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Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune questions the Seahawks' effort and intensity during their 38-17 defeat at Dallas. Boling: "I would debate (Jim) Mora’s contention that the Seahawks are really out there competing. They may be playing hard. They may be giving good effort, as he suggests. But that’s not all there is to competing. Very few players are stepping up to make plays. Very few are distinguishing themselves even in a loss. When they get behind, they tend to fall further behind. And that’s a real indictment. Some bad teams claw and fight and are just undermanned. The Seahawks are undermanned and seem almost resigned to it." I've gotten the same feeling in recent weeks.

Also from Boling: Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh says some players must not have much confidence. Houshmandzadeh: "It’s a confidence thing for some guys. I don’t know who those guys are. Only they know who they are. Hopefully it doesn’t happen, but I’m sure that’s the case. But for the most part, when guys get to this level, the majority of guys don’t have that in them. But there has to be a reason for us to lose the games we’re losing by the margin we’re losing by. It’s unbelievable."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks are hurting themselves on offense. Williams: "Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said the mistakes are even more frustrating because they are correctable miscues that the team should not be making this late in the season."

Also from Williams: The Cowboys went after Marcus Trufant in the cornerback's first game back from injury.

More from Williams: Mora's frustrations are showing more and more.

Jim Moore of seattlepi.com says the Seahawks are finished this season. He also predicts regime change in the front office once the season is finished. Moore: "Can we finally admit it? Can we put the injuries aside and call it what it is? Healthy or unhealthy, the Seahawks just aren't very good. Stop it with the excuses -- my guess is that even if Walter Jones, Mike Wahle and Marcus Trufant had answered the opening bell and if Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill were 100 percent, this team would still be average at best."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks were not competitive Sunday even though no one from the Cowboys enjoyed a particularly strong game, and left tackle Damion McIntosh held up better than expected.

Also from O'Neil: Trufant struggled in his first game back from injury. Three flags for pass interference hurt Seattle.

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times says everyone but the Seahawks could see this blowout coming. Brewer: "And here's the most sobering part about this loss: Reflect on it, and considering what you've seen over the past two seasons, this one wasn't that bad. Over the past 23 games (6-17 record), you've seen worse. The Seahawks lost a game by three touchdowns -- an indicator of a miserable effort -- and you're left clinging to what might have been if cornerback Marcus Trufant hadn't been whistled for three pass-interference penalties, or if Justin Forsett hadn't fumbled to set up Dallas' second touchdown, or if the replay officials had overturned Cowboys receiver Roy Williams' iffy touchdown catch."

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks were better against the Cowboys than they were against Arizona before the bye, but they have now lost five of their last six games and any realistic chances at contending.

They are clearly the third-best team in a division that is striving to be halfway decent.

Injuries will remain a storyline after cornerback Ken Lucas suffered a shoulder stinger. That was fitting for the Seahawks; they welcomed back one cornerback, Marcus Trufant, from injury, only to have another one get hurt.

Matt Hasselbeck did not miss any snaps after the Cowboys roughed him up in the third quarter and cameras showed Hasselbeck pointing to his shoulder. But while Hasselbeck was on the sideline between series, the Cowboys returned a punt for a touchdown, stretching their lead to 35-10.

It's been that kind of season for the Seahawks.

A home game against the Lions in Week 9 should provide temporary relief, but this still looks like a lost season for Seattle. After playing the Lions, the Seahawks play road games against the Cardinals, Vikings and Rams. They also have road games against the Texans and Packers later in the season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks are functioning on offense this week, a big improvement from their previous game, and the left side of the offensive line gets some credit.

Rob Sims is back in the lineup at left guard. Free-agent addition Damion McIntosh has added some stability at left tackle.

The Seahawks, trailing the Cowboys only 14-10 after a touchdown pass to Deion Branch, have also helped themselves via scheme. They used tight ends to help with protection on the scoring pass to Branch. They have tried a couple plays from Wildcat formations to keep the Cowboys off-balance. The running game has been effective at times and more effective than I would have anticipated.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The NFC West has shown up so far in Week 8.

Embattled 49ers left guard Chilo Rachal gets credit for an effective block on Frank Gore's 64-yard touchdown run against the Colts. The 49ers lead 7-0 even though left tackle Joe Staley remains sidelined by injury. Barry Sims is playing left tackle.

In Dallas, the Seahawks got their running game going better than anticipated. The quick passing game also worked well at times as Seattle moved toward a field goal and a 3-0 lead.

Even the Rams are leading, with Josh Brown hitting a 41-yard field goal.

The Cardinals are the only NFC West team not leading at this point. And they do not kick off for a few hours.

Update: The Cowboys just scored to take a lead. Oh, well. It was fun while it lasted.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

A few thoughts as NFC West games approach in Week 8:

• The 49ers need more from their offensive line. I'm not sure why the team hasn't given Tony Wragge a chance at one of the guard spots, but perhaps it is time.
• Recently benched 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill seemed reluctant to push the ball down the field, perhaps a reflection of the coaching staff's emphasis on avoiding mistakes. Alex Smith seemed more comfortable taking those chances. Smith has nothing to gain by mimicking Hill. He needs to cut loose a little bit. I expect him to play aggressively.
• Nate Clements is not finished as a starting cornerback for the 49ers. He hasn't looked right at times this season, particularly recently, and he was never a shutdown cornerback, but Clements can still be a good player, in my view.
• Kurt Warner should pay special attention to getting rid of the ball quickly early in the game against the Panthers. He basically needs to convince Carolina that its pass rush isn't going to get there no matter how well Julius Peppers and the Panthers apply pressure. Warner did this effectively in the playoff game against the Panthers last season, as I recall. Once that happens, a quarterback can take more time later in the game.
• Jake Delhomme's interceptions appear almost entirely responsible for the Panthers' struggles this season. Carolina seems to have a good offensive line. Massive turnover on the coaching staff could be hurting the Panthers, but this team shouldn't be nearly this bad. Delhomme's problems have transcended situations, but his numbers against added pressure are second-worst in the league among quarterbacks with at least 10 attempts. The numbers, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information: 22-of-47 passing for 315 yards with one touchdown, six interceptions and a 36.5 rating. Ouch. Delhomme has three touchdowns and seven interceptions against standard pressure.
• The Seahawks expected their running game to hit stride at about this part of the season, but that assumed at least some continuity on the offensive line. The constant shuffling up front will likely delay the ground game's emergence, putting additional pressure on Matt Hasselbeck to carry the offense -- a tough task for a team that seems to change left tackles every week or two.
• Nate Burleson has been the Seahawks' best wide receiver. He ranks ninth among NFL wide receivers with 157 yards after the catch, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The top eight: Wes Welker (266), Hines Ward (235), Miles Austin (225), Andre Johnson (224), DeSean Jackson (208), Santonio Holmes (206), Hakeem Nicks (173) and Roddy White (171).
• Something has to give when the Rams' weak pass offense meets the Lions' weak pass defense. Detroit has allowed 17 passing touchdowns this season. The Rams have scored only five. Opposing quarterbacks have a 117.8 rating against the Lions this season. If the Rams cannot have success against this pass defense, then what?
• The Lions' Calvin Johnson and the Rams' Steven Jackson have combined for one touchdown this season (Johnson scored it). I like both players' chances of finding the end zone in Week 8, assuming Johnson's injured knee allows him to contribute. (Update: Calvin Johnson is inactive for today's game)

I'm heading to University of Phoenix Stadium shortly to watch the early games on TV and the Panthers-Cardinals game in person. Have a great first day of November.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

A few thoughts on the Seahawks' impending matchup against DeMarcus Ware and the Cowboys in Week 8:

• The Cowboys were not consistently impressive during their 37-21 victory over the Falcons. Atlanta dominated the game early. The Cowboys led by three points deep into the third quarter.
• The Cowboys move Ware, their top pass-rusher, from side to side. By my count, Ware played on the defensive right side for 58 percent of snaps against the Falcons in Week 7. He dropped into coverage six times.
• Ware finished the Atlanta game with two sacks, but he was not consistently dominant. One sack came on a third-and-34 play.
• The Falcons did not consistently double-team Ware. Ware's best play, I thought, came when he defeated three separate blocks. Midway through the third quarter, Ware lifted left tackle Sam Baker off the ground and planted Baker on his back. Ware then discarded fullback Jason Snelling before pushing down receiver Brian Finneran.
• The Cowboys hit hard on both sides of the ball. The Falcons matched Dallas in that area early in the game, but not throughout. The Cowboys forced three fumbles.
• Ware is playing with a stress fracture in his foot. He played just about every snap until the final minutes, when the game was decided. He did come out of the game for two plays after defeating Baker, Snelling and Finneran on the aforementioned rush.
• Seattle will likely have problems with Ware and the Cowboys' defensive line in general. However, Ware was playing at a higher level last season, when he had 20 sacks.

NFC West chat begins at 1 p.m. ET. See you there.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Snake bit might be a good term to describe the Seahawks over the past two seasons.

It's fitting that the Cowboys seemed to get healthy during the Seahawks' bye week. Seattle visits a suddenly surging Cowboys team in Week 8.

A stress fracture was supposed to be limiting Cowboys pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware, right? Ware collected two more sacks and forced a fumble during the Cowboys' 37-21 victory over the Falcons on Sunday. Ware then signed a lucrative extension Monday, putting more wind in his sails while the Seahawks wait to see which backup will match up against him.

Damion McIntosh, come on down. You're the next starting left tackle unless Sean Locklear suddenly gets healthy or Walter Jones returns unexpectedly.

Seattle is a somewhat healthy offensive line away from challenging within the NFC West.

Cornerback Marcus Trufant will return this week. Linebacker Leroy Hill will probably return this week. Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu's injury apparently isn't as bad as first thought. Getting any or all of those players back will help the Seahawks, but none of those players will help Seattle where the team needs help the most.

That's a tough situation for a team heading into a stretch with four of its next five games on the road. If I were the Seahawks, I would rather have a healthy Jones than Trufant, Hill and Tatupu back from injuries. That's how critical the situation on the Seahawks' offensive line has become.

Seahawks Personnel Group vs. New York Jets in Week 16 Plays Pct. Runs Yards/ Run Pass Att. Yards/ Att. Sacks 1-RB, 3-WR, 1TE 20 34.5 9 5.3 11 6.4 0 1RB, 2-WR, 2-TE 13 22.4 9 2.3 4 6.8 0 2-RB, 2-WR, 1-TE (base) 9 15.5 5 4.0 4 10.0 0 2-RB, 3-WR 7 12.1 3 2.7 4 9.0 0 4-WR 5 8.6 4 6.3 1 9.0 0 2-RB, 1-WR, 2-TE 2 3.4 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 3-TE 2 3.4 2 2.0 1 2.0 0 TOTALS 58 100.0 33 3.8 25 7.4 0

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks have become more of a two tight end team in recent weeks, a trend that continued during a 13-3 victory over the Jets in Week 16. We are seeing this primarily through increased use of their "Tiger" personnel group featuring one back and two wide receivers.

The timing seems to coincide with Will Heller's return from a knee injury several weeks ago. A few things I noticed about this group in charting Seattle's games against the Cowboys, Patriots and Jets (I have not gotten to the game against the Rams yet):

• Seattle ran the ball 60 percent of the time (21 of 35 plays) from this group.
• Seattle used this group primarily on first or second down (31 of 35 plays, or 88.5 percent).
• Seattle used this group 16 times on first down, running on 12 of these plays for a 3.1-yard average, with 15 of these 16 plays in the first three quarters of games.
• The four first-down passes from this group produced one incomplete pass, one interception and one sack (all at Dallas), plus one incomplete pass (against the Jets).
• The 14 pass plays from this group featured five passes to receiver Deion Branch, three to Heller, two to tight end John Carlson, two to running back Maurice Morris, one to receiver Koren Robinson and one sack.
  
• Matt Hasselbeck was the quarterback for three of those 14 pass plays (interception, incomplete pass and sack against Dallas, with both passes intended for Branch).
• Seneca Wallace tends to seek out tight ends from this group, hitting Carlson for a 25-yard gain against New England and Heller for a 14-yard gain against the Jets. The one red-zone pass from this group went to Branch for a touchdown against the Patriots.

The shading in the above chart compares this personnel group (yellow shading) with the group Seattle used most frequently in the game (green shading).

Some teams go to that one-back, three-receiver group on third down. Seattle used the group 20 times against the Jets, with 13 of the plays on first down, three on second down and four on third down. The Seahawks gained 37 yards rushing on six first-down carries from this group, which generally included Maurice Morris in the backfield and Carlson at tight end.

Carlson's value is obvious. The Seahawks can line him up in space for a four-receiver look, let him release from a tighter formation or use him as a blocker.

(Read full post)

Seahawks Personnel Group vs. Cowboys in Week 13 Plays Pct. Runs Yards/ Run Pass Att. Yards/ Att. Sacks 2-RB, 2-WR, 1-TE (base) 22 32.4 8 2.5 14 10.1 0 1-RB, 3-WR, 1-TE 20 29.4 4 3.5 11 6.7 5 4-WR 11 16.2 0 0.0 9 8.1 0 1-RB, 2-WR, 2-TE 8 11.8 5 4.0 2 0.0 1 2-RB, 3-WR 7 10.3 3 3.0 3 1.3 1 2-RB, 1-WR, 2-TE 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 3-TE 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 TOTALS 68 100.0 20 3.2 39 7.5 7

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks in recent seasons trended away from their base offense -- two backs, two receivers and a tight end -- because the team wasn't strong or versatile at tight end. We saw Seattle increasingly use two backs and three wide receivers, sometimes with great success.

The trend has reversed this season. Rookie John Carlson has given coach Mike Holmgren a prototype tight end for his offense, but injuries have wiped out the receiver position. The chart shows the Seahawks' production by personnel group against Dallas in Week 13. The yellow shading highlights the two groups in question.

Check out the yards per pass attempt (10.1) and sack totals (none) from the Seahawks' base offense. Matt Hasselbeck threw to Carlson five times from this personnel grouping. Carlson caught passes for 33, 9, 25, 17 and 16 yards. Hasselbeck completed all five attempts for 99 yards on these passes, good for a 118.8 passer rating. Hasselbeck's numbers on all other passes: 17-of-33 for 188 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, seven sacks, 70.8 rating.

• Full Seahawks personnel report from Week 13: Download here. This file includes the usual play-by-play sheet sortable by quarter, drive number, down, distance, yard line, personnel group, play type, ball carrier, yards gained and more.

Chart note: Sacks count as pass plays but not pass attempts. That explains how there can be four runs and 11 passes from a personnel group featuring 20 total plays.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The facts: The Seahawks fell to 2-10 following a 34-9 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13.

The upside: Even the worst defeats tend to feature a bright spot or two.

• John Carlson validated the faith coach Mike Holmgren showed in him from the moment Seattle selected the Notre Dame tight end in the second round. Carlson caught six passes for 105 yards.
• Seattle pressured Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo at times once coordinator John Marshall decided to blitz more frequently. It was too little, too late, but that beats never.
• Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck played his best game of the season despite absorbing seven sacks, reestablishing himself as easily the best option at the position.
• Cornerback Marcus Trufant intercepted a pass for the first time this season.
• The Cowboys didn't need third down most of the time, but when they did, the Seahawks played them well. Dallas converted twice in nine chances.
• Punter Jon Ryan had a 43.5-yard net average with two punts downed inside the 20.
• Olindo Mare made all three field-goal tries. He has made 19 of 21 attempts this season, or 90.5 percent.
  

Looking ahead: The Patriots visit Qwest Field on Dec. 7.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks' defense isn't anywhere near as good as expected. Safety Deon Grant: "I think coming into this season we knew what we had coming back and we didn't play to our strength. And we're still figuring that out, what's our strength on this defense. I think some of the players know what the strength is. Some of the coaches know what the strength is, but we really just haven't put it together."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Walter Jones' dominance isn't a given at this stage of his career, particularly when matched against the Cowboys' Demarcus Ware. Ware beat Jones for two sacks. Jones was limping during warmups and he is battling through some leg issues, but the Pro Bowl tackle dismissed any physical limitations as reasons for his struggles.

Also from O'Neil: The only question was whether Matt Hasselbeck would keep getting up. The Cowboys sacked him seven times.

More from O'Neil: Julius Jones suffered through a rough homecoming in Dallas.

Jim Moore of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says it's time to start cheering for the Seahawks' draft position.

Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer invokes the 1992 season as a reference point for the current Seahawks. That 2-14 team was worse on offense and better on defense.

Also from Farnsworth: Hasselbeck thinks the Cowboys are talented enough to win it all.

More from Farnsworth: Seattle had no chance against Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.

Andy Friedlander, writing for the P-I, quotes Ware as handling his success against Walter Jones as magnanimously as possible. Ware:  "You know what? If you're rushing 70 times against him and you only win twice, you still lose. That's not a good ratio."

John Morgan of Field Gulls sees the Pro Bowl as a logical next step for Seahawks tight end John Carlson in 2009.

Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks' defensive players are questioning the team's approach. They want defensive coordinator John Marshall to bring more pressure and play more man-to-man coverage.

Also from Hughes, with Dave Boling: The Seahawks have conceded the season and conceded that opposing teams are simply more talented.

Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald says motivation did nothing for Julius Jones in the running back's return to Texas Stadium.

Also from Johnson: Mike Holmgren suggests the Seahawks might need to make changes on defense next season.

More from Johnson: Ware's big day could hurt Walter Jones' chances at the Pro Bowl.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Cowboys' 34-9 victory over the Seahawks hardly surprised ASKilroy, NEforAZ and dickster944, who predicted a 34-10 outcome during the first part of our Thursday night "You called it" doubleheader. Actual score: 34-9.

All three are also predicting a Cardinals victory. ASKilroy has it 31-10. dickster944 has it 31-17. NEforAZ has it 31-28. Enjoy the late game, everyone.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's improved play stood out as the most significant development for Seattle during an otherwise forgettable team performance.

The Cowboys owned both lines of scrimmage more often than not. The Seahawks made strides defensively in the second half, particularly with their blitzes, but the outcome was pretty much decided by then.

Hasselbeck struggled badly during his previous two performances since returning from injury. He played well for most of the game Thursday, dropping off only after deciding to take chances in trying to mount a comeback. Poor pass protection and dropped passes prevented Hasselbeck from sustaining drives.

The question is quickly becoming whether the Seahawks can win another game this season. Their final four opponents: Patriots, Rams (road), Jets and Cardinals (road). Seattle has a legitimate shot at matching the 2-14 record of the 1992 Seahawks, although a victory over the Rams seems at least somewhat likely.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Hasselbeck

We might be seeing Matt Hasselbeck's revival as the Seahawks play out the final five games of their 2008 schedule. His team trails the Cowboys at halftime, 24-6, but Hasselbeck might be playing as well as he has all season. He's far better than he was over the last two games.

Hasselbeck has completed 11 of 16 passes (69 percent) for 170 yards and a 103.6 rating. The Cowboys have sacked him five times.

DeMarcus Ware beat Walter Jones for two of those sacks. The Cowboys also exploited Steve Vallos, making his first start at center, and rookie tight end John Carlson for first-half sacks. The other sack, on a delayed blitz up the middle, might have been scheme-related unless one of the linemen or fullback Leonard Weaver was supposed to account for Bradie James.

Hasselbeck wasn't responsible for any of those sacks. He has thrown the ball crisply, accurately and with authority. Koren Robinson dropped one pass on third down to kill a drive. Julius Jones lost a fumble to kill another drive. Left guard Floyd Womack committed a false-start penalty to hamper another drive just as Seattle was nearing the red zone.

The Seahawks can't blame their quarterback for their problems in what is likely to become their fifth consecutive defeat.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seattle defense can't rush the passer effectively with or without blitzing, the primary reason the Cowboys lead the Seahawks by a 21-3 score in the second quarter.

Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, once a force as an inside pass-rusher, hasn't gotten pressure since hitting Tony Romo on the first play of the game. I have to keep reminding myself Bernard is in a contract year. You'd rarely know it watching offensive lines shut him down. Perhaps he benefited from Chuck Darby's mentoring over the years. Darby is now with Detroit.

Bernard did get into a tiff with Jason Witten and Terrell Owens at one point in this game. We'll see if that sparks him in any way.

The Seahawks are so poor at blitzing that they don't try it much. When they did bring a six-man pressure on third-and-8 in the red zone, Romo found Patrick Crayton for a 9-yard gain on a quick throw before pressure had a chance to develop (and it was not developing).

Later, on a first-and-10 play, the Seahawks sent linebacker Lofa Tatupu on an inside blitz. Running back Tashard Choice chopped down Tatupu at the ankles. Romo completed a 38-yard pass to Roy Williams on the play. Later on the drive, Tatupu did get pressure, forcing Romo into a bad throw. Safety Deon Grant dropped the ball in the end zone.

The preceding five paragraphs sum up the Seahawks on defense 12 games into the season.