The Seattle Seahawks take the first preseason game of the season 27-17 over the Tennessee Titans.  The fans at CenturyLink Field sounded like they were in mid-season form as the energy and excitement really came through the TV screen.

I really loved seeing the fans give former Seahawk Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck a nice cheer as he made his return to the PNW.

Offensive Game Ball

Quarterback Matt Flynn really got the ball out of his hand quick, and he played very well going 11 for 13 and 71 yards.  He did throw 1 pick, and no touchdowns, but he looked comfortable at the helm, albeit, a little conservative.

It looked like Leon Washington and Robert Turbin could be very viable backups to Running Back Marshawn Lynch this year.

Wide Receiver Braylon Edwards tried to make people forget about the T.O. signing as he looked like a solid threat on the outside.  He caught 2 balls for 51 yards, and a 32 yard touchdown reception.

Edwards’ 32 yard touchdown pass was thrown by Quarterback Russell Wilson who gets this week’s offensive game ball.

He came on after a good performance by Flynn, and played even better as he looked every bit the part of an NFL Quarterback.  Wilson went 12 of 16, for 124 yards and 1 touchdown and 1 interception (in the end zone).  He also rushed for 59 yards on 3 attempts and scored on a 32 yard run.

Robert Turbin could be very viable backup to Running Back Marshawn Lynch

This Quarterback competition may only have two players in the mix now, but it seems far from settled. Congrats Russell on this week’s offensive game ball.

Defensive Game Ball

The starting Defense looked fast, and no unit impressed more than the secondary.

Cornerback Richard Sherman intercepted a deep Hasselbeck ball and made a very athletic play on the ball.

The Defensive game ball goes to Brandon Browner, who picked off Hasselbeck on the first play of the game and returned the ball for a touchdown.  If the secondary plays at this level all season, the Seahawks should be in the upper tier of Defenses in the league.

Middle Linebacker Bobby Wagner who is penciled in as the starter at this point also chipped in with 4 tackles with 1 for a loss. Congrats to Browner for this week’s defensive game ball.

Special Teams Game Ball

Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka went 2 for 2, including a 41 yard field goal and he gets the Week 1 NFLX special teams game ball for the ‘Hawks.

Seahawks Stats

QB Stats

RB – Stats

O – Stats

D – Stats

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I know it’s only the preseason, but real football fans get excited for any chance to see their team.  I can’t believe we’re only about a month away from the real games!

Praise the football gods!

Tomorrow the Seattle Seahawks play the Tennessee Titans, and there are some real reasons to get excited about the first chance to see the 2012-13 incarnation of this Seahawk team.  

There are still plenty of question marks, so let’s see what will get ‘Hawk fans ready for some football.

1. Is QB Matt Flynn the real deal?

Quarterback Matt Flynn is getting the start for the Seahawks, and if he plays up to his potential, ‘Hawk fans should be in for a real treat this season.  Kevin Kolb disappointed in his first preseason game with the Arizona Cardinals this year, and although fans of that team should really temper their criticism this early in the campaign, there is no doubt that first impressions are often lasting.

Kolb was shaky last year, and fans need reassurance that they have the right guy at the helm.  Will Flynn be able to connect early and often?  Will he look the part of a starting calibre NFL Quarterback?

The message boards will light up if Flynn looks good, and will REALLY light up if he looks bad.  This will be interesting to see, as the Seahawks are arguably a legitimate QB away from contending for the playoffs this season.

2. Can the Offensive Line pass protect?

We know the O-line can definitely carve holes in the run game, as they showed last year, but can they give Flynn, Russell Wilson, and Tarvaris Jackson time to throw the ball?

That remains to be seen.

The line has shown potential, but if they can give the QBs time to throw the ball, especially the number one unit, it will go a long way to easing fans’ anxiety over a unit that has led to many question over the last few years.

Have no fear. RG John Moffitt will be back in time for Week 1.

Carroll on Moffitt “Not really injury. More situation over time. Showed up this week. 2-3 week turnaround. Lutui will start at RG” #Seahawks

— Q Smith (@NWSBQ) August 10, 2012

3. Will T.O. look interested?

It sounds like Head Coach Pete Carroll won’t be playing newly acquired hall of fame Wideout Terrell Owens at all in the game, but hey, you never know.

Quarterback Matt Flynn is getting the start for the Seahawks. Is he the real deal?

If he doesn’t take a snap, will he be giving feedback to the other Receivers?

How about the Quarterbacks?  Especially Flynn.

Hopefully he looks engaged and ready to dole out some wisdom.  In a sub-question, how will the rest of the WR core look?

Doug Baldwin and Sidney Rice will NOT play on Saturday, neither will Ricardo Lockette, but all should be out there when the games start to count.

Will players like Braylon Edwards, Golden Tate, Ben Obomanu, and Kris Durham be able to show they are better than Owens?

The ball is in their court, and this is a chance to shine.

4. How will Bruce Irvin look?

Aldon Smith of the San Francisco 49ers was a player who last year was inserted into the lineup as a situational pass rusher, and that will probably be similar to Bruce Irvin‘s role with the Seahawks this season.

Will he be able to match the success of Aldon from last year (the Niners’ rusher had the 49ers rookie record of 14 sacks last year)?

By all accounts, Irvin has looked fast and strong in camp, so it will be interesting to see his development.

Carroll on Flynn “Transition for Matt has gone beautifully. We’ve had a good week of practice. He’s very much in command.” #Seahawks

— Q Smith (@NWSBQ) August 10, 2012

High praise from Coach Carroll today.

5. The Russell Wilson factor

Russell Wilson looks to get more snaps against the Titans than incumbent QB Tarvaris Jackson, because Coach Carroll knows what he has in Jackson.

Can Wilson push Flynn to start?  Not likely in my opinion, but 2nd string might be his position to lose.

With the success of rookie Quarterbacks these days, you never really know, and Wilson could be a factor.

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In the first part of this series, we looked at some players that would make Tim Ruskell’s ticker stop…, well, ticking.  Known for distancing himself from players who who got into trouble, he would surely question certain players that John Schneider and Pete Carroll’s Seahawks have signed.

For the record, I firmly believe in that old adage that “they can’t all be choir boys”.

Sure, you’ve got to have a core group of guys that bleed football, and who’s only vice is working out and reading the playbook.

Those players who never make the headlines unless it is for their production on the field, and since the Seahawks have a good group of those kinds of players, why not pepper in some players with checkered pasts and see what happens?

You don’t take risks on these kind of players unless they have produced in the past or have loads of potential.

Ruskell, wherever you are, “Getcha heart medicine ready!”

TO has always been a showman on the field. Understatement.

1. Terrell Owens

Where do we even begin with this guy?

From an impromptu press conference complete with sit ups in his driveway, to an apparent suicide attempt by overdosing on pills, Terrell Owens is known to be a head case who has to be one of the most alienated players in NFL history.

Most teams wouldn’t touch him with an 81-foot pole this offseason.

Lest we forget about him calling out his Quarterbacks in the press (see Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb).

He has always been a showman on the field, especially after scoring, like when he pulled a Sharpie out of his sock in front of Shawn Springs and signed a football after reaching the endzone.

Don’t forget catching hell for standing on the Dallas Star at midfield  after scoring a touchdown when he was with the 49ers.

Though he is a lock for the Hall of Fame, some people claim he shouldn’t be in, and that’s based solely on his polarizing antics.  According to him, he’s always open, and he’ll let you know about it.  He demands the ball, and he “loves him some him!”

More than he loves the team?

Maybe.  It’s not like he had his own reality show or anything.

Oh…, wait…

2. Braylon Edwards

Boy, two troubled Receivers on one team.

Ruskell would never hear of such a thing!  Braylon Edwards was put on probation for punching a party promoter outside a Cleveland nightclub in 2009.  He then promptly got a DUI whilst on said probation and picked up yet another year of probation and an additional 100 hours of community service.

Not really the type of stats you want to see your WR racking up.

He was implicated in a bar fight in Michigan recently, and then turned around to sue the bar for slander.  Sounds like he finds himself on the police blotter more than in the game plan these days.

Ruskell would never hear of such a thing!

3. Marshawn Lynch

While he made the list in the first installment of this article, Marshawn Lynch makes a repeat performance due to his most recent DUI.

He has been formally charged in California now for driving under the influence, and there is still fear that he may miss a game or two due to his past transgressions.

4. J.R. Sweezy

Probably not a guy to make a huge impact this year, but seventh round draft pick in this year’s 2012 class probably wouldn’t have been on Ruskell’s radar.

He would have been to busy trying to find the next Kelly Jennings.

J.R. Sweezy is a college level DT who is being tried out at guard.  He has been arrested in the past for having pot in his house, and for an altercation with a 65-year old bus driver in which Sweezy was suspended by N.C. State for assaulting the shuttle bus worker.

Hopefully he can rough up D-lineman as well as he can a senior citizen. Word out of Seahawks camp + Tom Cable is this guy is good enough to challenge for a starters position NEXT year.

5. John Moffitt

YES! This is probably a reach. But in Ruskell’s regime would John even be on the team anymore? I doubt it.

Seattle Seahawks rookie guard John Moffitt was suspended 4 games last year for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances.

It was apparently due to use of the prescription drug Adderall, but would that stop Ruskell from getting a heart palpitation!?!?!?

Heck no!

(Note: A side effect of the drug Adderall is heart palpitations.  Irony much?)

Did you miss the Ruskell article (part 1) ?

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The B.C. Lions head into the bye week with a big 18-9 win over the Argonauts in Toronto.

The Leos become the first team in the CFL this year to get to 4 wins, and now get some extended time off until their next game on August 19th.  

It’s always great when a team from B.C. beats a team from Toronto, and this was no different, but the Lions looked uneven on offense in the win.

Offense

Quarterback Travis Lulay played okay going 18 for 27, 205 yards, and 1 touchdown, but there were too many plays that were left out on the field.  Lulay looked amazing last week when he completed 80% of his passes, and while he wasn’t horrible today by any means, there was hope that he would build on his last game and come out blazing.

Wide Receiver Akeem Foster caught 3 balls and scored 1 touchdown, but this week’s offensive game ball goes to Wideout Ernest Jackson.

The 6’2″, 215 lb. Receiver saw his first action of the year as the rookie was pulled up from the practice squad to play against the Argos.  Jackson caught 4 balls for 87 yards.

One of his catches was a 50 yard bomb in which he got wide open behind the coverage and took the ball to the 1-yard line.

Nice game for the D. Interceptions were caught by Linebackers Adam Bighill, James Yurichuk, and Cornerback Dante Marsh

The Lions eventually turned that big gain into a touchdown, and if Jackson continues to play like this he could become a permanent fixture in the WR core.

Defense

The Lions held an opponent to zero touchdowns for a second week in a row, and gave Toronto QB Ricky Ray fits as he threw 3 interceptions.

Those interceptions were caught by Linebackers Adam Bighill, James Yurichuk, and Cornerback Dante Marsh.

The Lions also sacked Ray 4 times, and the defense is really showing that they could become a force for the Leos for the rest of the season.

The player who is running away with the most valuable player on the D is Adam Bighill, and he gets the defensive game ball once again for the week.  He has already shown his ability to chase down running backs, receivers and quarterbacks this year, but now he is starting to show off his impressive hands.

His interception was a perfectly timed one where he jumped at just the right time to deflect a Ricky Ray pass to himself.

 This is his second interception in as many weeks, and he added 7 tackles, and 1 sack on the day.

The only reason Bighill won’t get the D game ball next week is because of the bye.

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38 year old Wide Receiver Terrell Owens is in the Pacific Northwest today to tryout with the Seattle Seahawks.  Owens, who would be entering his 16th season if he makes the team, has been clamouring for a team to give him a chance this offseason, and finally a team has taken him up on his offer.

This move comes on the heels of the Seahawks cutting fellow veteran Receiver Antonio Bryant just 10 days after signing him on July 26th.

What does all of this mean?

Here are some initial thoughts on the news.

1. Can Owens live up to his hall of fame credentials?

There is no doubt that the man they call T.O. is one of the best Receivers to play in the NFL ever.  His size, speed, and body control were freakish in his prime, and while he has most certainly lost a step, he has shown he can still be productive.

In his time with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010 (his most recent season in the NFL), he hauled in 72 receptions, for 983 yards, and 9 touchdowns.

He ranks 2nd (tied with Randy Moss), for all-time receiving touchdowns behind Jerry Rice.  He is also second all-time in receiving yards, behind Rice again.  His resume is impressive, with 6 pro-bowls, 5 all-pro selections, and if he can bring any of those skills to the team in his advanced playing career, this could be a good thing.

2. What kind of shape is he in?

As mentioned earlier, Owens’ last stint in the league was in 2010 with the Bengals, and he has been playing in the National Indoor Football League most recently, hardly NFL competition so what kind of shape is he in?

Anybody who has seen his 6’3″, 224 frame when he is not wearing a shirt can attest, this guy is always in tip top shape.

How healthy is Terrell Owens would be my first question…

However, looking good does not always translate into productivity.  Does he still have the speed to get behind defenders?  Can he still push Cornerbacks aside to get off of press coverage?

All of this remains to be seen, but make no mistake, if anyone can play in this league at 38, you have to think the clean living, workout junkie Owens would be a good bet to be that guy.

3. What does it mean for the Quarterback/locker room?

While Owens is not known for being a guy who gets DUIs, or parties all night, his reputation of a “locker room cancer” is well documented.

He has been run out of town in San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Dallas.  He was even cut from the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League for an alleged “lack of effort”.

His battles with Quarterbacks have been a part of his legacy as much as his impressive stats have, just ask Jeff Garcia or Donovan McNabb.

Since the Seahawks don’t have a Quarterback yet who has asserted himself as the leader in the locker room, could signing T.O. lead to an eventual blow up if things don’t go his way?

The Seahawks are a relatively young team, and who knows if the locker room can handle a guy like Owens, but hopefully guys like Chris Clemons, and Red Bryant can use their leadership skills to control T.O. if he makes the team.

4. What does it mean for the other WRs?

Head Coach Pete Carroll seems to be trying to add a veteran Wideout to his group to help teach the younger guys.  There has been a bit of a musical chairs routine with veterans Antonio Bryant, then Braylon Edwards, and now Owens, and one has to wonder if both Edwards and Owens can exist in the same Wide Receiver core.

There is no doubt that the young guys could learn a lot from the productive T.O., but could they learn some of his bad habits of calling out players on his own team too?

5. How fun would it be to see Randy Moss vs. T.O. if they can play up to their hype?

With the San Francisco 49ers signing 35-year old veteran Wide Receiver Randy Moss in this offseason, and the Seahawks flirting with T.O., how fun would it be if they both got to play in some big NFC West match-ups this year?

Remember, they are both tied for second behind Rice for all-time TD receptions, and to see them battle on the same field trying to break that tie would be a hell of a thing to see.

Latest news as of 2:28PM PT

Terrell Owens’ 40-yard time a shocker es.pn/MJkRjl

— Mike Sando, ESPN.com (@espn_nfcwest) August 6, 2012

Braylon Edwards and Terrell Owens ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the league in receiving TDs respectively … in 2007.

— Danny O’Neil (@dannyoneil) August 6, 2012

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As training camp continues for all 32 NFL teams, no other team has quite the three-headed beast of a competition at Quarterback like the Seattle Seahawks do.

Sure, some teams may be holding a competition between two players for the starting job, but three?

And with only about a month until the season starts?  You’ve got to be out of your mind, right?  Well, maybe, but Head coach Pete Carroll might just be doing the right thing for his team. 

Or, the wrong thing.  Who knows?

We’ll know deeper into the season if this tactic was a good one or not.  The names Tarvaris Jackson, Matt Flynn, and Russell Wilson are linked together in every article, and every blog post you read it seems.

At this point in camp, there are reasons to love and hate this 3-way race.

Love ‘Em

Competition makes them better

Coach Carroll has shown a real love of competition since he has been in Seattle.  It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned vet, newly signed free agent, or fresh-faced rookie, everyone has to compete for their spot.

This makes players better.  If you have a player breathing down your neck, you better make sure you hit all of your passes during you share of the reps.

What if Russell Wilson wins? (Photo Credit – AP)

You better work extra hard in the weight room.  You better be on your game, every single practice.

So, whoever comes up on top, they will have truly earned the job, and will be primed and ready to go after this training camp/pre-season battle.

It creates good depth

By splitting the reps, all 3 Quarterbacks will be getting experience leading the team, and that creates good depth at the position.  If the starter goes down at some point in the season, you will have a backup go in that will have some familiarity with the Receivers and Tight Ends, and can step in with little to no drop off.

This isn’t the case if one Quarterback is inserted at the start of camp, as often times the back-ups, especially the third stringer, never sees the field or gets a chance to get on the same page with the receiving core.

It sends a good message to the team

Matt Flynn is getting paid a salary that looks to most like “nearly starter money”, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to start.  It shows a lot to the rest of the team that you have to earn the spot, and just because you’re a rookie, or someone is getting paid more than you, doesn’t mean they will get the job.

Everyone is equal, and everyone will be treated fairly, and that is always a good message to send to your team.

Hate ‘Em

The starter doesn’t get enough time starting

With the splitting of reps during training camp, and splitting of game time in the preseason, there is a genuine concern that the eventual starter will not have had enough time throwing to their players.

There has to be an automatic rapport, and confidence between the Quarterback and Receiver, and there may not be enough time for 3 players to gain that with only a month or so until the regular season.

Other teams with installed starters will have the number ones pitching and catching over, and over, and over, and that goes a long way to being on the same page when the real games start.

How will the 2 players who don’t get to start feel? (Photo NWSB Instagram)

The fallout

How will the 2 players who don’t get to start feel?

Could this cause a division in the locker room?  Could certain players be rooting for one of the QB’s over the other?  What if Russell Wilson wins?  Will the other two feel that a rookie shouldn’t be starting over them?

Will they feel insulted and embarrassed?

What if Tarvaris Jackson wins?

Will Matt Flynn feel deceived that he came to Seattle thinking he would be a starter, but that didn’t pan out?  What if Matt Flynn wins?  Will the other two feel that they never really had a fair shake, and that the competition was rigged?

All questions that could be asked.

People want to know

Hey, let’s be honest, it’s good to know who the starter at Quarterback is so fans and teammates can rally around them as their leader.

Not knowing makes things feel uneasy.  You hope the right decision is made, but is having more question marks at training camp a good thing?

Who knows…

We all wait, and hope.

Oh yeah, and then there’s Josh Portis.  I wonder if he loves or hates this competition?

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After a penalty filled first half that didn’t see any touchdowns until B.C. Lions‘ Quarterback Travis Lulay hit Akeem Foster for a 17-yard TD strike with 32 seconds left in the second quarter, the Leos took control of the game and never looked back.

That final drive of the first half for the Lions took just 1 minute and 47 seconds to cover 74 yards, as the offense finally looked like a polished machine breaking a low-scoring 6-5 mistake filled game.

The Lions eventually beat the Calgary Stampeders 34-8 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary.  

Handing out the game balls this week after a win feels much better than doing so after the two straight losses the Lions had over the past couple of weeks.

Offense

Wide Reciever Shawn Gore was thrust back into the starting line-up following his week 2 injury, and he picked up right where he left off.  Gore finished with 7 receptions and 67 yards.

Fellow wideout Akeem Foster pitched in with 5 receptions for 72 yards and 1 touchdown.

Running Back Andrew Harris even got into the pass catching act coming up with 2 touchdown passes, and 5 receptions for 37 yards.

This week, Quarterback Travis Lulay gets the offensive game ball.  Lulay really spread the ball around (hitting 9 different players in the passing game), and showed decisiveness and good decision making that he hasn’t always displayed this year.

Lulay finished a sizzling 30 for 37 (completing 80% of his passes), for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns.

2 touchdown catches, and 5 receptions for 37 yards, not a bad night.

He also added  41 yards on the ground.

This is the Lulay Lions’ fans want to see for the rest of the season.

Defense

The whole defense played well on the day, as they held the Stampeders to only 8 points, and zero touchdowns in the game.  Tough to do in the CFL.  The Lions’ D created 3 turnovers with 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception.

We may have to re-name the defensive game ball award the Adam Bighill award, as he wins it for yet another week.

In this game, he really flashed, showing his ability to stop the run, chase the quarterback, and clean up plays by chasing down receivers who got away from the first defender.

He finished with 6 tackles, and 1 interception from the Linebacker spot.

Special Teams

A special mention on special teams to Kicker Paul McCallum, who went 4 for 4 on field goals, including one for 45 yards out.

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Even while battling through a pectoral injury in the 2011-12 NFL season, the Seattle Seahawks’ Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was able to put up the best numbers of his career.

He threw for 3,091 yards passing, and 14 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.

While certainly not Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady type numbers, he was able to do enough to keep the Seahawks competitive.

Hometown fans can often be critical of Quarterbacks, wanting to discard them even though they might be the best fit for them for the short term.

Truth be told, Jackson doesn’t really project as the long term answer for the Hawks, but should he at least be retained for one more year?

To help answer this question, let’s look at some numbers from his fellow NFC West QBs from last season:

• Sam Bradford – St. Louis Rams – 2,164 yards, 6 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
• Kevin Kolb – Arizona Cardinals – 1,955 yards, 5 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
• John Skelton – Arizona Cardinals – 1,913 yards, 11 touchdowns, 14 interceptions
• Alex Smith – San Francisco 49ers – 3,144 yards, 17 touchdowns, 5 interceptions

Now, many will say that the NFC West leaves much to be desired at the QB position, and they’d be right to an extent, but Jackson’s play, combined with the Seahawks’ stout defense would put Seattle back in the mix to content for a division title.

If the Seahawks don’t see enough from Matt Flynn, who has only started two games in the NFL, or rookie Russell Wilson, who has zero NFL experience for obvious reasons, they may need Jackson to put them in the best position to win.

Familiarity

He has Wide Receiver Sidney Rice, his ex-teammate from their days with the Minnesota Vikings returning, and they have experience together.

The Seahawks may need Jackson to put them in the best position to win.

He has also built a rapport with WR Doug Baldwin.

He has familiarity with Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell’s offense from again, Minnesota, but in his time with Seattle as well.  He could be the best option at QB.

However, if Matt Flynn is able to play at the level that saw him throw for 734 yards and 9 touchdowns in those two NFL starts, he will lead the ‘Hawks at QB.  Does that mean Seattle should discard Jackson at that point?  It wouldn’t make sense.

With QB Russell Wilson, albeit talented, as the 2^nd string QB, the Seahawks would be put in a bind if Flynn went down.

Live Action

Impressing in the offseason is not the same as impressing in the regular season.

If Flynn struggles at all, that could put the pressure on to start Wilson, and that sometimes ruins a rookie who should be sitting on the bench for at least a season or two.

The ‘Hawks would probably want a veteran backup at that point, and who better than Tarvaris Jackson?

What point in finding another veteran who doesn’t have Jackson’s comfort level with the team, and may have even worse numbers.

There is still a lot that needs to be played out in training camp and the pre-season, but letting Jackson go this year doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

What do you think?

Submit your answer in the poll.

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In the latest move by the Seattle Seahawks to ensure that the offensive line remains intact for years to come, the team has signed Center Max Unger to a multi-year extension.

This comes off of the heels of signing Tackle Breno Giacomini to a 2-year extension in February, and having projected starters at Tackle Russell Okung, and Guards Paul McQuistan and John Moffitt all returning to build off of a season that saw the unit rank 5th in the league in rushing yards with 1,212 yards.

Unger was a 2nd round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, and was initially inserted as the Right Guard for the Seahawks.

A move was made to Centre by Offensive Line Coach Tom Cable, and the ‘Hawks haven’t looked back.  The new deal reportedly puts Unger up amongst the highest paid Centers in the league.

A recent article on RotoWorld.com ranked the NFL offensive lines and had Seattle ranked 25th. The piece went onto say “Seattle has a long way to go to reach its full line potential.” Unger and the rest of his fellow linemen will be out to proove this ranking WRONG in 2012.

The move by Pete Carroll and John Schneider says a lot about where the Seahawks think Unger is in terms of his development, and where he can go from here.

With a new contract Max Unger’s comfort level in the NFL should only grow

Carroll has spoken about Unger’s consistent and professional approach and leadership, and Tom Cable has thrown praise onto his Center for being one of his most solid performers.

With the anchor in the middle stabilized, the ‘Hawks can expect the rest of the O-linemen to continue to gel, and hope that any injury issues going into this new season are behind them (Unger missed much of the 2010-11 season with a toe injury).

The 6’5”, 305 lb player is just 26, and his best days should be ahead of him.

In his college years with the Oregon Ducks, he was named to the Pac-10 first team on two occasions.  In 2008, he was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the player considered to be the best Center in all of college football.

This deal come off of the heels of the Seahawks coming to terms on a deal with Defensive End Chris Clemons, and shows that the Seahawks are willing to reward players that they see fitting into their system, and are committed to trying to keep core players along their lines to provide stability.

That stability could be tested once the team figures out if the league will be suspending Running Back Marshawn Lynch for any amount of time for his DUI earlier this month.

For now, with Unger firmly entrenched in the spot that saw him dominate at the college level, his comfort level in the NFL should only grow.

Unger has stated that he couldn’t be happier to have signed the deal to remain in Seattle for years to come.

It certainly looks like the Seahawks are just as happy to have him.

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The Vancouver Canucks avoid going to arbitration by signing Winger Dale Weise to a one-way contract worth $615,000.

This move might make the average fan let out a “meh”, in the middle of a summer where the Canucks don’t seem to be making any splashes in roster movement, but as minor a deal as it is, it can be seen as a good thing for the Canucks.

1. He provides depth

There is no team that stays 100% healthy all year long, and re-signing Weise, is putting a guy back in the line-up who has played with the big boys, and knows what will be expected out of him.

If anyone in the bottom six goes down, Weise will be there to fill in that role.

He will probably have to battle Aaron Volpatti and Byron Bitz for that spot, but options and competition are always a good thing.

2. He can play on the 4th line

While not exactly becoming the quintessential 4th line player like a Maxim Lapierre, Weise has shown that he can bang and crash on that 4th line, and that is where he will be expected to try to land a full-time job.

He has shown potential in that role, and hopefully after his first year of seasoning with in the NHL, he can grow into that role more so this upcoming season.

Weise has shown that he can bang and crash on that 4th line – Rich Lam/Getty Images

3. He can potentially  fill in on the 3rd line

While no one really wants to say it at this point in the hopes that GM Mike Gillis will be able to add more forwards to the roster come October, our 3rd line could potential use some help, whether due to a lack of goals, or due to injury.

Weise has shown some offensive spark here and there, and could come in for a stretch of a few games on the 3rd line.

He only scored 4 goals and added 4 assists in 68 games last year, but he does have some offensive ability.

4. He is big and can fit a physical role

He’s 6’2″ and 210 pounds, so he fits into that “get bigger” mentality of GM Gillis.  He has shown a penchant for dropping the gloves, albeit to some mixed results, but the Canucks can use a gamer who’s willing to take on an opponent or two with some fisticuffs.

5. He’s Still young, let’s give him a chance

Weise is only 23, and last year was just his first in the NHL.

The Canucks have really moved quickly on discarding young, raw players recently, and it might benefit them to give someone like Weise a chance in the bottom six.

He may be able to turn his game on this year, and only he will be able to determine if he sticks with the team long term, but sometimes, all a player needs is just that chance.

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