Retooled Seahawks still hoping to contend
SEATTLE — John Schneider and Pete Carroll continue to refer to the makeover of the Seattle Seahawks as a reset, even if it’s looked more like rebuild.
The roster that brought Seattle its first Super Bowl title was deconstructed this off-season in the most massive overhaul of the franchise since the infancy of the Schneider-Carroll partnership when they arrived in 2010. Left in the wake are some stars from that title team — Russell Wilson, Doug Baldwin, Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright — and an abundance of new faces trying to prove the Seahawks aren’t taking a major step backward after missing the playoffs in 2017 for the first time in five seasons.
“I feel like there is a different energy, a different vibe,” Wagner said. “I feel like everybody is hungry, everybody has something to prove, and that brings an excitement.”
Seattle believes there won’t be a backward slide because the principles of how it wants to play have only been reinforced by the off-season moves.
The Seahawks want to run the ball to control possession with running backs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny, and some tweaks to the offensive line.
They want less pressure on Wilson in the pass game and hope receiver Brandon Marshall still has something left.
They want to stop the run thanks to a defence that’ll be focused even more on linebackers Wright and Wagner.
Those are principles Carroll created when he arrived and Seattle slowly shifted away from them in some aspects.
The run game fell apart after Marshawn Lynch departed.
Wilson was the entirety of Seattle’s offence a year ago.
And a defence that was among the best just a few years ago was exposed last season as injuries decimated the once-dominant unit.
That’s partly why the likes of Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Jimmy Graham, co-ordinators Darrell Bevell and Kris Richard and offensive line coach Tom Cable all were sent away in the off-season.
Seattle needed to get younger and fresher in the hopes this reset isn’t just a bridge to 2019, but with the chance of being good now.
Seahawks acquire QB Hundley
The Seahawks and Green Bay Packers are heading into the 2018 season with new backup quarterbacks.
The Seahawks acquired quarterback Brett Hundley from the Packers on Wednesday for an undisclosed draft pick.
The addition of Hundley gives Seattle a proven backup behind Russell Wilson. The Seahawks are reportedly sending a lateround draft pick to Green Bay and Carroll said it was another opportunity to improve the Seattle’s roster.
“It his fourth year now, he’s played quite a bit and started a bunch of games last year,” Carroll said. “We’ve been able to see him and really see how he has developed, and we liked him coming out of college as well. He’s big, he runs well, he’s got a good arm, he’s got good vision on the field, he’s made a lot of big throws and big plays. He really gives you the thought that he could come in the game and keep it moving. So we just thought it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”
Hundley stepped into a starting role last season for the Packers when Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone. Hundley started nine games and the Packers went 3-6. He threw for 1,836 yards and nine touchdowns, but also 12 interceptions.
His acquisition likely means the end of Austin Davis’ stint as Wilson’s backup in Seattle. Davis has been with the Seahawks since the start of the 2017 season.
In Green Bay, the deal means DeShone Kizer has won the backup job behind Rodgers. Kizer started 15 games for winless Cleveland last season as a rookie.
Seahawks extend WR Lockett
The Seahawks signed wide receiver Tyler Lockett to a three-year contract extension on Wednesday. A former All-Pro selection as a kick returner, Lockett’s rookie deal was set to expire after the 2018 season.
Lockett has appeared to be back at full speed after playing last year at less than 100 per cent following a broken leg suffered late in the 2016 season.
Lockett also played through a knee injury most of the 2017 season, but still appeared in all 16 games and had 45 receptions for 555 yards and two touchdowns.
Wright likely out couple of weeks
Seattle coach Pete Carroll says linebacker K.J. Wright will miss at least a couple of weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery earlier this week, making it increasingly unlikely that he’ll be ready for the Sept. 9 opener at Denver.
Carroll said Wednesday that the surgery was successful. But when it came to Wright’s recovery, Carroll said, “They talked about a couple weeks; it was the most optimistic we could be.”
If Wright is unable to get healthy in time, rookie Shaquem Griffin would likely start. Griffin has been Wright’s primary backup throughout the off-season.
Carroll said tonight’s preseason finale against Oakland would be important for Griffin.
“It’s just making sure he’s playing the scheme really well and he’s really precise about all his fits and all that,” Carroll said.