While the franchise tag seems like an easy fallback option for the Seahawks to retain Geno Smith, a close look at their salary cap situation reveals that they probably are not going to use it – or, if they do, it won’t be for long.
If they do not use it by the March 7 deadline, they would have until March 13, when free agency discussions with other teams can begin, to get a deal with Smith.
Here’s why.
Continue reading Cap situation makes franchise tag for Geno Smith unlikely
In the wake of a surprising (to most) playoff appearance, there is a lot of optimism about the immediate future of the Seahawks. Many seem to think it’s automatic that the team will take the next step and contend next season.
But John Schneider and Pete Carroll have a lot of work to do to convert those positive vibes into a team that can yield positive results in the playoffs. As Carroll said, “It’s nothing unless we do something with it.”
There are two main things to do: Secure the quarterback position and remake the defensive front seven.
Continue reading Lots of optimism, but Hawks have to ‘do something with it’
The Seahawks were not going to beat Kansas City. Everyone knew that from the moment the schedule came out back in May.
There was perhaps some hope this week that the Hawks could score against what seemed to be a susceptible Chiefs defense. But, instead, the 24-10 loss was another referendum on the Seahawks’ need for better players on both lines and for Pete Carroll and Clint Hurtt to figure out how to get their defenders to tackle.
Continue reading Predictable loss in KC again shows Schneider what he needs to doThe 49ers have what the Seahawks need: The division title and the defense required to attain it.
Led by Nick Bosa, the 49ers have the best defense in the league – one that reminds some of the Legion of Boom that led Seattle to three division titles and two Super Bowls.
“They look just like us,” former LOBer K.J. Wright said on Seattle Sports Radio after the 49ers swept the Seahawks for the first time since 2011.
Continue reading Hawks again need to build a defense to match the 49ers
With three games left, the Seahawks are right where we thought they would be: At 7-7 and likely on the way to our predicted 8-9 – unless their defense takes another jump from the minor one it made Thursday in a 21-13 loss to the 49ers.
Yeah, the Hawks blew two coverages on George Kittle’s touchdowns, dropped a pick and gave up a clinching 55-yard run at the end of the game. But they held the 49ers to two touchdowns (the third was a gimme by the offense) and just 115 rushing yards before Jordan Mason’s long run.
“This was the best game we’ve had in a while, and we played solid,” Pete Carroll said Friday on Seattle Sports Radio.
Continue reading Carroll senses defense is riding a new wave
It has become obvious over the last month: The Seahawks simply do not have the horses up front to make the playoffs. If they get in, it will be because Washington or New York stumbled worse in the final month.
The Seahawks’ defensive front seven continues to be a major problem. Their big men are not good enough to beat five-on-three blocking in the running game, and their linebackers are not savvy enough to position themselves properly or big enough to shed blocks against the run.
Carolina ran for 223 yards, and Seattle now has given up 209.5 rushing yards per game over the past four – losing three of them and falling back out of the playoff race with this loss.
Continue reading Miscast front seven fails again — and there is no fix this season
A bunch of things – almost none of them good — happened in the Seahawks’ embarrassing 40-34 loss to the Raiders.
Seattle fell out of a playoff spot and showed it really is just an average team that will have to scramble to remain in the playoff hunt. The defense got blown up by Josh Jacobs (303 total yards, an opponent-record 229 rushing yards and the winning 86-yard run in overtime) – the second straight game the defense has been dominated in the run game as it focused instead on the passing attack.
Seattle’s running game was dismal again and now has just 104 yards in the past two games – losses to Tampa and Vegas.
Geno Smith also failed in two late tries to win in the clutch – extending doubts about whether he really should be extended.
Continue reading Dominated up front again, Hawks keep regressing
The Seahawks are 6-4 and in front of the rest of the NFC West as they hit their bye, but – in the wake of a poor performance in Munich — the question remains: Can they sustain it?
The Hawks have outperformed expectations so far – they are two games better than we projected (we had them 4-6 on the way to 8-9) – thanks to Geno Smith and a surprising offense that ranked fourth in scoring through nine weeks.
A win in Munich would have solidified the Seahawks as contenders (especially considering the extreme travel involved), but their disappointing performance in a 21-16 loss to Tampa Bay left questions. Was it just a bad European vacation, with poor prep? Or was it a sign that the Hawks have peaked and cannot really hang with playoff contenders?
Continue reading Was Munich just a bad trip or a bigger sign?
The Seahawks had a heck of an October, going 4-1 to leap into first place in the NFC West, and credit has deservedly been shared by many players – Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker III and Tariq Woolen pulled a trifecta of monthly NFC awards.
Clint Hurtt also has gotten a lot of credit for flipping the defense – since Week 6, the Hawks have cut points allowed in half (30.8 to 15), rushing yards almost in half (170 to 92) and passing yards by a quarter (260 to 198) while tripling their sack total (six to 19).
But another guy who should get some credit is Shane Waldron. The second-year OC took some heat early in the season for getting too cute – the worst example coming when he trotted out four RBs against the 49ers and DeeJay Dallas threw an INT at the goal line.
But Waldron has presented a variety of formations and some great concepts that have helped Smith and the offense succeed beyond anyone’s preseason projections. They are the No. 4 scoring offense in the league, at 26.3 ppg – behind only AFC powerhouses Kansas City (31.9) and Buffalo (29) and undefeated Philly (28.1). The Hawks are the No. 7 unit by DVOA.
Continue reading Lots of credit to go around so far, including Waldron
The Seahawks have surprised everyone, leading the NFC West at Week 7 with a 4-3 record built on two straight good-looking wins.
Now everyone wants to take a pause to congratulate Pete Carroll and John Schneider. There are still 10 games left, but no one predicted the Hawks would be leading the division at this point (the closest we came was a 3-4 projection) with a quarterback who is playing better than the erstwhile star he replaced and a young defense that has seemed to find its way after a rough start.
Carroll is enjoying this rebirth, both of his roster and himself and Schneider, who could be seen in the SoFi Stadium suites Sunday excitedly watching his new young team beat the Chargers 37-23.
Continue reading Carroll loves first place, but ‘the best is yet to come’
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 