Injury report, The roster

Hawks face a Lynch scenario with Avril, Kam

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Seahawks bandagesIn a cruel twist, the Seahawks could lose two of their star defenders to injury-forced retirement in the next few months.

Kam Chancellor will join Cliff Avril on the sideline for the rest of the season with a similar spinal concern, as Avril was set to have surgery to repair a disk in his neck. Pete Carroll said both will have to decide whether to try to continue their careers next year.

So now the Seahawks find themselves in a Marshawn Lynch situation again — needing to know the fate of these stars by early February so they can move forward with the rest of their roster.

Continue reading Hawks face a Lynch scenario with Avril, Kam →

Week 13: Philadelphia

Hawks go from 10-loss team to 10-win team

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logo-philadelphiaA win against a 10-loss team showed us nothing about the Seahawks we didn’t already know, but a win against a 10-win team Sunday night would tell us a whole lot we didn’t expect.

The 24-13 win over the 49ers was just as ugly as expected and the Seahawks had most of the same troubles that have plagued them all year — scoring in the first half (just seven points), running the ball (68 yards by the running backs), throwing interceptions and missing kicks. The only weakness that seemed stronger this week was penalties — they broke their five-game streak of 100-yard days.

Beating the 10-loss 49ers was no statement. But, if the Hawks had lost, it would have said a lot — i.e., that they were not a playoff team. That is still in question, since the Hawks, even at 7-4, are outside the playoff picture right now.

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Week 12: At San Francisco

Hawks recover from horrible first half to beat 49ers

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Logo -- At San FranciscoRussell Wilson shook off a first-play interception to account for three touchdowns as the Seahawks handed the San Francisco 49ers their 10th loss of the season Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.

Wilson ran for one score in the first quarter and found his tight ends for scores on the first two drives of the second half as Seattle won 24-13.

The 49ers fell to 1-10 as they lost to the Seahawks for the eighth straight time. The Seahawks (7-4) remained a game behind the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West. The Rams (8-3) ended New Orleans’ winning streak at eight games.

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Contracts, The roster

Head-scratching moves by Carroll, Schneider

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Salary cap logoPete Carroll and John Schneider have made some head-scratching decisions this week.

First, Carroll made a string of admitted errors that helped his team lose at home to Atlanta on Monday. And now Schneider is backstepping on a key move he made a few weeks ago, dropping Dwight Freeney because the Seahawks decided they can no longer afford him.

Schneider chose to drop the productive 37-year-old pass rusher because the Hawks suddenly ran into a big injury storm — losing Richard Sherman and possibly Kam Chancellor for the season. Schneider could have gone to another vet, perhaps Bobby Wagner, for some cap relief. But, the Hawks had 11 defensive linemen and Dion Jordan has played well in his two games, so Schneider decided to lop one of his few luxury players.

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Week 11: Atlanta

Looks like Hawks have to win division to get in

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atlanta-logoWhat happened Monday night in Seattle was no surprise — it was just more of the same stuff we have seen all season from Pete Carroll’s unsteady Seahawks.

Penalties, turnovers, injuries, missed kicks, incompetent offense.

It all added up to a 34-31 home loss to Atlanta that was not as bad as the ridiculous defeat to Washington two weeks earlier but still wiped out any thought of a first-round playoff bye for Seattle this season.

There is simply no way the Hawks (6-4) will be able to catch up with the Eagles (9-1), Saints (8-2) and Vikings (8-2) for the top seeds.

These are not the 2014 Seahawks, who also were 6-4 after 11 weeks and then won their final six. That team had the NFL’s best running game and the No. 1 scoring defense, which is why it overcame its No. 1 ranking in penalties. These Hawks are No. 1 in only one of those categories — the penalties — and just aren’t complete enough to do any damage even if they do make the playoffs.

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Schedule, Week 11: Atlanta

The playoffs begin Monday vs. Atlanta

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atlanta-logoAs banged up as the Seahawks suddenly are after that Arizona bloodbath last week, they have to find a way to beat Dan Quinn’s Atlanta Falcons on Monday if they want to have a shot at a first-round bye — and possibly if they want to win the division.

With 10 teams over .500 in the NFC, every game is basically a playoff game from here on out. Each loss will cost something — home field, a bye, a division, a home game, a playoff spot. (And the Hawks have to hope that horrendous home defeat to Washington does not come back to bite them.)

The Seahawks (6-3) have about an 11 percent chance of snagging a first-round bye, according to an aggregation of projections by Five Thirty Eight, the New York Times and Football Outsiders. They have a 61 percent chance of making the playoffs and a 38 percent chance of winning the NFC West.

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Injury report, Week 11: Atlanta

Is Chancellor out for the year, too?

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Seahawks bandagesThe Legion of Boom took a double whammy last Thursday, losing both Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor.

Sherman is out for the season, recovering from surgery on his Achilles and looking toward a return next spring. Chancellor apparently could be following him.

It sounds like the strong safety is out this week with the stinger (i.e., nerve issue) suffered against Arizona, and rumors are flying that he could be out for the season as well.

Pete Carroll said he was still undergoing tests this week and his prognosis was unclear. It sounds like his injury might not be as serious as the one that sidelined Cliff Avril earlier this season and has Avril considering his football future. But the loss of Chancellor would be another tough blow — making him the third starter gone from Seattle’s star-studded defense.

Continue reading Is Chancellor out for the year, too? →

Franchise history, Video, Week 11: Atlanta

7 sacks! So what?

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Adrian Clayborn’s six-sack performance for Atlanta in a 27-7 win over Dallas last week has a lot of Seahawks fans crossing their fingers that Duane Brown can play Monday.

Clayborn’s six were one off the record set by Derrick Thomas in 1990 — against Seattle. But do you remember how that game turned out? Maybe Russell Wilson can channel a little Dave Krieg, if needed:
 

Free agency, The roster, Week 11: Atlanta

Hawks counting on Dolphins’ castoffs

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Salary cap logoThe Seahawks are picking up the scraps of the Miami Dolphins and figure to get some good work out of them the rest of the year.

Just a few days after Dion Jordan made his long-delayed season debut, the Seahawks brought back former Legion of Boom original Byron Maxwell (2011 sixth-rounder).

Jordan is another case of the Seahawks’ patience seemingly paying off. Nurtured back by the Seahawks after missing two and a half years due to a suspension and a knee injury, Jordan got off to a great start in Arizona last Thursday — notching a sack and three quarterback hits. He could come in very handy as the Hawks play without Cliff Avril and Malik McDowell and with a bunch of banged-up linemen — Michael Bennett, Sheldon Richardson, Frank Clark, Marcus Smith, Jarran Reed — down the stretch.

“He’s got a big upside now,” Pete Carroll told 710 ESPN on Monday. “He is a big, physical tough guy with a lot to prove.”

Assuming Jordan stays healthy and plays well enough, the Hawks could easily retain him in 2018. Jordan will be a restricted free agent, meaning the Seahawks will have the right to keep him via tender.

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Contracts, The roster

Shead signed through 2018, according to CBA

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“Counting down the days ’til I’m back with my brothers” — DeShawn Shead

With Richard Sherman out for the season, DeShawn Shead’s potential return comes at just the right time. And it raises an interesting scenario, too.

Even though Shead suffered a torn ACL in his contract year last season, the Seahawks re-signed him — giving him $1.2 million (with $850,000 guaranteed) to basically rehab this season, with the hope he might return in time to help them during their playoff run.

While Shead’s comment seems to indicate he expects to play this season, Pete Carroll told 710 ESPN on Monday that Shead has “hit a bit of a plateau” in his recovery and is not quite ready to practice. He has to begin practice by Nov. 21 and be activated by Week 15 or else go on injured reserve.

Assuming he returns, he seems likely to figure into the mix by the time the playoffs start — possibly even starting at Sherman’s left corner spot, opposite standout rookie Shaquill Griffin.

Seattle’s patience with Shead’s recovery could pay off in 2018 as well.

Continue reading Shead signed through 2018, according to CBA →