Field Gulls

Kris Durham 2011 Season Retrospective

2012-05-27T16:06:14Z

Kris Durham was a surprise fourth-round pick in 2011 for the Seahawks out of Georgia, and at 6'5, 216, had experience playing on the outside and in the slot for the Bulldogs. In his rookie season, he played in three games before being placed on the injured reserve with a labrum injury, and he caught three passes for 30 yards.

Though Durham played sparingly, Nate's done a great job of putting together a retrospective video that shows nearly all his snaps from 2011. With Mike Williams still sidelined from his major leg/ankle injury from last year, and unable to even cut or change direction at this point, it's looking more and more likely that he'll be placed on the PUP list to start the season. That means the outside receiver spot opposite of Sidney Rice could be up for grabs, and Durham becomes the most likely suitor, along with Ben Obomanu, Golden Tate, and a few long shots like Ricardo Lockette, Deon Butler, Phil Bates, etc.

Personally, I have high hopes for Durham going forward - in his limited action he looked pretty good, especially against Pittsburgh, where he had his three catches. He's got a huge catch radius, some speed, and it will be interesting to see how he fares in training camp and the OTAs.

It's tough to evaluate Durham based on three catches and some blocking downfield, but my impression is that he looks smooth running routes (this route here is timed perfectly), and sinks his hips and chops his feet to sit down on curl or comeback routes nicely. Exhibit A here, exhibit B here. As for his downfield blocking, it's also tough to tell. He delivers a nice crack-back here, and does a decent job occupying his defender on a few others. Anyway, check the video out below, and thanks to Nate again for putting these together.

Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Sunday

2012-05-27T12:00:50Z

How's the weekend going, ladies and gents?

Breaking down Woodson vs. the 'Tare' route | National Football Post
Using video to take a look at CB's INT vs. Lions.

A solution to the Hard Knocks dilemma | National Football Post
HBO’s popular series should take a different approach to the 2012 season.

Inside the playbook: Robinson beats Notre Dame | National Football Post
Using video to talk route concepts, technique.

Knowshon Moreno fighting for spot with Broncos - NFL.com
The Broncos running back is "fighting for a roster spot," according to Lindsay Jones of The Denver Post. Appearing Friday on ESPN, Jones reported that Moreno was a participant at the team's organized team activities and struggling to stand out in a crowded backfield.

Curtis Painter among most-interesting backup QBs - NFL.com
Curtis Painter might be the face of the Colts' 2-14 season, but he's resurfaced for renewal in Baltimore. In his honor, here's a list of the five most interesting backup quarterbacks.

Cold Hard Facts - Podcasts - MyNorthwest.com
John Clayton says he thinks Seattle's new tight end tandem of Zach Miller and Kellen Winslow ranks high among teams in the NFL. In terms of talent, Clayton thinks the Seahawks might have the second best two tight end set in football. Clayton also discusses the most loveable and hated coaches in the league, and weighs in on the most recent labor dispute in the NFL.

Where each NFL team ranks in popularity - NFC West Blog - ESPN
We know where NFC West teams stand in popularity among Americans.

Breaking down Texas A&M RB Christine Michael | National Football Post
Just how good can he be?

Tyler Wilson (QB, Arkansas) vs LSU " Seahawks Draft Blog
Wilson is ranked at #7 in our top 40 watch list for 2013. This wasn’t his or Arkansas’ best performance last year, but it’s the kind of game he’ll need to shine in this year to truly max out his potential. Arkansas has enough talent to win the SEC and Wilson needs to take the chance to impress scouts against top-tier opposition.

Andre Ellington (RB, Clemson) vs Virginia " Seahawks Draft Blog
I like Ellington, even if he didn’t make it onto the top 40 watchlist. He does have an X-Factor to his game and while he’ll probably never be a work-horse at the next level, he could have an impact as a complimentary runner. Clemson should have another productive season in 2012 so he’s one to monitor.

Were we wrong about former NFL QB Brad Johnson? | National Football Post
Looking back, Johnson deserves more credit.

Factual Evidence: Top 5 picks over the past ten years - Mocking The Draft
Calvin Johnson #81 and Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions are two players that were drafted in the Top 5 picks over the past 10 years. Did you know that Detroit led all teams in the past 10 years with top 5 picks? Find out more Factual Evidence of which draft class was the best, and which was the poorest class.

Is Rams 4th-Rounder Givens' Speed as Impressive as Sam Bradford Thinks It Is? | Bleacher Report
It's understandable that Sam Bradford is excited about Chris Givens' speed. Neither of the wide receivers drafted last year—Austin Pettis and Greg Salas—were going to take the top off a defense. Meanwhile, second-round wide receiver Brian Quick is big, but he only ran in the 4.5s at the combine.

NFL rankings: Julius Peppers top pick in piquant pack of pass rushers - NFL - Sporting News
Julius Pepper did. Jared Allen did. This offseason, Mario Williams did. Whenever a top-tier defensive end hits the free agent market, he cashes in big.

49ers' 1st-Round Pick Jenkins Redeeming Himself After Poor Showing at Minicamp | Bleacher Report
Getting noticeably tired at your first practice is not exactly how a first-round round pick envisions as the start of his NFL career. A.J. Jenkins admitted that he needed to "get in shape" after the open of 49ers rookie minicamp two weeks ago.

Arizona Cardinals Are Not Handing Starting Job to Bobby Massie | Bleacher Report
Right tackle was one of the poorest positions for the Arizona Cardinals last year, so it came as no surprise that the team used their fourth-round pick to address the position by taking Ole Miss offensive tackle Bobby Massie ...

Rimington Trophy (Nation's Top Center) Announces 2012 Watch List - CBSSports.com
For those of us eagerly anticipating the return of football, one of the annual rites of late spring that helps set the tone for the upcoming season is the announcement of preseason award watch lists. On Friday, the Rimington Trophy, which annually recognizes the nation's top center, released its Top 50 Watch List.

NFL Game Rewind: Kenny Watches Most of Week 5

2012-05-26T18:40:40Z

It doesn't stress me out as much trying to see if I'll actually finish this project as much as it does to come up with new videos each week. The countdown was a bad idea perhaps, and I'm going to just knock that out soon to get it over with, but most of my ideas are designed for the season. There's a lot going on in the offseason, but otherwise it blows. In the meantime, you can read my blog KennethAuthor.com. I have a couple of current projects going on there, including a mission to message at leaset 500 girls on the dating site OkCupid. The messages are honest and sometimes hilarious, and I'll be sharing some shortly.

Here are some week five games. We'll kick off with Seahawks and Giants next time.

Bengals at Jaguars

I'm trying to think about what could possibly be good about this game and I'm coming up blank.

Okay, Maurice Jones-Drew. He's worth watching. Jags lead 7-0 on an MJD touchdown to start the game.

A.J. Green. He's another reason to watch. 37-yard TD to Green ties it.

Andy Dalton is intercepted and the ball is returned to the 1. To the 1. Jags settle for a FG.

I took this screenshot to show how amazing it was that MJD could stay off of the ground:

He ran it down to the 5 but the Jags settled for another FG from the 1. Oh, by the way:

The Bengals convert a 4th and 6 near the end of the half and then score a TD a few plays later, making it 13-13. If the Jags had just converted at the goal line, it could be 21-13 or some favorable score. (Shanked PAT)

Blaine Gabbert was drafted well ahead of Andy Dalton and was seen as a superior prospect. After one year, the numbers and the success of their teams would suggest that Dalton was the better pick with some people already having given up on Gabbert, but I don't think that's fair. He's regularly got less than a few seconds in the pocket and the worst WR corps in the NFL. His athleticism is clear and he evades many sacks though he's still very inaccurate on the run.

And right after I write that, he hits Jason Hill on a bomb for a ~80 yard TD.

With about four minutes left, down 20-16, the Bengals convert another 4th and 6. A few plays later, Bernard Scott scores the go-ahead TD. On third-and-one, down 23-20, this errant snap ends the game:

The Jags have a good defense, I think Gabbert just needs protection and weapons so we'll see what they do in the draft. The Colts probably won't be good, the Texans can't stay healthy, the Titans are always a wild card... the Jags just might compete next year. But they blew it on this day.

CIN 30, JAX 20

Raiders at Texans

After a Jason Allen interception, Matt Schaub hits Joel Dreessen for a 50+ yard TD. 14-6 Texans.

Darrius Heyward-Bey scores a long TD and the Raiders go for two with a minute remaining in the half, but it's no good. 14-12.

Denarius Moore was out of bounds on this catch, but you can see why fans are excited about him:

Kevin Walter tops that with the SupaMan...

After a Chaz Schilens TD and a FG, the Raiders lead 25-17 with 10 minutes left.

Down 5, the Texans have the ball with 1:50 left and no timeouts. The Raiders could have run it down an extra 40 seconds on he earlier possessin but they threw a deep pass on 2nd down.

3rd and 23, Schaub chucks it to the goal line...

:07 left, last play of the game. Schaub scrambles left and it looks like he might be able to run it in but he shovels it and... intercepted. The Raiders win.

OAK 25, HOU 20

Titans at Steelers

Chris Johnson had 21 yards on the first play of the game. He had 30 yards over the rest of the game. Just when you thought he was "back"...

I've watched a lot of football so far but I think I just saw the first successful fake punt. Completed by the Steelers. 11 minutes left in the first half and the Steelers lead 14-3.

Jonathan Dwyer nearly busts a 90 yard TD run, stopped for only 76.

How many places do you need to remind us about the remaining timeouts?

I'm not sure that I've seen Matt Hasselbeck complete a pass over 10 yards yet this season (catch and runs don't count) but within 10 yards, he's still money! Titans score and its 28-10 in the third.

Oooh... Hasselbeck completes a 20 yard pass into the end zone to Damian Williams. Only three minutes left though and down 14 points. Too little too late?

Yeah

PIT 38, TEN 21

Chiefs at Colts

FUN!

Here's a quick recap as the Colts lead 17-0: Pierre Garcon is killin' it! That is all.

I'd argue that the Bucs, Browns, and Rams were all worse than the Colts last year, but Indy winds up with the franchise QB. Go figure. And the Redskins weren't THAT terrible and they get the other franchise QB. Colts lead a Chiefs team that almost made the playoffs by a score of 24-7.

Another recap: Dwayne Bowe is also very talented.

Speaking of the Redskins and Pierre Garcon, he's a legit WR. It's easy to dismiss him because of the "Peyton Manning" thing but think about how good he did with Kerry Collins and Curtis Painter. RG3 has a good weapon there.

Bowe does things like catch balls off of a bounce on a DB's back for touchdowns though:

Well, you knew this was coming: Steve Breaston scores the go-ahead TD with 5:15 left for the Chiefs.

KC 28, IND 24

Cardinals at Vikings

In the first 7 minutes of the game, the Vikings have started three drives in Cardinals territory. Punt return, interception, fumble and it's 21-0 Minnesota early.

Oh, that's about all there is to say about this game. Minnesota went up 28-0 and it never got close. Pretty amazing that the Cards turned out to be okay, the Vikings stunk, and Donovan McNabb was starting but they were on point today.

MIN 34, AZ 10

Eagles at Bills

Alright son, let's knock some stupid games out.

Eagles drive into Bills territory early but Michael Vick's pass is tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted. Hey, I didn't say anything about Vick being short. The Bills drive down and Fred Jackson runs in for a touchdown.

Vick throws another interception but the Bills can't take advantage. He later hits Jeremy Maclin for a TD to tie it at seven.

Are the Eagles a good example of what could happen to the 49ers? They went from 5th in TO differential in 2010 to 30th in TO differential in 2011, despite having potentially a more talented team. But once Vick started turning the ball over, their season was done.

He just threw his third interception (a fumble was also overturned in his favor) in the first half and this one is returned for a touchdown by Nick Barnett. 21-7 Bills.

Eagles had a chance to kick a FG before half and they wasted time (Vick wasted a LOT of time) and got 0 points.

What Vick can still do is break off a 53-yard run.

Jason Avant makes a big catch and then has the ball stripped. Being an Eagles fan must have sucked this year.

Vick seemingly runs in for a TD to cut it to a 3-point game, but Philly is called for hands to the face and the penalty negates the TD. They settle for a FG instead. Good teams lose because of: Penalties, turnovers, special teams.

The Eagles, down 7, drive to the Bills 25 late in the fourth and then Nick Barnett snatches a Vick pass into his hands and that's another Philly turnover. Obviously.

BUF 31, PHI 24

Saints at Panthers

Looking forward to watching this game.

Oh boy. Cam Newton's first pass goes to the wrong team.

Jed Collins, former WASHINGTON STATE COUGAR, scores for the Saints to make it 7-0.

As he seemed to do a lot early in the year, Steve Smith scores a long TD. A scrum breaks out afterward and the PAT is blocked. 10-6 Saints.

You ever wonder who you'd be friends with if you were on a football team? If I was on the Saints, I feel like I'd be friends with Darren Sproles. What? You thought I'd choose a white guy?

DeAngelo Williams scores on a near-70-yard TD run. 17-13, Saints.

What? What just happened? The Saints had no timeouts before half and they tried to rush a field goal but ran out of time... except that they didn't because the PANTHERS CALLED A TIMEOUT. Carolina actually used a timeout and they put :02 back on the clock and the Saints FG is good. So again, I ask, what?

Newton runs it in to make it 23-20. He had an amazing 17 touchdown runs. This is a guy that's going to break some more records before he's done.

Newton hits Greg Olsen and now the Panthers take their first lead of the game with twelve minutes left in the game, 27-23.

Brees hits Pierre Thomas for a TD with :51 left and the Saints go up 30-27. Remember that odd Panthers timeout that allowed the Saints to kick a FG? Yup.

NO 30, CAR 27

Bucs at 49ers

I want to watch this game because of Kellen Winslow. I already looked at the score. 49ers win 48-3. Just what the hell am I going to learn about Kellen Winslow in a game like this? Maybe good?? Probably bad.

Nice play fake by Alex Smith, hits Delanie Walker in the end zone for a 26-yarder.

Frank Gore fumbles at the TB 11. He only had 2 fumbles this year, tied for a career-low, lowest he's had as a starter.

Freeman Problems = Rogers TD

Here's the formation

Freeman has two TE to help block and the Niners put five on the line, with just one safey.

Freeman has a bunch of time in the back, surveying the scene and he sees what you and I see: nothing. The receivers and the one TE (Moore?) are covered. But wait!

But what's that I see? A wide open LaGarrette Blount breaking out of the pile to the left. It's a short gain, for sure, and Blount isn't known for his hands, but it's an easy dump off when everyone is covered. Or... just throw it to a guy who is covered...

It's an easy snag for Carlos Rogers and it takes it to his neighborhood for six.

Bad Buc Luck:

Michael Spurlock is in the middle of this scrum, had the ball in his hands.

But out of the scrum came Chris Culliver with the ball. Just one of them days, the a Buc goes through.

31-3 after a TD pass to the "unstoppable" Vernon Davis. Absolutely one of the best assets you could have in the NFL is Vernon Davis.

I have seen nothing from Kellen Winslow, Jr. This is all 49ers. When I watch the Niners, I see a team that's disciplined. I see a team that has the league's best special teams (Andy Lee, David Akers, and Ted Ginn Jr) and I see a team that doesn't turn the ball over and capitalized on the opportunities they were given. Their offensive line was solid. Their running game is solid. They were one of the best teams in the NFL without a passing game. That's impressive and it highlights just how good they were in almost every other area. Can they do it again?

Colin Kaepernick takes over mopup duty which is cool. He looks okay. I mean, he doesn't make mistakes. It just looks like he's super raw and they gave him like four plays and on each play he only has one place he's allowed to go. No progression. You can see the talent but it needs to match the system if the Niners are going to have success. There's a reason Alex Smith is already their 2012 starter.

I didn't notice Winslow at all and he apparently had five catches. Oh well.

SF 48, TB 3

Jets at Patriots

A game not nearly as meaningful as they make it out to be.

I think that Mark Sanchez is terrible and his TD numbers were inflated this season. Let's see what the tape shows against the leagues worst pass defense!

I had a streaming consciousness of what Mark Sanchez does in this game. Here it is:

behind the line of scrimmage to Green - complete. 5 yard pass attempt - incomplete

3rd and 2, play action - 1 yard pass to John Connor. Incomplete off the hands.

25-yard pass attempt to Holmes, incomplete. A little behind Holmes, who was wide open.

3rd and 3, Sanchez sacked.

update 1-for-4

Passes to Tomlinson behind the line of scrimmage. 2 yard gain.

6 yard pass, behind the first down.

update 3-for-6. Long of 6.

12 yard pass complete to Burress.

Short pass complete.

12 yard pass complete to Holmes

6 yard pass to Burress through a crowd.

(Green Scores on a Run. 10-7 NE)

(Antonio Cromartie picks off Tom Brady in the Patriots end zone to save a TD at the very end of the half. Its still 10-7. Another crazy turn of events to start the 2nd. Patriots get a massive pass down the field taken inside the 20 to start the second half. They fumbled but the call was overturned and Brady hit Deion Branch on the next play. 17-7 NE. Joe McKnight returns the kickoff to the Patriots 20. )

Sanchez hits Jeremy Kerley for a 9-yard TD pass.

Escapes a sack, throws it away.

I don't know what time of possession says, but it certainly feels like NE is dominating that category.

Sanchez goes deep down the middle (15 yards) and misses, incomplete.

Sacnhez goes 15 yards to the sideline and Plaxico Burress makes the catch but it's out of bounds.

Hits Burress for 14.

Down 13, this is a game that Sanchez has to win in the fourth quarter.

Hits Holmes for 19.

Escapes a sack for a 4-yard pass.

Hits Derrick Mason on a short slant for a first down.

Burress drops a pass.

Hits Holmes on a fade for 21-yard TD

Game over, down by 9

Hits Holmes for 9

Sacked

Knee

Final numbers for Sanchez: 16 for 26, 166 yards, 2 TD/0 INT.

Final conclusion: Mark Sanchez isn't any better than Tarvaris Jackson, if he's even better at all. Got hotter in the 2nd half but also padded numbers when the game was in hand for New England. I give him some credit on some nice decisions and nice passes (the Holmes fade for a TD) but otherwise unimpressed, again.

NE 30, NYJ 21

Games Remaining: 182

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Just How Much Do Close Games Matter Anyway?

2012-05-26T16:16:00Z

It's well known among Seahawk fans that this past year's 7-9 club was an improvement over 2010's 7-9 club because Seattle stayed close in so many more games, right to the very end. All we need is a quarterback who can handle the two minute drill and we're suddenly in 9-7 or even 10-6 territory. Right?

Additionally, a lot of Seahawk fans consider the Cardinals and 49ers to be somewhat overrated compared to their records, because they may have gotton lucky a lot more often: the Cardinals by winning all four of their overtime games, and the 49ers with their astounding turnover differential, which is (hopefully) unsustainable.

In other words, a regression to the mean would drop the 49ers and Cardinals in the standings somewhat and the Hawks would be due for a few more wins, meaning that there will be a real competition at the top (say around 10-6, 11-5) for the 49ers and Seahawks next year, and the Cardinals aren't in the picture as much as they think they are.

I started out doing a little research to paint exactly that picture with the numbers, looking at the score for every game last year that was won by 10 points or more and considering that a "solid" win, and games won by 9 points or less and considering that a "soft" win. I went about recalculating the final standings in our division by seeing what things would look like if all solids wins were kept in place but all soft wins were split 50-50 (regression to the mean) instead of the way things turned out with lucky bounces and plays. Here's what I got:

49ers (13-3) — Solid wins/losses: 6-1 — Soft wins/losses: 7-2 — Adjusted record: 10-6 or 11-5
Cardinals (8-8) — Solid wins/losses: 0-3 — Soft wins/losses: 8-5 — Adjusted record: 6-10 or 7-9
Seahawks (7-9) — Solid wins/losses: 5-4 — Soft wins/losses: 2-5 — Adjusted record: 8-8 or 9-7
Rams (2-14) — Solid wins/losses: 1-9 — Soft wins/losses: 1-5 — Adjusted record: 4-12

The adjusted records are a lot more in line with what it *feels* like the performance of the teams was like (at least from our point of view). Point proven, right?

But I also went ahead and did the same for the rest of the league, and was surprised to find that the playoff picture very barely changed (adjusted playoff teams in bold):

Patriots (13-3) —Solid W/L: 8-0 — Soft W/L: 5-3 — Adjusted: 12-4
Jets (8-8) —Solid W/L: 5-5 — Soft W/L: 3-3 — Adjusted: 8-8
Dolphins (6-10) —Solid W/L: 4-5 — Soft W/L: 2-5 — Adjusted: 7-9 or 8-8
Bills (6-10) —Solid W/L: 3-5 — Soft W/L: 3-5 — Adjusted: 7-9

Ravens (12-4) —Solid W/L: 7-2 — Soft W/L: 5-2 — Adjusted: 10-6 or 11-5
Steelers (12-4) —Solid W/L: 6-2 — Soft W/L: 6-2 — Adjusted: 10-6
Bengals (9-7) —Solid W/L: 4-1 — Soft W/L: 5-6 — Adjusted: 9-7 or 10-6
Browns (4-12) —Solid W/L: 0-6 — Soft W/L: 4-6 — Adjusted: 5-11

Texans (10-6) —Solid W/L: 6-2 — Soft W/L: 4-4 — Adjusted: 10-6
Titans (9-7) —Solid W/L: 4-3 — Soft W/L: 5-4 — Adjusted: 8-8 to 9-7
Jaguars (5-11) —Solid W/L: 2-7 — Soft W/L: 3-4 — Adjusted: 5-11 or 6-10
Colts (2-14) —Solid W/L: 1-6 — Soft W/L: 1-8 — Adjusted: 5-11 or 6-10

Broncos (8-8) —Solid W/L: 1-4 — Soft W/L: 7-4 — Adjusted: 6-10 or 7-9
Chargers (8-8) —Solid W/L: 5-3 — Soft W/L: 3-5 — Adjusted: 9-7
Raiders (8-8) —Solid W/L: 1-6 — Soft W/L: 7-2 — Adjusted: 5-11 or 6-10
Chiefs (7-9) —Solid W/L: 1-5 — Soft W/L: 6-3 — Adjusted: 5-11 or 6-10

Giants (9-7) —Solid W/L: 4-4 — Soft W/L: 5-3 — Adjusted: 8-8
Eagles (8-8) —Solid W/L: 6-3 — Soft W/L: 2-5 — Adjusted: 9-7 or 10-6
Cowboys (8-8) —Solid W/L: 4-3 — Soft W/L: 4-5 — Adjusted: 8-8 or 9-7
Redskins (5-11) —Solid W/L: 2-5 — Soft W/L: 3-6 — Adjusted: 6-10 or 7-9

Packers (15-1) —Solid W/L: 8-0 — Soft W/L: 7-1 — Adjusted: 12-4
Lions (10-6) —Solid W/L: 4-3 — Soft W/L: 6-3 — Adjusted: 8-8 or 9-7
Bears (8-8) —Solid W/L: 4-5 — Soft W/L: 4-3 — Adjusted: 7-9 or 8-8
Vikings (3-13) —Solid W/L: 1-4 — Soft W/L: 2-9 — Adjusted: 6-10 or 7-9

Saints (13-3) —Solid W/L: 9-1 — Soft W/L: 4-2 — Adjusted: 12-4
Falcons (10-6) —Solid W/L: 5-3 — Soft W/L: 5-3 — Adjusted: 9-7
Panthers (6-10) —Solid W/L: 4-4 — Soft W/L: 2-6 — Adjusted: 8-8
Buccaneers (4-12) —Solid W/L: 0-8 — Soft W/L: 4-4 — Adjusted: 4-12

49ers (13-3) —Solid W/L: 6-1 — Soft W/L: 7-2 — Adjusted: 10-6 or 11-5
Cardinals (8-8) —Solid W/L: 0-3 — Soft W/L: 8-5 — Adjusted: 6-10 or 7-9
Seahawks (7-9) —Solid W/L: 5-4 — Soft W/L: 2-5 — Adjusted: 8-8 or 9-7
Rams (2-14) —Solid W/L: 1-9 — Soft W/L: 1-5 — Adjusted: 3-12

In each conference, exactly one playoff team changed: the Chargers took the division crown from the Broncos (which shouldn't surprise anyone considering we're downgrading miraculous last-minute wins and spotlighting a solid core team with these adjustments), and the Eagles took the place of the Giants. (The Lions in this scenario are actually tied with the Seahawks and Cowboys for the playoffs, but I broke the tie to the Lions since I couldn't figure tiebreakers for such a fictitious arrangement.)

Now, since the Giants went on to win the Super Bowl, that skews things a little bit here by suggesting that winning your close games is really really really really important. Perhaps it is. Feel free to argue so in the comments. But it's not preposterous to think that the Eagles wouldn't have won that division if they'd had a little more health at quarterback or a few more lucky bounces, or that they won't challenge the Giants this coming year.

So while it is possible for a team to make the playoffs with a few close games going their way, the majority of the teams that made it could have regressed to the mean in their close games and still made it. Most of them did not luck into the playoffs with a string of last minute victories in the clutch. In order to make the playoffs you need to dominate other teams quite often and just not screw up too many close ones.

The conclusion I'm taking away from this is that, even though it was heartbreaking to lose those close games last year with the phantom holding call in Cleveland, T-Jack's last-minute fumble against San Francisco, and bad clock management at the end versus Atlanta — and it feels like these kinds of moments kept us out of the playoffs — in the long run they don't matter as much as becoming better at keeping games two scores out of reach, if our goal is to be a perennial playoff contender.

Which informs, to some extent, the quarterback competition: We hate last-minute mistakes and love last-minute clutch performances. At lot of us are longing for that guy who's going to fill highlight reels with final-minute miracles. But now, I find I'm looking at this thing through the lens of Carroll's game-manager/point-guard criteria. If he's counting on the defense to keep the score down, maybe what he's evaluating at in the competition — and what we need to be looking at in the preseason — is not who's better at the two-minute drill. It's instead, perhaps, which player is best suited to keep the offense on the field, churning clock, getting first downs, and possessing enough red-zone efficiency to keep the game *just* out of reach of the other teams' miraculous comeback moments. That's my takeaway.

Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Saturday

2012-05-26T11:00:34Z

WEEKEND!

Geno Smith (QB, West Virginia) vs Clemson " Seahawks Draft Blog
This was a record breaking performance in last seasons Orange Bowl. Smith shined on the day, but there were other times last season where he wasn’t quite as polished. He has a lot of talent and will continue to put up big numbers in 2012 in Dana Holgorsen’s offense. However, will teams see through the system to grade him as a possible pro-passer? Smith is ranked at #39 in our top 40 watch list.

Seahawks: Dream/nightmare scenarios - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for Seattle in 2012:

ProFootballWeekly.com - Around Fantasyland: Tight ends
The obvious big news was Kellen Winslow being traded by the Buccaneers to the Seahawks and the Bucs signing ex-Colt Dallas Clark. However, there was more good news out of San Diego and it appears the fantasy TE class is as deep as it has been in recent years.

Ryan Tannehill impressive at Dolphins minicamp - Mocking The Draft
It's only May, but all of the talk of Ryan Tannehill not being ready to start in the NFL could be quieting down by the time the season gets underway.

Mike Munchak, Bruce Matthews lead a Titans coaching staff full of great ex-players - Jeff Diamond - SI.com
There's an old adage in sports that great players rarely make great coaches. Well, the Tennessee Titans beg to differ.

Sam Bradford likes his new weapons Quick, Givens - NFL.com
Sam Bradford is entering his third season, but with the addition of the Rams top draft picks Brian Quick and Chris Givens he'll have more targets to achieve his full potential at quarterback.

Former QB Jeff Garcia believes revived USFL can thrive - NFL.com
The long-dead USFL could be making a comeback. Former quarterback Jeff Garcia is among a group looking to revive the league, which was popular during the 80s. The latest version is scheduled to start in 2013.

What we learned this week in OTAs - NFL.com
A busy second week of OTAs brought an increase in action. It didn't come without incident, however, as the Giants saw wide receiver Hakeem Nicks suffer a broken bone in his foot.

A.J. Jenkins eager to learn from Jerry Rice, Randy Moss - NFL.com
Rookie wideout A.J. Jenkins knows that he has the good fortune of being drafted into a situation in which he has a current and future Hall of Fame wide receiver at his disposal.

Winslow adds to Seahawks' weaponry | Seattle Seahawks - The News Tribune
Looking for some instant offense in the passing game, the Seattle Seahawks hope they found it with the addition of tight end Kellen Winslow.

Having finally landed, Kellen Winslow looks for a fresh start in Seattle | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
Fresh off his second cross-country trip in the last week, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and current Seattle Seahawks tight end Kellen Winslow is still getting up to speed in his new environs after the trade that got him out of Greg Schiano's doghouse and onto Pete Carroll's roster.

Notes from Seahawks OTA: Tate hurt, Clemons absent - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
The Seahawks held their third Organized Team Activity (OTA) of the season on Thursday and the first open to the media. While the OTA was voluntary, three players of note were absent: defensive ends Bruce Irvin and Chris Clemons and wider receiver Golden Tate.

Cold Hard Facts - Podcasts - MyNorthwest.com
John Clayton says he thinks the Seahawks will give third-round pick Robert Turbin as many as 10 carries a game. Clayton also discusses Matt Flynn's rank among NFC West quarterbacks, expectations for Randy Moss in San Francisco, and more.

Seahawks.com Blog | Thursday in Hawkville: QB competition continues "
A recap of the activities in the Seahawks’ OTA practice for May 24:

2012 impact rookies | National Football Post
Which first-year players will step in right away and produce?

News from The Associated Press
Now that Brian Banks has been exonerated of a rape conviction that put him in prison for five years, the one-time prep football star has a message for NFL coaches: Give him a chance.

Seahawks will have big decision to make with Clemons - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
There could be any number of reasons for Chris Clemons' decision to skip the Seahawks' voluntary practices. There's a decent chance it has at least something to with his contract. More specifically, the fact that Clemons -- one of the Seahawks' most productive players the last two seasons -- isn't signed beyond 2012.

Who is the Seahawks' most irreplaceable player? - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
The Seahawks dealt with season-ending injuries to several key players last season, including their most experienced cornerback, their No. 1 receiver and three starters on their offensive line. Which player can they least afford to lose this season? Mike Salk shares his opinion in Thursday's Wrap Up video.

Former Rising Football Star Exonerated in Rape Case - Yahoo! News
A rising football star in southern California whose career was brought to a sudden halt by a kidnap-rape conviction that landed him in prison was exonerated today after his accuser contacted him on Facebook recanted her story.

The Quinn connection
Jaye Howard, one of the team's fourth-round draft choices, became a more-productive player at Florida last season and credits former Seahawks coach Dan Quinn for improving his pass-rushing technique.

Seahawks - Seattle's live and local sports station
Head coach Pete Carroll was excited a year ago about the possibility of putting TE Zach Miller and TE John Carlson on the field at the same time. Instead, a shoulder injury landed Carlson on injured reserve and backups TE Anthony McCoy and TE Cameron Morrah weren't able to take advantage of the increased roles.

Cardinals: Dream/nightmare scenario - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Cardinals in 2012:

Rams: Dream/nightmare scenario - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Rams in 2012:

Russell Wilson: SB Nation Guest Correspondent

2012-05-25T22:12:58Z

SB Nation's guest correspondent Russell Wilson catches up with his former receivers: Nick Toon from Wisconsin and T.J. Graham from NC State.

Seahawks Replay Booth: Kellen Winslow's Possible Role In the Offense

2012-05-25T18:18:35Z

When the Seahawks went out and traded for Kellen Winslow I wasn't all that surprised. They've been looking for that type of player - a move tight end that can be used all over the formation to create mismatches with the defense and hide the scheme or run/pass predicability. The main question with Winslow though is whether or not he's still got the physical capabilities that made him a Pro Bowler in 2007 and a first round pick out of Miami back in 2004. Is he the right option? I don't know. People cite his production, and his numbers themselves are indisputable. 72 catches a year, on average, over the last six years. 4.9 catches a game, over the last six years. His consistency is actually pretty remarkable, especially considering the quarterbacks he's been paired with.

The major question and concern though revolves around his knee. After tearing his ACL in a motorcycle accident years ago, he's had to really work with the injury, week in and week out, managing pain, swelling, and bone-on-bone contact to keep himself healthy enough to play. My colleagues Thomas Beekers and Sander Philipse (BucsNation) note that Winslow is just not explosive anymore. A cursory glance at a sampling of games toward the end of last season will confirm this. He's slow off the line, slow in and out of his breaks, and the years of dealing with the knee injury appear to have eroded the explosive nature of his play. I would think the Seahawks are fully aware of this - Tom Cable noted, though, curiously in the same breath as pointing out Winslow's 'explosiveness,' that the former Brown and Buc has 'physical limitations.' Pete Carroll noted yesterday that 'He's been tremendously consistent in his play. We just have to really handle it right so that he can do it again.'

I did find myself a bit confused with both John Schneider and Tom Cable's specific use of the word 'explosiveness' when describing what Winslow brings to the table. My first impression when watching him play was more like "he'll be a possession receiver," and "can get you some first downs." "He'll be a nice outlet option underneath for our inexperienced quarterbacks because he can mask some things in the two tight end sets the Seahawks run." "A dumpoff option when the QB gets flushed from the pocket." -- That's what he was for Josh Freeman a lot of the time in 2011, and possibly interesting is the statistic I realized last night - with Kregg Lumpkin and Kellen Winslow, the Seahawks now have two players that represented 116 catches for the Bucs last year - about one-third of Freeman's total completions.

Maybe the use of 'explosiveness' is just coach/front office speak to generalize a skill position player rather than a guy that's just going to sit there and block. Whatever. I think Pete Carroll actually explained Winslow's perceived role more accurately when he said, "We think it's just a fantastic addition. Because he can make things happen, he can make plays, he should be a big factor on third down and in the red zone."

"He's a wide receiver in a tight end's body. He's got all that ability and route running, but more than that he makes plays. As well as, the thing I love about the guy the most is, he's a great competitor. He just loves to play the game. And we can't have enough of that around here."

He continued, "We like guys with special dimensions and he's got them. He's a real route-runner and a great, great catcher and he does stuff with the ball after he catches it, too."

No talk of explosiveness. No talk of stretching the field vertically. Tempered hyperbole, even from Carroll. I think the key is the way the Seahawks manage Winslow's knee issues and manage to keep him fresh. I went back and watched the Buc's Week 7 game against Chicago in London from last year. Maybe I'm just projecting my hopes a little too much, but Winslow looked markedly quicker and smoother off the line, in and out of breaks, than in the games I had watched before (weeks ~14, 15, 16), which makes sense. It was still early in the season and the rigors of travel and games maybe hadn't quite worn him down. Will playing a secondary role in the Seahawks offense, with significantly fewer snaps, make a difference? Hopefully. Carroll: "He's got some health issues that we're going to deal with to make sure that we monitor him really well, so that he can play his best."

Tom Cable described Winslow's role and ability to create mismatches when paired with Zach Miller on the field: "I think you have to make a decision as a defense now - do you want to play these guys in base defense? If you do, then you're going to have a linebacker covering those tight ends."

"If you're going to go the other way, say, they're going to put nickel in the game, then we're going to try to shove the ball down your throat running it. For us, it kind of puts us back into a position of power, where we're going to play off of how they want to substitute and how they want to match up. If they stay in base, you might see us attack them more and throw the ball more, if they get in nickel, you might see us run it more."

That's in general, and the theory is sound. Having Winslow in the huddle should elicit a quick decision or reaction on the part of the defense - who do we want to line up with this guy? A safety? A linebacker? Is he going to be split out to the wing? Is he going to be in the slot, on the line? These decisions can be exacerbated when Winslow goes in motion. The point is - the reason two tight end groupings are becoming more prevalent is because the two can be moved around, depending on specific situations, to exploit perceived mismatches. It's a game of chess for offensive and defensive coordinators, and the goal is to find ways to exploit weaknesses.

Said Kellen Winslow, yesterday: "You want to create mismatches, so I am kind of the knight in the chess game. You can move me around and control the middle of the field."

Tom Cable: "In terms of the "U" tight end, [Winslow] is certainly going to have some responsibility to block, but I think on a list of the top important things for him that's, on a list of five, fifth. He's going to be moving around, blocking on the move, but he's probably going to be more thought of as a playmaker, receiver type."

We're talking theories and hypotheticals - and I know that some people will scoff at the notion of Winslow doing these things. I know that there are many that don't have much optimism for this move and believe Winslow may not even make the roster. I can't tell you yay or nay on that - there are a lot of variables at play here but what I'm trying to do is put myself in the Seahawks' shoes. Why did they, apparently, have had their eyes on Winslow for some time? Why has Schneider been in Mark Dominik's ear about Winslow's availability for some time? What is it that they see in Winslow that they think they can really use in their offense?

Let's break down a play in the aforementioned Week 7 matchup with the Bears, in which the Bucs identified and exploited a mismatch in order to get some success.

Early fourth quarter, Bucs trailing big, 21-5. It's first and goal, and Tampa Bay trots out a '11' personnel grouping, three receivers to the left, and Kellen Winslow out right. The Bears have countered with a Cover-1 nickel look, three cornerbacks in man coverage to the left of the offensive formation - Tim Jennings, Charles Tillman, and D.J. Moore.

Safety Chris Harris is the lone zone safety in the secondary (hence, Cover-1), and Chris Conte in man coverage to the right side of the offensive formation on 6'4, 240 pound tight end, Kellen Winslow. Two linebackers will attempt to curb a run on first down. The offense takes a minute to survey the defense.

Below, note Winslow and Josh Freeman lock eyes. Winslow puts his hand to his helmet; either a dummy call or a message to Freeman that he's going to run the fade, back shoulder route.

If I had to guess, I'd probably say it was indeed a quick check by Freeman to go to Winslow based on what the defense showed them. You've got a veteran, reliable pass catcher in Winslow matched up on an island against a rookie free safety, playing up on the line in press coverage against a tight end. Not his normal task, probably not his comfort zone even if he were a veteran.

Matchups. Matchups. Matchups. That's what we get hammered into our brains. This is a matchup they wanted to exploit.

Watch Winslow's route. Conte is playing inside shade to take away the quick slant. Winslow fakes like he's going inside then does a semi-swim move to get Conte's hands down and balance moving forward.

Below, you see Freeman looking toward Winslow, and most importantly, Conte has yet to turn his head.

Ball is in the air now, and Winslow times his back-shoulder turn perfectly. It doesn't take explosiveness to execute this route, just body control and manipulation of the defensive back.

Touchdown.

-------------------

With Mike Williams likely to start the year on the PUP list (groan), having a player of Winslow's ilk actually does make some sense, strategically. I don't know if I trust Anthony McCoy, Cameron Morrah, or even Zach Miller on the outside one-on-one type of play. This is the type of matchup advantage that Mike Williams has on corners or smaller defensive backs - as I broke down last year - but outside of maybe Golden Tate or Sidney Rice, a guy like Winslow might actually be your best bet in this type of play.

It's a game of mismatches - if the Seahawks can figure out a way to utilize Winslow in the redzone like show above, I can see how he could be a weapon. I can see a role they see him in, the question still remains if he'll deliver.

Consider it Spun: The 5 Worst Moves of Carroll and Schneider Era in Seattle

2012-05-25T17:38:43Z

I'm finishing off a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream right now. "For breakfast?", you say. I say, "Oh yes! For it is my day off and days off call for all things enjoyable." It's Mint Chocolate Cookie, a twist on a childhood favorite, peppermint ice cream with chocolate sandwich cookies thrown in. A true delight!

I'm in a good mood, obviously, so when I read this piece over at NWSportsBeat on the five best and five worst transactions of the John Schneider and Pete Carroll regime I thought to myself, "Aw man, those moves weren't all bad. In fact they could probably be looked at as the most positive!"

Putting on a positive spin will require great focus and furious fingers however, as there have been a couple head-scratchers these past few years. Nonetheless, I'll go over the list in true countdown fashion, five to one. Try your best to keep up!

The List: 5 worst transactions by Carroll & Schneider since taking over the Seattle Seahawks

#5 - Robert Gallery signing

I'm not going to sit here and try to fool everyone on this one. Robert Gallery didn't produce on the field last year, he did however have a, though immeasurable, perhaps palpable success in the locker room. All of the other offensive lineman spoke glowingly about the veteran and you cannot argue with the results. The Seahawks' young and previously ineffective line picked it up mid-way through the season and helped Beast Mode plow his way to the most productive season Seattle has seen from a running back since Shaun Alexander was breaking records in '05. It is hard for me to imagine Gallery didn't have a hand in this, and while his contract was three years for $15 million, it was structured so the Seahawks were able to let him go this offseason without any lasting cap hit, which is always nice too.

#4 - Lendale White (aka Hamburgler)

In April of 2010 the Seahawks had the kind of draft day that forces ESPN to publicly admit that the city of Seattle has a professional football team. "A swap netted the team LenDale White, who isn't remarkable, but it cost the Seahawks nothing.... No team outside of possibly Detroit added impact players the way Seattle has," per Mel Kiper on Seattle's draft day trades (Grade: A).

I quote Kiper here to point out that Seattle got some national pub that day. Which is nice, as everyone in the northwest really wants to feel like we exist outside our secluded corner of the country. This isn't the real positive I'm pulling out of this move though. Cutting Lendale white sent a message to everyone on the team that there would be zero tolerance when it came to lollygagging, even for USC guys. Pete's biggest gripe about his time in New York and New England was his perceived (and actual) lack of control. I feel like he would go back and make that trade again knowing full well what would happen.

This locker room has been talked about over and over again as one that breeds competition and that's a huge part of the transformation we're seeing. The Lendale White trade of 2010 was the first opportunity Pete had to really show he meant it when he said it. "Compete"

#3 - Goodbye Josh

Josh Wilson had a nickname shared among local bloggers I think... it's so hard to remember. It's not because my memory is poor, but because there simply isn't any room in there for him now that the Seahawks have the most talented secondary in the entire NFL. Maybe you think that's going out on a limb but I don't. As noted in the NWSB post the Hawks used the pick they received in the trade to select Richard Sherman. The young corner out of Stanford made the Football Outsiders 2011 All-Rookie team and was listed as the fourth most effective cornerback in the entire league.

If there was a redraft of last season it's hard to imagine Sherman falling out of the top 10 overall. He is a stud, through and through. I would not trade him for five Josh Wilsons. 'Nuff said.

#2 - Letting go of Matt Hasselbeck

This is probably the most difficult for me to defend. Not really because I feel they should have kept him, but more because I didn't really care either way. Matt just didn't have the mobility required to play behind a line that isn't up to par in the pass blocking department. Run blocking was a strength of our line last year but they struggled mightily in pass protection, giving up 50 sacks on the year.

That pectoral issue Tarvarius Jackson dealth with last year would have been something much much worse for Matty Hasselbeck. On the plus side I suppose we would have gotten a healthier taste of Charlie Whitehurst. Which leads me too...

#1 - Charlie "Mutha Flippin" Whitehurst

5 reasons I like the trade for Clipboard Jesus.

57.7% completion percentage
8 interceptions to only 9 touchdowns
7 fumbles
7 games missed due to injury
6 years and $65 million with $12 million guaranteed

What ARE those numbers??? Do you know? If you do, you might just be an Arizona Cardinals fan. Those are Kevin Kolb's statistics last year along with his contract figures. I realize to some of you it will seem like a stretch, and I'll admit it requires a bit of outside-the-box thinking, but hear me out. The Hawks dealt a third and swapped seconds for the right to miss out on an overpriced and injury prone, average at best, starting quarterback.

It is not a certainty but it's not hard to imagine the Hawks swinging the Kolb trade if they hadn't just invested capitol in another quarterback the previous offseason. An entire string of occurrences followed and have now put us in a position where we have three quarterbacks with promise on our roster, and one guy named Tarvarius Jackson. I really don't mind that, I mean, it sure beats watching Kevin Kolb roll in money while he fumbles the ball on the sideline right?

I wrote this post for my personal sports blog, but would love to hear the opinions of what I feel is a pretty informed group of Seahawks fans. I'm just getting into writing so the more input the better. Thanks in advance! Thanks again to NWSB.com for letting me play spin doctor on their work!