A commenter from a recent post proposed that Julius Jones doesn't fit the new scheme any better than Shaun Alexander did. I thought of something I read this morning, so I thought I would share it. It comes from a Bucky Brooks article on SI.COM titled, The Scouts Buzz.
THE SEAHAWKS NEW PHILOSOPHY
The Seahawks' recent signings of running backs Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett may have been a surprise to Shaun Alexander, but the former league MVP should have seen the writing on the wall when Seattle hired a new offensive line coach this offseason.
Mike Solari was part of an offensive staff in Kansas City that relied on a power running game, built around the physical Larry Johnson. Solari's addition to Seattle's offensive staff will change the types of runs featured by the Seahawks, who repeatedly failed to convert short yardage situations the past two seasons. Previously, with Alexander as the feature back, the Seahawks utilized a perimeter running game that allowed him to bounce outside when running lanes were clogged. Jones and Duckett are straight-forward runners who do the majority of their damage between the tackles and thus are better suited for Solari's new schemes.
UPDATE--(3:30pm) - This didn't really make for a whole post so I am putting it here. John Clayton said in his "inside the helmet" piece on Sportscenter, that the addition of the two new backs will change the offense because the team will use a lot less I formation sets. Alexander ran his best with a lead blocker, so often the team was in I on 1st and 2nd down. The new backs are all capable of being the only back, so expect more WCO offense in the early downs.
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