This O-line group looks worth keeping

Hawks in London 2Tom Cable won’t recognize the offensive line on the other side of the field in London — because it is playing better than any unit he coached in Seattle since 2012.

Mike Solari replaced Cable (who ended up back in Oakland) this year and has tailored his hybrid scheme to fit the talents and aggressive nature of a line that now includes former first-round picks Duane Brown, D.J. Fluker and Germain Ifedi; second-rounder Justin Britt, and Cable’s one-time conversion project, J.R. Sweezy.

Since Fluker and Sweezy took over at the guard spots in Week 3, the Seahawks have led the NFL in rushing (474 yards on 105 runs) and are now in the top 10 overall — like they used to be when Marshawn Lynch was Beast Moding to bail out Cable’s poorly schemed and oft-injured lines.

If they keep going like this, the Hawks should try to keep this group together for a couple more years.

Continue reading This O-line group looks worth keeping

As Hawks face Lynch, rushing game is back — without Penny

Hawks in London 2The running back drama is operatic this week.

The Seahawks finally have rediscovered their long-lost running game just as they prepare to face the embodiment of their old one and, just as coincidentally, the coach they ditched so they could find it again. Meanwhile, Seattle’s first-round pick has had nothing to do with it, frustrating him and fans who are calling him a bust and wanting to trade him for a kicker.

Continue reading As Hawks face Lynch, rushing game is back — without Penny

Youthful secondary can learn a lot from failure vs. Rams

Logo -- Los AngelesThe Seahawks’ secondary got schooled by the Rams on Sunday, and we have to hope they learned a few lessons — because they still face a handful of the league’s top offenses down the road.

Granted, only Kansas City looks as powerful as the Rams, but the Hawks need to learn from the lax coverage techniques, loose zones and missed tackles that enabled the Rams to roll up 468 yards and gain 30 first downs in a 33-31 shootout win.

Continue reading Youthful secondary can learn a lot from failure vs. Rams

Hawks fell way behind in division but still took a step toward playoffs

Logo -- Los AngelesAs feared, Seattle’s defense couldn’t stop the Rams. And now, barring some catastrophic injuries to the Rams (5-0), the Seahawks (2-3) are chasing a wild-card spot the rest of the season.

There are reasons to be confident they will catch one: (1) They finally put together a pretty complete game on offense, (2) their young secondary will get better and (3) they will get back a couple of key injured players soon.

“I hope you can tell how our team has grown. The last three weeks has been really an extraordinary step forward for us,” Pete Carroll said. “There’s a long season ahead of us — and how we come out of this game and go on to the next one, it will be crucial, just as it will the next week. But there’s no doubting who we are as a team and how we’re trying to build this thing.”

Continue reading Hawks fell way behind in division but still took a step toward playoffs

Hawks need a complete game from offense

Logo -- Los AngelesAs good as the Seahawks’ defense has been over the first month, it is about to face its biggest test of the season — and that means Seattle’s offense is going to have to be a lot better than it has been if it is going to win a shootout.

Seattle ranks seventh in overall defense, fifth against the pass and sixth in takeaways — rankings built against some of the league’s poorer offenses. Now, without Earl Thomas, they go up against a Rams unit that ranks first overall and second in passing and scoring.

It’s the ideal time for Russell Wilson and company to find themselves.

Under Brian Schottenheimer, the offense still is having trouble figuring out what it wants to be when it grows up.

Continue reading Hawks need a complete game from offense

CHAWK LINES -- Rams at SeahawksHere are Bob Condotta’s things to watch in the Rams-Seahawks game.

Matchups and key stats for Rams-Seahawks, via FieldGulls’ Alistair Corp.

Frank Clark is going to play despite fighting food poisoning all week. Dion Jordan and Chris Carson also will return.

The Hawks are confident in Tedric Thompson replacing Earl Thomas, although the Hawks have struggled without Thomas.

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Hawks expected short suspension for Kendricks

Logo -- Los AngelesPete Carroll and the Seahawks were surprised to learn Mychal Kendricks was suspended for more than just two or three games, which is the punishment they expected when they signed him after Week 1.

Kendricks, who is facing up to three years in prison for insider trading, was suspended indefinitely by the NFL on Tuesday. As we wrote, that probably means he is finished for the year — and until he returns from prison.

Carroll was clearly annoyed by the NFL’s decision.

Continue reading Hawks expected short suspension for Kendricks

Seahawks’ status report after NFL’s first quarter

at-arizona-logoThe Seahawks could barely get out of their own way in Arizona, missing two field goals, going 0 for 10 on third downs, committing eight penalties, losing Earl Thomas and Will Dissly.

If it weren’t for a 171-yard rushing day, some stout defense against David Johnson and rookie QB Josh Rosen and Arizona dropping some passes, the Hawks might not have evened up their record at 2-2 as they prepare to host the juggernaut Rams, who sure look like the NFL’s top team at this point and come to Seattle as touchdown favorites.

The Hawks are a game off our projection due to the loss in Chicago, but how does Pete Carroll see his team after the first quarter?

Continue reading Seahawks’ status report after NFL’s first quarter

Kendricks likely done until 2021

Seahawks bandagesIt looks like the Seahawks just lost three players for the season.

In addition to Earl Thomas and Will Dissly, who both were put on IR on Tuesday, Mychal Kendricks looks unlikely to play the rest of the way — he was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for his inside-trading case and is likely out of commission until after he finishes his prison sentence.

Continue reading Kendricks likely done until 2021

Thomas was just pointing out another big mistake by Schneider

Earl flippingWhen Earl Thomas gave his one-finger salute to John Schneider (who else would he be targeting?) as the safety was being carted off the field Sunday in Arizona, he was just pointing out the general manager’s latest error.

Earlier this year, we detailed many of the mistakes Schneider has made since his magical (lucky?) draft run from 2010 to 2012. It has merely continued this year, with the Thomas debacle now officially another black eye for Schneider and the Rashaad Penny pick looking every bit the waste it appeared in April.

Continue reading Thomas was just pointing out another big mistake by Schneider