Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Sunday

Sunday with no Seahawks?

The Shutdown Corner Week 3 Preview Podcast with Greg Cosell | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
Once again, it's time to gear up for this week's slate of NFL games with analysis from the best in the business -- Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN's "NFL Matchup." As he did so well last year, Greg will give you a sense of the week's upcoming games you won't get anywhere else, based on his conversations with players and coaches past and present, and his OCD-level evaluation of coach's tape. Here's the Week 3 schedule in order of games discussed for your edification, and since the podcast was recorded on Friday this week, we started by reviewing the New York Giants' Thursday night win over the Carolina Panthers.

Seahawks.com Blog | MNF comes to Seattle: Seahawks vs. Packers
The Seahawks defense vs. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: The Seahawks’ No. 6-ranked defense has been pretty good at forcing opposing quarterbacks to do something other than what the play called for this season, especially in the second half last week when they limited Tony Romo and the Cowboys to 85 yards and no points. But that’s where Rodgers is often at his best, turning a situation where it appears there’s nothing into something big. Dealing with the league’s reigning MVP will require those in coverage to plaster their receivers from snap to whistle and those rushing to be even more relentless than usual. Rodgers has been sacked eight times, compared to 36 all of last season.

Seahawks.com Blog | Saturday in Hawkville: Baldwin questionable for Monday night
Doug Baldwin. The Seahawks’ leading receiver last season did not participate in today’s practice that was held in the indoor practice facility and is listed as questionable for Monday night’s game against the Packers at CenturyLink Field because of the shoulder he injured in practice on Thursday.

Seahawks.com Blog | Friday in Hawkville: A closer look at the Thomas, Gorrer connection
Earl Thomas and Danny Gorrer. The newest member of the 53-man roster was signed on Tuesday and practiced for the first time on Thursday, when Thomas also discussed his brother-like relationship with Gorrer.

Now this looks like the real McCoy
"The tight ends these days are starting to become a bigger part of the offenses," McCoy said. "In this offense, we’re a huge part. A lot the stuff we do is based off what we’re doing. So yeah, it’s been fun."

MNF Preview: Seahawks' keys vs. Packers - NFC West Blog - ESPN
"I think it's just a matter of time that he really makes things happen on the move, because we know that he can and he will," Carroll said. "I'm hoping that will show up a little bit more."

NFL32: Mort on Seahawks, Young on Vick - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Good morning. I ran across this video with Chris Mortensen's thoughts on the Seattle Seahawks and Steve Young's thoughts on Michael Vick, the quarterback Arizona will be trying to stop Sunday. Wanted to pass along.

Doug Baldwin a game-time decision with shoulder injury | Seahawks Insider
Baldwin is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. "He banged his shoulder during the week here," Carroll said. "And we don’t know yet. He thinks he can get right, and we’ll have to wait and see all the way up until game time." Receiver Sidney Rice also did not practice, but Carroll said he just wanted to get his No. 1 receiver some rest as he continues to deal with a knee issue, and that Rice should be fine for Monday.

Green Bay Packers vs. Seahawks: Sketching out a Game Plan for Seattle | Bleacher Report
Week 1, Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers offense carved up the Green Bay defense on runs outside the numbers. One thing San Francisco's offense is so good at is setting the edge in the run game.

San Francisco 49ers' Alex Smith prefers sacks to picks - NFL.com
"If your ultimate goal is to keep your stats low in sacks, then he needs to get rid of the ball," 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. "Our ultimate goal is to win games, and you don't lose games getting sacks. You lose games by turning the ball over and not scoring enough points. "There's some times where you quantify a sack as a smart sack for a quarterback, at least we would."

Jim Harbaugh has turned Alex Smith into Jim Harbaugh 2.0
Alex Smith has had an incredible career revival since Jim Harbaugh came to San Francisco. The first six seasons of his career, Alex Smith won just 38% of his 50 starts, but he has an incredible 15-3 regular season record since 2011 (83%). From 2005 to 2012, Smith had an ugly 72.1 passer rating, the worst of any quarterback with 1500 attempts over that span. Since Harbaugh came to town, Smith has a 93.6 passer rating, the 7th best mark of any quarterback over that time frame.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Futures: Star Lotulelei
War Daddies. Chris Brown introduces this coach’s term of endearment for big, bad defensive tackles that man the middle of a defensive front in his ode to the position at Grantland. Brown, the author of the always excellent Smart Football, explains that when it comes to prioritizing the factors that make a good defensive tackle, size is only a fundamental consideration.

Off-duty cops cause ruckus at Seahawks game | ProFootballTalk
According to Mike Carter of the Seattle Times, the officers were ejected from Sunday’s Cowboys-Seahawks game for being intoxicated, using foul language toward a fan and his family, and getting into an altercation with a Seattle police officer.

Greg Jennings questionable (groin) for Packers-Seahawks game - NFL.com
"Greg looked good today, I'll tell you, he made a big jump from earlier in the week," McCarthy said. "He practiced well. His examination in the morning will tell if he can go or not."

Crazy Is as Crazy Does | National Football Post
I was hanging out with Cornell Green, a five-time Pro Bowl cornerback and safety with the Dallas Cowboys in the 60’s and 70’s. Green was discussing the ways the game has changed, most notably the restrictions placed on defensive backs. "When I was matched up on one of those tight ends I would just grab him and keep him there," said Green." You can’t do that no more."

All 32 NFL Quarterbacks & Their Muppet Doppelgangers
All 32 NFL Quarterbacks & Their Muppet Doppelgangers: Because someone had to. ..