Seattle Seahawks: Players with the Most To Gain Entering Training Camp

As we inch closer to training camp, there are several players on the Seahawks who have a chance to shine and solidify their position for the 2009 season.  However, there are several players who need to shine in training camp to help keep them on the roster.

 

As the Seahawks look to bounce back from a 4-12 season, so do some of the players who had very sub par seasons.  Some players look to ride some of their success in 2008 into 2009.

 

 

 

Max Unger

Unger has the opportunity to essentially steal one of the starting offensive line positions in training camp this season.  Unger was drafted as a potential replacement for Chris Spencer who has not lived up to expectations since being drafted 26th overall in 2005.

 

Unger also has the opportunity to supplant guard Mike Wahle as the starting left guard.  Unger was moved to guard during the Seahawks voluntary mini-camp and looked very comfortable in his new role.

 

If Unger has a fantastic training camp he could secure one of the starting offensive line positions for 2009.

 

 

Deon Butler

 

The Seahawks third round pick out of Penn State comes to a Seahawks team that was decimated by injuries to their wide receiving core last season.  Nate Burleson and Deion Branch are both coming off injuries that limited them last season.

 

Butler has the opportunity to solidify himself as the fourth wide receiver.  However, a very strong training camp and a difficult return for Nate Burleson could leave the door open for Butler to swipe the No. 3 spot.

 

 

Josh Wilson

 

Josh Wilson really came into his own last season as both a corner and a kick returner.  As a kick returner, Wilson led the league in combined kick and punt return yards last season with 1,753.  As a corner he started 12 games opposite Marcus Trufant. 

 

He tallied 76 tackles and four interceptions last season, including a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers.

 

Wilson can legitimately challenge Ken Lucas for the starting corner position opposite Marcus Trufant in training camp this season. 

 

Although Lucas is pegged as the starter right now, if Wilson continues to show that he can play like he did last season he could be the starter coming out of camp.

 

 

My next installment will be on the players with the most to lose during this year’s training camp.

Brett Favre has Shoulder Surgery: What is his next move?

Brett Favre has a flair for the dramatic, and it continues this offseason.

 

In February, Favre announced he would finally be calling it quits. An 18-year NFL career seemed over after his Jets lost to Miami in the 2008 season finale. 

 

However, according to Chris Mortensen and Ed Werder of ESPN.com, Favre had arthroscopic shoulder surgery on his throwing arm in May. Favre has now left the door open for a possible return to the NFL.

 

The shoulder injury hampered his ability to throw the ball late in the season, and the Jets went from first to third in the AFC East in just four weeks, missing the playoffs.

 

He said it was over, his agent said it was over, the Jets thought it was over, and yet America was skeptical. After all, this was the man who has retired and come out of retirement again and again the past four seasons.

 

Last year’s saga began with a teary goodbye in March. Then in the coming months, Favre hinted that he was “forced” out of Green Bay for Aaron Rodgers. Favre felt betrayed by the Packers organization and eventually decided to re-enter in the NFL, forcing the Packers to trade him.

 

Favre adamantly said he wanted to play for Minnesota. The Packers dealt him to New York instead. He played very well last season until Week 13, when the Jets lost to a terrible Denver Broncos team in New York.

 

New York went on to lose three of its next four games to miss the playoffs. Favre finally called it quits two months later.

 

It was not until the Jets officially released Favre in late April that talks began to surface about his reinstatement into the NFL again—this time with the Minnesota Vikings.

 

Since then it has been a roller-coaster ride. First it was “he is not coming back,” then we heard “Childress is meeting with Favre,” and finally “Brett Favre contemplates surgery on torn bicep.”

 

All signs pointed to Favre’s return to the NFL this season, but we were inclined to believe it was only if he did not have to have shoulder surgery.

 

Now that Favre has reportedly had this surgery, a return seems imminent. Although he and his agent both maintain his throwing arm is nowhere near ready to apply for reinstatement, Favre is making all the right moves for his return.

 

What motivation does he have to return? How about playing with Adrian Peterson and a fantastic Vikings defense, a chance to go back to the Super Bowl, and finally a shot at revenge against the Packers.

 

If I were Favre, I would walk away. He still has a rocket arm, but he is only hurting his legacy. 

 

How will the Packers deal with the situation if he goes to Minnesota? Will they retire his number? Will they shun him as many Packers fans already have?

 

There are many questions and no answers as of yet, at least until Brett Favre makes his decision.

Potential Suitors for Vince Young If He Requests a Trade

Remember back in 2006 when Vince Young was shredding USC’s defense en route to a 41-38 victory in the Rose Bowl?  Remember how he not only threw for 200 yards, but ran for another 200?  Remember when he was the Titans’ starting quarterback?

 

It was not that long ago that the Tennessee Titans made Young the third pick in the 2006 draft, ahead of highly touted QB Matt Leinart. 

 

It was not that long ago that Young lead his Tennessee Titans to the playoffs. Now he is holding a clipboard.

 

But things have really changed for Young as we enter the 2009 season.  Young has not really developed into the passing quarterback the Titans would hope he would. 

 

The only season in which he led the Titans to the postseason saw Young pass for nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions.  Not exactly stellar numbers for the third overall pick in 2006.

 

In 2008, Young only started one game before injuring his knee in the season opener against Jacksonville. Young was replaced by Collins, who eventually supplanted Young as the starter. 

 

Young wants to return as the starter for Tennessee and rumors are that if he isn’t the starting QB, he wants to be traded.  The question is: which teams could be in the mix for Vince Young’s services?

 

 

Washington Redskins

 

This offseason has been loaded with talks of trying to move quarterback Jason Campbell and get another quarterback.  First it was for Jay Cutler, then Mark Sanchez.  Dan Snyder wants to start fresh at the quarterback position and Young could be the guy.

 

Young (18-11) and Campbell (16-20) have pretty comparable records.  Young does have seven more wins than Campbell, however Campbell has played in a tougher division.

 

Campbell has yet to lead his team to the postseason in his four year career.  In 2007, the Redskins did make the playoffs, but Todd Collins was starting for the injured Campbell.

 

With all the money Snyder has spent in the last several offseasons, it is obvious he wants to win right now.  If he feels Campbell is not the guy in Washington, he could look to Young this season.

 

 

Houston Texans

 

This could be an interesting suitor for Vince Young.  Young is from Houston and went to the University of Texas.  Houston has Matt Schaub as their starting QB.  However, with the offseason trade of Sage Rosenfels to the Minnesota Vikings, this team is short on quarterbacks.

 

This is a highly unlikely destination for Vince Young given the fact that Tennessee is in the same division as Houston.  If the possibility is there, the Texans would have a pretty good three headed monster in Young, Andre Johnson, and Steve Slaton.

 

 

Buffalo Bills

 

For the Bills to be a potential suitor for Vince Young, Edwards has to play like he has the past two seasons.  Although Edwards led the Bills to a surprising 5-1 start last season, the team failed to make the playoffs after losing eight of their last ten games.

 

Edwards did not play very well after suffering a concussion in the Bills 41-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.  When he returned, he was not nearly as effective as he was at the beginning of the season.

 

If Edwards continues to regress this season, the Bills will be looking in a different direction.  Young could replace Edwards, and Edwards could be a good replacement for Young in Tennessee.

 

 

St. Louis Rams

 

The Rams could be looking to find a replacement for Marc Bulger.  Bulger has not been the same quarterback since the 2004 season, dealing with both injuries and inconsistent play. 

 

This could be a nice change of scenery in St. Louis for Vince Young.  The Rams have a good running game and have a very good wide receiver in Donny Avery.  Young is another playmaker that could provide some spark to the Rams offense.

 

 

San Francisco 49ers

 

The San Francisco 49ers are still looking to find a consistent starting quarterback since Jeff Garcia left in 2004.  No. 1 overall Alex Smith has yet to live up to his potential, and the 49ers have really struggled to find his replacement.

 

Shaun Hill and Alex Smith should be entangled in a QB battle in training camp, but the 49ers could look to acquire Vince Young to be their starting quarterback.   Young could be that consistent starter San Francisco is looking for.

 

All of these scenarios of course depend on the Tennessee Titans.  If Young wins the starting QB job in training camp, he would be happy to stay in Nashville.  If Kerry Collins is the Titans starter, look for Young to ask for a trade to be a starter somewhere else.

 

Seattle Seahawks: Possible QB Controversy?

The focus of training camp for the Seattle Seahawks this year will be the health of their quarterback. Matt Hasselbeck.  However, there is another quarterback who believes he should have the shot to lead the Seahawks to the promised land. 

I’m talking, of course, about Seneca Wallace.

Many people were skeptical of the fourth-round draft choice by the Seahawks.  At Iowa State, Wallace was more famous for his legs than his arm, much like Michael Vick or Antwaan Randle El.

His 15=yard touchdown run against Texas Tech has been highlighted many times on SportsCenter and carries the moniker “The Run.”

Much like many “running” quarterbacks, NFL teams wanted to make Seneca a wide receiver.  Wallace believed he was better suited to be a quarterback.  The Seahawks loved his athleticism, but were skeptical on his ability to be an NFL quarterback.

Many fans believed that the Seahawks drafted him to become a wide receiver, especially with both Trent Dilfer and Matt Hasselbeck on their roster. 

After Trent Dilfer departed Seattle in 2004, the Seahawks were forced to have Seneca Wallace as their backup quarterback. 

Matt Hasselbeck finally solidified his starting job after the 2005 season, taking the Seahawks to Super Bowl XL.  Wallace would remain the backup as long as Hasselbeck stayed healthy.

During his first three years in Seattle, Wallace never started a game.  In fact he played in only seven, throwing for 173 yards. 

After his 28-yard catch against the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship game, many felt he was ready to make the transition to wide receiver.

But during a Week 7 bout against the Minnesota Vikings in 2006, Matt Hasselbeck suffered a knee injury, thrusting Seneca Wallace into the starting rotation.

He started four games for the Seahawks that year, going 2-2 and keeping the Seahawks’ playoff chances alive.

In 2007, Seneca again found himself slated behind Matt Hasselbeck, and after Hasselbeck’s best statistical season in 2007 (3,966 yards, 28 TD, 12 INT) Wallace was again destined to forever be his backup.

Things would change again in 2008 after Hasselbeck suffered a herniated disk against the New York Giants in Week 4.  Wallace started eight games that season, leading the Seahawks to three of their four victories and almost pulling upsets against New England and Miami. 

He threw for 1,532 yards, 11 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

The Seahawks could head into this off-season with a quarterback controversy if Seneca continues his development and Hasselbeck takes a step backwards.  All indications are Hasselbeck will be healthy to be the starting quarterback for the Seahawks in 2009.

The question remains: What will the Seahawks do with Seneca Wallace?  With no adequate back up to either quarterback, Wallace remains the backup to Hasselbeck.

Things could change however if the Seahawks decide to pursue a veteran backup for Matt Hasselbeck before training camp begins.

Rex Grossman and J.P Losman remain available options for the Seahawks.

The other possibility is the development of Mike Teel.  If he shows signs of being a quality backup sooner than expected, Wallace could be the odd man out in Seattle.

Wallace’s future still remains cloudy going into the 2009 campaign.  If the Seahawks acquire a veteran quarterback or Teel develops, Wallace could then be used as a wide receiver, a position many Seahawks fans felt would suit his athleticism better. 

With his future in doubt, Wallace could jump to a team in need of a starting quarterback when he becomes a free agent. 

As of right now, Seneca is the Seahawks backup quarterback.  Only time will tell if he stays in that position or not.

The NFL’s Top Ten Game Changing Players

There are many players in the NFL who you must account for on every single play. I think of guys like Brian Urlacher, Albert Haynesworth, and DeMarcus Ware. However, there are players who get gasps every time the touch the ball. These are the players in the NFL today who can change the entire game in one single play.

Mike Tice: Chronicling the Former Seattle Seahawk

My fourth installment of chronicling the careers of former Seattle Seahawks follows former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice.

 

Many know that Mike Tice was the head coach with the Minnesota Vikings from 2001-2005. He led the Vikings to a 32-33 career record in five seasons as head coach including three career playoff games.

 

Before he became a head coach however, he was a former tight end in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks. Tice came to Seattle out of the University of Maryland in 1981 where he was a quarterback for the Terrapins. Tice came into the NFL as a tight end.

 

In his rookie season Tice played in all 16 games for the Seahawks where he managed to grab only five passes for 47 yards.

 

Tice had his best season statistically for the Seahawks in 1988. He hauled in 29 passes for 244 yards, averaging 8.4 yards a catch. Tice had his most touchdown receptions in 1991 with the Seahawks with four.

 

Tice left the Seahawks for one season in1989 to join the Washington Redskins. In his only season as a Redskin he played the 16 games, but had only one reception for two yards.

 

Tice came back to the Seattle Seahawks in 1990 and played with the team until 1992, where he went to play for the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons before retiring in 1993. He was coaxed out of retirement in 1995 to play for the Vikings again due to injuries. 

 

After year after his playing career ended Tice began his coaching career. In 1996 he was hired to coach the tight ends for the Minnesota Vikings. A year later, Tice began coaching the offensive line. 

 

Although he gained the reputation of being a tough coach, Tice managed to coach five different players to 10 pro bowl appearances: Randall McDaniel, Jeff Christy, Todd Steussie, Korey Stringer, and Matt Birk. 

 

Birk was the only Viking chosen to the pro bowl in 2001. Tice had the pleasure of coaching the offensive line in the Vikings’ record breaking 1998 campaign.

 

Mike Tice inherited the coaching job in the final game of 2001, replacing Dennis Green.  He was not named the official head coach till January 10th, 2002. He become the first former Vikings player to coach the team later in his career.

 

In his first season the Minnesota Vikings finished 6-10 although they finished winning their final three games. In Tice’s second season the Vikings opened the season 6-0, but they struggled in the next 10 games. 

 

They missed out on the playoffs on the final play of final game in 2003 as Arizona Cardinals receiver Nate Poole gave the Cardinals an 18-17 victory. Green Bay won the division finishing the season with a 10-6 record, Minnesota finished 9-7.

 

2004 had the same tune has 2003 did as the Vikings finished their last 10 games 3-7.  However, the Vikings became the second team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a .500 record. 

 

They then became the second team in NFL history to win a playoff game with a .500 record by defeating the Green Bay Packers 31-17 in Lambeau Field. The only other .500 team to win a playoff game did it a day earlier as the 8-8 St. Louis Rams defeated the Seattle Seahawks 27-20.

 

Minnesota then lost the next week to the eventual NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles 27-14.

 

2005 began with Tice admitting he was involved in a Super Bowl ticket scalping operation with the organization. Tice was fined a then record $100,000. 

 

The Vikings struggled to a 2-5 record, only to end up finishing 9-7, one game short of the playoffs. The season also involved the “love boat” scandal. Tice was fired at the end of the season.

 

Tice was hired as the Jacksonville Jaguars tight ends coach where he remains today.

Life Lessons I Have Learned from Playing Madden

Sometimes you look for other inspirations in life to teach you something other than your parents—I turned to Madden.

 

For those who have never played Madden, imagine immersing yourself into something for nine hours only to remember you have forgotten to eat, missed class, have not showered, and have your parents on the verge of filing a missing person report.

 

That is exactly what Madden is like for some individuals, but for me, it has been more than an escape from reality—it is a gateway to many life lessons I have learned in my young life.  Here are my favorite lessons I can personally thank John Madden for.

 

Playing It Safe Is Always the Best Policy

 

Many of us would disagree.  I can’t tell you how many times I have heard “take a chance on something; it could change your life!”  Very rarely is this true.

 

In Madden, you always take the 40 yard field-goal on a fourth-and-10 from the opposing team’s 23 yard-line, even though you have a tall wide receiver who could school that weak corner. They’re points on the board and it gives you momentum against your opponent.

 

In life it is the same way.  Imagine you go to a restaurant, and while you already had a preconceived notion of what you were going to order, you still give the menu a chance. 

 

Then some magical dish catches your eye.  It looks good, it has everything you like, and the waiter even says it’s his choice.  What do you do?  I always revert to my 40 yard field-goal and go with what I already know is a good dish. 

 

I have tried to go for it on fourth-and-10—more often than not, I end up regretting that decision.  The food is terrible and I never eat there again and the waiter who gave me the “good advice” gets zilch for his tip.

 

Hail Marys Never Work

 

Unless you’re playing the computer on beginner mode, Hail Marys never work.  Usually you chuck up a prayer from your strong armed QB to the wide out who has an absurd amount of height in hopes he comes down with it.

 

Usually, the QB either gets a sack, throws it too far, or the opposing team knocks it down.  Hail Marys are a praying chance that rarely gets answered.

 

The same goes for life as well.  Let’s say you’re walking through the mall and you spot the really, really good looking girl from school or work.  You have had a crush on her for a while, but you rarely talk to her.  Until today, when you decide you want to throw up a Hail Mary and see if she will go out with you.

 

Sometimes it works and you execute flawlessly.  More often than not however, you fumble, get sacked, or get rejected.  I always revert back to Madden in this instance.  Instead of trying to win the game with one play, try setting yourself up for victory with several small plays.  Talk to her, get to know her, and try not to get stuck in the friend zone.

 

Patience Is a Virtue Rarely Followed

 

Madden taught me that I have zero patience in life.  Usually on my first play of the game, I go deep to my No. 1 receiver in an attempt to score quickly.  Than in some act of poetic justice, I get intercepted and my best WR goes down with a knee injury.

 

If I had just set up the defense with a couple of runs and then hit a deep play-action pass, I could have secured that early lead with both my WR and dignity still intact.

 

No question this is true in real life as well.  Imagine studying for a test for a week.  You feel confident and ready to show that you know the material. 

 

Then comes test day.  You sit down, are handed your multiple choice test and you fly right through it, finishing in 20 minutes when you have two more hours to go.

 

You receive your score and find out it was extremely lower than you had thought it would be.  You realize that you answered some of the questions with blatant wrong answers in an effort to finish quickly.

 

Had you taken your time to establish your dominance, your grade could have been much higher.

 

Life Is Short, Have Fun!

 

A game of Madden usually lasts about 30 minutes maximum.  You get so into the game you realize you have broken your controller and made your wife/girlfriend so mad, she left to go shopping—with your credit card!

 

Just relax and remember it’s just a video game.  Winning and losing mean nothing really, just enjoy the fact you got to relax.

 

Life is the same way.  You realize how much you hate work that it makes you angry every day. Just remember to take a step back and separate life from work.  Enjoy the time you have away from it.

Five Most Effective Plays for Seattle Seahawks in 2008

Many people would say that a 4-12 team did not run very many effective plays, especially when their offense ranked in the bottom of the league.  However, there were several plays that yielded some success for the Seattle Seahawks in 2008.

 

 

 

TE seam

 

John Carlson really emerged last season as a threat down the middle, hauling in 55 passes and five touchdowns, a franchise record for tight ends. 

 

Carlson averaged 11.4 yards per reception and really exploited the middle of the field.

 

The most effective formation was a three-WR formation, with Carlson lining up on the strong side.  In this formation, Carlson is matched up on a linebacker as the corner, and possible safety or nickel corner are matched up against the two wide receivers.

 

The result leaves a fleet footed Carlson in a mismatch with an outside linebacker.  Run properly, this play resulted in big yards.  His longest reception came of the season came on this play in Dallas (33 yards).

 

 

 

TE release

 

Carlson also had lots of success on a basic tight end release route across the field.  Carlson would line up on either the left or right side, depending on the direction of the play. 

 

Usually ran in goal-line situations, this play was effective in garnishing one of Carlson’s five touchdowns.

 

In this play, the QB would normally have two backs in the backfield.  At the snap of the ball, Carlson starts by initiating contact with his blocker, then after one or two seconds releases his block.

 

The QB runs a play-action fake to draw up potential linebackers in coverage.  He then proceeds to bootleg to the left or right depending on the play call.

 

If run correctly, Carlson is left uncovered and an easy touch pass should result in a touchdown as demonstrated in the game against Green Bay where Carlson scored his first touchdown.

 

 

 

Halfback Counter

 

This was a very effective play for the Seahawks at the beginning of the season.  The play is run out of a single back, two-tight-end set.  Julius Jones ran this play very effective against the St. Louis Rams in the third game of the season.

 

The play involves the offensive line blocking down in the direction of the initial play.  The running back is handed the ball, stutter steps in the opposite direction of the play and then continues in the direction of the play in attempt to throw off the opposing linebackers.

 

The hopeful result of this is a five-yard or more play.  The play is usually considered to have failed if the running back gains three yards or less.

 

Jones had his best run of the season on this play against the Rams.  Jones started going left only to counter to the right, and then he bounced off two potential tacklers to run this play into the end zone with Matt Hasselbeck leading his way.

 

Jones finished the game with 22 carries for 140 yards and the lone touchdown.

 

 

 

Halfback Dive

 

This was another very effective running play for the Seahawks in 2008 that yielded several touchdowns by T.J. Duckett.  The play is designed to pound away at the defense in order to gain a couple of yards maximum.

 

The Seahawks would crowd the line with eight potential blockers including five linemen and three tight ends.  With the RB lining up behind the QB, the ball would be handed off to the RB quickly in an effort to catch a defense off-guard. 

 

Each lineman has a separate blocking assignment; usually it is the man lining up over their respective area, as most teams attempt to crowd the line. 

 

This play is only effective if the offensive line gets the initial push against the defensive line.  The result is hopefully a first down or a touchdown.

 

T.J. Duckett had a team high-eight rushing touchdowns on only 172 yards rushing.

 

 

 

Wide Receiver Crossing Route

 

This play may be a staple of many previous Seahawks offenses.  The Seahawks are well known for running many crossing routes with their wide outs, and 2008 was no different.

 

This play is usually run out of a three- or four-wide receiver set with two wide receivers to the strong side and one to the weak side.  The slot receiver or inside receiver on the strong side runs up field five or ten yards and begins to drag across the field. 

 

The weak side receiver runs seven or more yards up field and runs in the opposite direction of the “crossing” wide receiver.  The play is only effective if they have run different lengths they avoid running into each other.

 

The play attempts to “pick” off the corner or safety covering one of the receivers with the linebacker.  If the play is run effectively, one of the wide receivers should be open ten or more yards down field. 

 

This play could lead to high-yardage passing plays.

 

With the change in the offensive playbook for the Seahawks this season, these plays may not be seen in 2009.  However, they were the most effective for this offense in 2008.

2009 Seattle Seahawks: On the Path to Redemption

In predicting a season for a team, you feel compelled to look at the previous team. There wasn’t much to look at in 2008 except for the glaring holes on both sides of the ball, the injuries, the blowouts, the close losses, and, finally, the end of the Mike Holmgren era.

 

Many experts feel the Seahawks are rebuilding as a recent Power Ranking on ESPN put the Seahawks as the 22nd best team in the NFL. That’s not saying much for a team that was in the playoffs five straight years and has been to the Super Bowl as recently as 2005.

 

Many experts feel the Seahawks are rebuilding, but Tim Ruskell believes otherwise.

 

Ruskell believes that last season was an aberration, and, by the way he went into the offseason, we should expect to be contending this season.

 

As training camp descends upon us all, many people get excited and start predicting a Super Bowl for their respective franchise. I would love to do the same. I always feel like my team can go 16-0 and win it all. 

 

Unfortunately that doesn’t seem at all plausible, especially with a team that has glaring needs at safety, center, and running back.

 

When examining the 2009 season, there are many games that could propel the Seahawks to the elite status or throw them back down to the bottom of the league.  Here are the 2009 opponents.

 

First four opponents:  vs. St. Louis, at San Francisco, vs. Chicago, at Indianapolis

 

The Seahawks catch a break at the beginning of the season by getting the Rams at home and traveling to San Francisco, where they have played pretty well in recent years. A 2-0 start is not out of the realm of possibility there. 

 

However, the Chicago Bears posses a tough matchup for the Seahawks, especially if the Seahawks cannot defend Jay Cutler and his wide receivers.   

 

The Seahawks then travel to Indianapolis to face Peyton Manning and the Colts. If the Seahawks had trouble with Jay Cutler and the Bears, imagine what Manning will do to the Seahawks secondary.

 

Predicted record: 2-2

 

Next four opponents:  vs. Jacksonville, vs. Arizona, at Dallas, vs. Detroit

 

Again the Seahawks catch a break in the second quarter of the season by having three of the four games at home, with the only trip going to Dallas.

 

Jacksonville is another interesting matchup, but with the regression of David Garrard at quarterback we could see the Seahawks bottle up Maurice Jones-Drew and pull out the victory.

 

Arizona will be another tough matchup. This game is really 50-50. If the Seahawks get in Kurt Warner’s face, they will win. If they allow Warner to hit his receivers they will lose.

 

Going to Dallas will be very tough for this Seahawks team, especially after the 34-9 manhandling at the hands of the Cowboys last season. Cowboys will likely take care of business at home.

 

The Seahawks get a young Detroit team who could have a rookie at quarterback. How will Matt Stafford fare against the 12th man of Seattle’s Qwest Field? 

 

Predicted record:  5-3

 

Next four opponents:  at Arizona, at Minnesota, at St. Louis, vs. San Francisco

 

Talk about a murderer’s row here. The Seahawks have three straight road games which could very well determine their postseason chances. The Seahawks will look to avoid going 0-3 on the road trip.

 

The Seahawks have never won at University of Phoenix stadium, so things do not look good for the Seahawks against the defending NFC champs as the Cardinals win. The Seahawks then travel to Minnesota and could face both Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson. Rounding out the road trip is a trip to the Edward Jones Dome for a date with the Rams. The Seahawks lose in Minnesota, but sweep the Rams again this season.

 

The Seahawks finally return home to a San Francisco team that beat the Seahawks in overtime last season in week two.

 

Realistically, the Seahawks could lose all four of these games, especially if they are worn down from the three road games. I see them splitting these four games, though.

 

Predicted Record:  7-5

 

Final four games:  at Houston, vs. Tampa Bay, at Green Bay, vs. Tennessee

 

Late December games against Houston and Green Bay on the road could be difficult for the Seahawks. However, I believe they take care of business in Houston against an up-and-coming Texans team. I do not, however, see them going into Green Bay and winning in the cold weather.

 

Tampa Bay has a new coach and new quarterback, which could turn out to be rookie Josh Freeman. Will Josh Freeman handle the 12th man? Probably not in his rookie season, as the Seahawks win at home.

 

A win against Tennessee rounds out the season.

 

Predicted record at end of season: 10-6

 

The Seahawks are in the mix to win the wide open NFC West this season. A 10-6 record could win this division and set up a home playoff game.

Seattle Seahawks Off and Running with Zone-Blocking Scheme

For the past couple of seasons, the Seattle Seahawks’ rushing attack has been very sub-par. Last season the Seahawks ranked 19th in rushing offense, averaging 110 yards per game.

 

This season the Seattle Seahawks will implement a zone-blocking scheme to help open up more running lanes for Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett. 

 

A zone-blocking scheme requires fleet-footed and athletic offensive linemen. The most important aspect of such a scheme is not to create a specific hole; rather, the key is creating movement on the defensive line.

 

Here is how the Seattle Seahawks will run a play using a zone-blocking scheme.

 

Offensive Line:  LT, LG, C, RG, RT

Defense:  DE, DT, DT, DE, ROLB, MLB, LOLB

 

The Seahawks look to isolate either the left or right side depending on the direction of the play call. Before the play, each lineman must look to see if he is covered by an opposing defensive linemen or if he is free. 

 

In a 4-3 defense, the only lineman who remains uncovered is the center. If the Seahawks play an opposing team that runs a 3-4 defense, both guards are left uncovered. 

 

Once the play has begun, the offensive tackle and guard will both block the defensive end on their respective side. The center will slide over and pick up the DT while the other guard and tackle pick up the remaining defensive linemen.

 

Once the defender declares which way he is moving, the uncovered linemen will move to the next level to attack the oncoming linebackers. This should create a small, one-cut seam for the running back to run through and then take off upfield. 

 

The scheme is designed so that the running back has to make only one cut, attempting to eliminate “dancing” in the backfield. The Seahawks feel they have a good running back for this system in Julius Jones.

 

The Seahawks will look to utilize Jones’ ability to burst through gaps and use his speed to out-run defenders. Jones has been more successful in a one-cut offensive system than other systems in the past.

 

The zone-blocking scheme will benefit T.J. Duckett as well. Duckett was mainly used in short-yardage and goal-line situations last season and looks to be used in the same capacity this season.  

 

If the scheme is effective, don’t be surprised to see Duckett break off some long runs of his own. Duckett’s touchdown numbers could go up as well.

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