When the Seahawks play at New England on Sunday night, Frank Clark really hopes there can be a University of Michigan reunion in the Patriots backfield.
More specifically, Clark hopes that at some point in the game, or perhaps multiple times, he can sack fellow Wolverine Tom Brady.
"Hopefully I can get back there in the backfield and get my hands on him a couple times," Clark said.
It isn't that Clark wants to hit Brady because there's any bad blood there. Quite the opposite, really. Clark grew up in Bakersfield before later moving to Cleveland, so as a child he watched Brady, a Bay Area native, blossom into a star with the Patriots. Clark also met Brady when the quarterback visited Michigan in recent years.
"I grew up watching him," Clark said. "When you grow up watching Super Bowls and watching guys like Tom Brady, you have these different NFL dreams, and then you go to a school like University of Michigan, where it just so happens to be another connection we have. He's a legend there and he does great things there, next thing I know we're competing at the highest level you can do it at against each other, it'll be great."
So no, Clark isn't out to get Brady for any personal reasons; he's just trying to continue what has so far been a very impressive second season. A second-round pick in 2015, Clark came on strong late in the season as a situational pass-rusher, finishing the year with three sacks, and heading into this season, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll made it clear they wanted to get Clark on the field more frequently.
That has happened this year, and Clark has responded well, piling up 6.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits. Clark has started the past two games in place of an injured Michael Bennett, meaning even more playing time, and responded with a sack in each game, giving him 3.5 in the past three games.
"He's taken some major strides in how he's studying the game," defensive end Cliff Avril said. "You can tell he's paying attention to the game, he's asking questions, he's watching film. Those are all thing you have to gradually pick up and grow with, so you can see how he's matured."
Clark's maturation has been especially important in the past two weeks in Bennett's absence, with Clark going from a situational pass-rush role to being nearly an every-down player.
"Just for him to be able to step up and make some plays is huge," Avril said. "As a player, you never know when you'll get that opportunity, and he's taking advantage of it and making plays happen. So big ups to him, but the hardest thing to do in the NFL is to be consistent, so that's the type of thing that as an older guy you try to put in his head—keep grinding, don't get complacent. He's doing some good things."
Whatever lessons Avril, Bennett and the rest of Seattle's veteran linemen are teaching Clark, he's all ears, and taking to that advice has been a big part of his breakout second season.
"I got guys like Mike Bennett, Cliff, Big Rube (Ahytba Rubin), Tony McDaniel, those guys, we got those guys in the locker room, and even off the field, helping me to the highest capability that they can," Clark said. "That all transfers over to the field, they just help me and continue to work with me. Mike Bennett and Cliff, me being a rookie (last year) who really didn't know what was going on, just playing off instinct and things like that, to actually having a guy like Mike be able to break down different aspects of the game, having a guy like Cliff teach me how to rip off the edge, it's great."
Despite a much bigger workload the past couple of weeks, Clark says he isn't changing anything about the way he plays. Theoretically having to play more snaps could force a player to pace himself a bit, but Clark said that hasn't been the case the past two weeks, and won't be when the Seahawks play Sunday.
"I never pace myself for all the years I've played this sport," Clark said. "Starting with the two years professional dating back to when I first started. I never really believe in pace, it's really a mindset of just going. I'm a ball hawk and I pride myself in getting the job done and going out there and giving them my all every play. If I mess up or do something wrong, just know I'm going to do it 100 mph."
The Seahawks obviously are eager to get Bennett back from a knee injury, and their defense will only be that much better when the Pro-Bowler does return, but for the time being, Clark has held his own as he continues to build on an impressive second season.
"He's getting better," defensive coordinator Kris Richard said. "Obviously we want to improve on situational awareness, but that's everybody, that's each and every single day. He's doing a great job filling in for some difficult shoes to fill."
The Seahawks currently lead the all-time regular season record, going 9-8 in 17 matchups. They'll look to make it double digit victories on Sunday Night Football this Sunday, September 20 at CenturyLink Field. Game Center
Morris Bradshaw, bottom, New England Patriots receiver, makes the catch from quarterback Steve Grogan on the three yard line and fumbles the ball out of bounds while being landed on by Kenny Easley (45), Seattle Seahawks, to set up a later touchdown at the end of the first half during their game in Seattle, Dec. 19, 1982. (AP Photo/Gary Stewart)
Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent (80) grabs the ball above the head of New England Patriot defender Rick Sanford (25) to complete a 20-yard touchdown pass from Seattle quarterback Jim Zorn in the second quarter at Seattle, Sept. 21, 1980. (AP Photo)
New England Patriot quarterback Steve Grogan, (14), releases a pass Seattle Seahawk Bill Gregory, (77), during the first half of their game on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 21, 1980 in the Kingdome in Seattle. Grogan completed 15 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns during the game as the Patriots beat the Seahawks 37-31. (AP Photo)
New England Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan holds on to the ball as he is sacked by Seattle Seahawks Jeff Bryant during first quarter action at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Sept. 16, 1984. (AP Photo/Mike Kullen)
Tony Collins (33) running back for the New England Patriots, is tripped up during first half action against the Seattle Seahawks in the Kingdome in Seattle, Dec. 19, 1982. Moving towards Collins is Seahawks safety Kenny Easley. (AP Photo/David Ekren)
New England Patriots Craig James, right, heads upfield with Seattle Seahawks Fredd Young (50), along for the ride, during 1st quarter action at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Sept. 21, 1986. (AP Photo)
New England Patriots Tony Collins (33) struggles for that extra yard despite the efforts of Seattle Seahawks Kenny Easley (45) and Keith Butler (53) during first quarter action at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Sept. 21, 1986. (AP Photo/Mike Kullen)
New England Patriots' Irving Fryar (80) takes the ball from Steve Grogan and moves around Seattle Seahawks' end to score in the second quarter of the game in Seattle, Nov. 17, 1985. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
Seattle Seahawks linebackers Bruce Schultz (58) and Tony Woods (57) and nose tackle Joe Nash (72) team up to stop New England Patriots fullback Bob Perryman (34) during an NFL game in Foxboro, Mass., Dec. 4, 1988. The Patriots defeated the Seahawks 13-7. (AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)
New England Patriots fullback Sam Gash (33) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks Sept 19, 1993, at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Brian Blades (89) is tackled as he runs upfield with the ball during an NFL game against the New England Patriots Sept. 19, 1993, in Foxborough, Mass. (Allen Kee via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver David Patten (86) side steps Seattle Seahawks corner back Ken Lucas (21) as Patten heads for the end zone during second quarter action of their NFL game Sunday afternoon Oct. 17, 2004 in Foxboro Mass. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselback, right, throws a pass under pressure from New England Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork (75) during the game in Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. The Patriots won their 20th straight game with a 30-20 victory. (AP Photo/ Robert E. Klein)
Seattle Seahawks' Julian Peterson, right, brings down New England Patriots' Kevin Faulk on a reception by Faulk in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
New England Patriots running back Sammy Morris goes over the top of Seattle Seahawks' defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (99) to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, at Qwest Field in Seattle. The Patriots beat the Seahawks 24-21. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks defensive back Michael Boulware (28) separates New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady from his helmut during the game in Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. The Patriots won their 20th straight game with a 30-20 victory. (AP Photo/ Robert E. Klein)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselback, right, throws a pass under pressure from New England Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork (75) during the game in Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. The Patriots won their 20th straight game with a 30-20 victory. (AP Photo/ Robert E. Klein)
New England Patriots tight end Daniel Graham (82) looks to get around Seattle Seahawks defender Marcus Trufant during the game in Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. The Patriots won their 20th straight game with a 30-20 victory. (AP Photo/ Robert E. Klein)
Seattle's Doug Baldwin falls into the end zone with his second touchdown of the game.
Seattle's Russell Wilson and New England's Rob Gronkowksi share a laugh at the pregame coin-toss.
Kam Chancellor leads the Seahawks in a victory yell after the victory at New England.
Chris Matthews leaps high and catches the Seahawks second touchdown of the game but the first in his N.F.L. career to tie the game at 14-14 just before halftime.
Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor lead the Legion of Boom in their traditional pregame huddle right before taking the field for warmups.
Seahawks fans including the loyal "Big Lo" (holding Sea-Fence) sign, send the team off near SeaTac Airport.
Kevin Pierre-Louis and Tyvis Powell sport Celtics basketball jerseys for the trip to Boston. Pierre-Louis has repped a basketball team from the opposing city for each road trip.
Jermaine Kearse nearly comes up with this catch on a deep route which was broken up at the last minute.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin hauls in his third TD catch of the night, which would provide the eventual game-winner.
Receiver Tyler Lockett cuts towards the middle of the field after a reception in the second quarter.
Head referee Bill Vinovich flips the coin for Super Bowl XLIX as captains and honorary captains for both teams convened at midfield.
Seahawks running back Christine Michael hurdles New England's Malcolm Butler in the first half.
