Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Gameday

Gameday, baby.

Seahawks hope to give another nightmare to Romo, Cowboys | Fox News
"I do think his mindset of taking the next step -- we really saw him elevate his game the next year and put himself in a category of elite quarterback -- that's when it started," Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said of Romo when recalling the 2006 playoff defeat. "Finishing that (2006 season) that way really fueled him. I think we've seen how he's handled it and pushed himself. I think he remembers those adverse situations."

Keys to the game: Cowboys at Seahawks | Seahawks Blog | The Seattle Times
Four teams scored more than 40 points in Week 1 while the Seahawks had only one play gain more than 20 yards. Seattle has to open things up. That doesn't mean rookie Russell Wilson should throw 40 yards downfield every other play, but Seattle has to find ways to make the defense at least fear the possibility of being beaten over the top so opponents will ease up on the steady stream of blitzes.

Hawks wait-and-see on LT Okung | Seattle Seahawks - The News Tribune
"Zach will be fine," Carroll said. "He practiced a couple days ago, and got some stuff done yesterday. We just want to make sure that he’s going to be right." With Miller hurting, Carroll said new tight end Evan Moore will see more time on the field. Moore played just one snap against Arizona last week. "Going into last week I had been here for about five days," said Moore, who signed with Seattle last week after being released by Cleveland during final roster cuts. "And even though I feel like there’s a lot of translation between this offense and where I’d come from, there’s still just a comfort level of understanding the little details. So this week was definitely productive to getting to that point."

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson sets his sights on Dallas | Seahawks | The Seattle Times
"I'm past that now," Wilson said in response to one question. "That was the first game, now it's on to the next one."

NFL.com| Footballogy
Take an in-depth look at the success of teams building through free agency as opposed to the NFL draft.

San Francisco 49ers due for turnover vs. Detroit Lions? - NFL.com
However, Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham says the 49ers are due. "The ball has to come out sooner or later and when they do, they usually come in bunches," Cunningham told the Detroit News. "I am sure it's on their mind that they haven't turned it over. I hope it stays on their mind."

Ray Lewis vs. LeSean McCoy headlines key matchups in Week 2 - NFL.com
row victory over the Cleveland Browns. McCoy is the most elusive runner in the NFL. Lewis is still one of the league's best open-field tacklers. In this battle of strength vs. strength, something will have to give. These two will also be matched up in the passing game. Lewis has outstanding instincts in coverage, but at age 37, he will have a hard time mirroring the 24-year old McCoy. 2) Russell Wilson vs. Rob Ryan After tearing up the preseason, Wilson struggled during his regular-season debut for the Seattle Seahawks.

Throughout the game, he was harassed by the Arizona Cardinals' defensive front, and his numbers suffered as a result. Wilson was held to 153 passing yards and a touchdown, while getting picked off once, losing a fumble and taking three sacks. Things don't get any easier this week, as Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and his resurgent unit head out to Seattle. During the offseason, the Cowboys addressed their glaring need at cornerback by adding Brandon Carr via free agency and trading up in the draft to select Morris Claiborne. Both of these additions paid off nicely last week, as the Cowboys held Eli Manning and the New York Giants' potent passing attack in check. Now that he has cornerbacks who can lock up in man coverage, Rob Ryan can be as creative as his brother Rex and send an assortment of defenders after Wilson.

Culture Club | National Football Post
For all of his bluster, Harbaugh has a sincere quality—an earnest meatheadedness that speaks to those who subscribe to all the tenants of sports culture, even the most crude. Harbaugh first proved this at an institution of higher learning.

Football Outsiders Futures: Alec Ogletree | The Rookie Scouting Portfolio
Six years ago, I met an athletic trainer for the University of Georgia football team. I joined a local gym and wanted to begin a weight training program. I was leery of the bells and whistles that "athletic clubs" have in their facilities and even more skeptical of the trainers who seem to be more about sales than fitness. I also wanted a workout that incorporated a lot of body weight exercises and the supervision of an experienced, educated, trainer. The gym management got my drift and recommended one guy.

49ers, Lions meet for the first time since The Handshake - Dennis Dillon - SI.com
The Lions and 49ers have made themselves relevant again. Once formidable powers -- San Francisco won four Super Bowls in the 1980s and Detroit captured NFL championships three times in the '50s -- both teams had plodded through some difficult stretches until last year, when they qualified for the playoffs.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Packers' offense not reaching elite performance yet
The Packers are not taking solace in the fact that the 49ers and Bears might just end up being two of the best teams in the NFL when it’s all said and done. They’re worried about what’s cooking in their own kitchen, and it’s not exactly finger-licking good.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Niners' rookies mostly behind the scenes
"I think that’s the way it could be all year," said one daily team observer of a trio that could be kept in mothballs much of the season due primarily to the plentiful talent supply at their positions.