Preseason, X's & O's

Evaluating Gilliam’s performance vs. Chiefs

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Tom Cable was satisfied with Garry Gilliam’s performance at right tackle vs. Kansas City, and Gilliam will start in San Diego on Saturday.

“I think the athleticism probably jumped out at me,” Cable said. “I think he’s physical, he has some really nice finishes in the run game, so you see a guy who has really grown a tremendous amount. His challenge is to do that again this week.”

Here’s a breakdown of Gilliam’s first-offense blocks by Davis Hsu of Field Gulls:

Continue reading Evaluating Gilliam’s performance vs. Chiefs →

Contracts

How could Seahawks afford to sign Mathis? Let us count the ways

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Evan MathisNo surprise: Evan Mathis reportedly left Seattle without a contract Saturday.

But, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, he didn’t close the door on his way out.

Mathis, a Pro Bowl guard cut by the Philadelphia Eagles in June, reportedly has been holding out for at least $5 million a year. The Hawks can’t really afford that. But they might be able to give him around $3.5 million, if they moved some things around.

Continue reading How could Seahawks afford to sign Mathis? Let us count the ways →

Preseason

Mixed results from offense, secondary as front seven dominates

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Wagner vs. Chiefs Aug. 21The Seahawks entered their second preseason game with a lot of questions on the offensive line and secondary and came out with some mixed answers in a 14-13 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City.

They also showed what Jimmy Graham will do for them, saw more from Tyler Lockett and got another great game from their No. 1 front seven on defense.

With Justin Britt moving from right tackle to left guard and Garry Gilliam stepping in at right tackle, the offensive line performed much better than it had in the opener vs. Denver, which got seven sacks.

Wilson was not sacked as he completed 9 of 15 passes for 78 yards. But the first offense really struggled again to run the ball and could not get into the end zone. Robert Turbin ran for a mere four yards on six carries, and Christine Michael ran for 27 on 10 attempts (and also busted a running play by going the wrong way). It wasn’t any better than the first game, when the Seahawks totaled just 89 yards on 24 attempts.

Pete Carroll said he liked the pass protection but added, “We’re not running the ball as well as we would like at this time. … That might change once No. 24 (Marshawn Lynch) gets in there.”

He said the offensive line “did not get the movement we need.” He also confirmed that free-agent guard Evan Mathis is coming to Seattle for a physical Saturday.

Continue reading Mixed results from offense, secondary as front seven dominates →

Contracts, State of the team

Are OL moves desperation or just due diligence?

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Evan MathisThe Seahawks played half of their games in 2013 with rookie tackles and used four centers in 2014, and they still overcame those “offensive” lines to get to the Super Bowl.

So, they can’t possibly be panicking about their left guard position after just one bad preseason game, can they?

Even though Pete Carroll says he is not concerned because he expected the young linemen to take time to develop, the team’s moves this week sure make it sound like alarm bells are going off at VMAC.

First, the Hawks moved Justin Britt from right tackle to left guard and inserted Garry Gilliam at right tackle, and now they reportedly are going to bring in former Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis for a visit Saturday.

Is it desperation or just prudence?

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CHAWK LINES, Training camp
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CHAWK LINES -- Training camp new

Some observations from the final official day of camp from those who were there (and other features):

Former Seahawk Marcus Trufant skydived into camp before practice.

Jermaine Kearse needed a good camp to stave off challenges from among the deepest receiving corps the Hawks have had under Pete Carroll, and he apparently continues to impress.

Kevin Smith has had a good camp and played well vs. Denver, but will it be enough to beat out Ricardo Lockette or B.J. Daniels?

Russell Wilson says he is clicking with all of his receivers and he is not concerned about the offensive line.

Hawk Blogger says the starting line looks fine with Justin Britt at left guard and Garry Gilliam at right tackle. But he also asks what we all are wondering: What happened to Alvin Bailey?

The P-I offered five takeaways from camp.

Richard Sherman supports Tom Brady in his appeal of his four-game suspension.

Darrell Bevell told Peter King he wouldn’t change the Super Bowl play call but it “will always be there to drive me.”

Contracts

Chancellor’s agent is bluffing — isn’t he?

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Kam and BennettEarlier this year, Michael Bennett’s agent tried to bluff the Seahawks into giving Bennett a new deal. Now Kam Chancellor’s agent is doing the same thing. We think.

In April, agent Drew Rosenhaus seemingly spread rumors that Bennett wanted to be traded to Atlanta, where former Seattle DC Dan Quinn is now coach. But the Hawks were unfazed. Even as Bennett told everyone who would listen that he is not happy with the deal he signed last year, the Hawks did not budge from their budget. In fact, he has said they haven’t told him they would do anything with the contract that still has three years and $18.5 million left on it.

Now, Alvin Keels, Chancellor’s agent, is saying Chancellor will remain out until the Hawks redo the deal he signed in 2013, which still has three years left.

“He will not report without his contract being addressed this season,” Keels told ESPN’s Josina Anderson. “The team and I have been in contact, but we haven’t been able to agree on any compromise.”

Continue reading Chancellor’s agent is bluffing — isn’t he? →

CHAWK LINES, Training camp
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Some observations from Day 14 of camp from those who were there (and other features):

Earl Thomas returned to the field in pads for the first time since the Super Bowl.

“Just don’t go feelin’ sorry for me, people!” Nate Boyer said after the Hawks released him Tuesday.

Boyer was cut because the Hawks needed to add a quarterback: Tyler Lockett’s Kansas State QB, Jake Waters.

Anthony McCoy, who in the preseason opener showed his old habit of dropping easy catches, tried to make up for it in practice with a couple of great catches.

Field Gulls broke down all of Frank Clark’s big plays from Friday — and there were a lot of them.

Undrafted DT T.Y. McGill played well vs. Denver and remains motivated to keep impressing Pete Carroll and the coaches.

USA Today goes over old territory on the Chancellor holdout: the price of success, Kam still being a team player, etc.

The Sporting News ranks John Schneider as the best general manager in the NFL.

Jimmy Staten, waived by Seattle because of depth problems at cornerback, was picked up by the New York Giants.

Injury report, State of the team, Training camp

In secondary, even replacements are hurt

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Seahawks bandagesJust over two weeks into camp, the Seahawks have even fewer cornerbacks than they started with — as impossible as that might seem.

They were so thin at the position in the first 10 days that they traded for Mohammed Seisay and converted Doug McNeil from wide receiver. And now those guys are hurt — Seisay with a groin and McNeil with an ankle, joining Richard Sherman (hip), Will Blackmon (groin), Jeremy Lane (ACL, arm) and Tharold Simon (shoulder).

With only Cary Williams, Marcus Burley, Tye Smith and Triston Wade healthy, the Hawks needed some bodies at the position, so they added two guys just to get through practice.

“We need legs at corner right now, so we’ll give these guys a chance,” Pete Carroll said of Jeremy Crayton and Keelan Johnson. “We’re a little bit behind with Sherm not being able to make it back and Will not making it back right away and Seisay gone, too, so we just need them for legs right now. But they’ll get a chance. They got tested today pretty good.”

Continue reading In secondary, even replacements are hurt →

State of the team, Training camp

No problem: Hawks just want five best linemen

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Okung and CableThe Seahawks apparently were as alarmed by the poor O-line play as many fans were Friday, so they decided to make another big move Monday: Right tackle Justin Britt is switching to left guard and Garry Gilliam is working at right tackle.

Tom Cable said it comes down to getting the best five on the field, and the Hawks — after trying four other players at left guard — apparently think they might be better with Britt at LG and Gilliam at RT. Alvin Bailey looked bad Friday against Denver, and it’s easy to see why Cable has been searching for another player to play left guard. Apparently, Keavon Milton and Mark Glowinski have not impressed enough.

“We’re just trying to get the best guys out there. We’re still mixing and matching,” said Cable, who added he would like to have it figured out by next week.

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Preseason, State of the team, Training camp

Don’t worry about OL’s poor performance

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Tom Cable on Day 2 of campWhile we chose to focus on the supernova bright spots in Seattle’s loss to Denver on Friday, plenty of people were dismayed by the poor performance of the offensive line.

As we said the other day, don’t worry about it.

You have to remember these facts: (1) Seattle has an inexperienced group, destined to struggle early; (2) it’s largely the same group that the Seahawks had last season, when they reached the Super Bowl; and (3) the running game is mostly a product of Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch anyway.

Rob Staton put together a nice analysis on the NFL’s problem in finding good linemen these days. It piggybacks comments Tom Cable made this offseason about college ruining offensive players.

Continue reading Don’t worry about OL’s poor performance →