Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Thursday

Happy Thursday yo.

USA Football All-Fundamentals Team
Mike Rob!!

Week 15 - Carroll Press Conference Wednesday

Seahawks' playoff chances dissected | HeraldNet.com - Sports
After the Seahawks knocked off Baltimore and St. Louis to improve to 4-6, NFL fans in the Northwest started whispering the P word.

Seahawks.com Blog | Lockette added to 53-man roster "
Ricardo Lockette’s wait ended today when the rookie wide receiver was signed off the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Lockette fills the spot that opened Tuesday when cornerback Ron Parker was placed on injured reserve. Asked what Lockette’s role would be, coach Pete Carroll smiled and offered, "Fast guy."

Updated mock draft – 14th December " Seahawks Draft Blog
There are several changes in this week’s projection. Mohamed Sanu (WR, Rutgers) and Manti Te’o (LB, Notre Dame) will return for their senior years and enter the 2013 draft. Andre Branch (DE, Clemson) makes a big jump into the top-15. He’s had a good season (10.5 sacks) and has the kind of relentless approach, burst, length and busy hands that could make him a productive player at the next level. A lack of pass rushers in this year’s draft could easily promote a player like Branch into the top-15.

Tuesday metatarsal musings
Or footnotes: A look at three things that worked in Monday night's 30-13 victory over the Rams, and three things the Seahawks need to work on as they prepare for Sunday's game against the Bears.

Seahawks receiver Golden Tate grabs role, doesn’t plan to let go | Seattle Seahawks - The News Tribune
After nearly two years of biding his time, receiver Golden Tate finally is playing meaningful minutes on a regular basis for the Seattle Seahawks.

Landry Jones falling, Seahawks would pick 14th " Seahawks Draft Blog
Since the summer, we’ve made a case on this blog that Landry Jones isn’t worth a first round grade. Very few others voiced such an opinion, but it appears the tide is changing for Oklahoma’s quarterback. Russ Lande at the Sporting News says NFL scouts are lukewarm to Jones after a disappointing season where he regressed, particularly down the stretch:

Mike Leach: Pistol offense maven? | Smart Football
Mike Leach, now head coach at Washington State, has gone out and hired someone with a little pistol offense pedigree:

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Scramble for the Ball: Strength of Schedule
With the playoffs approaching, we're now in "figuring out the tiebreaker" season. And one of those tiebreakers that figures heavily, both for the draft and for the playoffs, is strength of schedule. Mike, what do you make of the NFL's use of strength of schedule?

Re-Focused: 49ers @ Cardinals, Week 14 | ProFootballFocus.com
A drubbing to the 49ers just three weeks ago must have woken Arizona up, because the Cardinals showed plenty of heart and fire this time around. Arizona was on a quest to put together a three-game winning streak after a slow start to what has been an up-and-down season. For the 49ers, their offense found rhythm at times, but overall, Alex Smith had a day to forget. Frank Gore had a nice 37-yard TD run, but outside of that, San Francisco failed to score touchdowns in the red zone, settling for field goals instead. Let’s take a look at some of the individual performances that propelled the Cardinals to their sixth victory of the season.

Five Analysts, Five Questions, Week 14 | ProFootballFocus.com
Another week, another look around the league for our analysts. As we hit the home stretch of the season the guys sit down and take stock. Aside from looking back at the week’s action and choosing their best performer and biggest surprise, they’ll look at some impressive Signature Stats for the season, choose their "best of the rest". Finally they picked their dream Superbowl match up with just under two months until the big game.

What You Miss Because You Can't See The NFL's All-22 Footage
Tom, you're right to want to see the NFL's proprietary All 22 footage. The All 22—the game tape that only coaches and players get to watch—is where it's at. Televised games follow the ball and leave the majority of the action unseen. The quarterback makes a throw; a receiver makes a catch, or doesn't. The standard broadcast camera makes their individual plays the center of the show. When something bad happens to them, visibly, the league goes to work on the rulebook.

Dave Krieg's Strike Beard: Top 5: Seahawks Beat Bears! (UPDATED)
(I wrote an earlier version of this for Field Gulls last year, but this is updated to include our victory at Soldier Field last October- Enjoy!)

17 Power, A Seattle Seahawks Blog: Mario Williams and Other Good Free Agents for Seattle
Is it wrong to be dreaming of improving the roster with 3 games still left to play? If it is, why does it feel so right? Is that why it is called rosterbating? Moral dilemmas aside, let's dig into the Hawks' defensive roster needs in free agency. There is one player that is obviously the focus of this article, but while on the subject, why don't we look at a few other names for just a moment. (Your moment, not mine. This stuff takes way longer to type than to read.)

Lynch Leads Seahawks Rushing Renaissance | Seattle Seahawks
Largely because of Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks have a chance Sunday to match the 1996 Seahawks’ feat of rushing for 100 yards in seven consecutive games.

Smith on Bears: "We have so much football left to go." | Seahawks Insider
In conference calls with Seattle-area reporters this morning, both Chicago head coach Lovie Smith and quarterback Caleb Hanie were asked about the mood in the Windy City in the aftermath of the Bears losing three straight to fall to 7-6 on the season.

Lockette a football guy first, track guy second | Seahawks Insider
"It’s a dream come true, man" Lockette said. "I’ve been waiting on this since I was five or six, playing little league football and my dad being the head coach."

Seahawks' roll continues with rout of Rams - Seahawks News - MyNorthwest.com
When Pete Carroll looks back at his second season in charge in Seattle, he can be impressed by a midseason turnaround after the Seahawks discovered a long-absent running game and a youthful defense that improved throughout the season. And he'll likely lament two plays that could ultimately be what keeps the Seahawks (6-7) from a second straight postseason trip.

Kam Chancellor is one reason to be excited about Seahawks' future - Seahawks News - MyNorthwest.com
At the end of training camp in August, there was a lot of concern from fans about the Seahawks' decision to cut ties with Lawyer Milloy and put their faith in a second-year, fifth-round draft choice at strong safety.

HBCU Bowl Practice Report: Day 1 | National Football Post
Which prospects are giving themselves the best chance of getting drafted?

HBCU Bowl Practice Report: Day 2 | National Football Post
There is a clear winner from the East squad.

Seahawks Blog | Seahawks Brandon Browner top rookie, except he's not technically a rookie | Seattle Times Newspaper
Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner has the most interceptions of any rookie in the NFL. If only, you know, he was a rookie.

Seahawks Blog | Lockette the Rocket promoted to 53-man roster | Seattle Times Newspaper
Receiver Ricardo Lockette is probably the fastest player in the Seahawks' locker room. His progression up the ranks of the Seahawks franchise from undrafted rookie free agent to practice squad player to his arrival on the 53-man roster Wednesday. The Seahawks signed Lockette, a former Division II track champion, to take the spot vacated when cornerback Ron Parker was placed on season-ending injured reserve.