‘How do we work these guys together?’

September 3, 2019 cc Leave a comment

Now that John Schneider has repeated his 2013 defensive line coup, the question becomes: How long will it take Pete Carroll, Ken Norton and company to get this collection of linemen playing to its best capabilities?

Schneider told 710 ESPN that Seattle’s front seven, including a trio of “phenomenal blitzers” at linebacker, is “a really cool group. (Coaches are) putting it together right now: How do we work these guys together?”

For a sampling, we merely need go back to 2013, the last time Schneider brought in two impact pass rushers at the same time.

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Contracts, The roster

Hawks have replicated 2013 moves on D-line

September 1, 2019 cc 2 Comments

In May, we said the Seahawks needed to replicate their 2013 moves and find a way to add a couple of impact veteran pass rushers.

Four months later, they have achieved that goal — in spades (Jadeveon Clowney trumps Nick Perry).

John Schneider getting Clowney and Ziggy Ansah for a grand total of no more than $21.25 million is akin to his 2013 coup of signing Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril for $18 million (Avril signed for two years). And, if Clowney and Ansah play like Bennett and Avril did that year, the Hawks could be looking at their second Lombardi Trophy.

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Contracts, The roster

Why Brown was cut and could return

September 1, 2019 cc Leave a comment

(UPDATED with new details Sunday morning)

When word first came down that Seattle had acquired Jadeveon Clowney from Houston for a couple of backup defenders and a third-round pick, it was almost exactly the cheap price we had predicted Seattle would have to pay if the teams made a deal.

But then came the added cost: Cutting starting receiver Jaron Brown and Cassius Marsh. The latter wasn’t a big surprise because Marsh was suddenly a superfluous player, with Clowney and Ziggy Ansah both capable of playing the LEO spot.

But Brown’s release certainly was a stunner — as it left Seattle with injured David Moore, inexperienced Malik Turner and three rookies behind Tyler Lockett.

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Preseason, State of the team

Hawks have improved almost everywhere

August 30, 2019 cc Leave a comment

Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson plan to be clapping about their offense a lot this season (Getty Images) A year ago, few people thought the Seahawks could play even .500 ball — due to a completely revamped defense and an offense that didn’t seem capable of winning many shootouts.

Well, as we predicted, the Hawks won 10 games and made the playoffs for the seventh time in Pete Carroll’s nine seasons (and, as we all know, should have beaten Dallas in the wild-card round).

This year, it seems plenty of people have not learned their lesson — still forecasting the Seahawks as an 8-8 or 9-7 team. The main concerns are pass rush and a youthful secondary, plus the permanent loss of Doug Baldwin in the receiving corps.

Carroll knows his pass rush is weaker than it was — “We gotta make something special out of it” — but he also knows his team is otherwise very stout. (UPDATE: The Hawks acquired pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney the day after this was first posted.)

After the Hawks beat the Raiders in the preseason finale, Carroll said, “We’re going to be a really good team. … We’re going to be hard to beat.”

He’s right. When the schedule came out, we predicted 11 or 12 wins. It’s still easy to see that because they look better at ~~six~~ seven of nine position groups.

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The roster, Trades

How cheaply could Hawks get Clowney?

August 29, 2019 cc Leave a comment

Would Houston take Barkevious Mingo and C.J. Prosise for Jadeveon Clowney? Or maybe some combination of those two players and a third- or fourth-rounder?

Because that’s all Seattle should want to offer for a one-year rental who would eat up $16 million in cap space.

Houston reportedly has called Seattle (among others), and the Seahawks apparently are on Clowney’s preferred short list (with the Eagles). There’s no word yet on what the Seahawks think of all of this.

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NFL draft, The roster

More third-round thuds

August 28, 2019 cc Leave a comment

John Schneider has had plenty of chances to find the next Russell Wilson or Tyler Lockett with third-round home runs since 2016, but so far he has struck out.

Amara Darboh (cut this week) is officially a bust — again. And Nazair Jones is headed that way, too, perhaps saved only by a move to IR (barring an injury settlement).

Is C.J. Prosise (the anatomy of injury for the past three years) finally finished, too? Can Lano Hill avoid the ax? And can Rasheem Green step up and avoid the avalanche of third-round busts coming out of Seattle?

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Preseason

Key players in final two preseason games

August 24, 2019 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks are going to play their third preseason game tonight without nine key players – injuries that have opened up chances for a few other guys while also complicating the roster makeup.

David Moore’s shoulder injury is the latest concern. That and D.K. Metcalf’s knee problem put the spotlight on the receiver position tonight in Los Angeles. But the defensive line, secondary and tight end also have tricky roster situations that make the last two games significant for several players.

Let’s look at key positions and players to watch:

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Preseason, The roster

Injuries have kept the bubble inflated

August 20, 2019 cc Leave a comment

We’re halfway through the preseason, and injuries along the Seahawks’ roster have prevented coaches (and us) from seeing all of the contenders for roster spots.

The depth issues figure to affect their roster decisions on Aug. 31.

Everyone knows pass rush is the weakest part of the team, which explains why Pete Carroll and Ken Norton Jr. are working on so many different blitz patterns. But they also have injury issues at running back, wide receiver, offensive line and defensive back that probably will affect their decisions at those spots.

Will it also affect their game strategy Saturday in Los Angeles? Will Carroll choose to keep his starters in for only a half so he can keep them healthy and give the bubble players more of a shot?

We project 41 locks and 25 bubble players for 12 open spots — No. 2 QB, No. 4 RB, No. 5 & 6 WRs, No. 3 TE, No. 9 OL, No. 9/10 DL, No. 6/7 LBs, Nos. 8-10 DBs. And, of course, John Schneider will make a trade or two or three to fill some of these spots.

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Preseason

Top three rookies hurt, but offense looks ready

August 18, 2019 cc Leave a comment

A pretty good night by Russell Wilson and Co. was overshadowed by more injuries that cut further into the Seahawks’ depth — with the top three rookies now sidelined.

Second-rounder Marquise Blair was carted off late in the 25-19 loss to Minnesota, back spasms landing him on the injured list alongside first-rounder L.J. Collier, who has been out nearly all summer, and second-rounder D.K. Metcalf, who did not play Sunday night due to a knee injury that will require surgery Tuesday.

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The roster, Trades

Forget Clowney, but what about Griffen?

August 18, 2019 cc Leave a comment

It’s no secret the Seahawks need pass rushers. And that was before we learned that Ziggy Ansah, apparently recovered from a long-lingering shoulder injury, now is being held out due to a groin issue.

It’s also well known that John Schneider has a penchant for making preseason trades, and that has led to a fan frenzy over the possibility of Schneider making a deal for Houston holdout Jadeveon Clowney.

But don’t expect Seattle to do a repeat of the Duane Brown trade from a couple of years ago, even if Brown might offer a glowing recommendation of his former teammate. Instead, maybe look to tonight’s opponent, the Vikings, for a possible deal.

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