It is now Friday, according to this "calendar" we all naively and unquestioningly go by. Because it's "Friday" that means that we are one "day" away from the so-called "Saturday" and the scientifically ambiguous "Weekend." This means sports must be played and that means you must watch the Seahawks soundly defeat a team that is named after a group of people that used to be very mean to their neighbors.
NFL Team to Watch – Sam Bradford’s St. Louis Rams | Smart Football: Although I agree that Bradford’s rookie season should not be exalted as one of the all-time greats, I am willing to go beyond the stats in this case and apply some of that good ol’ fashioned "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?" type of analysis. And what I saw was a smart young quarterback on a bad-to-mediocre team with a horrendous supporting cast, who managed to get himself through a lot of ballgames by taking the conservative option, dumping it off, and picking spots to throw downfield. I saw a quarterback who didn’t fall on his face, but, along with developing those downfield weapons, will have to learn to push the ball downfield.
Most telling in this regard was St. Louis’s most important game, against Seattle late in the season. Had the Rams won that game, they would have been in the playoffs, but Bradford struggled against Pete Carroll’s blitz schemes, managing only roughly four yards per pass attempt and an interception. But I saw a guy who, with another year of maturity and a better supporting cast, could develop into a good NFL starter (with the added benefit of a generally weak division).
Supplemental re-scheduled for Monday; Pryor in - CBSSports.com: The NFL has alerted its 32 teams that the league's annual Supplemental Draft will take place on Monday, August 22 and that former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has been added to the list of players eligible to be selected. Teams now have six total players to consider. They are, in alphabetical order: Western Carolina cornerback Torez Jones, Georgia running back King, Lindenwood University/Allen Wranglers (IFL) defensive end Keenan Mace, North Carolina defensive end Michael McAdoo, Pryor and Northern Illinois safety Tracy Wilson.
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Scramble for the Ball: 2011 NFC Over/Unders: Seattle Seahawks (6.5)
Mike: I would say that no team is going to lose more from the lockout-shortened offseason than Seattle, with its glut of free agent signings, but the stakes are so low it really doesn't matter. That isn't to say that the Seattle rebuilding project isn't going well –- in year two, it actually looks like one of the most promising refits in the league -– but it is still a rebuilding project. I must say that I am really pleased with this development, since the sooner Seattle is good again, the sooner Seahawks fans will shut up about 2005. St. Louis and Seattle actually seem to complement each other well, with Seattle relying on its decent defense and St. Louis its decent offense to keep games from turning into laughers. Maybe they can talk about this strange concurrence over a few pints of ice cream at the bottom of the vaunted NFC West. Under.
Tom: I hate this team. Not that I have anything personal against any of the Seahawks, but they offend my sensibilities. They beat the Rams, and deserved to beat the Rams, but overall I thought they were worse and less interesting than the Rams last year. They’re now starting Tarvaris Jackson or Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback. At least one of those feels like the plotline for a joke. Their most prominent free agent acquisition is Sidney Rice, who’s only had one good (and particularly healthy) NFL season. Is Zach Miller really that big an upgrade on what John Carlson could’ve given them? On top of that, the change in kickoff rules seems likely to hurt Leon Washington’s value. The Seahawks last year ranked 29th in DVOA on both offense and defense; to me, that indicates what kind of season you would have expected from them. Only now, they’re worse, most crucially at the most important position. Under, though a weak schedule should make them only just so.
NFL.com news: Vikes WR Harvin out vs. Seahawks if he can't practice Thursday: The Minnesota Vikings might be without wide receiver Percy Harvin when they meet the Seattle Seahawks in their second preseason matchup on Saturday. Harvin -- dealing with a persistent case of sore ribs -- was held out of practice on Wednesday, according to The Star Tribune. Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said if Harvin is unable to practice Thursday, he'll likely sit out Week 2 of the preseason.
NFL.com news: Five things to keep in mind while watching preseason games: 1. Do we have a backup quarterback who can play and help the team win?
Backup quarterbacks have a specific job description. For example, they must: " Be able to finish and win a game without having any practice reps. " Have the ability to stay focused when not the starter. " Be able to check their ego and support the starter. " Give the defense a good week of practice by efficiently running the "look" team. " Make the team calm and confident when they walk into the huddle. " Be man enough to let the starter know when he screwed up. " Have a team-first attitude. When watching your team play this weekend, ask yourself the questions above. Do you think rookie Colin Kaepernick can do this for the 49ers? Or can Tyler Palko for the Chiefs? Or Matt Moore for the Dolphins? Or Vince Young for the Eagles? So many teams have question marks at backup quarterback, and this weekend is going to provide some of the answers.
Seattle Seahawks Blog - Hawk Blogger: Episode 3 "Game On" - Seahawks Hard Knocks With WR Chris Carter: Football is more than a sport. It is the best reality show on television. Every year, kids from across the country battle with men for the honor of pulling on an NFL jersey. Fame and fortune are the lure for some, but the for the majority that make ~$400K and have careers that only last a few years, it's about love of the game. Some stars are born, and others are made. This is a series telling the story of one such player, Seahawks Wide Receiver Chris Carter, and his attempt to realize his NFL dream.
Bigby will play a reserve role, special teams | Seahawks Insider: "My role from what I get is on special teams and to come in a little bit on defense," he said. "But they’ve told me they have their starters." Bigby looked to be in good shape, and got reps at strong safety with the second unit, with Josh Pinkard at free safety. Bigby also worked as the nickel WILL backer some reps with the first unit. "Right now we’re just trying to get him going," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said. "He’s catching up now. We’ll see how it all fits. I’d like him to be able to work his way into the nickel thing, and keep going."
A few minutes with Patrick Williams | Seahawks Insider: A native of DeSoto, Texas, Patrick Williams is battling for a roster spot in a crowded receiver group. But he helped himself stand out with a solid performance against San Diego last week, including a memorable, one-handed catch along the sideline in the second half on a pass from reserve quarterback Charlie Whitehurst.
Seahawks Blog | Position paper: Running backs | Seattle Times Newspaper: Why don't we see more screen passes to Leon Washington? It was something fans constantly wanted to know last year. It's something I don't think they will be asking as much this year. Not if the past three weeks are any indication. The Seahawks are focused on finding a role for Washington in this offense, which isn't necessarily a challenge, but it will take some work. "We love what he does," coach Pete Carroll said, "but I just think he needs reps in the zone schemes that we're running and so he can show us where he's special and unique in our stuff."
Seahawks.com Blog | Carroll: Starters to play first half ": After getting what coach Pete Carroll called a "get him out there, and get him out of there" stint in the preseason opener against the San Diego Chargers, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is scheduled to play the first half in Saturday night’s home opener against the Minnesota Vikings at CenturyLink Field.
Seahawks.com Blog | The day in pictures ": Pictures... do I have to spell it out for you?
Seahawks.com Blog | Camp Carroll: Day 21 ": FOCUS ON Atari Bigby. Signed by the team on Tuesday, the former Packers safety practiced with the Seahawks for the first time today. "It felt good to be back playing football and be back with a team," Bigby said. Bigby’s period of "unemployment" lasted longer than he anticipated. "No player wants to really go through camp, because it’s the most grueling time of the football season," he said. "But I didn’t expect to be out so long. I thought as soon as the lockout was over I was going to be one of the first guys picked. So that was hard. That was hard, swallowing that." The Seahawks "picked" Bigby to give them some experience on the last line of defense, and also to play special teams. The starting safeties are second-year players – Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Also in the mix for spots on the 53-man roster are rookies Mark LeGree and Jeron Johnson, as well as second-year man Josh Pinkard. Today, Bigby was working at strong safety with the No. 2 unit. "We see Atari as a guy who has had extended experience," coach Pete Carroll said. "He’s been a nickel guy. He’s started some. He’s been all over special teams. A very well versed guy. Bright kid. "Now we need to see him fit in and compete and see how he matches up with our guys."
HeraldNet.com - Seahawks blog: Updates on Carlson's injury, the new safety, and other Wednesday notes: Following a Tuesday off, the Seahawks were back on the field Wednesday, and among those sitting out was TE John Carlson, who has been watching from the sidelines since Saturday. Pete Carroll said Carlson has "a shoulder that's bothering him. He's got a labrum issue that we're working through." What exactly a "Labrum issue" is remains to be seen, but it will certainly be something to monitor as training camp progresses.
Seahawks' new QB will play at least half against his old team | Seattle Seahawks - The News Tribune: After taking it for a spin around the block, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson finally will get to rev up his team’s offense out on the open road this Saturday, when he faces his former team, the Minnesota Vikings, at CenturyLink Field. Seattle coach Pete Carroll said that Jackson, along with the rest of the starters, will play at least a half against the Vikings after playing just two series against San Diego last week in the team’s first exhibition game.
Thirty Acre Fortress - A Seahawks Blog: Preseason Week 2 - A Look at the Roster: Going off the great back and forth between @ScottEnyeart and @DavisHsuSeattle, I figured it might be a good time to break down the roster after seeing a little and hearing a lot. Without further delay...
Seattle Sports - Podcasts - MyNorthwest.com: Seattle Sports - Podcasts - MyNorthwest.com - Podcasts at MyNorthwest.com. Listen to podcasts of shows from News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM, 770 KTTH: The Truth and 710 ESPN Seattle.
Sports Radio Interviews " Blog Archive " After Failed Stint as Head Coach, Josh McDaniels Back in More Natural Role as Rams Offensive Coordinator: McDaniels joined 101 ESPN in St. Louis to talk about how much Sam Bradford’s upside influenced his decision to join the Rams staff this offseason, his relationship with Steve Spagnuolo prior to joining his staff, the respect he has for Spags dating back to McDaniels’ time in New England, how impressed he’s been with Bradford’s ability to quickly learn the nuts and bolts of his offense, if his philosophy will change now that he finally has a big time running back in Steven Jackson to work with, and the little known fact that he began his NFL coaching career on the defensive side of the ball.
Reminder: Saturday’s game kicks off at 7, not 7:30 | Seattle Seahawks & NFL News - seattlepi.com: If you have a ticket to Saturday’s preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, that ticket says the game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. It doesn’t. The game will start at 7 p.m., and since we’ve been asked nicely by Seahawks staff to pass that information along as often as possible in an attempt to avoid confusion, well, here you go. The game is at 7. Not 7:30.
Seahawks | Seahawks' kick-return specialist not worried about rule change | Seattle Times Newspaper: The NFL hasn't had many, if any, kick returners better than Leon Washington. The quick and nimble running back almost single-handedly led the Seahawks to last year's 27-20 win against San Diego with two kickoff returns for touchdowns. Washington added another against San Francisco, making him the first NFL player with three kickoff-return touchdowns in two different seasons (2007). His career total of seven is second-best in league history.
Rookie linebacker K.J. Wright adjusting to new role in Seahawks defense - The Washington Post: When the Seattle Seahawks drafted Mississippi State linebacker K.J Wright in the fourth round of the draft back in April, head coach Pete Carroll talked about using Wright just about everywhere except middle linebacker. Carroll and general manager John Schneider said they liked the thought of him as a strongside linebacker and believed he had the ability to even be a rush linebacker for them — similar to how Carroll used Brian Cushing at Southern Cal. Loading... Comments Weigh InCorrections? So it was a surprise when Wright started taking reps at middle linebacker from day one of camp.
Sidney Rice says Vikings didn't call him to negotiate - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN: The best way Sidney Rice can illustrate why he's no longer a Minnesota Viking is by showing his call history from late July. Seattle area codes kept lighting up his cell phone at the start of free agency. First it was Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Then general manager John Schneider, followed by offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and even defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. The Seahawks' phone diligence echoed the financial commitment they were ready to offer the Pro Bowl receiver, a five-year, $41 million deal worth $18.5 million in guaranteed money. Though Rice said he strongly considered returning to Minnesota after four years, one dynamic season and injury problems, he remembered the one person who called from Winter Park - coach Leslie Frazier. When the Vikings visit the Seahawks for Saturday night's preseason game in CenturyLink Field, Rice will line up against the team that, in his eyes, didn't show him the love.
17 Power, A Seattle Seahawks Blog: The Difference Between Opportunistic and Good: Prior to 2010, I read something from Rob Staton that captured the picture of Seattle's 2010 offense before it happened. Something about Seattle's 2010 offseason and how it didn't fit what new OC Jeremy Bates wanted to do on offense. I couldn't find the exact quote, but it went along the lines of: "The new emphasis on the deep ball will be good for the occasional explosive play, but there won't be a consistent scoring threat. You can't build an offense off that."
Leroy Hill returns to the scene of his prime: After 30 months of injuries, indiscretions and uncertainty, linebacker Leroy Hill not only is back with the Seahawks, he’s back at the starting weakside spot where he made so many plays earlier in his career.
49ers Sign Josh McCown To One-Year Deal - Niners Nation: As has been noted in the comments and a FanShot, the 49ers have indeed signed quarterback Josh McCown to a one year deal. McCown was originally drafted in the third round by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2002 NFL Draft. He has played in 47 games (31 starts), completing 610 of 1,058 pass attempts for 6,584 yards, 35 touchdowns and 40 interceptions, while adding 127 carries for 569 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Tarvaris Jackson to face former team on Saturday - Blog - MyNorthwest.com: For Seahawks starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, Saturday's game against the Minnesota Vikings is about a lot more than just facing his former teammates. "It’s preseason, it’s about getting on the same page, it’s about getting some continuity as an offense and that’s pretty much it," Jackson said Wednesday after practice. "I’m not going to lie and say it’s not going to be fun playing against my old team -- it is -- but that’s not what this is all about. It’s about us."
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