Seahawks Wednesday in Hawkville

[News Bot]

A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Nov. 30:
FOCUS ON
Tarvaris Jackson. In a condensed week when everyone was wondering if the Seahawks’ quarterback would be able to do anything, he did everything.
“Tarvaris had his best day he’s had,” coach Pete Carroll said after today’s light, 55-minute session that was more than a walk-through but less than a practice. “He’s turned a corner for us, it looks like, and that’s a great report for me to be able to give you because this was the first week that he participated in all of the action that we had.
“So that’s a good sign.”
Since returning from the strained pectoral in his throwing shoulder he got in the Week 5 upset of the Giants, Jackson has usually thrown only on Thursday in practice and then the game on Sunday.
But this week, as the team prepared for Thursday night’s game against the Eagles at CenturyLink Field, Jackson threw in Monday’s walk-through; the walk-through Tuesday morning and then again in the afternoon practice; and today.
And Jackson seemed to throw better each day.
“I think his confidence that he can get through it is there,” Carroll said. “And he’s throwing the day before the game, and he hasn’t thrown less than two days before the game in past weeks. So this is a big improvement for him.”
The Seahawks need Jackson to be at his best – or as close to it as possible – against an Eagles team that is averaging 420.1 yards. So his ability to throw every day in this short week had everyone feeling a little better.
“It’s been a positive for him. He just feels better,” Carroll said. “He’s stronger than he’s been. Even in the short week’s time. We’re even more surprised by that. So it’s a good deal for us and for him, and we’re getting ready to crank it up and go.”
OPPONENT WATCH
Vince Young. With Michael Vick being ruled out for a third consecutive game because of broken ribs, Young will start at quarterback for the Eagles against the Seahawks.
And Carroll needs no introduction there – not after what the former Texas QB did against Carroll’s USC team in the 2006 Rose Bowl, when Young scored his third rushing touchdown with 19 seconds to play and then also ran for the two-point PAT to give the Longhorns a 41-38 victory and the National Championship.
“I’ll always remember Vince Young and his play with great respect,” Carroll said. “We had gone on a three-year run; 19 seconds from a third national championship and he made the plays that night to make that not happen. I have great respect for him.”
Flash forward to Sunday, when Young passed for 400 yards in the Eagles’ loss to the Patriots.
“He’s very comfortable standing in the pocket,” Carroll of the NFL-version Young. “He’s not a running quarterback any longer, although he’s running the ball seven or eight times a game still very effectively. He’s just growing up, just as guys do when they come into the league.”
IN ’N OUT
The big news, of course, was wide receiver Sidney Rice being placed on injured reserve today after getting his second concussion in three weeks during Sunday’s game against the Redskins. For more on that situation, click here.
Rookie linebacker Mike Morgan was signed off the practice squad to fill Rice’s spot on the 53-man roster.
Middle linebacker David Hawthorne and left cornerback Richard Sherman participated fully in today’s light workout, after being limited yesterday, and Carroll said both should play against the Eagles.
Here’s the official status report:
Out
CB Byron Maxwell (illness)
Questionable
MLB David Hawthorne (knee)
CB Richard Sherman (calf)
Probable
QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral)
DT Alan Branch (ankle)
For the Eagles:
Out
OT King Dunlap (concussion)
LB Moise Fokou (ankle)
WR Jeremy Maclin (hamstring/shoulder)
QB Michael Vick (ribs)
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle)
Questionable
RB LeSean McCoy (toe)
CN Nnamdi Asomugha (knee)
Probable
DT Cullen Jenkins (thumb)
The word out of Philly is that McCoy is expected to play, despite being limited in practice all week. Asomugha’s status will be a game-day decision. He played last week, on a limited basis, after hyperextending his knee Thanksgiving Day.
STAT DU JOUR
This isn’t the first time the Seahawks have played on Thursday night, following a short week. It has happened five other times in franchise history and the Seahawks are 1-4 in those games:
Date Outcome, opponent
Nov. 27, 1980 L, 51-7; at Dallas Cowboys
Nov. 27, 1986 W, 31-14; at Dallas Cowboys
Oct. 17, 1996 L, 34-16; at Kansas City Chiefs
Dec. 14, 2006 L, 24-14; vs. San Francisco 49ers
Nov. 27, 2008 L, 34-9; at Dallas Cowboys
UP NEXT
The players will have their typical day-before-the-game walk-through on Thursday morning and head to CenturyLink Field in the afternoon for the game.
The flipside of this short week will be a bye week-like situation before the Seahawks play the Rams on Dec. 12 in a “Monday Night Football” game, and Carroll plans to utilize the extra time to rest his players.
“The real positive of it is the weekend. These guys are going to get a big break,” he said. “It’s like a bye opportunity for them and we’re going to take full advantage of that to get strong for the finish of the season.”
YOU DON’T SAY
“Well, it’s great to be here on ‘Saturday.’ ” – Carroll after today’s session

Source: Seahawks.com