State of the team, Week 4: Detroit, X's & O's

Wilson carried offense until he dropped ball

October 6, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Before Kam Chancellor and the referees combined to steal the headlines in Seattle’s win over Detroit on Monday, the biggest story was the play of Russell Wilson.

With Marshawn Lynch out and almost no help from his blockers, the quarterback did everything he could for three-plus quarters to keep the Seahawks ahead. And then he dispelled all of that magic with one huge fumble that was returned for a touchdown and put Detroit in position to go ahead in the final two minutes.

Wilson was sacked six times — two or three were his fault for holding the ball too long — and was almost constantly on the run. He is on pace to be sacked 72 times, which would tie Randall Cunningham (1986) for No. 2 in NFL history (David Carr was sacked 76 times in 2002).

Despite the pressure, Wilson completed 20 of 26 passes for 287 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. He ran his Monday night record to 5-0, with 10 TD passes and no picks.

Continue reading Wilson carried offense until he dropped ball →

State of the team, Week 4: Detroit

Carroll and Cable preach patience with developing O-line

October 5, 2015 cc Leave a comment

As the Seattle Seahawks finish the first quarter of the season, their offensive line is still a major work in progress.

But that should come as no surprise. Coach Pete Carroll and offensive line coach Tom Cable are satisfied with the steps the unheralded unit has taken, knowing it was always going to take half the season for Russell Okung, Justin Britt, Drew Nowak, J.R. Sweezy and Garry Gilliam to jell.

“They’re growing and they’re working at it hard,” Carroll said, leading up to the game against the Detroit Lions. “Their confidence is gaining and we’re going to see them continue to improve. I don’t think we’re going to know for another four, five weeks, maybe the halfway point of the season.”

Cable has said several times that this is the most talented group of linemen he has coached.

“I still think they’re going to be the best group (he has had),” he told 710 ESPN last week. “All they’ve done in three games now is get better and better and better.”

Continue reading Carroll and Cable preach patience with developing O-line →

Fun & games, Video

We won’t see Lynch on ‘MNF,’ but he has been on TV a lot recently

October 5, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Marshawn Lynch won’t be seen on the field tonight, but we sure have been seeing a lot of him on TV recently as he takes advantage of his newfound commercial appeal.

As he misses a game for the first time since 2011 — and just the second time in his five years with the Seahawks — we thought we would recap his latest commercial ventures so you didn’t miss him too much.

First, from August, there was the Skittles infomercial in which “Big Daddy” and Skittles got engaged.

Continue reading We won’t see Lynch on ‘MNF,’ but he has been on TV a lot recently →

CHAWK LINES, Week 4: Detroit

October 4, 2015 cc Leave a comment

With Marshawn Lynch and Brandon Mebane out, “Monday Night Football” might be a preview of the 2016 Seahawks.

Nice look at Seattle’s new No. 2 running back — and No. 1 again this week — Thomas Rawls, by Bob Condotta.

The big storyline for #DETvsSEA, of course, is the return of Golden Tate to face his old team and the Legion of Boom. “We had our battles in practice for years,” Richard Sherman said. “It’ll be another fun battle.”

Even in Detroit, Tate has been creating controversy at the usual rate.

Cliff Avril will be playing his old team Monday, but he calls it “just another game.”

Continue reading →

Franchise history

Take a walk through Hawk history

October 1, 2015 cc Leave a comment

In case you hadn’t heard, the Seahawks are celebrating their 40th anniversary. They have put together a website to look back at every season and are unveiling them a few at a time.

The Seahawks had fans vote for their favorite 40 players this summer, and 32 of them were honored in person at halftime of the home opener on Sunday. We’re guessing the eight others are still playing — either with the Seahawks or with other teams (e.g., Matt Hasselbeck of the Colts).

It was great to see former stars Sam Adams, Shaun Alexander, Jordan Babineaux, Brian Blades, Chad Brown, the late Dave Brown (via wife Rhonda), Jeff Bryant, Dan Doornink, Kenny Easley, Jacob Green, Darrell Jackson, Norm Johnson, Walter Jones, Cortez Kennedy, Dave Krieg, Steve Largent, Warren Moon, Paul Moyer, Joe Nash, Rufus Porter, Steve Raible, Shawn Springs, Mack Strong, Robbie Tobeck, Marcus Trufant, Manu Tuiasosopo, Curt Warner, Chris Warren, Ricky Watters, John L. Williams, Dave Wyman and Jim Zorn.

Jackson, the top receiver on Mike Holmgren’s teams, raised the flag for the home opener. He said the Super Bowl XL loss still bugs him.

If you want some great stories from Wyman and Moyer on the teams of the 1980s and 1990s, you will love our book, “Then Zorn Said to Largent.”

CHAWK LINES, Week 3: Chicago

September 29, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Pete Carroll doesn’t really care that the Seahawks’ offense is struggling in the first half. Jimmy Graham does, though.

Doug Baldwin doesn’t like the offense’s performance either: “We’re awful on third down right now.”

Baldwin also said he doesn’t want to find out how the Hawks would do without Marshawn Lynch, who is questionable for Monday vs. Detroit with a hamstring injury after a calf injury sidelined him to start the game vs. the Bears.

Golden Tate, former Hawk now with the Lions, said defenses know what Detroit’s offense is doing before it does it.

The Lions and 49ers are running very simple offenses, allowing defenses to beat them consistently, John Clayton surmised.

The Seahawks are getting big contributions from rookies for the first time since 2012.

The Seahawks are again chasing the Cardinals in the NFC West. Here’s a good look at the factors in that race by Bob Condotta.

The Bears were good medicine for the Seahawks’ defense, which improved from 17th to third in overall defense and 21st to second in pass defense.

NFL teams set a record for penalties through the first three weeks, but the Seahawks were a small part of that — tied for the second fewest penalties (18), if you can believe that.

State of the team, Week 3: Chicago

Is this the beginning of the end for Lynch?

September 29, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Is this just a minor injury hiccup for Marshawn Lynch or are we seeing the beginning of the end?

Back issues have dogged him throughout his career, but the Hawks have managed him well and he has not missed a game since 2011. Now he is dealing not only with that recurring issue but a hamstring injury that could keep him out Monday against Detroit.

“We’ve just got to wait and see,” Pete Carroll said Monday, adding, “We really probably won’t know until Friday. The MRI will be important though when we get the results back from that.”

Carroll said Lynch’s “calf thing is resolving” and it’s all about the hamstring, which Lynch injured on his bobbling fourth-down catch at the end of the first half vs. the Chicago Bears.

Continue reading Is this the beginning of the end for Lynch? →

CHAWK LINES, Week 3: Chicago

September 28, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Kam Chancellor got a warm welcome from the fans and inspired his teammates to their first shutout since a 23-0 win over the Giants in 2013.

Jimmy Graham played a big role, scoring the only offensive touchdown. His seven catches were the second most by a tight end in team history.

With Marshawn Lynch sidelined, Thomas Rawls gave the Hawks a spark — becoming the first Seattle runner other than Lynch to go over 100 yards since Robert Turbin in 2012.

Lynch’s calf/hamstring injuries are “nothing to be alarmed by,” Pete Carroll said, although his status was unclear after the game.

Continue reading →

CHAWK LINES, Week 3: Chicago

September 26, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks activated Kam Chancellor and waived Dion Bailey on Saturday. Bailey could end up back on the practice squad.

As Chancellor returns, the Seahawks are starting over.

The Jimmy Graham Conundrum explained by the principals.

The Chancellor saga showed new Seahawks fans it’s not all fun and games. Will they welcome him back Sunday vs. Chicago?

#CHIvsSEA will pit the Bennett brothers against each other for just the third time.

Three keys to the game from Seahawks.com include the Seahawks stopping Matt Forte.

The Chicago Tribune (via The Seattle Times) breaks down five keys to the game.

Continue reading →

Injury report, Week 3: Chicago

Lynch a game-time call, and Hawks tracking data on Chancellor

September 26, 2015 cc Leave a comment

When Kam Chancellor first started telling people he was coming back to the Seahawks on Wednesday, one of the things he said was, “Me and Marshawn started a mission two years ago. I can’t let my dog down.”

It was interesting — and many would say appropriate — that the defense’s heartbeat was recognizing the offense’s thumper as a kindred leader of the team. But, as Chancellor potentially makes his return Sunday vs. Chicago, Lynch might not be with him.

The running back is questionable with a calf injury suffered in Green Bay.

“Yeah, he’s got a calf that we’re working on,” Pete Carroll said. “We’ve been able to condition him some, but we just want to make sure and take care of him during the week, and so he’ll run tomorrow and we’ll see if he’s OK, and it will go all the way to game day on this one though.”

If Lynch can’t play, Fred Jackson would make the start and Thomas Rawls would back him up.

As for Chancellor, the team seems to be planning on him playing.

Continue reading Lynch a game-time call, and Hawks tracking data on Chancellor →