State of the team, Week 6: Atlanta

After rough first month, O-line gets a few easier matchups

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atlanta-logoOne of the concerning themes of the first month for the Seahawks was the crazy caliber of defensive lines they had to face.

Poor performance by their reconfigured offensive line against the Dolphins, Rams and Jets was the only thing that stood between the Hawks and a 4-0 record.

As expected, the new unit got whipped in the first two games — except for that final winning drive against Miami.

But, the good news is the unit did a better-than-expected job vs. the Jets — allowing Russell Wilson, Jimmy Graham and company to score some points and the Hawks to enter their bye at 3-1.

Now, with the line’s tough start over, the unit has a fairly friendly three-game stretch before it gets difficult again. And the quintet should get better by the week now that Germain Ifedi is back.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 6: Atlanta
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The game against the Falcons could be a barometer of where the Seahawks stand in the NFC.

Russell Wilson looks fine, and more injury updates.

Five Seahawks who are key to the final 12 games.

Frank Clark is playing a lot more this year, and DeShawn Shead has played every snap.

The Seahawks are producing more sacks this year despite blitzing at the same frequency as last year.

Dan Quinn said he has “a lot of gratitude” for Pete Carroll and the Seahawks setting him up to coach the Falcons.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 5: Bye
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A revealing story about how Kevin Pierre-Louis has learned to manage his depression.

The upcoming game vs. Atlanta is surprisingly one of the best on Seattle’s remaining schedule.

Four stats that tell the Seahawks’ story so far.

What the media had to say about Seattle’s first quarter.

Germain Ifedi is “a real presence” on the offensive line.

Jimmy Graham’s return from a torn patellar tendon has been impressive.

Cassius Marsh was among those fined for a penalty in the Jets game.

Seahawks.com looks at Richard Sherman’s leadership skills.

Ricardo Lockette is raising awareness for spinal injuries.

State of the team, Week 5: Bye

Hawks suddenly look like expected Super Bowl contenders

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“I’m really excited about what’s coming up. I think we have a hell of a football team.” – Pete Carroll, to 710 ESPN

After the first two weeks of the season – a 1-1 record and just 15 points scored — it sure looked like this was going to be a repeat of the Seahawks’ slow start in 2015.

But, overcoming injuries and tough matchups for their offensive line, the Hawks have quickly rallied to look much more like the Super Bowl contenders we all envisioned.

While some silly folks thought Russell Wilson should have sat out in New York, he instead overcame his leg injuries to play his best game of the season and lead the offense to a second straight good-looking performance – making it 64 points for Seattle over the past two games despite all kinds of injuries.

“We make a good step forward here,” Pete Carroll said this week. “We played well two weeks ago (in a 37-18 win over the 49ers), then we went on the road in a difficult setting and found our play again. So that kicks us into the bye thing, where we can really take a look at the end of the first quarter of the season and kind of see where we are. We still have a game out there that we wish we would have gotten, but we’re coming around. We’re moving forward and moving in a good direction.”

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State of the team, Week 4: At N.Y. Jets

Graham has answered all of the big questions

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new-york-logoThe Seahawks’ trade for Jimmy Graham in 2015 was met with a lot of raised eyebrows and just about everyone critiqued Graham’s every move in the offense last season.

When he suffered a torn patellar tendon against Pittsburgh in Week 11, the critics of the deal said, “I told you so.”

They said it again as the offense took off without Graham, setting team records behind Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin.

So, as Graham came back from the injury this year, the big questions were: (1) Would he be able to return to his old self, (2) would he and Wilson find the rhythm they had just discovered when he was hurt and (3) how would his return affect Baldwin?

The wins over the Niners and Jets provided answers to all of those queries.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 4: At N.Y. Jets
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Russell Wilson proved his pocket passing mettle one more time, Pete Carroll said.

Brandon Marshall beat Richard Sherman a few times, but Sherman got even with two picks.

Sherman said Marshall likes to use his hands to fend off cornerbacks, “the game within the game” Sherman had to win.

Wilson and Jimmy Graham continued to connect, with another 100-yard game.

Larry Stone wanted to rest Wilson, because he didn’t understand how great Wilson is.

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State of the team, Week 4: At N.Y. Jets

Cable hopes butt kickings will make his revamped line better

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new-york-logoThe Seahawks are finally going to have their so-called first-team line together, but that doesn’t figure to help them much as they face another stellar defensive line in New York.

Germain Ifedi hasn’t played an NFL game yet and will be slow to get back into the groove, so we can expect Leonard Williams, Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson to dominate the line of scrimmage the same way Miami and Los Angeles did.

In case you forgot, the Seahawks were horrendous on offense in those two games. They scored just 15 points, ran for just 180 yards (3.2 per carry) and gave up five sacks and 18 hits on Russell Wilson, who sprained an ankle trying to get away from Ndamukong Suh.

Usually one of the league’s best rushing teams, the Hawks have been a middling unit so far with their revamped line going against strong defensive fronts. Even in the blowout of San Francisco, they were barely above average — 127 yards on 31 carries (4.1 average).

Led by Williams, the sixth pick in the 2015 draft, the Jets are the third-ranked run defense in the NFL — much better even than the Dolphins and Rams. So the Hawks are going to go nowhere on the ground in this one either.

Tom Cable just hopes these butt kickings will make his unit better down the road.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 4: At N.Y. Jets
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Russell Wilson says he will play vs. the Jets.

Germain Ifedi, who could return this week, said he was happy his high ankle sprain did not keep him out longer.

Nick Vannett also is back from his own high ankle sprain, which kept him out six weeks.

Luke Willson says his turn as H-back means defenses can’t key on the Seattle two-TE offense.

Tom Cable and Bradley Sowell talked about the improvement of the offensive line.

The Seattle O-line faces yet another tough D-line, with Leonard Williams and company.

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Franchise history, The roster

Spiller helped Hawks get Lynch, now follows him

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lynch-and-spillerA big reason the Seahawks were able to get Marshawn Lynch in 2010 is C.J. Spiller, so it’s somewhat ironic that the guy who helped Seattle get Beast Mode now steps into the same backfield.

Spiller was the ninth overall pick by Buffalo in 2010, joining Lynch and Fred Jackson in a suddenly – and surprisingly — stacked Bills backfield. John Schneider, in his first year running the Hawks alongside Pete Carroll, tried several times to acquire Lynch that year – finally getting the Bills to part with him in October.

While Lynch went on to star for the Hawks for most of the next six seasons, Spiller ended up a part-time player behind Jackson in 2010 and 2011 before breaking out in 2012, with 1,244 yards (6 per carry), 43 catches and eight total touchdowns. He hasn’t done much since, though, as injuries have knocked him around.

The Hawks obviously are hoping that won’t be a problem as he steps in as the third-down back.

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State of the team, Week 3: San Francisco

Was that just a false start to season? Wilson’s health will tell

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san-francisco-logoPete Carroll viewed this week as a season reboot and — after his Seahawks blasted the 49ers 37-18 — he reiterated that thought: “It really feels to me like we’ve started.”

It’s easy to feel that way when you more than double your season scoring output, double your season touchdowns in just one quarter and tally a 100-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers while continuing to play the same shutdown defense.

It’s easy to feel like you’ve started when your offensive line finally didn’t have to face a stellar defensive front and had a fighting chance. Although the offensive line committed three holding penalties, it played easily its best game of the three so far. The players apparently focused on fixing individual flaws on every play, a strategy that helped Seattle rack up 418 yards and convert 64 percent of its third downs.

But was it just a false start? Will the Hawks have to wait until Week 6 for their season to really start?

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