Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Friday

Thank god it's TGIF.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Word of Muth: Cards Won't Budge
The New England Patriots came into Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals as 13.5-point favorites. They left it as a .500 football team with a lot of questions.

All Hail King Crab | Kissing Suzy Kolber
As you can see, Michael Crabtree owns a leather vest that says King Crabtree on the back with him in on-field action poses. This was obviously shown to serve notice to Packers backup tight end Tom Crabtree. Tom may have scored a touchdown on a fake field goal last week against the Bears, but he is not king of the Crabtrees. Oh no. To become king, one must visit the Lady of the Lake, who either bestows upon a Crabtree a leather jacket indicating dominion over all others who share his name. Or there’s a long awkward silence that ends with the lady archly saying "sorry, dude" then resubmerging herself in the lake, splashing the visitor in the process. Believe you me, that water is nasty.

ESPN loading up NFC West coverage - NFC West Blog - ESPN
"NFL Matchup" features Sal Paolantonio, Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge looking at how the Arizona Cardinals' disguised coverages fouled up Tom Brady, and if they'll bother Michael Vick; how Seattle's blitz will be key against Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers; and how Alex Smith uses pre-snap adjustments to benefit the 49ers' offense. This show airs Sunday at 3:30 a.m. ET on ESPN and 8:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2.

Tate hit falls squarely within "blindside" block protections | ProFootballTalk
As our pal Paulie Pabst, executive producer of The Dan Patrick Show, tweeted earlier today, an NFL spokesman has provided this explanation: "It was an illegal blindside block against a defenseless player. Page 67 of the rule book. Unnecessary contact against a defenseless player is prohibited. That includes ‘a player who receives a ‘blindside’ block when the blocker is moving toward or parallel to his own end line and approaches the opponent form behind or from the side.’"

Jaguars Film Room: Play Calling Vs. Execution - Big Cat Country
In the Jaguars 27-7 against the Houston Texans, it wasn't really the play calling that was the issue. It was execution of the plays that were called on offense.

NFL Picks, Week 3: Road Teams For The Win - SBNation.com
SB Nation's Week 3 NFL picks are in and they're heavy on teams winning on the road.

Press Release - Texas A&M Defending 12th Man Trademark Again
Past Infringements One of the more notable incidents of infringement occurred when the Seattle Seahawks began using the term 12th Man during the 2005-2006 football season. After the team had a successful run in the playoffs, the infringement came to the attention of Texas A&M officials. The Seahawks reached a deal with A&M after the school took legal action. The Seahawks received permission to use the term in exchange for an initial $100,000 payment and an annual $7,500 fee going forward. The Seahawks are the only ones who have permission to use 12th Man other than the Aggies.

It’s early, but Russell Wilson wears well in Seattle | Seattle Seahawks - The News Tribune
andsome, clean-cut and polished – but possessed of an against-all-odds determination that appeals to anybody labeled "too short" – this guy, I figured, could become Seattle’s most coveted athletic-product pitchman since Ken Griffey Jr., representing Nike, ran for "president" in 1996.

Cam Newton and the Diversity of Carolina's Zone-Read Package - The Triangle Blog - Grantland
In Week 1, the Carolina Panthers’ listless offense turned over the ball twice, gave up three sacks, and registered a grand total of 10 — yes, 10 — rushing yards. Last week against the Saints, Carolina exploded for 35 points and 219 yards on the ground while Cam Newton averaged an amazing 12.7 yards per pass attempt. The Panthers looked like the offense it was for much of last season, and they did it by getting back to what is, for them, basics — the read-option running game.

NFC West goes from worst… to first | Seattle Seahawks - The News Tribune
"It is a very aggressive division – our style, San Francisco’s style and the way the Cardinals are playing defense," Carroll said. "I don’t know much about the Rams. I haven’t seen them much yet, but what else is Jeff (St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher) going to do? He’s going to bring it.

Golden Tate was fined for playing football - Seahawks News - MyNorthwest.com
But wait, there's a flag on the field. Apparently a small portion of Tate's helmet made contact with a small portion of Lee's helmet and now the official broadcasts over the loudspeaker, "Personal foul, helmet-to-helmet contact with a defenseless player, number 81, 15-yard penalty."

Ian Furness - Seattle's live and local sports station
Coming up on Monday the Seahawks will host the Green Bay Packers and their high flying passing offense. Many people have written and talked about how the Packers offense falls right into the hands to what the Seahawks do best and that's stopping the pass.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Film Room: Texans-Broncos
1. The zone blocking scheme We all know the basics of zone-blocking: offensive linemen being responsible for areas instead of specific defenders; the initial action taking place laterally; running backs looking to make a cut and drive. It’s a very effective system that the Texans have mastered.

Matt Flynn will do his best Aaron Rodgers impersonation | Seahawks Insider
"I’ve been running that offense for four years," Flynn joked. "So I guess if anybody can imitate him, I’m going to have a good chance of trying."

Week 3 - Pete Carroll Press Conference Thursday
Pete Carroll discusses the Seahawks preparations for a big Monday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers

Considering Seattle’s need at receiver… " Seahawks Draft Blog
ESPN’s Mike Sando wrote something this week that got me thinking… "The receiver position hasn’t worked out the way Seattle would have drawn it up. Sidney Rice has had injury problems. Kris Durham never developed. Ricardo Lockette has not taken the next step. The more Seattle has to rely on receivers such as Mike Williams (since released) and Braylon Edwards, the clearer it is that the Seahawks need to address that position in the offseason." It’s a statement most people would agree with. The Seahawks lack one of the three types of receiver that have been most productive in the modern NFL:

Healthy Seahawks begin preparing for Packers; Tate talks fine | HeraldNet.com - Seattle Sidelines
"They allow their quarterback to run the football game, and that's not a good thing for us, because Aaron is fantastic at it," Carroll said. "He moves extremely well. He's exceedingly good at finding guys down field when he's on the move. And he'll run and beat you with his legs. So it's a very difficult opponent and challenge."

Thiel: Big ‘MNF’ stage comes with imposters | Seattle Seahawks
How does the NFL get away with disrespecting its own game while demanding the rest of the sports word offer fealty? Because it’s the NFL, where hubris is now an art form.

NFL issues on-field conduct warning to owners, general managers, coaches of all 32 teams - ESPN
"We contacted them to remind them that everyone has a responsibility to respect the game," NFL executive vice president Ray Anderson said Thursday night. "We expect it to be adhered to this weekend and forevermore."

Dave Krieg's Strike Beard: Top 5: Seahawks Beat Packers!
It's difficult for me to lather up a good hatred of the Green Bay Packers- They're a classy organization, they have heaps of (relatively inoffensive) tradition, tons of ties to the Seahawks organization, and they're the only publicly-owned NFL team (Shit- that should make a filthy lib-rul like me LOVE them). Aaron Rodgers seems like a cool dude, and they've been a very entertaining team to watch over the last few years. Back in 1996, when it looked like the Seahawks might bolt for Los Angeles, I strongly considered the Packers for my new NFL obsession. Unless you root for a rival NFC North team, the Pack is hard to loathe.

Russell Wilson Earns Early Passing Grades - 12th Man Rising - A Seattle Seahawks Fan Site -
Earlier this week, I asked you to grade Russell Wilson’s performance through the first 2 weeks. I have to say, I really think that most who voted got it right. I’d say that he deserves about a "B" grade so far.

Greg Schiano: I'll call kneel-down play again for Bucs - NFL.com
"It's a play we have in our playbook," Schiano told Melissa Stark in an NFL Network interview that will air Sunday on "First on the Field" and "GameDay Morning." "So without giving away any schematic advantage to to our opponent, it's like any other play we have in the playbook. If I think the time is right -- I'll call it."

Pete Carroll: Greg Schiano kneel-down tactic not wrong - NFL.com
"I'm glad it was brought up like this," Carroll told reporters Thursday, "because I think it was a competitor competing and I don't think there is anything wrong with that. That's exactly what you should do, try to win the game. And there was a chance to win the game on that play and I thought Greg did exactly the right thing. I would do exactly the same thing in the same situation."

Week 3 predictions: Will Patriots reincorporate Wes Welker? - NFL.com
"I'm betting they're prepping to move on from Welker," said one AFC team executive, via text. "It's strange. Edelman is not Welker. ... May be a changing of the guard."

Rodgers, Brady top NFL Quarterback Power Rankings - NFL.com
These players either provide hope for the future, or they are veterans teams hope can improve. (Rather than expecting them to improve.) Ponder moves to the head of the tier, but he'll wait to be promoted until we see him against a better defense. We love Wilson long-term, but he's a complementary player for now. Palmer gets knocked down far; he doesn't appear to fit this Oakland Raiders offense. Cassel hasn't actually looked that bad despite the team around him. Locker is less "ready" than some of this year's rookies. Sanchez and Fitzpatrick remain wildly up and down. Nothing new.

Lots of rush to judgment about the Cowboys… just not in this building - NFL.com
"Our football team’s trying to get better and improve every day and every week, that’s what we’re trying to do," QB Tony Romo said, spouting the company line. "I think it’s all about today, do your best today. Push it aside, do your best today, push it aside. Do you best today, push it aside. You just keep taking that approach and as far as an identify or something, you just give yourself the best chance to be the best team and you just keep taking that approach day in and day out."

Film Session: 49ers' 'Smash-7' vs. Lions | National Football Post
During the 49ers’ win over the Lions on Sunday night, Jim Harbaugh’s offense ran the "Smash-7" concept in the first drive to put points on board. Use motion to create a 2x2 alignment and target TE Vernon Davis on the 7 cut (corner route). Today, let’s use the "All-22" coaches tape to breakdown the route scheme vs. Cover 1 and get into some coaching points.

Film Session: Seahawks' zone pressure vs. Cowboys | National Football Post
When you see zone pressure in the NFL, look for defenses to rush five, drop six and create a 3-deep, 3-under zone shell in the backend. That’s what we saw from the Seahawks’ this past Sunday in their win over Tony Romo and the Cowboys on Brandon Browner’s INT. Let’s go to the "All-22" film and breakdown the pressure scheme vs. the route concept.

Game Rankings: Week 3 menu not nearly as tasty, but here's hoping for better order - NFL
What to watch for: Can anyone block Clay Matthews? He's pushing seven sacks already and the Seahawks have been wounded on the line. Russell Okung will need to come up big. ... Seahawks GM John Schneider spent years in the Green Bay front office, playing a role in drafting many of these Packers and should have plenty of inside info on this bunch. ... Might be hard for the Packers to go as run-heavy as they did at times against Chicago, but beware of the Seahawks' safety tandem. ... When does Charles Woodson not show up big in prime time?

NFL Week 3 picks -- Panthers-Giants, Texans-Broncos, Ravens-Patriots, more - Peter King - SI.com
Green Bay Packers (1-1) at Seattle Seahawks (1-1) Love this game. Sorely, sorely tempted to pick the Seahawks, because I think the noise of that stadium Monday night (the city's on fire waiting for this game, I'm told) will affect the Packers in their no-huddle operation, and because I think the physical secondary's going to knock around the Green Bay receivers. Too many Green Bay weapons, though.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Cardinals LBs providing full-fledged impact
Holdover reserve ILBs Stewart Bradley and Reggie Walker and new reserve OLB Quentin Groves are all widely considered quite capable of being starters for a number of other NFL teams. "I think you can say that," said one team insider. "Walker tackles well and is a very confident player who has made a big contribution on special teams for a long time. He’s worked well with Washington in the nickel."

Seahawks OC Bevell knows Green Bay, Capers well | Seahawks Insider
"The thing that jumps out right way is their ball hawking," Bevell said. "They get after the ball. I think he’s led the league a number of times in interceptions. They really do a good job of getting after the football, attacking it when it’s in the air. "Also, they can pressure you. They can give you a lot of different looks. He’s been around forever. He’s seen every defense, and he’s probably tried every one, so I think he just kind of has a mixed back that he can draw on and go to."

Seahawks prep for Monday night tilt vs Packers - Sept. 20, 2012 | Seattle - Seahawks
"That’s the thing that jumps out on film, is that he covers a lot of ground," Rodgers said of Thomas. "His range reminds me of a guy we had here a long time – Nick Collins – who played at a Pro Bowl level his entire career. "His ability to make up if anybody outside gets beat or react to a ball deep down the field. Earl has that ability. He’s a very aggressive player. He seems to be really understanding the game with the experience that he’s getting. He’s a big time player."