Seahawks: Warren Moon, Nesby Glasgow: A word please

Seahawks’ own Warren Moon: A form letter to you Seahawks’ own Mr. Warren Moon, I am writing you to offer my appreciation for the work you’ve done with the Seattle Seahawks. Recently, I watched a video essay that credits Russell Wilson with pairing his smarts with your wisdom. I applaud the benefits of mentor-mentee relationships. The rewards are often immeasurable. As I review film of the Minnesota Vikings’ win over an early season favorite San Francisco 49ers, I ask myself, “To whom did Christian Ponder turn? How did he become a more accurate passer in his second season? I understand Ponder’s accuracy has dropped off since early in the season, but he still maintains a 65.3% completion percentage (equal with Tom Brady.) I only borrow Brady’s number to create a little more interest in Ponder’s growth as a young passer. He still resides 15 points south of Brady’s QB passer rating. I can imagine Russell Wilson’s growth trajectory is very promising. At mid-season he’s throwing with a respectable 61.4% completion rate. How much have you contributed to his preparation and decision making? Perhaps it’s better if I ask Mr. Wilson that question. Of course I reference Christian Ponder. It’s perfect timing. He’s only a year ahead of Russell Wilson. Has had slightly more success this season after improving over last season and we play the Vikings this week. While the two quarterbacks are different, I have to say my optimism causes me to see many successes for both of them to come. They very well could be the next QB-vs-QB marquee match up, every bit as exciting as Luck-vs-RGIII. Good people do good things. Thank you both!   Seahawks’ own Nesby Glasgow: A letter to you too Seahawks’ own Mr. Nesby Glasgow, Ten years ago I entered the NWFL after meeting a former Seahawks player. If I gained nothing else, I learned what it’s like to be accepted into a great group of players and coaches and what it takes to step up and perform to the level of play I came to respect in my formative years. Those formative years weren’t in Seattle, they were in New York. My introduction to the semi-pro level of the game was unique. I wasn’t familiar with you, the former University of Washington/Indianapolis Colts/Seattle Seahawks player. It wasn’t until I searched your name afterwards that I figured I could learn from this opportunity. Thanks for bringing me into the game. I didn’t even recognize the team’s owner’s name, another former Seahawks player who made his living as a defensive tackle around the league. Though the man won a Super Bowl during the same year I joined his team, it didn’t ring a bell when you mentioned it to me. Every opportunity starts with two choices, “do” or “don’t do.” When you implored me to visit that semi-pro team’s website and to email you for more info, I chose “see about doing.” My question to you started with, “Do you know where I can find some football around here?” While your initial responses seemed to give less readily available options, I relented and you connected me with a “let’s see if you can do.” I did. Never missed a practice, took 40 hours worth of vacation time from work, 3 hours for each practice day, just to take advantage of a good opportunity. I paid $30 for a cab to a game independently, for the sake of knowing what it feels like to own that sort of a challenge, while remembering how team pulls together to accomplish goal like that without spending $30 because that’s what teams “are made of.”  The people I met, trained with and executed with are a part of an everlasting memory. Thank you, Nesby! Thank you, Sam! Nesby, you really guarded the information about the team through your response that I “need to get some film, ” as well as alternate options like checking out “the BC Lions” in Canada! I don’t know what it was about the Puget Sound Jets that impressed you, but I have a great deal respect for them AND you for fostering such a sense of competitiveness, that you’d poach me, a veritable unknown, unproven commodity. The birth, or correctly worded, first “open house” for the new Seahawks Stadium, stands as an honest and earnest induction into Seahawks and Seattle area football (Huskies included).  My making the team in that fashion felt like -scoring- ought to feel, like an accomplishment upon which to build. And build I did. If a word was an inch, and 36 words, a yard, I’d have written 750 yards in 8 weeks of reporting, for better or worse, in supporting football in this Greater Seattle area.. I’d have scored 23 times, plus this point-after-TD. I met someone this evening in Bellevue who contended Seattle was the least represented pro football town in the nation, this from a man from Brooklyn who loves the Cowboys and then moved to Buffalo to learn what it means to be a loyal fan while still following America’s team (Dallas.) His loyalty began as a product of the times. He gave me pause to think, what will football be like in 20 years. How will the next broadcast booth generation call games? This game is becoming more grand. Admitted (geeks and women) now claim to participate in, and sometimes dominate some form of fantasy football. What effect does that have on the state of football? It’s great to hear Russell Wilson mention the Rookie Symposium and Hall of Fame. It’s just these such things, along with waking early in the morning to throw his father speed-routes and dig-routes, etc… Russell Wilson is quite the story in this part of the country and Seattle and the Pacific Northwest IS a part of this great (football) country.   Halftime speech: What opportunities may come? In life, opportunities are paramount. What we as individuals and teams do with them determines the type of successes we’ll have. I gained an invaluable experience playing on special teams during games and working out with receivers and safeties during practices. My education with the Eastside Hawks at Lake Washington High, during the same summer the new Seahawks Stadium opened, was one I hold in high regard. Were it not for that “strange but true football story,” I could be relating this blog on a totally different topic, perhaps not even in the realm of sports. I’m sure our quarterback is very well prepared to make the best of his individual and team opportunities. His introduction to the sea of new faces in this great football organization has begged him to figuratively “stand tall in the pocket” and deliver. Every quarterback must have a plan before each game starts. Ours has started his plan with a great mentor. Thank you for being available, Mr. Moon. My appreciation of Seahawks’ football has been “edged up” a notch, thanks in part to you. Nesby, thank you for providing me an opportunity whose anecdote is retold every football season. It’s still an honor to have met you, an honor to have proven my loyalty to football (my first request of you) and those within the sport who’ve given me good direction.   Sincerely, S-L-U-G-G-O-!-!-!-     Quick moving sticks. Minnesota Vikings’ 2011 receiving totals to Tight Ends – 64 receptions Seattle Seahawks’ 2012 half-season passing to TEs – 26 receptions (16 game projection: 52 receptions) Minnesota Vikings’ 2012 half-season passing to TEs – 34 receptions (16 game projection: 68 receptions) Midway through the first quarter against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Russell Wilson connected with TEs Zach Miller and Anthony McCoy on consecutive downs. Prior to those 2 downs, Wilson attempted a pass to Miller. The play was scratched due to a pair of defensive penalties. So I guess I’m saying I like using big strong targets in a high percentage core passing game. Minnesota only connected with 1 TE, Kyle Rudolph in their victory against the 49ers in Week 3, but he caught 5 passes for 36 yards and 2 TDs. Russell Wilson did a great job, connecting 4 passes total to both Miller and McCoy for 49 total yards and a TD (Miller.) In the first quarter, the Seahawks connected to TEs on consecutive plays for a quick 20 yards combined. I’d like to see this kind of play calling worked into more drives. Thank you for your play calling, Darrell Bevell. Minnesota’s greatest obstacle in the loss to Tampa Bay this week was turnovers and poor run defense. The Vikings will not likely give the ball away as easily when they visit CenturyLink Field this week. But the run defense might not be much improved.   When Minnesota faced Detroit in Week 4, they surrendered 8 passes to TEs Pettigrew and Scheffler. In fact Pettigrew led the Lions with 7 receptions while Calvin Johnson, who undoubtedly drew extra coverage only had 5 receptions and 13 less yards than Megatron. Incidentally, the Lions beat the Vikings 20 – 13.