Pete Carroll knows after eight seasons in charge of the Seattle Seahawks that his message always needs to evolve.
Much like Carroll’s messaging
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into next season after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
”We all have to keep changing and growing together. That’s why I always come back to compete, you know,” Carroll said. ”Keep competing to find a way to make
sense and help a guy and pushing him to have success. Then we will do what we
can do. Sometimes we do it better than others. Sometimes we shock the heck out
of this, with all kinds of things that happen.”
There’s no denying Seattle’s core group is getting older, which coupled with salary cap concerns could lead to major overhauls at some positions.
Here are some positions to watch in the offseason:
JIMMY EFFECT: Despite catching 10 touchdown passes and finally becoming the red-zone threat Seattle hoped for, don’t expect Jimmy Graham to be back. It’s
likely Graham’s last chance at a big contract and Seattle appears to have more
pressing needs. The tight end position remains an important piece of Seattle’s
offense, but both Graham and Luke Willson are free agents. Willson spoke
hopefully of returning to the only team he’s played for. Seattle would be smart
to get a tight end who is a premier blocker with pass-catching skills, similar
to Zach Miller. But that’s easier said than found.
ON THE LINE: Michael Bennett was bluntly honest at the conclusion of the season that the NFL is a ”young man’s game,” and at age 32 he may be cycled
out.
Even if Bennett does return
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defensive line. Cliff Avril appears to be leaning toward retirement. Sheldon
Richardson played well in his one year with the Seahawks but is now a free
agent.
The Seahawks have a decent foundation to build around with Frank Clark, Quinton Jefferson, Nazair Jones and Jarran Reed. They should bring back Dion
Jordan after the former first-round pick’s performance once he became healthy.
Bennett could return, but if so should take on less of a load. Despite playing
with a foot injury the second half of the year, Bennett still played 84.7
percent of the snaps this season.
OFFENSIVE SKILL: Seattle has high hopes next season for the running back duo of Chris Carson and Mike Davis. Still, expect the Seahawks to add another ball
carrier to the mix and move on from Eddie Lacy and Thomas Rawls. At wide
receiver, there is a big decision to be made with Paul Richardson, who will be
an unrestricted free agent. Richardson finished with 44 receptions and
flourished early in the season, but faded late with just nine receptions in the
final five games.
WITNESS PROTECTION: Seattle’s offensive line woes have been an issue for three straight seasons.
Youth
Josh
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Seahawks line a constant problem and brought plenty of criticism for offensive
line coach Tom Cable.
But don’t expect massive changes. Part of the beauty of the deal for Duane Brown was having him under contract through 2018. Seattle immediately started
playing better once Brown arrived. Justin Britt has proven a capable center and
Seattle has high hopes for Ethan Pocic. The big question will be what Seattle
does with George Fant. He was the presumptive starting left tackle before
suffering an ACL injury during the preseason. Seattle could opt to put Fant at
right tackle and move Germain Ifedi to guard after he struggled at tackle.
UNSPECIAL TEAMS: No, Blair Walsh will not be back.
At least that’s an obvious early indication with Seattle already signing former Jacksonville kicker Jason Myers to a futures contract. Walsh became a
convenient person to blame after missing kicks in three games, leading to
Seattle losses.
While Seattle is likely to make a change at kicker, it’s likely to be a low-cost move. This is why punter Jon Ryan may be in trouble. The veteran had an
up-and-down season, will turn 37 next season and the Seahawks can save $2
million against the salary cap by releasing Ryan.
Ryan is the only player remaining on Seattle’s roster from before Carroll’s arrival.
—
Zack Godley followed one of his worst outings of the season with perhaps his best. Perfect timing for Arizona, too.
Godley pitched six effective innings in his 10th win, helping the Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 on Friday night.
Arizona improved to 2-6 on its 10-game homestand and regained sole possession of first place in the NL West from the Los Angeles Dodgers, who lost 3-2 to the
Angels.
Godley (10-6) allowed one run and four hits while improving to 5-1 in his last six starts. He was rocked for seven runs in four innings in a loss to San
Francisco in his last outing.
”The way this game works you kind of have to let it go and move on
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Asked what was working, he said: ”my curve and my defense.”
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Godley’s command was ”as good as I can remember.”
”There’s been a couple of games so far this year where he has had outings like that,” Lovullo said. ”But today’s was one of the better ones that I’ve seen
in a long time.”
Steven Souza Jr. drove in two runs with a single and fielder’s choice in his second game back from the disabled list. Souza has played in just 17 games this
season due to a right pectoral injury.
Joey Lucchesi (4-4) retired 14 in a row before Arizona scored twice in the sixth. Lucchesi went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and three hits with two
strikeouts, one walk and two hit batters.
He grazed A.J. Pollock with a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in the tying run.
Nick Ahmed doubled, singled and scored twice for the Diamondbacks. Brad Boxberger threw a perfect ninth for his 21st save in 25 tries.
The Padres have lost 14 of 18.
Lucchesi’s first big league hit helped the Padres take the lead in the third. The rookie singled to left, advanced to third on Travis Jankowski’s long single
to the right-field corner and scored when Carlos Asuaji grounded out.
The Diamondbacks threatened in the first when David Peralta was hit by a pitch and Paul Goldschmidt lashed a ground-rule double that bounced into the
Arizona bullpen. But they came up empty when Pollock grounded out and Souza
struck out looking.
Arizona didn’t get another baserunner until Godley drew a leadoff walk in the sixth. The Diamondbacks loaded the bases with one-out singles by Ahmed and
Goldschmidt and Lucchesi hit Pollock to bring in the tying run.
That was it for Lucchesi. Reliever Adam Cimber bobbled Souza’s slow grounder and still got the out at first, but Ahmed scored and the Diamondbacks led
2-1.
”He threw the ball well,” Padres manager Andy Green said of Lucchesi. ”We didn’t do too much for him offensively. You get to that sixth
inning
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that inning. The thing that hurts him is the walk to Godley. Outside of that I
think it was a very good day for him.”
Ahmed led off the eighth with a double and scored on Souza’s two-out single.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: RHP Phil Hughes (right rhomboid strain) was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list and RHP Kirby Yates returned from paternity leave. RHPs
Kazuhisa Makita and Robert Stock were optioned to Triple-A El Paso.
Diamondbacks: RHP Randall Delgado (strained left oblique) was reinstated from the 60-day DL. RHP Fernando Salas was designated for assignment.
NOT SIGNING
California high school shortstop Matt McLain, Arizona’s first-round pick and the 25th overall player taken in the draft, informed the Diamondbacks he will
not sign with them and will instead enroll at UCLA. The Diamondbacks will get a
compensatory pick, the 27th overall, next year.
UP NEXT
Arizona LHP Robbie Ray (3-1. 4.89 ERA) makes his third start since returning from the disabled list and San Diego counters with RHP Tyler Ross (5-6, 3.89
ERA) on Saturday night in the third game of the four-game series.
