The Hawks are just average right now

• OK, we all know that quote is credited to former football coach Bill Parcells, who said so many things that are worth remembering I can’t remember many of them. But Parcells was right. Your record really doesn’t lie , especially after six weeks of NFL play. So the Seahawks are a middle-of-the-road team. They are 3-3. They have losses to good teams (San Diego and Dallas) and now to a below-average team (St. Louis). They are decimated by injuries (at one time yesterday a guy who should be fourth string was playing cornerback). Their defensive line is a shell of what it was last year. The offensive line has trouble run blocking, pass blocking and with holding. Other than that, it’s fine. And the special teams? If this were college football in this area, the special teams coach would have been fired by now. They were that bad yesterday. A season that began with thoughts of a Super Bowl repeat looks now as if it will be fight to get into the playoffs. The only saving grace? The NFC West, while balanced, doesn’t seem to have a dominating team. All four teams look to be pretty even. Whoever can steal a division win on the road, as the 49ers have already done, has a distinct advantage. The Hawks don’t have another chance for that until late November, at San Francisco. Until then, they have to get healthy, solve their tackling and blocking problems and heal the divisions created by Percy Harvin. That’s all.

•••

• WSU: The Cougars’ bye week is over. Now it’s time to get ready for Arizona, ranked 15th in the nation . Jacob Thorpe was at practice last night and filed this practice report . He also has a morning post with links, as usual. … The Cougar women’s soccer team scored late – about as late as possible – to defeat Oregon 1-0 yesterday. … Former WSU star Brock Motum is facing a numbers game trying to make the Jazz. … The Pac-12 might not be the best conference in the nation but it is the most exciting . It is also trying to earn a spot in the national playoffs, but there are roadblocks in the way.

• Gonzaga: ESPN has its WCC basketball picks today and though both the picks and the story about them are behind a pay wall, I’m going to pass them along. At least you can see the projected finish.

• Seahawks: There are a lot of talking points after the 28-26 loss to the Rams. … There is the play of the special teams, which couldn’t be described as putrid. That would be too good . The long punt return, which, while nifty, seemed to have included a fake fair catch signal, was just part of it. How about the fake punt late in the game? That takes guts . … The offense, after a slow start, got it going with Russell Wilson becoming the first quarterback ever to pass for 300 yards and run for another 100 in the same game. And he had a favorite target . Though it was a former lacrosse player who made the best catch . … The defense was sieve-like at times, mainly due to the injuries. But it may have come up with a key turnover late ( both coaches thought so), though the ball was given back to the Rams . That elicited a response from Earl Thomas .

• Mariners: Taijuan Walker has headed home from Arizona. No, he’s not hurt . It’s issues having to do with a personal relationship.

• Sounders: A win would have been best , but the Sounders went into Los Angeles , fell behind 2-0 and rallied for a 2-2 draw . That means the Supporters’ Shield will be decided in front of 60,000 screaming CenturyLink fans on Saturday. That should be fun . A win or draw gives Seattle the regular season trophy . … The Galaxy will be without one of its best players after a second yellow card was issued late in the match. Bruce Arena , L.A.’s coach, didn’t like it . Sigi Schmid understands his frustration. … Portland is just trying to make the playoffs .

•••

• A pretty packed Monday morning. It’s going to be a packed week, for me at least. We’ll be here every morning – remember to tip your waiters – and on the radio Wednesday and Thursday. Then Saturday we’re down in Pullman for the Cougar game and the postgame call-in show. Ah, the 21st Century retired life. Until later …