Tag: Brian Schottenheimer

Report: Sanjay Lal to join Seahawks as senior assistant to Schottenheimer

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal will be joining the Seattle Seahawks as a senior assistant to Brian Schottenheimer.

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal will be joining the Seattle Seahawks coaching staff for the 2020 season, according to an NFL source and first reported by Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic on Thursday.

Lal had been with the Cowboys the previous two seasons and had worked with current Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer in 2017 when they were both employed by the Colts. He has reportedly been assigned to a senior assistant role to work closely with Schottenheimer on the offensive side of the ball.

Lal is also notable for being a former player for the Washington Huskies from 1990 to 1992, winning a national championship with the team in the latter year.

The exact role given to Lal is still unclear, but he will be very closely involved with the offense as an assistant to Schottenheimer, signifying that he will be an integral component of the coaching staff next season.

[lawrence-related id=56194]

Russell Wilson wants the Seahawks offense to be more aggressive

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson wants the team’s offense to be more aggressive and increase its tempo in the near future.

Super Bowl LIV concluded with the Kansas City Chiefs emerging victorious over the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 31-20, winning their first championship in 50 years and second overall.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was present for an NBC Sports interview in Miami before the game started. Wilson said he wanted to see the Seahawks offense increase its tempo and aggression in the future and utilize the team’s two-minute drill more often.

The slow starts throughout the Pete Carroll era have been a common criticism, especially considering the Seahawks regularly storm back in the second half with a chance to win – which usually involves unleashing Wilson and allowing him to take over games – but come up short in crucial matchups like their divisional-round loss to the Green Bay Packers this postseason.

Hopefully, Carroll and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer listen to the criticism and increase the tempo in the Seahawks offense more often.

[lawrence-related id=55729]

Do the Seahawks need to make a change at offensive coordinator?

Should the Seahawks replace offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer or his coaching philosophy after just two seasons in Seattle?

Brian Schottenheimer has only spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, but is it already time to make a coaching change? Around the NFL editor Gregg Rosenthal thinks that’s exactly what Seattle needs to do, and quickly.

Rosenthal recently penned a piece on NFL.com, detailing one thing each NFC team can do to dethrone the 49ers heading into the 2020 season. The Seahawks, he believes, need to either replace Schottenheimer as the offensive coordinator or replace his coaching philosophy.

“It’s hard to imagine a traditionalist like offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer breaking out of his run-heavy tendencies, so [Pete] Carroll should look into making a shocking late switch with his offensive play-caller before free agency begins,” Rosenthal writes. “Seattle’s best talent by far is in the passing game, yet Carroll and Schottenheimer are coaching as if they have the 2013 Seahawks roster.”

It was clear Seattle was going to stick with its run-first game plan at any cost last season. After losing Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise to injuries, the Seahawks quickly added two familiar names from the past back to the roster – Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin.

Rosenthal’s argument does merit some thought, but it seems highly unlikely the Seahawks are going to part ways with either their offensive coordinator or his coaching philosophy. Seattle will continue to pound the ground, regardless of Wilson’s weapons in the passing game.

[lawrence-related id=55535]

Seahawks assistant coach Steve Shimko hired by Boston College

Seattle Seahawks assistant quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko took a job coaching tight ends at Boston College on Friday.

The Seattle Seahawks coaching shakeup has already begun as we head into the 2020 season.

Steve Shimko, who was an offensive assistant in 2018 and assistant quarterbacks coach last year, has been hired by Boston College to be their tight end coach. The move was announced by Boston College on Friday.

Shimko spent two years with the Seahawks, coming over after a successful stint as the offensive coordinator at Garden City Community College.

He also has successful stints at the University of Georgia (alongside Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer) and Western Michigan.

Shimko was a quarterback at Rutgers from 2009-2012, but his career was cut short due to injury and he began his path into coaching as a graduate assistant shortly after that.

The Seahawks may lose another coach, Brennan Carroll – Pete Carroll’s son – to Hawaii, as they look the reshape some of their ranks following an 11-5 season and a heartbreaking exit in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs in 2019.

[lawrence-related id=55059]

Seahawks expected to rotate all 3 running backs in Green Bay

The Seahawks will turn to all three of their running backs in Green Bay on Sunday and could utilize Marshawn Lynch in a more expanded role.

The Seattle Seahawks took some serious hits to their run game this season, losing three running backs to injuries. Rashaad Penny was the first to fall, followed by starter Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise near the end of the year.

With only rookie Travis Homer left on the roster, Seattle rallied quickly to sign two former teammates – Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin. While both have gotten limited play so far, the Seahawks are likely to incorporate all three of the backs more into the rotation this Sunday.

“People know that we are going to do different things other than just to hand the ball to Marshawn,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday. “But to see him get the ball out in space on the perimeter was cool. You’ll see him play more. Travis certainly will play. Turbo will play, it was good to get him in there as well.”

Schottenheimer was asked whether or not he had a specific game plan or snap counts in mind for each of the players.

“Is there a number?” Schottenheimer replied. “No, we’ll just see how the game goes.”

After bouncing back so quickly following each of his outings, coach Pete Carroll did say fans can expect to see Lynch in more of an expanded role.

“That’s a wonderful thought, isn’t it? Just get to see Marshawn more,” Carroll quipped Wednesday. “Well, he’s had a couple weeks under his belt. He made it through clean. He feels fine physically, so he’s just more available to us for more opportunities. That’s all.”

But with “unfinished business” still on his mind, you can bet Lynch will be all about that action, boss.

[lawrence-related id=54596]

Seahawks open up playbook for Marshawn Lynch against Eagles

The Seattle Seahawks are opening up more of the playbook to veteran running back Marshawn Lynch, who could have a big role on Sunday.

The Seattle Seahawks were understandably careful with veteran running back Marshawn Lynch on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

Beast Mode returned to the team last Monday, which gave him just six days to learn the playbook, get in football shape and contribute – making his 12 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown pretty impressive.

Now, the 33-year-old has another week under his belt, and he’ll not only be physically prepared for a bigger workload against the Eagles on Sunday afternoon, he’s getting the entire playbook opened up to him as well.

“He can do everything we’re doing,” coach Pete Carroll said on Friday. “He’s got the whole game plan.”

Lynch played 23 offensive snaps last week, getting 12 carries and otherwise being used primarily as a decoy in play-action sets.

One area he wasn’t featured much was in pass protection – which is where offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer sees him contributing more in the playoffs.

“He’s much more comfortable this week, so there’s things he can do from a pass protection standpoint,” Schottenheimer said on Thursday. “Obviously, some that he maybe he wasn’t very comfortable with last week. It’s week two, a week that he’s more comfortable with the terminology and just kind of playing the position with the guys that we got, especially the blocking unit up front. It’s a big part for the back is how the holes get opened up and the combination blocks. They look a little bit different than maybe they did when he was doing it a couple years ago.”

Seattle has no reason to go away from rookie Travis Homer as the featured back after he carried the ball 10 times for 62 yards last week, so fans shouldn’t expect 20 carries for Beast Mode on Sunday.

However, he made it through the first week healthy, and should have an increased role for Seattle while they look to break the Eagles four-game win streak and advance closer to another Super Bowl appearance.

[lawrence-related id=54156]

Drew Brees called Chargers’ decision to pick new QB ‘Worst mistake ever’

Brian Schottenheimer says Drew Brees warned the Chargers not to draft Philip Rivers or any other quarterback, and the rest is history.

[jwplayer hIsdfg5h-ThvAeFxT]

The then-San Diego Chargers’ decision to let Drew Brees walk away in free agency, ultimately landing with the New Orleans Saints, remains one of the greatest what-if’s in NFL history. The story has it all: a Chargers quarterback controversy between highly-drafted prospects (who each went on to make Hall of Fame-worthy careers), uncertain injury concerns, the rebirth of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a historic father-and-son coaching duo (and a father-and-son quarterback duo, who forced their hand in an NFL landscape-changing trade), and even a Nick Saban cameo. But we’ll focus on one little anecdote.

Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer told his part in that story to SI.com’s Albert Breer, recounting how the decision to acquire a quarterback in the 2004 NFL Draft spurred Brees into an NFL Comeback Player of the Year campaign.

Some time after the Chargers first met Philip Rivers, Schottenheimer (who was San Diego’s quarterbacks coach at the time) ran into Brees around the team facility. And of course Brees was curious who the Chargers would be targeting in the draft.

The way Schottenheimer tells it, the news that San Diego would be bringing in competition for Brees’ job galvanized him: “But when I tell you the serious look, how his eyes went from a real fun, jovial conversation, his eyes kind of just locked in. And he looked at me and said, ‘That would be the worst (expletive) mistake this organization could ever make. And I’m like, ‘Hey, man, don’t shoot the messenger.’ He goes, ‘Worst mistake ever.’ And he walked off.”

A few months later, Brees started the season with a 1-2 record and was called into the head coach’s office, where Marty Schottenheimer (Brian’s father), made it clear that Brees was going to be given one last shot before being benched for the rookie.

“He gets knocked around pretty good,” Schottenheimer said, recounting Brees’ last stand in Week 4 with the Tennessee Titans. “We take him back, we think he maybe had a concussion, but he wasn’t coming out. And Marty literally told him, ‘This is your last chance, this is your last drive.’ And he told me to tell Philip to warm up. And the next thing you know, the guy goes out and throws for three touchdown passes in the next 40 minutes of the game, and goes on to become NFL Comeback Player of the Year.”

Brees ultimately bounced back from an 11-to-15 touchdown-to-interception ratio the year before, to throw 27 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions in 2005, which won him that recognition and sent him to his first career Pro Bowl. He played well again the following year, but a season-ending shoulder injury sent him into free agency without any fanfare.

And the rest is history. Brees has gone on to win a Super Bowl with the Saints and break every meaningful NFL passing record, establishing himself as one of the best quarterbacks of all time. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome is one of the league’s most-vaunted venues. Rivers has had a fine career with the Chargers, but the team left San Diego and is about to wrap up a three-year stint in a Los Angeles soccer arena, before splitting rent with the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium to survive.

The trajectory Brees has gone on since leaving the Chargers couldn’t be more different from the team that ditched him, and it speaks to the kind of competitor that he is that his response to bad news from Schottenheimer all those years ago looks prophetic in hindsight. He called his shot, and made it a reality.

[vertical-gallery id=25612]

A healthy Tyler Lockett is a huge factor for Seahawks on Sundays

Finally back to full form, Seattle Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett is now 100% healthy and ready to take on the Arizona Cardinals Week 16.

The Seattle Seahawks realized just how much they had missed Tyler Lockett when he finally returned to full form last week.

Lockett had first suffered a leg injury against the 49ers and was then hit with the flu that had been circling the Seahawks locker room. While the wide receiver didn’t miss a matchup, it was clear he was not 100% on the field.

“It was weird because we kind of felt it during the week – we just kind of felt it,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said on Thursday. “Sometimes, when you’re out here watching practice, you get a sense of man, the ball is going to him a lot. Or boy, he’s moving like himself. Like he’s got a particular speed that you’re used to seeing and we hadn’t really seen that for a while. I wasn’t really surprised. It was great to see it. I think he felt good.”

Against the Panthers last Sunday, Lockett bounced back to log eight receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown. He now has 75 catches for 994 yards and seven scores on the year.

“The catch he made, the big one down our boundary early in the game on 26 was an unbelievable catch,” Schottenheimer praised. “I still don’t know how he finishes some of those plays. We kind of anticipate it might be a good day for him.”

Lockett will get his next shot to impress Sunday afternoon against the Cardinals at CenturyLink Field.

[lawrence-related id=53203]

Seahawks taking advantage of running back depth with Rashaad Penny out

The Seattle Seahawks will look to C.J. Prosise and Travis Homer to back up Chris Carson now that Rashaad Penny is out for the season.

Injuries have taken their toll on the Seattle Seahawks’ offense this season, including hits to the tight ends and starters upfront. The most recent position group to lose a member is the running backs, now that Rashaad Penny has been shut down for the year after tearing his ACL.

Seattle has utilized the one-two punch of starter Chris Carson and Penny with success lately, but will now have to turn to the next man – or men – up, to get the job done.

“That’s the beauty of the depth that we have on our roster, the beauty of having a C.J. Prosise that you’re like, ‘okay, I’m a huge C.J. fan,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday. “The ability just to make people miss. The ability in the passing game. You obviously see we’ve used him in third-down situations before, two-minute situations before. He’s got a huge upside. I think he’s excited about the opportunity.”

But Prosise isn’t the Seahawks’ only option to back up Carson, Travis Homer is slated to see some time too.

“Travis is a guy that we’ve liked the whole time,” Schottenheimer explained. “Both those guys we feel really good about, just the way they play. Travis is very physical. Good understanding of the protections and stuff already, being a young player.

“You hate to see it for Rashaad having a great last couple games – those guys will step up and they’ll be ready.”

Prosise is expected to get the first look behind Carson in Carolina when the Seahawks and Panthers kick off Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. PT.

[lawrence-related id=52734]

Josh Gordon can do more than run slant routes

Seattle Seahawks receiver Josh Gordon has excelled as a slant route runner so far this year, but Brian Schottenheimer knows he can do more.

Although the numbers are rather pedestrian, there’s no doubt the Seattle Seahawks have been thrilled with what they have gotten out of free agent pickup Josh Gordon over the past three weeks.

Still battling an injury and with very little time to adjust to a brand-new offense, Gordon has hauled in four receptions (on five targets) for 47 yards.

All four of his receptions have been first downs, as quarterback Russell Wilson has come to trust him run quick slant routes and convert on third down.

However, Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer views Gordon as more than a slant-running first down machine.

“We certainly do a lot of things with him, he just made some good plays on those,” Schottenheimer said on Thursday. “We’ve tried a couple double moves with him, he got the P.I. penalty against Philadelphia that was a big play. But I would say it’s definitely coincidence.”

Schottenheimer went on to praise Gordon’s increased comfort with the system and his relationship with Wilson, while also highlighting that Gordon’s success is simply the fact that he’s, well, good at catching footballs.

“Unbelievable catcher of the football,” Schottenheimer continued. “I think his hands, the ability to catch the football is maybe the best I’ve ever seen. The ball is in his area, he finds a way to catch it but, he’s doing a really good job for us. We’re very pleased with him.”

Wilson has a plethora of options to choose from at this point in the season. Tyler Lockett is healthy after battling a leg injury and the flu, rookie DK Metcalf has emerged as a true star, tight end Jacob Hollister has stepped up in a big way, and now Gordon is getting more comfortable in the offense.

Factor in the two-headed monster of Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny in the running game and you have an offense that is very tough to game plan against, a task the Rams will have to take on this Sunday night in Los Angeles, where Seattle will be playing for a guaranteed spot in the playoffs.

[lawrence-related id=52388]