Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Monday

Braaaaaaand new week.

Confident Russell Wilson talks of adjustment to NFL
It's still difficult to pick out Russell Wilson in a crowd. At his football camp — for kids ages 9-17 — he blends in at 5 feet 10 5/8 inches tall. Hat on, in neon green kicks, he could pass for a camper. Last year, such a scene would have been perfect ammo for the skeptics.

Healthy Carpenter a key for Seahawks | Seattle Seahawks - The News Tribune
Establishing consistency and chemistry is a key part of the success of Cable’s zone blocking scheme. Okung and center Max Unger earned Pro Bowl invitations last season, the first time a Seattle offensive lineman has been voted to the annual all-star game since Jones in 2008.

Seahawks need James Carpenter to get, stay healthy | ProFootballTalk
“James, he’s an animal,” left tackle Russell Okung recently said, via Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune. “When he’s healthy, he’s hard to beat. I don’t think there’s a guy who can line up over him and really say they can beat him, when he’s healthy.”

NFL players from Seahawks, Titans & Buccaneers do dance flash mob with Ferndale, WA high schoolers on Vimeo
Seahawks DE Michael Bennett, Bucs P Michael Koenen, Titans QB Jake Locker, Bucs LBs Dekoda Watson and Adam Heyward, former Seahawks OT Frank Omiyale and former Seahawks LS Boone Stutz participate in a flash mob dance literally during a charity two-hand touch football game in Ferndale, Wash. The event was sponsored by the Koenen Foundation, which runs an annual youth football camp in the city, where Koenen and Locker are natives. The event raised $6,000 and 2,510 pounds of food for the Ferndale Food Bank on Friday, June 28.

Allen's Fantasy Football Top 10 Running Backs | Fanspeak Fantasy Football
The fantasy football season is right around the corner, which means millions of fantasy players will be getting their draft boards ready with top 10s in every position. Maybe the most crucial and important position in fantasy, is the running back. In a pass happy league, the running back will often make or break your team depending on who you draft. No worries though, we bring to you the top 10 running backs off the board in the first few rounds of your league draft.

Offensive balance out of whack last year in the NFL - CBSSports
More teams were passing more often in the NFL in 2012. The Cowboys and Lions have the most work to do to get back in alignment.

NFP Sunday Blitz | National Football Post
Aaron Hernandez, the 49ers and more in Len Pasquarelli’s debut at the National Football Post.

Dez Bryant had worst background seen, ex-scout says - NFL.com
Aaron Hernandez's murder charge underscores the dilemma NFL teams face with character concerns. One Dallas Cowboys ex-scout says Dez Bryant had the worst background he'd ever seen as Bryant entered the league.

Matt Barkley the Raiders' choice over Tyler Wilson? - NFL.com
Matt Barkley is viewed as the odd-man out in the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback competition. Would he be considered the favorite to start had he landed with the Oakland Raiders instead of Tyler Wilson?

Lockette has an advantage in the race to replace Crabtree | ProFootballTalk
As the 49ers continue to look for a receiver to step up and replace Michael Crabtree, one candidate has an ace in the hole.

NFL says one arrest is too many, totaling 27 too many this year | ProFootballTalk
The NFL has just finished a particularly ugly week in which Aaron Hernandez's murder charge was the top story, joined in the headlines by Ausar Walcott's attempted murder charge and Joe Lefeged's illegal weapons charge. And the NFL realizes that's a problem.

Data Snooping
Over the last few years, the football analytics movement has made tremendous progress. There are many really smart people with access to a large amount of useful information who have helped pioneer the use of statistics and analytics in football. Major news organizations and NFL teams seem to be embracing this movement, too. Unfortunately, there are some less-than-desirable side effects as the reward for presenting “statistical information” seems larger than ever.

NFL - Tight cap limiting $6 million-a-year players - ESPN
A tight salary cap is limiting the number of $6 million-a-year contracts teams can dole out, writes John Clayton.