Seahawks - Titans Recap

The Seattle Seahawks only have one Super Bowl appearance in their history, and the quarterback who led them there was Matt Hasselbeck. Today though, Hasselbeck is a member of the Tennessee Titans, but was welcomed back with a long and loud cheer by Seahawks fans when he stepped on the field Saturday to take on his former team in the first preseason game for both teams.

Robert Turbin

Those cheers of support immediately turned to cheers of success for the Seahawks. On Hasselbecks first play, his throw to wide receiver Nate Washington was dropped, but as Washington fell down, the ball stayed on his body. It was picked up by corner Brandon Browner, who took it back to the house to put Seattle up 7-0 after only 9 seconds had ticked off the clock.

As the first quarter went on, it was Seattle’s offenses turn. Led by newly signed QB Matt Flynn, fans were anxious to see what the announced starter could do. But Seattle started by running the ball, both to Leon Washington and rookie Robert Turbin. Washington started, with three straight big runs. Turbin then came in and ran all over this Titans defense that was struggling to take him down. Flynn started to get some passes in as well, and after a very long drive, Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka hit a 41 yard field goal. Seattle was up 10-0.

Flynn was 6/6 for 36-yards on his first and only drive of the first quarter.

Hasselbeck came back onto the field for the start of the second, and hit his first three passes, all for first downs. On his fourth throw, he made a crucial mistake lobbing the ball up to a double covered receiver. 2^nd year pro Richard Sherman out of Stanford made the pick and stepped out on the Titans 5 yard line.

Matt Flynn was off to another hot start, hitting TE Zach Miller with a 9 yard pass, then a 14 yard pass to Miller again. Next play though, Flynn made a very poor pass that was picked by Titans Colin McCarthy.

Hasselbecks day was done, and Jake Locker came in. Locker was a star at University of Washington, and went to Ferndale High School in northern Washington State. Seahawks fans had another QB to welcome back, and they gave him another huge standing ovation. Locker did not do much on his first drive, but on his second moved the ball with quick clean passes.  Tennessee kicker Rob Bironas hit a field goal as they headed to half, 10-3 Seahawks.

Seattle did make a QB change in the second half, bringing in rookie Russell Wilson. And Wilson took advantage of this opportunity, surprising many with his play. Wilson was completing passes all over the field. The offensive line was letting the d-line get through and get to Wilson, but he was able to scramble away each time. It was capped off by a 39-yard TD pass to Braylon Edwards that had the whole stadium rocking.

Former Florida Atlantic standout Rusty Smith started at quarterback for the Titans in the 2^nd half. Smith looked very poised in the pocket and for the most part played very well. Seattle was stuffing the run but was giving up a lot of completions. However, Titan's running back Darius Reynaud did break a 21 yard touchdown run in the 3^rd quarter.

But Reynaud was not done, and kept on impressing. At the end of the 3^rd, he was able to return a punt 85-yards for a touchdown. That tied the game up at 17-17 going into the fourth.

Wilson did make one terrible decision to start the fourth quarter though. After Heath Farwell picked up a fumble that put the Seahawks on the Titan's twelve, Wilson tried to lob a pass into triple coverage and it was easily picked off by Zac Diles. But it was not enough for the Titans, and the Seahawks were able to get a field goal on the next drive to go up 20-17. Tennessee kicker Will Batson had a chip shot FG to tie it with 4 minutes left but missed. That all but put the game out of reach. Wilson added a huge 32 yard TD run, only solidifying his huge night. And from there, Seattle rolled 27-17.

Seattle and Tennessee both played similar tonight. The offenses looked good passing the ball, but at times the run game had issues. Chris Johnson had only 8-yards on 5 carries, and Robert Turbin had 24-yards on 10 carries. But both passing attacks were very fluent.  Russell Wilson was 12/16 124-yards 1 TD 1 INT with 3 carries for 59-yards and a touchdown. Matt Flynn was 11/13 with 71-yards and a pick. One thing that stood out was how much Seattle seemed to be throwing to its running backs a lot. Seattle’s backfield had 10 receptions while the receivers had 13. But short passes were the key, as Seattle only averaged 6.4 yards per pass and Tennessee averaged 5.9. 

Titans QBs Locker and Smith did well. Locker was 7/13 for 80-yards and Rusty Smith was 7/10 for 76-yards.

All quarterbacks had a high completion percentage, and both defenses struggled defending the pass. But they limited each other to respectable amount of yardage. Seattle had 321, Tennessee had 305.

For Seattle, Tarvaris Jackson and Josh Portis did not play. Both will most likely play in the week 2 game at Denver. Flynn played well enough to keep the starting job, but it will be interesting to see what Wilson can keep doing. He played exceptionally well and like all rookie QBs will have flashes of greatness at times. Hopefully it can be a sign of things to come. Terrell Owens did not play, but was visible at all times on the sideline. Both he and Braylon Edwards could be in a battle to stay on the team past the preseason, and with Edwards impressive touchdown grab, Owens needs to get on the field quick. Marshawn Lynch did not play much, with only one carry for no yards. Robert Turbin did a great job playing as a receiving back and if Lynch is playing in the regular season, we could see Turbin used as a short yardage dump off option. Heavily criticized first round pick Bruce Irvin did not register a single stat in his first game as a Seahawk. Doug Baldwin, Ricardo Lockette, and Sidney Rice also did not play. 

For Tennessee, all quarterbacks played for the Titans. Hasselbeck did struggle, only adding fuel to the fire of letting Locker start. Locker had a very decent game, and third string Rusty Smith did as well. But with Hasselbeck and Locker ahead of him Smith will not be higher than #3. Chris Johnson had a tough time running the ball, but Javon Ringer was able to pick up 22-yards on only 4 carries. The MVP of the game for Tennessee goes to Darius Reynard. Reynard was an UFA in 2008 out of West Virginia. After spending time with the Vikings and Giants, he signed with Tennessee this off-season. He has never registered a single reception but has returned many kicks. But with his performance tonight he should not have much left to lock up a roster spot. While he is listed as a receiver, he played running back, finishing with 29-yards on only five carries (good for a pre-season game) and added a touchdown. He also had the 85-yard punt return for a touchdown. Titans first round pick Kendall Wright had 3 receptions for 47 yards. Nate Washington, fresh off a 1,023-yard season, had 3 receptions for 24-yards.  G Steve Hutchinson also returned to Seattle for the first time with Tennessee.

65,589 people were in attendance for tonights game.

Terrell Owens Signs With Seahawks

 

 T.O is back in the NFL, this time with the Seattle Seahawks. Terrell Owens signed a one year deal with the Seahawks on Monday after a workout.

Owens

    

    The 38-year old WR is 2nd all time in receiving yards to Jerry Rice, 6th all time in receptions, and also the only player in history to score a touchdown vs all 32 NFL teams. 

    But he did not play last year, after a knee surgery, and has had a long road back along with embarrassment. Owens hosted an open workout earlier this year with an invitation to all teams. Not one team showed up. But he is now a member of the Seahawks, and the future Hall of Famer's sixth team will be Seattle.

     Owens started his career in San Francisco, and he played there for seven years. He spent two years with the Eagles, including a trip to the Super Bowl. Dallas was his next home, then Buffalo and Cincinnati for the next two years. 

     But what overshadows Owens so much is the controversy that comes with him. He doesn't get in trouble with the law, but numerous times has been in the news for infamous things. With the 49ers, Owens had many touchdown dances, including one vs his new team, Seattle, where he pulled a sharpie out of his sock and signed the ball after a touchdown.

     His time in Philadelphia brought the most controversy. In 2004 he stated on a radio show that if he could do the 2004 season over, he would have not signed with the Eagles. He referred to the Eagles as a classless organization, and trashed his quarterback Donovan McNabb, saying if Brett Favre was the starting quarterback, this team would be undefeated. In 2004 he appeared in a sexually suggestive skit for Desperate Housewives before a MNF game. In 2006, he tried to kill himself with pain killers, though he denies this. In a game vs the Falcons, he spit on DeAngelo Hall's face. While with the Cowboys, he cried during an interview in which he responded to the criticism on quarterback Tony Romo. Though he also would publicly trash Romo for not throwing him the ball.

    The list goes on and on. But all Owens did bring is media attention to your team, as well as a very good receiver. At this point in his career, it is unclear just how well he will do in Seattle. He will bring the media attention, and could possibly bring a decent WR. But, the team already has a very young receiving corps. 

    The oldest receiver is recently signed Braylon Edwards, who is 29. Sidney Rice (25), Ben Obamanu (28), Ricardo Lockette (26), Golden Tate (24), Kris Durham (24), Deon Butler (26), and UFA sophomore star Doug Baldwin (23) are the returning receivers. The team also added receiving TE Kellen Winslow Jr in a trade with Tampa Bay this off-season. This team appears to be adding as many weapons as possible for presumed starter Matt Flynn. 

     But could adding two veteran receivers who have not performed at an elite level in recent years a good move? Probably not. Braylon Edwards was the third pick by the Browns in 2005. He has been nothing but a bust. Only one season, in 2007, did Edwards post numbers a top 3 WR should put up (80 rec, 1,289 yds, 16 tds). But he was shipped to the Jets in 2009 and didn't do much better there. He played in 9 games for the 49ers last year before being waived mid season. Not to mention he has not been an angel off the field either.

     When Owens last played for Cincinnati in 2010, he had a very good season with 72 receptions for 983 yards and 9 touchdowns. But it has been a whole year.

     Overall, one veteran receiver is okay to add right now for Seattle. Rice has had more then enough injuries, and this unit is still young. Obamanu has been reliable, Lockette showed good signs last season, and if Baldwin can avoid a sophomore slump he will be big. Tate could be poised for a breakout year, Butler will try to get back to his old self before a tragic knee injury in 2010, and Durham should see more time this year. 

     The addition of a veteran who will demand playing time could stunt the growth of these receivers. And some of them really need a year to get back on track (IE: Tate, Butler). In my opinion, either Owens or Edwards needs to be cut after the pre-season, because all you are doing is log jamming this position and I don't see it ending well. Either one is okay, but not both.

     I think Owens will end up sticking around, and I believe he will be less of a distraction this year and make this team. And I think he is the better option over Edwards. 

     Seattle's receiver chart should look like this:

1. Sidney Rice
2. Terrell Owens/Braylon Edwards
3. Doug Baldwin
4. Ben Obamanu
5. Deon Butler
6. Golden Tate/Lockette/Durham

     And that just shows how hard this is bringing in Owens and/or Edwards. All those players have a case to be #2. And letting them grow on the field seems like a better idea then letting them sit behind Owens.

    This could end a number of ways for Seattle, but the chance it ends badly isn't a small percentage. The risk may outweigh the reward. This is Terrell Owens, after all.