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2010 NFL Question Marks: Seattle Seahawks

Anthony Stalter — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:00:47 +0000

Merry training camp season, everyone. It’s been a long offseason, but football is finally gearing up again and to celebrate I’m rolling out a new series on TSR entitled “2010 NFL Question Marks,” where I discuss one or two of the biggest concerns that teams have heading into the new season. Granted, some teams have more issues than others, but I’ll primarily be focusing on the biggest problem areas. Today I’ll be discussing the Seahawks and whether or not their restricted offensive line will hold them back this season.

It’s difficult to size up the Seahawks at this point in the season because nobody (not even their fans) quite knows what to expect out of this team in 2010. It appears as though fans are generally excited about the Pete Carroll hiring (how could they not after getting a taste of Jim Mora last year?), but they must be skeptical, too. Does Matt Hasselbeck have one more good season left in him? Can Leon Washington and Justin Forsett handle the rushing responsibilities? Does the defense have enough quality depth? Is Lawyer Milloy really the starting strong safety?

Nobody can say with any certainty that this will be a bad team this year, but it’s unlikely that anyone is ready to anoint them NFC West champions either. It’s just a hard team to figure out right now.

I had a difficult time deciding whether or not to go with the Seahawks’ offensive line or defensive line for this series. I view both as question marks, but in the end, the defensive line should get by as long as Brandon Mebane doesn’t take a step back and the unit gets solid contributions from new addition Chris Clemons and tackle-turned-end Red Bryant, who replaces the ultra-disappointing Lawrence Jackson.

But the offensive line may be a different story.

This offseason, the Hawks hired zone-blocking guru Alex Gibbs to transform their O-line into a lighter, quicker unit that will hopefully mesh well with the running styles of Washington and Forsett. Gibbs was the mastermind behind the Broncos success in the mid 90s and early 00s, as well as the Falcons’ ground success from 2004 to 2006. But does he have the right pieces in Seattle to make the Hawks successful this season?

Assuming his brief holdout didn’t hurt his chances of starting, rookie Russell Okung should open the season at left tackle this year. Highly regarded as the safest tackle prospect in this year’s draft, Okung certainly has the talent to turn in a Joe Thomas-like rookie campaign. But does he fit Gibbs’ zone-blocking scheme?

The good thing for Okung is that he’ll be able to learn from zone-blocking veteran Ben Hamilton, whom Seattle signed as a free agent this offseason. Hamilton is coming off a horrid ’09, but he also wasn’t a fit for Josh McDaniels’ power-blocking scheme in Denver. If he has a resurgence in Seattle, he could be a valuable commodity at left guard. But at 32, we’re not talking about an elite player at this point in his career.

The rest of the O-line is comprised of Chris Spencer, Max Unger and Sean Locklear. Spencer will move back to the center position after finishing ’09 at guard (he also missed several games due to a torn quadriceps), while Locklear was adequate in pass protection but struggled with penalties. Unger flashed a lot of potential as a rookie last season – especially as a pass blocker – but he’ll have to improve his run blocking if he’s going to be successful over the long haul.

Can this unit surprise this season? Absolutely, especially with Gibbs running the show. The three years he was in Atlanta, the Falcons led the league in rushing every season (albeit with Michael Vick at quarterback, but still) and everyone remembers the success Gibbs had in Denver with Terrell Davis and the slew of running backs the Broncos had.

But Seattle’s success this season depends on how well the five starters can adapt to Gibbs’ zone-blocking scheme. Only Hamilton is familiar with the system and Okung also has some huge shoes to fill replacing long-time left tackle Walter Jones. As previously noted, it’s hard to tell what the Hawks have right now on the offensive line, so predicting their success is difficult. Things could really go either way.

Will Darrelle Revis hold out if he doesn’t receive a new contact from Jets?

Anthony Stalter — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:15:58 +0000

Darrelle Revis, whose contract is set to void after 2010, expects the Jets to give him a new deal before the regular season starts. They said they would, and he trusts them.

But if push comes to shove, will he hold out? While recently speaking at the Jets’ Florham Park facility in New Jersey, Revis may have provided insight to that question.

From the New York Post:

“We’ll figure it out when [the start of camp] comes.”

Revis said he “believes [the Jets] at their word.” But he quickly added, “When you go back on your word it’s a problem.”

“We have a bunch of months to get things done,” Revis said. “I trust [Jets management] . . . but I also know this is a business as well.”

Seeing as how the Jets didn’t abide by Leon Washington’s wishes for a new contract last year and then traded the running back to Seattle during the draft last month, Revis has reason to be weary that he may not get a new deal. He also plays for a team that just dumped Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca in order to recoup some of his huge salary. (Although as many Jet fans will note, despite his Pro Bowl appearance Faneca didn’t play well last year.)

That said, Revis is the best cover corner in the NFL, and good defensive backs are hard to come by. If there were one position on the field outside of quarterback that a team would want to splurge on, it would be cornerback because good ones are such a rarity in the league. (Look at the deal the Raiders gave Nnamdi Asomugha in February of last year.)

Chances are that the Jets and Revis will come to a deal before the season starts. But if they don’t, a player’s best bargaining chip is a hold out. It sounds as if Revis wouldn’t hesitate to hold out if the Jets fall back on their word.

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2010 NFL Draft Recap: NFC West

Anthony Stalter — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:14:28 +0000

Here are quick-hit 2010 NFL Draft observations for the NFC West.

Arizona Cardinals
Nose tackle Dan Williams is a great fit for the Cards, who were fortunate he slipped to them at No. 26. The team has been trying to fill the nose tackle position for years and they may have found the player to do it in Williams, who is explosive off the line. There’s a great chance he’ll beat out Gabe Watson for the right to start in Week 1. I also really liked Arizona’s second round pick, linebacker Daryl Washington. He’ll play alongside Geno Hayes in the Cards’ 3-4 alignment and might rack up 100 tackles with his sideline-to-sideline style of play. Citadel receiver Andre Roberts is a sleeper and will help out immediately as a punt returner. Third-rounder O’Brien Schofield had a first round grade on him before tearing his ACL in the Senior Bowl. He’s a prototypical 3-4 edge-rusher and has high upside, although he may need more time to fully recover from the injury. I also love the selection of John Skelton in the fifth. He’s athletic, has a cannon for an arm and he was a gamer at Fordham. He could be a great developmental project down the road, especially if Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson don’t pan out. All in all, this was one of my favorite drafts of any team this year.

San Francisco 49ers
I loved what the Niners did with their first three picks, which is where teams usually find starters and players that can make an impact right away. Anthony Davis will compete with Adam Snyder for the starting right tackle job, while Mike Iupati will battle David Bass at the starting left guard position. To nab two potential starters with their first two picks was excellent for San Fran. I also really liked the Taylor Mays selection in the second round because it showed great value, although he has a lot to prove after a sub par senior season at USC. The good thing for the Niners is that he has a chip on his shoulder, is a great athlete and will be working close with Mike Singletary, who is an excellent motivator. I didn’t like the pick of Navorro Bowman in the third round, only because he’s too small to play inside linebacker in a 3-4 and might wind up being a career special teamer if he stays in San Fran. It was a little early to be selecting special teamers in the third round. I did really like what San Fran did in the later rounds, however, nabbing bruising runner Anthony Dixon and burner Kyle Williams in the sixth.

Seattle Seahawks
Pete Carroll’s first draft in Seattle was a successful one, as he nabbed the best offensive tackle prospect in the draft at No. 6 in Russell Okung and followed up the selection by taking a very productive safety in Earl Thomas at No. 14 (at the expense of ticking off his former USC player, Taylor Mays). Okung will be a starter from day one, but he has the unenviable task of replacing one of the best LTs to have ever played the game in Walter Jones. (No pressure, Russell.) Thomas will also start right away opposite Jordan Babineaux in the Seahawks’ secondary and will hopefully give their defense a much-needed playmaker from the safety position. Golden Tate was a great find in the second round, as he gives Seattle more explosion in both the passing and return game. Cornerback Walter Thurmond III has serious knee issues, but would have been a second round prospect otherwise, while DE E.J. Wilson is a menacing hitter despite lacking ideal burst. Kam Chancellor is a less athletic version of Mays, but he’s a decent in-the-box safety prospect. Anthony McCoy fell do to off-field issues, which include testing positive for marijuana, but Carroll knows what he can do as both a blocker and a pass-catching tight end so he’ll get the opportunity to play. This draft can’t be graded without factoring in the draft day trades of LenDale White and Leon Washington, who should form a solid 1-2 punch in Seattle’s backfield. It’s hard to argue with the decisions Carroll and his staff made over the past couple days. They filled needs, upgraded weaknesses and added at least two starters.

St. Louis Rams
I really like what the Rams did with their selection immediately after taking Sam Bradford with the first overall pick. They could have easily went with a receiver like Arrelious Benn at No. 33, but instead they decided to protect their new investment in Bradford by selecting OT Rodger Saffold, who had a first round grade but fell to the top of the second. Saffold isn’t an elite prospect, but he’s steady and will upgrade the Rams’ shoddy O-line. The team also did well by adding versatile playmaker Mardy Gilyard in the third, a blocking tight end in Michael Hoomanawanui in the fifth and a pass-catching tight end in Fendi Onobun in the sixth. Third rounder Jerome Murphy immediately adds depth to the Rams’ brutal secondary and could push for a starting cornerback job right away. Of course, this draft will inevitably be judged by whether or not Bradford develops. St. Louis had no choice but to take the Oklahoma QB, based on their need at the position. He’ll become the new face of the franchise and usher in hope to an organization that’s currently hemorrhaging.

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Pete Carroll putting imprint on Seahawks, trades for LenDale White & Leon Washington

Anthony Stalter — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:00:45 +0000

One of the reasons Pete Carroll left USC for the Seattle Seahawks in mid January of this year was because he would have the authority to determine how the franchise played football. In other words, Carroll could wipe the slate clean and bring in the type of players and staff that he wanted for his team.

On Saturday, the Seahawks acquired running backs LenDale White (Titans) and Leon Washington (Jets) in two separate draft day trades. In the acquisition of White, Seattle swapped fourth and sixth round picks with Tennessee and also acquired defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson. In the acquisition of Washington, the Hawks sent the No. 138 pick to New York and also received a seventh-round selection in the process.

White has been chopping at the bit to get out of Tennessee and now reunites with the head coach that best found ways to utilize him on the field. While at USC, Carroll used White as his physical, early-down masher and he’s expected to use the running back in a similar role in Seattle.

Many draft pundits thought that the Seahawks would draft C.J. Spiller with one of their two picks in the first round. But after acquiring Washington from the Jets (which was a steal), they got a cheaper player with a similar skill set to that of Spiller. Plus, by not drafting Spiller, the Hawks were able to nab the top rated offensive tackle in the draft in Russell Okung and the second best safety in Earl Thomas. Washington and White should work very well together in Seattle, albeit at the likely expense of Julius Jones.

It still remains to be seen whether or not Carroll can succeed in the NFL like he did at SC, but one thing is clear: he’s going to construct his team the way he wants.

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Thomas Jones set to become a free agent?

Anthony Stalter — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:15:24 +0000

According to a report by NFL.com, it’s unlikely that the Jets will pick up Thomas Jones’ $3.3 million roster bonus and if so, the 32-year-old back will become an unrestricted free agent on March 9.

The Jets were hoping that Jones would take a pay cut by restructuring his deal, but the running back declined. With Shonn Greene and Leon Washington already on the roster, New York has the luxury of letting Jones go, even though he’s coming off a career year after rushing for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Jones started to show his age in December, but he would still bring value to teams in search of running back help this offseason. The Texans and Chargers are obvious choices, but don’t rule out a team like the Eagles adding a veteran back like Jones to complement youngster “Shady” McCoy now that Brian Westbrook is out of the picture.

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Jets name Mark Sanchez starting quarterback

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:00:50 +0000

Even following his rough outing in the Jets’ second preseason game on Monday night, head coach Rex Ryan named rookie Mark Sanchez the team’s starting quarterback.

From FoxSports.com:

Despite a rough start against the Ravens in his last preseason game, Sanchez never lost his cool and battled back. The team has been impressed with his command of the huddle and the offense. Sources say the team has been impressed with how much he has not looked like a rookie. Drafted out of USC, Sanchez has gone 6-of-12 in two preseason games, with one touchdown pass and one interception.

Clemens, in his fourth season, is 9-of-14 for 84 yards in the preseason. He also has one score and one pick. Entering his fourth season with the Jets after being a second-round pick in 2006, Clemens also had a solid but unspectacular camp, but threw 12 interceptions compared to the rookie’s five.

I’m sure Ryan would have wanted a better performance out of Sanchez on Monday night before he made his decision official, but it’s not like Clemens did anything this summer to merit the job, so why delay the announcement?

The good news for Sanchez is that the Jets offensive line is solid. They also have a trio of backs in Leon Washington, Thomas Jones and rookie Shonn Greene that are more than capable of taking some of the pressure off Sanchez in his first year.

The bad news is that the Jets aren’t giving Sanchez a lot to work with in terms of receivers. Jerricho Cotchery is underrated and has been a consistent, productive receiver throughout his career. But he’s not a player that will keep defensive coordinators up at night and after him, the Jets will rely heavily on the inexperienced crop of Chansi Stuckey, David Clowney and Brad Smith.

If Sanchez continues to show the poise he did on Monday night when things weren’t going his way, he should do fine. That’s not to say that he’ll have a Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco-type rookie year and lead the Jets to the playoffs, but success can’t always measured in whether or not a quarterback can get his team to the postseason. (Especially if said quarterback is a rookie.)

Don’t go crazy on draft day and pick Sanchez in the middle rounds. He’s a rookie QB, and they’re notoriously undependable in fantasy circles, especially with all the depth available in leagues that only start one QB. It probably would have been better for the Jets WRs (especially Cotchery) if Clemens had won the job, as the two had shown a nice rapport in the past. Sanchez will no doubt have his ups and downs, so that means the Jets receivers are likely to as well.

Training Camp Notes: Browns no-huddle, Bob Sanders, JaMarcuss Russell

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Cleveland Browns:
Eric Mangini says that the Browns’ quarterbacks have been running the no-huddle since the first day of OTAs and every day during training camp. Mangini wants to create more tactical advantages this season to keep defenses guessing, which was a foreign concept to Romeo Crennel and Butch Davis when they were head coaches in Cleveland. (Cleveland Scores)

Indianapolis Colts:
Jim Caldwell says it’s only a matter of time before Bob Sanders is healthy again, although the head coach admitted that the safety’s knee problems could keep him out of the Colts’ season opener. (Indianapolis Star)

Oakland Raiders:
Beat writer David White says that JaMarcus Russell continues to follow good practices with bad ones and that the third year quarterback still has timing issues with his receivers. Still, with Jeff Garcia battling a calf injury, Russell’s starting job appears to be safe for now. (San Francisco Chronicle)

Houston Texans:
Rookie linebacker Brian Cushing will miss the next 2-3 weeks with a sprained left LCL injury. Cushing is expected to miss Houston’s first two preseason games, but the team is hoping that he’ll be healthy enough to play in the third. Zac Diles will fill in at strong-side linebacker while Cushing is out. (Houston Chronicle)

New York Jets:
The Jets have increased their contract offer to Leon Washington and reportedly are now willing to go as high as $4.5 million a year for the running back. No word yet on if Washington will accept the deal. (New York Daily News)