Tag Archives: Tom Cable

CHAWK LINES, Week 16: St. Louis
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CHAWK LINES -- Rams at Seahawks.png

Bob Condotta runs down all of the records Russell Wilson is setting or could set.

We don’t care much about the overblown Pro Bowl, but the Hawks tied a team record with seven guys. Michael Bennett, Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman and Tyler Lockett were very deserving.

K.J. Wright did not make the Pro Bowl, but he did get engaged this week.

Condotta also details the various scenarios for the Seahawks landing the No. 5 or 6 seed. Most people seem to think the only bad matchup would be Seattle as a No. 6 seed at Green Bay. But odds are the Hawks will end up the No. 5 seed at Washington or Philly.

The Seahawks have beaten the Rams in Seattle 10 straight times. Todd Gurley will get his first action vs. Seattle.

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Injury report, State of the team

Michael & Brown might have to carry running game to Super Bowl

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“In this system, we’ve never not had a good back. Whoever it is can go for a thousand. I’m not worried about that so much. … Hopefully (Marshawn Lynch is) with us. If he’s not, then we move on. That’s fine.” — Tom Cable in June 2014.

Tom Cable was right: The Seahawks don’t need Marshawn Lynch. And it turns out they don’t really need Thomas Rawls either — as spectacular as he had been in relief of Lynch.

The Seahawks are a system running team — and, once the five linemen are in sync in their zone scheme, it is tough to stop the system. The Hawks proved that again Sunday, when they rolled up 182 rushing yards with two new backs — born-again Seahawk Christine Michael and Bryce Brown.

And, based on Pete Carroll’s comments Wednesday, Michael and Brown will be the ones to carry the Seahawks’ ground game into the playoffs, if not through to the Super Bowl.

Continue reading Michael & Brown might have to carry running game to Super Bowl →

CHAWK LINES, Week 14: At Baltimore
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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.

NFL draft, State of the team, The roster, Trades

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

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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 →

CHAWK LINES, Week 11: San Francisco
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CHAWK LINES -- 49ers at Seahawks

Marshawn Lynch wants to play vs. the 49ers but appears to be a game-time decision.

Paul Richardson is out with a hamstring injury, which is too bad considering he showed what he brings with a 40-yard catch vs. Arizona.

Earl Thomas criticized Seattle’s commitment and will to win, saying, “We need to give it up for each other.”

With Bruce Irvin out a couple of weeks with a sprained knee, Frank Clark is expected to get more playing time.

Clark talked to 710 ESPN about his days as a gang member when he was a kid in Los Angeles.

Russell Wilson insists his big contract and high-profile relationship with Ciara have not distracted him.

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State of the team, Week 4: Detroit

Carroll and Cable preach patience with developing O-line

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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.”

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CHAWK LINES
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CHAWK LINES

Kam Chancellor was among those interviewed by precocious 10-year-old Isabella for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.” But will he even be there when the Hawks play Green Bay on “SNF” in Week 2?

Jason Cole of Bleacher Report thinks the Hawks will extend Chancellor by a year so they can pay him more this year. That goes against most opinions on the Hawks’ thinking.

Bruce Irvin is conflicted about Chancellor’s holdout: “We need Kam, but Kam deserves his money.”

Irvin also has advice for fellow Seahawks draft gamble Frank Clark.

Chargers QB Philip Rivers said he didn’t think anything about his minor scuffle with Clark last weekend.

Tom Cable said this group of linemen — Russell Okung, Justin Britt, Drew Nowak, J.R. Sweezy, Garry Gilliam — could turn out to be the best he has had. Not sure that would say too much.

Nowak grew up a Packers fan in Wisconsin, so Week 2 in Green Bay will be “surreal.”

The call to Fred Jackson proves the Seahawks clearly still don’t trust Christine Michael as the No. 2 back.

Kevin Norwood is ready to play in Carolina, where he is being coached by one-time Seahawks WR Ricky Proehl.

Injury report, State of the team

Jackson a possible fill-in for injured Turbin

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Seahawks bandagesThe reason for Fred Jackson’s visit became clear when Pete Carroll talked to media Tuesday: Robert Turbin suffered a “significant” high ankle sprain in San Diego.

Carroll said he did not know how long Turbin will be out, but it obviously will be a while (short-term IR?).

Carroll said Jackson is in just for a meeting and physical and the team had not yet decided whether to sign him.

“This is a visit for us,” Carroll said. “This isn’t a signing. This is a visit for us. We have tremendous respect for this player. He’s got obviously a wealth of background. He’s tough, he’s smart. He’s sharp. So we need to see where he is right now at 34 years old and see what he looks like. He’s got a big physical coming up today and we’ll talk to him later. But … we have not made that decision at all at this point. We love that he’s here and we are trying to get our ducks in a row for what may be necessary later on.”

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Preseason, X's & O's

Evaluating Gilliam’s performance vs. Chiefs

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Tom Cable was satisfied with Garry Gilliam’s performance at right tackle vs. Kansas City, and Gilliam will start in San Diego on Saturday.

“I think the athleticism probably jumped out at me,” Cable said. “I think he’s physical, he has some really nice finishes in the run game, so you see a guy who has really grown a tremendous amount. His challenge is to do that again this week.”

Here’s a breakdown of Gilliam’s first-offense blocks by Davis Hsu of Field Gulls:

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State of the team, Training camp

No problem: Hawks just want five best linemen

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Okung and CableThe Seahawks apparently were as alarmed by the poor O-line play as many fans were Friday, so they decided to make another big move Monday: Right tackle Justin Britt is switching to left guard and Garry Gilliam is working at right tackle.

Tom Cable said it comes down to getting the best five on the field, and the Hawks — after trying four other players at left guard — apparently think they might be better with Britt at LG and Gilliam at RT. Alvin Bailey looked bad Friday against Denver, and it’s easy to see why Cable has been searching for another player to play left guard. Apparently, Keavon Milton and Mark Glowinski have not impressed enough.

“We’re just trying to get the best guys out there. We’re still mixing and matching,” said Cable, who added he would like to have it figured out by next week.

Continue reading No problem: Hawks just want five best linemen →