Terry Shilton

The Hawks have the weekend off, the coaching staff opted for a few light workouts this weeks some conditioning and self monitored practices giving the Seahawks players the weekend to rest and relax. There remains alot of unanswered questions around this early season for these Seahawks, who hope that by getting healthier they will be able to return to conference winning form.

The coaches went as far as to joke about actually having to make some “tough decisions” about the inactive list as players like Billy McMullen and Michael Bumpus will likely get their stand up interm work rewarded by being placed back on the inactive list.

 Holmgren said he hopes to get back wide receivers Bobby Engram (shoulder), Deion Branch (knee) and Koren Robinson (knee), as well as running back Maurice Morris (knee), offensive tackle Sean Locklear (knee) and quarterback Seneca Wallace (calf).

Also of interest will be the rotation at running back with Mo Morris coming back into the fold, Julius has looked great and is the third leading rusher in the NFL right now, but was originally sloted to carry the ball behind Morris and platoon attempts.

“How and how many snaps and percentages, I don’t know,” Holmgren said. “Sometimes you just have to go with a gut feeling.”

Whatever the decisions are there are no five games bigger than these next five for the Hawks, quite simply this stretch will determine the success of this season:

The next five opponents are a combined 11-4, and Coach Holmgren has not fared well coming of the bye with the Seahawks is only 2-7, the team is optimistic, they are getting healthier on both sides of the ball but will it be enough to return to top form?

The real question for me is our secondary, they have been average or worse and do not have the injury excuse that the offense has. The coaching staff has tried various personnel combinations but no combination has worked. Looking at the next five games really every team but the Giants will look to beat us through the air, if were not better in our secondary this will become a rebuiliding year in Seattle.

Just a quick note as I have recieved a couple emails on this, yes I have heard and recently read some of the jokes posted on a Seattle Seahawks Fan Blog that has suddenly become so controversial, posting jokes and requesting jokes to poke fun at an opponent like the Giants is one thing, posting jokes and requesting jokes about the American tradedgy that is 9/11 is quite another, to call this tasteless would be a understatement. Rivalry is a wonderful part of sport, and humour is a wonderful part of sports communtating especially in the blogging world, but even for bloggers there is to be a journalistic standard and for fans of sport in general and the Seahawks this is well below that standard!

Terry Shilton

This was a unique experience for me, getting to attend an NFL game as part of an NFL TOUR put on by the NFL as way to say thanks to some corporate sponsors north of the border. The tour kicked off by bus from Vancouver and when onboard we were treated to free Reebok hoodies and Hats. The Bus met up with the buses of four other sponsors approx 15 mintues from the stadium and then we were caravaned by police escort to the stadium, 5 police motorcyclles stopped traffic on the Freeway so we could pass, and surrounded us ushering us through lights as we neared the stadium. I have and probably never will experience anything like that again, kind of presidential or rockstar feel to it. Then you arrive and are treated to an “All Canadian” tailgate experience blocks from the stadium, all the free beer and barbecue you could handle.

We had like two hours of this just relaxing before the game, the food was great plus this tent had a DJ in the back and two flat screens in either corner showing out of town

games.

So the barbeque winds down and we make are way up to the game and as part of the opening ceremonies a couple RCMP mounted police are part of it as well as some children, alot of Canadian Flags and the Canadian National Anthem, unfortunately there were more than a few boo birds really a shame given the link between the two countires with regards to Seattle athletics, both the Sonics and Hawks have a ton of Canadian supporters. The one thing that dawned on me was shortly after the ceremony after over hearing alot of people asking why the Canadian content, the team made no announcement that this was NFL TOUR day or that there was alot of Canadians in attendance but chose to instead make the majority of it’s fans sit through something they are not use in some attempt to please a couple hundred Canadian VIP’s, favorite comment I overheard “Why is today any more Canadian than any other day”

The Seats were well dead average, 30 yard line home end zone pretty high but not too high, I did appreciate however the free roam the guest passes provided as we were given access to all public zones.

Now the game, the fans were rowdy a sellout crowd at 68,000 and the noise was deafening, seemed a couple octaves louder than normal as if the 12th man was intent on pushing the team through.

From My: Preview

REVISED KEYS TO VICTORY

Offense

1. Julius Jones, the Rams do not have a good run defense, Julius Jones rushed for 140 yards on 22 touches including a TD and and unbelievable spin back against the grain run for 32 yards, TJ Duckett added another 80 Yards on 19 carries.

2. Decision Making, Matt Hasselbeck has been average, Matt did exactly what he needed to manage the game keep drives alive and protect the ball, our offense can run the ball effectively but do so we have to mix in some passes keep drives moving.

3. Put the OH in Offensive Line, no pressure on Matt gave him the time to make plays but really earned their pay cheques run blocking the tackling of the Rams was bad but alot of tackles were being attempted at the second level, our backs were given room to operate.

Defense

1. Pass coverage, this one worries me as Marc Bulger did not look real good at any point in this game, alot of missed throws and watching the coverage was good but still alot of room for improvement, one thing I did like is that Josh Wilson was at times our second corner he played real physical with a couple of nice bumps at the line of scrimmage and to seemed to be challenging recievers more than Kelly Jennings, Josh finished the game with 7 tackles

2. Turnovers, created 2 something we failed to do in the losses on Sunday this wasn’t the difference but it will be other days the play by Julian Peterson to force a fumble was a difference maker early on that type of back breaker at that point it was over.

REVISED KEY MATCHUPS

1. Matt Hasselbeck vs Melting Matt, gotta give it up to Matt played well did not disappear in a big game for the Hawks but the block stood out more than any passes he threw if you didn’t see it on a touchdown run by Julius Jones, Julius got jammed up the middle spun to the outside and was left with Matt to lead him into the end zone, Matt went low tripped up two Rams and Julius tipped toed in.

2. Replacement Dreams vs Replacement Schemes, yes the Replacements was on cable but I couldn’t help myself comparing that movie to our team, players come in many not ready physically or in terms of knowledge and it’s not fair but this is your chance to make something so hurry up and catch a big gainer over the middle where careers are ended before one of our real recievers get’s healthy and your career never begins. I actually felt bad for Billy McMullen, he caught a pass over the middle that was thrown a little too far and a little too high but as a replacement you don’t make every attempt to make a play you may never play again nice catch but man did he pay a price just got lit up, nice day overall 4 receptions 76 yards.

3. Michael Bumpus vs Practice Roster, Mike has looked the best of any off the practice roster callups a couple nice receptions a little run after the catch on one a TD on the other great to see a guy get rewarded by sticking with it after not making the 52 man roster, suprised how average Courtney Taylor has looked considered the #2 on week one after the injuries before Burleson went down he is slowly playing his way onto the practice roster.

THE SHORT AND LONG OF IT

In short this will actually be a passing dual, both secondarys have been bad but The Hawks will hold at home the key stat will be completion percentage which ever QB completes a greater perecentage of passes wins Sunday Third week in a row this hits Matt won the QB dual and the Hawks won.

We look to lick our wounds coming into the bye week, everyone knows about our downed Recievers but the Offensive Line and Defense are pretty banged up as well for www.sportstalkbuzz.com this is Hawk Talk please check back Mid Week for roster updates and practice anaylsis.

A few more pics

Terry Shilton

I hate to use the words “Must” and “Win” so early in the season but this is a game the Seahawks cannot afford to drop. We play in a week division but to win the division you will need eleven or so wins three straight losses to sub five hundred teams would signal the beginning of the end for this season. Sure there are some legitimate excuses but winners win, they beat the odds which is ironic given the fact Koren Robinson has been brought back in the fray. Troubled by off the field issues many a NFL coach has given him a second chance and maybe no coach holds a softer spot for him than Coach Holmgren, let’s hope he gets rewarded.

OPPONENT OVERVIEW

The Rams are the league’s worst team, offensively they rank dead last in yards and points and second to last in rushing and third from last in passing. Unfortunately for Ram fans their defense has been just as bad this team has been blown out badly twice, criticized on air by former player Marshall Faulk on a local radio show early in the week only to be warned by their owner before the weekend “if your not better changes will be made”. Oddly the owners remarks seemed a direct answer to Marsall’s comments that this team should be “Blown up”

KEYS TO VICTORY

Offense

1. Julius Jones, the Rams do not have a good run defense and the Hawks don’t have a real good pass offense going into Sunday if we can run and run well it will be the difference.

2. Decision Making, Matt Hasselbeck has been average wait below average as a pro bowl calibre QB we should be able to count on his decison making, especially in crunch time it has not been good enough and personally the excuses I keep hearing about recievers or that with some timing he woudn’t have to look down routes as much just doesn’t cut it, too many bad throws take responsibilty for your decision making.

3. Put the OH in Offensive Line, suprised to see this not being talked about a little more but our the line is banged up both Sean Locklear and Walter Jones skipped practice and Rob Sims is done for the year, they will have to step it up both in the run and pass.

Defense

1. Pass coverage, our defense ranks just ahead of the Rams against the pass, yes honestly and they have given up 79 points in 2 games and we are just a little ahead of that, this is a defense that Coach Holmgren thought could challenge to be one of the best and without the injuries leaves them without the excuses.

2. Turnovers, 8 sacks no turn overs? at San Fran that’s the line, one turn over swings the balance of the game the other way just one, we need to display a sense of urgency and hunger to get our offense the ball back.

Coaching

1. I have to say after both games I was left with a sense we were out coached, Buffalo hit the trick play, San Franciso made adjustments but looking back at both games as a whole the other teams were different when they needed to be. This type of fine tuning has been a knock on Coach Holmrgren his whole career, I am also finding our coaches way to in love with the pass in playcalling, we are abanding the run to early in some crazy effort to stay a west coast offense despite like 7 recievers down.

KEY MATCHUPS

Matt Hasselbeck vs Melting Matt, if I had a Matt Hasselbeck Mcfarlane figure would it melt in the sun? a few people have long thought Matt tends to disappear in big games, for me this is unfairly harsh as he led us to the superbowl but he didn’t win it. So the questioning for some continues can he pull through when we need him most?

Replacement Dreams vs Replacement Schemes, yes the Replacements was on cable but I couldn’t help myself comparing that movie to our team, players come in many not ready physically or in terms of knowledge and it’s not fair but this is your chance to make something so hurry up and catch a big gainer over the middle where careers are ended before one of our real recievers get’s healthy and your career never begins.

Mike Holmgren vs Jim Mora, this is Mike’s team but drop this one and maybe not? can the Big Show be replaced early? I have always been against this two coach on the sideline move no matter how I try to stomach it as carefully planning it just adds unneccessary confusion.

THE LINE

The latest is Seattle -9.5 and myself I’d take the Hawks even minus the points it won’t be a statement kind of win just a win, well cover the points get healthy and work on our statement.

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT

In a game of two teams fighting for some repectability both have their backs against the wall of expectation, win and recieve at least a stay of execution lose and well things change, questions asked, answers provided. On Offense we will be able to run the ball on the Rams but they won’t be able to run on us.

In short this will actually be a passing dual, both secondarys have been bad but The Hawks seondary will hold at home the key stat will be completion percentage which ever QB completes a greater perecentage of passes wins Sunday

Please Check in with www.sportstalkbuzz.com’s Rams Blogger Femi Fasoyinu for his take on Sunday’s Matchup as well

Also I have been invited to an NFL Canada Tour from Vancouver to Seattle for Sunday’s game which is to include special access to the stadium, tailgating, bus ride, hostess and so on because of this I will not be getting back from Sunday’s game until the last ferry so my Recap will be much later in day in Monday but will include an all access account of my trip, pictures and other details.