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Contracts

Market for Maxwell is set, but will Hawks want to pay $5 million a year?

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Hawks vs Packers MaxwellWhen Byron Maxwell finally made the Packers pay by picking off a pass from Aaron Rodgers in the opener Thursday, the immediate thought was: If teams keep throwing at him like that, he will end up in the Pro Bowl alongside Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

Teammate Michael Bennett added another thought, quipping to reporters, “All they’re doing is driving Maxwell’s price up.”

And now we have an idea of the price after Pittsburgh gave cornerback Cortez Allen a five-year deal worth $26 million this weekend.

Continue reading Market for Maxwell is set, but will Hawks want to pay $5 million a year? →

The roster

Reports: Seahawks add OL, looking for CB

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Last week, we pointed out that the Hawks were playing Crazy 8s with their receivers and offensive linemen — going heavy with the former and light with the latter.

Well, they apparently have fixed that imbalance by replacing receiver Phil Bates with offensive lineman Andrew McDonald, who was released by Carolina in final cuts.

The signing was reported by his agent and, if McDonald is on the 53-man roster, means the Hawks now have nine linemen — the number they should have.

Continue reading Reports: Seahawks add OL, looking for CB →

CHAWK LINES
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Chawk lines 75 pct

Danny Kelly of FieldGulls puts together one of his great GIF breakdowns, showing the effect Percy Harvin had vs. Green Bay (and will have all season, assuming good health).

Greg Cosell of Shutdown Corner talks about the deception principles at work in Seattle’s offense.

Jerry Brewer of The Seattle Times says Marshawn Lynch was “noticeably quicker than he’s been during his four years in Seattle.”

Doug Miller of Sports on Earth looks at the sports turnaround in long-suffering Seattle.

Clare Farnsworth puts the spotlight on rookie right tackle Justin Britt after his first NFL start. And Britt tells The News Tribune the game was slower than practice.

The roster

Likely preparing to add corner, Hawks waive eighth receiver

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The Seahawks were destined to release one of their eight receivers, if only because it left them thin at other positions. And, in the wake of cornerback Jeremy Lane’s groin injury, they apparently have waived wide receiver Phil Bates.

The move, first reported by The Seattle Times, clears a spot on the roster for the team to add a cornerback. They are down to three — Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell and Marcus Burley — after injuries knocked out Lane and Tharold Simon (out four weeks after knee surgery).

Continue reading Likely preparing to add corner, Hawks waive eighth receiver →

Week 1: Green Bay

Legion of Boom had an adventurous opener

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Hawks vs Packers Thomas drops puntAmid the Seahawks’ 36-16 runaway win over Green Bay on Thursday, the Legion of Boom walked away victorious but somewhat disappointed.

Earl Thomas made a mess of punt returns, fumbling one that turned into a touchdown for Green Bay and raising further questions about the decision to put the All-Pro safety back there.

Kam Chancellor hit hard all night and made 11 tackles, but he also whiffed more than usual.

Richard Sherman was annoyed that the Packers refused to throw to his side of the field the entire game, opening up once again questions about whether Sherman should be allowed to shadow a team’s best receiver.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Jordy Nelson instead picked on Byron Maxwell, who gave up a bunch of completions to the duo but also picked off a pass.

Of course, none of those mostly minor issues was as big as the loss of nickel cornerback Jeremy Lane, who aggravated his groin injury and is “going to be down for a while,” coach Pete Carroll told reporters.

Continue reading Legion of Boom had an adventurous opener →

Week 1: Green Bay
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Darrell Bevell tells Peter King of MMQB about Russell Wilson’s zone read option pass to Ricardo Lockette that ended in a 33-yard touchdown.

The Packers cut the field in half when they decided not to throw Richard Sherman’s way.

The Seahawks missed 12 tackles, more than they whiffed on in any game last season, per Pro Football Focus. Kam Chancellor had 11 tackles, but he also missed three. Pete Carroll said on 710 KIRO today, “Kam Chancellor was just banging folks. He was hitting them. He might’ve missed the strike zone a few times.”

As for Earl Thomas’ poor decisions not to make fair catches, Carroll said, “We will keep working on it to get better.” Thomas did not seem to think he did anything wrong: “I can’t control what happened.”

Hawks Hall of FamersFor those not at the game, here’s a look at the Seahawks’ tribute to their three homegrown Hall of Famers — Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy and Walter Jones. They also raised the 12th Man flag together before the game. Pretty cool. 

Week 1: Green Bay

Just getting started, Hawks run over Pack

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Hawks vs PackersThe Seahawks put the NFL on notice proving they are better than they were last year and ready to knock out anyone who gets in their way of a second straight Super Bowl title.

While Bobby Wagner, Kam Chancellor and the defense shut down Green Bay’s running game and limited Aaron Rodgers, the offense showed signs of what it plans to do behind Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch and Percy Harvin.

Wilson threw two touchdown passes, Lynch rushed for 110 yards and two scores and Harvin totaled 170 all-purpose yards as the Seahawks pulled away from Green Bay for a 36-16 blowout win Thursday night in the NFL season opener.

Continue reading Just getting started, Hawks run over Pack →

Contracts

Wright & Avril likely want more than Hawks prefer to pay

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KJ and CliffThe week leading up to the start of the NFL season is always prime time for contract extensions, and this year certainly has seen its share.

Quarterback Alex Smith (Kansas City), linebacker Vontaze Burfict (Cincinnati) and defensive linemen J.J. Watt (Houston), Jurrell Casey (Tennessee) and Junior Galette (New Orleans) have all secured big contract extensions in the past week or so. Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton received a huge deal a month ago. And wide receivers Dez Bryant (Dallas) and Michael Crabtree (San Francisco) are reportedly in talks as well.

It’s no surprise that the Seahawks also appear to be in on the action, reportedly exploring extensions for defensive end Cliff Avril and linebacker K.J. Wright.

Continue reading Wright & Avril likely want more than Hawks prefer to pay →

CHAWK LINES
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Chawk lines 75 pct

The past eight Super Bowl winners have been blanked in the playoffs the next year. Find out what the Seahawks need to do to avoid that fate.

Tom Pelissero of USA Today provides anecdotal evidence of the pitfalls of repeating by talking to those who have done it.

“I’m just having fun ballin’,” Pete Carroll tells Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times in a piece about Carroll’s drive to keep winning.

Team president Peter Loughlin tells Dave Boling he thinks the Seahawks are becoming America’s Team.

The New York Times details how the Seahawks are cashing in on their first Super Bowl victory.

Kevin Fixler of SBNation offers a look at “the two sides of the unpredictable” Marshawn Lynch straight from his hometown of Oakland.

The Wall Street Journal explores the rise of the back-shoulder fade pass and the Seattle-inspired antidote for it.

Andrew Brandt of MMQB offers his firsthand knowledge of the architects of the Packers and Seahawks.

Condotta conducts a Defense 101 class detailing Seattle’s defensive scheme.

The Packers talk about the key to shutting up the 12th Man (good luck).

The roster

Seahawks are playing crazy eights at WR & OL

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Crazy 8sTalk about crazy eights.

After placing backup center Lemuel Jeanpierre on injured reserve and re-signing wide receiver Phil Bates, the Seahawks suddenly have a very off-balance offense: eight receivers and just eight linemen.

In this case, eight is more than enough at receiver and not nearly enough on the offensive line.

Continue reading Seahawks are playing crazy eights at WR & OL →