Cyber surfing: Wednesday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Jan. 4:
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times looks at the improvement the Seahawks made in their second season under coach Pete Carroll, even if the record was the same as in his first year: “The construction isn’t complete by any means. There’s still the question of a long-term quarterback and the need to improve the pass rush. But this franchise is no longer a fixer-upper. The roster has been retrofitted. The Seahawks have gotten younger, they have gotten faster and over the past two months this team has shown itself to be competitive. That wasn’t always true a year ago. Sure, the Seahawks had one of the most memorable playoff victories in franchise history, but they also lost nine games by 16 or more points. Being the first 7-9 division champion in NFL history isn’t the kind of thing anyone aspires to. It’s different now. Seattle has forged itself an identity.”
Dave Boling at the News Tribune came away from Carroll’s season-ender news conference thinking that the Seahawks are thinking quarterback in the NFL Draft: “Carroll stressed from the start that he expects to challenge every player at every position. And that obviously includes quarterback. But how? The question was put to Carroll, as it relates to quarterback, do you have a preference – bringing in a veteran or a young prospect? In essence, the question is whether he’d rather have a soon-to-be free agent such as Matt Flynn of Green Bay, or a draft pick he can shape from the start. He was emphatic: He is intrigued by young guys. And it’s clear he’s given it a great deal of thought while flipping 180 degrees on the issue.”
Also at the News Tribune, Eric Williams has notes from Tuesday’s Q&A session, including Sidney Rice having surgery: “Rice is expected to have a three- to four-month recovery, and Carroll anticipated he’ll be close to being ready to participate in the beginning of the team’s offseason workout program April 16.”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald says that while Carroll was disappointed about the way the season ended, he’s excited about the future of this team: “Carroll certainly hoped to be better than 7-9 this season. In all reality, however, the Seahawks appear to be ahead of schedule in what is, whether Carroll wants use the word or not, a rebuild.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com revisits his preseason predictions for the teams in the NFC West, and has this to say about the Seahawks: “Tom Cable is a fantastic offensive line coach, for one. Also, general manager John Schneider and the Seahawks’ personnel people should get the benefit of the doubt on their evaluations. They repeatedly got positive results when turning to young players. They replaced Lawyer Milloy with Kam Chancellor and came out way ahead. They replaced Aaron Curry with rookie K.J. Wright and were correct, again. They continually churned the roster and made themselves deeper. They turned a project from the CFL (Brandon Browner) into a Pro Bowl first-alternate even while rookie fifth-round choice Richard Sherman became their best corner. So, if the Seahawks do not show interest in Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn, we can trust it’s because Schneider, formerly of the Packers, knows better.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we look at Carroll’s season-ender news conference, where he was grilled about the team’s QB situation: “The bottom-line assessment for any and all questions remains unchanged, no matter how many times Carroll is asked about it: (Tarvaris) Jackson is the starter moving into the offseason because, “He’s our No. 1 guy in the program and that’s all we have right now,” as Carroll put it. But that does not – and will not – preclude the team from looking for a quarterback in free agency or the NFL Draft. ‘But we will compete at all spots,’ Carroll said. ‘I want to very clear to you that there is no misunderstanding that that’s the theme in this program – competing. That means you’re always looking to get better and you’re always pushing in every way, and if we’re not we’re not competing. And that’s wrong for us. That’s not our right mindset. That’s it. I’m not trying to send any mixed messages and you shouldn’t take any out it, because there isn’t. That’s it.’ ”
There also are recaps of the day in “Tuesday in Hawkville” and Tony Ventrella’s video report. And then there’s one last, definitive, look back at Sunday’s season finale in Rod Mar’s photo blog and Ben Malcolmson’s “From the Sidelines”: “The prospects couldn’t be more hopeful for the players and coaches. Now if only they didn’t have to wait eight months to see it come to fruition. Even with a heartbreaking season-ending loss on Sunday, there’s no denying something special welling up among the Seahawks as the 2011 campaign closed out and the future opened up to the brightest of horizons. ‘Here’s a football team that’s going someplace,’ Coach Pete Carroll said during his postgame locker room speech on Sunday following the team’s 23-20 overtime loss in Arizona. ‘You can feel it.’ Indeed, it can be felt from the top of the organization all the way down to the bottom. The Seahawks are a team on the move — and going in the right direction.”
And if you can’t get enough on what should be an entertaining postseason, check out Don Banks’ “Inside the NFL” at SI.com.
Tuesday in Hawkville
A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Jan. 3:
FOCUS ON
The future. That was the focus of Pete Carroll’s season-wrap news conference today, as the Seahawks’ second-year coach did not – and could not – hide his enthusiasm about just how good this team can be next season. And the season after that. And the season after that.
Carroll began as he should have, by acknowledging the disappointment that came with this season’s 7-9 record – which saw the Seahawks start 2-6 and then finish with back-to-back losses to the division rival 49ers and Cardinals by two and three points, respectively.
But in between, this team won five of six games – including victories over the playoff-bound Giants and Ravens – and did it the way Carroll wants to play. By running the ball, playing tough defense and getting solid efforts from the special teams.
“The rest of the story to me is so positive and so encouraging that we look forward to this offseason with tremendous hopes of adding to a very, very young football team and building from where we are now,” he said. “I think our foundation for the future is fairly solid, in that we know where were going and we know our style of play.
“We’ve become a very aggressive, tough football team – playing good defense with highlight aspects of our special teams; we’ve run the football with a commitment. Those are the things I came in a couple of years ago trying to create. It just took us longer than I wanted. But that fact that it’s emerged here in the second half of the season is crucial for us moving forward.”
INJURY UPDATES
Wide receiver Sidney Rice, who spent the last five games on injured reserve after receiving a concussion, is scheduled to have surgery this week to repair the damaged labrum that he played with most of the season.
Rookie cornerback Richard Sherman also is scheduled to have an arthroscopic procedure on a knee, Carroll said. He added that a decision on whether quarterback Tarvaris Jackson will need surgery to repair the torn pectoral he played with the last 10 games has not been made.
SEVEN SIGNED
The club has signed seven players to future contracts: defensive end Pierre Allen, linebacker Allen Bradford, cornerbacks Coye Francies and Jesse Hoffman, defensive end John Graves, tight end John Nalbone and guard Brent Osborne. All spent time with the team at some point this season.
Last year’s future-contract group included cornerback Brandon Browner, who started at cornerback and was a first alternate to the Pro Bowl; and lineman Paul McQuistan, who started 10 games at three different positions.
STAT DU JOUR
With his 222-yard passing performance against the Cardinals on Sunday, Jackson became the sixth quarterback in franchise history to throw for 3,000 yards in a season. Here’s a look at the company Jackson joined:
Quarterback 3,000-yard seasons
Matt Hasselbeck 7 (2002-05, 2007, 2009-10)
Dave Krieg 4 (1984-85, 1989-90)
Jim Zorn 3 (1978-80)
Warren Moon 1 (1997)
Jon Kitna 1 (1999)
Tarvaris Jackson 1 (2011)
And here’s a look at how those 3,000-yard seasons rank:
Quarterback (season) Yards
Matt Hasselbeck (2007) 3,966
Matt Hasselbeck (2003) 3,841
Warren Moon (1997) 3,678
Dave Krieg (1984) 3,671
Jim Zorn (1979) 3,661
Dave Krieg (1985) 3,602
Matt Hasselbeck (2005) 3,459
Matt Hasselbeck (2004) 3,382
Jim Zorn (1980) 3,346
Jon Kitna (1999) 3,346
Dave Krieg (1989) 3,309
Jim Zorn (1978) 3,283
Dave Krieg (1990) 3,194
Tarvaris Jackson (2011) 3,091
Matt Hasselbeck (2002) 3,075
Matt Hasselbeck (2009) 3,029
Matt Hasselbeck (2010) 3,001
UP NEXT
The offseason. Unlike last year, there will be an offseason. Until previous years, it will be different because of the new CBA that was reached to end the 136-day lockout in July. The offseason conditioning program that typically has begun in March will now start April 16.
YOU DON’T SAY
“We’re going to try and make it as hard as we can possibly make it for the guys on team to stay on this team, because they’d better battle to keep their spots.” – Carroll with an eye toward free agency and the NFL Draft
Cyber surfing: Thursday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Dec. 1:
The big story, of course, is wide receiver Sidney Rice being placed on injured reserve yesterday after getting a second concussion in three weeks during Sunday’s game against the Redskins.
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times says the concussions weren’t Rice’s only injury concerns: “Rice also came with health concerns, though. He played 16 games only once in his four seasons in Minnesota before signing with Seattle, and in 2010 he played six games as he recovered from hip surgery. Rice’s hip wasn’t a problem this season. His shoulder was in August, causing him to miss the first two games of the regular season. He was limited in practice last month by injuries to his foot and then his knee, and he left two of the past three games after suffering a concussion.”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald has coach Pete Carroll’s explanation for making the move with Rice at this time: “We have to give him time. He’s going to have to sit for a number of weeks before he’d be able to play anyway and so we just want to make sure we take care of him and don’t bring him back too soon and get him right. … We want to protect our guy.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we’ve got Carroll’s take on Rice’s reaction to the news: “It was a tough decision for him to have to take because he’s such a competitor. But he took it in stride, because he knows we’re doing the best thing for him. He just doesn’t want to hear. I told him yesterday, ‘Sometimes somebody has to step in and tell you what you would never decide.’ We had to do that for him. As a competitor, there’s no way he would step out right now. We love that about him.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com also has his take on the Rice decision, including the fact that the Seahawks have receivers to handle the loss, if those receivers step up: “The Seahawks never had to worry about losing a receiver as talented as Rice in recent seasons. That is because they did not have any receivers as talented as Rice. How bad was their receiver situation in the past? They remain better at the position now, even without Rice. Rookie Doug Baldwin has taken some big hits, however. Can he hold up? Ben Obomanu has suffered from drops in recent weeks. Mike Williams has struggled. So, even though the depth is better than it was, questions remain. The group needs to improve.”
But there’s also tonight’s game against the Eagles at CenturyLink Field.
O’Neil says the only similarity between the Seahawks and Eagles is their 4-7 records: “The records are identical. The explanations are not. At 4-7, the Seahawks are rebuilding while the Philadelphia Eagles are reeling and those two story lines provide the most compelling tension for Thursday’s prime-time intersection.”
Eric Williams at the News Tribune combos the two topics, since the Eagles also will be without a couple of their top players. So not all the stars will be out tonight: “Philadelphia’s main attraction, quarterback Michael Vick, will not play tonight, missing his third consecutive game because of fractured ribs. Instead, understudy Vince Young will get the nod after throwing for 400 yards against New England in a 38-20 loss Sunday. The Eagles also will be without leading receiver Jeremy Maclin, who’s out with shoulder and hamstring injuries. Even electric running back LeSean McCoy and shutdown corner Nnamdi Asomugha are questionable with a toe and knee injuries, respectively, but both are expected to play.”
Boyle also has his “Game Day” look at tonight’s matchup, including a key number: “5. Fourth quarter leads blown by the Eagles this season, the biggest reason why a team many picked to go to the Super Bowl instead has a losing record.”
Sando has “Five Things to Watch” in tonight’s game, including this tasty tidbit: “Marshawn Lynch’s ongoing revival. Lynch has 443 yards rushing since Week 9, most in the league. He has topped 100 yards in three of the Seahawks’ past four games. Lynch appears to be running with more confidence now that his offensive line is opening holes more consistently. The Eagles’ past five opponents have averaged only 85.3 yards per game, down from 140.2 previously this season. Seattle needs a running threat to minimize the Eagles’ pass rush. The hard-running Lynch showcased nationally against New Orleans in the playoffs has marked his game recently as well. Lynch has 212 yards rushing after contact since Week 9, most in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. That’s up from 127 yards after contact through Week 8.”
In “Wednesday in Hawkville,” we’ve also got a look at something that was overshadowed by the news on Rice – the fact that sore-shouldered QB Tarvaris Jackson threw, and threw well, for the fourth consecutive day: “In a condensed week when everyone was wondering if the Seahawks’ quarterback would be able to do anything, he did everything. ‘Tarvaris had his best day he’s had,’ Carroll said. ‘He’s turned a corner for us, it looks like, and that’s a great report for me to be able to give you because this was the first week that he participated in all of the action that we had. So that’s a good sign.’ ”
There’s also Tony Ventrella’s review from Wednesday and preview of tonight’s game.
Wednesday in Hawkville
A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 30:
FOCUS ON
Tarvaris Jackson. In a condensed week when everyone was wondering if the Seahawks’ quarterback would be able to do anything, he did everything.
“Tarvaris had his best day he’s had,” coach Pete Carroll said after today’s light, 55-minute session that was more than a walk-through but less than a practice. “He’s turned a corner for us, it looks like, and that’s a great report for me to be able to give you because this was the first week that he participated in all of the action that we had.
“So that’s a good sign.”
Since returning from the strained pectoral in his throwing shoulder he got in the Week 5 upset of the Giants, Jackson has usually thrown only on Thursday in practice and then the game on Sunday.
But this week, as the team prepared for Thursday night’s game against the Eagles at CenturyLink Field, Jackson threw in Monday’s walk-through; the walk-through Tuesday morning and then again in the afternoon practice; and today.
And Jackson seemed to throw better each day.
“I think his confidence that he can get through it is there,” Carroll said. “And he’s throwing the day before the game, and he hasn’t thrown less than two days before the game in past weeks. So this is a big improvement for him.”
The Seahawks need Jackson to be at his best – or as close to it as possible – against an Eagles team that is averaging 420.1 yards. So his ability to throw every day in this short week had everyone feeling a little better.
“It’s been a positive for him. He just feels better,” Carroll said. “He’s stronger than he’s been. Even in the short week’s time. We’re even more surprised by that. So it’s a good deal for us and for him, and we’re getting ready to crank it up and go.”
OPPONENT WATCH
Vince Young. With Michael Vick being ruled out for a third consecutive game because of broken ribs, Young will start at quarterback for the Eagles against the Seahawks.
And Carroll needs no introduction there – not after what the former Texas QB did against Carroll’s USC team in the 2006 Rose Bowl, when Young scored his third rushing touchdown with 19 seconds to play and then also ran for the two-point PAT to give the Longhorns a 41-38 victory and the National Championship.
“I’ll always remember Vince Young and his play with great respect,” Carroll said. “We had gone on a three-year run; 19 seconds from a third national championship and he made the plays that night to make that not happen. I have great respect for him.”
Flash forward to Sunday, when Young passed for 400 yards in the Eagles’ loss to the Patriots.
“He’s very comfortable standing in the pocket,” Carroll of the NFL-version Young. “He’s not a running quarterback any longer, although he’s running the ball seven or eight times a game still very effectively. He’s just growing up, just as guys do when they come into the league.”
IN ’N OUT
The big news, of course, was wide receiver Sidney Rice being placed on injured reserve today after getting his second concussion in three weeks during Sunday’s game against the Redskins. For more on that situation, click here.
Rookie linebacker Mike Morgan was signed off the practice squad to fill Rice’s spot on the 53-man roster.
Middle linebacker David Hawthorne and left cornerback Richard Sherman participated fully in today’s light workout, after being limited yesterday, and Carroll said both should play against the Eagles.
Here’s the official status report:
Out
CB Byron Maxwell (illness)
Questionable
MLB David Hawthorne (knee)
CB Richard Sherman (calf)
Probable
QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral)
DT Alan Branch (ankle)
For the Eagles:
Out
OT King Dunlap (concussion)
LB Moise Fokou (ankle)
WR Jeremy Maclin (hamstring/shoulder)
QB Michael Vick (ribs)
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle)
Questionable
RB LeSean McCoy (toe)
CN Nnamdi Asomugha (knee)
Probable
DT Cullen Jenkins (thumb)
The word out of Philly is that McCoy is expected to play, despite being limited in practice all week. Asomugha’s status will be a game-day decision. He played last week, on a limited basis, after hyperextending his knee Thanksgiving Day.
STAT DU JOUR
This isn’t the first time the Seahawks have played on Thursday night, following a short week. It has happened five other times in franchise history and the Seahawks are 1-4 in those games:
Date Outcome, opponent
Nov. 27, 1980 L, 51-7; at Dallas Cowboys
Nov. 27, 1986 W, 31-14; at Dallas Cowboys
Oct. 17, 1996 L, 34-16; at Kansas City Chiefs
Dec. 14, 2006 L, 24-14; vs. San Francisco 49ers
Nov. 27, 2008 L, 34-9; at Dallas Cowboys
UP NEXT
The players will have their typical day-before-the-game walk-through on Thursday morning and head to CenturyLink Field in the afternoon for the game.
The flipside of this short week will be a bye week-like situation before the Seahawks play the Rams on Dec. 12 in a “Monday Night Football” game, and Carroll plans to utilize the extra time to rest his players.
“The real positive of it is the weekend. These guys are going to get a big break,” he said. “It’s like a bye opportunity for them and we’re going to take full advantage of that to get strong for the finish of the season.”
YOU DON’T SAY
“Well, it’s great to be here on ‘Saturday.’ ” – Carroll after today’s session
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.’ ”
Tuesday in Hawkville
A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 29:
FOCUS ON
Tarvaris Jackson. Having only three days between games this week was expected to test the Seahawks’ quarterback, and therefore the entire offense, because of the strained pectoral in his throwing shoulder.
But Jackson threw in all phases of practice today, after also getting in some throws in the walk-throughs Monday night and this morning.
“It felt pretty good,” Jackson said of throwing the day after Sunday’s loss to the Redskins, with an eye on Thursday night’s nationally televised game against the Eagles at CenturyLink Field.
“I guess it’s kind of healing a little better, so that’s good. That’s good for the future, also. We’re seeing that it doesn’t take me as long to recover, so that’s the one positive I got from Sunday.”
There was another positive today, when Jackson three on three consecutive days for the first time since injuring his right shoulder in the Week 5 win over the Giants.
“It’s interesting, particularly in a short week,” coach Pete Carroll said. “This is a lot to ask of him. He feels good enough to do that.”
Jackson is back at practice, but not out of the woods because of the nature of the injury and the position he plays.
“We have to manage this all the way through this,” Carroll said. “We don’t have all the answers. We listen very carefully to what he feels like and he’s been tuned in to it and the trainers have stayed very close with him to figure it out. And so far they’ve been able to get him ready to play every week.
“We really rely on him quite a bit on this. He’s the one who has to tell us what he feels like.”
Today, Jackson let his actions speak for him.
ON THE FIELD
The players worked for 90 minutes, outside in 41-degree weather that felt colder because of a steady breeze. Stocking caps replaced helmets, as Carroll is scaling back on the physical aspects of practice because of the short week.
“You have to mix all aspects here and have them mentally right or they don’t have a chance,” Carroll said. “Physically, we can only do the best we can – we can just get them as right as we can. … Now it’s about getting their minds right so that they can play football again.
“It’s a big physical demand for these guys to come back and play Sunday and Thursday, but hopefully we’ll do this really well.”
Right tackle Breno Giacomini, center Max Unger and practice-squad running back Vai Taua were the only players to practice in shorts and short sleeves.
OPPONENT WATCH
Nnamdi Asomugha. While playing for the Raiders the past eight seasons, you always knew where to find the All-Pro cornerback – on one side of the field, taking away any and all receivers who dared test his coverage skills; or on one receiver, eliminating him from the passing game.
Since signing with the Eagles in free agency, Asomugha’s role definitely has changed.
“I’m playing the slot a whole lot more. I’m playing safety a whole lot more in certain situations,” Asomugha said today during a conference-call interview. “So there’s few different things.
“In Oakland, you just knew it was play corner and take that guy out of the game. Here, I’ve been moving around everywhere and just figuring out where I fit based off the calls and based off the particular position that I’m playing on that down. Because pretty much every game I’ve been at every position that you can think of in the secondary and even some down there in like a linebacker spot.”
IN ’N OUT
Sidney Rice is not expected to play Thursday night because of the concussion he got in Sunday’s game.
“It’s very slim that he has a chance to play,” Carroll said. “There’s not a helmet that he could put on his head that he could play with this week.”
The fact that this is Rice’s second concussion this season only increases the concern.
“Because of that, we’re going to be very careful at this point and that’s why I’m saying I’m everything but ruling him out,” Carroll said. “We have to take care of him.”
Rice will be replaced in the starting lineup by Ben Obomanu.
Also sitting out practice today was cornerback Byron Maxwell, while middle linebacker David Hawthorne and cornerback Richard Sherman were limited. But defensive tackle Alan Branch returned after missing Sunday’s game and not practicing last week because of a sore ankle.
When Hawthorne and Sherman weren’t on the field, K.J. Wright moved to the middle, with Malcolm Smith stepping in on the strong side for Wright; and Roy Lewis worked on the left side for Sherman in the base defense and Kennard Cox took over in the nickel because Lewis slid inside.
Here’s the injury report:
Did not practice
WR Sidney Rice (concussion)
CB Byron Maxwell (illness)
Limited participation
LB David Hawthorne (knee)
CB Richard Sherman (calf)
Full participation
QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral)
DT Alan Branch (ankle)
For the Eagles:
Did not practice
OT King Dunlap (concussion)
LB Moise Fokou (ankle)
WR Jeremy Maclin (hamstring, shoulder)
QB Michael Vick (ribs)
Limited participation
CB Nnamdi Asomugha (knee)
RB LeSean McCoy (toe)
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle)
Full participation
DT Cullen Jenkins (thumb)
STAT DU JOUR
Believe it or not, the NFL does not keep track of blocked field goals and PATs. So there are no records to use as a gauge for Red Bryant’s efforts this season. But the last player to block a field goal and a PAT in one game – as Bryant did on Sunday – was the Browns’ Shaun Rogers against the Bengals on Oct. 4, 2009.
Here’s how the kick-blocking Bryant stacks up in club history:
Most blocked kicks in a season
Player (year) No. (blocks)
Red Bryant (2011) 4 (three FGs, one PAT)
Mike White (1982) 3 (two FGs, one PAT)
Joe Nash (1989) 3 (three FGs)
Craig Terrill (2010) 3 (three FGs)
Most blocked FGs in a season
Player (year) No.
Red Bryant (2011) 3
Joe Nash (1989) 3
Craig Terrill (2010) 3
Mike White (1982) 2
Joe Nash (1984) 2
Craig Terrill (2006) 2
Most blocked FGs in a game
Player (year) No.
Red Bryant (2011) 2
Craig Terrill (2010) 1
Craig Terrill (2008) 1
(accomplished many times, Terrill had the last two)
Most blocked PATs in a game
Player (year) No.
Red Bryant (2011) 1
Terry Wooden (1995) 1
(11 others also had one block; Wooden was the last to do it)
Most career blocks (FGs and PATs)
Player (years) No. (blocks)
Joe Nash (1982-96) 10 (eight FGs, 2 PATs)
Craig Terrill (2004-10) 8 (eight FGs)
Mike White (1981-82) 5 (2 FGs, 3 PATs)
Jeff Bryant (1982-93) 5 (3 FGs, 2 PATs)
Red Bryant (2008) 4 (3 FGs, 1 PAT)
STATS ’N STUFF
Rookie wide receiver Doug Baldwin ranks fifth in the NFL with 19 third-down receptions.
Punter Jon Ryan is sixth in the league, and second in the NFC, in average (48.3); and ninth in the league and fifth in the conference, in net average (40.1).
Leon Washington is eighth in punt return average (11.2) and 13th in kickoff return average (24.2).
The Seahawks rank 14th in defense, 11th against the run and 20th against the pass; and 30th in offense, 27th rushing and 25th passing.
UP NEXT
Since today was Wednesday and Thursday in this shortened week, tomorrow will be Friday and the players will hold their final “full” workout before the game.
Tickets are available of Thursday night’s game, as well as the Dec. 12 game against the Rams, and can be purchased here.
TOYS FOR TOTS
The Seahawks are holding their annual Toys For Tots drive at Thursday night’s game. Fans are asked to bring new unwrapped toys, which will be distributed to needy children in the Seattle community. Monetary donations also are welcome.
YOU DON’T SAY
“I should have followed through with that thought, because the thought I had in my mind was coach (John) Wooden always said, ‘A coach’s greatest ally is the bench.’ That’s what was going through my mind. And it was much easier to access that bench when you had 110 guys (like it did at USC). When you’ve got 45 or 46 guys, it’s a little harder.” – Carroll when asked about his post-game comment on Sunday about replacing players who were guilty of repeated penalties
Cyber surfing: Saturday
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” out the Seahawks for today, Nov. 26:
Mike Sando at ESPN.com has his “Final Word” heading into the conclusion of Week 12 in the NFC West, including this look at the division “race”: “The 49ers were in position to clinch the division title with a victory against Baltimore and a Seattle defeat at home to Washington. But with the 49ers losing to the Ravens on Thursday night, it is still technically possible for the Seahawks or Cardinals to match San Francisco’s victory total this season. The 49ers play three of their final four on the road. The home game is against Pittsburgh. The Seahawks play their next three at home against losing teams, followed by a road game against the quarterback-challenged Bears. If the 49ers beat St. Louis in Week 13 and win at Arizona in Week 14, they’ll win the NFC West. If they were to drop that Arizona game and then lose to the Steelers, a four-game winning streak by Seattle would make the Week 16 game between the Seahawks and 49ers meaningful. The 49ers have two games remaining against the Rams, making it nearly impossible for them to do anything but win the West.”
Sando also goes deep with this look at the Seahawks’ pass game: “Sidney Rice and Doug Baldwin have been the best wide receivers on the team. In looking at the chart, it’s clear receiving talent isn’t the only factor at work. The Seahawks’ leading receiver from last season, Mike Williams, and one of its top free-agent additions, Zach Miller, also have good receiving skills. Tarvaris Jackson hasn’t been nearly as effective when targeting them. His rapport with Rice from their days together in Minnesota has come into play. Baldwin’s excellence from the slot has made him the team’s most reliable target on third down.”
Speaking of Jackson, Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times has the surprising development from Friday’s practice – Jackson participating fully: “The fact Tarvaris Jackson was able to throw on back-to-back days at practice is a sign his strained pectoral muscle is healing. The fact Jackson has not been able to do that until this week — a month and a half after he suffered the injury — is a sign of just how hurt that muscle was.”
Eric Williams at the New Tribune looks at the other side of the injury situation – defensive tackle Alan Branch not practicing all week because of sore ankle: “For the first time this season, the Seattle Seahawks could be without a key player in one of the team’s most effective units. Branch did not practice this week because of an ankle injury and is questionable for Sunday’s game against Washington. He is a game-time decision.”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald looks at how the Seahawks and their opponent on Sunday, the Washington Redskins, are heading in opposite directions: “The Washington Redskins, who come to Seattle this weekend with a 3-7 record, are only one game worse than the Seahawks according to the standings, but the way the two teams have gotten to where they are 10 games into the season couldn’t be more different. The Seahawks, after losing three in a row, bounced back with a victory over Baltimore, one of the AFC’s top teams, then won handily on the road last week against St. Louis. Suddenly the young Seahawks look like a team on the rise — one that, while unlikely to make the playoffs, is in position to finish the season strong. The Redskins meanwhile, have lost six in a row, completely killing the momentum they had early in the season after a surprising 3-1 start. Their current losing streak is the longest endured by the franchise since 1998.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we look at how coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have come up with the uniquely special pieces that comprise a Seahawks defense that has been puzzling for opponents: “ ‘You know what? It’s crazy, but it’s all come together,” nickel back Roy Lewis said. ‘Players may not see what coach’s vision is, but the coach understands completely how he wants to put guys and different pieces of the puzzle together. When it all comes together and it all clicks and every piece is accounted for, it’s a force to be reckoned with. … We really do have everything under the sun. We’ve got aggressive guys. We’ve got cover guys. We’ve got big hitters. We’ve got sure tacklers. We’ve got who fits the roles. And as (safety) Atari Bigby always says, ‘If you’re going to play a role, why not win an Oscar for it.’ ”
We’re also got the team’s final full practice of the week covered in “Friday in Hawkville,” as well as Tony Ventrella’s video recap.
For a look at the rest of the league, there’s John Clayton’s “First and 10” at ESPN.com; Clark Judge’s “Peek at the Week” at CBSSports.com; and Peter King’s “Game Plan” at SI.com.
Friday in Hawkville
A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 25:
FOCUS ON
Tarvaris Jackson. The Seahawks’ sore-shouldered quarterback not only practiced today, he threw the ball – a lot, and well.
That is significant, of course, because this was only the second time this month that Jackson has participated fully in a Friday practice because of the pectoral he strained in the Week 5 game against the Giants.
“That was a surprise,” coach Pete Carroll said after the one hour, 40 minute practice that was held outdoors for the first time this week. “Tarvaris felt a little bit better, so he got full-go today. That’s good news.”
It’s a definite plus heading into Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins at CenturyLink Field, because Jackson’s has been so limited in practice in recent weeks.
“He needs the work,” Carroll said. “He was a little bit rusty this week sometimes. It only stands to reason. He’s had so few days on the practice field. So the fact that he got out there today and got a whole boatload of plays and looks at stuff in the red zone that he didn’t get last week, it should help him.”
PLAYER WATCH
Clinton McDonald. With Alan Branch listed as questionable after not practicing all week because of a sprained ankle, McDonald could start at defensive tackle against the Redskins – or at least get additional snaps even if Branch is able to go.
The 6-foot-2, 297-pound McDonald replaced Branch in practice all week.
“Mac’s done a really good job,” Carroll said. “He’s been able to jump in here and play a couple of positions and help in the nickel. He’s a very tough guy. A really good effort guy. Always where he’s supposed to be. If feel like we can really count on him. He’ll do things right.”
McDonald’s teammates agree.
“Clinton reminds me of ‘Bang’ a little bit,” defensive end Chris Clemons said, comparing McDonald to nose tackle Brandon Mebane – and using Mebane’s nickname.
“He’s real strong, real explosive. You can just see him getting better each and every week. He’s making plays in the backfield. He’s great with his hands. And he’s a smart player. He’s developing that same intelligence that ‘Bang’ has.”
Carroll said Branch’s status will be a game-day decision after he injured his ankle in last week’s victory over the Rams in St. Louis.
“We still don’t know on him,” Carroll said. “The ankle didn’t respond well enough for him to practice today. We thought he would, but he couldn’t make it.”
INJURY REPORT
Wide receiver Sidney Rice returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday to rest a sore knee.
“Sidney did very well today,” Carroll said. “He’s ready to go.”
Cornerback Byron Maxwell missed practice for the third consecutive day and is listed as questionable.
The official end-of-the-week status report:
Questionable
DT Alan Branch (ankle)
CB Byron Maxwell (ankle)
Probable
S Atari Bigby (hamstring)
DE Anthony Hargrove (hamstring)
QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral)
WR Ben Obomanu (knee/ankle)
WR Sidney Rice (knee)
For the Redskins
Questionable
WR Niles Paul (toe)
WR Donte Stallworth (foot)
Probable
LB London Fletcher (ankle)
OT Jammal Brown (groin)
S DeJon Gomes (knee)
OG Maurice Hurt (knee)
OT Sean Locklear (ankle)
OT Trent Williams (knee)
CB Josh Wilson (hamstring)
LB Keyaron Fox (infection)
S LaRon Landry (Achilles)
WR Santana Moss (hand)
MORA, MORA
Former Seahawks coach Jim Mora watched practice from the sideline with general manager John Schneider. Mora is the analyst for the telecast of Sunday’s game on FOX.
It is, however, not the same team he left after the 2009 season. Only 11 players remain from that club: defensive end Red Bryant, wide receiver Deon Butler, running back Justin Forsett, linebackers David Hawthorne and Leroy Hill, cornerback Roy Lewis, tight end Cameron Morrah, wide receiver Ben Obomanu, punter Jon Ryan, center Max Unger and Mebane.
STAT DU JOUR
The 49ers lost to the Ravens on Thursday night, but they still have yet to allow a rushing touchdown. The Seahawks have not allowed a rushing TD in their past six games and have given up five in 10 games, which ties them for third in the league – one in Week 1 by the 49ers (QB Alex Smith); two in Week 2 against the Steelers (Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman); and two in Week 4 against the Falcons (both by Michael Turner). Here’s how they stack up in the league:
Team TDs
49ers 0
Dolphins 3
Seahawks 5
Titans 5
Broncos 5
UP NEXT
The players will have a walk-through on Saturday morning, their final on-field session before Sunday’s game.
The team then faces a very short week because of the Thursday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles at CenturyLink Field.
Tickets are available for both games and can be purchased here.
Fans attending Sunday’s game are reminded that the express lanes on I-90 will be closed from 7:15-11 a.m. because of the Seattle Marathon.
YOU DON’T SAY
“They have really really good stuff that they do on both sides of the ball and in (special) teams. That means that they have designs that can beat you if you’re not on the mark on your stuff. So we have tremendous respect for what they’re doing. … So we’re taking this like it’s a huge matchup for us and it’s a very difficult game.” – Carroll, looking at the Redskins’ potential rather than their 3-7 record
Wednesday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 23:
FOCUS ON
Talking turkey. What else would you do on Thanksgiving Eve? And that exactly what Tarvaris Jackson did today. After, of course, discussing Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins at CenturyLink Field.
The Seahawks’ quarterback is cooking Thanksgiving dinner – or actually deep-frying his birds – with an assist from wide receiver Sidney Rice. Or, “the assistant chef,” as Jackson called him.
Asked what he was thinking about heading into the holiday, Jackson offered, “I’m thinking about eating good. I’m cooking, too, so hopefully we can get out of here a little early – hint, hint.”
Coach Pete Carroll is on the same page – or schedule – with his QB. The players will practice earlier on Thursday so the players can spend the afternoon with family, friends and teammates.
“I’m just looking forward to laying back, chillin’ and spending time with the family,” Jackson said. “Maybe some of the teammates will come over and get a taste of my cooking.”
Carroll also is doing the players a favor by having the weekly weigh-in on Thursday, rather than Friday like other teams.
“We get to weigh-in before we go eat, so that’s good,” Jackson said.
That wasn’t the case when Jackson and Rice played for the Vikings.
“We had to weigh-in on that Friday,” he said. “And with Thanksgiving on a Thursday and you got to weigh-in Friday morning, you can’t really enjoy your food because you’re thinking about how you have to weigh-in.”
What else is on the Jackson-Rice menu? “A little dressing, potato salad, mac-and-cheese,” Jackson said. “We’re going to try to do it up.”
OPPONENT WATCH
Roy Helu. The Redskins’ running back is averaging a team-leading 4.9 yards per carry and is in line to get more carries against the Seahawks after Tashard Choice was released on Tuesday.
As has been the case with so many players the Seahawks face, Carroll has a history with the rookie from Nebraska.
“Pat Ruel (assistant line coach) and I went and saw him in high school and we talked to him and visited him in recruiting,” said Carroll, who was coaching at USC at the time. “And we didn’t go after him.”
So Helu, who played at San Ramon Valley High School in California, headed to Nebraska.
“Kicked butt at Nebraska,” Carroll said. “Here he is now … running like crazy, catching balls everywhere.
“We definitely missed on Roy. He’s a really good player and he’s really fast – way faster than I ever thought he was if we had taken him.”
IN ’N OUT
Rice and fellow wide receiver Ben Obomanu sat out practice today, so Golden Tate got a lot of work with the No. 1 offense opposite Mike Williams. Defensive tackle Alan Branch also did not practice, so Clinton McDonald filled in for him.
Defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove and safety Atari Bigby returned to practice after missing Sunday’s victory over the Rams in St. Louis with hamstring injury they got the previous week in the win over the Ravens at CenturyLink Field.
Official injury report:
Did not practice
WR Sidney Rice (knee)
WR Ben Obomanu (ankle)
DT Alan Branch (ankle)
CB Byron Maxwell (ankle)
Limited participation
QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral)
Full participation
S Atari Bigby (hamstring)
DE Anthony Hargrove (hamstring)
For the Redskins:
Did not practice
LB London Fletcher (ankle)
WR Niles Paul (toe)
Limited participation
OT Jammal Brown (groin)
S DeJon Gomes (knee)
OG Maurice Hurt (knee)
OT Sean Locklear (ankle)
OT Trent Williams (knee)
CB Josh Wilson (hamstring)
Full participation
LB Keyaron Fox (infection)
S LaRon Landry (Achilles)
WR Santana Moss (hand)
WR Donte Stallworth (foot)
STAT DU JOUR
Not so much a stat as a really? Chris Clemons’ selection as NFC Defensive Player of the Week makes him the first Seahawks defensive end to be honored since Michael McCrary in 1996, and only the third since the league started the weekly awards in 1984. Really. Pro Bowl end Patrick Kerney? Nope. Do-it-all end Jeff Bryant? Not him, either. Sack-master end Michael Sinclair? Another no. Grant Wistrom and Chike Okeafor? No, and no. Here’s the short list that Clemons became a part of today:
Year (week) Player
1986 (12) Jacob Green
1988 (2) Jacob Green
1990 (17) Jacob Green
1996 (17) Michael McCray
2011 (11) Chris Clemons
UP NEXT
Pigskin, then turkey. At least for the players, as they will practice earlier on Thursday so the players will have time to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Tickets are available for Sunday’s game, as well as next Thursday’s game against the Eagles and the Dec. 12 “Monday Night Football” game against the Rams. They can be purchased here.
YOU DON’T SAY
“That’s what we want. We want people to expect us to win. … We want to go into the game expecting to win and just take it from there.” – Jackson when asked about outside expectations being heightened because of the team’s two-game winning streak and its next three games being at home against teams with losing records
Tuesday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 22:
FOCUS ON
Leroy Hill. The veteran linebacker played in all of one game in 2010 before going out with a season-ending calf injury. So second-year coach Pete Carroll wasn’t exactly sure what he was getting when the team decided to re-sign Hill in late July.
Carroll relied on scouting reports supplied by defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and Dan Quinn, the defensive line coach the past two seasons before leaving to become defensive coordinator at the University of Florida.
“They talked about him with high praise, about his toughness and his love for the game and that kind of stuff,” Carroll said.
Also in the coaches’ scouting report? “They said he’s one of the toughest guys on the team and if you’re going to pick one guy to go fight for you, a lot of guys would pick him,” Carroll said. “It was attractive when you talk about linebackers.”
Hill has gone out and walked their talk. Entering Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins at CenturyLink Field, Hill is third on the team in tackles (61), second in sacks (two) and also among the leaders in passion and determination.
“He’s totally all of that,” Carroll said, referring to what Bradley and Quinn had told him about Hill. “He’s a really committed football player and loves the game.”
That was never more obvious than during the video review of Sunday’s 24-7 victory over the Rams in St. Louis. While showing the “great effort” plays, Hill was featured three times.
“Three plays that he had extraordinary effort running across the field to make a play,” Carroll said. “The first two times, he didn’t get there. The third time, he runs 30-40 yards and makes the play that he could have given up on because he didn’t get there the first two times.
“He’s got great nature about him and great competitiveness and toughness. Fortunately, he’s playing really well and doing a great job for us and we were able to get him back.”
ONE IN, ONE OUT
The club signed wide receiver Isaiah Williams to its practice squad today, and released wide receiver Patrick Williams to clear a spot.
Isaiah Williams (6-3, 200) signed with the Ravens as a rookie free agent in 2009. He also was with the Steelers in the offseason and training camp last year. He had been on the Cardinals’ practice squad this season. At his Pro Day workout at Maryland in 2009, Williams ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds and had a 41-inch vertical jump.
STATS ’N STUFF
The Seahawks rank 11th in the league in total defense, allowing an average of 333.0 yards; and eighth in rushing defense, allowing 100.0 yards.
Punter Jon Ryan is fifth in the league in average (48.7) and 11th in net average (39.8) – despite having two punts returned 55 and 56 yards for touchdowns and a 30-yarder that was partially blocked. He’s also tied for third in punts inside the 20-yard line (19).
Leon Washington is sixth in the league in punt return average (12.0). Chris Clemons is ninth in sacks (eight), and sixth among defensive ends.
Middle linebacker David Hawthorne and free safety Earl Thomas continue to share the lead in tackles (65), while Doug Baldwin and Sidney Rice continue to share the lead in receptions (32). Baldwin is tied for 10th in the league in third-down receptions (15).
Heath Farwell has taken the lead in special teams tackles (eight).
STAT DU JOUR
The Seahawks’ and Redskins’ defenses are among the stingiest in the NFL when it comes to allowing touchdowns. The Seahawks have given up 18, the Redskins 19. Here’s how they stack up in the league:
Team TDs allowed
Ravens 13
49ers 14
Lions 16
Browns 17
Dolphins 17
Texans 17
Seahawks 18
Jets 18
Redskins 19
Steelers 19
Jaguars 19
UP NEXT
The players return from their “off” day on Wednesday to begin preparing for Sunday’s game. The team also will practice earlier on Thursday to allow the players to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Sunday’s game is the first of three in a row at home for the Seahawks. Tickets are available for each game and can be purchased here.
YOU DON’T SAY
“When it’s over, and you’re sitting there winning championships. It doesn’t matter if you’ve won every game right now. You haven’t done anything yet. It ain’t over. You haven’t made it to the playoffs. You haven’t won a division. You haven’t done any of that stuff yet. All of that, you postpone that until they put an asterisk by your name and you’ve accomplished something.” – Carroll, asked when victories start to mean something
