Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Thursday

Read these, leave us alone!

Tavon Awesome - Evaluations - Rotoworld.com
Perhaps more so than any other time in league history, NFL teams are looking outside of the NFL for help. Rookie quarterbacks are being installed and assimilated easier than ever. Option football is being run - successfully. NFL teams are looking to mimic the college game, becoming more wide-open and up-tempo than ever before. As more and more teams convert to this style of play, versatile players who can line up at a multitude of positions and make plays in space will become more and more coveted.

How did we overlook Russell Wilson so much? | SportsonEarth.com : Mike Tanier Article
Luck and Griffin were the belles of the NFL Scouting Combine debutante ball. They were heartthrobs like Paul McCartney and John Lennon arriving in America. Their back-to-back press conferences on a dreary February afternoon in Indianapolis played like the Lincoln-Douglass debates. Both were prepared, confident, charismatic. Each introduced himself to the football world while standing, literally and figuratively, in Peyton Manning’s shadow: A Manning mural covered a support beam just a few feet from the speaking rostrum, and Manning’s health and contract status loomed large over every quarterback situation in the NFL. The heartthrobs were unaffected by the pressure. They were humble, witty, composed, earnest.

Mock Draft Wednesday’s: 19th December " Seahawks Draft Blog
A few different looks in this week’s updated mock. We’re still miles away from the draft so please, please, please don’t take this as anything other than a conversation starter. I do think, however, we are getting a better idea of the areas of need for the Seahawks.

Seahawks.com Blog | Carroll: Branch to sit out Wednesday’s practice; Knox added to practice squad
Carroll addressed yesterday’s roster moves, noting that linebacker Kyle Knox has been added to the practice squad to fill the spot left by tight end Sean McGrath, who was promoted to the active roster with the release of tight end Evan Moore. Knox had spent time with the club during training camp earlier this season.

Listen to podcast - Pod Player - MyNorthwest.com
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock joins "Bob and Groz" to talk about the Seahawks upcoming game against the 49ers. He also discusses running up the score in the NFL and the absence of cornerback Brandon Browner.

Wilson helps surprise Browne on his big day
Max Browne’s final day as a student at Skyline High School turned into one to really remember as Seahawks QB Russell Wilson helped present him with the Gatorade National Player of the Year award.

Week 16 - Pete Carroll Press Conference Wednesday
Pete Carroll discusses their upcoming game against their NFC West division rivals the San Francisco 49ers.

No lead safe? Comebacks in mind this week - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The Chicago Bears are visiting the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16 for the first time since the 2006 game that launched Dennis Green into beer commercial history. The Bears overcame a 20-0 halftime deficit to win, 24-23. Green was not happy about it.

Q&A: Earl Thomas | Seahawks Blog | The Seattle Times
To be the best, you've got to beat the best, right? Here's how safety Earl Thomas sees things going into Sunday's game against San Francisco.

Offensive overhaul: Seahawks turn things around | Seahawks Blog | The Seattle Times
This isn't the same quarterback that was on the field for the first game between the Seahawks and 49ers back in Week 7. He is a more dynamic player leading to a jump to twice the scoring average and sparking the imagination of an entire fan base.

Seattle Seahawks Blog - Hawk Blogger: Seahawks First True Rival
NFL realignment came for the Seahawks in 2002. They had a proud, if not particularly eventful, history in the AFC West. They had five playoff appearances and two division titles in their first 27 seasons. Seahawks fans were accustomed to being the underdog against the John Elway-led Broncos, the Marcus Allen-led Raiders, or even the Derrick Thomas-led Chiefs. Seattle fans loved beating those teams. Fans screamed so loud in the Kingdome when John Elway or Marc Wilson went under center that the league briefly changed the rules and started penalizing Seattle for being too loud. Passion has never been missing for Seahawks fans. That passion is derived from a love of football and the Mt Rainier-sized chip on their shoulders about lack of respect. What Seahawks fans have never truly experienced is a rivalry. A decade after realignment, and in the midst of their 37th NFL season, the Seahawks have found their first true rival.

Dave Krieg's Strike Beard: FEAR THE OSPREY
One of my fondest childhood memories is the last month of the 1986 Seahawks season. They entered the final stretch of that campaign 5-6, but went supernova in late November/December. Not only did they win their last five games, they won those games by an aggregate score of 147-74. They whipped the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, they stomped the Raiders on Monday Night Football, and they demolished the eventual AFC Champion Broncos on the final day of the regular season. Every Seahawks fan who witnessed that month of football still asks "what if they had gotten into the playoffs?"

Tim Tebow trade rumors: Jaguars speculation has already begun, can it work? - Big Cat Country
New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow reportedly wants out of New York, so guess which team has already been linked to him?

ATL Film Room: Marshawn Lynch goes Beast Mode - NFL.com
Marshawn Lynch isn't a new name, but his lead role in Seattle's offense has turned the RB into a star. Marc Sessler examines the power and glory of Beast Mode in this week's ATL Film Room.

Greg Jennings unsure about Green Bay Packers future - NFL.com
While Greg Jennings is in his final year of his current contract with the Green Bay Packers, the wide receiver seems to have accepted his fate. He's not dodging questions about his impending free agency.

Russell Wilson surprises Skyline High quarterback Max Browne at ‘Player of the Year’ ceremony | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
It's been quite a year for Skyline High quarterback Max Browne. The five-star Rivals.com recruit threw for 4,526 yards, 49 touchdowns, and just five interceptions in a high-flying offense. He led the Spartans to the Class4A state championship, and committed to USC. He's done all this while maintaining a 3.5 GPA and donating his time to community endeavors. For all of those things, Browne received the Gatorade Player of the Year award at Skyline's auditorium on Tuesday, though he had no idea it was going to happen until just before the ceremony started.

Do the fans really care about player safety? | National Football Post
Some say we are nearing the tipping point where fans may turn the channel on a softer less violent NFL game.

NFP Scout Talk: Top OLBs | National Football Post
NFL front office men grade Khaseem Green, Chase Thomas and the rest of the draft's top senior outside backers.

Asking "What If" About the Career of Steven Jackson - The Triangle Blog - Grantland
For Steven Jackson, everything about Sunday afternoon was fitting. With 1:47 left in the third quarter, and with his team trailing Minnesota 33-7, Jackson took a delayed first-down handoff and went for nine yards up the middle. With those nine, Jackson’s career total was 10,002 — a plateau reached by only 26 others. The crowd in St. Louis rose to its feet, gave a short ovation, and then watched as an incomplete pass and Jackson getting hit in the backfield made it fourth down. As Adrian Peterson’s continuing pursuit of history was cause for celebration, Jackson’s came and went without much notice.

Smart Football: Bill Walsh - A Method For Game Planning
Planning for a football game today is somewhat different than the original concept of the game in which the quarterback was the field general and saw weaknesses during the game and called his plays accordingly. Obviously the game is much more complex today. I was fortunate to be involved with some of the great football coaches and programs. I have been afforded the experience that allowed us to conceive an offense, a defense, and a system of football that is basically a matter of rehearsing what we do prior to the game.

Film Study: Kaepernick lights up the Patriots | National Football Post
All-22 look at QB's TD pass to Delanie Walker.

Aldon Smith is latest, greatest challenge for Seahawks - Daily Links Blog - MyNorthwest.com
We've noted a few times this season the Seahawks' improved pass protection and how Seattle has fared particularly well against some of the NFL's better pass rushers.

Wild card just the thing for Seahawks to find playoff success | NFL - The News Tribune
Instead of that too-good-to-be-true scenario, the Seahawks likely will be slotted in the playoff derby as either the NFC’s No. 5 or No. 6 seed. And while avoiding the wild-card round as the No. 1 or No. 2 seed would’ve been the way to go, last season’s New York Giants proved it’s not the only way to go.

America's Game - 1989 49ers - Rice on West Coast Offense - NFL Videos
Jerry Rice demonstrates the functions of the West Coast offense.

America's Game - 1988 San Francisco 49ers - West Coast Offense - NFL Videos
Bill Wash demonstrates the West Coast offense with former players.

Mike Shanahan shares the art of play calling - NFL Videos
Mike Shanahan joins NFL Total Access to breakdown calling an offense.

Ten-Point Stance: Kaepernick makes Niners' Harbaugh look good - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy
Kaepernick gives the 49ers that. Also, Harbaugh didn't think it was as big a risk replacing Alex Smith with Kaepernick as others did -- and still do. Harbaugh: "... He had a great understanding of the offense from the very first time he went out and took a snap this season and then from the time he took his first start until now. Definitely the game experience, the playing play after play, exposes you to different situations. That's good for you, it's going to lead to improvement. I wouldn't call it dramatic improvement. I think he's been at a pretty high level."

Kaepernick, Wilson vs. same four defenses - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The chart shows their stats as starters against these common opponents.

Mock Draft: Underclassmen could dominate top 10 in April - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN
24. Seattle Seahawks: Tavon Austin, Wide receiver, West Virginia Russell Wilson has silenced all of his critics (including me) who thought he was too small, didn’t have a big enough arm and wasn’t worthy of a third-round pick in 2011 (me, me, me). Austin would be an incredible addition to the Seattle offense. With the new free access receivers get off the line, dynamic slot guys like Austin become all the more dangerous. He’s a lightning rod. This is Percy Harvin Part 2. Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and Austin would make for quite a trio.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Week 15 DVOA Ratings
Football Outsiders is the internet home for Innovative Statistics and Intelligent Analysis of professional and college football. Our writers, lead by Aaron Schatz, also write Pro Football Prospectus.

Practice Squad Players Worth Stealing - Part Three | National Football Post
5. Dale Moss, WR, South Dakota State, Chicago Bears Practice Squad (6030, 213 and 4.41): Very raw and with little high end experience playing football, Moss is an ideal player to try and steal away from the Bears practice squad. After playing basketball in college, Moss used his final season of eligibility to play football at South Dakota State and flashed the big play ability that excites NFL teams. With surprisingly soft hands and good body control, Moss can make tough catches seem routine. He is however raw when it comes to route running and the fundamentals of playing receiver. I would sign Moss from the Bears practice squad because if he has developed this season then with a full off-season working with my team he would have a chance to make the active roster.

Russell Wilson’s Season Is The Best Ever For A Seahawks Quarterback " West Coast Bias
It’s no secret that Seahawks rookie QB Russell Wilson is having an outstanding season. He has led the Seahawks to 9-5 despite facing one of the league’s toughest schedules; Wilson has faced the Packers, Patriots, Bears, Vikings, and Cowboys. One also can’t forget that while the Cardinals are a bad team, they do have the 3rd ranked defense in the NFL according to Football Outsiders (Football Outsiders is down, so this is a cache website). Wilson’s statistics are almost all second-best among rookie QBs, but while he may not win the offensive rookie of the year, what Wilson is doing may just qualify as the best season ever for a Seahawks quarterback.

Every game is a championship opportunity
These last three weeks sure have been fun for us.

Justin Smith just a spectator at 49ers practice | ProFootballTalk
Before Justin Smith is able to ride or rope, he’s going to have to get back in the saddle. The 49ers defensive tackle was held out of practice Wednesday, after missing most of the second half of Sunday’s game with the Patriots with a left elbow injury.

NFL's Best Rookies at Every Position | Bleacher Report
This is not an awards-type slideshow that gives the nod to the rookie with the best statistics. Rather, this is dedicated purely to the evaluation of talent, peering through the lens of "team building" and prospect analysis.