Category Archives: CHAWK LINES

December 25, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Bobby Wagner’s surprise Christmas present: a Pro Bowl nod.

Russell Wilson was NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher on Wilson: “The best way to describe it is that he’s an extra player on offense. They’re playing with 12, and that’s very hard to defend.’’ So, Wilson is a 12th man, too.

Marshawn Lynch was fined $11,050 for grabbing his crotch during his backward dive into the end zone on his 79-yard run vs. Arizona.

Curious about what Lynch and Ricardo Lockette were saying into the microphone boom during the game in Arizona?

The Seahawks needed Jordan Hill to replace Clinton McDonald as the inside rusher, and he finally has, with five sacks in the past five games.

CHAWK LINES

December 20, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Have the Cardinals replaced the 49ers as the Seahawks’ top rival in the NFC West?

Jerry Brewer is correct when he says the Seattle offense “has to become more sophisticated,” but how can it when the offensive line is such a mess?

I was going to write about the importance of a quick-hit passing game, but John Boyle did a nice job of it.

With the underwhelming Ryan Lindley starting for Arizona, Kenneth Arthur of Field Gulls attempts to foreshadow his performance by looking at some of the worst games by quarterbacks in NFL history.

A preview of the game from The Sports Xchange.

Field Gulls takes an early look at the Seahawks’ 2015 schedule as we know it so far.

CHAWK LINES, Week 15: San Francisco

December 13, 2014 cc Leave a comment

A detailed look at the recent play of the Seattle defense, particularly the Legion of Boom, by Doug Farrar.

Another breakdown of Seattle’s simple but successful defensive schemes.

A look at Bobby Wagner’s contribution to Seattle’s defensive dominance of the last few weeks.

Seahawks.com focuses on defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Jordan Hill.

Tharold Simon is drawing lots of praise despite a ton of penalties.

Not sure why anyone puts much stock in Pro Football Focus grades — they are just as subjective as your opinion or mine. The Seattle Times uses them to point out how Russell Wilson can be viewed as great and terrible in the same game.

Many think this will be the last game between Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers and Pete Carroll’s Seahawks, with Harbaugh expected to be coaching elsewhere in 2015. Jerry Brewer gives his take.

Three key matchups for this Niners-Hawks game, courtesy of Rob Rang.

No one is picking the 49ers.

Mystery solved: Scot McCloughan apparently was forced to leave both the 49ers and the Seahawks because of a drinking problem.

CHAWK LINES, Week 14: At Philadelphia

December 5, 2014 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks are as healthy as they have been since September — so healthy that they haven’t even felt the need to add a 53rd player because they know that player will be inactive Sunday in Philadelphia.

It has been a big birthday week for Russell Wilson.

Danny Kelly of Field Gulls gives his take on the Hawks’ red-zone failures against the 49ers.

Seattle’s defensive dominance coincides with the return to relative health of two guys: Bobby Wagner and Kam Chancellor.

Dan Quinn and Wagner told Peter King they are not concerned about the quick pace of the Eagles’ offense.

New Seahawk Demarcus Dobbs, who played pretty well in his 11 plays vs. the 49ers, tells his “Blind Side” story.

CHAWK LINES, Week 14: At Philadelphia

December 3, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Given the chance to do it again, Pete Carroll said he would have challenged tight end Tony Moeaki being ruled down at the 1-yard line on a 63-yard play last week against the 49ers. Plus, more highlights from Carroll’s media gathering today.

The Legion of Boom could be whole for the first time all season, with Jeremy Lane seeming likely to play at Philadelphia.

For the second straight week, the Legion of Boom won the NFC defensive award.

The Eagles say they won’t give Richard Sherman the Deion Sanders respect.

Mark Sanchez says he is not mad at Carroll for decrying his decision to go pro early in 2009.

Trent Cole says he did not mean to end Russell Okung’s season when the Eagles played in Seattle in 2011.

Chris Maragos, who was with the Seahawks from 2011 to 2013, talks about going from one great franchise to another.

CHAWK LINES

December 1, 2014 cc Leave a comment

After Arizona lost Sunday, the Seahawks control their destiny (except for the No. 1 seed, where they need an unlikely loss by Green Bay).

More scuttlebutt about Marshawn Lynch retiring — or, laughably, leaving Seattle to join Tom Cable elsewhere. Really? Who is going to hire Cable as a head coach?

The media keeps thinking Lynch not talking is a big story.

The pass defense has returned to form, which explains the Seahawks’ rediscovered dominance, Jerry Brewer says.

Per Sports Press Northwest, Richard Sherman is the first player in 30 years to tally 23 interceptions in his first four years. The last two to do it? Everson Walls and Seahawks Ring of Honor member Kenny Easley.

This could be the first year without a flexed “Sunday Night Football” game. The Seahawks play Arizona on Sunday night, Dec. 21.

CHAWK LINES, Week 12: Arizona

November 23, 2014 cc Leave a comment

These Cardinals are better than the group that beat the Seahawks in Seattle last season. And these Seahawks aren’t as good.

Are the Seahawks really desperate? No, because they have more than minus-38 dollars in their bank account.

A look at some keys to the game by Seahawks.com. And some more from AZCardinals.com.

“This is a big blitzing team and we need to do a good job of handling it,” Pete Carroll said.

Seattle’s defense is almost as healthy as it can get at this point (with the major exception of Brandon Mebane).

No surprise: Teammates love Marshawn Lynch.

CHAWK LINES, Week 11: At Kansas CIty

November 16, 2014 cc Leave a comment

The Chiefs have rebounded from an 0-2 start, winning five of the last six. The New York Times tells us how.

The Chiefs and Seahawks have a lot in common, starting with the ex-Packers in charge.

The NFL once again is trying to get the reticent Marshawn Lynch to speak, though who the hell knows why it matters?

Yet another report that the Seahawks will move on from Lynch after this season. This has been assumed for a long time.

ICYMI: Herman Sarkowsky — who co-founded both the Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers, now both owned by Paul Allen — died this month.

CHAWK LINES, Week 9: Oakland

November 2, 2014 cc Leave a comment

With Malcolm Smith out for a couple of weeks and K.J. Wright moving back outside, Brock Coyle will start in the middle.

And Kevin Pierre-Louis figures to get much more playing time as well.

Here’s a look at the Hawks’ new 280-pound fullback.

The 14.5-point line for this game is tied for the third-highest home spread in Seahawks history. They covered the first two but needed OT to beat Tampa Bay, also 14.5-point underdogs, last year.

Derek Carr, Will Tukuafu and Brock Coyle are among the players to watch from Seahawks.com, The Seattle Times and the Seattle P-I.

Here’s the team-by-team comparison. Guessing that turnover margin difference will be a big factor.

CHAWK LINES, Week 8: At Carolina

October 25, 2014 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks placed fullback Derrick Coleman (broken foot) on IR and added wide receiver Phil Bates. It’s the latest move in a tumultuous week for special teams.

The Seahawks and Panthers, who were a combined 25-7 last season, are just 6-6-1 this year. Said Carolina coach Ron Rivera: “We’re two good football teams that have lost their footing a little bit.”

Who is more beat up? The Seahawks are without their starting center, fullback, tight end, cornerback, middle linebacker and kick returner. The Panthers are without their two starting guards, two or three running backs, a starting linebacker and their kick returner.

The Seahawks face another good tight end this week in Greg Olsen, who is off to the best start of his career. The Hawks already have given up seven TD passes to tight ends.