by: William P. Tomisser
Hey Addicts. I had a discussion with my good friend in Seattle who has been sharing my season tickets for 34 years now. We were talking about whether we would welcome Holmgren back now and bag this new regime if we had the chance. The discussion got a bit spirited so it seemed it might be something other Seahawk fans would like to discuss and comment on.
I thought since it's pretty slow Seahawk news wise these days, maybe it would be a good topic of discussion here at SA so let me throw this one out there.
Here's the postulation. If you were granted the power to do so (a one time GM decision making privilege), would you revert the club back to having Holmgren back as head coach and undo everything that has taken place so far with Mora and his newly hired coaching staff since the season ended?
You would be reverting back to having everything in place as it was at the end of the season and Holmgren and his coaching staff would be the ones to pick up the pieces and try to turn the club around for the coming season. You would be giving Holmgren a three year extension so it wouldn't be another lame duck season in 2009. Holmgren would be back as if he had never retired. You could just set aside the whole Mora hiring.
Would you pull the trigger?
My friend and I were divided on the issue and I'm not going to say which way.
One viewpoint was that it was time for Holmgren to go anyway and we really needed to get a fresh perspective in place in a number of areas. Except for the Super Bowl year in 2005, we weren't getting to the conference title game and we really needed to shake things up and try a different approach. Happy with Mora and what we see so far, the excitement is back in Seahawk football and that shouldn't be traded for going back to the way things were headed under coach Holmgren.
The other viewpoint was that Holmgren is a future HOF coach and after last season's debacle, Holmgren would have been chomping at the bit to reassert himself and get the team back to it's accustomed place as the NFC West Champs. Embarrassed, Holmgren would have coached his ass off and showed again why he's one of the best. Better to have a coach who's been there and done that rather than rely on a new guy on just his second job as head coach. Experience counts and counts big especially when you're recovering from such a dismal season. The Seahawks had their greatest success ever under coach Holmgren and he should have been the one to bring the Seahawks back to power.
Of course, we're also supposing that Holmgren would have wanted to coach three more years here.
I know we've knocked this one around before here at SA a little bit but not since Mora hired his staff and we've known who's going to be coaching this season under Mora. Now we have all the marbles in place so we can make the comparison and the discussion should be valid. There were a lot of people who thought Holmgren was ousted and who said they didn't want to see him go. Others were unsure and yet others favored a change. Now that we can clearly see who the new staff is comprised of, it should be easier to make an evaluation.
So, you newly appointed "one shot" GM's, you make that big impact call. Do we continue on with Mora or should we go back to our old future HOF coach and give him another chance? Remember that Ruskell's still in place as GM after you horn in and upset the apple cart with your one time decision so whoever wins your support would still have to work with him. Factor that into your decision.
The Seahawks are in your hands Addicts. Heaven help us.
Hasta,
BillT
END
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Saturday, February 7, 2009
Would You Give Holmgren Another Shot?
Cards fire Clancy
by: Chris Sullivan
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Wide Receiver Situation
by: Chris Sullivan
One of the real areas of need for the Seahawks in 2009 would appear to be the wide receiver position (at least, thats what the media keeps telling us South Alaskans). While I'm uncertain that this will be the target area for Mr. Ruskell, I think it's got about as good a chance as any other position. I thought we'd take a look at the potential moves that could be made this offseason.
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Current Roster:
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Deion Branch -- Due to make a hair over $7 million this year, Branch has shown flashes of brilliance but has never assumed the full role of the number one receiver, due in part to injuries and in part to being a bit green in Holmgren's offense. This will be an interesting move for Ruskell--does he trust the skills of Branch? Will any WR be worth $7M in Knapp's offense? I would expect some sort of renegotiation if Branch is to stay on in 2009, otherwise look for a potential trade. Branch may command a mid-to-late second round pick, but it is hard to gauge his true value due to his injuries.
Nate Burleson -- I think Nasty Nate proved a lot in 2007 and is in a good position to step up and be a number one in this league. That said, an ACL tear is hard to come back from, as we saw this year with Branch. Burleson is going to be making a hair over $4 million this year, but that figure seems fairly appropriate if he is to step up and be an offensive leader again. Further, his injury last year decreases his trade value and with this being his contract year (more or less--he's under contract through 2010, but the last year is voidable) I think he offers a lot of potential for that $4 million.
Bobby Engram -- Matt wants him and Engram probably wants to stick around, but Ruskell has a price and he won't likely stray from that. The ball is going to be in Bobby's court, like it or not. It will be hard to see him go, but I don't really expect him back.
Koren Robinson -- Thanks for the memories, Koren, and I hope you get a job somewhere in the NFL. Koren was a highlight of the depressing season, but I don't see any way he is in blue and green next year.
Ben Obamanu -- A whole lot of promise is going to get you nowhere if you don't play up to your potential. Obamanu was IR'd last year with a shoulder injury, mostly because of the depth we had at WR going into the regular season (ha! But remember, we did!). I think he would have been fine to play after 6-8 weeks, but that just didn't happen. Obo will be competing this year, but he does not have a guaranteed pass. None of the young guys do.
Logan Payne -- Payne impressed everyone last year and earned a roster spot, but was taken out in Week 2 with a questionable hit. Same goes for Payne as went for Burleson: he has to prove that he is fully back from the injury. If he's not, his roster spot is in question. However, if Engram does not re-sign, Payne's stock increases exponentially. I think he has a very, very good chance of being a Seahawk in 2009 and getting a chance to perform.
Jordan Kent -- How many shots will he get? I think Training Camp / Pre-Season 2009 is his last chance with us. It's obvious Ruskell likes him, and with good cause, but Kent will have to fight it out for a spot. It's very unlikely that there is no additional competition this year, especially since Ruskell has said that he won't get caught in the same position again. I honestly don't like Kent's chances to make the team this year, but I'm hoping he surprises me.
Courtney Taylor -- Well, we finally saw why Ruskell likes Taylor by the end of 2008, but he's another young guy with a lot of potential and little application of that potential. Taylor will be in the same boat as Obomanu and Kent -- prove that you should be here or GTFO.
Billy McMullen -- Just kiddin'.
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Free Agents:
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TJ Houshmanzadeh -- The number one free agent WR this year, Housh is clearly a top talent and deserves to play for a winner. However, because he is the top FA in the class, I see his value inflating beyond what Ruskell values a WR at, and thus I don't like the chances of him walking through the tunnel at Qwest 8 times a year. There is still a chance, but I'd put it at less than 25%.
Antonio Bryant -- A stud when he wants to be, Bryant has historically been a locker room cancer. There's just no chance of it.
Lance Moore and Devery Henderson -- Now we're talking. Moore was a stud last year for the Saints and has a lot of the tools and traits (from what I know about him) to be a "Ruskell Guy." With both Moore and Devery Henderson being free agents this year, I see there being a very good chance that one stays with New Orleans and one leaves. Moore is the more highly touted one at the moment, but Devery Henderson has been a consistent performer since his rookie year. I would be happy with either of these guys next year.
Nate Washington -- He can stretch the field, which is nice, but that's not the biggest need for us at the moment. He had a decent year in 2008, but had stretches of games where you couldn't even tell if he was playing. If the price is right, he could be added, but it isn't worth getting excited about until we see him in our roster list.
Malcolm Floyd -- A favorite around Seahawk Addicts, and with good cause. When given a chance to perform, Floyd consistently performs. When not, Floyd doesn't complain. He appears to be a Ruskell guy with a lot of talent and should be ready to step up and prove himself. He seems like he could really fit the west coast offense well, from what I've seen of him. He's also 6'5" and 225 lbs, which is what is known as a gigantic target. Signing Floyd would make Kent considerably less important, though Kent could still likely trounce him in a foot race.
Reggie Williams -- A local favorite, Williams excelled in college at the University of Washington (arguably the last person to hold that claim, hah) but has proven a bit of a bust in the NFL. Being a local guy and UW alumnus (like Mora) helps him out, as does his experience with our new WRs coach, Prince. If the price is right, it's possible that he'll be given a chance here. If the price is wrong, it's likely Bob Barker will be face-punched.
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I'll assess the potential draft candidates once we get a bit closer to the draft and see what we've taken care of in the free agent market. ~END~
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Todd Haley Hired in KC
by: Chris Sullivan
The dismantling begins. Todd Haley has reportedly been hired in Kansas City as the head coach of the Chiefs. For those who aren't good with names, Todd Haley was the offensive coordinator of the Cardinals. He is largely credited with crafting the high-powered offense that drove the NFC West champs to the Super Bowl. Congratulations to Haley, who turned an historically awful offense into one of the league's best (along with Ken Whisenhunt, of course).
It will be interesting, too, to see how this impacts Kurt Warner's decision to retire. Many have speculated that as goes Haley, so goes Brenda. I mean Kurt...
~END~
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Thursday, February 5, 2009
Mora's Defense Will Be Built from the Ground Up
by: William P. Tomisser
Hey gang,
I've been taking a bit of a sabbatical while my band is learning a new set of Tower Of Power music. It's pretty demanding music and we have to learn it from listening to the recordings and picking out our individual parts by ear. It's pretty time consuming, so I'm basically taking a couple of weeks off until we're done with the intense rehearsals.
Today I got tired of listening to music, so I took a break to browse Seahawks stuff and came across several references to Brady's interview with the media. After reading Sando's take on Seattle's defense, I thought it might be a good subject for discussion.
I appears as if the Seahawks will be starting from scratch with their defense this season. I say this not just because the team will have a new defensive-minded head coach and new assistants in Dan Quinn and Tim Lewis, but also because they are rewriting the defensive playbook from scratch, starting with the terminology they'll use to describe everything with.
From the transcript of the Gus Bradley interview, he talks about the diverse experience of the new defensive assistants:
"We’re in a unique situation where Dan Quinn was with the Jets in a 3-4 scheme, Tim has been both [in a] 3-4 and a 4-3, I’ve been familiar with the 4-3, similar to Seattle. So we’ve been gathering all that information and trying to evaluate personnel while we’re doing that with those concepts."
Danny O'Neil from the Seattle Times has also written a piece that talks about Bradley and his defensive staff interview and how Seattle is starting from scratch in building its defense this season:
The Seahawks have started from scratch in assembling their defense under new coach Jim Mora and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, revising everything from the formations and the nomenclature to the way guys huddle up.
Mora also talked about his new staff:
"I've hired a tremendous defensive staff," Mora said. "We've added some outstanding coaches who have a very similar philosophy to me in terms of how you become a great defensive football team."
To Continue . . .
For those fans who have been wishing we had a coach who paid more attention to the defense for the last 10 years, it looks as if the Seahawks are about to begin the new era that you've always dreamed about.
Mora has a vision of a suffocating defense coupled with a versatile offense that can take what the opponent's defense gives them and make it work. The more I hear from these new coaches and see the enthusiasm they have for their jobs, the more excited I'm getting about having a look at how the 2009 version of the team will appear.
One thing I think all of us can agree on is that we've had enough of the Marshall defense we saw on display last season. The news that this year's defense is a whole new deal starting with a new playbook and a new team of coaches with diverse backgrounds designing it from the ground up is like a breath of fresh air.
I like the idea that coaches with backgrounds in different defensive schemes will be looking at our players and designing what should be the best fit. Having coaches with experience in 3-4 defensive sets working alongside coaches familiar with the 4-3 sets the team has been running can only give us a broader spectrum of possibilities.
I have to comment on the way Mora has assembled a team of energetic coaches who are focused in making the Seahawks the best team they can be. After seeing who was available in the coaching carousel this offseason, I have to believe that we've got about as good a deal going as we could have hoped for at this point and right now I wouldn't change a thing.
Are you guys satisfied with how our team is shaping up so far and how Mora has approached his first offseason with the club? Are you satisfied with the newly hired coaches so far and how they have integrated themselves into the coaching mix? Did Mora do the right thing by only changing four coaches and leaving the rest of the coaching staff intact?
I'll try and post something now and then if I can find the time, but mostly I'll be back in a couple of weeks.
Hasta,
Bill T
END
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Gus Bradley's Bald Head and Bold Philosophy
by: Mike Parker
Danny O'Neill says Gus Bradley makes quite the first impression. And if you ask me, that's precisely what this defense needs.
O'Neill's story revolves around Bradley's "attack first" philosophy when it comes to defense, as well as Ruskell's emphasis on NOT overhauling the players in the defense. The coaching staff clean-out has already happened, and that's the way we can expect to see it through next season, free agency notwithstanding.
That's all I have time for, because I'm swamped at work today. But all in all, it seems like Mora made an excellent decision in hiring Bradley to replace Marshall. -END-
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Migraine Party
by: Chris Sullivan
[Eric Williams has also posted a transcript of Greg Knapp's press conference. -Ed.]
~END~ Read More!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Nat'l Football Post -- Two-round Mock
by: Chris Sullivan
Top Five Seahawk Cap Hits
by: Chris Sullivan
I decided to take a look at every player due to earn more than $1 million in the 2009 season. There are 20 of them, including such fan favorites as Brian Russell, Kelly Jennings, and Mike Wahle. I thought I'd look at them all and see what I thought might happen with them. This is TOTAL back-of-the napkin stuff here, but I was just looking at the rough made-up-on-the-spot probabilities of each player being cut or traded, restructured, or maintaining a status quo on their contract.
I tried to keep in mind who the "team players" are versus those that I don't think are too concerned. Newer contracts remain the same, generally (such as Trufant's):
| Position | Player | 2009 Salary | 2009 Cap Hit | Cut/Trade | Restructure? | Same? |
| OT | Walter Jones | $6,200,000 | $9,800,000 | 1% | 25% | 74% |
| CB | Marcus Trufant | $1,000,000 | $9,766,667 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
| QB | Matt Hasselbeck | $5,250,000 | $9,450,000 | 0% | 33% | 67% |
| OLB | Julian Peterson | $6,500,000 | $8,800,000 | 15% | 70% | 15% |
| DE | Patrick Kerney | $4,000,000 | $8,666,667 | 25% | 50% | 25% |
| WR | Deion Branch | $4,940,000 | $7,306,667 | 25% | 50% | 25% |
| OT | Sean Locklear | $1,000,000 | $6,650,000 | 0% | 10% | 90% |
| MLB | Lofa Tatupu | $1,350,000 | $6,166,667 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
| RB | TJ Duckett | $2,500,000 | $4,950,000 | 10% | 40% | 50% |
| WR | Nate Burleson | $3,250,000 | $4,050,000 | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| RB | Julius Jones | $1,950,000 | $3,950,000 | 33% | 0% | 67% |
| S | Deon Grant | $2,000,000 | $3,916,667 | 5% | 0% | 95% |
| OG | Mike Wahle | $3,100,000 | $3,900,000 | 10% | 10% | 80% |
| S | Brian Russell | $2,100,000 | $2,700,000 | 25% | 0% | 75% |
| QB | Seneca Wallace | $1,500,000 | $1,900,000 | 25% | 0% | 75% |
| S | Jordan Babineaux | $1,350,000 | $1,850,000 | 25% | 0% | 75% |
| C | Chris Spencer | $850,000 | $1,816,210 | 20% | 0% | 80% |
| CB | Kelly Jennings | $695,000 | $1,616,250 | 40% | 0% | 60% |
| DT | Craig Terrill | $1,150,000 | $1,450,000 | 50% | 0% | 50% |
| TE | John Carlson | $423,000 | $1,048,000 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
Go ahead, tell me what you guys think--I can take it! What is your dream scenario? ~END~ Read More!
Salary Cap Clarification [Updated]
by: Chris Sullivan
| Grouping | # Players | Salary | Cap Hit |
| Quarterbacks | 4 | $7,210,000 | $11,810,000 |
| Running Backs | 6 | $5,220,000 | $9,744,000 |
| Wide Receivers | 10 | $8,500,000 | $11,666,667 |
| Tight Ends | 3 | $423,000 | $1,048,000 |
| Offensive Line | 14 | $13,680,000 | $24,909,023 |
| TOTAL | 37 | $35,033,000 | $59,177,690 |
DEFENSE
| Grouping | # Players | Salary | Cap Hit |
| Defensive Line | 11 | $7,755,000 | $14,610,417 |
| Linebackers | 8 | $8,695,000 | $15,852,442 |
| Defensive Backs | 11 | $8,300,000 | $21,224,584 |
| TOTAL | 30 | $24,750,000 | $51,687,443 |
TOTAL
| Grouping | # Players | Salary | Cap Hit |
| OFFENSE | 37 | $35,033,000 | $59,177,690 |
| DEFENSE | 30 | $24,750,000 | $51,687,443 |
| TOTAL | 67 | $59,783,000 | $110,865,133 |
| SALARY CAP | (estimated) | $123,000,000 | |
