QUICK PREVIEW & PREDICTION OF HAWKS WEEK 3 VS. BEARS

I first want to apologize for my "review" of the Seahawks game vs. the 49ers last week. That was a hard game to watch and a really hard one to want to write about afterwards. I do this blog for fun and its just not fun when we lose a game and lose key players like that.

This week poses a new challenge. We are hurting, Matt Hasselbeck will not start, they have yet to announce it,but its pretty clear that he's not ready to play. As Donovan Mcnabb is set to miss his second week in Phili with a similar injury(cracked rib.) We are missing key players on defense as well. Leroy Hill and Lofa Tatupu at the linebacker position, both Wilson and Griffith are hurt at Safety. On Offense T.J. Houshmenzadeh is still ailing with back spasms, and feeling slightly disgruntled about his number of catches in the first 2 games. If we were completely healthy I think we may have a real shot at winning this game.

That said, we aren't healthy and if the real Jay Cutler comes to play, it could be an easy win for the Chicago Bears. It will be interesting to see how the Bears defense looks without Brian Urlacher who is out for the season with surgery on a dislocated wrist. I think the only chance Seattle has of winning this game is to get Seneca moving. Designing a game plan around the athletic ability of Seneca Wallace and not turning over the ball will be key for Seattle to come out with a victory.

Special teams will also play a big role in this game, in containing Devin Hester, and winning the battle for field position is normally half the battle. Seattle can win this game, but in my opinion its not likely. That said this week i am making an optimistic and a pessimistic prediction for the game.

OPTIMISTIC PREDICTION: SEAHAWKS 17 BEARS 13
PESSIMISTIC PREDICTION: SEAHAWKS 12 BEARS 28

Seahawks Injury Report

Injury Report

Name Status Injury
Houshmandzadeh, T.J. DNP Back
Lucas, Ken LP Groin
Spencer, Chris FP Quadriceps
Hill, Leroy DNP Groin
Branch, Deion FP Hamstring
Mebane, Brandon - Calf
Fisher, Travis FP Hamstring
Wilson, Josh DNP Ankle
Hasselbeck, Matt DNP Rib
Griffith, Justin DNP Knee
Jones, Walter FP Knee
Locklear, Sean DNP Ankle
Tatupu, Lofa DNP Hamstring

Review of Hawks game Week 2

We Lost. :(

Week 2 Seahawks vs. 49ers Preview & Prediction

I really get the feeling this game will come down to who has the better offense. Both teams have solid defenses and exciting young players. Whats key for Seattle is whether or not T.J. houshmanzadeh plays. He sat out practice with back spasms and if he misses the game could throw of the balance of the passing game. If Seattle can run the ball effectively then the subject is mute, however the Seahawks haven't been successfull in running ball since Shaun Alxanders MVP season. That coupled with the improvement in defense for the 49ers, it could be a long game.

The 49ers are hit or miss on offense. Issac Bruce always seems to tear up the Seahawks secondary, going back to his days with the Rams, and if they are able to open up the field with some big plays early, they may just steal the momentum at home. Everybody makes a big deal out of Frank Gore, RB, or as I like to call him Frank " Ogore" cuz his mug resembles shrek, because of the huge game he had against the Seahawks a few seasons back where he ran for over 300 yards. Quite "frankly" however, Seattle made key adjustments on defense after that game and he hasn't been nearly as effective since.

I predict this will be a back and forth battle for first place in the NFC West, granted its only week 2, but teams are looking to establish dominance. Going into this season everybody was torn, will the Seahawks bounce back? Will the Cardinals suffer the Superbowl loser curse? How much will San Fran improve under coach Mike Singletary? Starting off the season facing 2 division rivals is big for the Seahawks. I think they will prevail against the 49ers will key 3rd down plays and improved secondary play from Ken Lucas and Josh Wilson, to take the #1 spot atop the NFC West , where they belong.

SEAHAWKS 24 & 49ERS 13

10 Observations from Week 1 NFL

Here's 10 observations I made after week 1

1. The Jets look alot better on defense than I anticipated. They should play a really tough game this week against the Patriots, with or without all the trash they are talking.

2. The Steeler's losing Troy Polamalu for 3-6 weeks with an MCL strain is HUGE! They win close low scoring games with him and I'm afraid with him out, those close games may swing the other way.

3. T.O. just isn't the player he used to be, and the talk of how great he is going to be " next week" is starting to take on the feeling of "the boy who cried wolf." Eventually people are going to stop tuning in to see if he actually shows up in a game

4. The Okland Raiders running game is sick! RunDMC aka Darren Mcfadden is a bulldoser, but will it amount to a better season for the Raiders? I don't think so, but they should beat the Cheifs this week.

5. Rex Ryan I thought they traded for Jay Cutler..wait what..! that was Jay Cutler who started at QB for the Bears, and threw 4 interceptions? Ouch! Lets hope he's put that game behind him. Hell I put the Bears in my top 10 this season, but not with that kind of play from the QB position

6. The Ravens look even better than I anticipated, with the usually run heavy offense really opening up the field with a plethora of passing plays to start the game. Joe Flacco the next Trent Dilfer for the Ravens? not a star but gets the job done... I could see them deep in the playoffs.

7. How good are the 49ers really? Im not buying the Shaun Hill love fest, but their defense is much improved and their head coach, steady. It will be a good test of dominance between them and Seattle this week. Of course I feel like Seattle is the better team.

8. There are going to be some real bottom feeders again this year. Rams, Cheifs, Lions, Browns, Bengals, and im adding the Dolphins back onto that list.

9. Drew Breeze rules and Reggie Bush..well... drools. Luckily the Saint have enough on offense without him, lets see if they need their defense or not when they play a better team than Detroit.

10. It was just a great opening weekend of football. From Thurdays Steelers vs.Titans to the two monday night double headers. I am really excited for football this season!

SEAHAWKS SHUTOUT RAMS 28-0

The Jim Mora Era has begun in Seattle, with a 28- 0 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. The game started on shaky to say the least. The first quarter left me questioning whether or not I was watching a professional football game. Fumbles, interceptions, and poor play on offense gave me that immediate pit in my stomach. That "It's gonna be a long season" ache in my heart! But once the team started to settle down, penalties were corrected, and the offense began to flow my hopes began to rise. They just may be back.

Not to get lost in the excitement of the offense, I would first like to acknowledge the first shutout since 2007 for the Seahawks defense. Yes it is the Rams, and there were some unique situations, like Seattle long time stud kicker (now with the Rams) Josh Brown missing an easy field goal, however a shutout in the NFL is impressive no matter who the opponent. So rather than take away from the feat by pointing to the lack of receivers or abundance of penalties for the Rams I'm giving credit to a strong defensive effort.

Aaron Curry is fast, passionate, and athletic! He will be a sight to see this season. The secondary played very well, which was our weakest aspect on defense last season. No big plays for the Rams, they held them on 3 rd downs, and got pressure on Mark Bulger. Most importantly they didn't allow a single point.

Now to the offense. With the beginning jitters aside the offense was at times electric. In years past Matt seemed to be spending too much time looking for receivers rather than throwing the ball. I remember myself saying on several occasions when Matt would have all day and still take a sack, " Really Matt? No one was open?" That won't be a problem this year. We have real viable threats at wide receiver, and tight end. John Carlson is proving he is among the best TE in the game with 2 TD catches vs. the Rams. The offensive line was more than impressive, not allowing a single sack despite being without their starting center, Chris Spencer, and the best offensive left tackle in the game in Walter Jones.

The running game did enough. Jones broke a 62 yard run for a TD, and ended the game with 117 yards. I still saw to many running plays with no gain. We really need to be able to at least get some positive yardage on most running plays. That said, there is hope that the 60-30-10 guide** set out by coach Mora may work this season. I was interested most in weather or not we would notice a change in the play calling with Greg Knapp as the new Offensive Coordinator. The trick play with Seneca Wallace that netted 24 yards was just what I wanted to see. It was unexpected and to me it shows confidence, and a willingness to take risks. I'm excited to see how this offense will develop and improve from game to game.

Injuries: Lofa Tatupu, MLB, had a hamstring injury and left the game, it is said to be mild. Leroy Hill, OLB, had a strained groin and did not return to the game, also reportedly mild. Deion Branch, WR, did not play with a hamstring injury, after not practicing all week. I'll be chanting "Trade him! trade him!" every chance I get this season.

Great win! Great team effort overall. Even with injuries to key starters coming into the game and early in the game on defense, there was little to no drop off in play with the back up players. Im feeling very good, about this season, and I'm not going to let the fact that we had a weak opponent take away from what the team was able to accomplish! GO HAWKS!!!

PLAYER OF THE GAME: John Carlson

** 60-30-10 guide: Coach Mora stated that his intent with the running back situation was to give Julius Jones 60% of the carries, Edgerrin James 30%, and Justin Forsett 10%, ideally.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS : Preview of the 2009 season

There are some big questions going into the 2009 season for the Seattle Seahawks. Some big concerns, and some big opportunities for this team to return to form and reclaim its rightful place atop the NFC West.

Overall, I'm optimistic going into this year. Matt is back, and he's healthy. We will have to win more than 4 games if he stays in the line up all year. No knock on Seneca Wallace, but we need to start a healthy Matt Hasselbeck on all 16 games if we want to make it to the playoffs this season. The addition of T.J. Houshmanzedah could completely electrify this offense. Matt works best when he get into a rhythm, we've seen him at his best in the past, when he consistently could convert 1st downs on 8-15 yard gains to Bobby Engram. Engram is now with the Kansas City Chiefs, but what the Seahawks have in T.J. is a B.Eazy on steroids( not literally!) T.J. in theory will be that same go-to guy, except this time he will be of a #1 WR caliber.

The question remains, can Houshmanzedah handle being the #1 guy, or was his success in Cincinnati largely due to Chad Ochocinco drawing double teams on the other side of the field? This won't be a concern however if Nate Burleson can stay healthy and step up this season, he is a viable threat to opposing teams.

Lets break down all sides of the ball and address the Strengths and Weakness' :

Offense:

Pro's- Matt is healthy, the addition of T.J. and a healthy Nate Burleson, as well as the young exciting receivers ( Butler, Taylor, etc.) will make the passing game something to watch this season. That is if the offensive line, who is missing the NFL best left tackle in Walter Jones, can provide enough protection for the passing game to develop.

Con's- The makeshift offensive line, has 3 men starting that were not on the starting roster going into the preseason. Walter Jones and Chris Spencer need to get healthy quick before the momentum of this season is lost on multi- sack games. Also, the running game is still mediocre at best. The Seahawks will need to address their running game in the off season by either a trade or preferably in the draft. I don't see James or Jones having a big season. Justin Forsett can be a nice spark every now and then however.

Defense:

Pro's- Will the implement of a new Defensive scheme revamp a defense that was 31st in passing Defense? That's the question. Aaron Curry looks like could be not only the rookie of the year at the LB position, but also could have a probowl season ahead of him in his first year in the NFL. What I've seen from him in the preseason excites me! We do have the best linebacking core in the NFL with Tatupu, Hill, and now Curry. We should be able to get pressure on the opposing QB consistently this season.

Con's- Injuries once again are the biggest cause for concern. The Seahawks pass- defense was 31st in the league last season, and with Marcus Trufant out for at least 6 games with a injury to a disk in his back, this could prove to be a weakness again this year. Corner Ken Lucas is back and needed at the corner position. Also, they released Safety Brain Russel which is a good move, if nothing else it shows that they are not content to just put back on the field the same players that failed last year.

Special Teams: Punter Matt Ryan has had a very impressive preseason, if he can continue his preseason success into the season that could prove to be a small aspect with a big impact on football games. After all, field position is everything. We need better coverage on kickoff and punt returns, too many missed tackles. Its about time we step up our return game as well. The new rules the allow only a 3 man wedge on returns doesn't help, but I'm not writing off our return game just yet. The few missed field goals in the preseason shouldn't haunt to regular season.

Coaching: Jim Mora Jr. has something to prove. With his reputation as a "player's coach" he strove to command respect during training camp and preseason this year by working the team hard. Did it work? or are they player's too tired going into the start of the season?

Seahawk fans have a nagging pit in their stomach with the departure of Mike Holmgren, reminding them of when Lou Pinella left the Mariners. Sparing a string of losing season's and multiple managers since his departure. The situation with Mora is different however, and I think Mora will get the time he needs to prove he is deserving of the head coaching position.

I am most interested to see how the addition of Greg Knapp as a Offensive Coordinator will affect play calling this season. This is a year where the coaches are as much a story as the player's.

GAME 1 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2009 VS. ST.LOUIS RAMS

Prediction: Seahawks 31, Rams, 17

NFL ROUND UP!! MY TAKE ON ALL 32 TEAMS FOR 2009-2010 SEASON

Tonight the 2009 NFL season kicks with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the Tennessee Titans, in what very easily could end up being a preview of the AFC title game this season!

Here are some quick thoughts on how this season teams may stack up, following all the major headlines that have driven this offseason, and gotten us here today at the season opener!

Who will live up to the hype? Who will fail to impress? The pressure is on this season in the NFL, lots of big players making moves to new teams, Farve to Minnesota, Cutler to Chicago, Sanchez to the Jets, T.O. to Buffalo. I'm left wondering if one person can a winning season make, after all football is the ultimate team sport!

Here's my breakdown and rankings going into week 1 of the 2009 NFL season. ENJOY!

1. Steelers - Its the old idea of " Until someone can prove they can beat them, they are still the World Champions!" As much as I have to admit it (being a Seahawk fan) Hines Field is an intimidating place to play. Their defense is pure adrenaline meets talent, and the offense continues to improve. Mike Tomlin is a young and exciting coach.

2. Colts- With a healthy team and a healthy Peyton Manning they have the smoothest operating offense in the league. however injuries are a big concern and if they can't stay healthy they can easily fall out of the top 10

3. Patriots- TOM BRADY'S BACK! however only 3 players remain from the 3 Super Bowl wins this decade. Coach Belichick is the best coach currently in the NFL so they should still have great success with the current players. However, the defense is getting older and I don't forsee another ring this season

4. Giants- (hesitantly) They have a great running game, that really takes the pressure off of Eli Manning under the scope of the New York press. Their defense is improved, it will be interesting to see how the passing games fairs with Plexico behind bars rather than getting behind a secondary.

5. Titans- Last season some people called a breakout season for the Titans, im of the opinion that it was rather the culmination of constant and continual improvement over that last several seasons. If they can get through the first half of their season with a decent record they should coast into the playoffs.

6. Bears- Thats right I said Daaaa Bears! i feel like this team has been so close for so many years and mainly held back by their quarterback position. The addition of Jay Cutler may be the biggest and best move this franchise has made in a long time! After all this is a team who won 9 games last year with a joke of a QB.

7. Chargers- They have all the talent in the world, but is Ladainian Tomlinson on the downside of his career? They need him to have a comeback year if they want to go deep into the playoffs. At this point I just don't see it happening. They will probably face another slow start.

8. Ravens- I love defense..... enough said.

9. Vikings- Honestly they would have been in my top ten prior to Farve's unretirement. In Adrian Peterson I do believe. Lets give some credit to good ol' "Hutch" Seattle fans still woe the day he slipped away! That said, Farve health is always a concern, he is a senior citizen now, but the players like Tavaris Jackson, and if he has to come in to relieve Bret late in the season they will fair just fine.

10. Packers- Aaron Rogers is a good quarter back, but offense isnt where this team struggles. They are attempting to input a new defensive scheme switing to a 3-4 package, and by all accounts seem to be transitioning well. For some reason however I can't seem to think of one WR after Donald Driver...hmmmmm?

NOW THAT THE TOP 10 IS OUT OF THE WAY LETS BREEZE THROUGH THE REMAINING 22 TEAMS.

11. Eagles- They get hyped up every year and Im just not buying it. Vick will prove to have no real value as a back up QB.

12. Carolina- They don't get enough respect, and its because their QB is quietly good. They had a 12-4 last season, I look for a similar showing this year, what it all comes down to is how they play in the playoffs. They need a little bit more swagger if they want to advance.

13. Seahawks- If they can stay healthy they can easily rise up in the ranks. The passing defense was horrible last season! but what this team reall has going for it is a winning mindset last season's bad showing was due greatly to injury and call me a "homer" but I see a bounce back season for the Hawks!

14, Falcons- Unlike Tennessee who have been gradually improving over the last several seasons, the Falcons got good overnight. I need more evidence from Matt Ryan before last season can count as proof of a good football team.

15. Cardinals- Im still baffled by how they made it to the Super bowl last year.... Kurt Warner another year older, and still some bad feeling surrounding #2 WR Boldin. That said they do have the best WR in the NFL is Fitzgerald, Madden curse anyone?

16. Saints- Drew Breeze is the man...and the Saints defense is the woman. No offense to woman, but they need to improve on defense in order to have any real measurable success outside of the fantasy football stats of Breeze. p.s Reggie Bush is a bust!

17. Texans- Frankly they have just been bad long enough. Time to put it together if they want to take a step into the top half of the NFL rankings.

18. Miami- Last season's successes won't hold up in 2009. The wildcat will not have the same effect it did , so unless they can successfully impliment some other college scheme this year i predict a fall from grace.

19. Dallas- Their QB is not a leader, and that's never a formula for success.

20. Jaguars- Tough division games to start the season, if they can come out of the start with atleast one win, they will be in better shape. I like this team to move up in the ranking throughout the seaason.

AND NOW THE BOTTOM FEEDERS AND THE FEW WORD ASSOCIATIONS THEY EVOKE

21. Jets- Sanchez

22. Bengals- Hard knocks

23. Bills- Turf toe T.O.

24. Redskins- Crazy Zorn

25. 49ers- Missing the decades past

26. Lions- #1 pick overall

27. Broncos- Pay up!

28. Cheifs- Hurting and too old

29. Buccaneers- Hate those cannons!!

30. Rams- (blank)

31. Browns- Poop

32. Raiders- Sucker punch themselves