Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Thursday

Thursday, yo.

Pete Carroll says yes to Braylon and T.O., no to Chad Johnson | ProFootballTalk
When asked if he would consider Johnson, however, Carroll seemed to regard it as a ridiculous question, and sounded like he was trying to stifle laughter. "No, I think we’re pretty well settled with what we’re doing here," Carroll said. "That’s not going to happen here. No."

Tim Tebow, Cam Newton herald new era of mobile quarterbacks - NFL.com
The NFL is loaded with mobile quarterbacks I can't recall a time when this many NFL teams were led by quarterbacks with excellent athletic ability. By my count, at least 18 squads will trot out a quarterback with "plus" athleticism on opening day (see box at right). That number could jump even higher if players like the Tennessee Titans' Jake Locker, the Miami Dolphins' Ryan Tannehill and the Seattle Seahawks' Russell Wilson win starting gigs by the end of training camp.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Film Room: Make or Break
Sub-packages will only become more frequent as spread offenses continue to evolve. That's not just a passing game issue, either; football’s increasing emphasis on speed and finesse will eventually lead to rushing attacks operating out of three-and four-receiver formations more often, which will demand that defenses line up in sub-packages. Even if sub-packages somehow don’t become more prevalent, they deserve greater scrutiny because that’s what defenses use in make-or-break moments like third-and-long or the hurry-up.

Jake Locker’s starting fate could hinge on Friday night | Titans Insider
So at this point, I believe the starting job is now Locker’s to lose.

Russell Wilson sizzles with raw talent, but Seahawks need Matt Flynn to be starting QB | The Brewery
Rookie Russell Wilson is dynamic, often spectacular, talent who could be special with more grooming, but right now, having him as the starting quarterback amounts to a want. Marquee free-agent acquisition Matt Flynn is solid, a nice quarterbacking complement to what the Seahawks are trying to do. And don't say that like it's a bad thing because, right now, he is just what the team needs in a starter.

Seahawks Daily - Flynn Named Starter
For the second straight week Pete Carroll has named Matt Flynn as the starter of the Seahawks preseason game and Russell Wilson will take snaps with the second team offense.

Is Seahawks QB Tarvaris Jackson still in the competition? - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
Carroll did say, however, that Jackson remains firmly in the competition. "Yes, absolutely he is," Carroll said. "Really this is just the way I've chosen to do it, I'm banking on the 18 games we've seen him. He knows the offense; he knows what is going on. And I watched him play last year practicing one day a week for five weeks and he can function.

Quick observations from Wednesday practice | Seahawks Insider
Asked to pick a story of the day, I’d say that Terrell Owens looked as if he’s getting his legs under him and feeling more comfortable. He pulled in a nice completion against Richard Sherman on a little in-and-out route during one-on-one drills, and later grabbed two touchdown passes in team (2s v. 2s) from Russell Wilson. The first score reflected well on both of them; the play appeared on the verge of breaking down, but Wilson stepped up and Owens found a spot open near the back of the end zone. He also caught a long touchdown from Wilson. On the same Veteran Receiver front, Braylon Edwards had an eye-catching one-handed grab of a poorly thrown pass during skeleton drills.

Dave Krieg's Strike Beard: Too Soon!!!
I've been around long enough to witness Seahawks QB controversies from Zorn v Krieg all the way through Jackson v Whitehurst, and frankly they are as much a part of Seahawks history as 9-7 seasons and enemy false starts at our home games.With that sort of perspective it doesn't surprise me that a vocal subset of Twelves are clamoring for Russell Wilson to supplant Matt Flynn- But it does make the bile rise in my gullet. Really, guys? Already??

Seahawks notes: Hawks wrap up Training Camp - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
As we were told by Carroll on Tuesday, Matt Flynn took most of the snaps with the first-unit offense. He missed a couple throws in the first 11-on-11 series, but wound up connecting on a crossing route to Ricardo Lockette and Ben Obomanu. Later in practice, Flynn play-faked to a running back, bought time and completed a 60-yard strike to Obomanu just over the reach of cornerback Jeremy Lane.

Matt Flynn: 'I don't feel like I have the inside track' | Seahawks Blog | The Seattle Times
"I don't feel like I have an inside track or anything like that," Flynn said. "Just going out there, and putting my hard hat on every day and working." In fact, Flynn didn't find out he would be starting the second exhibition game until after coach Pete Carroll said that during his press conference after Tuesday's practice. "We talked afterwards," Flynn said. "Y'all just got to him first."

Tarvaris Jackson, Arizona Cardinals a possible match? - NFL.com
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is reportedly on the trade block. He won't be easy to move because of his salary, but he could upgrade some team's depth chart. (Possibly as a backup.) With that in mind, the following tweet from Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter raised our collective eyebrow Wednesday afternoon.

Offensive Power Rankings: Patriots, Packers soar - NFL.com
The Ravens remain too predictable on offense. The Seahawks are copying the 49ers' model. Tennessee quietly has a chance to be explosive if Kenny Britt can ever get healthy. These offenses could go either way. They should keep their teams in games each week.

Report: John Skelton favored to start over Kevin Kolb - NFL.com
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Tuesday that John Skelton now is considered the favorite to start in Arizona. Skelton had a number of disadvantages coming in to training camp. He makes far less money, went to Fordham, and didn't cost a boatload of draft picks to acquire.

Titans DB Babineaux not amazed by Andrew Luck’s NFL start - NFL.com
Don’t count Tennessee Titans defensive back Jordan Babineaux as flabbergasted at the performance. "He’s a rookie quarterback, let’s not overlook that," he told "NFL AM" Tuesday morning.

The MVP's of Training Camp | National Football Post
NFL trainers and team doctors run a M*A*S*H unit in August.

A Boy’s Life | National Football Post
The Carolina Panthers are young, but Steve Smith is youthful.

Cardinals camp report: Competition between Kolb, Skelton will dictate team's progress - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy
"The opportunity is there for him to be better," said coach Ken Whisenhunt. "He's put in an awful lot of hard work in the offseason, especially on things he wants to get better at. "This is a different offense than what he was used to running [in Philadelphia], and he's been excited about that. We've seen a lot of progress out of him, and you'd like to think that with the offseason and having played a little in it that it would all come together for him and he'd have success."

Five questions from Cardinals camp - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy
3. Which players are having a great camp? There are a few Cardinals that jumped out at me during my stay in Arizona and they seem ready to make a big contribution. Roberts is not about to give up his spot to Floyd, the rookie, and looked exceptionally fast in practice. Rookie offensive guard Senio Kelemete isn't a starter by any means, but he competes and has a world of promise. Housler shows exceptional vertical speed and solid blocking skills. As veteran safety Wilson said, "Housler has been great in practice but now it's time to do it in the games." Rookie corner Jamell Fleming may be listed down the depth chart as third or fourth string, but he is already in the conversation for the nickel spot and as Graves said, "He is capable of winning the starting corner spot opposite Patrick Peterson."

Tarvaris Jackson on the Block: Where Will He Land? | Bleacher Report
While his days as a starter may be over in the emerald city, there are plenty of teams looking for a stable No. 2 quarterback. Why don't we take a look at who may have interest in the six-year veteran.

Seattle Seahawks Wide Receivers: Who's the Odd Man Out? | Bleacher Report
Head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider sure do have a unique approach when it comes to the wide receiver position.

Second Season Watchlist | ProFootballFocus.com
Robert Quinn, DE, St Louis Rams Only two St. Louis defensive linemen played more snaps than Robert Quinn last season, but they were both defensive ends as the Rams managed his snaps in what amounted to a comeback season. Quinn missed his junior season at the University of North Carolina after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA. That, combined with a shortened offseason due to the NFL Lockout, could easily have left him under-prepared for his rookie season. Quinn flashed talent but lacked consistency and apparently wore down as his second half of the season was extremely quiet. Grading above +1.0 as a run defender only once last season, Quinn registered 36 total pressures as a pass rusher.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Scramble for the Ball: AFC/NFC West Over/Unders
Tom: Well, we did east last week, Mike. Do you have another preferred cardinal direction? Mike: d6 says ... 5, so, west. Tom: We'll start with the NFC again, so...

Seahawks.com Blog | Tuesday in Hawkville: Adams’ plays prove contagious "
"We go out here and we practice hard every day," Adams said. "We just continue to work at it every day." Last week, Adams got a chance to work with in the starting secondary, as Pro Bowl cornerback Brandon Browner was given a day off. Did that help Adam’s confidence? "You have to be confident as a player, and this whole defense is confident," Adams said.