In Your Head

Winners will lose, but losers will fail.

The culture surrounding the Seahawks franchise these days is inspiring, reflective, and progressive. They expect to win and they are, head coach Pete Carroll is realizing his self-fulfilling prophecy.

Carroll's goal when he took charge of football operations and head coaching duties was to make the roster his own. With the help of general manager John Schnieder, Carroll has compiled the opportunistic and tough-hitting defense that when combined with a smash-mouth running game yields consistent wins.

Coaches rarely get Carte Blanche with their roster when hired. Fans need to give Seahawks management credit, they gave Carroll the chance to completely rebuild the team in his ideal image and it's paying off. He has shaped the Seahawks into a stubborn bully that won't go down.

Seattle was 2-3 entering their mid-October bye week. Then three straight losses against beatable teams put them in a position to satisfy their critics opinions of a high draft picks and coaching hot seats. At 2-6, Seattle was a sorry bunch. On paper the next game against AFC North leader, Baltimore, was supposed to be a blowout even on Seattle's trusty home field. Wrong. The Seahawks channeled the Raven's tough run style and suffocating defense leading to a shocking 22-17 win. Three wins in the following four games has Seattle believing they can play with anyone.

Coaches can show you to the toolbox, but players must wield the hammer.

Seattle's new hard-nosed attitude can be attributed to runningback, Marshawn Lynch. He exemplifies the Seahawks' team mentality: fight until you fall and then get back up asking for seconds.

The man leads the league in broken tackles (and souls crushed). When tacklers first make contact he does not go down. The yards gained after initial contact is amazing. Simply, Lynch earns his yardage through sheer willpower. Lynch ranks seventh in rushing at 963 yards with nine scores. This marks the first 1,000 yard rusher Seattle will have since the glory days of Shaun Alexander and his unbeatable offensive line.

The winning attitude that permeates this team is similar to the "us and against world" mantra many war generals have utilized as a battle cry. Coach Carroll planted a seed in his players' head last season when his supposedly bad playoff team knocked the explosive New Orleans Saints out of the first round.

With that win, the Seahawks sent a message to the league. These are not the pushovers you've known before. Those losers don't live here anymore. They play like winners now.

In the past 13 games, Seattle has solidified it's identity as a team that will punch you in the mouth on offense and turn around kick you in the ass on defense. This is a team that doesn't play well with other and wants their football back.

2011-2012 NBA PLAYOFF SEED PREDICTIONS

ATLANTIC--(1) BOSTON--(2) PHILLY--(3) NY--(4) NJ

CENTRAL--(1) CHICAGO

SOUTHEAST--(1) MIAMI--(2) ATLANTA--(3) ORLANDO

NORTHWEST--(1) OKC--(2) UTAH

PACIFIC--(1) LAL--(2) PORTLAND--(3) LAC

SOUTHWEST--(1) MEMPHIS--(2) DALLAS--(3) SAN ANTONIO

SLEEPER EAST AND WEST--INDIANA & SACRAMENTO

Facing the facts

As bad as the public perception of the Seattle Seahawks is, it could be a lot worse.

The Seahawks could be win less and have low attendance...(ie: Miami). Instead, they have 2 wins out of 5 and the loudest home crowd in football.

The Seahawks could have lost their best player (Manning) for the season before it even started...(ie: Indianapolis) Instead, the Seahawks roster is looking relatively healthy being that it's 6 weeks into the season.

What about the 8 NFL teams that have 1 win or less? No, thanks.

Now there would be an advantage if this team actually was horrible, advantage being a very high draft pick. The whole football universe is caught up in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes because of his can't-miss arm and football mind. The Stanford quarterback will be the first overall pick but the team choosing is undetermined.

This much I know, the Seahawks will not be that team. They are simply too good to be bad enough to draft Luck. In some way that sucks. In another way it's kind of a relief that the Hawks already have enough talent. in enough places to win. Don't get me wrong, Seattle needs to start grooming the next franchise QB as soon as possible but the team as a whole is decent.

The Seahawks probably have another 3 wins in them. Honestly, it could be more. They almost beat San Francisco and Atlanta.

Most franchises need to hit rock bottom to eventually rise to the top. A lot of big-time quarterbacks are chosen in the top-10 of the draft but not all. You just never know till you know. If the Seahawks have a top-10 pick and a quarterback is available they better pull the trigger.

The only scenario I would accept with their first pick besides quarterback would be a cornerback. Veteran cornerback Marcus Trufant suffers injuries too often. The other options are Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond. Both of those two guys are still young and learning on the fly but they have potential. I want Seattle to have one of those guys that shuts down one side of the field by himself. Pair a guy like that with safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas and no one will want to throw on Seattle.

There are 11 more games to be played this season. Many things will happen between now till January. Many losses will have to be toughed out but I just want to ensure my Hawk fans out there not to get down on your team. You could always be the 0-5 Rams.

No, thanks.

Curry no longer part of recipe for success

Another pick bites the dust. You can now add Aaron Curry to the list of Seattle athletes that were paid big money and failed.

This morning the Seahawks traded the former fourth-overall pick from 2009 to the Oakland Raiders for a couple meaningless future draft picks. Sad story really.

Curry was a highly touted linebacker out of Wake Forest University that was widely considered the best defensive collegiate player that year. Back then he was added to a linebacker corp including Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill. Those three were supposed to be a dynamic trio that would dominate for years. Instead, those guys have all failed one way or another.

The speed of the pro game consistently proved too much for the very athletic Curry. He rarely sacked quarterbacks or forced turnovers. In the last two weeks he had been supplanted in the starting lineup by a rookie linebacker named K.J. Wright.

Tatupu made a couple Pro Bowls in the beginning of his career but quickly declined after a few concussions and minor injuries. To his and Seahawk fans surprise, his services were not retained this season. Since his release in August Tatupu has not been signed by another team. It's a very curious situation for a former stud that still is 28 years old.

Hill started strong with the Hawks too but started getting in trouble off the field. He was involved in domestic disputes with his girlfriend and then was cut from the team. Seattle brought him back this year for very little money then his initial contract and he has performed well enough to start.

The reality is that Curry was between a rock and hard place. He was a young man trying to live up to his draft status and the expectations that come with it. Unfortunately, the talent surrounding his was weak, thus, Curry had to play extra well to make up for everyone else. That was not a recipe for success.

Curry probably will improve in Oakland where expectations are diminished and he can just run around the field free of expectations. Many athletes have left Seattle to have better career numbers.

The bright side of this trade is the multiple millions of dollars saved by cutting that contract as well as the cheap contract the rookie replacement Wright is making in Curry's place. Maybe that extra money can be used for a big signing next season when the Hawks will be closer to a consistently good team.

Feeling Luck(y)

Some say success is reached through effort, timing and luck. Others say luck has nothing to do with it. They're all wrong. Luck is a requirement.

In the case of the Seattle Seahawks, the success of their franchise hinges on their demise. Ironically, each game the Seahawks lose puts them closer to their goal of attaining a franchise altering quarterback.

Every football team dreams that a player of Andrew Luck's ability and prowess falls to them in the NFL draft. Scouts say the Stanford junior quarterback is the real deal. The bees knees. The next John Elway.

Luck is smart (see Stanford). He is built like a man at 6'4, 235 lbs. He was already a Heisman runner-up. And his last name is Luck.

What more do you want?

The Seahawks need some Luck in their lives. This fan base needs it too. Seattle hasn't had a franchise quarterback with this skill set before. It is about time Seattle gets rewarded for all the crap it's sports teams go through annually. It could be our city's big break and all we have to do is lose.

We can handle that part, right?

Yes, I agree suffering through another horrible season is lame but if you can guarantee a reasonable shot at a once-in-a-decade quarterback, I'm in. Apparently, head coach Pete Carroll is in too because he recruited Tavaris Jackson to warm Luck's roster spot. I don't care what Carroll says about Jackson's progress, he is not the future. He is barely the present (i.e. Whitehurst).

Unfortunately, the only way to draft Andrew Luck is to be really bad. I'm talking maximum 4-win bad. Anymore wins than that and you're looking at a costly trade-up draft position scenario.

Currently there are 4 teams that are bad enough and haven't drafted their future QB in the last two years: Seattle, Miami, Kansas City, Indianapolis. Combined those teams have 2 wins and 14 losses.

Here is a snapshot of each team's chances at maintaining this ineptitude:

Seattle-- starts Jackson and has another loss coming this weekend in New York against the Giants. Prediction for wins and losses on remaining schedule: 3-9. Final record: 4-12.

Miami-- starts journeyman Matt Moore after incumbent QB Chad Henne went down indefinitely on Sunday. W-L prediction: 2-10. Final: 2-14.

Kansas City-- starts the wildly inconsistent Matt Cassell. W-L prediction: 3-9. Final: 4-12.

Indianapolis-- starts the very inexperienced Curtis Painter after Peyton Manning sits out with a neck injury, likely for the season. W-L prediction: 2-10. Final: 2-14.

Thus, I don't foresee any scenario in which the worst team gets 4 wins. All of those desperate teams will draft Luck if given the chance. And if Seattle doesn't finish worst which is likely, then they are going to have to trade someone very valuable to attain Luck's services.

Andrew Luck is not the only good quarterback in the 2012 draft class but he is easily the surest thing. So for this season and only this season, I will not complain when the Hawks lose. I will applaud the effort and hope for increased performance by the young guys so that when Seattle does get it's man they are ready to roll.

Do you feel lucky?

Well Seattle, do you?

Preseason Game 2: Seahawks vs. Vikings

I can only imagine how could those first collisions felt between Seattle and San Diego players last week. Each helmet scratch and every bruise indicating, yes indeed, football was back. Not only was it rejuvenating to watch my Seahawks fly around the gridiron again but they also pulled out a comeback victory.

Sure it is still preseason but someone is going win that game and I want it to my team, no matter the scenario. So what did we learn?

Tavaris Jackson needs more time. Charlie Whitehurst can beat fellow second-stringers like himself. Undrafted quarterback John Portis is going to put a fire underneath the aforementioned. Hence, coach Carroll is having a blast watching them compete because the best will start in his system.

We also observed left tackle Russell Okung leave the game very quickly with a ankle injury. Yikes! Deja vu anyone? The Seahawks doctors say its not a serious injury and the team expects Okung to start September 11th at San Francisco. This team will not flourish without him and his offensive line brethren intact.

We didn't get to see much of the hyped receiving corp that will surely be a sharp weapon the Hawks hope to wield in battle. Tomorrow Sidney Rice matches up with his old teammates at CenturyLink Field. Rice spent the last 4 seasons there and appeared in one Pro Bowl as a Viking.

Expect to see fellow behemoth Mike Williams for a couple series as well. Those two should give most cornerbacks nightmares with their extreme height disadvantage.

Coach Carroll said the starters will play the first half compared to a couple series last week. I expect Seattle to play a lot more fluid and for them to beat a Minnesota team that is seeking their identity after a coaching change and Brett Farve's departure.

Quarterback: insert here

In football, quarterback play is everything. Their performance is vital to all success and all failure. But you say, doesn't the defense and the quarterback's receivers and runningbacks mean anything? Of course they do, football is the ultimate team game. However, in the last 25 years there have been twice as many Most Valuable Player awards given to a quarterback than any other position.

The league's most legendary players are quarterbacks and that is because at the very least they must touch the ball on every offensive possession. They need to know every play in the offense (very difficult). They must adapt to shifts by the defense on the fly, otherwise known as an audible. Oh yeah, a quarterback must also make a lightening fast decision on where to throw the football with the world's most aggressive and ferocious men bearing down them within seconds.

Their importance cannot be underestimated, nor can the unified effort from the offensive line and skill position specialists around them. No quarterback can reach hero status on their own. Football demands a one-track mind shared by 11 men at a time.

Each year the NFL is updated and refilled with fresh meat from the college ranks. And of course the most talked about players are the incoming rookie quarterbacks that teams hope to rest their future on. Many times these high draft picks don't work out. Sometimes they work perfectly. It is far from an exact science but I have a hypothesis as to what commonly does work.

A rookie quarterback succeeds quickest when all the parts are in place before he gets there. It's like instant oatmeal, just add water and then presto, you got a delicious breakfast.

The Seattle Seahawks are building the recipe right now by adding all the necessary parts before they add the water, i.e. 2012 first-round pick. Right now Seahawk quarterbacks Tavaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst are placeholders. Meanwhile, coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider are piecing together a beastly offensive line, a brutal rushing attack and a broadside-of-the-barn receiver core that you just can't miss.

Starting a rookie quarterback is all about minimizing margin-of-error and the Hawks are definitely setting themselves up for a delicious breakfast as soon as next season...

Back with a vengeance

After months of rich men playing tug of war with 6 Billion dollars an agreement was reached. With that agreement in place the fun can once again return to the world of football. The NFL is second to none in terms of profit, cache' and of course fanatical followers.

Now that the cash flow is coursing through the football's veins again we can enjoy the fruits of free agency and trades. Your Seattle Seahawks are being as aggressive as any franchise out there and boy is that exciting.

Within the first 48 hours of free agency's return Seattle has significantly upgraded some of their greatest needs. The Hawks top receiver last year was Mike Williams who finished with 65 receptions and 750 yards with two touchdowns. Not bad but not great. So the team went out and signed a marquee receiver ex-Viking Sidney Rice, who only two years ago went to the Pro Bowl with 1,300 yards and eight scores.

Rice, 24, is a physical specimen that defenses can't ignore. He stands at 6'4 and can run past the defense or just out jump them. Just think opposing cornerbacks who typically are 6 foot and under trying to defend Rice or Williams when both are at least 4 inches taller. Can you say go up and get it?

Next Seattle addressed last season's most glaring hole, or should I say lack of holes? The Seahawks offensive line was garbage for most of the year. Case in point, they finished last in rushing yards. The runningbacks could not find an avenue to run through but I have a feeling the new guys directing traffic will make a huge difference.

Robert Gallery, former 2nd-overall pick, was just signed by Seattle to play left guard alongside young stud Russell Okung. Gallery is a beast and he gets to play for the man he succeeded most under, Seahawks new offensive line coach, Tom Cable. The move for Gallery hopefully closes the revolving door the Hawks have had for years since All-Pro Steve Huchinson left. Expect runningback Marshawn Lynch to bust out his signature "Beast Mode" many times this year and punish defenses.

The previous two signings discussed above should take center-stage but unfortunately the game of football revolves around quarterback play and Seattle falls short in that department. The last ten years Seattle has looked to Matt Hasselbeck to lead them into battle but now the local legend has signed with the Tennessee Titans.

So now the Seahawks turn their attention to the incumbent and incompetent Charlie Whitehurst or is it newly acquired Tavaris Jackson? These two men will duke it out in training camp over the next month but I expect major growing pains for both. Neither men have proven much in the NFL but if there ever was a time to step up and take the reins it's now.

The Seahawks are doing their best to put a winning product on the field which is fantastic but honestly I'm just happy to see them on the field. Welcome back boys.

Embrace these guys

Why can't the Mariners win the division? Why can't Seattle be buyers at the trading deadline when the contenders put up or shut up? Doesn't pitching and defense mixed with some timely hitting win championships?

They can, they will and yes it does.

This young Mariners team is growing up on the fly and not as awkward as I had imagined. The core of the roster is made of "80's babies". Meaning every key member of the team's present and future save Ichiro and Bedard were born between '83 and '89. When your team consists of 20-somethings it means two things: you lack experience but have plenty of great years to gel into a force.

Can you remember the last time the Mariners made a fantastic free agent signing that made an immediate impact? I know you're first thought was "yeah, didn't the M's sign 2004 NL MVP Adrian Beltre?" Sure he brought his magnetic glove to third base but he also never batted over .275 and cost the team $64M over 5 years.

Or maybe your first thought was about "Big Sexy", aka Richie Sexson. 4 years $50M....If it was, then I feel sympathy for your memory bank. I extricated that man from my mind as quickly as Sexson struck out at the plate.

See, the M's have typically sought talent outside their own organization as opposed to raising it themselves. Today, Seattle is finally making strides with in-house talent. It took a long time but general manager Jack Z's calculations are adding up to a bright future.

In his first 10 Major League games, Dustin Ackley is hitting .303 with a double, two triples and a homerun. The 2009 second-overall draft pick looks like the real deal and Mariners fans couldn't be happier. If he can shore up his defensive game at second base then Seattle will surely have a middle infield staple for many years to come.

Speaking of infield staples, have you noticed how mature and Major League ready Justin Smoak is? The M's first baseman leads the team with 12 homeruns and 40 RBI. Not bad for a rookie. With half the season almost done, Smoak has the chance to double those numbers by September. If Smoak stays consistent and finishes strong in his first full season the Mariners should feel really solid about trading Cliff Lee.

A third rookie is making a good impression in the outfield. Left field has been a rotating door since Raul Ibanez left. Today, Carlos Peguero is slowly shutting that door on the competition. Through his first 37 games Pegeuro has 24 hits including 3 doubles, 2 triples and 6 homeruns. He also has made a couple acrobatic outs in left. I think this is the guy that actually sticks and will be patrolling the yard with Gutierrez and Ichiro.

There is plenty to like about this group and manager Eric Wedge has his stern finger on the pulse of this ball club. His philosophy is obviously working. So Seattle fans sit back and watch the foundation of future success develop in front of you this summer at the Safe.

And who knows, maybe these young guns will continue defying logic and capture the division too...

Mariners moves are coming to frution

When Mariners general manager Jack Z is alone in his office he probably does a little dance. The roster he formulated over the last couple years is coming together and the progress is obvious. Sure the lineup still needs a threat at the cleanup position and it still needs Ichiro to man up and act like a leadoff hitter.

Instead of nit-picking the lineup to death, I choose to instead present to you the silver lining that exists. First of all, the Cliff Lee for Justin Smoak and some good minor-league pitchers is proving to be a great move. Smoak has shown lots of potential. He leads the team in homeruns and on-base percentage. Not bad for a kid with a mere 156 career games played.

How about when Jack Z brought back catcher Miguel Olivio? All he has done is clutch up for Seattle multiple times with huge game-winning hits. Guys like Adam Kennedy and Brendan Ryan have filled in nicely while the future works itself in the minors. Second baseman Dustin Ackley is set to arrive in Seattle in the next couple weeks and will hold down that part of the infield for at least the next 5 years. Ackley is the type of player teams drool over. He hits for average and has pop. While in college he won the top hitters award. Currently, he is dominating Triple A in Tacoma so we will see if that translates this summer in the bigs.

The Mariners also called up outfielder Mike Carp who forced himself onto the team by crushing minor league pitching. He batted .350 and hit 19 HR with 58 RBI in 56 games. You think Seattle could use that bat? Carp figures to play DH and left field.

Management has shown they can judge pitching as well. Their pitching staff leads the American League in many categories. We all know the rookie Pineda is on fire and Bedard is finally showing his worth but did you know the future of this staff is even brighter than it was last week?

Seattle had the 2nd overall draft pick in this week's MLB draft and they selected the best left-handed pitcher available. Danny Hultzen, who is rated as the most major league ready player in the amateur draft absolutely dominated the collegiate level. He won the Atlantic Coastal Conference pitcher of the year award the last two season by going 31-5. Hultzen was a wise choice but he won't reach Seattle until 2012 spring training.

Mariner fans should embrace this team for what it is and for where it is going because I can tell this is going to be fun ride back to the top...

We are all just Mercenaries

The contempt surrounding the NBA Finals this week is palpable. Rarely has there been such a lopsided opinion on who fans want to see win a championship. Yet the reasoning behind their choice is unfounded and very subjective. People are quick to deny reason in the face blind love.

I know very few people who are rooting for the Miami Heat to win over the Dallas Mavericks. I understand that position but only to a small extent. The basic argument against Miami is that they are trying to buy a championship. LeBron James has played the villain since last July when he decided to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. LeBron's one-hour special on ESPN regarding his free-agency decision pissed off thousands. That part I understand and agree with. He obviously could of handled that a lot better but he didn't.

Back to the stars joining forces, since when has that been against the rules? Haters want to claim LeBron lost his cache' as a true superstar when he left Cleveland. How is that possible? All he did in Cleveland was win two MVP awards and willed a very weak Cavs team to the Finals on his own. Now he didn't win a ring that year, in fact he got swept. He tried his hardest but without legitimate star power alongside him he had hit his glass ceiling.

Now that LeBron plays with Wade and Bosh there is no ceiling. Throughout NBA history, players that win championships never do it alone. Every champ has an outstanding one-two punch paired with a solid bench. Jordan had Pippen. Kobe had Shaq and then Gasol. Pierce added Garnett and Allen. Robinson had his "Twin Tower", Duncan. The list goes on and on. None of those guys won a ring without the other. Very few were drafted to the same franchise, thus they were acquired via trade and free agency. Sound familiar?

The sub-level to this trend are the Mavs and Heat role players that are essentially mercenaries seeking their first ring. You think one team deserves this championship more than the other? Tell that to this list of NBA veterans now in the Finals; the Mavericks have Dirk Nowitski, Jason Kidd, Peja Stojakovich, and Shawn Marion. The Heat have guys like LeBron, Bosh, Mike Bibby and the NBA's oldest player (38) Juwan Howard.

The beauty of sports is taking a side and standing by it. Passion tends to get in the way of logic, hence the "homer" mentality. Unfortunately for all the sudo-Mavs-fans that will surely not care for Dallas next year, the Heat have weathered the venomous storm and rose to the top where they are sure to stay for the foreseeable future...

Mariners, so hot right now. Mariners.

Please tell me you noticed that. Don't brush it off as if it was nothing. That was, and still is amazing and it's happening in your town. Wake up. The Mariners are talking to you.

Heading into a Memorial Day weekend match up at the "Safe" with the New York Yankees, the Seattle Mariners sit one and a half games back out of first place. They have won 8 out of their last 10 games. In fact, in the last 30 days Seattle pitchers have owned a 2.47 ERA, tops in baseball. I have a hunch that Seattle will punch the Bronx Bombers in the mouth at least twice in this three-game home stand.

It all kicks off with the top rookie of the year candidate, pitcher Michael Pineda. This Dominican machine is en fuego. He already has 6 wins and 61 strikeouts. No, I'm not confusing him with 2010 Cy Young winner, Felix Hernandez. Pineda has been that ridiculous.

As dangerous as the Yankee offense is, Pineda holds the edge because New York hasn't batted against him yet and of course he is straight up nasty. He currently has the highest average fastball amongst starters in the big leagues at 96 mph.

The beauty of Pineda being so great as the Mariners fifth starter is that he pitches back-to-back with Felix. Thus, Saturday night could be a fantastic night to be in SoDo because Felix brings his "A-game" when faces New York.

In his last 5 starts against the Yanks, Felix is 4-1 with 8 runs allowed. That's 40 innings and 37 K's against a perennial powerhouse offense with a 1.77 ERA. Good luck with that Bombers.

If this weekend doesn't get Seattle fans excited and if SafeCo doesn't get close to selling out then just stay away for good because the real fans don't need your half-hearted attention. The Mariners are an easy target to make fun of but the truth is that they have a shot at the division and I'm loving their contagious tenacity.

Got Road Graders?

The pick was not sexy. It wasn't even cute. It was in fact, ugly.

This is the type of ugly you don't mess with. We are talking about a beast of a man. Alabama offensive tackle, James Carpenter, was chosen 25th overall by the Seattle Seahawks last week. Most people said, "Carpenter who?" They said "what about a quarterback?" There was plenty of criticism to go around.

Upon further review, I believe the Seahawks made a smart choice. They backed up that decision to improve the offensive line by using their next draft pick on Wisconsin guard, John Moffitt.

Both Carpenter and Moffit stand 6'4, 320 pounds and come from winning universities that pump out NFL talent on a annual basis. They each played tough schedules while battling against other future NFL prospects every Saturday.

Head coach Pete Carroll plans to insert those two alongside last year's high draft choice, Russell Okung. Also guard/center Max Unger joins the offensive line again after suffering season-ending surgery in the 2010 preseason. Okung and Unger are huge men just like the rookies, both weighing in at 6'5, 320 pounds. Can you say road graders?

The commitment to restoring a dominate offensive line is obvious. Anyone who knows football and what it requires to be a great team, knows winning starts with a great offensive line. It won't matter if the Seahawks attained a great quarterback if he can't stand back there long enough to find a reciever. It won't matter if Marshawn Lynch gets the ball 20 times a game if there isn't a hole to run through. He can't "Beast Mode" everyone.

See, many people think quarterback was a greater need than offensive line but coach Carroll and general manager John Schneider aren't on that same wavelength. How easy people forget that our offensive line was so inept and constantly injured last year that even the biggest Seahawks fans were confused who even lining up each week. It was like a speed-dating service in which the player showed up for one game and was gone the next.

Lastly, these young beasts will learn the ways of blocking from Tom Cable whom is regarded as one the top minds regarding dominate offensive line play. Cable restored the Oakland Raiders offense by drafting nasty linemen and a hard-hitting runningback. Last year under Cable's tutelage the Raiders rushing attack averaged 156 yards per game.

Regardless of what happens at quarterback, there is one thing we do know. With an improved offensive line, the storied "Beast Mode" will rise again running behind a wall of bulldozers.

Pineda walks the walk

For many kids entering their 20's life can seem pretty stress free. This is time of your life when you've mastered the art of getting through college successfully without sacrificing it's greatest draw, lots of socializing with little rules. College is allows students to enjoy freedoms away from their parents watchful eyes. In other words, it is their last chance to be immature and naive without much repercussion. Eventually a 21-year old has things to worry about in this sad job climate but it's rarely that scary because there is plenty of time to grow up.

Well what if you weren't allowed to take your time becoming who you were meant to be? What if the powers that be in your future career wanted you act like a professional today? Would you grab that opportunity by the reigns and giddy up? Or would you back away from your big break because you just weren't ready for the responsibility?

I know one person's answer to that life-altering question. Last night, the Mariners' Michael Pineda went toe-to-toe with one of his organization's greatest competitors and flashed his grand potential. The rookie had the high-scoring Texas Rangers hitters wrangled for the first 5 innings by allowing one run with 4 strikeouts. The next inning Texas broke through Pineda's brilliance by scoring 2 more runs, effectively ending his first start while leaving him with some remaining confidence.

At the age of 21, Pineda is expected to grow-up rapidly and help carry the load of a floundering franchise on his back and more specifically, his left arm. Standing at 6'6, 250 pounds, he already has the build of a great Major League pitcher.

The path to prosperity in the big leagues was blazed by Seattle's own, Felix Hernandez, whom has been in the organization since the age of 17. Pineda will learn how to handle the pressure from a perfect role model and Cy Young winner. With those two leading the future pitching rotation, it's safe to say the Mariners will return to respectability and then some.

Draft Day: An Inside Look

Few things in life get me more excited than fantasy baseball. I invite you to take a journey with me into the world of make-believe teams made of real players. Trust me, it's a lot cooler than you think...

The truth is, I think the day I draft my fantasy baseball team is the best day of the year. Remember the days when your birthday couldn't wait and you knew exactly how many days it was until your party? Chances are these days you don't think about your birthday plans until a month out at the earliest.

As a kid you rarely had a better day than your birthday besides maybe Christmas morning. As you get older the anticipation drops severely but it's okay because you're "mature" now. Wrong answer. Know why? It is because having something to look forward to helps stave off depression and the doldrums of life. How many times have you caught yourself saying, "I wish I still got that excited over something"? Too many, I'm sure.

My answer to that wish is to embrace something that allows me to reach that fever pitch every year like Christmas in the month of March. Here is a snapshot of my favorite day:

I'm thankful to be a part of group that feels like I do and allows me to be a kid again. The day of the draft is like being in the backyard treehouse with the guys and you just came across your dad's beer and porn collection. In other words, it couldn't be any more masculine or immature.

Imagine eight guys with eight computers, in a living room, drinking and smoking. Now imagine four more guys trying to stay involved in all the pre-draft trash talk/debauchery via the "Draft Room" online chat board (Note: don't be that guy, it only increases your chance of being picked on and decreases the fun of draft day).

The conversations in the room consist of which players will come off the board first and what potential trade offers could influence that. Also, you will overhear someone declare how everyone but him is an idiot because they have the perfect sleeper candidate. Basically, a "sleeper" is a player whom possesses so much upside that they fear mentioning his name at the cost of losing him to the guy who did not prepare a draft strategy.

See that's me, the guy who has the coolest under-the-radar pick of the draft that waits until the time is right. Then shoves it in everyone's face because they forgot about him but in reality no one really cares and I'm shutdown by my peers as I stare back into my laptop feeling embarrassed.

The funniest parts of the draft are the online chats with each other even though the majority of guys are in the same room. It becomes very childish but in that context it works famously. I've rarely laughed harder than the times spent reading the draft's chat log. I can't repeat these chats but let's just say, boys will be boys.

By draft's end each team "owner" starts checking out the other squads hoping to find the guy who drafted the "ugliest" team so they can rip their friends even more. I like to think I draft pretty teams but my friends still give me crap because I like taking players with high upside but still remain unproven. I enjoy a good diamond in the rough. What can I say?

Lastly, you get to name your team something ridiculous. Most guys try their hardest to combine their favorite player's name with a raunchy pun or something clever. Example: "the rICHIROund" (told you) or "the Say Eh? Kid" (after Canadian slugger, Joey Votto).

Once the season begins, the owners draft choices must prove their mettle. Baseball and especially fantasy baseball, is all about the numbers and figuring out how to interpret those stats into a winning team. A 162-game season is a grind. By August you're chomping at the bit for the playoffs to start. But alas, the season goes through September.

Winning your fantasy league usually includes a cash prize from all your vanquished opponents. More importantly a championship means you get to reign verbal blows on your friends until the next season begins. The pride gained and the grounds for trash-talk supremacy is equal to the money.

28 days and counting. I can't wait.

A taste of the baseball in Seattle has returned

With pitchers and catchers due to report to camp soon, Major League Baseball is back and I couldn't be happier. Sure it is only Spring Training and yes, this blog focuses around the lowly Mariners but I'm excited none the less.

Whether you like it or not I'm going to throw some of last year's stats at you. Brace yourself.

--The 2010 Seattle Mariners finished the season 61-101. Only the Pittsburgh Pirates finished with a worse record (57-106).

--The M's ranked 30th in runs scored, batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

--The M's pitching staff finished 9th in ERA, 7th in WHIP, 11th in quality starts and 12th in batting average against. Their pitching held Seattle in many games but unfortunately they rely on the league's worst batting lineup.

--Felix Hernandez took home the American League Cy Young award in spite of his team's poor effort. King Felix dominated 2010 with a nasty pitch repertoire that earned him top honors in strikeouts, ERA and WHIP.

Entering last season the Mariners were picked to win the AL West. A year ago that was actually believable considering they had Felix and Cliff Lee in their rotation. Pair them with new addition, infielder Chone Figgins and the incredible Ichiro at the top of their lineup and you could have scared some people. As it turned out, paper tigers can't defeat live ones.

With last year in the rearview mirror we can now look ahead to brighter days because things couldn't get worse, right? Let's not dwell on that too long. Yay for a fresh season and lowered expectations!

2011 begins with the smell of fresh laundry after soiling it terribly the night before. It smells better but you recognize that stench remains ingrained in the fabric. At a glance this team is primed for another down year but the new wrinkle this time around is the learning on the job experience these young men will receive this season.

Under new manager Eric Wedge, the young guys will play for two reasons; Wedge needs to know what he has and they really don't much to lose by playing youth over washed-up veterans. Fans would rather watch the future studs come to frution and lose games rather than watch veterans that plateued years ago and lose games. Been there before. Hated it!

Stay tuned for a lineup and rotation breakdown as Spring Training kicks off in the coming weeks..

Sonic Boom

Let's play word association. Which one sounds more appealing?

Mitten or Glove?

Rain or Reign?

Thunder or Sonics?

If you are or have ever been a fan of Seattle sports circa the 1990's then I can guess your response. This is not an attempt to rouse anger on dirty deeds done dirt cheap to the team Seattle loved. This is a walk down memory lane during a time when Seattle fans need to remember that our sports teams haven't always been this pathetic. In fact, we were fortunate enough to experience one the most talented and liveliest sports duo's in recent sports history.

The year was 1989 and the Seattle SuperSonics had just drafted some high school kid named Shawn Kemp with the 17th overall pick. The word on Kemp was that he could dunk effortlessly but still had a very raw skill set. The analysis turned out to be true but it sure didn't last for long. He only started one game his first season while the team suffered and earned another high pick for the 1990 draft.

As fate would have it, a feisty guard out of the Pac-10's Oregon State was Seattle's lottery pick that next year. Sonics fans quickly learned their new point guard, Gary Payton, had quite a mouth on him but definitely had the game to back it up.

During his time with Seattle GP averaged 20 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Meanwhile, Kemp averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds including a nightly highlight reel of insanely dramatic dunks. Some say Kemp's thunderous throwdowns rival any of the legendary dunkers. Count me in!

The combination of Kemp and Payton became known as "Sonic Boom". The point guard Payton could often be found tossing the ball towards the hoop with Kemp flying in from all directions with no regard for others, including gravity. From that style came the nickname, "Reign Man". A fantastic play on words because he reigned over the paint and played in 'Rain City'.

Payton on the other hand became known as "The Glove" for his tight and tenacious defense. In fact, Payton was so skilled defensively that he is the only point guard to ever win Defensive Player of the Year.

As the two stars adjusted to each others own style, the Sonics became a force to reckon with. During their seven years together, they took Seattle to the playoffs many times as well Game 6 of the 1996 NBA Finals against arguably the greatest basketball team ever assembled, the 72-win Chicago Bulls.

Those were some good times folks. Be thankful for the fun times we had and do your part to support the return of a basketball franchise, because let's be honest, you know you want Kevin Calabro back at "the Key" yelling "Flying chickens in a barnyard!"

2010 Seahawks: the final analysis

All is quiet on the Western Washington front.

Your Seattle Seahawks flew to greater heights than most could dream and yet people are not satisfied. Local media and fans accept the 2010 Seahawks as overachievers. Meanwhile, the national media still thinks they stink and should hold the title as worst NFL team to ever make the playoffs.

Would the worst playoff team ever outscore the NFL's most prolific passing attack, the mighty New Orleans Saints? I think not. Hey national media, you do realize that the Saints were defending Super Bowl champs, right? But then what else should I expect from a body of so called "experts" that are so biased that they never believe any team West of Chicago can actually play sports?

You guys still here? Sorry, I had to get that out of my system before I recap the Seahawks dramatic run to the Divisional playoffs. Here we go...

First of all, I think the season was a success. Seattle won the NFC West and overcame the greatest odds a home playoff team ever faced. First-year head coach, Pete Carroll, got his players to rally behind him and to believe in themselves. Carroll's winning attitude permeates the locker room and should carry over into 2011.

This season was full of injuries to key players (Bryant and Unger), signings of players off the NFL scrap pile (Williams) and gritty play by men that wouldn't give in to their harassing injuries (Hasselbeck and Okung). Given the circumstances, Carroll and GM John Schnieder handled all the problems head on while improving on the fly.

Seahawks fans got a glimpse of what this team can do when things come together. Just think of what a couple good free agent signings, a productive draft and another training camp will do. Now that's exciting.

The offseason started off with a bang, well it was more of a firing with Offensive Coordinator Jeremy Bates getting let go. He was quickly replaced by a man named Darrel Bevell who was previously with the Minnesota Vikings. Bevell coordinated the dynamic Viking offense that included Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson.

Seattle's biggest improvement came in the form of Oakland Raiders ex coach, offensive line guru, Tom Cable. With a lot of wisdom and a little luck, Cable should turn Seattle's line into a force once again. An interesting note about Cable is that many of his Oakland linemen are free agents and would probably enjoy playing for Cable guy again.

Come April, Carroll and Schnieder need to make a major decision at quarterback. There is little doubt that Seattle will draft a quarterback. The question is, who and when? The who precedes the when because certain players will not make it past the first round and others will. Could it be the hometown kid, Jake Locker? He was supposed to be the first pick of the draft if he had entered the NFL draft last year. Did he improve enough in his senior year?

Or will it be Heisman Trophy winner, Cam Newton? The man can certainly play football, but can he play NFL style ball? His potential is very intriguing. Whomever the Seahawks draft at quarterback, they should expect to watch from the sidelines their first year because I believe Matthew Hasselbeck will reprise his role as folk legend one more time as he eases the rookie into the league.

Outside of the obvious need at quarterback, the next position to fill is a lock-down cornerback. Marcus Trufant is still valuable but he doesn't shutdown the opponent's best wide receiver often enough. Kelly Jennings is now a free agent and will surely find another team. The rookie Walter Thurmond is still an unknown asset, the book on him is yet to be written.

It just so happens that the league's premier free agent, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, is available and I truly hope Seattle and most importantly owner, Paul Allen, step up and do something huge. An acquisition like Asomugha would immediately upgrade Seattle's defense two-fold because he literally locks up his side of the field. Wouldn't that be nice...

Trust in Carroll and Schnieder to get things done and expect the unexpected this offseason.

Huge win yields huge potential for underdog Seattle

It is clear as a brisk, cloudless day in Seattle that the players, fans and most importantly, the city needed that momentous lift.

Saturday's win was more than a spiritual lift, it was downright seismic. Marshawn Lynch's back-breaking touchdown run caused the 12th Man to rock so hard that Qwest Field shook it's foundation enough to make Richter scale react. The people of Seattle need a local sports team to be special and invoke such an emotional reaction because it makes living here so much nicer when morale is high.

Seattle's improbable season continues this week in Chicago against a team the Seahawks already beat. The Seahawks charge into this weekend with a chip the size of the doubting national media on their shoulders. Head coach Pete Carroll will milk that cow as long as the players will let him. Nothing drives a man, let alone a team, further than an us-against-the-world mentality.

Now Seattle is taking their show East where the weather is a factor to be reckoned with. Chicago cold is not Seattle cold. The game time temperature is supposed to be in the teens. What does that mean? Basically, that translates to hard-nosed football in which in the game is won with a strong running game and tough defense.

Those traits definitely coincide with Chicago Bears history but Seattle can play that game too. Last time they played, the Seahawks defense really showed up. They shutdown the Bears on third down 12 times! The Bears leading rusher had 31 yards. Quarterback Jay Cutler passed for 297 yards but failed to score.

Conversely, the Seahawks were productive passing and running. Marshawn Lynch debuted with the 44 yards and a touchdown. Justin Forsett added 67 yards and another TD. Matt Hasselbeck found his favorite target, Mike Williams, ten times for 123 yards recieving.

The real key to October's 23-20 road win was the play of Seattle's defensive and offensive lines. They were stellar. More specifically, rookie left tackle Russell Okung, held his own with the NFL's most feared pass rusher. The Bear's Julius Peppers is simply the man when it comes to sacking the quarterback. But he was completely disabled by Okung's blocking which in turn allowed Hasselbeck a couple extra seconds to find his recievers.

Cutler was sacked six times and had a quick trigger finger thanks to the Seahawks defensive line. The Bears' turnover prone quarterback was continually pressured and that must continue this weekend. Cutler will turn the ball over and sometimes in bunches. That is the type of intensity and aggression Seattle needs to bring in order to pull off the upset.

Give me a good game from the bruiser, Lynch, the go-to threat, Williams and the chain-mover Brandon Stokely and I really like the Seahawks chances.

With two weeks of rest, the Bears defense will surely be ready to hit hard and fast. Seattle's advatage lies in the mother of all intangibles, momemtum. Belief can't be measured, only displayed. Throw talent out the window because the team that wants this game more will win.

Saints come marching in to Seattle

The first time they met there was fireworks but both left thinking they wouldn't see each other again. The Saints were the media darling coming off a rags to riches story that can't be beat. The Seahawks are firmly entrenched in the rags and can't seem to rid themselves of that pungent stench, losing.

It may shock people to know that these two have their second date after the Saints treated the Seahawks so badly the first time around. Others realize that New Orleans is just using Seattle because they're known to be easy. Whatever the case, they have a hot date this Saturday and someone is going home early from the dance.

Seattle's starter will be "been-around-the-block" Matt. This is the same guy that threw for 366 yards and one touchdown in Week 11 against the defending champs in New Orleans. Hasselbeck has been here before and his players but most importantly, his coach, believes he's the man. If this is to be Seattle's last battle with Hasselbeck, why shouldn't he lead the charge out of the tunnel?

The trouble with the Saints is they like to take advantage of Seattle's sensitive side, their secondary. The Saints aggressive offensive attack can dismantle the best defensive mechanisms. Seattle needs to be aware of New Orleans propensity to go all the way early in the game. Their relentless passing attack will be the go-to move because they can't run the ball. That is unless Seattle's ex, Julius Jones, decides to make the Seahawks miss their time together by running for more than 2 yards per carry. I think not.

Speaking of redemption, Seattle needs to free up Mike Williams and get him the damn ball. Williams was recently awarded a 3-year contract extension and now he needs to say thank-you by performing in his first playoff game. In his last matchup with the Saints, Williams caught 6 balls for 109 yards.

For either Seattle quarterback to be effective the Seahawks must be able to threaten with the run. Marshawn Lynch, where is Beast Mode? Don't ruin a great last name by being lame. I know the offensive line is a joke but so was Buffalo's and you succeeded there. Come on man!

The Seahawks better wake-up and respond to the Saints unwanted advances this weekend. Go out there and prove to America that you're nobodies fool.

Hey 12th Man, get loud!!!

Seahawks defeat Rams, punch ticket to playoffs

Hawks fans need to grab a left over bottle of champagne from New Years and crack it open for the playoff bound Seattle Seahawks.

Go on, it's allowed. I have your back. Celebrate tonight because you know the players are too. Head coach Pete Carroll did what he set out to do. The Seahawks won the wild, mild West. Critics, don't give me that look. Someone had to win the division and it was your team. Smile!

Qwest Field was rocking loudly with excitement as the Rams were sent packing after a solid 16-6 Seahawk win Sunday night. The quarterback controversy came to a head tonight as the healthy Charlie Whitehurst piloted Seattle to it's first playoff berth in three years.

With Matt Hasselbeck watching from the sidelines, Whitehurst played well enough to win. He passed for 192 yards and one touchdown. The inexperienced Whitehurst did his part by not commiting a turnover and made a couple big plays early.

On the opening drive, Whitehurst found reciever Ruvell Martin for a 61-yard gain. Building off that momentum, Whitehurst finished off the early charge with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams.

The passing game finally got off the ground thanks to the play of runningbacks, Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. Lynch got stronger as the game wore on and the Ram's defense tired. Lynch gained 75 yards on 20 carries. The light-footed Forsett added another 50 yards rushing and receiving combined.

The Seahawks defense got a couple breaks when Ram's receivers couldn't haul in the pass but overall they looked sharp. "Swiss cheese", not sharp, is usually the appropriate term that best describes the Seahawks defense. But an obvious something was in the air tonight and the defense decided it wasn't going to be their fault if Seattle didn't advance. They held the stud rookie quarterback, Sam Bradford to 157 yards, no touchdowns and one huge interception late by linebacker Will Herring.

So there you have it. The 2010 Seahawks made the playoffs with a 7-9 record. No NFL team has ever done that. Hawk fans should be happy even though they host the defending champion New Orleans Saints on Saturday afternoon.

For those of you that thought losing this game would be more beneficial to Seattle because they will envitably be bounced from the playoffs and gain a better 2011 draft position, you're dead wrong. Seattle needed this win for the present and most importantly, the future. Players need to experience winning and a playoff atmosphere to know what it tastes like.

A wise man once said that the most dangerous virus is the world in an idea. It is resilient and highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it's almost impossible to iradicate.

An idea like winning.