Tag Archives: Tharold Simon

This year, Hawks have needed the young guys

Luke Willson catches the winning touchdown against the Carolina Panthers (Getty Images)Because the Seahawks won the Super Bowl last season, it is easy to forget that half of their roster is comprised of players with less than three years of experience.

Starters Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, Bruce Irvin, J.R. Sweezy and Jermaine Kearse are only in their third seasons, and 21 more of the 53 players on the roster have not yet played three seasons. Eleven others are in just their fourth seasons.

The Seahawks barely used any of their rookies in 2013, relying largely on veterans — and that’s a loose term, considering some of them had just one or two years of experience.

So, coming into this season, the Hawks in effect had almost two full rookie classes. And the questions were: Would any of the remaining 2013 rookies step up to replace departed free agents and would the 2014 class redshirt as most of the 2013 class did?

Due to injuries and one big trade, the answers are yes and no, as many young players have stepped forward in recent weeks.

Continue reading This year, Hawks have needed the young guys

Primarily good news about the secondary

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

Now injuries are hitting Hawks hard

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

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

Carroll: ‘We’re hoping Marcus will take over that spot’

Marcus Burley
Marcus Burley

Last season, the Seahawks played the final month without two of their top three cornerbacks, and the replacements were better than OK.

The Seahawks find themselves in a similar situation this year, only a bit earlier and without the benefit of the replacements knowing the defense as well.

Pete Carroll reiterated on Wednesday that Marcus Burley, acquired Aug. 30 from Indianapolis, will take over the nickel cornerback position that opened up with injuries to Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon, and newly signed Josh Thomas will be the No. 4 cornerback.

“We’re hoping that Marcus will take over that (nickel) spot,” the coach said. “It’s a spot that he’s familiar with. He did a nice job coming in the game (against Green Bay) in short time. … We’re looking for Marcus to do a real nice job and take that spot over.”

Continue reading Carroll: ‘We’re hoping Marcus will take over that spot’

Reports: Seahawks add OL, looking for CB

Last week, we pointed out that the Hawks were playing Crazy 8s with their receivers and offensive linemen — going heavy with the former and light with the latter.

Well, they apparently have fixed that imbalance by replacing receiver Phil Bates with offensive lineman Andrew McDonald, who was released by Carolina in final cuts.

The signing was reported by his agent and, if McDonald is on the 53-man roster, means the Hawks now have nine linemen — the number they should have.

Continue reading Reports: Seahawks add OL, looking for CB

Likely preparing to add corner, Hawks waive eighth receiver

The Seahawks were destined to release one of their eight receivers, if only because it left them thin at other positions. And, in the wake of cornerback Jeremy Lane’s groin injury, they apparently have waived wide receiver Phil Bates.

The move, first reported by The Seattle Times, clears a spot on the roster for the team to add a cornerback. They are down to three — Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell and Marcus Burley — after injuries knocked out Lane and Tharold Simon (out four weeks after knee surgery).

Continue reading Likely preparing to add corner, Hawks waive eighth receiver

Injury report: Simon will have minor knee surgery

Cornerback Tharold Simon will have minor knee surgery this week and seems likely to miss the first month of the season.

Coach Pete Carroll called the problem “minimal” but said now is the time to do it. The Seahawks have a bye in Week 4.

“He’s got real minor stuff to get done,” Carroll said. “We’ve got to get some things cleaned up. We’re going to try to do this really quickly.”

Assuming this is arthroscopic surgery, it typically requires 2-4 weeks of recovery time.

Continue reading Injury report: Simon will have minor knee surgery

Ware reminds Hawks why they cut him & should not draft LSU players

WareSpencer Ware, cut by the Seahawks over the weekend, was arrested this morning for DUI in Maple Valley, per The Seattle Times. It’s his second DUI arrest this year; he also tested positive for synthetic marijuana while at LSU in 2011.

Obviously, Ware has a substance-abuse issue that he should address. He’s just the latest of many LSU players to run into trouble with the law — Les Miles runs a rogue program down in Baton Rouge.

The Hawks drafted two LSU players — Ware and Tharold Simon — last year. Simon was caught in the same pot test as Ware back in 2011, and then he was arrested right before the draft last year after an altercation with a police officer. The Hawks selected him in the fifth round anyway.

Continue reading Ware reminds Hawks why they cut him & should not draft LSU players