The Seahawks’ overall depth this year has been considered the best since 2013, when they won the Super Bowl.
They have had to dip into those reserves here and there throughout the season — especially covering for Thomas Rawls, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett and Luke Willson.
But this week, as the Hawks try to stay on the heels of the Dallas Cowboys with a win in Tampa, the depth is being tested at every level.
The Seahawks have weathered a few injuries to key players — Russell Wilson, Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennett, especially — this season, but they have yet to endure the kind of bloodbath they took in their 26-15 win over Philly on Sunday.
No fewer than 10 players left the game with various ailments, and the Hawks are looking at playing without at least four key guys next Sunday in Tampa Bay.
The biggest concerns this week are Legion of Boomers Earl Thomas and DeShawn Shead, plus the running back position.
Russell Wilson said he will be “ready to roll” against the Rams.
The trip to Los Angeles will be special for Pete Carroll and all of the California Seahawks.
Carroll explained this week’s roster decisions at corner and fullback.
Earl Thomas said he was so upset about his play vs. Miami that he quickly left without showering.
Over the weekend, DeShawn Shead became the fourth Seahawk to get married this year. Earl Thomas had a blowout ceremony in April, and Russell Wilson and Jon Ryan married their equally famous women earlier this month.
That’s four rings for the Hawks this year. We’d like to propose they add another next February.
Over the past couple of years, the Seahawks have used second-round tenders on three restricted free agents (RFAs) — valuing Doug Baldwin, Jeron Johnson and Jermaine Kearse at over $2 million each.
This year they have no RFAs worth that, so it’s no surprise the Seahawks didn’t use a second-round tender.
It wouldn’t have been a surprise if they hadn’t used any tenders, but they apparently want Patrick Lewis back enough that they gave him the lowest offer — $1.67 million. That means the Hawks can match an offer he might sign with another team by the April 22 deadline, but it also means they would get no draft compensation for not matching (he was undrafted when he entered the NFL with Green Bay in 2013).
It can be easy to lose track of where undrafted players are in the free agency track, especially if they have spent time on the practice squad for more than one season.
DeShawn Shead is one of those confusing guys — so befuddling that some people think he is an unrestricted free agent (UFA), some think he is a restricted free agent (RFA) and others think he is an exclusive-rights free agent (ERFA). The answer, determined after backtracking his roster time: He is an ERFA.
First, a quick review of the definitions:
Jimmy Clausen will start for the Ravens — putting him in rare company in NFL history.
Jordan Hill and Demarcus Dobbs will sit out again today.
Former Seahawks WR Chris Matthews has been promoted to Baltimore’s active roster from practice squad for today’s game.
Despite a seemingly lopsided matchup vs. the Ravens, the Seahawks have plenty of motivation.
Russell Wilson’s dominance in the pocket has been crucial to the Seahawks’ offensive resurgence.
Pete Carroll, Darrell Bevell and Tom Cable explain the unorthodox way they run the offense.
Cable’s faith in the revamped offensive line has been rewarded during this offensive surge.
The Seahawks are still a run-first offense and will lean on Thomas Rawls.
Defensive back DeShawn Shead is the latest to claw his way into the Seahawks’ starting lineup.
Marshawn Lynch and Jimmy Graham are back in the Seahawks’ facility for recoveries.
Here’s a video breakdown showing Russell Wilson’s great passing day vs. Pittsburgh.
The Seahawks placed Jimmy Graham on IR and promoted A.J. Francis from the practice squad. Bob Condotta also runs down a bunch of other injuries.
Pete Carroll expects Graham back in time for the 2016 season.
Once again, the Seahawks are without their major offensive trade acquisition. It worked out fine in 2013 and 2014.
After an admirable performance vs. Pittsburgh, DeShawn Shead will remain the starting cornerback opposite Richard Sherman.
The defensive line could be a little light against Minnesota.
Paul Richardson should make it back after missing two games. He was injured in his season debut while catching a 40-yard pass vs. Arizona.
The turnover margin and score finally matched up for a Seattle win.
The secondary is one of the Seahawks’ most competitive spots this summer, but most of the competition has been missing the past week or so thanks to a
legion of boo-boos.
In Kansas City, the Hawks were without seven of their 11 cornerbacks and had only four safeties available. It was so bad that DeShawn Shead moved from safety to start at corner and fifth-round rookie Tye Smith played almost the entire game.
Shead and Smith both took advantage of their chances, drawing praise from coach Pete Carroll after playing tight coverage throughout the game.
Now it’s time for the rest of the corners to get their chances when the Seahawks play the Chargers in San Diego on Saturday night. Richard Sherman, Will Blackmon and Tharold Simon all are expected to play — with Blackmon needing to nail down the nickel job and Simon needing to prove he should be on the team (forget about starting).
Meanwhile, safety Earl Thomas apparently is on track to be ready for the opener in St. Louis on Sept. 13.
“Earl got a lot of work this week. He’s getting ready to be in shape to play for the opener,” Carroll said. “His timing is getting down, his calls, you can see him fitting in, his intensity that he brings is starting to show up. That’s important.”
The Seahawks have to cut the roster from 90 to 75 by Tuesday and then to 53 four days later.
Here’s a look at the defense heading into the third preseason game:
Continue reading Preseason status report & projections: Defense
The Seahawks entered their second preseason game with a lot of questions on the offensive line and secondary and came out with some mixed answers in a 14-13 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City.
They also showed what Jimmy Graham will do for them, saw more from Tyler Lockett and got another great game from their No. 1 front seven on defense.
With Justin Britt moving from right tackle to left guard and Garry Gilliam stepping in at right tackle, the offensive line performed much better than it had in the opener vs. Denver, which got seven sacks.
Wilson was not sacked as he completed 9 of 15 passes for 78 yards. But the first offense really struggled again to run the ball and could not get into the end zone. Robert Turbin ran for a mere four yards on six carries, and Christine Michael ran for 27 on 10 attempts (and also busted a running play by going the wrong way). It wasn’t any better than the first game, when the Seahawks totaled just 89 yards on 24 attempts.
Pete Carroll said he liked the pass protection but added, “We’re not running the ball as well as we would like at this time. … That might change once No. 24 (Marshawn Lynch) gets in there.”
He said the offensive line “did not get the movement we need.” He also confirmed that free-agent guard Evan Mathis is coming to Seattle for a physical Saturday.
Continue reading Mixed results from offense, secondary as front seven dominates
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 