‘Hawk Talk’ highlights: Seahawks’ WRs primed for a big leap in 2016?

Danny O’Neil hosted a live Seahawks chat on Tuesday as “Hawk Talk” continues into the offseason. Here’s the transcript. Highlights are below.

Dynamo asked if Doug Baldwin’s comments that the wide receivers are poised to make serious strides up and down the position just optimism.

Danny O’Neil: I don’t think you’re going to see this team start throwing 35 passes per game. But I do think that you can expect a more productive, effective start. It’s never going to be the volume of passing that makes this offense stand out, but always the efficiency. The question is whether Russell Wilson will throw for more touchdowns this season.

Tom Page asked what areas Danny will focus on during this week’s minicamp.

Danny O’Neil: I want to take a look at Chris Clemons and Brandon Browner. Brock Huard brought up the point this morning — and he’s right — that the Seahawks haven’t tended to keep veterans on scholarship. Antoine Winfield didn’t make the team, Cary Williams flamed out. Seattle seems to err on the side of youth when it comes to splitting hairs and breaking ties. But both Clemons and Browner have experience in the system.

A guest asked if Kevin Pierre-Louis can set the edge at the SAM linebacker spot and why it’s not Cassius Marsh that is assumed to play that position.

Danny O’Neil: I’d be surprised if KPL ends up starting at that spot, but we’ll have to see. As for Cassius Marsh, Dave Wyman thinks that very well could be the guy who ends up out there. He showed great speed on the edge last season – remember when Marsh kept Adrian Peterson from turning the corner. But he’s never dropped in coverage. And remember, this is a guy who started out at UCLA as a 300-pound DT.

Frank asked with the proliferation of nickel and dime defenses if it possible Brandon Browner and Tharold Simon will be on the field more often than a third linebacker.

Danny O’Neil: Short answer: Yes. It’s possible Seattle will play as much nickel as it does base. Longer answer: Jeremy Lane is going to be on the field in those nickel packages as opposed to both Browner and Simon.

Marc asked if Danny sees the Hawks keeping 10 offensive lineman or going with nine, allowing them to keep an extra running back or wide receiver.

Danny O’Neil: That totally depends on how guys develop. Here would be the locks in my opinion: Garry Gilliam, Mark Glowinski, Germain Ifedi, J’Marcus Webb, Rees Odhiambo, Justin Britt. I think Patrick Lewis and Bradley Sowell are on pretty solid footing with Joey Hunt, Terry Poole and Kristjan Sokoli competing for spots.

Zorn on the 4th of July asked how the Seahawks stack up against the Cardinals this year.

Danny O’Neil: Well, I have perpetually underrated the Cardinals believing that they’re always on the brink of falling off. So I’ll stay the same. While I think the addition of Chandler Jones has made many people believe the defense is going to be better, I think the offense is going to regress this year given the age.