Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 4:57pm
Time is the great equalizer

So, this mess of a 2009 season is over.

I predicted a 9-7 record this year and I've talked to people who were as high as 12-4.

Looking back, even with a healthy team from the get go, I don't think Seattle would have won more than one more game, the only exception being Chicago in Week three when Olindo Mare missed two makeable field goals and Seneca Wallace was starting for Hasselbeck, not to mention other starters.

The fact that the Seahawks were decisively beaten so many times and basically crushed most of 'em says the way to get this team straightened out is a a borderline overhaul.

They could easily take the re-building route, drafting for the distant future and figuring they are at least two years and probably three away from winning regularly.

I'm not sure how they'll go and we really won't know until a new President/GM is chosen.

That's where it all begins: hiring a guy soon, hiring the right guy, and letting him do his job.

Fundamentals will be key: establishing a run game, developing some sort of pass rush, and improving the defensive secondary.

The offensive line is always a starting point, and this line doesn't need an overhaul. There are 2-3 young players that need development, that's all. But they must look to the draft to improve there.

And Seattle is clearly in the market for a quarterback of the future at the same time.

By the time the season begins eight months from now, any number of transactions and changes could have been made. There's also a collective bargaining process that may or not take place and could result in wide open free agency.

Like my headline in this post says: time is the great equalizer. We usually can't wait for it, but it's true.

One more post to follow.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 4:47pm
Mora's comments

Coach Jim Mora was pretty animated in his postgame press conference and was wearing his emotions on his sleeve again.

He's gotten some critcism this season for doing that, but I personally like it because it's nice to see a guy show some emotion and not hide behind fake bravado like so many coaches do.

I listen to Mora's comments from the press box on a TV monitor, so I can't always hear the questions from the members of the press. Consequently, I can't always pass along what his comments are about.

One thing that clearly came through in this press conference though is the primary point I've been making all year: The Seahawks are 5-11 and a losing team because they simply do not have the talent to win enough to make the playoffs.

On two occasions today, and many others during the season, Mora said "We just don't have a lot of margin of error on this team." In other words, the players are not good enough to get away with mistakes because they don't have the talent to bounce back.

In a reply to the lack of scoring, Mora said "It's hard for us to score easy." In other words, they don't have the big-play or impact players needed to hit a home run ball.

He also said "When you lose the way we've lost, the perception is that we quit." In other words, they haven't quit, they just aren't good enough to win games because they don't have the players to do it.

If you think Mora is throwing his players under the bus, I would disagree. But for the sake of argument, let's say he is. My response is "So What?" At least we're hearing why they're losing.

If you think he's deflecting blame, I completely disagree. Mora just happens to be , and has been for a number of weeks, the most visible person on the football operations side of the team. With President Tim Ruskell gone, everything falls to Mora. He still has to play games with the same lousy players whether Ruskell is here or not.

Mora also said "When you have back-to-back seasons like we've had, a 'here we go again attitude' can happen. But we have to purge thaqt and the way to do it is to win games."

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 4:31pm
Mora's talkin'

Jim Mora's postgame press conference is going on right now.

I'll summarize in a few minutes.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 4:26pm
End of a lousy season

Before I get too deep into analyzing the 2009 season, let's recap the game first.

Tennessee wins it to finish 8-8 this season, after starting 0-6.

The Seahawks finish 5-11 and end the year with a four game losing streak.

Chris Johnson rushed for 134 yards and caught three passes for 20 yards. He is now Tennessee's all-time leading single season rusher as he passes Earl Campbell, and he is the NFL's all-time single season leader for yards from scrimmage after totalling 154 today (surpassing Marshall Faulk).

Johnson also finishes with 2006 yards rushing for 2009, the fifth most ever.

The only goal he didn't reach today was the all-time single season rushing mark, which is held by Eric Dickerson at 2,105. That was a long shot as Johnson needed 234 today, so he's 99 short.

This was a game played between mostly evenly matched teams. Seattle probably blew it when they failed to get in the end zone after having a 1st and goal at the Titans 2 yard line early in the fourth. A TD would have given them a 17-10 lead, and they instead had to settle for a field goal and a 13-10 lead.

They also helped set up Tennessee's winning TD drive when punter Jon Ryan mishandled a snap and could only punt 19 yards as he was running while kicking the ball. The Seahawks were also penalized on the play for ineligible man downfield and Tennessee began the drive at the Seattle 28 with seven minutes to go.

Seattle's D did a good job keeping Johnson from busting a huge gain, which he is prone to do. That in turn kept the game close.

But the Seahawk offense had trouble converting on 3rd down, just 4 of 13 (31%), so their drives kept stalling.

The final result wasn't good, and it's a small consolation, but Seattle played better than they have the past three weeks, all losses.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 4:14pm
Last possession

Seattle had a 1st and ten at the Titans' 28, but Tennessee's pass rush really came alive and completly disruptetd Seattle on the final series.

The Seahawks had to go for it on 4th and they couldnt' complete the play, ending the game essentially as the Titans have just run out the clock.

Final: Tennessee 17, Seattle 13.

Seattle finishes the season 5-11, a game better than last year.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 4:12pm
It's over, Seahawks will lose this game

Matt Hasselbeck was just intercepted on a 4th and nine play, and that will give Tennessee the win.

Seattle has just one timeout left and the Titans can run out the clock.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 4:08pm
Two minute warning

Here we go!

Two minutes to go and Seattle has a nice drive in the works as they try to win this thing and end the season on a good note.

Julius Jones just busted one up the middle for nine yards, giving Seattle a 1st and ten at Tennessee's 28 yard line.

But they must scored a TD to take the lead. A field goal does them no good at this point, so we're in "four down territory" as they say.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 4:05pm
Still time to win it

Seattle must score and score a Td to win this game, but they can do it.

Time is not an issue, but they have just one time out left.

They begin this latest drive at their own 20, and just got a 25 yard reception to TJ Houshmandazadeh to start it off.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 4:01pm
Chris Johnson TD give Titans lead

Chris Johnson just gave Tennessee a 17-13 lead with a three yard TD run.

He lowered his head and just got under the tackle at the goal line for the score.

The TD was set up by a beautiful catch by Nate Washington for 29 yards that put the ball at the 2 yard line. Washington held on despite falling out of bounds, getting a knee to touch the ground just in time.

Seahawk coach Jim Mora challenged both Washington's catch and Johnson's TD run, and he lost both as the two plays were upheld.

Seattle was charged time outs on both so they have one left.

4:33 to go.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 3:50pm
Special team snafu

We haven't talked much about Seahawks special teams recently.

That's mainly because they've done well.

But P Jon Ryan just mishandled a snap and was forced to punt on the run, setting up Tennessee in good field position.

The punt travelled just 19 yards, then Seattle was flagged for ineligible man downfield.

Tennessee will start at Seattle's 28 yard line, with Seattle on top 13-10 and 6:48 to go.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 3:46pm
What's that, the "Wave?"

Yep, the fans are doing the Wave here on the final home game of the year.

Haven't seen that yet this season.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 3:46pm
Catching our collective breaths

The Titans just punted after the Seahawk D came up with a nice play on 3rd down to force the kick.

DE Darryl Tapp held up a blocker and S Deon Grant knifed in to take out Chris Johnson, holding him to one yard on a 3rd and five.

Seattle takes over at their own 12 yard line, leading 13-10 with 8:29 to go.

Johnson has reached three milestones: most yards rushing in a season for the Tennessee franchise (surpassing Earl Campbell), most yards from scrimmage in a season (NFL record, previously held by Marshall Faulk) and has reached 2000 yards rushing, sixth player to do it.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 3:41pm
Johnson hits 2000

Chris Johnson just reached the 2,000 yard mark for the season in rushing.

He is the sixth player ever to do it.

The record came on a four yard run with 9:26 left in the game.

Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 3:39pm
Johnson robbed by teammate

Chris Johnson just had a 62 yard TD run wiped out by a holding penalty.

Otherwise Tennessee would have taken the lead and Johnson would have been in position for the all time record for most yards rushing in a season.