Seahawks are underdogs at home

The Seahawks are the only home underdogs in the NFL this week. The reasoning is likely behind Matt Hasselbeck's injury, which he says may not keep him out of the game. This is a great opportunity to support the Seahawks and win some cash. With Jay Cutler at QB for the Bears, the game is likely to be fairly high-scoring, but the over/under is only 37. If you make a Seahawks win and the over one of your NFL parlay picks, then you could have a nice little pay day.

What the odds makers are not factoring in is the huge home field advantage provided by the 12th Man. The Seahawks pass rush depends on the crowd noise to give them an edge in getting off the line as quickly as the offensive lineman. Without that edge, the Seahawks have trouble putting pressure on the quarterback - like we saw in San Francisco. On the other side of the ball, the Seahawks depleted offensive line has trouble with even modest crowd noise on the road.

If you're into sports betting, then count on the 12th Man to help the Seahawks pull out a win on Sunday and put up a lot of points. Remember, Jay Cutler threw 4 interceptions just a week ago.

Seahawks Luxury Suite

A local non-profit called Girls on the Run of Puget Sound strives to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.

Girls on the Run of Puget Sound has an auction opportunity for a luxury Seahawks suite available for October 18th, 2009. Kick off is at 1:05 pm and the Seahawks are facing the Arizona Cardinals. The suite is large enough for 22 people in cushy seats. Food, non-alcoholic beverages, and 8 parking passes are included in the package.

The fair market value for this suite is $16,000 and Girls on the Run of Puget Sound has a starting bid of $5,000!

Click here or below for details.

Safety Situtation

If we are to believe Peter King and the NFL network reports (and I am incline to do so), then Brian Russell is out and Lawyer Milloy and Courtney Green are in. That still leaves the question of whether or not CJ Wallace will stick, or if Marcus Trufant will begin the year on the PUP, and Jordan Babineaux will be asked to fill in at corner if he is needed before Trufant is eligible to return.

2009 Seahawks 53-man roster

Final prediction for the 2009 Seahawks 53-man roster. This will likely be off by a player or two, but I couldn't leave either Courtney Taylor or Ben Obomanu off the list at WR. The same goes for Michael Bennett and Nick Reed on the DL. DT Craig Terrill probably makes the team, but I couldn't bring myself to leave off any of those any of those four. Let's hope Ruskell and company agree.

OT Kyle Williams is safe for now, but could lose his spot to a veteran from another team, if someone is cut or a team is willing to make a trade for K Brandon Coutu.

Note: After seeing Peter King's comment regarding Tim Ruskell keeping the entire draft class, I have to assume that SS Courtney Greene will make the team. That could be at the cost of SS CJ Wallace. However, it's equally likely that Marcus Trufant will begin the year on the PUP, and Jordan Babineaux will be asked to fill in at corner if he is needed before Trufant is eligible to return.

Offense (26)
QB (3) - Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Mike Teel
HB/FB (5) - Julius Jones, Edgerrin James, Justin Forsett, Owen Schmitt, Justin Griffith
WR (6) – TJ Houshmandzadeh, Nate Burleson, Deon Butler, Deion Branch, Courtney Taylor, Ben Obomanu
TE (3) - John Carlson, John Owens, Cameron Morah
OT (4) - Walter Jones, Sean Locklear, Ray Willis, Kyle Williams
G/C (5) - Max Unger, Chris Spencer, Rob Sims, Steve Vallos, Mansfield Wrotto

Defense (24)
DE (5) - Cory Redding, Patrick Kerney, Darryl Tapp, Lawrence Jackson, Nick Reed
DT (4) - Colin Cole, Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant, Michael Bennett (DT/DE)
LB (7) - Lofa Tatupu , Aaron Curry, Leroy Hill, D.D. Lewis, Will Herring, David Hawthorne, Lance Laury
S (4) - Deon Grant, Brian Russell, Jordan Babineaux, C.J. Wallace
CB (4) - Marcus Trufant, Ken Lucas, Josh Wilson, Kelly Jennings

Special Teams (3)
K (1) - Olindo Mare
P (1) - Jon Ryan
LS (1) - Kevin Houser

Other contenders:
DT Craig Terrill
K Brandon Coutu
DE Baraka Atkins
WR Logan Payne

Seahawks 53-Man Roster

The annual Seahawks 53-man roster analysis makes a late debut this year, but it guaranteed to on point.

Offense (22)
QB (3) - Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Mike Teel
HB/FB (5) - Julius Jones, Edgerrin James, Justin Forsett, Owen Schmitt, Justin Griffith
WR (4) – TJ Houshmandzadeh, Nate Burleson, Deon Butler, Deion Branch
TE (2) - John Carlson, John Owens
OT (3) - Walter Jones, Sean Locklear, Ray Willis
G/C (5) - Chris Spencer, Rob Sims, Mansfield Wrotto, Steve Vallos, Max Unger

Defense (22)
DE (4) - Cory Redding, Patrick Kerney, Darryl Tapp, Lawrence Jackson,
DT (3) - Colin Cole, Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant
LB (7) - Lofa Tatupu , Aaron Curry, Leroy Hill, D.D. Lewis, Will Herring, David Hawthorne, Lance Laury
S (4) - Deon Grant, Brian Russell, Jordan Babineaux, C.J. Wallace
CB (4) - Ken Lucas, Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Josh Wilson

Special Teams (3)
K (1) - Olindo Mare or Brandon Coutu
P (1) - Jon Ryan
LS (1) - Kevin Houser

Possibles (6):
WR Courtney Taylor, OT Kyle Williams, TE Cameron Morah, OG Brian De La Puente, DE Nick Reed, DT Craig Terrill

Thursday Night Battles for Roster Spots:
TE - Cameron Morah, Joe Newton (1 of 2)
DT - Craig Terrill, Michael Bennett (1 of 2, Terrill has edge)
OL - Kyle Williams, Brian De La Puente (1/2 of 2, Williams has edge)
DE/WR - Nick Reed, Baraka Atkins, Courtney Taylor, Jordan Kent, Ben Obomanu (2/3 of 5, Reed and Taylor have edge)

Bet on the Seahawks

With a new NFL season about to kick off, Seahawks fans will have plenty of chances to bet on their favorite team, if you're the betting type. Unlike in the past, online sportsbooks offer a ton of betting options for most NFL games. Instead of just betting the money line, the over/under, or taking points, you can now wager on a wide range of exotic prop bets such as which team will score first, what the halftime score will be, which QB will throw an interception first, etc. How many wins with the Seahawks have this year? I've seen the over/under at 7.5 games.

Even better is the fact that online sportsbooks offer some of the best bonuses around, often matching any money you deposit 100% or more with completely free bonus money, which you get just for depositing money and wagering on their site. It's a great time to be a Seahawks fine and a sports bettor, as you can watch and bet on your favorite team and also pick up free bonus money at online sportsbooks as well. I'd double my deposit and bet the Seahawks win at least 8 games.

Tod Leiweke Soaks Hawks Fans for $5 to watch training camp

Really? Disguised as a transportation fee, Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke thinks he can take advantage of Seahawks fans by charging $5 for a bus ride from the The Landing Shopping Center in Renton to the VMAC. Pretty crappy move.

FanIQ.com Mock Draft

FanIQ.com Mock Draft
1. Detroit Lions - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
2. St Louis Rams - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
3. Kansas City Chiefs - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor


4. Seahawks - On the Clock...
A few months ago, the Seattle Seahawks biggest needs were at wide receiver and defensive tackle. The team somewhat addressed those needs by signing the free agent wide receiver – T.J. Houshmandzadeh – and adding defensive tackles Colin Cole (in free agency) and Cory Redding (in exchange for Julian Peterson). However, wide receiver and defensive tackle are still positions that need work. The loss of Peterson leaves the Seahawks with a new hole at outside linebacker. Julius Jones leaves something to be desired at running back, and the aging offensive line needs to be revamped. The Seahawks also need help at safety, but there probably isn’t a first round talent in this year’s draft class, let alone someone worthy of a Top 5 pick.

If LB Aaron Curry, OT Jason Smith, and OT Eugene Monroe are taken with the first three picks (as they are in this mock draft), the Seahawks will likely trade this pick. Jason Smith won’t last, but the Seahawks would take either Curry or Monroe if they were available. I believe the Seahawks will end up with one of those two players. After that, there isn’t a good choice. WR Michael Crabtree or OT Andre Smith would be possibilities, but the team could trade down to get one of them and either could be a bust. DT B.J. Raji is the best available player on a pure need basis for the Seahawks.

Given the picks in this mock draft, I’m taking QB Matt Stafford as the fourth pick. There isn’t enough value to use the #4 pick on anyone else left on the board. There are multiple teams that would be willing to trade up to get Stafford (or possibly QB Mark Sanchez) at this spot. The Seahawks would then move down in the first round and take Raji, Crabtree or Andre Smith, while picking up an additional second round pick. If there isn’t a willing trade partner, the Seahawks could do worse than keeping Stafford for themselves as the future face of the franchise.

Seahawks path to the playoffs

The games are almost hard to watch, and it will be difficult to dig deep and find some enthusiasm at Qwest Field this coming Sunday. If the Seahawks lose, they will drop to 2-8, which will put them 5 games back from Arizona Cardinals with 6 games to play. A loss next week and it's time to start talking about the 2009 NFL Draft.

While I don't expect the Seahawks to make the playoffs, there is still a less-than-impossible path to winning the division. The Seahawks must take both remaining games from the Cardinals. That would put the Seahawks at 4 wins the Cardinals at 5 losses. The Seahawks would then need to win two more games than the Cardinals do in the 5 remaining games each team plays (not against each other). The Cardinals are certainly capable of going 2-3 or even 1-4, and the Seahawks could squeak out a win against New England or Washington. The rest of the opponents are all very beatable. I don't think all of that is going to happen, but it remains possible.

A win against the Dolphins last week and a loss by Arizona to San Francisco last night would have made a huge difference. The inexcusable loss to San Francisco and the improbable win by Arizona against the Cowboys was another difference maker. A few plays going the other way in those games and we would have the 4-5 Seahawks and 4-5 Cardinals tied at the top of the NFC West.

Go Seahawks, Go Rams

The Seahawks have a good chance to end up only 1 game back from the division lead. Wins by the Rams and Seahawks today wouldn't be shocking - both teams are home underdogs, which are always dangerous to bet against.

Donnie Avery and company should thrash the Cardinals secondary. The question is whether or not the Rams can contain the Cardinals receivers. Look for Warner to turn it over 3+ times in a return to St. Louis.

The Seahawks are banged up, but at home. Mike Holmgren will manage to handle his disciple Andy Reid - especially after Leroy Hill knocks Westbrook out of the game early with a big hit.

NFC West
Cardinals 4-4
Seahawks 3-5
Rams 3-5
49ers 2-6

Real Seahawks Fans Wanted

The team isn't in that bad of shape. The Seahawks may not make the playoffs, but it is hard to believe they will be worse than the 1992 season, when they went 2-14 (1-7 at home). The bigger question is will the fair weather fans stick around when things get rough.

Right now, a real Seahawks fan thinks the defense sucks, Trufant is overpaid, the offense is in shambles, but believes the team has a shot tonight to beat Tampa Bay, get a win next week at SF, and then beat the Eagles at home to climb back to 4-4. Then The Seahawks can take the Dolphins on the road and will be 5-4 when they face the Cardinals at home with a chance to take the division lead. And sure, they might stumble and lose one of those games, but as long as it isn't against the Cardinals, the Hawks would be in pretty good shape at 5-5 with 6 games to go.

I am not saying that I think that will happen as an unbiased observer because I am not. I am a Seahawks fan. A real Seahawks fan. I will bitch and moan, decry the coaching staff, boo the sorry ass defense when they stink it up at home, but I will be there making enough noise that my voice is scratchy on Monday when the Hawks defense is trying to get a stop on third down, even if they are down 24-3.

This isn't going to be a pretty season, and the team might miss the playoffs, but remember, they are not out of it until they are mathematically out of it...at least to a real fan.

Branch & Engram In, Burress Out

In an odd twist, the Seahawks might be in a better wide receiver situation than the New York Giants when the two teams face off in Week 5. Both teams are coming off byes, and Seahawks fans will get their first dose of Deion Branch since last season, and Bobby Engram will take the field for the first time since training camp.

The Giants will be without star wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who despite injuries has played in 56 of 57 games since he joined the Giants in 2005 (including 6 playoff games). Burress has scored 32 touchdowns during that time. Deion Branch has missed 11 games since joining the Seahawks in 2006, and has found the endzone only 8 times in 27 games.

Seahawks 55-man 53-man roster

52 of my 53 made the Seahawks roster. I assumed the team would go with Owen Schmitt over David Kirtman, but I am not as comfortable as the Seahawks with giving him a roster spot he didn't earn. The front office chose to go with potential.

The Seahawks ended up with 55 players due to the suspensions of Jordan Babineaux and Rocky Bernard, which bought Brandon Coutu and Justin Forsett one more week on the active roster. Forsett should eventually land as the eighth member of the practice squad (not counting international exemption Samuel Gutekunst).

Of the players already named to the practice squad, OG Pat Murray was the only player not on my list. Hard to believe he is still around after poor performances and penalties during the preseason. The Seahawks are also rolling the dice with only 6 LBs on the active roster and none on the practice squad. Tim Ruskell is hoping Will Herring will be ready can come in after Week 6, but has a few of his former players on speed dial just in case.

Offense (27)
QB (3) - Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Charlie Frye
HB/FB (6) - Julius Jones, T.J. Duckett, Maurice Morris, Leonard Weaver, Owen Schmitt, Justin Forsett
WR (6) - Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram, Courtney Taylor, Jordan Kent, Logan Payne
TE (3) - John Carlson, Jeb Putzier, Will Heller
OL (9) - Walter Jones, Sean Locklear, Chris Spencer, Rob Sims, Mike Wahle, Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto, Floyd Womack, Steve Vallos

Defense (24)
DE (5) - Patrick Kerney, Darryl Tapp, Lawrence Jackson, Jason Babin, Baraka Atkins
DT (5) - Rocky Bernard, Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant, Craig Terrill, Howard Green
LB (6) - Lofa Tatupu , Julian Peterson, Leroy Hill, D.D. Lewis, Lance Laury, David Hawthorne
S (4) - Deon Grant, Brian Russell, Jordan Babineaux, C.J. Wallace
CB (4) - Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Josh Wilson, Kevin Hobbs

Special Teams (4)
K - Olindo Mare, Brandon Coutu
P - Ryan Plackemeier
LS - Jeff Robinson

Practice Squad (8)
WR Michael Bumpus
TE Joe Newton
OL Kyle Williams
OG Pat Murray
S Jamar Adams
DT Kevin Brown
CB Marquis Floyd
OT Samuel Gutekunst

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Final Roster Analysis: Seahawks 53-Man Roster

Seahawks 53-Man Roster Prediction

Offense (26)
QB (3) - Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Charlie Frye
HB/FB (5) - Julius Jones, T.J. Duckett, Maurice Morris, Leonard Weaver, David Kirtman
WR (6) - Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram, Courtney Taylor, Jordan Kent, Logan Payne
TE (3) - John Carlson, Jeb Putzier, Will Heller
OL (9) - Walter Jones, Sean Locklear, Chris Spencer, Rob Sims, Mike Wahle, Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto, Floyd Womack, Steve Vallos

Defense (24)
DE (5) - Patrick Kerney, Darryl Tapp, Lawrence Jackson, Jason Babin, Baraka Atkins
DT (5) - Rocky Bernard, Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant, Craig Terrill, Howard Green
LB (6) - Lofa Tatupu , Julian Peterson, Leroy Hill, D.D. Lewis, Lance Laury, David Hawthorne
S (4) - Deon Grant, Brian Russell, Jordan Babineaux, C.J. Wallace
CB (4) - Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Josh Wilson, Kevin Hobbs

Special Teams (3)
K - Olindo Mare
P - Ryan Plackemeier
LS - Jeff Robinson

+ DT Larry Tripplett if Deion Branch starts the season on the PUP List

Practice Squad (9)
OT Samuel Gutekunst
RB Justin Forsett
FB Owen Schmitt
WR Michael Bumpus
TE Joe Newton
OL Kyle Williams
LB Dallas Sartz
S Jamar Adams
DT Kevin Brown
CB Marquis Floyd

Gutekunst is an international player exemption. One of the other guys obviously can't make it (most likely Floyd or Williams) unless Forsett gets picked up off waivers by another team.