All posts by cc

expect more thrillers like that win over Pats

September 21, 2020 cc 1 Comment

If the first two games are any indication, the Seahawks are going to play in a lot of shootouts this season – and probably win most of them.

Russell Wilson is off to his best start ever — with nine TD passes and one interception (thanks, Greg Olsen). Meanwhile, the defense, even with superstar Jamal Adams, is struggling every bit as much as it did in 2019, when almost every week (12 of 16 anyway) involved a thriller.

This 35-30 win over the Patriots was more of that brand – and the same kind of show Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick’s teams always put on when they meet.

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Coaches, Week 2: New England

Ageless Carroll can do a lot on ‘five-year plan’

September 17, 2020 cc Leave a comment

It’s fitting that Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick will set a record for the oldest coaching matchup in NFL history this week – the same week Carroll turned 69 (Belichick is 68).

It’s a great matchup between the NFL’s two best coaches of the past decade, and it begs the age-old question: How much longer will these guys go? Most important to us: How much longer will Carroll coach the Seahawks?

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Week 1: At Atlanta

Adams, Wilson, Schotty star in big opening win

September 14, 2020 cc 1 Comment

Pay Jamal Adams right now, and give Brian Schottenheimer a gold star.

In his first game, Adams showed he was definitely worth the 13^th overall pick and Schotty made the “Let Russ Cook” crowd happy by coming out throwing.

Apparently Russell Wilson has finally earned more pull in the organization, because the Hawks took his advice and stunned us all by coming out firing in Atlanta. They ended up scoring more points than in any season opener in Pete Carroll’s 11 seasons.

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Schedule, X's & O's

Previewing the season

September 11, 2020 cc Leave a comment

As this oddest of NFL seasons begins, the Seahawks look strong enough to contend for the Super Bowl again – assuming (1) they aren’t hit by a bunch of COVID afflictions, (2) their lines hold up and (3) they learn how to play offense in the playoffs.

After adding Jamal Adams, Quinton Dunbar, Greg Olsen, Carlos Hyde, Phillip Dorsett and Jordyn Brooks, the Hawks look very solid at DB, TE, RB, WR and LB – and of course QB. But their pass rush is still a major question mark, they look really thin at defensive tackle and center is a big unknown.

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Contracts, Free agency, The roster

D-line drama over, contract focus turns to star-stacked secondary

September 8, 2020 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks’ defensive line soap opera, which had dragged on for a year and a half (from Frank Clark to Ziggy Ansah to Jadeveon Clowney), finally ended when Clowney signed with Tennessee the other day.

Short of another trade, the Seahawks are going with the pedestrian pass-rush crew they assembled without Clowney. And we move on with fingers crossed and eyes closed.

We can only hope there is not as much drama – or failure — around extensions for Seattle’s now star-studded secondary next offseason.

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The roster, Training camp

Britt or bust at center?

August 26, 2020 cc 1 Comment

Why do the Seahawks never seem to have a clue about what to do with their offensive line?

After the 2019 season ended, Pete Carroll said he wanted to keep his line together – “I don’t want to see a big change there.’’ But then, in a pandemic year, Carroll let John Schneider convince him to save money by parting with three starters and a key reserve.

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The roster, X's & O's

Carroll goes back to roots on defense

August 20, 2020 cc Leave a comment

Like it or not, Seattle seems to be standing pat with the pass rushers it has.

You can hold out all you want for the Seahawks to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney or trade for Yannick Ngakoue. But, if they were not interested in signing Everson Griffen for $6 million (what Dallas paid him), they are obviously content to go with what they have: Bruce Irvin, Benson Mayowa, Rasheem Green, L.J. Collier, Darrell Taylor and Alton Robinson.

Instead, Pete Carroll is going back to his roots and building his defense from the back. And he would rather pay All-Pro safety Jamal Adams than Ngakoue or Clowney or even the cheap Griffen — perhaps partly because he expects Adams to sack the quarterback.

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Trades

Hawks gave up a ton for Adams, but probably not as much as it seems

July 25, 2020 cc 1 Comment

Adams John Schneider just pulled off his biggest blockbuster since the Percy Harvin debacle seven years ago. By draft picks, it is the most grandiose deal Schneider has ever made.

The reported terms: Jamal Adams and a fourth-rounder in 2022 for a first and third in 2021, a first in 2022 and Bradley McDougald.

It’s a ton to give up for a safety. In most cases, you would say way too much. But there are extenuating circumstances all around this one – from the team that made the deal to the year it was made.

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Schedule, Training camp

How will shortened prep time impact Hawks & foes early in season?

May 26, 2020 cc 1 Comment

As states begin to reopen, the NFL and players association are discussing ways to safely bring teams back together and eventually stage games — and, while we doubt there will be minicamps in June, it seems like training camps might be able to begin on time in July.

With teams limited to virtual meetings (see the Seahawks’ tight ends) this offseason, coaches are missing out on key on-field prep time. The lack of physical work is putting everyone behind their usual timelines, and those adding new elements (e.g, coaches, quarterbacks and receivers) will find themselves even further behind once camps begin.

So, teams that have few major changes should have a jump on the rest — which could help in the first few weeks of the season.

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Free agency, The roster

Why is anyone surprised over Schneider’s conservative offseason?

May 25, 2020 cc 1 Comment

Pic -- Schneider at Combine For some reason, some fans and analysts (and even fanalysts) are befuddled about the way the Seahawks have approached this offseason.

After Carlos Hyde was signed to a deal reportedly worth up to $4 million, the complaining really kicked in: Why have they squandered their cap space and not added any stars?

Seattle has spent $52 million on 14 veterans this offseason. None of them are standouts. None of them are the marquee pass rusher they really need. And none of them are signed for more than two years.

But, it’s no surprise. If you have watched the Seahawks for the past five years, you know this is how John Schneider does business now. He is very conservative and gets aggressive (via trades) only out of desperation.

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