Hawks are no longer desperate at cornerback

Jeremy Lane gets upended on an interception return in the first quarter, suffering a broken armGoing into last offseason, the Seahawks were suddenly uncommonly thin at cornerback — and that, in a nutshell, explains why they wasted $7 million on Cary Williams and ended up losing Tony McDaniel.

After the Super Bowl, Richard Sherman, Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon were all facing recovery from injuries of varying severity. On top of that, Byron Maxwell was getting ready to sign a blockbuster contract with another team, which turned out to be the Eagles.

That left young Marcus Burley as the only healthy cornerback and DeShawn Shead as a largely untested emergency option who had more experience at safety. So, the Seahawks covered themselves by signing two veteran corners — Williams and Will Blackmon. And then they drafted Tye Smith in the fifth round.

Blackmon once again did not make the roster, and Williams struggled so badly that he was benched three weeks ago, made inactive the past two games and released Monday.

Pete Carroll and John Schneider have never been afraid to admit mistakes and move on from them — e.g., Percy Harvin last year — and that’s basically what they did here.

But they did it because they have plenty of talent at the position, and the future is bright.

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Only question now: Can Hawks beat Cardinals & Panthers?

Wilson dives for TD vs VikingsThree weeks ago, after Seattle lost a shootout against Arizona, the big question was not whether the Seahawks would win the NFC West but whether they would even rally to make the playoffs.

Two weeks ago, the Seahawks put together their best offensive game of the season, blowing out San Francisco 29-13, and the question was whether they could do it again against better opponents, Pittsburgh and Minnesota.

Well, they answered both questions emphatically, putting up 77 points in two wins while seizing control of their playoff destiny, and there are no more questions about the offense or the playoffs.

The only question now is: Can the Seahawks do this against Arizona and Carolina — the teams they will need to beat to get to the Super Bowl?

“I think this has been a few weeks that we’ve been feeling like we’re feeling,” Pete Carroll said. “Our confidence, sticking with our style, just the basic principles of what we expect and standards that we’re setting, everybody is really in line right now. This is that feeling that you’re looking for. We have a chance.”

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Pete Carroll told NFL Network this game in Minnesota will show whether the Seahawks really have turned the corner.

Can the Seahawks replicate the 1998 49ers, 2001 Patriots and 2011 Giants — all 6-5 teams that won the Super Bowl?

Despite throwing the fewest passes in the league, Russell Wilson is on pace for almost 4,000 yards.

Tom Cable said the offense is helping Wilson much more: “He’s a special quarterback, and when you do it right for him …”

Gregg Bell says the Seahawks’ offensive line has been the key to the Seahawks’ season “U-turn.”

The Seahawks hopefully learned a lesson from the failed Drew Nowak experiment.

Doug Baldwin leads NFL receivers over the last three weeks — perhaps inspired by Marshawn Lynch’s comment that the offense had looked “unfamiliar.”

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Schneider helped build this Vikings team

John Schneider draftingWhen Minnesota GM Rick Spielman sees John Schneider this weekend in Minneapolis, he will probably give him a big hug and kiss.

After all, Schneider has helped Spielman build his team into the NFC North leader. Schneider has handed Spielman his quarterback, a starting cornerback and a backup running back over the last three years. Oh, and he also relieved Spielman of a massive locker room headache.

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At tight end, it’s the same as it ever was

At tight end for Seattle, it’s the same as it ever was — and that was good enough to get to the Super Bowl the past two years.

Plenty of people are all atwitter about Jimmy Graham’s season-ending injury and wondering how the Seahawks will replace him.

Well, how about the same way they replaced Zach Miller last year? Luke Willson, Cooper Helfet and a new guy.

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CHAWK LINES -- Steelers at Seahawks

Here’s a video breakdown showing Russell Wilson’s great passing day vs. Pittsburgh.

The Seahawks placed Jimmy Graham on IR and promoted A.J. Francis from the practice squad. Bob Condotta also runs down a bunch of other injuries.

Pete Carroll expects Graham back in time for the 2016 season.

Once again, the Seahawks are without their major offensive trade acquisition. It worked out fine in 2013 and 2014.

After an admirable performance vs. Pittsburgh, DeShawn Shead will remain the starting cornerback opposite Richard Sherman.

The defensive line could be a little light against Minnesota.

Paul Richardson should make it back after missing two games. He was injured in his season debut while catching a 40-yard pass vs. Arizona.

The turnover margin and score finally matched up for a Seattle win.

Like 2012, Wilson is heating up

Wilson and Baldwin vs SteelersSeattle’s record-setting win over Pittsburgh is the latest evidence that this season is shaping up a lot like 2012.

That year, Russell Wilson’s first, the offense did little to help through the first half of the season — relying on the defense to carry the way for the rookie quarterback. The unit held five of the first six opponents under 14 points, and Wilson did just enough to help keep the Hawks floating around .500.

But then things swung the other way around this time of the season, as the defense faltered and Wilson took over the offense and led the charge into the second round of the playoffs.

On Sunday, the defense gave up 538 yards to Pittsburgh and Wilson put together his most prolific passing day (345 yards and five touchdowns), and it looks like that 2012 pattern is repeating itself.

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CHAWK LINES -- Steelers at Seahawks

Marshawn Lynch did not have a sports hernia and could be back in three weeks, Jay Glazer reported.

With Lynch out, Thomas Rawls is in the spotlight.

Today is Russell Wilson’s 27th birthday.

The Seahawks activated Jeremy Lane and again released Bryce Brown.

Find all kinds of previews of Steelers-Seahawks.

Cliff Avril says Ben Roethlisberger will be a challenge to bring down.

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The O-line the Hawks could have had

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As Bruce Irvin misses another game and David DeCastro comes to town with the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, it’s a great opportunity to show you how the Seahawks could have put together a very good offensive line by now — if they really wanted to.

It all starts with DeCastro, a Bellevue native who has played some very good guard for the Steelers ever since they drafted him in the first round in 2012.

He should have been Seattle’s choice — as we said then.

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Here’s why Big Ben has never played in Seattle

Big Ben SteelersA lot is being made of the fact that Seattle is the only place Ben Roethlisberger has not played in his 12-year career, but the fact is he and the Steelers were supposed to come in 2011. And then the NFL changed the scheduling rules.

Starting in 2010, teams from the East no longer had to make two trips to the West in a season. The Steelers were slated to go to San Francisco and Seattle in 2011, but the NFL swapped Seattle out for Arizona, and the Seahawks ended up going to Pittsburgh.

The Seahawks have played in Pittsburgh twice since the infamous Super Bowl XL, getting shut out both times — Mike Holmgren’s Super Bowl remnants lost 21-0 in Mike Tomlin’s first year leading the Steelers in 2007, and Pete Carroll’s rebuilding club lost 24-0 in 2011.

This meeting comes on the 10-year anniversary of the Super Bowl XL season, and the Steelers had a reunion of that team a few weeks ago. Four players — Roethlisberger, tight end Heath Miller, linebacker James Harrison and long snapper Greg Warren — remain on the Steelers from that Super Bowl team.

Roethlisberger joked to Seattle media, “That’s how you know you’re old — when they’re doing reunions and you’re still playing.”

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