Weakness: The more physical Bears not only beat the Seahawks, they beat them up. The Hawks lost John Carlson, Marcus Trufant, Michael Robinson, Cameron Morrah, Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett at various points to injuries. (Carlson and Trufant, who both suffered scary head injuries, stayed overnight in a Chicago hospital but are expected to make full recoveries.) The injury to Carlson was especially damaging, as it precluded the Seahawks from using their 2 TE sets. When Morrah was briefly out with turf toe, the Hawks didn’t have a TE.
Weather: You saw it on the Seahawks’ first series, when Brandon Stokely slipped on the frozen Soldier Field turf going after a third-down pass from Matt Hasselbeck. We then saw a cavalcade of dropped passes — seven in the first half, by my count — as receivers struggled with raw hands in sub-freezing temps. And Jordan Babineaux dropped what looked like a gift pick six at the goal line, a 14-point swing. Barring a lockout, the first Sunday of the 2011 NFL season is on September 11.
Bye-Bye Balanced Scoring, Hello Win: After suffering an upset loss Thursday, UW upperclassmen Isaiah Thomas, Matthew Bryan-Amaning and Justin Holiday put the Dawgs on their backs. Thomas had 27 points and 13 assists in UW’s 92-71 win over Cal. Huskies 12-3 (4-1), T1st in Pac-10. Next game Thursday vs. Arizona.
What they’re saying…
“I know I played a s***game.” — Mike Williams, via Twitter
“He threw it right to me. I think its a different ball game if I make that play. You cant play like that on the road, not in this kind of environment, not at this level of playoff football.” – –Jordan Babineaux
“NOTHING embarrassing about this game or season. #seahawks building blocks are strong. Will be fun to see how next year goes!” — @206SportsFan
“If he can run a team like he has tonight, he could make it (to the NBA).” — Anonymous NBA scout on Isaiah Thomas
In other news…
Washington State starting PG Reggie Moore is suspended indefinitely. The Rainier Beach grad was arrested on marijuana possession charges in December.
Seahawks WR Ben Obomanu signed a three-year contract extension.
Husky RB Demetrius Bronson left the team.
Today’s action…
The King Holiday Hoopfest is today at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Tickets are $10. The feature game of the night, scheduled for 8 p.m. is Garfield, ranked #1 in 4A, against Rainier Beach, ranked #1 in 3A. Each team has a UW commit–Tony Wroten for Garfield and Hikeem Stewart for Beach. That game will be televised on Universal Sports and broadcast on KJR 950-AM.