Friday cyber surfing: Seahawks ‘much more physical’
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 3:
Mike Sando of ESPN.com caught up with Larry Fitzgerald at the Super Bowl and the Cardinals’ wide receiver had this to say about how the Seahawks have changed under coach Pete Carroll: “They are much more physical, much more physical. At the Pro Bowl last week, they had three guys from their secondary, Brandon Browner and Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. When you look at Chancellor, Chancellor is 6-foot-3, 230 pounds and a phenomenal athlete with good ball skills, good range. Earl Thomas is like a young Troy Polamalu, flying around and making plays. And Brandon Browner is the biggest cornerback I’ve ever seen in my life. He can play, too. He can cover. I really like the young rookie they have, (Richard) Sherman from Stanford. He is going to be a good player. Obviously, when they get Marcus Trufant back, that will only make them deeper. They challenge you at the point of attack. They want to pressure you and make things uncomfortable for you at the line of scrimmage, and their whole philosophy has changed. It’s fun to play against them.”
Fitzgerald also had this to say about the NFC West: “The division is getting better. Two years ago, people looked at the NFC West as the armpit of the league, so to speak. Now, teams are playing much better. The games are physical now. That is good because you want the competition; you want to have great division rivalries. That is a lot of fun, like the NFC East. I don’t care if Washington is playing at New York, you can get beat. We want to build it up that way, too.”
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times looks at the franchise tag as it applies to franchise backs, including Marshawn Lynch: “In the past five years, there have been a grand total of two running backs who received the franchise tag from their respective teams: Darren Sproles (San Diego, 2009) and Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants, 2009). That’s it. Teams can begin designating franchise players later this month, and there’s the distinct possibility that three running backs could receive the tag.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we look at the process that produces the annual selections for the Pro Football Hall of Fame – which also includes Sando, because he’s the Seattle rep on the selection committee: “(Cortez) Kennedy, the eight-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle for the Seahawks, is a finalist for the fourth consecutive year. But for the first time, he faces a field of fellow finalists that does not include a “shoo-in” candidate as the 44-person selection committee huddles in Indianapolis on Saturday morning to choose the Class of 2012 – which will be announced at 2:30 p.m. PST during a one-hour special on the NFL Network.”
Todd McShay at ESPN.com has his second mock draft. There’s no link because it’s for insiders and requires registration and a fee, but here’s who he has the Seahawks selecting: Alabama RB Trent Richardson. “Richardson is a top-five talent but will likely slip a bit because of positional value considerations. Falling this far would be a surprise, but none of the teams in the top 10 have a pressing need at running back. If none of them ignore need to take the best player available, the Seahawks will feel like they’ve won the lottery. Both Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett are free agents, and Richardson would bring with him an elite combination of size, speed, power, quickness and vision.”
Also at ESPN.com, but also in an insider’s feature, Mel Kiper ranks Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman as the 10th best rookie in the NFL last season: “He didn’t start immediately, but he did get 10 total, and played at what I consider a Pro Bowl level for the second half of the season, helping to galvanize a suddenly very impressive Seattle secondary. He’s long at 6-foot-3, and can battle against big wideouts.”
As for that game this Sunday, checkout John Clayton’s “First and Goal” at ESPN; Clark Judge’s comparison of Tom Brady and Joe Montana, Brady’s boyhood idol, at CBSSports.com; and Richard Deitsch’s look at what most of us will be watching at SI.com.
Seahawks ‘much more physical’ according to Arizona’s Fitzgerald
How have the Seahawks changed in two seasons under coach Pete Carroll?
Larry Fitzgerald should know, because the Cardinals’ Pro Bowl wide receiver has played the Seahawks twice in each of those seasons. He caught nine passes for 149 yards in 2011 season finale, which the Cardinals won 23-20 in overtime. But Fitzgerald also received a bruised lung and was coughing up blood on the sideline, according to this report on ESPN.com.
To say the new-look Seahawks left an impression on Fitzgerald doesn’t tell the whole story.
Here’s Fitzgerald assessment, as told to Mike Sando of ESPN.com during the countdown to Sunday’s Super Bowl in Indianapolis: “They are much more physical, much more physical. At the Pro Bowl last week, they had three guys from their secondary, Brandon Browner and Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. When you look at Chancellor, Chancellor is 6-foot-3, 230 pounds and a phenomenal athlete with good ball skills, good range. Earl Thomas is like a young Troy Polamalu, flying around and making plays. And Brandon Browner is the biggest cornerback I’ve ever seen in my life. He can play, too. He can cover. I really like the young rookie they have, (Richard) Sherman from Stanford. He is going to be a good player. Obviously, when they get Marcus Trufant back, that will only make them deeper. They challenge you at the point of attack. They want to pressure you and make things uncomfortable for you at the line of scrimmage, and their whole philosophy has changed. It’s fun to play against them.”
Tuesday cyber surfing: The other side of Thomas
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Jan. 31:
Jared Ainsworth of the Beaumont Enterprise has a really nice story on how Earl Thomas’ success in the NFL has allowed his mother, Debbie, to retire: “Debbie Thomas’ final day as a receptionist for Little Cypress-Mauriceville school district was Jan 20. The family celebrated the end of Debbie’s 28-year career in education that evening at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Beaumont, with about 20 of her coworkers. ‘As soon as they called my name in the draft, I knew this day was going to come,’ said Earl, a 22-year-old second-year defensive back for the Seahawks. ‘We didn’t have much and my mom and dad made it work. They’ve been changing my diapers, taking care of me all my life.’ “
Former Seahawks and current Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck analyzes the Super Bowl matchup between the Patriots and Giants for the Tennessean. His pick: Patriots 24-21. Says Hasselbeck: “It is really hard to bet against Tom Brady for me. I have a lot of respect for his game. I think he is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. I have respect for Eli (Manning), and for guys on both sides, but to me, Brady is going to be really tough to stop unless he is on his back the whole game.”
Speaking of former Seahawks QBs, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram catches up with Jon Kitna, who last week was named football coach at Tacoma’s Lincoln High School, his alma mater: “ ‘It’s incredible. The right door opened,’ Kitna said between services Sunday morning at Fielder Road Baptist Church, where he preached and gave a personal testimony. It was his first public appearance since informing the Cowboys of his decision to retire two weeks ago. ‘I am beyond excited,’ Kitna said. ‘It was the perfect opportunity. The coach wanted to move into the athletic director’s role and called and asked me if I was interested.’ “
Here at Seahawks.com, the Tez in 2012 campaign continues as the clock is ticking toward the selection process on Saturday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012. Cortez Kennedy is a finalist for the fourth consecutive year and we weigh in with a weighty profile on the most-decorated defensive player in franchise history: “ ‘I wouldn’t trade places with anybody for anything,’ Kennedy said. ‘I played for the Seahawks, and played my heart out for them. I love the Seahawks. I love the organization. I love the people there, and especially the fans. If I ever get in the Hall of Fame, it’s for all of us.’ ”
Back to the Super Bowl, there is no shortage of coverage leading up to Sunday’s game. Here’s a sampling:
The Associated Press, via Heraldnet.com, looks at the overlooked Deion Branch, the wide receiver who played for the Patriots, then was traded to the Seahawks and now is back with the Patriots: “He’s been overlooked a bit this season, with Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez grabbing most of (Tom) Brady’s passes and the headlines. ‘That’s cool,’ said Branch, who has that MVP trophy stored safely in a glass case at his home. ‘I just do my job. I can’t worry about who’s controlling it and who’s saying A, B, C, D. I just do my job I’m not here to be the one that (says), ‘Hey I need all the attention.’ That’s not me.’ “
Don Banks’ Q&A with London Fletcher at SI.com. The Redskins’ linebacker who is no stranger to the Giants or the Patriots, having played both teams this season. Q: Having played both of these teams recently, how do they match up today, knowing that New York beat New England at Gillette Stadium in Week 9? A: “I think it’s going to be a great matchup, because you think about the Giants and their pass rush being healthy now, and then you know all about the offense of the Patriots and those tight ends and their passing game. It’s going to be a great matchup between those two teams, and the thing is, both defenses are playing great right now. I think New England’s defense is playing its best ball of the year right now, and so are the Giants.”
Les Carpenter’s story at YahooSports.com about BenJarvis Green-Ellis, the Patriots’ back whose name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue but who also never lets the ball roll from his grasp: “And now, with the world preparing to watch Super Bowl XLVI Sunday, (LSU running backs coach Frank) Wilson has an Exhibit A in the Patriots’ running back. Wilson’s former back at the University of Mississippi has never fumbled in four NFL seasons. That is a streak of 536 catches and carries, an NFL record for the start of a career, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.”
Michael Lombardi’s 46 things he loved about the NFL this season at NFL.com, where No. 39 is … Marshawn Lynch’s angry running style. Says Lombardi: “The Seahawks running back runs harder than any player in the league.”
NFC, Seahawks come up short in 2012 Pro Bowl
In a game that featured 100 points and 1,162 total yards, Marshawn Lynch managed to run for 43 yards in the NFC’s 59-41 loss to the AFC in the Pro Bowl at Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium on Sunday.
It was the second Pro Bowl appearance for the Seahawks’ leading rusher, but Lynch’s first for the NFC as his previous trip was in 2008 while playing for the AFC’s Buffalo Bills. Lynch averaged 5.4 yards on his eight carries on Sunday, all in the second half.
The Seahawks also had four players making their first Pro Bowl appearances: cornerback Brandon Browner, who was credited with three tackles; strong safety Kam Chancellor, who was credited with one; and free safety Earl Thomas and fullback Michael Robinson, who started for the NFC.
Thomas was voted to the team in balloting by players and coaches in the NFC, as well as fans, while Lynch, Browner, Chancellor and Robinson were added as injury or illness replacements.
The MVP award went to Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who had four touchdown catches and caught six passes for 177 yards.
Thomas was involved in one of Marshall’s TD catches, as the second-year free safety appeared to be in position to intercept the pass. Instead, Thomas collided with another NFC defensive back, and Marshall was able to kick the ball with his leg and catch the carom for the score.
Friday cyber surfing: Checking in from the Pro Bowl
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Jan. 27:
Here at Seahawks.com, we check in with Earl Thomas, the Seahawks’ second-year free safety who’s in Honolulu for his first Pro Bowl: “Once the Pro Bowl begins on Sunday, it will be just another football game. Right? The tone of Earl Thomas’ voice says otherwise. ‘This is something special to me,’ Thomas said Thursday during a telephone interview from Honolulu, where the Seahawks’ second-year free safety is preparing to play in his first Pro Bowl. ‘I don’t know how the other guys are taking it, but I’m going to give it my best when I get out there. Because I know once I start playing, it’s going to be like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. So I’m just really looking forward to it.”
We also have an item on Marshawn Lynch, who’s also part of the Seahawks’ five-man Pro Bowl contingent, being ranked as the 40th best player in the league by Pro Football Weekly: “Here’s what they had to say about Lynch: ‘Rushing for more than 100 yards in six of Seattle’s last nine games, Lynch finished with a career-high 1,204 yards and 12 rushing TDs (13 total). A bruising, between-the-tackles, downhill runner with make-you-miss ability, Lynch, who is a free agent, runs a lot bigger than his 5-foot-11, 215-pound size – with a ‘Beast Mode’ attitude that has endeared him to the Seahawks’ fan base. Having become the team’s offensive centerpiece and most popular player, Lynch’s re-signing is Pete Carroll’s No. 1 priority.’ ”
Pete Prisco at CBSSports.com checks in with Deon Grant, the former Seahawks strong safety who is now playing an important and versatile role for the Super Bowl-bound Giants: “Over the course of the game (in Week 9 game against the Patriots), Grant lined up 30 times as a linebacker, 26 times as a safety and 13 times on the line of scrimmage. He was locked in man coverage with Rob Gronkowski, New England’s all-world tight end, 15 times, getting an interception of (Tom) Brady when matched in man coverage with Gronkowski. He also blitzed nine times from various spots along the line. ‘It’s a special defense,’ Grant said. ‘Sometimes I am a linebacker. Sometimes I am safety. Sometimes I am a nickel back. It worked that day.’ ”
Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com, via CBSSports.com, focuses his Senior Bowl coverage on North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins: “He has put to rest any debate as to who is the most talented senior cornerback in this year’s group with his performance in practice this week. He is a fluid athlete with very light feet and swivel hips to turn and run downfield, but also shows the closing burst and physical nature to attack what’s in front of him. At practice on Wednesday, Jenkins showed impeccable timing and explosion to plant, drive and blow up the play, knocking the ball and North Carolina receiver Dwight Jones to the ground in one of the drills.”
This one has nothing to do with the Seahawks, and little to do with football. But Ian O’Connor’s story on John Mara and his daughter, Rooney, at ESPN.com is a must-read: “Chris Mara, football scout, was on the edge of his seat and staring down the TV as if he were watching the NFL draft. This was Tuesday morning, and the longtime talent evaluator for the New York Giants was waiting to see if a certain prospect was picked in a first round loaded with high-profile stars. Meryl Streep. Glenn Close. Viola Davis. Michelle Williams. Mara didn’t know if his own million-dollar baby would make that kind of Academy Award cut, and he didn’t want to get his heart broken. Again. Yeah, he knew the feeling. Mara badly wanted to be the general manager of the Giants five years ago, only to be told by his brother John that the Oscar would be going to Jerry Reese. So Chris delayed his commute to work to watch the nominations. He figured it was better to be disappointed in his home, alone, than to endure another round of you’ll-get-’em-next-times at the office. And when Rooney Mara’s name was indeed called in the best actress category, her father did what any father of a 26-year-old hopeful would do when nominated for an Oscar. ‘I let out a pretty big scream,’ he said. ‘And then I cried.’ ”
Thursday cyber surfing: Lynch upstaged
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Jan. 26:
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times checks in from the red carpet at last night’s Sports Star of the Year banquet: “The incredible still occurs, and some of it happened last year. Marshawn Lynch’s 67-yard touchdown run in the Seahawks’ playoff victory over the Saints was one such moment. So was Sounders FC winning a third consecutive U.S. Open Cup. Yet both of those moments were topped by Eastern Washington winning a national football title as the sports story of the year.”
Bob Condotta at the Times has the list of winners.
Here at Seahawks.com, via SoundersFC.com, we take a look at Gary Wright, who was named Executive of the Year at the event: “Gary Wright’s office at Virginia Mason Athletic Center could be mistaken for a combined Sounders FC/Seahawks mini museum. It is filled with mementos from the 32 seasons he spent with the NFL team, features memorabilia from his three years as senior vice president of business operations for the MLS club and includes souvenirs from his love affair with the game they call soccer in the United States. But two items among the photos, jerseys, plaques and other tributes – aside from the pictures of his five grandchildren in their kit – mean the most to Wright: The Sounders FC Brand Wheel, which is framed and on the wall behind his desk; and a “full” team photo of the club, which includes all the employees as well as the players, that dominates another wall. These two objects also explain how Wright is approaching being named Executive of the Year at 77th annual Sports Star of the Year banquet on Wednesday night at Benaroya Hall.”
Dave Boling at the News Tribune weighs in on the Seahawks having five participants in Sunday’s Pro Bowl – Earl Thomas, Michael Robinson, Kam Chancellor, Brandon Browner and Marshawn Lynch: “They’re all young (average age 25), they were all acquired during the two-year reign of Pete Carroll/John Schneider, and all but one has represented a bit of a reach in some respects. What it says, then, is that these managers are willing to take a few chances, and they seem effective at targeting talent when they do.”
The Seahawks’ contingent has left Mobile, but preparations continue for Saturday’s Senior Bowl. Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com, via CBSSports.com, says Boise State pass-rusher Shea McClellin is using the week to emerge from the shadows of more heralded teammates: “ ‘Don’t write too much about the guy,’ one high-ranking scout said following practice Wednesday.‘We’ve been on him all year long and don’t want others jumping on him now.’ Sorry, but it is unfathomable that McClellin’s play this week was unnoticed by the rest of the league. Listed by the Broncos at 6-3, 255 pounds, McClellin was moved around a great deal but saw the majority of his snaps at defensive end, where he’s currently rated by NFLDraftScout.com as a fourth-round value. McClellin accepted the invitation to the Senior Bowl, anticipating he would remain at the position but perhaps see some time at linebacker. Instead, he has worked almost exclusively at linebacker, taking virtually every snap Wednesday on the weak side and proving his versatility and draft grade are perhaps significantly underrated.”
Rang also looks at a trio of players who have forced him to reevaluate his assessments, including Boise State’s George Iloka: “At nearly 6-4 and 222 pounds, Iloka looks more like a potential linebacker than a free safety, but his athleticism and instincts have been on display all week long. He intercepted a pass during Tuesday’s practice, making an impressive diving pick-off of Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins in front of Massachusetts’ H-back Emil Igwenagu. Iloka is not surprisingly a bit high in his back pedal but he showed surprising agility and burst when asked to drop down and cover receivers when the offense switched to a three receiver set. In a relatively weak year for safeties (outside of Alabama’s Mark Barron), Iloka’s size, athleticism and experience (40 consecutive starts) stand out.”
Simon Samano at NFL.com takes a look at Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson, who might be short in stature but is long on intangibles: “In 2011, his only season with the Badgers after transferring from North Carolina State, Wilson led Wisconsin to an 11-3 record, including a heartbreaking defeat to Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Wilson finished with a career-high 33 touchdown passes to just four interceptions and dramatically improved his accuracy with a 72.8 completion percentage. Those numbers speak volumes, but what makes Wilson “intriguing,” as NFL network draft guru Mike Mayock says, are his intangibles. Mayock has even gone so far as to compare Wilson to Doug Flutie.”
Wednesday cyber surfing: Pro Bowl and Senior Bowl
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Jan. 25:
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times wraps up three more Seahawks being added to the NFC Pro Bowl squad in less than 24 hours: “In the previous two years, the Seahawks were the only team in the NFL that did not have a player either named to the Pro Bowl or chosen as an injury replacement. Seattle’s five Pro Bowlers matches the franchise’s fourth-largest contingent.”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald and Eric Williams at the News Tribune also weigh in on Marshawn Lynch’s addition to the Pro Bowl.
Here at Seahawks.com, we take a closer look at Brandon Browner’s improbable journey from the CFL to the Pro Bowl: “ ‘I was up there for four years, trying to get back every season,’ Browner said. ‘I got a few calls after every season up there, but nothing ever panned out. The best I could get was a tryout.’ The Seahawks gave him a chance, albeit a slim one, by signing Browner to a future contract last Jan. 21. The idea when training camp opened in late July was that Walter Thurmond would be the starter on the right side. But when a sprained ankle sidelined Thurmond, Browner stepped in – and there he stayed. ‘I had a good feeling about it here, once they said they would give me a shot,’ Browner said. ‘That’s all I really wanted was a shot. I knew I was going to make the most of it. Once they gave me that shot, I jumped on it and went at it as hard as I could.’ ”
We also take a closer look at Lynch’s addition to the team: “Lynch did not have a 100-yard effort in the first seven games, when he sat out one due to back spasms. But in the final nine games, Lynch went for 135, 109, 111, 148, 115 and 107. Part of that was the coaching staff deciding that running the ball with Lynch gave the offense its best chance to sustain drives, and the team its best opportunity to win. In the games where Lynch had at least 20 carries, the Seahawks were 5-3. In the games were he didn’t get 20 carries, they were 2-6.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com looks at the 2010 draft classes in the NFC West after Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor was added to the NFC Pro Bowl squad: “(Free safety Earl) Thomas and Chancellor are making this a successful class. (Left tackle Russell) Okung might be the best of the three, but only if he can get healthy. (Cornerback Walter) Thurmond was a starter until suffering an injury at Cleveland. He’ll have a hard time winning back a starting job now that Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman have locked down jobs. But he could still factor. (Wide receiver Golden) Tate made strides late in the 2011 season.”
Also at ESPN, they have started a series looking at current NFL players who also could have been effective in any era.
Rob Rang at NFLDraftScout.com, via CBSSports.com, has the word from Tuesday’s practices at the Senior Bowl: “With Penn State’s Devon Still – NFLDraftScout.com’s top-rated senior defensive tackle – out of the Senior Bowl due to a sprained toe, scouts were curious to see which of the remaining interior defensive linemen would be able to step up their play. Based on Tuesday’s North practice, Connecticut’s Kendall Reyes and Michigan’s Mike Martin are taking full advantage of the opportunity.”
Rang also has a new mock draft, but gives the Seahawks the same player as in his previous mock – USC defensive end Nick Perry: “Having captured a full third of Seattle’s 33 sacks in 2011, Chris Clemons has quietly emerged as one of the NFL’s most productive pass rushers. His statistics are inflated due to the matchups presented by Seattle’s LEO position, a hybrid pass-rushing role. Carroll recruited Perry to Southern Cal three years ago to fill precisely this role. The 6-3, 255-pound Perry led the Pac-12 with 9.5 sacks as a junior and may be just scratching the surface of his potential. Whether serving as a complement to Clemons or as his eventual replacement, Perry’s speed and pass rushing potential will be highly valued come draft day.”
Bucky Brooks at NFL.com tackles some questions from the Senior Bowl, including one that could interest the Seahawks: Who is the third-best QB in this draft class? Says Brooks: “The competition for the third quarterback position on draft boards is wide open with Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden, Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins and Arizona’s Nick Foles viewed as viable contenders for the spot. … One player to watch is San Diego State’s Ryan Lindsey. He spent four years directing a wide-open attack that featured several pro concepts and his intriguing physical tools could shine on the Senior Bowl’s big stage.”
Also at NFL.com, Pat Kirwan looks at the offensive and defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl: “The Senior Bowl has a reputation for showcasing a number of quality linemen that can play in the NFL, and this year appears to be no different. There may not be a sure-fire left tackle that can start on opening day or an Aldon Smith-type pass rusher on either roster, but teams that do their homework will find a number of players that can contribute early in their professional careers.”
All-NFC honors for Lynch, Thomas; Sherman All-Rookie pick
Marshawn Lynch and Earl Thomas have been named to the All-NFC team, as selected by Pro Football Weekly, while Richard Sherman made the publication’s All-Rookie team.
Thomas was voted the starting free safety on the NFC Pro Bowl squad, so his selection is no surprise. But Lynch was a second alternate to the Pro Bowl, meaning four other running backs received more votes than the player who became the Seahawks’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2005 and also scored in a club-record 11 consecutive games.
The Eagles’ LeSean McCoy is the other back on the PFW team, and also was tabbed for their All-Pro team along with the Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew. Joining Thomas at safety on the All-NFC team is the 49ers’ Dashon Goldson, who played at the University of Washington. The safeties on PFW’s All-Pro team are the Steelers’ Troy Polamalu and the Chargers’ Eric Weddle.
Sherman and the Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson are the cornerbacks on the All-Rookie team. While Peterson was the fifth pick overall in the NFL Draft, Sherman was selected in the fifth round.
Sherman “shattered expectations in his first season,” as PFW put it. “He started 10 games and was among the league leaders in pass breakups (21).”
Friday cyber surfing: A Pro Bowl quintet?
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Jan. 20:
The big news yesterday was Michael Robinson being added to the NFC Pro Bowl team, joining Earl Thomas. But Mike Sando at ESPN.com points out that three more Seahawks also could be headed to Hawaii if the 49ers win the NFC Championship Game on Sunday: “We should expect (Marshawn) Lynch to join Robinson on the NFC’s Pro Bowl roster if the 49ers advance to the Super Bowl. … A 49ers victory Sunday would also send Seattle cornerback Brandon Browner and strong safety Kam Chancellor to the Pro Bowl as alternates. Browner would replace the 49ers’ Carlos Rogers. Chancellor would replace the 49ers’ Dashon Goldson.
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times has the word on Robinson replacing an injured John Kuhn in the Pro Bowl: “Robinson has played two seasons with the Seahawks, signing after the 49ers released him before the 2010 season. He was one of five Seahawks named a Pro Bowl alternate, a list that includes cornerback Brandon Browner, strong safety Kam Chancellor, running back Marshawn Lynch and punter Jon Ryan.”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald gets into what makes Robinson a Pro Bowl-caliber player, through the eyes of Lynch: “ ‘We built the identity of the team through a fullback,’ he said. ‘That just goes to everything he does and brings to the team as far as his run blocking and his leadership in the huddle.’ “
Here at Seahawks.com, we look at how Robinson’s Pro Bowl trip is just the latest achievement in his breakthrough season: “Prior to the season, he was voted a special teams co-captain. After the team struggled to a 2-6 start, Robinson helped shove the running game into a much more productive gear, as the Seahawks averaged 134.9 yards in the final nine games compared to 77.7 in the first seven. Individually, Robinson scored the first receiving touchdown of his career, returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, finished tied for third with 10 coverage tackles on special teams and forced a fumble that set up a touchdown. But mostly, Robinson helped Lynch do his Beast Mode thing by throwing his 6-foot-1, 223-pound body into much larger linebackers – including the Ravens’ Ray Lewis, the 49ers’ Patrick Willis, the Redskins’ London Fletcher and the Bears’ Brian Urlacher. ‘He doesn’t have this on his jersey for no reason,’ Lynch said, pointing to the captain’s patch on Robinson’s jersey.”
Speaking of Lynch, you can vote here for his TD run that ended in a shower of Skittles as NFL play of the year.
The Associated Press, via NFL.com, says former Seahawks executive Tim Ruskell has been interviewed for the Bears’ general manager position: “The Bears are looking to replace Jerry Angelo, who was fired after the Bears finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. Ruskell served as the Seahawks’ general manager from 2005 to 2009 before being hired by Chicago in April 2010.”
For a look at Sunday’s conference championship games, there’s Clark Judge’s “Peek at the Week” at CBSSports.com; and John Clayton’s “First and Goal” at ESPN.com.
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.
