Tag Archives: Justin Britt

Contracts

How could Seahawks afford to sign Mathis? Let us count the ways

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Evan MathisNo surprise: Evan Mathis reportedly left Seattle without a contract Saturday.

But, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, he didn’t close the door on his way out.

Mathis, a Pro Bowl guard cut by the Philadelphia Eagles in June, reportedly has been holding out for at least $5 million a year. The Hawks can’t really afford that. But they might be able to give him around $3.5 million, if they moved some things around.

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Contracts, State of the team

Are OL moves desperation or just due diligence?

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Evan MathisThe Seahawks played half of their games in 2013 with rookie tackles and used four centers in 2014, and they still overcame those “offensive” lines to get to the Super Bowl.

So, they can’t possibly be panicking about their left guard position after just one bad preseason game, can they?

Even though Pete Carroll says he is not concerned because he expected the young linemen to take time to develop, the team’s moves this week sure make it sound like alarm bells are going off at VMAC.

First, the Hawks moved Justin Britt from right tackle to left guard and inserted Garry Gilliam at right tackle, and now they reportedly are going to bring in former Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis for a visit Saturday.

Is it desperation or just prudence?

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CHAWK LINES, Training camp
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CHAWK LINES -- Training camp new

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

No problem: Hawks just want five best linemen

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Okung and CableThe Seahawks apparently were as alarmed by the poor O-line play as many fans were Friday, so they decided to make another big move Monday: Right tackle Justin Britt is switching to left guard and Garry Gilliam is working at right tackle.

Tom Cable said it comes down to getting the best five on the field, and the Hawks — after trying four other players at left guard — apparently think they might be better with Britt at LG and Gilliam at RT. Alvin Bailey looked bad Friday against Denver, and it’s easy to see why Cable has been searching for another player to play left guard. Apparently, Keavon Milton and Mark Glowinski have not impressed enough.

“We’re just trying to get the best guys out there. We’re still mixing and matching,” said Cable, who added he would like to have it figured out by next week.

Continue reading No problem: Hawks just want five best linemen →

Preseason, State of the team, Training camp

Don’t worry about OL’s poor performance

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Tom Cable on Day 2 of campWhile we chose to focus on the supernova bright spots in Seattle’s loss to Denver on Friday, plenty of people were dismayed by the poor performance of the offensive line.

As we said the other day, don’t worry about it.

You have to remember these facts: (1) Seattle has an inexperienced group, destined to struggle early; (2) it’s largely the same group that the Seahawks had last season, when they reached the Super Bowl; and (3) the running game is mostly a product of Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch anyway.

Rob Staton put together a nice analysis on the NFL’s problem in finding good linemen these days. It piggybacks comments Tom Cable made this offseason about college ruining offensive players.

Continue reading Don’t worry about OL’s poor performance →

State of the team, The roster, Training camp

Don’t worry about the offensive line

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Okung and Cable
Tom Cable watches his linemen drill (Seahawks.com)

Good offensive lines typically are
defined by the four C’s: continuity, consistency, cohesion, camaraderie.

But, the Seahawks get by most of the time with just one C: Cable.

That’s why there’s no reason to be worried about Seattle’s offensive line — despite the uncertainty at center and left guard this year and left tackle and right guard next year. As always, Tom Cable will hook it up.

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CHAWK LINES, Training camp
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CHAWK LINES -- Training camp new

Some observations from Day 7 of camp from those who were there (and other features):

Kam Chancellor is still very plugged in to the Seahawks, coaching DeShawn Shead from afar, Gregg Bell of The News Tribune writes.

Larry Stone of The Seattle Times wonders how Chancellor and the Seahawks can both come out of this without looking bad.

Earl Thomas and Jesse Williams still have not participated in team drills, per Brady Henderson of 710 ESPN.

Kevin Norwood and Dion Bailey stood out to John Boyle of Seahawks.com.

Mohammed Seisay’s response to being traded from Detroit to Seattle: “What? Me? Traded?”

Good news from Justin Britt: “It’s just night and day compared to last year.”

NFL draft

Hawks more likely to move down than up

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NFL draftThere seems to be growing sentiment that the Seahawks want to move up in the second round to get an impact player, but it seems more likely that they will bail out of the second round. And not just because John Schneider has moved down in all five of his Seahawks drafts.

Unless a player they really like falls to them, they are likely to see a bunch of similarly skilled players — any of which they might like — and that could make Schneider want to move down and pick up another draft choice or two.

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Free agency, The roster, Trades

Hawks have not lost much on the line; it’s time to upgrade anyway

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Hawks lined upThe Seahawks’ offensive line has been a mess for years. The unit has not started the same five since 2007 and has averaged seven combinations per year under Pete Carroll.

It’s not for a lack of trying. Since 2009, the Hawks have drafted two linemen in the first round and two in the second.

But that group has just not stayed healthy or developed as a unit — so it’s no surprise at all that the Hawks let two so-called starters go Tuesday.

Center Max Unger missed 13 games over the past two seasons, and left guard James Carpenter never played a full season in four years as a Seahawk. The Hawks were no longer interested in paying Unger, preferring to bring in Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham instead, and they were not going to keep Carpenter for $5 million a year either.

Some people are wringing their hands over the loss of two nominal starters, but the fact is they were more like part-time starters, the Hawks did well enough without them and it’s time to bring in some new blood.

Continue reading Hawks have not lost much on the line; it’s time to upgrade anyway →

Injury report, Playoffs: Green Bay

If Britt sits, it will be OL combo No. 8 — not like it matters to the Hawks

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Seahawks bandagesIt was almost inevitable.

Just when you thought the Seahawks’ offensive line had done its best Humpty Dumpty routine and been put back together again, it appears the Hawks could end up using their eighth starting combination of the season Sunday against Green Bay.

Rookie right tackle Justin Britt, who had started every game alongside right guard J.R. Sweezy while the left three positions juggled around all season, will be a game-time call Sunday due to a knee injury suffered against Carolina last week.

If Britt can’t play, sixth man Alvin Bailey would make his sixth start of the season — at his third position. He started two at left tackle for Russell Okung and three at left guard for James Carpenter, and he also stepped in briefly for Sweezy in one game.

Continue reading If Britt sits, it will be OL combo No. 8 — not like it matters to the Hawks →