Tag Archives: Pete Carroll

Wilson’s streaking & Rawls is out, but Hawks are still a running team

Rawls and Wilson vs. RavensIt’s becoming harder and harder for the Seahawks to remain a running team.

With Thomas Rawls suffering a season-ending broken ankle in Baltimore and Marshawn Lynch unlikely to return until the playoffs — if then — this offense is all Russell Wilson’s now. But the Seahawks, who came into the game as the NFL’s leading rushing team, clearly are determined to keep running it.

Wilson continued to chew up depleted NFL defenses, throwing five more touchdown passes in a 35-6 win in Baltimore, giving him 16 TD passes and no interceptions in the last four games against San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Baltimore. He is the third player to do that in a season, joining Tom Brady (2007) and Peyton Manning (2013).

Wilson also has the 28th four-game streak with three TD passes since 1960; there have been seven streaks of at least five games with three TDs (per Pro Football Reference).

On top of that, Wilson is the first player to have at least three passing TDs and no interceptions while completing 70 percent in four straight games, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

The Seahawks might seem to have a bit of an identity crisis, but don’t be fooled by Wilson’s gaudy numbers: This is still a running team, and they will have to figure out how to keep it such.

Continue reading Wilson’s streaking & Rawls is out, but Hawks are still a running team

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Ravens

Jimmy Clausen will start for the Ravens — putting him in rare company in NFL history.

Jordan Hill and Demarcus Dobbs will sit out again today.

Former Seahawks WR Chris Matthews has been promoted to Baltimore’s active roster from practice squad for today’s game.

Despite a  seemingly lopsided matchup vs. the Ravens, the Seahawks have plenty of motivation.

Russell Wilson’s dominance in the pocket has been crucial to the Seahawks’ offensive resurgence.

Pete Carroll, Darrell Bevell and Tom Cable explain the unorthodox way they run the offense.

Cable’s faith in the revamped offensive line has been rewarded during this offensive surge.

The Seahawks are still a run-first offense and will lean on Thomas Rawls.

Defensive back DeShawn Shead is the latest to claw his way into the Seahawks’ starting lineup.

Marshawn Lynch and Jimmy Graham are back in the Seahawks’ facility for recoveries.

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Ravens

Darrell Bevell said he is not pursuing the BYU job even though the school is interested in him. He said he is intent on helping the Seahawks reach a third straight Super Bowl.

Anthony McCoy is back with the Seahawks, replacing short-timer Chase Coffman.

Marshawn Lynch was back at VMAC on Wednesday, but Pete Carroll said Monday that Lynch is a “few weeks” away from being able to play. Sure sounds like Lynch could end up on IR.

Doug Baldwin is having his best statistical season and could end up as Seattle’s first 1,000-yard receiver since 2007.

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Only question now: Can Hawks beat Cardinals & Panthers?

Wilson dives for TD vs VikingsThree weeks ago, after Seattle lost a shootout against Arizona, the big question was not whether the Seahawks would win the NFC West but whether they would even rally to make the playoffs.

Two weeks ago, the Seahawks put together their best offensive game of the season, blowing out San Francisco 29-13, and the question was whether they could do it again against better opponents, Pittsburgh and Minnesota.

Well, they answered both questions emphatically, putting up 77 points in two wins while seizing control of their playoff destiny, and there are no more questions about the offense or the playoffs.

The only question now is: Can the Seahawks do this against Arizona and Carolina — the teams they will need to beat to get to the Super Bowl?

“I think this has been a few weeks that we’ve been feeling like we’re feeling,” Pete Carroll said. “Our confidence, sticking with our style, just the basic principles of what we expect and standards that we’re setting, everybody is really in line right now. This is that feeling that you’re looking for. We have a chance.”

Continue reading Only question now: Can Hawks beat Cardinals & Panthers?

 

chawk lines -- Vikings

Pete Carroll told NFL Network this game in Minnesota will show whether the Seahawks really have turned the corner.

Can the Seahawks replicate the 1998 49ers, 2001 Patriots and 2011 Giants — all 6-5 teams that won the Super Bowl?

Despite throwing the fewest passes in the league, Russell Wilson is on pace for almost 4,000 yards.

Tom Cable said the offense is helping Wilson much more: “He’s a special quarterback, and when you do it right for him …”

Gregg Bell says the Seahawks’ offensive line has been the key to the Seahawks’ season “U-turn.”

The Seahawks hopefully learned a lesson from the failed Drew Nowak experiment.

Doug Baldwin leads NFL receivers over the last three weeks — perhaps inspired by Marshawn Lynch’s comment that the offense had looked “unfamiliar.”

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Schneider helped build this Vikings team

John Schneider draftingWhen Minnesota GM Rick Spielman sees John Schneider this weekend in Minneapolis, he will probably give him a big hug and kiss.

After all, Schneider has helped Spielman build his team into the NFC North leader. Schneider has handed Spielman his quarterback, a starting cornerback and a backup running back over the last three years. Oh, and he also relieved Spielman of a massive locker room headache.

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CHAWK LINES -- Steelers at Seahawks

Here’s a video breakdown showing Russell Wilson’s great passing day vs. Pittsburgh.

The Seahawks placed Jimmy Graham on IR and promoted A.J. Francis from the practice squad. Bob Condotta also runs down a bunch of other injuries.

Pete Carroll expects Graham back in time for the 2016 season.

Once again, the Seahawks are without their major offensive trade acquisition. It worked out fine in 2013 and 2014.

After an admirable performance vs. Pittsburgh, DeShawn Shead will remain the starting cornerback opposite Richard Sherman.

The defensive line could be a little light against Minnesota.

Paul Richardson should make it back after missing two games. He was injured in his season debut while catching a 40-yard pass vs. Arizona.

The turnover margin and score finally matched up for a Seattle win.

Like 2012, Wilson is heating up

Wilson and Baldwin vs SteelersSeattle’s record-setting win over Pittsburgh is the latest evidence that this season is shaping up a lot like 2012.

That year, Russell Wilson’s first, the offense did little to help through the first half of the season — relying on the defense to carry the way for the rookie quarterback. The unit held five of the first six opponents under 14 points, and Wilson did just enough to help keep the Hawks floating around .500.

But then things swung the other way around this time of the season, as the defense faltered and Wilson took over the offense and led the charge into the second round of the playoffs.

On Sunday, the defense gave up 538 yards to Pittsburgh and Wilson put together his most prolific passing day (345 yards and five touchdowns), and it looks like that 2012 pattern is repeating itself.

Continue reading Like 2012, Wilson is heating up

Here’s why Big Ben has never played in Seattle

Big Ben SteelersA lot is being made of the fact that Seattle is the only place Ben Roethlisberger has not played in his 12-year career, but the fact is he and the Steelers were supposed to come in 2011. And then the NFL changed the scheduling rules.

Starting in 2010, teams from the East no longer had to make two trips to the West in a season. The Steelers were slated to go to San Francisco and Seattle in 2011, but the NFL swapped Seattle out for Arizona, and the Seahawks ended up going to Pittsburgh.

The Seahawks have played in Pittsburgh twice since the infamous Super Bowl XL, getting shut out both times — Mike Holmgren’s Super Bowl remnants lost 21-0 in Mike Tomlin’s first year leading the Steelers in 2007, and Pete Carroll’s rebuilding club lost 24-0 in 2011.

This meeting comes on the 10-year anniversary of the Super Bowl XL season, and the Steelers had a reunion of that team a few weeks ago. Four players — Roethlisberger, tight end Heath Miller, linebacker James Harrison and long snapper Greg Warren — remain on the Steelers from that Super Bowl team.

Roethlisberger joked to Seattle media, “That’s how you know you’re old — when they’re doing reunions and you’re still playing.”

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No matter how season ends, Hawks have to make changes next year

Chancellor, Carroll and SchneiderNo matter how the season ends for the Seahawks, they have some key changes to make next year.

They certainly don’t need to blow up the team completely – even if they miss the playoffs. But they will need to make a few small detonations — even if they make the postseason and even if they somehow manage to win the Super Bowl (which seems like California dreamin’ at this point).

Whether Pete Carroll intends to stay beyond 2016 or not, John Schneider needs to fix the problems that have been holding this team back from greatness and help avoid becoming, as he has called it, “one of those teams that skates in and skates out” of contention.

Bottom line: The Seahawks cannot go through another year with such a disjointed offense holding back a potentially great defense. And they have to make some changes to the defense as well – beyond Bruce Irvin leaving in free agency (they will get a taste this week of how Frank Clark and Kevin Pierre-Louis might replace him).

Continue reading No matter how season ends, Hawks have to make changes next year