Kickoff ‘96: Seattle Seahawks
GAME DAY
Stadium
Kingdome (capacity 66,400). From I-5 southbound, Take Fourth Avenue South Exit, take right at stop light and another right onto Royal Brougham Way. Rigth on First Avenue South and right under Alaskan Way viaduct to parking lot. I-5 northbound: Take Exit 163. Turn right at First Avenue South to Royal Brougham Way. Same as above. I-90 westbound: Follow Kingdome signs to Fourth Avenue South Exit.
Tickets
Single-game 1-206-628-0888 (Ticketmaster); multiple-game/season tickets 1-888-NFL-HAWK. Single-game range from $19-46; season tickets range from $152-$304.
Television
All games are on KHQ, except Green Bay and Minnesota are on FOX, Kansas City on Oct. 17 is on TNT and Jacksonville is on ESPN. Seahawks Close-up coaches show airs Fridays at 10;30 p.m. on PSN.
Radio
KXLY (AM 920); KTRW (AM 970).
SCHEDULE
Times Pacific, subject to TV schedules. Home games in bold.
Date Opponent Time Comment Sept. 1 at San Diego 1 p.m. 2 years removed from Super Bowl and fading Sept. 8 Denver 1 p.m. Rookie Mobley improves defense Sept. 15 Kansas City 1 p.m. Can Bono, Allen duplicate ‘95? Sept. 22 at Tampa Bay 10 a.m. New coach, but no Rhett yet Sept. 29 Green Bay 1 p.m. Eugene Robinson comes home Oct. 6 at Miami 10 a.m. Jimmy, Marino… what else? Oct. 17 at Kansas City 5 p.m. Defense tough on Hawks Oct. 27 San Diego 1 p.m. Seau’s is pronounced “Say Ow.” Nov. 3 Houston 1 p.m. McNair may start this game Nov. 10 Minnesota 1 p.m. Moon rises over Seattle Nov. 17 at Detroit 10 a.m. Fontes may be out of work Nov. 24 Oakland 1 p.m. Lost last six of ‘95 Dec. 1 at Denver 1 p.m. Elway seeks revenge Dec. 8 Buffalo 1 p.m. Last chance to be Super Dec. 15 at Jacksonville 5 p.m. Brunell exercises Hawk’s D Dec. 22 at Oakland 1 p.m. Will Hoss last for this one?
DEPTH CHARTS
Starters and backups, with numbers, sizes and year in NFL
(The columns of this table are as follows: Position, Number, Starter, Size Year in NFL, Backup.: Offense
Wide receiver 84 Joey Galloway 5-11, 188, 2 88 Ricky Proehl 6-0, 189, 7 Weak tackle 74 James Atkins 6-6, 303, 3 69 Grant Williams 6-7, 323, 1 Weak guard 62 Pete Kendall 6-5, 292, 1 77 Matt Joyce 6-7, 316, 2 Center 52 Kevin Mawae 6-4, 296, 3 79 Ed Cunningham 6-3, 285, 5 Strong guard 73 Derrick Graham 6-4, 315, 7 63 Frank Beede 6-4, 292, 1 Strong tackle 75 Howard Ballard 6-6, 325, 9 64 Robert Barr 6-4, 307, 1 Tight end 85 Christian Fauria 6-4, 245, 2 83 Carlester Crumpler 6-6, 260, 3 Quarterback 3 Rick Mirer 6-2, 214, 4 17 John Friesz 6-4, 211, 7 Tailback 42 Chris Warren 6-2, 225, 7 31 Steve Broussard 5-7, 201, 7 Fullback 38 Mack Strong 6-0, 224, 3 34 Reggie Brown 6-0, 233, 1 Flanker 89 Brian Blades 5-11, 188, 9 9 Mike Pritchard 5-10, 190, 5
Defense
Left end 70 Michael Sinclair 6-4, 267, 6 67 Matt LaBounty 6-4, 275, 4 Left tackle 98 Sam Adams 6-3, 297, 3 97 Glenn Montgomery 6-0, 282, 8 Right tackle 96 Cortez Kennedy 6-3, 293, 7 92 Henry McMillian 6-3, 275, 2 Right end 94 Antonio Edwards 6-3, 271, 4 99 Michael McCrary 6-4, 267, 4 Weak linebacker 95 Dean Wells 6-3, 244, 4 54 Michael Barber 6-1, 252, 2 Middle linebacker 55 Winston Moss 6-3, 245, 10 56 James Logan 6-2, 214, 2 Strong linebacker 90 Terry Wooden 6-3, 239, 7 57 Jason Kyle 6-3, 242, 2 Left cornerback 26 Carlton Gray 6-0, 200, 4 23 Dexter Seigler 5-9, 178, 1 Strong safety 25 Robert Blackmon 6-0, 208, 7 20 Jay Bellamy 5-11, 198, 3 Free saftey 33 Daryl Williams 6-0, 191, 5 21 T.J. Cunningham 6-0, 191, 1 Right cornerback 30 Corey Harris 5-11, 199, 5 24 Selwyn Jones 6-0, 185, 5
Special Teams
Placekicker 2 Todd Peterson 5-10, 173, 2 14 Rick Tuten 6-2, 221, 8 Kickoffs 2 Todd Peterson 5-10, 173, 2 14 Rick Tuten 6-2, 221, 8 Punter 14 Rick Tuten 6-2, 221, 8 2 Todd Peterson 5-10, 173, 2 Holder 14 Rick Tuten 6-2, 221, 8 17 John Friesz 6-4, 211, 7 Kick snaps 52 Kevin Mawae 6-4, 296, 3 49 Tom Fletcher 6-3, 245, 1 Punt snapper 57 Jason Kyle or 53 52 Kevin Mawae 6-4, 296, 3 Punt return 84 Joey Galloway 5-11, 188, 2 81 Ronnie Harris 5-11, 175, 2 Kickoff return 31 Steve Broussard 5-7, 201, 7 36 Lamar Smith 5-11, 223, 3
TALE OF THE TAPE
Fastest lineman
Cortez Kennedy
Slowest lineman
Howard Ballard
Worst knees this side of Chris Bosio
Howard Ballard
Fastest receiver
Joey Galloway
Fastest back
Chris Warren, Steve Broussard
Strongest
Joey Galloway or Reggie Brown (pound for pound)
Toughest
Kevin Mawae, nicknamed “Snarly”
Best blocking back
Mack Strong
Best cover man
Selwyn Jones
Most impressive stat
Chris Warren four straight seasons over 1,000 yards rushing
Least impressive stat
39,000 season tickets sold
Academic all-star
Todd Peterson, graduated from Georgia with Finance degree and has been accepted into Georgia Law School.
Most unusual hobby
Corey Harris, stage name “Snake,” has released a CD, ‘N tha Midst of the Funk”
FAST FACTS
Coach
Dennis Erickson (2nd season in Seattle, 8-8 at Seattle; 121-48-1 overall in 14 years. Last season: 8-8, tied for third in AFC West.
Assistant coaches
Gregg Smith, Bob Bratkowski, Greg McMackin, Dave Arnold, Tommy Brasher, Dave Brown, Keith Gilbertson, Ned James, Howard Mudd, Mike Murphy, Rich Olson, Willy Robinson, Clarence Shelmon.
Head trainer
Jim Whitesel
WHAT’S IN, WHAT’S OUT
What’s in:
Dennis Erickson, in good company. He and Dallas’ Barry Switzer are the only two NFL head coaches not to have had NFL assistant coaching experience before being hired. Switzer has a Super Bowl ring.
Cortez Kennedy, in the Pro Bowl last five years.
Keith Gilbertson as an assistant coach, reuniting with Erickson for first time since Idaho days in mid 1980s.
1990 draft class, in four starting positions - Cortez Kennedy, Terry Wooden, Robert Blackmon and Chris Warren.
Running the football, in style. Over the last three years, Seattle is second in the NFL in rushing (6,269 yards) behind Dallas.
What’s out:
Patience with former first-round draft pick Sam Adams, Seattle signed Houston Glenn Montgomery as insurance. Said ESPN analyst Chris Mortenson of Adams: “He’s played down to his reputation.”
Vertical stretch of Tom Flores and Ground Chuck attack of Chuck Knox. Replaced by quick-strike Erickson offense.
Ken Behring, if Paul Allen pursues his exclusive option to buy. (Say a prayer).
Injured linebacker Tyronne Stowe, a dependable veteran linebacker, leaving Dean Wells to sink or swim.
Tom Catlin, long-time defensive coordinator retired, leaving opening for Keith Gilbertson.
QUESTION MARKS AND EXCLAMATION POINTS
Question Marks:
Stadium, ownership, team’s future address - to name a few.
With veterans such as Eugene Robinson and Joe Nash gone, who is the leader on defense? Best candidate: Winston Moss.
Is this the year QB Rick Mirer emerges?
Exclamation Points:
Offensive arsenal is exceptional with RB Chris Warren and WRs Joey Galloway and Brian Blades.
Finished ‘95 season on 6-2 run, fueling confidence for this year.
Lack of roster turnover (arrivals/departures) should lead to improved continuity.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 color photos