Friday cyber surfing: On Baldwin and Bryant
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 10:
Doug Baldwin did a live chat with the News Tribune on Thursday, and had this to say about which teammate helped him the most during his rookie season: “Mike Williams. His knowledge of the game of football is impressive. And he has helped me to understand the key to reading defenses.”
Brock Huard at 710 ESPN explains in this video report why re-signing defensive end Red Bryant should be a priority in free agent: “The Seahawks, in theory, have options at defensive end beyond Bryant. But as Brock Huard explains in Thursday’s Wrap Up video, Bryant’s familiarity with the organization should make him more attractive to the Seahawks than defensive ends with similar ability.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we take a look at the team’s new offseason schedule, the third in as many years: “The offseason program will begin in April, a month later than in 2010; there will be fewer than half as many OTA sessions, and they also begin later (May); and the team will hold only one mandatory, full-squad minicamp (June). It’s a brave new world in the NFL, as well as at Virginia Mason Athletic Center, and only the well-prepared will thrive. ‘We’ve anticipated it, so we’re prepared for it,’ head strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle said on Thursday.”
Mike Sando dipped into his mailbag at ESPN.com to answer a question about whether Pro Football Hall of Famers were disproportionately early draft choices: “Yes, that is definitely the case. The Hall of Fame lists them by round. I also track this information. By my count, 143 of 188 drafted Hall of Famers were chosen in the first three rounds. That is 76.1 percent. That includes 94 first-round selections, 29 second-rounders and 20 third-rounders.”
Pete Prisco at CBSSports.com ranks his Top 50 free agents and sitting at No. 10 is Seahawks defensive end Red Bryant: “He had eight starts in his first three seasons, but started 16 in 2011 and was a force on the Seattle defense. He is a perfect 3-4 end, which is where he played last season. He is this year’s Ray McDonald. He turns 28 in April.” At No. 42 is running back Marshawn Lynch: “He has rejuvenated his career in Seattle after being a disappointment in Buffalo in his last two seasons. He ran for 1,204 yards last season for the Seahawks and he only turns 26 in March.”
As for the give-us-this-day-our-daily-Peyton-Manning item, Michael Lombardi at NFL.com douses all the talk about which team might sign the Colts’ iconic QB if/when he is released: “I think it’s unrealistic to assume (he can return). He can’t throw the ball. I’ve talked to people who’ve caught the ball for him. He can’t throw the ball to his left. He can’t throw the ball across his body, because he doesn’t feel it. People who catch the ball for him say he doesn’t really have velocity on the ball yet.”
But that doesn’t stop Ryan Fowler of WhatIfSports.com from playing the what-if game regarding Manning in this piece at FoxSports.com: “Peyton Manning’s last offensive drive included passes to Jacob Tamme and Blair White with a dash of Joseph Addai on the ground. That 2010 Wild Card game against the Jets seems like eons ago, not only for Colts fans, but your casual NFL fan, too. His last drive is a microcosm of what the elder Manning brought to the line every single down. He possesses the innate ability to raise the game of those around him. From Tamme to White to Austin Collie to Pierre Garcon, Manning has made an art out of creating chicken soup from chicken droppings. Up until now, all 13 professional seasons, this maestro’s magic hat featured a horseshoe emblazoned on the side.”
On this date
A look at the memorable – and not-so-memorable – moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Jan. 2:
1983: Dave Krieg passes to Roger Carr for a 19-yard touchdown with 47 seconds to play, as the Seahawks wrap up the strike-shortened 1982 season with a 13-11 victory over the Broncos at Mile High Stadium. Krieg’s game-winning TD pass caps a 10-play, 87-yard drive. Kenny Easley leads the defensive effort with seven solo tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery, while linebackers Shelton Robinson and Bruce Scholtz combine for 27 tackles.
1994: The Seahawks close their 1993 season by rallying from a 24-3 deficit but fall to the Chiefs 34-24 at Arrowhead Stadium. John L. Williams rushes for 102 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown. Rick Mirer becomes the first rookie QB to start all his team’s games since 1973 and sets then-rookie records for attempts (486), completions (274) and passing yards (2,833).
2000: The Seahawks wrap up the AFC West title, despite losing 19-9 in their 1999 regular-season finale to the Jets in the Meadowlands, because the Raiders also beat the Chiefs. The Seahawks finish 9-7 after starting 8-2, but it’s still their best record since 1990. Also, Cortez Kennedy is voted to his then-club record eighth Pro Bowl.
2002: Walter Jones and John Randle are named to the Pro Bowl.
2005: The Seahawks clinch the NFC West title for the first time in their 2004 regular-season finale as they stop a two-point PAT attempt on the final play of a 28-26 victory over the Falcons in Seattle. Matt Hasselbeck passes for two touchdowns and runs for a third, which gives the Seahawks a 28-20 lead with 4½ minutes to play. Matt Schaub throws a TD pass on the final play, but Warrick Dunn’s run for the tying PAT is stopped by Chad Brown and Rocky Bernard.
2011: The Seahawks capture the 2010 NFC West title with a 16-6 victory over the Rams in the regular-season finale in Seattle on Sunday night. Charlie Whitehurst starts for an injured Matt Hasselbeck and passes to Mike Williams for the Seahawks’ only touchdown, as Olindo Mare kicks three field goals. Raheem Brock leads the defensive effort with 2½ sacks.
Tuesday in Hawkville
A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Dec. 20:
FOCUS ON
Ben Obomanu. With Mike Williams undergoing season-ending surgery today to repair the left ankle he broke in Sunday’s game against the Bears in Chicago, Obomanu steps into the starting lineup. Again.
Obomanu, remember, started five games earlier this season when first Sidney Rice was out and then Williams. Now, the Seahawks have neither of their intended starting wide receivers, so it will be up to Obomanu and Golden Tate to get the job done in Saturday’s game against the NFC West champion 49ers at CenturyLink Field.
“Ben is a different-style receiver,” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said after today’s 90-minute practice. “He’s got good speed. He’s got good quickness. He knows what we’re doing. He can play multiple positions – he’s been our Z, he’s been out X, he’s kind of been all over the place.
“So he does a lot for us.”
Obomanu and Tate showed what they can combine to do on the opening drive of the second half against the Bears, as Tarvaris Jackson went to Tate for a 33-yard pass play on third-and-9 and then found Obomanu for a 43-yard gain on a drive that ended with Marshawn Lynch scoring on a 3-yard run.
Because Obomanu already has started at split end (three games for Williams) and flanker (two games for Rice), his flexibility and experience will help the passing game compensate for its latest loss.
In 14 games, nine players have led, or shared the lead, in receptions for the Seahawks: leading receiver Doug Baldwin (seven times), Rice (four), Williams (two), Tate (two), Obomanu (one), running back Leon Washington (one), Lynch (one), fullback Michael Robinson (one) and tight end Zach Miller (one).
“A new guy has kind of stepped up every week,” Bevell said. “Doug has made big plays. Golden has made big plays the last couple of weeks. You saw Ben catch a couple. So there are guys making plays. We just have to use the skills that they have and try to get them open.”
Obomanu is tied for second on the team with 32 receptions for 379 yards, and led the team with four catches in the Week 2 loss to the Steelers. Tate is third with 27 catches for 320 yards, including four against the Bears to share team-high honors with Miller.
Baldwin (46 for 731) will continue to get ample work in the slot. Deon Butler and Ricardo Lockette, who was signed off the practice squad last week, get bumped up to the fourth and fifth spots.
“We’ve been able to mix those guys in enough that where we really had five guys that at any point could really play all those positions,” Bevell said. “So we kind of, I don’t want to say don’t miss a beat, but the next guy up has been able to do a nice job.”
PLAYOFF PATTER
Winning five of their six games to begin the second half of the season has the once 2-6 Seahawks at .500 and on the cusp of the NFC playoff picture. The easier scenario to comprehend, if not accomplish, for the Seahawks to advance to the playoffs for a second consecutive season is to have them beat the 49ers and Cardinals and have the 9-5 Lions lose their games against the Chargers and Packers. The Seahawks would advance based on a better conference record.
But the players are not spending their time worrying about scenarios. They’re focused on the 49ers.
“It feels good,” Robinson said of having the Seahawks and playoffs used in the same sentence. “But at the same time, we’re just looking at it one game at a time. We can’t go to the playoffs if we don’t win this game. We couldn’t go to the playoffs if we didn’t win the last game. So you win the next game. Just win the game you have in front of you and let everything else take care of itself.
“Even if we don’t make the playoffs, the fact that if we can finish on a strong note, it’s a great stepping stone, a great building block for years to come.”
IN ’N OUT
Cornerback Phillip Adams was signed to fill Williams’ spot on the 53-man roster, as last year’s leading receiver had his surgery performed by team doctors Ed Khalfayan and Mike McAdam at the Seattle Surgery Center.
Adams, a seventh-round draft choice by the 49ers in 2010, was with the Patriots this season until being released Nov. 29. The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Adams played his college ball at South Carolina State.
The player practiced without pads or helmets in the indoor practice facility, but the team does not have to release an injury report until tomorrow.
STAT DU JOUR
Just how good has Jackson been in the Seahawks’ three-game winning streak? In a word: very. In a number: 104.5. That’s Jackson’s passer rating in the wins over the Eagles, Rams and Bears. He’s not only feeling better, more than two months after spraining the pectoral in his throwing shoulder during the Week 5 upset of the Giants; he’s managing the game better, as evidenced by the fact that he has not thrown an interception since his final pass in the Week 12 loss to the Redskins. Here’s a closer look at Jackson’s performances in the past three games:
Opponent Att. Comp. Yds. Pct. TD Int. Rating
Eagles 16 13 190 .813 1 0 137.0
Rams 32 21 224 .656 1 0 96.4
Bears 31 19 227 .613 1 0 94.4
Totals 79 53 641 .671 3 0 104.5
UP NEXT
The players will be back on the practice field Wednesday, which will be Thursday in his short week to prepare for Saturday’s game against the 49ers.
Tickets are available for the Christmas Eve game and can be purchased here.
YOU DON’T SAY
“That game seems like, I mean I didn’t even remember it was this year it’s so long ago. We’ve been through so much. We’ve changed so much. We’ve transitioned. We’re a much different team, and they’re a much different team. They’re a strong defense, it was evident last night. But we’re a much better offense than we were when we faced them at that point.” – Bevell on the season opener against the 49ers in San Francisco
Surgery for Williams
Mike Williams, the Seahawks’ leading receiver last season, had surgery today to repair the left ankle he broke in Sunday’s win over the Bears in Chicago.
With Williams being placed on injured reserve, cornerback Phillip Adams was signed to fill his spot on the 53-man roster. Adams, a seventh-round draft choice by the 49ers in 2010, was with the Patriots this season until being released Nov. 29.
The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Adams played his college ball at South Carolina State.
Cyber surfing: Wednesday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Nov. 30:
Dave Boling at the News Tribune looks at Chris Clemons, or “the best Seahawk player about whom you know the least,” as Boling puts it. But he’s a what-you-see-is-what-you-really-need-to-know force at defensive end: “The man plays with such unrelenting energy that he’s an example of what’s known in the league as a high-motor guy. Revving up at the red line on every play.”
Also at the News Tribune, Eric Williams looks at Sidney Rice, who got a concussion in Sunday’s game and isn’t expected to play against the Eagles on Thursday night: “ ‘We have to take care of him,’ coach Pete Carroll said. ‘There’s not a helmet that he could put on his head that he could play with this weekend.’ Carroll all but ruled out Rice for Thursday’s game against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, saying he’s more concerned about the go-to receiver’s long-term prospects in Seattle.”
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times looks at the Seahawks’ other starting receiver, as Mike Williams is coming off a no-catch performance in the loss to the Redskins: “The question of whether Mike Williams gets back is more metaphorical at this point. He finished without a catch Sunday for the third time this season and played sparingly in the second half because of a sore shoulder. What has happened to the player who was the Seahawks’ most unexpected success in 2010? He had 10 or more catches in three different games last season, but hasn’t caught more than four balls in any game this year. ‘I feel like I prepare the same way,’ Williams said. ‘I work just as hard. People who think, ‘Oh, well he was hungry in 2010. He was more hungry last year.’ I don’t think that’s it.’ “
Mike Sando at ESPN.com has his weekly “NFC West Stock Watch,” and Williams is among those “falling”: “The team’s leading receiver from 2010 dropped passes and did not adjust to his scrambling quarterback during a 23-17 home defeat to the Redskins. Williams’ career revival made for an appealing storyline last season. Lately, though, Williams is more closely resembling the disappointing player he became earlier in his career. He finished with zero receptions against the Redskins.”
Sando also has a look at dropped passes among the division’s receivers.
With Rice likely out, the Seahawks turn once again to Ben Obomanu, and we check-in with the versatile wide receiver here at Seahawks.com. Says QB Tarvaris Jackson: “You can always count on him. He always does everything right. He can make plays for you. In my eyes, he’s like a starter. Whenever Mike is down or Sid is down, he can step in and we’re not really losing a lot. In some things, he may even do better.”
We’ve also got practice covered in “Tuesday in Hawkville” and Tony Ventrella’s video report, as well as an “Up Next” look at the Eagles.
And because it was Tuesday, there’s also a look back at Sunday’s game with Rod Mar’s photo blog and Ben Malcolmson’s “From the Sidelines”: “It was theirs for the taking. A win, a continuation of positive momentum and a strong statement to start a three-game homestand — they were all not only options, but clear in the Seahawks’ grasp. And then they weren’t. A 16-point barrage by the Redskins in the final 10 minutes turned a feel-good victory into a heartbreaking defeat for the Seahawks, who fell to 4-7 after the 23-17 loss on Sunday. ‘There’s a game in our hands and then we lose,’ Coach Pete Carroll said to start his postgame speech in the locker room. ‘It hurts. These are hard lessons.’ ”
Monday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 28:
FOCUS ON
The week. Because the Seahawks are hosting the Eagles on Thursday night, their weekly schedule is getting the equivalent of being stuffed in a trash compactor.
Today is Monday, but also Tuesday. Tomorrow will be Wednesday, as well as Thursday. Wednesday will be Friday. Thursday morning will be Saturday, with Sunday afternoon coming on Thursday night.
Translation: There’s a lot of stuff that needs to be done in a short amount of time.
That’s why Pete Carroll did not have his weekly day-after news conference this afternoon, because the coaches were putting together the game plan.
As difficult as the task is for the Seahawks, it’s even more challenge for the Eagles because they have to make the Philadelphia to Seattle flight for the game.
How do the players handle this condensed two-games-in-five-days schedule? Mike Williams has some experience with it, because the Seahawks wide receiver played his first NFL seasons with the Lions, who play on Thanksgiving every year.
“It really is about getting back to work – game planning,” Williams said after Sunday’s game. “I’m not sure how much stuff we’re going to do physically, but you can watch film – a lot of film. What you don’t do physically, you have to do in the film room.
“We’ve got enough leaders and we’ve got enough vets, and we’ve just got to bring everybody along. … It’s more mental. When you have such a short time and you just finished playing a game, you just kind of want to heal and get healthy enough to get out there and play again for 60 minutes.”
INJURY REPORT
The Seahawks and Eagles had to file injury reports today because they play on Thursday night. The one for the Seahawks is an estimation, because their walk-through does not begin until 6 p.m. The Eagles held a walk-through earlier in the day. So here’s the report
Did not practice
WR Sidney Rice (concussion)
Limited participation
DT Alan Branch (ankle)
LB David Hawthorne (knee)
QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral)
CB Byron Maxwell (illness)
CB Richard Sherman (calf)
For the Eagles:
Did not practice
CB Nnamdi Asomugha (knee)
OT King Dunlap (concussion)
LB Moise Fokou (ankle)
WR Jeremy Maclin (hamstring, shoulder)
QB Michael Vick (ribs)
Limited participation
DT Cullen Jenkins (thumb)
RB LeSean McCoy (toe)
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle)
LINEBACKER SHUFFLE
Linebacker and special teams player David Vobora was placed on injured reserve today after being injured in Sunday’s loss to the Redskins. To fill Vobora’s roster spot, linebacker Adrian Moten was claimed off waivers from the Colts.
Vobora was originally signed Aug. 22 and made the 53-man roster on the final cut down, but was then released Sept. 4. He was re-signed Oct. 4 and played in six games. Sunday, he came in to play strongside linebacker in the second half after David Hawthorne went out with a knee injury, forcing K.J. Wright to move from the strong side to middle linebacker replace Hawthorne.
Moten signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in July, but was waived Sunday. He played in 10 games, making four tackles and recovering a fumble on special teams.
Vobora becomes the 11th player to go on IR for the Seahawks, joining cornerbacks Marcus Trufant and Walter Thurmond; offensive linemen John Moffitt and James Carpenter; tight end John Carlson; linebackers Matt McCoy and Jameson Konz; defensive linemen Jimmy Wilkerson and Dexter Davis; and wide receiver Kris Durham.
STAT DU JOUR
Doug Baldwin is no longer on pace to become the Seahawks’ first 1,000-yard receiver since Bobby Engram in 2007. But the rookie free agent with Engram-like skills is leading the team in receptions (37) and receiving yards (604). If he finishes the season as the leading receiver, Baldwin will be the sixth player to do it in the past six seasons. Here’s a look at the group he would join:
Player Times (seasons)
Steve Largent 12 (1976-87)
Brian Blades 5 (1989, 1991, 1993-95)
Darrell Jackson 4 (2001, 2003-04, 2006)
John L. Williams 3 (1988, 1990, 1992)
Joey Galloway 3 (1996-98)
Bobby Engram 2 (2005, 2007)
Derrick Mayes 1 (1999)
Sean Dawkins 1 (2000)
Ricky Watters 1 (2000)
Koren Robinson 1 (2002)
John Carlson 1 (2008)
T.J. Houshmandzadeh 1 (2009)
Mike Williams 1 (2010)
UP NEXT
Tuesday usually is the players “off” day, but not this week. Because of Thursday’s game, they will have an afternoon practice.
Tickets are available for Thursday night’s game and can be purchased here.
YOU DON’T SAY
“It’s going to be difficult for the Eagles, too, so we can’t use that as an excuse. … They’re going to be hungry for a win and we’ve got to make sure we’re hungry for one. So we’ll continue to focus and prepare, and bounce back to be the team that I feel like can get a ‘W.’ ” – defensive end Red Bryant
Cyber surfing: Monday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Nov. 28:
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times looks at the not-so-funny thing that happened to the Seahawks in the fourth quarter of what was an expected victory over the Redskins on Sunday: “The victory was going to show just how far these Seahawks have come in their second season under coach Pete Carroll. The Seahawks led by 10 points with 12 minutes to play, a young team ready to show it was coming of age against Washington. Instead, Seattle showed just how far it has to go. A game that began with the Seahawks taking issue with Washington’s players stomping on their logo at midfield ended with Seattle kicking itself over a 23-17 loss. ‘We can’t let games like this slip away,’ fullback Michael Robinson said. ‘That’s another characteristic of a young team. It’s about time we start growing up.’ “
Jerry Brewer at the Times writes that the loss was a painful reminder that you can’t assume anything with the Seahawks: “For the first time this season, the Seahawks invented a way to lose a game that they deserved to win. The initial reaction is to call it uncharacteristic, but it’s not like the Seahawks have a history of success. They haven’t been in this situation enough to develop a characteristic. Ahead by 10 points with less than 10 minutes remaining, the Seahawks were eyeing a three-game winning streak. They were about to improve their record to 5-6, just one victory from reaching .500 for the first time this season. They were on the cusp of making you wonder if you had dismissed them too soon.”
Also at the Times, Steve Kelley says that Tarvaris Jackson was no match for what the Seahawks needed from him with the pressure on in the fourth quarter: “In a defining fourth quarter Sunday, after the Seahawks’ defense uncharacteristically squandered a 17-7 lead and the team needed a lift, Jackson gave them nothing, not even a first down. ‘When we got into going-quick mode at the end, we weren’t very efficient getting our stuff done,’ coach Pete Carroll said. ‘I would think we would be better than that. T-Jack is doing everything he can, but we need to look at the film and see how he played and his decisions and things like that. But I know he’s trying his tail off to get it done.’ “
John McGrath at the News Tribune says there was plenty of blame for everyone after this fall-from-ahead defeat: “It takes a village to assemble a fourth-quarter flop like that – linemen, defensive backs, receivers, the quarterback, the coaching staff – and nobody escaped blame. ‘There were too many things that happened at the end of the game,’ Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said, ‘that shouldn’t have happened.’ ”
Dave Boling at the New Tribune says Carroll has to find a way to penalize the repeat offenders as penalties continue to pile up: “The truest of the postgame quotes came from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll: ‘We have to coach better; I need to do a better job with these guys.’ While crediting Carroll for building an aggressive and intense group of players who will take no abuse – even if it’s during the coin toss – he and his staff have been wildly ineffective at stemming the weekly avalanche of penalty flags.”
Also at the News Tribune, Eric Williams leans on wide receiver Mike Williams for where this team goes from here: “The Seahawks don’t have much time to put this one in the rearview mirror with Philadelphia, 38-20 losers to New England on Sunday, traveling to Seattle for a Thursday night game. ‘Regardless of what anybody’s record is, if you give a team enough chances they can come away with a win,’ Mike Williams said. ‘So it just sucks, man. We really practiced and prepared hard to come in here and get our third win in a row. But with a short week, we’ve got to try and swallow this one and go get ready for Philly.’ ”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald says Carroll shouldered the blame for the fourth-quarter loss: “With so many mistakes plaguing his team, particularly penalties — the Seahawks’ nine penalties Sunday gives them 55 in their past five games — Carroll said the blame should fall on him, but also that changes to the lineup could be coming. ‘I take it, I don’t have any problem taking it,’ Carroll said. ‘I’m not getting it done. It has to come to a position where we make the right choices. We’ll figure it out. But, I told them, it’s me. … Sometimes you just have to put other guys in the game. If the same guys keep making mistakes, you have to put other guys in. We’ll have to take a look at that.’ ”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com has his “Rapid Reaction” on the Seahawks’ loss, including this item: “Seahawks defensive end Red Bryant blocked a field-goal try for the third time this season, this one when the game was tied in the second quarter. The block was key because the Redskins were dominating time of possession and had little to show for it. Bryant blocked an extra-point try after a Redskins touchdown put Washington ahead, 20-17, with 6:18 remaining.”
Sando also takes a deeper look at the problems that ail the Seahawks and offers this conclusion: “The final five games of the season should help us figure out to what degree such issues reflect youthful aggression. Carroll’s occasional lapses in game management – lapses even Carroll anticipated – suggest coaching is also playing a role. There is room for improvement all the way around.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we look at how the ingredients were there for a third win in a row, but the team’s best unit couldn’t finish: “Marshawn Lynch ran for 100-plus yards for the third time in the past four games, and scored a touchdown in his seventh-consecutive game. Red Bryant blocked his third field-goal attempt of the season, and then got a hand on a PAT attempt as well. Cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman both intercepted passes. Just the kind of three-phase effort the Seahawks needed to run their winning streak to three games entering Thursday night’s nationally televised game against the struggling Philadelphia Eagles at CenturyLink Field. One problem: The Washington Redskins outplayed the Seahawks in the fourth quarter rallying for a 23-17 victory on Sunday to snap their six-game losing streak. This wasn’t how this afternoon was supposed to go, as any momentum gained from the Seahawks’ two-game winning streak evaporated in a downpour of penalties and a flurry of missed opportunities.”
We’ve also got recaps in “Game at a glance,” Tony Ventrella’s video review and a photo gallery.
For a look at the rest of the league, there’s John Clayton’s “Last Call” at ESPN.com; Clark Judge’s “Judgements” at CBSSports.com; and Peter King’s “Monday Morning Quarterback” at SI.com.
On this date
A look at the memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Nov. 21:
1976: Sherman Smith scores on a pair of 1-yard runs and Steve Largent catches six passes for 101 yards and a TD, but it’s not enough as the expansion Seahawks fall to the Saints 51-27 at the Kingdome.
1982: In their first game after the eight-week NFL players’ strike, and with Mike McCormack taking over as interim coach for Jack Patera, Steve Largent catches a 34-yard touchdown pass from Jim Zorn with 49 seconds left in a 17-10 victory over the Broncos in Denver.
1999: Ricky Watters scores three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving, as he compiles 174 combined yards in a 31-19 victory in Kansas City, where the Seahawks had lost their previous games against the Chiefs.
2004: Michael Boulware intercepts a pass and returns it 63 yards for the touchdown with 56 seconds to play in a 24-17 victory over the Dolphins in Seattle. Trent Dilfer also throws a 21-yard TD pass to Jerry Rice.
2010: Matt Hasselbeck passes for 366 yards, with Mike Williams catching six passes for 109 yards, and David Hawthorne has 12 tackles and an interception. But the defending Super Bowl champion Saints prevail 34-19 in New Orleans. The game is a prelude to the team’s rematch in a wild-card playoff game in Seattle that season.
Cyber surfing: Monday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Nov. 21:
Jerry Brewer at the Seattle Times not only looks the Seahawks’ defensive effort in Sunday’s 24-7 win over the Rams in St. Louis, he examines how entertaining it is to watch these guys play: “You call it boring. They call it ideal. You call it low scoring. They call it a fight. You call it ugly. They call it a party. The Seahawks engaged in a defensive tussle with the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, and while it had its sleepy moments, the Seattle defense wound up frolicking in the Edward Jones Dome. The Seahawks won exactly the way they’re built to win, resting their forearm on the opponent’s neck and flashing a sadistic smile all the while. This rugged, oversized yet agile, young defense turned boorish against the offensively challenged Rams.”
Also at the Times, Danny O’Neil looks at the significant of a victory others might view as insignificant: “Seattle went on the road and made St. Louis look like exactly what it is: the lowest-scoring team in the NFL. No surprises, just 60 minutes of stout defense that turned the Rams’ offensive flow into a puddle. ‘In the big picture, nobody is going to care a whole lot about it,’ coach Pete Carroll said. ‘But for us, it’s a very big deal.’ “
Also from O’Neil, a look at the battle of the battered offensive lines in Sunday’s game: “The Seahawks’ line did show improvement after struggling early. Seattle allowed four sacks in the first half, none in the second. ‘We just got together at halftime and said, ‘Hey, man, let’s go,’ ’ (right tackle Breno) Giacomini said. ‘We weren’t playing like we were expected to play, and we just had to turn it up a little bit.’ “
Eric Williams at the News Tribune looks at how the Seahawks handled early adversity before taking control of the game. Said wide receiver Mike Williams: “Really the best part of the game was handling adversity. They came out with a lot of energy. They created the short field with a couple turnovers early. And they got one in there, but the defense held tough. So that’s big to get a win like that when it wasn’t pretty, and when it didn’t start out right.”
Also at the News Tribune, Dave Boling looks at how the Seahawks were able to overcome losing the right side of their offensive line during the past week: “Center Max Unger said the team got deeper into their game plan in the second half, and that helped matters. ‘It’s a road win over a divisional opponent, so that’s big, these things are hard to come by. But we’re not going to win a lot of games like that.’ ”
Dave Wyman at 710 ESPN takes a look at a really big day for a really big man: “That sounds like a comical thing to say about a 345-pound man until you watch his drop. (Red) Bryant planted his foot, opened his hips up into a perfect 45 degree angle and ran backwards and sideways 10 yards, catching the ball 12 yards deep. True, his buddy Brandon Mebane did him a favor by tipping Bradford’s pass up in the air, making it more like a catch in “3 flies up,” but Bryant hauled it in perfectly. Then he did his best impersonation of a running back by fending off one tackler, switching the ball over into his other hand so he could fend off another, slamming that perspective tackler to the ground, and hanging on to the ball through the play.”
Christian Caple at PI.com offers his post-game thoughts, including this one: “Welcome back, Chris Clemons. The Seahawks entered the game with only 14 sacks this season – third-fewest in the NFL – and getting Clemons going again was going to be the key to getting more pressure on the quarterback. Problem solved. This week, at least, against a weak Rams offensive line that was missing left tackle Rodger Saffold. It showed. Clemons finished with three sacks and forced both of Sam Bradford’s fumbles, the last one late in the fourth quarter that sealed the game.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com provides this overview of the NFC West from a day when the division’s four teams matched up, including a comparison of how the Seahawks and Rams have built their teams: “The Seahawks, now in their second season with coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider, have done a better job building up their roster. They’ve gotten better at every position but quarterback. They’ve been better prepared than the Rams for injuries.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we also give some love to Chris Clemons and Red Bryant for their efforts in Sunday’s suffocating defensive effort. Clemons earned “Player of the game” honors, while Bryant’s interception was the best play of the game.
There’s also Tony Ventrella’s video recap.
For look at the rest of the league in Week 11, there’s John Clayton’s “Last Call” at ESPN.com; Clark Judge’s “Judgements” at CBSSports.com; and Peter King’s “Monday Morning Quarterback” at SI.com, where Seahawks punter Jon Ryan gets a nod: “Punters can’t play much better than Ryan did Sunday in St. Louis. Nine punts, a 49.7-yard gross average, with a net average of 44.9 yards. After six of his nine punts, the Rams started from their 20 or worse. The Rams didn’t have a drive longer than 42 yards on 15 possessions, and being consistently backed up by Ryan and the Seattle punt team was one very good reason.”
Game at a glance
ST. LOUIS – A recap of the Seahawks’ 24-7 victory the Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday:
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Chris Clemons. On a day when the Seahawks’ defense was dominating, no one was more dominating than the team’s “Leo” defensive end.
Clemons’ stat line made quite a statement about his impact on the game: a career-high three sacks, three other hits on Rams QB Sam Bradford, two forced fumbles and a tipped pass. But his action spoke even louder.
“Clem had a great football game today,” coach Pete Carroll said. “He got great heat and made a big difference in changing the game and giving us a chance.”
Ravaging the Rams is nothing new for Clemons, who was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles last year. He had two of his team-leading and career-high 11 sacks last season in the game in St. Louis and added half a sack in the NFC West title-clinching victory over the Rams in the regular-season finale in Seattle.
Asked about his repeated success against the Rams, Clemons said, “I guess because it’s a division opponent, you play them more than once a year so you kind of get adjusted to them. They have some things that they try and do against me, but my biggest thing is just staying patient and getting the opportunities and taking advantage of them.”
That was definitely the case in the second half on Sunday.
In the third quarter, he got to Bradford and also forced a fumble that was recovered by nickel back Roy Lewis to set up a TD run by Marshawn Lynch. In the fourth quarter, Clemons had another fumble-forcing sack that was recovered by middle linebacker David Hawthorne to end a Rams’ drive that had reached the Seahawks’ 31-yard line. In between, Clemons split sacks with defensive end Red Bryant and Lewis.
“The biggest thing is, when they make mistakes just capitalize on them,” Clemons said. “Sam, he’s had a problem holding onto the ball this year. So we knew we’d get opportunities. Our biggest thing was just to stay focused and not give up on our rushes.”
PLAYS OF THE GAME
Defense: When a 330-pound defensive end intercepts a pass, well, it just doesn’t get any better than that. When that end uses a stiff to repel a 6-foot-3, 209-pound wide receiver like a gnat, well, it’s time to say, “Red Bryant, come on down.”
Bryant dropped into coverage of the second-and-19 play in the fourth quarter, so he was there to pick off a pass that was tipped by nose tackle – and best friend – Brandon Mebane. Three plays later, Justin Forsett scored on a 22-yard run.
“ ‘Bang’ did a great job of tipping the ball,” Bryant said, using Mebane’s nickname. “I just happened to be in the right position.”
Offense: The 14-yard TD pass from Tarvaris Jackson to Sidney Rice in the second quarter put the first points on the board for the Seahawks. But let’s go with the first play of the game, when Rice took the ball on an end-around and passed to Mike Williams for a 55-yard gain and the longest play of the game.
The Seahawks had worked on this play in practice at various times this season, but didn’t unleash it in a game until Sunday.
“I had the distance. I think I put a little bit too much air on it,” said Rice, who finished with a passer rating of 118.8. “It definitely was a ‘duck.’ I heard about it from Tarvaris as soon as I got to the sideline.”
Special teams: Where to begin after an extra-special effort from the Seahawks’ special teams? Jon Ryan had a 71-yarder among his nine punts for a 49.7-yard average, with four inside the Rams’ 20-yard line. Steven Hauschka gave the Seahawks a 10-7 halftime lead with a 19-yard field goal on the final play of the half and also produced three touchbacks on his four kickoffs. Heath Farwell had a pair of big hits for tackles covering kicks. But let’s go with Leon Washington’s 25-yard punt return to the Rams’ 40 in the second quarter because it set the table for the Jackson-to-Rice TD pass.
“The special teams’ effort was excellent today,” Carroll said.
INJURY REPORT
As Carroll put it, the Seahawks came out of the game “fairly clean.”
WORTH NOTING
Lynch scored a touchdown in his sixth consecutive game, the fourth-longest streak in franchise history behind Shaun Alexander, nine in 2005; David Sims, eight in 1978; and Chris Warren, seven in 1993-94.
Jackson spread his 14 completions among nine receivers – including three each to Rice and Doug Baldwin.
The Seahawks have won back-to-back games for the first time since Weeks 6-7 last season. They’ll try to make it three in a row next week against the Redskins at CenturyLink Field. Their last three-game winning streak was in 2007, when they won five consecutive games in Weeks 10-14.
Lynch finished with 88 yards, just missing his third consecutive 100-yard effort – which would have tied him for the second-longest streak in franchise history with Shaun Alexander (2004 and 2005). Alexander holds the record with four in a row, also in 2005.
The Seahawks had a season-high five sacks. With his trio of sacks, Clemons now has eight.
In addition to the sacks, the Seahawks hit Bradford seven other times and broke up seven of his passes – their second-highest totals of the season in each category.
Rookie cornerback Richard Sherman and Clemons each had five tackles to lead the team. They became the fifth and sixth players this season to do it, joining linebackers Leroy Hill (3 times) and David Hawthorne (3), free safety Earl Thomas (3) and strong safety Kam Chancellor (2).
The Seahawks had substantial edges in total yards (289-185), rushing yards (126-42) and time of possession (35:00-25:00). The 185 yards allowed was their season low.
The Seahawks had 13 penalties for 100 yards, tying their season highs from last week’s game against the Ravens. But they won each game.
YOU DON’T SAY
“I feel like we brought our big-boy pads today.” – Bryant on the defense limiting the Rams’ Steven Jackson to 42 yards on 15 carries after he had 100-plus yards in each of his past three games
