Category Archives: CHAWK LINES

CHAWK LINES -- Lions at Seahawks

With Marshawn Lynch and Brandon Mebane out, “Monday Night Football” might be a preview of the 2016 Seahawks.

Nice look at Seattle’s new No. 2 running back — and No. 1 again this week — Thomas Rawls, by Bob Condotta.

The big storyline for #DETvsSEA, of course, is the return of Golden Tate to face his old team and the Legion of Boom. “We had our battles in practice for years,” Richard Sherman said. “It’ll be another fun battle.”

Even in Detroit, Tate has been creating controversy at the usual rate.

Cliff Avril will be playing his old team Monday, but he calls it “just another game.”

Continue reading

CHAWK LINES -- Bears at Seahawks

Pete Carroll doesn’t really care that the Seahawks’ offense is struggling in the first half. Jimmy Graham does, though.

Doug Baldwin doesn’t like the offense’s performance either: “We’re awful on third down right now.”

Baldwin also said he doesn’t want to find out how the Hawks would do without Marshawn Lynch, who is questionable for Monday vs. Detroit with a hamstring injury after a calf injury sidelined him to start the game vs. the Bears.

Golden Tate, former Hawk now with the Lions, said defenses know what Detroit’s offense is doing before it does it.

The Lions and 49ers are running very simple offenses, allowing defenses to beat them consistently, John Clayton surmised.

The Seahawks are getting big contributions from rookies for the first time since 2012.

The Seahawks are again chasing the Cardinals in the NFC West. Here’s a good look at the factors in that race by Bob Condotta.

The Bears were good medicine for the Seahawks’ defense, which improved from 17th to third in overall defense and 21st to second in pass defense.

NFL teams set a record for penalties through the first three weeks, but the Seahawks were a small part of that — tied for the second fewest penalties (18), if you can believe that.

CHAWK LINES -- Bears at Seahawks

Kam Chancellor got a warm welcome from the fans and inspired his teammates to their first shutout since a 23-0 win over the Giants in 2013.

Jimmy Graham played a big role, scoring the only offensive touchdown. His seven catches were the second most by a tight end in team history.

With Marshawn Lynch sidelined, Thomas Rawls gave the Hawks a spark — becoming the first Seattle runner other than Lynch to go over 100 yards since Robert Turbin in 2012.

Lynch’s calf/hamstring injuries are “nothing to be alarmed by,” Pete Carroll said, although his status was unclear after the game.

Continue reading

CHAWK LINES -- Bears at Seahawks

The Seahawks activated Kam Chancellor and waived Dion Bailey on Saturday. Bailey could end up back on the practice squad.

As Chancellor returns, the Seahawks are starting over.

The Jimmy Graham Conundrum explained by the principals.

The Chancellor saga showed new Seahawks fans it’s not all fun and games. Will they welcome him back Sunday vs. Chicago?

#CHIvsSEA will pit the Bennett brothers against each other for just the third time.

Three keys to the game from Seahawks.com include the Seahawks stopping Matt Forte.

The Chicago Tribune (via The Seattle Times) breaks down five keys to the game.

Continue reading

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Packers

Controversy king Mike Freeman is at it again, claiming Jimmy Graham is ready to “explode” if he doesn’t get the ball. Freeman is the same dude who put out the inflammatory report last year claiming there was a schism in the locker room over Russell Wilson, who wasn’t black enough for some teammates. Pay no mind to his anti-Seahawk ramblings.

On a more constructive note, Bob Condotta reviewed every pass play that might have been able to go to Graham and determined what we all knew: He could have been more involved.

Field Gulls gave a much longer breakdown (with screenshots) of Graham’s Green Bay game.

At 0-2, the Seahawks look a lot like last year’s Super Bowl team.

Continue reading

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Packers

Do the Seahawks miss Kam Chancellor on the field? Let their other defensive leaders tell you.

John Schneider visited Chancellor and asked him to come back, promising the team would take care of him at some point, Jay Glazer reported. Chancellor thinks he has great leverage, Glazer said.

Dave Boling says the Seahawks need to discover their post-Chancellor identity.

Bob Condotta points to the 1985 Bears, who won the Super Bowl with two season holdouts, as a case study for the Kam-less Seahawks.

The Packers might not be the only ones without their right tackle (Bryan Bulaga). Garry Gilliam is questionable with a rib issue.

Continue reading

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Packers

In good news for the Seahawks, Packers OT Bryan Bulaga will miss the game with a knee injury suffered Thursday.

Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman both said poor communication led to all of the big plays by the Rams. They also both call it easily fixable.

Communication was the biggest focus this week, per Bob Condotta.

Sherman and Michael Bennett — Seattle’s two most outspoken and controversial players — both chimed in about the Black Lives Matter movement.

Larry Stone points out what we have noticed: Sherman has mellowed out from attention-getting trash talker to thoughtful social commenter.

Bob Condotta of the Times says Jimmy Graham’s debut could be a nice preview of things to come.

Graham apparently stayed in to block 36.9 percent of the time vs. the Rams. Last year with the Saints, he blocked 30.5 percent of the time.

Marshawn Lynch’s mom made it clear she was not speaking for Lynch when she called for Darrell Bevell to be fired.

Marcus Trufant reflects on playing his entire football career in the state of Washington.

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Packers

Once again, fans want to lynch Darrell Bevell. Especially Mama Lynch.

Richard Sherman talked about his positions as a spokesman for societal change and as the Hawks’ new nickel corner.

Dave Boling says the Packers are pretending this is not a big game of redemption.

Contrary to reports that the Hawks have offered concessions to Kam Chancellor, Pete Carroll said the team has not been negotiating, and the team apparently wants him to report before it considers making any chances to his deal.

Field Gulls looks at the effect of the absence of Chancellor.

Continue reading

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Rams

Field Gulls passed on the latest on Kam Chancellor: (1) Teammates have come to John Schneider and Pete Carroll asking them to resolve the situation and get Chancellor in and (2) they were close to a deal in mid-August, but it fell apart. Also, check out the homage to “Back to the Future” in the Field Gulls pic.

The Seahawks lamented missed tackles and big passing plays (eight of more than 20 yards). Cliff Avril said, “It felt like we gave up the most explosive plays that we’ve given up since I’ve been here.”

Dion Bailey said he should have just tackled Lance Kendricks and taken the pass-interference penalty when Bailey fell while trying to cover the tight end.

Don’t blame Bailey for all of the defense’s problems though. Tight ends were a big problem for them last season, even with Chancellor.

The Rams once again pummeled Russell Wilson, sacking him six times for the third time in his seven games against them. “Those guys are really good up front, and they got the best of us today,” said Russell Okung, who gave up the final sack.

Continue reading

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Rams

Seattle’s reshaped offensive line faces a Ram-tough challenge in the opener.

Rob Rang offers three key matchups, and two of them are up front.

An insider’s look at the Rams, plus the matchup in a nutshell.

Earl Thomas tries to bait the Rams into throwing his way.

Why is it no surprise that Tharold Simon suddenly appeared on the injury report?

There will be plenty of room at Edward Jones Dome for Seahawks fans on Sunday as the Rams apparently are losing support amid owner Stan Kroenke’s attempt to move the team to L.A.

Linebacker Nick Moody was signed to the practice squad — for now. Mike Morgan might return next week; so, if the Hawks are considering adding Moody to the 53-man roster, the top candidates for release appear to be David King, Kristjan Sokoli, Will Tukuafu and Steven Terrell.

Continue reading