Tag Archives: Pete Carroll

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While the Seahawks are facing their old AFC West foes this season, there now is speculation about them potentially having to move back to that division once the NFL puts teams back in Los Angeles.

Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com gives a status report and calls out the best players over the first quarter of the season.

It’s really old news, but Don Banks of SI.com asks Mike Holmgren and Bill Parcells to relive the infamous Cowboys-Seahawks playoff game from the 2006 season.

Pete Carroll says he and former Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson put their teams together similarly and he would love to pit his Seahawks against Johnson’s Super Bowl teams from the early 1990s.

The big matchup Sunday is the Cowboys’ No. 2 run offense vs. the Seahawks’ No. 1 run defense as Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times and USA Today both preview.

‘They come in bunches’: Turnovers have been oddly elusive

Last season, Seattle became the first defense since the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears to pull off the triple crown — first in yards, points and takeaways.

They have a ways to go this year if they are going to repeat that feat.

While they are the No. 1 run defense, fifth in total yards and ninth in points allowed, they are tied for 31st in takeaways.

After four games last season, they had 13 forced turnovers on their way to a league-best 39. After four games this season, they have just three.

Continue reading ‘They come in bunches’: Turnovers have been oddly elusive →

Only one Russell is going to get an extension

Russell Okung talks with GM John Schneider during minicamp in June (AP)After this season, the Seahawks figure to give a contract extension to Russell.

Wilson. Not Okung.

While the quarterback has far exceeded expectations over his first two and a quarter seasons, the left tackle has largely been underwhelming since being drafted sixth overall in 2010.

Both are signed through 2015, which means next offseason is the key time for extensions. Wilson will get his, but it’s hard to see Okung getting one — especially if he continues to struggle like he did Monday night.

The left tackle was flagged for three penalties vs. Washington, including a false start on third down that helped stop a first-quarter drive and a holding on a third-quarter drive that also fizzled.

“I’ve got to play better,” he told The Seattle Times. “I can’t afford to have three penalties. Just a lack of focus. I take full responsibility for it. I can’t help out the line making mistakes like that.”

Continue reading Only one Russell is going to get an extension →

Harvin’s unbelievable game is a good sign

Percy Harvin is tackled by Washington defenders Monday (Getty Images)
Percy Harvin is tackled by Washington defenders Monday (Getty Images)

In the season opener, the Seahawks showed just how much Percy Harvin changes their offense — creating a dynamic triple threat alongside Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch.

Pete Carroll promised more of Harvin, but all we had seen in the two games since were a lot of short passes and decoy plays.

But they used him a lot Monday night — even if all three of his touchdowns unbelievably were called back — and it is clear they want to keep him involved.

Continue reading Harvin’s unbelievable game is a good sign →

How much will the Hawks miss Miller?

Seattle Seahawks v Buffalo BillsEarlier this year, there was a chance Zach Miller would not be with the Seahawks. But he took a pay cut to stay, and Seattle did not have to find out how the absence of the multi-faceted tight end would affect the offense.

Well, now they will have to find out.

The Seahawks — while banged up in the secondary — had not experienced any front-line losses so far this season. But they joined the rest of the battered NFL when they lost Miller for several weeks due to ankle surgery.

While Kam Chancellor found a way to play through his bone spurs, Miller apparently could not.

Continue reading How much will the Hawks miss Miller? →

Are Hawks using Harvin to best effect?

Percy Harvin runs for a touchdown in San Diego on Sept. 14 (AP)After the Seahawks unveiled their new, improved (read: healthy) Percy Harvin in the season opener, everyone went gaga over the way the mercurial playmaker was used.

And Pete Carroll stoked the excitement by teasing, “There’s a bunch of other stuff we’ll do. … We’re just getting started.”

It sounded so promising.

In two games since then, though, the Seattle offense has used Harvin more as a decoy than anything, prompting the question: Are Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell using Harvin to best effect?

Continue reading Are Hawks using Harvin to best effect? →

Chawk lines 75 pct

Seattle’s next opponent, Washington, was embarrassed at home by the New York Giants. The Washington Post highlights all of the things that went wrong for the home team.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins, filling in for the injured Robert Griffin III, failed to assert his case to hold onto the job, Jason Reid of the Post says.

Danny Kelly of Field Gulls takes a look back at Jon Ryan’s spectacular day against Denver and the overall emphasis Pete Carroll places on special teams.

Hawk Blogger Brian Nemhauser breaks out the stats that show how the Seahawks’ passing game has changed so far this season.

Percy Harvin affects the offense even when he doesn’t touch the ball, Jayson Jenks of The Seattle Times says. (We’ll have a corollary to that later.)

Bob Condotta of the Times has a few thoughts on how bye weeks may or may not affect teams.

Josh Kerns of KIRO and MyNorthwest.com writes about the growing trend of players such as Richard Sherman marketing themselves online with their own personalized merchandise.

Michael Bennett is in Houston this week to have his high school jersey retired, and he ends the interview talking about the power of a Super Bowl ring.

Offense has been almost pointless in second half

Marshawn Lynch is tackled in the end zone for a safety by Denver's T.J. Ward, left, and Chris Harris on Sept. 21 (AP)
Marshawn Lynch is tackled in the end zone for a safety by Denver’s T.J. Ward, left, and Chris Harris on Sept. 21 (AP)

Russell Wilson said he was “almost hoping” Peyton Manning would rally the Denver Broncos to tie the game Sunday. That way Wilson could get the ball again.

It’s hard to blame Wilson for wanting another chance after the way the second half went. As bad as the defensive meltdown was on Denver’s final possession, the Seattle offense really carried more responsibility for letting a two-touchdown lead slip away.

And that really was just part of a trend over the first three games in which the offense has gone from scoring machine in the first half to almost pointless in the second.

Continue reading Offense has been almost pointless in second half →

Bye comes at perfect time for Okung & Chancellor

Kam Chancellor during the fourth quarter against Denver (Getty)The Seahawks dodged a couple of injury bullets against Denver and have to hope they are not issues that linger and become big problems later in the season.

Left tackle Russell Okung returned despite suffering a shoulder injury and strong safety Kam Chancellor played with bone spurs in an ankle — playing so well that he garnered NFC defensive player of the week honors.

For both Okung and Chancellor, the bye comes at the perfect time. And Seahawks fans have to hope they can tough it through the season.

Injuries have messed with both players during their short careers.

Continue reading Bye comes at perfect time for Okung & Chancellor →

Chawk lines 75 pct

Marshawn Lynch tells Marcus Trufant and the Barbershop fellas that he had to “RIP” one of his dreadlocks and why he was “never meant to be famous.”

See what Pete Carroll said about the win over Denver on his way out the door for the bye week.

Sean Tomlinson of Bleacher Report dissects Seattle’s dominance of Peyton Manning.

Of course, there was one drive that Manning dominated, and Doug Farrar of SI.com breaks that down in more detail.

Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times rates Seattle’s old AFC West rivalries.

After Chris Harris said Russell Wilson — a third-round pick in 2012 — is better than Andrew Luck, the No. 1 pick overall that year, plenty of folks have chimed in. Here’s what Ben Peterson of Field Gulls says.

Jerry Brewer of The Seattle Times addresses the idea that Wilson is the NFL’s best quarterback.

Wilson is the highest-rated QB in a league that is setting records for passer rating, per Clare Farnsworth.

And Mike Tanier of Bleacher Report goes further with a historical look at major QB draft classes.