Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Thursday

Thursday! Links! NFL!!

Tarvaris Jackson won't lead Seattle to a Super Bowl - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
Can we be honest with each other? Really honest? Tarvaris Jackson will not take the Seahawks to the Super Bowl or win the Super Bowl in your lifetime, my lifetime or his lifetime.

Thiel: Seahawks, 49ers coaches almost same guy | Seattle Seahawks
Carroll, Harbaugh built their teams nearly the same way — heavy on defense and special teams, light on offense. Only the 49ers are better. The Seahawks’ only chance is to be smarter.

Harbaugh on Doug Baldwin: "I should have drafted him." | Seahawks Insider
"Well, I should have drafted him," Harbaugh said. "Yeah, I’m kicking myself for not doing that. And at the same time I’m really, really happy for Doug. I’ve watched him this whole year whenever we’re watching crossover tape. Or I’ve sometimes put on the tape, just to watch him and Richard. And I’ve seen him really grow the whole season."

It's time for Seahawks' wide receivers to step up | HeraldNet.com - Sports
Seattle's starting wide receivers are out for season with injuries

Thunder and Lightning
The Seahawks selected Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor in last year's draft with the hope that they would form a potent safety tandem. That hope is happening this season.

Seahawks' Tom Cable is guy who produces results | Seattle Seahawks - The News Tribune
Pete Carroll had his eye on Tom Cable years before Carroll took the head coaching job for the Seattle Seahawks. While still the coach at USC, Carroll observed Cable and current Seattle special teams coach Brian Schneider coaching players during offseason workouts when both were with the Oakland Raiders.

Seahawks.com Blog | Wednesday in Hawkville "
FOCUS ON Paul McQuistan. Pete Carroll has let everyone in on a not-so-little secret. "In our meeting today I made a big deal about Paul and the play that he brought in that game in Chicago," Carroll said Tuesday during his midweek news conference. "He did a fantastic job for us."

Seahawks Blog | 49ers at Seahawks: Stakes are high in Seattle | Seattle Times Newspaper
This is a week when figures of speech aren't exaggerations. The Seahawks really do face a must-win game against the 49ers. At least it's must-win if Seattle wants to hold onto those slim playoff hopes.

Seahawks Blog | Seahawks DE Raheem Brock arraigned on DUI charge, absent from practice | Seattle Times Newspaper
Defensive end Raheem Brock was arraigned on a DUI charge Wednesday in King County District Court, stemming from his arrest in November 2010. He pleaded not guilty. He's scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Feb. 6. Brock did not practice with the team Wednesday.

Joey Porter’s season definitely over, career probably over | ProFootballTalk
The Cardinals have placed Joey Porter on injured reserve, ending his 2011 season. The move may also mean Porter has played the last game of his NFL career. Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports that Porter’s career is most likely over.

Mac's Football Blog: NFL Announces Changes To Concussion Protocal
The National Football League announced changes to concussion protocols, effectively immediately, which includes the placement of an athletic trainer in the press box and allow the team's medical staff to use cellphones during games. "After reviewing our protocols for managing concussions with the NFLPA, our own medical advisors (including team physicians and athletic trainers), and outside experts, NFL clubs have been notified of two changes that will take effect with this week's games," the league announced in a statement on Wednesday.

Cassel, Kolb misfires show the value of bridge quarterbacks - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
Through the last decade, the dominant narrative in the NFL has been that if you want to build a dynasty and win Super Bowls, you must have a franchise quarterback. Teams who use league-average bridge players at that position tend to underwhelm in the end, which is why some teams have gambled and lost on quarterbacks just high enough in the food chain to tantalize, and just low enough on the reality scale to disappoint when the time comes to validate that elite-level contract.

What the Tape Saw: AFC Week 15 - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
In preparation for Wednesday night's Greg Cosell podcast, here are a few AFC notes I made while putting the subjects and questions together for our talk with the best game-tape junkie in the business. These are nowhere near as detailed as Greg's breakdowns on the NFL Films Blog or over at FantasyGuru.com, but they do give an idea of what we've been seeing on our end, and what the topics of conversation will be this week.

San Francisco’s Mr. and Mr. Smith creating nightmare scenarios for quarterbacks - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
On Aldon Smith's first sack of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger last Monday night, the San Francisco 49ers' rookie edge rusher benefited greatly from a sight next to him that no offensive line wants to see — defensive tackle Justin Smith lined up in a flex (off the line) position, in a standup set. At the snap, Justin Smith got what he generally gets from opposing linemen — an immediate double team inside. As Steelers center Doug Legursky and left guard Trai Essex prepared to take the veteran on, Aldon Smith had a one-on-one matchup with left tackle Max Starks, which ended predictably enough — with Roethlisberger on the ground after Aldon Smith snapped Starks back and beat him outside.

Five Analysts, Five Questions, Week 15 | ProFootballFocus.com
With just two weeks left in the regular season the team sit down for another look back at the week and a look forward at what’s to come. As well as looking back at the best (and worst) performances of the week our team will look at two teams expected to be in the playoffs, yet still hoping for help, and the reasons for their recent upturn in results. They also question whether the Packers’ shock loss to the Chiefs could actually be a good thing. To finish off the team look at a side of things often over looked at this time of year, handing out awards to their best offensive and defensive linemen and choosing the player they are most disappointed to see on IR.

Bears make the move to Josh McCown | National Football Post
Journeyman hasn't started since 2007

Updated NFP Mock Ten | National Football Post
With a new draft order, how do the Top 10 picks play out?

NFL.com news: Rams rookie Pettis suspended through Week 2 of next season
St. Louis Rams rookie wide receiver Austin Pettis has been suspended for four games for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.

Updated mock draft – 21st December " Seahawks Draft Blog
This was one of the most challenging mock drafts I’ve ever had to compile, and the Seahawks are 100% to blame. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to project a pick for Seattle. The defense has taken a giant leap forward this year with several players snatching opportunities to become legitimate starters. The offense is coping despite losing several players to injury. The team overall keeps winning and suddenly the playoffs look mildly possible. In fact, had the Seahawks not blown a 17-7 second half lead at home to Washington, they’d be in a very strong position to claim a wildcard berth.

Training Game | National Football Post
Agents use slots at premium training facilities to attract new clients.

How to Use "Backside Tags" to Attack the Entire Field in the Passing Game | Smart Football
"Pick a side." This common coaching directive, in which the quarterback is given the autonomy to choose his starting point on a pass play, has always bothered me. It’s an abdication of a coach’s responsibility: It’s the coach’s job to orchestrate the assault on a defense –- why isn’t the quarterback given a specific starting point and a full complement of options? Even as a college player, I would sit in meetings or pick up a game plan handout and roll my eyes when I saw these words attached to a pass play. My coaches were no slouches – there was an NFL pedigree throughout the staff, and they were fresh from coaching the first pick in the NFL draft when they came to my school. We were taught sound mechanics and fundamentals and our system was a complex pro-style system. Still, there was an abundance of mirrored pass patterns (see Diagram 1 below) in our system, where receivers on both sides of the formation ran the same routes. While these plays were sold as attacking the full field, I often thought to myself, "If everyone comes open at the same time, aren’t we really wasting half the field, and sometimes more than half of the eligible receivers?"

How to Use "Backside Tags" to Attack the Entire Field in the Passing Game | Smart Football
"Pick a side." This common coaching directive, in which the quarterback is given the autonomy to choose his starting point on a pass play, has always bothered me. It’s an abdication of a coach’s responsibility: It’s the coach’s job to orchestrate the assault on a defense –- why isn’t the quarterback given a specific starting point and a full complement of options? Even as a college player, I would sit in meetings or pick up a game plan handout and roll my eyes when I saw these words attached to a pass play. My coaches were no slouches – there was an NFL pedigree throughout the staff, and they were fresh from coaching the first pick in the NFL draft when they came to my school. We were taught sound mechanics and fundamentals and our system was a complex pro-style system. Still, there was an abundance of mirrored pass patterns (see Diagram 1 below) in our system, where receivers on both sides of the formation ran the same routes. While these plays were sold as attacking the full field, I often thought to myself, "If everyone comes open at the same time, aren’t we really wasting half the field, and sometimes more than half of the eligible receivers?"

2011 Seahawks: Dream scenario, Week 16 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
A look at what Seattle Seahawks fans should be rooting for as they monitor the NFC playoff race in Week 16:

Dave Krieg's Strike Beard: Hemispheres
My football mind is somewhat bifurcated right now- Let me break down this schism:

NFL.com news: Several candidates worthy of their first Pro Bowl nod
Red Bryant, DE, Seahawks Bryant hasn't been up for Pro Bowl honors in the past, as he's really just come into his own this season. He only started seven games in three seasons coming into 2011, but he has emerged this year as a key player on a very good Seattle defense.

Seattle Seahawks Blog - Hawk Blogger: What's Changed Since Week 1 For The Seahawks & 49ers?
Fifteen weeks ago, on September 11, 2011, the Seahawks opened the season playing in San Francisco versus the 49ers. Alex Smith was still getting booed by his home crowd. Charlie Whitehurst was a few Tarvaris Jackson incomplete passes away from having Seahawks fans screaming at their television to put him in. Richard Sherman was a largely unknown third string cornerback. Nearly three months later, the 49ers are largely considered the best bet to give the mighty Green Bay Packers a run for their money to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Jim Harbaugh is being mentioned as a Coach of The Year candidate, and the Seahawks have surged back into the playoff picture following a dismal 2-6 start.