Wednesday Wanderings: Halloween Four Days Early in St. Louis, Husky Takes Down a Weak Golden Bear, Sounders Fans Sound Off

By Marshall Cherrington

Wednesday Wanderings is a weekly column written by Editor-in Chief and creator of the Sports Soup Network, Marshall Cherrington. He brings you all of his weekly thoughts pertaining to Seattle sports, and anything else for that matter.

Injuries, injuries, injuries. They’re killing the city of Seattle this week. Russell Wilson making a bad read in St. Louis led to him running to Sidney Rice’s side and having would-be-tacklers roll up on Rice’s knee, which caused his torn ACL. And then in the Huskies clobbering of Cal, Keith Price couldn’t get enough testosterone running through his body to throw a deep enough pass for Kasen Williams to run under it. Kasen had to come back for the ball, resulting in a jump-ball situation, resulting in a destroyed Kasen Williams foot. Not good, Keith and Russell. Apologies will be accepted later. And then I’ve got the injury bug (well maybe not the injury part) and can’t seem to sleep for a whole night without waking up. That’s why you’ll be reading a shorter version of Wednesday Wanderings this week.

Despite all of the injuries, every Seattle sports team came out unbeaten this week. Even though the game in St. Louis was ugly, the Seahawks somehow pulled it out. Even though everybody in the world, including every Cal fan out there, knew UW was going to destroy… well they destroyed anyways. Even though every Sounders fan was kicking themselves after tying the Galaxy on Sunday, the men in rave green just pulled out a gutty victory against the Colorado Rapids to make it into the Western Conference Semifinals for the billionth time. Here are my thoughts on the week that was in Seattle sports.

Heading into Monday night football, Seahawks fans were deprived of their team. It had been 10 days since the team had played last and fans thought the players felt the same way: hungry and ready to kill the Rams. But as we all saw, it just wasn’t this way. But I don’t think this was so much of the two skill levels of each team being so similar to one another. I think it’s because Jeff Fisher coaches like a freaking god against the Seahawks. The Rams have consistently been one of the Seahawks’ toughest opponents over the last few years, if not for the entirety of the franchise. Now I haven’t been around that long to know that fir sure, but I would not be surprised if the Rams did play this role.

The subtle smile that haunts the Seahawks every year.

USA Today

Instead of the 10 day lull being a motivator and chance to come out strong for the Seahawks, I think it got the Seahawks off of their routine more than anything else. Add in that the Rams didn’t have their starting quarterback at the helm and you have an opponent that the players think they are going to absolutely murder. Now coaching and everything should be good enough so the Seahawks don’t come into the game with that mindset, but apparently none of that worked.

Also, did the offensive line decide to pull out their smart phones during the game and watch the World Series game that was taking place at the same time a couple of blocks away? Man, technology these days. But really, where were these guys. The blocking was terrible. I get that the Rams defensive line is one of the best in the league, but NFL lineman should be able to at least step in front of at least one of these rushers. Russell Okung, the Seahawks can’t get you back quick enough. Do they have to use some of those crude recruiting tactics your alma mater used to get you back in a Seahawks jersey and on the field? All jokes, but seriously, the Seahawks need you back big time.
After watching the game, there is no doubt in my mind that the Seahawks should spend their first round pick in the upcoming draft on an offensive lineman. They key word in that sentence is should. They’ll probably end up drafting Johnny Manziel or some other random player at a position they already have Pro-Bowlers at. David Yankey out of Stanford seems like an intriguing prospect that Pete Carroll and John Schneider have most likely kept their eyes on over his career.

Regarding the Sidney Rice injury, maybe I called that. In my second Wednesday Wanderings column, I discussed how Rice was expendable and Jermaine Kearse would produce fine in Rice’s position. Well folks, it looks like we have that scenario on our hands now. Kearse might be just as fast, athletic, and definitely smart as Sidney Rice was at the wide out position. Even though I don’t think Kearse has the kind of hands Sidney does, he has improved a ton in that category and he should be able to replicate Sidney’s production. Trust me guys, the loss of Sidney Rice won’t hurt too badly. His statistics for his entire Seahawks career were similar to the statistics of like one of Calvin Johnson’s games (season, but who’s counting anyways).

Seahawks fans hope Kearse won't be a curse as a now starting wide receiver.

The Tacoma News Tribune

I would go in depth on the Huskies, but I’ll save that more for the next edition of Wednesday Wanderings since they have a bye week this weekend. What I can say though, is that the Huskies performance on Saturday was exceptional. They controlled all aspects of the game against a Pac-12 foe and even though the quality of the opponent was minimal, the Dawgs did what they needed to do: win and win big. It was so much fun to watch Sankey gash the Cal defense and even though I question why he goes east and west sometimes rather than north and south, he’s still one of my favorite players to watch in the Pac-12. Another one of those players? Brandin Cooks, wide receiver for Oregon State. Man is that guy electric and boy does he have great hands. I can’t wait to watch him against the Washington defense in the second to last week of the season. Should be a fun one and a must win for the Huskies.

I absolutely love everything about this picture. Beautiful jerseys, beautiful angle, probably a beautiful pass from Mannion and an even more beautiful run after the catch from Cooks.

Sports Illustrated

All has not been well in Sounders land and it seems like injuries on the field have resulted in injuries in the stands, because of all of the angry fans. Yeah, I rhyme about as well as Kendrick Lamar does. Anyways, I think the Sounders are stepping it up as of lately, meaning their past two games against LA and Colorado. The defense has shown improvement and even though Robbie Keane continues to haunt every Sounders’ fans dreams, the team played well against one of their arch rivals. The Sounders barely snuck into the playoffs, but showed why they belonged tonight against Colorado. Eddie Johnson’s nutmeg of the Rapids defender that led to a goal that sealed the game was one of the dirtiest moves I’ve seen since my days on the soccer pitch. In case you were wondering, I dominated rec soccer. Nobody could touch me.

That’s it for this week’s edition of Wednesday Wanderings. Jackson and I are getting together after school tomorrow so I can beat him down in Madden and so we can record a podcast, so make sure to look out for that. I’ll keep you updated on our Madden series as well. In my opinion, I’m the more skilled Madden player, but Jackson is 2-0 against me in Madden 25, with a combined margin of victory of three points. I lost on a last second field goal yesterday. And yes, it was as heartbreaking as it sounds. Until next time Seattle sports nation! Have a fabulous week, and don’t get to crazy tomorrow for Halloween. Best costume wins something TBA. Comment below with your outfits. Appreciate it!

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Takeaways: Seahawks Clobber the Jaguars

By Jackson Safon

The 20.5 points that the Seahawks were favored by was one of the biggest point spreads in NFL history, and the Hawks covered with ease. The final score was 45-17 and this game was in hand from the get-go. The Hawks dominance showed early as they went into the locker room at halftime with a 34-0 lead. The performance was dominant in all phases of the game, which allowed Tarvaris Jackson, Christine Michael, and the rest of the reserves to get in the game and show what they could do. Not surprisingly, they played outstanding and Jackson showed that he is better than any of the Jaguars quarterbacks. However, even in a dominant win, there are always things both positive and negative to take away.

1. In Russ We Trust
It took two games, but the passing attack is back. Russell Wilson was in sync early and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell opened up the offense much more in this game. Wilson was spreading it around to all of his receivers, and the passing game was as dynamic as it has ever been, leading to four touchdowns from Wilson (and one more from Tarvaris Jackson later in the game). Furthermore, Wilson averaged 9.6 yards per attempt, which is a very good number. For a team that doesn’t look to throw the ball 50 times a game, efficiency in the passing game is very important, and the yards per attempt stat is an excellent measure of the way Russell Wilson is playing. Besides an interception that was dropped by a receiver, Wilson looked fantastic.

Sidney Rice caught two of Russell Wilson's four touchdown passes on the day.

AP Photo -Stephen Brashear

2. The Defense is Freakishly Good

I wrote about the defense last week, but it cannot be said enough times: the Seahawks have the best defense in the NFL and it isn’t close. Their defense could shape up to being one of the best of all time. And this is just the first week with Chris Clemons and Brandon Browner. With pass rushing specialist Bruce Irvin coming back in week five, quarterbacks better be on the lookout. I understand that the Hawks played the Jaguars this week, so defensive dominance was to be expected, but that doesn’t make this defense any less unstoppable. Seven different players had a tackle for loss, and Michael Bennett and Clint McDonald combined for three sacks. The Hawks defense is elite in every phase and shouldn’t be beat by anyone.

 

Clinton McDonald recorded 1.5 sacks on the day for the Seahawks defense.

Steven Bisig - USA Today Sports

 

3. The Seahawks Have Incredible Depth

The Seahawks are arguably the deepest team on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Tarvaris Jackson came in to replace Russell Wilson and promptly went 7/8 for 129 yards and a score. Christine Michael is electric in the backfield and will be the successor to Marshawn Lynch in a few years. Every member of the defense played well. There are more than a few teams that Tarvaris Jackson could start for right now. The depth on both sides of the ball could prove crucial later in the season as injuries for all teams begin to pile up.

 

Marshawn Lynch didn't have a huge day on the ground for the Seahawks, but the team didn't need an amazing game from him as they faced the lowly Jaguars.

Seahawks.com

 

4. Third Down Efficiency Needs to Improve

The Hawks were a mere 4/10 on third downs, which against an elite defense would be acceptable, but the Jaguars are average at best. For the season, the Hawks need to be around 50% and above on third downs, so 40% against a relatively weak defense is something to think about. No need for concern or panic, but this is just something to keep an eye on moving forward as the matchups for the Hawks become tougher with the Texans and Colts coming up.

 

5. The Seahawks are the Best Team in the NFC

And it isn’t close. Not only have the Seahawks dominated so far this season, but most other potential contenders have faltered. The Falcons, Packers, and 49ers all lost Sunday. The Bears and Saints are both undefeated, but it’s hard to say they could even come close to the Hawks after the dominance showed through three weeks. The Hawks still need to play with the proverbial chip on their shoulder, however, as the most wins the Hawks have ever had in a season where they started 3-0 was 10. If the Hawks can continue to play at the level they are capable of, anything short of a Super Bowl berth would be a disappointment.

 

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Instant Reaction: Percy Harvin Traded to the Seahawks

by Jackson Safon

Percy Harvin. There are so many words to describe him. Fast. Electric. Explosive. And so many others. But I do not think his added value to the Seahawks can be understated. The all-purpose receiver was traded today from the Minnesota Vikings to the Seattle Seahawks for a first and seventh round pick this year and a mid-round pick next year (expected to be a third-round choice). While this seems like a lot to give up, I think the Seahawks won the trade without question. Harvin is unbelievably and undeniably talented. I personally think that if he didn't get hurt last year, he would have won the MVP instead of Adrian Peterson. If you look at his numbers through the nine games he played, you will realize what I mean. He had 62 receptions, 677 yards, and three touchdowns receiving, plus one more touchdown returning kicks and one more touchdown rushing the ball. If you pro-rate these stats over an entire season, Harvin would have had 110 catches, 1,203 yards, and seven total touchdowns. Plus, he was on pace for over 2,400 all-purpose yards, which would have lead the league by a mile. Since 2009, Percy Harvin has accounted for 29 total touchdowns: 20 of which came on pass receptions, five of which came on kick returns, and four from rushes. The man is simply unstoppable when you get the ball in his hands. Now it is clear that Harvin’s talent is incredible, but talented players don’t always fit with every team. This will not be the case in his new marriage with Seattle.

Percy Harvin gives Russell Wilson a huge play-maker at the wide receiver position.

AP Photo/Tom Hauck

            

Seahawk’s offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell coached Harvin in the same position in Minnesota, which were Harvin’s first two years in the league. The knowledge of each other and their styles will be incredibly helpful in getting Harvin integrated into the offense. Even though Russell Wilson and the Seahawk’s passing attack got more and more vertical as the season progressed, a large component of the passing game is short-medium yardage and in the middle of the field. These are the kinds of plays where Percy Harvin does most of his damage, because of his ability to make plays when he has the ball in his hands after the catch. Using him in bubble screens and the short to medium passing game will be where he excels the most, but he has the speed to be a down-field threat as well. For those of you who don’t know, these talks did not just spring up out of the blue, as Harvin was being shopped off and on by the Vikings. These talks were first brought up regarding the Seahawks at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The ‘Hawks were always thought to be a possible trade partner because of their desire for an explosive receiver, but talks never became serious because of the Vikings management being adamant that they had, “no intention to trade Percy Harvin,” even though the speedy wide receiver had requested a trade.

            

Although the trade itself is virtually complete, Harvin will have to sign an extension with the Seahawks for the deal to become complete. It still remains to be seen how much he will get, but expect the number to be very large, and they could cost a lot against the salary cap. Because of the large contract, expect to see some roster cuts. A couple guys that I don’t necessarily see as expendable, but could be casualties of this deal are Leon Washington and Sidney Rice. Washington is a specialist who frankly is unnecessary now that Harvin is here. Washington is a terrific returner, but he is still no match for Harvin, and Washington’s salary costs $2 million against the cap. Another guy who could be cut or traded is Sidney Rice, simply because he is another big money receiver who costs almost $7 million dollars against the cap just next year, which is about the same figure as Tom Brady. Although this is hard to see, it still has a possibility of happening. However, all of this depends on Harvin’s contract because it remains to be seen the numerical value of his salary, as well as how much it costs against the salary cap.

Even though they look like friends in this picture, Percy Harvin may have just caused Leon Washington to lose his job with the Seahawks.

AP Photo/Andy King

            

I already explained why Harvin fits with the team and used some of his statistics to show how good he really is, but there is still another element of this trade that needs to be addressed and that is how it will help the Seahawks overtake the 49ers. Adding another explosive piece to the offense puts more stress on opposing defenses and the 49ers only weakness on defense was cornerback, which means that this could be a huge place to exploit them. Additionally, word was the Niner’s were also in trade talks with the Vikings, which means that the Seahawks actually took Harvin from the 49ers. This is huge, because not only do the Seahawks add arguably the most explosive and versatile offensive weapon in the league, but they take him away from one of the Seahawks’ biggest rivals as well. Adding a weapon like this makes the Seahawk’s offense so hard to defend because of its great balance. Marshawn Lynch was second in the league in rushing last season and with Russell Wilson making great strides last year, one of the big goals of the offseason was to get him another weapon to improve the passing game. I guess the Seahawks can check that one off the list.

            

One final question about this trade is whether Harvin is truly worth the headache because he has had some off the field issues as well as some injury problems throughout his career. Let me be very clear on this issue. I don’t think it is an issue at all. One particular incident people will point to is Harvin blowing up at his head coach Leslie Frazier in the second half of a game against the Seahawks, of all teams. Some diva receivers would have been complaining about lack of touches or pass attempts in their direction. This case was quite the contrary. Harvin was complaining about a lack of touches for his teammate Adrian Peterson. This not only shows that Harvin is a team player, but that he is one of the smarter players in the NFL and knows what needs to be done to win. The second issue people will point to is his injury problems. This is true; Harvin has had his fair share of injuries throughout his career. Not only has Harvin battled migraines since his college days at Florida, he has also had his fair share of leg injuries. He is coming off surgery on an ankle he injured in the game against the Seahawks. He has also had a minor surgery on his right knee and has had Achilles tendinitis in his right leg as well. These have all been in the past and he has clearly been able to recover well from them. Up until his injury last season, he was performing at an incredibly high level. Furthermore, Harvin has established himself as one of the toughest players in the entire league and has proven he can play through pain and still perform at a high level. Harvin has reportedly moved past his migraine issue and with plenty of time to recover from ankle surgery, I do not worry about him missing any time or losing any explosiveness.

Hopefully Seahawk's fans will never have to see Percy Harvin like this.

Chicagotribune.com

            

Harvin’s versatility, speed, and flat out skill make him one of the best options in the NFL as an all-purpose player and combining him with the weapons already in Seattle makes him all the more valuable. In Minnesota, he and Adrian Peterson made up one of the best one-two combos in the entire NFL, and that was with Christian Ponder as their quarterback. Now, combine Harvin with Marshawn Lynch and one of the rising stars in the NFL at quarterback in Russell Wilson, and you have a virtually unstoppable three-headed monster. Wilson’s accuracy makes him the perfect type of quarterback to combine with Percy Harvin because getting the ball on time to a play-maker like Harvin is so key to success. Because he makes so many of his plays and gains so many of his yards after the catch, delivering the football in stride is one of the most important things to do for a weapon like Percy Harvin.

            

Finally, when determining a player’s value to a team, it is important to see what kinds of players the team has at that position already. For example, adding a star tight end to the Patriots, quarterback to the Broncos, or running back to the Vikings would be essentially useless because of the players they have at those positions already. So when deciding what kind of impact Percy Harvin will have on the Seahawks receiving core, it is important to compare him to the players already there. Sidney Rice led the team in catches last year with 50, which are 12 less than the number Harvin had in only nine games last season. Rice also lead the team with 748 receiving yards, which is only 71 yards more than Harvin had in eight more games. Just thinking of the possibilities with Harvin makes me start to tear up out of joy.

            

Percy Harvin is one of the best play-makers in the entire league and is personally one of my favorite players to watch. He is close to unstoppable when he touches the ball and he should get a lot of chances this upcoming season. Adding him to the Seahawks team gives them a dimension they have not had in years and I think it has a good chance to put them ahead of the 49ers this season. Simply put, this offense is going to be fun to watch this season. 

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