SeaTown Sports

Mariners Quietly Developing One Of The Best 1-2 Punches In Baseball

2013-05-04T21:59:31+00:00

Photo Credit: Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma have both gotten off to amazing starts so far this year, and are pitching at all-star levels. As is always however, they are not getting enough run support to have an overwhelming amount of wins, and that combined with the fact they are on the Mariners, means they will not get much national credit. But locally, fans are starting to take notice. Iwakuma’s 1.67 ERA is third among American League starters, and Felix’s 1.90 ERA was sixth among American League starters coming into Friday, but his dominant performance against Toronto dropped it even further to 1.60. These stats beg the question, where does Seattle's pitching duo rank among other American League starting combos? There is certainly room for debate in the following rankings, but they are based off performance thus far this season.

Honorable Mention:

Yu Darvish/Alexi Ogando (Texas):

-Darvish is having a great season so far, being top 10 in ERA and top 5 in WHIP, while leading the American League in strikeouts. Ogando is having a strong campaign as well, but there are some really good duos in this league, and Ogando drags down the group just enough to leave them out of my top five. Look out for Derek Holland, as well.

CC Sabathia/Huroki Kuroda (New York):

-These two are recurring members to this list, and are consistently very good. Sabathia’s numbers are slightly down from his previous seasons, but Kuroda has been stellar, posting top 10 numbers in both ERA and WHIP. CC’s slight decline from previous years is hurting this duo from cracking the top five, but they are still a fearsome group.

Justin Masterson/Zach McAllister (Cleveland):

-These are two guys that are probably relatively unknown to the public, but they are still pretty dang good pitchers. Both of them have better ERA’s than Sabathia, while posting similar WHIP and strikeout numbers. They are two young guys, who in a couple years could be really scary.

The Top Five:

5. Ervin Santana(3-1, 2.00 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 31 K)/James Shields(2-2, 3.00 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 39 K) (Kansas City):

Remember, this is off performance so far this season, and these two new additions to the Royals staff have had really good seasons so far, and have made Kansas City real players in the American League through the first month of the season. They have the third best record in the league and this is due in large part to the pitching and leadership of these two guys. They are both top 15 in ERA, top 10 in WHIP, and top 20 in strikeouts. This is astoundingly good, especially considering they are both new to the Royals this year. One knock on these guys is the fact that their team is winning, but they are not. The Royals have the third best record in the American League, but these two have only combined for five wins. Although this stat can be misleading, facts are still facts, and they combine for five wins, which is as many as one of the two pitchers the next group has. It was hard to put these guys fifth considering their numbers, but the next four duos have been virtually unstoppable.

4. Matt Moore(5-0, 1.13 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 38 K)/Alex Cobb(3-2, 2.55 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 27 K) (Tampa Bay):

Matt Moore has been absolutely unstoppable, easily one of the top five starters in the American League so far this season. This combined with Alex Cobb’s surprise success has been helpful to the offensively challenged Rays, especially because David Price and Jeremy Hellickson, who were thought to be the top two pitchers on the staff coming into the season, have really pitched horribly. This duo gets the slight nod over the Kansas City crew because of the “Ace Factor” (Matt Moore has been arguably the best pitcher in baseball) and because they were supposed to be the third and fourth best starters on the team.

3. Jon Lester(4-0, 3.11 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 33 K)/Clay Buchholz(6-0, 1.01 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 47 K) (Boston):

My Boston connection might factor in here, but nonetheless the Red Sox have reaped the benefits of these two so far this season. Lester has really bounced back after having the worst season since his rookie year last year. He has had one shaky start, but besides that has looked really strong, and the consistency has been a big thing for the Sox. Bucholz on the other hand has been the best pitcher in baseball through the first month. Not only is he the first pitcher to six wins, but he leads the league in ERA, is top five in WHIP, and is tied for third in strikeouts.

2. Justin Verlander(3-2, 1.83 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 41 K)/Anibal Sanchez (3-2, 1.82 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 50 K) (Detroit):

The Tigers rotation is so good that it was hard to pick just two pitchers to use as the dynamic duo. Anibal Sanchez has had the best pure numbers out of any of the Tigers starters, and they really have been good. He is towards the top of the list for ERA and WHIP, and second in the league in strikeouts. As good as he has been, and even though the numbers don’t show it, Verlander has been even more dominant, and that is no surprise. He has had a really good follow-up to his Cy Young and MVP season last year, and his top ten numbers in virtually all categories proves that. These two guys are definitely a cut above the last group, and they're on the better team.

1. Felix Hernandez(3-2, 1.90 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 44 K)/Hisashi Iwakuma(2-1, 1.67 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, 37 K) (Seattle):

Whooooooooooo! Something Mariner fans can actually get excited about! The top pitching duo in the American League belongs to the Seattle Mariners. King Felix has been stellar as usual, being towards the top of the league in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts. He has been unhittable as usual, but just hasn’t gotten the run support to rack up wins, as is always the case. It’s possible however that Iwakuma has actually been better than the King so far this season. His ERA is third in the league, and his WHIP has been otherworldly, leading the league at an absurd 0.69. The only statistical weakness these guys have is wins, and that can be completely attributed to lack of run support. This ranking system is to determine who the best one-two punch is in terms of pure pitchers, and wins doesn’t really quantify that considering the Mariners haven’t been able to hit nearly to the level of the other teams on this list (except for the Rays). However one wants to slice it, Felix and 'Kuma are, right now, the top duo in the American League.

Positives Abound If Kings Move To Seattle

2013-04-27T04:21:53+00:00

Photo Credit: Sonics Arena

Although a final decision will not come until around May 13^th, the debate surrounding the Kings and their potential move to Seattle could not get any more heated than it already has. From Kevin Johnson taking shots at the Sonics attendance to David Stern personally calling out KING 5 News reports, this dilemma has it all. Depending on one's opinion, some may think Seattle’s offer is better or some may agree with Kevin Johnson and believe Sacramento has what it takes.

When the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City, it gave the team a fresh new start. Even though the fans in Seattle were devastated, OKC fans and general fans of the NBA were ecstatic. In the years leading up to the move, the Sonics were not playing well, but the future looked bright with Kevin Durant. This move gave everybody on the team a renewed energy and really jump started Kevin Durant’s career. Oklahoma City has made the playoffs every year but their first in town. The new mindset the move gave the Thunder cannot be underestimated.

This same type of clean slate demeanor can also work out for the Kings if they move to Seattle. Even though Sacramento currently does not have an overwhelming star on their roster like the Sonics did with Kevin Durant, a new ownership group could instill a winning and successful culture. Plenty of money would be able to be spent on a free agency class that features Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Andre Iguodala. There are also many other potential starters available in this pool that the “new” Sonics would be able to make a run at.

The Kings currently possess a very young roster. DeMarcus Cousins headlines the group and has shown his potential at times, but his uselessness at others. With Tyreke Evans becoming a free agent this offseason, the team would need to make some bold moves to put a respectable team out on the court. Other players such as Toney Douglas, James Johnson and Cole Aldrich are coming off of the books and should give the ownership even more money to spend. Money, combined with the new brand and culture, could make Seattle a prime destination for free agents.

But this influx of money could come from various sources. Seattle sports fans have not been too happy with the Mariners over the past ten years or so. If one were to ask a Seattleite who their favorite team was, it likely would not be the M's. However, the Seattle Mariners may be the most valuable franchise in Seattle. They recently signed a $2-billion TV deal with DIRECTV for the ownership rights to a new Regional Sports Network. One smart move by the team and Chuck Armstrong was publicly saying they would be willing to work with the "Sonics" if they were to come to Seattle next season, and perhaps show their games on this new network in the future. This would provide immense profit to all teams.

Next fall could be one of the best in Seattle sports history. The Seahawks could be in the middle of a Super Bowl run, the Huskies football team could be in the midst of their best season in recent memory and the “new” Sonics could be beginning their inaugural season in KeyArena, with the construction of Seattle Arena underway. If the NBA is paying attention, this would be hard to pass up.

Guti's Injury Calls For Others To Step Up

2013-04-24T21:53:47+00:00

Photo Credit: Pat Sullivan/Associated Press

Franklin Gutierrez has been known to be a fragile player over the past couple years, not even coming close to playing a full season. But in his first two years in Seattle, he sat out only 19 games total, yet in his last two he has missed over 100. At this point, Seattle fans have simply begun to expect an injury from Guti, and this year is no different as he sat out a few games earlier in the season with some leg soreness and now, most notably, has been sent to the DL for a hamstring injury.

With Michael Saunders already on the DL, the Mariners outfield is all of a sudden lacking depth, something it had plenty of before the season. Losing two of three starting outfielders can do that to a team, and with Michael Morse being in the middle of a slump since his return from a pinkie injury, all members of the opening day outfield for the Mariners are either hurt or not performing. Injuries happen to every team, but what’s important is how the team responds to these injuries. Can guys step up?

The starting outfield will most likely be Endy Chavez in center with Raul Ibanez/Jason Bay in left and Michael Morse in right. Although Gutierrez and Saunders haven’t been able to keep the production consistent because of injuries, they have been two of the better hitters on the Mariners, so losing them is a big loss, especially considering who is coming in to replace them. Bay is a new addition, and after having a great year with the Red Sox (over 30 homers and 110 RBIs) several years ago, his production has disappeared. Chavez is a bit of a liability at the plate as well. He has bounced around the league and has not been able to maintain any consistent success.

Outfielders aside, the younger players need to start stepping up. Kyle Seager has been fantastic of late, and shows no signs of letting up, and even Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak and Jesus Montero have hit balls hard recently. But this isn't the minor leagues, thus, consistency is key. And right now, the Mariners don't have that.

Flipping for Three Points: Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids

2013-04-24T21:43:45+00:00

Photo Credit: Seattle Sounders FC Official Website

It’s been a few days since the Sounders earned their first three points of the 2013 MLS season. The team came into Colorado desperate for a win, or at least a goal. They ended up getting both with a 1-0 victory. It was most certainly a successful match and an obvious stepping point for the Sounders to move forward from, but there are still many questions left on the field.

Seattle's overall cohesiveness still looked incomplete, and not just because of absences such as Eddie Johnson. Mauro Rosales, who was a focal point in the last two seasons, didn’t enter the fray until midway through the second half and even then looked uncharacteristically out of place. Is his age starting to show? Has he lost favor with Sigi Schmid or his teammates? Hopefully neither of these are the case because an in-form Rosales would be an asset to the struggling Sounders.

Likewise, Traore still looks lost on the field (which is somewhat expected for a player new to the squad), but a player of his pedigree should be doing better. Caskey continues to be a major question mark for the Sounders midfield. While still young, he is miles away from being a Steve Zakuani or even a Brad Evans. Often his inclusion in games muddles the midfield as his play is jerky and hesitant. Why he is still used in a struggling first team is still very unclear.

Obafemi Martins and Steve Zakuani, of course, have the most upside potential for the Sounders this season. Both looked threatening throughout the Colorado match and Martins' goal off of a rebound from a Shalrie Joseph shot will hopefully be the first of many. The question going forward for them will be fitness.

Mariners Hoping For Offensive Improvement

2013-04-18T02:39:02+00:00

Photo Credit: Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

This was supposed to be the year. Two new power-hitting additions, shorter fences, health and improvement from the guys already here. This is the year the offense was supposed to really arrive. But where is it? Some early season injuries haven’t helped as Michael Morse, who is leading the club in home runs, missed four games with a pinkie injury. Franklin Gutierrez, who has also been hitting well, missed a couple games with some leg soreness. These injuries, along with Michael Saunders being placed on the 15-day DL for a sprained right shoulder, have created revolving doors in the outfield. Jason Bay, Raul Ibanez, and Endy Chavez have gotten more playing time than expected.

Injuries however isn't the only problem with the Mariners offense, as some players are just hitting poorly. Justin Smoak and Dustin Ackley are both batting under .200 with Ackley barely exceeding the .100 mark. These are well below the Mendoza line, and other starters like Brendan Ryan and Jesus Montero are off to sluggish starts as well. The only guy who is actually healthy and hitting well is Kelly Shoppach, who has only played in six games.

Montero could become a full-time DH and I do think this is a real possibility, but frankly I wonder whether he will be able to produce at a high enough level to beat out other guys competing for the same spot. One possible move would be to have Kendrys Morales take over the first baseman duties with Justin Smoak’s extreme struggles at the plate and move Montero to the DH, but this early in the season I don’t think anyone is expecting any moves that drastic. This early in the season it is important to be patient with younger players, but if these struggles continue well into the season, changes need to be made.

Seattle has only scored more than three runs in four games this season. But with the return of Morse and Gutierrez to the lineup last night, the hope is the offense will improve greatly. It's early, but there's only so much time before changes have to be made. Luckily, the Mariners still have 147 games to get it going.

Can’t Break Loose: Sounders FC vs. New England Revolution

2013-04-15T09:20:40+00:00

Photo Credit: Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

The truth of the matter is, Sounders FC fans have been spoiled over the last few years. Since the team entered the league in 2009, the Sounders have become one of the premier clubs in Major League Soccer. Sounders fans are used to success. But with Saturday’s 0-0 draw with New England, their continued bad form is giving Seattle soccer fans their first real taste of what it’s like to be a losing team.

Saturday’s performance was little more than the stereotyped depiction of a soccer match; lots of movement and running around but little real action. The Sounders did dominate possession and the passing game in addition to outshooting the Revolution 13-5.

But the Sounders never looked like a dangerous team. The team lacked intensity and urgency, content with passing the ball around New England but never really looking to penetrate the Revolution’s defense. Steve Zakuani had the best opportunities of the game but was denied twice by the New England goalkeeper, in the first half and managed to bend a left footed shot wide of the post in the second half.

The only bright spots of the match were Osvaldo Alonso, who put in another stalwart performance making five crucial midfield tackles, and rookie DeAndre Yedlin whose runs and footwork looked to be a potential weapon for the Sounders as he continues to mature. But these performances are of little consolation to a Sounders team and fans that sit last in MLS.

The dismal showing by the Sounders this season brings up a lot of questions as to what is going on with the team; has Sigi lost the locker room? Is there a rift between players? Was it a good move to loan Fredy Montero and spend $4M on Obafemi Martins who has played little due to injury? These are some hard and pointed questions for the Sounders. The only way the Sounders can answer them is with a win. Wins always quell criticism.

Marv Harshman Passes Away At Age 95

2013-04-13T11:01:20+00:00

Photo Credit: University of Washington

Longtime basketball coach Marv Harshman passed away Friday morning at age 95. Harshman went 642-448 in 40 total seasons as a head coach at Pacific Lutheran, Washington State and Washington.

Harshman was elected to the Husky Hall of Fame in 1985, following his coaching stint at UW from 1972-85 where he led the Huskies to three NCAA Tournament appearances.

Harshman graduated from Lake Stevens High School and Pacific Lutheran University, where he was a standout athlete, before joining the Navy.

The Washington coaching staff was notified of Harshman's passing by private phone calls Friday.

"You're talking about coaching at PLU, Washington State and Washington, and his own background as an athlete - he was just a household name," Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar said.

"I went to Washington expecting to play with a legendary coach. I didn't know I would get the bonus of playing for a legendary person ... He will be missed by all of us," Romar said.

Assistant coach Paul Fortier also shared his thoughts on his relationship with Harshman.

"He was just an unbelievable teacher for me, personally," Fortier said. "He was an incredible teacher, and the court was his classroom."

From the Puget Sound to the Palouse, Marv Harshman will be missed.

Seahawks Look To Continue Recent Success In Draft

2013-04-08T10:33:33+00:00

Johnathan Hankins. Photo Credit: Scott Boehm/Associated Press

Not many teams can say they had a better free agency period than the Seattle Seahawks. After trading and then signing an extension for perennial All-Pro wide receiver Percy Harvin, the Seahawks then signed defensive end Cliff Avril to a two-year, $14 million deal. Avril is coming off a nine-and-a-half sack season with the Detroit Lions. Then just when it seemed like they were done, the Seahawks made a splash and signed defensive tackle Michael Bennett to a one-year deal. He, like Avril, is coming off a nine-sack season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but is dealing with a rotator cuff injury.

With the trade of Harvin, the Seahawks no longer have a first-round NFL Draft pick. Their remaining picks are as follows: one second, third, fourth and sixth round pick, two fifth-round picks and three seventh-round picks. Their four biggest positions of need are defensive tackle, outside linebacker, tight end and a mobile, backup quarterback. The Seahawks will be able to find a quality player that plays each of these positions come late April.

At the defensive tackle position, Sylvester Williams and Kuwann Short are two intriguing prospects. Johnathan Hankins and John Jenkins are two huge bodies as well that could fall to the Seahawks in the second round. Williams is projected to go higher in the draft than the second round pick the Seahawks have, but if he slips to their position, expect the Seahawks to try and snatch up the big man out of North Carolina. Short should still be on the draft board by the time the Seahawks draft and he would provide some great interior pass rush. Jenkins and Hankins are projected to fall in this draft because of the great depth at the defensive tackle position, but both of these guys possess the run-stuffing ability the Seahawks have been looking for in their defensive tackles.

Leroy Hill has held down one of the outside linebacker positions for the Seahawks over the last seven years. He is now a free agent and it doesn’t look like he will be coming back. Right now, the players poised to take over Hill’s position are Pete Carroll’s ex-USC players, Mike Morgan and Malcolm Smith. No disrespect to them, but they will not cut it for an entire NFL season. Two prospects that the Seahawks could look at drafting are Khaseem Greene and Arthur Brown. Both of these prospects are fairly touted and could be gone when the Seahawks draft in the second round. Greene is an athletic linebacker from Rutgers and can get to the quarterback, recording six-sacks in his senior year at Rutgers.

A young, blocking-type tight end would help out the Seahawks immensely. It would free up Zach Miller to be more of a receiver than a blocker. As we all saw in the Atlanta game this past year, Miller is at his best when he is able to run routes. Stanford’s Zach Ertz or San Diego State’s Gavin Escobar could be options in the second round for the Seahawks.

The final position of need for the Seahawks is backup quarterback. The new Seahawks offense revolves around Russell Wilson. If he were to get injured, for the transition to be seamless, the Seahawks need a mobile and athletic quarterback waiting in the wings. Matt Flynn was not this type of quarterback, but BJ Daniels could be. This quarterback out of South Florida would be available in the late rounds of the draft, so the Seahawks wouldn’t need to “waste” a pick early. Daniels is a big-bodied quarterback, standing at about six-feet tall and 210 pounds. He also ran a read-option offense with the Bulls. He wasn’t the best passer, but what backup quarterback is in the NFL? He would be good enough for the job and would allow the Seahawks to save some money.

A case could even be made for the wide receiver position, despite the acquisition of Percy Harvin. Since the Seahawks management has drafted so well in the past years, they don’t really need a huge influx of talent this year from the draft. They can afford to upgrade the backups of positions where they already have Pro-Bowl players. The luxuries of being a great team are nice and the Seahawks are now experiencing this feeling. Be prepared for a stellar 2013-2014 season from the Seahawks.

Changing Direction: Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers

2013-03-18T01:11:34+00:00

Photo Credit: Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

The Seattle Sounders have made some substantial changes to chase the goal of winning the MLS Cup. Fredy Montero was sent on loan, and Sharlie Joseph and Obefemi Martins were signed. The team is in an ambitious transition period. With transition comes some frustration and disappointment. This was certainly the case with the 1-1 draw to derby rivals Portland Timbers.

The crisp spring evening match began well for the Sounders. Dangerous scoring opportunities were made early and in the 13^th minute the Sounders drew first blood. Steve Zakuani collected a loose ball at midfield and took the ball in speedy stride, outpacing the Timbers by a long shot and carrying the ball into the box where he unleashed a devastating curling cross to Eddie Johnson who tapped the ball in to give the Sounders the 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately from here the Sounders play began to fade. The Portland Timbers began to dominate possession and the Sounders offense stagnated. It seemed as though the team really didn’t know each other and there were some miscues. In the 70^th minute, newly signed designated player and former Newcastle United and Internazionale star, Obefemi Martins, entered the match to a roaring ovation. His pace and movement on the pitch showed that he will be a major offensive weapon for the Sounders in future games. For this first Cascadia match however, Martins was just too new to make any major mark on the game. The fact of the matter is that all the new faces took a toll on the Sounders in this match as did the fatigue of playing three competitive games in a week.

In the 89^th minute the Sounders broke down as Rodney Wallace was left free inside the box and was able to head in a cross from seven yards out. The Sounders of 2013 are a new breed and it will take time to find balance. Let’s all hope that that balance will be sorted out by the time the Sounders face Portland again, because anything less than a win against Portland is a blight for the Sounders.

Not All There: Sounders FC vs. Montreal Impact

2013-03-08T01:22:00+00:00

Photo Credit: Kevin Casey/Getty Images

After an offseason of dramatic changes and a positive training camp, the Sounders felt ready for the start of the 2013 MLS season. But the opener did not end as planned for Seattle, as the Impact picked up a 1-0 victory.

The match’s lone goal came in the 35^th minute when Davy Arnaud collected a through ball missed by Zach Scott and then chipped it over an onrushing Michael Gspurning for what would prove to be the game winning goal. The play started when possession was lost at midfield uncharacteristically by Jon Kennedy Hurtado. The success of Montreal’s counterattack was a clear message that some action must be taken to revitalize the depleted Sounders backline with the trade of Jeff Parke and the injury to Patrick Ianni.

However, despite the loss there were some positive signs for the rave green. Newcomer DeAndre Yedlin who graduated in the class of 2010 from Seattle’s Odea High School showed well and could be a serious player in the future. Likewise, the Seattle offense looked very dynamic and well balanced despite the absence of Fredy Montero. Captain Mauro Rosales clearly asserted his place in the squad after criticism of being injury prone by orchestrating several brilliant offensive plays. Brad Evans and Eddie Johnson looked strong as well hitting shots off the post and crossbar respectively. There is no question that the Sounders could have what it takes this season. The question is who is going to step up their game to take this team to the level they are expected to play.

Photos From Mariners Spring Training

2013-02-20T01:38:27+00:00

This will be updated periodically with additional photos from Seattle Mariners spring training in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo Credits: Alex Gallant/SeaTown Sports)

The Uncertain Future Of The Seahawks' Defensive Line

2013-02-10T09:32:00+00:00

Photo Credit: Seahawks.com

Throughout the 2011 season, the Seahawks’ defensive line became the strength of the defense with Red Bryant, Brandon Mebane, Alan Branch and Chris Clemons playing stout against the run and taking up multiple offensive linemen, giving the linebackers room to roam free and make tackles. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley had freedom to bring in multiple defensive backs to defend against the pass without being worried of getting burned by the run.

The story turned out to be a bit different in 2012, as the defensive line regressed in overall production and fell behind the defensive backs – or, the “Legion of Boom” as they rightfully dub themselves – as the leaders of the Seahawks’ fourth ranked defense, only giving up 306 yards per game. The defensive line struggled to put consistent pressure on the opposing quarterback for most of the season and even got gashed a few times on the ground (remember Miami?).

One of the most important issues John Schneider and Pete Carroll will have to address this off-season is what to do with left defensive end Chris Clemons. Clemons just came off his third straight year of double digit sack production, but he is also 31 years old and tore his ACL and meniscus in the playoff game against the Washington Redskins on the absolutely atrocious FedEx Field turf.

It generally takes 12 months to recover from a torn ACL, so the team shouldn’t expect him back next season. So, the Seahawks’ front office have to ask themselves whether or not they want to pay Clemons $8M to sit out the season on the Injured Reserve list, especially if there’s no guarantee Clemons returns to his former production in 2014.

Replacing Chris Clemons would be a dubious task, to say the least, as he has a rare combination of ability to rush the passer while at the same time being able to stand up against the run. Bruce Irvin - at least at this point - would not be a suitable replacement for Clemons, as he has shown flashes of pass rushing ability but is an extreme liability against the run and offensive tackles he can’t run around. As painful as it might seem, Irvin is currently the only other player on the roster that could even think about replacing Clemons, unless you think Red Bryant could drop 60 pounds and play the pass rushing end.

Hey, remember Red Bryant? The 320 lb right defensive end’s position is absolutely crucial to the team’s run defense scheme, so it’s not surprising when Bryant got hurt and his production took a dip the rest of the run defense followed suit. The Seahawks need Bryant to return to his 2011 form when he was a top-5 run stuffing defensive linemen and earned a 5-year, $35M contract with $14.5M guaranteed.

Brandon Mebane has been a model of consistency for the Seahawks at the defensive tackle position since 2008, stuffing the run effectively and so far earning the 5-year, $25M contract given to him in 2011. Alan Branch’s play dropped off compared to 2011, leaving the second defensive tackle position up in the air, as Branch and backup Jason Jones – who fought through chronic knee problems and eventually ended up on IR – are both free agents.

At this point, only two spots on the defensive line are secured (Mebane and Bryant), leaving the other two spots of left end and second defensive tackle up for grabs. Bruce Irvin’s skill set is frankly not built to handle the left end position every single down and my bet is the Seahawks let Jason Jones go. Gregg Scruggs came on late in the year as a possible replacement for Branch, but at this point, picking a veteran up in free agency is absolutely essential to the 2013 Seahawks not having their defensive line be their Achilles’ heel.

Here are a couple free agents options the Seahawks might look at:

DT/DE Richard Seymour

The 12-year veteran likely wants to win now, and would fit in perfectly to what the Seahawks’ needs are. The former New England Patriot is losing some of his quickness and speed, but knows how to compensate with technique and instincts. He can play either at defensive tackle or defensive end depending on down and distance and can be an effective pass rusher from both positions. John Schneider will probably go after Seymour hard, especially if he knows that Chris Clemons won’t be around much longer.

DT/DE Michael Bennett

Bennett, like Seymour, would provide the Seahawks the option playing either defensive end or defensive tackle and being exceptional at both. He would be expensive, being 27-years old and just coming off a 9 sack season as a defensive end, but his versatility and interior pass rushing abilities might be worth it to the Seahawks.

DE Osi Umenyiora

Umenyiora would provide an ideal replacement for Clemons in terms of pass-rushing abilities, but would be a significant drop off in terms of defending the run. The 31-year old falls into the same boat of Seymour in that he likely wants to win now; Seattle and the loud confines of CenturyLink Field might be the perfect place to finish out his career.

The other obvious option for replacing Clemons and/or filling a defensive tackle spot would be through the draft. But, as Bruce Irvin showed us this year, spending a first round draft pick on defensive linemen doesn’t always guarantee immediate production. Don’t expect John Schneider to bank the 2013 defensive line on a draft pick, but maybe look for a third or fourth round selection on a big bodied defensive tackle who has the ability to rival Branch in terms of size.

Really, it all comes back to the Clemons decision. If the Seahawks choose to keep him on for 2013, that’s $8M down the drain and banking on a 32-year old to come back healthy for the 2014 season.

If the Seahawks choose to cut Clemons, they’d be saving $6.5M which they could use to sign a guy like Seymour or Umenyiora to a two year contract. Cutting a guy who has been your top pass rusher for the last three years is painful, but might be necessary if the Seahawks want to win now.

Prediction: The Seahawks cut Clemons, re-sign Branch to an affordable contract, and let Jason Jones go, leaving the left defensive end and second defensive tackle spots open for competition. The team signs Seymour and drafts a defensive tackle in the third round to compete with Branch. Bryant needs to improve upon his mediocre 2012 season in order to keep his firm grasp of his right end spot.

- Nathan Parsons (@nathanparsons98)

Here's To The Future

2013-02-08T01:20:49+00:00

Photo Credit: Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, and yes, even Alex Rodriguez. The Mariners have made a habit in the past of failing to re-sign their superstars. Instead, they’ve opted to trade or even let them walk away via free agency. Yes, the return trade package has been decent in a couple instances (see Randy Johnson to Astros). But nothing can replace the impact superstars have on a franchise. Prospects are nice, but you can only stomach those types of deals for so long.

In fact, the Mariners haven’t really been a perennial contender since those aforementioned names departed Seattle. This is why the rumored 7-year/$175 million contract extension for Felix Hernandez is so vital for the Mariners organization moving forward. Will it take up a hefty portion of the payroll? Sure. Could Felix suffer a debilitating injury? It’s possible with anyone. But how would you have felt if Seattle let their prized pitcher leave for another club? Felix has made it clear how much he loves playing in Seattle, and it’s about time the Mariners return the favor and pony up the money.

The team might not be going to the playoffs in the next few years, but this is a step in the right direction, showing potential free agents that Seattle isn’t a bad place to play. Worst case scenario: we’ll have to settle for watching one of the best pitchers in the game toe the rubber every 5^th day for years to come.

Top 9: Most Memorable Things About The 2012 Seahawks

2013-02-03T04:53:00+00:00

Photo Credit: Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

As we all get ready to endure a Super Bowl surely to be filled with plenty of heartwarming stories about the ~~Harbleah~~ Harbaugh brothers, camera shots of Colin Kaepernick kissing his biceps with a dorky smile on his face, and Ray Lewis bawling uncontrollably at the 50-yard line (conveniently surrounded by a couple dozen cameras), Seahawks fans sit at home asking themselves, “what if?”

Instead of driving ourselves insane with the thought that Russell Wilson could be preparing for the first ever Super Bowl won by a rookie quarterback, it’s a better idea to look back at what made the 2012-2013 so memorable, and, really, quite improbable.

9) The Richard Sherman saga, part one

If there’s one thing I learned this season, it’s that Richard Sherman can (and will) do whatever the heck he wants.

Last October, when Sherman picked off a Tom Brady pass with 4:52 left in the third quarter of an eventual Seahawks win, Brady apparently told Sherman and safety Earl Thomas to "see him after the game when [the Patriots] win.”

Well, Sherman did, and posted this since deleted picture on his Twitter page:

After the game, Sherman told reporters that “every TV timeout, I went up and said it right to [Brady]: 'Please keep trying me. I'm going to take it from you.'”

From that point on, Richard Sherman led the league in hatred from opposing fans for a cornerback. And I think he’s okay with that.

8) Undefeated At Home

A home schedule including the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and Minnesota Vikings is nothing to scoff at, and I thought before the season winning at least 6 out of 8 home games would be satisfactory.

The 12^th man squashed my doubts with a perfect 8-0 record at home, further solidifying CenturyLink Field as the greatest home field advantage in the NFL. Russell Wilson had an incredible 123.6 QB rating when playing at home, throwing for 17 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions and a startling efficiency rate of 9.17 yards per completion. The stadium reached playoff level intensity during the week 16 matchup against the 49ers, confusing and frustrating Colin Kaepernick to the point where (these are unconfirmed reports) he started crying and needed a pep talk from Alex Smith, which only made it worse.

7) The Richard Sherman saga, part 2

The lowest point of the Seahawks season was probably the week 12 loss against Miami. Playoff chances looked slim and news broke that Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman would likely be suspended four games for the use of the NFL banned drug, Adderall.

Browner accepted his suspension within a few days, but Sherman didn’t. Twitter and sports radio commentators called for Sherman to take the dive and ride out his four game suspension so he would be available if the Seahawks did so happen to squeak into the playoffs.

Instead of taking the dive, Richard Sherman and his attorneys scored a rare victory against the NFL and avoided his suspension. He stated when he provided a urine sample on Sept. 17, the specimen cup had a leak, prompting the collector to use a second cup. Sherman's lawyers claimed this was a breach in protocol.

Richard Sherman 1, NFL 0

6) Practically Every Game Giving Seahawks Fans Heart Attacks

The Seahawks never lost a game by more than seven points, which by most accounts is a great thing. They never got blown out and were in every game until the bitter end.

Seriously. Every game. 10 out of the Seahawks’16 games were decided in the last couple minutes, sometimes going their way (Green Bay, New England, Chicago) and sometimes not (Detroit, Miami). The Seahawks riding the line of win or loss so often at the end of games raised the collective blood pressure of Seattle fans everywhere and left me tired from just watching it on my television.

Thankfully, the Seahawks finished out the season with some nice, relaxing blow outs.

5) The Blowouts

From week 14 to week 16, the Seahawks outscored their opponents 150-30 and cemented themselves in the national consciousness. They became everyone’s Super Bowl dark horse leading up to the NFL playoffs, and just might have been if not for a couple failed blitzes and a Tony Gonzalez catch.

Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin started the demolition of opposing teams by collectively running for 236 yards and three touchdowns against the effortless Cardinals, who helped the Seahawks score a franchise record 56 points with their epically awful quarterback play.

The Hawks then travelled to the Rogers Centre to watch Russell Wilson run around, through and over (I’m pretty sure he started levitating) the sad, sad, Buffalo Bills on his way to three rushing touchdowns and another 50 point Seahawks blowout. The Seahawks became the NFL's third team to score 50 points in consecutive weeks, joining the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants, who both did it in 1950.

While blowout wins against the hapless Cardinals and Bills left you feeling kind of guilty for humiliating already humiliated teams, a 42-13 thrashing of the 49ers the next week on Sunday Night Football left you feeling like you could lift a car and throw it at a more angry than usual Jim Harbaugh, who had to stand in the freezing rain and watch his team get clobbered on his birthday.

Good times, good times.

4) The Real Rob Report

If you don’t know what the “Real Rob Report” is, set aside some time to waste two hours of your life watching Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson basically harass other players in the locker room and post it on YouTube. From “Messin’ with Marshawn” to listening to Richard Sherman say “my brother” every other word to “John Moffitt’s words of wisdom,” the Real Rob Report provides entertainment for all.

The weekly web show – and more specifically “Moffitt’s words of wisdom,” – developed a cult following among fans on Twitter and led to John Moffitt becoming a fan favorite.

3) The Chicago Comeback

With 3:35 to go, down by four points, on the road against the Chicago Bears defense and Seattle’s playoff hopes on the line, Russell Wilson calmly lines up under center, pinned under his own 3-yard line.

Two quick passes to Anthony McCoy and Marshawn Lynch set the Seahawks up at the 20-yard line. Handoff to Lynch. Now the 32-yard line. There is hope, the Seahawks playoff light is still burning.

Russell drops back, no one’s open, so he runs for the first down. Like he always does. Brian Urlacher doesn’t have a chance.

Pass, completion. Pass, completion. Pass, completion. 32 seconds left, and the Seahawks are on the Bears’ 14 –yard line, itching to score.

Quick slant to Golden Tate. Tate bounces, bounces, bounces off Bears until he dives into the end zone. 17-14 Seahawks, with 24 seconds left. It doesn’t matter what happens next, we all know one thing:

Russell Wilson is our quarterback.

2) Golden Tate’s Catch

Golden Tate’s controversial game-winning touchdown catch against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football has been called many things, including the Fail Mary, the Golden Takeaway, and The Inaccurate Reception. Much debate has been made over whether or not the catch was legitimate or not, but nonetheless the catch became the final straw regarding the NFL replacement refs, who were ousted the following week.

1) The Russell Wilson story

Russell Wilson’s story is this season’s legacy.

You’ve probably already heard the Russell Wilson story told and re-told dozens of times: Went to college at NC State to play baseball and football, transferred to Wisconsin, quit baseball to play football, got drafted by the Seahawks in the third round, beat out Matt Flynn for the starting role, struggled at first, eventually led the Seahawks to a playoff win.

In my 6 years of following Seattle Sports, I’ve never experienced a story as nationally loved and followed as Wilson’s. I’m more used to great Seattle stories being shunned and disregarded by the rest of America than openly embraced.

But here’s the thing: Wilson did not become a national story because he said something controversial, won a Heisman trophy in college or has a charismatic personality. He became a national story by working hard, keeping his mouth shut and proving every one of us wrong, and then some.

Russell Wilson gained national respect, which in turn gave the Seahawks national respect. And when it comes down to it, respect is really all we, Seattle Sports fans, want. We want feel part of the national conversation. We want to be recognized.

And for that, Russell Wilson, we thank you.

- Nathan Parsons (@nathanparsons98)

Aziz N'Diaye - CNN Inside Africa

2013-01-30T08:35:47+00:00

Photo Credit: Chris Pietsch/Associated Press

This episode of "CNN: Inside Africa" was passed along by the University of Washington, and highlights Aziz N'Diaye and other Senegalese players "transforming their lives through basketball." The video is split into three clips, which can be found at the following links.

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2013/01/28/inside-africa-senegal-basketball-a.cnn

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2013/01/28/inside-africa-senegal-basketball-b.cnn

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2013/01/28/inside-africa-senegal-basketball-c.cnn

Huskies Are Undefeated, In Conference Play At Least, After Big Road Win In Pullman

2013-01-08T03:17:47+00:00

Photo Credit: Dean Hare/Associated Press

Game Summary

Washington jumped out to a 21-4 lead in the first 11 minutes thanks to tenacious defense by Desmond Simmons on Brock Motum and an aggressive Abdul Gaddy. The Huskies team defense was better than it had been all season while Gaddy and Andrews were able to force WSU to respect their driving ability, leading to three pointers from C.J. Wilcox and Scott Suggs. During this span Dawg fans saw Shawn Kemp Jr. send home two thunderous left-handed dunks that inspired many comparisons to his father (as we've come to expect from every Kemp Jr. slam). Following this lead, UW slowly sunk back into old ways as the Cougars were able to pull within 7 come halftime. The 6'10 Motum had just 4 points at the break.

WSU continued clawing back at the Huskies, which peaked with a Brock Motum three that gave the Cougars their first lead of the game at 51-50. The second half had become UW's time to show no offensive movement while Ken Bone's team came out of the locker room with much more energy than the Dawgs. Will Dilorio came off the bench for WSU to hit multiple huge threes to aid the Cougar comeback. Every time Wazzu threatened to use their momentum to pull away, the Huskies showed grit and were able to keep the game in check. Aziz N'Diaye hit three big buckets on the block in the final ten minutes to ensure that the game never slipped away. Scott Suggs showed extreme confidence in the final three minutes as he knocked down two jumpers and finished a fastbreak layup to put UW ahead. This culminated in a 64-63 Husky lead late, forcing WSU to foul Andrew Andrews with 22 seconds left. The redshirt freshman calmly knocked down both from the line and proceeded to hit two more with 3 seconds left to ice the game.

Woofs

Lorenzo Romar: Romar had the Dawgs energized from the start, something that Washington fans had been looking for all season. UW would not have won this game if they did not come out with defensive energy. On a in-game coaching note, WSU was down 3 with 9 seconds left and Romar instructed his team to foul before the Cougars could get a shot off. This plan was completely successful, as Mike Ladd was fouled before getting a shot off and he proceeded to miss the front end of the one-and-one. Romar had been preaching the improvement of team defense over the last week and it seems like he was right. Leading to....

Team Defense on Motum: Dez Simmons locked up Wazzu's leading scorer in the first half, as Motum was held to 4 points on just 2-5 shooting to go along with multiple turnovers. Simmons' air-tight defense clearly flustered Motum and kept him out of rhythm long enough for UW to build their first half lead. Simmons defense also kept Motum from getting any easy looks in the final four minutes of the game. Washington was exceptional with their help-D against Motum.

Old Days?: Washington gave the fans a taste of old Husky basketball in the first eleven minutes of the game by running up and down the court while knocking down threes and throwing down some high-light reel dunks. Can't deny that the beginning of this game had the feel of previous Husky teams that were tournament bound.

Scott Suggs: UW's super-senior stepped up huge in the clutch and may have stolen the spot (from nobody, of course, but nobody held this spot for a long time) as UW's crunch time go-to-guy. Suggs had a stretch from 2:37 to 1:01 left in the 2nd half where he scored six straight points in the midst of a 8-2 run late to give Washington a three point lead.

Abdul Gaddy aka The X-Factor

Gaddy started the game with 4 points and 2 assists as UW built a 9-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game. This goes to show that his driving ability can push the Dawgs' offense to another level. Gaddy scored the first four points for UW before driving and dishing to Aziz for an easy 2 and kicking it to Wilcox for a three. This driving was nearly non-existent past the early period of this game and Washington's offense stalled out, which allowed WSU to make a comeback.

Whimpers

Turnovers: UW turned the ball over 15 times, multiple of which led to easy run-outs for WSU layups in the second half. C.J. Wilcox, despite leading the Huskies with 18 points, had five TOs. Gaddy and Andrew Andrews had three each while combining for 8 assists.

Inconsistent Play: UW put together 11 great minutes of basketball before forgetting that it was necessary to play this well the entire game. Washington went down 4 with five minutes left before a switch flipped in Husky heads that this was a winnable road game.

Final Thoughts

Washington won a hard-fought road game against a team that they need to beat if they have aspirations of finishing in the top five of the Pac-12. This happened to be the only road win for any Pac-12 team before California picked one up late on Saturday night. Weary Dawg fans did not imagine that this Husky team was capable of being down in the final five minutes of a game and still come away with a victory. This looks to be a monumental win and confidence builder for Romar's squad to kick off conference play.

Next Up

UW @ California. 8 P.M. ESPN2. Haas Pavilion.

Metro Basketball Power Rankings: Week 3

2012-12-18T05:00:00+00:00

Photo Credit: The Slipper Still Fits

What a week of basketball for the Metro Conference as Seattle Prep took down not only the number 1 team in state but number 5 team in the country, Rainier Beach. Fans realized that Seattle Prep is capable of making another run and it all starts with their playmaker, DJ Fenner.

Besides the thrilling upset over Beach, there wasn’t much action in the conference. Many of the games played out like they were predicted.

Player of the Week: DJ Fenner, Seattle Prep: Fenner once again earns player of the week honors as he led his team to victory over Eastside Catholic and Rainer Beach. The senior has been carrying this Panther team so far this season and continues to put up ridiculous numbers. Against Eastside Catholic, Fenner had 39 points and had 28 against Rainier Beach. I wouldn’t be surprised if he earns Metro Player of the Week again next week.

Power Rankings:

1. Rainier Beach (3-1) Even though the Vikings suffered a loss to Seattle Prep, they still are the best team in this conference and in state. This team is still getting used to playing with top player Shaqquan Aaron. Beach was able to handle Chief Sealth easily (90-51) and did not play their best game at Seattle Prep. I expect this team to bounce back and dominate this week as they will play some weak competition.

This Week: Bainbridge (5-2), At Nathan Hale (3-3)

2. Franklin (5-0) The Quakers remain unbeaten and continue to be dominating in the conference. They haven’t played the best competition but aren’t struggling against weak opponents. Besides Arell Hennings, another player that is stepping up for Franklin is Patrick Ball who has led the team in scoring these past couple games. Eugene Artison is another key player for Franklin that fans should keep their eye on. Franklin will remain unbeaten after this week.

This Week: Cleveland (1-5), O’Dea (3-1)

3. Seattle Prep (5-0) The Panthers did upset the No. 1 team in state and No. 5 team in the country but I still see Prep as the third best team in Metro. Looking at the stat sheet, DJ Fenner is the player that is controlling where this team goes. If Fenner doesn’t have a good game, the team fails. If he scores over half the team’s points it’s a win for Prep. Prep is team that has the capability of making a run, but in order to do so, more players need to start scoring in double figures and helping out Fenner. We’ll see how Prep plays in a hostile O’Dea environment on Tuesday.

This Week: At O’Dea (3-1), At (Brighton (Salt Lake City))

4. Lakeside (4-1) Lakeside continues to surprise people as they went 2-0 last week. Even though it was against weak competition, the Lions dominated. Tramaine Isabell is putting up solid numbers which many people expect, however his teammates are stepping up as well. D’Marques Tyson has scored in double figures the past two games and Isaiah Brown is another player who has contributed to this Lions team. We’ll see if the Lions are a contender this season when they face some tougher competition.

This Week: Eastside Catholic (3-2), Chief Sealth (5-1)

5. Eastside Catholic (3-2) The Crusaders move up to the 5^th spot this week because how well they have played against quality opponents. Eastside Catholic lost to Seattle Prep by 4 points and has competed in every game they’ve played in so far this season. Mandrell Worthy is the main scorer on this team averaging 20 points per game. Austin Soukup is a player to watch as he is probably one of the most dangerous three point shooters in the conference. Plus Bill Liley is a solid head coach who knows what it takes to win anywhere.

This Week: At Lakeside (4-1), At Bainbridge (5-2)

6. Chief Sealth (5-1)

This Week: At West Seattle (0-3), At Lakeside (4-1)

7. O’Dea (3-1)

This Week: Seattle Prep (5-0), At Franklin (5-0)

8. Nathan Hale (3-3)

This Week: Ingraham (1-5), Rainier Beach (3-1)

9. Bainbridge (5-2)

This Week: At Rainier Beach (3-1), Eastside Catholic (3-2)

10. West Seattle (0-3)

This Week: Chief Sealth (5-1), Seattle Lutheran (6-1)

11. Ingraham (1-5)

This Week: At Nathan Hale (3-3), Edmonds-Woodway (3-2)

12. Cleveland (1-5)

This Week: At Franklin (5-0), Bishop Blanchet (1-7)

13. Bishop Blanchet (1-7)

This Week: At Tyee (1-5), At Cleveland (1-5)

Game of the Week: Seattle Prep (5-0) at (3-1) O’Dea (UPSET ALERT): Tuesday December 18, 2012 7:30 p.m.

Both schools hate each other with a passion. O’Dea’s been known for having a very hostile environment and will definitely give the Irish an advantage. For O’Dea to win this game, they must contain DJ Fenner and limit him to less than 20 points. If the Irish do so, then they win the game. O’Dea has the advantage inside with Jacob Lampkin, but lack having an elite scorer. This will be a close one, but DJ Fenner will be too much for O’Dea as Prep escapes with the victory. Watch out for the Irish as they will be playing their hearts out on Tuesday night.

Prediction: Prep 54-51

--Evan Baron (Follow Me On Twitter @BaselineBaron09)

Metro Basketball Power Rankings: Week 2

2012-12-10T11:07:11+00:00

Photo Credit: USA Basketball

It’s that time of the year again, where high school gyms from all over the Seattle area have officially opened their doors to the return of high school basketball. SeaTown Sports once again is here to provide the solid coverage of the highly competitive and always entertaining Metro League.

The conference has taken a bit of a hit this year as many of highly rated players such as Anrio Adams, Sekou Wiggs, Jalen Ward and Mitch Brewe have moved on to next stage of their basketball careers.

Still this conference has the number one team in the state in Rainier Beach who added a 4 star rated player in Shaqquan Aaron from Woodland Hills, California. Also, Franklin is considered to be the number three team in state as well and we can’t forget the conference has one of the best players in the state in DJ Fenner from Seattle Prep. This conference will be as competitive as we have seen it before.

Player of the Week: DJ Fenner (Seattle Prep) G/F

Fenner earns player of the week because of the ridiculous amount of points he’s been putting up. The senior scored 34 points against Cleveland which isn’t a shocker, but the next game put up 32 points against 4A’s Bellarmine Prep. The Nevada commit has the ability to take over games and has improved his shooting which makes him even that more dangerous. Don’t be surprised if he earns player of the week honors next week too.

Runner ups: Marquis Davis (Rainier Beach), Mandrell Worthy (Eastside Catholic)

Power Rankings:

1. Rainier Beach (2-0): The defending state champion Rainier Beach Vikings are the team to beat this year. You would think the loss of Anrio Adams would affect this squad. But Adams aside, this team returns their whole squad from last year that won state. If you remember the 2012 state title game, this Vikings team played basically the entire game without Adams and ended up winning. It only gets better for Beach as they added one of the top players on the West Coast in Shaqquan Aaron. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings win their second straight state title this year.

This Week: At Chief Sealth (4-0), At Seattle Prep (4-0)

2. Franklin (4-0): The Quakers are the 3rd ranked team in the state to start the season and have a lot of talent on the floor. Point guard Arell Hennings, who can get to the basket with ease and also pass with efficiency, leads them. Hennings is averaging around 16 points per game this season. Another player to keep your eye on is Patrick Ball who helped lead the Quakers to the Metro Finals last season. Franklin’s undefeated so far because of the lack of talented teams they’ve played, but should be solid this season.

This Week: Ingraham (1-3), At Bainbridge (4-1)

3. Seattle Prep (4-0): The Panthers have lost a lot of talent from last year but still have DJ Fenner. When you have a player like Fenner who’s averaging over 25 points a game then you’ll have a chance. Not having a dominant post game like last year will hurt this team, but so far they are undefeated. As the competition gets tougher we’ll see if this team is the real deal. They’ll get that opportunity this Friday as they host the number one team in the state, Rainier Beach. They’ll also host a tough Eastside Catholic team earlier in the week.

This Week: At Eastside Catholic (2-1), Rainier Beach (2-0)

4. Lakeside (3-1) The Lions are team that could surprise some people this year with the amount of talent they have. Lakeside has one of the top players in the state in point guard Tramaine Isabell who has great court vision but is considered to be a scorer. If Lakeside wants to compete this year, Isabel must be the main factor. The Lions lost to Seattle Prep by two points but have easily won the rest of their games so far.

This Week: Ingraham (1-3), Eastside Catholic (2-1)

5. Chief Sealth (4-0) Are the Seahawks contenders this year? They are undefeated and did defeat Eastside Catholic, which is a quality win, but I’m also interested to see how this team matches up against teams like Franklin and Rainer Beach. Since they have an undefeated record they get the 5th spot for now, but with a tough schedule approaching that could change. The Seahawks’ main scorer is Bronte’ Corbray who’s averaging 20 points a game.

This Week: Rainier Beach (4-0), Cleveland (1-3)

6. Eastside Catholic (2-1)

This Week: Seattle Prep (4-0), Nathan Hale (2-2)

7. O’Dea (1-1)

This Week: Bishop Blanchet (0-4) twice

8. Nathan Hale (2-2)

This Week: At Cleveland (1-3), At Eastside Catholic (2-1)

9. Bainbridge (4-1)

This Week: West Seattle (0-2), Franklin (4-0)

10. Ingraham (1-3)

This Week: At Franklin (4-0), At Lakeside (3-1)

11. West Seattle (0-2)

This Week: At Bainbridge (4-1)

12. Cleveland (1-3)

This Week: Nathan Hale (2-2), At Chief Sealth (4-0)

13. Bishop Blanchet (0-4)

This Week: O’Dea (1-1) twice

Game of the Week: Rainier Beach (4-0) at Seattle Prep (4-0), Friday December 14, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

This will be a game you do not want to miss folks as nationally ranked Rainer Beach will travel to Seattle Prep and put their undefeated record on the line. DJ Fenner will get his points, but it’s a matter of who else will step up. Rainier Beach has too much talent not to win this game and I believe they take care of Prep easily.

Prediction: Rainier Beach 75-65

--Evan Baron (Follow me on twitter @BaselineBaron09)

Huskies Dominate, Get Dominated, Decide Winning Is More Fun 84-73 (OT)

2012-11-18T11:57:57+00:00

Initial (Over)Reactions

Washington fans got to see just about every side of the Husky's tonight. UW, despite playing only seven guys, finished with a gutsy 84-73 win in overtime against a streaky Big East foe. The Huskies raced out to a big lead with a 17-0 run in the first eight minutes, aided by 8 points and 2 assists by a very confident Abdul Gaddy during Washington outburst. UW continued their strong play and went into the half up 49-33. This was an incredible side of the Huskies. Washington was swarming defensively, jumping into the passing lanes and picking up 17 points off turnovers. Abdul Gaddy and Andrew Andrews looked very confident handling the ball. The confidence spread throughout the court on the offensive end, as Husky players were able to knock down jumpers and a run a reasonably effective high-post offense.

UW went into tentative and awkward mode in the second half. This allowed Seton Hall to attain a flow to their offense and resulted in the game being tied at 56 with nine minutes left. Romar called a timeout. A 16-point half-time lead had completely evaporated. The Pirates continued to momentum after the timeout by knocking down consecutive threes that put UW down six. Seton Hall kept that six point lead until only four minutes remained. Fans had effectively seen both sides of UW. The good, confident one and the tentative, awkward one. It is absolutely not a coincidence that Gaddy played confident in the first half and tentative in the second. Keep that in mind as the season goes on.

Washington found themselves down six in the last five minutes of a basketball game where they had previously been up by eighteen. The Huskies could have easily collapsed. They had no momentum. Seton Hall had been knocking down threes at a ridiculously efficient rate. UW did not give up. A Washington Husky team without a standout player found themselves in a horrible situation and responded in a big way. This is the kind of grit and toughness that Dawg fans fail to see early in the season. Overtime started strong, with Scott Suggs and Andrew Andrews knocking down three three-pointers. UW did not look back.

Woofs

Road Win Necessities: Things teams need to do on the road to win: start fast (check plus), knock down free throws (check plus), limit turnovers (half check). UW opened the game firing on all cylinders and went up 17-5. They ended up needing every one of those points late in the game.UW went 22-26 from the free throw line. Seton Hall went 7-15. This was the deciding factor in the game. The Dawgs got to line and converted, while Seton Hall found themselves outside the arc and not getting to the line in the first half. I cannot say enough about the Husky's free throw shooting tonight. Simply incredible. UW dominated the turnover battle in the first half and had 17 points off TOs. The second half was a complete role-reversal. No wonder the Pirates forced OT.

UW Frontcourt: I really, really like the length on the Husky's frontline. N'Diaye and Jarreau are a forced to be reckoned with on the defensive end and altered countless Pirates dribble-drive shots. Desmond Simmons came off the bench in fantastic fashion and added 14 points and 12 rebounds. Dez had two huge buckets for the Dawgs late in regulation and definitely seemed the most confident at the elbow of the high-post offense (despite his horrific travel which we will not talk about). These three combined for 30 points and 25 rebounds (6 of which were offensive) while going 12-15 from the line. UW out-rebounded a tall Seton Hall team 35-27 and the three-headed front-court monster was the reason for this.

Late Game Toughness: Wow. I did not expect to see this from the Huskies. Losing a lead, having zero momentum and being down six with under five minutes remaining is normally a lost cause for the Dawgs. Hell, UW tends to struggle in games where they aren't even losing by more than three (see: Albany). This will be a big-time confidence booster for Washington and will definitely pay dividends as the season progresses.

Abdul Gaddy aka The X-Factor
Any Husky fans that had any doubt that this team goes as far as Abdul Gaddy takes them have now been proven wrong. This game will be a microcosm of the season. Gaddy played the kind of basketball that made him the #2 point guard in the country coming out of high school for the first twenty minutes. UW found themselves up 16.

Gaddy had 14 points and 5 assists at the break. Abdul did not score or have an assist in the second half. This team needs him to run a fluid half-court offense.

Meanwhile, Andrew Andrews finished with 8 points and 2 assists in 24 minutes. I can't understate how helpful it is for the Huskies to have two primary ball-handlers that can play together. Andrews will be a large help to Gaddy as the season goes on.

Whimpers

Assist to Turnover Ratio: This is becoming a common theme. 10 assists to 16 turnovers. Scott Suggs lead the way with five turnovers, which inevitably lead to him finding a seat on the bench for a hefty portion of the second half. At the beginning of the season I wanted to see UW had a 3:2 to 5:2 ratio, though that is a very lofty goal for any team. Now, I will settle for a 1:1 ratio. UW has not done this to date.

The Entire Second Half: This is pretty self-explanatory. The Huskies did almost everything in their power to lose this game, including Simmons' travel that gave Seton Hall a chance to win the game. Seton Hall made half-time adjustments. These adjustments were effective. UW did not change its' game plan. It was like watching a bird continuously fly into a glass window. Just stop, bird. It's painful to watch.

Finishing Thoughts

Washington had a huge bounce back win today. Looking back on it, if the Huskies lost they would have fallen to 1-2 before facing a tough Rhode Island squad that could have potentially put them at 1-3. This is a nice win to have. Any win on the east coast against a Big East team is a solid win. Honestly, all I can think about is upsetting Ohio State tomorrow. BOW DOWN.

Next Game

UW vs #4 Ohio State. Sunday, November 18th. 1:30 P.M. PST. Mohegan Sun Arena.

Preview: Dawgs Travel East To Face Seton Hall

2012-11-18T03:18:14+00:00

The Basics

4:30 P.M. PST. ESPN3. Mohegun Sun Arena. Naismith Hall of Fame Tip-Off.

Washington Huskies (1-1; 0-0) Seton Hall Pirates (2-0; 0-0)

G	Abdul Gaddy	6'3	G	Tom Mayaan	6’1
G	Andrew Andrews*	6'2	G/F	Brian Oliver	6'6
G	C.J. Wilcox	6'5	G/F	Fuquan Edwin	6'6
F	Jernard Jarreau	6'10	F	Brandon Mobley	6'9
C	Aziz N'Diaye	7'0	C	Gene Teague	6'9

*Andrews is projected to start. Don't be surprised to see Simmons get a SF start and bump Wilcox to SG.

Ideas

This is a "home" game for UW. Ha. Nothing is a home game for the Huskies outside of Alaska Airlines Arena. Nothing is even a neutral game for the Huskies outside of Seattle. This game is being played in Connecticut. Thus, I will now refer to this as the first Washington road game.

The Dawgs have an extremely shaky start to their 2012-2013 campaign. Yes, this was supposed to be a down year for UW. No, this was not supposed to result in a loss at home to Albany. The Huskies have a large chance to redeem themselves against Seton Hall this afternoon. The Pirates are 2-0 and are coming off a 21-13 season in a tough Big East. ESPN is the carrier for this game, meaning that people will watch. Seton Hall is a Big East team, meaning that people will care. These "people" of course, are people that do not reside in the upper left corner of the United States. UW has a chance to show the country that they are not a bad basketball team, unless they are, in fact, a bad basketball team. Today definitely won't be fun under that circumstance.

Breaking Down The Seton Hall Pirates

The Pirates are sitting at 2-0, with a massive victory over the University of Missouri-Kansas City and and double digit win against Norfolk State. Seton Hall is lead by Fuquan Edwin, a 6'6 junior out of Paterson, New Jersey. Edwin is averaging 19.5 points, 7 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game. Gene Teague, a 6'9 junior center, is averaging 15 points and 9 boards.

As a team, the Pirates are averaging nearly 77 points a game while taking 22 threes per game. Kyle Smith is the team's third leading scorer, as he is averaging 8.5 points while getting 25 minutes off the bench. Smith, a senior, is not afraid to shoot the three, going 5-7 from three this year and was a 33% shooter from beyond the arc last season.

The biggest element for the Pirates is their height. Clearly they bring a tall starting lineup to the table, with only one man under 6'6. This may effect the Huskies strategy as well as their starting lineup as Scott Suggs will not be playing today following the hit he took against Albany. Look for UW to give Desmond Simmons and Martin

Breunig a decent amount of minutes off the bench, at the 3 and the 4, to contend with the Pirates' lineup and keep them off the glass. Seton Hall has a +29 rebound differential in just two games this season.

Keys To The Game
Fast Start: UW sucks on the road. This is something we, as rational fans, must accept. The key to eliminating road woes is to come out of the gates with passion and not allow the team to be deflated if the opposition comes out firing (see: Saint Louis). Washington is in dire need of a win and this requires energy. Seton Hall has not seen a team as athletic or fast as UW this season and it is necessary for the Dawgs to use that to their advantage from the opening tip.

Aziz N'Diaye: Aziz will have his hands full on the glass tonight as he will be surrounded by 6'6+ Pirates who are very ready to crash the boards. N'Diaye will also need to log a lot of minutes and stay out of foul trouble, as UW is stretched thin without Kemp and Suggs. Teague's 6'9 290lb frame is simply too large for Jarreau to handle.

Half-Court Offense: This is a key every game. Playing in the half-court against a long and athletic defense will be a nightmare if UW doesn't get their act together. It would be pretty cool to see multiple people moving without the ball.

Turnovers: Limiting turnovers is a necessity on the road. Gaddy and Andrews will need to be patient against a long and active Seton Hall defense averaging nine steals per game. On the flip side, the Pirate have given up the ball an average of sixteen times per game despite their easy wins.

Prediction

I have no idea. The Huskies could be hungry for a bounce-back win. The Pirates are a 2-0 team that is playing with some confidence. UW will be on the road, meaning that they will inevitably struggle. This game will be a nail-biter. Washington will not be able to handle Seton Hall if the Pirates keep the Huskies confined to a half-court offense. Pirates 74-67.

Albany Embarrasses Romar, Neuters Huskies 63-62

2012-11-15T00:48:34+00:00

Initial (Over)Reactions

I feel sick. Anyone who cares about the University of Washington men's basketball program should feel sick. This was Albany's first victory over a BCS conference team since they moved to D-1 in 2000. I'm going to attempt to write something coherent, but it is extremely difficult to describe my frustration and put all of UW's struggles into words.

Alaska Airlines Arena was flat tonight. Sub-par student section. Sub-par non-student section. Within five minutes of the game Scott Suggs went down. Hard. Suggs took an elbow to the side of the head while running back on defense (I see absolutely zero reason why the elbow went up in the air and am still baffled as to why nobody seems to be talking about this action) and, while falling, took a knee straight to the back of the head. Suggs laid motionless for around ten seconds before attempting to get up. He almost lost his balance while standing up and proceeded to take two steps in completely opposite directions before being helped off the floor. If there was anyone interested in being especially loud before the injury, they certainly were no longer interested following the blows to the head. I would like to say that UW should be viewed as a team that protects its' home court. A home court is not a home court when the crowd provides minimal momentum to a game. The fans in Alaska Airlines Arena seem to wait for the players to do something before getting excited, whereas fans are loud and proud from the get-go at schools such as Gonzaga and New Mexico. On to the game itself.

The Huskies' offense had absolutely zero flow in the first half. As did the game in general. There were 38 fouls when all was said and done. The offense seemed completely lost in the half-court and it did not help that C.J. Wilcox was not hitting any bail-out jumpers, as he missed his first six shots. The offense looked like the offense last year. Let me remind you, the offense last year was horrific. Wroten and Ross are no longer here to attempt to disguise UW's half-court set, which essentially consists of two guys moving around, one or two guys setting pathetic screens and the rest of the team just standing around. I can genuinely say that I have no idea what Romar wants this offense to look like in a half-court set. The Dawgs are still viewed as being somewhat decent on offense and that is because of their ability to play at a high tempo. Having the ability to play at a high tempo and playing a high tempo are two completely different things. UW allowed a poor mid-major team to come on their home floor and dictate the pace. Disgusting.

Disgusting also does a great job of describing how the Huskies' defense played tonight. Whether it was Mike Black having a free-for-all off of screens or Jacob Iati actually moving without the ball and freeing himself up for catch and shoot opportunities, UW could not stop the Great Danes' offense. This stems from the issue I brought up following the Loyola game: Washington struggles to defend off the dribble. This was my single biggest issue with the game: UW guards had a hard time blowing by defenders, while Albany guards seemed to regularly get into the lane and produce easy shots.

Woofs

There was nothing positive about this game. Perhaps it will be a wake up call and a learning experience, but it seems like this team had enough motivation as the defending conference champ and still being picked to finish in the middle of the conference.

Abdul Gaddy aka The X-Factor

Gaddy finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 turnovers. A senior starting point guard cannot be posting a negative A:T ratio, let alone turn the ball over six times in one game. Turnovers aside, it is clear that Abdul is beginning to recognize that he has to be a scorer for this team. Gaddy's shot looks noticeably better, as he went 2-5 from beyond the arc. It is time for Abdul to find a balance between being aggressive when looking to score and being aggressive when looking to be a playmaker.

Interesting Point Guard Note: Andrew Andrews went 7-9 from the line. He now has 19 FT attempts in two games. More importantly, he actually knocks them down. I will not allow a "Woof" for this game, but this is certainly not a bad thing.

Whimpers

Romar's Game Plan: "I take full responsibility for what just happened" - Romar. Damn straight he should. Did the coaching staff even make an attempt to scout Albany? Even I could have created a better game plan simply from twenty minutes of researching the Grey Hounds for a game preview. It's simply baffling that Wilcox and Gaddy did not post up more than twice when Washington's starting guards had a combined ten inches on the opposing guards. Wilcox found himself with a post up opportunity once in the first half and got a very easy, three foot turnaround. C.J. missed the bank, but it was clear that he would able to get that shot off on every possession. I did not see him on the block for the rest of the game. We should also note that Aziz N'Diaye was not on the floor for Albany's final offensive possession. A first team all Pac-12 defensive player was not on the floor when defensive was at an absolute premium. Yes, UW decided to switch on all screens during that possession. Why not hedge with N'Diaye? An outside shot is a much better way to lose than a layup. These are just a few blatantly obvious examples of the poor coaching. It is clear that Romar is not a decent Xs and Os guy, but tonight's display was very far below your average D-1 coach. It is also clear that Albany actually gave a damn about scouting its' opponent, while the UW coaching staff must have been looking forward to facing Seton Hall on Saturday.

Defense: Up-tempo offense starts on the defensive end. UW has a history of high ball-pressure and jumping the passing lanes. It's difficult to have high ball-pressure when the defenders are getting beat off the dribble and Romar is afraid to hedge and trap screens when he needs to most (see: Albany's last possession). Not being able to get out in transition means that a basketball team must have a decent half-court offense in order to be successful. Washington is far from having a decent half-court offense. This is a very serious problem that will plague the Huskies if it is not addressed.

Free Throw Shooting: Aziz went back to his old self, going 3-10 from the line and missing consecutive free throws with the Dawgs down one in the final minute. N'Diaye should not be touching the ball in that situation in the first place, but that is beside the point. The Huskies went 15-26 from the line, meaning they went 12-16 when N'Diaye is not factored into the equation. A glaring name was omitted from the free throw statistic. That name is C.J. Wilcox. He has not had a free throw attempt this season. Let's hope that this is not Terrence Ross 2.0, as Wilcox will most likely be leading this team in scoring.

Assist/Turnover Ratio: 10:15. It's pretty hard to win when your starting point guard has six turnovers. It's even harder when your starting unit had just five assists to thirteen turnovers. What's shocking is that this is the least of UW's worries.

Finishing Thoughts

Everyone involved with the basketball program should be embarrassed. This was Albany's first victory over a BCS team since joining D-1 hoops and the worst part about it is that Washington genuinely deserved to lose this game. Albany got easier shots, resulting from a more successful offensive game plan and a better disciplined defense. The Huskies travel to Connecticut to face Seton Hall on Saturday and they will get run out of the gym if their play is even remotely similar to how it was tonight. Final thought: this is the kind of loss that will kill a team's resume come tournament time, assuming UW will make any sort of run throughout this season.

Next Game

UW vs Seton Hall. Saturday, November 17th. 4:30 P.M. PST. Mohegan Sun Arena

Huskies Host Albany In Season's Second Game

2012-11-14T07:28:31+00:00

The Basics
6:30 P.M. PST. Pac-12 Network. Alaska Airlines Arena

Ideas

Loyola of Maryland's mascot is the Greyhounds. Albany's mascot is the Great Danes. Man, there have been a lot of dogs in Seattle recently. Also, Albany's mascot is a dog (clearly) and their colors are purple in gold. Coincidence? I THINK NOT. The University of Albany wants to steal the University of Washington's identity. This game just became that much more important. There are simply too many story-lines tonight folks.

Breaking Down The University of Albany Great Danes

Albany finished 9-7 last year in a very mediocre America East conference and 19-15 overall. They are 1-1 this year, with a 3 point victory over Duquense at home and a 22 point loss to #4 Ohio State on the road. The Great Danes are averaging 64.5 points per game and are shooting 20.5 threes per game. It's always essential to look at how teams shoot from beyond the arc because South Dakota State happened last season. Albany is 13-41 from beyond the arc this year and uh, yeah, that's pretty average.

6'0 senior guard Mike Black has lead the way for Albany this season with 17.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Black and 5'10 senior guard Jacob Iati have combined to go 8-21 from three this season, which is much more interesting than the team shooting statistics as a whole. The Great Danes also start a 6'10 junior center, John Puk, who is averaging 9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

It will be vital for the tall UW guards to exploit Albany's extremely small backcourt, as both of the starting guards for the Great Danes are eligible to compete in your local 6'0 and under league. After the Loyola game, I am very interested in seeing how the Dawgs handle Albany's small and quick guard play.

Prediction

Albany will not be overwhelmed tonight, as they have already traveled to face a very tough Ohio State team. This does not change the fact that UW's strength is in their guard play. These Husky guards are fairly tall by guard standards. Albany's guards are very short by guard standards. This won't decide the game, but definitely look for Abdul Gaddy, C.J. Wilcox and Andrew Andrews to be aggressive off the dribble. Washington cruises 84-60.

At The Bye Week: Analyzing The Seahawks First Ten Games

2012-11-13T10:41:52+00:00

Somehow, the Seahawks only have six games remaining in the regular season. Is it just me, or does the NFL season go by faster and faster with each passing year? Nonetheless, Seattle is 6-4, and holds the 6th and final playoff spot in the NFC. So how did they get to this point? Let's take a position-by-position look at the team.

Quarterback: Russell Wilson has steadily improved his play and barring injury, he will be the Seahawks starter the rest of the way. In the first few games, the playcalling was way too conservative, leading some to believe if Wilson was the right choice at QB. The coaching staff eventually loosened the reins, and since then Wilson has been efficient. Wilson has 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions in the past five games. His mobility has always been there, but recently his ability to step up in the pocket and find throwing lanes down the middle has been great to watch. This added element makes him a threat in and out of the pocket. Moving forward, this seems to be another genius draft pick from the front office. Grade: B

Running Backs: Marshawn Lynch has continued to be a force in the backfield, rushing for 100+ yards in four straight games. With his performance against the Jets, Lynch surpassed 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season. Just a couple seasons ago, the Seahawks running game was in shambles. But, Lynch has changed that entirely. Credit also has to be given to Tom Cable and the offensive line, but Lynch's physical, never say die running style is a sight to behold. Grade: A

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: Seattle has yet to have a 100+ yard receiving day from this unit, but that does not mean they haven't been effective. At long last, Sidney Rice has emerged as the number one receiver. He has developed some nice chemistry with Wilson, and the past two games against the Vikings and Jets have been arguably his two best as a member of the Seahawks. He is starting to show that his couple good seasons with the Vikings were no fluke. Golden Tate continues to be inconsistent, but his sheer athleticism makes him a viable number two option at wide receiver. Wilson's ability to throw an accurate deep ball plays well into Tate's skillset. His TD catch against the Jets on Sunday is evidence, and moving forward, expect to see more of this from Tate. Doug Baldwin continues to be plagued by injuries, but if he can return in the final six games, could provide a boost in the slot, a position that is much more valuable when there are two impact wide receivers on the outside. Zach Miller has quietly become the third leading receiver in terms of yardage on the team. But the Seahawks signed him to that sizable contract expecting more from him in the redzone. Grade: B

Offensive Line: Russell Okung has had trouble with penalties this season, but fans and the team alike should still be pleased with his performance. Opposing defenses have yet to register a sack when rushing from that end. This is exactly why Seattle used their 6th pick on him a few seasons back. Left tackle is such an important position in any level of football, and this season, Okung has protected Wilson's blindside perfectly. Max Unger continues to be an underrated player on this offensive line. His ability to read coverage, deliver accurate snaps, and block up the middle make him a Pro Bowl caliber center. It goes without saying that Breno Giacomini has had a problem with penalties. But if he can keep his personal fouls in check, has he really been that bad otherwise? The rotating unit at right guard is a bit of a concern, but expect John Moffitt to eventually take over that role full time. In the run game, they've been great as a whole, allowing Lynch to surpass 1,000 yards with six games left to play. Penalties are the only thing that prevent this unit from being great. Grade: B

Defensive Line: Bruce Irvin, yes Bruce Irvin, is tied for the team lead in sacks. After a slow start, he has found his groove and is starting to prove his worth as a first round selection. His coming out party against Carolina and Cam Newton really kickstarted his season. Contractual issues left Chris Clemons out of much of the offseason workouts, and he's never really put together a strong game from start to finish this season. Yet, he's tied with Irvin as the sacks leader. He's going to be fine. In the middle, Red Bryant and Brandon Mebane are as advertised and show no signs of letting up. Yes, they've let up some rushing yards recently. Don't expect that to continue. Grade: A-

Linebackers: Bobby Wagner, yes Bobby Wagner, leads the team in tackles, and it's not close. He's proven to be a steal as a second round pick, and has embraced the leadership and signal calling role on this young, athletic defense. It's nice to know the middle linebacker position will be locked up for years to come. Prior to his concussion, K.J. Wright was effective at strong side linebacker. After the bye week, Carroll expects to have him back in the starting lineup. Leroy Hill, one of the final members of the Seahawks Super Bowl roster, has provided a veteran presence at weak side linebacker. With all of these playmakers on defense, Hill hasn't been asked to do too much, and they don't need him to. Grade: B+

Secondary: Richard Sherman? Check. Brandon Browner? Check. Kam Chancellor? Check. Earl Thomas? Check. Grade: A

Special Teams: Jon Ryan and Steven Hauschka were both released by the Packers and Broncos respectively. They've both proven to be effective at positions built around consistency. Ryan averages 49 yards per punt and Hauschka is perfect in field goal attempts from 49 yards or less. Leon Washington has been frustrating at times in the return game, but the team has to keep him in there for his big play ability. Grade: A-

Coaches: Pete Carroll and Darrell Bevell were criticized early in the season for their conservative play calling on offense. Now that they've let Wilson open things up in the passing game, this unit has proven to be much more effective. Tom Cable has orchestrated a great run game, and on defense, Gus Bradley is showing why many consider him to be a future NFL head coach. Grade: B+

As it stands, 10-6 appears to be the magic record for a playoff berth in the NFC. At 6-4, the Seahawks would have to go 4-2 in their final six games, which are as follows: at Miami, at Chicago, vs. Arizona, at Buffalo (in Toronto), vs. San Francisco, vs. St. Louis. Are there four wins in there? Certainly. But playoffs or not, the Seattle Seahawks appear to be a team poised for continuous success for the rest of the decade.

Huskies Turn It On In Second Half To Beat Loyola (MD) 85-63

2012-11-13T07:51:47+00:00

Editor's Note: We are pleased to have Riley Peschon of "Welcome to Romarville" back for Huskies basketball coverage again this season. Be sure to check out his site as well for tons of UW content: welcometoromarville.blogspot.com

Initial (Over)Reactions
The first half of this basketball game was god-awful. I only watched the first half of this basketball game. Sigh. This is what happens when sports coincide with school. The Huskies turned the ball over 11 times and had just three assists on 12 baskets in the opening 20 minutes of their 2012-2013 campaign. Great way to start the season? No. Somehow the Dawgs were up two at half-time, despite Loyola guards being able to simply waltz to the hoop for layups against one-on-one defense on multiple occasions. This is what happens when I only watch one half! Apparently the second half kicked ass, so really I shouldn't be judging anyone or anything!

Woofs

Aziz N'Diaye: Aziz had nine rebounds in the first half and finished with 10 points and 16 boards along with 3 blocks. Honestly, this was expected. Loyola had minimal height and, if you haven't noticed, Aziz is a giant. Here is why N'Diaye exceeded expectations: 4-6 from the free-throw line. These weren't bank free throws either, Aziz had both good form and good arc on his shots. I can't believe I just wrote that sentence. Moving on.
Free Throw Shooting: The Dawgs' achilles heel has been free throw shooting. Last night, UW went 22-30 from the line. This was without Suggs or Wilcox (seemingly the Huskies' best FT shooters) getting to the stripe (more on this later). Montlake has not seen a competent free-throw shooting team in quite a few years, so cheers to this!
Backcourt Play: It's safe to say that Washington's season will not rest on the shoulders of the big men. Abdul Gaddy, C.J. Wilcox and Scott Suggs will need to play at a high-level for this team to contend in the upper third of the Pac-12. This was obvious. Let's add Andrew Andrews to this mix. Andrews was ridiculously active on both ends of the court, playing Venoyance-esque defense and non-stop attacking the basket with the ball. Andrews finished 7-10 from the free-throw line. Wilcox has superstar potential and we all know it. #23 finished with 22 points on 9-13 shooting and 6 rebounds. He is filling the Ross gap quite nicely. Suggs finished with 15 points, 3 assists and 3 boards despite getting in early foul trouble and only playing 22 minutes. The two dynamic wing players went 5-6 from beyond the arc in the second half and played a major role in putting the game out of reach. #15 and #23 need to be more aggressive with driving to the hoop and getting fouled, but when they are hitting shots from the outside it is hard to complain. As for Gaddy, he gets his own category...

Abdul Gaddy aka The X-Factor

Abdul Gaddy: The senior point guard will be a microcosm of the Washington Huskies during the 2012-2013 season. UW will go as far as Gaddy takes them. Read those last two sentences. Read them again. If you have been following this team over the last four seasons you will know exactly why I am labeling Gaddy as such. #0 finished with 17 points and went 4-4 from the line. Abdul attacked the basket on multiple occasions. These are great things to read and write. The 6'3 point guard has insane handles and finishing skills along with his height, meaning he has no excuse to simply dribble around outside of the three-point line. Meanwhile, he had two assists. UW has never been short on scorers and even without a superstar this season, Romar's squad still has Suggs and Wilcox to put the ball in the basket. Gaddy needs to take initiative on offense and he needs to distribute more than he did tonight. Plain and simple. Aggressive drives lead to acrobatic layups that #0 is capable of finishing, but more often than not these drives should lead to kick-out opportunities for shooters.

Whimpers

Assist/Turnover Ratio: UW had a 3:11 assist-to-turnover ratio in the first half and outscored Loyola by two. UW had a 9:1 assist-to-turnover ratio in the second half and outscored Loyola by twenty. This shouldn't be too difficult to figure out. While a 9:1 ratio is not realistic, the Huskies should aim for something between a 3:2 and 5:2. Andrews and Gaddy are both very good ball distributers. Nobody would know this based on last night's performance. With the aggressiveness they both showed in getting to the basket, it will be pivotal for shooters (i.e. Suggs, Wilcox) to move without the ball and create space for kick-outs.
One-on-One Defense: This is purely subjective (then again, most of these words are) and based off of the first half. Loyola had at least four layups on blow-byes in a span of five minutes. Bottom line, nobody on Loyola should be that much quicker or more athletic than UW's defenders. From what I'm hearing and reading, UW locked down in the second half. So that's good.

Finishing Thoughts
Regardless of my opinion (or anyone's for that matter) on the first half, this was a very positive opening game for UW. The Huskies played a solid mid-major, nothing special, but a team that they could certainly lose to under certain circumstances. Washington faced adversity with Suggs in foul trouble in a back-and-forth first half and still managed to close the game with a comfortable margin of victory. Closing talent is something the Dawgs generally take a month or two to perfect and last night we saw it. In the season opener. This is good. Really good. Bow down.

Next Game
UW vs Albany. Tuesday, November 13th. 6:30 P.M. Alaska Airlines Arena

On to the Next One: Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake

2012-11-09T09:00:00+00:00

Finally, Seattle has its chance to shine. After three seasons of being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round the Sounders have made it to the Western Conference Finals after defeating Real Salt Lake 1-0 in last night’s second leg of the Western Conference semi-finals. The match was a nail biter but well worth the stress.

From the very start of the match it was clear the game was going to be a physical affair. Both teams exchanged heavy tackles but fortunately no early cards were shown. Both sides were evenly matched in the first half as each defense stifled any attacks that came their way. In addition, both Salt Lake and Seattle were without their major playmakers; Seattle was without Rosales and until mid-way through the second half Salt Lake did not play Espindola. Seattle had the best chance of the first half when Mario Martinez blasted a free kick which Nick Rimando parried onto the crossbar by his fingertips.

The second half was a livelier, albeit still tense, showcase. Real Salt Lake gained control of the run of play when Fabian Espindola was introduced midway through the half. It seemed as though Seattle would be the one to break but Michael Gspurning stood tall and came up with some vital saves that prevented a Salt Lake break through. The deadlock did break in the 81^st minute as a result of Real Salt Lake’s narrow defense and some Sounders brilliance. Sigi Schmid stated pre-game that Real’s weakness was a defense that has the tendency to narrow and collapse when pressured wide. The Sounders took advantage of this as Brad Evans played a wide pass to Fredy Montero who lofted a lovely cross to a waiting Mario Martinez who half volleyed the ball inside the far post past Nick Rimando. And with that one exquisite goal, Seattle was through to the Western Conference Finals.

Sunday, the Sounders will look to create the same magic again as they face a hot LA Galaxy squad looking to repeat as MLS Cup holders. It will surely be another intense meeting but that is all the better for Sounders fans who live for the big moments.

Even Flow: Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake

2012-11-08T06:36:03+00:00

The first leg of MLS playoffs always tends to be a tense venture and last night’s match up between Seattle and Salt Lake was no exception. Both teams displayed expert defensive prowess and as a result the match ended in a 0-0 draw. But the game was by no means void of action.

The action got off to a fast start in the 23^rd minute as Nate Grabavoy dashed towards the top of Seattle’s eighteen yard box where he met an onrushing Michael Gspurning who made a spectacular sliding save. Both keepers were kept busy as the Sounders peppered Salt Lake’s Nick Rimando with shot after shot. Rimando finished the match with one of the most sound performances by a keeper in MLS this season, and Gspurning matched him save for save.

Offensively both teams were more than present. Seattle and Salt Lake each tallied shots into the double digits. In the 33^rd minute Sammy Ochoa and Jon Kennedy Hurtado nearly broke through for the Sounders as both snapped headers onto Real’s goal frame off of a corner, but both efforts were thwarted by Rimando. Christian Tiffert also nearly headed in a goal in the 51^st minute but was also denied.

Everything now hangs in the balance as Seattle travels to Salt Lake City for the second leg which will be played on Thursday. Seattle coach Sigi Schmid is confident as he was pleased with Seattle’s effort in the first leg saying, “now we just have to go to Salt Lake and do well.”

Metro Division Football Power Rankings: Week 8

2012-10-24T08:00:00+00:00

After both cruising through their Metro schedules with undefeated records, Nathan Hale and Eastside Catholic meet in the Metro championship game Friday night. With blowouts of Bainbridge and Lakeside respectively, O’Dea and Seattle Prep take on Rainier Beach and Chief Sealth in the other high profile crossover games.

Look for power rankings and predictions after the jump.

Power Rankings

Metro Mountain

(Last Week’s Ranking, Current Record)

1. Eastside Catholic (1, 8-0) Beat Blanchet 49-14

With an easy victory over Blanchet, Eastside Catholic wrapped up the Metro Mountain title and will play Nathan Hale for the Metro championship. The Crusaders have had an incredible season, and should figure to make a deep State tournament run.

2. O’Dea (2, 6-2) Beat Bainbridge 37-3

Despite a 6-2 record, the Irish will be disappointed that they were not able to finish on top of their division. Were it not for Tatum Taylor’s injury in the Eastside game, we could be talking about the continued dominance of O’Dea but instead they finish number two.

3. Seattle Prep (3, 4-4) Beat Lakeside 34-9

After a slow start last Thursday against the Lions, Prep dominated the second half, outscoring Lakeside 27-0 enroute to a blowout victory. Prep, winners of three straight, could be a dangerous team in the playoffs, as many wrote them off earlier in the season.

4. Blanchet (4, 4-4) Lost to Eastside Catholic 49-14

Blanchet has now lost four straight games and is struggling to find answers. A once promising season is now headed down the drain with a winless performance in Metro play.

5. Bainbridge (5, 3-5) Lost to O’Dea 37-3

Apart from their victory against Blanchet, Bainbridge has had few bright spots this season as they sorely missed the explosive playmaking of Chris Bell that they had last year.

Metro Sound

1. Nathan Hale (1, 7-1) Beat West Seattle 36-13

Nathan Hale capped an undefeated Metro season with a dominating performance over West Seatle. The Metro championship against Eastside Catholic will be a true test to determine whether or not this team can play with the heavyweights of 3A football.

2. Rainier Beach (2, 5-3) Beat Cleveland 58-0

Were it not for a one point loss to Nathan Hale earlier in the season, it would be Rainier Beach on top of the Metro Sound. But as it is, the Vikings must settle for second and a tough crossover game with O’Dea.

3. Chief Sealth (3, 4-4) Lost to Ingraham 39-34

Chief Sealth has been an enigma this year. One week they beat West Seattle unexpectedly and look like a team that could be dangerous, then the next week they lose to previously winless Ingraham. The only thing that is for certain is that they will have a very hard time keeping up with Seattle Prep on Friday.

4. West Seattle (4, 4-4) Lost to Nathan Hale 36-13

An up and down Metro season for West Seattle ended with a predictable defeat at the hands of the class of the Sound division. This week’s crossover matchup against Bainbridge should be interesting to see if West Seattle can play with the weaker Mountain teams.

5. Cleveland (5, 2-5) Lost to Rainier Beach 58-0

The Eagles ended anther woeful season with another woeful performance. 58-0 is just about as lopsided as it gets.

6 (Tie). Franklin(6, 1-7) Lost to Lindbergh 49-0 and Ingraham(7, 1-7) Beat Chief Sealth 39-34

Franklin and Ingraham each end with one victory apiece and although Franklin beat Ingraham, they finish tied for last in the power rankings because the Rams victory over Chief Sealth was far more impressive.

Predictions

Eastside Catholic vs. Nathan Hale

Despite a very good season from Nathan Hale, Eastside Catholic’s offense is too over powering. Crusaders win the Metro crown. EC 42, Hale 21

O’Dea vs. Rainier Beach

This game will be closer than expected, but O’Dea’s size up front will ultimately make the difference. O’Dea 35, Beach 28

Seattle Prep vs. Chief Sealth

After Sealth’s dismal loss against Ingraham, the Seahawks lack any sort of momentum. Seattle Prep should win this easily. Prep 48, Sealth 14

A Sports Arena Made Of Butter? Darigold Partners With Renowned Sculptor

2012-10-23T22:43:02+00:00

Photo Credit: Darigold/Linda Christensen/Duo PR

Darigold and renowned butter sculptor Linda Christensen have partnered to create a sculpture of what the potential new Seattle sports arena might look like. A 110-pound block of butter was the canvas. Christensen has been in the business for over 40 years. The local dairy company wanted to commemorate the arena proposal getting approved by the Seattle and King County councils last week.

The sculpture is in the shape of a half basketball. Christensen worked on the project at Darigold's South Seattle headquarters. Darigold senior product manager Seth Godwin emphasized the importance of the arena proposal being approved. "Of course, we don’t know what the actual arena will eventually look like or where it might be, and certainly there is still a long way to go to get there, but this is a golden moment for the city, and we at Darigold wanted to commemorate it by putting our imaginations – and our butter – to work,” Godwin said. “The rendering is our interpretation of the perfect arena that will welcome Seattle’s new sports teams, made from perfect butter.”

Metro Division Football Power Rankings: Week 7

2012-10-18T03:48:13+00:00

Photo Credit: Alex Gallant/SeaTown Sports

And just like that O’Dea’s reign over Metro Mountain has ended. In a statement victory, Eastside Catholic showed the Irish that they are top dog this year. In the Sound, Nathan Hale secured their spot in the Metro championship game with an easy victory over Ingraham. Seattle Prep won its second consecutive game over rival Blanchet who have now dropped three straight.

Power Rankings come after the jump.

Power Rankings

(Last Week’s Ranking, Overall Record)

Metro Mountain

1. Eastside Catholic (1, 7-0) Beat O’Dea 35-21

With an impressive performance against reigning Metro Champions O’Dea, Eastside Catholic proved that they are the new team to beat in the Metro Mountain division. By forcing turnovers and controlling the tempo on offense, the Crusaders were able to defeat the Irish and clinch a spot in the Metro Championship game.

2. O’Dea (2, 5-2) Lost to Eastside Catholic 35-21

The Irish had no answers for Eastside Catholic. After a 14-14 first half, two third quarter defensive touchdowns from the Crusaders put EC ahead and the Irish could not close the deficit. Despite the loss, and the loss of the Metro Mountain crown, the season is not over for the Irish. This is still a top-ten team that will be very dangerous come State. But the injury to Tatum Taylor will be one to monitor.

3. Seattle Prep (4, 3-4) Beat Blanchet 23-21

In the past two games, the Panthers have come alive. Offensively, Tere Calloway leads the charge, while sackmaster Perry Stout has been a defensive standout. Five fumbles and other fundamental mistakes were the only things that kept the game against Blanchet close. Were it not for those lapses, this score would’ve been much more lopsided as the Panthers gained over 550 yards on the ground.

4. Blanchet (3, 4-3) Lost to Seattle Prep 23-21

After a 4-0 start, Blanchet is winless in Metro play. The Braves were badly outplayed last Saturday but were able to hang around because of questionable officiating and Seattle Prep’s mental errors. A once promising season appears now to be headed down the all too familiar drain for Blanchet fans. Their fortunes will not likely improve this week as they take on Eastside Catholic.

5. Bainbridge (5, 3-4) Beat Hazen 21-20

Bainbridge got another out of conference win last week against Hazen, but they have struggled to get results against Metro teams apart from Blanchet. Look for the Spartans to struggle once again against an angry O’Dea team.

Metro Sound

1. Nathan Hale (1, 6-1) Beat Ingraham 49-7

The Raiders cruised once again, obliterating the hapless Ingraham Rams. With one final matchup against West Seattle, Hale has clinched the Metro Sound championship and will take on Eastside Catholic. It will be critical for Nathan Hale not to look over the Wildcats though, as West Seattle will be battling for Metro seeding.

2. Rainier Beach (2, 4-3) Beat Franklin

Beach won yet again, but they needed a Nathan Hale loss to have a chance at the Metro Sound championship. For yet another season, the Vikings have underperformed and underwhelmed with their wealth of athleticism and talent.

3. Chief Sealth (4, 4-3) Beat West Seattle 19-15

Sealth pulled another upset with a 19-15 victory over West Seattle. With wins over the Wildcats, Cleveland, Franklin and Evergreen, this is easily the best Chief Sealth team in the past few years.

4. West Seattle (3, 4-3) Lost to Chief Sealth 19-15

The Wildcats have been woefully inconsistent this season. After destroying Ingraham the previous week, they were beaten by a Chief Sealth team that should not have given them very much trouble. In the end Sealth pulls ahead of West Seattle in the standings and exposes West Seattle as a pretender rather than contender.

5. Cleveland (5, 2-4) Lost to Lakeside 52-0

It’s hard to imagine Cleveland losing to Lakeside 52-0 and still keeping their spot in the power ranking, but because they have a better record than Franklin and Ingraham they stay at number 5 this week.

6. Franklin (6, 1-5) Lost to Rainier Beach

Franklin is lucky that Ingraham simply cannot find a way to win because that is the only thing keeping the Quakers out of last place.

7. Ingraham (7, 0-6) Lost to Nathan Hale 49-7

In a matchup of worst versus first against Hale it was never going to be pretty. And it certainly wasn’t.

Predictions

Seattle Prep vs. Lakeside

The Panthers will continue to roll against Lakeside by pounding the ball on the ground with Charlie Brennan and Tere Calloway. This game is also being broadcast on ROOT Sports. Prep 35, Lakeside 14

Eastside Catholic vs. Blanchet

The Crusaders will leave with an easy victory over Blanchet, only adding to the Braves Metro league woes, as the Crusaders prepare for the Metro Championship game. Eastside Catholic 42, Blanchet 21

O’Dea vs. Bainbridge

After losing to Eastside Catholic, the Irish will be looking to take out their anger and frustration. Unfortunately for Bainbridge, they will be on the receiving end. Irish 48, Bainbridge 7

Metro Division Football Power Rankings: Week 6

2012-10-11T01:24:29+00:00

Editor's note: We took time off from power rankings last week, but we are back for week 6 as the regular season starts to wind down.

This week saw Seattle Prep return to form, Eastside Catholic dominate Rainier Beach, and O’Dea win yet again. In the Sound Division, Nathan Hale stayed on top, and is in position to take the title if they win out. This upcoming week features some massive games in Metro Mountain, with number one Eastside Catholic taking on O’Dea, and bitter rivals Seattle Prep and Blanchet facing off on Saturday.

Look for the Power Rankings and Predictions after the jump.

Power Rankings

Metro Mountain

(Last Week’s Ranking, Current Record)

1. Eastside Catholic (1, 6-0) Beat Rainier Beach 67-34

Quarterback Trey Reynolds put on a masterful performance for the Crusaders, leading Eastside Catholic to a whopping 61 first half points and an easy victory against over-matched Rainier Beach. The senior accounted for six first half TDs which was good to enough to be named the Seattle Times high school athlete of the week. Eastside appears to be rolling on all cylinders heading into the biggest game of the Metro season this week against O’Dea.

2. O’Dea (2, 5-1) Beat Blanchet 32-19

The Irish jumped out to a 15 point first quarter lead thanks to two Miles Gaskin touchdowns, and never looked back. After an easy victory over Blanchet, O’Dea looks ready to take on Eastside Catholic in a matchup that will likely decide the Metro Mountain championship.

3. Blanchet (3, 4-2) Lost to O’Dea 32-19

After four consecutive victories to start the season, Blanchet has now dropped two straight. The Braves were over matched from the start against O’Dea, but that was to be expected. It will be interesting to see how Blanchet fairs against arch-rival Seattle Prep this weekend, as the Panthers looked very impressive against Bainbridge last week.

4. Seattle Prep (4, 2-4) Beat Bainbridge 38-17

For the first time this season, the Panthers looked like the team that was projected to be top ten in the state. This is due in large part to the return of a healthy Tere Calloway. The highly recruited running back and safety piled up a ridiculous 238 yards and 3 TD’s on 16 carries for an average of 14.8 yards a carry. If Calloway can put on a repeat performance, the Panthers should not have a problem beating the currently struggling Braves.

5. Bainbridge (5, 2-4) Lost to Seattle Prep 38-17

With two consecutive blowout losses, first to Eastside Catholic, and next to Seattle Prep, the Spartans are firmly entrenched in the basement of Metro Mountain.

Metro Sound

1. Nathan Hale (1, 5-1) Beat Chief Sealth 43-23

Hale cruised to an easy victory over the hapless Seahawks and with only two games remaining on their schedule, look to be in great position to wrap up the Metro Sound title.

2. Rainier Beach (2, 3-3) Lost to Eastside Catholic 67-34

The Vikings were beaten in every aspect of the game last week, as for the first time this season, they went up against a team with equal athleticism. As the Metro Sound schedule winds down, Rainier Beach is not in control of their destiny, and needs Hale to lose if they want to play in the Metro championship game.

3. West Seattle (3, 4-2) Beat Ingraham 44-13

After getting embarrassed by Rainier Beach two weeks ago, West Seattle bounced back marvelously against the struggling Ingraham Rams. West Seattle’s match up with Nathan Hale two weeks from now will likely be the game that decides the Metro Sound.

4. Chief Sealth (4, 3-3) Lost to Nathan Hale 43-23

After the top three teams of Nathan Hale, Rainier Beach and West Seattle, there is a ridiculous drop off in talent, but in the next tier, Sealth stands on top this season. Despite being soundly beaten by Hale, the Seahawks remain fourth in the power rankings because no team below them has been overly impressive in the past two weeks.

5. Cleveland (6, 2-3) Beat Franklin 26-21

Despite a narrow victory against Franklin, Cleveland must be able to string two wins together if they want to move up any higher in the power rankings.

6. Franklin (5, 1-5) Lost to Cleveland 26-21

Franklin’s sole victory over Ingraham this season is the only thing keeping them out of last place.

7. Ingraham (7, 0-6) Lost to West Seattle 44-13

With upcoming games against Hale and Sealth, it looks unlikely that the Rams will be able to get anything in the win column this season.

Predictions

Eastside Catholic vs. O’Dea

In the biggest game of the Metro season, and one of the biggest games in all of 3A this year, Eastside Catholic takes on O’Dea. The way their offense has been playing, the Crusaders will have no problem scoring points. Their problem will be containing electric running back Tatum Taylor. In the end, Reynolds and Co will be too much for the Irish. Eastside Catholic 42 – O’Dea 38

Seattle Prep vs. Blanchet

Last week showed how much of a difference a healthy Tere Calloway makes for Seattle Prep. If he plays how he did against Bainbridge, it will be a long game for the Braves. Seattle Prep takes it 35-24

West Seattle vs. Chief Sealth

West Seattle might be looking past the Seahawks, to their season finale against Nathan Hale. Ultimately, this will be their undoing. Sealth upsets West Seattle 24-21