Wilson & the Hawks are used to inconsistent OL

November 2, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Wouldn’t it be fun to see what Russell Wilson could do with the passing game behind a reliable offensive line?

He hasn’t had one yet in two and a half seasons as Seattle’s quarterback, and Sunday in their 30-24 win over the Oakland Raiders the Hawks went with their 15th line combination in Wilson’s 40 games.

It was ironic that the five starters from the best line in Seattle history — the 2005 Super Bowl line — happened to be in the house to celebrate Hall of Fame tackle Walter Jones’ induction into the Ring of Honor.

As Jones, Steve Hutchinson, Robbie Tobeck, Chris Gray and Sean Locklear looked on, the Hawks started a third-string center, a second-year utility player at left tackle and a rookie right tackle — and by the end of the game they had another rookie playing left guard.

Continue reading Wilson & the Hawks are used to inconsistent OL →

Injury report, Week 9: Oakland

Okung and Chancellor won’t play

November 2, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Earlier this week, Pete Carroll was looking forward to getting injured players back in the next couple of weeks and having his full roster available soon.

Little did he/we know it would get worse before it got better.

The Seahawks have been without four starters for the past 2-3 weeks and will be without six today, with safety Kam Chancellor and left tackle Russell Okung joining tight end Zach Miller, cornerback Byron Maxwell, and linebackers Bobby Wagner and Malcolm Smith on the sideline.

Chancellor was not on the inactive list, but he apparently will sit with injuries to his groin, hip and ankles. It will be the first game Chancellor has missed since Week 4, 2011. With Jeron Johnson (concussion) out, DeShawn Shead figures to get his first start at safety.

Alvin Bailey, who filled in at both guard spots briefly last week, figures to start for Okung.

Continue reading Okung and Chancellor won’t play →

CHAWK LINES, Week 9: Oakland

November 2, 2014 cc Leave a comment

With Malcolm Smith out for a couple of weeks and K.J. Wright moving back outside, Brock Coyle will start in the middle.

And Kevin Pierre-Louis figures to get much more playing time as well.

Here’s a look at the Hawks’ new 280-pound fullback.

The 14.5-point line for this game is tied for the third-highest home spread in Seahawks history. They covered the first two but needed OT to beat Tampa Bay, also 14.5-point underdogs, last year.

Derek Carr, Will Tukuafu and Brock Coyle are among the players to watch from Seahawks.com, The Seattle Times and the Seattle P-I.

Here’s the team-by-team comparison. Guessing that turnover margin difference will be a big factor.

Week 9: Oakland

The Seahawks won’t fall for it this time, right?

October 31, 2014 cc Leave a comment

That’s probably what Admiral Ackbar would say about a game that featured the defending Super Bowl champs at home against a winless, rudderless team that already had fired its coach.

But if ever there was a team that should know not to overlook an 0-7 opponent, it’s these Seahawks. As you might recall, they did that last year at exactly this time, falling into a 21-0 hole against the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in Week 9.

Now, here they are again — facing another 0-7 team in Week 9 as the Oakland Raiders come to Seattle.

But these are not the same Seahawks as that overconfident 7-1 bunch last year that had to rally to beat Tampa in overtime.

Continue reading The Seahawks won’t fall for it this time, right? →

State of the team, Week 8: At Carolina

This year, Hawks have needed the young guys

October 30, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Because the Seahawks won the Super Bowl last season, it is easy to forget that half of their roster is comprised of players with less than three years of experience.

Starters Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, Bruce Irvin, J.R. Sweezy and Jermaine Kearse are only in their third seasons, and 21 more of the 53 players on the roster have not yet played three seasons. Eleven others are in just their fourth seasons.

The Seahawks barely used any of their rookies in 2013, relying largely on veterans — and that’s a loose term, considering some of them had just one or two years of experience.

So, coming into this season, the Hawks in effect had almost two full rookie classes. And the questions were: Would any of the remaining 2013 rookies step up to replace departed free agents and would the 2014 class redshirt as most of the 2013 class did?

Due to injuries and one big trade, the answers are yes and no, as many young players have stepped forward in recent weeks.

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Week 8: At Carolina

A look back at Hawks’ most inefficient ‘long’ drive of the season

October 28, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Cooper vs Carolina — Cooper Helfet can’t quite get back to a pass thrown short of him at the 5-yard line in the third quarter at Carolina.

The Seattle offense was a total tease against Carolina, with two of its most time-consuming drives of the season ending in disappointment.

Bad enough was the 13-play drive at the end of the first half that ended in an interception off the hands of Marshawn Lynch. The 13 plays tied for the most in a Seattle drive this season.

But even worse — and more mindboggling — than that was the bizarre drive to start the third quarter, right after Marcus Burley had intercepted a pass by Cam Newton.

How does a team manage to hold the ball for six minutes and 12 plays and gain just 29 yards? With a very entertaining combination of good and bad plays.

Continue reading A look back at Hawks’ most inefficient ‘long’ drive of the season →

Injury report

Wagner, Miller remain out, but Hawks are getting healthier

October 27, 2014 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks have taken a number of injury hits over the last month, but some of those guys will be returning in the next week or two — with two notable exceptions.

Linebacker Bobby Wagner and tight end Zach Miller “are going to be awhile,” coach Pete Carroll said Monday.

Wagner has missed the past two games with turf toe, and Miller had ankle surgery during the Week 4 bye. Both met doctors on the East Coast while the Hawks were in North Carolina over the weekend, the coach said.

“Both those guys got updated on their progress and where they’re going,” Carroll said. “We were not given a timeline for them. Neither one of those guys are ready to come back this week. So we will have to wait and see what happens with those guys.”

The news is much better for kick returner Bryan Walters, center Max Unger and cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Jeremy Lane.

Continue reading Wagner, Miller remain out, but Hawks are getting healthier →

State of the team

Carroll denies reports of rift with Lynch

October 27, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Pete Carroll responded directly Monday to reports of a rift between himself and running back Marshawn Lynch, saying, “I don’t know where that came from,” and scoffed at the idea that the Hawks would consider trading Lynch.

Both ESPN and NFL Network reported Sunday morning that the Seahawks had grown tired of Lynch’s attitude and had already decided to move on from him after this season. The ESPN report indicated that the Hawks might have tried to trade him if Derrick Coleman had not broken his foot last week.

“I have no idea where that came from,” Carroll said. “We have nothing to say about that. At this point I don’t think it behooves us to try and respond to all of these kinds of things in the locker room. Our players have told you how they feel, our coaches have told you how we feel about it and we’re in a really good place right now.”

As for the report that Carroll and Lynch do not communicate, Carroll said he talks to Lynch “whenever I need to.”

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Week 8: At Carolina

Big win, but Hawks still have much to fix

October 27, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Most of the game Sunday looked so similar to their three losses, but the Seahawks finally managed to overcome their own charity and clumsiness to get their first win in three weeks and a measure of feel-good amid swirling reports of bad team chemistry.

The 13-9 win at Carolina was just as ugly as the Seahawks’ wins the past two years — 16-12 in 2012 and 12-7 last season — but it was picture perfect for a team trying to avoid the first three-game losing streak in the Russell Wilson era and trying to prove it has not lost its mojo.

“It means a lot,” wide receiver Doug Baldwin told reporters. “This is a true character win for us, coming off two losses and all the things the media was saying about us. We showed resiliency.”

Some will say it saved Seattle’s season, which is a bit extreme and premature considering the many issues the Hawks still have.

Continue reading Big win, but Hawks still have much to fix →

State of the team, Week 8: At Carolina

Lynch & team bosses reportedly at odds, but it’s not a distraction

October 27, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Amid reports that some teammates are jealous of quarterback Russell Wilson and that the Seahawks are ready to part ways with Marshawn Lynch, coach Pete Carroll and Wilson declared Sunday after they beat Carolina that the team is not distracted.

“The things that have been said have been said on the outside. We have no problem. No problem,” Carroll said. “Whatever the conversation is, that’s the job of the media to try to figure stuff out. That’s not what’s going on here. I have no problem. It was not a distraction at all. Our guys don’t care about what’s being said.”

In the wake of the Percy Harvin trade and Mike Freeman’s incendiary report on Wilson, the latest revelation is that the Hawks’ relationship with Lynch has reached a breaking point, with the team finally tired of the running back’s antics and Lynch apparently so upset with the team that he is talking about quitting again.

Seattle might even have tried to trade Lynch by Tuesday’s deadline if fullback Derrick Coleman had not suffered a broken foot last week, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported. With Coleman out, though, the Hawks have to use No. 2 tailback Robert Turbin as their fullback.

Continue reading Lynch & team bosses reportedly at odds, but it’s not a distraction →