Terrell Owens
12th Man Mailbag
It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time to empty my inbox and answer a few of your Seahawks questions. Lets jump right to it.
1) Why do the Seahawks always look so bad at the start of the game, then so much better after halftime? -James
This is one of those questions I’ve been getting for a while now. Its incredibly frustrating to see the team start off so poorly week in and week out when the 2nd half show they’re capable of outplaying their opponents.
Its hard to give a reason after week 1. Teams don’t show what they’re going to do in the preseason, so game plans are based partly out of tendency from last year, partly out of preseason film, and partly out of guessing based on the way personnel matches up. But starting now, there is no such excuse. The Seahawks have film on on the Cowboys, and need to prep for what they do defensively. We’ll see if it happens, but Pete Carroll’s history in Seattle says that it’s unlikely.
I think it’s a philosophical thing with this coaching staff. They concentrate on themselves during the week, and not on the team they are playing. This leads to game plans that fit what the Seahawks do well, but don’t attack the weaknesses of the opponent, nor counter what they do well. Then, changes are made throughout the game, mostly at halftime, that tweak the plan into the Seahawk’s favor.
This idea works when you have the better team. It also pays off later in the season when “concentrating on themselves” has generated some areas in which the team is simply going to always be able to beat the opponent. The problem is that is looks ugly, especially early in games and early in the season.
2) Why didn’t the Seahawks run the ball after getting down inside the 10 at the end of the game? - Andy
The time on the clock and the lack of timeouts is the obvious answer to that question. Any running play, and you can expect the Cardinals to lay on the pile for an extra 10-15 seconds and keep the Seahawks from spiking the ball or running another play until a lot of time had run off the clock.
Complicating things is that they were far enough away from goal line that you can’t really expect Lynch to get into the endzone with just one run. Any plan at that point that included running the ball needed to have enough time to run the ball twice in order to get the ball into the endzone, and there likely wasn’t time to do so.
On the other hand, the Seahawks did give the ball back with 16 seconds left on the clock, so it is possible to make the argument that the Seahawks could have ran the ball twice, spiked that ball with 1-2 seconds left if Lynch didn’t get in, and then still had a 4th down pass to try and win the game.
The problem there is that it is a huge risk that the clock would run out on the team and they wouldn’t get that final chance. So in a way, you’d be choosing 2 running plays over 4 passing attempts to get the same yards. Probability states that you always take the option that gives you 4 chances.
3) What was the problem with the pass blocking, was it scheme or the players? – Eillra
The correct answer is both. The players involved certainly struggled, especially Sweezy at RG and, to a less degree, Giacomini at RT. Both were beaten over and over throughout the entire game. Unger at Center, and the left side of the line did better, at least until Okung’s injured knee slowed him down enough that he struggled with the Acho’s speed, but even then the left side was substantially better than the right.
The gameplan didn’t help them any either. There wasn’t nearly enough backs and TEs being kept in to help the pass protection. It was like the coaches expected Wilson’s legs to constantly bail out the O-line again and again. He did, but it still hurt the offense’s ability to consistently move the ball.
4) With Martin out, will the team bring back Terrell Owens or Kellen Winslow?
I’ve learned never to rule anything out when it comes to Pete Carroll, but I’d have to say that the likelihood that Owens returns is near zero. Remember that he wasn’t cut at the cut down to 53, he was cut the week before when the team cut down to 75. Deon Buttler and Richardo Lockette both were given better chance to make the team than TO did.
If the team adds a receiver, then I expect it to be Lockette off the practice squad. Lockette had a good camp, and adds a speed element to offense that it lacks. Owens doesn’t offer anything that Edwards and Rice don’t already bring to the table.
Winslow is a different story. He made the original 53 man roster, but was let go because of his salary and the fact that the entire salary was about to be guaranteed. Now that week 1 is past us, his salary isn’t going to be guaranteed anymore, which protects the team financially. Winslow could be big weapon for the Seahawks if he came back, and he already knows the offense here. It’s a good fit for both player and team.
Have a question? want it answered? send an email to 12thmanrising.fansided@gmail.com
Tags: featured, football, Kellen Winslow, nfl, Pete Carroll, Popular, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Terrell Owens
Posted in: Seahawks | No Comments »
The Curious Case of J.R. Sweezy
Dec, 27, 2011; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive tackle J.R. Sweezy (52) holds up the trophy as quarterback Mike Glennon (8) and tight end George Bryan (84) are on the podium. The Wolfpack defeated the Cardinals 31-24 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE
Yesterday the Seahawks announced they would be starting J.R. Sweezy at right guard over incumbent John Moffitt, their 3rd round pick in 2011. In case anyone was unclear about Pete Caroll’s ideas on competition at every position, this should clear things up. After all, this decision puts a rookie picked in the 7th round, who hasn’t played offensive line at a competitive level in his entire life, in to replace a returning starter. Any spot on this Seahawks team is open to someone who comes in and earns it. It’s a reasonable attitude to have when building a young team from the ground up and Carroll hopes it will result in him uncovering some hidden gems the way he has with players like Kam Chancellor or Doug Baldwin. Even with that in mind, how exactly does a man playing defensive tackle for North Carolina State only months ago wind up starting at guard for our Seattle Seahawks?
Apparently it began with Tom Cable himself journeying to North Carolina State to scout Sweezy and see if he was worth converting to offensive line. Considering the amount of college players actually playing the guard position it seems odd that they would put so much time into examining conversion candidates. However, with Cable’s zone-blocking scheme he looks for players that have a different skillset than traditional offensive lineman. The Seahawks generally look for linemen who are quick and agile, even at the expense of some bulk. With a specific and rare athletic profile in mind, it is not altogether surprising Pete Carroll has to explore unconventional means to find the players he needs for his offensive line. At this point it is fairly clear that Carroll is willing think outside the box. In his tenure he has acquired players from the CFL (Browner) and players years removed from the NFL (T.O, Mike Williams) as well as converted players to positions he felt suited them better (Red Bryant, J.R. Sweezy).
Now that we’ve established why Pete Carroll would be willing to look at someone who had never played offensive line, let’s examine the athletic tools Sweezy has at his disposal that makes him so intriguing. A good way to do this is to compare his Combine numbers to the man he’s replacing, John Moffit, who put up numbers more typical of an NFL guard. The comparison is in the table below:
|
Player |
40 yard dash |
Vertical Jump |
Broad Jump |
3 Cone Drill |
20 yard shuffle |
Bench Press |
|
Sweezy |
5.01 |
36 inches |
113 inches |
7.40 |
4.41 |
21 |
|
Moffit |
5.55 |
30.5 inches |
102 inches |
7.79 |
4.53 |
23 |
Although there is more to offensive line play than straight line speed and athleticism, Sweezy does beat Moffit handily across the board in these areas. Moffitt did complete more reps on the bench press but this isn’t at all surprising considering he has 20+ pounds on Sweezy. This comparison isn’t meant to call out Moffitt, who definitely can play guard at the NFL level, but rather to highlight Sweezy’s potential. Sweezy is not without fault physically, his raw strength is below average for the position and he is a bit undersized at 6-5 and a hair under 300 pounds. Luckily for Sweezy, his only true weaknesses are strength, size and experience and all three of those can be worked on over time. What you can’t do is teach a man that size the explosion it takes to jump like a wide receiver and run like a tight end (Sweezy was clocked as low as 4.84 at his Pro Day).
With J.R. Sweezy I think the Seahawks front office knew that they were getting a high-upside player who was potentially going to be a steal. What I doubt they knew is that Sweezy was going to work like a madman at his craft and pick up the offense quickly enough to be ready to start at the NFL level by Week 1. If anyone other than J.R. himself says they knew that I am fully prepared to call them a liar. When he was drafted, Sweezy had the look of an intriguing developmental prospect but he has arrived faster than anyone could have reasonably anticipated. Every training camp there is a story of someone overcoming odds to make the team or the starting lineup and this year Sweezy has to be that story. I understand the Russell Wilson’s ascension to the starting quarterback role is exceptionally important and impressive but in terms of sheer improbability Sweezy has to take the cake. I know that there is a lot to watch this coming Sunday but if you get the chance be sure to take a second to observe your right guard because he’s one heck of a story.
Tags: brandon browner, doug baldwin, featured, football, J.R. Sweezy, John Moffit, Kam Chancellor, Mike Williams, nfl, Pete Carroll, Popular, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Terrell Owens
Posted in: Seahawks | No Comments »
Terrell Owens Among Cuts Cuts By Seahawks
August 24, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Terrell Owens (10) warms up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE
update: One of the names to be added to this list is QB Tarvaris Jackson, who has been traded to the Bills according to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com more on that soon.
The Seahawks cut their roster down to 75 players today, and there were a few veterans among those released. Most notable would be Terrell Owens. Owens simply hasn’t adapted to the Seahawks offense, and has made plays when he needed to. As I said yesterday, this move isn’t surprising.
The Seahawks also released Deuce Lutui, Axen Barron, Phil Bates, Edawn Coughman, Donny Lisowski, Ron Parker, and Tyrell Sutton.
Lutui is the most surprising of all these players. Lutui started at RG earlier in the preseason, and was viewed as the primary backup at G for most of camp. His release is an indication of just how far JR Sweezy has come in his conversion from DT to G. Sweezy started in Kansas City, and played very well.
The Seahawks also waived/injured Roy Lewis, Jamison Konz, Cameron Morrah, and Pep Levingston. The way this works, is that these players are placed on waivers and can be claimed by other teams. If any of these players clear waivers, then they the Seahawks can move them to the reserve-injured list, or release them and pay them an injury settlement. The Seahawks retain the rights to, and must continue to pay, those on the reserve-injured list. These players must be activated to the roster, placed on the PUP list, or placed on IR by the time the rosters are reduced to 53 players next week.
So far, the reports only include 12 of the 14 players the Seahawks must release by tomorrow. I’ll update this post as the only 2 names are released by the team.
Tags: featured, football, nfl, Roster Moves, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Terrell Owens
Posted in: Seahawks | No Comments »
Rethinking Terrell Owens Fit With The Seahawks
Aug 18, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Terrell Owens (10) drops a pass as Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris (25) defends in the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Byron Hetzler-US PRESSWIRE
Last Saturday, Owens has one of the worst games you’ll ever see a WR have. He was targeted 5 times for zero receptions. This included dropping a perfect pass for a touchdown, missing another back-shoulder throw near the goal line because it appeared he wasn’t paying attention. Those 2 plays were bad, but they aren’t what i’m concerned about. It’s the other 3 that concern me.
The drop was mostly rust in my opinion, and will be more likely caught once he’s back in the league for a few more weeks. The back-shoulder throw will come once he’s gotten used to his QB and builds up some report with the one throwing the passes. (This is also not a problem if Russell Wilson wins the starting QB job, since those passes aren’t in his arsenal)
There was another play, in which Owens walked a few steps, jogged for a while, and then went into his route. Once the ball was thrown Owens didn’t make much of an effort to fend of the defender. Flynn threw a good pass on this play, but Camp Bailey was simply better than the pass. This play is concerning simply because of Owens’s effort level. It has that spark of “the play isn’t going to me so I’m not going to try” mentality, though w/o knowing Owens’s actual assignment on the play, I probably shouldn’t be too critical.
The other two plays are the ones that make me truly worry about if Owens will ever fit into Seattle’s scheme. Both plays included Owens running what is called an “option route.” These are extremely common in the Seahawk offensive scheme, and exist in just about every passing play. They require both the QB and WR to make reads of the defense, both pre and post snap, in order to determine where the receiver is supposed to go after the point in which he makes his break.
In the NFL, these are simply two types of offenses in terms of option routes, those that use them, and those that don’t. Option routes attack the defense more completely, but they limit the talent pool of receivers that are available. Receivers simply aren’t asked to make these types of reads at any level of their development before the NFL, and many fail to make the adjustment. Some NFL teams choose to use them in order to keep things simple for the receivers.
It has been well documented that this was Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson’s problem in New England last season. The offense in Cincinatti does not employ option routes, while the one in New England is one of the few that relies on them as heavily as the Seahawks do. Remember all the talk early in the season about Johnson “not knowing the playbook?” It wasn’t that he didn’t know the plays, it was that he was running the wrong routes because he wasn’t making the propper reads.
The connection here is that Owens also played in Cincinatti in 2010. Before that, he played in Buffalo, another team that doesn’t use option routes.
Owens has played for the Eagles, Cowboys and 49ers before that, all in offenses that use option routes to some degree, so he should be able to adjust and make the proper reads, but he didn’t last week. On the 2 plays where he was asked to read the defense, Owens simply made the wrong read on both plays.
This has to be concerning for the Seahawks. Owens has shown that, physically, he’s still able to get enough separation to make a difference. But if he can’t make the correct reads, then his physical abilities simply wont matter to the offense.
Obviously, tomorrow’s game will tell us a lot more than we know right now. Owens could go out and have have huge game, and all of these concerns will go away. If he goes out and makes the same mistakes we saw a week ago, then it’s time to move on and give the pre-season and practice squad reps to someone else.
Tags: featured, football, nfl, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Terrell Owens
Posted in: Seahawks | No Comments »
Preseason Week 2: Match-ups of the Game
Oct 23, 2011; Cleveland, OH , USA; Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) stretches before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric P. Mull-US PRESSWIRE
Pre-Season Week Two is upon us, and in this inaugural edition of what hopes to be a weekly feature, I will examine match-ups to watch in the upcoming game against the Broncos. Despite all the complex scheming in football to be a successful team the real key is to win one on one match-ups. Football is often compared to a chess game but that’s a bit of a misnomer because strategy is impotent without execution. You must block, tackle, cover or elude the man opposite you or even the most ingeniously designed plays are destined to fail. In preseason it is hard to say exactly who will be lining up across from who, so I chose to highlight two match-ups that are assured to happen and one that may not, but would be a treat to see.
Match-up #1: Chris Clemons vs. Ryan Clady
We are all familiar with what Chris Clemons has done over the last two years, but he may meet his match in Denver’s LT Ryan Clady. Clady has prototypical LT size at 6-6 316 lbs and already has a First-Team All-Pro selection on his resume from 2009. There are very few holes in Clady’s game and although he has not been quite as dominant over the last two years he remains an elite tackle. Clemons stands no chance of overpowering Clady and will be in tough trying to beat him with the speed rush as Clady does not lack for footwork or athleticism. I have heard criticisms of Clemons stating that he racks up his sacks against weak competition and struggles against elite tackles. I’m not sure if that is valid but if he is able to win tonight’s match-up against Ryan Clady then it will definitely be a good sign that those claims are not true.
Matchup #2: Russell Okung vs. Elvis Dumervil
Sorry to bore you with another RE-LT match-up but it is arguably the most important one on one in the game. These are both premium positions where players make premium money because a quarterback’s effectiveness and even health can depend on his team having a LT that can shut down the other teams stud pass rusher, who is often deployed at RE. Seahawks fans got to see the benefits of a truly dominant LT in Walter Jones fairly recently and are looking for that kind of dominance in Okung. That expectation is unfair but Okung has the chance to be special. The most important thing for Okung is stay healthy. We know that Okung can play be a capable LT but this is the year the Seahawks need to see him play all 16 games. We won’t know Okung’s true ceiling until we get a healthy season out of him. In this tune-up game Okung faces an immense challenge in Elvis Dumervil. Dumervil is an absolute monster when it comes to pass rushing as shown by his 17 sacks in 2009. After missing 2010 to injury, Dumervil came back with a solid 9.5 sacks last year. Dumervil has averaged 0.7 sacks per game over his career which ranks 3rd in the league over that time and 10th in NFL history. Dumervil has an unusual build, at 5-11 260 lbs, and elite quickness and should prove a handful for Okung. If Okung can play this one to even a stalemate then it will be a very encouraging sign for the upcoming year.
Match-up #3: Terrell Owens vs. Champ Bailey
This one may not occur depending on when the teams choose to deploy each of the players but bear with me here. These two players are a combined 72 years old with 28 years in the NFL. They share 17 Pro Bowls and 8 First-Team All-Pro selections. That’s pretty impressive. Neither player is quite what they were in their prime years but both have aged unusually gracefully and both remain effective players. Bailey is the complete package, one of the few CB with the size and savvy to compete with the physical game that Owens brings. If Owens faces off against Champ Bailey and has any success whatsoever then Seahawks fans should be optimistic as to how ready he is for the 2012 season.
In a preseason game it’s hard to say that these match-ups will determine the outcome of the game, instead I will say that they will give us more ammunition for our analysis of the 2012 Seahawks. The one on ones examined here are all cases of Seahawks going up against elite players, three of the best players in the league at their respective positions. We should not expect to dominate over even win these match-ups but rather for the Seahawks to hold their own. Holding your own against the likes of Ryan Clady, Elvis Dumervil and Champ Bailey is a pretty fine achievement. The best evaluation tool out there is seeing how someone stacks up against the very best in the business.
Tags: Champ Bailey, Chris Clemons, Elvis Dumervil, featured, football, nfl, Russell Okung, Ryan Clady, Seahawks, Terrell Owens
Posted in: Seahawks | No Comments »
The View from Section 333- Seahawks Offensive Decisions
Although I couldn’t get a decent feed for the game last week since my husband and I were on the road, I still kept an eye out for NFL and Hawks news. When we heard that Chad Johnson was released by the dolphins, my husband suggested that the Seahawks might be looking at him to fill wide receiver needs.
That comment and other media blurbs made me take a closer look at our wide receiver situation. With Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Ben Obamanu and Doug Baldwin being assumed automatics for the team this year, it really leaves some question marks for the remaining two slots, assuming the Seahawks go with 6 spots for that position. The sticky part of the equation is whether Pete decides to continue developing players with potential (Butler, Durham, Lockette) or keep veteran players with 1 year contracts (Owens, Edwards).
My preference would be a combination. Keep Lockette. He did considerable off season work with TJack, learning to run routes and working on his hands. He has so much potential given his speed and size. I haven’t seen much from Butler since his broken leg, but he does lack the size of Lockette, and Durham is a total question mark for me, given his lack of playing time. I’d also keep Edwards as a one year contract. Based on what I saw in training camp, he’s got a ton of talent and great work ethic. Even though TO showed up at camp in great condition and with a pleasant attitude, in my opinion, TO is too great a risk to carry through the season. Even though he’s capable of being a great receiver, TO has a history of being concerned with TO, not the team he’s playing for. A developing offence like the hawks can’t afford a public mid-season melt down when he doesn’t get the ball as much as he’d like.
Similarly, I’m coming to grips with our QB competition. If we’re committed to keeping Josh Portis because of his potential, then we need to release or trade one of our QBs. The three way QB competition has left Portis with no reps in camp, just the role of throwing to Rice on the sidelines. If we’re going to keep Tjack, Wilson and Flynn, then we need to let Portis go. If we’re going to develop Portis, then we need to let Tjack go. It seems as though the media has already determined Tjack will be on the block next week and I for one, will be sorry to see it. Evaluating him as ‘lacking’ last year, based on the significant injury he played though seems illogical. Playing through that injury with an offense that was under construction, well, I thought he did a pretty good job. Not great, but good. If I were another team lacking a starting quarterback, I’d give him a good look given his dedication and courage. The only drawback would be his 4 mill+ salary which means we’ll likely get nothing for him in a trade and just end up releasing him.
I think the game this week is going to answer a lot of questions on receivers as we face off against Denver and Peyton Manning. Stay tuned!
Tags: Braylon Edwards, doug baldwin, featured, football, Golden Tate, josh portis, matt flynn, nfl, Ricardo Lockette, Roster Moves, Russel Wilson, Seahawks, Tavaris Jackson, Terrell Owens, Wish List
Posted in: Seahawks | No Comments »
A New Market Inefficiency: Moneyball and the Case for Terrell Owens
Aug 8, 2012; Renton, WA, USA; NFL: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Terrell Owens (10) speaks with the media following his first day of training camp practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE
When Terrell Owens signed with the Seahawks, reactions around here and other sites ranged from shocked, to disappointed, to disgusted. Some were intrigued but few were excited. As readers of this site will likely come to know, I am a fan of playing devil’s advocate. This particular case strikes me as the perfect opportunity. I can say with conviction that I think that T.O is an excellent pickup for the Seahawks and I am very pleased to have him on this team.
What if I told you that there was an available wide receiver who produced 983 yards on 72 catches (for a more than respectable 13.7 average) including 9 touchdowns? What if that year his DYAR* (Defensive Yards Above Replacement-measuring the outcomes of playing involving the player compared to the performance of the average easily acquirable “replacement level” player) was 30th in the league that year revealing low end #1 receiver/high end #2 receiver production. What if I were to say that he has the perfect athletic profile (6’3 225 and recently confirmed sub 4.5 second forty) for the Split End position where the Seahawks lack an established starter? What if I said that this mystery receiver was willing to sign for the veteran minimum? What if I stopped writing as if I were Morpheus from The Matrix? That information is misleadingly omitting any weaknesses of Terrell Owens but it should be enough to get you interested.
The main concern regarding Terrell Owens relates to who he is as a human being. Has Terrell Owens had attitude issues? Yes. He has done things in the past that were selfish and detrimental to his team and also things that were downright bizarre. The past is the best indicator of the future but before we should assume we are in for a massive helping of “Bad T.O.” recall that he has been well behaved at his most recent stops in Buffalo and Cinncinati. Why? Because it was in his best interest to do so. People tend to be motivated by incentives related to their self-interest. In T.O’s recent career he has become aware that he is running out of chances in the NFL and as such has cleaned up his act in an effort to keep his career going. If T.O blows his chance in Seattle due to an attitude problem he stands very little chance of getting another gig in the NFL. It’s in his best interest to be well behaved. We all know that T.O. has a long history of doing what is in his best interest.
Weighing the pros and cons of Terrell Owens reminds me of the book (and I guess the movie) Moneyball. On a very simplistic level Moneyball is about how a baseball team with very little money is able to compete using advanced statistics as an evaluation tool. As a deep-pocketed football team this premise seems not to apply to the Seahawks. However, Moneyball is really about the Oakland Athletics taking advantage of market inefficiencies to utilize their resources, however scare, better than anyone else. The A’s found players whose market value did not reflect their actual value of the baseball diamond. This is where the idea of the Terrell Owens signing comes in. Terrell Owens has played football at a very high level for a long time and has done so quite recently. Terrell Owens as a football player is worth well above the veteran minimum. His market value is extraordinarily low and yet his on-field value has potential to be very significant. His price has been depressed by concerns regarding his age and recent injury history but more significant are concerns about his attitude. These concerns are not illegitimate but they are also not proportional to the discount on Terrell Owens. If we accept that Owens is a man of questionable character then how much should that bring down his price? 25%? 50%? Even if you think Owens is only worth half of his on field value due to character risks (character risks that are not illegal and put him in no position to be suspended by the NFL I might add) that would mean he is still sign-able at half the market value of a 2nd receiver. The veteran minimum is well below that threshold. Players with character question marks often have their price brought down to a level at which they can be had for a fraction of their true value. This over correction by the market is something that the Seahawks should take note of in a league with a salary cap where spending more is not an option and spending smarter is the only way to succeed. Pete Carroll seems to understand this and bringing in Owens is a terrific example.
Ultimately I understand the consternation caused by the signing of T.O. but we need to step back and think before we judge too harshly. Owens has been a questionable teammate in the past but there are reasons to believe he will be better in the future (his desire to not go broke comes to mind). Terrell Owens is not a felon and his presence does not tarnish the Seahawks nor reduce them to a bunch of morally bankrupt criminals. T.O may well resort to his old ways and if he does he will be shown the exit in short order. The risk is negligible. The potential pay-off is many times as significant as the risk the Seahawks are undertaking. How many teams have a player who can produce like Owen likely still can as a second receiver? How many of those teams are paying this second receiver the veteran minimum? It is tempting to fall into a trap by overemphasizing the off-field risks associated with Owens, but the reality is T.O. produces. I for one would rather have a player with more questions off the field than on it. The Ruskell era was full of “high character” guys without elite athleticism with mixed result. Why not trying something different on the cheap? Terrell Owens deserves to have his value severely reduced by his age and his character concerns, but there is a difference between reduced and virtually nonexistent. That difference is what makes T.O. a market inefficiency waiting to be exploited.
*Explained much more intelligently than I am capable of here:
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/info/methods#dyar
Tags: featured, football, nfl, Pete Carroll, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Terrell Owens
Posted in: Seahawks | No Comments »
It’s Official: Terrell Owens Is A Seahawk
Terrell Owens is a seahawk. 5 words I hoped never to write, and yet there they are. Jay Glazer is reporting that the 2 sides have agreed to terms on a 1 year deal. It is believed to be for the minimum salary (just under $1 mil for a player with his experience) plus incentives.
The money is not guaranteed. That means that if TO isn’t a model citizen that he wont be a Seahawk any longer. Owens is desperate to break back into the league, and thus I expect him to be on his best behavior this season.
Reports out of the workout this morning was that Owens ran his 40 yard dash just under 4.5 seconds, and that he was in great shape.
Owens is not eligible to play in the pre-season game against the Titans on Saturday. The CBA requires that a player participate in 4 practices before playing in a game, and Owens will have at most 3 by the time the game begins.
Feb 22, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; NFL former receiver Terrell Owens smiles courtside prior to the game with the Dallas Mavericks playing against the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
Tags: featured, football, nfl, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Terrell Owens
Posted in: Seahawks | No Comments »
Why would the Seahawks be considering Terrell Owens?
The question most fans seem to have about the news their beloved Seahawks giving 15 year veteran Terrell Owens a tryout is; “What the heck are they thinking?”, followed by; “Are they really doing this?” The single most controversial player of the last decade is in town for a try-out, alright. He even poked the Seahawks in the eye a few years ago by signing a football with a sharpie pen he was carrying in his sock after he had just caught a 49er’s touchdown. He then handed it to an associate conveniently located in the end zone stands, making it look like he knew precisely how it was going to happen and there wasn’t a thing the Seahawks could do about it. And the worst thing is he was absolutely right! Moving to Philadelphia where he became a cancer in the locker room, he managed to get booted from the team at mid-season, but not before he destroyed a promising team. He then went to Dallas where he pulled his infamous tearful “that’s my quarterback” post-playoff-loss interview.
But in his last two stops in Buffalo and Cincinnati , Owens’ antics actually seemed to fade into the background and he had a couple of solid years. In Buffalo in 2009 he had 55 catches for 829 yards and 5 TD’s, and in Cincinnati he went 72 catches for 983 yards and 9 TDs in 2010. Compare that to Seattle’s best receiver, Doug Baldwin with 51 receptions for 788 yards and 4 TD’s. Owens suffered a torn ACL to end that season and most thought, and still think, his career is over. He says “nonsense”. In 2011 he did play in the indoor football league but was eventually cut and lost his part ownership in the team. That brings us to today, where T.O. is trying out for Pete Carroll and John Schneider on a team that has just released Mike Williams and Antonio Bryant.
So, why TO, why now? Does Pete Carroll still have questions about Golden Tate’s sporadic performance? Is he hedging his bet that Sydney Rice will be able to stay healthy after double shoulder surgury? Is he looking for better hands than those of Ricardo Lockette? Or, is this just a look-see at a guy who, when he last played had a pretty darn good season? Does T.O. still have something left in the tank? Physically I think he probably does. He may have dropped a step from his top speed, but chances are he can still run a precise route better than half the WR’s in the NFL. This is where he may be useful to Pete Carroll. If he can come in and learn the routes, as he has done with 5 other teams, he could be as much a teacher as a player. Does that sound like T.O.? No, not really. Is he going to argue about being a teacher to younger players? Probably not. And what if Rice does go down? Wouldn’t it be nice to have an experienced veteran available who didn’t cost the team a load of money to fill that spot?
The bigger question for me is his attitude. Would the Hawks be getting the old T.O. who is was a cancer in several locker rooms, or the one who quietly put up respectable numbers at Cincinnati and Buffalo? Is he worth the risk of locker room problems or is there someone else out there? So what if he starts a locker room controversy? The guy wants to PLAY, and he will likely sign for the league minimum. If he becomes a problem, cut him.
All things considered, I’m leaning towards this T.O. tryout as being in the “leave no stone unturned” category. I don’t think Carroll is seriously considering T.O. as an option at this point. There is a lot of pre-season left and a lot of cuts to be made. There are usually several high dollar wide receivers looking for a job by early September. One of them may be getting a call from the Seahawks. And all of them will be less controversial, and less risky than Terrell Owens.
Update: The Seahawks signed Terrell Owens to a one year deal. This could allow them to give Owens an extended workout like Antonio Bryant had, or maybe this is a serious signing to fill a need Caroll has in his offense. There is a lot that can happen before game 1 of the season. Stay tuned for the latest drama….err……developments.
Tags: featured, football, locker room cancer, News, nfl, Seahawks, T.O., Terrell Owens, veteran wide receiver
Posted in: Seahawks | No Comments »
Terrell Owens Headed To Seattle
Dave “Softy” Mahler reported today that mecurial WR Terrrll Owens is on his way to Seattle to meet with the Seahawks. There is no word as to what that meeting will encompass though. It could be to chat at Owen’s request, or to workout, or even to sign and join the team.
Owens last played for the Bangles in 2010, missing all of 2011 with a knee injury.
Owens has worn out his welcome on every team he’s played for. He’s never had problems with the law like other players, but he also likes to be a sideshow and doesn’t care if he throws his teammates and coaches under the bus.
Owens coming in has to make you wonder about the health of Syndey Rice’s shoulder. If Rice was on pace to be 100% before the start of the season, there would be no reason to bring in this head case.
Feb 25, 2011; Allen, TX USA; Allen Wranglers wide receiver Terrell Owens (81) catches his first touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Wichita Wild at the Allen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE
Tags: featured, football, nfl, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Terrell Owens
Posted in: Seahawks | No Comments »
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
Follow 12th Man Rising
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
Posted in: Seahawks | No Comments »
The Seahawks Won’t Sign Terrell Owens
It seemed like the T.O.-to-Seattle rumors would never die. Not until he signed with another team, at least.
Last month, general manager John Schneider said the team was not actively pursuing Terrell Owens. Confident in their current receivers, Schneider said T.O. would only be a consideration under drastic circumstances.
But the Seahawks remained a possible destination in the rumor mill.
John Clayton of ESPN.com wrote earlier this week that if T.J. Houshmandzadeh or Deion Branch take a step backward with their health, the first call will be to Terrell Owens. According the Clayton, Owens remains on Seattle’s radar in case of emergency.
The rumors continued. This offseason, the Seahawks failed to land a premier wide receiver like Brandon Marshall or Vincent Jackson. No one considers Terrell Owens an elite receiver anymore, but the Seahawks seemed desperate for help. Rumormongers claimed Owens wouldn’t be the answer, but a suitable alternate for a desperate football team.
According to Adam Schefter via Twitter, Drew Rosenhaus (Owens’ agent) is very confident Terrell Owens will have a new deal within weeks. We have heard this nonsense from Rosenhaus before, but this statement put Seattle fans on high alert.
Could Terrell Owens be close to a deal with Seattle? Are the rumors true?
Will the same receiver who stole Seattle’s spotlight on Monday Night Football in 2002 return to Qwest Field as a Seahawk?
No. And barring drastic circumstances, this rumor is dead.
Yesterday on 710 ESPN in Seattle, Pete Carroll said the Seahawks would not sign Terrell Owens. Carroll likes Owens, but the Seahawks are apparently comfortable with their current group of wide receivers.
Citing confidence in the experienced receivers and eagerness to develop younger players, Carroll confidently shot down the T.O.-to-Seattle rumor.
“That’s not the right guy for us at this time,” Carroll said on the Kevin Calabro show yesterday.
Crazier, more unexpected things have happened, but don’t expect Terrell Owens to sign with the Seattle Seahawks.
Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
Follow 12th Man Rising
Tags: Brandon Marshall, Deion Branch, Drew Rosenhaus, football, John Schneider, nfl, Pete Carroll, Rumors, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, T.O., Terrell Owens, vincent jackson, wide receiver
Posted in: Seahawks | No Comments »
SEAHAWKS: Carroll: Owens will not be a Seahawk in 2010
Tags: Terrell Owens
Posted in: Seahawks, Uncategorized | No Comments »
SEAHAWKS COLUMN: The T.O. Debate
Tags: Terrell Owens
Posted in: Seahawks, Uncategorized | No Comments »
SEAHAWKS: Terrell Owens remains on Hawks’ radar
Tags: Seattle Seahawks, Terrell Owens
Posted in: Seahawks, Uncategorized | No Comments »