Good morning, 12s. It's the day before the day before! Here's a look at what's out there today — Thursday, January 7 — about your Seattle Seahawks.
Seahawks, FanBeat Launch "Football Fortune" Game For Fans Ahead Of Playoffs
This week, the Seahawks partnered with live-action sports gaming company FanBeat to launch "Football Fortune," an interactive game for Seahawks fans that challenges them to predict the action in Saturday's wild card game against the Rams for a chance at winning cool prizes. Participants have to answer 12 questions that try to forecast things like the number of passing yards Russell Wilson will have in the game, or the length of the Seahawks' longest play in the first half.
Prizes available include autographed Seahawks jerseys, an autographed helmet, Safeway gift cards, and more — and if you answer all 12 questions correctly, you win $50,000 dollars. In addition, American Family Insurance is making a $12 donation to the Seahawks’ Digital Equity Initiative for every person that registers to play, up to $15,000.
The game is open now and closes at kickoff of Saturday's game against the Rams — January 9th at 1:40 p.m. PT. Click here to make your predictions now.
LB Cody Barton Talks Seahawks' Improved Defense, Solid Special Teams Play On 710 ESPN's "Wyman & Bob"
While the Seahawks' offense and defense have had their ups and downs this season, the special teams unit has been relatively solid throughout the year. Much of that can be attributed to punter Michael Dickson, who led the NFL with 32 punts inside the 20 this year, and kicker Jason Myers, who still hasn't missed a field goal attempt this season.
But the unit is also made up of some recent draft picks on defense who have turned out to be solid special teamers, like LB Ben Burr-Kirven, CB Ugo Amadi, and LB Cody Barton. Barton, a second-year player out of Utah, spoke with Bob Stelton of 710 ESPN's "Wyman & Bob" to discuss playing on special teams, the team's improved defense over the second half of the season, and facing the Rams for the third time this season. You can listen to the full interview here — below are a few highlights.
On playing special teams:
"I love it. I have a lot of fun with it. Like you said, me, BBK [Burr-Kirven], [Nick] Bellore, we're always competing to see who can get down there first. Not even just those guys, but Ryan Neal, Griff [Shaquem Griffin], we're all just flying around, seeing who can get there first and make all the plays. I have a lot of fun on special teams with those guys. It's almost like a game within a game when we're out there — seeing who's down there first, who's going to make the tackle. And then after the game watching the film together, celebrating the good stuff, correcting the bad stuff.
On how he feels about his individual season:
"Overall I'm happy with my individual season. I'd love to be on defense more, but that being said, I can only control what I can control with me. So overall, knowing my role on special teams, I'm going to try to be the best special teams player I can be and just have fun with it. I don't want to be a person who's sitting around frustrated, angry, this and that. Whatever role I'm assigned to I'm going to have fun with it and be the best version of that that I can be."
On what has sparked the defensive improvement:
"I don't know — now I just feel like the defense as a whole, everyone seems to be working and going as one heartbeat. Everyone's working together and we all know each other very well. I think of it as a puzzle and we're all one piece of the puzzle, and when it's all put together it's a work of art. Everyone's just working together and we understand each other. Everything's clicking — when the rush is good, then the coverage is good. If the coverage is good, the rush is good."
On if he dreaded watching film in the weeks following rough performances by the defense:
"No, I wouldn't dread it, and don't think anybody [else] does either. Even if the defense as a whole didn't have a good game, if there's negative things that happened, there's positives to take away from everything. One of the many things I love about this place is that it's not a negative atmosphere, it's a positive atmosphere. So if the defense doesn't do as good and we go to the film, yeah we're correcting stuff, but at the same time, we understand that we're building something. One game doesn't define who a player is, who the defense is. We're building something and getting better from that."
Social Post Of The Day
Geno Smith delivered a simple message Wednesday as the Seahawks prepare for the Rams:
More From Around The Web
At Seahawks.com, reporter John Boyle on Jamal Adams’ confidence that he’ll be able to play on Saturday.
Larry Stone of the Seattle Times looks at some potential lingering questions for the Seahawks as they enter the playoffs.
The Ringer's Danny Heifetz examines how Marshawn Lynch’s Beast Quake changed the Seahawks forever one day ahead of the 10-year anniversary of the play.
The 710 ESPN Seattle crew talk about what it will take for the Seahawks offense to get back on track against the Rams.
