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State of the team, The roster, Week 7: At Arizona

Hawks will hope Fant can turn into the next Jason Peters

October 25, 2016 cc Leave a comment

While many fans are calling loudly for the Seahawks to buy an expensive cup o’ Joe to jolt their left tackle spot, the simple fact is the Seahawks chose to go decaffeinated on the offensive line, and they are very unlikely to brew a new pot now.

In other words, don’t expect them to mess up their 2017 salary cap and draft by trading for Joe Thomas or Joe Staley.

Instead, expect them to see whether undrafted rookie George Fant can become the next Jason Peters — now. It took Peters, also an undrafted college tight end, three years to become a standout left tackle in the NFL. The Seahawks would settle for half the accomplishment in a third the time.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 7: At Arizona

October 24, 2016 cc Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Cardinals

The defense is in recovery mode after its marathon performance.

Bradley Sowell will miss a few weeks, and Thomas Rawls is close to returning. Quinton Jefferson was placed on IR.

The Seahawks’ offense hasn’t proven anything this season — and probably won’t until Rawls returns.

Some think the Seahawks need to try to acquire a cup o’ Joe at left tackle.

A trade for Thomas or Staley is not likely.

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State of the team, Week 7: At Arizona

Breaking down the offense’s breakdowns

October 24, 2016 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks’ defense has played stellar football almost all season — and it put together its greatest performance yet Sunday night in Arizona.

It was the third straight year in Glendale that the Seahawks gave up just six points. But, thanks to an almost totally inept offense, they were not able to put together the same 35-6 and 36-6 thrashings of the past two years — instead ending up with the first tie in team history and the lowest-scoring tie since 1972.

The offense has been directly responsible for all one and a half losses this season — with two of the worst performances since Russell Wilson arrived in 2012.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 7: At Arizona

October 22, 2016 cc Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Cardinals

Kam Chancellor likely will not play — plus other injury reports.

Kelcie McCray is ready to start again in place of Chancellor.

David Johnson is playing great for Arizona and is one of the key matchups.

An inside look at the Cardinals via Q&A with one of their beat writers.

The Cardinals’ pass rushers offer another test of Seattle’s developing O-line.

The secret to the strip sack: Aim for the elbow, Cliff Avril says.

The Seahawks have become the most effective blitzing team in the NFL.

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State of the team, Week 7: At Arizona

McDaniel has been ‘the quiet MVP of our defense’

October 21, 2016 cc Leave a comment

Coincidence or not? Tony McDaniel comes to Seattle in 2013 and the Hawks win the Super Bowl in his first year and put themselves in position to win in his second year.

Then he gets cut — and the Hawks fail to make their third straight Super Bowl.

OK, so it probably is mostly coincidence. But, then again, maybe he is the Super Bowl lucky charm.

Either way, there is no denying the unsung impact he has had on the Seahawks’ top-ranked defense this season — despite being a last-minute re-addition.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 7: At Arizona

October 20, 2016 cc Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Cardinals

Michael Bennett says he will play at Arizona on Sunday night. Frank Clark is expected back as well, but Kam Chancellor’s status is unknown.

Luke Willson had arthroscopic surgery Tuesday and expects to be back “in no time.” Expect him to miss 2-4 weeks.

The Seahawks also put Garrison Smith on IR and brought back Sealver Siliga.

Pete Carroll said Richard Sherman’s outburst sidetracked the defense for a bit but they recovered and “are stronger for that.”

The Arizona Cardinals look to be hitting their stride as they prepare to host the Hawks on Sunday night.

Russell Wilson was mic’d up for the Atlanta game and was every bit the positive force he always is.

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Week 6: Atlanta

Did Kris Richard learn a key lesson?

October 19, 2016 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks hopefully learned a big defensive lesson in their narrow win over the Falcons: Don’t get too fancy.

While Kris Richard did a great job dialing up blitzes and putting pressure on Matt Ryan, who was sacked four times and hit 13, the one part of the game plan that nearly cost the Hawks was the Richard Sherman-Julio Jones matchup.

The big problem: The Hawks moved Sherman around too much and he sometimes ended up covering a tight end or some other receiver on the wrong side of the field. Whether they intended to or not, the Hawks looked to be playing a hybrid man-zone at times in the third quarter — and it was a total failure.

They should not have moved Sherman unless it was to shadow Jones — wherever Jones lined up. But they let the Falcons dictate their coverage, and it nearly cost them the game.

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State of the team, Week 6: Atlanta

Theme of the week: Experience matters

October 17, 2016 cc Leave a comment

Pete Carroll spent a lot of his Monday press conference explaining Richard Sherman’s outburst during Seattle’s 26-24 win over Atlanta and breaking down the injury situation, but he offered some good analysis of his 4-1 football team as well.

Among the big points he made: Experience matters, and they missed Kam Chancellor; Kelcie McCray handled the criticism like a pro; Germain Ifedi had a rough game as he makes up for missed time; the pass protection is strong because of Russell Wilson’s development; and the running game just didn’t get the chances vs. Atlanta because the Seahawks had to rally in the fourth quarter.

Carroll said the 36-yard touchdown by Julio Jones that set Sherman off was a result of “just not being on the same page.”

“What was clear to me is that Kam is a big factor,” Carroll said. “We don’t see that stuff; I can’t remember another game when Kam was playing (where that happened). He has such a connection and skills at communicating and all that.

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State of the team, Week 6: Atlanta

Throwback Sherman gives drama queens plenty to gossip about

October 17, 2016 cc 1 Comment

“U mad, bro?”

That was one question no one needed to ask Richard Sherman on Sunday, when he brought back his 2012-13 incarnation with a tantrum that had everything but Tom Brady and Erin Andrews.

Outside of using his fame to make money and social statements and rip the NFL, Sherman had been pretty quiet ever since getting paid in 2014 and then having a baby last year. But he gave us all a little Retro Richard on Sunday, conjuring memories of his attention-seeking days as he put himself in the middle of two controversies in Seattle’s nail-biting win over the feisty Falcons.

His big sideline explosion – a hair-on-fire reminder of his blowup to Andrews after the 2013 NFC title game – and the non-call on his pass interference against Julio Jones at the end will elicit all kinds of chatter this week.

But that’s all for drama queens and grumpy losers. They’ll get over it and “chill,” just like Sherman did.

Continue reading Throwback Sherman gives drama queens plenty to gossip about →

CHAWK LINES, Week 6: Atlanta

October 16, 2016 cc Leave a comment

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