Tag Archives: Russell Okung

State of the team, Trades, Week 8: At Dallas

Don’t expect any major deals from Seahawks

Leave a comment

Russell Okung talks with GM John Schneider during minicamp in June (AP)Don’t get too excited about the reports that the Seahawks are working the trade phones ahead of the deadline Tuesday: Any deal they might make almost surely would be minor.

It’s no surprise John Schneider is on the hunt for offensive line help, but the Seahawks are not in financial position to bring on a big-money player such as Cleveland’s Alex Mack or Joe Thomas.

The report that Schneider is willing to trade a receiver such as Chris Matthews is evidence that any deal Seattle makes would be minor. The Hawks are not going to get much for Matthews or Ricardo Lockette, and they surely aren’t going to deal Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett or Paul Richardson.

Continue reading Don’t expect any major deals from Seahawks →

State of the team, The roster, Week 8: At Dallas

Seahawks trying to build what Cowboys have

1 Comment

Cowboys OLThe Dallas Cowboys have what the Seahawks want, but the only way Seattle could get it is by losing a lot more and using first-round picks.

We’re talking about a great offensive line, of course.

If Russell Okung, who injured his ankle in practice Thursday, misses the game in Dallas on Sunday, the Seahawks will end up starting undrafted players at the tackle spots and center, with a seventh-round conversion at right guard and a second-round reach at left guard.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, have invested three first-round picks in their line over the last five drafts, and they lucked into a potential first-rounder when rookie La’el Collins went undrafted due to a murder case he was peripherally attached to.

The Cowboys won a recruiting war for Collins, adding him to an already stacked line that includes left tackle Tyron Smith, the No. 9 pick in the 2011 draft; center Travis Frederick, the No. 31 pick in 2013; right guard Zack Martin, the No. 16 pick in 2014; and veteran right tackle Doug Free.

“They’ve put their money in it. They’ve got three No. 1s playing there, those guys are all terrific football players,” Pete Carroll said. “Tyron was a guy that we loved coming up; he’s a fantastic athlete at the spot. And Zack’s terrific; it’s just a really good group. I think that they made a commitment to it and they’re benefiting from it. I don’t know if they’re the best one — we won’t see everybody particularly – but they’re as good as we’re going to see all year long.”

Continue reading Seahawks trying to build what Cowboys have →

State of the team, Week 4: Detroit

Carroll and Cable preach patience with developing O-line

Leave a comment

Okung and CableAs the Seattle Seahawks finish the first quarter of the season, their offensive line is still a major work in progress.

But that should come as no surprise. Coach Pete Carroll and offensive line coach Tom Cable are satisfied with the steps the unheralded unit has taken, knowing it was always going to take half the season for Russell Okung, Justin Britt, Drew Nowak, J.R. Sweezy and Garry Gilliam to jell.

“They’re growing and they’re working at it hard,” Carroll said, leading up to the game against the Detroit Lions. “Their confidence is gaining and we’re going to see them continue to improve. I don’t think we’re going to know for another four, five weeks, maybe the halfway point of the season.”

Cable has said several times that this is the most talented group of linemen he has coached.

“I still think they’re going to be the best group (he has had),” he told 710 ESPN last week. “All they’ve done in three games now is get better and better and better.”

Continue reading Carroll and Cable preach patience with developing O-line →

CHAWK LINES, Week 1: At St. Louis
Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Rams

Field Gulls passed on the latest on Kam Chancellor: (1) Teammates have come to John Schneider and Pete Carroll asking them to resolve the situation and get Chancellor in and (2) they were close to a deal in mid-August, but it fell apart. Also, check out the homage to “Back to the Future” in the Field Gulls pic.

The Seahawks lamented missed tackles and big passing plays (eight of more than 20 yards). Cliff Avril said, “It felt like we gave up the most explosive plays that we’ve given up since I’ve been here.”

Dion Bailey said he should have just tackled Lance Kendricks and taken the pass-interference penalty when Bailey fell while trying to cover the tight end.

Don’t blame Bailey for all of the defense’s problems though. Tight ends were a big problem for them last season, even with Chancellor.

The Rams once again pummeled Russell Wilson, sacking him six times for the third time in his seven games against them. “Those guys are really good up front, and they got the best of us today,” said Russell Okung, who gave up the final sack.

Continue reading →

Contracts

How could Seahawks afford to sign Mathis? Let us count the ways

Leave a comment

Evan MathisNo surprise: Evan Mathis reportedly left Seattle without a contract Saturday.

But, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, he didn’t close the door on his way out.

Mathis, a Pro Bowl guard cut by the Philadelphia Eagles in June, reportedly has been holding out for at least $5 million a year. The Hawks can’t really afford that. But they might be able to give him around $3.5 million, if they moved some things around.

Continue reading How could Seahawks afford to sign Mathis? Let us count the ways →

Preseason, State of the team, Training camp

Don’t worry about OL’s poor performance

Leave a comment

Tom Cable on Day 2 of campWhile we chose to focus on the supernova bright spots in Seattle’s loss to Denver on Friday, plenty of people were dismayed by the poor performance of the offensive line.

As we said the other day, don’t worry about it.

You have to remember these facts: (1) Seattle has an inexperienced group, destined to struggle early; (2) it’s largely the same group that the Seahawks had last season, when they reached the Super Bowl; and (3) the running game is mostly a product of Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch anyway.

Rob Staton put together a nice analysis on the NFL’s problem in finding good linemen these days. It piggybacks comments Tom Cable made this offseason about college ruining offensive players.

Continue reading Don’t worry about OL’s poor performance →

State of the team, The roster, Training camp

Don’t worry about the offensive line

Leave a comment
Okung and Cable
Tom Cable watches his linemen drill (Seahawks.com)

Good offensive lines typically are
defined by the four C’s: continuity, consistency, cohesion, camaraderie.

But, the Seahawks get by most of the time with just one C: Cable.

That’s why there’s no reason to be worried about Seattle’s offensive line — despite the uncertainty at center and left guard this year and left tackle and right guard next year. As always, Tom Cable will hook it up.

Continue reading Don’t worry about the offensive line →

CHAWK LINES, Training camp
Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Training camp new

Some observations from Day 6 of camp from those who were there (and other features):

Jesse Williams, a second-round talent the Hawks picked in the fifth round in 2013 due to knee problems, says he hopes he got rid of his bad injury luck when he had his cancerous kidney removed this offseason. It would be a great story if he somehow became a contributor this season, but don’t get your hopes up.

Jermaine Kearse apparently is doing his best to fend off Seattle’s younger, cheaper receivers, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.

Stephen Cohen of the Seattle P-I wrote about a couple of receivers named Doug: Baldwin talked about Percy Harvin and mentoring young receivers, and McNeil worked at cornerback.

John Boyle of Seahawks.com wrote more about Baldwin, who said Tyler Lockett is “a lot more polished than I was as a rookie.”

Boyle also relayed rookie Frank Clark’s comments about playing 3-technique and learning from Michael Bennett.

Tom Cable told KJR-AM that Lemuel Jeanpierre is the favorite to win the center job; he thinks Justin Britt is becoming a consistent right tackle; and Russell Okung is very focused on the season, not his contract.

Kam Chancellor apparently wants most of his 2015 and 2016 salaries paid up front before he returns to the team. Very unlikely.

CHAWK LINES, Training camp
Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Training camp new

Some observations from Day 5 of camp from those who were there (and other features):

As Kam Chancellor’s holdout dragged on, Earl Thomas was removed from PUP. Rob Rang suggests that killed some of Chancellor’s leverage.

Stephen Cohen of the Seattle P-I said rookies Kristjan Sokoli and Mark Glowinski worked at left guard, and he talked to Eric Pinkins about his move to linebacker.

When Cassius Marsh was drafted last year, we figured he was going to be a LEO, but the Hawks instead tried him all over the place. Now, per The Seattle Times, he is focusing purely on LEO.

Keith Myers of 12th Man Rising said B.J. Daniels — deep down the WR chart — made his first standout plays and Marsh continued to have a strong camp.

From the transcript, Pete Carroll had great things to say about Marsh, Tyler Lockett, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Thomas Rawls and Justin Britt.

Continue reading →

Contracts, State of the team

Wilson & Wagner are signed; who else can Hawks keep?

Leave a comment

Wilson signing contractWith Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner signed, the Seahawks can check off their two biggest 2016 free agents.

But what does it mean for the others?

The official numbers for Wagner’s deal are in, and the Hawks are looking at about $14 million in space under a projected $150 million salary cap next year.

With Wilson and Wagner signed and Tony McDaniel released, their key UFAs in 2016 — barring any other extensions — will be Russell Okung, J.R. Sweezy, Bruce Irvin, Brandon Mebane, Ahtyba Rubin, Jermaine Kearse and Jon Ryan. They can’t keep all of those guys for $14 million.

“It is so challenging to do this,” Pete Carroll said, “and particularly as it (the salary cap) changes and you don’t know and you have to predict. … This is a big year now (for Seattle free agents); we don’t know what’s going to happen with the cap. We’ll wait and see.”

Continue reading Wilson & Wagner are signed; who else can Hawks keep? →