Hawks are getting healthier, but they can’t get any better at center

October 27, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Paul Richardson’s return to practice is the big news this week, but the Seahawks probably are more concerned with the possible returns of a few other injured players they have missed recently.

Garry Gilliam, Jordan Hill, Derrick Coleman and Marcus Burley are all expected to practice this week and play in Dallas. Gilliam missed stretches of the game vs. the 49ers last week due to an ankle injury. Hill (quadriceps) and Coleman (car accident) have missed the past two games, and Burley (broken thumb) has been out for three.

Pete Carroll also said he expects Demarcus Dobbs, who has missed three of the past four games, to make it back to practice.

“You can see there’s a number of guys that are going to be battling to get back out there,” Carroll said. “It’ll be great to see if we can pull that together, and it’ll make the practice feel much more competitive. We’ll see what that means for game day. I don’t know yet.”

The biggest question probably is at center, where Patrick Lewis didn’t even make it through one start before Drew Nowak had to be reinserted and Lemuel Jeanpierre re-signed. Not that it matters who plays that spot.

Continue reading Hawks are getting healthier, but they can’t get any better at center →

State of the team, The roster

P-Rich’s return will mean more later, but just imagine him & Lockett

October 27, 2015 cc Leave a comment

If the Seahawks actually gave Russell Wilson enough time to throw the ball consistently, the return of Paul Richardson would mean a lot more.

As it is, his impending return — whether this week or after the bye — won’t add much to the offense. Not immediately anyway.

But, if the Seahawks can get to the point where Wilson has time to throw some deep balls, Richardson and Tyler Lockett should offer a great deep duo.

Continue reading P-Rich’s return will mean more later, but just imagine him & Lockett →

It's bigger than football, State of the team

Remember when the Seahawks ‘slammed’ the door on Hardy?

October 26, 2015 cc Leave a comment

As Greg Hardy proceeds to melt down in Dallas right before our eyes – and right before the Seahawks play the Cowboys this weekend — it’s a good reminder that the Seahawks realized what a head case the mercurial pass rusher was and steered away from him.

If you recall, a report out of Dallas in March indicated the Seahawks were willing to match any offer the Cowboys made for Hardy, who was facing a domestic-assault case and a suspension (which ended up being cut from 10 games to four).

The Seahawks did admit to checking into Hardy, calling it their usual “due diligence,” but general manager John Schneider also said they had zero interest in Hardy once they learned the specifics of the domestic assault case.

“We talk about being in on every single deal so we don’t miss out on something,” Schneider said in May. “… Once we found out what was going on with that situation, we were done. It was over. But we had to find out what happened. We opened that door, we looked inside and we slammed it.”

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State of the team, Week 8: At Dallas

Offense still has big problems, but Carroll has a plan to fix them

October 26, 2015 cc Leave a comment

It’s a good thing the Seahawks are finishing the first half of the season with a couple of struggling teams, because their offense still has its own issues to reconcile.

Sure, the Seahawks finally finished an opponent Thursday, dominating the San Francisco 49ers like they did last year, but the Seattle offense still functioned only about half as well as it should. And Pete Carroll knows things have to change if the Seahawks are going to win another Super Bowl this season.

Russell Wilson was sacked five times and Marshawn Lynch had to fight too hard for most of his 122 yards. While the line gave the running back some good cutback lanes early on the first drive, it took five tries for him to score from the 3-yard line. In fact, about half of Lynch’s 27 runs went for three yards or less. That explains why his teammates were so fired up by his performance — he did most of it himself.

Carroll thinks Seattle’s mostly neophyte line is getting better at run blocking, based on Lynch’s best game of the season and the 200-yard rushing day at Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago. But the simple fact is the unit is still far too inconsistent. And it is pathetic at pass blocking.

Continue reading Offense still has big problems, but Carroll has a plan to fix them →

CHAWK LINES, Week 7: At San Francisco

Seahawks getting ready for another big run

October 24, 2015 cc Leave a comment

After dominating the 49ers again, the Seahawks are set to make another great run toward the playoffs.

Bob Condotta points out that the Seahawks picked a good year to start slowly.

Marshawn Lynch means more than just numbers to the Seahawks. Beast Mode inspires the entire team.

Kris Richard’s critics were quieted by Seattle’s dominant defensive performance vs. the 49ers.

Kam Chancellor was fined for a hit on Carolina center Ryan Kalil — and he did not appreciate it.

Field Gulls with a bunch more links about the game and other things NFL.

CHAWK LINES, Week 7: At San Francisco

October 23, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The day after the 20-3 win over the 49ers, Pete Carroll told 710 ESPN the Seahawks didn’t do anything they weren’t supposed to do. He also talked about Russell Wilson’s interceptions, among other things.

The Legion of Boom talked about yet another dominating defensive performance vs. the 49ers.

Marshawn Lynch had his best game, despite hurling on the sideline. “We’re going to go as far as he takes us,” Doug Baldwin said.

Michael Bennett had a career-best 3.5 sacks — though he made a good point he should have gotten partial credit for a fourth.

Will Tukuafu played a lot, as fullback and defensive lineman, and six defenders played every snap.

The Seahawks still have plenty to prove, Dave Boling correctly says.

The great rivalry between the Hawks and Niners is dead, as the teams head in different directions, Danny Kelly writes.

CHAWK LINES, Week 7: At San Francisco

October 22, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Bobby Wagner will return and Fred Jackson talked to the team about his car crash.

Anquan Boldin and Carlos Hyde were listed as questionable for the 49ers.

Bucky Brooks explains what we have said since last season: The Seahawks are vulnerable to short passing games.

Unlike previous seasons, Seahawks-49ers is less must-see TV than it is must-win TV.

Key matchups for the Seahawks vs. the 49ers tonight, via Seahawks.com.

Five things to watch for, from NFL.com.

The Seahawks are 13-2 in prime time under Pete Carroll.

Continue reading →

State of the team, Week 7: At San Francisco

Can Carroll recapture his ‘distracted’ team?

October 21, 2015 cc Leave a comment

As the Seattle Seahawks seemingly sleepwalk through this season, with little sign of their previous hunger to win and killer instinct, it is fair to wonder whether the players have tuned out Pete Carroll and whether he can regain their ear before the season really does spin out of control.

Back-to-back Super Bowls, contract concerns and Carroll’s game-losing call in the last title game all could be culprits in the Seahawks’ late meltdowns that have resulted in a 2-4 record.

Carroll surely lost some players with his ill-fated decision to throw the ball rather than run it with Super Bowl XLIX on the line, and it is clear he has not gained back the confidence of all of them.

On top of that, he has a new defensive coordinator and the Legion of Boom has not been itself.

Kris Richard, the DC, took the blame for the communication breakdown that resulted in Carolina tight end Greg Olsen being wide open to win the game Sunday.

“I stand up and I absolutely accept full responsibility for what happened at the end,” Richard said. “It will not continue. We must get better and we are examining each and every single possible thing we can do to fix it, again, starting with me.”

On the field, though, it starts with the Legion. And, as Earl Thomas said, “We’re not being ourselves. I think we’re distracted.”

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CHAWK LINES, Week 6: Carolina

October 19, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Pete Carroll debunked today’s rumor that he might return to USC: “That’s not happening. We’re in good shape here.”

Carroll talked about the defensive breakdown vs. Carolina and losing again despite winning the turnover battle.

Carroll also said, “We should be 6-0 and we should be rolling right now.’’

The coaches are the culprits in these collapses.

The Seahawks have gotten good pressure on quarterbacks the past two games.

Meanwhile, they are the worst red-zone offense in the NFL.

The Seahawks will reinstate Derrick Coleman, although it might not be this week.

49ers coach Jim Tomsula is satisfied with the condition of Levi’s Stadium turf.

Schedule, State of the team, Week 6: Carolina

Odds look bad, but Hawks can still win NFC West

October 19, 2015 cc 1 Comment

“This league drives you to 8-8.” — Seahawks general manager John Schneider.

John Schneider has said it more than once: The NFL is built for parity and staying on top is a tough task.

Well, at a stunning 2-4, the Seahawks have a long way to go just to get to .500, and their playoff chances, based on history, do not look good. Since 1990, just 14 of 168 teams to start 2-4 have reached the playoffs (per NFL Stats). That’s an 8.3% chance.

But, the Seahawks are a team that has been made for rallies, and Pete Carroll and the players are optimistic they will figure out how to close out opponents and get it going. Plus, the NFC West is still very much within reach.

Continue reading Odds look bad, but Hawks can still win NFC West →