Grip on Sports: The second half featured the Seahawk team fans used to know, with a couple twists
A GRIP ON SPORTS • For seven halves, the Seahawks hardly looked like the Seahawks of recent years. Then they played like the Hawks that won that Super Bowl a few years back. Read on.
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• The Indianapolis Colts certainly aren’t Super Bowl worthy, which tarnishes the comparison a little bit, that’s for sure. But they were the opponent in front of the Hawks on Sunday night, which is all that mattered.
And, for a half at least, they made Seattle sweat.
The second half, however, was a display of football that has been unparalleled in these parts this season. That’s the Seahawks fans have been waiting to see.
The defense keyed it, keeping the sputtering offense in the game early on and scoring a touchdown.
Then the offense started to burn, with Russell Wilson supplying the spark, the defense fanning the flames and J.D. McKissic playing the role of accelerant.
The rookie running back seemed to be playing on 45 rpms while everyone else was stuck on 33 1/3. It was sweet music. Or old-time rock and roll if you prefer.
The win was sorely needed, especially considering an NFC West showdown with resurgent Los Angeles (the Rams, not the Chargers) looming next week. And the second-half domination supplied some momentum.
The nail in the tire, if you will, might be the injuries. Cliff Avril went out early and never returned. Chris Carson looked to have a bad ankle injury. Left tackle Rees Odhiambo spent the night at the hospital after having trouble breathing. All are guys who would be missed against the Rams if they can’t play.
But, in the second half last night at least, nothing was missed.
• The NFL has to make a change in its replay system, and it needs to do it soon.
The way it stands, each coach goes into a game with two challenges. Get those two right and the league allows you a third. How magnanimous. Miss either of the first two and two is all you get.
So if the officials make two errors, as they did in the first half, with both calls going against the Colts, all a coach gets is one more chance. Really?
Heck, Pete Carroll challenged a first-half spot call, was denied and was left with just one more. So when the officials screwed up on Wilson’s second-half touchdown run, calling him down when he clearly dove into the endzone, Carroll had to use his last challenge. He didn’t want to but had to right an obvious wrong.
Funny thing. If the official right on the spot had ruled it a touchdown, neither Carroll nor Chuck Pagano would have had to use their last challenge. The league mandates all scoring plays be reviewed, so a call of a touchdown would have triggered an automatic review.
Two changes should be made. The first is simple. If a coach challenges a call, no matter how often, and is proved right, he should get to keep the challenge. Miss two and you’re out.
The other is a bit subtler. The replay person should be allowed to stop play if there is a score involved. An official rules a player down at the 1 and the guy in New York sees the player actually scored, boom, he hits a button and lets the officials on the field know. The play, in reality, is a scoring play so replay should be involved.
Come to think of it, the second change is simple too.
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WSU: Sundays are about the polls in college football, from how the voters listed the teams to who is ranked where. Theo Lawson lets us know the Cougars jumped all the way to a Spinal Tap-worthy 11 after their 30-27 Friday night win over USC. … He also looks at the schedule, which opened with five consecutive home games. Five of the final seven are on the road. … As Theo relates, Saturday’s game in Eugene starts at 5 p.m. The Ducks will be missing some key folks. … Stefanie Loh and the Times pass on some information about the game in Oregon and some recruiting news. … The Ducks big win last weekend came at a fearful cost, as starting quarterback Justin Herbert (pictured) is out with a broken collarbone.
Elsewhere in the Pac-12, the top two teams in this power ranking are from the conference’s northernmost state. … The Huskies will host a California team that has lost two consecutive games and seems to no longer be a surprise to opponents. Justin Wilcox continues his reunion tour of the North. … Oregon State’s bad luck continues. After an awful second half against the Huskies, OSU now travels to USC to face a Trojan team pretty ticked off after its first loss. … Utah is undefeated but gets its toughest test of the season when Stanford and Bryce Love visit. … Arizona, coming off a bye, will travel to Colorado. … UCLA has a much-needed bye this weekend as does Arizona State. … There is basketball news out of Boulder.
EWU: The season began slowly enough for the Eagles but Jim Allen lets us know they have flown high offensively the past three weeks. … Around the Big Sky, Weber State’s offense was consistent against Montana State.
Chiefs: Prince George went into Portland and came away with a win.
Mariners: The 2017 M’s season is over and it ended the same way the 15 before did, with Seattle outside looking in at the postseason. Don’t worry folks, next year will be the year. At least that’s what you should bank on until spring training begins in March. … The final game was another loss.
Seahawks: John Blanchette was in Seattle last night and has this column from the game, focusing on the Hawks’ three unsung heroes. … The number three is popular as we put together three takes on the game, the third of which concerns tight end Jimmy Graham. … There is in-depth coverage from those in the Seattle media, including stories on Kenny Easley’s 45 being retired and stories on the defense igniting the scoring.
Sounders: Unless you got up early you may not have known the Sounders lost 2-0 in Philadelphia yesterday.
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• Football season is a grind for the players. And for fans. The relentlessness of each week can beat you down a bit. Monday mornings are tough this time of year. But the respite of the workweek is upon us. By Thursday or so, we will be ready for another weekend of football. Until later …