http://seahawksal.com/cms/ en-us Nucleus CMS v3.22 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://seahawksal.com/cms//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://seahawksal.com/cms/ http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=367 ROOKIES WELCOMEAt last year’s rookie minicamp, a young signal caller named Russell Wilson impressed the coaching staff so much that he earned a spot in Pete Carroll’s quarterback competition. At this year’s rookie minicamp, another “reach” named Luke Willson showed off the kind of sub-4.5 40 speed that doesn’t seem possible in a man that is 6’5” and 250 pounds. Last year’s Wilson came out of nowhere to take the league by storm. Could this year’s Willson do the same thing in 2013?

He will get a chance to shine, at any rate. Carroll said on Sunday that Willson would see some time with the first string in upcoming minicamps and training camp along with fourth-round WR Chris Harper. Defensive tackles Jordan Hill and Jesse Williams should see plenty of time in the rotation. Second round pick Christine Michael ran hard and displayed good hands and should fight for playing time despite backing up one of the league’s best running backs. All in all, to quote Pete Carroll, “everybody looked like they fit in the role that we had hoped for.”

Of course, it’s only a rookie minicamp. Things will get much harder for the young Seahawks when they start going up against veteran players in OTA’s, and it will get even harder once training camp starts and the pads come on. But on this picture perfect weekend in Seattle it was hard not to watch the draft picks and free agents and tryout players and wonder which one of them might make a name for himself when camp starts in two months. Who will play his way onto an already crowded roster by virtue of a few fan-favorite preseason performances? Will any of these rookies turn out to be a draft-day steal the way Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman have?

Don’t bet against it. The mantra of a Pete Carroll-coached squad is “always compete,” and he engenders competition by giving rookies and young players every opportunity to not just make the team but start for this team. One year ago who would have thought that J.R. Sweezy, a converted defensive tackle, would be starting for this team at guard not just in September but in the playoffs? Who would have thought that a third-round quarterback who was “too short” to play in the NFL would be given a serious chance to win the job?

On many NFL teams Russell Wilson wouldn’t have had an opportunity to start because most NFL teams don’t put that much faith in their rookies. San Francisco is a good example: last year’s rookie class barely got on the field for the 49ers. Starters and veterans are given preference in San Francisco, and a rookie has to wait his turn to get his shot.

Pete Carroll, on the other hand, favors a different approach that encourages competition and is not afraid to start rookies even in crucial situations. Time will tell which approach proves to be more effective, but consider what Seattle went through this year. Sweezy started several games after a banged-up and underperforming John Moffitt failed to claim the right guard spot for his own and did better than anyone had a right to expect. Jeremy Lane started three games for the suspended Brandon Browner and Seattle’s defense didn’t skip a beat. These are sixth- and seventh-round picks being thrown into the fire for a team in the midst of a playoff run and they more than held their own, to say nothing for the contributions of fellow rookies Bruce Irvin, Bobby Wagner, Robert Turbin, and of course Russell Wilson. This year’s rookies will also get their opportunities to become a vital part of this team.

Going into draft weekend, the conventional wisdom was that draft picks would have a hard time making this team. The Seattle Seahawks already had loads of talent on their roster and this year’s draft class could largely find itself on the outside looking in. That is a possibility, but even if few of Seattle’s rookies make the final cut, Pete Carroll’s emphasis on competition and willingness to give his young guns a shot will give them plenty of chances to make this team and contribute once they are on the roster. So while this weekend featured nothing more than a bunch of draft picks, free agents and tryout players running around in shorts, don’t be too quick to dismiss the early positive returns. One of these youngsters just might be the next Russell Wilson, and he’s out there Pete Carroll will find him.

Even if it’s another man named Willson.





]]> "The 12th Man" by Will Harrison http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=367 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:16:37 -0100 http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=366 DRAFT TO THE FUTURE—2013 DRAFT REVIEWTwo years ago, Pete Carroll told the media that he and GM John Schneider had decided against drafting Colorado CB Jimmy Smith because they didn’t think that their young team could handle a player with character problems. After this weekend’s draft, they clearly think that this year’s team is up to the task.

If Tim Ruskell was dead, this year’s Seahawks draft class would have him spinning in his grave. Christine Michael: maturity issues that put him in Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin’s doghouse. Tharold Simon: arrested last week for public intimidation, resisting an officer, and a noise violation. Spencer Ware: suspended for smoking synthetic marijuana in 2011 along with Simon. Michael Bowie: dismissed from the Oklahoma State football team for breaking team rules. The list goes on. Why would Seattle be so welcoming of players with checkered reputations only two years after turning away a player like Jimmy Smith for that very reason?

This year’s Seahawks team has two big advantages over the Seahawks of 2011. First, this year’s team has a solid core of players that won’t put up with players who aren’t putting in the effort, working as hard as they can to improve, and staying out of trouble. If Christine Michael forgets how happy he is to be in Seattle and starts acting up, look for players like Russell Wilson, Michael Robinson, and Marshawn Lynch to put him in his place. Tharold Simon has the Legion of Boom to keep him on the straight and narrow. This team has too many leaders who have worked too hard and too long to let a rookie come in and spoil things for them now. Any troublemakers will be dealt with long before they have the potential to become team cancers.

Even more than that, however, is the fact that Seattle wasn’t really drafting for 2013. The Seahawks were drafting for future seasons. Michael may not see the field very much in 2013 but what happens in a year or two when Marshawn Lynch might be gone or hobbled by his chronic back issues? Jordan Hill and Jesse Williams join a crowded defensive line that might be considerably less crowded in future years without players like Brandon Mebane or Chris Clemons, who could be cap casualties. Fourth-round pick Chris Harper might be replacing the considerably more expensive Sidney Rice down the line. This year’s draft class will be much more valuable to the team a year or two down the road. That makes Seattle’s more colorful picks much less risky.

If Seattle’s draft class never played a down of football this year the Seahawks would still be a very good team. Obviously, they will be a much better team if all or some of their rookies can contribute immediately—and some of them invariably will—but the team doesn’t need them to make a big impact in 2013 to be successful. As such, if a player like Michael doesn’t buy into what Seattle is doing here, or a player like Simon runs afoul of the law, the Seahawks don’t lose as much as they would if they needed Michael and Simon to start for them. Seattle can gamble on their upside without the possibility of losing big if they bust.

San Francisco took a similar take with two of their higher-profile picks: “Tank” Carradine and Marcus Lattimore. Both have serious injury red flags, and nobody knows when either will be ready to return or whether they will still be the players they once were when they do take the field. But San Francisco is a good team without them, and can afford to take players like Carradine and Lattimore even if they never play again. If they do play, and play as well as they used to, the team benefits enormously. If they don’t, the team still has good players at those positions and can try again in future drafts. Seattle is basically in the same position, and the last three years of good drafts have taken them there.

When watching this year’s draft it was easy to spot the difference in focus between the teams in the NFC West. By and large, Arizona and St. Louis drafted players who need to perform in order to take their teams to the top of the division. San Francisco and Seattle are already there, and drafted players they think will help them stay atop the division for years to come. That gives those teams more leeway to take risks and draft for pure talent over need, which is why Seattle drafted players like Michael, Simon, and Ware. The Seahawks don’t need to draft for the immediate future anymore; now they are drafting for the long haul. If one or two of their riskier picks don’t pan out, so be it. If the past is any indication, most of them will. That will help them in future seasons.

In a division where every team appears to have gotten significantly better this weekend, drafting for the future could be the difference between a “flash in the pan” season or two and a consistent Super Bowl contender. And maybe, just maybe, it will be a risky pick like Michael or Simon that puts the Seahawks over the top and gets them that elusive Lombardi Trophy.

The 2013 Draft Class: Initial Impressions

Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M—2nd Round, 30th pick (62nd overall)

Why a running back? That was the initial impression of many Seahawk fans (and more than a few pundits) when this pick was announced Friday night. But NFL Network’s Mike Mayock calls Michael the most talented running back in this year’s draft class. The former Aggie is a slashing, 1-cut back that fits perfectly in Seattle’s zone blocking system. He has a good stiff arm and spin move, and is surprisingly fast and elusive for a back his size, running low to the ground. Michael runs hard and violently and compares himself to Marshawn Lynch in that regard. Over his last 13 games, Michael ran for 1,530 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Injuries have been a problem for Michael at the collegiate level, with a broken leg in 2010 and a torn ACL in 2011. His problems with new coach Kevin Sumlin have been well-publicized and dropped him down many teams’ boards. However, if Michael buys in to what Pete Carroll has built in Seattle and stays healthy, it is going to be hard to keep him off the field. Look for Michael to see spot duty immediately and maybe take on a larger role in the offense toward season’s end.

Jordan Hill, DT, Penn State—3rd Round, 25th pick (87th overall)

Hill is shorter and a little smaller than your typical defensive tackle (6’1”, 303 lbs) but he uses his small stature to gain greater leverage as a pass rusher. He finished his senior year with 64 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks. He is surprisingly powerful with a non-stop motor. Hill has heavy hands and quick feet, and is agile enough to knife through offensive lines as a 1-gap D-Lineman. He is also disciplined enough to keep his eyes up and throw his hands up if he can’t get to the quarterback, resulting in an interception against Virginia last year.

Hill’s biggest drawback is that he can be overpowered at the point of attack and tends to wear down if forced to play for most of the game. He projects best as part of a rotation at the NFL level, which is undoubtedly how Seattle will use him along with Michael Bennett, Brandon Mebane, Greg Scruggs, etc. Hill should see time right away on obvious passing downs and the Seahawks hope that his intensity will improve an interior pass rush that struggled through most of the 2012 campaign.

Chris Harper, WR, Kansas State—4th Round, 26th pick (123rd overall)

Harper isn’t the biggest wide receiver Pete Carroll has had but he might take the prize for best combination of speed and size at the position (6’1”, 230 lbs; 4.5 40-yard dash.) Harper is a converted quarterback who transferred to Kansas State in 2009 and has led the team in receptions the last two years (58 catches, 857 yards, 3 TDs in 2012) despite playing in an offense built around QB Collin Klein’s running ability. Harper is good with his hands both when fighting defenders for the ball and catching it away from his frame. He is a very good downfield blocker and well-coordinated when running routes.

Because he has adequate speed but is not exactly explosive, Harper may struggle to gain separation from defensive backs at the professional level and will have to outmuscle them for passes thrown his way. Fortunately, like former Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin, he has the size and strength to do so. Look for the Seahawks to sneak Harper onto the field whenever they can and possibly use him as the primary backup for either Golden Tate or Sidney Rice, allowing Seattle to keep Percy Harvin and Doug Baldwin in the slot where they best fit.

Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama—5th Round, 4th pick (137th overall)

The first player that John Schneider has ever traded up for as general manager of the Seattle Seahawks is a player who would have had a second-round grade at worst on most boards were it not for a knee injury suffered in the SEC Championship game last year. Williams is a beast at 6’3” and 323 pounds, yet still managed to run a sub-4.9 40 at Alabama’s Pro Day. He moved to nose tackle from defensive end in 2012 but still showed surprising upfield ability for a man his size with 37 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss (including two half sacks) and a blocked kick in 2012. Williams has a great motor, quick hands, and is immensely powerful, having once bench pressed more than 600 lbs at Alabama. He is not a quick-twitch interior pass rusher, obviously, but has the power and speed to push the pocket on passing downs.

Williams’ knee injury is the primary concern, especially given a susceptibility to cut blocks that could result in further injury at the professional level. He is not an exceptional athlete and lacks agility. If healthy, however, Williams should see the field right away as part of the defensive tackle rotation as an early down run stuffer, and he is big enough and powerful enough to anchor the middle of Seattle’s defensive line.

Tharold Simon, CB, LSU—5th Round, 5th pick (138th overall)

Simon is the kind of tall cornerback (6’2”, 202 lbs) that Pete Carroll has been collecting ever since he arrived in Seattle. Taking over for Morris Claiborne last year, he recorded 45 tackles, nine pass deflections and four interceptions. Simon has great height, long arms, and good ball skills. He is a very physical player and a bit of a gambler who will bait opposing quarterbacks and then use his long strides to drive on passes thrown his way. His confidence and fearless style of play should make him a natural fit with the Legion of Boom.

Simon needs significant work on his technique, both while working in press coverage and when trying to backpedal. He does not have elite speed (4.51 40-yard dash at the Combine) and reviews are mixed as to his agility. Simon should provide quality depth and a vicious presence on special teams during his rookie season with the potential to develop into a starter in future years.

Luke Willson, TE, Rice—5th Round, 25th pick (158th overall)

The native of Windsor, Ontario has played baseball, hockey, soccer, and track in addition to football. He spent extended time at spring training with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012 and has twice been drafted by the Toronto Argonauts. Willson’s athletic ability translates onto the football field as a big-bodied, quick tight end (6’6”, 250 lbs, 4.46 40-yard dash at his Pro Day) that is fast enough to threaten the middle of the field with his speed. His production at Rice in 2012 was limited due to a lingering ankle injury (9 receptions, 126 yards, two touchdowns) after totaling 738 yards on 62 receptions over the previous two seasons. Willson’s numbers at his Pro Day would have put him amongst the top 10 tight ends at the Scouting Combine.

Willson needs to develop as a blocker, having been used primarily as a receiver at the collegiate level. He probably won’t see much time as an in-line tight end but will be spread out in passing formations. Willson’s physical abilities will probably earn him a spot on the active roster and he should have the chance to battle second string tight end Anthony McCoy for playing time.

Spencer Ware, FB, LSU—6th Round, 26th pick (194th overall)

Pete Carroll confirmed Saturday night that the team planned to groom Ware as a fullback after playing halfback at LSU. Ware lacks top-end speed (4.62 40-yard dash) but is a violent runner who has drawn comparisons to Marion Barber. He weighs 230 lbs and has a very strong build, which helps him as a short yardage runner and also has excellent hands as a receiver out of the backfield. Ware rushed for 707 yards on 177 carries in 2011, which was his last year as a starter at LSU.

Ware’s lack of speed and agility—he is pretty much a north-south runner only—pretty much locks him into the fullback position at the professional level. However, to quote Matt Waldman of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio, he is a “hot-running, helmet-crunching, break-your-back, ball-carrying warrior” who could develop into Michael Robinson’s successor at fullback after spending time on special teams as a rookie.

Ryan Seymour, OG, Vanderbilt—7th Round, 14th pick (220th overall)

Seymour is a 6’5”, 300-pound mauler who started 24 games over the past two seasons for Vanderbilt and helped pave the way for running back Zac Stacy to become the first back in school history to rush for consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Seymour’s strength is his versatility, as he has been able to play every spot on the line from right tackle to left guard. He plays with a nasty streak, and was strong enough to notch 30 reps on the bench press at Vanderbilt’s Pro Day.

Seymour is a seventh-round pick and as such a bit of a project, but his ability to play multiple offensive line positions could earn him a spot on the active roster, especially if he plays well enough to allow the team to save money by getting Paul McQuistan’s contract off the books.

Ty Powell, OLB, Harding—7th Round, 25th pick (231st overall)

Powell played defensive end, linebacker, and safety for Harding and will probably start his NFL career at the linebacker position. He recorded 40 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and four blocked kicks during his senior year. Powell’s measurables at the Scouting Combine were off the charts, including a 37” vertical jump and a time of 6.98 seconds in the three-cone drill. He has an explosive burst off of the snap and good change of direction ability.

Any small school player is going to require some significant development to play at the professional level, but Powell’s athletic ability and talent as an edge rusher could earn him a roster spot, especially given Seattle’s current lack of depth at linebacker. If any of Seattle’s 7th round prospects has the ability to come out of nowhere and make a name for himself from Day One, it’s Powell.

Jared Smith, DT (projects to OG), New Hampshire—7th Round, 35th pick (241st overall)

Fresh off their success in 2012 at converting former collegiate defensive lineman J. R. Sweezy from defensive tackle to guard, the Seattle Seahawks decided to try again in this year’s draft with Smith. Carroll said Saturday night that offensive line coach Tom Cable worked out Smith last week and sees a similar player in Smith as the one he has in Sweezy. Smith is a fast player (5.01 40-yard dash at his Pro Day) who plays with a lot of effort and awareness. He also has room to grow and can probably add 10-15 pounds onto his frame without sacrificing any quickness.

It’s hard to say that Smith will have as much success as Sweezy did with his transition given that Sweezy started several games last year. Nevertheless, Smith is an intriguing developmental project who should earn a role on the practice squad at worst.

Michael Bowie, T, NE Oklahoma St—7th Round, 36th pick (242nd overall)

A developmental prospect with long arms and athletic ability, Bowie is a 6’5” 330 lb prospect that played at the Division I level for Oklahoma State before being dismissed from the team for rules violations. Bowie ran a 5.28 second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day but only managed 19 reps on the bench press, so he needs to work to improve his strength at the point of attack.

Bowie plays with a good initial effort and good footwork, but will need to work harder and develop in order to earn a spot on the roster. He has the ability and will progress as far as he wants to go. If he can develop into an NFL tackle, he is another tough, nasty player who could end up giving Breno Giacomini a run for his money in a year or two.

2013 Undrafted Free Agents

Matt Austin, WR, Utah State: A 6’2”, 200 lb receiver who still needs work on his route-running but is a coordinated player who runs a 4.5 40 and has the ability to beat press coverage.

Alvin Bailey, G, Arkansas: Bailey is very quick for such a big man (6’3”, 312 lbs) and is athletic enough to block on the move, but struggles with changing directions.

Kenneth Boatright, DE, Southern Illinois: Boatright was an All-Conference selection who finished with 5.5 sacks and a blocked punt in 2012. Projects to the LEO position at 6’4”, 250 lbs.

Ramon Buchanon, OLB, Miami: Returned to Miami after a serious knee injury in 2011. An outstanding athlete with speed and coverage ability, but has trouble shedding blocks.

John Lotulelei, OLB, UNLV: The brother of Star Lotulelei, he finished the 2012 season with 120 tackles and an interception against Washington State.

Ray Polk, FS, Colorado: Polk has excellent size (6’1”, 219 lbs) and speed (4.45 40-yard dash) but likes to go for the big hit, which has resulted in problems with penalties and durability.

Jordan Roussos, G, Bowling Green: 6’4”, 307 lbs, ran a 5.39 40-yard dash at his Pro Day but managed only 14 reps on the bench press.

Dominique Whaley, RB, Oklahoma: Whaley lost his starting job after fracturing his leg in 2011 but posted a 4.5 second 40-yard dash time at his Pro Day

Craig Wilkins, LB, Old Dominion: Posted a 4.5 second 40 at his Pro Day and also notched an impressive 28 reps on the bench press for a man his size (6’1”, 238 lbs.)

The Road Not Taken

Every Seahawks draft forces Pete Carroll and John Schneider to make tough decisions in a short amount of time. That inevitably leads to some controversial choices. Here is a look at some of the choices Seattle’s front office may have had to deal with on draft weekend (or, in the case of the first choice listed, nearly two months earlier.)

Percy Harvin vs. 1st-Round Pick: The 2013 draft was dreadfully short on playmakers. After Tavon Austin, whom the Rams had to trade up into the top-10 to get, there just wasn’t much available. Certainly there were no players as explosive as Harvin that would have been available with the 25th pick. However, WR DeAndre Hopkins, DT Sylvester Williams, and LB Alec Ogletree were all available at 25 and none carry with them as much baggage as Harvin has.

Christine Michael + trade vs. LB Arthur Brown or TE Travis Kelce: Brown is a very instinctive linebacker who probably projects on the outside due to his size. Kelce has perfect tight end size at 6’5” and 255 lbs, and he is the best blocker in this year’s tight end class and really came on as a receiver during his last year of college. Both would have fit positions of need for Seattle, who went with Michael despite having Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin already on the roster. The Seahawks did parlay the picks they got from trading down into a later trade that netted them Jesse Williams, however.

Jordan Hill vs. DE/OLB Corey Lemonier: Lemonier fits better as a 3-4 outside linebacker and there are questions as to whether he will be able to perform at the professional level, but if so he projects as an effective edge rusher. Seattle decided to bolster their interior pass rush after already bringing in Cliff Avril as a free agent defensive end, but consistent edge rush could still be a problem if Chris Clemons cannot start the season on time due to his knee injury.

Chris Harper vs. WR Quinton Patton: Harper is more of a tough, possession receiver who won’t run away from anybody but will win most fights with defensive backs for the ball. Patton does not have blazing speed but is more of a deep threat with good acceleration and sideline awareness.

Any Day Three pick vs. QB Matt Scott or QB Tyler Bray: Scott was the quarterback most similar to Russell Wilson’s skill set in the draft, but is raw and has had some injury concerns. Bray has a cannon for an arm but is inconsistent and needs a lot of work before he can be an effective NFL quarterback. Still, both QB’s went undrafted, and the fact that Seattle chose not to spend even a 7th-round pick on either one of them is a tremendous vote of confidence in their own backup quarterbacks.

Sizing up the NFC West

Arizona: Most people had one of the top three tackles dropping to the Cardinals, but guard was arguably an area of bigger need and Arizona got the best one on the board with OG Jonathan Cooper, who will start from day one barring a catastrophe of some kind. LB Kevin Minter is a try-hard, Lofa-Tatupu-type linebacker who will help the Cardinals whether Daryl Washington’s four-game suspension. Arizona’s biggest pick was CB Tyrann Mathieu in the third round. The “Honey Badger’s” past problems have been well documented, but he is saying all of the right things so far and has former teammate Patrick Peterson to help keep him in line. If he stays out of trouble, Mathieu is a turnover machine and a capable blitzer. Arizona will start him at free safety. OLB Alex Okafor is more of a base 4-3 end than an outside linebacker and may struggle playing the game standing up. WR Ryan Swope could be a steal in the 6th round if his history of concussions doesn’t catch up to him.

San Francisco: The success of their draft hinges upon their second and fourth round picks: DE Cornelius “Tank” Carradine and RB Marcus Lattimore. Both are recovering from injury and neither are sure bets to make it all the way back to their pre-injury form, but both are first-round caliber talents if healthy, and if healthy both project as long-term replacements for aging veterans Justin Smith and Frank Gore, respectively. S Eric Reid probably wasn’t worth trading up in the first round to get but he is a solid player who should fill a gaping hole in the 49ers’ secondary. TE Vance McDonald was more of a receiving threat than an in-line blocker in college and fills the void left by former Niner TE Delanie Walker. DE Corey Lemonier has the potential to be a solid edge rusher at the professional level but never really made the most of his talent at Auburn. WR Quinton Patton was a good pick in the fourth round and gives the 49ers more speed on the outside with Randy Moss not expected back.

St. Louis: The Rams got the biggest playmaker in the draft by trading up to the 8th overall pick to draft WR Tavon Austin, and then doubled down in the third round by taking his teammate, WR Steadman Bailey. Both players will provide QB Sam Bradford with some BADLY needed receiving targets. LB Alec Ogletree is a pure athlete to may struggle to fight through blocks but will chase down the ball carrier if given the opportunity. S T. J. McDonald is a hard-hitting, in the box safety of the Kam Chancellor mold. St. Louis’ final pick, RB Zac Stacy, won’t make anybody forget Steven Jackson any time soon but was a powerful, productive back at the collegiate level.

Random Thoughts

• Seemingly every one of Seattle’s draft picks this weekend was described as playing hard, playing violently, or playing with a nasty streak. This year’s Seahawks team doesn’t just want to beat you. It’s going to want to KILL you.

• BEST PICK: Jordan Hill, DT. The Seahawk defense’s biggest problem in 2012 was the interior pass rush. With Michael Bennett and Hill in the rotation, that should not be an issue this season.

• Yes, the pick of Christine Michael in the second round was a bit of a head scratcher. But as fieldgulls.com’s Danny Kelly put it so succinctly on Friday: “the Seahawks really like to run.” Seattle now has THREE running backs that are quick and agile enough to make you miss but powerful and willing enough to run you over and probably step on your face while doing so. That’s going to be a hard thing for opposing defensive lines to endure. Plus, Seattle can now afford to suffer an injury or two without having to go away from their power running game. The bottom line is that an already talented stable of running backs got even better this weekend. So did the team as a whole.

• BIGGEST STEAL: Jesse Williams, DT. It’s hard to pick against a monster defensive tackle with second round talent who is still available in round five. Williams will help shore up a run defense that sprouted leaks at the worst possible moments last season. As far as steals go, however, don’t sleep on 7th round LB prospect Ty Powell.

• If all goes well, this year’s rookie class will end up replacing some aging and higher-priced veterans down the road. But Spencer Ware is going to have to be something really special to justify releasing FB Michael Robinson, not just for his play on offense but also his leadership on and off the field. The Seahawks are going to start cutting loose some players in the years to come. Let’s hope they can hold onto Mike Rob for a while.

• The draft “experts” were noticeably reluctant to criticize Seattle’s decisions this year, even when they clearly had questions about what the Seahawks were doing. After getting burned so badly by their overblown critiques of last year’s draft, it’s nice to see the media give Seattle the benefit of the doubt this time around.

• Don’t kid yourselves: if Carson Palmer can have anything close to a Kurt Warner-esque resurgence in the desert, the NFC West is going to have four teams capable of challenging for the division title in 2013. All four teams drafted well this weekend and all four will be tough competitors once the season starts.

• I can only hope that someday, at some point in my life, I will feel the happiness that Denard Robinson’s brother felt when he was drafted. And I hope I will never dance as badly as NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock did.

Conclusion

Seattle’s draft class wasn’t as splashy as St. Louis’ was. It’s not full of players that will generate headlines like Arizona’s or San Francisco’s. But Pete Carroll and John Schneider accomplished what they set out to do: increase depth, improve the level of competition, and hopefully bring in a few players who will be starting in a year or two instead of a few highly-priced veterans that may prove to be too costly. This Seahawks team is good enough across the board that they likely won’t need to depend on its rookie class too much in 2013, and it is strong enough to take on players who have had a questionable incident or two in their pasts. Nobody is going to be talking much about Seattle’s draft class now, but odds are they will be talking about one or two members of it at some point this season. This Seahawks team is better than they were last week at this time and Seattle will have a wealth of talent to choose from when putting together the final 53-man roster this fall. Not a bad weekend’s work.

Preliminary draft grade: B






]]> "The 12th Man" by Will Harrison http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=366 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:03:52 -0100 http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=365 2013 SEAHAWKSAL.COM MOCK DRAFTSeattle enters the 2013 in the unique position of not having any glaring needs to address. But even though the Seahawks may not be counting on this year’s draft class to provide much immediate impact, that doesn’t mean that this year’s rookie class is any less important than Pete Carroll and John Schneider’s first three drafts. In some ways, it is even more important. While the Seahawks are drafting mainly for depth this year, they are also looking to the future. After next season, the realities of the salary cap mean that Seattle will start losing players that have been important contributors for the last few seasons. New contracts for players like Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Russell Okung in the years to come will mean having to sacrifice players like, say, Kam Chancellor or Golden Tate. The key to sustained success in today’s NFL is the ability of teams to say goodbye to players like these because they have drafted more cost-effective replacements. Beginning in 2013, Seattle’s draft focus is going to shift from players who can help them immediately toward players who will be able to keep them playing at a high level from years to come. The last three drafts have given this Seahawks team the opportunity to be elite. This year’s draft and the next few drafts to come will give them the opportunity to stay elite.

2nd Round, 24th pick (56th overall): Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech

Seattle could go in several different directions with this pick. If North Carolina’s Sylvester Williams or Purdue’s Kawann Short (both DTs) fall to #56 the Seahawks could easily pick one of them. But Patton would give the Seahawks a reliable target at receiver and another option at punt returner. Patton does not have elite top-end speed but is quick with great hands, the ability to get open, and the elusiveness to make defenders miss once he has the ball. He is also a good downfield blocker and a good route-runner.

So why would Seattle draft a receiver this high after trading a first round pick for Percy Harvin? As noted above, this year’s draft is about depth but it is also about finding replacements for players who could potentially be cap casualties down the road. Sidney Rice is high on that list, and Golden Tate isn’t a lock to re-sign after 2013. Patton could be the long-term replacement at either position, and could step in and start this season if injuries sideline Rice. Patton would also be able to take over punt returner duties, leaving Harvin to handle kickoffs and reduce a little of the wear and tear on Seattle’s prize free agent acquisition.

(Other potential picks: DT Sylvester Williams, DT Kawann Short, TE Vance McDonald, OG Larry Warford)

3rd Round, 25th pick (87th overall): Jamie Collins, OLB, Southern Miss

Collins is a former defensive back who has drawn comparisons to Seahawks LB K.J. Wright due to his combination of speed and flexibility for a man his size. Collins has displayed a knack for getting to the quarterback as an edge rusher since moving to outside linebacker; he accelerates well and is able to change direction in space quickly. He can be overpowered by blockers at times but has the upper hand when he can get his arms extended and use his hands effective. Collins also looks comfortable when asked to drop into coverage, but can sometimes lose awareness of his surroundings.

Malcolm Smith is currently penciled in as Seattle’s starter at weakside linebacker, but the cupboard is awfully bare behind him. At worst, Collins would provide valuable depth at the position and he has the potential to be a more than adequate replacement for Leroy Hill. He also is more valuable in coverage than Hill was and could be a more dynamic pass rushing threat than Smith has been.

(Other potential picks: CB Tyrann Mathieu, DE Alex Okafor, WR Ryan Swope)

4th Round, 26th pick (123rd overall): Matt Scott, QB, Arizona

If Scott is still available when Seattle is on the clock in the fourth round, picking him is a no-brainer. The Seahawks have wanted to find a backup with a skill set similar to Russell Wilson, and here he is. Scott is known for his running ability but has a quick release when throwing the ball and has enough arm strength to make any throw in the NFL. He is accurate when gunning the ball on a short pass as well as when he has to loft a deep pass over his receiver’s outside shoulder. Scott had only 17 career starts in college and needs seasoning, and doesn’t have as high of a release as Wilson when he throws, but he has the potential to be a more than competent backup and possibly even a starter after a few years of work.

Brady Quinn has a great attitude for a backup quarterback and is a high-effort guy, but is a different mold of quarterback than Wilson and is not accurate enough to win games for this team. Josh Portis is still raw. Seattle needs more at the backup quarterback position and Scott could eventually be the kind of guy who could step in for Wilson without the offense missing a beat. Other NFL teams are looking for “the next Russell Wilson” and Scott is the most obvious candidate, meaning that he could easily come off the board a round earlier (perhaps even to Seattle) but look for the Seahawks to keep a close eye on Scott and don’t be surprised if they call his name late on day two or early on day three.

5th Round, 5th pick (138th overall): William Gholston, DE, Michigan St

Gholston is a very big man at 6’7” and 280 pounds. He is big enough to maul blockers at the point of attack, but he is also athletic enough to be able to beat linemen with his quickness. He has a nice burst and closing speed, though he lacks flexibility and needs to develop more pass rush moves rather than rely on his athleticism. Gholston has value at both defensive end and defensive tackle, but probably projects as a developmental 3-tech DT in Seattle’s scheme, where he would compete with Michael Bennett, Jaye Howard, and Greg Scruggs for playing time and might have a higher ceiling than the three of them.

5th Round, 25th pick (158th overall): Jordan Mills, OT, Louisiana Tech

Seattle goes back to Louisiana Tech to pick a tackle that wowed evaluators at the Senior Bowl this year by shutting down Ezekial Ansah in practice all week. Mills is an aggressive, high-motor, mean-spirited player who is an absolute mauler as a run blocker. He has good quickness and agility. The biggest problem with Mills at this point is his footwork: he will often overextend himself and his kick slide in pass protection needs a lot of work. These reasons are why Mills projects as a right tackle at the NFL level. Mills will not be ready to start any time soon but if Seahawks O-Line coach Tom Cable can get him to move his feet more consistently and effectively, Mills could easily prove to be a better overall tackle than current RT Breno Giacomini in time.

6th Round, 26th pick (194th overall): D.C. Jefferson, TE, Rutgers

Jefferson red-shirted at quarterback his freshman year before switching to tight end and his size (6’6”, 255 pounds) makes him a huge target in the passing game. He is a good athlete with good length and his quickness and long legs enable him to cover a lot of ground down the seam. Jefferson is a more than willing downfield blocker but is not an elite one, and his size makes it difficult for him to get leverage as an in-line blocker. His route-running skills need refinement and he is still somewhat raw overall, but Jefferson projects as a second tight end who would give the Seahawks another big receiving threat over the middle and in the red zone.

7th Round, 14th pick (220th overall): Brice Butler, WR (projects to CB?), San Diego State

Seattle had success last year when they drafted a defensive tackle in J. R. Sweezy with the intention of turning him into an offensive guard. They may be looking to try again with Brice Butler, a player that Pete Carroll recruited to USC who transferred to San Diego State after graduating early. Carroll (as well as other teams) has talked to Butler about switching to cornerback, and considering Butler is 6’3” tall with a 4.36 40-yard dash time, it’s easy to see why. His size, speed and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect this late, whether it’s at WR or CB.

7th Round, 25th pick (231st overall): Eric Herman, OG, Ohio

Herman started 51 consecutive games for the Bobcats before an elbow injury cost him some playing time his senior year. Like Jordan Mills (see above), Herman is a big, strong man who plays with a nasty streak. He has the quickness to play in a zone blocking scheme and had plenty of experience doing so at Ohio University. Herman’s biggest weakness is a tendency to play with a high pad level as a pass blocker, which limits his ability to change direction and get leverage on defensive linemen. But that is his only technical problem, and if Tom Cable can develop his pass-blocking technique, Herman could be a real steal this late in the draft.

7th Round, 35th pick (241st overall): Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas

At 6’0” and 227 pounds, Davis has great size to go along with breakaway speed and soft hands. He has become a reliable pass blocker and was highly respected by his teammates and coaching staff. Davis runs a bit upright and has been plagued by ankle injuries going back to his high school days. If he can refine his technique a little and stay healthy at the professional level, a player with his size and ability would be a late-round steal, but his health issues make anything higher than a seventh-round pick too much of a risk.

7th Round, 36th pick (242nd overall): Adam Replogle, DT, Indiana

To paraphrase Charlie Sheen, Replogle has only one gear: GO! Replogle opened some eyes at Indiana’s Pro Day by turning in 38 reps on the bench press and running a 5.08 40-yard dash. He earned second team All-Big Ten honors his senior year after finishing his college career with 184 tackles, 15 sacks, and 28.5 tackles for loss. He led his team with five sacks in 2012, tying for seventh in the Big Ten. Replogle would give Seattle another player to throw into the mix at the 3-tech position.





]]> "The 12th Man" by Will Harrison http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=365 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:34:11 -0100 http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=364 THE HUNTEDOnce again Seattle made waves in the free agent market, signing former Vikings CB Antoine Winfield to a 1-year contract. Once again a free agent chose Seattle over teams that were offering more money, further affirming that what used to be the league’s most anonymous franchise has become a premier NFL destination. Once again, the Seahawks made a move that should improve an already formidable team and take them one step closer to competing for a Super Bowl run in 2013.

Once again, the rest of the league has taken notice.

It’s been amusing to watch whenever a San Francisco 49er has been interviewed by the national media. Invariably the topic of conversation always comes around to what the Seahawks did last year and have been doing this offseason, and it is obvious that they are sick of hearing about it. The 49ers do not like this team. They don’t like hearing about Seattle every time they turn around, they don’t like Seattle getting so much attention after a year in which they won the division and went to the Super Bowl, and they clearly don’t like knowing that they got their clock cleaned the last time these two teams played. When the 2013 season rolls around, when the 49ers come to town or “invite” the Seahawks to theirs, they are going to be loaded for bear.

They will have to get in line. Arizona is going to want to prove that they are better than the team that collapsed after a 4-0 start last year. St. Louis is going to want to prove that they are the class of the division after finishing 4-1-1 in the NFC West last year. And every other team that plays the Seahawks in 2013 is going to play just a little bit harder against a team that, for better or worse, has been riding shotgun in the media hype machine for the last month.

Seattle is not just a premier NFL destination. Seattle is now a target. Much like the Ravens and 49ers, much like every other elite team in the league, the Seahawks now have bull’s-eyes on the backs of their jerseys. After decades of benign indifference punctuated by the occasional grudging note of respect, this Seahawks franchise is on everybody’s radar. Teams like the 49ers hate us. Others can’t wait to take their shot and take this team down. Seattle isn’t sneaking up on anybody anymore.

Ask yourselves this: don’t you think that every team that comes into CenturyLink Field is going to want to bust their butts to prove that they can play in the league’s toughest venue and win? Don’t you think that quarterbacks are just itching to try to burn Richard Sherman after hearing him make headlines all offseason long? Don’t you think every defensive coordinator in the league would love to be the guy to figure out how to neutralize Russell Wilson? This Seahawks team, as difficult as it is for diehard fans to believe, has become the team that people love to hate. This is now the team that everybody wants to beat. This team is… relevant. Maybe for the first time in franchise history. Even Seattle’s Super Bowl team of 2005 didn’t command the kind of attention and hatred that this year’s franchise is earning. One gets the sense that many in the league saw the 2005 team as a fluke, a pretty good team that had one great year but was otherwise nothing to worry much about. This year’s team is a lot more dangerous. This time everybody knows it. They will be ready for it.

The 2012 Seattle Seahawks snuck up on a league that was paying too much attention to San Francisco to realize what was happening just up the road. That is an advantage the team has lost with its playoff run last season and its activity this offseason. Now they have become a team that NFL players either can’t wait to play for or can’t wait to play AGAINST. This is the next challenge for Pete Carroll as he tries to take this team to a Super Bowl: winning games when every other team on the schedule is gunning for you. The Seahawks are now the hunted. They will have to be ready to fight back.

Judging by their roster moves of late, the Seahawks will be more than ready for the fight.





]]> "The 12th Man" by Will Harrison http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=364 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:40:41 -0100 http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=363 WHY THE MATT FLYNN TRADE MAKES SENSEIt finally happened. After months of debating whether Seahawks backup quarterback Matt Flynn would or should be traded, GM John Schneider and the Oakland Raiders completed the deal that had been in the works since Friday. Matt Flynn is now an Oakland Raider. The debates rage on.

Should the Seahawks have traded Flynn if all they could get for him is a 5th round pick in 2014 and a conditional pick (hopefully at least another 5th) in 2015? They traded away their backup quarterback and got nothing to show for it this year? Doesn’t Flynn have more value as a backup than what will at best be a pair of mid-round draft picks? Some are skeptical about the front office’s latest move, but this deal makes a lot of sense upon further review and could very easily make this an even stronger team over the long run.

First, the market just wasn’t there for Flynn. Nobody was in a hurry to sign him last year and interest in him was lukewarm in 2013. Blame the Arizona Cardinals and their disastrous trade for Kevin Kolb: since then teams have been loath to make big investments in largely unproven backup quarterbacks. The NFL was clearly in “try before you buy” mode when it came to Flynn. Teams like the Chiefs, Vikings, and Colts played it safe with quarterbacks like Alex Smith and Matt Cassel because they knew what they were getting. The same can’t be said about Flynn. He just doesn’t have enough of a résumé at this point for a team to risk high draft picks on him, or absorb his contract.

That being the case, wouldn’t Seattle have been better served by keeping Flynn if that was the best offer they were going to get? No, for one big reason: the cap room. By trading Flynn, Seattle cleared up $3.25 million in cap space for 2013 and even more money in 2014. This is not an insignificant amount of money. That extra cap space could make it easier to re-sign Kam Chancellor or another player that the front office would like to keep. John Schneider made the point in a KJR radio appearance on Monday that it also gives the team flexibility to address a need that they might not be able to solve in the draft. It gives them room to sign a player this August if somebody goes down with an injury. There are a lot of things that the Seahawks can do with an extra three million smackers.

But is it worth the extra cap space if Seattle didn’t even get a 2013 draft pick out of the deal? In a way, that part of the trade actually works to Seattle’s benefit. The Seahawks don’t have a lot of holes on their roster at the moment; Pete Carroll has gone on record stating that it’s going to be difficult for rookies to make this year’s squad. Extra draft picks in 2013 might mean nothing more than extra players on the waiver wire. On the other hand, the Seahawks have a lot of players they will need to re-sign starting in 2014, and even given Schneider’s best efforts it’s unlikely that Seattle will manage to keep them all. Having extra draft picks in 2014 and 2015 will make it easier to replace those players, and as a result having those picks for future drafts is worth more to the team than having them in 2013.

Schneider also made the point during his radio appearance that Matt Flynn wanted to go to a team where he could start. While he stopped short of saying Flynn demanded a trade or was becoming a problem in the locker room, he did admit that Flynn was not satisfied with his role as a backup quarterback. Why should he be? He came to Seattle for the opportunity to be a starting quarterback. Clearly, that opportunity is now gone. The Seahawks gave him another chance to be an NFL starter when they traded him to Oakland. That is not the only reason you make this move, certainly, but it’s the kind of thing that earns a front office the respect of its players.

But what if? That’s the question in everybody’s mind: what if Russell Wilson gets hurt? What do the Seahawks do then? If Wilson is lost for the year he’s taking the 2013 season with him, but what if he’s out for a week, or two weeks, or a month? Matt Flynn would have been a viable replacement for that amount of time. What if Seattle’s next backup is put to just such a test and fails, taking the 2013 season with HIM?

It’s possible, certainly, and it’s a question that can’t be answered without knowing who Seattle’s backup will be in 2013. But it’s important to remember that the Seahawks have a pretty good team even without Russell Wilson. They have a punishing running game, playmaking wide receivers, and a defense that should be even better this season with Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett rushing the passer. (It’s worth mentioning at this point that, per Jason LaCanfora, Chris Clemons’ rehab is also going very well.) Any backup quarterback is going to have a very good supporting cast to work with in Seattle, better than a lot of other teams. Losing Wilson for any stretch of time will hurt, but there is enough talent at the other positions to carry the team until he returns.

There is just no way to adequately judge this trade at the moment. We don’t know who the Seahawks will sign and/or draft to replace Flynn. We don’t know whether Russell Wilson will be able to stay healthy in 2013. We haven’t even seen what Flynn can do if given the chance to start for an extended period of time. But there are some definite positives here. Seattle got a substantial chunk of cap room that can be used to address other priorities. They got value in return for a player that many experts thought would simply be released either this year or next. Now all Seattle needs to do to make this trade successful is find a replacement for Flynn. It’s a risk, certainly. But Matt Flynn is not irreplaceable and this front office has generally proven to be a good judge of talent. What if Russell Wilson gets hurt? Turn the question around: what if John Schneider finds a good backup in addition to having more cap space to work with and more draft picks to use in future years?

John Schneider and Pete Carroll have never been afraid to make bold moves. It’s gotten them this far. There’s no reason to think this move can’t take them and this Seahawks team even farther.






]]> "The 12th Man" by Will Harrison http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=363 Mon, 1 Apr 2013 00:03:00 -0100 http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=362 WHY THE NEW HELMET RULE STINKS AND OTHER RANDOM THOUGHTSHave you noticed how most of the articles defending the NFL’s new helmet rule sound a little… similar?

After talking about how dangerous it is for a player to lead with the crown of his helmet, the author of the piece then segues into a description of the new rule with the condescending provision that “perhaps the opponents of the rule just don’t understand it.” He or she then mentions how the league reviewed every play from weeks 10 and 16 and found only a handful of violations in an attempt to prove how this new rule really won’t affect play at all next year. Finally, after admitting that officials “may” get the call wrong at first, the readers are assured that this really isn’t a big deal and that the officials will adjust over time.

The NFL really should have taken the time to craft a better variety of talking points.

To those who are arguing in favor of the new rule, be assured that the people who oppose the rule understand it just fine, thank you very much. And the dangers of hitting someone with the crown of your head have been common knowledge for a long time. But the rule’s proponents are either kidding themselves or trying to kid the rest of us when they say this change will have a minimal impact on NFL games next fall. Just because the league only found 10 or 15 actual violations when looking at the tape doesn’t mean NFL officials won’t flag two or three times as many plays in live game action. We’ve seen it with roughing the passer penalties, we’ve seen it with defenseless receiver penalties and we WILL see it with helmet violation penalties: officials will throw the flag on anything that LOOKS like a violation even though subsequent replays will show that no actual violation occurred. The Kam Chancellor hit on Vernon Davis in the Seattle-San Francisco game is a good example: no fewer than three officials flagged it because it LOOKED violent, but the replays showed that the hit was clearly not a penalty. Had the new helmet rule been in effect last year, Marshawn Lynch probably would have been flagged for his first touchdown run even though it should not have been a penalty under the new rule either: the game moves too fast for officials to make these kinds of judgement calls. And backs and receivers who are worried about drawing flags for legal hits will play more tentatively as a result, leaving themselves vulnerable to other types of injuries (taking a shot to the knees because they didn’t duck their head and shoulders down low enough to protect the lower body, for example.)

This well-intentioned rule will prove impossible to call accurately and its unintended consequence will be MORE injuries, not less. No amount of NFL talking points will change that.

And in other news….

• Michael Bennett’s 1-year, $4.8 million deal seemed a bit too good to be true at the time, but makes perfect sense in light of his torn rotator cuff. It’s doubtful that this will limit Bennett’s availability in the upcoming season, however, as it is an injury that is possible to play through in at least some cases and heals relatively quickly. Sidney Rice had torn rotator cuffs in both shoulders repaired last season and was able to play in Seattle’s third preseason game. Don’t be surprised if Bennett is fully healthy in time for training camp.

• After the fiasco involving Baltimore having to open their 2013 season on the road thanks to a scheduling conflict with the Orioles, one can’t help but wonder if the Mariners would be just as intransigent with their schedule if and when the Seahawks win the Super Bowl and get to host the Thursday night opener. Hopefully this is a situation that both leagues will keep an eye on in the years to come.

• The helmet rule was ostensibly passed due to player safety concerns. But if player safety was such a focus of the owners meetings, why didn’t the NFL pass a rule forcing teams to adhere to some sort of minimum standard regarding field conditions? Three players tore their ACLs on FedEx Field in little more than a calendar year—including two of the league’s biggest stars—and nothing is done about it? How many more players will have to risk their careers playing on that green-painted dirt before the league steps in?

• The 49ers’ new stadium in Santa Clara will supposedly have a full wireless network available to all fans in attendance. It’s long past time for the Seahawks to do the same.

• The NFL schedule is set to be released on April 16. Predictions: Seattle will open on the road for the third straight year, will have three prime-time games including the home game vs. the 49ers and the road game at Indianapolis, and will be stuck with an early bye week.

• The Seahawks don’t have much draft capital so a trade back into the first round next month is unlikely. However, a trade into the top of the second round on day two is very possible if a player the team has its eye on falls that far. Seattle has 10 draft picks and a roster loaded with talent: if there is any year when it makes sense to trade up, this might be it.

• John Schneider has said that the Seahawks would focus now on re-signing some of their own players, and it looks like Kam Chancellor is the first player they are working on extending. The question is how valuable he and Pete Carroll think Chancellor is to their defense. After a bit of a disappointing year in 2012 and with two fellow members of his “Legion of Boom” qualifying as must re-signs (Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman, natch) can the Seahawks come to an agreement with Chancellor, or would they be better served by letting him hit the free agent market next year?

• Thirty-one days until the draft, approximately 123 days until the start of training camp, and 167 days until Seattle’s first game… this is going to be a long offseason!





]]> "The 12th Man" by Will Harrison http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=362 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:58:00 -0100 http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=361 THE ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYSNobody expected the Seattle Seahawks to be one of the biggest stories of the first week of free agency. Pete Carroll and John Schneider had other ideas in mind. And with every move the Seahawks made, the buzz surrounding them grew louder and louder.

Seattle made quite a splash before free agency had even begun by trading for mercurial wide receiver Percy Harvin, later signing him to the largest contract in franchise history. When the dust settled from that move, it was assumed that Seattle had made its big move and that the rest of their offseason transactions wouldn’t be terribly noteworthy. Yet by Thursday afternoon Seattle had signed former Lions DE Cliff Avril and former Bucs DE/DT Michael Bennett, rated by virtually everyone as two of the top defensive linemen available this year. Surprise turned to shock as the contract details were announced and the world discovered that the Seahawks had signed both players to cheap, short-term deals rather than the multi-year, mega-million dollar contracts most observers thought they would command.

There are many reasons why players like Avril and Bennett would take short “prove it” deals. But there is only one reason why they would take them in Seattle, and why Harvin couldn’t wipe the grin off his face at his introductory press conference in Seattle: players want to play here. As Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times put it succinctly: “Seattle is a destination in today’s NFL.” Who would have thought that would ever happen?

There’s a lot to like about the Seattle Seahawks right now. They are a team on the rise, winning 11 games last year and falling 31 seconds short of the NFC Championship game last year. They play in front of a devoted fan base that gives them the best home field advantage in the NFL. Team facilities are state of the art. But is there something more that attracts players to Seattle, that is turning this into a franchise that everyone wants to play for? What is it about this team that stands out so much?

While all of the benefits listed above are considerable, it’s the way that Pete Carroll and John Schneider built this team more than anything else that sets it apart from the rest of the league. Specifically, it is their outreach to players who don’t quite fit on other franchises or have been told they are not good enough to make it for various reasons. Carroll and Schneider find those players and develop schemes and plans to get the very best out of them. Look at some of the players they have brought in over the past several years. A journeyman lineman named Chris Clemons gets dumped by his former team for peanuts and goes on to have double-digit sack seasons in Seattle every year. An enormous bust of a defensive tackle named Red Bryant becomes the league’s best run-stuffing defensive end. A converted wide receiver named Richard Sherman drops to the third day of the draft only to become an All Pro cornerback in less than two years’ playing time. A third-round rookie quarterback named Russell Wilson who was “too short” to play in the NFL turned out to be the biggest steal since Tom Brady. The list goes on: Carroll and Schneider didn’t buy into the conventional wisdom that said Sherman was too slow or that Wilson was too short. They saw something in those players than their detractors didn’t, and they have gotten more out of those players than possibly anyone else in the league could have done.

Does that sound a little Pollyanna-ish for a sports league that is a cold-hearted business above all else? It shouldn’t. Practically everyone on this team has a chip on his shoulder and a desire to prove his doubters wrong, but you can’t prove anybody wrong unless somebody believes in you and gives you the opportunity to do so. Carroll and Schneider have done exactly that, and that is the genius of their approach. Rather than coming up with a system and demanding that players conform to it (pretty much the hallmark of the Mike Holmgren era) Carroll and Schneider find players with talent and drive and conform to THEM. Look at how the Seahawks implemented the read option play halfway through last season when it became apparent that their quarterback had the talent and athleticism to make it work. None of the coaches on this team had worked with the read option before, but they tried it because it fit the players they had. Look at how this team moved Bryant to DE, or implemented the “Bandit” package in 2010 or the no-huddle that won them the Giants game in 2011, or any of the other moves they have made over the past three seasons. This team is successful because the people running it are not afraid to try new things and bet on their players—the same players nobody else wanted or thought were good enough—to be able to pull it off. There are many explanations why a player might want to come to Seattle but it’s hard to believe that this kind of atmosphere isn’t one of the biggest reasons.

Imagine if you will that you are a professional football player, either a rookie or someone who has bounced around the league for a couple of years. You have your strengths as a player but you also have your weaknesses, and the general consensus is that you are nothing special. Then imagine you are signed or drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and told that as long as you work hard on every single play, they will find a place for you and shape their system to bring out the best of your ability. Isn’t that the kind of team you would WANT to play for?

True to form, all of the newest Seahawks have their red flags. Many around the league think that Percy Harvin is a “head case” and should be avoided because of his well-publicized squabbles with his former team. Some write off Cliff Avril as a “one-trick pony” that is a liability against the run. Michael Bennett is a DE/DT “tweener” who was lost in the shuffle in Tampa Bay. But you can bet that Pete Carroll and John Schneider have plans for all three of them, and all three of them will get a chance to do some special things while they are here. That’s just the kind of team Carroll and Schneider have built here.

That’s why this team as a whole is on the brink of something special.






]]> "The 12th Man" by Will Harrison http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=361 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:17:05 -0100 http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=360 THE MOUTH THAT ROARED—DEFENDING RICHARD SHERMANThe Seattle Seahawks have never before had a player like Richard Sherman who was so talented on the field and such a lightning rod off of it. As good of a 2012 season as Sherman had—8 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 2 touchdowns, 1st Team All-Pro—most of his headlines have come since the season ended. Whether it was getting into a Twitter feud with Darrelle Revis or his recent smack down of Skip Bayless on ESPN First Take, Sherman has managed to keep himself in the spotlight. Many people, including local pundits and Seahawks fans, are saying that the time has come for Sherman to tone it down. Those people mean well, but are wrong.

Full disclosure: personally, I have never been much of a fan of players like Deion Sanders and Terrell Owens who were known for running their mouths as well as their exploits on the field. I make an exception for Richard Sherman. Is that because he plays for my favorite team while the players noted above (among others) did not? I freely admit that is part of the reason. But it’s hardly the whole story.

First, Sherman plays and lives life with a chip on his shoulder for good reason: he was snubbed on Draft Day 2011. All-Pro, shutdown cornerbacks don’t last long on most teams’ draft boards but Sherman was a first-round talent who slid all the way to the third day of the draft two years ago. Most players in Sherman’s situation would want to prove their doubters wrong, and Sherman has worked hard to do just that for the last two seasons.

It’s incredible that a player of Sherman’s caliber would still have doubters, but he does. A large part of the reason for that is the team he plays for. Yes, Sherman has gotten media attention over the past few months. That is nothing compared to the kind of attention that he would have gotten had he played for, say, the Cowboys or the Patriots. If Richard Sherman had picked off eight passes for the Jets last season the entire sports media would be saying that he is better than Darrelle Revis. Yet by and large, the same media has damned him with the kind of faint praise they afforded Russell Wilson for much of last season. “Yes, he’s pretty good, but he’s no RGIII. Yeah, Sherman’s a good corner, but he’s nowhere near as good as Revis.” Anyone who remains skeptical on this point should remember the media frenzy over Jeremy Lin. “Linsanity” would have been small potatoes compared to “The Shermanator” or whatever the hype over a New York-based Richard Sherman would have been dubbed.

It’s also worth noting that Sherman did not fire the first shot in his respective battles with Revis and Bayless. Revis lost his temper over a remark by Sherman that was not meant to inflame, but simply made the point that Revis was not currently among the best cornerbacks in the game because he had missed most of 2012 and would have to earn that honor again when he returned. Skip Bayless took a cheap shot at Sherman before Sherman was even on camera. In both of these cases Sherman was just fighting back.

But why say anything at all? Why not refuse to be drawn into a war of words on Twitter or a shouting match on First Take? For better or for worse, that’s not who Richard Sherman is, and his personality is a big reason for his success. Sherman is a master of getting under his opponents’ skin, and an opponent who can be flustered is an opponent who is more easily defeated. Also, by talking so much, Sherman puts a big bull’s-eye on his own back and uses that pressure as motivation to succeed. The number one rule of talking smack is that you have to back it up on the field. One would suspect that part of the reason why Sherman works so hard in practice and on game day is that he refuses to give his doubters the satisfaction of saying “I told you so.”

One thing that his doubters will never stop saying, unfortunately, is that Sherman cheated and got away with it. That accusation is unfair on several levels. First off, the results of the initial positive drug test should never have been leaked in the first place for Sherman or Brandon Browner. League policy dictates that results of a failed drug test are never released until the player in question waives his right to appeal or until the appeals process is concluded. We never should have known that Sherman tested positive for anything. Second, the common perception that Sherman “got off on a technicality” is ridiculous. If somebody had forgotten to sign a form, THAT would have been a technicality. Sherman’s suspension was overturned on appeal because his test sample was compromised. That isn’t a technicality: that means that there was no legitimate evidence that he took any kind of banned substance.

For anybody who believes Sherman did it and got lucky, turn it around: what if he was innocent? What if the only reason he tested positive was because of the tainted sample and he never took anything? He is still going to have people calling him a cheater for his entire career. No matter how long he plays or how well he does, it’s going to follow him. If he plays well enough to be nominated for the Hall of Fame someday there will be people who vote against him because they believe he took a banned substance. Imagine going through all of that if you never took a banned substance; imagine having people think you’re a cheater for no reason because somebody leaked a falsified test result when they weren’t supposed to. Does that seem fair?

That brings us to the last reason why Seahawk fans should be defending Richard Sherman, and while this is conjecture it is supported by the angrier, less playful Sherman we saw on ESPN First Take compared to earlier appearances: is Richard Sherman just sick and tired of the constant doubters and hecklers? Sherman himself said that he wanted to be known for his play on the field more than his trash talk, yet all morons like Skip Bayless (who basically represents all that’s wrong in sports broadcasting today) want to do is tear him down and rub his face in their doubts. He just had one of the best seasons of any cornerback in recent memory and a large portion of NFL fans think that he cheated to do it. He is an elite player in the NFL and all he hears about are people who want to tell him that he’s not in Darrelle Revis’ league. This should be the best time of Richard Sherman’s life, yet people are lining up trying to ruin the whole thing for him.

So to Richard Sherman I say this: keep talking. Keep fighting. For the team you play for has also been slighted and ridiculed time and time again. Your coach has also been accused of cheating. Your star quarterback also hasn’t gotten the respect he truly earned because he played in a small media market. Keep talking and let the idiots like Bayless and the self-important divas like Revis know that you play for a Seahawks team that is going to blow the doors off the NFL next season. And then get back to Renton and use everything that happened to you as fuel to hit the field and make that happen. You play for what has historically been the most anonymous, overlooked franchise in the National Football League and there is no shortage of people who want the Seahawks to sit down and shut up so they can talk about the Patriots, Cowboys, Packers and other more notable franchises. Well, the Seahawks are going to crash that party in 2013 and you are a big reason why, so keep talking and keep telling them that they are overlooking you and the team you play for.

They probably won’t get it now. They will soon enough….






]]> "The 12th Man" by Will Harrison http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=360 Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:38:55 -0100 http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=359 AHEAD OF THE CURVEDuring his reporting on the NFL Scouting Combine, one defensive coordinator told CBSSports.com’s Pat Kirwan that they were “all looking for the Bruce Irvin in this draft.” National Football Post’s Dan Pompei kicked off his article on how general managers are focusing more on the intangibles at the quarterback position by stating that “the quarterback every NFL general manager would like to find in the 2013 draft is Russell Wilson.” My, how the tables have turned.

It’s hard to believe that less than a year ago Pete Carroll and John Schneider were being widely mocked for those draft picks, as well as others. Practically every so-called draft “expert” gave Seattle’s draft failing grades for taking a defensive end that was “too small” and a quarterback that was “too short.” Now those picks are being held up as examples to emulate, and while the same draft “experts” will probably go back to condemning more unconventional picks in next April’s draft without any admission of how badly they botched their initial assessments of Seattle’s draft, the rest of the league knows what the Seahawks did in 2012 and they are running to catch up. Seattle needs to run faster.

The kind of scorn that Carroll and Schneider received for last year’s draft is nothing new. In fact, it’s an unfortunate but typical reaction to anyone who “thinks outside the box.” Yet NFL history is replete with examples of people who turned conventional wisdom on its head and were successful. People laughed at Jimmy Johnson for signing smaller, quicker defensive linemen until he put together a team that won two straight Super Bowls. Bill Walsh’s West Coast Offense is a staple of most modern-day offensive coordinators’ playbooks. Even in cases where the particular innovation lacked staying power—such as the Run & Shoot or the wildcat—many teams tried it and every team had to adjust to it whether they ran that particular scheme or not.

Still, one cannot mention the Run & Shoot or the Wildcat without admitting that defensive coordinators were able to put a stop to those particular schemes. Similarly, defensive coordinators around the league are working to counteract the read option scheme that was so popular in the NFL this year (and helped jump-start Seattle’s offense.) Offenses and defenses will be specifically tailored to stop players like Bruce Irvin and especially Russell Wilson. Seattle’s players and schemes caught the NFL flat-footed in 2012. It’s not going to be so easy in 2013.

NFL teams are either getting better or getting worse. There is no middle ground. The Seattle Seahawks are not under the radar anymore: teams are specifically gearing up to stop THEM. The Seahawks had one of the best drafts in team history last year. Frankly, it was one of the better drafts in NFL history. They have to do even better in 2013. The Seahawks used schemes and called plays that other teams were not prepared to face last year. They will have to come up with new schemes and plays in 2013. Otherwise they will slip back into the pack and become just another team instead of a team that is capable of playing for and winning a Super Bowl title. It’s that simple.

Yet this is a team that has been predicated on doing the unexpected from the moment Pete Carroll and John Schneider were hired. This is a team that is used to being a step ahead of everybody else and used to accepting the ridicule that comes with it. Some teams never make it over the hump and win a Super Bowl because the rest of the league catches up to them right when they need to make their run. This Seahawks team, on the other hand, is run by people who are uniquely prepared for such a challenge. In fact, it’s hard to imagine that the same people who looked at Red Bryant and saw a defensive end, the same people who overlooked Russell Wilson’s stature and saw the leader that the rest of the league couldn’t see, it’s hard to believe that those people won’t have a few more tricks up their sleeve come September.

They will need to have those tricks up their sleeves. Everyone is paying attention to how the Seattle Seahawks do business these days, which only makes Pete Carroll and John Schneider’s jobs harder. Once again, it’s time for them to prove that they are up to the challenge; that they can stay ahead of the curve.





]]> "The 12th Man" by Will Harrison http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=359 Mon, 4 Mar 2013 20:15:14 -0200 http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=358 THE QUARTERBACK CONUNDRUM, PART TWOFive months ago, with Russell Wilson struggling and fans and pundits alike clamoring for Matt Flynn to start in his place, Pete Carroll’s choice to stick with Wilson would define not only the 2012 season but potentially many seasons to come. Now, Carroll faces another quarterback dilemma. And while deciding what to do with Matt Flynn now that Wilson has established himself might not be as momentous a choice, it’s certainly one that could also impact this team for years to come.

The quarterback competition in Seattle is over. Barring a catastrophic injury or an affair with Manti Te’o’s girlfriend, Russell Wilson will be the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. So what should Seattle do with the man whom most people (probably including Flynn) figured would be the team’s starter? Speculation has run rampant that Flynn is on the trading block, and despite Pete Carroll’s recent comments to the contrary, don’t doubt that Seattle would trade him if the right offer came along. Flynn’s spent his whole career as a backup and undoubtedly wants the chance to start somewhere, the Seahawks have a significant amount of money tied up in the contract of their backup QB, and getting something in return for Flynn is an appealing prospect.

Of course, the drawback to trading Flynn is that Seattle would have to find another backup quarterback. It was only four seasons ago that the Seahawks were so thin at the position that they actually found themselves starting Charlie Frye for a game—an idea that worked about as well as you think it would—and while the concept of an injury to Russell Wilson might be unthinkable, it’s certainly possible. Flynn didn’t set the world on fire with his performance in Seattle’s 3-headed QB competition last August but he is a solid player who could hold down the fort in the case of an injury to Wilson. Given that, isn’t he worth his big contract even if he’s not actually starting?

Ah yes, the contract. Probably the biggest reason for getting rid of Flynn is the contact that he signed last offseason that is paying him millions more than the rookie deal that Russell Wilson is locked into for at least the next two seasons. Trading Flynn or releasing him would free up more than $3 million in cap space for 2013 and over $6 million in 2014. It’s not a huge amount—fortunately Carroll and Schneider were smart enough not to sign him to a Kevin Kolb-sized deal—but it is money that could be helpful in signing the slew of Seattle’s own free agents that will be up for new contracts over the next few years, including (but not limited to) Russell Okung, Earl Thomas, Golden Tate, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, and Russell Wilson. The savings from dumping Flynn off the roster could be used to extend some of Seattle’s core players, or rolled over onto a future salary cap for use in that season.

The only problem with that scenario, of course, is that Seattle might have to “dump” Flynn to get him off the roster if no team is interested in trading for him. San Francisco is more likely to end up successfully trading Alex Smith due to his performance the last couple of years than Seattle is with Flynn. For all the talk about Flynn being a veteran backup, the man has all of two starts under his belt and didn’t turn any heads when he got his chances in Seattle. One might say that if a team like Buffalo was willing to trade for Tarvaris Jackson last year then surely some team would trade for Flynn, but there are no guarantees. The Seahawks could easily find themselves in a position where there are no takers for Flynn, and either have to keep him at his current salary (Flynn would have no reason to restructure his deal) or cut him. And if that’s the case, why get rid of a solid backup quarterback for absolutely nothing in return?

Yet does Flynn even fit into what the Seahawks want to do on offense anymore? Carroll and Schneider have said that they would like to find a quarterback with a skill set similar to Wilson’s. Matt Flynn does not fit the bill. They wanted a running back like Marshawn Lynch last year and found him in Robert Turbin. Odds are they will do the same thing this year.

But looking at the available free agent quarterbacks, there really aren’t any with a skill set similar to Wilson’s. The only place Seattle is likely to find a Wilson-esque quarterback is in the draft, and are the Seahawks truly comfortable going into the 2013 season with a rookie backing up a second-year man?

The Redskins took that approach, however, and got a fourth-round rookie in Kirk Cousins who is a more than adequate backup. And a rookie would hardly be so much less ready than a man with only two career starts….

No easy answer to this one, is there?

Trying to read the mind of Pete Carroll and John Schneider is a fool’s errand, but given all the facts it seems likely that they will deal Flynn if they get a decent offer for him. If that doesn’t happen, Flynn’s future probably depends on the quarterback or quarterbacks that Seattle signs and/or drafts over the next two months. Carroll and Schneider won’t dump Flynn just for the cap space, but that is money they do need and will be looking for cheaper alternatives. Assuming the Seahawks do sign a quarterback or draft one, the newcomer will be given every chance to succeed. If the new guy or one of the new guys looks good enough in minicamps and training camp, expect Flynn to be traded for whatever Seattle can get for him this August the way Jackson was traded. If that doesn’t happen, the Seahawks will probably roll with Flynn as a backup for another year.

Only time will tell whether Matt Flynn is on Seattle’s roster this coming September, but look for Carroll and Schneider to find an answer to their backup quarterback problem the same way they solve all of their other problems: bring in players and have everyone compete for a roster spot.





]]> "The 12th Man" by Will Harrison http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=358 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:54:00 -0200