Schedule, Week 4: Bye

September 27, 2014 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks are off this weekend, but most of their remaining opponents play. The Hawks run through a three-week gauntlet starting Thanksgiving night in which they face the 49ers twice and the Eagles in between. The Eagles are at the 49ers on Sunday.

After the Hawks play the Redskins on “Monday Night Football” next week, they host the Cowboys. Dallas plays New Orleans on Sunday night.

Field Gulls breaks down the viewing opportunities.

The Eagles (3-0) have rallied from 10-point deficits in every game so far, and the 49ers (1-2) have yet to score in the fourth quarter as they have blown leads in both losses.

The Cowboys are dealing with a mutiny by cornerback Morris Claiborne (yeah, another LSU chump) as Drew Brees comes to town ready to dominate them again.

Some more thoughts on the Redskins’ meltdown vs. the New York Giants (the Hawks host the Giants in Week 10) …

“This was a total team debacle. And total domination by the Giants in all phases,” Washington coach Jay Gruden said.

Kirk Cousins is a fast starter who tends to fall apart, according to this analysis of what went wrong Thursday.

Week 4: Bye, X's & O's

Are Hawks using Harvin to best effect?

September 26, 2014 cc Leave a comment

After the Seahawks unveiled their new, improved (read: healthy) Percy Harvin in the season opener, everyone went gaga over the way the mercurial playmaker was used.

And Pete Carroll stoked the excitement by teasing, “There’s a bunch of other stuff we’ll do. … We’re just getting started.”

It sounded so promising.

In two games since then, though, the Seattle offense has used Harvin more as a decoy than anything, prompting the question: Are Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell using Harvin to best effect?

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September 26, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Seattle’s next opponent, Washington, was embarrassed at home by the New York Giants. The Washington Post highlights all of the things that went wrong for the home team.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins, filling in for the injured Robert Griffin III, failed to assert his case to hold onto the job, Jason Reid of the Post says.

Danny Kelly of Field Gulls takes a look back at Jon Ryan’s spectacular day against Denver and the overall emphasis Pete Carroll places on special teams.

Hawk Blogger Brian Nemhauser breaks out the stats that show how the Seahawks’ passing game has changed so far this season.

Percy Harvin affects the offense even when he doesn’t touch the ball, Jayson Jenks of The Seattle Times says. (We’ll have a corollary to that later.)

Bob Condotta of the Times has a few thoughts on how bye weeks may or may not affect teams.

Josh Kerns of KIRO and MyNorthwest.com writes about the growing trend of players such as Richard Sherman marketing themselves online with their own personalized merchandise.

Michael Bennett is in Houston this week to have his high school jersey retired, and he ends the interview talking about the power of a Super Bowl ring.

Week 4: Bye, X's & O's

Offense has been almost pointless in second half

September 25, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Marshawn Lynch is tackled in the end zone for a safety by Denver's T.J. Ward, left, and Chris Harris on Sept. 21 (AP) — Marshawn Lynch is tackled in the end zone for a safety by Denver’s T.J. Ward, left, and Chris Harris on Sept. 21 (AP)

Russell Wilson said he was “almost hoping” Peyton Manning would rally the Denver Broncos to tie the game Sunday. That way Wilson could get the ball again.

It’s hard to blame Wilson for wanting another chance after the way the second half went. As bad as the defensive meltdown was on Denver’s final possession, the Seattle offense really carried more responsibility for letting a two-touchdown lead slip away.

And that really was just part of a trend over the first three games in which the offense has gone from scoring machine in the first half to almost pointless in the second.

Continue reading Offense has been almost pointless in second half →

Injury report, Week 4: Bye

Bye comes at perfect time for Okung & Chancellor

September 24, 2014 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks dodged a couple of injury bullets against Denver and have to hope they are not issues that linger and become big problems later in the season.

Left tackle Russell Okung returned despite suffering a shoulder injury and strong safety Kam Chancellor played with bone spurs in an ankle — playing so well that he garnered NFC defensive player of the week honors.

For both Okung and Chancellor, the bye comes at the perfect time. And Seahawks fans have to hope they can tough it through the season.

Injuries have messed with both players during their short careers.

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September 24, 2014 cc 1 Comment

Marshawn Lynch tells Marcus Trufant and the Barbershop fellas that he had to “RIP” one of his dreadlocks and why he was “never meant to be famous.”

See what Pete Carroll said about the win over Denver on his way out the door for the bye week.

Sean Tomlinson of Bleacher Report dissects Seattle’s dominance of Peyton Manning.

Of course, there was one drive that Manning dominated, and Doug Farrar of SI.com breaks that down in more detail.

Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times rates Seattle’s old AFC West rivalries.

After Chris Harris said Russell Wilson — a third-round pick in 2012 — is better than Andrew Luck, the No. 1 pick overall that year, plenty of folks have chimed in. Here’s what Ben Peterson of Field Gulls says.

Jerry Brewer of The Seattle Times addresses the idea that Wilson is the NFL’s best quarterback.

Wilson is the highest-rated QB in a league that is setting records for passer rating, per Clare Farnsworth.

And Mike Tanier of Bleacher Report goes further with a historical look at major QB draft classes.

Week 3: Denver

Lockette shows why coaches love him

September 23, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Ricardo Lockette catches a touchdown pass against Aqib Talib during the second quarter Sunday (Getty)

The Seahawks have been raving about Ricardo Lockette all year, and now everyone is seeing why.

Back in minicamps, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell often tossed Lockette’s name out as someone the coaches were excited about — particularly because of his sub-4.3 speed. That’s why it was easy to see the fourth-year player making the team again despite a huge logjam at wide receiver.

As the fourth or even fifth receiver, he doesn’t get many offensive opportunities — yet he has caught touchdown passes in both victories this season. Add to that his standout play on special teams and you have the kind of player the Seahawks love — fast and versatile.

He showed it all in the win over Denver on Sunday.

Continue reading Lockette shows why coaches love him →

Week 3: Denver, X's & O's

How did the Seahawks give up the tying TD?

September 23, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Broncos' tying TD pass vs Seahawks — Peyton Manning (at the 33-yard line) throws a touchdown pass to Jacob Tamme after Tamme beat K.J. Wright on a double move.

One of the big mysteries surrounding Seattle’s overtime victory against Denver on Sunday was just how that game ended up in overtime anyway.

Yeah, we know Peyton Manning and the Broncos pulled off a nearly impossible task, marching 80 yards in 41 seconds with no timeouts and converting the two-point conversion to force overtime.

But how did it happen?

Pete Carroll provided the answers Monday.

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September 22, 2014 cc Leave a comment

DeShawn Shead on his post-game proposal to girlfriend Jessica: “Winning the Super Bowl, I got my ring. We played the Broncos again and she got her ring after the game.”

Russell Wilson says he is “just enjoying the journey, enjoying learning” as he strives to become one of the best quarterbacks ever.

Wilson to DeMarcus Ware after the Denver pass rusher sacked him at the goal line: “You’re not going to get this ball.”

Peyton Manning talks about the tying drive and the lesson he takes from this loss to Seattle.

Brian Nemhauser offers his impressions of the Seahawks’ win over Denver, with a great stat comparison of the Super Bowl and this game.

Danny O’Neil of 710 ESPN rips the Denver homer who complained about the overtime format. You tell him, Danny!

Looking ahead to the Washington Redskins in two weeks, it appears they will be without their No. 1 trash-talker, DeAngelo Hall, but they also have DeSean Jackson and some cheap-shot artists, so they are good to go.

Injury report, Week 3: Denver

Report: Chancellor considered surgery

September 22, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Kam Chancellor reportedly considered having ankle surgery to remove bone spurs this week after suffering through a tough game in San Diego, but he felt much better last week, played very well against Denver and apparently has decided — at least for now — not to have surgery.

A source told FOX Sports that the strong safety was contemplating having surgery this week as the Hawks begin their bye period. That might have put him out for 6-8 weeks.

But the ankle felt much better during the week and he had no problems in the game, which was his best of the season (nine tackles, two passes defensed, an interception and an assist on a forced fumble).

Continue reading Report: Chancellor considered surgery →