Tag Archives: Jermaine Kearse

Projecting market value for Seattle’s top UFAs

Top UFAs marketThanks to going minus-five in free agency last year, the Seahawks are going to get three compensatory draft picks this year — including a rare third-rounder.

You can bet John Schneider would be fine with getting another third next year — and he has two free agents who might be able to net him that.

The Seahawks have eight key unrestricted free agents — four defensive starters, three offensive starters and punter Jon Ryan — and are not going to be able to keep all of them. In fact, Seattle could end up losing six UFA starters.

But Schneider would be fine with that — because it would mean another nice haul of comp picks (up to the maximum four) in 2017.

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Chawk lines

Pete Carroll wants his guys to use this offseason to look at the game from the other side.

Russell Okung still plans to represent himself in contract talks.

Bruce Irvin said he would take up to $5 million less to return to Seattle. That probably means $1 million/year less. He figures to get an offer of at least $7 million/year from some team and the Hawks probably could not offer him more than $5 million.

Jermaine Kearse would love to come back, and Carroll would love to have him back. Of course, the price has to be right for both.

Regarding Marshawn Lynch, Carroll said, “I don’t know how that’s going to go.” But everyone expects Lynch to go.

The Seahawks reportedly would like to keep Lynch at a reduced rate — which won’t happen.

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Offseason priorities

Salary cap logoA couple of months ago, we wrote that the Seahawks’ bosses — Pete Carroll and John Schneider — were going to have to make some changes no matter how the season ended.

Well, the season has ended (prematurely), and now it is time for those changes.

“There’s all kinds of stuff we’re going to be working on,” Carroll said Monday. “There’s tons of stuff. I’m not going to single anything out right now because there’s no way I can do that and be talking straight with you, because I don’t know. We don’t know at this point. We have a lot of thoughts, and we’re just going to start putting them together over the next few weeks and all.”

Although the Seahawks are slated to have more free agents this year than they have had in any year since Schneider and Carroll arrived in 2010, Schneider’s focus will be a little bit different this time.

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2015 was like 2012; will 2016 be as Super as 2013?

Wilson and SchneiderAs it turns out, the Seahawks’ 2015 season was an almost exact replica of the 2012 season — from the uneven start to the disastrous postseason finish.

So, if the cycle continues, the Seahawks will be lifting the Lombardi Trophy again one year from now.

Consider the similar paths of the 2012 and 2015 seasons:

**The Seahawks rallied from a 4-4 start to make the playoffs, evolving a paltry offense into a formidable one, and a defense that was terrible in save situations (i.e., protecting leads in the fourth quarter).

**They rallied to win their wild-card game and then got off to a horrendous start in their 10 a.m. divisional game before Russell Wilson led a big second-half rally that fell just short.

**This failure was followed by an immediate excitement about what the future holds, everyone knowing this team is still talented enough to compete for at least a few more seasons.

Continue reading 2015 was like 2012; will 2016 be as Super as 2013?

Like 2012, Wilson is heating up

Wilson and Baldwin vs SteelersSeattle’s record-setting win over Pittsburgh is the latest evidence that this season is shaping up a lot like 2012.

That year, Russell Wilson’s first, the offense did little to help through the first half of the season — relying on the defense to carry the way for the rookie quarterback. The unit held five of the first six opponents under 14 points, and Wilson did just enough to help keep the Hawks floating around .500.

But then things swung the other way around this time of the season, as the defense faltered and Wilson took over the offense and led the charge into the second round of the playoffs.

On Sunday, the defense gave up 538 yards to Pittsburgh and Wilson put together his most prolific passing day (345 yards and five touchdowns), and it looks like that 2012 pattern is repeating itself.

Continue reading Like 2012, Wilson is heating up

Midseason position evaluation

Rams Carroll Sept. 13The Seahawks have been highly disappointing this season as the combined effects of a Super Bowl hangover (i.e., not fully trusting Pete Carroll anymore), contract squabbles and new additions have yielded the worst-case scenario: a 4-4 record.

But, they won two straight before their bye and now have a chance to redeem themselves in the final eight games.

Let’s take a look at each position to see how it has performed, what it needs to do better the rest of the year and what it might look like next year.

QUARTERBACK

Russell Wilson is completing a career-high 68.8 percent, but that has done nothing to help the offense in the red zone, where Seattle is the league’s worst offense.

Wilson’s crew has been the main culprit in meltdown losses against Cincinnati and Carolina – games the Hawks should have won.

Wilson is in his fourth season now and should be playing at a consistently high level, but he is not. Some of that is due to the subpar OL in front of him, some of it is due to the inconsistent play calls, some of it is due to him.

Wilson needs to have more urgency. He needs to change plays more at the line. He needs to account for blitzers. He needs to move more to create better passing lanes. He needs to find his open receivers more quickly and get the ball out fast.

The Hawks have little room for error in the second half, and Wilson needs to play like it.

Continue reading Midseason position evaluation

Don’t expect any major deals from Seahawks

Russell Okung talks with GM John Schneider during minicamp in June (AP)Don’t get too excited about the reports that the Seahawks are working the trade phones ahead of the deadline Tuesday: Any deal they might make almost surely would be minor.

It’s no surprise John Schneider is on the hunt for offensive line help, but the Seahawks are not in financial position to bring on a big-money player such as Cleveland’s Alex Mack or Joe Thomas.

The report that Schneider is willing to trade a receiver such as Chris Matthews is evidence that any deal Seattle makes would be minor. The Hawks are not going to get much for Matthews or Ricardo Lockette, and they surely aren’t going to deal Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett or Paul Richardson.

Continue reading Don’t expect any major deals from Seahawks

P-Rich’s return will mean more later, but just imagine him & Lockett

Paul Richardson goes up for a catch against Janoris Jenkins (Seahawks.com)If the Seahawks actually gave Russell Wilson enough time to throw the ball consistently, the return of Paul Richardson would mean a lot more.

As it is, his impending return — whether this week or after the bye — won’t add much to the offense. Not immediately anyway.

But, if the Seahawks can get to the point where Wilson has time to throw some deep balls, Richardson and Tyler Lockett should offer a great deep duo.

Continue reading P-Rich’s return will mean more later, but just imagine him & Lockett

CHAWK LINES -- Panthers at SeahawksSounds like a Seahawks fan tried to give the Panthers a taste of what it feels like to be playing in the early morning. Not cool.

The Panthers always come along at a critical point for the Seahawks.

Even former Seahawk Kevin Norwood — now a Panther — thinks this game is pivotal.

Dave Boling thinks the Seahawks will use Carolina as a springboard again.

Tight ends are still a problem for Seattle — and Greg Olsen is coming to town.

Rob Rang has three key matchups, including Olsen vs. Kam Chancellor and Kevin Pierre-Louis.

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CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Packers

Do the Seahawks miss Kam Chancellor on the field? Let their other defensive leaders tell you.

John Schneider visited Chancellor and asked him to come back, promising the team would take care of him at some point, Jay Glazer reported. Chancellor thinks he has great leverage, Glazer said.

Dave Boling says the Seahawks need to discover their post-Chancellor identity.

Bob Condotta points to the 1985 Bears, who won the Super Bowl with two season holdouts, as a case study for the Kam-less Seahawks.

The Packers might not be the only ones without their right tackle (Bryan Bulaga). Garry Gilliam is questionable with a rib issue.

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