Category Archives: Training camp

Rawls knows he needs to get back ASAP or risk losing the No. 1 spot

July 11, 2016 cc Leave a comment

Rawls out for season It should be no surprise that Thomas Rawls is fighting hard to be ready for the start of training camp: After all, he has a lot of competition to stave off.

Sure, Pete Carroll said Rawls remains the main man replacing Marshawn Lynch — a right Rawls earned by the way he played as a rookie last season (830 yards in 12 games). But the Seahawks drafted three running backs, and Carroll has said they have big plans for third-rounder C.J. Prosise.

Carroll’s overarching theme is ComPete, and Rawls knows it is entirely possible that he loses the No. 1 job if he is slow to get back on the field and Prosise and fifth-rounder Alex Collins excel in his absence. There are only so many carries to go around — even in Seattle’s run-heavy offense.

While everyone else is taking a few weeks off before camp, Rawls is working hard to come back from the broken ankle he suffered against Baltimore in Week 14.

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CHAWK LINES, Training camp

August 20, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Some observations from the final official day of camp from those who were there (and other features):

Former Seahawk Marcus Trufant skydived into camp before practice.

Jermaine Kearse needed a good camp to stave off challenges from among the deepest receiving corps the Hawks have had under Pete Carroll, and he apparently continues to impress.

Kevin Smith has had a good camp and played well vs. Denver, but will it be enough to beat out Ricardo Lockette or B.J. Daniels?

Russell Wilson says he is clicking with all of his receivers and he is not concerned about the offensive line.

Hawk Blogger says the starting line looks fine with Justin Britt at left guard and Garry Gilliam at right tackle. But he also asks what we all are wondering: What happened to Alvin Bailey?

The P-I offered five takeaways from camp.

Richard Sherman supports Tom Brady in his appeal of his four-game suspension.

Darrell Bevell told Peter King he wouldn’t change the Super Bowl play call but it “will always be there to drive me.”

CHAWK LINES, Training camp

August 19, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Some observations from Day 14 of camp from those who were there (and other features):

Earl Thomas returned to the field in pads for the first time since the Super Bowl.

“Just don’t go feelin’ sorry for me, people!” Nate Boyer said after the Hawks released him Tuesday.

Boyer was cut because the Hawks needed to add a quarterback: Tyler Lockett’s Kansas State QB, Jake Waters.

Anthony McCoy, who in the preseason opener showed his old habit of dropping easy catches, tried to make up for it in practice with a couple of great catches.

Field Gulls broke down all of Frank Clark’s big plays from Friday — and there were a lot of them.

Undrafted DT T.Y. McGill played well vs. Denver and remains motivated to keep impressing Pete Carroll and the coaches.

USA Today goes over old territory on the Chancellor holdout: the price of success, Kam still being a team player, etc.

The Sporting News ranks John Schneider as the best general manager in the NFL.

Jimmy Staten, waived by Seattle because of depth problems at cornerback, was picked up by the New York Giants.

Injury report, State of the team, Training camp

In secondary, even replacements are hurt

August 18, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Just over two weeks into camp, the Seahawks have even fewer cornerbacks than they started with — as impossible as that might seem.

They were so thin at the position in the first 10 days that they traded for Mohammed Seisay and converted Doug McNeil from wide receiver. And now those guys are hurt — Seisay with a groin and McNeil with an ankle, joining Richard Sherman (hip), Will Blackmon (groin), Jeremy Lane (ACL, arm) and Tharold Simon (shoulder).

With only Cary Williams, Marcus Burley, Tye Smith and Triston Wade healthy, the Hawks needed some bodies at the position, so they added two guys just to get through practice.

“We need legs at corner right now, so we’ll give these guys a chance,” Pete Carroll said of Jeremy Crayton and Keelan Johnson. “We’re a little bit behind with Sherm not being able to make it back and Will not making it back right away and Seisay gone, too, so we just need them for legs right now. But they’ll get a chance. They got tested today pretty good.”

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State of the team, Training camp

No problem: Hawks just want five best linemen

August 17, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks apparently were as alarmed by the poor O-line play as many fans were Friday, so they decided to make another big move Monday: Right tackle Justin Britt is switching to left guard and Garry Gilliam is working at right tackle.

Tom Cable said it comes down to getting the best five on the field, and the Hawks — after trying four other players at left guard — apparently think they might be better with Britt at LG and Gilliam at RT. Alvin Bailey looked bad Friday against Denver, and it’s easy to see why Cable has been searching for another player to play left guard. Apparently, Keavon Milton and Mark Glowinski have not impressed enough.

“We’re just trying to get the best guys out there. We’re still mixing and matching,” said Cable, who added he would like to have it figured out by next week.

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Preseason, State of the team, Training camp

Don’t worry about OL’s poor performance

August 16, 2015 cc Leave a comment

While we chose to focus on the supernova bright spots in Seattle’s loss to Denver on Friday, plenty of people were dismayed by the poor performance of the offensive line.

As we said the other day, don’t worry about it.

You have to remember these facts: (1) Seattle has an inexperienced group, destined to struggle early; (2) it’s largely the same group that the Seahawks had last season, when they reached the Super Bowl; and (3) the running game is mostly a product of Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch anyway.

Rob Staton put together a nice analysis on the NFL’s problem in finding good linemen these days. It piggybacks comments Tom Cable made this offseason about college ruining offensive players.

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State of the team, Training camp

Training camp status report: Defense

August 14, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks open the preseason against the Denver Broncos tonight in Seattle. Here is our breakdown of the defense, what we will be watching in the first game and our updated roster projections:

DEFENSIVE LINE
Veterans: Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Brandon Mebane, Ahtyba Rubin, Jordan Hill, Cassius Marsh, Greg Scruggs, Demarcus Dobbs, D’Anthony Smith, Jesse Williams, David King, Jimmy Staten, Julius Warmsley
Rookies: Frank Clark, Obum Gwacham, T.Y. McGill

Pete Carroll says this defensive front is the fastest he has had in Seattle — clearly a nod to the addition of Clark. The coach was stoked about the unit after the scrimmage last weekend, and he is clearly excited about a pass rush that features Bennett, Avril, Clark, Hill and Bruce Irvin.

The one bummer was the release of Tony McDaniel, who turned out to be the cap casualty over Mebane after the big contracts given to Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner.

Bennett still is unhappy with his contract, and he even told McDaniel he would love to be back in Tampa Bay (he probably saw the Bucs’ salary cap space: $13.7 million).

But Bennett has been mentoring Clark, who is going to be Bennett Jr. this season — an inside-out player.

“I lean on him a lot; he looks out for me a lot,” Clark said of Bennett. “He’s a guy that’s been in the league for a numerous amount of years. He has experience. He’s a great player, as well as Cliff Avril, Big Mebane; they teach me a lot of things, just the proper techniques of how to play NFL football.”

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State of the team, Training camp

Training camp status report: Offense

August 13, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks open the preseason against the Denver Broncos on Friday in Seattle. Here is our breakdown of the
offense, what we will be watching in the first game and our updated roster projections:

QUARTERBACK
Veterans: Russell Wilson, Tarvaris Jackson, R.J. Archer

Wilson’s No. 1 goal in camp has been to develop and refine his rapport with Jimmy Graham.

“Chemistry has been more than I could ever imagine,” Graham said after the scrimmage Aug. 8. “For example, today in the scrimmage we had one we didn’t connect on; so, after practice, we did it about four or five times. And that is how we’re going to do it each and every day. Anything we’re iffy about we’re going to get it after practice. The season is right here; and, when those big moments come, I want that connection to be right.”

Earlier this week, Pete Carroll said, “They’re not there yet. It’s just going to take time. The intricacies of the things that they’re trying to do together go way deep, so it’s going to take them a lot of time. … Both of them are really determined to get this thing figured out. They’re doing great, but there’s more room for them to make up.”

By all reports, Archer has been off target in most practices — putting to rest any thoughts that he might challenge Jackson, who still puts up a great deep ball.

The Hawks have their eyes open for other QBs — they reportedly worked out Jake Waters, who was Tyler Lockett’s QB at Kansas State.

What to watch: Wilson to Graham, of course.

Projected (2): Wilson, Jackson

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CHAWK LINES, Training camp

August 13, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Some observations from a stormy Day 11 of camp from those who were there (and other features):

Bob Condotta of The Times recounts Keavon Milton’s journey to possible No. 1 left guard.

The Seahawks don’t know how many tight ends they are going to keep: three or four? Does Will Tukuafu count?

Speaking of tight ends, Anthony McCoy feels “normal” after Achilles injuries cost him the past two seasons.

Mohammed Seisay continues to make plays even as he adjusts to the playbook and pace of practice: “I’m going to get real comfortable and start making a lot more plays.”

Richard Sherman had the day off, and he spent it talking to cover-2 guru Monte Kiffin.

Pete Carroll told KJR-AM that the Hawks catered to Percy Harvin’s talents last year, “to our detriment somewhat,” but Darrell Bevell said they don’t have to change for Jimmy Graham: “We can just plug him in.”

Field Gulls interviewed Doug McNeil about his circuitous journey to the Seahawks and his change of positions.

Peyton Manning is not expected to play Friday when the Broncos visit the Seahawks.

State of the team, The roster, Training camp

Don’t worry about the offensive line

August 12, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Okung and Cable — Tom Cable watches his linemen drill (Seahawks.com)

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.

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