Russell Wilson
Seattle Seahawks Post Draft Watchlists and Wishlists: Quarterback
Time to go over what Seattle did right and things I wish the team had done to date in the offseason.
Quarterback Roster: Russell Wilson, Brady Quinn, Josh Portis, Jerrod Johnson
Watchlist:
January 27, 2013; Honolulu, HI, USA; NFC quarterback Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks (3) runs past a tackle attempt by AFC defensive tackle Geno Atkins of the Cincinnati Bengals (97) in the third quarter during the 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. The NFC defeated the AFC 62-35. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
I think a lot of 12′s thought that quarterback still needed to be addressed in the draft after the team picked up three very mediocre talents (at least to this point in their careers) in free agency. Pete Carroll and John Schneider had a different philosophy, apparently.
After listening to some of the Seahawks’ live feed during the latter stages of the draft, a good point was brought up. I can’t remember who said it but it was an ex-Seahawk who was alongside spokesperson Tony Ventrella. The ex-Hawk said something along the lines of “some people just know how to take a hit or avoid it. Others go out and fall down into a concussion every time. Russell’s one of those guys that I don’t think you have to worry about getting injured, knock on wood, because he just knows how to avoid that contact.”
He’s absolutely right and I think this is probably in the back of the minds in Seattle’s front office. The hardest hits I can remember Wilson taking were the fumble that was returned for a touchdown by the Jets and the slide against the Fed-Ex Field turf.
Unlike last season, quarterback is the one spot that really won’t have a competition for the starting spot this Summer and Fall. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking that there won’t be a lot of work done. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Russell Wilson, it’s that he will push himself harder than anybody can to be great. Being the leader and professional that he is, he’ll also push and prepare the rest of the Seahawks, including whoever is his backup.
Another thing to consider is that the Seahawks are so deep on the overall roster that there’s no way they can afford to carry three quarterbacks. With the dwindling need for these three guys in particular throughout the entire league, Portis, Quinn, and Johnson are all fighting for a single spot on the roster and a paycheck. The backup position also has the potential to be a multi-year deal as I’m sure Pete and his staff would love to maintain some continuity in case something were to happen. A lot is on the line and it should be a fun battle to keep tabs on throughout.
Wishlist:
I still wish the Hawks would’ve drafted or picked up a quarterback in free agency. Specifically speaking, I think a few of us here at 12th Man Rising had Seneca Wallace and Matt Scott pegged. Scott would have been a prototypical backup to Russell and a boost in talent at the position overall. Who knows if the Seahawks did indeed try to acquire his services, but Gus Bradley and the Jaguars have him for now and I expect him to make a good run at the roster there. Before that, Wallace apparently didn’t make the Carroll-cut because Quinn beat him out for the offer.
I don’t know that there’s another quarterback that got missed in the draft that I would really like as the backup at this point. What Carroll has should be good enough for now and the foreseeable future since the backup will have only spot duty and maybe the occasional start, assuming Wilson doesn’t get seriously injured.
Put it to the 12′s:
Who would you have liked to see in a Seahawks uniform at quarterback, either in the form of free agency or by draft?
Tags: Brady Quinn, featured, football, Matt Scott, nfl, Popular, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Wish List
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It’s Ok to Miss Matt Hasselbeck
Nov.11, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) warms up before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The 2013 edition of the Seattle Seahawks, barring horrific injury or unexpected regression, has a chance to the best team Seattle has ever fielded. That’s no guarantee of a Super Bowl, that’s no guarantee of a division title, and that’s no guarantee that they don’t go 0-16, but if someone offers you an over/under of 0.5 wins for the season bet your life savings on the over. Times are good and Seahawks fans should, and I think largely do, appreciate what they have at this moment.For this reason it is odd that at this juncture I have been overcome with nostalgia for some vastly inferior Seahawks teams from the not too distant past. Specifically I’ve caught a bad case of Matt Hasselbeck-related nostalgia. Given the dearth of quarterback depth right now, Hasselbeck actually would have been a great addition this off-season from a football standpoint, but the kind of nostalgia I’m talking about is too strong to be based on the desire for a second string quarterback upgrade. Before we go deeper down the rabbit hole, here is the video that got me thinking about Mr. Hasselbeck in the first place:
The thing that stuck out to me that in this video, Hasselbeck just seems to be a really fun enjoyable person to be around. I realized that I don’t miss Matt Hasselbeck as quarterback, Russell Wilson plays a more exciting style and had arguably a better rookie year than any season Hasselbeck had, I miss him as a guy. This is a fairly unusual thought for me to have. Firstly, I’m largely drawn to football based on my own experiences playing and a very strong interest in the strategy of the game which I find fascinating. I’m much more interested in statistics than narratives and personalities have never been a big part of my fan experience. I have my favorites like anyone else, but my current favorite player is Kam Chancellor and I couldn’t tell you anything about the man except that I love his unorthodox size for a safety and the way he hits.
Matt Hasselbeck is a big exception to the way I think about football players. Most players seem to be either in the camp of cliché artist or smack talker and I often find myself bored with the predictable nature of interviews. Hasselbeck is different. He strikes me as a guy with a sense of humor who is very genuine and transparent, something I find both refreshing and entertaining. My going in assumption with players is that I don’t know much about them as people because I am exposed to such a small sample of their personalities but for some reason I always felt like Matt Hasselbeck was someone I sort of knew. For example, this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBgYiYsYN_U from a couple of years ago depicts a guy who is a multi-millionaire star athlete who acts like he’s just a guy, something that is a pretty rare find. Here’s another brief example http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d805ab2e8/NFL-Super-Ad-Matt-Hasselbeck. I promise this post won’t devolve into me just sharing examples of Matt Hasselbeck being cool because I think you get it at this point, or not, either way I’m not really in the business of just posting a bunch of links.
What I’m getting it is that I miss having Matt Hasselbeck on the Seahawks because of the person he is, and that’s probably a first for me. I’m not trying to deify the man, he just seemed like a really decent human being to me and I always liked having him on the team. I also don’t mean to criticize Russell Wilson. Wilson seems like an intelligent, hardworking and well-spoken man and I have nothing against him. I don’t yet feel like I know much about him as a person, and based on the way he carries himself I’m not sure I ever will. It is his prerogative to present himself any way he likes and I don’t begrudge him that, maybe I’m just not a great interpreter of Russell Wilson and other fans feel like they know him inside out. It’s hard for me to say. The point is that even though I would take Russell Wilson as my quarterback over Matt Hasselbeck every time it doesn’t mean I don’t miss Matt. There is a lot more to sports fandom than X’s and O’s on a whiteboard, wins and losses, or numbers on a page and I suppose it took a video of a 3rd string quarterback I’ve never heard of hitting a half court shot to remind me of that today.
Tags: featured, football, Matt Hasselbeck, nfl, Popular, Russell Wilson, Seahawks
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Can Josh Portis Carry Wilson’s Clipboard?
Aug 30, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Josh Portis (2) throws a pass against the Oakland Raiders at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 21-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Seattle made another roster move Thursday night signing former quarterback Josh Portis. Seattle signed Portis to be the 3rd string Quarterback in 2011 backup Tavaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst. Portis then served on the practice squad last season before being let go later in the season. With the trade of Matt Flynn Seattle needed another quarterback who knew the system and decided to go with Portis.
Is Portis the quarterback Seattle feels can be the primary backup to Russell Wilson? I believe the answer is no. Portis shares many of the same skills that Wilson does, he is mobile, he can throw the ball down field and he can avoid pressure. Portis was a highly recruited Quarterback coming out of High School he attended Florida for a year before transferring to Maryland due to a lack of playing time. He was later suspended for the 2007 season due to cheating on an exam. Portis later transferred to California (PA). The fact that he was not able to find stability with a coaching staff his entire college career is concerning to me.
The problem I have with Josh Portis is he is not a great thrower in 2011 he played in three preseason games and failed to complete 50 percent of his passes coming out at an pedestrian 41.7 percent. The guy is simply not a great passer at this point and with Seattle aiming for a super bowl this year they need a backup quarterback who can move the offense. I believe if Portis gets thrown into a game that matters he will falter.
I really do like Portis as quarterback to develop for another year and see if he progresses, but the fact that Seattle was not willing to carry him on the practice squad for the entire year and another team did not take a chance on him is telling. I fully expect Seattle to sign another veteran quarterback such as Thigpen or Leinart and maybe draft a young quarterback too. Seattle needs a veteran quarterback with experience during Matt Hasselbeck’s tenure in Seattle his backups included Trent Dilfer, Brock Huard, Seneca Wallace, and Charlie Fry all Quarterbacks who had experience under their belt.
Tags: featured, football, Josh Porits, matt flynn, News, nfl, Popular, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Seattle, Seattle Seahawks, Trent Dilfer
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Thought Experiment: What is Russell Wilson’s Trade Value?
January 24, 2013; Honolulu, HI, USA; NFC quarterback Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks (3) claps during practice for the 2013 Pro Bowl at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Given that outside of the Matt Flynn trade it’s pretty quiet around here, I thought I would embark on something of a thought experiment to help pass the time. It’s often said that, “every man has his price” and that saying got me thinking, what is Russell Wilson’s price? More specifically, what price would the Seahawks accept to part with Russell Wilson? Not that I would want him to leave, I’m just curious if it would be even remotely possible to trade for him. Wilson is immensely valuable because he is 24, he costs nothing, and he is already a top 10 quarterback in the NFL. I can’t recall when an asset of that caliber has ever been made available which is what makes it such an interesting thought experiment (at least as far as I’m concerned).
The first place to start would be what the Redskins paid for the 2nd overall pick in the 2012 draft that they knew was going to be Robert Griffin III. In order to obtain that pick, the Redskins traded the Rams the 6th overall pick and 38th overall pick in 2012 as well as first round picks in 2013 and 2014. That’s quite the bounty and an interesting starting point but there is absolutely no way Schneider would trade Wilson for a similar package.
Although RGIII was clearly something special, at the time of that trade he had never taken a snap in the NFL let alone performed at an elite level. Russell Wilson has performed at an elite level in the NFL and even won a playoff game in his rookie season. How much more value does Wilson have now than Griffin ? I’d say to start you could add two second round picks to the mix to make it an even three 1st rounders and 2nd rounders. John Schneider is now listening but he’s not really paying attention. So a quarterback desperate team decides they’ll do one more year of forking over their high draft picks, now is trading Wilson worth thinking about? Now we’re talking about four 1st rounders and four 2nd rounders. Is that enough?
Given that an unprecedented draft bounty is being discussed, the Seahawks would have to seriously consider it. Russell Wilson is a franchise player but with that many picks Seattle could create a dynasty. The problem is that they are going for it this year and as a result need some kind of quarterback in return. Pete Carroll believes in the point-guard role player quarterback so conceivably that he wouldn’t think this fictional quarterback needs to be particularly good for his team to succeed, merely good enough. If we look at teams drafting near the top of the draft we can put together these ridiculous hypothetical packages including quarterbacks that might be able to manage games for the 2013 Seahawks, in Pete Carrolls view.
#1: Jaguars offer 2nd overall and 33rd overall picks in 2013 and 1st and 2nd round picks in 2014,2015 and 2016 as well as QB Chad Henne or Blaine Gabbert.
This is an interesting thought because the picks this year are so high but neither quarterbacks are good enough that the Seahawks could be confident in winning in 2013, unless Carroll somehow unleashed Gabbert’s latent potential. However, if Schneider didn’t think Henne or Gabbert was the answer he could draft Geno Smith 2nd overall. If you really liked Geno Smith then this deal would be worth considering, but it is such a monumental risk for both sides that of course it would never happen.
#2: Bills offer 8th overall and 41st overall picks in 2013 and 1st and 2nd round picks in 2014, 2015 and 2016 as well as QB Tarvaris Jackson.
The picks aren’t nearly as good but there is familiarity with Jackson who could likely win with this Seahawks team behind them. The likely inability to get Geno Smith as well as Buffalo’s potential to make a quick turnaround with a quality quarterback and make the future picks less desirable makes this a no-go for John Schneider. If you squinted hard enough (like dangerously hard) you could see the Bills making this offer given their desperation to bring Ralph Wilson a Super Bowl.
#3 Jets offer 9th and 39th overall picks in 2013 and 1st and 2nd round picks in 2014, 2015, and 2016 as well as QB Mark Sanchez
Very similar to the Bills deal, and including another QB that Pete Carroll is familiar with in Mark Sanchez. Sanchez is likely worse than Jackson, and while you could argue he has more upside, I wouldn’t. Schneider says no and I don’t think the Jets could get away with attempting something this bold in that market.
No other teams in the top 10 fit the criteria for creating such a package: Browns (no 2nd round pick in 2013), Eagles (have both Michael Vick and Nick Foles), Lions (Matt Stafford), Chiefs (traded for Alex Smith), Raiders (traded for Matt Flynn), Cardinals (traded for Carson Palmer), and Titans (giving Jake Locker a chance).
All in all what we’ve learned here is probably nothing. It’s pretty clear that Russell Wilson is not on the trading block, nor should he be. What I find interesting is that even the starting place for this hypothetical is fairly ridiculous. Trading for Wilson would require the kind of bounty no team would be willing to give because it would be betting it all on one player who could get injured or regress. With that in mind, it seems clear that Wilson is an illiquid asset. It’s kind of cool to think that the Seahawks’ franchise player is so talented and such a good contract value that you actually could not trade him. A counter intuitive thought that is also comforting somehow. Not that it takes a 1,000 words for Seahawks fans to know that the team is in good hands at quarterback. To conclude I will do what Russell Wilson would do and simply say “Go Hawks.”
Tags: Blaine Gabbert, Chad Henne, featured, football, Mark Sanchez, nfl, Popular, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Tavaris Jackson
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Madden Cover Vote: Russell Wilson vs Andrew Luck
I care about who’s on the cover of the latest Madden cover about as much as I care about reality TV shows, which is to say, not at all. There are people who do care, so I thought I’d pass this along.
This year’s cover athlete is being decided by a fan vote in an NCAA tournament-style bracket. The voting have reached the elite-8 and our very own Russell Wilson is still in it. You can see the remaining bracket below, or there’s also the entire bracket.
If you want to vote, you can do so HERE.
I find it interesting that Seahawks fans seem to be debating on whether or not they want Wilson to win. Being on the Madden cover is great exposure for the player and team. It also has a chance of helping Wilson end up with many lucrative endorsement deals. That might, in turn, lower his asking price in a few years when it’s time to finally pay him what a franchise QB should be paid.
On the other hand, there is that mythical “Madden Curse.” Personally I think that Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson have shown that to be false, but then again I’m also the least superstitious person you’re likely to ever find. There are still people who swear it’s true, and I don’t care enough to argue.
Tags: featured, football, nfl, Popular, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks
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How Many Teams Could Matt Flynn Start For?
August 18 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn (15) in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
When it became clear that Matt Flynn was on the trading block I must confess I had mixed feelings. I like Flynn and I feel for him because things probably didn’t work out exactly as he planned last year through no fault of his own. The ascendance of Russell Wilson was something that very few predicted and Flynn had done nothing to lose his perch atop the Seahawks depth chart except be in competition with a truly special player. I hope he gets an opportunity to start because I think he’s among the 32 best QB’s in the league and deserves a shot. Additionally the return the Seahawks stand to gain in terms of draft picks and salary cap relief is going to be very useful, both for resigning a guy like Kam Chancellor and restocking the roster with quality depth. I understand and agree with the rationale behind dealing Flynn but the eternal pessimist in me really would like an elite Russell Wilson insurance policy in a year where the Seahawks are really going for it. That said, although it looks like the Raiders, Jaguars, and Bills are the front runners for Flynn, rumors of his departure got me thinking of just how many teams Matt Flynn could start for at this moment in time. I’m a guy who likes to base his theories on statistics and to be honest there aren’t a ton of statistics on Flynn so this is more subjective than I’d like, but it’s just a fun thought experiment. Quarterback depth charts aren’t finished yet but there isn’t a star QB in the draft that I’m convinced would be better than Flynn anyway. So let’s take a look at just how many teams Mr. Flynn could start for in today’s NFL:
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
#1 QB: Tavaris Jackson
Is Flynn an upgrade? Yes. The Seahawks brought in Flynn as an upgrade over Jackson just a year ago and Buffalo seems to be gunning for Flynn so this one is pretty easy.
New York Jets
#1 QB: Mark Sanchez
Is Flynn an upgrade? Yes. Mark Sanchez is awful. Sanchez has completed 55.1% of his passes in his career with more interceptions than touchdowns. Flynn may be something of an unknown quantity but I know he’s better than Sanchez.
Miami Dolphins
#1 QB: Ryan Tannehill
Is Flynn an upgrade? Maybe, but I’ll go with no. Tannehill showed a great deal of potential as a rookie last year and could be poised for a breakout. With the kind of seasons RGIII, Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson had last year people seem to forget that quarterbacks often take a while to develop.
New England Patriots
#1 QB: Tom Brady
Is Flynn an upgrade? No. Just no.
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers
#1 QB: Ben Roethlisberger
Is Flynn an upgrade? Definitely not. Two rings and underrated statistics place Roethlisberger among the elite quarterbacks in the NFL.
Baltimore Ravens
#1 QB: Joe Flacco
Is Flynn an upgrade? No. You’d hope not for Baltimore’s sake given what they are paying Flacco.
Cincinnati Bengals
#1 QB: Andy Dalton
Is Flynn an upgrade? No. Dalton is no superstar but he’s a good quarterback, not one you would be looking to replace.
Cleveland Browns
Top QB on the Depth Chart: Brandon Weeden
Is Flynn an upgrade? I’d say yes. Weeden may only be a sophomore but he’s two years older than Flynn so it’s not as if there is a ton to dream on in terms of his development. I doubt the Cleveland front office would agree, but I just can’t see Weeden as a franchise player.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
#1 QB: Matt Schaub
Is Flynn an upgrade? No. Schaub is getting a great deal of flak with Houston’s failure to go deep in the playoffs the last two years but he remains a solid starting quarterback.
Indianapolis Colts
#1 QB: Andrew Luck
Is Flynn an upgrade? No. I would like to say here that Andrew Luck’s rookie year has been heavily overrated. He put up enormous yards because the Colts threw so much and he had difficulty with accuracy and avoiding turnovers. Not to say he doesn’t have an incredibly bright future ahead of him because he does, I guess that’s just a little bit of Russell Wilson fan rant that needed to come out. No one would rather have Matt Flynn than Andrew Luck though.
Jacksonville Jaguars
#1 QB: Chad Henne/Blaine Gabbert (?)
Is Flynn an upgrade? Yes. Very much so. This is where I suspect he winds up for a reunion with Gus Bradley. It’s funny how that is a storyline people have mentioned when Flynn was the backup QB and Bradley was the defensive coordinator, I wonder to what extend they know each other…
Tennessee Titans
#1 QB: Jake Locker
Is Flynn an upgrade? This is a tough one. I think in all likelihood Flynn is an upgrade on Locker who is probably a bust. However, Locker is only 25 and has only started 11 games in his career and you have to think Locker deserves a little more time to show he belongs. Verdict: Reluctant no.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
#1 QB: Peyton Manning
Is Flynn an upgrade? No.
San Diego Chargers
#1 QB: Phillip Rivers
Is Flynn an upgrade? Two years ago this question would have been a joke. Now I have to pause for a second but Rivers still deserves a chance to regain his elite form and hasn’t been as bad over the last two years as people think. (Passer Ratings of 88.7 and 88.6 just to give you an idea)
Kansas City Chiefs
#1 QB: Alex Smith
Is Flynn an upgrade? The Chiefs must not think so because they paid far more for Smith than Flynn is going to cost. Smith is better but Flynn will most likely be a better value.
Oakland Raiders
#1 QB: Carson Palmer (for now)
Is Flynn an upgrade? Sadly yes. I remember when Palmer was an elite quarterback but those days are deep in the past. Palmer has been a huge disappointment in Oakland, especially given the price they paid for him. Oakland is in the running for Flynn and I’d assume Palmer would get cut if the Raiders grab Flynn. It would be funny if we then signed Palmer as a backup but I’m getting ahead of myself.
NFC EAST
New York Giants
#1 QB: Eli Manning
Is Flynn an upgrade? No, personally I despise Manning but there is no way for me to realistically claim Flynn is the better player
Washington Redskins
#1 QB: RGIII
Is Flynn an upgrade? Easy no.
Dallas Cowboys
#1 QB: Tony Romo
Is Flynn an upgrade? No. Romo is a really good quarterback who seems one of the best in the sport at attracting undeserved criticism. Thanks for that playoff win though, Tony.
Philadelphia Eagles
#1 QB: Mike Vick
Is Flynn an upgrade? I’m going to say yes here. Vick is getting old and breaking down. He was an absolute mess last year and only demonstrated the ability to be an above average passer once, in 2010.
NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers
#1 QB: Aaron Rodgers
Is Flynn an upgrade? Another quick no.
Detroit Lions
#1 QB: Matt Stafford
Is Flynn an upgrade? Stafford and the Lions had a nasty year in 2012 but this is a very easy no.
Chicago Bears
#1 QB: Jay Cutler
Is Flynn an upgrade? No. There are many dislikable things about Jay Cutler but he is a good player with a terrible supporting cast and has been for years. For some reason the Bears just can’t provide him with any pass protection (hands up if you think Jermaine Bushrod is the answer).
Minnesota Vikings
#1 QB: Christian Ponder
Is Flynn an upgrade? Maybe. This is another tough one. Despite Percy Harvin’s opinion of him Ponder is young and improving and so I don’t think I could describe Flynn as a definite upgrade.
NFC SOUTH
New Orleans Saints
#1 QB: Drew Brees
Is Flynn an upgrade? No. no. no.
Carolina Panthers
#1 QB: Cam Newton
Is Flynn an upgrade? Newton has some serious detractors but one would have to say no here.
Atlanta Falcons
#1 QB: Matt Ryan
Is Flynn an upgrade? Nope.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#1 QB: Josh Freeman
Is Flynn an upgrade? It’s possible but Freeman still has upside remaining at 25 and if the accuracy that abandoned him last year returns he will go back to being a solid starter. Tentative no.
NFC WEST
San Francisco 49ers
#1 QB: Colin Kaepernick
Is Flynn an upgrade? Not likely
St. Louis Rams
#1 QB: Sam Bradford
Is Flynn an upgrade? First truly bold call… Yes. Bradford turns 26 this year and has only shown marginal growth as a quarterback in his three years in the league.
Arizona Cardinals
#1 QB Drew Stanton
Is Flynn an upgrade? Yes. Stanton hasn’t played a great deal more than Flynn and when he has he’s been much worse. Stanton is also a year older.
People often say things like, “Player X could start for X number of teams” (they usually use real players and numbers to be fair) but they rarely back it up. This used to come up quite a bit with Maurice Morris when he was backing up Shaun Alexander. I figured I would actually take a look exactly how many teams I figure Flynn could start for, and based on this highly subjective analysis I’d say that he would be an upgrade at quarterback for eight teams. That’s a quarter of the NFL. Flynn is a real asset, and as much as it would be nice to keep him around he’s a luxury considering he could really be a starter elsewhere. I look forward to seeing what kind of return the Seahawks could get for someone who is quite clearly among the top 32 quarterbacks in the league.
Tags: featured, football, matt flynn, nfl, Popular, Russell Wilson, Seahawks
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A Comprehensive List of Acceptable Russell Wilson “Short Jokes”
Russell Wilson is Awesome!
Tags: football, nfl, Popular, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks
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Is This Seattle Squad the New Dream Team?
January 25, 2013; Ko Olina, HI, USA; Hawaiian hostesses Aureana Tseu (far left) and U
The Seattle Seahawks have stolen the stage during the off season after signing; Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, and trading for wide receiver Percy Harvin. Seattle added these three players to an all ready lethal squad that includes Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Zach Miller, and of course Russell Wilson. Seattle finished the 2012-2013 season in a gut wrenching loss to the Atlanta Falcons, losing a slim lead in the last 30-seconds to a Matt Bryant field goal. A lot of hype is headed Seattle’s way after adding the trio, and some are calling them the team to beat for the 2013-2014 NFL Season.
The addition of Percy Harvin has made Seattle even better on offense. Harvin will give Seattle a much needed deep threat at the wide receiver position that they lacked during Pete Carroll’s three first years in Seattle. Harvin also gives Seattle another element to us for the zone-read option. Harvin often lined up as Running back during his time at Florida with Tim Tebow, Minnesota also used Harvin at Running back on third down situations. The addition of Harvin also takes pressure off of Sidney Rice, and Golden Tate and will give Russell Wilson another weapon who will haul in a lot of receptions, and be able to gain yards after the catch, much like Golden Tate was able to last year.
On the defensive side of the ball Seattle has added defensive end Cliff Avril, and Michael Bennett who can play tackle and defensive end much like Jason Jones was able to do last year for Seattle. These two combined for 18.5 sacks last year, add that to Seattle’s total of 36 last year that is a total of 54.5 sacks. I find it hard to believe Seattle will be able to rack up that many total sacks, especially with Chris Clemons who led the Seahawks in sacks last year with 11.5 is recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in the playoffs, and may not be ready for the 2013 NFL season. However it is not hard to believe with the growth of rookie Defensive End’s Bruce Irvin, and Greg Scruggs that those two can’t add to their total sack total. Irvin led all rookies with eight-sacks, and fellow rookie defensive end Greg Scruggs totaled just two-sacks in a very limited role, I expect both players to up their sack totals next year. I see no reason Seattle can’t get at least 42 –sacks which would put them in the top half of the league.
Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks to Russell Wilson (3) against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter in the NFC divisional playoff game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The latter part of the 2012-2013 NFL season Seattle arguably played better than any other team in the league, they dominated on offense, and defense and showed little weakness, a slow start in the playoff game to the Falcons led to the ending of the season for Seattle, despite outscoring the Falcons 28 to 10 in the second half.ed to be one of the most complete teams in the NFL, with two deep threats at wide receiver, one of the best running backs in the league and the team is young, they bring back every starter on offense, and nine of eleven starters on defense. It is logical to think this team is only going to be better, some fans are calling this team the “Dream Team”. Is it true? Is this team the best team in the league, and the team everybody in the league does not want to play? Is this team the most talented team in the entire league? My quick answer to all three of these questions would be simply, yes. I am however scared of a team that originally dubbed themselves the “Dream Team” (something no Seattle player has done, which I am very thankful for.)
The team I am speaking of is the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles like the Seahawks brought in big named players to a team that went 10-6 the year before, and had one of the most lethal Quarterbacks in the NFL in Michael Vick. They seem a seasoned coach in Andy Reid.
The eagles decided to add to an all ready potent roster, and brought in All-Pro corner back Nnamdi Asomogha, former pro bowler defensive end Jason Babin and seasoned veteran defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins. These three starters along with former first round picks Ronnie Brown, and Vince young mixed with an all ready talented roster formed what was supposed to be the “Dream Team” as Vince Young famously called them during the 2011 off season. So with all these added additions what happened? A 11-5 NFL football team, ended up going 8-8. Poor coaching and management of the team is the simple answer, if you want a specific name it is on Andy Reid, he made the mistake of hiring Juan Castillo who coached the Offensive Line to become his Defensive Coordinator. I failed to see the logic in this, at the time and still do.
Dec 18, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA;Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo during warmups prior to playing the New York Jets at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Jets 45-19. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Reid also tried to buy himself a championship team, something in football you can’t do. He added a lot of high priced guys who did not fit with his or his staffs coaching. Injuries to Michael Vick also led to the demise of the Eagle’s football season but that should also be blamed on Reid for failing to give his franchise Quarterback Michael Vick a stable offensive line to protect him. I highly doubt this fate will be Seattle’s. They return the entire coaching staff besides defensive coordinator Gus Bradley who went on to become the Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Seattle replaced him with former Florida Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn who also worked under Gus Bradley through 2009-2010 in Seattle as the Defensive Line Coach. As long as Seattle stays with the current defensive system they have ran under Carroll I see no reason why the defense should suffer with the arrivals of Avril, and Bennett, and Dan Quinn.
The 2007 New England Patriots also took the route of free agency to improve an all ready talented team who went 12-4 the year before. The result turned into a 16-0 regular season finish, and a loss in the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.
The Patriots first move of the 2007 off season was trading for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Wes Welker giving up a 2nd and 7th round draft pick, to acquire the veteran pass catcher. The Patriots then looked to further boost a wide receiving group that lacked explosiveness and signed free agent wide receiver Donte Stallworth. New England then went a step further to acquire one more wide receiver to help out Tom Brady and traded for Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss. The end result was a 16-0 season and both Brady and Moss shattered the touchdown record for their respected positions on the football field. Moss was the biggest risk as many felt he played lazy and uninspired football during his stint with Oakland. Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick was able to keep the talented wide receiver happy. All three wide receivers contributed greatly to the season. Moss finished the season with 98 receptions, 1493 yards, and 23 touchdowns. Welker had 112 receptions, 1175 yards, and 8 touchdowns, and Donte Stallworth finished his season with 46 receptions, 697 yards, and three touchdowns. The result of spending in free agency can work if you have a good coach, stability at the quarterback position and the franchise. Patriots clearly had that, Eagles well they are still looking.
So will the Seahawk’s season end in dismay like the Eagle’s, or will it end in record breaking success like the patriots. I feel somewhere in between, I do not believe Russell Wilson will throw for 50 touchdowns, and that Harvin will haul in 21 touchdown receptions, or haul in 112 receptions the team is too balanced for that to happen, nor do I believe they will go 16-0 at the moment. I do believe however they can achieve something the 2007 New England Patriots were not able to achieve and that is a Super Bowl. I do believe this Seattle team is the Dream Team and team to beat for the 2013 NFL season.
Tags: Advanced Analysis, Andy Reid, Chris Clemons, Cliff Avril, Dream Team, featured, football, Marshawn Lynch, Michael Bennett, Michael Vick, News, nfl, Percy Harvin, Philadelphia Eagles, Popular, Previews, Randy Moss, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Seattle, Seattle Seahawks, Tom Brady
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Russell Wilson Gets A Nice Bonus Check
Jan 6, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) celebrates as he leaves the field after the game against the Washington Redskins in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at FedEx Field. The Seahawks won 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Russell Wilson was cut a nice little check today by the league office for $222,000. That might be pocket change for some NFL QBs, but it’s more than half what his salary for 2012 was, so I’m guessing he’s pretty happy about it.
Why the extra moola? It came from the rookie pay for performance pool.
The pay for performance pool was created in 2011 with the new CBA. Since rookie contracts were greatly restricted and their ability to renegotiate was eliminated, the league created this pool to help pay players who greatly out-performed their contract level.
The rookie pool money comes directly from the league office, and doesn’t not count against the salary cap in any way.
Let’s face it, if there was any rookie who out-performed their contract, it was Wilson.
I suggest he use a small portion of it to buy a really comfy chair for the film room. We all know he practically lives in there, he might as well have some back support.
Tags: featured, football, nfl, Popular, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks
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Seattle Seahawks Aquire Vikings WR Percy Harvin, Contribution to be Determined
Percy Harvin – Is only 24, runs a 40 in 4.3 seconds, does a great job of getting yards after catch and is an accomplished kickoff return runner.
Percy Harvin – misses a lot of practices, unfortunately suffers from recurring migraines and has already exhibited a tendency to be a bit of diva.
So what does this mean for the Seahawks?
It means that if he passes his physical, Harvin will be a speedy receiver with good hands, excellent running instincts and a desire for the ball. It also means that Harvin may continue to miss practices due to his migraine issues and on a team with an “always compete” team mentality, missing practices means Harvin may not successfully compete for as much starting time as he would like.
Going up against Rice, Baldwin and Tate, who have all shown exceptional growth and stability through the 2012 season, Harvin may find himself having to work harder than he has before to get playing time.
While I’m okay with the picks we’ve given for Harvin, I’m not “all in” this trade. But I’m open to the possibilities of the Hawks making it work. Some keys to success for Harvin with the Seahawks will include:
- Adapting to the always compete mode (Doug Baldwin is embracing the opportunity to compete)
- Limiting kick return opportunities (let someone else be cannon fodder, although if rumors of trading Leon Washington are true, hopefully Pete and John plan on picking someone up in the draft)
- Committing to as many practices/mini camps as possible, both for physical conditioning and developing relationships with his QB and fellow receivers
- Understanding that great physical talent still requires considerable practice and application. Ask Golden Tate.
- Appreciating the caliber of players he’ll be sharing a locker room with (Russell Wilson has extra meetings with his receivers and oline… for a reason)
Ultimately, Pete and John are pretty smart guys. I’m pretty confident that they will limit the guaranteed money to Harvin and build in lots of incentives for him to reach for. And I hope he does rise to the occasion. He really needs to appreciate this opportunity for what it is.
Harvin could be great. But he’s not great yet.
Tags: doug baldwin, featured, football, Golden Tate, John Schneider, nfl, Percy Harvin, Pete Carroll, Popular, Roster Moves, Russell Wilson, Seahawks
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What Have Schneider’s Picks Done For You?: A Study In The Production of The 2010-2012 Draft Classes
January 24, 2013; Honolulu, HI, USA; NFC free safety Earl Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks (29) runs with the ball during practice for the 2013 Pro Bowl at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
As the upcoming draft has dominated the NFL news landscape in recent weeks it has got me thinking back on the last few drafts the Seahawks have had. On Monday I looked at the John Schneider and Pete Carroll’s preferences and today I am examining the impact their draft picks have made over the last three years. Although I would consider it too early to judge the quality of these drafts in their entirety, I think it is fair to show you the gross production accumulated by the draft picks under this regime to give a sense of the kind of early impact they have had on this franchise. My going in assumption was that the draft classes of 2010-2012 have been very productive for Seattle and that proved to be entirely correct.
Let’s start with the very successful 2012 class:
Offense
|
Games |
Games Started |
Passing Yards |
Pass TD’s |
INT’s |
Rushing Yards |
Rush TD’s |
Receptions |
Receiving Yards |
Rec TD’s |
|
45 |
19 |
3118 |
26 |
10 |
843 |
4 |
19 |
181 |
0 |
In a defense-heavy draft these numbers were accumulated by, with the exception of J.R Sweezy’s playing time, Russell Wilson and Robert Turbin, both of whom were major contributors this year. Given that we all know how successful Wilson’s rookie year was; the number that really stands out here is the 843 rushing yards provided by these rookies, which served as quite the compliment to Marshawn Lynch’s 1590 yards as the feature back. The raw production is very good and probably trending upward for both players in the future.
Defense
|
Games |
Games Started |
Tackles |
Assists |
Sacks |
INT’s |
PD’s |
FF |
FR |
TD |
|
59 |
18 |
106 |
67 |
12 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Despite the fact the Seahawks drafted 7 defensive players in 2012 almost all of this production is accounted for by Bobby Wagner. That being said, the Seahawks defensive rookies proved valuable in situational roles, most notably Bruce Irvin and Greg Scruggs rushing the passer (10 combined sacks). Also of note were performances by rookies asked to move up the depth chart (ie. Jeremy Lane’s play starting for Brandon Browner). These numbers are already respectable and figure to improve, especially if Bruce Irvin continues to grow as a player.
Moving on to the 2011 draft class, we see a group that has contributed a great deal, especially defensively:
Offense
|
Games |
Games Started |
Passing Yards |
Pass TD’s |
INT’s |
Rushing Yards |
Rush TD’s |
Receptions |
Receiving Yards |
Rec TD’s |
|
36 |
31 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
30 |
0 |
These measures of production don’t really include offensive line play and as a result this draft class comes off a great deal worse than it is. Even so, the Seahawks’ top two picks in this draft have only combined for 31 of a possible 64 starts on the offense line, which is far from ideal. James Carpenter has a chance to have a future as a starter in Seattle for years to come if he can stay healthy, whereas John Moffit seems more likely to be a depth piece at the end of the day. The only other offensive player from this class, Kris Durham, has already moved on.
Defense
|
Games |
Games Started |
Tackles |
Assists |
Sacks |
INT’s |
PD’s |
FF |
FR |
TD |
|
109 |
56 |
231 |
78 |
5 |
13 |
53 |
8 |
5 |
2 |
This draft class was a gold mine in terms of defensive talent. Headlined by CB Richard Sherman and OLB K.J Wright the 2011 draftees have more than held their own in the NFL thus far. Wright and Sherman are both quality starters and Byron Maxwell and Malcolm Smith are excellent depth players who have made plays when called upon. Nothing to complain about here.
Lastly, let’s examine the production the Seahawks have gotten from Schneider and Carroll’s inaugural draft class in 2010:
Offense
|
Games |
Games Started |
Passing Yards |
Passing TD’s |
INT’s |
Rushing Yards |
Rush TD’s |
Receptions |
Receiving Yards |
Rec TD’s |
|
114 |
71 |
23 |
1 |
0 |
38 |
0 |
132 |
1734 |
13 |
Russell Okung and Golden Tate are both excellent picks and they make up most of the numbers seen here. Anthony McCoy has done more than most 6th round picks and Jameson Konz unfortunately never really delivered on his promise. It says something about this front office’s drafting acumen when we actively contemplate 7th rounders that never amounted to anything.
Defense
|
Games |
Games Started |
Tackles |
Assists |
Sacks |
INT’s |
PD’s |
FF |
FR |
TD |
|
135 |
82 |
365 |
124 |
3 |
14 |
47 |
8 |
8 |
1 |
These totals are compiled primarily by the safety duo of Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor with contributions from Walter Thurmond III and Dexter Davis.
There are a lot of numbers to chew on here and before I delve into them I’d like to point out the obvious flaws in them before you do.
Firstly, the contributions of offensive lineman are downplayed here because their on-field production is not quantified by the statistics I have used. This is especially unfortunate given the Seahawks have spent 2 of their last 4 first round picks on the O-Line. Although their inclusion in terms of games and games started is significant, looking at these production charts does underplay the importance of a Russell Okung or a James Carpenter.
Secondly, although one could argue that in a way the number of games started by each draft class is the best way to measure their contribution to the franchise, it can be problematic because it prizes quantity over quality. Just because a player started or played in a game it doesn’t mean they played well. On the other hand, if the player is terrible they are unlikely to play or start so there is some implication of effectiveness just by appearing in games consistently.
Lastly, by specifying draft picks we leave the contributions of undrafted free agent gems like Doug Baldwin and Brandon Browner.
Ultimately, I think the thing to get out of this is that this front office has done a good job of selecting players that have provided significant, tangible, and quantifiable production for this franchise. This team has been turned over and completely remade during the Pete Carroll era and the primary vehicle for this overhaul has been the draft. In 2010 7.7% of the starts made by Seahawks players were made by draft picks of this front office. In 2011 that number climbed to 28.4% and last year is was 42.6%. Those numbers more than any others capture the impact of the last three draft classes, and if John Schneider and Pete Carroll continue to have excellent drafts that number will continue expanding exponentially. Give this duo another three years and we will be looking at a truly homegrown squad, and by and large those are the type of teams that win championships.
Tags: Earl Thomas, featured, football, John Schneider, nfl, Pete Carroll, Popular, Richard Sherman, Robert Turbin, Russell Okung, Russell Wilson, Seahawks
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Drafting Preferences: John Schneider and Pete Carroll
Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Interrupting my recent series on free agency I thought this week I would ponder the draft a little bit. With the NFL Combine underway, the focus of the football world is on the upcoming draft and despite the fact the Seahawks don’t have a high pick there is a lot of high impact talent to be excited about. Given that this will be the 4th draft of the Pete Carroll/John Schneider era I thought it would be a good idea to look at the drafts this duo have put together in order to give us a clue of what to expect in 2013. Although drafting is usually according to need to some degree, Schneider and Carroll seem to actually endorse the “best player available” motto in a meaningful way as opposed to merely paying lip service to it. They have made some picks that have been treated with suspicion by the outside world but largely they have made pretty good picks. I could attempt to evaluate these picks but for the most part it is too early to do so, though some fairly significant successes (Russell Wilson, Russell Okung, Earl Thomas, Bobby Wagner) are apparent already. Instead, in this article I will examine the structure of their drafts in terms of position preferences and rounds to see if there are any patterns that might help us know what to expect. First, let’s take a look at the offensive players picked by the Seahawks over the past three years by position and round:
|
Position |
Round 1 |
Round 2 |
Round 3 |
Round 4 |
Round 5 |
Round 6 |
Round 7 |
Total |
|
QB |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
RB |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
FB |
0 |
|||||||
|
WR |
1 |
1 |
1* |
3 |
||||
|
TE |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
G |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||||
|
C |
0 |
|||||||
|
OT |
2# |
2 |
||||||
|
Total |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
*Jamison Konz was initially listed at WR, though to be fair he was more of an intriguing athlete than anything
# James Carpenter was drafted as a tackle although it was always known there was a solid chance he’d wind up at guard.
The biggest number that sticks out here is the total. Only 10 of the 28 players this regime have drafted have been offensive players. The Seahawks have invested in four offensive lineman and three receivers and very little in the way of backfield personnel, not that Russell Wilson and Robert Turbin are anything to sneeze at. Building from the line out is a fairly well respected and effective strategy so it’s hard to complain here. 7 out of the 10 players listed made at least 1 start for the Seahawks in 2012 and Robert Turbin was a valuable complementary player. Classic case of quality over quantity.
Now let’s take a look at the side of the ball that the Seahawks have been investing so heavily in over the last three years:
|
Position |
Round 1 |
Round 2 |
Round 3 |
Round 4 |
Round 5 |
Round 6 |
Round 7 |
Total |
|
LEO |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||||
|
DT |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
DE |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|||||
|
OLB |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
||||
|
MLB |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
CB |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
||||
|
S |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
||||
|
Total |
2 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
18 |
When we look at defense I think it becomes pretty clear that John Schneider and Pete Carroll like their defensive backs. The Seahawks have drafted 8 DB’s in the past 3 years, usually later in the draft (7 of those 8 in Round 4 or later). Also Seattle has taken some shots at creating depth in case of a Red Bryant injury by selecting 3 big DE’s in the latter rounds, without much success (although the jury still could be out on Scruggs). Defensive tackles have largely been neglected, a problem rearing its ugly head now, but there have been enough draft picks thrown at this side of the ball that no other position has missed out on an influx of young talent.
Overall, what is the big picture? First of all, this is only three drafts and organization needs did have to be considered so we can take any patterns we see here with a grain of salt and be cautious when making declarations regarding organization philosophies. That being said there is an undeniable focus on defense and the defensive backfield specifically. Interestingly, despite drafting 64% defensive players this front office has spent five picks in the top three rounds on offense as opposed to three on defense. 15 of the 18 players defensive players drafted were selected in rounds four through seven. To me this suggests that due to the fact Pete Carroll runs a somewhat unorthodox defense he feels he is able to draft players that fit his system later as their unusual skill sets can have them falling in the draft.
Ultimately this is all stuff we already knew. We know these Seahawks draft a lot of defensive players overall. We know that this front office has spent two first round picks in three years on offensive lineman. We know they have tended to look for sleeper defensive backs in the later rounds. That was the impression that we all had naturally. However, just because it’s the general consensus it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily right. Looking at the objective figures often shines lights on holes in the public perception. Just not this time. In this case I wasn’t expecting to unlock anything shocking or revolutionary about Seattle’s drafting strategies, and I didn’t. It turns out they were what we thought they were, although in a couple years I’ll be sure to check back and see if this front office keeps its M.O consistent.
Tags: featured, football, James Carpenter, nfl, Pete Carroll, Popular, Russell Wilson, Seahawks
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Seahawks Shine as NFC Dominates Pro Bowl
January 27, 2013; Honolulu, HI, USA; NFC quarterback Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks (3) runs past a tackle attempt by AFC defensive tackle Geno Atkins of the Cincinnati Bengals (97) in the third quarter during the 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. The NFC defeated the AFC 62-35. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson competed eight of ten passes for 98 yards, and threw for three touchdowns. Marshawn Lynch scored a touchdown and led all rushers with a modest 21-yards. Leon Washington added a 92-yard kickoff return to set up a score. Earl Thomas also contributed with an interception. Max Unger and Russell Okung provided solid protection. In the end, the NFC put up a record number of points in the 62-35 victory.
In fact, the NFC dominated in all three phases of the game, offense, defense and special teams. They scored six passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and two field goals.
Jan 26, 2013, Honolulu, HI, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) flips on his head as Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) watches in the 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
In the face of criticism, the players seemed to play with an appropriate mix of caution and competition. The game also included some fun all-star moments. Russell Wilson connected with Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown pass. Earlier in the game, JJ Watt lined up as a receiver but failed to catch either of his two targets.
While the stakes were still lower than some fantasy football games, it was fun to watch. The broadcast included scenic shots from Hawaii and several on-field interviews. It was also a chance to see some of this year’s players get a bit of recognition for their hard work.
Tags: Earl Thomas, featured, football, J.J. Watt, Larry Fitzgerald, Leon Washington, Marshawn Lynch, Max Unger, nfl, Popular, Pro Bowl, Russell Okung, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Seattle Seahaks
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Seahawks Star In Pro Bowl Game
The ProBowl game is over, and the Seahawks in the game showed why our team is going to be a force next season. Against the league’s best players, the Seahawks in the game shined.
Jan 26, 2013, Honolulu, HI, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles during the 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. The NFC defeated the AFC 62-35. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Russell Wilson is the most notable. He threw 3 TD passes with 0 picks leading the NFC to the win. His 147.1 rating was the highest of any of the 6 QBs who played in the game.
Most people believe he should have been named the games MVP, but that award went to Minnesota TE Kyle Rudolph. I wasn’t surprised though; leagues never seem to give rookies the MVP award for any all-star game no matter how well they play.
Marshawn Lynch added a TD and led all rushers. Leon Washington had 167 kick return yards including a 92 yarder that set up a score. Left tackle Russell Okung and center Max Unger both dominated. Even safety Earl Thomas shined in this game. He had an interception and a key pass breakup to go along with his 2 tackles.
Unlike recent ProBowl games, the defensive effort in this game was decent. You might not think that from the 97 total points scored, but it’s true. The AFC averaged just 1.4 yards rushing, and the NFC averaged just 2.9. There were also 6 sacks in this game, 3 by each team. Considering that blitzing and stunting is forbidden, and the games best offensive linemen are in the game, that’s an impressive sack total.
Notably absent from this game was Richard Sherman. The league’s best CB and first team All-Pro was not on the ProBowl roster for reasons that simply make no sense.
Tags: Earl Thomas, featured, football, Marshawn Lynch, nfl, Popular, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks
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Potential Free Agent Targets: WRs
December 23, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace (17) runs after a pass reception as Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Manny Lawson (left) defends during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Cincinnati Bengals won 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Although the NFL season isn’t over, unfortunately the Seahawks’ season is over so now is the time to talk about the off-season, even if the off-season isn’t officially upon us. The Seahawks have done an excellent job of building through the draft and that appears to be essential to their philosophy but that doesn’t mean that free agency should be ignored. John Schneider and Co. have dabbled in free agency over the past couple years with the signing of players like Sidney Rice, Zach Miller and Robert Gallery, and frankly results have been mixed. Seattle has money to spend and is hoping to find some pieces to supplement the strong, young core of this team. One area of interest is the wide receiver position where there is a plethora of starting-quality options at a position where the Seahawks could use some help. Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin are all capable receivers but Russell Wilson could definitely use another weapon or two to take this passing offense to the next level. In this article I’ll outline some of the top free agent wide receivers that could be Seattle’s if they are willing to spend a pretty penny. In no particular order here are the top wide receivers available in free agency this year:
Dwayne Bowe: The big-bodied Bowe has been a very steady performer in some fairly terrible passing offenses in Kansas City with 1,000 yard seasons in 3 of the last 5 years, and 801 yards last year. Though Bowe is a bigger wide out he still has the ability to challenge a defense down the field. He has 13.8 yards per reception for his career, much of which has been spent in tandem with the noodle-armed Matt Cassel. Bowe is also a threat in the red zone as demonstrated by his 15 TD season in 2010 and has been able to consistently find pay dirt in the past (39 TD in 6 seasons). I think that Bowe would bring an element of physicality to the Seahawks receiving core that is currently lacking but he is not without his warts. There are plenty of whispers (some of them of the none-too-quiet variety) about work ethic and attitude issues with Bowe and he has a tendency to drop the ball, posting the 9th highest drop rate in the NFL between 2009 and 2011. Additionally, Bowe will turn 29 early in the 2013 season so if you sign him to a lengthy deal you are counting on him producing into his thirties, not impossible but not the safest bet either. Buying the decline years of a player, no matter how good he is, is always a dicey proposition. Still I think the Seahawks might be interested in Bowe because his skill set is unique to their receiving group and Pete Carroll thinks he can get anyone to buy in.
Danny Amendola: Danny Amendola is intriguing because he’s clearly a productive and useful player but he can’t seem to stay on the field, playing in 12 games over the last two seasons. Amendola was on pace for an 1,000 yard season this year with the Rams but ultimately had injuries befall him and ended up with only 666 yards. Amendola caught 5.7 balls a game this year which would have been 91 catches if he had played the whole season. Therein lies the rub. You can have absolutely beautiful rate stats but it doesn’t really matter unless you can pile up the gross numbers by staying on the field. Health is a skill in this league and Amendola’s 5 11 183 pound frame doesn’t scream durability. Someone will take a chance on Amendola’s elite quickness and ability to get open out of the slot but I’d rather it not be the Seahawks. As satisfying as it would be to take a quality player off a division rival I’d rather see the Rams resign Amendola (which I suspect they will given his chemistry with Sam Bradford) and live with the consequences. Amendola will be 28 in 2013 so age is not really a concern as slot receivers not relying on pure speed have potential to age gracefully, like Bobby Engram did. Even still, I think an investment in Amendola is one that ends in heartbreak, although it would be hard to be too disappointed if Seattle signed him because he is a really fine player.
Wes Welker: Wes Welker is a very interesting case. Looking at numbers alone makes one salivate at the prospect of adding a player like Wes Welker. Who wouldn’t want a receiver who has had 110+ catches in 5 of the last 6 years, leading the league thrice during that span? I bet a receiver with 7459 yards over the past six seasons also sounds fairly tempting. Also it isn’t as if Welker has slowed down at all recently, setting a career high with 1569 yards in 2011 and a still-fantastic 1354 yards in 2012. So what’s the hold up? The first one is arguably the most important number of all which is age. Welker will be 32 this year and although his style of play lends itself to a more generous aging curve 32 is pretty dangerous place to start a long term contract. Welker is a special player and he may yet have five or six productive years left in him but I’m not sure that’s something I want to bet tens of millions of dollars on. The second more profound question mark surrounding Wes Welker is what he is capable of outside of the New England offense and without Tom Brady. I’m not saying Welker doesn’t have a universally useful skill set, every team could use a ball catching machine out of the slot, but Welker didn’t show much in Miami before coming to New England and the concern is he’s sort of just a guy outside that system. I think both concerns are valid and I would steer clear of Welker, especially given that I still think Doug Baldwin can be a weapon out of the slot despite something of a lost 2012 season.
Mike Wallace: Of all the receivers mentioned so far Mike Wallace is both the fastest and the youngest. That’s a pretty good start in my book. Wallace is an absolute burner and he is only turning 27 this year so a free agent contract with Wallace stands to buy some of his peak years making it easier to be comfortable with a fairly generous term like 5 or 6 years. Mike Wallace is coming off a rough year, much of which can be attributed to Charlie Batchitude and also to a prolonged holdout going into the season. Clearly Mike Wallace wants to be paid, but he deserves to be paid. Over the last three years Wallace has put up 3286 yards receiving and 26 touchdowns. Although he is primarily a speed receiver the other parts of his game are growing as well. He has gone from 2.6 catches a game in his rookie year to 4.3 last year demonstrating an ability to contribute on short and intermediate patterns. Wallace has also been durable playing in 63 of a possible 64 games in his career. In short I’m a fan. I think now might be the time to buy a low (relatively speaking, this will still be a hefty contract) on Wallace. A wide receiving core featuring Wallace, Rice and Tate would be lethal down the field, giving opposing defensive backs nightmares. Wallace would look good in Seahawks colors.
Brian Hartline: Hartline, like Wallace, will be 27 this year and unlike Wallace is coming off an 1,000 yard season. While productive, Hartline lacks elite size and speed and can sometimes have trouble creating separation from quality defensive backs. While his numbers are slightly inflated by one massive game this season in which he went for well over 200 yards, Hartline is for real. I suspect that Miami will try and resign their de facto number one receiver who profiles as more of a #2 on a quality team. Honestly, that’s fine with me. There isn’t a great deal to hate about Hartline and he is coming off a good year but he’s not an impact talent in my book. Free agents, especially ones coming off good years, come at a premium cost and when you are paying a premium cost you best be sure you are getting a premium talent. Hartline is an appealing age and coming off a quality season but I’d rather sit out on the bidding which figures to exceed his value. I think both Rice and Tate are better players so I see no reason to add Hartline at an exorbitant cost.
Greg Jennings: Jennings is coming off a tough season where he fought through some difficult injuries and by all accounts the emergence of James Jones and Randall Cobb in Green Bay indicate he’s made his last Lambeau Leap. With 2 Pro Bowl berths and three 1,000 yard seasons to his name (and 2 more 900 yard seasons) Jennings is an accomplished and intriguing free agent option. Greg Jennings reminds me of Darrell Jackson at his peak, not the fastest but not slow, not the biggest but not small and able to simply get the job down. Jennings will be 30 this year so I would be hesitant to give him the sort of long term deal he’s likely asking for. I think Jennings would make a fine addition to the Seahawks but for me it depends on the price, if his age and recent injury concerns depress his value enough then pouncing on Jennings would be a prudent move but if the market sees him as a marquee #1 receiver I would back off. Also given the Sidney Rice is the resident injury risk the Seahawks might want someone more reliable if they are going to spend big in free agency. The market for Jennings is going to be very interesting, and one the Seahawks should keep tabs on.
This year’s free agency pool has some pretty impressive talent at the WR position. All the receivers listed here figure to play prominent roles on whatever team they end up on but enough of them carry red flags that we can expect a couple of busts. If the Seahawks are in the mood for big-ticket shopping at this position I’d recommend Bowe or Wallace but neither is cheap or risk free. However, if the Seahawks want to move up the ladder for great team to championship team they are going to have to take some risks. Luckily that’s never been a problem for this front office.
Tags: Brian Hartline, Danny Amendola, Doug Baldiwn, Dwayne Bowe, featured, football, Golden Tate, Greg Jennings, Mike Wallace, nfl, Popular, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, sidney rice, Wes Welker
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