Pete Carroll era begins with a division win

The Pete Carroll era began Sunday afternoon at Qwest Field with a Week One victory over talented division rival, the San Francisco 49ers.

After a painfully slow start to the game for the Seattle Seahawks, including a Matt Hasselbeck interception on the first play from scrimmage, miscues and blown opportunities by the 49ers opened the door to a 31-6 season-opening victory and an early jump in the NFC West battle for supremacy.

Hasselbeck scored on a one yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter, capping a 64-yard drive and putting an end to the early frustrations of an inept offense. Olindo Mara’s PAT gave the ‘Hawks the lead 7-6, a lead they never relinquished.

Niners quarterback Alex Smith began the game hitting a slew of receivers, including tight ends Vernon Davis and Delaney Walker, running back Frank Gore, and receiver Michael Crabtree. However, it was the 49ers inability to finish in the red zone that led to opening the door to the ‘Hawks. Smith threw a fade route to an open Josh Morgan in the end zone in the first quarter that was ruled a touchdown on the field. After subsequent review – prompted by Carroll’s red flag – the touchdown was overruled and the Niners settled for a Joe Nedney field goal. Later, after driving 84 yards, Smith missed his intended target badly on fourth down from the six yard line, keeping Seattle well within striking distance.

Following Hasselbeck’s one-yard touchdown scamper, a Jordan Babineaux interception set up a 13-yard touchdown pass from Hasselbeck to Deon Butler. Mare’s extra point made the score 14-6, a score that held until early in the third quarter when Seattle’s Marcus Trufant intercepted Smith again and finished the play with a 32 yard return for a touchdown.

Seattle’s next drive saw Hasselbeck hit Deion Branch for a 3 yard touchdown. Mare’s extra point made the score 28-6 and the Niners never threatened down the stretch.

Hasselbeck finished his day 17 of 23 for 170 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Smith finished 26 of 45 for 225 yards with two interceptions. He was under consistent pressure from Seattle’s Chris Clemons, Red Bryant, and Aaron Curry. Smith, in his sixth season, is the quarterback of a Niners team touted widely as the most likely winner of the NFC West this season.

Carroll, coaching in his first NFL game since being fired by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft in 2000, was his usually effervescent self on the sideline. At one point, so exuberant over Trufant’s interception and return touchdown, Carroll had to be constrained by an official in an attempt to calm him down and return to the sideline.

Seattle receiver Mike Williams, playing under his collegiate coach and mentor at the University of Southern California, Carroll, continued his inspiring comeback to the NFL by catching three passes from Hasselbeck, including a 35 yard reception that set up Hasselbeck’s touchdown scamper. The 35 yarder was Williams first catch in an NFL regular season game since 2007.

‘Tweet’ thoughts – Tyler Polumbus played admirably at left tackle in place of the injured Russell Okung…Hasselbeck is completely healthy after injuring his back and ribs in consecutive seasons…Hasselbeck turns 35 later this month…Rookie Safety Earl Thomas, once again, looked like a future star in his first regular season NFL game, including knifing in for a tackle on a stretch play in the first half…for complete game stats, check out nfl.com, here.

Four Seahawks Questions

After an incredible off-season, the Seattle Seahawks begin the season at home on Sunday against NFC West rival (and Division favorite) the San Francisco 49ers. The flurry of transactions this off-season appear done, so it is appropriate to ask a few questions heading into week one.

Will Matt Hasselbeck be protected?

This question could also be ‘Will the offensive line perform?’
Hasselbeck will turn 35 later this month. It’s no secret his pro-bowl years are behind him. In 2005 – the 13-3, Super Bowl appearance season – Hasselbeck played as well as any quarterback in the NFL. He played the season with Hall-of-Fame tackle Walter Jones and perennial Pro-Bowler Steve Hutchison protecting his backside. This season? Russell Okung is the heir apparent to Jones but he’s injured and won’t begin the season on the field. His preseason replacement, Mansfield Wrotto, is no longer with the team. At present, it looks like Tyler Polumbus will start at left tackle. If he goes down, Chester Pitts will step in. After that, only God knows. Alex Gibbs, a respected, veteran offensive line coach abruptly quit (Retired? Fired?) this week and now the ‘Hawks offensive front is being led by a guy Pete Carroll took from the UFL. To be sure, none of this is good news. The offensive line is a giant question mark heading into the regular season. That is not good news for an aging quarterback who has struggled to stay on the field recently or for a backfield in transition.

If Hasselbeck is protected this season, however, he will be the undisputed ‘king of quarterbacks’ in the NFC West (more on that later).

What about the running game?

Justin Forsett will start. Leon Washington will get touches. So will Julius Jones. Splitting carries in an NFL backfield is paying dividends for some franchises (Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart in Carolina) but what about touches spread between three? And let’s not forget all three are, essentially, NFL castoffs. Forsett couldn’t hang in Indianapolis and barely made it in Seattle. Jones was jettisoned from Dallas due to the emergence of Marion Barber and promise of Felix Jones and Washington was expendable to the Jets. Of course, Washington is an explosive runner and appears ready to handle a workload out of the backfield in addition to returning kickoffs. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out. Also, don’t be surprised to see Jones talking loudly to reporters if he doesn’t get the same opportunities as Forsett and Washington early in the season; something to look forward to there.

Regardless of how touches are dispersed out of the backfield, will any lanes be available? There’s no continuity up front, as mentioned above. Shaun Alexander was a successful back in Seattle because he ran behind an offensive line with almost unprecedented continuity and tremendous talent. He didn’t win NFL MVP because of his outstanding elusiveness or penchant for big plays; he won because his legs stayed fresh and his body stayed strong running wild and free.

Seattle’s running game heading into week one is a giant question mark and the outlook is not promising.

Will the defense consistently get to the quarterback?

The Seahawks finished last season with a paltry 28 sacks. Not surprisingly, the defense also finished 30th against the pass. In other words, the pressure up front must materialize for any hope of defensive success. Thankfully for Seahawks fans, there are plenty of reasons for optimism.

Red Bryant had a fantastic camp and is thriving. Brandon Mebane looks immovable. Colin Cole looks rejuvenated. The addition of Chris Clemmons on the edge looks like a coup. Lofa Tatupu is healthy. Aaron Curry is a beast.

Beyond the initial size, strength, and talent up front, however, the defensive line is thin. Also, Leroy Hill will miss the opener and is dealing with a serious off-the field issue (although, reworking his contract should prove as a great motivator). Finally, although Curry is a beast and has physical tools reminiscent of (pre-steroids) Shawne Merriman, he still makes a lot of mistakes. Dumb mistakes, too. The hope is he’ll grow as a professional this year and fit well into the new scheme.

What about the secondary?

Josh Wilson is gone and now there is no doubt that Kelly Jennings will hold down the corner opposite Marcus Trufant. Jennings is small and open to exploitation opposite Trufant – who looks like a pro bowler again. In his defense, however, Jennings is clearly making it his mission to make plays on the ball and he seems committed to tackling and supporting on the run. He must be ready to make plays, too, because as the season progresses Trufant will see fewer and fewer balls come to his side.

The biggest addition to the secondary, obviously, is first-round pick Earl Thomas. He is a ball hawk, creates turnovers, and is more than willing to lay the wood. Before the draft, there was plenty of discussion surrounding Pete Carroll looking to draft his former player, Taylor Mays, to improve Seattle’s secondary. He didn’t draft Mays though because Thomas is better in coverage; a fact that can easily be overlooked in a hard-hitting safety like Thomas. Lawyer Milloy, a savvy veteran, will provide plenty of leadership from the other safety spot. Cutting and subsequently resigning Jordan Babineaux was a money-saving move but odd nonetheless. He’s not good in coverage and simply lacks some physical tools but the ‘Big Play Babs’ moniker may carry him through his Seattle career.

The secondary will be better than last year – provided Seattle gets consistent pressure up front. Also, rather than facing Kurt Warner twice this season, Seattle will face the Derek Anderson-led Arizona Cardinals. That fact alone will help out the secondary. In that same vein, Alex Smith (49ers) has been maddeningly inconsistent in his career and Sam Bradford (Rams) is a rookie; a much-heralded rookie, but a rookie nonetheless. Seattle will face Anderson, Smith, and Bradford six times this year – unquestionable good news for the secondary.

Wak and FLOTUS Scapegoated on Same Day

This almost feels like the SATs. As in ‘blank is to blank, as blank is to blank.’ Work with me here, but Don Wakamatsu’s managing performance is to the Seattle Mariners’ struggles this year as Michelle Obama’s trip to Spain is to America’s economic and foreign policy struggles this year.

Wakamatsu was one of the hottest managers in Major League Baseball last season. Defying the odds, a rebuilding effort in Seattle turned into a team that won games consistently and made very few physical and mental errors. Unfortunately, it didn’t last and this year has been an abject failure of epic proportions. Worst team – ever. And Wakamatsu is a reasonable scapegoat. He’s someone to hammer on. He’s a great object of scorn on talk radio because it’s simple.

On the front that really matters, banks won’t lend, the war in Afghanistan is a mess, and, as the Wall Street Journal reported Monday, about 4.4 million Americans have been looking for jobs for at least a year. That doesn’t count the poor souls who have decided to give up (also not a small number). Thankfully, Michelle Obama took an extravagant trip to Spain. She’s a perfect scapegoat. She’s someone to hammer on. She’s a great object of scorn on talk radio because it’s simple.

Not to say Wakamatsu and The First Lady are blameless. Wakamatsu is ultimately responsible for a pathetic hitting, infuriatingly error-prone, lackluster team that appears more pathetic everyday. Somehow, on Sunday, the Mariners almost lost to the Royals (it’s a miracle they didn’t) because Casey Kotchman got picked off first base, a bizarre suicide-squeeze ended an inning (with the Mariners’ most productive hitter at the plate), and David Aardsma gave up another ninth inning run in between managing to get three outs. On the Mrs. Obama front, her excursion will cost taxpayers about a $1 million and it was a terribly stupid trip to take.

Ultimately though, is it Don Wakamatsu’s fault that Chone Figgins is hitting like garbage (until recently) and Jose Lopez sucks? No, not really. Similarly, is it The First Lady’s fault that Hamid Karzai is turning into a nightmare in Afghanistan and the private sector is reluctant to hire new employees? No, not really. It is easier for Americans and Mariners fans to think that, though.

A sports fan growing up

Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers visited the Champions Center in Tacoma Wednesday evening, along with a few other NFL players, including former Rogers High and Washington State standout, Brandon Gipson. The players signed autographs for the more than one-thousand (mostly) young people gathered and played a few simple games on the stage at the beginning against some of the local youth – a “Pros vs. Joes” thing.

I had a VIP pass, which meant my buddy and I could hang out with all the players before and after the event. I wanted to go; I was interested in talking to these guys. Something strange happened once we arrived, however. We ended up leaving as soon as the thing ended.

What happened was the realization that I’m no longer 15 years old. I LOVED meeting professional athletes when I was a kid. Hell, I loved meeting high school athletes when I was a kid. But things have changed a tad. Once everybody started screaming for these guys in their mid-twenties I felt this strangeness. Someone inside me was saying “Hey, you don’t belong here anymore.” It was tough. Super tough.

What was I going to say to DeAngelo Williams. “Hey, DeAngelo, cool dreads. How does Jimmy Clausen look?” and my guess is he would’ve replied with, “He looks good, man.” I probably would’ve asked Jonathan Stewart something like, “Have you ever met Tom Brady? What about Giselle? Is his kid as cute in person as he is in US Weekly?”

Whatever I asked about, I couldn’t have cared less. It’s an interesting realization considering my lifelong commitment to professional athletes and professional sports.

I’m relaying this story because I don’t care where Lebron James ends up playing next season, and the one after that, and the one after that. I just want to watch him play basketball. This “Lebron All The Time” stuff would’ve delighted me in middle school and now it doesn’t. I must be growing up. Or maybe I’m just jealous. I don’t know, either way I have other junk to deal with. Plus, how unnerving is it that free agent athletes now have dinner together to collude on where to sign? Did Jordan or Barkley or Magic ever collude with anyone? Say what you will about Kobe Bryant, but he isn’t having an off season dinner with anyone to make a sign-and-trade plan. Although, that’s probably true only because everyone hates Kobe, but still.

It’ll all be a moot point soon, anyway, when the players are locked out next season.

World Cup in America simply a distraction

It seems impossible at this juncture to ignore the popularity of World Cup soccer in the United States. Americans of all ages are clamoring for Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore, and Tim Howard. People all over America are chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” like its going out of style. National media organizations are capitalizing on the interest in the tournament by breathlessly providing coverage and analysis. Seattle – the capital of U.S. soccer – is filled with joyous and raucous soccer fanatics pleased with America’s two draws and a single win thus far in the tournament. Is this the birth of soccer in America or is it a well-timed distraction?

In May, the unemployment rate in the U.S. was 9.70 percent. Layoffs and frustrating job searches are an ongoing reality. Americans are, understandably, concerned about their economy and their job prospects. Now, an oil spill is further threatening the American economy and American job prospects and having devastating impacts on wildlife and natural habitat. Service men and women continue to serve abroad in two theaters of war, with one perilously close to a devastating tipping point. Americans need a distraction and the World Cup is providing it.

For sports fans, the World Cup is being showcased in a national sports vacuum. The NBA season is over, the NFL has yet to heat up, and Major League Baseball is trudging through the front-half of a 162-game season. In other words, the World Cup is providing a new and international landscape for sport during a lackluster spring sports season; what else is there to watch?

In March, the United States faced Canada in the 2010 Olympic Hockey gold medal game in Vancouver. Hockey fever was high – so high in fact, many people thought aloud about further NHL expansion in the U.S. 27 million Americans watched the U.S. lose to Canada in a dramatic overtime game featuring – probably – the NHL’s biggest star scoring the game-winner. Hockey is here to stay! America loves hockey! Please, NBC, broadcast more NHL!

Needless to say, hockey fever was quickly squelched.

Soccer in the United States will follow Hockey’s well-trodden path once the 2010 World Cup is finished.