Tag Archives: Max Unger

State of the team, Week 15: San Francisco, X's & O's

Once again, Hawks are winning despite O-line

December 17, 2014 cc Leave a comment

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 →

State of the team, Week 12: Arizona

Is Wilson’s slump over?

November 19, 2014 cc Leave a comment

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.

Continue reading Is Wilson’s slump over? →

Injury report, Week 12: Arizona

Hawks need 5 wins; can they get healthy, stop the run, get some calls?

November 18, 2014 cc Leave a comment

It would have been nice for the Seahawks to win in Kansas City — if only for the Hawks to show they can beat a good team, something they haven’t done since they beat Denver in Week 3.

If the Hawks had been able to tackle better, convert a third or fourth down in the fourth quarter or perhaps get a call or two to go their way, they might have avoided falling three games behind streaking Arizona (9-1, with six straight wins) as the two prepare to meet for the first time this week in Seattle.

Continue reading Hawks need 5 wins; can they get healthy, stop the run, get some calls? →

Injury report, Week 10: N.Y. Giants

O-line and secondary almost back to normal

November 5, 2014 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks’ offensive line should look more like itself this week, and the secondary could be at full strength (in numbers, if not in health) for the first time this season, according to reports from Pete Carroll’s press conference.

Center Max Unger, who has missed four games with a sprained foot, and Russell Okung, who sat Week 9 with a calf injury, are both expected to play Sunday vs. the New York Giants.

Okung was to be limited in practice today, and Unger is gone for personal reasons. But both are expected to practice fully Thursday.

Continue reading O-line and secondary almost back to normal →

State of the team, Week 9: Oakland

Carroll thinks his team is ready to finish strong

November 4, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Despite missing nearly a dozen key players Sunday and barely beating a winless team because of it, Pete
Carroll thinks his team has turned the corner at the right time and is ready to finish strong in the second half of the season.

You might question the wisdom of saying your team accomplished something by beating the Oakland Raiders, but Carroll’s optimism is understandable considering his team’s situation.

“Under the circumstances of this game, where so many guys played that haven’t played before, I take maybe more out of it because of that,” he said. “Offense played tough, special teams played tough; we just didn’t play well all the time. The kind of effort that we need to be a good football team was there, and so that’s a good sign for us.”

Continue reading Carroll thinks his team is ready to finish strong →

Week 9: Oakland

Wilson & the Hawks are used to inconsistent OL

November 2, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Wouldn’t it be fun to see what Russell Wilson could do with the passing game behind a reliable offensive line?

He hasn’t had one yet in two and a half seasons as Seattle’s quarterback, and Sunday in their 30-24 win over the Oakland Raiders the Hawks went with their 15th line combination in Wilson’s 40 games.

It was ironic that the five starters from the best line in Seattle history — the 2005 Super Bowl line — happened to be in the house to celebrate Hall of Fame tackle Walter Jones’ induction into the Ring of Honor.

As Jones, Steve Hutchinson, Robbie Tobeck, Chris Gray and Sean Locklear looked on, the Hawks started a third-string center, a second-year utility player at left tackle and a rookie right tackle — and by the end of the game they had another rookie playing left guard.

Continue reading Wilson & the Hawks are used to inconsistent OL →

Injury report

Wagner, Miller remain out, but Hawks are getting healthier

October 27, 2014 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks have taken a number of injury hits over the last month, but some of those guys will be returning in the next week or two — with two notable exceptions.

Linebacker Bobby Wagner and tight end Zach Miller “are going to be awhile,” coach Pete Carroll said Monday.

Wagner has missed the past two games with turf toe, and Miller had ankle surgery during the Week 4 bye. Both met doctors on the East Coast while the Hawks were in North Carolina over the weekend, the coach said.

“Both those guys got updated on their progress and where they’re going,” Carroll said. “We were not given a timeline for them. Neither one of those guys are ready to come back this week. So we will have to wait and see what happens with those guys.”

The news is much better for kick returner Bryan Walters, center Max Unger and cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Jeremy Lane.

Continue reading Wagner, Miller remain out, but Hawks are getting healthier →

Injury report, Week 7: At St. Louis

Primarily good news about the secondary

October 15, 2014 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks’ move to release defensive back Steve Terrell and bring back D-lineman Greg Scruggs on Tuesday appeared to be a sign that the Seahawks feel much better about their secondary this week than they did last week.

And Pete Carroll’s words today seemed to confirm that, as he said cornerback Byron Maxwell might be able to play Sunday in St. Louis.

“He’s made a big jump, and we’ll see,” Carroll said of Maxwell, who suffered a strained calf vs. Dallas last Sunday. “We’re going day to day with him and will see what happens. He’s shocked the guys that he’s back as quick as he is to this point. We don’t know what that means until the weekend.”

Continue reading Primarily good news about the secondary →

Injury report, Week 6: Dallas

Now injuries are hitting Hawks hard

October 13, 2014 cc Leave a comment

Seahawks medical staffers tend to Byron Maxwell in the second quarter (Getty)

For the first month of the season, the Seahawks largely had avoided the big injuries that had hit many other teams.

The Rams, Redskins and Vikings lost their starting quarterbacks; the Eagles and Falcons lost multiple starting linemen; the Chargers lost five key players; the Chiefs lost two starting defenders; the Panthers lost just about all of their running backs; and other stars such as Charles Tillman and Chris Long hit IR.

The worst that had happened to the Hawks was the temporary loss of their third and fourth cornerbacks. But the injury bug has bitten them pretty good the past couple of weeks.

Continue reading Now injuries are hitting Hawks hard →

Injury report, The roster

With Unger in question, Hawks add backup center

October 8, 2014 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks signed center Patrick Lewis on Wednesday as insurance in case starter Max Unger cannot play Sunday vs. Dallas.

Unger suffered a foot injury — coach Pete Carroll called it a strain — against Washington on Monday and apparently is questionable for Sunday’s game. Unger reportedly was wearing a walking boot after the game.

With Lemuel Jeanpierre on injured reserve, Stephen Schilling would start at center if Unger cannot play.

Continue reading With Unger in question, Hawks add backup center →