Are any of Seahawks’ nominees elite enough for Hall of Fame?

September 17, 2014 cc Leave a comment

There is no Walter Jones in this group. No once-in-a-generation, first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Former Seahawks draft picks Shawn Springs and Kevin Mawae are among the first-year-eligible nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015, announced Tuesday.

They join former coaches Chuck Knox, Tom Flores and Mike Holmgren and former running backs Shaun Alexander and Ricky Watters as nominees who coached or played for the Seahawks.

Those seven are among 113 total nominees — a list that will be whittled to 25 semifinalists in November and 15 finalists in January before the inductees are selected Super Bowl weekend.

The Seahawks have had a good run in the Hall of Fame recently, with career Seahawks Cortez Kennedy and Jones being inducted over the past three years. They join Steve Largent as the only career Seahawks in the Hall (and they shared a great moment before the Seahawks’ opener a couple of weeks ago).

But do any of Seattle’s current nominees have a chance to join that trio this year? Let’s take a look at each of the seven, starting with the coaches:

Continue reading Are any of Seahawks’ nominees elite enough for Hall of Fame? →

CHAWK BOARD

September 17, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Bob Condotta of the Times leads off his Tuesday chat with the question: How concerned are you about Seattle’s loss Sunday?

See what else they are discussing at the Times’ Seahawks forum.

In his chat, Danny O’Neil of 710 ESPN addresses concerns about pass coverage, Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks’ ability to win 13 games.

What did they think of the loss to the Chargers at the Hawk Shack?

See the hot topics (yeah, the San Diego heat is one of them) over at SeahawkBlue.

How down on the Hawks are the fans at Seahawks.net?

What’s going on over at Reddit?

Week 2: At San Diego

Answers to the question: Where was Lynch?

September 16, 2014 cc Leave a comment

A lot of people had questions about Marshawn Lynch’s lack of participation in the game Sunday in San Diego.

Why didn’t he get the ball more? Why wasn’t he in on the Seahawks’ drive at the end of the first half? Why was he walking off the field with a minute left?

Marshawn Lynch leaves the field with a minute left in the game Sunday in San Diego (AP)

Easy answers.

Continue reading Answers to the question: Where was Lynch? →

CHAWK LINES

September 16, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Pete Carroll looks back at the loss to the Chargers and ahead to the Super Bowl rematch with the Broncos.

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com gives a detailed breakdown of how the Chargers beat the Seahawks and then concludes, “Even with the winning script in hand, it still takes flawless execution to defeat the defending Super Bowl champs.”

“If you thought San Diego was fired up to play the Seahawks, well, wait until Denver comes to town Sunday,” Larry Stone of The Seattle Times says.

This is the first time since 1997 that Super Bowl opponents have played a rematch the next season.

Denver cornerback Chris Harris: “Antonio Gates made a few plays, so we need Julius (Thomas) to have a huge game.”

Richard Sherman talks! To a llama. In a sunglasses commercial.

The inspiration for the Seahawks’ logo could be coming to Seattle’s Burke Museum.

Week 3: Denver

Carroll on facing another great QB: ‘It doesn’t get any better’

September 16, 2014 cc Leave a comment

As the Seattle defense prepares to face a star quarterback for the third straight week, coach Pete Carroll says, “It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Having beaten Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers and lost to Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers, the Hawks now prepare to host Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in a Super Bowl rematch. And Carroll cracked that they ought to add Tom Brady and the New England Patriots during the Seahawks’ Week 4 bye.

“It’s as hard as it can get,” Carroll said, not meaning that in a bad way. “It’s great for us. It’s going to help us during the course of the season. You can’t get any better challenges than these guys throwing the football. Aaron is phenomenal. And look what we just saw (with Rivers). And here comes Peyton.

“This is a great stretch for us. It’ll only help us,” Carroll said of playing the three top-rated active quarterbacks in the NFL. “We have to be so on the mark and so right in everything we’re doing to defend these guys.”

Continue reading Carroll on facing another great QB: ‘It doesn’t get any better’ →

Week 2: At San Diego

More bust than Boom: Rough start for Legion

September 15, 2014 cc Leave a comment

San Diego wide receiver Eddie Royal stiff-arms Earl Thomas on Sunday (AP)

The Legion of Boom had trouble with the dehydrating temperatures in San Diego, and the group is taking some heat in the aftermath of a 30-21 loss to the Chargers and a two-game start that has been more bust than boom for the all-star unit.

Whether it was what happened on the field or what was (or was not) said off the field, Seattle’s top defenders did not respond very well in San Diego.

Continue reading More bust than Boom: Rough start for Legion →

Week 2: At San Diego

The Gates of Hell: Seahawks burned in the heat of San Diego

September 15, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Antonio Gates catches a TD pass over K.J. Wright in the second half (AP)

The Seahawks have seen the Gates of Hell.

He’s a 34-year-old tight end who seems perpetually injured but who still finds ways to burn opponents.

On a scorching Sunday in San Diego, Antonio Gates caught fire — and three touchdown passes — against a Seattle defense that appeared ill-prepared for the heat and the physical pounding the Chargers’ offense put on it in San Diego’s 30-21 win.

The Seattle defense — so good at stopping tight ends last season — apparently forgot the formula in the San Diego heat. Last postseason alone, the Hawks held Jimmy Graham to one catch for eight yards, Vernon Davis to two receptions for 16 yards and Julius Thomas to four for 27.

But Gates, who was hindered by a hamstring injury all week, caught seven passes for 96 yards and scored against linebackers Malcolm Smith and K.J. Wright and safety Kam Chancellor.

It was the first time Gates had caught three TD passes since a 28-20 win over Kansas City in 2005.

“He definitely capitalized on every opportunity he had,” Chancellor told reporters. “He showed why he is (a five-time) All-Pro tight end. He also has a good quarterback that looks to him and knows him and his timing. They have the quarterback/tight end bond. He is a crafty tight end.”

Continue reading The Gates of Hell: Seahawks burned in the heat of San Diego →

Week 2: At San Diego

Young lions: Seahawks passed on Attaochu, so is Irvin their future LEO?

September 14, 2014 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks had three big needs entering the draft last May. They satisfied two in the second round, drafting wide receiver Paul Richardson 45th overall after trading out of the 32nd spot and selecting right tackle Justin Britt with the final pick.

The one position they did not address was LEO — their top pass-rushing spot. It’s not like they didn’t have a chance, though, and they will see one guy they could have had when they play Jerry Attaochu and the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

Continue reading Young lions: Seahawks passed on Attaochu, so is Irvin their future LEO? →

CHAWK LINES

September 13, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Receiver Ricardo Lockette has been a hot topic this week. “He’s come so far from where he was,” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell says in features from Curtis Crabtree and Clare Farnsworth. And here’s audio of Lockette on 710 ESPN.

Rookie wide receiver Kevin Norwood is “really competing to get on the game-day roster,” per a report by Crabtree.

Bryan Walters talks to 710 ESPN about getting the chance to return punts.

Bob Condotta relates the humorous tale of how Justin Britt became a right tackle way back when.

“He has a movie-star smile, but he’ll bite you with those white teeth,” Ken Norton says of Bobby Wagner in a feature by Jerry Brewer of the Times.

Field Gulls reveals the Seattle defense’s secret to covering four deep routes.

Field Gulls also takes a look at how the Seahawks’ power running game excelled vs. Green Bay.

X's & O's

All you need to know about the jet sweep

September 13, 2014 cc Leave a comment

In 2012, the Seahawks added a dynamic player with unique traits and eventually found a way to take advantage of them: Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson lit up the league with the zone read option in the last few weeks of the season.

This year, the Hawks have another new player with stellar abilities, and they already know how to use him.

OK, so Percy Harvin isn’t really new — he was acquired last year — but a hip injury limited him to just a few plays all season so this is really the first time he has been healthy and used to full effect. He showed off his skills impressively in the season-opening 36-16 win over Green Bay.

Now everyone is talking about the Seahawks’ use of the jet sweep — i.e., “The Percy Harvin play.”

Continue reading All you need to know about the jet sweep →