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State of the team, The roster

Hawks are ready for defensive changes

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Draft -- Schneider and CarrollAfter two days of talking by the players and Pete Carroll, we’ve learned a few tidbits about the Seahawks’ personnel and upcoming decisions as they sit out the playoffs for the first time in six years.

A lot of people think the defense is in complete disarray and has to be rebuilt almost from scratch. Don’t tell that to Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Frank Clark, Jarran Reed, Nazair Jones and Shaq Griffin. Those eight are all under contract for at least 2018 and figure to key a resurgent Seattle defense next season.

Carroll said he views it like 2011-12, when he was developing his Super Bowl core.

“There is a young nucleus and a new nucleus of guys that have come to us,” he said, referencing Bradley McDougald, Dion Jordan and Terence Garvin. “They’re part of that (2017 draft) class (which included Jones and Griffin) as well and the class from last year. These are good groups of guys now, so we’re very optimistic about the roster.”

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State of the team, Week 17: Arizona, X's & O's

This has been Wilson’s worst December

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logo-arizonaA month ago, many were touting Russell Wilson as an MVP candidate. Then he had the worst December of his career.

The MVP chants were all based on the fact that Wilson has been Seattle’s entire offense this season. With a game left, he has represented 81.6 percent of the offense (4,312 of 5,286 yards). That number is just 0.2 percent off the league record (held, oddly, by one-time Seahawk Jon Kitna). Wilson also has accounted for 35 of the team’s 36 touchdowns.

But here’s the real lesson from those stats: Seattle’s coaches have put way too much on Wilson’s shoulders, and he finally collapsed under that pressure. In some ways, this has been his worst NFL season.

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Contracts, State of the team, The roster

Thomas bracing for departure, but Hawks will pay him

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Earl in DallasEarl Thomas is creating a lot of negative-energy waves as this season winds down. To some, it might seem like he is trying to build up a trade tsunami.

But it’s just Earl being Earl — the Pro Bowl safety who wears his heart on his sleeve and sometimes puts his foot in his mouth. And you can expect him to be a happy camper, with feet firmly on the ground, again as soon as John Schneider gives him another contract extension in the coming offseason.

Thomas’ contract — which has one year left — clearly is on his mind, and he seems to be bracing for Seattle to trade him in 2018 or lowball him and force him to go play somewhere else in 2019.

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Contracts, Trades

Schneider should tag-and-trade Sheldon

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John Schneider (via Fresh Files)John Schneider has not been afraid to make bold gambles with the Seahawks’ roster — Percy Harvin, Jimmy Graham and Sheldon Richardson being prominent examples. As the 2018 offseason approaches, he has a chance to make another one.

Richardson figures to command a hefty contract on the open market, and he and the Jets reportedly are interested in a reunion — just months after the Jets traded him to Seattle for a second-round pick and Jermaine Kearse (and a swap of seventh-rounders).

Schneider could shrug and let the defensive tackle go, content to look forward to the third-round comp pick Seattle likely would get in 2019 — a partial offset for that trade. Or Schneider could be a lot more devious and daring, if he felt he could manipulate the situation to Seattle’s advantage.

Schneider has not used the franchise tag since his first year in Seattle, 2010, when he retained kicker Olindo Mare. But he should consider it for Richardson. And then trade him.

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Contracts, The roster

Looking ahead to 2018

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Salary cap logoWith playoff hopes slim for the Seahawks, and a Super Bowl hardly a consideration even if they do make the postseason, many people already are looking ahead to 2018.

Some overreactive fools are suggesting the Seahawks blow up the entire team, fire Pete Carroll, trade Russell Wilson and get rid of every defender over 30. That’s complete silliness, obviously.

Carroll and Wilson have presided over the greatest era of Seahawks football — a six-year run that has included 64 wins, five playoff appearances, two Super Bowls and one NFL title. Yeah, it has been a relative disappointment ever since Carroll’s botched XLIX decision — the potential dynasty fizzled out with that huge gaffe.

But these guys have plenty left.

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State of the team, Week 15: L.A. Rams

End of an era? Not yet

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Logo -- Los AngelesTwo weeks ago, Seattle knocked off the high-flying Philadelphia Eagles, and it sure looked like the Seahawks were getting ready to spread their wings for another long postseason flight.

Even a 30-24 loss in Jacksonville last week did nothing to shake the faith — the Seahawks basically beat themselves thanks to Russell Wilson’s overly aggressive interceptions and a few other mistakes.

There was plenty of reason to think they could beat the Rams at home and take control of the NFC West. And even if they had lost by just a touchdown, it wouldn’t have been unexpected or created a huge stir beyond the uphill battle to make the playoffs.

But a 42-7 demolition has raised a ton of questions about the future of these Seahawks.

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Week 15: L.A. Rams, X's & O's

For Hawks, first downs are worst downs

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Logo -- Los AngelesThe Seahawks have been one of the worst first-half offenses in the league this season, ranking 25th with 8.5 points. That’s nine points less than the Rams, who play in Seattle today in what is almost a must-win for the Seahawks.

A big reason the Hawks have failed so miserably in the first half is their inability to do anything on first down.

For full games, they are the second-worst rushing team in the NFL on first down, and Russell Wilson is having the worst season of his six-year career for first-down passing.

The loss to Jacksonville last week exemplified the issues they have had there, while also providing a glimmer of hope that they might be close to fixing the problem.

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The roster, Week 15: L.A. Rams

Why waive Glowinski?

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Logo -- Los AngelesWhy Mark Glowinski?

That’s what some fans are asking after the Seahawks surprisingly waived the third-year guard among their moves Saturday — while putting Kam Chancellor on IR and calling up practice-squad linebacker Kache Palacio and cornerback Mike Tyson.

Chancellor had languished on the 53-man roster ever since he was injured against Arizona five weeks ago. With injuries to Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, the Seahawks need potential reinforcements at the position.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 15: L.A. Rams
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CHAWK LINES -- Rams at Seahawks

Malik McDowell met with Pete Carroll and John Schneider and issued an apology (which surely was written by the team). He has two strikes, but he will get a third chance to show he is not a total screw-up and waste of a second-round draft pick. As Carroll said, “Let’s hope this isn’t an indicator of things to come.”

“My life and my kids are more important than football,” Cliff Avril told SI.com in a story on Week 4’s NFL bloodbath that included Chris Carson also being lost for the season. Avril, who had spinal surgery in November, seems likely to retire.

No Seahawks will be suspended for the ugly end to the game in Jacksonville. But fines could be coming. The NFL also issued a stern warning about attacking referees in any way (take note, Germain Ifedi).

Bobby Wagner (hamstring) is questionable for the NFC West showdown with the Rams this week. K.J. Wright (concussion) and Mike Davis (ribs) seem like they might be good to go.

 

State of the team, Week 14: At Jacksonville

Despite flaws, Hawks still can beat anyone — time to prove it

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Logo -- At JacksonvilleComing off their watershed win against the Eagles, the Seahawks had a chance to confirm they were ready for a big run into the postseason. All they needed to do was beat the NFL’s best defense a week after beating the best offense.

They couldn’t do it, though, and now they have to beat the Rams next week — and the final two on top of that — to assure themselves of a sixth straight postseason. If they lose another game, they will need big help to get into the playoffs in a loaded NFC.

As ugly as that 30-24 loss in Jacksonville was, the Seahawks showed enough for us to think they still could make a run to the Super Bowl — assuming Russell Wilson quits throwing interceptions and Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright don’t miss any time.

Continue reading Despite flaws, Hawks still can beat anyone — time to prove it →