Tag Archives: Kevin Williams

CHAWK LINES
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

Brandon Mebane says he will be ready to go full speed when training camp starts.

Cliff Avril talked about his concussion in the Super Bowl (which had a big effect on the defense). He said he has no fears about further concussions and is ready to win another Super Bowl while playing the full game. Avril also talked about Michael Bennett’s contract squabble, saying he understands both sides and isn’t concerned Bennett won’t play in 2015.

Jesse Williams is working out again after kidney surgery.

In news Sea Dawgs will like, the Seahawks signed Kasen Williams. (We couldn’t care less.)

Kevin Williams wanted to return to the Seahawks, but he ended up signing with the Saints.

Field Gulls broke out the Seahawks’ coaching candidates that were included in a MMQB survey.

Here’s a bunch of midweek CHAWK LINES on OTAs and contract issues.

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State of the team, The roster

Reviewing & projecting the roster

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Jimmy Graham scores against the SeahawksDespite the loss of a couple of offensive linemen and a starting cornerback and a few ongoing contract squabbles, the Seahawks are clearly a better team than the one that blew the Super Bowl three months ago.

Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett should improve Seattle’s scoring ability, both on offense and special teams, and Frank Clark and Ahtyba Rubin should beef up the depth of a defensive line that was decimated throughout last season — topped by the loss of Cliff Avril to a concussion in the Super Bowl.

The Hawks also have brought in a handful of new offensive linemen as they look to replace Max Unger and James Carpenter and build some good depth on the unit while preparing for the possible departure of Russell Okung or J.R. Sweezy next offseason.

In the secondary, they have replaced Byron Maxwell with Cary Williams and also added Will Blackmon and rookie Tye Smith to fill in for the injured Jeremy Lane and make sure they don’t get caught with Tharold Simon covering quick receivers in the slot again.

The Hawks look to have some great competition along both lines, at receiver and in the secondary.

Here’s a look at the offense, with projected keepers (spoiler: Jermaine Kearse doesn’t make it).

And here’s a look at the defense, with Kevin Williams projected to return.

Contracts, Free agency, Injury report, State of the team, Trades

Irvin wants out, Williams wants in, Bennett & Wilson want to get paid

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Kevin WilliamsLots of news around the Seahawks today, with Bruce Irvin already thinking of playing elsewhere in 2016, Kevin Williams wanting to return, Robert Turbin apparently recovering from hip surgery, Michael Bennett hinting at a holdout, and Russell Wilson seemingly sending the Seahawks messages via social media.

If Irvin wants to play in Atlanta, the Seahawks should oblige and try to trade him there now. Dan Quinn’s club drafted Vic Beasley, but Quinn surely could use another pass rusher, especially one who can play linebacker. The Falcons are thought to have called about Irvin before the draft, so why not revive those talks and see if Seattle can get a 2016 second-rounder? If not Atlanta, find another team (Jacksonville and Gus Bradley?).

The Hawks are a bit thin at linebacker, but they could replace Irvin with Kevin Pierre-Louis. On the pass rush, rookie Frank Clark figures to take some of Irvin’s snaps anyway.

Continue reading Irvin wants out, Williams wants in, Bennett & Wilson want to get paid →

NFL draft

On Clark: Trust the Seahawks, not the self-righteous media

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NFL draftThe Seahawks were not comfortable pursuing Greg Hardy once they learned the details of his domestic-violence case, but they clearly think Frank Clark is another story. And Seahawks fans should trust them — even if some self-righteous media folks want to condemn them.

Too many people fell into the trap of convicting Clark in the court of public opinion and sentencing him to life as a social pariah based on one inflammatory police report. As John Schneider said Friday, you have to look beyond the report to find the real Clark.

On 710 ESPN on Monday, Schneider expanded on the Seahawks’ investigation into Clark’s situation. Schneider said he and two other Seahawks scouts were involved in gathering information, which included talking to people in Los Angeles and Cleveland about the player’s early background, getting information from the court and counselors in Michigan and talking to other teams to see whether they had gotten similar information and viewed him the same way Seattle did. (After the Hawks picked Clark on Friday, Schneider said he got calls from three teams that were poised to grab the pass rusher in the third round.)

Continue reading On Clark: Trust the Seahawks, not the self-righteous media →

NFL draft, State of the team, The roster

What do Jeanpierre, Bennett mean for draft?

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NFL draftWith the draft now a little over a week away, some of the Seahawks’ positional concerns were highlighted Monday with the news that (a) Michael Bennett did not show up to offseason workouts, (b) the Hawks re-signed center Lemuel Jeanpierre and (c) the Hawks hosted speedy wide receiver Chris Conley last week.

Bennett’s absence — likely tied to his sudden dissatisfaction with his contract — is nothing to be concerned about now and won’t be unless he remains absent when training camp begins in July.

The only mandatory team event between now and then is the minicamp June 16-18. But if Bennett remains away, he clearly won’t be following up on his stated goal of “trying to be a good Seahawk.”

Continue reading What do Jeanpierre, Bennett mean for draft? →

Contracts, Free agency, The roster

D-line market grows; will Hawks check out Starks and Johnson?

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Randy StarksThe Seahawks have always loved veteran defensive linemen. Just look at their starting four last season: Three free agents and Brandon Mebane, who was drafted by the previous regime.

It has been suggested that the 30-year-old Mebane, coming off a torn hamstring and due $5.5 million this year, could be a cap casualty.

The Hawks’ defensive line accounts for the biggest percentage of the salary cap of any part of the team — the $33 million slated to be paid to that unit this year is 23 percent of the cap. Only the Rams’, Bills’ and Dolphins’ defensive lines account for more among NFL D-lines (per OverTheCap.com).

That, along with the uncertainty around free agent Kevin Williams, explains why the Hawks have been snooping around veteran defensive tackles.

The Hawks reportedly talked to defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois before he signed with Washington and were said to be interested in former Arizona defensive tackle Darnell Dockett before he signed with the 49ers.

Now you can add a few more names to that list after Miami cut Randy Starks, Tampa Bay cut Michael Johnson and word is the Hawks are among the interested parties in Denver UFA Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton. Also out there is longtime Patriot Vince Wilfork.

Continue reading D-line market grows; will Hawks check out Starks and Johnson? →

Contracts, Free agency

Hawks need cap space: How can they make some?

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Salary cap logoUnless the Seahawks alter Jimmy Graham’s contract, they have about $15 million in cap space. But they will need to earmark about $5 million of that for rookie bonuses, practice squad players and injury replacements next season, and they probably will need about $8 million in additional cap space for the extensions for Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner.

With free-agent needs on both lines and possibly at receiver and backup quarterback, basic math tells us the Hawks need to create some space at some point. How can they do that?

Continue reading Hawks need cap space: How can they make some? →

Contracts, Free agency, The roster

Hawks need to ‘find a way’ to keep Mebane?

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Brandon Mebane and Zach Miller (Seahawks.com)Brandon Mebane apparently is in danger of being cut.

On 710 ESPN, John Clayton said, “I think they’d like to find a way to be able to keep him.”

That’s both ominous and surprising.

It’s hard to imagine the Hawks parting with Mebane, especially with so few in-house options at nose tackle. He was playing some of his best football before suffering a torn hamstring in November and being place on injured reserve.

Mebane, 30, is slated to make $5.5 million in the final year of his deal. Clayton thinks he is in line for a pay cut like tight end Zach Miller took last year, when he reduced his 2014 pay from $6 million to $2.88 million and his 2015 pay from $5 million to $3 million.

Of course, the difference is: This is the final year of Mebane’s contract. So they either would be asking him to take a pure pay cut or they could extend his deal by a couple of years. The pay cut does not really make sense, but Clayton thinks the Hawks think so.

Continue reading Hawks need to ‘find a way’ to keep Mebane? →

Contracts, Free agency, NFL draft, The roster

Not as many decisions to make on defense

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Hawks vs Packers MaxwellWe’ve already looked at what the Seahawks need to do on offense — from their shaky situation at wide receiver to an “out of the box” option for Russell Wilson’s contract to the need to determine the future of the unit this offseason.

The defense does not need nearly as many major renovations, but they certainly have some work to do on that side of the ball. Here’s a look:

Continue reading Not as many decisions to make on defense →

Super Bowl XLIX, The roster

Williams can thank Allen for Super Bowl

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Kevin WilliamsKevin Williams said he’s not gloating to former Minnesota teammate Jared Allen.

But, if not for Allen forsaking a shot at a Super Bowl with the Seahawks for a few dollars more in Chicago, Williams likely would not have gotten the chance.

The Seahawks pursued Allen last March, but they were not willing to pay him more than they were paying Michael Bennett ($7 million a year), and Allen got another $1 million a year from the Bears.

In June, the Hawks instead signed Allen’s former Vikings teammate, giving the 34-year-old Williams a one-year deal worth $2.1 million.

“I actually thought he was going to come up here (to Seattle),” Williams said. “I thought it was pretty much in the bag.”

But Allen didn’t, and now Williams is in the Super Bowl while Allen, who lives in Phoenix, will be cheering his former teammate on against the Patriots on Sunday.

Continue reading Williams can thank Allen for Super Bowl →