Week 1: Green Bay

Rodgers to Sherman: ‘I hope you get some work’

Leave a comment

Hawks vs Packers Sherman all aloneGreen Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers joked to Richard Sherman about not throwing his way during the game last Thursday.

“I think I said, ‘I hope you get some work this year,'” Rodgers said on his radio show. “By that point, I knew that we hadn’t really looked to his side or thrown to his side, and I just said that to him, and I think we kind of laughed about it and went on the way.”

A lot was made about whether Sherman should be moved around rather than play exclusively on the left side, but the weekend’s games showed other top cornerbacks, such as Arizona’s Patrick Peterson and New England’s Darrelle Revis, playing one side of the field as well.

Sherman has been criticized — by Peterson and Revis, among others — for playing the left side only and not shadowing the opponent’s top receiver, so he had a response to seeing them playing it straight, too.

Continue reading Rodgers to Sherman: ‘I hope you get some work’ →

Contracts

Lynch and Miller sure don’t look like they’re on the way out

Leave a comment

Lynch and Miller vs PackersThe futures of Marshawn Lynch and Zach Miller were hotly debated all offseason, with many concluding that their salaries and age (both are 28) would preclude either from remaining with the Hawks beyond 2014 — or, in Miller’s case, even in 2014.

After their stellar play in the season opener last week, though, it is easy to see both returning next year.

Most people tend to think Lynch’s Beast Mode has an expiration date and he will switch to Least Mode very soon.

Continue reading Lynch and Miller sure don’t look like they’re on the way out →

The roster

Hawks sign cornerback

Leave a comment

Josh ThomasOf the five cornerbacks who reportedly worked out for the Seahawks on Monday, the team chose former Carolina starter Josh Thomas.

A fifth-round pick in 2011, he played in 38 games for the Panthers, starting 10. Thomas (5 feet 11 and 185 pounds) began last season as a starter but was bumped out by rookie Melvin White after four games. He was released on final cuts two weekends ago.

He replaces Jeremy Lane, who was placed on injured reserve Monday with a groin injury and will miss at least half the season.

Thomas will step in behind starters Richard Sherman and Byron Maxwell and nickel corner Marcus Burley, who was acquired in a trade on Aug. 30.

Thomas was picked over four others who reportedly worked out Monday, including rookie speedster Keith Lewis and fourth-year player Mike Harris.

Injury report, The roster

Lane hits short-term IR, Hawks work out five CBs

Leave a comment

Jeremy LaneThe Seahawks have placed cornerback Jeremy Lane on injured reserve, designating him for return, which means he will be out at least eight weeks with the groin injury he aggravated in the season opener last Thursday.

The Seahawks have begun a search for his replacement, reportedly working out undrafted rookie Keith Lewis and fourth-year player Mike Harris among five cornerbacks on Monday.

The Seahawks also announced the signing of offensive lineman Andrew McDonald, who has a unique tale, and a couple of practice squad moves.

Continue reading Lane hits short-term IR, Hawks work out five CBs →

Contracts

Market for Maxwell is set, but will Hawks want to pay $5 million a year?

2 Comments

Hawks vs Packers MaxwellWhen Byron Maxwell finally made the Packers pay by picking off a pass from Aaron Rodgers in the opener Thursday, the immediate thought was: If teams keep throwing at him like that, he will end up in the Pro Bowl alongside Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

Teammate Michael Bennett added another thought, quipping to reporters, “All they’re doing is driving Maxwell’s price up.”

And now we have an idea of the price after Pittsburgh gave cornerback Cortez Allen a five-year deal worth $26 million this weekend.

Continue reading Market for Maxwell is set, but will Hawks want to pay $5 million a year? →

The roster

Reports: Seahawks add OL, looking for CB

Leave a comment

Last week, we pointed out that the Hawks were playing Crazy 8s with their receivers and offensive linemen — going heavy with the former and light with the latter.

Well, they apparently have fixed that imbalance by replacing receiver Phil Bates with offensive lineman Andrew McDonald, who was released by Carolina in final cuts.

The signing was reported by his agent and, if McDonald is on the 53-man roster, means the Hawks now have nine linemen — the number they should have.

Continue reading Reports: Seahawks add OL, looking for CB →

CHAWK LINES
Leave a comment

Chawk lines 75 pct

Danny Kelly of FieldGulls puts together one of his great GIF breakdowns, showing the effect Percy Harvin had vs. Green Bay (and will have all season, assuming good health).

Greg Cosell of Shutdown Corner talks about the deception principles at work in Seattle’s offense.

Jerry Brewer of The Seattle Times says Marshawn Lynch was “noticeably quicker than he’s been during his four years in Seattle.”

Doug Miller of Sports on Earth looks at the sports turnaround in long-suffering Seattle.

Clare Farnsworth puts the spotlight on rookie right tackle Justin Britt after his first NFL start. And Britt tells The News Tribune the game was slower than practice.

The roster

Likely preparing to add corner, Hawks waive eighth receiver

Leave a comment

The Seahawks were destined to release one of their eight receivers, if only because it left them thin at other positions. And, in the wake of cornerback Jeremy Lane’s groin injury, they apparently have waived wide receiver Phil Bates.

The move, first reported by The Seattle Times, clears a spot on the roster for the team to add a cornerback. They are down to three — Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell and Marcus Burley — after injuries knocked out Lane and Tharold Simon (out four weeks after knee surgery).

Continue reading Likely preparing to add corner, Hawks waive eighth receiver →

Week 1: Green Bay

Legion of Boom had an adventurous opener

Leave a comment

Hawks vs Packers Thomas drops puntAmid the Seahawks’ 36-16 runaway win over Green Bay on Thursday, the Legion of Boom walked away victorious but somewhat disappointed.

Earl Thomas made a mess of punt returns, fumbling one that turned into a touchdown for Green Bay and raising further questions about the decision to put the All-Pro safety back there.

Kam Chancellor hit hard all night and made 11 tackles, but he also whiffed more than usual.

Richard Sherman was annoyed that the Packers refused to throw to his side of the field the entire game, opening up once again questions about whether Sherman should be allowed to shadow a team’s best receiver.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Jordy Nelson instead picked on Byron Maxwell, who gave up a bunch of completions to the duo but also picked off a pass.

Of course, none of those mostly minor issues was as big as the loss of nickel cornerback Jeremy Lane, who aggravated his groin injury and is “going to be down for a while,” coach Pete Carroll told reporters.

Continue reading Legion of Boom had an adventurous opener →