Seahawks News Thread
- Thread starter savage
- Start date
where to begin... hasselbecks arm turned into jello or something cause theres a serious question of his arm strength as evidenced by constant under and over throwing, and our red zone play calling is terrible. time management is horrible.
golden tate had to earn his playing time, but matt keeps putting up abysmal performances yet full confidence is still in him that hes the best shot at winning. any more games like this, and its time to see if whitehurst can earn starter. why the hell not? hasselbecks not looking like much of a leader out there and whitehurst has a strong arm.
matts gotta go eventually... maybe jeremy bates.
golden tate had to earn his playing time, but matt keeps putting up abysmal performances yet full confidence is still in him that hes the best shot at winning. any more games like this, and its time to see if whitehurst can earn starter. why the hell not? hasselbecks not looking like much of a leader out there and whitehurst has a strong arm.
matts gotta go eventually... maybe jeremy bates.
Keep in mind, Seattle Seahawks as a team sucks on the road. Not just Matt Hasselbeck. Peyton Manning would have had the same day as Hasselbeck if he was behind Seattle's o-line. The o-line is horrible on the road. Losing Okung early in the game didn't help any either. That injury bug just won't leave the team alone.
Might I add that I'm just glad he didn't get sacked 9 times in one half.
Might I add that I'm just glad he didn't get sacked 9 times in one half.
the best pass of the half and i think the game came from michael robinson... embarassing. lol as of right now michael robinsons qb rating is 118.8 and hasselbecks is 70.7. hasselbeck has 6 interceptions and 4 tds. matt hasnt proven anything this year except hes getting real good at throwing picks and repeatedly failing to drive the offense and get touchdowns
and who the hell called for the field goal fake that lost nine yards? i sure as hell hope it wasnt pc
and who the hell called for the field goal fake that lost nine yards? i sure as hell hope it wasnt pc
http://www.chargers.com/media-vault/videos/Jammer-INT/50989e0d-237b-4a50-8303-fbe8d78311cb
look at that pick and try and tell me that it was the olines fault. he had the time to pull off the play. the ball needed to be put at the pylon high enough to where only williams could get it or it goes out of bounds or in the endzone near the corner pylon, and quick, and it was complete failure
theres been at least a dozen more stupid little mistakes that a veteran quarterback should not be making.
look at that pick and try and tell me that it was the olines fault. he had the time to pull off the play. the ball needed to be put at the pylon high enough to where only williams could get it or it goes out of bounds or in the endzone near the corner pylon, and quick, and it was complete failure
theres been at least a dozen more stupid little mistakes that a veteran quarterback should not be making.
Carroll expects Lynch to carry the load for Seahawks
Pete Carroll has been pursuing Marshawn Lynch since his days as a high school All-American running back out of Oakland in 2003.
But while Lynch didn't sign with Carroll at USC, he'll join forces now with the Seahawks as the new running back in Seattle's fast-changing regime.
The Seahawks obtained Lynch from the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday for a fourth-round draft pick next year and a conditional 2012 pick that will either be a fifth- or sixth-round selection, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
While Lynch brings a little baggage from Buffalo, where he grew unhappy after his 2008 Pro Bowl season, the Seahawks feel they've landed a big-time back who can help immediately.
The Seahawks released veteran Julius Jones and plan to have Lynch in tandem with former Cal teammate Justin Forsett by their next game at Chicago on Oct. 17.
Carroll declined to anoint Lynch as the immediate starter, but said "we're bringing him in to play a bunch."
The 5-11, 217-pound Lynch gives Seattle a bigger back, a guy "who can carry the load."
Lynch ran for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in Buffalo, but his playing time and production dropped last year when he totaled 450 yards in 13 games.
He's also had some off-field issues, including a hit-and-run incident in Buffalo in 2008 and a guilty plea to a misdemeanor gun charge that resulted in three years of probation in '09.
But he's regarded as a quality NFL back who has speed, power and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He's under contract for $885,000 and $1.14 million in 2011.
"Marshawn is 24 and just getting started in his career," Carroll said. "He's got a couple years left on his contract, so we know we're digging in with him as one of our guys. We like the fact he's a young, productive guy that can come to the program.
"But we're counting on him coming to help us now. This is a move to help us immediately that we know has longevity to it because of his makeup and age and all. We're pumped about the opportunity to get him in here and we're counting on him being able to help us by next week."
Carroll said the Seahawks have been working on a deal to land Lynch for "a long time," but obviously waited for the asking price to become reasonable. Having drafted C.J. Spiller in the first round this year, the Bills finally let Lynch go after he'd rushed for 164 yards on 37 carries in their first four games.
Lynch is close friends with Seahawks running back Justin Forsett, whom he'll team with again in the backfield after the two were together at Cal for three years.
Lynch was a groomsman in Forsett's wedding earlier this year.
Lynch is the second-leading rusher in Cal history at 3,230 yards, with Forsett third at 3,220.
Forsett, who has started the first four games for Seattle this season, said he has "no issue" with losing playing time to Lynch.
"He's been like a brother to me for a while now," Forsett said. "He'll bring a lot to this team. He's just an incredible player, a Pro Bowler.
"I didn't know what was going to happen. If it did happen, it was going to be OK with me. ... I know he was a little unhappy being out there in Buffalo, so he's going to get a fresh start. This will be a good spot for him."
Forsett said Lynch will fit in well with the Seahawks and despite his checkered past, described his friend as a "big-hearted guy" who will "literally give people the shirt off his back" if asked.
Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, who played with Forsett and Lynch for three years at Cal, said it's a good one-two punch.
"Just having him and Forsett in the backfield is a good thing," Mebane said. "Both of them fed off each other to just run even harder. They'd both be there every time to congratulate each other. That's something I always noticed."
Carroll says Lynch is "a very unique football player. He plays with great intensity. He's got 'make-you-miss' ability and he's also physical and runs tough. He has really good hands and can catch the football as well, so he's got great versatility to him. He's got speed to break away and an attitude about the way he runs that he can run the ball in tough situations.
"He's a guy that can carry the load for you."
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/223693.asp
Pete Carroll has been pursuing Marshawn Lynch since his days as a high school All-American running back out of Oakland in 2003.
But while Lynch didn't sign with Carroll at USC, he'll join forces now with the Seahawks as the new running back in Seattle's fast-changing regime.
The Seahawks obtained Lynch from the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday for a fourth-round draft pick next year and a conditional 2012 pick that will either be a fifth- or sixth-round selection, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
While Lynch brings a little baggage from Buffalo, where he grew unhappy after his 2008 Pro Bowl season, the Seahawks feel they've landed a big-time back who can help immediately.
The Seahawks released veteran Julius Jones and plan to have Lynch in tandem with former Cal teammate Justin Forsett by their next game at Chicago on Oct. 17.
Carroll declined to anoint Lynch as the immediate starter, but said "we're bringing him in to play a bunch."
The 5-11, 217-pound Lynch gives Seattle a bigger back, a guy "who can carry the load."
Lynch ran for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in Buffalo, but his playing time and production dropped last year when he totaled 450 yards in 13 games.
He's also had some off-field issues, including a hit-and-run incident in Buffalo in 2008 and a guilty plea to a misdemeanor gun charge that resulted in three years of probation in '09.
But he's regarded as a quality NFL back who has speed, power and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He's under contract for $885,000 and $1.14 million in 2011.
"Marshawn is 24 and just getting started in his career," Carroll said. "He's got a couple years left on his contract, so we know we're digging in with him as one of our guys. We like the fact he's a young, productive guy that can come to the program.
"But we're counting on him coming to help us now. This is a move to help us immediately that we know has longevity to it because of his makeup and age and all. We're pumped about the opportunity to get him in here and we're counting on him being able to help us by next week."
Carroll said the Seahawks have been working on a deal to land Lynch for "a long time," but obviously waited for the asking price to become reasonable. Having drafted C.J. Spiller in the first round this year, the Bills finally let Lynch go after he'd rushed for 164 yards on 37 carries in their first four games.
Lynch is close friends with Seahawks running back Justin Forsett, whom he'll team with again in the backfield after the two were together at Cal for three years.
Lynch was a groomsman in Forsett's wedding earlier this year.
Lynch is the second-leading rusher in Cal history at 3,230 yards, with Forsett third at 3,220.
Forsett, who has started the first four games for Seattle this season, said he has "no issue" with losing playing time to Lynch.
"He's been like a brother to me for a while now," Forsett said. "He'll bring a lot to this team. He's just an incredible player, a Pro Bowler.
"I didn't know what was going to happen. If it did happen, it was going to be OK with me. ... I know he was a little unhappy being out there in Buffalo, so he's going to get a fresh start. This will be a good spot for him."
Forsett said Lynch will fit in well with the Seahawks and despite his checkered past, described his friend as a "big-hearted guy" who will "literally give people the shirt off his back" if asked.
Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, who played with Forsett and Lynch for three years at Cal, said it's a good one-two punch.
"Just having him and Forsett in the backfield is a good thing," Mebane said. "Both of them fed off each other to just run even harder. They'd both be there every time to congratulate each other. That's something I always noticed."
Carroll says Lynch is "a very unique football player. He plays with great intensity. He's got 'make-you-miss' ability and he's also physical and runs tough. He has really good hands and can catch the football as well, so he's got great versatility to him. He's got speed to break away and an attitude about the way he runs that he can run the ball in tough situations.
"He's a guy that can carry the load for you."
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/223693.asp
have faith!
btw i found this interesting article...
-----------------------------------------------
Report: Brady talks to Seahawks' Branch about rejoining Pats
* NFL.com Wire Reports
* Published: Oct. 8, 2010 at 01:06 p.m.
* Updated: Oct. 8, 2010 at 02:57 p.m.
As the Randy Moss trade picked up steam this week, Tom Brady worked behind the scenes, trying to lure a favorite target back to the New England Patriots.
The quarterback has been in touch with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Deion Branch about a return to the Patriots, The Boston Globe reported Friday.
According to The Globe, Branch plans to meet with Seahawks general manager John Schneider regarding his future with the team.
Branch, who was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft and was the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX, played in New England from 2002 to 2005. He was traded to Seattle in 2006 in return for a first-round draft pick.
Branch has 13 catches for 122 yards and one touchdown this season, but he has struggled to emerge in the Seahawks' offense. He had 45 receptions for 437 yards and two touchdowns in 2009, his most productive season with the team.
The Patriots, who are searching for receiver help after they traded Moss back to the Minnesota Vikings, held preliminary talks with the Chargers about a deal that would send holdout Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins to San Diego and bring disgruntled wide receiver Vincent Jackson to Foxborough, Comcast SportsNet New England reported Thursday, citing a source.
However, the television station added that a San Diego media source said the Chargers aren't interested in dealing for Mankins.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Seattle Seahawks
Deion Branch
WR
2010 Statistics
Receptions:
13
Receiving Yards:
112
Receiving Average:
8.6
Receiving Touchdowns:
1
btw i found this interesting article...
-----------------------------------------------
Report: Brady talks to Seahawks' Branch about rejoining Pats
* NFL.com Wire Reports
* Published: Oct. 8, 2010 at 01:06 p.m.
* Updated: Oct. 8, 2010 at 02:57 p.m.
As the Randy Moss trade picked up steam this week, Tom Brady worked behind the scenes, trying to lure a favorite target back to the New England Patriots.
The quarterback has been in touch with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Deion Branch about a return to the Patriots, The Boston Globe reported Friday.
According to The Globe, Branch plans to meet with Seahawks general manager John Schneider regarding his future with the team.
Branch, who was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft and was the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX, played in New England from 2002 to 2005. He was traded to Seattle in 2006 in return for a first-round draft pick.
Branch has 13 catches for 122 yards and one touchdown this season, but he has struggled to emerge in the Seahawks' offense. He had 45 receptions for 437 yards and two touchdowns in 2009, his most productive season with the team.
The Patriots, who are searching for receiver help after they traded Moss back to the Minnesota Vikings, held preliminary talks with the Chargers about a deal that would send holdout Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins to San Diego and bring disgruntled wide receiver Vincent Jackson to Foxborough, Comcast SportsNet New England reported Thursday, citing a source.
However, the television station added that a San Diego media source said the Chargers aren't interested in dealing for Mankins.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Seattle Seahawks
Deion Branch
WR
2010 Statistics
Receptions:
13
Receiving Yards:
112
Receiving Average:
8.6
Receiving Touchdowns:
1
A helpful hire for Hasselbeck
The acquisition of Marshawn Lynch this week won’t just help the Seahawks’ running game; it also will be beneficial to QB Matt Hasselbeck and the passing game.
Count Matt Hasselbeck among the fans of the trade to acquire Marshawn Lynch.
The Seahawks’ quarterback knows that the addition of the hard-running, yet versatile, tailback can only help an offense that ranks 28th in the league after the first quarter of the NFL season – and also make his job a little easier in the process.
“It’s always bittersweet that first day. You know, you lose a guy (Julius Jones) who has done everything we’ve asked him to do,” Hasselbeck said Wednesday, as his teammates were beating a hasty retreat from the Virginia Mason Athletic Center to begin their four-day bye weekend.
“But at the same time you get a spark. You really get just a boost from getting a guy like that. He brings something to our team that we didn’t have. He’s a big, powerful, strong back who loves football, has a good football IQ and complements Justin (Forsett) and what he does well. So it’s exciting to have him.”
Lynch was obtained Tuesday in a trade with the Buffalo Bills and practiced with the Seahawks for the first time less than 24 hours later – in the second of the team’s two bye-week workouts.
“He did a great job,” Hasselbeck said of Lynch’s first-day efforts. “For him to jump in like that and have no errors or no mistakes is pretty good.”
That’s because Lynch, a 5-foot-11, 217-pounder who is in his fourth NFL season is pretty good. He had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons after being the Bills’ first round draft choice in 2007. His role was diminished last season and he was sharing time with Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller this season. But that’s pretty good, too, because he comes to the Seahawks with that something-to-prove chip on his shoulder pads.
“I don’t know that we’ve ever had a guy like Marshawn,” said Hasselbeck, who has been with the Seahawks since 2001. “He’s a beast.”
Hasselbeck mentioned T.J. Duckett, a big back who was proficient as the short-yardage and goal-line back in 2008. But Duckett wasn’t as fast or versatile as Lynch.
Having a back in Lynch who can pick up those tough yards, as well as be productive on first and second downs to keep the offense out of third-and-long situation, is something coach Pete Carroll has been searching for since he was hired in January.
“It’s just a boost to have that kind of guy, that kind of weapon,” Hasselbeck said. “We’ve been talking about getting the running game going and this makes it a lot tougher for people to defend us. It gives us a huge opportunity in play action, it gives us huge opportunities with the naked bootleg, just all kinds of things – winning first down, winning second down, making third down more manageable.
“I know Pete’s really exciting about him. I know the offensive coaches are excited about him. Even Justin is excited about him. So it’s a good thing.”
And there haven’t been enough good things about the Seahawks’ offense during the team’s 2-2 start. The Seahawks rank 27th in rushing offense, and Hasselbeck has the only two rushing touchdowns. They rank 21st in passing offense, and Hasselbeck has thrown more interceptions (six) than touchdown passes (four). They have started four different combinations on the offensive line. Last week, they were held to only a field goal in the loss to the Rams in St. Louis.
“We clearly need to be better,” Hasselbeck said. “We know that. It’s been made clear. It’s evident.
“We can be so much better. We really can. But we’ve got to do it. We’ve got to come out here with a little more passion, a little more energy, a little more confidence and just cut it loose. You’ve got to play smart, but you’ve also got to cut it loose. You’ve got to have that emotion and you’ve got to be aggressive. You can’t play hesitant. You’ve got to be sure about what you’re doing and do it 100 miles an hour.”
That’s why Hasselbeck didn’t hesitate when asked how he plays to spend his bye weekend.
“It is an off week. Pete is really giving us off,” he said. “But I’m not going to treat it like I’ve treated the other ones in the past. I’m going to treat it a little bit different.”
That starts with focusing on the Oct. 17 game against the Bears in Chicago, even if he will be doing it at home rather than the QB meeting room at VMAC.
“We have to find a way to improve. We have to find a way to show our best this next game,” Hasselbeck said. “I’ve got a laptop which has all the plays – all their plays, all our plays from the year. Similar to everything that I have at my disposal in the quarterback room. So I’m going to spend a good amount of time on that.”
Especially now that he and the offense have a back like Lynch at their disposal.
http://www.seahawks.com/news/articl...sselbeck/d0f7e4a0-e6a6-40fe-ae5d-0849c7090aa0
The acquisition of Marshawn Lynch this week won’t just help the Seahawks’ running game; it also will be beneficial to QB Matt Hasselbeck and the passing game.
Count Matt Hasselbeck among the fans of the trade to acquire Marshawn Lynch.
The Seahawks’ quarterback knows that the addition of the hard-running, yet versatile, tailback can only help an offense that ranks 28th in the league after the first quarter of the NFL season – and also make his job a little easier in the process.
“It’s always bittersweet that first day. You know, you lose a guy (Julius Jones) who has done everything we’ve asked him to do,” Hasselbeck said Wednesday, as his teammates were beating a hasty retreat from the Virginia Mason Athletic Center to begin their four-day bye weekend.
“But at the same time you get a spark. You really get just a boost from getting a guy like that. He brings something to our team that we didn’t have. He’s a big, powerful, strong back who loves football, has a good football IQ and complements Justin (Forsett) and what he does well. So it’s exciting to have him.”
Lynch was obtained Tuesday in a trade with the Buffalo Bills and practiced with the Seahawks for the first time less than 24 hours later – in the second of the team’s two bye-week workouts.
“He did a great job,” Hasselbeck said of Lynch’s first-day efforts. “For him to jump in like that and have no errors or no mistakes is pretty good.”
That’s because Lynch, a 5-foot-11, 217-pounder who is in his fourth NFL season is pretty good. He had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons after being the Bills’ first round draft choice in 2007. His role was diminished last season and he was sharing time with Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller this season. But that’s pretty good, too, because he comes to the Seahawks with that something-to-prove chip on his shoulder pads.
“I don’t know that we’ve ever had a guy like Marshawn,” said Hasselbeck, who has been with the Seahawks since 2001. “He’s a beast.”
Hasselbeck mentioned T.J. Duckett, a big back who was proficient as the short-yardage and goal-line back in 2008. But Duckett wasn’t as fast or versatile as Lynch.
Having a back in Lynch who can pick up those tough yards, as well as be productive on first and second downs to keep the offense out of third-and-long situation, is something coach Pete Carroll has been searching for since he was hired in January.
“It’s just a boost to have that kind of guy, that kind of weapon,” Hasselbeck said. “We’ve been talking about getting the running game going and this makes it a lot tougher for people to defend us. It gives us a huge opportunity in play action, it gives us huge opportunities with the naked bootleg, just all kinds of things – winning first down, winning second down, making third down more manageable.
“I know Pete’s really exciting about him. I know the offensive coaches are excited about him. Even Justin is excited about him. So it’s a good thing.”
And there haven’t been enough good things about the Seahawks’ offense during the team’s 2-2 start. The Seahawks rank 27th in rushing offense, and Hasselbeck has the only two rushing touchdowns. They rank 21st in passing offense, and Hasselbeck has thrown more interceptions (six) than touchdown passes (four). They have started four different combinations on the offensive line. Last week, they were held to only a field goal in the loss to the Rams in St. Louis.
“We clearly need to be better,” Hasselbeck said. “We know that. It’s been made clear. It’s evident.
“We can be so much better. We really can. But we’ve got to do it. We’ve got to come out here with a little more passion, a little more energy, a little more confidence and just cut it loose. You’ve got to play smart, but you’ve also got to cut it loose. You’ve got to have that emotion and you’ve got to be aggressive. You can’t play hesitant. You’ve got to be sure about what you’re doing and do it 100 miles an hour.”
That’s why Hasselbeck didn’t hesitate when asked how he plays to spend his bye weekend.
“It is an off week. Pete is really giving us off,” he said. “But I’m not going to treat it like I’ve treated the other ones in the past. I’m going to treat it a little bit different.”
That starts with focusing on the Oct. 17 game against the Bears in Chicago, even if he will be doing it at home rather than the QB meeting room at VMAC.
“We have to find a way to improve. We have to find a way to show our best this next game,” Hasselbeck said. “I’ve got a laptop which has all the plays – all their plays, all our plays from the year. Similar to everything that I have at my disposal in the quarterback room. So I’m going to spend a good amount of time on that.”
Especially now that he and the offense have a back like Lynch at their disposal.
http://www.seahawks.com/news/articl...sselbeck/d0f7e4a0-e6a6-40fe-ae5d-0849c7090aa0
Wednesday in Hawkville
FOCUS ON
Brandon Stokley. How does a player join a new team three weeks into the regular season, practice for three days and then go out and catch four passes for 62 yards to provide a bright spot in a gloomy loss?
That’s exactly what Stokley did in the Seahawks’ 20-3 loss to the Rams in St. Louis last Sunday.
“He did a great job – he really did a great job,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said after today’s bye-week practice. “But it’s still hard. It’s not ideal.”
The bye week practices should help Stokley become more comfortable in the passing game. Not that he looked like the new guy in the offense against the Rams.
Stokley caught a 36-yard pass from Hasselbeck in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks’ longest gain of the afternoon. Before that, Stokley had a 12-yard catch on third-and-10, a 6-yard catch on third-and-6 and an 8-yard catch on third-and-10.
That would be impressive stuff for a receiver who had been with the team throughout training camp, the preseason and the first three regular-season games. In fact, Stokley’s catches tied for second most by a Seahawks’ receiver this season and his yards also were second highest.
“What he did was very impressive, and that just speaks to why he’s been in the league so long,” second-year receiver Deon Butler said.
For Stokley, who is 34, that would be 12 seasons.
“He’s a quick learner. He’s a savvy route runner,” said Butler, who had a five-catch, 50-yard outing in the Week 2 loss to the Broncos in Denver.
“He kind of knew the system a little bit, but you give him a few pointers and the rest he can do by himself. He knew his role – third down, in the slot – and he did it tremendously well.”
POSITION WATCH
Running back. All eyes, of course, were on No. 24 – Marshawn Lynch, who was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday and today practiced with the Seahawks for the first time.
Justin Forsett remained first in the rotation, but Lynch was up second – and often. He showed his power in running up the gut. He showed his speed in getting outside. He displayed his versatility by catching the ball out of the backfield.
All things that will help a work-in-progress running game, and also take some of the pressure off Hasselbeck to make plays.
“The play-action (passes) and the naked bootlegs, those are the two things that immediately improve if we can improve our run game,” Hasselbeck said. “I think our run game is close, I really do. It hasn’t shown up always, but I think our run game can be close.”
ON THE FIELD
The players were on the field for 80 minutes during the second of their two bye-week practices, and today’s session stressed getting back to basics.
“It’s been a good week to kind of go back to fundamentals and have similar to an OTA practice where you just focus on the basics of our offense,” Hasselbeck said.
Rookie wide receiver Golden Tate had an impressive practice, turning in four outstanding catches. On the first, he went up between cornerback Nate Ness and free safety Jordan Babineaux to make a nice reaching catch of a pass from Charlie Whitehurst in the 7-on-7 drill. A few plays later, Tate needed only half-a-blink to find and catch a pass that was tipped by Ness. In the final full-team drill, Tate went over rookie cornerback Walter Thurmond to catch a pass from Hasselbeck and then made an almost 360-degree turn to grab a pass from Whitehurst.
STAT DU JOUR
There already have been 11 kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns in the first four weeks of the season – eight kickoff returns, including two by the Seahawks’ Leon Washington in the Week 3 upset of the San Diego Chargers; and three punt returns.
The league record for the most in the first five weeks of a season is 16, set in 1998. Standing between that mark and this year’s talented group of returners are 12 in 2000; 13 in 2002; and 15 in 2007.
UP NEXT
The players are off until Monday, and that’s also when then next edition of Hawkville will appear.
YOU DON’T SAY
“It’s just part of the deal. You’ve got to do it. If you allow it to affect you you’re not going to play well. And if you lose your confidence, even just a little bit, you’re not going to be yourself; you’re not going to look like yourself. It’s a real thing. But it’s the difference between guys that make it and don’t make it in this league. Everyone’s watching you when things are tough – your teammates, your coaches, everybody. It’s important how you handle it.” – Hasselbeck, on how he deals with the negative press that comes with playing quarterback
http://blog.seahawks.com/2010/10/06/wednesday-in-hawkville-33/
FOCUS ON
Brandon Stokley. How does a player join a new team three weeks into the regular season, practice for three days and then go out and catch four passes for 62 yards to provide a bright spot in a gloomy loss?
That’s exactly what Stokley did in the Seahawks’ 20-3 loss to the Rams in St. Louis last Sunday.
“He did a great job – he really did a great job,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said after today’s bye-week practice. “But it’s still hard. It’s not ideal.”
The bye week practices should help Stokley become more comfortable in the passing game. Not that he looked like the new guy in the offense against the Rams.
Stokley caught a 36-yard pass from Hasselbeck in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks’ longest gain of the afternoon. Before that, Stokley had a 12-yard catch on third-and-10, a 6-yard catch on third-and-6 and an 8-yard catch on third-and-10.
That would be impressive stuff for a receiver who had been with the team throughout training camp, the preseason and the first three regular-season games. In fact, Stokley’s catches tied for second most by a Seahawks’ receiver this season and his yards also were second highest.
“What he did was very impressive, and that just speaks to why he’s been in the league so long,” second-year receiver Deon Butler said.
For Stokley, who is 34, that would be 12 seasons.
“He’s a quick learner. He’s a savvy route runner,” said Butler, who had a five-catch, 50-yard outing in the Week 2 loss to the Broncos in Denver.
“He kind of knew the system a little bit, but you give him a few pointers and the rest he can do by himself. He knew his role – third down, in the slot – and he did it tremendously well.”
POSITION WATCH
Running back. All eyes, of course, were on No. 24 – Marshawn Lynch, who was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday and today practiced with the Seahawks for the first time.
Justin Forsett remained first in the rotation, but Lynch was up second – and often. He showed his power in running up the gut. He showed his speed in getting outside. He displayed his versatility by catching the ball out of the backfield.
All things that will help a work-in-progress running game, and also take some of the pressure off Hasselbeck to make plays.
“The play-action (passes) and the naked bootlegs, those are the two things that immediately improve if we can improve our run game,” Hasselbeck said. “I think our run game is close, I really do. It hasn’t shown up always, but I think our run game can be close.”
ON THE FIELD
The players were on the field for 80 minutes during the second of their two bye-week practices, and today’s session stressed getting back to basics.
“It’s been a good week to kind of go back to fundamentals and have similar to an OTA practice where you just focus on the basics of our offense,” Hasselbeck said.
Rookie wide receiver Golden Tate had an impressive practice, turning in four outstanding catches. On the first, he went up between cornerback Nate Ness and free safety Jordan Babineaux to make a nice reaching catch of a pass from Charlie Whitehurst in the 7-on-7 drill. A few plays later, Tate needed only half-a-blink to find and catch a pass that was tipped by Ness. In the final full-team drill, Tate went over rookie cornerback Walter Thurmond to catch a pass from Hasselbeck and then made an almost 360-degree turn to grab a pass from Whitehurst.
STAT DU JOUR
There already have been 11 kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns in the first four weeks of the season – eight kickoff returns, including two by the Seahawks’ Leon Washington in the Week 3 upset of the San Diego Chargers; and three punt returns.
The league record for the most in the first five weeks of a season is 16, set in 1998. Standing between that mark and this year’s talented group of returners are 12 in 2000; 13 in 2002; and 15 in 2007.
UP NEXT
The players are off until Monday, and that’s also when then next edition of Hawkville will appear.
YOU DON’T SAY
“It’s just part of the deal. You’ve got to do it. If you allow it to affect you you’re not going to play well. And if you lose your confidence, even just a little bit, you’re not going to be yourself; you’re not going to look like yourself. It’s a real thing. But it’s the difference between guys that make it and don’t make it in this league. Everyone’s watching you when things are tough – your teammates, your coaches, everybody. It’s important how you handle it.” – Hasselbeck, on how he deals with the negative press that comes with playing quarterback
http://blog.seahawks.com/2010/10/06/wednesday-in-hawkville-33/