Seahawks seem to have all of the advantages

September 13, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Chargers McCoy — Chargers coach Mike McCoy (Getty Images)

If the Seahawks don’t beat the San Diego Chargers on Sunday — perhaps handily — it will be a huge surprise. After all, how many advantages can one team have over another?

Shall we count the ways?

1 — The Seahawks saw the Chargers’ personnel in the preseason, during a 41-14 demolition, and we saw what happened the last time the Hawks played a preseason opponent during the season: Seahawks 43, Broncos 8 in the Super Bowl.

The Seahawks blew out the Broncos in the preseason last year, too, and they used that game to familiarize themselves with the Broncos’ personnel. (The Broncos have to really be looking forward to coming to Seattle next week.)

The Hawks did the same thing with the Chargers this preseason.

Continue reading Seahawks seem to have all of the advantages →

Week 2: At San Diego

Maxwell: ‘I take it as earning my keep’

September 13, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Byron Maxwell says he is just “earning my keep” as the cornerback who gets targeted most while playing opposite Richard Sherman.

In the season opener, Sherman was avoided by Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who instead threw it Maxwell’s way all game. He didn’t have too much more success as Maxwell shut down the big plays and ended up with an interception — making Rodgers and the Packers pay for picking on him all game.

But Maxwell is not offended by all of that action. He knows Sherman has proven himself as perhaps the best corner in the game, so it follows that teams will look Maxwell’s way more often.

“I take it as earning my keep,” he told 710 ESPN.

Continue reading Maxwell: ‘I take it as earning my keep’ →

Week 2: At San Diego

Seahawks are passing through gauntlet of NFL’s top-rated QBs

September 12, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Plenty has been made of the fact that Russell Wilson is undefeated against the best quarterbacks in the league over his first two-plus seasons: Aaron Rodgers (twice), Drew Brees (twice), Peyton Manning, Tom Brady.

But who is largely responsible for him beating those quarterbacks? Seattle’s defense, of course.

The Hawks, who beat Brees, Colin Kaepernick and Manning last postseason as they claimed the first Super Bowl title in franchise history, face a trio of the best QBs to start this season as well: Rodgers, Philip Rivers and Manning.

Rodgers, Manning and Rivers are the three top-rated active quarterbacks in the NFL (Brady and Brees are fourth and sixth), and they are 1-2-4 in NFL history (Steve Young ranks third, ahead of Rivers). These guys are so good they basically run their offenses, calling plays in their fast-paced, no-huddle schemes.

“If you look at it from what we saw last week, this week and next week against Denver, we’re seeing very similar expertise,” coach Pete Carroll said. “The guys really understand the game to such great depth that their coaches have recognized that and given them the opportunity to run the game at the line of scrimmage.

“They get to utilize their strengths by seeing what they want to see, changing what they need to change,” Carroll said, “so I think we’re as challenged as you can get by the level of play by these guys. There is no drop-off and it’s amazing that we see three terrific quarterbacks right in a row.”

Continue reading Seahawks are passing through gauntlet of NFL’s top-rated QBs →

Week 2: At San Diego

San Diego conjures lots of memories for Wilson

September 12, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Rivers, Wilson and Qualcomm — Philip Rivers and Harrison Wilson III, father of Russell Wilson (Getty and Dartmouth Athletics)

As the Seahawks get set to play their first real game in San Diego since 2002 — the year they returned to the NFC West after 25 years in the AFC West with the Chargers — it’s almost like homecoming weekend for Russell Wilson, too.

Seattle’s third-year quarterback is heading back to the place where his dad flirted with an NFL career, and he also will be facing the quarterback who set the standard at North Carolina State a few years before Wilson shot to stardom there.

“For me,” Wilson said, “it’s a special thing to get to go back there to Qualcomm Stadium and play in that stadium.”

Continue reading San Diego conjures lots of memories for Wilson →

Week 2: At San Diego

Earl Thomas: You can sleep easy for now, selfish fans

September 11, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Hawks vs Packers Thomas drops punt — Earl Thomas fails to call for a fair catch in traffic during a punt. He ended up fumbling. (Getty Images)

Plenty of media and fans expressed misgivings about Earl Thomas returning punts, so they had to be happy when coach Pete Carroll took Thomas off those duties this week in the wake of a disastrous season opener.

Thomas fumbled the ball on one return and did not seem very instinctive about judging whether to call for fair catches. Carroll said he thought the return duties were distracting from Thomas’ duties as the team’s defensive quarterback at free safety, so he is putting Bryan Walters in as the returner.

Thomas responded to the move Thursday and ripped fans who didn’t want him returning punts.

“Fans can kind of sleep easier now,” he said. “They can stop sending their regards in. They were a little bit selfish in my perspective.”

Continue reading Earl Thomas: You can sleep easy for now, selfish fans →

It's bigger than football

Like NFL, Carroll admits Rice video changed his view of domestic abuse

September 11, 2014 cc Leave a comment

As Roger Goodell and the NFL try feverishly to dig out of the dirty hole that is the Ray Rice domestic-violence case, at least something positive has come out of the fiasco: That video of Rice knocking out his fiancée has made everyone understand just how horrific domestic abuse is and perhaps how lightly the NFL has viewed it over the years.

“Unfortunately, we had to see an incident that elevated our awareness to really get to the right place,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday. “It’s unfortunate we have to learn the hard way.”

It seems crazy that people did not understand what Rice had done until they actually saw the second video. What possibly could have been the precursor to the first video, in which he is seen dragging an unconscious Janay Palmer out of the elevator? Rice admitted he hit her, which is why he was charged, placed into a diversion program and suspended by Goodell.

But that second video sent shockwaves through the NFL and for some reason changed the way everyone viewed domestic violence.

Continue reading Like NFL, Carroll admits Rice video changed his view of domestic abuse →

CHAWK LINES

September 11, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Russell Wilson’s dad was roommates with Kellen Winslow in Chargers training camp in 1980.

Shaun Alexander says these Seahawks “are sitting on the shoulders” of what his Seahawks built.

Everyone’s getting excited about Percy Harvin and Seattle’s scary-looking offense.

Rob Staton at Seahawks Draft Blog says “all signs point to a strong focus on the defensive line” by the Hawks in the 2015 draft.

John Boyle of the Everett Herald weighs in on where the Hawks stand on the NFL’s annual list of team-by-team measurements.

Week 2: At San Diego

Hip, hip, hooray for Harvin, Chancellor, Irvin

September 11, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Percy Harvin, Kam Chancellor and Bruce Irvin — three of the Seahawks’ most explosive players — have been joined at the hip over the past year, linked in the misery that the ultra-important joint connecting their legs and torso has caused them.

Each had surgery to fix his injury — you might say it was the “hip” procedure to undergo over the past 12 months — and now they are, yep, hip to play again.

All three feel better than ever, and it showed in the opener against Green Bay.

Continue reading Hip, hip, hooray for Harvin, Chancellor, Irvin →

Week 2: At San Diego

Carroll: ‘We’re hoping Marcus will take over that spot’

September 11, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Last season, the Seahawks played the final month without two of their top three cornerbacks, and the replacements were better than OK.

The Seahawks find themselves in a similar situation this year, only a bit earlier and without the benefit of the replacements knowing the defense as well.

Pete Carroll reiterated on Wednesday that Marcus Burley, acquired Aug. 30 from Indianapolis, will take over the nickel cornerback position that opened up with injuries to Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon, and newly signed Josh Thomas will be the No. 4 cornerback.

“We’re hoping that Marcus will take over that (nickel) spot,” the coach said. “It’s a spot that he’s familiar with. He did a nice job coming in the game (against Green Bay) in short time. … We’re looking for Marcus to do a real nice job and take that spot over.”

Continue reading Carroll: ‘We’re hoping Marcus will take over that spot’ →

Week 2: At San Diego

Thomas won’t be main punt returner anymore

September 11, 2014 cc Leave a comment

One of the few weaknesses in Seattle’s season opener was the play of Earl Thomas on punt returns. He didn’t show the right instincts for catching the ball in traffic, and he ended up fumbling one of his chances.

Coach Pete Carroll initially said they would work through those issues and keep Thomas at punt returner, but after further reflection the coach decided to remove that distraction so Thomas can concentrate on playing the position he is paid to excel at: free safety.

Bryan Walters will take over as the main punt returner, Carroll said Wednesday.

Continue reading Thomas won’t be main punt returner anymore →