Bleacher Report - Articles by Mosang Miles

Can Matt Hasselbeck Return the Seahawks to Super Bowl Contention?

Mosang Miles — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:33:20 -0400

Matt Hasselbeck's return to the field last Sunday had Seahawks fans breathing a sigh of relief.

The quarterback most famous for being Elisabeth Hasselbeck's brother-in-law (just kidding—his claim to fame is actually "We want the ball, and we're gonna score") spearheaded Seattle's 41-0 slaying of the Jaguars last week to halt the Hawks' three-game losing skid.

As much as backup Seneca Wallace has endeared himself to fans with his charming smile and controlled play, he just doesn't command the offense the way Hasselbeck does. Wallace doesn't have the finesse on short passes to keep drives moving or the experience to improvise when a play seems stymied.

Hasselbeck brings both game manager and big play aspects to the Seattle offense.

However, that latter trait sometimes drives fans crazy.

The quarterback can have a hard time letting plays end. He'll force bad throws that turn into interceptions, or he'll dive for the end zone with the ball in his hands, leaving his ribs exposed for Patrick Willis to crack.

All right, maybe that only happened once, but it would behoove Hasselbeck to slide and save himself for the next play.

Part of the problem with Hasselbeck is he thinks he's a better quarterback than he actually is.

To be sure, Hasselbeck is a very talented and intelligent quarterback. He didn't make three Pro Bowls on luck alone.

That said, sometimes he lets his intelligence get the best of him.

Many a time Seahawk supporters have watched Hasselbeck go all Peyton Manning at the line, yelling audibles left and right, only to burn a timeout on the first drive of the game because he can't make up his mind.

This trait also relates to his tendency to force throws. Maybe he thinks his arm is just a little stronger than it actually is, or maybe he thinks the defender lurking near his receiver won't notice he's throwing it in his direction.

Of course, Hasselbeck was just reflecting the personality of his coach and mentor Mike Holmgren, who was similarly prone to bouts of indecision and inability to handle multiple brainwaves.

All that said, Hasselbeck is undoubtedly one of the two best quarterbacks in Seahawks history (along with Dave Krieg) and has played an integral role in the team's success this decade.

The question is, does he have it in him to lead Seattle back to the playoffs or even another Super Bowl run? Will he merely keep the quarterback seat warm for a year or two longer, captaining Dennis Erickson-like 8-8 squads, while the Seahawks try to groom his replacement? Or will his myriad of injuries finally drive him from the game after this season?

Seattle's road back to contention in the NFC West starts this Sunday against divisional rival Arizona. Similarly underachieving with a similarly aged quarterback in Kurt Warner, the Cardinals stand at the same crossroads as the Seahawks: trying to shake off a slow start and establish themselves as a viable postseason candidate.

Hasselbeck lifted the hopes of Seahawks fans with his four-touchdown performance against Jacksonville. Now they wait anxiously to see which Hasselbeck will show up against Arizona: confident Hasselbeck, confused Hasselbeck, or injured Hasselbeck.

Matt Hasselbeck is the key to Seattle's playoff hopes. That's a good thing—but not good enough for Seahawks fans to start buying Super Bowl tickets just yet.

The College Basketball Schwach Indicator, Grouped By Conference: March 4

Mosang Miles — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:50:50 -0500

Welcome to the March 4 edition of the Schwach Indicator rankings, once again grouped by conference for easy viewing. As before, I listed each conference in the order of their Schwach averages. I also listed the biggest jumps and drops in each conference while showing those schools' wins and losses for the week to show why they gained or lost as many places as they did. In addition, I compiled each conference's top team into a single list for quick comparison. Thanks again to Jordan Schwarz and Co. for the Schwach Indicator. Enjoy! Links: Jordan Schwarz profile (http://bleacherreport.com/users/8319-Jordan-Schwartz) Schwach Indicator March 3 (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/133224-the-schwach-indicator-march-3) Schwach Indicator Feb. 24 (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/128824-the-schwach-indicator-feb-24)

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The College Basketball Schwach Indicator, Grouped by Conference: Feb. 25

Mosang Miles — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:37:31 -0500

Welcome to the Feb. 25 edition of the Schwach Indicator rankings, once again grouped by conference for easy viewing. As before, I listed each conference in the order of their Schwach averages. I also listed the biggest jumps and drops in each conference while showing those schools' wins and losses for the week to show why they gained or lost as many places as they did. In addition, I compiled each conference's top team into a single list for quick comparison. Thanks again to Jordan Schwarz and Co. for the Schwach Indicator. Enjoy! Links: Jordan Schwarz profile (http://bleacherreport.com/users/8319-Jordan-Schwartz) Schwach Indicator Feb. 24 (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/128824-the-schwach-indicator-feb-24) Schwach Indicator Feb. 17 (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/125429-the-schwach-indicator-feb-17)

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The College Basketball Schwach Indicator, Grouped by Conference: Feb. 18

Mosang Miles — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:44:04 -0500

Welcome to the Feb. 18 edition of the Schwach Indicator rankings, once again grouped by conference for easy viewing. As before, I listed each conference in the order of their Schwach averages. I also listed the biggest jumps and drops in each conference while showing those schools' wins and losses for the week to show why they gained or lost as many places as they did. In addition, I compiled each conference's top team into a single list for quick comparison. Thanks again to Jordan Schwarz and Co. for the Schwach Indicator. Enjoy! Links: Jordan Schwarz profile (http://bleacherreport.com/users/8319-Jordan-Schwartz) Schwach Indicator Feb. 17 (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/125429-the-schwach-indicator-feb-17) Schwach Indicator Feb. 10 (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/122175-the-schwach-indicator-feb-10)

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The College Basketball Schwach Indicator, Grouped by Conference: Feb. 11

Mosang Miles — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:42:38 -0500

Welcome to the second edition of the Schwach Indicator rankings, once again grouped by conference for easy viewing. As I did last week, I listed each conference in the order of their Schwach averages. I also listed the biggest jumps and drops in each conference, but added those schools' wins and losses for the week to show why they gained or lost as many places as they did. In addition, I compiled each conference's top team into a single list for quick comparison. Thanks again to Jordan Schwarz and Co. for the Schwach Indicator. Enjoy! Links: Jordan Schwarz profile (http://bleacherreport.com/users/8319-Jordan-Schwartz) Schwach Indicator Feb. 10 (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/122175-the-schwach-indicator-feb-10) Schwach Indicator Feb. 3 (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/119019-the-schwach-indicator-february-3)

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The College Basketball Schwach Indicator, Grouped by Conference: Feb. 4

Mosang Miles — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:27:49 -0500

Having quite enjoyed Jordan Schwarz's Schwach Indicator rankings, I found myself wanting to see how all the teams in a conference fared at a glance. So I decided to do it myself—what follows are groupings of college basketball teams by conference with their Schwach Indicator rankings. I also ranked each conference by averaging the Schwach totals of each team and noted the change in Schwach standings for each team from the previous week. Finally, I indicated the biggest jumps and drops in ranking for teams in each conference, plus listed the top teams of each conference on one slide to compare the elite teams across conferences. Thanks once again to Jordan for his work with the Schwach Indicator. Enjoy! Links: Jordan Schwarz profile (http://bleacherreport.com/users/8319-Jordan-Schwartz) Schwach Indicator Feb. 3 (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/119019-the-schwach-indicator-february-3) Schwach Indicator Jan. 27 (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/116044-the-schwach-indicator-january-27)

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Should Jim Mora Become the Washington Huskies' Next Coach?

Mosang Miles — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:30:37 -0400

Jim L. Mora has the world at his fingertips.

Currently the defensive backs coach and assistant head coach for the Seattle Seahawks, Mora is the designated successor to current Seahawks Head Coach Mike Holmgren, who will be leaving the team after this season.

Poised to become an NFL head coach again without any competition, Mora is in an enviable position.

However, thanks to the firing of Washington Huskies Head Coach Ty Willingham, another job may now be available to him—one that Mora has said he would take anytime, even while he was coaching another NFL team, the Atlanta Falcons.

While Mora said his 2006 comments were made in jest, it's hard to downplay statements like, "I don't care if we're in the middle of a playoff run, I'm packing my stuff and coming back to Seattle [to coach the Huskies]."

What about when the team he's set to take over, the Seahawks, is in the midst of an injury-plagued down year with a record of 2-5, and is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2002?

Granted, the Huskies are struggling even more than the Seahawks, but the question still remains: Should Mora leave a high-paying, guaranteed gig in the pros for the ultimate control of a head job in the college ranks?

On the surface, neither situation seems overly appealing at the moment. The Seahawks' coaching transition, combined with the multitude of offensive injuries and confounding defensive ineptitude, makes the job less attractive than it was after last year's second-round playoff exit.

Personnel-wise, the Seahawks will need some improvements. Matt Hasselbeck is a solid quarterback, but this year's injuries might signal the beginning of the end of his career. Backups Seneca Wallace and Charlie Frye seem like little more than career second-stringers.

Without a true quarterback prospect in training, the team may experience offensive struggles for a few years.

Similarly, offensive tackle Walter Jones is nearing the end of his playing days, and the offensive line doesn't have the consistency or experience for steady play.

On the other hand, it does seem like a step down career-wise to willingly leave an NFL head coaching position, and the dollars that come with it, for the NCAA. Mora would also have a supportive, hands-off Owner in Paul Allen and a crafty GM and President in Tim Ruskell.

Washington's situation, at first glance, is even grimmer. The Huskies have started the season 0-7 and have lost nine straight overall, with the team's best shot at a win this year to come against equally hapless Washington State in the Apple Cup. Mora would inherit a squad experiencing incredible offensive and defensive futility.

The Huskies have a bit of young talent, based on Willingham's last two decent recruiting classes, and possess a dynamic QB in Jake Locker. However, there's no question that UW's next head coach will have to rebuild the program from scratch.

That may be the factor that ultimately lures Mora to Washington—the power to build the program from the ground up in his image.

Mora's personality seems to lend itself well to the college game and recruiting.

He's young and enthusiastic, with a demeanor like a more intense Pete Carroll. His defensive pedigree would appeal to UW's need to repair its broken defense, though that certainly hasn't shown with the Seahawks this season.

There's also no denying Mora's strong ties to Washington and the Seattle area.

His father was an assistant coach both with the University of Washington and the Seahawks, so Mora spent his teenage years in Seattle before attending and playing as a defensive back for the Washington Huskies. He also worked as a graduate assistant for a year at UW after graduating.

Mora seems to be in a win-win situation, albeit with two currently losing teams. He can take on the challenge of creating a new identity for the football program at the University of Washington, or he can lead a usually consistent, strong team in the NFL—a post many college coaches have left very successful programs for.

Either way, he will be a head coach in the city where he spent his formative years.

Will Mora be willing to stay with the Seahawks and start his Seattle coaching tenure in what could be a descent into a down cycle? Will he have faith that, in a few years, he won't take the blame for the end of Holmgren's glory years?

In the end, the call of coaching for his alma mater, with a team that has nowhere to go but up, may be too much for Mora to resist.

Seattle Mariners All-Time Lineup: The Best (and Worst) in M's History

Mosang Miles — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:53:34 -0400

For a team that has only existed for 31 years, the Seattle Mariners have featured more than their fair share of all-time baseball greats. My all-time Mariner lineup features three surefire future Hall of Famers, plus two more that have a great shot to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

One legend every six years or so isn't bad—and helps make up for the team never reaching the World Series.

The Mariners have also had quite a number of underachievers; players that routinely broke fans' hearts and were on the roster just to frustrate the Seattle faithful. I'll throw in a few (highly subjective) dishonorable mentions as well.

Catcher: Dan Wilson

Dan the Man played the most games by far at catcher for the Mariners (1,237) and even managed to fit in a little offensive success here and there. Wilson made the All-Star team in 1996 and finished the year with a career-high 18 homers and 83 RBI. In the Mariners' all-time ranks, he stands fourth in games played, sixth in hits, fifth in doubles, and eighth in RBI.

Dan was a class act all the way—not to mention I always liked hearing Salt-N-Pepa's "Whatta Man" when he came up to bat.

Honorable Mention: Dave Valle

Dishonorable Mention: Miguel Olivo. He came over in the Freddy Garcia trade as a good catching prospect but hit just .176 in parts of two seasons for the M's. What makes Olivo more irritating is that he hit .304 in 2005 immediately after being traded to San Diego and has had decent success in the years since.

1st Base: Alvin Davis

The man known as Mr. Mariner was Seattle's first baseball star, making the All-Star team and winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1984. Davis played eight largely successful seasons in Seattle as a power threat who hit for a solid batting average. His name is sprinkled liberally throughout the Mariners' record books, ranking in the top five in at bats, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, on-base percentage, and OPS.

Honorable Mention: John Olerud, Tino Martinez

Dishonorable Mention: Richie Sexson. Too soon? Sexson's ineptitude of the past year and a half completely negated the success of his first two years in Seattle. Anyone who prompts the Seattle fans to boo like they're Yankee fans must be doing something wrong.

2nd Base: Bret Boone

It's a tough choice between Boone and Harold Reynolds, who did play 352 more games in a Mariner uniform, but ultimately Boonie's outstanding performance in his Seattle years beat out Reynolds' off-and-on success over a longer period of time.

Boone ranks sixth in home runs, sixth in RBI, eighth in runs, fifth in slugging percentage, and eighth in OPS. He was a two-time All-Star, and his monster season of 2001 (.331, 37 homers, 141 RBI, 118 runs, 206 hits—all career highs) powered the Mariners to their incredible 116-win season.

Honorable Mention: Harold Reynolds, Joey Cora

Dishonorable Mention: No one stands out, really. Any suggestions?

3rd Base: Edgar Martinez

This is a somewhat questionable selection—not because of Edgar's contributions to the Mariners, but because he played three-quarters of his career as a DH.

That said, Martinez did play 563 games at third base (third-most for Seattle behind Jim Presley and Adrian Beltre), and his offensive stats cannot be denied. Let's see: first in games played, at bats, runs, hits, doubles, RBI, walks, on-base percentage...not to mention second in homers and batting average.

Martinez was a seven-time All-Star with 2,247 hits and a lifetime batting average of .312. Edgar is widely regarded as a test case for DHs making it into the Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mention: Jim Presley

Dishonorable Mention: Jeff Cirillo. It was a close call between Cirillo and Russ Davis (he had 69 errors at third base in four Seattle seasons, including 32 in 1998), but at least Davis hit 66 homers as well.

Cirillo joined the Mariners following years of success in Milwaukee and Colorado but immediately stunk it up, hitting just .249 his first year before bottoming out at .205 his second (and final) season in Seattle. Some players just don't succeed in Safeco Field, and Cirillo is a prime example.

Shortstop: Alex Rodriguez

A-Rod is the best shortstop in Mariner history by far despite just five full seasons in a Seattle uniform. In those five years, Alex was a four-time All-Star and finished second to Juan Gonzalez in the 1996 MVP voting by an impossibly narrow margin. Rodriguez's name litters the Mariners' record books: third in batting average, second in slugging and OPS, fourth in home runs, and fifth in runs and RBI.

Alex started his Mariner career consoling a despondent Joey Cora in 1995 and finished it reviled for signing his mega-contract with Texas. Hey, if anyone deserved the money, it was him.

Honorable Mention: Omar Vizquel

Dishonorable Mention: Carlos Guillen. This may a bit unfair, but Guillen's mediocre play in Seattle—combined with his stellar work in Detroit after being traded for a pittance—earns him this dubious distinction.

Guillen never hit more than .276 or had more than 56 RBI for Seattle, all while battling numerous injuries (tuberculosis?). Of course, the year after being traded, he made the All-Star team. Typical.

RF: Ichiro Suzuki

Randy Johnson. Ken Griffey Jr. Alex Rodriguez. These three superstars departed Seattle in consecutive years (1998-2000). How did the Mariners respond? They signed Ichiro, who sparked the Mariners to their best season ever in 2001, winning MVP and rookie of the year honors in the process.

Ichiro is five hits away from moving into second on the all-time Mariners' hits list after just seven-and-a-half years. He ranks first in triples and stolen bases and third in runs. He set the all-time MLB single-season hits record in 2004.

If you're wondering about a certain bald-headed slugger...bear with me. I'll get to him in a minute.

Honorable Mention: Other than the soon-to-be named career leader in games played in right field, no one.

Dishonorable Mention: I'm drawing a blank. Does less than a month qualify Brad Wilkerson?

CF: Ken Griffey Jr.

There's no doubt about this one. Griffey is the greatest Mariner of all-time; a superstar who revitalized Seattle sports and pushed the Mariners to playoff success. Griffey hit 398 homers in Seattle (tops in Mariners history) and ranks second in runs and RBI. He made the All-Star Game 10 straight times in a Seattle uniform, won the 1997 MVP award with 56 homers and 147 RBI, and put the Mariners on the map.

Griffey's time with the Mariners ended somewhat acrimoniously, but chances are he'll always be the best player in Mariners history. He will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Honorable Mention: Mike Cameron

Dishonorable Mention: Jeremy Reed. Reed was a highly touted prospect when he came over from the White Sox in the Freddy Garcia trade and tantalized Mariners fans by hitting .397 over 18 games in September 2004. Deemed the starting centerfielder for 2005, Reed hit just .254 for the season, and then struggled to a .217 mark halfway through 2006 before being banished to the minors.

Reed reappeared in Seattle this year and is hitting decently, so there is still hope for him to be the best product of the Garcia deal (though with Olivo and Mike Morse the other two prospects, that's not saying much).

LF: Raul Ibanez

Ibanez has actually played the most games at left field of anyone in Mariner history and is eighth in total games played for Seattle. For years the Mariners struggled to find somebody to consistently complete the outfield along with Griffey and Jay Buhner: Kevin Mitchell, Rich Amaral, Glenallen Hill, Brian Hunter, and so on... They had a good shot with Jose Cruz Jr., but we all know how that turned out.

In 2004 the Mariners brought Ibanez back, and he's provided a steady bat—if not a real steady glove. He ranks seventh all-time for the Mariners in home runs and RBI, plus ninth in runs scored and hits.

Honorable Mention: Phil Bradley. In five years with the M's (1983-1987), Bradley hit .301, scored 346 runs, stole 107 bases, and even made the All-Star team in '85. Not bad for a guy that I'd never heard of before today.

Dishonorable Mention: Al Martin, in yet another possibly unfair slight. Martin is another player who came to the M's as a successful major leaguer and immediately slumped for the duration of his career in Seattle.

Martin was a deadline day pickup for the Mariners in 2000 but hit just .231 down the stretch. He played a similarly ineffective season for Seattle in 2001. Nothing's as maddening as mediocrity from a supposedly talented player.

DH: Jay Buhner

Lame, I know, but I had to do it. I just couldn't leave Buhner off the team. Bone was the fire on the Mariners and a powerful part of the offensive juggernaut of the '90s. Buhner, third all-time in games played for Seattle, ranks third in home runs and RBI, as well as fourth in hits and runs scored. He possessed the cannon arm in right field before passing the torch to Ichiro.

Honorable Mention: Ken Phelps. He's the reason the Mariners got Jay Buhner. Thanks Ken!

Dishonorable Mention: Jose Vidro. Thank God that's over.

SP: Randy Johnson

The Big Unit is the best pitcher in Mariners history, if not technically the winningest. Johnson was the definition of the word dominant (after shrugging off the definition of the word "wild"—he does have the most wild pitches and walks in Mariners history). He leads the Mariners in ERA, winning percentage, strikeouts, and shutouts, and ranks second in wins and innings.

Johnson was a five-time All-Star and won the Cy Young in 1995, and he pitched the first no-hitter in Mariners history in 1990.

SP: Jamie Moyer

Moyer is the winningest pitcher in Mariners history, with 145, and also ranks first in innings pitched and walks per nine innings (the polar opposite of Johnson in walks and strikeouts). Yes, he did give up the most home runs in Mariners history, but that's more about longevity than ineffectiveness.

Moyer won 20 games in 2001 and 21 games in 2003 when, at 40 years old, he was the second-oldest All-Star in MLB history (Satchel Paige was 46).

Honorable Mention: Mark Langston, Freddy Garcia

Dishonorable Mention: Most of this year's starting rotation. Just kidding...kind of. How about Horacio Ramirez? 20 games, 7.16 ERA, 139 hits in 98 innings. How in the world did he finish with a winning record (8-7)?

RP: Kazuhiro Sasaki

Sasaki is the all-time saves leader for the Mariners with 129, 41 ahead of the next closest reliever. He pitched four seasons for the M's, three of which were quite strong and included the Rookie of the Year award and two All-Star appearances. Sasaki holds the single-season Seattle saves record with 45.

Honorable Mention: Mike Schooler

Dishonorable Mention: Bobby Ayala. He is sixth all-time in saves for Seattle, but I don't know that there's ever been a Mariner who filled fans with as much trepidation as Ayala did. 1998 numbers: 1-10 with a 7.29 ERA and nine blown saves. That's bad enough for me.

All stats from www.baseball-reference.com

Boycott the NBA: Seattle SuperSonics Stolen By David Stern and Clay Bennett

Mosang Miles — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:32:41 -0400

I guess I'm just naive.

Maybe I expected too much, had too much faith.

Was it wrong to expect that the Sonics would somehow stay in Seattle?

Was it foolish to assume that 41 years of history, of loyalty, of support from Seattle fans would somehow sway the NBA?

Was I stupid to believe that David Stern wouldn't make this into a personal vendetta against the city of Seattle for not acquiescing to his demands for a new arena, only 15 years after he declared it state of the art?

Call me a fool—the Sonics and the city of Seattle reached a settlement that allows the team to weasel out of its lease and play in Oklahoma next season.

I suppose I could try to be happy for Clay Bennett.

After all, he now has an NBA team in his hometown. His dream has come true. He will revel in the pleasures of being the man who brought pro basketball to Oklahoma City.

But I can't.

When a bully steals your ice cream and eats it gleefully right in front of you, are you supposed to feel happy for him?

At least someone's enjoying it, right?

And when David Stern offers a vague promise that Seattle will be informed when another team is up for relocation—that's good, right? We're still in the loop, right?

Wrong.

We were screwed.

Stern and Bennett teamed up to rob Seattle fans of a loyalty we had nurtured for decades. Their disregard for the interests of Sonics supporters is nothing short of sickening.

I know that professional sports are a business, that owners and commissioners have different motivations than fans.

But I always had the true belief of a supporter, the blind faith that what had given us so much joy wouldn't be taken away so callously.

No more.

I'm done with the NBA—and you should be too.

Can you really stand by while David Stern and Clay Bennett have so mercilessly broken our hearts?

Or will you stand up for us, the divorcee fans, knowing that at any time you could be next?

Join me. Boycott the NBA. What they've done just isn't right.

Seattle SuperSonics: The Team Belongs to Us

Mosang Miles — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:54:30 -0400

It's our team.

You may own it in name, but it's ours in spirit.

You may be battling the city of Seattle and another millionaire for legal rights, but we have the right to root, to cheer, to love.

The Sonics don't belong to you, Clay Bennett. Or you, Howard Schultz. Not even to you, David Stern.

The Seattle SuperSonics belong to us—the fans. The supporters. The heart and soul of the team.

After 41 years of tugging at our heartstrings, flying us to joyous heights and sinking us to depressing lows, the Sonics are family.

We stick with them through thick and thin.

We cheered Payton and Kemp, Allen and Lewis, Sikma and Brown and Wilkens. We relished the city's only major men's sports championship.

And in the darkest days? Expansion basketball? Vin Baker slumping down the court? This past season, with the lowest win total in franchise history, with an owner trying to demoralize us like an abusive parent?

We stuck by the Sonics then too.

That's why we turned up by the thousands on Monday, June 16, outside the federal courthouse where Bennett and the city are slugging it out.

That's why Sonic legends Gary Payton and Xavier McDaniel and local boy made good Spencer Hawes appeared and spoke words of encouragement to the Seattle faithful.

That's why I bused five hours from Vancouver, BC to attend the Save Our Sonics rally, then turned around and bused back home the same day.

This isn't about money. This isn't about breaking leases or honoring contracts.

This is decades of emotional investment, of dedication, of passion and heart.

You're not taking our team.

You can't.

The Sonics will forever be ours.

Seahawks Survive Late Scare to Top Redskins 35-14

Mosang Miles — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:45:31 -0500

After taking a 13-0 lead into the fourth quarter, the Seahawks survived a late scare from the Redskins and pulled away for a 35-14 playoff victory in Seattle.

The Seahawk defense clinched the win for Seattle with two interceptions returned for touchdowns, which helped make up for the inconsistent offense.

Marcus Trufant rambled 78 yards after his fourth-quarter interception to give Seattle a 28-14 lead, and some much-needed breathing room.

Trufant had an easy pick after Washington receiver Santana Moss gave up on the play. Moss didn't even see the pass headed his way, which allowed Trufant to catch the ball like a punt returner and take off down the sideline for the score.

Jordan Babineaux's 57-yard INT return for a touchdown was simply the icing on the cake, as the 'Hawks had the game in hand with less than a minute to go.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw for 229 yards and a touchdown, but was picked off twice at crucial moments. His throwing touch was off and on as he overthrew open receivers several times, but at other times completed pinpoint passes. Hasselbeck could be seen flexing his sore wrist throughout the game.

The running game was again weak, totaling just 77 yards on the day. Shaun Alexander picked up 46 yards on 15 carries, while Maurice Morris had just four carries for 13 yards. Morris also had no receptions on the day.

Morris' touches continue to be limited, despite his clear advantage over Alexander in speed and agility. In the first quarter, Morris converted a third-and-two by breaking tackles behind the line of scrimmage and picking up six yards.

Alexander had one good run for 13 yards but otherwise looked as he has all season—slow and indecisive with the ball.

D.J. Hackett was the star of the Seattle receiving corps, hauling in six catches for 101 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. Nate Burleson and Bobby Engram had six and four receptions, respectively, to help make up for the absence of Deion Branch.

The Seattle pass rush swarmed Washington QB Todd Collins throughout the first half, sacking him twice, and hitting him many other times.

In the second quarter, Patrick Kerney ripped around the corner and hit Collins' arm, forcing what looked like a fumble—but ultimately was ruled an incomplete pass.

The highlight sack of the day came from Leroy Hill, who pushed Ladell Betts backwards into Collins, then jumped and reached over Betts to grab Collins and drag him to the ground.

Seattle also limited the damage by Clinton Portis, holding him to 52 yards rushing and 28 yards receiving on four catches.

While the Seahawks' defense saved Seattle in the end, some untimely fourth-quarter breakdowns and an oddly conservative second-half pass rush allowed Washington to make a game of it.

The Seahawks had taken a 13-point lead thanks to two Josh Brown field goals and a 17-yard touchdown run by fullback Leonard Weaver.

Weaver showed excellent speed and agility on his score, bouncing to the right side and bursting past Redskin defenders to the end zone.

But Seattle allowed Washington to drive 84 yards and score to climb within six points at the beginning of the fourth.

The crucial play on the drive was pass interference, called on Brian Russell as the Redskins went for it on fourth-and-one from the Seattle 27.

Still, the Seahawks had a chance to stop the Redskins on third-and-six from the seven-yard line, but Babineaux blew his assignment and left Antwaan Randle-El open for the TD strike from Todd Collins.

Matt Hasselbeck then put the pressure on his defense by throwing an interception to LaRon Landry.

On the third play of the ensuing drive, Collins threw a perfect deep ball to Moss down the middle of the field for a 30-yard touchdown reception and a crowd-quieting 14-13 lead.

Disaster struck for Seattle on the kickoff, as the wind knocked the ball down so that it dropped in front of Burleson, bounced over his head, and was recovered by the Redskins at the 15-yard line.

But here was where the Seahawks' D truly bent but did not break, as they forced Washington into a three and out and a 30-yard field goal attempt.

Somehow kicker Shaun Suisham pushed the ball to the left, and with the miss the Redskins' momentum was stifled.

Hasselbeck once again applied the screws to his defense with an interception on the next drive—but once again the defense held, forcing another three and out.

This time the offense took advantage of the D's strength, driving 42 yards in five plays and regaining the lead on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Hackett.

On the next drive, Rocky Bernard hit Collins as he threw, and the long high pass was picked off by Trufant and taken to the house, setting off wild celebrations by the 12th man.

Sugar Bowl: Hawaii's Dream Season Comes to an Inglorious End

Mosang Miles — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:16:52 -0500

The dream is over.

Hawaii's glorious undefeated season crashed and burned New Year's Day at the Sugar Bowl against a demonstrably superior Georgia team.

The Warriors got off to a bad start, as they were flagged for delay of game on their first play from scrimmage. A false start then moved them back five more yards, and they subsequently went three and out—an omen of things to come.

The Warriors were pushed around by the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball.

Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan suffered the brunt of the Georgia defensive attack, taking eight sacks and getting rocked on numerous other hits.

Georgia got consistent pressure on Brennan with just its defensive line, only occasionally bringing the blitz. The Bulldogs' linemen simply overwhelmed the Hawaii O-line.

The success of the defensive line allowed Georgia to blanket Hawaii's receivers, leading to three interceptions of Brennan.

The theme continued when Hawaii played defense, as Georgia's offensive line stood up the Warriors, creating big holes for running backs Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno.

Hawaii defenders were often caught overpursuing their targets, which opened up cutback lanes for the Georgia running game.

So what does this defeat mean for Hawaii?

They persevered through disrespect, a weak schedule, and injuries to Brennan to run the table in the regular season and bust into the BCS.

But their subpar performance in a big-time bowl gives their critics ample ammunition to never allow them in again.

It's unfair to compare Hawaii's showing to Boise State's Fiesta Bowl shocker over Oklahoma last year.

You can bet Georgia coach Mark Richt told his players over and over, 'Don't make the same mistake the Sooners did—don't take this team lightly.'

Hawaii didn't have the chance to take Georgia by surprise.

Lest we forget, Georgia is an excellent team. The Bulldogs beat four ranked teams this year, including Florida and Auburn.

Still, the game was expected to be competitive. Instead, Hawaii turned in their worst performance of the season.

But all is not lost for the Warriors.

Brennan may be graduating, but recent years have shown that the offensive system can and will produce without him.

Despite the big loss, Coach June Jones should be able to leverage the exposure from the Sugar Bowl into more recruiting success.

If Jones can continue the team's offensive ways while strengthening their defensive talent, Hawaii can stay atop the WAC for years to come.

One day they may even get another shot at the BCS.

When that day comes, you can be sure the Warriors will be ready.