Tag: Ken Norton Jr.

Seahawks release defensive back Demarkus Acy from practice squad

The Seattle Seahawks have released defensive back Demarkus Acy from the practice squad and may make another move for the defense soon.

The Seattle Seahawks only had one roster move on the official transaction list Tuesday, in the wake of their humiliating 44-34 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Seattle released cornerback Demarkus Acy from the practice squad.

Acy’s release leaves a vacant spot on the Seahawks practice squad, so it would not be unreasonable to anticipate another move soon.

Seattle could certainly use additional defensive help. This is one of the worst NFL defenses in recent memory and fans have claimed injuries and Ken Norton Jr.’s play calls and schemes are at fault.

Whatever the case, the Seahawks will need some kind of assistance (or a miraculous turnaround) to have any hope of competing for a Super Bowl in the 2020 season.

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8 Seahawks among nominees for College Football Hall of Fame

Ken Norton, Jr. and a bevy of Seahawks, including Steve Hutchinson and Bobby Engram, are eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame.

The nominees for the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 have been announced, with 99 Division 1 football players – including seven former Seattle Seahawks and one current coach – all on the ballot.

Defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr., who played his college ball at UCLA, is on the ballot, along with seven former Seattle players: receiver Bobby Engram, defensive end Dwight Freeney, guard Robert Gallery, receiver Mike Hass, guard Steve Hutchinson, kicker Sebastian Janikowski and running back C.J. Spiller.

Engram starred for the Seahawks from 2001-2008, hauling in 399 receptions for 4,859 yards and 18 touchdowns, making him among the most prolific receivers in franchise history. He played his college ball at Penn State and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver in 1994.

Freeney was a seven time Pro Bowl defensive end who finished his prolific NFL career with 125.5 career sacks, good for 18th all time. He finished his career with the Seahawks in 2017, appearing in four games and totaling three sacks and a pass defended. He starred at Syracuse and remains the NCAA leader in sacks per game, at 1.61.

Gallery concluded his eight-year NFL career by starting 12 games at left guard for the Seahawks in 2011. While at Iowa, Gallery was a first team All-American and winner of the Outland Trophy in 2003, awarded to the nation’s best interior offensive lineman.

Despite winning the Biletnikoff Award in 2005 as a member of the Oregon State Beavers, Hass only appeared in two games in his NFL career. One of them was with the Seahawks in 2009.

Hutchinson is already a Pro Football Hall of Famer, having gained induction in 2020. He starred at left guard for the Seahawks from 2001-2005, making three Pro Bowls in that time. He was an excellent guard in college at Michigan as well, earning All-American honors in 2000.

Perhaps the only time a first round kicker has paid off, the Raiders selected Janikowski in 2000 and he went on to kick for them for nearly two decades, finishing his career with the Seahawks in 2018. He was a two-time All-American and the only ever two-time winner of the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s best kicker, while at Florida State.

Finally, Spiller appeared in two games for the Seahawks in 2016, carrying the ball three times and hauling in five receptions for a touchdown. Spiller was a star running back and kick returner at Clemson, and his 7,588 all-purpose yards is fourth in NCAA history.

In order to be eligible, a player must have been a first team All-American and have been done playing college football for 10 full seasons.

The ballot has been sent to the National Football Foundation (NFF) board, who will deliberate and eventually announce the new inductees in early 2021.

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Bruce Irvin told Bobby Wagner he missed being with Seattle last year

Bruce Irvin texted Bobby Wagner after the Seahawks win over the Eagles last year, telling him how badly he wanted to be back on the team.

The Seahawks brought the band back together this offseason, re-signing a pair of pass rushers who used to call Seattle home in Benson Mayowa and Bruce Irvin.

Irvin made it clear just how happy he is to be back with the Seahawks after spending the last four years elsewhere – calling his return “refreshing”.

“At this stage of my career, I felt like going back home with Seattle, I consider it my home, that was the best thing that could happen to me, especially in year nine,” Irvin told local Seattle media on Tuesday. “I couldn’t ask for a better situation.”

Irvin originally joined the Seahawks as the team’s first round pick in the famous 2012 draft, which also netted the Seahawks Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson – but was widely panned as a failure by draft pundits at the time.

He was with Seattle until 2016, and has been in Oakland, Atlanta and Carolina over the past four seasons.

Irvin was excellent last year with the Panthers, posting a career-high 8.5 sacks in just 13 games. His return to the Seahawks gives them a formidable pass rusher and outside linebacker, and it allows Irvin to reunite with former teammates and coaches – including defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr, who Irvin has a lot of respect for.

“Norton is a guy that I consider not only as my coach but as a father figure,” Irvin continued. “The guy took me to Oakland with him, and also he played a major role in bringing me back to Seattle.”

While Irvin said he had some other options this offseason, he made it clear just how badly he wanted to be back with the Seahawks, a feeling he had long before free agency officially opened in March.

“After the Philly game (Seattle’s Week 12 win over the Eagles) I sent Bobby a text message while they was on the plane, I was like ‘damn I wish I was on that plane with y’all'” Irvin continued. “I just wanted to come back man.”

Irvin is back home now, and he gives this Seattle squad a veteran pass rusher who is familiar with the defense and who can come in and immediately contribute, something they sorely need after a disappointing season getting to the quarterback in 2019.

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Inconsistent defense will undergo adjustments this offseason

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll reported the defense will undergo adjustments this offseason, but wouldn’t comment on coaching changes.

Perhaps the biggest staple of the Pete Carroll era for the Seattle Seahawks has been their defense.

Built upon strong linebacker play and elite, long defensive backs, made famous by the Legion of Boom, the Seahawks pride themselves on thumping opposing offenses all over the field.

2019 was a very different story. The absence of the LOB was felt in a major way, and the team’s complete lack of a pass rush, over reliance on their 4-3 base defense and inferior play in the secondary led to perhaps the worst defensive season in recent Seahawks history.

Carroll is more than aware of the deficiencies put forward by this unit last year, and he is not afraid to report that changes are coming.

“We were not consistent,” Carroll said on Monday. “Too many explosive plays of various natures. For the most part, we had problems on the edge. We had containment issues. We found that the offenses really put the ball on the perimeter against us a lot. That does challenge us in some ways. You’ll see some things be adjusted in the course of the offseason for that. Just the style of offense that we were up against was a little bit different than it’s been.”

Carroll wouldn’t confirm anything specifically, of course, saying folks will have to wait and see – particularly when asked about Seattle’s reliance on the base 4-3 defense.

“Some of it will be going back to things we’ve done, some of the things will be moving forward,” Carroll continued. “I’m really excited to go about it. It’s difficult to adjust some things in the middle of the year. It was interesting, we played a lot of base defense versus three wide receivers and we didn’t see very much of it. It kind of went away. That was an interesting turn. We weren’t sure how that was going to turn out.”

Carroll’s base defense forced his linebacker group to play more pass coverage, which is not their strength. It often led to team’s using short, quick passing attacks that proved extremely successful.

Carroll didn’t specify that any of the incoming changes will involve his coaching staff, but after such an ugly season on the defensive side of the ball it’s fair to assume some of the defensive coaches, including defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr, are on the hot seat.

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K.J. Wright’s resurgence one of Seahawks’ best stories of 2019

The return of K.J. Wright, who had a career-best season despite only playing five games in 2018, is one of the best stories of the year.

When the 2018 regular season concluded, veteran linebacker K.J. Wright had played just five games, and his future with the Seattle Seahawks was in serious jeopardy.

However, an extremely strong performance in Seattle’s wild card loss to the Cowboys helped build some of his confidence back, and after re-signing for two years and $14 million dollars, Wright had a resurgent 2019 season with the Seahawks.

The veteran linebacker appeared in all 16 games for Seattle, recording a career-high 132 combined tackles – his fifth season of 100 plus tackles.

“It’s been amazing watching him play, especially after last year,” teammate Bobby Wagner commented on Wednesday. “He had a lot of struggles last year injury-wise. But he came back. You could see towards the end of the game, I’ve mentioned before, against Dallas. That kind of transitioned into the next season.”

Wright not only rebounded from an injury-riddled campaign, he also had to adjust to a new defensive scheme that saw him out in pass coverage far more often than in year’s past. Wright managed to excel in that new role, with 11 pass breakups and three interceptions – both career highs.

“K.J. is just one of a kind,” defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr. said on Wednesday. “Extremely unique. He’s a really heady, smart, instinctive guy. He spends a lot of time studying, watching film, talking ball. He’s just a gym rat. He loves ball. He knows how to carry it over to action on the football field. He’s been doing it for a long time. He’s, no question, one of the best.”

Wright is one of the most prolific tacklers in Seahawks franchise history, and his resurgence after many felt his career was circling the drain is a remarkable story that went overlooked this season.

“It’s really fun to watch him be successful,” Wagner continued. “The man he is, the person he is. The way he prepares. I wasn’t surprised by it. I was very, very happy for him.”

Wright and Wagner will look to lead this team to victory in the wild card matchup in Philadelphia against the Eagles, which is slated to kick off at 1:40 p.m. PT on Sunday, January 5.

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Rasheem Green’s consistency a huge factor in breakout campaign

The Seattle Seahawks have gotten a strong sophomore season from Rasheem Green in an otherwise forgettable campaign for their pass rush.

If there’s one thing to criticize on this 11-3 Seattle Seahawks team this season, it has been the pass rush.

Despite offseason acquisitions of Jadeveon Clowney and Ziggy Ansah, not to mention first round pick L.J. Collier, Seattle has struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks all season long.

Some of that can be attributed to Seattle’s coverage scheme, which allows short, quick passes to be completed, but regardless it has been a disappointing season in that area.

One of the few bright spots has been the emergence of Rasheem Green, a 2018 third round pick who has taken what Pete Carroll likes to call the second-year leap in 2019.

Green is leading the Seahawks with four sacks, along with 20 combined tackles, three forced fumbles and one pass defended.

“He’s doing great,” Carroll said on Wednesday. “I’m just happy that he’s been such a factor now. He’s really playing consistently at run and pass, which is great. Forcing fumbles and being active in the backfield rushing the passer. He’s playing multiple spots. He’s grown into it. He’s a big part of what we’re doing, and I’m really fired up for him.”

Green has lined up off the edge and occasionally as an interior defensive tackle this season – versatility that was a big part of why Carroll and company wanted him coming out of the draft.

Still just 22 years old, Green is younger than many of Seattle’s current rookies, making his progress this season all the more impressive.

“I think when you have younger players, consistency day in and day out, and play after play, usually is an issue,” defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr. said on Wednesday. “He’s at a point now where he understands how to be a good player. He likes it, and he knows the routine you have to go through in order to show up each and every week. He’s a guy, if you were to talk to the d-line person by person, if there was one guy they liked where he’s been and where he is now, Rasheem [Green] is a guy they like playing with.”

Green’s emergence as a weapon all across the defensive line has given Seattle a big boost this year, and his continued growth could make him a potential Pro Bowl caliber player in the near future.

For now, he’ll be counted on in a big way on Sunday against the Cardinals, with both Ansah and Clowney still nursing injuries.

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Week 14 position battle: Akeem King or Ugo Amadi at nickel?

Will the Rams extensive use of slot receiver Cooper Kupp force the Seattle Seahawks to turn to rookie Ugo Amadi in the nickelback role?

When the Seattle Seahawks let nickel cornerback Justin Coleman sign a four-year, $36 million dollar contract with the Detroit Lions this offseason, it signaled an immediate shift in their defensive philosophy.

Instead of relying heavily on their nickel package, which replaces a third linebacker with an extra defensive back, the team decided to lean more on their 4-3 base defense.

That decision came in part because Seattle had three strong linebackers to keep on the field – Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, and Mychal Kendricks.

So far in 2019, the Seahawks have stayed in their base 4-3 defense about two-thirds of the time, one of the highest rates in the league.

The recent release of veteran Jamar Taylor was thought by many to signal a change in Seattle’s defensive scheme, as it freed up dynamic rookie Ugo Amadi to start contributing on defense instead of just on special teams.

However, not only has Seattle stuck with their base at similar rates the past two games, Amadi has yet to see the field on defense – with the team opting to use the bigger, more physical Akeem King at nickel instead.

“I’m very happy with how he stepped up and played,” defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said on Wednesday about King. “He’s been kind of in the background the entire year. His opportunity came back up. The most important thing is when your opportunity is up to be ready.  He stepped up. I think the plays that he made should really build his confidence and our confidence in having him out there.”

King’s usage likely coincided with both Philadelphia and Minnesota’s extensive use of two tight end sets. King’s physical nature allows him to match up better with opposing tight ends, where Amadi’s skill set is expected to be on the speedier slot receivers.

That could make Amadi the preferred option on Sunday night against the Rams, whose passing offense relies much more on their outside receivers and slot receiver Cooper Kupp – who already has a career-high 945 receiving yards this season.

While Norton said he wasn’t going to discuss game plans, it does seem like Week 14 could be Amadi’s first chance to prove what he’s worth on Seattle’s rapidly improving defensive unit.

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Teammates, coaches excited for Shaquem Griffin’s bigger role in defense

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Shaquem Griffin was praised by his teammates and coaches ahead of Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Shaquem Griffin got the green light in the team’s 27-24 victory against the San Francisco 49ers. He only played 14 defensive snaps, but defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. had a great deal of praise and saw major potential in him going forward.

“When the opportunities arise, that you have to really step up,” Norton told reporters Wednesday. “Griff really, he’s always shown his ability. If you watch his college tape, that’s what he did mainly, was a guy coming off the edge, having a lot of spark, doing a lot of spins. Lot of juice. So, we’re excited about where he can go with this.”

Veteran Seahawk and fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner appreciates Griffin’s ability to get to the quarterback.

“When we watched him practice, it was amazing,” Wagner said Wednesday. “His get-off, his turn, the way he was getting to the quarterback. Then, after that, when you don’t get to the quarterback, the quarterback throws the ball [away]. If you guys watch the film, him coming out of his stack and trying to make a play 10 yards downfield. You notice his energy, you notice his effort, and I feel like he’s been growing and growing.”

With Jadeveon Clowney being a game-time decision for Sunday and the rest of the Seahawks pass rush struggling, Griffin could see significant time against the Eagles. Clowney himself raved about Griffin as well.

“He does everything. I don’t ever put it past him that he can’t do anything now,” Clowney said. “He showed me so much. When he’s over there, I don’t even worry. He’s going to take care of his own. Even with one hand, he still goes out there and does his thing. I’m a big supporter and a big fan of his since I’ve been here.”

Fans may soon see if Griffin can be a significant contributor in a crucial game against Philadelphia.

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Seattle Seahawks’ pass rush is finally coming together

The Seattle Seahawks’ pass rush efforts got off to a slow start this season but things are improving in the second half of the year.

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The Seattle Seahawks got off to a slow start this season as far as the pass rush is concerned despite the offseason additions of Ziggy Ansah and Jadeveon Clowney.

Things changed dramatically against the 49ers in primetime, when Seattle was finally able to make an impact.

Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. isn’t worried about the Seahawks production going forward.

“You just know, any time you play this game for a while, at some point, it’s going to all come together,” Norton told reporters Wednesday. “The guys have been working really hard at it. Hard work pays off. The main thing you’ve got to do is just keep on hitting it. You don’t know when it’s going to happen, but all of the sudden, it comes in bunches and they really put it together. The guys, they played well.”

Clowney, in particular, had himself an impressive outing, logging five tackles, five hits on the quarterback, a forced fumble and a defensive touchdown – earning him the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week.

“He was disruptive,” Norton said. “You just want to see that on consistency. You don’t want to be one of those hash in the pan nights. You want to consistently effect the quarterback. Consistently make the guys around you better. Let’s bottle that up and do that every week.”

The Seahawks hit the road this weekend to face off against the Eagles and Carson Wentz – who Norton and the defense will be eyeing closely.

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