Pro Bowl

[Ex-hippie]

Soon it will be time to announce Pro Bowl rosters... let's talk about the chances of some Hawks players.

Hasselbeck -- 3 QB's are going to come from the NFC. Favre and Romo are absolute locks but you have to consider Hass the frontrunner for the third spot. Jeff Garcia is getting a lot of good buzz and actually has a higher QB rating than Hasselbeck, but hasn't played every game. I think Hasselbeck gets in.

W. Jones -- in on reputation, if nothing else.

I think that's about it for the offense.

Lofa -- he's becoming a perennial selection, and if he wasn't already in, his fabulous performance vs. Philly made him a lock. Agreed? His 4 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles are good numbers, but on the downside, he has only one sack all year and is a rather pedestrian 20th in the league in tackles (17th in unassisted tackles). It will be interesting... there's some stiff competition in Urlacher and likely DROY Patrick Willis, but Lofa has to get in there somehow. Unlike those other two, at least Lofa is winning some games.

Peterson -- should be in. I haven't seen all the games, but the ones I've seen, he's dominated. 9 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions are standard for him. DeMarcus Ware is in at one OLB position, and I think Peterson gets the other starting nod (his competition might be Ware's teammate Greg Ellis, a converted end, and Ernie Sims).

Kerney -- he's arguably been the most dominant defensive player at any position in the entire NFL over the last five weeks, although he was quiet in the first half of the season. He'll have some tough competition in the NFC with Umenyiora and Kampman, two superb defensive ends. But Kerney has the most total sacks of the bunch.

Trufant -- well, I wouldn't have thought so until this past week, but leading the NFC in interceptions should help his cause. He has 7 of them, and only one other NFC corner, Anthony Henry, has as many as 5. (Two NFC safeties have 5: the late Sean Taylor and our old friend Ken Hamlin.)

Other Seahawks to make the Pro Bowl recently aren't around anymore (Strong, Tobeck) or simply aren't good enough this year (Josh Brown).

Any new candidates I'm not thinking of?

[Bulltalk]

Soon it will be time to announce Pro Bowl rosters... let's talk about the chances of some Hawks players.

Hasselbeck -- 3 QB's are going to come from the NFC. Favre and Romo are absolute locks but you have to consider Hass the frontrunner for the third spot. Jeff Garcia is getting a lot of good buzz and actually has a higher QB rating than Hasselbeck, but hasn't played every game. I think Hasselbeck gets in.

W. Jones -- in on reputation, if nothing else.

I think that's about it for the offense.

Lofa -- he's becoming a perennial selection, and if he wasn't already in, his fabulous performance vs. Philly made him a lock. Agreed? His 4 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles are good numbers, but on the downside, he has only one sack all year and is a rather pedestrian 20th in the league in tackles (17th in unassisted tackles). It will be interesting... there's some stiff competition in Urlacher and likely DROY Patrick Willis, but Lofa has to get in there somehow. Unlike those other two, at least Lofa is winning some games.

Peterson -- should be in. I haven't seen all the games, but the ones I've seen, he's dominated. 9 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions are standard for him. DeMarcus Ware is in at one OLB position, and I think Peterson gets the other starting nod (his competition might be Ware's teammate Greg Ellis, a converted end, and Ernie Sims).

Kerney -- he's arguably been the most dominant defensive player at any position in the entire NFL over the last five weeks, although he was quiet in the first half of the season. He'll have some tough competition in the NFC with Umenyiora and Kampman, two superb defensive ends. But Kerney has the most total sacks of the bunch.

Trufant -- well, I wouldn't have thought so until this past week, but leading the NFC in interceptions should help his cause. He has 7 of them, and only one other NFC corner, Anthony Henry, has as many as 5. (Two NFC safeties have 5: the late Sean Taylor and our old friend Ken Hamlin.)

Other Seahawks to make the Pro Bowl recently aren't around anymore (Strong, Tobeck) or simply aren't good enough this year (Josh Brown).

Any new candidates I'm not thinking of?

I think you got just about all of them. I might add a few.

Locks

Hasselbeck
Lofa
Kerney

Maybe

Jones
Peterson
Trufant
Grant

Longshot

Engram

[Ex-hippie]

Longshot

Engram

Interesting thought there. Lots of tough competition, though: TO is having a vintage TO year; Fitzgerald is on his way to like 1400 yards; same for Torry Holt (quietly this time); Plaxico Burress and Greg Jennings have been TD machines; Galloway is having a real nice year; Colston has come on strong; Roddy White is having a breakout year. I know, you said "longshot," so I guess that's true.

But, for the record, Engram is on a pace to have comparable numbers to what D-Jax had in the best of his seven seasons with the team, and with far fewer drops along the way. That's impressive.

I just looked it up... Engram now has 580 career receptions. By the end of the year he could be in the top 50 of all-time (Harold Carmichael is #50 with 590). A couple more years and he can creep into the top 30. If Basketball Jesus is lurking this forum, now would be a good time to rehash our Jimmy Smith debate.

[Bulltalk]

-= original quote snipped =-



Interesting thought there. Lots of tough competition, though: TO is having a vintage TO year; Fitzgerald is on his way to like 1400 yards; same for Torry Holt (quietly this time); Plaxico Burress and Greg Jennings have been TD machines; Galloway is having a real nice year; Colston has come on strong; Roddy White is having a breakout year. I know, you said "longshot," so I guess that's true.

But, for the record, Engram is on a pace to have comparable numbers to what D-Jax had in the best of his seven seasons with the team, and with far fewer drops along the way. That's impressive.

I just looked it up... Engram now has 580 career receptions. By the end of the year he could be in the top 50 of all-time (Harold Carmichael is #50 with 590). A couple more years and he can creep into the top 30. If Basketball Jesus is lurking this forum, now would be a good time to rehash our Jimmy Smith debate.

Yeah, he probably won't get it. I was thinking he might be a longshot because don't the players vote you in? I can't remember; I'm not a big Pro Bowl guy. I was thinking kind of a Mack Strong thing, being voted on the team for being the unsung nasty beyatch he's been all these years.

For crying out loud, the guy's like a 100 years old and he's having a KILLER year. He might be the 2nd most important guy on our offense this year.

[Troy McClure]

Soon it will be time to announce Pro Bowl rosters... let's talk about the chances of some Hawks players.

Hasselbeck -- 3 QB's are going to come from the NFC. Favre and Romo are absolute locks but you have to consider Hass the frontrunner for the third spot. Jeff Garcia is getting a lot of good buzz and actually has a higher QB rating than Hasselbeck, but hasn't played every game. I think Hasselbeck gets in.

W. Jones -- in on reputation, if nothing else.

I think that's about it for the offense.

Lofa -- he's becoming a perennial selection, and if he wasn't already in, his fabulous performance vs. Philly made him a lock. Agreed? His 4 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles are good numbers, but on the downside, he has only one sack all year and is a rather pedestrian 20th in the league in tackles (17th in unassisted tackles). It will be interesting... there's some stiff competition in Urlacher and likely DROY Patrick Willis, but Lofa has to get in there somehow. Unlike those other two, at least Lofa is winning some games.

Peterson -- should be in. I haven't seen all the games, but the ones I've seen, he's dominated. 9 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions are standard for him. DeMarcus Ware is in at one OLB position, and I think Peterson gets the other starting nod (his competition might be Ware's teammate Greg Ellis, a converted end, and Ernie Sims).

Kerney -- he's arguably been the most dominant defensive player at any position in the entire NFL over the last five weeks, although he was quiet in the first half of the season. He'll have some tough competition in the NFC with Umenyiora and Kampman, two superb defensive ends. But Kerney has the most total sacks of the bunch.

Trufant -- well, I wouldn't have thought so until this past week, but leading the NFC in interceptions should help his cause. He has 7 of them, and only one other NFC corner, Anthony Henry, has as many as 5. (Two NFC safeties have 5: the late Sean Taylor and our old friend Ken Hamlin.)

Other Seahawks to make the Pro Bowl recently aren't around anymore (Strong, Tobeck) or simply aren't good enough this year (Josh Brown).

Any new candidates I'm not thinking of?

Pretty much, that is who I'd expect it to be. No one else really stands out to me to where I think they are top 2-3 at their position this year.

[Sweezo]

I have a problem with Jones making it in...but who challenges him given his reputation?

[Ex-hippie]

Check out Pete Prisco's choice for the NFC fullback position:

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10528179

Who'da thunk it?

[jsonic007]

Check out Pete Prisco's choice for the NFC fullback position:

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10528179

Who'da thunk it?

I voted him, exactly because he catches the ball extremelly well for a FB, now he only has to block like Strong.

[Troy McClure]

That first game Strong was out, he missed so many blocks I don't think I'll ever be able to look at him the same(altough he has gotten better). Is he really the best in the NFC? Is he all the NFC fullback position has to offer?

[Bulltalk]

HA! That's funny about Weaver. He never even crossed my mind as a Pro Bowl candidate. I think it's because with the NFL being more pass orientated these days, the fullback position has become increasingly marginalized; three receiver sets are so common.

It almost leads me to think they should add another batch of receivers to the Pro Bowl, instead of forcing one out of the FB position when there really isn't a FB worthy of such consideration. Hell, I think Engram is much more deserving of the Pro Bowl than Weaver (whom I like, by the way).

[jsonic007]

I heard he's got quite a bit of potential. At 25, he's got plenty of time ahead. And plenty of stiff arms.

[jsonic007]

Walter Jones, Patrick Kerney, Julian Peterson, Lofa Tatupu and Marcus Trufant will start! And Matt Hasselbeck will go as a Brett Favre reserve.

[Sweezo]

Looks like hippie nailed every pick. Nice work.

[Ex-hippie]

No Weaver though. Tony Richardson is the fullback. In honor of Mack Strong, they gave the spot to another octogenarian.

[Ex-hippie]

I can't believe Jacksonville didn't have a single Pro Bowler. Seriously, they're one of the top five teams in football, but there are more dead guys than Jaguars on the Pro Bowl roster. Something ain't right.

[Bulltalk]

Yeah, nice call on the picks, hippie. I was glad to see that 75% of my "maybes" made it, Peterson, Trufant, and Jones. They all certainly seemed deserving playing for a defense that has been mizerly in terms of points allowed.

I certainly don't have enough to go on about this, but did Ken Hamlin really have the year that his Pro Bowl choice suggests? He was caught out of place several times last year on pass defense for the Hawks, and we got beat deep as a result. Boulware also bore some responsibility for this.

I think Deon Grant has had a real solid year for us, and is a big reason for our defense's improvement. Perhaps not a marquee year, but certainly efficient.