Golden Tate
Seahawk Breakdown: O-line Will Be A Work In Progress This Season
Leroy Hill is back to his old self again. Who would have thought?
MORON OF THE GAME:
Is Aaron Curry really that dumb? Just because you still play like a rookie doesn’t mean you have to act like one. This guy was supposed to be the “safest” pick in the draft, but here we are three years later, and Curry still looks bad, especially when he’s throwing helmets across the field. I keep trying to find second and third chances for this guy, but I think I just ran out on Saturday.
SURPRISE OF THE GAME:
Welcome back Leroy Hill. He looked like his old self for the first time in two seasons. Remember how tough and effective this guy was in 2005, his rookie season. He single handedly shut down Carolina’s premiere receiver, Steve Smith, in the NCF Championship game and was just as much a part of that season as any other superstar on the team. Hill was doing the same thing this game except that now it was Adrian Peterson. I love watching Hill play football when he loves the game. He is a run stopping machine who plays with a violent streak. He runs at warp 9 and finds great angles of pursuit. When he is committed to football, he is a Pro-Bowl type player. Unfortunately when he’s not committed to football, he’s an injury with narcolepsy and a big salary. Watch out for Hill this season. I think he’s on the comeback trail. He’ll be 28 next month, and only played in a single game last year, so there’s plenty left in the tank. I really want to believe in the motive of Hill as well. Leroy Hill’s motive, experience,and health have never been better going into this season, and I hope to see him become as leader on this defense as the season progresses. *The Heater is still my favorite though. … [visit site to read more]
Tags: Aaron Curry, football, Golden Tate, LeRoy Hill, nfl, Opinion, preseason, Seahawks, tarvaris jackson, Vikings
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Deion Branch Deal is Great for Seattle
Yesterday, the Seattle Seahawks traded wide receiver Deion Branch to the New England Patriots for a fourth-round pick. Not a conditional late-round pick or garbage compensation, but a fourth-round pick.
What a coup for General Manager John Schneider and Seattle’s front office.
When the Deion Branch-to-New England rumors first started, it was assumed Seattle would receive no more than a late-round pick in any trade. Considering Randy Moss was just acquired by the Minnesota Vikings for a third-round pick, anything more than a sixth- or seventh-round pick would be ludicrous; Moss dwarves Branch in career accomplishments, late-career potential, physical size, overall skills.
Seattle’s incentive to trade Branch was to get the younger receivers more opportunity to play. Branch hasn’t been dominating or overly effective, so his exit only means players like Deon Butler and Golden Tate will receive additional opportunities on the field.
Like Houshmandzadeh’s departure, this deal is like addition by subtraction for the Seahawks.
In any trade for Deion Branch, it was obvious Seattle was going to try and recoup third- and fourth-round picks lost when the team acquired Charlie Whitehurst and Marshawn Lynch in separate deals.
When the rumors first started, a fourth-round pick or higher seemed ridiculous. The best the team could possibly hope for would be a conditional late-round pick that could become a fourth- or fifth-round pick based on player performance.
To obtain a fourth-round pick, it was assumed the Seahawks would undoubtedly need to include one of their own late-round picks with Deion Branch to make any deal attractive.
Instead, Seattle waited for a deal they wanted, in no rush to move Deion Branch without adequate compensation. When New England cooled on Branch, it was reported that the Seahawks were reaching out to other potential trading partners.
The Seattle Seahawks and John Schneider played this scenario like a genius.
The fourth-round pick won’t compensate for the first-round pick lost several years ago when Seattle acquired Branch, but these are separate deals. They cannot be compared with each other; Seattle probably overpaid to add a proven receiver to a competing playoff team, and New England slightly overpaid for much-needed veteran leadership and depth at the position.
I wish Deion Branch the best of luck in New England. In Seattle, he was often the recipient of harsh criticism – some warranted, some not.
In Seattle, he rarely impressed in the box score and never dominated opposing players, but Branch had never done that in his career prior to arriving in the Northwest.
In New England, he never started sixteen games in one season or compiled 1,000 receiving yards. He never caught double-digit touchdowns or over 100 passes in a single season. But he was a proven winner, excelled when games mattered most, and was a decent acquisition for the Seahawks when they were a real competitor in the NFC every season.
Markets change. Value changes. Players depreciate as they get older, just like any other asset. Seattle wasn’t going to get a first-round pick or anything close in return for Deion Branch. They did get a fourth-round pick, however, and kudos to John Schneider and the front office for pulling off such a magnificent deal for a franchise desperately needing draft stock.
Even though they’re separate deals, I suppose one could say the Seahawks swapped Deion Branch in exchange for running back Marshawn Lynch (both acquired for fourth-round picks). Lynch is only 24 years old and a former first-round pick – drafted the same year Branch was traded to Seattle.
Of course, you should never compare separate deals. But if wounds from 2007 have yet to heal, feel free to pretend the Seahawks never acquired Deion Branch and drafted Marshawn Lynch.
Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Tags: Deion Branch, Deon Butler, football, Golden Tate, John Schneider, Marshawn Lynch, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, nfl, NFL Draft, Opinion, Randy Moss, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, trade, wide receiver
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Yep. It’s Rebuilding Time.
Great guy but a less than average runningback
It is officially time to panic regarding certain aspects of the Seahawks.
Although the run game looked moderately improved, it had little impact as the Hawks only managed to score 3 points. I am sorry to have to say this, but Justin Forsett is not the guy. I love his heart, and he seems like a nice enough guy, but he lacks the explosion and elusiveness needed to be an every down back in the NFL. Although Forsett had a few good runs yesterday, he never really looked like he could make a guy miss at will. He seems to spend too much time on a juke move that never fools the defender.
For a guy of Forsett’s size, your moves are everything. It’s been no secret that Forsett lacked speed and power, however, many thought his elusiveness could compensate. Well, it can’t. During Sunday’s game against the Rams, Forsett could never seem to break out. He had some nice runs for decent yardage, but could never make the last guy miss and really get up the field. Superstar running backs like Ricky Watters and Curt Warner gave linebackers nightmares. They could score from anywhere on the field. Forsett is just not that guy. He’s an average back on a less than average offense during a rebuilding year.
OK. There, I said it.
After yesterday, it is obviously a “rebuilding” year. I was so enamored with the flash and charm of Pete Carroll along with “no nonsense” attitude of new GM John Schneider that I thought maybe we could just replace the rebuilding with a transition and find some success in what looks to be one of the worst divisions in the history of the NFL. Optimism is a natural reaction for fans of this team. It’s been the only thing in the fridge on a consistent basis since 1976. The bad thing about optimism is that it quickly turns to disappointment, and the longer you wait for it to turn, the worse it is.
Clean out the fridge now and save yourself the trouble this year.
There are still a few interesting things left to watch this season: Enjoy watching Earl Thomas blossom into what may become one of the elite safeties in the league. Enjoy watching Leon Washington and Golden Tate return kicks and punts. Enjoy watching a formidable run defense that has yet to give up a 100 rushing game (Passing…? That’s another story). Enjoy going to one of the most beautiful stadiums in the NFL and yelling your eyeballs out.
But do not think you’re going to enjoy anything about the post season besides the draft pick we’ll get for not being there.
Tags: defense, draft, football, Golden Tate, Justin Forsett, Leaon Washington, nfl, rams, Seahawks
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Top 12: Reasons the Seahawks Will Beat the San Diego Chargers
12. In solidarity with Vincent Jackson, the whole Chargers team goes out and gets drunk, leading to multiple DUIs and other alcohol-related arrests. The Seahawks easily beat the hungover Chargers.
11. It’s an old school AFC West rivalry. Nostalgia is stoked, Qwest Field will be electric, and the Seahawks break out some vintage smash mouth defense. Dan Fouts has a flashback of Jacob Green crushing him, and he ends up wetting himself in his Lazy-Boy.
10. The Chargers got smoked by the Kansas City Chiefs while playing in a downpour. Seahawks fans: start your rain dances.
9. Ryan Mathews has two fumbles and no touchdowns so far this season. Keep them coming Ryan. It’s better to give than to receive and giving the ball to the Hawks’ defense is the greatest gift of all.
8. Qwest Field remains the loudest place in the NFL and Qualcomm Stadium is the quietest. The Chargers will need earplugs and the refs will need extra flags for all the false start penalties.
7. Shawne Merriman has had his head up his ass for a couple years. Imagine how distracted he’ll be when his ex-girlfriend Tila Tequila raises the 12th Man flag before the game. Make it happen Seahawks brass!
6. Everyone was surprised when Matt Hasselbeck ran for a touchdown. Now that he’s the second coming of Randall Cunningham, the Chargers will have to game plan for the threat of the fleet-footed Hasselbeck. This will free up John Carlson. Adjust your fantasy team.
5. God has Matt Hasselbeck starting this week on his fantasy football team and he’s obviously a Justin Forsett fan.
4. Darren Sproles runs up the middle and gets tackled by 1,200 lbs. of defensive line and beaks open like a pinata.
3. Pete Carroll pops two 5-Hour Energy drinks before the game and his energetic enthusiasm is tripled. If you thought he was jazzed and pumped up before, just wait until he bursts onto the field on his gimpy knees and sacks Philip Rivers with a crushing hit that puts Rivers out for the season and garners a 4-game suspension… But the Seahawks win.
2. With Billy Volek in the game, the Chargers realize they made a tragic mistake trading Charlie Whitehurst.
1. The Chargers have a lightening bolt on their helmet, but Golden Tate is the one who’s electric. He treats the Chargers defense like they were Western Michigan and runs a punt back and catches three TDs and 200 yards.
Ryan Nickum is a contributor to 12th Man Rising. He also publishes the blogs http://thisdayinbaldhistory.com, http://douchepon.com and http://hawkstrap.blogspot.com
Tags: Billy Volek, Charlie Whitehurst, football, Golden Tate, Humor, Justin Forsett, Matt Hasselbeck, National Football League, nfl, Pete Carroll, Philip Rivers, Qualcomm Stadium, Qwest field, Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, vincent jackson
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Golden Tate Shines in Debut
Golden Tate was inactive in week one as the Seahawks rolled past the San Francisco 49ers at Qwest Field. Watching from the sidelines was obviously frustrating and Tate, like most athletes in the National Football League, is not used to riding the bench on game day.
Instead of resentment, however, Tate responded. He wasn’t critical of the coaching staff or didn’t rip the decision through the media. Tate waited for his opportunity and made the most of it.
“For me it was kind of a lesson learned. Don’t ever relax,” Tate told the media last week.
Tate’s debut on Sunday was a statement. Following a demonstration of big-play potential, it will be hard for the coaching staff to keep him off the field.
Despite only two targets and one catch, Tate led the Seahawks in receiving yards. He displayed amazing athleticism and ball skills on his lone 52-yard grab, almost single-handedly bringing Seattle back into the game. The Seahawks eventually turned the ball over on downs that drive, but it would have only been a two-score game had they put points on the board.
On his first touch in a regular-season NFL game, Tate returned a punt 63 yards to put the Seahawks in scoring position. Game-breaking ability was showcased as he made several defenders miss and dodged additional would-be tacklers. After Tate’s impressive return, the Seahawks drove a short field and scored their first touchdown of the day.
Tate returned another punt for 19 yards and averaged 41.0 yards per return. Unfortunately for Seattle, he was not the returner to open the game; Walter Thurmond muffed a punt earlier that gave Denver an easy scoring opportunity and eventual lead.
Head coach Pete Carroll has already announced that Golden Tate will return punts for the Seahawks moving forward.
Tate was one of the few bright spots from yesterday’s loss and offers potential moving forward. If the Seahawks are going to win, they need to give Golden Tate at least five touches per game.
He may be young, but Golden Tate is a playmaker. He is only going to get better.
Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Tags: Denver Broncos, football, Golden Tate, nfl, Pete Carroll, punt return, rookie, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Walter Thurmond, wide receiver
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Top 12: Reasons the Seahawks Will Beat the Denver Broncos
12. Coach Carroll put a stash of maple bars in the end zone and Golden Tate only gets them if he scores. Luckily, this same deal does not apply for Mike Williams.
11. Last team to have LenDale White on their roster loses. Seahawks fan toast the win with shots of Patron at the Hawknest. Do they have a drink game-day drink special for that yet?
10. John Schneider picked up 11 love-starved Tim Tebow fans to put on the roster. When the Broncos put in Tim Tebow, nothing will keep these girls from their man, and the result will be horrifying.
9. Elvis has left the building. Elvis Dumervil would have been a nightmare sack-machine doling out punishment on Matt Hasselbeck, but he’s out with a torn pectoral muscle. Advantage Seattle.
8. The Broncos face the injury bug much as the Seahawks did last year. With health care costs rising, the Broncos are teetering on financial collapse.
7. The ghost of Mike Shanahan still haunts the hallways, switching Josh McDaniel’s X’s to O’s and sneaking in more plays for Tim Tebow.
6. Last week, the Broncos struggled to bring down the diminutive Maurice Jones-Drew. Justin Forsett is even smaller, so that must mean he’s going to run wild. Please fix your fantasy team accordingly.
5. A former AFC West rival, the Seahawks are preparing to go old school. There’s talk of bringing back Steve Largent as CEO, but the big surprise will be when they sign Kenny Easley to play strong safety and show Earl Thomas how it’s done, the cheers of Seahawks fans in Seattle could drown out the crowd Denver.
4. The Broncos have only one Husky on their team – Stanley Daniels. The Seahawks have two Huskies and one Cougar. Any former Husky and Cougar must be so sick of losing they will do everything they can to enter the win column.
3. Seahawks fans will infiltrate the stadium camouflaged in Broncos fan gear. After Kyle Orton’s first interception they’ll start chanting, “Put in Brady Quinn.” Josh McDaniels has always been a sucker for peer pressure (drafting Tim Tebow?), and he’ll follow through by putting in Quinn. The Seahawks secondary will pick six. That doesn’t mean an INT for a touchdown, that means six interceptions.
2. Kevin Vickerson wasn’t good enough for the Hawks, but he’s good enough for the Broncos. Advantage Seattle.
1. With age comes wisdom. Pete Carroll, Matt Hasselbeck, Olindo Mare and Lawyer Milloy are all older than Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels. That covers coaching, offense, defense and special teams. Too bad Baby Belichick.
Ryan Nickum is a contributor to 12th Man Rising. He also publishes the blogs http://thisdayinbaldhistory.com, http://douchepon.com and http://hawkstrap.blogspot.com
Tags: 12th Man, Brady Quinn, Denver Broncos, Earl Thomas, Elvis Dumervil, football, Golden Tate, Humor, Josh McDaniel, Justin Forsett, Kenny Easley, Kevin Vickerson, Kyle Orton, Lawyer Milloy, LenDale White, Matt Hasselbeck, Mike Williams, nfl, Olindo Mare, Pete Carroll, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Steve Largent, Tim Tebow, Top 12
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Vincent Jackson to Seattle Still Possible?
The Seahawks are moving on without T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and younger receivers on Seattle’s roster should benefit from his departure. Mike Williams, who many considered wasted talent prior to last month, will have an opportunity to start at wide receiver. Golden Tate, Deon Butler, and other younger receivers will have a lot of balls thrown their way with T.J. out of the picture.
For now, the Seattle Seahawks are supposedly committed to the young players on their roster. But with Houshmandzadeh presumably leaving town, there are widespread rumors the Seahawks will seek another younger, more capable replacement.
The Seahawks have obviously been interested in acquiring Vincent Jackson from San Diego for some time. According to rumors, Houshmandzadeh’s release could be a step towards a possible trade that would bring Jackson to Seattle.
Seattle was given permission last month to speak with Jackson’s representatives – to discuss contract details, presumably – but nothing materialized in terms of a trade. The Seahawks reportedly balked at Jackson’s request for a five-year, $50 million contract.
Could Houshmandzadeh’s inevitable release mean the Seahawks will reconsider Vincent Jackson? Not likely. But a recent article from the San Diego Union-Tribune creates a bit of intrigue.
According to the article, Jackson may be willing to accept less than what was originally reported:
The Jackson camp has made it known in various media reports the past week their price is not currently that high.
In fact, it is possible the one-year deal for somewhere around $7 million that those close to Jackson said last month that he would be amenable to could be what he eventually accepts from another team. However, such a deal would bring less compensation in trade for the Chargers and could preclude a trade from happening since Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith is known to appreciate compensatory draft picks when an unrestricted free agent leaves.
Right now, there is nothing to report regarding the Seahawks and Vincent Jackson. But things develop quickly in the National Football League – like Seattle cutting ties with Houshmandzadeh – and a rumor could quickly turn into breaking news.
Whether the Seahawks are still in the mix for Jackson is uncertain, but expect Jackson to be moved soon if the Chargers can find a deal to their liking. The Chargers dealt for former Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton today and appear ready to move forward with or without Jackson.
After 3 PM on Saturday, Jackson will be suspended for six games instead of three since San Diego placed him on the Roster Exempt List. Jackson is suspended for the first three games of the season due to multiple DUI arrests, and would have to sit out three additional games after reporting if a deal isn’t completed by Saturday afternoon.
Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Tags: A.J. Smith, contract, Deon Butler, football, General Manager, Golden Tate, John Schneider, Mike Williams, nfl, Patrick Crayton, release, Roster Exempt List, San Diego Chargers, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, suspension, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, trade, trade rumors, vincent jackson, wide receiver
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Seahawks Offense Still has A Lot of Work to Do
Mansfield Wrotto:
Looked a lot better at left tackle than anyone expected. Although Wrotto had help, he did an effective job of neutralizing arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL. I barely remember hearing Jared Allen’s name. Outside of a false start, Wrotto had as good of a game as possible. Grade: A-
Matt Hasselbeck
Was 9/17 for 138. No picks and no touchdowns. 94 of Hasselbeck’s yards came on 2 plays both of which were perfectly thrown balls to Branch(42) and Williams (52) hitting them in stride and allowing them to pick up extra yards. Matt nearly threw 2 interceptions. One on a slant route to Deion Branch early in the game and another which would have been a pick had Houshmandzadeh not it batted down to the turf. Hasselbeck didn’t look great, but he didn’t look bad either. He was good. Grade: C+
The Running Game
Struggled mustering a mere 42 yards between L Washington (2.6 avg.), J Jones(3), and J Forsett(3.3). As a group they averaged only 3 ypc. No single back stood out among the pack which was a little disappointing. Grade: D
Receiving:
Mike Williams was just trying to stick with a team at the beginning of training camp. Now he is making a strong move to crack the starting lineup based on his preseason numbers. Mike Williams has 149 yard, and his plays are the type that ignite an offense and create momentum. His size makes him a prime target in the redzone evidenced in the Vikings game when he was one and a half feet away from a touchdown on a fade route. Even without his 51td from Whitehurst, Williams would still lead all Seahawk receivers. He has definately separated himself from the pack, but still has a lot to prove based on his past. So far so good. Grade: B+
Golden Tate, who many thought would be the number 2 wideout, has only 60 yards, 47 in the Vikings game, and seems to have fallen out of favor with the coaching staff as a result of poorly run routes. He better tighten up his game, as he seems to have already fallen out of the starting lineup. Grade: C-
Houshmandzadeh has 95 total yards and has looked ok. He had embarrassing drop in the second half of the Vikings game which could not have been a better thrown ball, however, he did break up what would have been a sure pick allowing Mare to later kick a 38 yd Field Goal. Grade C+
Tags: football, Golden Tate, Julius Jones, Justin Forsett, Leon Wahington, Mansfield Wrotto, Matt Hasselbeck, Mike Williams, nfl, offense, Opinion, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Tj Houshmandzedah
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Packers vs Seahawks: What to Watch For
Another week, another football game. There’s definitely no better time of year than football season.
Tonight, the Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers at Qwest Field for their second game of the exhibition season. Last Saturday, in their first exhibition game, the Seahawks defeated the Tennessee Titans 20-18.
Preseason records are never meaningful – the Seahawks were undefeated last year – but there are still several things worth watching. It is fun to see guys battle for spots on the final roster, but here are the specific things I’ll be watching tonight:
Running back Leon Washington
The Seahawks acquired Washington from the New York Jets for nearly nothing. With Washington, the Seahawks have a certifiable homerun threat in their backfield – the first since Shaun Alexander was leading the league in rushing touchdowns.
Washington, however, suffered a compound fracture to his fibula in Week 7 last season. The gruesome injury ended Washington’s 2009 season and kept him off the field throughout the offseason – until now.
In his last full season, Washington averaged nearly six yards per carry on 76 attempts. With the New York Jets, he was known for his big-play ability and explosiveness. In Seattle, the Seahawks desperately need him to return healthy and productive; injecting Washington’s explosiveness to an otherwise bland backfield would immediately improve the offense.
While it is uncertain how many touches he’ll get, head coach Pete Carroll confirmed that Leon Washington will make his debut in Seattle against the Packers.
“We’re really excited about Leon playing this week,” Carroll said. “He’s ready to go at this point, so we’ll see where he is.”
Wide receiver Golden Tate
When Golden Tate was drafted in the second round of last April’s draft, everyone assumed the Seahawks added a dynamic playmaker to their offense. Tate is a capable athlete who is dangerous after the catch and a threat to score whenever he holds the football.
I watched Golden Tate shred up the Washington Huskies in a dominating performance last October and was extremely glad to finally have a player of his caliber on our side. In the game against Washington, the former Notre Dame receiver caught 9 balls for 244 yards and a touchdown.
In the preseason opener, however, Tate looked rather pedestrian. He dropped a few balls, ran poor routes, slipped after the catch, and looked quite lost in Seattle’s offense. Tate finished the night with 2 catches for only 5 yards. As a punt returner, he never demonstrated any explosiveness and just looked like another guy vying for a roster spot.
Tate is obviously better than he played in his debut at Qwest Field. Tonight would be a great night to prove he can produce at the professional level.
The quarterbacks
Without question, Matt Hasselbeck is Seattle’s starting quarterback. But against the Titans, Hasselbeck completed only 4 of 10 passes and threw for just 26 yards. While Hasselbeck was on the field, the Seahawks were unable to consistently move the ball on offense.
Charlie Whitehurst, who was acquired to help the franchise prepare for life after Hasselbeck, looked surprisingly good last weekend. Despite one mistake – a miscommunication with Mike Williams that resulted in an interception – Whitehurst still finished the game with a 107.0 quarterback rating. The unproven veteran completed 14 of 22 passes for 214 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
I need to see Matt Hasselbeck perform better tonight. And I want Charlie Whitehurst to impress again, proving that last week wasn’t just a fluke.
The defensive pass rush
Last week, the Seahawks recorded two sacks and generated consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks throughout the game. Chris Clemons, who was acquired in the Darryl Tapp trade, looked quite good at times and showed a unique ability to get after the quarterback.
On Clemons’ only recorded sack, he beat Pro Bowl tackle Michael Roos with a few quick moves and tackled Chris Simms for a 13-yard loss. The other sack, by rookie Dexter Davis, was on an obvious passing down; on 3rd and 18, broke through to the quarterback for another big loss.
The Seahawks struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks last season, and any improvement will obviously help the defense as a whole. The first preseason game was a good sign, but probably not indicative of performance through the regular season.
I know it is only the preseason, but I need to see Seattle’s defense harass opposing quarterbacks in consecutive weeks.
Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Tags: Charlie Whitehurst, Chris Clemons, Dexter Davis, exhibition, football, Golden Tate, Green Bay Packers, Leon Washington, Matt Hasselbeck, nfl, preseason, Qwest field, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks
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Titans vs Seahawks: What to Watch
The Seahawks open the 2010 exhibition season tonight against the Tennessee Titans at Qwest Field.
If we learned anything from last season, it is that exhibition games don’t mean much in terms of wins and losses. The Seahawks were undefeated in the preseason last year, but finished the regular season with only five wins.
Rather than stay focused on the scoreboard, fans should take advantage of an excellent opportunity to observe fringe players, backups, and rookies showcase their talents and attempt to impress coaches. A lot of jobs are won and lost in August; the preseason gives fans a chance to evaluate prospects before they ever make an impact in September.
Tonight will be the first exhibition game for Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks. There will be a lot to focus on during the game, but here is a quick list of what should be watched:
Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst
Last March, the Seahawks acquired Whitehurst from the San Diego Chargers. The unproven quarterback cost Seattle twenty slots in the second round of the NFL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2011 draft. Seattle also gave Whitehurst a new two-year deal worth $8 million – before he has ever thrown a pass in the regular season.
Whitehurst seems like a promising prospect, but no one knows if he is capable of successfully running an offense in the National Football League. The physical tools are definitely there, but how competent Whitehurst is above his shoulders is to be determined.
It could be argued that no one has had a more up-and-down offseason than Charlie Whitehurst. At times, Whitehurst has looked like the next starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks; at others, he looked like a third-string quarterback who will never develop into a good starter in the league.
Wide receiver Mike Williams
At Southern Cal, Williams had established himself as a can’t-miss prospect and obvious pro-caliber wide receiver. In the National Football League, immaturity and a poor work ethic have led to Williams being labeled a bust.
At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, Williams is the big, physical target that offenses in the National Football League crave. His physique alone presents matchup problems for opposing defenses; with exceptional ball skills and soft hands, Williams looks like the next Pro Bowl wideout.
Surprisingly, even with his physical tools, Williams is not a lock to make the roster. Pete Carroll, who coached Williams at Southern Cal, could find a way to motivate the former first-round pick, but Williams needs to prove his worth on the field.
Offensive tackle Russell Okung
In April, the Seahawks invested a top-ten selection on Okung. Not only is Okung expected to improve an offensive line that struggled in 2009, but he also needs to replace a first-ballot Hall of Famer in Walter Jones.
Not even two weeks ago, Okung agreed to a six-year contract worth up to $58 million. Despite only being in training camp for about a week, Okung should see lots of playing time against the Titans. Expect to see him play with both the first and second units.
Russell Okung was arguably the best offensive line prospect available in last April’s draft. Now we get to see if he was worth the investment.
The “Leo” position
It is obvious the Seattle Seahawks need help rushing the passer. Last season, the Seahawks ranked twenty-sixth in the National Football League with only 28.0 sacks. A mediocre pass rush makes it very difficult to stop opposing offenses and win football games – the five teams with less sacks than Seattle (Tampa Bay, Detroit, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Jacksonville) combined for only seventeen wins.
Pete Carroll, a defensive-minded head coach, has brought a new strategy with him from Southern Cal: the “Leo” or “Elephant” position.
This position is a hybrid-style defensive end who lines up in a two-point stance on the defensive line. To the casual observer, it will look like Seattle is in a traditional 3-4 defense – there are only three down linemen, but principles and gap responsibilities from a 4-3 defense remain the same.
Players like Chris Clemons, Nick Reed, Rickey Foley, and others will probably have an opportunity to play the new Leo position tonight. Keep an eye out for it and see what sort of tricks the new coaching staff has to generate pressure.
Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Tags: Charlie Whitehurst, Chris Clemons, exhibition, football, Golden Tate, Leo position, Mike Williams, National Football League, nfl, Nick Reed, Pete Carroll, preseason, Qwest field, Ricky Foley, rookie, Russell Okung, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans
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Training Camp Tweets, Part Two
Tags: Colin Cole, Earl Thomas, football, Golden Tate, Justin Forsett, Kam Chancellor, nfl, Pete Carroll, Russell Okung, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, training camp, Twitter, VMAC
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Training Camp Tweets
Tags: Ben Hamilton, Chester Pitts, E.J. Wilson, Earl Thomas, football, Golden Tate, Justin Forsett, Kam Chancellor, Matt Hasselbeck, nfl, Other, Pete Carroll, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, training camp, Twitter
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Golden Tate Signs Contract
Praise God!!! Terms and conditions have been reached for the seattle seahawks! Let’s play ball!
Thanks to Golden Tate via Twitter, we have learned the rookie wide receiver has been signed to a four-year deal and will be present on the first day of training camp.
According to sources, Tate’s contract is worth $3.261 million, and includes a $1 million signing bonus. Overall, $1.471 million of the deal is guaranteed.
I suppose a maple bar joke is appropriate here ($3.261 million can buy X amount of donuts), but I’m just happy to hear Tate has been signed.
Russell Okung and Earl Thomas, Seattle’s two first-round selections, remain unsigned.
Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Tags: contract details, football, Golden Tate, News, nfl, rookie, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, training camp, wide receiver
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San Diego Chargers Willing to Trade Vincent Jackson
It could be time to start thinking about Vincent Jackson again.
While I don’t think it will – or should – happen, the Seahawks have shown interest in acquiring Jackson this offseason. And the Chargers, who were originally opposed to dealing their productive receiver, have apparently opened up to the idea of a trade.
The Chargers are facing tough personnel decisions with offensive tackle Marcus McNeil, Jackson, and perhaps linebacker Shawne Merriman becoming holdouts. Merriman should be a little easier to deal with, but McNeil and Jackson could become ugly holdouts that last well into the regular season.
Chargers general manager A.J. Smith recently said he might be willing to trade Vincent Jackson, but Marcus McNeil probably isn’t going anywhere.
It is definitely a situation worth keeping an eye on; the rumor mill identifies Seattle as one of San Diego’s likely trading partners (probably because of an admitted interest in acquiring Jackson). But what franchise, if the price is right, wouldn’t want to add a Pro Bowl talent to its roster?
The Seahawks were interested in trading for Brandon Marshall earlier this offseason. They were linked to T.O. rumors before head coach Pete Carroll abruptly shot them down. They invested a second-round pick in the NFL Draft on Golden Tate, a talented prospect out of Notre Dame.
It seems obvious the franchise would like to upgrade its group of wide receivers. But at what cost?
To acquire Brandon Marshall, the Miami Dolphins sent two second-round picks to Denver and rewarded the disgruntled wide receiver a huge, new contract. But Miami is a possible contender, and the Seahawks are clearly rebuilding.
Parting with second-round picks in consecutive years would be counterproductive for a rebuilding team; spending cash on skilled positions is pointless when you’re thin in the trenches. A rebuilding team needs to focus on acquiring as much young talent as possible, and in my opinion, should build from the inside-out.
I don’t think the San Diego Chargers want to get rid of their Pro Bowl talent. They’d probably prefer to retain Vincent Jackson and other potential holdouts.
But if A.J. Smith is willing to deal Jackson, don’t expect the price tag to be any cheaper than Brandon Marshall’s.
If Smith was able to play the market and receive compensation greater than the tender for Charlie Whitehurst, do you really think he’ll except anything less than what Jackson is worth? Jackson isn’t as productive as Marshall, but their value should be similar in a trade.
If Vincent Jackson is available, would you want the Seattle Seahawks to pursue him? And at what cost?
Now that the Chargers are reportedly willing to at least consider trading Jackson, expect the rumors to pick up steam again. And for no other reason than previous interest, the Seahawks will probably be the first team mentioned.
Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Tags: Brandon Marshall, Charlie Whitehurst, football, Golden Tate, holdout, Marcus McNeil, Miami Dolphins, nfl, Pete Carroll, Pro Bowl, Rumors, San Diego Chargers, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Terrell Owens, trade, vincent jackson, wide receiver
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Golden Tate is Marketing Gold
Remember the scandal earlier this month involving Top Pot Doughnuts and Golden Tate?
If you recall, the “crime” didn’t quite seem real. There was even speculation the entire transgression was a hoax.
The incentive: guerilla marketing.
Although Top Pot adamantly denies the scandal was planned, they’re definitely benefiting from the new-found attention. The day after Golden Tate sneaked in for a late-night craving, the so-called irresistible doughnut shop sold out of maple bars.
Top Pot would be foolish not to exploit this attention, right?
Check out this image of a new Top Pot Doughnuts advertisement:
Source: deadspin.com
Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Tags: crime, football, Golden Tate, Maple Bar, marketing, nfl, Other, Pete Carroll, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Top Pot Doughnuts
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