Hawk Talk highlights: Evaluating Darrell Bevell, revisiting the Max Unger-Jimmy Graham trade

As he does every week during the football season, Danny O’Neil hosted a live Seahawks chat on Tuesday. The transcript can be found here. Highlights are below.

Gantiz posed the question of whether Darrell Bevell is a “sub-mediocre” offensive coordinator who would be viewed less favorably if it weren’t for Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch and Seattle’s defense.

O’Neil: I think that Bevell has done a good job of getting the most out of an offense that essentially marries together three different components: 1) Tom Cable’s zone-blocking scheme for the run game. 2) The West Coast passing scheme Bevell is versed in. 3) Wilson’s improvisational abilities to scramble and extend plays. Actually, the zone-read running system should be in there, too. I think that because of the hybrid nature of the offense there are times that Bevell gets away from what the identity or foundation of the offense is. And when things get rough or rocky, he doesn’t necessarily know the best path to steer to get the team out of that rough patch. He doesn’t have “bread-and-butter plays” in the same way Mike Holmgren did.

Donkey Hotay asked whether the Seahawks would be better off by not having traded center Max Unger for tight end Jimmy Graham.

O’Neil: It’s a good question, but it doesn’t apply. The reason is that Seattle was going to let go of Unger. I know that for a fact. So while I think it’s fair to wonder if Seattle should have held onto one of its more experienced offensive linemen, the reality is that it wasn’t going to do it. In some ways, they’re separate transactions. You can ask if Seattle would have been better off using its first-round pick instead of having Graham. That is something that will take years to sort out. But the way that this team and its payroll is formatted, the higher-paid veterans signed to extensions won’t stay on the team as long as they would in other circumstances. That’s becoming clear. And Seattle’s strategy of signing so many guys to extensions is that younger players must be ready to play earlier both to fill the voids where other teams will have rank-and-file veterans and to take the place of veterans.

geezer said free safety Earl Thomas hasn’t played up to his standard through two games.

O’Neil: I don’t know if I completely agree with that. He’s come up with some absolute stinger-missile hits, especially the one on Eddie Lacy. He missed a tackle on the outside, but look, we’re talking about a guy who doesn’t ever really wrap up. I don’t notice teams ripping up the seam routes against Seattle, either.

Glenn said he was more impressed by DeShawn Shead at free safety against Green Bay than he was with Dion Bailey, who started in Week 1.

O’Neil: I think you’re right. More importantly, Dave Wyman really thinks you’re right. He liked Shead’s play quite a bit. Now, does that mean the Seahawks stick with it when they play a more ground-based opponent? We’ll see.

DB fan noted that new defensive coordinator Kris Richard hardly blitzed – if at all – against Green Bay.

O’Neil: The lack of blitzes shouldn’t have been a surprise. That’s not Seattle’s repertoire. And while we all asked whether the Seahawks would blitz more under Richard, let’s remember they were facing a quarterback in Aaron Rodgers who carves up the blitz.

Glenn asked about the impact that linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr.’s departure has had on Seattle’s linebackers.

O’Neil: I think that there is an adjustment without him on staff. I don’t think that adjustment has to do with technique or X’s and O’s assessment. I don’t think his departure robbed the Seahawks of their best strategist. But right now, the linebackers are one of the groups that have been below expectations – somewhat inexplicably – and you have to wonder whether the changes in coaching staff – both coordinator and position coach – have been a factor.

geezer asked about left tackle Russell Okung’s future in Seattle beyond this season.

O’Neil: I would be surprised if he’s a Seahawk next season. I think there will be a team out there – probably a more conventional passing attack – that values him more than Seattle does. I think the Seahawks would love to have him back, and he’d love to be back, but I think someone else will simply be offering more money.

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