All posts by cc

Week 12: At Philadelphia

NFC West lead is in Seahawks’ sights

Leave a comment

Logo -- At PhiladelphiaBy the time the Seahawks host the Vikings on Monday night, they will know whether they are playing for first place in the NFC West and a spot among the conference’s top two.

And there’s a very good chance they will be — since the 49ers go to Baltimore in Week 13 to face MVP favorite Lamar Jackson and the juggernaut Ravens, who just blew out the Rams on Monday night.

If the 49ers lose and the Hawks can get enough offense to handle the surging Vikings, Seattle would move up to the second seed (or even top seed, if the Saints lose in Atlanta).

Continue reading NFC West lead is in Seahawks’ sights →

Trades, Week 10: At San Francisco

Schneider’s veteran trades paying off

3 Comments

Logo -- At San FranciscoTo beat the 49ers, the Seahawks merely had to give up Jacob Martin, Barkevious Mingo and a couple of 2020 mid-round draft picks. That was the cheap price for keeping the Hawks in the hunt for the NFC’s top seed.

Of John Schneider’s 11 trades this year, three were for veteran players — Jadeveon Clowney, Quandre Diggs and Jacob Hollister. And all three played major roles in the big win over the 49ers and are set to continue their impact as the season marches on after the Week 11 bye.

Continue reading Schneider’s veteran trades paying off →

Week 10: At San Francisco

A little lucky, a little good, a little 8-2 record

4 Comments

Logo -- At San FranciscoThe Seahawks had been doubted after building a 7-2 record on the backs of a bunch of also-rans, but who is questioning them now after knocking off the 49ers, the NFL’s last unbeaten team?

Sure, the Hawks got a little lucky again — a missed overtime field goal saving them from another self-inflicted loss.

Some might say “It’s better to be lucky than good,” but you also could say, “Good teams win the close games.” And that is what the Seahawks have done on the way to an 8-2 record. The Seahawks are now 5-0 in games decided by four points or less and they have rallied from 10 down to win three times, most in the NFL.

Continue reading A little lucky, a little good, a little 8-2 record →

State of the team, Week 10: At San Francisco

Catching up ahead of huge Monday night game

1 Comment

Logo -- At San FranciscoBack from South Africa and Paris, a rare two-week vacation during football season, let’s catch up with some thoughts after the Seahawks improved to 7-2 while we were gone …

While we were watching lions (not the Detroit guys) devour baby buffalo (not the Bills) in the South Africa bush, the Seahawks held off Atlanta and beat Tampa Bay in overtime (we followed that one on Twitter from Nelspruit, S.A., which was fun).

Seattle also put Tedric Thompson and Justin Britt on IR, reportedly dangled Rashaad Penny, once again considered signing Antonio Brown and claimed Josh Gordon. And Quandre Diggs still has not played for them.

Continue reading Catching up ahead of huge Monday night game →

Injury report, The roster, Trades

Hawks will use (start?) ‘playmaker’ Diggs immediately

Leave a comment

Seahawks bandagesIf you believe Pete Carroll, Quandre Diggs is not coming to replace struggling Tedric Thompson.

“No, it’s the guys that are banged up and not knowing when they’ll get back,” Carroll told reporters, referring to Bradley McDougald (back spasms) and Lano Hill (elbow).

But Diggs might indeed start alongside rookie Marquise Blair on Sunday at Atlanta. Carroll mentioned free safety as Diggs’ initial spot, but also said he could play strong safety or nickel.

Continue reading Hawks will use (start?) ‘playmaker’ Diggs immediately →

Trades

Diggs the latest effort to replace Thomas?

2 Comments

John Schneider draftingA day after Earl Thomas beat his former team, the Seahawks are still trying to figure out how to replace him.

John Schneider’s trade for Detroit safety Quandre Diggs, a Pro Bowl alternate in 2018, seems like more than just a depth move for a team that is without Bradley McDougald and Lano Hill.

It looks like Pete Carroll has seen enough of Tedric Thompson, who has given up too many big plays — including an early 50-yard pass that helped Baltimore beat the Hawks.

Continue reading Diggs the latest effort to replace Thomas? →

Week 7: Baltimore

Yo, Carroll critics: Coach’s decisions have not led to the losses

4 Comments

Logo -- BaltimoreLed by the new generation of stat geeks, people have been ripping Pete Carroll’s coaching decisions all season — win or lose. They had a few more to nitpick in the 30-16 loss to the Ravens on Sunday — even though his decisions were nowhere near as costly as the turnovers and Lamar Jackson.

The call most fans were lamenting was Carroll’s choice to try a 53-yard kick in the rain (which failed) instead of going for it on fourth-and-3 from the Baltimore 35 in the third quarter. Jason Myers is now 0 for 2 from 50ish this season and also missed a 48-yarder against the Rams — a kick a lot of fans hated as well as it came on fourth-and-1.

The Ravens flipped the 53-yard miss into a 62-yard drive for a touchdown, which they scored when Jackson talked John Harbaugh into going for it on fourth down. Some silly Carroll critics pointed to that as the moment the game was lost, even though the score was just 20-13.

Continue reading Yo, Carroll critics: Coach’s decisions have not led to the losses →

Week 7: Baltimore

Jackson, Ravens’ defense give Thomas his revenge

1 Comment

Logo -- BaltimoreEarl Thomas got his revenge.

Lamar Jackson ran through the Seahawks all game and Thomas’ Baltimore teammates scored two defensive touchdowns to beat Seattle 30-16, sending the Seahawks to their second loss of the season.

This game was reminiscent of Seattle’s other loss, also at home, to New Orleans in Week 3. The Hawks beat themselves with two really bad turnovers — a pick-six on a bad-decision throw by Wilson in the first half and a fumble by D.K. Metcalf late in the game.

Continue reading Jackson, Ravens’ defense give Thomas his revenge →

Week 7: Baltimore

Carroll usually beats his former players

Leave a comment

Logo -- Baltimore“There’s nothing we like more than beating the guys that we love.” — Pete Carroll

As Earl Thomas comes back to Seattle, hoping for some fan love, it will be the biggest reunion/revenge game since Richard Sherman came back last December.

Sherman lost in Seattle but got even when his 49ers won in overtime at home two weeks later.

Everyone knows Thomas, now a Baltimore Raven, carries a big grudge against Pete Carroll for not wanting to re-sign him. Thomas notoriously flipped off his coach as he was carted off the field with a broken leg in Week 4 last season — what turned out to be his final game as a Seahawk.

Thomas downplayed the revenge factor this week, and Carroll said he will “love him anyway.” But Carroll also said he loves beating his former players.

Continue reading Carroll usually beats his former players →