Monday, December 24, 2012

Five Wishes on My Seattle Sports Christmas List

Well like everybody says, it's that time of the year again. Christmas is just around the corner, and I mean JUST around the corner, and most people are in that cheery type of mood again. Teams in Seattle have had their ups and downs this month, most notably the down of the Huskies, and the ups of the Seahawks, but in the end aren't all Seattle sports kind of bipolar in these kinds of ways? Christmas has ups and downs just like Seattle sports, the downs of gaining weight from all the great food, but the ups from getting presents, getting a break from school, and celebrating the life of Jesus Christ. Every year I look forward to Christmas, as I think many other people do as well, and always wonder what gifts I could be receiving. I usually make a list (even though I'm almost in college) and put my favorite desires on this list. Well this time I'm making the list a little bit differently. I'm creating a list of what 5 things/events I want, or want to occur, in Seattle sports that are within the realistic spectrum (so probably not a World Series championship for the M's). Here are the five items on my list.

1. Seahawks winning the Super Bowl

First off, I think this wish has a very realistic shot of happening. The Seahawks have been one of, if not, the hottest teams in the NFL the past couple of weeks and Russell Wilson just proved it again with an enormous win over the 49ers. Wilson had the highest QBR in week 16 out of every quarterback in the NFL, posting a 97.6 rating, and I think this goes to show how high of a level the Seahawks (and Russell Wilson) have been playing at the past couple of weeks. I mean it's crazy to think that they have outscored their opponents 150-30 the past three weeks. It still kills me to think we had losses against the Rams, Cardinals, and Dolphins. If we played them all again right now, I would have to believe that we would outscore all of them by at least 150-0 or some score around there. That's how good the Seahawks are playing right now (and how bad the other three teams are). The Seahawks will face the winner of the Dallas and Washington game in the first round of the playoffs and I believe that the Seahawks can go on the road and beat either of those teams. Nobody wants to play the Seahawks right now and if I were in the NFC, I would have nightmares of Richard Sherman and Russell Wilson (as long as Sherman's appeal goes as he said it went). The Seahawks will face a tough opponent if they win their first round playoff game, but they have faced at least 2 of the teams in the NFC playoffs before this season. The Seahawks will be prepared and if I was an opponent, boy would I be scared. This would be an awesome late Christmas present in February.

Wouldn't it be nice to see this on the cover page of the Seattle Times once again, except this time having Russell Wilson on it?

2. Seattle Arena is built and the city gets an NBA franchise within the next 5 years

I know, I know some of you may be asking how this is not number one on my list, but at the current moment, the Seahawks are tearing it up, if you haven't been watching. Also, there are years in the future where I can wish for Seattle to get an NBA franchise. I've learned that you always have to be patient. Anyways, I think that if the city of Seattle attained an NBA franchise within the next five years, it would energize every sports fan in the city. Well duh it would, but I mean that this event would probably boost ratings and attendance for every team in the city. People would get excited about the general scent of Seattle sports, maybe as strong of a scent that would catch the east coast's attention. Probably not though, knowing the east coast. Gotta love that east coast bias! But back to the point. With the construction of the Seattle arena, not only could an NBA franchise come to the city, but an NHL franchise could follow just as easily. Therefore, this would make Seattle one of the biggest sports cities in the nation, as long as the teams have success, and could even rival towns such as Boston (that only comes with HUGE success though). The acquisition of an NBA franchise has its positives up front, but has even more positives behind the smokescreen, such as the ones I just explained above. This would definitely make my Christmas a whole lot merrier.

3. The Mariners sign or trade for a superstar, or big power hitter

Everybody knows the Mariners need offense. The M's got some offense in their trade for Kendrys Morales this past week, but they still need a lot more. Like, a whole lot more offense. Some trade names that have been thrown out there in recent weeks are Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies and Andre Eithier of the Dodgers. Both of those players would be hard to pry out of their respective team's hands and it would take one or more of the Mariners' big pitching prospects. However, I would give up one of those prospects for either of these bats. There are some other power bats that could be attained through trades, but I'll leave it to Jack Zduriencik to find out exactly who he wants. However, Raul Ibanez won't cut it, at all. After or if we sign or trade for a power bat, I think the Mariners should sign Michael Bourn. He would set the table nicely for the big power hitters and would always bring his stellar defense to the situation. An outfield of Michael Bourn, Franklin Gutierrez and Michael Saunders would be a very athletic and effective group. Either way, the Mariners need to make some more moves to improve their offense and Jack Z knows this. I also think he might know that it would make my Christmas a little bit better. Actually, probably a whole lot better. Hopefully Jack Z makes a move for not just me, but for all of Seattle soon after Christmas.

Andre Eithier could bolster the Mariner's offense in a big way.

4. Keith Price returns to his 2011 form in 2013

Fresh off a Vegas Bowl loss, this wish debuts at number four on my list. The Huskies were one of the most infuriating teams I've ever chosen to root for this year as their play-calling, decision making, performance and sometimes their effort were way below what I thought they were going to be at the beginning of the season. I think the reason for why this season was so frustrating to me was because I saw so much potential in this Huskies team. Sure, the first six games were tough, but the Huskies made it out of the gauntlet with a 3-3 record. I thought the season would have ended with a 9-3 record after the first six games, but probably more realistically an 8-4 record. Well sure enough, the regular season ended with a 7-5 record and in the end a 7-6 record was pulled out from the rubble. Leading the team this year was Keith Price and I thought he was poised for another outstanding year, but boy did he disappoint big time. After talking with Scott Enyeart yesterday, I think USC fans know what I'm talking about. Matt Barkley was poised for a Heisman caliber year and in the end it turned out to really be a dud of a season for Trojan fans. For once, Trojan and Huskies fans can relate in the ways that they feel. Oh what a jolly time Christmas is, friendships and all, but back to the point. It would make me so happy if Keith Price returns to his 2011 form in the 2013 season and depending on how well his year goes, this wish could end up being the best event I ever wished for! With a performance reminiscent of his 2011 season in the 2013 season, Keith Price could lead the Huskies to contend for a PAC-12 title.

5. Aaron Gordon announces that he will attend the University of Washington

This would be absolutely huge for Lorenzo Romar and the Dawgs. The Huskies desperately need a play-maker and star player, and they would be getting just that in Aaron Gordon. The Huskies are pretty darn boring to watch this year and the signing of Gordon would give a reason to all the Huskie's fans to come storming back to Alaska Airlines Arena. I know that I sure would. It looks like Arizona is the Huskie's biggest competition for Gordon as Kentucky already has a jam packed recruiting class, as they always do under Calipari. Gordon will likely make his choice after the college basketball season as he wants to see how each team on his lost performs throughout the year. I've also heard a rumor that Gordon is waiting to see what happens with Romar, as Romar could sprint off to UCLA if Howland is fired. I found these rumors hard to believe, but if it happens, you can say you read it here first (unless you read it somewhere else first...). A kid who is only 18 years old has the chance to make my Christmas. That's how good Aaron Gordon is.

Aaron Gordon would be a huge get for Lorenzo Romar and the Washington Huskies.


Honorable Mention: A surprise 5 or 4 star recruit for the Huskies football team, Sounders making it to the MLS Cup, Huskies make solid offensive coaching hires

As you can see, I dream big. All of these events have a realistic chance of happening and if they all do happen, the city of Seattle will go absolutely nuts. But on the other side of the spectrum, these wishes could all just as easily not happen and Seattle sports fans could be left to drown in their sorrows for once again another year. Obviously, I won't get instant gratification with any of these wishes as they will happen over time, being within the next year or five years, but I can live with that. I think Seattle sports fans, such as myself, have learned to be patient over the past 10 years or so. Don't worry, we can be patient again, we would just like to have our wishes come true once in a while.

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for more updates.

Marshall

Current State of the Seahawks

Pure domination. That is the best way to explain the victory that the Seahawks had over the 49ers on Sunday. The ‘Hawks dominated in all phases of the game: offensively, defensively, and especially on special teams. The offense was very efficient, scoring early and often with beast mode in full effect and Russell Wilson up to his usual spectacular ways. The defense was stout as well, only allowing six points in the first half, and zero in the second half until a meaningless, garbage time touchdown with less than two minutes to go in the game. Even the special teams played well the entire game, with a couple good returns from Leon Washington and the game-changing play, which was Red Bryant’s blocked field goal that led to Richard Sherman’s 90 yard return for a touchdown. When watching the game, my friend Joey Calabro, who you all should follow on Twitter @redmondsfinest, prophetically predicted the play would happen saying, “Red Bryant is due for a blocked field goal.” It was just pure perfection. From three points in the 49er’s favor to seven points in the Seahawk’s favor, I would say it was the turning point of the game. Instead of being a 14-6 game, it was a 21-3 game and the Seahawk’s had all the momentum. Clearly, the Seahawks dominated in brilliant fashion, and to top it all off, the game was on national television so the Seahawks might even get some recognition for their win.

Red Bryant's blocked field goal shifted the momentum towards the Seahawks way for the rest of the game.
TONY OVERMAN/The Olympian

So it’s clear that we won the game in convincing fashion, but you may ask, what does that mean for us? Well first of all, it clinches the Hawks a playoff spot and secondly, it gives us our first winning record since 2007. What’s even better is that the Hawks are now getting some national recognition. In ESPN’s newest power rankings (which came out this morning), it has the Seahawks at sixth, just behind the Patriots, Packers, 49ers, Falcons, and Broncos. Now before all of you fans complain that we shouldn’t be behind the Patriots, Packers, and 49ers because we beat them, think of the body of work over the entire season. Now the most important thing to be gleaned from last night’s victory over the 49ers is that the Seahawks are here and they are here to stay for a while. One of the recent trends in the NFL is that teams who peak at the end of the season and don’t necessarily clinch a playoff spot until week 16 or 17 are in fact the teams who make long playoff runs. Think about it. Last year, the Giants didn’t get in to the playoffs until they beat the Cowboys in week 17, and then they made a super bowl run. The year before that, Green Bay was decimated by injuries and barely made the playoffs until peaking late, and then they made a long super bowl run. The Seahawks are peaking at the right time and it seems like the kind of team that nobody wants to face in the playoffs. Plus, a top defense, top running game, and a quarterback who can make plays and doesn’t turn the ball over are things that we have, and are key components to a Super Bowl team.

The Seahawks will face the winner of the Cowboys-Redskins game in the first round of the playoffs.
Tom Pennington/Getty Images

However before we get to the Super Bowl, we will have to win three playoff games, most likely all on the road. At this point, it is almost certain that we will play our first round game against the winner of the NFC East, which will be solely determined by the Redskins and Cowboys game this Sunday. That begs the question, who would we rather play, the Redskins or the Cowboys? Personally, I don’t think it’s much of a question at all: we want to play the Cowboys. First of all, the Redskins are exactly the kind of desperate, peaking at the right time type of team that I described could make a deep playoff run. Secondly, playing against the Seahawks in the playoffs would be Tony Romo’s worst nightmare after he famously botched a snap in Qwest Field to lose the Cowboys a playoff game. So that means as hard as it’s going to be, Seahawks fans should be rooting for Romo and the Cowboys this weekend. To make my final point, the Seahawks are peaking at the right time, and with the pieces they have, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them make a deep playoff run. I’m not predicting anything yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the ‘Hawks made it all the way to the Super Bowl.  

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for more updates.

Jackson


Friday, December 21, 2012

Mariners Land Morales in Exchange for Vargas

On Wednesday, the Mariners completed a trade that filled (to a certain extent) an area of need. The Mariners traded Jason Vargas to the Angels in exchange for Kendrys Morales, a 1B/DH type player. Despite the fact that Justin Smoak holds down first base currently for the Mariners and the fact that there is a log-jam at the designated hitter position, Jack Zduriencik made the trade nonetheless. However, even with a plethora of players at these positions, I think it was a great trade as the Mariners lost value in a position they have talent in and gained value in a position where they didn't have much value in. Here are some other reasons why I believe this trade was exceptional.

Jason Vargas looks to do the same thing in LA as he did in Seattle: eat up innings.
Otto Greule Jr/AP

First of all, lets start with the piece the Mariners lost in this trade. Jason Vargas has been a very good pitcher for the Mariners over the past couple of years and has eaten up a ton of innings. He is mainly a fly-ball pitcher and Safeco Field suited him very well. I think that the pitchers park down in Anaheim will do the exact same for Vargas and he will have some success with the Angels. However, I think the LA heat could be a factor and in the end it could lead to the demise of Jason Vargas next year. The Angels needed an inning eater and they got exactly what they wanted in Vargas. The Mariners, as everybody knows, have a surplus of pitching talent in the minor leagues so the idea of trading Vargas sounded much better because of this surplus. Vargas' contract this year calls for four million more dollars then Morales' does, another reason why I like this trade. It frees up even more money for the Mariners to spend on other player's contracts. Trading within the division is risky at times, but both general managers were fine with it as both players just have a year remaining on their respective contracts. Also, the Mariners don't really pose a threat to the Angels this year, making the trade even easier for Jerry DiPoto, the GM of the Angels. Now lets get to why this trade was attractive from the Mariner's point of view.

Kendrys Morales looks to provide the Mariners with something they haven't had a lot of lately, that thing they call offense.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports

Kendrys Morales is well known for his injury he sustained while celebrating after hitting a walk-off grand slam against the Mariners in 2010. Morales was headed for a big season in 2010 as he was projected to hit for over 110 RBI and 30 HR with an average close to .300. However, this injury (a broken his leg) suddenly ended his season. Morales missed all of the 2011 season, but was working hard in rehab. He came back last year in the 2012 season and had a .273 average while hitting for 22 HR and 73 RBI. Morales' best months in the season were in August and September so I'm sure Zduriencik was pleased to see this. With this move, the Mariners add a hitter that has huge potential and can fit in nicely right in the middle of the lineup. Morales said he feels 100% now and the best he has felt since his injury. However, with this acquisition, the Mariners now have a log-jam at the 1B and DH positions. With Justin Smoak, Jesus Montero/John Jaso, and Morales all in the mix for two positions, there will be some sorting out to do in spring training, but that's what spring training is for. Montero and Jaso will most likely switch off at catcher until Zunino gets called up to the big leagues while it is now clear that it is do or die time for Justin Smoak. Morales will put pressure on Smoak to perform and a little positional competition doesn't hurt anybody. Only the best will come out of this competition. It is still to be seen what the Mariners will do with Morales this season. They could try and sign him to an extension, trade him during the season, or could let him go as a free agent. It will largely have to do with the performance that Morales puts up this season. Scott Boras is his agent so it would be very hard to sign Morales to an extension during the season.

In the end, I think this trade was very good for both teams, but I think the Mariners will eventually get the better side of the deal. Morales has shown his skills before and has proven to be a solid hitter. The Mariners desperately need offense and Morales provides the team with some power hitting. Pitching is an area of strength so Vargas was relatively easily to let go of. This move does not by any means restrict the Mariners from making other moves for power bats. It actually makes the Mariners look more intriguing to free agent hitters as Morales adds some strength and protection to the lineup. Some areas of need that Jack Zduriencik still needs to fill are a power bat, a veteran pitcher, and possibly a lead-off hitter. Mihael Bourn looks intriguing for the Mariners and Joe Saunders could be a lefty answer to the need for a veteran pitcher. Nick Swisher is a very nice option for the Mariners who could fit in nicely with Morales in the lineup, but the Mariners haven't been rumored to be looking at him in-depth. Look for Zduriencik to make some more moves in the coming weeks, via either trade or free agency. No matter what, I think the Mariners will make the necessary moves in order to obtain a winning record in the upcoming season. Jack Zduriencik only wants the best for the Mariners organization and trust me, he can hear the fans crying for a competitive team. This drives him everyday to improve the Seattle Mariners.

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for more updates.

Marshall

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Seahawk's Playoff Picture 2.0

With a win by the Rams, the Seahawks (in dominating fashion), and the 49ers, the NFC West looks pretty much the same. The 49ers have a one and a-half game lead on the Seahawks and a three game lead on the Rams. However, the Bears lost today meaning that the Seahawks would be the fifth seed if the season ended today because of the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Bears. With only three games remaining in the regular season and two games back of the 49ers, it may seem that the Seahawks are out of the race for the division title, and should focus on the wild card, but that is not true at all. The 49ers have a very tough schedule over the next two games, taking on the Patriots in Foxborough and the Seahawks in Seattle, before finishing with the Cardinals at home. The Seahawks on the other hand, have a much easier schedule remaining, with the Bills in Toronto on the “road” next week, followed by the 49ers and Rams at home. It would not be surprising to see the Seahawks win all three of their remaining games, given that two of them are at home, as well as the fact that they are playing extremely well right now. This would put the Seahawks at 11-5. If the 49ers lose to the Patriots next week, and lose to the Seahawks the week after, they would be 10-5-1, which would mean the Seahawks would win the NFC West and most likely would clinch the number two seed in the playoffs.

It was evident that the Seahawks players had a good time in their win today.

If the Seahawks lose one of those last three games, and finish at 10-6, they would most likely not win the division, which would mean they would be fighting the Bears (8-5), Redskins (7-6), Cowboys (7-6), and Vikings (7-6) for the two wild card spots. For any of the three 7-6 teams to be able to challenge the Seahawks for the wild card spot, they would most likely have to win out. The Vikings still have the Texans and Packers left on their schedule, which basically means that they are effectively eliminated. The Cowboys have games against the Steelers, Saints, and Redskins remaining, which also basically means that they are effectively eliminated, as it would be very difficult to win all three of those games. The Redskins however have a fairly easy schedule remaining with the Browns, Eagles, and Cowboys left on their plate. Winning all three of those games would put them at 10-6, and in position to at least challenge for a playoff spot, whether it is for the wild card or their own division.

The Seahawks could soon be updating this sign at their headquarters in Renton...
seahawks.com

All of these scenarios show that the Seahawks are in a pretty good position to make the playoffs and still have a shot at the division title as well. In my last article about the playoff picture, I said the Seahawks season could come down to the week 16 game against the 49ers, and that is still the case. Assuming we beat the Bills next week and the Rams in week 17, a win against the 49ers would guarantee us a playoff spot. Plus, if the 49ers lose any of their other remaining games, winning in week 16 would give the Seahawks the division title. Just remember this. We wouldn’t be having any of this “will they make the playoffs or not” talk if the Seahawks would have taken care of business in the earlier parts of the season. With wins against teams like Arizona, St. Louis, Detroit and Miami, which all should have been wins, the Seahawks would be sitting pretty with a 12-1 record right now. Oh what could have been…
           
All of this being said it has been proven time and time again that anything can happen in the NFL. The Seahawks were shown just that in their loss two weeks ago against the woeful Dolphins. Any number of things could go wrong for the Seahawks, but if they play with the tenacity that they showed today against the Cardinals, they should be in good shape to make a solid run in the playoffs.

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for updates.

Jackson


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Russell Wilson's Big Strides Leading Seahawks to the Promise Land

Russell Wilson, the five-foot ten-inch rookie quarterback out of Wisconsin and a mere third round pick in last year’s draft, has progressed from a pre-season standout, into a rookie sensation. The former Badger signal-caller was the sixth quarterback taken in last year’s draft and after beating out ten million dollar free agent Matt Flynn for the starting job, has made big improvements every week. At the start of the season, Wilson leaned on the defense and running game to help lead the Seahawks to victories. But strong performances in recent games, capped off by two long touchdown drives late in the game against the Bears last week, make it clear that the tables have turned and it is now in fact Wilson leading the Seahawks to victories.

Hardly anybody has been able to catch Russell Wilson this season.

As of late, the defense has regressed somewhat and the running game has slowed down. Marshawn Lynch has had back to back games without 100 yard performances, and the defense seems to have lost a little bit of its edge and speed it had in the first few weeks of the season. That has left the slack to fall on Wilson, and he has responded greatly, throwing nine touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last four games. This combined with a 67% completion percentage over these four games has led to three Seahawk wins in those four weeks, with a disappointing loss against the lowly Dolphins. This resurgence in the Seahawks passing game has even put Wilson in the national spotlight, getting headlines on ESPN for the first time since the Hail Mary at the end of the Packers game. 

This hot streak by Wilson, and the national recognition that has followed, has led many people to finally realize how strong his stats are. Some even say he has entered the offensive rookie of the year conversation with Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. There are two main stats to measure performance of a quarterback. Those two being passer rating and Total Quarterback Rating (QBR). Passer rating is simply a compilation of passing yards, touchdowns, and interceptions, while QBR takes difficulty of throws, situations, and other such factors into account. While passer rating is not a perfect indicator on performance, it is good to note that Wilson has moved into seventh in the league in passer rating, ahead of guys like Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, Drew Brees, and Andrew Luck. Total QBR is not a perfect stat either, but Wilson ranks eleventh in that category, putting him ahead of Brees, Matthew Stafford, and Josh Freeman. All of these quarterbacks have more experience in the league than Wilson, which makes Wilson’s accomplishments even more impressive.

Russell Wilson has a higher passer rating and QBR than legendary QB Drew Brees.

The most important statistic of all however, is wins. Wilson has done a good job of helping the team to victory, leading us to a 7-5 record thus far in the season. Note that this is only one less win than Andrew Luck’s Colts, but one more win than RGIII’s Redskins. Clearly wins can be attributed to more than just quarterback play, but Wilson’s play has been a key component in the victories of the season so far. At this moment, the Seahawks would be in the playoffs as the six seed, which is due in large part to Wilson’s play and I believe if he continues to play at such a high level, then the Hawks could potentially make a run at the division title (a more in depth discussion on playoffs will come after this weekend’s games). However, the Hawks would probably need to win-out to do that. For now, Wilson and the team need to focus on improving every week, and I think that with continued development, Wilson can become a top-tier and elite quarterback in the very near future.

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for more updates.

Jackson


Thursday, November 29, 2012

PED Suspensions Loom for Browner and Sherman

Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner, cornerbacks for the Seattle Seahawks, both tested positive for Adderall on the same day, and their punishment has resulted in a four game suspension. Both players are appealing the process, but these are unlikely to overturn the suspensions, and could actually drag out the process, mystifying everyone to when they will serve the suspension. One of the more troubling things about this, besides the fact that they tested positive on the same day, is that Adderall is simply a concentration drug, used most commonly to treat ADHD by helping focus. Why would these two players take this drug, when they know it is on the NFL’s list of banned substances? Only they know the answer to that question.

Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman both face four game suspensions.
foxsports.com

The more important issue however, is how this loss for the vaunted Seahawks defense cannot be overstated. The rise of the ‘Hawks defense into one of the top five in the NFL is almost entirely centered on the physical style of these two corners.

The Seahawks defense is third in points allowed and passing yards against, mainly because of the two terrific young cornerbacks. Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner, along with the pro-bowl safety Earl Thomas, have developed and made the pass defense very tough to beat. Sherman and Browner are so big, strong, and talented, that they can play successful one-on-one coverage on the outside, allowing the other members of the defense to drop back in zone coverage or rush the passer. This is very important, because although pass rushers such as Chris Clemons, Red Bryant, and Brandon Mebane have been successful, none of them are Pro-Bowlers, and frankly, none of them would be without the play of Sherman and Browner. The two shutdown corners don’t allow any openings for receivers, forcing quarterbacks to hold on to the ball longer, which allows the pass rush to be more successful. Taking these two cornerbacks away will force the defense to send back more players in coverage, which will drastically take away from the pass rush and rush defense.

These suspensions could not have come at a worse time, as the Seahawks are fighting with several other teams for one of the last playoff spots. The short term outlook for Sherman and Browner looks grim. Even if the suspensions get overturned upon appeal, which is highly unlikely, the Seahawks will be missing their two starting cornerbacks. This leads to the question of who is going to replace them, and will they be able to replicate the physical style of play that Sherman and Browner bring. The two leading candidates are Marcus Trufant and Walter Thurmond. Trufant is a ten-year veteran, who was once a top-tier corner, making him a viable replacement, even if he won’t be able to completely replicate the bruising style of play brought by Sherman and Browner. Thurmond is a third year player from Oregon, but has battled injury throughout his college and pro career. He was a strong player at Oregon, so if he can stay healthy, he can hopefully be a successful corner and show his skills in his increased upcoming role.

Marcus Trufant will have to step up big time in the absence of the two starting cornerbacks.
seahawks.com

Trufant and Thurmond seem as if they will be able play at least above average defense, and will allow the defense to at least get by in the absence of the two standout corners, but the biggest difference will be the height difference. With Sherman at 6’-3’’, and Browner at 6’-4’’, they make up the tallest cornerback duo in the league, and this, combined with their physical style, makes them an imposing presence helping earn the Seahawks secondary the nickname “Legion of Boom.” Assuming Trufant and Thurmond take over as the starters, we will be losing a combined nine inches of height in the secondary. This is a big change, and will definitely result in a decrease of production. We will just have to see how much production actually is lost. Hopefully Sherman and Browner can get their suspensions overturned or reduced, and get back on the field as soon as possible, because their absence will turn our defense’s biggest strength, to possibly its biggest weakness.


It is clear that the loss of these two players will seriously hurt the team, but it all comes back to the question of why. Why did they allow this to happen? Why would they take Adderall? In today’s world of increased scrutiny of professional athletes, especially regarding banned drugs, why would Sherman and Browner risk their reputations by taking this drug? The only explanation I can think of is the two players wanting that slight edge, and taking the drug before a game. Whatever the case may be, these two corners screwed up, and now they are going to have to serve their sentence, and hope it doesn’t cost the Seahawks a playoff berth.

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for more updates!

Jackson

Friday, November 23, 2012

Reaction to the Huskies Road Loss Against the Cougars

It doesn't matter what the size of the dog in the fight is, it matters what the size of the fight in the dog is. This quote pretty much sums up the entire game and the Cougars mindset. Contrary to the quote, there was absolutely no fight in the Dawgs this afternoon. Throughout the whole game, despite most of the third quarter, the Huskies looked slow and had a non-chalant attitude out in Pullman. Usually, people relate all of this back to the coach, and it is true that Sarkisian is part to blame for the lack of effort, but it ultimately goes back to the players. There is only so much this coaching staff can do to get a team ready. The team took the stance of the fans on to the field and thought they would just kill the Cougars. Unfortunately, that is not how it turned out for the Huskies at all.

This time around, the Cougars got the better of the Huskies, winning 31-28 in OT.
Ted S. Warren/AP

Everybody knows about the craziness of college football, from all the crazy upsets to the incredible breakout performances. In rivalry games, everything is thrown out the window. The win-loss record, the buzz around the team and the national ranking mean nothing in these huge games. It all comes down to how bad you really want it, as it does in almost any sport you play. The Cougars just wanted it more and with the Huskies already looking towards there nice bowl game during the holidays, the Cougars poored ice-cold water down the back of the Husky's necks. Expect some more crazy upsets this rivalry season as the Cougs just provided you all with the first one.

The big story of this game was the penalties committed. Sure, lots of blame can be put on the refs as they had some pretty atrocious calls, but the Huskies gave the refs a reason to throw all of those flags. This can be attributed to lots of things such as not being prepared for the game or mentally checking out. In this case I think there was a little of both and again, some blame can be put on the coaching staff for this. I still believe we shouldn't fire Sark (you can see our previous article about that), but there should be some strong consideration for a new offensive coordinator to help him out in his play-calling. I felt like there needed to be some more passing plays in the fourth quarter as the Cougs were stuffing up all of the Dawg's running plays, but Sark kept going back to the ground game. It all goes back to losing Nussmeier this offseason and it becoming more and more apparent of how big of a loss that was for the Huskies. But back to all the penalties. The Huskies committed 18 penalties in the game overall, tying them for the team record, and it was just downright inexcusable. If the Dawgs want to have any success next season, or even in their bowl game, they will have to limit their penalties. This is pretty obvious, but with how the players performed today, it wasn't obvious to them.

 
Doug Nussmeier as offensive coordinator for the Dawgs sounds like a Huskie's fan's dream right now.
The Birmingham News/Joe Songer

The outlook for the rest of the season looks a little bit like as follows. With the loss, the Huskies will most likely play in the Las Vegas Bowl and have the possibility of facing a solid Boise State team. They open up their 2013 season next year against the Bronco's so the result of this game could be a little preview of what the opener holds next year. The fans will be left with a sour taste in their mouth as the Huskies could have easily gone 9-3 this year with wins against the Cougars, as well as the Wildcats of Arizona. This loss to the Cougars could have some recruiting implications for recruits who are on the fence about the Dawgs, such as Danny Mattingly and Myles Jack, as they could be deterred by the horrific loss. However, I still think the Huskies will end up with a solid 2013 class and the 2014 class should and will be Sarkisian's best yet. However, this loss does nothing to help the Huskies recruiting pitch.

In the end, it was a heart wrenching loss for all the true Huskies fans and even though some feel the need to abandon ship, there is no need to. The Huskies outlook on the future is bright, as I have previously written about, and the 2013 season should be the best in the Sarkisian era yet. There should be an open battle for the QB position this offseason between Keith Price and Cyler Miles. This can only lead to successful outcome or better than a scenario with no position battle. It can kind of be compared to the Seahawks QB battle this offseason if Cyler Miles ends up winning. The Dawgs will learn from this mistake and loss, just like everybody else in the world does when they make mistakes. I still love the Huskies with a die hard passion and all of the true fans out there should as well. Go Dawgs!

Thank you for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for updates!

Marshall

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Seahawk's Outlook for the Remainder of the Season

A tie? Really? A tie?! The Rams not being able to close out the 49ers last weekend was one of the more painful things I have had to watch so far this season. An illegal formation penalty to call back an 80 yard play to start overtime, and a delay of game penalty to take back a 53 yard field goal to end overtime doomed the Rams. Talk about a sloppy overtime. Now instead of the Seahawks being one game behind the 49ers, they are now two games behind. That being said, if the season ended today the Hawks would still be in the playoffs as the six seed, and I am here to tell you how the Hawks can either stay as a wild card spot, or potentially even win the division.

The 49ers and Rams tied last week, a game the Rams should have won.
Kyle Terada-US Presswire

After a bye this week, the 6-4 Seahawks play the Dolphins in Miami, the Bears in Chicago, the Cardinals at home, the Bills in Buffalo, and finish with the 49ers and Rams both at home. The Dolphins looked atrocious this week, so even with the inconsistent play of the Hawks on the road it should be a pretty easy win for the ‘Hawks. Now as good as the Seahawks have looked recently, let’s be honest, they aren’t going to beat the Bears in Chicago, especially considering Cutler will probably be back by then. They could contend, but I expect the Bears to pull away. The next four games though, are all winnable games, especially with three of them being at home. The big game will obviously be the week 16 matchup against the 49ers at Century Link. Beating the 49ers in week 16 is the difference between 11-5, and 10-6, which in a competitive NFC, could mean everything.

The 49ers on the other hand, have a very tough remaining schedule. Starting with the Bears at home this week on Monday night, they go to New Orleans to play the red-hot Saints, then play the Rams in St. Louis, which is always tough, then play at home against the Dolphins, against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, against the Hawks at Century Link, and finish at home against the Cardinals. The Niner’s may be two games up on us, but it is not unlikely for them to lose against the Bears, to the Saints in New Orleans, and to the Patriots in Foxborough. That would leave them with five losses, going into the game against the Seahawks. In this scenario, the winner of that pivotal week 16 game, would finish one game ahead of the other, and would win the NFC West.

The Seahawks look to avenge their previous loss when they face the 49ers in week 16.
Kyle Terada-US Presswire
 
While winning the division, and getting home-field advantage in the first round would be huge for us (as shown by our win against the Saints last year), getting in through the wild card would still be better than missing the playoffs completely. The Packers are one game ahead of us right now, and it is conceivable that they will only lose one or two more games the rest of the season, which would essentially guarantee them a playoff spot. The only other viable threats to our playoff spot are the Vikings (6-4), the Buccaneers (5-4), and the Saints (4-5). The Vikings chances do not look good at all, playing the Bears and the Packers twice more, along with the Texans. The Buccaneers have to play the Falcons twice more, play the Saints in New Orleans, and the Broncos in Denver. The Saints are a team that is smoking hot, and has an easy enough schedule to give us a run for our money. Their remaining schedule is the Raiders in Oakland, 49ers at home, Falcons in Atlanta, Giants in New York, Buccaneers at home, Cowboys in Dallas, and Panthers at home. The Saints are virtually impossible to beat at home, and with the Giants struggling, the only game I see them losing is in week 13 at the Falcons. That would put them at 10-6. Now it should be abundantly clear, that the Seahawks week 16 game against the 49ers is the key to our playoff hopes. If we win that game, and win the others we are supposed to down the stretch, we have a great chance of not only making the playoffs, but winning the division as well.
 
Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for updates.
 
Jackson
 
 

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Huskies Basketball: Taking a Glance at the Near and Far Future

The life of a Husky fan can be so sweet and joyous at times, but so frustrating at others. There is always the high of a big win and a low of an unbelievable loss. This season will be a typical season for Husky fans, with huge wins like, perhaps, those over Arizona or UCLA, but also huge losses against teams like Albany. True fans always stick with the team through the tough times and bumps in the road and even though this is one of the hardest things to do, most Husky fans survive through this brutal test of survival. The Huskies extended future looks bright, but in my opinion, the near future could end up to be a struggle.

Aziz N'Diaye played well Tuesday, but the team suffered a big loss.
Joe Nicholson – US PRESSWIRE

To start off with the most vivid point on my mind right now, I will start talking about this highly discouraging Albany loss. Even though this loss was one of the worst of the Romar era, I think it is a good thing this team lost to Albany. This team needs a reality check, and I think they were promptly handed one Tuesday night. With tough non-conference games against Seton Hall and possible Ohio State coming up, the Dawgs needed something to happen to whip them into shape. I think this loss will do just that. However, speaking of the loss, I think this can all be placed on Romar’s hands and rightfully so, after the game, he stated it was 100% his fault. Romar should have and could have kept Aziz in the final play of the game to be a shot blocker, but chose to go with the guard Hikeem Stewart so he could switch screens easier (even though he didn’t switch one screen). The Huskies need to learn to play hard and win without one of their best players and I think this game gave the Huskies some experience in to what that feels like as Scott Suggs came out early with a concussion. While CJ Wilcox was mediocre, I think Andrew Andrews shined and will turn out to be a star in the future. I think losing Aziz next year will hurt the team a bunch, but I strongly believe that Perris Blackwell will be able to step in and contribute from day 1. In the end, I believe this game will turn out to really be a blessing in disguise because this kind of game gets everyone’s attention and pushes players to work harder when they want to stop working. If the team doesn’t figure it out themselves, Lorenzo Romar will force them to figure it out. I mean there is a reason why he has been the coach of the Dawgs for what seems like forever.

Washington's Andrew Andrews, left, defends Albany's Mike Black in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, in Seattle. Photo: Elaine Thompson / AP
Look for Andrew Andrews to blossom into a star this year.

Elaine Thompson / AP
 
These early non-conference games will tell us a lot about how the team will perform and look this year. With a new offense going in and many new players, the Dawgs will have to work out the kinks and make sure everything flows before actual conference play starts. Many people thought that the Europe trip would help with this, but it has clearly not helped so far. Again, time will only tell how well this offense works out. It is way to early to judge how much of an impact the new coaches and system have on the team. I think we will be able to judge these aspects of the team by the time conference play actually starts. Look for the Dawgs to have a solid year in the Pac-12, maybe not a tournament caliber year, but a year that is viewed by many as straight up solid. I don’t expect anything huge out the Huskies team this year, but perhaps that’s just me.

Even though I think the Huskies might struggle a bit this year, I think the future looks very bright. With Darin Johnson signing his NLI Wednesday and Nigel Williams-Goss signing his Friday, Romar adds two highly skilled and talented guards to his arsenal of players. Each have qualities that will significantly improve the team and if CJ Wilcox leaves for the league, which I don’t think will happen, these two guards will come in very handy. Aaron Gordon is a huge remaining target for the 2013 class for Lorenzo Romar and I think that if Romar doesn’t secure the commitment of Aaron Gordon, he could be looking at a future on the hot seat. Kameron Rooks is a 7′ center out of California and is another prospect the Dawgs are looking at. He is more of a back to the basket type player, but can also step out to hit some mid-range jumpers. He is a priority for Lorenzo Romar and the staff, but not their main one as Aaron Gordon holds down that role. If the Huskies can come away with a class of NWG, Johnson, Rooks and Gordon, they will be sitting very pretty for the 2013-2014 season. If you add in the transfers and more experienced role players, there could possibly be an Elite 8 birth in the season, who knows. The far future hinges on the players Romar ends up bringing in with the 2013 recruiting class so it’s a good thing he already has a solid start to the class.
Overall, the Husky basketball program has a solid future ahead of them. This being said, the program could have an amazing future ahead of them if the chips fall in all the right places. I think the likeliness of this happening is pretty substantial and I think there soon could be some glory days for Washington basketball. It just may not be the days right around the corner. You can’t always have instant gratification, right?

The Huskies look to add Aaron Gordon to the mix and make it a huge 2013 recruiting class.
Scout.com

Overall, the Husky basketball program has a solid future ahead of them. This being said, the program could have an amazing future ahead of them if the chips fall in all the right places. I think the likeliness of this happening is pretty substantial and I think there soon could be some glory days for Washington basketball. It just may not be the days right around the corner. You can’t always have instant gratification, right?

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for more updates.

Marshall

Monday, November 5, 2012

A Tale of Two Halves- Seahawks beat the Vikings, 30-20

Coming into the game, the Seahawks’ matchup with the Vikings was expected to be a defensive, ground and pound type of game with the two leading rushers in the NFL on either side. However, this was not exactly how it played out. Adrian Peterson set the tone early with a 74 yard run on the opening series of the game and a one yard touchdown to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead. The entire first half seemed to continue like this as Peterson and the Vikings gashed the fifth best run defense in the league. The Hawks run defense looked awful, but for the first time this season, the offense bailed them out.

Adrian Peterson Running back Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings rushes against Leroy Hill #56 of the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on November 4, 2012 in Seattle, Washington.

Adrian Peterson ran wild on the 'Hawks in the first half, but the second half was a different story.
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images North America

Russell Wilson had a spectacular first half, throwing for three touchdowns and two being to Golden Tate. Wilson was laser accurate and was only plagued by some early drops, a reoccurring theme from two weeks ago against the 49ers. Marshawn Lynch ran the ball well to add to the offensive power, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and tiring out the Vikings defense.

However, the vaunted Seahawks defense looked out of sorts, taking the wrong angles and not shedding their blocks quick enough. This happened all over the field, allowing huge holes for Adrian Peterson to run through. I sure didn’t expect this to happen and the bad defense kept the Vikings in it the entire game, even though our offense was seemingly unstoppable. I would say that the Seahawks grinded out a 20-17 lead at halftime, but that’s not what it was at all. They took advantage of a Percy Harvin fumble, one of the few defensive highlights in the first half, and moved the ball consistently through the air, but couldn’t slow down the Vikings on defense. However, the second half was a completely different story.

Golden Tate #81 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates a touchdown with teammate Russell Wilson #3 during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at CenturyLink Field on November 4, 2012 in Seattle, Washington.
Russell Wilson and Golden Tate hooked up for two amazing touchdowns on the day.
Stephen Brashear/Getty Images North America

The Hawks defense came out with a completely different energy and attitude in the second half and got a good stop on the Vikings’ first series, after punting it away themselves. It was really clear that locker room adjustments were made, which Pete Carroll is a master at, and the Hawks defense started flying to the ball, even coming up with an interception. The Vikings running game continued to roll, but there were a couple defining numbers that showed how big the Hawks defense came up when it had to: 3 points in the second half for the Vikings, and only 63 yards passing for the Vikings in the entire game. The Vikings didn’t help themselves out either by only giving Adrian Peterson the ball five times in the entire second half.

Brandon Browner came up big late with an interception to seal the game for the 'Hawks.
Associated Press: Elaine Thompson

The Seahawks offense slowed a bit in the second half, but still did what they needed to do. The big second half story was really the defense and how they stepped up when they had to. They put Christian Ponder under pressure constantly and stepped up in their coverage of the pass, as the Vikings moved to the air game since they were down in the game.

Overall it was an up and down game for the Seahawks, but it turned out to be a big victory at home. The defense faced some challenges and adversity, but they responded well in the second half and helped lead the ‘Hawks to a big win. Obviously the offense played very well in the passing and running games, but I think it was the defense in the second half that sealed the win for the Seahawks.

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for more updates!

Jackson


Friday, November 2, 2012

A Closer Look at UW Huskies Football Recruiting

The Huskies have done a very solid job recruiting thus far. As we enter the last three months prior to signing day, where every day is hectic in recruiting, we take a look at the verbal commitments the Dawgs have received so far and some of the recruits who are seriously considering UW. Here are the Huskies current 18 verbal commitments:

Verbal Commits
Troy Williams (Narbonne HS/Calif.) – QB
Lavon Coleman (Lompoc HS/Calif.) – RB
Demore’ea Stringfellow (Rancho Verde HS/Calif.) – WR
Darrell Daniels (Freedom HS/Calif.) – WR
Sammie Long (Lakes HS/Wash.) – WR
Sean Harlow (San Clemente HS/Calif.) – OG
Andrew Kirkland (Jesuit HS/Oreg.) – OG
Dane Crane (Santa Margarita Catholic HS/Calif.) – C
Elijah Qualls (Casa Grande HS/Calif.) – DT
Andrew Basham (Lynnwood HS/Wash.) – DT
Jaimie Bryant (Tumwater HS/Wash.) – DT
Daeshon Hall (Lancaster HS/Texas) – DE
Marcus Farria (Centennial HS/Ariz.) – DE
Connor O’Brien (Santa Margarita Catholic HS/Calif.) – OLB
Caleb Tucker (Ouachita Parish HS/Louis.) – OLB
Sean Constantine (Bellevue HS/Wash.) – MLB
Kevin King (Bishop O’Dowd HS/Calif.) – CB
Cameron Van Winkle (Mt. Si HS/Wash.) – K

The class so far, made up of mostly three and four-star players, is a class that can come in and make an impact on the program right away. Whether it is on the field in games or improving the starters in practice, this class has displayed lots of determination and heart. This class isn’t even near done either as Sarkisian and his staff of ace recruiters look to add some more top-tier talent. Here is a look at some of the remaining targets on the board and the kind of shot the Huskies have at landing each recruit.


Washington's ace reruiter, Tosh Lupoi.
Kim Grinolds/Dawgman.com

 
Players UW is Currently Recruiting

Tahaan Goodman (Rancho Cucamonga HS/Calif.) – S
This long and hard-hitting safety has been considering the Huskies for a while now. He has family in the South and has been considering LSU, but recently has been focusing on four schools, those being UCLA, Oregon, USC and Washington. The Dawgs have a shot at landing this big-time recruit, but I think he ends up heading to L.A. to play for the Bruins.

Max Redfield (Mission Viejo HS/Calif.) – S
This kid is a player. One of the best safeties in California, if not the west coast, is a current USC- commit, but all those USC commits will be taking their visits as they never know when their scholarship offers could be lifted with the limited scholarships. Redfield was recently wowed by his trip to Notre Dame and has always consistently mentioned the Ducks, Irish, Huskies and Trojans in his top schools. The only way the Dawgs have a shot with him is if they impress him on his official visit up to Seattle for the Utah game. I still think he will end up at USC.

Myles Jack (Bellevue HS/Wash.) – LB
This pure athlete has always been on the Huskies radar. Ever since he moved up to Bellevue from the South, his recruitment and popularity has blown up. Even though he is currently committed to UCLA, the Huskies have always been in contact with him. He has been to every Huskies home game this season and seems to be wavering in his commitment a little bit. Even with this waver, I still think he ends up as a Bruin.



If the Huskies can get Myles Jack to flip his committment, he could contribute right away for the Huskies linebacking core.
northwestprepreport.com

Danny Mattingly (Mead HS/Wash.) – TE/LB
A two way athlete, Danny Mattingly impressed many scouts during the course of this past summer. Colleges have given him the option to play either linebacker or tight end at the next level, but I see him as more of an effective linebacker for the Dawgs. Unfortunately, Mattingly is committed to Notre Dame, but the good news is that rumors have come out that he has silently decommitted from the Irish after he took an official visit to Washington for the USC game. However, Mattingly has always been enamored by what Oregon has to offer and if the Ducks accept his commitment, look for him to end up there.

Johnny Johnson (Central High East Campus/Calif.) – CB
When Johnson returned from his official visit to Seattle for the Stanford game, he exclaimed that he had a great time. This visit really put the Dawgs up there with his leaders, Stanford and UCLA, and the Dawgs have a good shot at landing this big-time corner prospect. If he gets into Stanford, he’s going there, but if he doesn’t, it will be a tight battle between the Bruins and the Dawgs. I think he’ll end up as a Huskie if this happens.

Joe Mathis (Upland HS/Calif.) – DE/OLB
This quick and strong elite pass-rusher is a former UW commit (that was a while ago though). He has all the makings and strength to contribute immediately at the college level and is looking to take an official visit up to Seattle after his high school season is over. The Huskies stiffest competition is UCLA, USC and Utah. I think Mathis will eventually end up as a Dawg again. His love is just too strong. 

Other names to watch: Thomas Duarte, John Ross, Khalfani Muhammad, Riley Sorenson, Eddie Vanderdoes, Cameron Walker, Patrick Enewally, Austin Hooper, Aaron Cochran, Victor Egu, DeOnte Reynolds, Nic Purcell, Randy Gregory, Jermaine Kelly and Chris Hawkins.

Elijah Qualls looks to convince some other recruits to join him in the Huskies 2013 recruiting class.
Tom Hauck/ESPNHS

In the end, I think the Huskies will come out of these last three months with prospects that have the potential to impact the program in a positive way. These prospects may not be all that highly rated, but in the end, the only thing that counts is their performance on the field. Many top-tier prospects have turned out to be busts and many under the radar recruits have turned out to be stars. You just never know. I think this Huskies staff has the eye and knack for impactful talent and I trust their experience to tell them who to recruit and who not to recruit. I mean their getting paid more money than all of us for a reason, right? I trust our smart and educated coaches.

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for more updates!

Marshall


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

NBA Season Preview and Staff Picks

Even though this article isn't on Seattle Sports, it is on the one sport that Seattle misses the most, that being basketball. We can only hope we get a team back in the next five years and even though I won't have a favorite team in the NBA, besides the Knicks, I will still be watching all the action that this upcoming year has to bring. Happy NBA Tipoff Day!

Most people in Seattle would commonly agree that a NBA team is desperately wanted back in the city. While everyone in Seattle is left on the outside looking in without an NBA team, the rest of the NBA starts the 2012-2013 season today with the Boston Celtics tipping off against the Miami Heat. Here is an NBA season preview to get you ready for all the big rivalries and games.

LeBron James and the Heat tip-off against Paul Peirce and the Celtics tonight at 5 pm PT.
usatoday.com

Eastern Conference

Arguably the most competitive division in the Eastern Conference this year is the Atlantic Division. With a huge influx of talent into the division, opposing conferences will fear playing any team in the Atlantic, besides the Toronto Raptors of course. Andrew Bynum will lead the 76ers to a solid season, but they will still be working out the kinks and won’t contend for the division title. The three powerhouses as of now in the Atlantic are the Knicks, Celtics and the new look Brooklyn Nets. With a solid showing in the league last year, the Central Division looks to improve on this mark. With the much hyped return of Derek Rose, look for the Bulls to dominate all year, with the Pacers hot on their tails. The Cavaliers are still young, and Milwaukee and Detroit just don’t have the talent to matchup against other teams in the NBA, although Monta Ellis could surprise some people this year for Milwaukee. The Bulls will make a deep run in the Playoffs, as long as they stay healthy. The Southeast Division compares almost exactly to the Central Division. There are two strong teams, the defending NBA Champions Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks, but after that, the talent level drops off with Washington falling behind, and Orlando and Charlotte bringing up the rear. The Miami Heat have a very strong chance to repeat as NBA Champions this year, but look for the Bulls, Knicks, Nets and Pacers to give them a run for their money.

Andrew Bynum looks to lead the 76ers on a deep playoff run this year.
David Dow/Getty Images

Western Conference

There is one clear powerhouse in the Northwest Division. That consensus around the West is that there is a proven powerhouse in the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are young, fast, and skilled. They very well likely could be the NBA Champions this year if they get a little extra push from players other than Kevin Durant. The team looming in the shadows and waiting to pounce are the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Kevin Love leading the attack and Ricky Rubio and Derek Williams looming in the wings, look for the Wolves to surprise some fans this year. Speaking about surprises, the Nuggets could sneak up on some teams. With the offseason acquisition of Andre Iguodala, the Nuggets will definitely make the playoffs. Look for the Northwest to be a very exciting and strong division. The Pacific Division has had a total renewal of talent within the last two years. With the Clippers resurgence last year and the Lakers new additions of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, look for the division to have a plethora of talent. Imagine an NBA Final with LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Kobe, Nash and Howard. Wouldn’t that be something? The Lakers will smash all opposition away in the regular season on their way to the playoffs as the Clippers will try to keep up with the amazing talent of the Lakers. What about the seasons for the Warriors, Kings and Suns? Well, maybe next year they’ll have a shot at contention, but they probably won’t even have a shot then either. In the most talented and interesting division in the Western Conference, the Southwest Division includes Linsanity, a uni-brow, very old men running down a court and the one and only seven-footer they call Dirk. This division will be competitive all year, but the edge still goes to the San Antonio Spurs as they look to make the last seasons for their core stars a memorable one. However, the insanity of Jeremy Lin could stop the Spurs and stun the rest of the Western Conference. The Lakers are the clear cut favorites this year, but the Thunder could very well likely take the wind out of the Lakers sails. If the Thunder doesn’t do it, look for the Nuggets, Spurs, Timberwolves and Clippers to shock the world and take down the mighty Lakers.

Anthony Davis looks to impress this year.
NBA.com

Staff Picks

Marshall

Atlantic: New York Knicks
Central: Chicago Bulls
Southeast: Miami Heat
Next Five Playoff Teams: Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers
Eastern Conference Champions: Miami Heat
Northwest: Oklahoma City Thunder
Pacific: Los Angeles Lakers
Southwest: Houston Rockets
Next Five Playoff Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs
Western Conference Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
NBA Finals Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
MVP: James Harden
Coach of the Year: Kevin McHale (Rockets)
Rookie of the Year: Anthony Davis

Jackson

Atlantic: Boston Celtics
Central: Chicago Bulls
Southeast: Miami Heat
Next Five Playoff Teams: Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons
Eastern Conference Champions: Boston Celtics
Northwest: Oklahoma City Thunder
Pacific: Los Angeles Lakers
Southwest: San Antonio Spurs
Next Five Playoff Teams: Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets
Western Conference Champions: Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Finals Champions: Oklahoma City Thunder
MVP: Kevin Durant
Coach of the Year: Rick Adelman (Timberwolves)
Rookie of the Year: Anthony Davis

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for more updates in the coming days!

Marshall

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Huskies Earn Second Victory Against a Top-Ten Opponent This Year

Coming into this game, Washington had lost three straight and had not looked good doing it. With the defense beaten up and the offense not coming close to its peak form of last year, UW fans were desperately hoping for a turnaround this week against undefeated Oregon State. In the first half, the fans got exactly what they had hoped for with dominant defense and solid offense.

Holding OSU to 110 yards in the first half, and two interceptions, the UW defense shut out the Beavers in the first. This stellar defense combined with Bishop Sankey’s powerful running, gave the Huskies a 10-0 lead heading into halftime. Sankey had over 60 yards and a touchdown in the first half and looked very strong running the ball, yet the offense couldn’t capitalize off of two turnovers. Part of the reason for this, was very questionable play calling by coach Sarkisian. Quarterback Keith Price barely threw the ball more than five yards downfield, and the passing game couldn’t get going.

Bishop Sankey pounded the ball in lieu to a 20-17 victory over the Beavers.
ESPN.com

One of the key sequences was when Washington had the ball and had what seemed to be a fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown, but it was reversed and it was 4th and goal on the one. They responded to the tough call, and ended up scoring a Bishop Sankey touchdown after choosing to go for it on 4th down. While Washington dominated the first half, the third quarter changed the game and momentum completely.

Oregon State jumped out to a quick start in the third quarter and on their first drive, went 83 yards in two plays, capped off by a 53 yard touchdown reception by Brandin Cooks on a bubble screen. This touchdown play was the one play in the game where Sean Parker was not on the field. The Washington offense could not respond, and punted back to the Beavers. This resulted in OSU moving down the field once again and tying the game up with a field goal. The Beavers and Huskies held even 10-10 heading into the fourth quarter.

Sean Mannion was mostly inefficient on the night, but did execute the bubble screen TD pass to Cooks.
AP Photos

The fourth quarter started off with some major excitement, when it seemed that Washington had an interception returned for a touchdown, but it was once again called back because of an unnecessary personal foul call that happened 25 yards away from the play. However, the Dawgs still retained the ball, but had to quickly punt it away, losing all momentum gained from the interception.

But once again, the Dawgs gained all the momentum back when the Huskies intercepted Oregon State quarterback, Sean Mannion, for the fourth time in the game. The Dawgs then drove down the field and aided by some key Keith Price passes, capped off the drive with a Bishop Sankey touchdown run. The poor play by Mannion, led to Oregon State switching quarterbacks to backup Cody Vaz, who had played well earlier in the season, when having to replace Mannion due to injury. He moved the offense down the field completing five of six passes including a 29 yard touchdown pass to tight end Connor Hamlett that tied the game at 17 with just five minutes to go.

The Huskies calmly got the ball back and methodically moved the offense down the field into Oregon State territory. This drive was highlighted by an incredible catch by Kasen Williams and a personal foul penalty that moved Washington into the red zone. A few plays later, with another interesting play call that lead to a fourth down, the Huskies kicked a field goal to give them a three point lead with 1:20 left in the game.

Quarterback Keith Price #17 of the Washington Huskies passes against the Oregon State Beavers on October 27, 2012 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington. The Huskies defeated the Beavers 20-17.
Keith Price was very efficient on the night. He wasn't stellar, but wasn't bad either.
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images North America

When OSU got the ball back, they started fast, completing back to back passes for first downs, but then their drive stalled. Cody Vaz threw back to back incompletions, to bring up third down, where he was then sacked for a loss of four yards. To compound the problem, the Beavers made a bone-head mistake, and got a delay of game penalty, to make it 4th and 19. With an incomplete pass down the middle and one Husky kneel down later, the Huskies had captured a 20-17 victory against a top-ten team.
           
The story of the game was red zone production, as coming in Washington had been terrible in red zone offense, while Oregon State was very efficient. UW scored two red zone touchdowns, while OSU didn’t score any, and threw a first half interception while in the red zone. Red zone efficiency was a big key to the game tonight, and Washington won that battle, as well as the turnover battle, which made up for the fact that they were outgained 427-293 by OSU. If the Huskies want any chance at winning all of their remaining four games, they must win the turnover battle and keep up the good red zone efficiency. This was a great bounce-back win for the Dawgs, and should help them get back on track. The Dawgs face a motivated Cal team on the road at 6 pm on Friday on ESPN2. We’ll see if the Dawgs can convert their success at home on the road and pull off a solid victory at Memorial Stadium.

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Jackson Safon