Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Friday

Thank god it's TGIF!

Cowboys Vs. Seahawks: The View From Seattle - SB Nation Dallas
How confident are Seattle fans in Russell Wilson, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks headed into Sunday's game? We brought in the managing editor of Field Gulls to find out.

Tracking: Seahawks' Offense And Russell Wilson Prior To Cowboys Pacific Northwest Venture - Blogging The Boys
This is a team that should not pose a threat to our defense in any way shape or form. They are a running team and did not look to have much of a passing game arsenal. There was very little creativity displayed in the passing game. With the return of Mike Jenkins, the press coverage of Carr and Claiborne should be enough to eliminate the short drop passes that Wilson managed to complete. I'll get more detailed later, but if the Cowboys pressed all day with Eli Manning and the Giants deep play ability; they might play press on 40 out of 40 pass plays against Russell Wilson.

Seahawks Insider podcast — Week 2 | Seahawks Insider
How will Seattle’s offensive line improve on last week’s disappointing effort? How can Seattle’s defense slow down Tony Romo and the Cowboys’ high-powered offense? And will the Seahawks get a boost from playing at home at CenturyLink? Rob Rang, senior draft analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, and Eric Williams of The News Tribune discuss those questions and others in previewing Seattle’s upcoming contest against Dallas.

Everyone gets knocked on their butt - Seahawks News - MyNorthwest.com
During my rookie year with the Seahawks in 1987, fellow linebacker Keith Butler was one of the best mentors I could have asked for. Butler is now in his 10th season as the Steelers' linebackers coach and has one of the best football minds I've ever been around. But back then he was a seasoned and intimidating looking veteran who I figured wouldn't give me the time of day.

So, Tony, about that fumble in 2007 … | Seattle Seahawks - The News Tribune
"Shoot, it feels like I was 10 years old back then," he laughed.

Wolf Grey Podcast: Week 2
Episode 2 is here folks! We’re still working on production quality, Joey’s down in Cali through next week so we’re on the phones a couple more weeks. This week we cover our thoughts on last weeks loss in Arizona, answer our listener submissions and talk about this weekends visit from the Dallas Cowboys. We’re having fun working on getting this thing together, even put together a super fancy intro with an ex radio guy who works with me.

Alex Smith Praised By NFL Films' Greg Cosell - Bay Bridge Banter - SB Nation Bay Area
After his terrific performance against the Green Bay Packers in week one, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith has been getting praise from NFL experts from coast-to-coast. One such expert is NFL Films producer Greg Cosell, who had nothing but good things to say about Smith on KNBR Thursday morning.

Seahawks' carousel goes round for line | Seattle Seahawks - The News Tribune
"We didn’t have any choice when you look at it," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said about Sweezy. "I thought he was just outstanding. He did everything beyond our expectations, and we just kept hoping that he would be able to be settled and comfortable in the first game.

Tony Romo returns to Seattle, site of the worst of his blunders | Seahawks | The Seattle Times
"I don't think I get an undue amount (of criticism)," Romo said in a conference call Wednesday. "Every quarterback in the league is judged by winning and losing. That's the way it should be. Our job is to help our football teams win, and eventually win a Super Bowl for the team we're playing for. I think that's warranted."

Pete Carroll: The state of the Seahawks heading into their home opener |
We’re starting out this week getting going with this homecoming opportunity. It’s a big deal for us, it’s a big deal for the 12th Man and everybody that follows us, and we really want to get prepared in the right way and have a heck of a game here. When you have a first week issue whatever it was win or lose, you have to show the discipline of what it takes to get back on track and not be affected by the game before you. This is one of those chances for us. As a young team, we’re going to see if we can put together a great week and really come out smoking, and have the kind of preparations that allows us to play well. That’s what they’re handed right now and I’m counting on these guys. They’ve already heard it and that’s what should show up today.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Seattle Seahawks: Film Study and Predictions
Arizona’s o-line is horrible but Seattle’s run defense was still beastly. The Cardinals couldn’t do anything on the ground in this game. Brandon Mebane looks like the star of this group. LB Leroy Hill made some mistakes in coverage.

NFL Preview - Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks - Sep 16, 2012 - CBSSports.com Game Preview
"We have a chance to have good things happen every week. But the teams we play are good, too," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "I thought each of the guys understood what we tried to get across. And they just went out and did their job, over and over again."

2013 NFL Draft Scouting Notes: UW vs. LSU | Seattle Seahawks Blog
Here’s a list of NFL Draft prospects from last Saturday’s LSU/UW blowout, in which the Tigers absolutely throttled the Huskies. LSU is loaded with future-NFL talent, particularly on the defensive side of the football, and this week we break down five LSU players, including four juniors on defense – Barkevious Mingo (DE) and Sam Montgomery (DE), defensive tackle Bennie Logan, safety Eric Reid, and a senior on offense – right tackle Alex Hurst. As for UW, we take closer looks at junior quarterback Keith Price, senior center Drew Schaefer and senior cornerback Desmond Trufant.

Doug Baldwin breaks teeth in last-minute dive | Seahawks | The Seattle Times
"I bit through my lip," Baldwin said. "All the way through it, broke both top teeth. When I roll over, you can see the blood on my shield on the inside of my helmet."

Seahawks - Seattle's live and local sports station
The line struggled to deal with the exotic blitz schemes of Cardinals' defensive coordinator Ray Horton and struggled with communication issues. Rookie G J.R. Sweezy notably stuggled as well. Offensive line coach Tom Cable said it wasn't a matter of the game being too physical for him, but rather struggling to make the correct decisions in the heat of the moment. "You've got to get him better prepared. That's on me," Cable said. "He'll grow so much from this one the next time out."

Seahawks.com Blog | Wednesday in Hawkville: Baldwin bounces back smiling
"It was an opportunity that I had. I had the ball in my hands," he said. "Technically, according to NFL stats, it’s not a drop. But for me, it’s a drop. For what I want to do in my career and where I want to be, I need to make that play. "I’m upbeat about it now, because there’s nowhere to go but up from here."

The All-22: Formation-diverse offenses are setting defenses on their heels | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
More and more, we're seeing formerly conservative offenses open things up a bit. In their 44-13 Monday night win over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Baltimore Ravens were lights-out in ways we haven't ever seen from a Cam Cameron-led offense. Quarterback Joe Flacco reaped the benefits of a new approach that featured heavy doses of speed no-huddle and formation diversity.

Cowboys' Murray has respect of Hill, Seahawks defense - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
"DeMarco Murray, he's a hell of a back," Hill said. "He was I think the only back last year to put up 100 on us, and this past week against the Giants put up another 100. He's running the ball really, really well."

Wilson: Game speed wasn’t a factor vs. Cardinals | Seahawks Insider
Wilson said the fact that he played against Arizona’s 3-4 defense last week should help in the preparation for the Dallas Cowboys, another 3-4 team, this weekend. "They’re very, very similar," Wilson said. "Most 3-4 defenses are for the most part. They’ve got a lot of talent up front. They fly around and make plays. They bring different types of pressure, just like Arizona did. And so we just have to be prepared for it, and when we have that opportunity to block it up, there’s a lot of green grass behind it. And so we have to capitalize on those."

Thiel: Changing of Seahawks guards aids Wilson | Seattle Seahawks
"It was about communicating," Carroll said. "It was really clear that was the issue for us. We didn’t take advantage of our calls as well as we had been doing, so we didn’t target (rushers) as well. That’s something that we can do well. We’ve been doing it, but for whatever reason in this game we weren’t as effective as we have been and it caused some problems for us."

Film session: Broncos' 'Levels' concept | National Football Post
Breaking down Manning on the 'All-22' film vs. Steelers.

Week 2 Game Rankings: Ravens-Eagles, Broncos-Falcons not as tasty but still good -
On paper, I probably don't like this week's schedule as much as last week's. Not quite as sexy. A few fewer marquee games.

X's and O's: No-huddle impact among Week 2 trends to watch - NFL
Finally, I have game tape to watch instead of just watching summer camp practices on my tour. Here are some of the trends in the game that intrigued me week one

Kevin Kolb will start at quarterback for Arizona Cardinals against New England Patriots - Jim Trotter - SI.com
After coming off the bench midway through the fourth quarter and rallying the Cardinals to a 20-16 win over the favored Seahawks in both teams' season opener Sunday, Kevin Kolb showed more humility than hubris.

Ahmad Brooks took the long way toward being a star linebacker - Dennis Dillon - SI.com
Of all the people who have touched or influenced his football career, 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks ranks his family at the top of the list. His late father, Perry, who played 92 games in the NFL as a defensive lineman for the Redskins (1978-84), used to call him before every game. Now, he hears from his mother, Vergie; his older sister, Krsunthia; his older brother, Perry, Jr. -- or all three. They always preach the same motto. Play hard. Play smart.

32 Teams, 32 Observations; Week 1 | ProFootballFocus.com
Seattle Seahawks: Defensive end Chris Clemons is averaging a pressure on 20.6% of his pass rushes compared to 12.2% last year.

The Inaugural Trenchie Awards: The Best (and Worst) From the Offensive and Defensive Lines in Week 1 - The Triangle Blog - Grantland
The release of the end zone film has made watching the intricacies of offensive- and defensive-line play easier than ever. To celebrate, we decided to bring you a weekly set of awards for the big boys. So without further delay, we present the inaugural Trenchies.

Film Don't Lie - Aaron Rodgers vs. the 49ers Blitz | The Sideline View
Editor's Note: Lance Zierlein goes under the hood in this film study of the Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers against the San Francisco 49ers' blitz.