Seahawks Gab

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1. Where was the first Super Bowl Played between the Packers and Chiefs?

2. Who scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl history?

3. Who is the leading lifetime rusher in Super Bowl history?

4. What team has won the most Super Bowls with 6?

5. Who is the youngest head coach to have ever won a Super Bowl?

6. What wide out caught the game winning TD with less than a minute to go in Super Bowl XXIII?

7. What kicker missed the game-winning field goal in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXV?

8. Where was Super Bowl XX held?

9. Name the four current Franchises that have never been to a Super Bowl

10. Who was the MVP of Super Bowl XVI?

11. What was odd about the first points scored in Super Bowl IX?

12. Where was last years Super Bowl (XLIII) held?

13. Name the four coaches to have lost four Super Bowls

14. What Falcon took back a kickoff for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIII?

15. What Colt kicker hit the game-winning kick in Super Bowl V vs Dallas?

16. Who was the MVP of Super Bowl XIV?

17. How many touchdowns did Steve Young throw in Super Bowl XXIX?

18. Who was the coach of the Colts when they lost to the Jets in SB III?

19. Who sang the National Anthem at last years Super Bowl (XLIII)?

20. What WR came up a yard short of the game-tying TD on the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV?

Seattle is looking more and more like U.S.C.-North, as one more former Trojan is headed to the Pacific Northwest.

The Ripsit Blog at the University of Southern California’s official football Web site reports that Kris Richards, a defensive graduate assistant and U.S.C. alum, took a position as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Seahawks.

The Seattle Times‘ Danny O’Neil provides a scorecard of the coaching staff that Pete Carroll is piecing together.

The Seattle Times reports that the Hawks are losing QB coach Bill Lazor to the Univ of Virginia:

Bill Lazor, the Seahawks quarterbacks coach the past two years, has been announced as Virginia’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Lazor was hired by Seattle in 2008, replacing Jim Zorn after he left for Washington. Lazor was hired by Mike Holmgren after receiving a glowing recommendation from Joe Gibbs, whom he worked for at Washington.

Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times reports that Chris Carlisle will be getting a little help with strength-and-conditioning coaching this season.

Leaving the University of Southern California to take on a strength-and-conditioning coaching role with Seattle is Jamie Yanchar.

Down in Mobile, Ala., Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times reports that the Seahawks have continued their overhaul of their coaching staff.

Coming in as an assistant offensive line coach is Art Valero.  Valero comes in after working for the St. Louis Rams.

Taking over as the team’s strength-and-conditioning coach is Chris Carlisle.  Carlisle, who had been at the University of Southern California with new head coach Pete Carroll, replaces Mike Clark.

While there are still all-star games, the combine and pro days to be held, this year’s Draft is beginning to take shape somewhat because the deadline for underclassmen to declare their eligibility has come and gone.

The quarterback position looks to be pretty ripe despite Jake Locker (Washington) and Case Keenum (Houston) deciding to stay in school for another year.

Without Keenum, my list of the final four signal callers that the Seahawks need to consider selecting from invites back a name that was previously cut while also taking on a new overall look.

4. Sam Bradford (Jr. at Oklahoma) – Previous Rank: Third

At the college level, Sam Bradford was one of the country’s top quarterbacks, winning the Heisman as a sophomore last year.

It appears that Bradford’s season-ending injury to his throwing shoulder won’t hinder his draft stock.  The former Sooner will go top-10 for sure and Seattle, with their dire needs on the offensive line and running back, can’t afford the steep price that Bradford carries.

*Courtesy of ESPN.com

3. Jimmy Clausen (Jr. at Notre Dame) – Previous Rank: Not Ranked

Jimmy Clausen’s name is thrown into the hat once again.

The former member of the Fighting Irish found himself discussed in late October’s edition of the quarterback prospect series, but he was a one-edition wonder because I felt he’d go high in the draft and I loved fellow junior Case Keenum (Houston) a little bit more than I did Clausen.

One thing that’s been brought into question on air at ESPN regarding Clausen is his leadership abilities.  Personally, I’m in the camp that believes the young quarterback won’t have any issue leading a N.F.L. offense because of the poise he demonstrated when playing from behind in close games for the green and gold.

Both NFLDraftScout.com and DraftZoo.com agree with my thinking that Clausen will be one of the first quarterbacks taken this year.  NFLDraftScout.com ranks Clausen as the top quarterback prospect and the seventh best player in the Draft regardless of position.  DraftZoo.com has Clausen as the second-best signal caller.

Clausen’s been groomed for three years in a pro-style system under former head coach Charlie Weis and Clausen’s improvement over that time span speaks volumes.  DraftZoo.com credits Clausen as having a good arm, delivery and football intelligence, all of which I certainly agree with.  In my third edition of this quarterback prospect series, I talked about Clausen’s ability to make the big play, something that, when coupled with the game intelligence that DraftZoo.com mentions, makes him worthy of a look, but that’s where I stop with him in terms of the Seahawks.  Like my case against drafting Bradford, Seattle needs to focus elsewhere with its two first-round selections. 

The only scenario in which I see the team picking Clausen is if the quarterback falls to the final third of the first round’s picks.  In this situation, Seattle would be wise to do what needs to be done in order to trade back into the first round and make what could be the steal of the draft.

*Courtesy of ESPN.com

2. Jevan Snead (Jr. at Mississippi) – Previous Rank: Tied for First

The word ‘rough’ sugar coats the season Jevan Snead had this year.

His yardage totals, touchdowns and completion percentage all took a hit, while his interception mark jumped up by seven compared to what he threw as a sophomore.

Both NFLDraftScout.com and DraftZoo.com rank Snead as the seventh best option at the quarterback position, with NFLDraftScout.com going as far as saying that he’s likely to be a third- or a fourth-round selection.

Before you write Snead off though, let’s delve a little deeper.

He can make a play happen outside of the pocket; he has great arm strength and has confidence in his abilities.  I’ve said all season long that he reminds me of a young Brett Favre and, as I discussed in the second edition of this quarterback prospect series, here’s why:

He can throw on the run.  I remember one play in the South Carolina game when Snead was chased out of the pocket and, instead of throwing the ball away, Snead kept his eyes focused on the play that was unfolding.  He finds a receiver in front of him along the right sideline and, while still scrambling, throws an accurate pass.  Unfortunately the receiver slipped and fell on the play and the pass was nearly picked off by a Gamecock defender, but, nonetheless, Snead showed that he is a cerebral quarterback, has the tools necessary to be a big-time player and that he has confidence in himself to make the play.

If Seattle invested in Snead, the team would be able to plop him on the pine behind Matt Hasselbeck and let the veteran, who has one year left on his current contract and who learned from Brett Favre himself, show Snead the ropes at the pro level.  Also, with Pete Carroll now at the helm and Jeremy Bates as Carroll’s offensive coordinator in Seattle, Snead would be in an excellent position to be groomed into the elite talent that some, including Scout.com, thought he would be at the pro level prior to his last college season.

Plus, by selecting their quarterback of the future in the middle of the draft, the Seahawks have that many more high-profile draft choices at their disposal for other needs that are just as or more vital than your need at quarterback.

*Courtesy of ESPN.com

1. Colt McCoy (Sr. at Texas) – Previous Rank: Fourth

Colt McCoy welcome to Seattle.  While I won’t hide my love affair for Snead, McCoy is an absolute stud that completes passes and is a proven winner.

The senior finished the season as the nation’s top signal caller in terms of completion percentage, finding his targets 70.6 percent of the time this season.  Completing 70 percent of his passes isn’t foreign territory for McCoy; he connected with his receivers an astounding 76.7 percent of the time as a junior.

McCoy is college football’s all-time winningest quarterback with 45 wins.  He was absolutely vital to his program’s success, as demonstrated in Texas’ loss in the National Championship game this year when the Longhorns weren’t themselves after an injury to McCoy’s throwing shoulder early in the game that forced the quarterback to miss the rest of the game.

In the last edition of the quarterback prospect series, I wasn’t sold on McCoy because of the up-and-down statistical performance he had over his first three years in Austin; however, after realizing how much he truly carried his Longhorn teammates over the past four years, I see how mistaken I was when I ranked McCoy so low.  That kind of ability to perform at the level he did while knowing his team’s chances of winning rested squarely on his shoulders is something that will make him a coveted leader and athlete at the next level.

NFLDraftScout.com has McCoy going in either the first or second round as the position’s third-best choice.  DraftZoo.com says McCoy is the fourth-best.

Another thing that makes McCoy the most intriguing prospect at the quarterback position for the Seahawks is that, of the four on this list, he has the fastest 40-yard dash time at 4.68.  While it isn’t on the same level of Mike Vick, a 4.68 is a very athletic time for a quarterback.  That kind of quickness is something he will be able to use to his advantage at the pro level when the pocket breaks down.  Instead of taking a sack or tossing the football out of bounds, McCoy will be able to keep the play alive for an extra fraction of a second and possibly use that time to find a receiver down field or a running back to check down to.

*Courtesy of ESPN.com

Once the combine and the respective pro days of these four are in the books, I’ll offer my final take on them while also shedding light on some other positions of interest for Seattle in this year’s Draft.

Reports are the Hawks will be chatting with Art Valero, who is one of two Rams O-line coaches:

Art Valero – one of the Rams’ two offensive line coaches – has interviewed with the Seattle Seahawks. Valero has been with the Rams for the past two seasons, working as assistant head coach/running backs coach in 2008. Art Valero has coached either running backs or tight ends in all seven years he has been coaching in the NFL, working with both Tampa Bay and St. Louis.

Two new coaches to add to the list of Carroll’s…

• Running Backs Coach: Sherman Smith
• Tight Ends Coach: Pat McPherson

It’s been on the minds of nearly everybody outside of the front office.  What exactly is the relationship between (new head coach) Pete Carroll and the team’s new general manager once he’s been hired?  Well, with Jon Schneider officially onboard, the Seattle Times‘ Danny O’Neil was able to ferret it out.

As for the programming note, this weekend I’ll be putting together the fifth and final part of my series on possible college quarterbacks that Seattle should look into drafting now that the official list of underclassmen declaring entry into the draft has been finalized.

Also, in the near future I’ll begin some mock drafting here at Seahawks Gab to give you an idea of what you could possibly expect come draft day.  As always, reader comments are always welcome.

The Hawks continue to add coaches, as Pete Carroll’s staff is coming together with a heavy mix of NFL experience and few ties with Carroll’s last coaching job at Southern California.

Carroll said Wednesday that most of his staff is in place with just a few positions still to be filled. Carroll had previously announced that renowned offensive line coach Alex Gibbs would be joining the Seahawks after spending last season with Houston.

Coming with Carroll from USC will be Jeremy Bates as offensive coordinator and Ken Norton Jr. as linebackers coach. Bates was previously the offensive coordinator in Denver before joining Carroll last season in the same position with the Trojans. Bates replaced Steve Sarkisian at USC when Sarkisian left to be the head coach at Washington.

Before becoming the offensive coordinator in Denver, Bates worked as an offensive assistant in Tampa Bay and quarterbacks coach with the New York Jets.

“It’s a really good core. A good mix of experience and background,” Carroll said. “I love the familiarity on the offensive side of the ball to make Jeremy to really ready to rock n roll and hit it full speed. And Alex is a big player in all of that to give us the running game emphasis that we want.”