Tag Archives: Jimmy Graham

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.

Continue reading Hawks recover from horrible first half to beat 49ers →

Week 9: Washington

That was the worst home loss in Wilson era; now it gets tougher

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Logo -- WashingtonSeattle’s 17-14 debacle against Washington was easily the worst home loss of the Russell Wilson era — a ridiculous defeat to an undermanned team that the Seahawks couldn’t afford to take, not with the toughest part of their schedule about to begin.

This was just the seventh home loss in the Wilson era. But it came against a broken-down Washington offense and a defense giving up 25.7 points per game. In other words, it was completely unacceptable. Seattle could have — should have — won at least 22-17.

But, thanks to a record penalty day, three missed field goals and two interceptions, the Seahawks are just 5-3 midway through another disjointed season. They have struggled to stay above .500, with five wins against teams that are a combined 13-29. And it is about to get really hard. The winless 49ers are the only losing team in the final eight games, with the seven others a combined 32-17.

That’s not a good sign for a Seattle team that halfway through the season still has no running game and is now beating itself with record penalty counts and many other errors.

Continue reading That was the worst home loss in Wilson era; now it gets tougher →

The roster, Trades

How the Hawks could acquire Duane Brown

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Salary cap logoCould Duane Brown really be a Seahawk by the time the Hawks play the Houston Texans in Week 8?

We suspected the Seahawks might have checked into Houston’s holdout left tackle during training camp, so it’s not a big shock to see the Hawks apparently are still working that angle.

One report indicates the Seahawks could be close to getting the Texans to lower their asking price, with Seattle’s workout of Branden Albert on Monday helping their cause.

The obvious question: What would it take, in trade and cash, to get the 32-year-old three-time Pro Bowl tackle to Seattle?

Continue reading How the Hawks could acquire Duane Brown →

Week 2: San Francisco, X's & O's

After same start as 2016, will Wilson run more?

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Logo -- San FranciscoThe Seahawks are off to the same poor start on offense as 2016, and it’s really up to Russell Wilson to decide whether they take basically the same course as last season or do it better.

In 2016, Seattle scored one touchdown in 22 possessions vs. Miami and the L.A. Rams. This year, the Seahawks have one TD in 21 possessions vs. Green Bay and San Francisco.

In 2016, with new starters at four line spots, running backs averaged just 3.2 yards per rush in the first two games (149 yards on 47 carries), and the line gave up five sacks and 18 QB hits. This year, again with new starters at four line positions, running backs are averaging 3.6 yards per attempt (147 yards on 41 carries), and Wilson has been sacked six times and hit 17.

The Hawks converted 31 percent of their third downs (9 of 29) in Games 1 and 2 in 2016; they are at 35.5 percent (11 of 31) this year.

As you can see, it’s almost a carbon copy. The big difference: Wilson is healthy. Will the Seahawks use that to their advantage?

Continue reading After same start as 2016, will Wilson run more? →

Week 2: San Francisco
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CHAWK LINES -- 49ers at Seahawks

The Seahawks can show the opener was an aberration — or reality.

The Seahawks are 7-0 in home openers in Carroll era, winning by an average of 17.4 points. Here’s a look back at all seven.

Three matchups, including Brian Hoyer vs. the home crowd.

Five things to watch in the game.

“If there’s a matchup where they can get some pressure, it’s this one.” — Analyst and former offensive lineman David Diehl, on the 49ers’ D-line vs. Seattle’s O-line.

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Contracts, Free agency, Trades

Big trade will help Hawks keep window open

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Salary cap logoSome observers think Seattle’s big move to add Sheldon Richardson is a sign that team brass thinks the Super Bowl window is closing.

Quite the contrary: The Richardson deal will help the Seahawks in the future as much as it helps them in the present.

We previously talked about Young Sheldon’s expected impact as a one-year Big Bang rental, but the deal also gives Seattle a lot of flexibility as John Schneider and Pete Carroll decide how to configure their roster for 2019 and beyond.

Continue reading Big trade will help Hawks keep window open →

Contracts, NFL draft, The roster

Britt’s deal shows eye toward 2018 contracts

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Salary cap logoEven as John Schneider extends core players and fills roster gaps this preseason, it is clear he is already looking intently toward the 2018 offseason.

With a bunch of players on one-year deals and half a dozen key extensions to consider next year, Schneider and contract expert Matt Thomas need to create as much financial flexibility as possible.

That explains why they used a rare (for Seattle) structure in Justin Britt’s three-year, $27 million deal: an option bonus.

Continue reading Britt’s deal shows eye toward 2018 contracts →

Contracts, The roster

Roster set through 2018, but then what?

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Training camp logo2When the Seahawks drafted four defensive backs in April, Pete Carroll said the new crew might end up being the best bunch of backups in the NFL over the next couple of years.

That’s because Carroll knew he wasn’t ready to blow up the Legion of Boom quite yet. The new deal given to Kam Chancellor this week proves that.

With Chancellor signed (through 2020), Seattle’s elite starting defense is set to remain intact for the next two seasons (unless Richard Sherman gets traded).

The Seahawks are quickly approaching a crossroads, though — the point where they will have to start moving on from some of their longtime core players if they are going to remain competitive.

Continue reading Roster set through 2018, but then what? →

State of the team, The roster

How the roster looks as summer starts

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Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson plan to be clapping about their offense a lot this season (Getty Images)The Seahawks embarked on their summer vacation in high spirits — all the apparent negativity of last season and this offseason seemingly dissolved in a big pool of love and happiness. And they seem very focused.

As the Hawks conducted their minicamp last week, we heard nothing but positive things from Seattle’s top defenders. Earl Thomas is healthy again, in mind and body. Kam Chancellor has polished up his once-dented leadership armor. Richard Sherman sounded like a team player again. And Michael Bennett is physically lighter but still philosophically heavy.

The players seemed of one accord, ready to get back on the Super track. And Pete Carroll said his team is as mentally sharp as it ever has been heading into summer.

“I think we had our most compliant OTA season and really proud of that, finally,” he said, referring to penalties levied against his club for overdoing it in past years. “Old dog, new tricks, man. It was hard. But we finally figured it out. And, in doing so, we were able to up the reps that we got on guys.

“I think we’re the smartest we’ve been coming out of this camp than any of the past years. We’ve had the most situation work. We’ve had the chance to put guys in all variety of spots that they have to think and make decisions and choose how they play and fit in with us. So we just feel like we’ve made a lot of movement forward. We have a lot of stuff to get done in camp that does not fit this time of year. This is OTA football. Not real football. That will come.”

Before it does, let’s take a look at how the roster stands …

Continue reading How the roster looks as summer starts →

Contracts, The roster

Sounds like Carroll would love to extend Graham, too

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Jimmy Graham catches a pass on Day 4 (Seahawks via Twitter)The Seahawks have three players to consider extending in the next few weeks — or even months — and Pete Carroll sure made it sound like they plan to extend at least a couple of them.

In addition to his comments this week about wanting to re-sign Kam Chancellor, Carroll was effusive in praise of Jimmy Graham on Thursday — a sign that the Hawks do indeed plan to keep the star tight end beyond this coming season.

Graham made an amazing return from a torn patellar tendon last year to set team records in catches (65) and yards (923) by a tight end. He would have been the NFL comeback player of the year if not for Jordy Nelson’s stellar return from a torn ACL.

Two years after the Seahawks acquired Graham in a surprise blockbuster deal with New Orleans, the tight end finally has a full offseason with Russell Wilson. And Carroll is stoked about it.

Continue reading Sounds like Carroll would love to extend Graham, too →