Tag Archives: Marshawn Lynch

Franchise history, The roster

Spiller helped Hawks get Lynch, now follows him

1 Comment

lynch-and-spillerA big reason the Seahawks were able to get Marshawn Lynch in 2010 is C.J. Spiller, so it’s somewhat ironic that the guy who helped Seattle get Beast Mode now steps into the same backfield.

Spiller was the ninth overall pick by Buffalo in 2010, joining Lynch and Fred Jackson in a suddenly – and surprisingly — stacked Bills backfield. John Schneider, in his first year running the Hawks alongside Pete Carroll, tried several times to acquire Lynch that year – finally getting the Bills to part with him in October.

While Lynch went on to star for the Hawks for most of the next six seasons, Spiller ended up a part-time player behind Jackson in 2010 and 2011 before breaking out in 2012, with 1,244 yards (6 per carry), 43 catches and eight total touchdowns. He hasn’t done much since, though, as injuries have knocked him around.

The Hawks obviously are hoping that won’t be a problem as he steps in as the third-down back.

Continue reading Spiller helped Hawks get Lynch, now follows him →

Week 3: San Francisco
Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- 49ers at Seahawks

Russell Wilson said “last week was a battle” and his ankle is feeling better.

Thomas Rawls is doubtful with a shin injury, and Tyler Lockett is listed as questionable.

Rawls has been too overzealous and needs to slow down a bit once he is back out there, coaches say.

Lockett said, “As long as I’m alive, I’ll keep on fighting.”

Jimmy Graham will “continue to grow with us,” Darrell Bevell said.

Continue reading →

CHAWK LINES, Week 3: San Francisco
Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- 49ers at Seahawks

The Seahawks have been bad on offense for about six games now.

There are a lot of reasons for the poor running attack so far.

With C.J. Prosise and Thomas Rawls ailing, the Seahawks loaded up on running backs at this week’s tryout session.

One of the only good things on offense in L.A. was the re-emergence of Jimmy Graham, who feels “like a beast.”

Larry Stone says it’s not time to panic yet: “This Seahawks team, under this quarterback, has earned a little bit of rope.”

As disappointing as the offensive stats are, the defensive stats have been downright nasty.

Here are six 49ers to watch when they play in Seattle on Sunday.

Marshawn Lynch supports Colin Kaepernick’s protest against cop violence. (Anyone who has a problem with it isn’t paying attention to the news: Another unarmed, non-threatening black man was killed by a cop in Tulsa this week.)

 

Fun & games, It's bigger than football

Lynch talks retirement & more on trek with Grylls

1 Comment

lynch-with-gryllsMost Seahawks fans can’t get enough of Marshawn Lynch, even in retirement, and he provided one of the best glimpses into his character yet during his appearance on “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” earlier this week.

Lynch was alternately hilarious and philosophical, opening up to Grylls — who obviously knows little of American football and was not out to get anything from Lynch beyond his cooperation — as they bonded on a two-day trek through the Corsican Mountains.

During one rest stop along their journey, Grylls asked Lynch why he retired from the NFL.

“I’ve been doing this since I was 12, 13 years old. It starts to add up. Wear and tear,” Lynch said. “Full body. And mentally. Having to wake yourself up to go and put in all the work that it’s going to take. You know, the physical, the mental. The media starting to wear — all of it. It just all come together.”

Asked the highlight of his career, he said, “Most people don’t get to walk out or get to go out the way that I did, so that’s probably the biggest highlight.

“When it’s time, it’s time.”

Continue reading Lynch talks retirement & more on trek with Grylls →

Contracts

Will Bennett take the Lynch deferment plan?

Leave a comment

Bennett and LynchIt sure looks like Michael Bennett is considering holding out, after all. Why else would his agent come to Seattle on the eve of training camp?

Bennett apparently wants at least $14 million a year, but will he settle for the Marshawn Lynch deferment plan — the deal his new agent, Doug Hendrickson, worked out in 2014?

Per ESPN’s Josina Anderson, Hendrickson and the Seahawks will discuss the Pro Bowl defensive lineman’s “desires” for a new deal this week.

Bennett wants a two- or three-year extension that pays him among the top six or seven defensive linemen in the NFL, Anderson reported. That means at least $14 million per year — double what he is making now.

Continue reading Will Bennett take the Lynch deferment plan? →

The roster, Training camp

Not a ‘knucklehead’ anymore, but is it too late for Michael?

Leave a comment

Michael to CowboysIt took Christine Michael a long time to figure out how not to be a “knucklehead.” But is it too late now?

The 2013 second-round pick never cared enough to try to unseat Robert Turbin as Marshawn Lynch’s backup. And then, last year, he lost his roster spot to undrafted Thomas Rawls, who was such a revelation that he is expected to replace Lynch permanently as Seattle’s No. 1 back.

It took injuries to Lynch, Turbin (waived injured last summer) and Rawls for Michael to finally get some playing time in Seattle. And that happened only after he was traded to the Cowboys, released, picked up by the Redskins and released again.

Michael did well in his return to Seattle, averaging 4.9 yards per carry in the final three games of the season and rushing for 70 yards in the playoff win over Minnesota (Lynch returned for the loss to Carolina, so Michael did not get a carry in that game).

Michael recently told USA Today that he started taking the game more seriously.

Continue reading Not a ‘knucklehead’ anymore, but is it too late for Michael? →

CHAWK LINES, Training camp
Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Training camp new

With training camp starting in one week, let’s look at some pre-camp player reports:

Michael Bennett is griping about his contract yet again. But don’t believe him when he says, “Just get rid of me.”

Russell Wilson, who now looks almost as hulked up as Robert Turbin, told Q13 Fox: “We’ll try to bring back Super Bowl 51 if we can. We’ll do everything we can, every day. That’s a promise.”

Justin Britt’s switch to center is one of the major camp stories to watch.

Pete Carroll reminds us why the Seahawks think J’Marcus Webb will succeed with them.

Can Thomas Rawls take over for Marshawn Lynch — even if he doesn’t play in the preseason?

John Clayton projects Rawls to get 16-17 carries a game, with the other backs getting six or seven.

Christine Michael — among those trying to replace Lynch — admits, “I was just being a young guy, just being a knucklehead.”

Like last year, all eyes will be on Jimmy Graham — from camp through the season.

Continue reading →

Coaches

Cable ‘absolutely’ wants to be a coach again

1 Comment

Okung and CableIf Seahawks past and present have anything to say about it, Tom Cable will coach an NFL team again.

According to the Huffington Post, Cable “absolutely” wants to be a coach again, and everyone from Pete Carroll to Dan Quinn to Marshawn Lynch is lobbying on his behalf.

The first part of the Post piece is a rehash of stuff Cable has said in several offseason interviews: a progress report on Seattle’s mostly brand-new offensive line and a reiteration that the coaches are very focused on trying to pick up where they left off last season.

The interesting stuff comes at the end, where Cable says he wants to be a coach again — but only in the right circumstance, which he has observed firsthand on a Super Bowl team created by John Schneider, Carroll, Cable and others.

Continue reading Cable ‘absolutely’ wants to be a coach again →

CHAWK LINES
Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

Michael Bennett makes his case to be paid more: “I haven’t missed a game in three years.”

Can a helicopter pilot be a jet-setter? He can when he’s Russell Wilson.

The Seahawks’ top stars did their bit for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” opener. The Seahawks will be on NBC four times next season.

The rookies heard words of wisdom from Walter Jones, Marcus Trufant and other former Seahawks.

Pete Carroll listed six areas of major competition for training camp. According to the Seahawks.com poll, fans are most looking forward to seeing how the offensive line and running back play out.

John Boyle of Seahawks.com offered 10 takeaways from offseason workouts.

The Seahawks worked on pursuit this offseason, and Bob Condotta hypothesizes that Carroll is trying to get his team to force more turnovers.

Continue reading →

Minicamp, State of the team

Worn down by two Super runs, Hawks refreshed

Leave a comment

Wilson and SchneiderPete Carroll and John Schneider have raised expectations so high that missing a third straight Super Bowl appearance was considered a stunning failure last season — especially after the Seahawks had recovered from a poor start and put together a dominant second half of the season.

Not even record-setting performances from both the offense and defense could make anyone feel any better after the Seahawks let themselves be ramrodded by the Panthers in the playoffs.

The fact is, though, there’s a reason no team has gone to the Super Bowl three straight times in the salary-cap era or that the only team in the 16-game era to do it (Buffalo) lost every title game (four straight) or that the only other team to reach three straight, Miami, did it in 14-game seasons.

Football is a game of attrition. The more games they play, the more players they lose.

Continue reading Worn down by two Super runs, Hawks refreshed →