Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Saturday

Happy Weekend!

Seahawks Vs Bears: Injury Updates, Roster Moves, News & Notes - SB Nation Seattle
The Seahawks look to keep rolling as they travel to the Windy City to take on the Bears. Here's everything you need to know.

Advanced NFL Stats: Graphing Franchise Performance Since 2000
A new twist to the visualizations. I've received many good suggestions, and many of them have already been implemented. Chase Stuart, always with a historical perspective, suggested a plot of a single franchise's performance over the past several years. It was easy to do, so I decided to go ahead and publish it. Already there are some great points that stand out.

The Shutdown Corner Podcast: George Atallah of the NFLPA - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
Comprehensive National Football League news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors, and more.

Three to Focus on: Seahawks @ Bears, Week 15 | ProFootballFocus.com
Soldier Field will host two sides with very contrasting fortunes in Week 15 as the Seattle Seahawks take on the Chicago Bears. The Seahawks (6-7) have won four of their previous five games; a run of form the likes of which they have not enjoyed since 2007. A key part of this success has been the re-invigorated presence of Marshawn Lynch, who, since Week 9 has amassed 706 rushing yards and six touchdowns. The Bears (7-6) will be attempting to halt a three game losing streak, with all three losses having occurred since the injury of franchise quarter back Jay Cutler. The game has serious playoff implications for both sides. The Bears, who looked like a lock for a playoff spot just a few weeks ago, can put themselves back into the picture with a win here. The Seahawks know they must now run the table to have any chance of getting in. Their remaining schedule (at home against the 49ers and at the Cardinals) makes this a possible task, so we should see everything they’ve got in their attempt to beat Chicago on Sunday.

The Scramble: Late Round Impact | ProFootballFocus.com
When discussing late round gems, the conversation has to start with cornerback Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks. Sure he’s coming off his worst day as a pro as he picked-up four penalties on Monday, but regardless, he has been a huge piece of a very good Seahawks defense. Head Coach Pete Carroll plucked him in the fifth round out of Stanford, and like most low picks, Sherman started the season buried on the depth chart. However, an injury to starting cornerback Marcus Trufant led to Sherman being thrust into a nickel role in Week 5 against the New York Giants and he showed well on his 37 snaps. After a Week 6 bye, Sherman overtook CB Walter Thurmond as the starter at left cornerback, and he’s had a firm grasp on the position ever since.

How the Falcons targeted Julio Jones vs. the Jags | National Football Post
A route we see every week, but Jones turned it into a TD.

Cosell’s Watching: Not one of Brady’s Better Games : NFL Films Blog
NFL Matchup’s Executive Producer shares notes from his study of the coaching tape of Week 14: Patriots offense vs. Redskins defense.

Cosell’s Watching: Gabbert’s Best Game of the Season : NFL Films Blog
NFL Matchup’s Executive Producer shares notes from his study of the coaching tape of Week 14: Blaine Gabbert vs. the Tampa Bay Defense.

Know Your Enemy: The Chicago Bears - 12th Man Rising - A Seattle Seahawks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.
Each week, I contact the editor of the Fansided blog that covers the Seahawk’s opponent, and ask them a few questions. This week I’m joined by Mike of Bear Goggles On. In the interest of common sense and my own personal sanity, I wont mention Tim Tebow, Marian Barber, or last week’s game. I also was unable to ask about Hurd and his recent arrest, since that happened after I sent him these questions.

The Real Rob Report - Guest Reporter Winner - YouTube
This is one of our Guest Reporter contest winners Brandon Choate. Watch as he gets the experience of a lifetime. We take a fan behind the scenes and give him the opportunity to meet the Seahawks and even interview Red Bryant and Leon Washington.

This Seahawk has brains and brawn | HeraldNet.com - Sports
Seattle rookie linebacker Wright has quietly made an impact

Playoffs?! It's not as far-fetched as you think - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
Yes, Jim Mora, we're talking about playoffs, and the Seahawks do have a legitimate shot at reaching the postseason for the second season in a row. Although every scenario stipulates that the Seahawks must win their final three games - at Chicago, vs. San Francisco, at Arizona - in order for them to reach the postseason. So, how can the Hawks make the playoffs?

Sunday is man up time for Paul McQuistan, Jon Ryan - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
Pete Carroll singled out Paul McQuistan for the job he did on Monday night in his first start at left tackle since moving from right guard, a switch necessitated by Russell Okung's season-ending pectoral injury. McQuistan's job gets a whole lot harder this week when he faces Bears defensive end Julius Peppers, a Pro-Bowler who tends to rush from both end spots and tends to have success doing so. Brock and Salk say McQuistan and punter Jon Ryan will need to play well for the Seahawks to leave Chicago with a win over the Bears.

Tarvaris Jackson says he feels at home in Seattle - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
The two-year, $8 million contract the Seahawks gave Tarvaris Jackson suggested that the team didn't necessarily see him as its long-term quarterback. Through 13 games, Jackson has done just about everything the Seahawks could have reasonably expected from him, if not more. The torn right pectoral muscle he's played with the last seven weeks adds further merit to his performance. Tarvaris Jackson What does Jackson think about his future with the Seahawks?

Seahawks Blog | Seahawks' run of success doesn't mean QB less important | Seattle Times Newspaper
There are three types of teams in the NFL: • Those five to eight teams that have a true, certified Grade A, elite quarterback. • Those dozen or so that either believe/hope/desperately talking themselves into the idea they have that elite quarterback. • The other third of the teams in the league searching and hoping to find that elite quarterback, a category that Seattle belongs to.

Seahawks Blog | Seahawks' run of success doesn't mean QB less important | Seattle Times Newspaper
There are three types of teams in the NFL: • Those five to eight teams that have a true, certified Grade A, elite quarterback. • Those dozen or so that either believe/hope/desperately talking themselves into the idea they have that elite quarterback. • The other third of the teams in the league searching and hoping to find that elite quarterback, a category that Seattle belongs to.

Seahawks Blog | Seahawks LG Robert Gallery expected to play | Seattle Times Newspaper
Left guard Robert Gallery left Monday's game against St. Louis in the fourth quarter and sat out practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He returned to practice Friday, though, and is "good to go," according to Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

Managing the middle
As Marshawn Lynch continues to run his way into the Seahawks' record book, Michael Robinson continues to take on much-larger middle linebackers as the lead blocker for the club's 'Beast Mode' back.

Seahawks.com Blog | Friday in Hawkville "
FOCUS ON Michael Robinson. How good a lead blocker has the Seahawks’ fullback been this season? The best in the league, as selected by USA Football.

McDaniels' situation and the Rams' future - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Adam Schefter's latest "10 Spot" gives Josh McDaniels credit for seeing what others could not see in Tom Brady, Matt Cassel and Tim Tebow.

How Good Has Doug Baldwin Been? - Rule Of Tree
Doug Baldwin has been a pleasant surprise for Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks, who signed the former Stanford star as an undrafted free agent. Twenty-eight receivers were selected in the 2011 NFL Draft and Baldwin has outperformed almost all of them. That list includes Seahawks teammate Kris Durham, who was taken in the fourth round and had only 3 catches for 30 yards when he was placed on injured reserve with a labrum injury in early November. It also includes early-round selections such as Julio Jones, Greg Little, and Titus Young. Here's a look at where Baldwin ranks among this year's rookie receivers: