Friday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 18:
FOCUS ON
Tarvaris Jackson. If it’s Friday, the Seahawks’ sore-shouldered quarterback did not throw in practice. But then this has become his pattern in practice since straining the pectoral in his right shoulder in the Week 5 win over the Giants.
“Tarvaris did very well in practice yesterday and couldn’t throw today,” coach Pete Carroll said after today’s 90-minute practice.
But then Jackson wasn’t scheduled to throw, because it has taken him two days to recover after throwing in previous weeks.
“We figured it was going to be the same, because he went into the week the same,” Carroll said. “He can throw one day and then he’s got to rest a few days before he can come back and throw again.”
But Jackson is expected to play against the Rams in St. Louis on Sunday, although the final decision will be made on game day – as it has the past three weeks.
Not ideal, but just the way it is and will continue to be.
“He misses the opportunity for the installation for the end of the week,” Carroll said. “He has to kind of think through the routes and read through them just standing behind the quarterback (Charlie Whitehurst).
“It’s just not the same, but we still feel confident in (him) helping us win. He looked really good a day ago. So that’s how we’ll go. But it’s not the way you design it at all. He needs the work and it’s going to accumulate, I would think, at some point. But hopefully we’ll be able to play through that.”
UNIT WATCH
Special teams. On a scale of 1-to-12, the efforts of these units were a “10” against the Ravens last week. How can you tell? It’s on a large performance board that is mounted on the wall just outside the locker room.
Special teams coaches Brian Schneider and Jeff Ulbrich grade their players on 12 categories each week, from 100 percent effort to eliminating big plays by the opponent. If the goal-area is achieved, a Seahawks’ logo is placed in the appropriate box. So the board does not lie in charting the inconsistent performance this season of the unit that was the most consistent element of the team last season.
That “10” against the Ravens included forcing two fumbles on kickoff returns that were recovered to set up a pair of field goals by Steve Hauschka – a win-win exchange for the special teams.
In addition to that “10,” the special teams got 11 logos in Weeks 4-5 against the Falcons and Giants. There also has been a pair of 8’s – against the Cardinals in Week 3 and the Browns in Week 7. But then there’s also a “6” (Week 9 against the Cowboys); a “5” (Week 2 against the Steelers); a “4” (Week 8 against the Bengals); and a “3” (the opener against the 49ers).
The Seahawks’ victories have come against the Ravens, Giants and Cardinals – two of the games with double-digit logos on the board as well as an “8.” Those with the least? The Seahawks allowed a punt return and kickoff return for touchdowns in the loss to the 49ers and a punt return for a score against the Bengals.
So the board serves as positive feedback for those jobs well done, and an impetus for improvement after those games that didn’t go as well.
“Absolutely,” said Michael Robinson, the special teams co-captain. “When we don’t have many of those logos up there, then that means a lot of games we lose. But when we’re meeting all of our goals, putting our offense and defense in great situations, we usually win.”
So that’s a thumbs-up for the special board? “I love it,” Robinson said.
INJURY REPORT
The official end-of-the-week status report:
Out
OT James Carpenter (knee)
Questionable
S Atari Bigby (hamstring)
DL Anthony Hargrove (hamstring)
Probable
WR Doug Baldwin (head)
QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral)
WR Sidney Rice (head)
LB David Vobora (head)
SS Kam Chancellor (head)
TE Cameron Morrah (toe/knee)
Bigby was limited in practice, but did get some work for the first time this week. Carroll said the status of Bigby and Hargrove would be game-day decisions. Rice, Baldwin and Chancellor have practiced all week, after getting concussions against the Ravens, and will play against the Rams.
For the Rams:
Out
OT Jason Smith (head)
RB Carnell Williams (calf)
Doubtful
WR Danario Alexander (hamstring)
Questionable
CB Justin King (head/ankle)
OT Rodger Saffold (head/chest)
Probable
WR Brandon Gibson (groin)
LB Josh Hull (hamstring)
LB Bryan Kehl (ankle)
RB Jerious Norwood (hamstring)
DE Eugene Sims (shoulder)
S Darian Stewart (neck)
DE Eugene Sims (shoulder)
Saffold, the starter at left tackle, did not practice today after injuring a pectoral while lifting weights. The St. Louis Post Dispatch is reporting that a MRI showed “significant” damage to the muscle. Mark LeVoir is expected to start against the Seahawks.
STILL SIDE-BY-SIDE
Rookie offensive linemen James Carpenter and John Moffitt will have surgery next week to repair the knee ligaments they damaged this week. On the same day.
“Beds side-by-side; and John’s going to be on the left and James will be on the right,” Carroll said, a reference to how they lined up at right guard and right tackle before being injured.
Moffitt injured the MCL and PCL in his right knee in Sunday’s win over the Ravens. Carpenter tore the ACL in his left knee during practice on Wednesday.
STAT DU JOUR
Marshawn Lynch will be looking to score a touchdown in his sixth consecutive game on Sunday, which would be the fourth-longest streak in franchise history. Here’s a look at those he’s tied with and those he’s chasing:
Player (season) Games
Shaun Alexander (2005) 9
David Sims (1978) 8
Chris Warren (1993-94) 7
Marshawn Lynch (2011) 5
Curt Warner (1983) 5
Steve Largent (1984) 5
UP NEXT
The players will have a walk-through on Saturday morning before the team flies to St. Louis for Sunday’s games.
The Seahawks will then play three consecutive home games for the first time since 2004 – next Sunday against the Redskins; Dec. 1, a Thursday night, against the Eagles; and a “Monday Night Football” game against the Rams on Dec. 12.
Tickets are available for those games and can be purchased here.
YOU DON’T SAY
“Whenever somebody gets hurt, your heart gets crushed a little bit for the guys. But the other side of it is the opportunity. These guys have come to play here. This is why they’re here. So they’re going to jump at this opportunity and go for it. They really do know our system. I feel very confident in that regard. Tom (Cable, the line coach) feels great about that. So we’ll expect those guys to do well and we’ll just keep moving.” – Carroll on Paul McQuistan and Breno Giacomini stepping in for Moffitt and Carpenter
Cyber surfing: Friday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for Nov. 18:
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times looks at the latest loss for the Seahawks’ offensive line, rookie right tackle James Carpenter: “There is something so incredibly unfortunate and downright fluky about Carpenter’s injury that it merits pause. The first-round pick was hurt during a one-on-one drill that is among the most basic for an offensive lineman. It’s an exercise he has done perhaps a thousand times this year alone, a drill that (Tom) Cable has coached for 25 years. ‘I’ve never lost a guy in a (pass-protection) drill, Cable said.”
Also at the Times, Earl Thomas did a live chat yesterday. The free safety answered a variety of questions, including this one about finding a good nickname for him: “People on the team already call me Deuce. It comes from Gus (Bradley), the defensive coordinator. He wanted to name his son Deuce, so he tried it out on me. Everybody calls me Deuce.”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald looks at the longer-term impact of losing both Carpenter and rookie right guard John Moffitt to knee injuries in the same week: “Now Seattle’s two promising rookie linemen will miss out not just on the experience of seven more games, but likely some of the team’s offseason workouts. And Carpenter and Moffitt, like all other rookies in the league, were already behind coming into the season when they missed out on offseason workouts thanks to the NFL lockout. These injuries will only further stunt the growth of two players the Seahawks expect to be a big part of their future. ‘It’s tough on them, because every day they do something that is part of their development,’ offensive line coach Tom Cable said. ‘They didn’t have the offseason, so the offseason would be valuable for them, as would the second half of the season, so we’re going to lose all that.’”
Eric Williams at the New Tribune looks at the future of running back Marshawn Lynch – physical and fiscal: “Lynch is one several top-flight backs who are playing for new contracts, along with Chicago’s Matt Forte, Buffalo’s Fred Jackson, Houston’s Arian Foster and Baltimore’s Ray Rice. An Oct. 23 game in which Lynch was a last-minute scratch because of lower back spasms might have proved how much the hard-running Lynch means to Seattle offensively. In a very winnable game against Cleveland on the road, the Seahawks mustered only 68 rushing yards and lost, 6-3, while Lynch watched from the sideline.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com looks at something that is missing from Steve Jackson’s resume – a 100-yard rushing effort in 14 previous games against the Seahawks by the Rams running back: “He has reached 100 yards in 30 career games and is riding a three-game streak with at least 128. But with the Seahawks coming to the Edward Jones Dome in Week 11, that streak appears in danger.”
Sando also looks at the opportunities for the pass-rushers in the NFC West as the divisions four teams matchup up on Sunday, including the Seahawks’ Chris Clemons: “Clemons had two sacks at St. Louis last season and 2.5 against the Rams overall. He has no sacks in his last three games. The Rams’ Sam Bradford took a season-low one sack against Cleveland last week. The Rams’ running game has improved recently, helping Bradford, but Seattle is strong against the run. Rodger Saffold has struggled with injuries and hasn’t taken a step forward following a promising rookie season. This matchup should favor Clemons.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we look at the changing of the guard – and tackle – on the right side of the Seahawks’ line in this story, as well as “Thursday in Hawkville”: “Today was the first practice with Breno Giacomini and Paul McQuistan working at right tackle and right guard to replace the rookie tandem of James Carpenter, who tore the ACL in his left knee during a pass-rush drill on Wednesday; and John Moffitt, who damaged two ligaments in his right knee in Sunday’s win over the Ravens. Giacomini and McQuistan will join left tackle Russell Okung, left guard Robert Gallery and center Max Unger in this week’s game against the Rams in St. Louis as the Seahawks look to continue the upward trend that has seen them rush for 100-plus yards in back-to-back games for the first time since Weeks 6-7 last season and allow just one sack each in the games against the Cowboys in Dallas and the Ravens at CenturyLink Field. ‘I felt like we were on the right path,’ assistant head coach/line coach Tom Cable said after the 105-minute practice that was held in the indoor practice facility. ‘We were kind of heading in the right direction.’ ”
There’s also Tony Ventrella’s video recap, as well as his weekly “Seahawks Inside” that feature QB Josh Portis.
For a look at the injury situation around the league, Reid Forgrave at FoxSports.com has this rundown: “So the preseason predictions of the pundit-ocracy — that the lockout-shortened training camps would cause NFL injuries to skyrocket — must have been right. Right? Wrong. A recent study by Kevin Meers of the Harvard College Sports Analysis Collective shows that the number of NFL injuries up to this point in the season is almost exactly the same as at this point last year. Moreover, the study indicates that the severity of these injuries has increased only slightly over a year ago. And at the midway point of the season, 44 fewer players were on the season-ending injured reserve than at the same point the year before. Instead, the perceived injury explosion in the NFL has more to do with who has been injured, not how many have been injured.”
Thursday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 17:
FOCUS ON
The right side of the line. Or the new right side of the line, to be precise.
Today was the first practice with Breno Giacomini and Paul McQuistan working at right tackle and right guard to replace the rookie tandem of James Carpenter, who tore the ACL in his left knee during a pass-rush drill on Wednesday; and John Moffitt, who damaged two ligaments in his right knee in Sunday’s win over the Ravens.
Giacomini and McQuistan will join left tackle Russell Okung, left guard Robert Gallery and center Max Unger in this week’s game against the Rams in St. Louis as the Seahawks look to continue the upward trend that has seen them rush for 100-plus yards in back-to-back games for the first time since Weeks 6-7 last season and allow just one sack each in the games against the Cowboys in Dallas and the Ravens at CenturyLink Field.
“I felt like we were on the right path,” assistant head coach/line coach Tom Cable said after the 105-minute practice that was held in the indoor practice facility. “We were kind of heading in the right direction.”
And Cable and his remaining linemen say they won’t let losing their top two draft choices derail the progress.
“We move forward,” Cable said. “We don’t change who we’re trying to become or what we’re trying to accomplish for our offense and for our football team. We don’t back down, we just go forward.
“It’s a shame, right. (Injuries) are part of the game. But we’re going to be fine, and we’re all confident in that. I have no worries. We’re just going to move forward and continue to get better. That’s what we have to do.”
The first step will come against a Rams’ defense that is allowing a league-high average of 150.6 rushing yards and has 22 sacks, which ties them for 14th in the NFL.
PLAY WATCH
Well, player, too, because the play is the one where Marshawn Lynch juked past Ray Lewis to pick up 8 yards and a key first down on third-and-5 in the drive that allowed the Seahawks to burn the final six minutes off the clock in Sunday’s upset of the Ravens.
If you haven’t seen it, you need to. If you have, it’s definitely worth another look.
What was Lynch thinking on that play? “I don’t think. It’s just a reaction,” he said.
How would he rate the move on his all-time list? “I don’t rate it. I’m sorry,” he said. “It was a nice move. First down. Keep the chains moving. I rate it as a first down.”
Not to mention a first-rate maneuver.
IN ’N OUT
After being limited on Wednesday, Tarvaris Jackson took part in all phases of practice today. This will be his routine the rest of the season, as the coaches and the quarterback manage the pain in his throwing shoulder from the pectoral he strained in the Week 5 win over the Giants.
“I’m pretty much just taking it day by day and seeing how it feels,” Jackson said. “If it feels good, I’ll try to play as much as I can. And if it doesn’t, I’ll just take as many reps as I can and make sure I still stay ready.”
Wide receivers Sidney Rice and Doug Baldwin, who got concussions in Sunday’s game, also did more today after being limited on Wednesday.
Here’s the official injury report:
Out
OT James Carpenter (knee)
Did not practice
S Atari Bigby (hamstring)
DL Anthony Hargrove (hamstring)
Full participation
WR Doug Baldwin (head)
QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral)
WR Sidney Rice (head)
LB David Vobora (head)
SS Kam Chancellor (head)
TE Cameron Morrah (toe/knee)
For the Rams:
Did not practice
OT Jason Smith (head)
RB Carnell Williams (calf)
Limited participation
WR Danario Alexander (hamstring)
WR Brandon Gibson (groin)
LB Josh Hull (hamstring)
LB Bryan Kehl (ankle)
CB Justin King (head)
RB Jerious Norwood (hamstring)
DE Eugene Sims (shoulder)
Full participation
OT Rodger Saffold (head)
S Darian Stewart (neck)
STAT DU JOUR
Good thing the Seahawks’ Thursday night game this season is in two weeks and not tonight. And it goes beyond having less time to prepare McQuistan and Giacomini to replace the injured duo of Moffitt and Carpenter on the right side of the offensive line.
It’s that Nov. 17 has not been kind to the Seahawks in the past, and that’s putting it kindly. They are 0-6 in games played on this date. Here’s a look at those games:
Year Outcome, opponent
1980 L, 19-17, vs. Raiders
1985 L, 20-13, vs. Patriots
1991 L, 31-7, at Raiders
1996 L, 17-16, at Lions
2002 L, 31-9, vs. Broncos
2010 L, 41-7, vs. Giants
UP NEXT
One more full practice on Friday morning before the team leaves after a Saturday walk-through for its 27-hour stay in St. Louis for Sunday’s game.
YOU DON’T SAY
“It’s never happened to me in my career. In 25 years, I’ve never lost a guy in a pass-pro drill. So it’s new for me, too.” – Cable when asked about the rarity of the situation in which Carpenter was injured
Cyber surfing: Wednesday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Nov. 16:
Mike Sando at ESPN.com has his weekly “Risers and Fallers” in the NFC West, with Seahawks tackle Russell Okung landing one of the “riser” spots: “Okung fared well in matchups against DeMarcus Ware and Terrell Suggs over the past two games. He had help at times, but there’s no question Okung is gaining in confidence and ability as his previous ankle injuries fade into the more distant past. His play has helped Marshawn Lynch put together 100-yard rushing performances in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. Seattle has allowed only two sacks in its last two games after allowing 14 in its previous three.”
Steve Kelley at the Seattle Times looks at the improved play of the entire O-line as a reason that things could get better in the second half of the season: “But I’m here to tell you that the offensive line is growing. It is beginning to understand coach Tom Cable’s zone schemes. The linemen are learning. Lynch is finding holes. … ‘That last drive showed what kind of a team we can be,’ tight end Zach Miller said after the game.”
Eric Williams of the News Tribune stays with the topic of the line and the improved running game: “Although it took longer than anticipated, the Seattle Seahawks finally are running the ball with some authority 10 weeks into the season. Through seven games, Seattle averaged just 78 yards a contest on the ground, second-worst in the league. But the Seahawks have put together impressive back-to-back rushing performances against two of the best run defenses in the league, Dallas and Baltimore.”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald examines the silly notion that the Seahawks would be better off losing to secure a higher draft choice: “Do we really even have to address this? Are there really Seahawks fans who are unhappy that the Seahawks surprised everyone outside of their own locker room and knocked off Baltimore last weekend, because of what it might mean to their draft position? Well based off the chatter on sports radio, Twitter, the blogosphere, etc., it seems this is something we have to talk about.”
Playing off that theme, Peter Schrager at FoxSports.com has a mock draft for 2012 and projects the Seahawks selecting … “Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU. A junior, Claiborne has four interceptions and is the top defensive talent on the best team in college football. Two years ago, the Seahawks rolled the dice on another defensive back in the Top 15 — do everything safety Earl Thomas and it’s worked out quite well. Seattle could be in the QB hunt if they finish with a Top-5 pick, but the way they played on Sunday vs. the Ravens, that might not be likely. Claiborne’s a 6-0, 190 pound physical, playmaking corner who would start — and make an impact — right away. Though this may change, I like him more than Dre Kirkpatrick at the moment.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we give you a behind-the-scenes look at Sunday’s victory over the Ravens with Rod Mar’s photo blog and Ben Malcolmson’s “From the Sidelines”: “Players set a very clear tone in the locker room before Sunday’s matchup against the Ravens. ‘We’re tired of losing,’ defensive tackle Brandon Mebane exclaimed to his teammates just before heading out to the field.’“How much does this mean to you?’ Apparently a lot.”
We’ve also got a look at why John Carlson was named the team’s Man of the Year: “Last week, John Carlson was selected as the Seahawks’ Man of the Year. Tuesday, he showed why. The team’s on-the-mend tight end was at Cathcart Elementary School to present principal Casey Bowers and 410 revved up students with an oversized check for $10,000 for being honored as the Seattle-area “Super School” in the NFL’s Play 60 campaign. ‘I didn’t plan the timing of the award and then this appearance,’ Carlson said with a smile following an assembly and 45-minute Ultimate NFL Physical Education Class. ‘But if I could have, this would have been a good way to do it. But I enjoy doing this stuff and I get a lot out of it.’ ”
There’s also at look at the day’s activities with “Tuesday in Hawkville,” including who might start at right guard this week for John Moffitt, who was placed on IR; as well as the Seahawks’ Sunday opponent in “Up Next.”
Tuesday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 15:
FOCUS ON
Right guard. In addition to putting together the game plan for Sunday’s matchup with the Rams in St. Louis today, the coaches also had to decide who will replace rookie John Moffitt at right guard.
Moffitt is out for the rest of the season after damaging two ligaments in his right knee on the Seahawks’ fourth play in Sunday’s upset victory over the Baltimore Ravens at CenturyLink Field.
The replacement options are Lemuel Jeanpierre, who played well after stepping in for Moffitt against the Ravens; and Paul McQuistan, who started three games at left guard earlier this season while Robert Gallery was out with a groin injury.
While Jeanpierre is a little more athletic, McQuistan has the edge in experience and knowledge of the Seahawks’ blocking scheme because he also played under assistant head coach/offensive line coach Tom Cable when both were with the Oakland Raiders.
Asked about Jeanpierre’s performance after the game, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson offered, “Right when he came in I didn’t have a doubt that he was going to get the job done. He’s always tuned in. He practices hard every day. I watch all the linemen, just to see exactly what guys can do, and when he came in at guard I felt he could get the job done just as well.”
Jeanpierre has started one game in the NFL, at center in Week 7 when Max Unger was out with a foot injury. McQuistan has started 15 – three in Weeks 3-5 this season and 12 in 2006-07, while with the Raiders.
“One of those two guys will be playing at right guard,” coach Pete Carroll said on Monday.
Whoever it is needs to help the Seahawks continue to take positive steps against a Rams’ defense that ranks last in the league at stopping the run, allowing an average of 150.6 rushing yards. After rushing for more than 100 yards twice in their first seven games, the Seahawks have done it in each of their past two games. After allowing 28 sacks in the first seven games, the Seahawks have yielded two in the past two games.
“We’ve distinctly moved ahead in the last couple weeks and so hopefully we can keep building on that,” Carroll said. “I think we’re going in the right direction.”
And with a new right guard.
MOFFITT TO IR
Moffitt was placed on injured reserve today because he’ll need surgery to repair the MCL and PCL in his right knee that were damaged in Sunday’s game.
To fill his roster spot, Paul Fanaika was re-signed. The 6-foot-5, 327-pound Fanaika began the season on the practice squad, but was released last week when wide receiver Patrick Williams was re-signed. Fanaika was on the 53-man roster for the final three games last season, after being signed off the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad. He was inactive for all three games.
STAT DU JOUR
Nose tackle Brandon Mebane doesn’t just anchor a Seahawks run defense that ranks 12th in the league in average yards allowed (106.4) and is tied for third in average per-carry (3.6). He is tied for the lead in tackles among NFC defensive tackles. Here are the top four:
Player Tackles (solo/assists)
Brandon Mebane, Seahawks 27 (18/0)
Ndamukong Suh, Lions 27 (20/7)
Cullen Jenkins, Eagles 24 (17/7)
Jay Ratliff, Cowboys 23 (16/7)
UP NEXT
The players return from their “off” day to begin preparing for Sunday’s game against the Rams in St. Louis – the Seahawks’ only road game in a current five-game stretch that saw them play the Ravens at home last week and also features home games against the Redskins (Nov. 27), Eagles (Dec. 1) and Rams (Dec. 12).
Tickets are available for the games against the Redskins, Eagles and Rams and can be purchased here.
YOU DON’T SAY
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. So this video of Marshawn Lynch doing his thing against Ray Lewis in Sunday’s game is worth at least 10,000 words – and definitely another look.
Fanaika returns
Paul Fanaika is back with the Seahawks, but not on their practice squad.
The third-year guard was signed to the 53-man roster today, filling the spot that opened when rookie guard John Moffitt was placed on injured reserve after damaging two ligaments in his right knee in Sunday’s victory over the Ravens.
Fanaika began the season on the practice squad, but was released last week when wide receiver Patrick Williams was re-signed. Fanaika joined the Seahawks last December, when he was signed off the Browns’ practice squad, but was inactive for the final three games.
Cyber surfing: Tuesday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Nov. 15:
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times takes a look at the loss of rookie right guard John Moffitt to a season-ending knee injury: “Moffitt suffered injuries to the medial collateral and post collateral ligaments in his right knee. He will have to undergo surgery.”
Also from O’Neil, a look at the potential that came with Sunday’s upset victory over the Ravens: “There are 10 NFL teams with six victories or more. The Seahawks are one of five teams to have beaten two of those teams that are 6-3 or better. None of the four other teams to accomplish the feat has fewer than six wins, let alone the 3-6 record Seattle holds. So what do the Seahawks take from Sunday’s victory? ‘We had another really good illustration that we can win against a division-leading team,’ Carroll said. ‘You play good, solid football with the right approach and you take care of the football.’ “
Dave Boling at the News Tribune takes a look at the penalties that continue to plague the Seahawks, including 13 for 100 yards in Sunday’s game against the Ravens: “The problem is not new, and it’s only getting worse. The Seahawks now have 83 accepted penalties in nine games – more than they had in six entire seasons since 1987. They’re the second-most flagrant scofflaws in the NFL, trailing only the Oakland Raiders (91), who have long ago retired the Golden Hochuli Award for on-field anarchy.”
Gerry Spratt at PI.com provides one more look at the move Marshawn Lynch put on Ray Lewis near the end of Sunday’s game, and it worth at least another look or three.
John Boyle at the Everett Herald runs through the injury updates after Sunday’s game, including the concussions received by Sidney Rice, Kam Chancellor and Doug Baldwin: “ ‘We’re not going to know until Thursday or Friday on these guys whether they’ll be able to play or not because of the process that they have to go through,’ Carroll said.”
Also at the Herald, Scott Johnson continues his “The Game of My Life” series with a look at Fredd Young: “Fredd Young first jumped on to the football radar during his senior season at Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, but it wasn’t until a couple years later that he really made a name for himself. Or, more accurately, Britt Mayberry made the name for him. Mayberry, a little-known backup linebacker on the New Mexico State football team, was the person who suggested that Frederick Kimball Young change the spelling of his shortened first name. Mayberry told his teammate, Fred Young, that he should add a second ‘D’ to his name because he hit so hard it made opposing players stutter. And so Fred Young became Fredd Young.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com has “Five Observations” from the Seahawks’ upset of the Ravens, including: “Seahawks had the better quarterback. Tarvaris Jackson outplayed Joe Flacco by a shockingly wide margin. Jackson hung tough in the pocket when pressure was mounting and delivered the ball accurately, including to Marshawn Lynch. But the most impressive play for Jackson showcased his strong arm. Jackson, supposedly limited by a strained right pectoral muscle, threw a pass 45 yards in the air to Doug Baldwin on an across-the-body throw while rolling hard to his left. Not many quarterbacks can make that type of throw. Flacco repeatedly missed receivers. He missed one potential touchdown on a deep pass and another when tight end Dennis Pitta slipped behind linebacker Leroy Hill in the end zone. Flacco overthrew both passes. He also threw into double coverage in the end zone on another play. Seattle’s Brandon Browner and Earl Thomas collided while trying to make the pick, or else this would have been an interception.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we look back at Steven Hauschka’s five-field goal performance in our “Monday Metatarsal Musings”: “Sunday, he was your basic bundle of nerves during pregame warm-ups – usually the barometer of how a kicker’s day will go – because the Seahawks’ opponent was the team that released him in November of 2009. ‘The funny thing is I didn’t even kick well in warm-ups,’ Hauschka said. ‘It just kind of came together during the game. I was kind of distracted during warm-ups because I knew half the guys on the other sideline. But once I got that out of there, then I felt like I started kicking well.’ ‘
We’ve also got at look at the offense moving on without Moffitt, as well as recaps of the day in “Monday in Hawkville” and Tony Ventrella’s video report.
Monday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 14:
FOCUS ON
Penalties. The Seahawks lost 100 yards to infractions against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, and have lost 623 yards to penalties this season. But at least coach Pete hasn’t lost his sense of humor about the situation.
“I put the list up on the board for the guys in the meeting today of the offenders,” Carroll said of the 10 players who were flagged on Sunday. “It’s a global situation we’re dealing with here, and it’s epidemic proportions.”
What transpired against the Ravens was not so funny, however, because the season-highs in penalties (13) and yards (100) are a continuation of a problem that has been hampering the Seahawks all season.
“We’re going right back to work at it, as best we can,” Carroll said. “It’s awareness, for the most part.”
Carroll separates the penalties into three categories:
Line of scrimmage – Those stationary infractions, like jumping offside on defense or false starting on offense. “Those are really in our control,” he said.
Aggressive – Like the pass interference call on cornerback Brandon Browner and the personal foul against strong safety Kam Chancellor on Sunday. “We just try to get in the guys heads conscience-wise so that they’re always mindful that this move they could make could put us in jeopardy,” he said.
Others – Illegal contact. Illegal hands. Those infractions that don’t fall into either of the first two categories.
The Seahawks were guilty of all three varieties against the Ravens, and have been all season.
“It sucks to have 13 penalties in a game, particularly to have seven in the fourth quarter,” Carroll said. “It’s all but disheartening. However, it was cool to see we could overcome it. Smarts didn’t work out, toughness did – and grit did and finish did.
“That’s not always going to be the case, so we’ve got to get rid of it and we’re just going to work until it goes away.”
INJURY UPDATES
The big news is rookie right tackle John Moffitt being lost for the rest of the season because he needs surgery to repair two damaged ligaments in his right knee.
Three players also got concussions against the Ravens: wide receivers Sidney Rice and Doug Baldwin and strong safety Kam Chancellor. Carroll said all three were better today, but that it could be Thursday or Friday before it is known whether they can play this week.
Two players left the game after aggravating previous hamstring injuries: defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove and safety Atari Bigby. With them, Carroll said, “We’ll see how it goes.”
STAT DU JOUR
Marshawn Lynch carried the ball a career-high 32 times against the Ravens. That also ties for the fifth-highest total in franchise history. Here’s the all-time list:
Player (date) Carries Opponent
Shaun Alexander (11-27-06) 40 Packers
Chris Warren (9-19-93) 36 Patriots
Shaun Alexander (11-11-01) 35 Raiders
Lamar Smith (11-17-96) 33 Lions
Shaun Alexander (10-14-01) 33 Broncos
Marshawn Lynch (11-13-11) 32 Ravens
Curt Warner (11-27-83) 32 Chiefs
Ricky Watters (12-20-98) 32 Colts
UP NEXT
The players are off Tuesday, but return on Wednesday to begin preparing for Sunday’s game against the Rams in St. Louis.
YOU DON’T SAY
“After reviewing the film and getting together with the guys, this was a really good kind of all-around win of our team in the sense that everybody contributed in a big way. We had a really good effort. We got to an energy level that we needed to play against such a good football team.” – Carroll on the upset of the Ravens
Game at a glance
A recap of the Seahawks’ 22-17 victory over the Baltimore Ravens at CenturyLink Field on Sunday:
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
The obvious choice for player of the game is Marshawn Lynch, after he ran for 109 yards and caught a team-high five passes for another 58 yards. But let’s not be so obvious. Let’s include the offensive line and lead-blocking fullback Michael Robinson.
Yes, Lynch was in “Beast Mode,” but his blockers definitely helped unleash the beast – tackles Russell Okung and James Carpenter; guards Robert Gallery, John Moffitt and Lemuel Jeanpierre; and center Max Unger.
“I was really proud of the offensive line,” coach Pete Carroll said of a unit that hasn’t received many positive reviews this season. “I thought they played great, protected beautifully today. And when we needed it most, they were able to grab the running game and take five or six minutes off the clock.”
Carroll was referring to the blocker-led, Lynch-fueled final drive from the Seahawks’ 20-yard line to the Ravens’ 16 on the final possession of the game that began with 5:52 to play. Lynch touched ball on eight of the first 10 plays, including seven in a row, before quarterback Tarvaris Jackson took a knee twice to run the final seconds off the clock.
Lynch had 46 of his rushing yards in the fourth quarter and 23 in the third quarter, after getting 35 in the first quarter and only 5 in the second quarter.
Even the linemen had to admit they were inspired by how hard Lynch ran – and runs.
“It’s impressive,” Unger said of Lynch bringing the cliché “moving the pile” to life right before his eyes. “I mean, we know what he’s going to bring. Our play has to be elevated when we see stuff like that and just give it all out. He had a couple of very awesome runs there at the end.”
PLAYS OF THE GAME
Offense: Before Lynch took over on that final drive, Tarvaris Jackson made sure the drive would continue by threading a pass between two defenders to wide receiver Golden Tate for a 24-yard completion on a third-and-5 play. Tate was in the game because Sidney Rice and Doug Baldwin had gone out with concussions, but Jackson did not hesitate to go his way with so much hanging in the balance.
Said Jackson, “Golden did a good job of getting open. I just tried to put the ball on him before the safety got there and he was able to make the catch, stay in bounds and keep the clock running.”
Tate, however, said his catch finished third on that completion behind, first, the play call by coordinator Darrell Bevell and, also, the throw by Jackson. And maybe even fourth, because Tate also credited the clearing route run by Mike Williams on the same side for allowing him to get open.
“Great call by coach Bevell,” Tate said. “Tarvaris made a great throw. I just did the easy job – catch the ball and secure the ball. We move the stakes and that was huge for us.”
Defense: The Ravens’ Joe Flacco put the ball up a career-high 52 times, so the Seahawks had ample opportunity to make big plays. But none was bigger than the pass that rookie strongside linebacker K.J. Wright tipped and middle linebacker David Hawthorne intercepted and returned 34 yards to the Ravens’ 4-yard line to setup a field goal that made it 22-7 early in the third quarter.
“Turnovers always are big,” Hawthorne said. “You win the turnover ratio, you’re going to win the game.”
Special teams: Steven Hauschka kicked five field goals, but let’s go with the last one because it tied the franchise single-game record that was set by Norm Johnson in 1987 and then tied by Johnson (1988), Todd Peterson (1999) and Olindo Mare (twice in 2010).
“I know it looks like five kicks was the difference in the game, but there are a lot of plays by a lot of different guys that helped make that happen,” Hauschka said.
INJURY REPORT
The Seahawks lost six players during the game, but the most serious appeared to be knee injury Moffitt got in the first quarter. The rookie right guard is scheduled to have a MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the damage and how long he might be sidelined.
After Moffitt went out, Jeanpierre stepped in and played well.
In addition to the concussions that Rice (third quarter) and Baldwin (second quarter) got, strong safety Kam Chancellor (fourth quarter) also got one and backup safety Atari Bigby went out in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. So Chris Maragos got ample snaps at safety late in the game.
Defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove also injured a hamstring in the third quarter.
WORTH NOTING
The Ravens had allowed nine 100-yard rushers in their past 92 games, but Lynch became the 10th.
Lynch carried a career-high 32 times – eight shy of Shaun Alexander’s franchise record – to get his 109 yards.
The Seahawks forced three turnovers – their second-highest total this season. In addition to Hawthorne’s interception, Michael Robinson and Malcolm Smith forced fumbles on kickoff returns that were recovered by Atari Bigby and Ben Obomanu.
The Seahawks won time of possession for the second consecutive week – and only second time this season – with a season-best 35:01.
Free safety Earl Thomas and linebacker Leroy Hill led the Seahawks with eight tackles.
The Seahawks got their hands on 10 of Flacco’s passes, including three by cornerback Brandon Browner.
Smith, a rookie linebacker, got the Seahawks’ only sack – his first in the NFL. He also had two tackles on special teams.
The Ravens averaged 6.3 yards rushing, but ran the ball just 12 times.
The Ravens’ Ray Rice ran for 27 yards, caught eight passes for 54 yards and also threw a 1-yard TD pass to tight end Ed Dickson, who had 10 catches for 79 yards.
YOU DON’T SAY
“I’m glad we had a chance to celebrate with our fans today, and they were fantastic again. The 12th MAN was extraordinary today. It was a beautiful day working with them and playing with them. You can’t have more fun coaching football than when you’re coaching at this place. So it was really special.” – Carroll
