CHAWK LINES, Week 6: Carolina

October 18, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Sounds like a Seahawks fan tried to give the Panthers a taste of what it feels like to be playing in the early morning. Not cool.

The Panthers always come along at a critical point for the Seahawks.

Even former Seahawk Kevin Norwood — now a Panther — thinks this game is pivotal.

Dave Boling thinks the Seahawks will use Carolina as a springboard again.

Tight ends are still a problem for Seattle — and Greg Olsen is coming to town.

Rob Rang has three key matchups, including Olsen vs. Kam Chancellor and Kevin Pierre-Louis.

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State of the team, Week 6: Carolina

Different year but same opponent and problems

October 18, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Almost a year ago, the Seahawks were in the exact position they are in now — struggling to find themselves as they prepared to face the Carolina Panthers.

The Seahawks have many of the same problems they had last year at this time: Their defense has had trouble against tight ends as Greg Olsen comes to town; their interception total is uncommonly low; Bobby Wagner is hurt; Marshawn Lynch is a story; the offense is in transition; and Derrick Coleman won’t play again.

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State of the team, Week 6: Carolina

Lynch is back, but does anyone care?

October 17, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Marshawn Lynch is back. But does anyone care?

Lynch was listed as questionable before practice Friday, but coach Pete Carroll said after practice, “He looked really back to full health. … He made it out, looked good, and we’re counting on him playing (Sunday vs. the Carolina Panthers).”

It wasn’t even close to the most compelling storyline for media this week, though. On Wednesday, 11 questions were asked before the topic of Lynch came up. On Friday, Lynch was the 14th question — partly obscured by news that fullback Derrick Coleman had been suspended after his arrest for hit-and-run.

One of the dumb questions asked by a reporter Wednesday: Does Lynch take his old job back? To which Carroll scoffed, “Heck yeah. I think he’s earned that.”

Of course he has. The Seahawks aren’t paying him $12 million this year to have him sit on the bench, especially after he has run for at least 1,200 yards in each of the last four seasons, scoring 56 touchdowns.

But people now seem more interested in whether rookie upstart Thomas Rawls will continue to get playing time.

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Injury report, State of the team, Week 6: Carolina

Defensive depth getting a tough test

October 15, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks are focusing this week on figuring out how to finish games, but a fair number might not even get in the game Sunday when they play the Carolina Panthers.

Of the 10 players on the Seahawks’ injury report Thursday, nine were defensive players – and their front seven suddenly has joined their secondary in making the entire defense a M*A*S*H unit.

That could create problems against Carolina, which comes in with the No. 4 rushing offense in the NFL (132.3 yards per game) and has the best toxic differential (turnover margin and big-play margin) in the league.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 6: Carolina

October 14, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks waived B.J. Daniels and Rod Smith and were expected to add cornerback Crezdon Butler. Their other addition could end up being a defensive lineman, with Jordan Hill and Demarcus Dobbs down. Also, recall that Paul Richardson can start practicing next week.

What has happened to Russell Wilson’s game-winning magic?

Brock Huard explains how the Hawks need to use Jimmy Graham: Forget the short crap and send him deeper into the middle of the field. We agree.

Some people apparently want to get rid of Graham. No, they just need to use him better.

The Seahawks’ turnover stats are upside-down, but Pete Carroll expects them to turn right side up soon.

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Injury report, Week 5: At Cincinnati

Hill is out two weeks, Wagner could join him

October 12, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Just what the Seahawks’ reeling defense needs: No Bobby Wagner or Jordan Hill.

Both could miss “a couple of weeks” with injuries suffered Sunday in Cincinnati, according to Pete Carroll. Hill left with a strained quadriceps and Wagner missed a couple of plays with a strained chest muscle.

Hill is expected to miss two weeks, Carroll said, and he is hoping Demarcus Dobbs can return after missing the past two games with a shoulder injury. If that doesn’t happen, the Seahawks might need to make a move to help D-line depth.

Wagner also could be out “a couple of weeks if (the muscle) doesn’t respond,” Carroll said. “But he might be able to play this week, so we’ll wait and see.’’

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State of the team, Week 5: At Cincinnati

Despite epic collapse, Seahawks are not ‘dead and gone’

October 12, 2015 cc Leave a comment

As epic a collapse as the Seahawks committed in Cincinnati, for the first time in franchise history blowing a 17-point lead they carried into the fourth quarter, we’re going to go ahead and agree with Pete Carroll:

“Look, we’re not anywhere like we are dead and gone (at 2-3). We don’t feel like that at all. We’ve just got some things we have to get fixed up, and I think we can.”

In 39 seasons plus four games, the Seahawks had been 71-0 (9-0 under Carroll) in games in which they led by 17 or more entering the fourth quarter, according to Pro Football Reference’s database. On Sunday, they became the first NFL team since 2006 to suffer the ignominy of losing such a game. (Mike Holmgren’s Seahawks blew a 17-point lead in 2004, when they scored early in the fourth to go up 17 and then let the Rams rally to win in overtime.)

Seahawks fans have every right to be upset and disheartened by this massive meltdown, but to think it signals the end of the season or the end of Seattle’s Super Bowl window is an emotionally shortsighted reaction.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 5: At Cincinnati

October 11, 2015 cc Leave a comment

These aren’t the Seahawks we’ll see in November and December.

Russell Wilson reportedly is working on his speed, losing weight, so he can remain as mobile as possible.

Wilson is getting rid of the ball faster than ever, ESPN Stats reports.

Dave Boling says Wilson’s toughness is his best quality.

Fred Jackson, expected to play, said 10 teams were interested in him when Buffalo cut him, but Seattle was the only one that would sign him before Week 1, thus guaranteeing his one-year salary.

An insider’s look at the Bengals.

The Bengals present lots of challenges for the Seahawks.

State of the team, Trades

Hindsight study: Was Unger-Graham trade a good move?

October 10, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The two biggest concerns during the Seahawks’ 2-2 start have been the struggles of the remade offensive line and the inconsistent use of Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham.

For many critics, the two issues are very closely linked. After all, the Seahawks gave up center Max Unger to get Graham.

For the record, we were very in favor of that trade. But some were dubious, thinking it foolish to give up a top center for a tight end the Seahawks might not even use right.

So, let’s revisit the question: Did the Hawks do the right thing in trading Unger for Graham?

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Injury report, State of the team, The roster

Another busted year for Simon, who is almost out of chances

October 10, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Tharold Simon’s career with the Seahawks looks just about finished.

Sure, he has one more year left on his rookie contract, but the cornerback simply has not been able to stay healthy in his three NFL seasons and it sure seems doubtful he ever will.

The Seahawks have shown great patience with injury-prone players, and it paid off with cornerbacks Walter Thurmond and Byron Maxwell.

Simon’s career arc seemed like it was following Maxwell’s — until Simon’s season was ended yet again Saturday when he was put on injured reserve.

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