Good offensive lines typically are
defined by the four C’s: continuity, consistency, cohesion, camaraderie.
But, the Seahawks get by most of the time with just one C: Cable.
That’s why there’s no reason to be worried about Seattle’s offensive line — despite the uncertainty at center and left guard this year and left tackle and right guard next year. As always, Tom Cable will hook it up.
Once the Seahawks signed Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner to their megadeals, it was obvious someone probably was going to get cut.
While Brandon Mebane (and his $5.5 million salary) had been the rumored candidate for months, it turned out to be Tony McDaniel, whose release added $3 million to the $2 million or so the Hawks had left under this year’s cap. They typically like to have at least $4 million in reserve for practice squad and injury replacements during the season.
Pete Carroll was not happy to lose the 30-year-old McDaniel, who had been a key member of Seattle’s top-seven run defense in each of the past two Super Bowl seasons.
“It is a significant loss,” Carroll said. “Tony has been a really good core player for us, and we really liked him and what he’s brought to our club. This decision sucks, but you know we had to do something. Maybe there’s a chance we can get him back someday; I don’t know how that will work. Unfortunately, that’s what had to happen today.”
It weakens the depth on a defensive line that had looked pretty stout, especially at tackle, and means Mebane and Ahtyba Rubin will have to carry the weight as the run stoppers.
The next immediate roster concern is holdout safety Kam Chancellor.
Continue reading Hawks had to cut someone; now, what about Chancellor?
John Schneider loves trading with the Detroit Lions.
His deal Sunday to acquire cornerback Mohammed Seisay for a 2016 sixth-round pick was his seventh trade with Lions general manager Martin Mayhew since Schneider became Seattle’s GM in 2010.
It was his 35th trade overall and his third this year — although it pales in comparison to the deals for Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett.
Continue reading Schneider loves trading with Mayhew’s Lions
Some observations from Day 3 of camp from those who were there:
In the wake of the big deals signed by Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, someone was going to have to go to give the Hawks a little more cap space for this season — they were around $2 million and need to be around $4 million. Rather than cut Brandon Mebane, as had been rumored for months, the Seahawks released fellow defensive tackle Tony McDaniel instead. The move adds $3 million to Seattle’s cap, giving them comfort for the season.
The Hawks — short on cornerbacks with Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon out — also acquired Mohammed Seisay from the Detroit Lions for a 2016 sixth-round pick.
When Bobby Wagner signs his new contract — and it appears that could be in time for training camp next week — every offense that has to face the Seahawks’ defense for the next three seasons is going to shed a few more tears.
You would too if you knew the No. 1 defense of the last three years likely will remain that way for the next three — with Wagner, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, K.J. Wright and Cliff Avril (and maybe Michael Bennett) all under contract. That’s seven starters signed through at least 2017. And that doesn’t count Cary Williams, Frank Clark or Kevin Pierre-Louis — expected key contributors all signed through 2017 as well. Continue reading Wagner is worth $9M to league’s No. 1 defense
The Seahawks improved themselves at nearly every position this offseason.
They traded for tight end Jimmy Graham, moved up in the draft to take wide receiver/return maestro Tyler Lockett, drafted three offensive linemen, added defensive linemen Ahtyba Rubin and Frank Clark, and reinforced the secondary with Cary Williams, Will Blackmon, Tye Smith and Ryan Murphy.
One of the few positions where they made no moves was linebacker, a group that seemed kind of thin behind Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Bruce Irvin, Mike Morgan, Brock Coyle and Kevin Pierre-Louis.
But the Hawks apparently have plans to improve their depth and prepare for the likely departure of Irvin next offseason — 2014 draft picks Cassius Marsh and Eric Pinkins both are working at linebacker.
Continue reading Will Marsh replace Irvin as LB/LEO combo in 2016?
“This is a team that’s built for the future. … We’re in the middle of this. This is not like the end. This is just the middle of this.” — Pete Carroll to 710 ESPN after blowing the Super Bowl in February.
The Seahawks’ contract impasse with Russell Wilson has many wondering how much longer he will be the team’s quarterback and, in a related consideration, how long the Hawks’ Super Bowl window will remain open.
But Pete Carroll’s comments from February remain just as germane today, despite the apparent lack of progress on Wilson’s deal: This team is right in the middle of its Super Bowl window.
The team controls Wilson’s contract for at least three more seasons, which happens to match the duration of the deals of some of the team’s best players: Marshawn Lynch, Jimmy Graham, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett. Signed through 2018 are Cliff Avril, K.J. Wright, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman.
Sure, Lynch could walk at any time if he feels the Call of Duty to do something else. And Bennett might not be with the team beyond this year if he continues to sit inside the VMAC whining about his contract while his teammates practice.
But, with the team now talking to Bobby Wagner about a new deal, we should be able to add the linebacker to the list of long-term Seahawks at some point this year.
Add the team’s young receivers (Paul Richardson, Tyler Lockett, Kevin Norwood) and some of the other additions from the last two drafts, and the Hawks have a solid core through at least 2017.
Continue reading ‘This is a team that’s built for the future’
As we wait to see how Russell Wilson’s contract negotiations play out, some are asking whether Wilson is even necessary to the Seahawks and others are wondering whether he might put the Hawks in a bind by holding out.
Some argue the Seahawks could have reached the Super Bowl the past two years with almost any quarterback. Others vehemently disagree.
Neither group is completely right. And the argument is largely irrelevant anyway.
Continue reading Is Wilson necessary? And would he hold out?
Despite the loss of a couple of offensive linemen and a starting cornerback and a few ongoing contract squabbles, the Seahawks are clearly a better team than the one that blew the Super Bowl three months ago.
Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett should improve Seattle’s scoring ability, both on offense and special teams, and Frank Clark and Ahtyba Rubin should beef up the depth of a defensive line that was decimated throughout last season — topped by the loss of Cliff Avril to a concussion in the Super Bowl.
The Hawks also have brought in a handful of new offensive linemen as they look to replace Max Unger and James Carpenter and build some good depth on the unit while preparing for the possible departure of Russell Okung or J.R. Sweezy next offseason.
In the secondary, they have replaced Byron Maxwell with Cary Williams and also added Will Blackmon and rookie Tye Smith to fill in for the injured Jeremy Lane and make sure they don’t get caught with Tharold Simon covering quick receivers in the slot again.
The Hawks look to have some great competition along both lines, at receiver and in the secondary.
Here’s a look at the offense, with projected keepers (spoiler: Jermaine Kearse doesn’t make it).
And here’s a look at the defense, with Kevin Williams projected to return.
Tom Cable says college football has ruined offensive players, and that’s why he chooses to take defensive linemen and make them offensive linemen in the NFL.
Five linemen were drafted after the Hawks took conversion project Kristjan Sokoli in the sixth round, and the Hawks passed on Kansas State center B.J. Finney and Florida State guard Josue Matias, who were thought to be mid-round options but ended up going undrafted. The Hawks also signed another conversion project after their rookie minicamp, Kona Schwenke.
“I’m not wanting to offend anybody, but college football offensively has gotten to be really, really bad fundamentally,” Cable told 710 ESPN, referencing the gimmicky spread option that so many teams now use.
Continue reading Cable: College has ruined offensive players
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 