Marshawn Lynch.
In the locker room, Lynch prepared a new pair of Skittles-themed Nike shoes for the game.
Seahawks receiver Golden Tate is introduced to a raucous crowd at CenturyLink Field.
Rookie wide receiver Ricardo Lockette was active for the first time in his young career, and wasted no time making his mark by hauling in a deep ball from Tarvaris Jackson.
San Francisco defensive back Carlos Rogers didn't make it easy, fighting for the ball as Lockette landed with a 44-yard reception on the second play from scrimmage.
Receiver Doug Baldwin celebrates after scoring on a 13-yard touchdown reception from Tarvaris Jackson, giving the Seahawks an early 7-0 lead.
Richard Sherman kept San Francisco's Michael Crabtree from making a catch on a deep ball in the first quarter.
Doug Baldwin flies towards the first down marker after a reception from Tarvaris Jackson.
Shoes were a hot topic but not these cleats as Marshawn Lynch (right) tried to stretch the ball over the goal line just before halftime. After an official's review, the ball was placed at the one-yard line.
Seattle's defense, including Chris Clemons, chased San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith all afternoon, but Smith's ability to buy time kept many 49ers drives alive.
Linebacker K.J. Wright tackles 49ers running back Frank Gore from behind for one of his four tackles.
Seattle's special teams came up big when Heath Farwell blocked a punt by San Francisco's Andy Lee in the fourth quarter.
Marshawn Lynch made sure the Seahawks capitalized on the turnover as he raced into the end zone from four yards out to give the Seahawks a 17-16 lead.
Lynch celebrated with Ricardo Lockette as Skittles rained down into the end zone after the touchdown.
Members of the Seahawks grounds crew used blowers in an effort to remove the Skittles from the field.
After a San Francisco field goal gave them the lead at 19-17, Seattle tried to rally but a fumble by Tarvaris Jackson ended hopes.
Doug Baldwin sat alone on the bench in the waning minutes.
Earl Thomas walks dejectedly towards the Seahawks locker room after the game.
Seattle's locker room was somber after the defeat, but head coach Pete Carroll reminded them how far they'd come this season and that they still had the opportunity to finish strong next week in Arizona.
Cyber surfing: Tuesday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Dec. 27:
Eric Williams at the News Tribune looks at some of the unsung heroes for the Seahawks who deserve to have their praise sung: “Two who stand out most are wide receiver Doug Baldwin and cornerback Brandon Browner. Baldwin, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Stanford, leads the team in receptions with 48 and in receiving yardage with 748. He has four TD catches. He is on pace to finish the season as the first undrafted rookie since 1960 to lead his team in both receptions and receiving yards. Browner, a CFL standout and Oregon State product, signed a futures contract in January. One of the tallest corners in the league, Browner is tied for fourth in the NFL with six interceptions, and he leads the league in pass deflections with 26.”
Also at the News Tribune, Dave Boling says don’t expect coach Pete Carroll to ease into the offseason, starting with Sunday’s game against the Cardinals: “With a win, the Seahawks finish 8-8, their first non-losing season since 2007. Also, it would give them a second-consecutive sweep of Arizona and second place in the division behind San Francisco. ‘Heck, yeah, we want to win the football game,’ Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Monday in his press conference at team headquarters. ‘There’s no other agenda at all other than to win the football game.’ So, no, they won’t be giving JV guys playing time to earn their letters, or dumbing down their schemes.”
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times also looks at what’s at stake in the Seahawks’ season finale against the Cardinals: “But Carroll insisted Monday he isn’t looking down the road four months to the draft let alone considering evaluating the lower tiers of the depth chart. ‘To look at something for the future is not what’s in our minds at all,’ Carroll said. ‘We want to come back and play another good game of football.’ The winner of Sunday’s game in Arizona will finish in second place in the NFC West. Stop snickering. That’s actually an accomplishment this year.”
O’Neil also has “Three Things we Learned” from Saturday’s loss to the 49ers, including this one: “The turnaround in Seattle’s running game is for real. When the Bears stymied the Seahawks ground game in Week 14, you had to wonder whether Seattle’s rushing success in the second-half of the season was at least partly due to circumstance. Yes, Seattle had run the ball well against Dallas and Baltimore – two well-regarded run defenses – but the Seahawks had also faced the Rams (twice) and the Eagles. On Saturday, the Seahawks became the first team to rush for a touchdown against San Francisco this year, and Marshawn Lynch became the first player in 25 months to gain 100 yards on the ground against the 49ers. Consider that Seattle did all that without three starters on the offensive line, it’s a validation of the progress Seattle has made on the ground.”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald looks at how the Seahawks have become more competitive in their second season under Carroll: “Despite winning the division last year, the Seahawks lost by at least 16 points in all nine of their regular season defeats. In 2009, the Seahawks lost six games by 17 or more points and four by 24 or more. This year the Seahawks have been beaten by double digits four times, but their other four losses were by a combined 13 points. Overall this season, the Seahawks have outscored opponents by nine points. Last year they were outscored by 97 points, so barring a 106-point loss in Arizona, which seems pretty darn unlikely, Seattle will improve on that front, win or lose.”
Also at the Herald, Scott Johnson continues his “The Game of my Life” series with a look at fullback Mack Strong: “ ‘Spite,’ the Seattle Seahawks’ longtime fullback said when asked why he chose to play in the Pacific Northwest way back in 1993. Having been spurned by his hometown team, the Atlanta Falcons, in the 1993 NFL draft, Strong said no to a free-agent contract with that team and decided to go as far away as possible. So he landed in Seattle, a city he had never before visited. He hardly even knew anything about the Seahawks, other than a wide receiver named Steve Largent who recently retired and a young defensive stud named Cortez Kennedy whose name Strong had heard in passing. Still, Strong was determined to make it work in his new home. Fifteen NFL seasons later, all of which were played with the Seahawks, Mack Strong not only made the most of his opportunity but became a fixture in the city he grew to love.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com has his “Silver Linings” from the Seahawks’ loss to the 49ers, including this one: “Seattle became the first team since Detroit on Oct. 16 to score a first-quarter touchdown against the 49ers. The Seahawks became the third team all season to score more than one red zone touchdown against the 49ers in a game.”
Sando also has a look at the draft order entering the final weekend of the regular season, with the Seahawks sitting at No. 14.
Here at Seahawks.com, we take another look at Marshawn Lynch’s historic effort against the 49ers in our “Monday Metatarsal Musings”: “From the soles of his Skittles-enhanced shoes, to the soul of what makes him a special player, Marshawn Lynch has been determined to carry the Seahawks as far as his constantly churning legs will take them. That was, as it finally turned out, not far enough, as Saturday’s two-point loss to the NFC West Champion San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field ended the Seahawks’ hopes of advancing to the playoffs for the second consecutive season. But it wasn’t for a lack of Lynch trying. The Seahawks’ Skittles-munching back became the first player since the Packers’ Ryan Grant in 2009 to rush for 100 yards against the 49ers, with his 107-yard effort snapping a streak that had reached 36 games. Lynch also became the first player this season to score a rushing touchdown against the 49ers’ top-rated run defense, and his 4-yard run with less than seven minutes to play gave the Seahawks a 17-16 lead. In his past eight games, Lynch has rushed for 855 of his 1,118 yards and nine of his 13 touchdowns. It only takes a few clicks of a calculator to figure out that pace over 16 games would produce a 1,700-yard, 18-TD season – and the only back in franchise history to compiles those kinds of numbers was Shaun Alexander during his league MVP season in 2005 (1,880 yards, 28 TDs).”
We’ve also got at look at how coach Pete Carroll plans to approach the season finale against the Cardinals, his thoughts on the Pro Bowl in “Monday in Hawkville” and Tony Ventrella’s video recaps of the game against the 49ers as well as Monday’s news conference.
Friday in Hawkville
A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Dec. 23:
FOCUS ON
Turnovers. “It’s all about the ball.” This isn’t just one of Pete Carroll’s cornerstone credos – something that just happens to be plastered throughout the team’s meeting rooms – it also will be a key to any upset hopes the Seahawks have in their Christmas Eve matchup with the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field.
The 49ers are 11-3 in large part because they have forced 35 turnovers and are plus-25 in the take-away/give-away ratio, both league bests.
“I think it’s a product of hustle. It’s product of players’ ability. It’s a product of scheme. All those things,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Much like Seattle. You watch them on tape and you can continually see their defense, their guys, in the right places with the right leverage. And therefore make the interception, make the tip, the deflection; make the hit that causes the fumble.
“So a lot of things contribute to it.”
Are the Seahawks intimidated? Hardly. “Obviously that plays a big part in winning games,” quarterback Tarvaris Jackson said of the 49ers’ positively impressive numbers in the pivotal categories. “We’re going to try to keep from turning the ball over and see where it gets us.
“We like our chances.”
That’s because, as Harbaugh mentioned, the Seahawks have done a turnaround in their own turnover ratio. They’re plus-8 during their three-game winning streak, after being minus-5 at midseason. They’ve done that by forcing turnovers (10 in the past three games) and not turning the ball over as much (two in the past three games).
“(We’re) taking care of the football,” Carroll said. “We never stop talking about turnovers. We were doing that at the start. It’s just our whole style has kind of transformed somewhat.”
As a result, the Seahawks also rank in the Top 5 in the league in take-away/give-away ratio and turnovers:
Ratio
Team Net difference
49ers plus-25
Packers plus-20
Patriots plus-12
Lions plus-11
Seahawks plus-8
Turnovers
Team No.
49ers 35
Packers 32
Lions 30
Seahawks 29
Patriots 28
Bears 28
Jets 28
ON THE FIELD
The players held their walk-through this morning in the indoor practice facility.
And there was a holiday flair to the day, as Carroll brought in a gospel choir to sing at the team’s morning meeting and assistant equipment manager Derin Lazuta went through his duties during the walk-through dressed in a red-and-green elf suit.
PLAYER WATCH
Marshawn Lynch. No back in the league has more rushing yards (748) than the Seahawks’ Skittle-back over the past seven games, and no player in franchise history has scored touchdowns in more consecutive games (10).
But no one needs to remind Justin Smith of all the things Lynch has been able to accomplish this season. The 49ers Pro Bowl defensive lineman already is sold on Lynch.
“The way Marshawn is running after he gets the first and second contacts, this guy is not going down,” Smith said this week. “That’s how he’s run for his whole career, but it really looks like the last five or six games this guy is turning it up a notch.
“I think he’s one of the top backs in the league. With the way he runs and the plays he makes, I’d put him definitely at No. 1, 2 or 3, for sure. He’s a top back in the NFL. The way he runs and the way he can make one, two, three or four guys miss is amazing. Then the power that he has with his size and he’s got speed, everything. He’s the total package.
“So that’s who we’ve got to focus on and that’s who we’ve got to stop. It’s not going to be easy.”
INJURY REPORT
Leading receiver Doug Baldwin is listed as questionable for the game and has not practiced since turning an ankle in Wednesday’s practice. But Carroll remains hopeful that Baldwin will be able to play.
Here’s the official end-of-the-week status report:
Doubtful
CB Kennard Cox (hamstring)
LB Malcolm Smith (concussion)
DT Clinton McDonald (concussion)
Questionable
WR Doug Baldwin (ankle)
Probable
OG Robert Gallery (pelvis)
QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral)
MLB David Hawthorne (knee)
For the 49ers:
Questionable
WR Braylon Edwards (knee)
RB Bruce Miller (knee)
LB Patrick Willis (hamstring)
WR Ted Ginn (ankle)
Willis was limited in practice today, but practiced Thursday for the first time since injuring his hamstring in the Dec. 4 game against the Rams and is expecting to play. But Ginn did not practice today, and the returner who ran back a kickoff and punt for TDs against the Seahawks in the season opener is not expected to play.
STAT DU JOUR
Carroll balked this week when asked about the team’s “inability” to own the NFC West, his started priority goal when hired as coach 23 months ago. Yes, the 49ers are 11-3 and have wrapped up the division title this season. But if the Seahawks can get past the 49ers on Saturday and the Cardinals in Arizona next week, and the 49ers beat the Rams in their finale, they will finish with the best division record of the four teams:
Team Projected division record
Seahawks 5-1
49ers 4-2
Cardinals 3-3
Rams 0-6
UP NEXT
Christmas Eve, and a ho-ho-ho of a matchup between the Seahawks and 49ers at CenturyLink Field.
The players and coaches will be off on Christmas Day, before everyone returns on Monday to start preparing for the regular-season finale against the Cardinals in Arizona.
YOU DON’T SAY
“Some things have to happen for us to get to the playoffs. If it happens, it happens; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I’m just proud to see the turnaround that we had, especially with all these guys and pieces that we’ve had.” – Lynch on the Seahawks going 5-1 to start the second half of the season after a 2-6 first half
Cyber surfing: Friday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Dec. 23:
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times takes a big look at the Seahawks’ big, and big-play, secondary – cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman and safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas: “Seattle has 21 interceptions this season, already its most in any season since 2004. The secondary has accounted for all but five of those picks, and of the five turnovers Seattle forced in Chicago last week, the secondary produced four of them. The Seahawks have the youngest secondary in the NFL. They might also have the most unlikely.”
Eric Williams at the News Tribune stays on the turnover theme, as the 49ers have the most in the NFL and the Seahawks rank in the Top 5 entering Saturday’s game at CenturyLink Field: “ ‘It’s absolutely the No. 1 philosophy in how you play the game for us,’ Seattle coach Pete Carroll said about his team’s recent turnover streak. ‘It’s all about the ball, and guys are doing it.’ One of the reasons for Seattle’s success creating turnovers has been the offense’s ability to get ahead. The Seahawks have been ahead or tied at the end of the first half in five of the past six games, which allows the defensive linemen to pin their ears back and rush the passer.”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald takes a closer look at Earl Thomas, the Seahawks’ free safety who has stepped up his game despite the fact that his interception total is down from his rookie season: “Last year Thomas, the 14th overall pick in the NFL draft, had five interceptions as his incredible speed and athleticism allowed him to make plays even if he wasn’t always in the right place. Yet for all the big plays, there also were times when Thomas’ inexperience led to miscues in the secondary. This season he has just two interceptions, but Thomas has been a much better player overall.”
Tim Booth at the Associated Press, via PI.com, looks at the playoff implications for both teams: “Meanwhile, Seattle (7-7) has won five of six to get back to .500, but needs plenty of help to complete its second-half charge and reach the postseason for a second straight season. Foremost is Seattle must win its final two games and see either Atlanta or Detroit drop its final two games to even have a hope. ‘Some things got to happen for us to get to the playoffs. If that happen it happens, if it don’t, it don’t,’ Lynch said. ‘I’m just proud to see the turnaround that we had, especially with all these young guys and pieces that we’ve had.’ “
Here at Seahawks.com, we take a look at Doug Baldwin, the Seahawks’ leading receiver who turned an ankle in practice but it expected to play against the 49ers and Jim Harbaugh, his coach at Stanford last season: “ ‘Well, I should have drafted him,’ was Harbaugh’s first response this week when asked about Baldwin. ‘Kicking myself for not doing that. And at the same time, really happy for Doug. I’ve seen him really grow the whole season, from preseason. He’s been relentless. … He lines up in a lot of different places and does a lot of different things for Seattle. It’s been great to see him, knowing him the way I know him. I can’t say enough.’ ”
We’ve also got Red Bryant’s reaction to the birth of his first child and Richard Sherman’s reaction to his locker room dance-off with Anthony Hargrove in “Thursday in Hawkville,” as well as Tony Ventrella’s video recap.
For a look at the rest of the league, there’s John Clayton’s “First and 10” at ESPN.com, which includes this note on the Seahawks: “The Seahawks have become a hot defense that now ranks eighth in the league. The best showdown will be the 49ers’ run defense, which hasn’t given up a rushing touchdown, going against Seahawks halfback Marshawn Lynch, who has a touchdown (11 rushing, one receiving) his past 10 games”; and Peter King’s “Weekend Pickoff” at SI.com where he likes the 49ers, but also the Seahawks: “I like the 49ers a lot, and think they have a heck of a shot to confound the offense-lovers in January and win one or two playoff games. I like Seattle a little more in this game because I tend to like the desperate team late in the season. And because you 49er fans get SOOOOOO angry when I pick against your team. It’s such a cute trait. Pick: Seahawks 17, 49ers 10.”
