Seattle, WA
Huard: Seattle Seahawks rookie adds something OL was missing
Late in the first half of Sunday’s pivotal NFC West clash, Seattle Seahawks rookie right guard Sataoa Laumea made his presence felt in an emphatic way.
Seahawks’ rushing attack has ‘breakthrough’ in multiple ways
Just one week removed from his NFL debut, Laumea pulled to the left and delivered a thunderous pancake block that sent an Arizona edge rusher to the ground. Laumea’s block helped open a wide crease for running back Zach Charbonnet, who raced through the lane for a 51-yard touchdown run during Seattle’s 30-18 road win over the Arizona Cardinals.
“CHARBONNET GOING THE DISTANCE”@Seahawks continue to hit big plays pic.twitter.com/ahe7S0jssV
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 8, 2024
It was the defining moment of a breakout afternoon for the Seahawks’ oft-criticized offensive line and sputtering rushing attack. With a unit up front that was consistently clearing running lanes, Seattle exploded for a season-high 176 rushing yards – nearly double its season average. The O-line also excelled in pass protection, with quarterback Geno Smith playing his first sack-free game of the year.
Laumea, a sixth-round draft pick out of Utah, played an important role in the success up front. But it wasn’t just his play that caught former NFL quarterback Brock Huard‘s attention.
Laumea’s attitude also stood out.
“There were a couple times that the field mics caught him (unleashing) this guttural scream,” Huard said during Monday’s Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. “And you haven’t heard that in years (from Seattle’s O-line) – just the joy. It’s hard to be a lineman, man. … You’re blocking guys that are so much more superior in speed and athleticism and oftentimes even strength. You just take a beating, and you really don’t get any praise.
“So it’s really hard to just have joy and this charisma,” he added. “But man, yesterday you heard him multiple times. … He demolished (a defender) and pancaked him and screamed this warrior roar. And I’m like, ‘Yes.’ This team has needed that.”
“CHARBONNET GOING THE DISTANCE”@Seahawks continue to hit big plays pic.twitter.com/ahe7S0jssV
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 8, 2024
The two leaders along the Seahawks’ offensive line are left tackle Charles Cross and right tackle Abraham Lucas, but Huard thinks the 6-foot-4, 319-pound Laumea adds a different type of edge with his personality.
“That’s not Charles Cross. He is not that kind of vocal guy. That’s not Abe Lucas. They’re not wired that way,” Huard said. “But you need that. … I went back and looked at my Utah boards when he’s playing there, a constant comment was like, ‘He’s a mean sucker. You do not mess with him.’
“The Seahawks’ O-line needed (that). And man, what a great game for him and the whole group collectively.”
The coach’s take
Laumea, a three-time All-Pac-12 selection at Utah, was inactive for Seattle’s first 11 games while sitting behind second-year pro Anthony Bradford and rookie third-round draft pick Christian Haynes on the depth chart.
But after Bradford landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury that he suffered two weeks ago, Laumea beat out Haynes for the starting job and made his NFL debut in last week’s win over the New York Jets.
During his weekly appearance Monday morning on Seattle Sports, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald agreed with Huard’s assessment that Laumea brings a fiery type of energy to the field.
“He has a lot of that in him,” Macdonald said. “That showed up on his college tape. He’s rugged, powerful and nasty. … He’s a heck of a kid, a heck of a guy and he’s still so young, man. It’s really exciting.”
Listen to the full Blue 88 segment at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Hear the full conversation with Mike Macdonald at this link or in the audio player at the bottom of this story.
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ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dylan Holloway had a hat trick and added an assist in his return from a sprained ankle, Joel Hofer made 23 saves and the St. Louis Blues came off the Olympic break to beat the Seattle Kraken 5-1 on Thursday night.
St. Louis Blues 5, Seattle Kraken 1: Box score
Jordan Kyrou and Holloway — activated from injured reserve before the game — scored in a 23-second span early in the second period to give St. Louis a 3-1 lead.
Pius Suter added a goal and two assists to help the Blues end a three-game losing streak.
Holloway completed St. Louis’ first hat trick of the season with 3:01 left, scoring into an empty net for his 11th of the season.
Kaapo Kakko tied it at 1 for Seattle in the first period, and Philipp Grubauer stopped 26 shots. The Kraken were coming off a 4-1 loss in Dallas on Wednesday night.
Kyrou made it 2-1 at 1:12 of the second off a feed from Pavel Buchnevich on a break. Holloway poked the puck past Grubauer off a scramble at 1:35. Suter scored at 1:56 of the third.
St. Louis’ Cam Fowler appeared in his 1,100th game, becoming the 10th active defenseman in the NHL to reach the mark.
Up next
Kraken: Host Vancouver on Saturday night.
Blues: Host New Jersey on Saturday.
Seattle Kraken sign forwards Ben Meyers, Ryan Winterton to 2-year extensions
The St. Louis Blues are back in action as they host the Seattle Kraken on Thursday at Enterprise Center (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, 101 ESPN).
It will be the team’s first game since Feb. 4, and Jim Montgomery said the squad is ready to get back to work.
“Yeah, I think everybody is,” the head coach said. “I mean, you can tell. Guys were anxious today, but it’s like ‘enough of practicing against each other, it’s time to play a game.’”
Captain Brayden Schenn, who missed Wednesday’s practice with an illness, took the morning skate and is expected to play. Dylan Holloway (ankle), who has played just one game since Dec. 12, will make his return to the lineup as well.
Robert Thomas has taken a leave of absence due to a personal matter. He’s expected to return to the team on Friday.
Additionally Jack Finley will make his Blues debut. Finley – who is the son of former Blue Jeff Finley and was born in St. Louis – was claimed off waivers by the team on Feb. 7.
“It was a dream of mine to play for this team,” Finley said. “It was a big part of my childhood, big part of my family’s life. So definitely full-circle moment and proud to be a Blue.”
Jeff, who played defense for the Blues from 1998-2004, will be in the building Thursday night to see his son don the jersey he wore for so many years.
“He was excited,” Jack said about his dad. “Maybe more excited than me. He loved this organization, loved this city… He’s excited to be back.”
Two months ago, Gay showed us how a tree took out Little Free Library #8702, uphill from Lowman Beach. Tonight, Gay sent this update, with photos!
The LFL on 48th and Graham is back in business. Our friend Dana and crew from Legendary Tree got the space all ready yesterday. Matt Lukin repaired it and put it back up today.
Shoutout to Pegasus Books for the continued support.
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