12 Predictions for Super Bowl XLVIII

1. Doug Baldwin makes a clutch catch to convert on a third and long.
2. Percy Harvin returns a kick for a Touchdown.
3. Marshawn Lynch scores 2 TD’s.
4. Walter Thurmond intercepts a pass.
5. The 12th Man out numbers the Broncos fans at the Super Bowl.
6. Richard Sherman shuts down Demaryius Thomas.
7. The Seahawks D-line shuts down Moreno.
8. Golden Tate is the Seahawks leading reciever with 80 yards.
9. KJ Wright shuts down Julius Thomas.
10. Russell Wilson struggles in the first half, but finds some rhythm in the second half.
11. Golden Tate has a big punt return in the 4th quarter.
12. And finally… Seattle wins. 24 to 17.

Media Day

Well I won’t be at Media Day, but many more reporters from all over the world will be. There will be 17 Seahawks players that have there own podium to answer all sorts of questions. Marshawn Lynch won’t have a podium and is questionable to even show up. Do you think he needs to talk at Media Day? I don’t think so. The NFL can’t force him to do something he doesn’t want to do. Lynch is a team player and never has made his success in Seattle about himself. I encourage you to read Michael Silver’s article titled “Marshawn Lynch’s quiet power behind Seahawks’ Super run.” Here is the link: http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story/0ap2000000318651/article/marshawn-lynchs-quiet-power-behind-seahawks-super-run

Here is my prediction for the Seahawks that will have there own podium to speak on tomorrow:

Offense: Russell Wilson, Percy Harvin, Doug Baldwin, Golden Tate, Russell Okung, Max Unger, Michael Robinson, Zach Miller, Derrick Coleman

Defense: Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Bobby Wagner, Kam Chancellor, Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant

Soak all of this Super Bowl fun in. It’s great to see the Seattle Seahawks achieve so much this season! Maybe one day I will be one of the reporters at Media Day. Go Hawks!

Michael Robinson- An Inspiring Leader

Michael Robinson is a true leader for the Seattle Seahawks and plays with passion and energy every time he steps onto the football field. He has come a long way throughout his football career, and going to the Super Bowl is something that has made him teary eyed and for good reason. After the Seahawks beat the 49ers in the NFC Championship game, Robinson showed his excitement with tears streaming down his face. It is something truly inspiring to see Robinson accomplish so much.

Michael Robinson actually played quarterback at Penn State. He got drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 4th round of the 2006 NFL draft and they decided to switch Robinson to running back in his rookie year. He was successful in the position change rushing for 116 yards in his first season. Midway through the 2008 season the 49ers switched Robinson to full back and once again he took the change of position in stride.

Robinson was released by San Francisco at the end of the 2010 preseason. He was signed a couple days later, by his current team the Seattle Seahawks. Robinson has had a huge impact on the Seahawks. He has provided a young team with excellent leadership, and one way you see this leadership in action is his inspiring pre game talks. Fans can see the respect that Robinson has in the locker room and his humor by viewing his show on YouTube called the “Real Rob Report.”

Before the 2013 season, Robinson was released by the Seahawks during the final cuts. The reason being, Robinson’s liver and kidneys nearly failed and he had to spend numerous days in the hospital. He lost 30 pounds, dropping from 245 pounds all the way down to 212 pounds. Thankfully Robinson became fully healthy about a month and a half after being cut and the Seahawks were fortunate to be able to sign him again. Seattle Seahawks fans were very excited to have him back and he stepped in right away without missing a beat. He has been a dependable blocker and a big contributor to yet another successful season by Marshawn Lynch.

The Super Bowl is coming up and it’s a huge game for the Seattle Seahawks organization. The Hawks are a young team, but we can count on Michael Robinson to provide inspiring leadership that will lead the Seahawks to success. Robinson has come a long way, especially this season, and winning the Super Bowl would be a dream come true.

Go Hawks!!!

twitter: @dstobbe11

Marshawn Lynch Does An Interview With NFL Japan.

http://www.nfljapan.com/streaming/20140121-4147.html#ooid=M5NGRyajouL-8tgKc6uGUu0M3ro6nkd6

I encourage you to click the link above. Lynch does an amazing interview with NFL Japan. What is it about? Mostly about his love for skittles. And, the reporter has him trying different candy from Japan. Wish he would do more interviews like this. He is one funny dude. And he has been absolutly huge in the Seattle Seahawks playoff run. I can’t wait to see what he does against the Denver Broncos defense.

Go Hawks!!

12 Thoughts on Last Night’s Game

1. Doug Baldwin is clutch and above average.
2. Steven Hauschka is both smart and productive.
3. Kam Chancellor had yet another HUGE hit on Vernon Davis.
4. Cliff Avril = strip sack.
5. Michael Bennett has mastered the skill of being in the right place at the right time.
6. Lynch showed that he can out run defenders while stumbling.
7. L.O.B. Sherman, Thomas, Chancellor, Maxwell, Thurmond and Lane all played fantastic.
8. Ricardo Lockette is a beast on special teams.
9. Alvin Bailey provided an excellent block to break Lynch free for his TD.
10. How about Warren Moon’s shriek when Malcom Smith got his big time interception
11. Richard Sherman somehow always makes a play when a play needs to be made.
12. Coach Pete Carroll and John Schneider have put together one heck of a team.

Go Hawks!!!

A Closer Look Into Bobby Wagner’s Success

Bobby Wagner is a huge part of the Seahawks success on defense. He has been a consistent player for the Hawks and plays with energy and confidence. Watch out for him, as he leads the Seahawks defense one step closer to the final prize.

Wagner played his college ball at Utah State, which was his only offer coming out of high-school. He went on to be very successful at Utah State and was named the WAC defensive player of the year as a senior in 2011. The Seahawks made a great decision, when they drafted Wagner in the 2nd round in the 2012 NFL draft. At the NFL combine Wagner ran a 4.4 40 yard dash and had an impressive 39.5 vertical jump. He is very athletic and can run sideline to sideline, making plays on speedy running backs and athletic quarterbacks.

In his rookie season, Wagner led the Seahawks in tackles with 140. He was also only 2nd to Luke Kuechly, in voting for the NFL defensive rookie of the year. To step in and start every game as a rookie is remarkable, and to do the job at a high level every game exceeded anyone’s expectations.

This season Wagner led the Seahawks again with total tackles. Bobby Wagner also missed two games with a high ankle sprain, but made a fast recovery from the injury. In fact Wagner has started every game in his career, except for the two games missed from the high ankle sprain. Once Wagner came back from the injury, he didn’t miss a beat and has continued to be a dominate force on defense.

The game on Saturday against the Saints was one where Bobby Wagner played his very best. He had 9 total tackles, and made many crucial plays in stopping the Saints running and screen game. Last time the Seahawks played the 49ers, Wagner made a shoe string tackle, to stop a touchdown bound Colin Kapernick. These are the kind of plays that Seahawks fans have become used to seeing from Bobby Wagner.

Expect many more big time tackles from Wagner in the years to come. He will continue to improve and has already become a dominate linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. With the biggest game of his life, coming up on Sunday, Seahawks fans can be assured that Wagner will be ready to go. He hasn’t backed down from a challenge since being the starting middle linebacker as a rookie. To win a Super Bowl in only his second year would be a dream come true. But, Wagner knows he has to have a big game on Sunday, in order to achieve that dream. The 12th Man will be in full force, cheering Bobby Wagner and the rest of the Seahawks to victory against the 49ers. Go Hawks!!!

twitter: @dstobbe11

The Impact of the 12th Man

This weekend I was able to go to my first Seattle Seahawks playoff game. I got to the stadium nice and early and went as close as I could to the field where the Seahawks were warming up. I was able to cheer on the Seahawks players and shake backup center Lemuel Jeanpierre and famous rapper Macklemore’s hand. I was even fortunate enough to take a picture with Mr. and Mrs. Seahawk. It was a great day and it made me realize how much of an impact that we as Seahawks fans, better known as the 12th man, have on each game.

The 12th man has a huge impact in many ways. First off, the Seahawks players get a lot of encouragement before the game. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play football when you have people wanting your autograph, a high five or even a simple hand shake. The Seahawks players also have fans snapping pictures of them and yelling phrases such as, “Golden Tate, you da man!” It’s like the good feeling when you have friends and family waiting for your arrival at the airport. The Seattle Seahawks know that their fans will be at the stadium early, no matter what the weather is like. The 12th man has commitment and they love their team. Fans that come early to encourage the Seahawks give the players an extra boost and pump them up to play their best.

<NFL players have a ton of pressure that comes with the job. But, something I saw on Saturday was the fun that fans bring to the players. There was Golden Tate playing catch with the fans in the stands. And then you had Doug Baldwin pumping up the crowd. You even had KJ Wright grinning from ear to ear, letting his mind wander away from being slowed down from his injury, for the moment. You had the defensive line dancing to a song on the loud speaker and loving the crowd atmosphere. Cliff Avril was quoted in his press conference today talking about the joy of playing at Century Link Field. “This place is unreal. It’s a blast (to play here).” The 12th man is loved by the Seahawks players and a big reason is because we help them have fun. And, when you have fun at your job, you maximize your potential.

And then we have the obvious, Seahawks fans make the opposing offensive players lives more difficult with all the sound that is made. It’s harder for opposing teams to communicate and to think clearly. It’s easier to get flustered when the stadium is so loud. The 12th man wreck their vocal cords in order to make a difference in the game. My voice is still recovering from Saturday, but it was definitely worth it. The Seahawks defensive ends can also get a better jump off the line when the crowd noise is in full effect. It is nationally known that the 12th man are the loudest fans in the NFL. They have caused numerous earthquakes and have produced the most false starts in the NFL since 2005.

Hawks fans also help out the Seahawks organization by making Seattle an attractive place to play. Free agents know that the 12th man is very supportive of their team and that the Seattle Seahawks love playing in front of their fans. Just like Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, many more free agents will settle for less money in order to play in Seattle. >

The 12th man is a big part of the Seattle Seahawks success. The Seahawks have lost only one game at home in the past two years. The fans bring lots of noise and encouragement every home game. This coming Sunday will be even louder in Century Link Field, as Seahawks fans know what the stakes are. If they win, the Seahawks are headed to New York for the Super Bowl. So drink your beer, coffee and water and continue to make an impact in the Seahawks season. Go Hawks!!!

twitter: @dstobbe11

The Seattle Seahawks Wide Receivers

The Seattle Seahawks have one of the best wide receiver groups in the NFL. They all play with a chip on their shoulder and make clutch catches. They are sometimes overlooked by other NFL writers, but Seahawks fans know that we have a receiving crew that will give us a chance to win every single game.

Let’s start with Golden Tate. The Seattle Seahawks drafted Tate in the year of 2010 in the second round. Golden Tate played his college ball at Notre Dame and made a lot of plays during his college career. Tate is a playmaker at both the receiver position and when returning punts. When he has the ball in his hands, Seahawks fans know something exciting is going to happen. He ended the season with his best game as a pro with 8 catches for 129 yards and 1 touchdown. As we enter the playoffs Golden Tate will be a difference maker and will make a lot of plays that will give the Hawks momentum throughout the game.

Next up we got ‘Angry Doug’ Baldwin. Baldwin was signed by the Seahawks after going undrafted in 2011. Baldwin played his college ball at Stanford and was teammates with Richard Sherman and Andrew Luck. And, he was coached by current San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh. In his rookie season Baldwin played fantastic, he had 51 receptions for 788 yards and 4 touchdowns. Not bad for an undrafted rookie. The next season his yards dipped a bit, but this season he has played very well. Doug Baldwin plays like he’s angry and has a huge chip on his shoulder. He plays like he has something to prove and Seahawks fans love his attitude.

Jermaine Kearse has been a pleasant surprise this year. Kearse is a local boy and played at the University of Washington. He was singed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks. In only his second season, Kearse has stepped up and played like someone who has someone to prove, just like Baldwin. This season he has caught 22 passes for 346 yards and 4 touchdowns. Kearse has become one of Wilson’s favorite deep threats. He has also had a huge impact on special teams. Jermaine Kearse is a classy individual and Seattle loves to cheer for him. He consistently makes big catches and will be a great player for the Seattle Seahawks for many years.

Ricardo Lockette has also been a solid contributor to the Seahawks offense and special teams. He is famous for his HUGE hit in the St. Louis game, where he used his ‘hit stick’ on the punt returner. He played college football at a small university, Fort Valley State. Lockette was signed by the Seahawks in 2011 and, after bouncing around a few organizations, he arrived back to the Seattle Seahawks this year and hasn’t looked back since. Having a good receiver at the bottom of the depth chart is huge for a football team that plans on winning the Super Bowl. Lockette brings great depth to the Seahawks receiver group.

And, finally, we have the one and only Percy Harvin. After only playing against the Vikings this season, and making one spectacular catch and an amazing return, he was shut down for the rest of the regular season. But, now after almost being placed on the IR, Harvin is going to play and will be a difference maker. Harvin has lightning speed and will make life more difficult for the Saints. Having his impact will also open up space for Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin. Watch out for Percy Harvin in the game tomorrow. If Harvin returns a kickoff for a touchdown, Seahawks fans will go nuts and cause an earthquake once again.

All of these receivers play with a chip on their shoulder and play like they have something to prove. They also have an amazing quarterback in Russell Wilson, who throws accurate passes for the recivers to catch. Seahawks fans should be excited for the kind of passion and energy that this receiving group brings. Hopefully they will all have a big day on Saturday and will help the Seahawks beat the Saints.

Go Hawks!!!

twitter: @dstobbe11

A bunch of questions that I have for Saturdays game.

1. How will Percy Harvin play and how much will he play? Also, will he be returning kicks?

2. Will Marshawn Lynch have another ‘Beast Quake’ type run?

3. Who is going to defend Jimmy Graham? Will they miss KJ Wright during the game when covering Graham?

4. Will Golden Tate have another big day? And will the presence of Harvin help the other wide receivers get open?

5. Will the free agent acquisitions in the offseason, Michael Bennet, Cliff Avril and Tony McDaniel make a difference in the game?

Go Hawks!!!

twitter: @dstobbe11

The Big Guys Up Front

Brandon Mebane and Red Bryant are two of the most intimidating athletes in the NFL, and they lead the Seattle Seahawks defensive charge every game. They are the longest-tenured Seahawks on this year’s team and have brought their full effort since day one. Mebane possesses the NFL’s best belly roll sack dance and plugs up running holes. Red Bryant is the defensive captain and fires up his teammates with his inspiring speeches before every game. Both of these players were a big part in holding the Rams to only 13 total rushing yards last week

Mebane was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2007 NFL draft and the Seahawks have gotten more than they bargained for. A true testament to the hard work that Mebane has put in throughout the years is the fact that Coach Pete Carroll kept him when he was hired as the Seahawks coach. Carroll basically cleaned house, but obviously saw something that he like in Mebane. In fact, Mebane is the only player still on the Seahawks from the 2007 draft class. Brandon Mebane has been a solid run stopper as well as providing an interior rush that isn’t to be messed with. All he has done is consistently produce for a Seattle Seahawks defense that has struggled at times, but now, after many years, the Seahawks are the NFL’s #1 defensive team and a big part to do with that is the outstanding play of Brandon Mebane.

Lining up next to Mebane is the heart and soul of the defensive line, Red Bryant. Bryant played his college ball at Texas A&M and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 4th round of the 2008 NFL draft. Bryant plugs up running lanes, but also puts pressure on the quarterback. No quarterback wants to see all 323 pounds of Red Bryant coming after him. But, quarterbacks saw more of Bryant after Pete Carroll and his staff decided in 2010 to move Bryant from defensive tackle to defensive end. Not many teams are able to have such a versatile player who is that big and athletic. Bryant took the transition in stride and plays the position exceptionally well. The passion and emotion that Bryant plays with is a key factor in keeping the Seahawks defense playing at a high-level.

Both Brandon Mebane and Red Bryant will have a huge impact in the playoffs. They are a great duo on the line and will continue to give Seahawks fans something to cheer about. They are also two of the most respected players on the Seahawks team, having been with the organization for so long. In fact, John Schneider has already awarded both Brandon Mebane and Red Bryant with significant contract extensions. The 12th man can look forward to watching these big men dominate on the Seahawks defensive line for years to come. Here’s to hoping we get another Brandon Mebane belly roll during the playoffs.