While Michael Bennett talked a lot Monday about the reason for his dust-up with Bradley Sowell on Sunday, the Pro Bowl end also had a lot more to say — per usual.
Among the best outtakes, he said Pete Carroll is a great coach because he “understands the moment,” Tony McDaniel brings needed “veteran wisdom,” Frank Clark is a “wild dog” who needs “tuning” and young players need to learn this is a job.
Michael Bennett has been feistier this summer than in any other, and it has made plenty of people think he is taking out his frustrations about his contract.
But it’s probably a little more sensible than that: It’s probably about him trying to make sure he gets the extension that should be coming his way next offseason — something he can’t do if he gets hurt before the season even begins.
Speaking a day after he once again was involved in a fight — this time with Bradley Sowell — Bennett said the new players have to “find that line” while competing and learn to respect teammates and not hurt them.
Continue reading Bennett needs to stay healthy, wants new guys to ‘find that line’
Some of the age-old bugaboos showed up in the home opener as the Seahawks committed penalties, gave up sacks and surrendered big chunks of yardage in the short passing game.
They committed 12 infractions, costing them 111 yards. It’s to be expected in preseason games, with lots of young guys shuttling in and out, so not a real big deal. And let’s remember: The Hawks led the league in flags in both Super Bowl seasons.
Sacks were a big problem early last year, with Wilson being taken down more than four times a game through the first eight. On Thursday, the Vikings got him four times — mostly due to him holding the ball too long or getting caught by blitzes.
Wilson took the blame for two of the sacks, and Pete Carroll said the offense did not react to Wilson’s blitz pickup call on another.
On defense, the Hawks ran into the same problem that has plagued them for most of Carroll’s tenure: short passes. Veteran QB Shaun Hill picked them apart with his running backs and tight ends in the first half, hitting 11 of 17 passes for 127 yards and leading the Vikings to a touchdown.
Here’s a look at what else we saw, by position:
Continue reading Old bugaboos return, plus positional observations
The Seahawks got off to a good start in their preseason opener in Kansas City, receiving some solid performances from the No. 1 offensive line and many rookies — namely undrafted quarterback Trevone Boykin, safety Tyvis Powell and wide receiver Tanner McEvoy.
Now they have to keep it going tonight against the Minnesota Vikings.
A lot has been said about this Seahawks squad being as deep as — perhaps deeper than — the 90-man group the Hawks brought to camp in the 2013 Super Bowl season.
This week, Russell Wilson called this “the most competitive team and talented team” the Hawks have had. Pete Carroll agreed.
Justin Britt played a surprisingly good first game at center in Kansas City, earning the praise of Pete Carroll for how he handled Chiefs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dontari Poe.
It may have been Britt’s coming-of-age moment. And one of the keys apparently was the departure of J.R. Sweezy.
While Carroll didn’t exactly say it that way, he told 710 ESPN that Britt has improved his technique and is no longer trying to be a brawler like Sweezy.
Continue reading With Sweezy gone, Britt makes ‘technical jump’
It was Running Back Day at Seahawks camp on Monday.
As Christine Michael continued to receive accolades for his performance in Kansas City, Thomas Rawls, C.J. Prosise and Zac Brooks all returned to practice — and the Hawks released Cameron Marshall and moved Kyle Coleman to fullback.
On top of that, Alex Collins — limited by an ankle issue in Kansas City — is ready for more of a load this week.
So, as they prepare for their preseason home opener vs. Minnesota, the Hawks finally have all of their backs back.
Continue reading Backs in action: Returning runners ‘a real boost’
“It blows me away that Kenny Easley is not in the Hall of Fame.”
Paul Moyer, Easley’s teammate for five years in the 1980s, expressed his dismay while talking about the legendary Seahawk in our 2008 book, “Then Zorn Said to Largent.”
Well, Paul, it looks like you won’t have to wait much longer. Easley has been nominated by the seniors committee, meaning he has a great chance to make it next February.
You could call it an 86 percent chance. And if not this time, then maybe in a few years.
Continue reading Easley poised to join rest of NFL’s all-1980s team in Hall of Fame
Now that we’ve gotten our first look at the Seahawks in a game situation, let’s take an educated look at the position battles.
Trevone Boykin got most of the chances in Kansas City, and — while he struggled with accuracy and some first-game rookie jitters — he took some big steps in those four quarters. Largely because he is a Russell Wilson clone, he seems like the coaches’ favorite — and he did little to make fans think the coaches are wrong.
Christine Michael, a question mark after the Hawks drafted three backs, now seems to have secured a spot. With Thomas Rawls out, Michael is the No. 1 back — and he is running like it. Alex Collins has shown enough that he seems like a lock as well. C.J. Prosise has some proving to do to get off the bubble, but his third-round status means the Hawks are going to give him every chance — if he can get healthy.
No surprise: Rookies once again dominated the Seahawks’ preseason opener.
Last year it was draft picks Tyler Lockett and Frank Clark. This year it was undrafted rookies Trevone Boykin, Tanner McEvoy and Tyvis Powell.
After Boykin had left the game in the third quarter, he came back in the fourth and rallied the Seahawks to a 17-16 win in Kansas City with no time left. His 37-yard scoring pass to the 6-foot-6 McEvoy set up fellow UDFA Troymaine Pope’s winning two-point run.
It made Boykin and McEvoy the big standouts in Seattle’s first preseason game, along with Powell, pass rushers Cassius Marsh and Frank Clark, running back Christine Michael and the starting offensive line.
Continue reading Rookies Boykin, McEvoy, Powell star as Hawks beat KC on last play
It’s finally time. For most of the wannabe Seahawks anyway.
The Seahawks kick off their 2016 preseason Saturday in Kansas City (1:30 pm PT), and Pete Carroll and his coaches will take the next step in evaluating these guys.
“There (are) so many things to see, so many areas to watch,” he said Friday. “For the coaches, so many exciting guys that see challenge for the first time in a game situation and we’ll start making sense of this thing. This is one huge opportunity to do that.”
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 