Everything Else
This is a running thread of anything else that I think is worth mentioning in the next 23 hours. Feel free to post questions if you want, I'll try and answer all of them. Just not between 3 and 6, that's Morgan time!

Mr. Popularity
Shaun Alexander is a huge wildcard heading into this weekend. He only had 8 rushes in week 17, so could be fresh, but only had 8 rushes after taking a hard hit that clearly fazed him. The Hawks are more dependent on him than maybe any other time of his career, because in the past Shaun was always either good or great, Shaun V. 2007 is sometimes good, and often deadly bad. Third and longs are only going to embolden Gregg Williams. I do not fear blitzes, but I do fear our blitz pickup. If Seattle can play like the efficient, Walsh style offense they were designed to be, they'll have plenty of exploitable weaknesses, but if Alexander's rushing makes the Skins' run D transform into the Hawks run D, Seattle's offense will sputter. It's not that I don't respect the Skins' rush D, it's just that I don't think how they play will mean half as much as which Shaun Alexander shows up on Sunday.
The Weather
The weather shouldn't be a relevant. Don't worry about the weather.
Special Teams
It's very hard to get a grasp on the Hawks special teams. My head and my gut say that, yes, Boone Klutz was that bad. Brown, Plack and the whole gang have looked again like that dominant unit that soared to first place mid-season. Plack better be back, because Randle El shall give no quarter.
The Media
The Skins had one of their very best players die suddenly, and without reason. The Hawks are a perennial contender with little flash and a buncha smack shootin' lumberjacks for fans. The Hawks are going to get picked against, picked on and generally reviled, win, lose or draw. Hopefully, should Seattle make it into the next round, the Hawks can be put down for their football merits, rather than for just being unpopular.
An Off Week for Old Men
Chris Gray, who has been 7 layers of suck, may, may, like Alexander, benefit quite a bit from the week off. Gray was a substantially better player at the beginning of the season, and has clearly worn down as the season has progressed. I don't think that particular batch of Geritol is likely to last more than one week, but for one week, Seattle might have a league average right guard again. Jones has been playing well, I don't think he will be too positively, or too negatively affected by a week off.
From the Wayback Machine: A Complete Offense
The Hawks may finally show off that vaunted four deep, stupendously terrific wide receiver corps they've teased us with all season. As I wrote, what?, 3 infinity times:
A healthy Hackett, could be enough to take Seattle to the Super Bowl.
Hasselbeck's Wrist
Better be okay.
One Last Needle for an Outgoing Legend
If I were Gregg Williams, and I saw Shaun Alexander in the backfield, I'd blitz like crazy, knowing he's neither suited for draw plays, nor anything as a receiver. Even if Shaun has an excellent rushing performance, his deficit as a receiver is so great that it's almost impossible for him to match Morris' contributions.
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John, you actually sound kinda optimistic about Alexander for tomorrow. If you were coaching the team tomorrow how would you divided the carries between Mo/Shaun/Weaver?
Oh and is there a team the Hawks have played this season that compares to the Redskins? Like a team that blitzes a lot and what not?
by MFAN on Jan 4, 2008 2:14 PM PST 0 recs
oh and just too add
by MFAN on
Jan 4, 2008 2:15 PM PST
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Mo, Weaver, no Alexander...
I'm guardedly optimistic about Alexander. The way he runs after rest, compared to the way he runs after a heavy workload makes all the difference. He's a semi-decent rusher when he's rested, but after a little wear and tear you get the guy who tackles himself that surfaced mid-season.
The Skins blitz a lot, and it's from very traditional blitz packages. Really, not unlike a lot of what the Hawks run. The Saints did sort of the same thing, sit on the pass, blitz a lot, largely traditional blitzes, but the Saints were an inferior defense. That's not very encouraging, I know, but, hopefully, the Hawks O doesn't look anything like the one that took the field against the Saints. Plus, I don't foresee Seattle giving the Skins a touchdown to start the game.
by John Morgan on
Jan 4, 2008 6:25 PM PST
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If its rainy and windy like it says it going to be
by Scruffy Lefty on Jan 4, 2008 2:20 PM PST 0 recs
Just a quick scenario
by SSreporters on Jan 4, 2008 2:56 PM PST 0 recs
GB
If we make it that far, I like Beck for a little "we want the ball and we're going to score" revenge.
by jeager on
Jan 4, 2008 3:26 PM PST
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I'd expect Mo Mo to see lots of snaps
My big concern in the running game is what we do in short yardage. I want to see more Weaver and less Alexander or Morris in those situations.
by dcrockett17 on Jan 4, 2008 3:17 PM PST 0 recs
Weaver did well against Atlanta
by Scruffy Lefty on
Jan 4, 2008 3:25 PM PST
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Media un-darlings
If it's Hawks-Tampa in the NFC Championship, the media might have to resort to their silly "isn't it interesting how Gruden and Holmgren used to coach together" line. The media would hate that matchup. Too boring.
Finally, if we make it to the Super Bowl, we'll be viewed (probably accurately so) as a speedbump on the Patsies juggernaut (bitch).
Oh well, at least we have good coffee and no humidity in the summer.
by jeager on Jan 4, 2008 3:31 PM PST 0 recs
I have that NFC champ matchup in my office pool
by Scruffy Lefty on
Jan 4, 2008 3:53 PM PST
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heh, same here. Bucs at Seahawks
by MFAN on
Jan 4, 2008 3:56 PM PST
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SB
by FarNorth on Jan 4, 2008 3:39 PM PST 0 recs
Thanks!
by UW Alex on Jan 4, 2008 4:02 PM PST 0 recs
Chris Berman was all like
by John Spartan on Jan 4, 2008 4:04 PM PST 0 recs
Ah Ha!
In the 4 games Collins has played in, 22 of the Skins 77 receptions have gone to backs. Collins has a very suspect arm, and don't think the Skins coaching staff doesn't know that. As we all know by now, the Hawks are very good at defending receiving running backs (23.1% DVOA, 5th in the NFL). If they can shut down the Skins underneath game, it will put a ton of pressure on Collins to make throws he's just not a skilled at making.
by John Morgan on Jan 4, 2008 6:34 PM PST 0 recs
jags will beat steelers
by paul2 on Jan 5, 2008 9:39 AM PST 0 recs










