Who knew Sept. 1 was Marshawn Lynch Day?
First, “Big Daddy” celebrates by getting “intimate” with Skittles and saying “I do” on TV.
Then we’ve got the NFL announcing that Super Bowl Media Day — otherwise known as “Marshawn Mocks the NFL Day” — will become a prime-time affair. You know the ever talkative Lynch can’t wait.
And, in real football news, Lynch’s buddy from Buffalo, Fred Jackson, reportedly is headed to Seattle to take a physical.
The Seahawks open the preseason against the Denver Broncos on Friday in Seattle. Here is our breakdown of the
offense, what we will be watching in the first game and our updated roster projections:
QUARTERBACK
Veterans: Russell Wilson, Tarvaris Jackson, R.J. Archer
Wilson’s No. 1 goal in camp has been to develop and refine his rapport with Jimmy Graham.
“Chemistry has been more than I could ever imagine,” Graham said after the scrimmage Aug. 8. “For example, today in the scrimmage we had one we didn’t connect on; so, after practice, we did it about four or five times. And that is how we’re going to do it each and every day. Anything we’re iffy about we’re going to get it after practice. The season is right here; and, when those big moments come, I want that connection to be right.”
Earlier this week, Pete Carroll said, “They’re not there yet. It’s just going to take time. The intricacies of the things that they’re trying to do together go way deep, so it’s going to take them a lot of time. … Both of them are really determined to get this thing figured out. They’re doing great, but there’s more room for them to make up.”
By all reports, Archer has been off target in most practices — putting to rest any thoughts that he might challenge Jackson, who still puts up a great deep ball.
The Hawks have their eyes open for other QBs — they reportedly worked out Jake Waters, who was Tyler Lockett’s QB at Kansas State.
What to watch: Wilson to Graham, of course.
Projected (2): Wilson, Jackson
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.
Some observations from Day 6 of camp from those who were there (and other features):
Jesse Williams, a second-round talent the Hawks picked in the fifth round in 2013 due to knee problems, says he hopes he got rid of his bad injury luck when he had his cancerous kidney removed this offseason. It would be a great story if he somehow became a contributor this season, but don’t get your hopes up.
Jermaine Kearse apparently is doing his best to fend off Seattle’s younger, cheaper receivers, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.
Stephen Cohen of the Seattle P-I wrote about a couple of receivers named Doug: Baldwin talked about Percy Harvin and mentoring young receivers, and McNeil worked at cornerback.
John Boyle of Seahawks.com wrote more about Baldwin, who said Tyler Lockett is “a lot more polished than I was as a rookie.”
Boyle also relayed rookie Frank Clark’s comments about playing 3-technique and learning from Michael Bennett.
Tom Cable told KJR-AM that Lemuel Jeanpierre is the favorite to win the center job; he thinks Justin Britt is becoming a consistent right tackle; and Russell Okung is very focused on the season, not his contract.
Kam Chancellor apparently wants most of his 2015 and 2016 salaries paid up front before he returns to the team. Very unlikely.
Some observations from Day 4 of camp from those who were there:
Per The Seattle Times, Kristjan Sokoli is now practicing at left guard. That narrows the competition at center to three guys and gives Alvin Bailey another thing to think about as he attempts to nail down the LG spot.
Lemuel Jeanpierre is the leader for the center spot, according to Gregg Bell of The News Tribune, and Tom Cable says it should be decided soon.
Robert Turbin’s surgically repaired hip seems fine; he showed great burst in his return to practice, per Seahawks.com.
Jimmy Graham is loving his first camp in Seattle, Seahawks.com reports.
Seahawks.com passed along three key points from Kris Richard.
On 710 ESPN, Pete Carroll said Graham has impressed him more than anyone. He also talked about the future of his team, tough decisions such as cutting Tony McDaniel, Kam Chancellor’s holdout and the roster battles in this camp.
With 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?
The Seahawks have rediscovered the formula that won them a Super Bowl: No. 1 defense plus Beast Mode plus DangeRuss plus crappy offensive line.
Can you imagine what kind of season Marshawn Lynch would have if he was running behind the 2005 Super Bowl line that featured future Hall of Famer Walter Jones and All-Pro Steve Hutchinson? We’re probably talking a 2,500-yard season with 30 touchdowns.
But that’s fantasy. Reality is that this line is basically in the same shape as the one that limped into the playoffs last season.
Continue reading Once again, Hawks are winning despite O-line
If the Seahawks are able to sustain their newfound energy and momentum and make a major run through the postseason, a lot of credit will go to the veteran players who pulled the team together after the Kansas City loss. A little more credit will go to coach Pete Carroll and his staff.
But let’s not forget a key figure who has helped keep the Hawks afloat amid injuries and drama this season: John Schneider.
The general manager has had his most active season since 2011, when he was still putting together a competitive team for Carroll.
Continue reading Schneider deserves credit for helping the Hawks stay in the race
Russell Wilson has been scuffling along for weeks, fighting a passing slump (we can only hope it is passing) that has been worse than
anything since early in his rookie season.
It’s almost as if he has been enduring the so-called sophomore slump in his junior season.
He played better in Kansas City, seeming to find a little rhythm with his receivers, but he still was unable to rally the Hawks — the third time in Seattle’s four losses he has not been able to win it at the end.
You would think the third-year quarterback would be past that kind of a skid, especially considering all of the trials and tribulations he overcame last season, when he played behind a battered and leaky offensive line against some of the league’s best defenses and still led the Hawks to a Super Bowl title.
Last season, the Seahawks played the final month without two of their top three cornerbacks, and the replacements were better than OK.
The Seahawks find themselves in a similar situation this year, only a bit earlier and without the benefit of the replacements knowing the defense as well.
Pete Carroll reiterated on Wednesday that Marcus Burley, acquired Aug. 30 from Indianapolis, will take over the nickel cornerback position that opened up with injuries to Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon, and newly signed Josh Thomas will be the No. 4 cornerback.
“We’re hoping that Marcus will take over that (nickel) spot,” the coach said. “It’s a spot that he’s familiar with. He did a nice job coming in the game (against Green Bay) in short time. … We’re looking for Marcus to do a real nice job and take that spot over.”
Continue reading Carroll: ‘We’re hoping Marcus will take over that spot’
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 