Tag: jim zorn

Seahawks Mt. Rushmore: Quarterbacks

It’s important for fans to know their own team’s history. 

The NFL offseason at this point can be slow. Teams are practicing, but full blown training camp won’t be starting until later in July.

With this in mind, I thought it would be a perfect time to take a look at some of the best players in Seattle Seahawks franchise history. We at Seahawks Wire are calling this our Mt. Rushmore series, where we’ll go over some of the stats of the Top 4 players at each major position.

Naturally, we’ll start with the game’s most important and high profile position: quarterback.

Of course, there won’t exactly be a ton of surprises on this particular list, but I think it’s important for fans to know their own team’s history.

Side note: Geno Smith obviously won’t make the list, but he may not be as far off as you might think. After only 21 starts with the Seahawks, Smith is already No. 8 all time in franchise passing yards and passing touchdowns.

Seahawks: Who are the top 10 passing leaders in franchise history?

Here are the top 10 passing leaders in franchise history.

Russell Wilson has been playing the quarterback position for the Seahawks at a relatively high level for 10 years now. Let’s check in on how he compares to other Seattle quarterbacks who have come before him.

Here are the top 10 passing leaders in franchise history.

Two years in, how does Ron Rivera compare?

Ron Rivera just finished his second season as Washington’s head coach. We compare the first two years of every Washington head coach dating back to George Allen.

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Washington coach Ron Rivera completed his second season as the franchise’s head coach Sunday.

The thought occurred to me, since I have been following this team in my childhood, how have other Washington coaches produced in their first two seasons coaching this franchise?

1971: George Allen 9-4-1 regular season; wildcard 4th seed. In his 1972 season, Washington won NFC East Title at 11-3, the number one seed, a 26-3 NFC Championship win over defending Super Bowl Champion Dallas and a trip to Super Bowl VII where they lost 14-7 to the 17-0 Miami Dolphins.

1978: Jack Pardee started 6-0, but faded, finishing 8-8, and his 1979 team finished 10-6, but failed to make a top-four spot for the playoffs.

1981: Enter Joe Jackson Gibbs, who lost his first five games, before closing 8-3 to finish 8-8. His second season Washington was 8-1, plus 4-0 in the playoffs, winning Super Bowl XVII 27-17 over Miami.

1994: Norv Turner was in a total rebuild situation going 3-13 and 6-10 in his first two seasons.

2002: Steve Spurrier’s two seasons 2002-03, Washington was 7-9 and 5-11. You thought it was worse, didn’t you? You see, that proves our standards and expectations were higher then.

2004: Joe Gibbs agreed to return in 2004 going 6-10 and then 10-6 in 2005 with a playoff win at Tampa.

2008: Jim Zorn opened 6-2 in 2008, but then the team finished 8-8, followed by a 4-12 2009 and he was fired.

2010: Mike Shanahan’s first two teams were 6-10 and 5-11.

2014: Jay Gruden after a 4-12 first season won the NFC East at 9-7 in 2015.

2020: Ron Rivera followed a disastrous 2019 when Washington was 3-13, fired Jay Gruden and finished the season with interim coach Bill Callahan. Rivera battled his own cancer, endured the gruesome treatments, yet Washington won the weak NFC East in 2020 at 7-9. In 2021, Washington started 2-6, won four straight then lost four straight to division rivals Dallas and Philadelphia, finishing 7-10.

 

XFL fans roast coach Jim Zorn over baffling explanation for 3-point play

Math is hard.

The Seattle Dragons entered Saturday’s matchup with the St. Louis BattleHawks as massive 12.5-point underdogs, but after Jim Zorn finally benched struggling quarterback Brandon Silvers after the first half, the Dragons pulled within four points with a touchdown early in the final quarter. Backup B.J. Daniels hit tight end Evan Rodriguez over the middle to make the game 20-16 – but Zorn’s puzzling extra-point decision left commentators and fans dumbfounded.

In the XFL, there are no point-after kicks, and coaches have the option to run a play for a 1, 2, or 3-point conversion. Down four points in the final quarter, it would make most sense for the Dragons to opt for a 1-point conversion from the 2-yard line, as they could pull within a field goal if the try is successful.

Zorn, however, opted to run a 3-point play from the 10-yard line – and though Daniels hit his receiver in the chest after scrambling on an extended play, the pass fell incomplete and left Seattle down four points.

Immediately after the incompletion, Fox sideline reporter Brock Huard asked Zorn why Seattle went for three – and Zorn gave a very confusing answer.

Zorn: “It’s the fourth quarter, so, you know, if we get three points….. I thought we had a good play on. We hit it – I think, did you see the replay? He put it on his chest, so, you know, we’re taking the opportunity. But that gets us, now that gets us one touchdown away. So we’ll keep scoring, going to try to win this football game.

Huard: So being in the fourth quarter, that being more important at that point being just a field goal away if you go for one?

Zorn: “Uhh… I’ll think about that when I get there.”

Fans piled on Zorn on social media.

 

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Dallas Renegades earn 2nd-straight win, clip Dragons’ wings 24-12

The Dallas Renegades moved to 2-1 on the XFL season, winning their second straight game 24-12

After a lackluster season opener, the Dallas Renegades won their second straight game Saturday.  Head coach Bob Stoops took on Jim Zorn’s Seattle Dragons in an NFL stadium, bringing together a familiar cast of players in an unfamiliar setting.

The Renegades mounted a second-half comeback thanks to player of the game TE Donald Parham, who hauled in 101 yards on five catches, and scored two touchdowns. On the strength of his connection with QB Landry Jones, who tossed three touchdown passes on the day, the Renegades scored the final 18 points of the game to win, 24-12.

The Dragons got on the board first, driving 57 yards on their first possession. QB Brandon Silvers found WR Austin Proehl to score from 21-yards out, putting Seattle ahead 6-0.

It wasn’t a perfect day, but Jones looked more comfortable than he did last week. The Renegades offense played at a much quicker pace, and Landry was able to find a nice rhythm at times. On Dallas’s second drive, he completed seven passes for 60 yards, and tied the game on a 12-yard strike to WR Flynn Nagel.

His most impressive feat however, was showing off another distinguishing XFL rule: the double-forward pass. In the second quarter, Jones had his initial pass attempt batted back to him to him at the line of scrimmage. Somehow, he kept his eyes down the field and threw the ball a second time, this time completing it to RB Lance Dunbar for 15 yards.

It was wizardry only the XFL can provide.

Unfortunately, the Renegades couldn’t capitalize on that drive, and Jones was eventually picked. He again tried to find Nagel streaking over the middle, but the ball was tipped and picked off by DB Godwin Igwebuike. It was a tight window, and Jones tried to force it but paid the price.

Seattle then seized the momentum, and drove 88-yards in eight plays to re-take the lead 12-6. A 29-yard completion to Prohel on third down kept their drive alive, and then Kenneth Farrow found the end zone off a beautiful route and pass from Silvers.

Coming out of halftime, the Dragons had a chance to extend their lead and take control of their game, but instead the tide turned in Dallas’s favor. Reaching the Renegade 35, Zorn elected to go for it on 4th and 3. However, Hau’oli Kikaha dragged down Silvers for a sack, turning the ball over on downs to Dallas.

From there, the Renegades scored 18 unanswered points. It was a familiar strategy, as Dallas clamped down on defense and leaned on their running backs. But the big fireworks came the big tight end, 22-year-old Donald Parham. His second touchdown reception of the season tied the game at 12, but his 65-yard catch-and-run TD busted the game open in the fourth quarter.

After only running the ball four times for nine total yards in the first half, the Renegades finished with 103 rushing yards and 21 carries, turning to Cameron Artis-Payne and Lance Dunbar close out the game. This 31-yard rush by Artis-Payne iced the game, and was set up by Dunbar again making a key block.

Dallas would go on to kick a field goal, officially putting the game out of reach. Austin MacGinnis is 7-7 on Renegades field goal attempts so far this season. Undefeated in the Landry Jones era, the 2-1 Dallas Renegades next face the undefeated in the XFL Houston Roughnecks in Week 4.

Odds and Ends

Is Johnny Football XFL bound? Johnny Manziel made a brief cameo in the AAF before it shut down, but has yet to take part in the relaunched XFL. However, he recently sent a tweet directed at XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck, stating his (ratings related) case for a contract. But soon after, Manziel deleted his Twitter account entirely, casting an ominous shadow over the public exchange. The pairing between Manziel and XFL has always made sense in theory, but who knows what other factors are at play.

Things got testy during the early slot Saturday game between the Tampa Bay Vipers and Roughnecks, The hits were hard, but so was the pettiness. (Former Cowboy) Marqueston Huff interrupted a Tampa Bay touchdown celebration, and stomped out their campfire.

Other Week 3 Results

Houston Roughnecks 34 – Tampa Bay Vipers 27

Sunday, February 23rd

St. Louis Battlehawks @ New York Guardians | 3pm ET, ESPN

DC Defenders @ Los Angeles Wildcats | 6pm ET, FS1

Week 4 Schedule

Saturday, February 29th

New York Guardians (1-1) @ Los Angeles Wildcats (0-2)

St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) @ Seattle Dragons (1-2)

Sunday, March 1st

Houston Roughnecks (3-0) @ Dallas Renegades (2-1)

Tampa Bay Vipers (0-3) @ DC Defenders (2-0)

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5 bold predictions for Week 3 of the XFL season

The XFL heads into Week 3 and Tampa Bay and LA both need victories.

The XFL heads into Week 3 and in this short season it is a make-or-break time for the LA Wildcats and Tampa Bay Vipers, who are both looking for their first victory.

The Wildcats are in deep trouble

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

After an 0-2 start, the last team the LA Wildcats need to be facing are Pep Hamilton’s DC Defenders. Pepper Johnson was released after the first week as defensive coordinator. Winston Moss is looking at an 0-3 start and the Wildcats’ season could be finished before a month is out.

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Seattle Dragons open additional seating ahead of home opener

The Seattle Dragons opened more seating at CenturyLink Field ahead of their XFL home opener on Saturday, February 15.

Despite dropping their season opener on the road against the DC Defenders, 31-19, the XFL’s Seattle Dragons anticipate having one of the best home crowds in the entire eight-team league.

In fact, due to recent demand, the team announced Monday they will open additional seating sections at CenturyLink Field in advance of their home opener on Saturday, February 15 at 2:00 p.m. against the Tampa Bay Vipers.

Single-game tickets are on sale for $24 dollars and season tickets are $20 each, or $100 for all five home games.

“Affordability and access for our fans comes first and we are thrilled to open additional sections to accommodate our fans,” Seattle Dragons Team President Ryan Gustafson was quoted in a press release. “We are grateful and excited about the support we’ve received from the incredible sports fans of Seattle leading into our first home game on the 15th at CenturyLink Field.”

The Dragons have plenty of familiar faces on the roster for Seahawks fans, including a pair of former Seattle receivers in Kasen Williams and Keenan Reynolds – who scored the team’s first one-point conversion on Saturday.

However, inconsistent play from quarterback Brandon Silvers, who threw two interceptions, led to the defeat in Week 1.

“A few errors can really affect the game,” head coach and former Seahawks quarterback Jim Zorn said after the game. “We have to overcome those.”

Football fans in Seattle who want to see the Dragons in action can purchase tickets on the XFL website, or can tune in on FOX for the broadcast.

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WATCH: The big plays in first XFL game as DC downs Seattle

The DC Defenders broke open a close game in the second half to down the Seattle Dragons as the new XFL kicked off.

The XFL kicked off its reincarnation Saturday as Seattle journeyed across the country to face the DC Defenders.

The home team won the game, 31-19. covering the 9.5-point spread. That would not have happened if Seattle let a field goal stand in the second half that would have made it 31-22. A running-into-the-kicker penalty gave the Dragons a first down and took the points off the board.  However, they fumbled later in the drive and DC recovered. So, if you are counting your bucks or wagering, the field goal that came off the board cost Seattle bettors a cover and anyone who had the under survived the 51.5 number when the score remained 31-19.

This incarnation of the league showed promise and had some solid innovations and plenty of sideline conversation.

In the end, Seattle is 0-1 and DC is 1-0. That means Jim Zorn, who once coached Washington in the NFL, hasn’t had a win in the nation’s capital since Nov. 15, 2009.

A thumbs-up from someone no dog in the game. Nice!

A blocked punt shows the DC Defenders’ special teams are in fine form.

Rausa from 55

Trickeration! Double reverse leads to Cardale Jones TD pass.

Austin Proehl caught his second TD pass for the Dragons after the Defenders’ trick play.

Fourth-and-6 and the Defenders are back on top as Cardale Jones is on-target with Rashad Ross.

The Defenders break it open with a 69-yard Pick Six for a 31-19 lead.

 

Jim Zorn returns to Washington with XFL

The former Redskins coach is back in town with a new league.

Jim Zorn is back in Washington coaching football — but not with the Redskins.

Zorn is the lead man for the XFL’s Seattle Dragons and makes his return to the city this weekend for a game against the DC Defenders — led by Pep Hamiton.

He spoke with the Washington Times’ Matthew Paras about his tenure with the Redskins:

“I didn’t get to finish the things I wanted to accomplish. In that respect, I would have liked to continue on and so, it left me, in my mind, trying to build and not be able to follow through.”

Zorn spent two years with the Redskins, going 8-8 and 4-12 before Dan Snyder pulled the plug on the experiment.

He later went on to take two different positional jobs in the NFL before an extended absence. Now he’s back in Washington, at least for Saturday, while trying to start over as lead man for a startup league.

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Russell Wilson nearing Seahawks franchise record in passing yards

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is 389 yards away from passing Matt Hasselbeck as the franchise leader in passing yards.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is 389 yards away from passing Matt Hasselbeck as the team’s franchise leader in passing yards.

Wilson, now in his eighth season with Seattle, has accrued 29,046 total passing yards, well ahead of Dave Krieg (26,132) and Jim Zorn (20,122) who are in third and fourth place, respectively.

Wilson has racked up 3,422 of those yards this season, for an average of 263.2 yards per game. So while he probably won’t pass Hasselbeck this Sunday in Carolina (the Panthers have yet to give up over 365 passing yards in a game this season) he seems destined to take over the record the following Sunday, at home against the Cardinals.

Wilson is already in first place in touchdowns and wins, despite being just fourth in total games played. He’ll move into a tie with Zorn for third place after Sunday’s game, and should pass both Krieg and Hasselbeck next season – barring an injury.

Wilson and the Seahawks will be focused on getting a win and securing a spot in the playoffs over individual accomplishments, but it’s no surprise that he is steadily climbing to the top of the record books in Seattle.

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