The quotes coming out of Seahawks camp this October are starting to sound eerily like quotes that came from the Mariners clubhouse in June. Here’s Brian Russell: “We have to go out and do it. Talking about it all day doesn’t make plays for you.” And Rocky Bernard: “We’re just not playing up to our potential right now.” Eeeek.

Holmgren tells Clare Farnsworth about upcoming changes to the defense — simplification. Says Holmgren: “We’re going to condense some things, and hopefully become good at doing a fewer number of things, but at least execute them correctly. The thing is to try and instill some confidence in the players.”

Holmgren also says he’s going to run the ball more, which has Chris Spencer excited (I think): “When I hear ‘run,’ that’s like lunch time for me,” he tells Greg Johns.

Medical tests showed that Matt Hasselbeck’s knee has no structural damage, and Deion Branch’s heel injury is just a bruise, writes Danny O’Neil. Branch is “out indefinitely.” I guess until it’s less painful?

The Blazers begin their exhibition season today with a game against Sacramento at the Rose Garden. It won’t be on TV, but tomorrow’s game against Golden State will, on KGW in Portland. Here’s the Blazers’ schedule, including preseason. NBA-TV, as far as I can tell, isn’t showing any preseason games, which is weird, because what the hell else would NBA-TV show?

Watched the White Sox/Rays game at Fado, hoping to see Ken Griffey Jr. do something spectacular. Instead he was 0-4 with 3 Ks — his last strikeout being the final out of the White Sox’ season.

Some shaky Red Sox relieving cost Bell Prep’s Jon Lester a chance at his second win of the series, but he probably doesn’t care that much after Jed Lowrie’s ninth-inning walkoff single advanced Boston to the ALCS. Lester didn’t allow an earned run in 14 IP in the series. If Francona were to pitch Lester on regular rest, he’d start Game 2 against the Rays.

The NLCS starts Thursday in Philly, the ALCS Friday in St. Pete.

Want to be even more depressed about the Huskies’ blowout loss to Arizona? Look who was taking in the game with some adoring co-eds…

The P-I’s Jim Moore is evidently no fan of new Huskies AD Scott Woodward: “We hope that the under-qualified and over-his-head AD continues to give his asinine firing progress reports. In every AD 101 class, they tell you to keep your mouth shut during times like these, but we hope that Woodward keeps opening his so we can continue to take shots at him. ‘We have seven games to play, and miracles happen,’ said Woodward, whose hiring was proof of that.”

Willingham on what’s next: “No question right now you have to have a slightly different goal. Some things have probably been eliminated from us, but at the same time the No. 1 goal is to win the next football game. That’s where we have to get our focus. … We have to be able to win one before we can talk about winning multiple (games).” This from Gary Washburn.

The Cougs’ midseason campus QB tryouts turned out 29 students who “performed five-step drops, followed by agility drills, then threw on the run and finally threw long distance. Each quarterback got one chance at each drill.” This from Brandon Scheller who reported that no one present could remember such an event. Wulff and his staff cut the group down to four QBs and will announce their choice today.

In other Coug news, economic troubles aren’t going to slow down Martin Stadium expansion, AD Jim Sterk tells Howie Stalwick. They’ve got half of the $40 million they need to build luxury boxes, and expect to get the other half from bond sales or from sales of premium seats.

Former Sounder Brian Ching would like to see the team retain Brian Schmetzer as coach, telling Jose Miguel Romero: “I think it would be difficult for him, but he definitely knows the city in and out. He knows which players from the Sounders that can make the transition [to MLS]. I thought he was a great coach when I was there and he handles the players right.”

Shawn Kemp Jr. committed to Alabama. The Huskies were playing on the Seattle connection in an attempt to recruit him.

The Seattle Thunderbirds got some good news as defenseman Thomas Hickey, the 4th overall pick in last year’s NHL draft, came back to the team after playing a couple of games in the L.A. Kings training camp. Teenagers who get drafted by NHL teams either stick in the NHL or come back to junior hockey–they aren’t eligible to play in the minor pro leagues until they reach their 20s. Hickey’s in his fourth year with the T-Birds.