Tag Archives: Darrell Bevell

Offense still has big problems, but Carroll has a plan to fix them

October 26, 2015 cc Leave a comment

It’s a good thing the Seahawks are finishing the first half of the season with a couple of struggling teams, because their offense still has its own issues to reconcile.

Sure, the Seahawks finally finished an opponent Thursday, dominating the San Francisco 49ers like they did last year, but the Seattle offense still functioned only about half as well as it should. And Pete Carroll knows things have to change if the Seahawks are going to win another Super Bowl this season.

Russell Wilson was sacked five times and Marshawn Lynch had to fight too hard for most of his 122 yards. While the line gave the running back some good cutback lanes early on the first drive, it took five tries for him to score from the 3-yard line. In fact, about half of Lynch’s 27 runs went for three yards or less. That explains why his teammates were so fired up by his performance — he did most of it himself.

Carroll thinks Seattle’s mostly neophyte line is getting better at run blocking, based on Lynch’s best game of the season and the 200-yard rushing day at Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago. But the simple fact is the unit is still far too inconsistent. And it is pathetic at pass blocking.

Continue reading Offense still has big problems, but Carroll has a plan to fix them →

State of the team, Trades

Hindsight study: Was Unger-Graham trade a good move?

October 10, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The two biggest concerns during the Seahawks’ 2-2 start have been the struggles of the remade offensive line and the inconsistent use of Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham.

For many critics, the two issues are very closely linked. After all, the Seahawks gave up center Max Unger to get Graham.

For the record, we were very in favor of that trade. But some were dubious, thinking it foolish to give up a top center for a tight end the Seahawks might not even use right.

So, let’s revisit the question: Did the Hawks do the right thing in trading Unger for Graham?

Continue reading Hindsight study: Was Unger-Graham trade a good move? →

Week 2: At Green Bay

Carroll: Time to get season started

September 21, 2015 cc Leave a comment

“We’re going to go back to work and get the season started.”

— Pete Carroll, after the Seahawks self-destructed in Green Bay.

The Seahawks were their own worst enemy vs. the Packers on Sunday, as they lost by double digits (27-17) for the first time since 2011.

Kind of like the loss to the Rams, the errors came from every corner. Michael Bennett jumped offsides three times, Richard Sherman gave up two big plays, Darrell Bevell and Russell Wilson put together another subpar performance, the offensive line was horrible in the first quarter, Jimmy Graham was nowhere to be found, the Seahawks still can’t run a screen play to save their lives, and the defense once again got picked apart by the short passing game.

After that game, some fans probably are wishing Bennett had held out alongside Kam Chancellor. Bennett led the NFL with 13 pre-snap penalties in 2014, and he now has five in two games this season.

Continue reading Carroll: Time to get season started →

Week 2: At Green Bay

Hawks-Packers packed with drama since 1999

September 16, 2015 cc Leave a comment

As the Seahawks prepare to travel to Green Bay for the first time since 2009 — and the first time under Pete Carroll — the Packers are itching for revenge.

They won’t tell you that; but, after their 2014 season started and ended with embarrassing losses to the Seahawks — one by blowout and the other via historic comeback/meltdown — of course they want retribution.

It’s just the latest dramatic meeting between the two franchises, which have been deeply intertwined since 1999.

This will be the first in-season trip back to Green Bay for John Schneider since he left the Packers to become Seattle’s GM in 2010. It also will be besieged OC Darrell Bevell’s first game back in his home state since he was coaching the Vikings in 2010. It also will mark the return of one-time Wisconsin star Russell Wilson.

Newer Seahawks fans — and there are plenty of them — might think the Packers-Seahawks series consists of three games: the Hawks’ infamous Fail Mary victory on a Monday night in 2012, Seattle’s 20-point win in the opening game of last season and Seattle’s miracle comeback in a 28-22 overtime win in the NFC title game.

But this series was full of great matchups back when Mike Holmgren and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck were leading the Hawks against their old team — led by Brett Favre — and this will be the 12th meeting since 1999.

Continue reading Hawks-Packers packed with drama since 1999 →

CHAWK LINES, Training camp

August 20, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Some observations from the final official day of camp from those who were there (and other features):

Former Seahawk Marcus Trufant skydived into camp before practice.

Jermaine Kearse needed a good camp to stave off challenges from among the deepest receiving corps the Hawks have had under Pete Carroll, and he apparently continues to impress.

Kevin Smith has had a good camp and played well vs. Denver, but will it be enough to beat out Ricardo Lockette or B.J. Daniels?

Russell Wilson says he is clicking with all of his receivers and he is not concerned about the offensive line.

Hawk Blogger says the starting line looks fine with Justin Britt at left guard and Garry Gilliam at right tackle. But he also asks what we all are wondering: What happened to Alvin Bailey?

The P-I offered five takeaways from camp.

Richard Sherman supports Tom Brady in his appeal of his four-game suspension.

Darrell Bevell told Peter King he wouldn’t change the Super Bowl play call but it “will always be there to drive me.”

State of the team, Training camp

Training camp status report: Offense

August 13, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks open the preseason against the Denver Broncos on Friday in Seattle. Here is our breakdown of the
offense, what we will be watching in the first game and our updated roster projections:

QUARTERBACK
Veterans: Russell Wilson, Tarvaris Jackson, R.J. Archer

Wilson’s No. 1 goal in camp has been to develop and refine his rapport with Jimmy Graham.

“Chemistry has been more than I could ever imagine,” Graham said after the scrimmage Aug. 8. “For example, today in the scrimmage we had one we didn’t connect on; so, after practice, we did it about four or five times. And that is how we’re going to do it each and every day. Anything we’re iffy about we’re going to get it after practice. The season is right here; and, when those big moments come, I want that connection to be right.”

Earlier this week, Pete Carroll said, “They’re not there yet. It’s just going to take time. The intricacies of the things that they’re trying to do together go way deep, so it’s going to take them a lot of time. … Both of them are really determined to get this thing figured out. They’re doing great, but there’s more room for them to make up.”

By all reports, Archer has been off target in most practices — putting to rest any thoughts that he might challenge Jackson, who still puts up a great deep ball.

The Hawks have their eyes open for other QBs — they reportedly worked out Jake Waters, who was Tyler Lockett’s QB at Kansas State.

What to watch: Wilson to Graham, of course.

Projected (2): Wilson, Jackson

Continue reading Training camp status report: Offense →

CHAWK LINES, Training camp

August 13, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Some observations from a stormy Day 11 of camp from those who were there (and other features):

Bob Condotta of The Times recounts Keavon Milton’s journey to possible No. 1 left guard.

The Seahawks don’t know how many tight ends they are going to keep: three or four? Does Will Tukuafu count?

Speaking of tight ends, Anthony McCoy feels “normal” after Achilles injuries cost him the past two seasons.

Mohammed Seisay continues to make plays even as he adjusts to the playbook and pace of practice: “I’m going to get real comfortable and start making a lot more plays.”

Richard Sherman had the day off, and he spent it talking to cover-2 guru Monte Kiffin.

Pete Carroll told KJR-AM that the Hawks catered to Percy Harvin’s talents last year, “to our detriment somewhat,” but Darrell Bevell said they don’t have to change for Jimmy Graham: “We can just plug him in.”

Field Gulls interviewed Doug McNeil about his circuitous journey to the Seahawks and his change of positions.

Peyton Manning is not expected to play Friday when the Broncos visit the Seahawks.

CHAWK LINES, Training camp

August 1, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Some observations from the first two days of camp from those who were there:

Field Gulls focused on the Legion of Boom, with new corner Cary Williams and without the starting safeties.

For Day 2, The Seattle Times guys kept a close eye on the offensive line.

John Boyle of Seahawks.com says the Seahawks are bigger and deeper at receiver.

OC Darrell Bevell says Tyler Lockett will “be a big factor at wide receiver” (as we have always thought).

Hawk Blogger Brian Nemhauser noticed the receivers, too.

Gregg Bell of The News Tribune says players support Kam Chancellor in his holdout.

Brandon Mebane, 30, says he feels more like 24 or 25 as he comes back from a bad hamstring injury.

OTAs, State of the team

Wilson and Graham have been bonding since trade

June 3, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Russell Wilson and Jimmy Graham already seem to have formed an unbreakable bond. And the season doesn’t start for another three months.

Graham apparently caught a bunch of so-called touchdowns in red zone practice on Tuesday, highlighting the area where he might be most effective for the Seahawks (who, as we all know, prefer to throw from the 1-yard line).

Wilson and Graham started building their chemistry immediately after the trade that brought Graham and a fourth-rounder from New Orleans in exchange for Max Unger and Seattle’s first-round pick.

Continue reading Wilson and Graham have been bonding since trade →

Contracts, State of the team

Lynch’s agent discusses the deal and his client

March 6, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Doug Hendrickson, the agent for Marshawn Lynch, said the running back never wanted to leave Seattle and has not mentioned retirement to him, and Seahawks general manager John Schneider pushed a contract extension hard starting the day after the Super Bowl.

Talking to KJR Radio about Lynch’s three-year, $31 million contract, Hendrickson said Lynch was Seattle’s first priority and Schneider called him the day after the Seahawks lost the Super Bowl — by not running Lynch at the goal line — and started talking about getting Lynch’s deal extended.

“They wanted to get it done, and they wanted to get it done fast,” Hendrickson said.

Continue reading Lynch’s agent discusses the deal and his client →