SB Nation - Mike Wahle

Auditing the Seahawks Roster: Left Guard

John Morgan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:05:22 -0000

Seattle needs better everything at guard. It is neither top heavy with talent nor deep with potential. It has one player with good potential that does not fit the scheme well and a host of generic offensive linemen and project players.

Rob Sims: Once upon a time, Rob Sims was probably the worst player you heard too much of. Mike Holmgren was never satisfied with Sims. Maybe it was holdover hostility for Ruskell losing Steve Hutchinson. Maybe Sims wasn't matched for Holmgren's demanding system of pull blocks. Maybe Sims was a more convenient target than Shaun Alexander. It seems almost implausible now, but many who followed the Seahawks, perhaps Holmgren believed it too, thought Sims was holding back Alexander in 2007.

I may have gotten too caught up defending Sims. I do not think I ever overstated his abilities, but rather I might have been too conservative for fear I would rile the Alexander partisans. You don't want to fight a battle on multiple fronts if you can avoid it, and to me defending Sims was auxiliary to identifying how awful Alexander had become.

Then Sims lost all of 2008. The debate was shelved. Talk ran to whether Julius Jones was fair, middling, mediocre or average. Mike Wahle showed us what good feet, good experience and a pair of arms hanging from zip ties could do - and could not do.

So it was with a bit of surprise that I saw Sims not just returning, returning to form or developing this season, but actually kicking ass. Sims was beginning to pair the steadiness and forgetability he had displayed as a pass blocker with mobility, lock down ability and dominance as a run blocker.

Then he got hurt again.

Sims is a restricted free agent this offseason. It could or should be a no brainer to retain him, but I am not sure it will be. Though Sims played tackle for part of his college career, and though Sims has good in-line quickness and straight line speed, he is not the prototypical, athletic-but-undersized zone lineman. He isn't tripping over his own feet anymore like he did in 2007, but he's not pulling out and commanding a position the way Wahle did in 2008, either.

This is a position Seattle can get better at. I've often thought of Sims as a right guard, regardless of where he played at Ohio State. But this isn't a position Seattle must upgrade to succeed. Sims is young, developing, a good pass blocker and, for at least one more season, cheap.

Mansfield Wrotto: Steve Vallos started over Wrotto last Sunday. Mr. Wrotto, say hello to Mr. Atkins.

Steve Vallos: Vallos has earned his stripes as the utility offensive lineman fans absolutely cringe at, "real" fans speak of in glowing coach speak, and real fans know is an interchangeable company man that will be cut and promoted to line coach the day he gets hurt, expensive or says "No."

"Vallos! Grab me that ShamWow, Matt needs to put his helmet on and it's sticking."

The Offensive Line Part 4: A Failure Not Earned

John Morgan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:00:42 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

It's hard not to be mad after yesterday's travesty, but class, and the ability to direct one's anger where it belongs, separates the losers of yesterday and the losers of tomorrow.

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Offensive line, right? It's a joke made thousands of times since 2005. From what little I saw of yesterday's game, the line was bad enough to kill the offense itself. The Seahawks week six line, Kyle Williams - Steve Vallos - Chris Spencer - Max Unger - Ray Willis, is the worst line Seattle has started since Tim Ruskell took over. Williams and Vallos are essentially replacement level talent, and Spencer to Willis is not the kind of intimidating right side that can hide a piecemeal left.

Seattle was poorly built but lucky in 2007 and as things turn out, it has been well built but unlucky in 2009. Kyle Williams was never meant to start. Seattle imported a player from across the country to keep Williams on its practice squad. Williams was buried behind Sean Locklear, Brandon Frye and theoretically Walter Jones.

Let's blow up the Jones situation again. Jones underwent microfracture knee surgery last fall. I thought that might be the end of his career, but I was in error. It might still be the end of his playing career, but Jones is very much a Seahawk and very much on the Seahawks roster. He cost $8.6 million against the cap each of the last two seasons and I believe costs even more than that this season. Maybe Jones is never going to play again, but in Ruskell's world, Jones is an investment and a failing one Seattle can't shake.

Before training camp, Jones passed his physicals. His microfracture surgery was a success. The rub is that the procedure is not likely to preserve Jones career and its short term consequences have left Jones unable to play. So the greatest player in Seahawks history, through no fault of his own or others, has become a big, fat boondoggle.

Seattle did invest into its tackle position. It signed Locklear to a contract with incentives if he stuck at left tackle. Locklear has been reasonably healthy and had shown some skills that could translate. The team was not relying on Locklear for its future, but with the entire tackle situation queered by Jones health, Locklear represented a cheap, low-downside bridge from the Jones era to whatever followed. Seattle re-signed Ray Willis to a two-year, inexpensive contract. Willis seems like a steal now that his early-career health problems are behind him. Funny how unpredictable injuries are.

Seattle's success kept it just outside 2008's historic offensive tackle class and it's hard to discredit Seattle for selecting Aaron Curry fourth overall in 2009. Linebacker is not typically a foundational position, but Stafford was gone, Sanchez was iffy, the tackle class overblown -- its best talent taken at two and its second best talent Andre Smith. Eugene Monroe is tossed around, but Monroe had serious injury concerns. He started the season for Jacksonville but has since been benched. If you saw the solution to Seattle's offensive line woes on October 11, you weren't sitting in Qwest Field.

At the time and in the short term, Curry appears to be the right pick. Seattle then traded its second round pick for the 2010 first round pick of the Denver Broncos. It was team with a rookie coach, Kyle Orton at quarterback and one of the worst defenses in the NFL in 2008. It was a smart decision then and whatever has happened since doesn't change that.

Unless it wasn't a smart decision. Eben Britton was available. He is playing right tackle now and may forever play right tackle. Seattle could have selected Andy Levitre, though Levitre is a guard. It could have drafted William Beatty, but neither player has done much for their respective teams. Instead it traded that pick for a better pick and traded back into the second to draft Max Unger. Unger has started all season and seems mostly competent for a rookie right guard.

So it was a smart decision. And yet Seattle's offensive line is in ruins. That is a microcosm for this entire debate. Tim Ruskell has made many smart decisions, but the Seahawks are not winning games. A general manager's job is to build a winning football team. Seattle is 6-20 over the last two seasons. It has clear and recognizable weaknesses at offensive line and in the secondary. Both are units Ruskell has invested in.

Ruskell drafted Ray Willis and he starts. He drafted Chris Spencer and Spencer starts, but has missed time because of injury. He draft Rob Sims and Sims starts, but has missed time because of injury. He drafted Unger, the rookie. He signed Sean Locklear as a low-downside stop-gap until the team could know what to do with Walter Jones, and Locklear's injury has been felt worst of all. He drafted Steve Vallos and Mansfield Wrotto, but Vallos has shifted around and started bad. Wrotto can't seem to impress Seattle's coaches. He got Brandon Frye for nothing, but Frye went down, and Williams for nothing, his asking price, and Damion McIntosh for almost nothing, but maybe a week too late.

Ruskell built his line through the draft and without great expenditure. His picks have been mostly mild to moderate successes. He may not envision an elite line or maybe just never saw value when Seattle was on the clock. That might be arguable, but it isn't indefensible.

So how did the offensive line become offensive? Injuries, age and one very bad decision, it would seem. Steve Hutchinson hangs over Ruskell. Walter Jones, Robbie Tobeck and Chris Gray got old. Jones, through not fault of anyone, has become a burden. Locklear, the young tackle many were gushing about in 2005 has suffered a rash of disconnected injuries. Sims, the young guard many were gushing about in 2006 has suffered a rash of disconnected injuries. Kris Dielman said "no". Unger is a rookie. Spencer has been competent and not too long ago was a steady, established starter. Mike Wahle filled in for a season before his body broke down. Tom Ashworth was expunged. No one Ruskell inherited from 2004 except Hutchinson who was worth retaining wasn't retained.

Revisiting Ruskell's decisions when they were made does not reveal great missed opportunities, but missed opportunities. It does not reveal a general manager that ran a historically great line into the ground, but instead one crucial mistake and the irrepressible destructiveness of time. It does not reveal a man who ignored the line, but added good talent to it, good overall, good respective to the available players and good respective to their cost. It reveals that yesterday's game, awful as it was, is the kind of game every franchise endures. Ozzie Newsome saw it week one of 2007. Bill Polian saw it in week three of 1987.

They saw, we saw, an everyday, frustrating as hell, meltdown -- The kind that happens every Sunday. But there's no heads to call for and no easy answers to rebuilding.

Brian Russell is Seattle's Starting Free Safety (and why that's not so bad)

John Morgan — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:57:45 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Brian Russell is neither boulder nor albatross; Brian Russell is a starter-wife getting wide in the thighs.

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I've never hidden my opinion of Brian Russell, but I hope I haven't sensationalized it either. I think he's a well below average, even bottom tier starting free safety, and that he is a significant part of what is keeping Seattle from an above average or even great defense. But Seattle's fortunes in 2009 do not rely on him. The Seahawks best shot is to rebound enough to make the playoffs and then make an improbable run on the back of their potentially elite run defense. The NFC West is weak enough to make a playoff berth a real possibility, and the Seahawks are built to have a great run defense, an attribute that becomes paramount in the playoffs.

Russell cannot single-handedly undo either. Shoot, if the team wins the Super Bowl, I'm sure to hear plenty of crap for bashing Russell all this time and I'll surely be rehearsing my apologies in my final conscience moments on Earth, smoking moonrocks outside the Yellowknife Pizza Hut on Old Airport Road. But he free is the starter at the position Seattle could have most easily upgraded, and that makes it embittering that the Seahawks did not.

It's not too much of a mystery why the it didn't. Seattle values Brian Russell. He's steady and assignment correct and brings a lot as a veteran presence. The Seahawks secondary performed well in 2007 and the team did not invest in improving it. Fast forward to January of 2009. The secondary is in shambles and fresh off one of the worst pass-defense seasons in franchise history. Two players are clearly most to blame: Kelly Jennings and Brian Russell. The team waits until after the draft to replace Jennings, signing Ken Lucas, and adds no one to compete with Russell. What the hell happened?

This is how Tim Ruskell operates. He's a forward-looking man. A tactical player. Setting up his pieces in their best positions and awaiting the best opportunity. Ruskell didn't see value in free agency, and the solution to a menace isn't a more expensive menace - thank you very much, Asian Flying Carp*. The team may have approached the draft looking for a replacement, but I'll never know. Seattle's best shot at a safety was in round two, but the team traded that pick to Denver for their 2010 first round pick. Not even Patrick Chung was worth passing on that opportunity, and conveniently New England had already selected him three picks earlier. Seattle then traded back into the second to acquire Max Unger. A good pick at the time, and with what we now know about Mike Wahle and what Ruskell no doubt then knew about Mike Wahle, a need pick. Seattle ate up the rest of their opportunities by trading back into the third to get Deon Butler. The team wanted Butler and the team seems to be getting what it wanted from Butler, and the only two safeties available where Rashad Johnson, who Ruskell wouldn't draft, and two tools guy that wouldn't start this season: David Bruton and Chip Vaughn. I might throw Mike Hamlin in there, but I'm pretty partial to the guy.

So you can see how Brian Russell is still Seattle's starting free safety. The team has flirted with replacements, so it's not blind, but like a confident man should, Tim Ruskell didn't panic and assume any solution was preferable to Russell, acting act to appear active. Blame was and is better focused at the 2008 NFL draft. The team had opportunities to draft Kenny Philips, Tyrell Johnson and Charles Godfrey. Godfrey is debatable. Seattle traded up in the second to draft John Carlson and taking Carlson away from the Seahawks would cause rip the space time continuum and cause superbad stuff to happen. Nevertheless, this is when Seattle could have made a move, but it didn't. So here we are, starting Brian Russell all over again, and it's going to suck this season, but it's going to be Berry, Berry nice next season.

Understanding Rob Sims Starting at Left Guard for the Seattle Seahawks

John Morgan — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:33:08 -0000

Seattle's offensive line is volatile, but one position that seems close to decided is left guard. Rob Sims is Seattle's starting left guard. That's a reversal. The team moved him to right guard to accommodate Mike Wahle in 2008. Sims played right guard at Seattle's 2009 mini camps, too. So why has the team shifted him back?

Mike Wahle was forced to retire by shoulder injuries. That's the company line. Sims, among Seattle's remaining personnel, has the most experience at left guard. Sims played his senior season at Ohio State at left guard, started five games including two playoff games for Seattle at left guard in his rookie season, and played 18 games including two playoff games the following season, 2007. So it's not unprecedented for Sims to play left guard nor is he inexperienced. It's just that he wasn't well suited for Mike Holmgren's system.

Holmgren wanted a guard that could pull, trap and cross block. He wanted a drive blocker at left guard with good feet and exacting timing. He wanted Steve Hutchinson. Hutchinson Sims wasn't. In Holmgren's system, Sims was better fit at right guard. He didn't need to be Hutch or carry the rushing offense. Sims could do what he does well: pass block and be dominant within his space. Not that Holmgren didn't want more from his right guard, but he could better suffer Sims inadequacies there. The Seahawks didn't need a great right guard. The Greatest Seahawks of all time, Walter Junior Jones, would not be wasted by a limited right guard.

Holmgren is gone and Seattle no longer needs a left guard that can execute Holmgren's refined style of drive blocking. Greg Knapp's zone blocking system has different standards. It needs a guard with the power to double-team and dominate a nose tackle. It needs a guard that can make quick reads. It needs a guard that can run quickly in a straight line. And a bendy line. But not a retreating semi-circular line. Potentially it needs a guard that can pull across the line and cut block. But if Sims can't do that (he can't) Seattle can assign other, more capable personnel (like Sean Locklear, Max Unger, John Carlson and John Owens) to pull and cut and execute the more technical assignments of a zone blocking system.

Now I'm not so sure about Sims and the bendy lines thing. He can run in a straight line surprisingly well. He was quoted at his pro day saying "...these are the things that I'm good at. Running and jumping," and he backed that statement with a 5.25 forty and 30" vert on a bad hamstring. The bendy line thing will reveal itself quick enough during the preseason. But if Seattle is committed to starting Sims, and given its talent pool it should be, it has a very good reason to keep him at left guard: For all his pass blocking technique and in-the-box power, Sims struggles against better three-tech defensive tackles. His most embarrassing series in 2007 came against Darnell Dockett. The Cardinals shifted Dockett to the defensive right and Dockett blew through Sims on three consecutive plays. Seattle went three and out. Sims struggled against Dockett's speed off the line. Sims is a good pass blocker, but his specific strength is holding ground against powerful nose-tackle types. He holds the integrity of the line and so doing protects against pass rush lanes, or inside rush lanes for the defensive end or a stunting left defensive tackle.

Keeping him on the left keeps him where his best skills are best used. The skills he lacked to be great in Holmgren's offense are deemphasized or deprecated. So it took me three nights of thinking about it to decide, but Sims should work at left guard. He should do there what he could do in 2007, and not be asked to do what he couldn't do in 2007.

Seattle Seahawks Release Guard Mike Wahle; Put Marcus Trufant on PUP List

John Morgan — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:19:37 -0000

Marcus Trufant has been placed on the physically unable to perform list by the Seattle Seahawks. That's today's big news. Seattle releasing Mike Wahle is formality after Ruskell spelled out the troubles he's had this offseason recovering from shoulder surgery.

Much more on the Trufant situation as news comes in.

Here's the quick and dirty about Wahle. Seattle signed Wahle last season after he was cut by the Carolina Panthers. At the time, Carolina's motivation looked salary-cap driven, but in retrospect even then their were rumblings that Wahle was no longer physically capable of playing in the National Football League. Wahle joined Seattle and immediately assumed the left guard spot. It was a move that was supposed to revamp Seattle's interior line by improving two positions. Rob Sims had struggled at left guard, but his mix of power and sturdiness against pass rushers should have made him a fine right guard.

Sims never got to find out, tearing his left pectoral in week 1 and playing much of that contest injured. Wahle himself may have played some of the year through injury. He started strong, giving Seattle a run blocking presence, especially on the second level, unlike any guard Seattle has had since Steve Hutchinson. But it was obvious Wahle wasn't himself. He was a liability in pass protection. Eventually, Wahle was placed on IR.

News this offseason seemed promoising. Wahle had not re-torn his labrum like many feared. Initially his surgery was considered less serious than the surgery performed on Patrick Kerney. Wahle's surgery wasn't as serious, but his healthy problems were. Ruskell stated yesterday his recovery was "problematic" and today Wahle was released, likely ending his NFL career.

Seattle moves on with Max Unger. Unger is not likely to fulfill the promise of Wahle right away. Not the promise, anyhow. But Unger is likely to be better in 2009 than Wahle was in 2008. He is younger, healthier and should not be a liability in pass protection. He shares with Wahle excellent technique as a run blocker and capability in the second level.

This is say day for Mike Wahle, but a necessary day for the Seahawks. Max Unger represents the future, and this team will be better for starting him this season.

Seattle Seahawks Injury Status: Offensive Guard

John Morgan — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:44:19 -0000

More photos » by Ted S. Warren - AP

Seattle is rebuilding its line with young talent. The last unit Tim Ruskell rebuilt through the draft was the Seahawks linebacker corps. In terms of investment, youth and fit, Ruskell's method has been analogous. We shall soon see if it's analogous in terms of success.

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Rob Sims: Sims tore his left pectoral muscle before or during Seattle's week 1 contest at Buffalo, but played through the pain and finished the game. Marcus Stroud shamed him. Team Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Ed Khalfayan, repaired Sims the following Thursday. A pectoral tear is a "fluke" injury without possibility of recurrence. Sims can tear his pectoral anew, but the previous tear cannot itself recur.

Max Unger: Unger started 51 consecutive games at Oregon. He missed spring drills in 2007 because of hernia surgery.

Mike Wahle: Today, Tim Ruskell described Wahle's recovery from shoulder as "problematic". Ruskell is usually pretty optimistic about the health of his players. He didn't place Deion Branch on the PUP list last season, though in retrospect he certainly should have. He once said this about Marcus Tubbs:

"You know, you want to write him off and say, ‘Nobody comes back from that,' " club president Tim Ruskell said. "But Marcus' rehab has been nothing less than amazing. His attitude. He's hit every marker. In some cases, he's beaten markers, in terms of timelines.

"So I would not count him out. I would absolutely not count him out."

So when he describes a recovery as problematic and continues to say "We had kind of thought about [Max Unger playing left guard] as part of the plan," you can interpret "problematic" to mean "doubtful".

Mansfield Wrotto: Wrotto was listed with an "ankle" injury prior to week 15, but fully participated in practice and started that week's game in St. Louis.

2008 Season Retrospective: Chris Spencer

John Morgan — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:52:51 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

"See, it's really simple Sean, Dirichlet said ignore the outcome and examine the function that determines the outcome."

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Overview: Chris Spencer started 11 games before being put on injured reserve for a herniated disc in his lower back. He avoided surgery to remove a piece of loose cartilage and was healthy enough to participate in May minicamp. According to Stats Inc., Spencer allowed 2.5 sacks and was charged with one false start and no holding penalties.

What went right: Spencer again proved reliable at the point of attack and able to match against the most athletic and most powerful defensive tackles. In 2008, he did so consistently. He improved his ability to react to free rushers and protect the quarterback within the pocket. Spencer overcame his greatest deficit, his feet, and began to turn his athleticism and raw power into blocks in the second level. He improved his ability to sustain those blocks as the season progressed.

Quintessential Play:

Let's finish out the half. Memory tends to latch onto the vivid or painful, and Chris Spencer's premature snap was certainly painful. Another drive aborted. Cris Collinsworth took the opportunity to knock the young, largely unknown lineman, noting Mike Holmgren's displeasure. Last season, Spencer was bad. He tripped over his feet pulling and could hardly engage a block must less sustain it. This season, he's likely Seattle's second best offensive lineman on a pretty good unit. He's not the run blocker Mike Wahle is, but he's a better pass blocker and less mistake prone (who saw that coming?) He's probably not actually better than Sean Locklear, but sure as hell better than Locklear is right now. Listening to Collinsworth I couldn't help but think "Late."
That's the developing nature of truth. What was isn't. I see TV analyst once a week. Their takes are so dated, they'd tell you Weezer hit its stride with Hash Pipe. I think fans want to know who's next, not the faded name that was. So hear this: Chris Spencer, still not a value for a first round center, has played well. He's an athletic pull blocker who no longer slips over his shoelaces. He's not Bisquick and you don't see bodies in his wake, but he gets a block on his man and sustains reasonably well, even clobbers occasionally.

What went wrong: Patrick Willis threw him around in week two and that contributed to Willis' game-high eight tackles. Spencer could reach Willis, but Willis could easily shed Spencer. Seattle had no problem rushing against San Francisco, but Willis stopped three good runs from breaking into the third level. That game was a good example of how Spencer has still yet to live up to the potential that made him a first round talent.

His premature-snap false start is exactly the kind of gaffe that causes some to question Spencer's football intelligence. It was his only penalty of the season.

What really went wrong was Spencer's back injury, the latest in a line of serious injuries, including injuries to both shoulders. A line of injuries that may have already chipped away at his athletic potential and that haven't abated, but grown more serious as Spencer has aged.

Outlook: Spencer was playing the best football of his career before he was placed on IR. It's possible the move was some mix of precautionary, pragmatic and proof Seattle was throwing in the towel. Spencer could lose power and still be one of the most powerful centers in football. He could lose athleticism and still be one of the most athletic centers in football. But he hasn't yet learned the technique to one of the best centers in football, and right now he's not that close. Great potential is capable of great advancement in minimal time. It can seem almost miraculous to the casual observer, but in Spencer's case, the groundwork is laid and the path to stardom almost too obvious.

His play last season was the best of his young career. He is out from under a boss that humiliated and underappreciated him. His new boss has a different standard of excellence and has spoken kindly of him. He is no longer being asked to be something he's not, and may now develop more freely into who he is. Spencer will never be Robbie Tobeck or Frank Winters, but he could be Kevin Mawae. This is a make or break season for him in Seattle, but like Mawae, he could struggle as a Seahawk but still develop into a great player.

NFC West Position-by-Position: Entire Offense

Hawkwind — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:25:54 -0000

More photos » by Matt York - AP

Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt, left, and quarterback Kurt Warner watch practice. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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We've looked at every position on the offensive side of the ball so far and today we wrap up the offensive units by breaking down the group, as a whole (you can look at previous stories here). The Arizona Cardinals offense carried the team for most of the 2008 season but how do they measure up to their counterparts in the NFC West?

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals offense could simply be described as night and day. In the dark is the league's worst rushing attack from one year ago but standing right next to the 'ugly sister' is the second best passing attack. The two units combine to form an offense that ranked fourth in yards per game and third in points per game. The Cardinals also have the advantage of nine returning starters on the offensive side of the ball, with the only exceptions coming at running back and fullback, and the average age of starters is under 28 years old.

Running Game: When you look at the group as a whole, the only significant change is a running back where they basically traded a highly accomplished running back on the downside of his career (if not completely washed up) for a highly unproven back with loads of potential. Whether or not that ends up being an upgrade is almost irrelevant in my mind because the league's worst rushing attack can't get worse, at least by definition. There is a glimmer of hope that the running game will improve based on the fact that the same offensive line is returning with another year of experience. With slightly better blocking from the line, a bigger potential to break off longer runs and play calling that leans closer to 'balanced' there's a greater than zero chance that the running game could crawl out of the cellar and approach respectability. Make no mistake though, the offense will go through the right arm of Kurt Warner as long as he's under center.

Passing Game: Ah, the bread of butter of the Redbirds offense. If the Cardinals are successful in 2009, it'll be because Kurt Warner and his host of standout receivers had another great year. Warner's age and complete lack of mobility will always be a concern but when he's able to stand upright in a well formed pocket and sling it down the field, there are few better. The talent at receiver (Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban and Early Doucet) is the best in the NFL and the group can excel in every aspect of the passing game. They've got the guys who can move the chains (Boldin), stretch the field (Breaston), and guys who are capable of both (Fitzgerald). If the Cardinals can get any production out of the tight end position, there's no reason to think this passing game couldn't be top five, if not much better, again this season.

Play Calling: I include this aspect of the offense because many Cardinals fans will point to the play calling as a big reason why the running game was so ineffective last season. The Cardinals too often ran in predictable situations and formations that were tailored to the passing game instead of success on the ground. By season's end most of us were completely fed up with draw plays out of the shotgun formation, but it's a fine line between what's good for the ground game versus what's good for the passing game. One thing that we'll all have to accept is that any offense led by Kurt Warner will be pass first-run second, regardless of how often head coach Ken Whisenhunt talks about a balance offense, but there are some ways that the play calling can help put the running game in better situations.

Overall I think this offense will do more than it's fair share to put the Arizona Cardinals in a position to win most of the games that they play. Regardless of whatever balance they end up with at season's end, this group is going to put up it's fair share of points and the short passing game does a decent job of bleeding the clock most of the time. In an ideal situation, I'd like to think that the running game could creap up to around 20th in the league (an increase of about 34 yards per game) and the passing game would still stay in the top five. The net effect would be an offense that is downright deadly, but only time will tell. As for a grade, I'd like to think that a unit that is top five in yards per game and points per game would be considered an A, but the league's worst rushing attack has to be factored in so I'll stick with a B.

San Francisco 49ers - Niners Nation

The San Francisco 49ers offense is viewed by most as anemic at best. They're on their seventh offensive coordinator in an as many seasons and still trying to figure out which quarterback is the answer. Or at least which is the answer for 2009. The lone bright spot on this offense has been Frank Gore, who has seen his rushing totals decrease the last two seasons after setting the franchise record in 2006. Shaun Hill and Alex Smith continue to leave fans either frustrated or defensive about the QB situation, and the offensive line went from stellar in 2006, to sort of blah more recently.

Running Game: The rushing game has been the highlight for the 49ers since drafting Frank Gore. This will play an even bigger role in the offense of new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. Coach Singletary has stated that he wants a bruising running game, as opposed to a light 'em up passing attack. Most fans are hoping the offensive line has been solidified with recent additions because Frank the tank most definitely cannot make it happen all by himself. One quiet offseason move that has made Gore quite happy is the return of fullback Moran Norris. Norris was exiled with the entrance of Mike Martz, but a return to a strong rushing attack requires the fullback skills Norris brings to the table. Aside from the offensive line, the big question is whether Glen Coffee will provide a sufficient alternative to keep Gore fresh and keep defenses off balance. Nobody can say for sure so we'll just have to wait for the season to get going.

Passing Game: I really don't think I need to say much about the 49ers QBs. Non-49ers fans (and even a group of 49ers fans) think the Hill/Smith combo is a joke. However, again, if the offensive line can keep up its end of the bargain, the passing attack only needs to complement the rushing attack. The 49ers do not need to have Shaun Hill throw for 4,000+ yards to make the playoffs. As long as Hill can avoid stupid the mind-numbing mistakes of J.T. O'Mulligan, this offense should be in "good enough" shape. The receiving corps is extremely young, aside from Isaac Bruce, but improvement will be seen. I realize I'm basing this more on potential than production, but guys like Morgan, Hill and Davis bring serious talent to the table. I think the odds are higher that they improve rather than stagnate or regress. I know my fans at Field Gulls will disagree, but that's the glory of debate.

Play Calling: This is an issue for the 49ers simply because of the new offensive coordinator....again. Under Jimmy Raye, what kind of play-calling will we see? Coach Singletary wants a smash mouth running game, but will he and Raye force that kind of game even if it's clearly not working? Will Jimmy Raye truly use Vernon Davis as a more traditional receiving tight end, rather than a receiver? Every offensive coordinator speaks of the talent of Davis, but then proceeds to under-utilize him. Jimmy Raye and the play-calling becoming the ultimate question mark for this offense in 2009. The right play-calling will put Hill/Smith in a position to be successful. Maybe not Pro Bowl successful, but again, this team does not need that from their quarterback.

Although there are a lot of question marks, suggesting the performance in 2009 requires making guesses on the answers to those questions. I won't suggest that this offense is going to explode like nobody would believe and leave the 49ers ranked at the top of the league. It is simply not built to be that kind of offense and I am fine with that. I think there's a good chance we'll see a good to very good rushing attack and a middle of the road passing attack. If that comes to fruition, the 49ers will be in good shape. Accordingly, I'll give them a grade of C. It might not quite jive with my individual grades, but that's life.

St. Louis Rams - Turf Show Times

Like everything else in the dawn of this rebuilding era, the Rams offense is marked by...question marks, what else. The Greatest Show on Turf era died a slow and torturous death over the last few seasons as players got old and injured, coaches came and went, and past drafts failed to restock the talent pool. The front office tried a "win-now" strategy with those rusty parts, and now they're enjoying a forced retirement in the team's original sunny SoCal home.

Running Game: With Steven Jackson, the Rams have the main ingredient for a top notch running game. The new regime knows that, and has spent considerable effort and dollars to make the blocking game more physical and aggressive as part of a new offensive system that will make Jackson the point from which all offense flows. The question mark here is health. Jackson missed time in each of the last two seasons. That has fantasy drafters worried, but the handful of people who watched the Rams last year know that much of SJ's injury problems came about as a result of the offensive line, or lack thereof, which forced him to shoulder more of the load. He still topped 1,000 yards in 12 games for one of the two worst offenses in the league. If Jackson stays healthy, additions like C Jason Brown and FB Mike Karney will be remembered as masterstrokes.

Passing Game: Here's where it gets really complicated. The Rams have (some would say had) an accurate QB with a good arm, a guy who has proven himself...before he got sacked over and over again. In the last two seasons, Bulger has made poor throws and poor decisions in the pocket, some of which can be blamed on the line, some on the QB. His accuracy got better last year, back in line with career norms, and if he can adjust to the new offense and get comfortable behind a rebuilt o-line he should get back to respectability. Of course, he'll still need someone to throw to. Jackson and TE Randy McMichael will be the main targets in the new West Coast offense. The receivers, led by second year man Donnie Avery, are the next big question mark. Can they produce with such limited experience? Avery will be used as more of a playmaking type, while Keenan Burton and the guys behind him are expected to fall into the all important chain-mover possession role.

Play calling: It's a new offensive system under Pat Shurmur, one that will look a lot like what the Eagles have been using. It success will depend on, in addition to the things mentioned above, how well the players pick it up. If they can establish the running game with Jackson, things should fall into place. Regardless, it may be another season before it hits on all cylinders.

Even with so many dangling plots sewn into it, the Rams offense, at last, has a vision to strive for and a pattern to guide it. How far it gets this season remains to be seen, but at least the team and fans will learn what they have and what they need as a new era unfolds. Grade D+

Seattle Seahawks - Field Gulls

Mike Holmgren is one of the great all-time evaluators of offensive talent. Nevertheless, many believe his departure will be good for Seattle's offense. As general manager Tim Ruskell began to remake the Seahawks roster in his image, the discord between Ruskell's talent and Holmgren's scheme became increasingly pronounced. Last season, Holmgren's team was losing with Ruskell's roster. Ruskell signed Greg Knapp and for the first time in his administration, there is harmony between the offensive coaching staff and the front office. That works if anyone knows what they're doing.

Running Game: Seattle is installing a zone blocking system. Players have gushed over how it fits their skills and will take them to the next level, and maybe it does. I don't expect a professional athlete to say otherwise. The key to any system working is fit and talent. A zone blocking system can take many shapes, and until we see how Seattle executes it, much less who executes it, it's hard to say how well it will fit the team's personnel. If Seattle sticks with Mike Wahle at left guard and Chris Spencer at center, it has a core of athletic blockers that are good in space. If Unger wins out at left all the better, especially for the pass offense.

I thought Julius Jones was a better fit for Holmgren's man-blocking, cutback heavy style. Both systems emphasize vision. Jones should do well finding holes and picking his way to positive yards in a zone blocking scheme, but I do not expect a breakout or mid-career renaissance. T.J. Duckett has good vision for a power back, almost looking picky at times, and should more than adjust in Knapp's system. He should flourish.

Passing Game: It all comes down to Matt Hasselbeck, doesn't it? Passing offense correlates better with wins than any other single component of football. Seneca Wallace, a Charlie Frye sighting and a broken Hasselbeck doomed Seattle to its worst season since 1992. If Hasselbeck is healthy, stays healthy, and hasn't grown old overnight, Seattle has a worthy shot of fielding a top ten passing offense. It did as recently as 2007. This season, its skill position players are much improved. In fact, every position except fullback has a better receiving option than Seattle had in 2007.

Play Calling: Play calling is pretty hard to qualify with any confidence. There was a sense that in some way the NFL had passed Holmgren by, but it's possible he just couldn't work with the players he was given. It's possible the players he was given just sucked.

The Seahawks are lousy with accomplished players, and should it collapse it will be because accomplishment requires age and Seattle's offense is old. But it takes some kind of pessimist to ignore the great potential. Hasselbeck can still be a very good quarterback. T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch form a very good starting wide receiver duo. There's talent at slot. John Carlson is one of the best young tight ends in football. Jones and Duckett are both young and healthy. The risk is enough to force me to call Seattle only an average offense, but the potential is enough to make this "C" look very foolish come January.

We didn't get around to completely the rankings but it's pretty easy to see how they would have turned out with the Red Birds on top and the Rams in the cellar. The order of the second and third could probably be debated but in the end, there might not be much difference between the two.

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With our final installment on the offensive side of the ball, how do you feel about the Cardinals offensive personnel? What scares you about the rest of the division?

2008 Season Retrospective: Mike Wahle

John Morgan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:31:36 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Rob Sims squats and ponders why steady pass-blocking is the least heralded skill of the offensive guard.

Browse more photos »

Overview: The Carolina Panthers released Mike Wahle February 11, 2008. Seattle signed him three days later to a five-year, $20 million contract with $5.5 million guaranteed and a $3.5 million signing bonus. Wahle started ten games at left guard before being put on injured reserve on December 5 with an injured right shoulder.

What went right: Wahle was, as a run blocker, the closest thing to Steve Hutchinson since Steve Hutchinson. Wahle's ability to pull allowed Seattle to trap and kick-out block, and opened parts of Mike Holmgren's playbook closed since 2005. More importantly, Wahle executed and executed well. He gave Patrick Willis the business and helped Seattle run for 169 yards against San Francisco in week two. He was the best interior run-blocker for a team that ran for more yards than it passed through six games.

What went wrong: Wahle was the worst interior pass-blocker for a team that passed for fewer yards than it ran through six games. He started shaky, was handled by Justin Tuck, and by week 8, with his shoulder screaming and his range of motion narrowed, handled by Justin Smith. The injury that ended his season occurred to the same shoulder he suffered a torn labrum to in December of 2006.

Outlook: Seattle could save $1.1 million by cutting Wahle. His recent surgery was a scope and therefore much less severe than the reconstruction he endured in 2006. There is a chance that Wahle is exiting the bad stretch of his career and entering his final bloom before retirement. That's not how this story usually goes. Wahle still has the best potential at left guard for the 2009 Seahawks. Seattle has so far decided that his potential and value as depth is worth at least $1.1 million, but it is no mere coincidence that Max Unger is starting his career practicing at left guard.

Wahle could still lose his job in training camp. He could be cut if he can't prove himself healthy. There's a dreamer's scenario where Unger replaces Wahle like Leroy Hill replaced Jamie Sharper in 2005 after Seattle loses Wahle for the season, and Wahle his career, and Seahawks fans laugh all the way into the playoffs. There's a nightmare scenario where Wahle stays healthy but never regains his ability to pass block, but by staying healthy sticks on the roster this year and beyond and is misidentified as a contributor when he's really a liability. Most likely though is that Wahle starts the year at left guard. If he proves incapable of pass blocking it will indicate to coaches a recurrence of his injury or that his shoulder is irreparably damaged, and he will be benched or put on IR.

NFC West Position-by-Position: Offense

Fooch — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:00:15 -0000

Apologies for the lack of activity over the weekend. I hope everybody had a great holiday weekend. We're fully into July now, meaning we're mere weeks away from training camp. After going through the various offensive positions in our blogger roundtable discussions, it seemed fitting to now discuss the offense as a whole. Certain positions could end up with high grades while an offense as a whole is graded a little less generously. Up to this point we've discussed quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, centers, offensive tackles and guards. Today we combine all the positions together to provide an overview of the offense. I remain convinced that the 49ers do not need an overpowering offense to be successful in 2009. A middle of the road offense would be sufficient.

1. Arizona Cardinals
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. St. Louis Rams

Arizona Cardinals
Blogger: cgolden
The Arizona Cardinals offense could simply be described as night and day. In the dark is the league's worst rushing attack from one year ago but standing right next to the 'ugly sister' is the second best passing attack. The two units combine to form an offense that ranked fourth in yards per game and third in points per game. The Cardinals also have the advantage of nine returning starters on the offensive side of the ball, with the only exceptions coming at running back and fullback, and the average age of starters is under 28 years old.

Running Game: When you look at the group as a whole, the only significant change is a running back where they basically traded a highly accomplished running on the downside of his career (if not completely washed up) for a highly unproven back with loads of potential. Whether or not that ends up being an upgrade is almost irrelevant in my mind because the league's worst rushing attack can't get worse, at least by definition. There is a glimmer of hope that the running game will improve based on the fact that the same offensive line is returning with another year of experience. With slightly better blocking from the line, a bigger potential to break off longer runs and play calling that leans closer to 'balanced' there's a greater than zero chance that the running game could crawl out of the cellar and approach respectability, but make no mistake about the fact that the offense will go through the right arm of Kurt Warner as long as he's under center.

Passing Game: Ah the bread of butter of the Redbirds offense. If the Cardinals are successful in 2009, it'll be because Kurt Warner and his host of standout receivers had another great year. Warner's age and complete lack of mobility will always be a concern but when he's able to stand upright in a well formed pocket and sling it down the field, there are few better. The talent at receiver (Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban and Early Doucet) is the best in the NFL and the group can excel in every aspect of the passing game. They've got the guys who can move the chains (Boldin), stretch the field (Breaston) and guys who are capable of both (Fitzgerald). If the Cardinals can get any production out of the tight end position, there's no reason to think this passing game couldn't be top five, if not much better, again this season.

Play Calling: I include this aspect of the offense because many Cardinals fans will point to the play calling as a big reason why the running game was so ineffective last season. The Cardinals too often ran in predictable situations and formations that were tailored to the passing game instead of success on the ground. By season's end most of us were completely fed up with draw plays out of the shotgun formation, but it's a fine line between what's good for the ground game versus what's good for the passing game. One thing that we'll all have to accept is that any offense led by Kurt Warner will be pass first pass second, regardless of how often head coach Ken Whisenhunt talks about a balance offense, but there are some ways that the play calling can help put the running game in better situations.

Overall I think this offense will do more than it's fair share to put the Arizona Cardinals in a position to win most of the games that they play. Regardless of whatever balance they end up with at season's end, this group is going to put up it's fair share of points and the short passing game does a decent job of bleeding the clock most of the time. In an ideal situation, I'd like to think that the running game could creap up to around 20th in the league (an increase of about 34 yards per game) and the passing game would still stay in the top five. The net effect would be an offense that is downright deadly, but only time will tell. As for a grade, I'd like to think that a unit that is top five in yards per game and points per game would be considered an A, but the league's worst rushing attack has to be factored in so I'll stick with a B.

Seattle Seahawks
Blogger: John Morgan
Mike Holmgren is one of the great all-time evaluators of offensive talent. Nevertheless, many believe his departure will be good for Seattle’s offense. As general manager Tim Ruskell began to remake the Seahawks roster in his image, the discord between Ruskell’s talent and Holmgren’s scheme became increasingly pronounced. Last season, Holmgren’s team was losing with Ruskell’s roster. Ruskell signed Greg Knapp and for the first time in his administration, there is harmony between the offensive coaching staff and the front office. That works if anyone knows what they’re doing.

Running Game: Seattle is installing a zone blocking system. Players have gushed over how it fits their skills and will take them to the next level, and maybe it does. I don’t expect a professional athlete to say otherwise. The key to any system working is fit and talent. A zone blocking system can take many shapes, and until we see how Seattle executes it, much less who executes it, it’s hard to say how well it will fit the team’s personnel. If Seattle sticks with Mike Wahle at left guard and Chris Spencer at center, it has a core of athletic blockers that are good in space. If Unger wins out at left all the better, especially for the pass offense.

I thought Julius Jones was a better fit for Holmgren’s man-blocking, cutback heavy style. Both systems emphasize vision. Jones should do well finding holes and picking his way to positive yards in a zone blocking scheme, but I do not expect a breakout or mid-career renaissance. T.J. Duckett has good vision for a power back, almost looking picky at times, and should more than adjust in Knapp’s system. He should flourish.

Passing Game: It all comes down to Matt Hasselbeck, doesn’t it? Passing offense correlates better with wins than any other single component of football. Seneca Wallace, a Charlie Frye sighting and a broken Hasselbeck doomed Seattle to its worst season since 1992. If Hasselbeck is healthy, stays healthy, and hasn’t grown old overnight, Seattle has a worthy shot of fielding a top ten passing offense. It did as recently as 2007. This season, its skill position players are much improved. In fact, every position except fullback has a better receiving option than Seattle had in 2007.

Play Calling: Play calling is pretty hard to qualify with any confidence. There was a sense that in some way the NFL had passed Holmgren by, but it’s possible he just couldn’t work with the players he was given. It’s possible the players he was given just sucked.

The Seahawks are lousy with accomplished players, and should it collapse it will be because accomplishment requires age and Seattle's offense is old. But it takes some kind of pessimist to ignore the great potential. Hasselbeck can still be a very good quarterback. T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch form a very good starting wide receiver duo. There’s talent at slot. John Carlson is one of the best young tight ends in football. Jones and Duckett are both young and healthy. The risk is enough to force me to call Seattle only an average offense, but the potential is enough to make this "C" look very foolish come January.

San Francisco 49ers
Blogger: Fooch
The San Francisco 49ers offense is viewed by most as anemic at best. They're on their seventh offensive coordinator in an as many seasons and still trying to figure out which quarterback is the answer. Or at least which is the answer for 2009. The lone bright spot on this offense has been Frank Gore, who has seen his rushing totals decrease the last two seasons after setting the franchise record in 2006. Shaun Hill and Alex Smith continue to leave fans either frustrated or defensive about the QB situation, and the offensive line went from stellar in 2006, to sort of blah more recently.

Running Game: The rushing game has been the highlight for the 49ers since drafting Frank Gore. This will play an even bigger role in the offense of new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. Coach Singletary has stated that he wants a bruising running game, as opposed to a light 'em up passing attack. Most fans are hoping the offensive line has been solidified with recent additions because Frank the tank most definitely cannot make it happen all by himself. One quiet offseason move that has made Gore quite happy is the return of fullback Moran Norris. Norris was exiled with the entrance of Mike Martz, but a return to a strong rushing attack requires the fullback skills Norris brings to the table. Aside from the offensive line, the big question is whether Glen Coffee will provide a sufficient alternative to keep Gore fresh and keep defenses off balance. Nobody can say for sure so we'll just have to wait for the season to get going.

Passing Game: I really don't think I need to say much about the 49ers QBs. Non-49ers fans (and even a group of 49ers fans) think the Hill/Smith combo is a joke. However, again, if the offensive line can keep up its end of the bargain, the passing attack only needs to complement the rushing attack. The 49ers do not need to have Shaun Hill throw for 4,000+ yards to make the playoffs. As long as Hill can avoid stupid the mind-numbing mistakes of J.T. O'Mulligan, this offense should be in "good enough" shape. The receiving corps is extremely young, aside from Isaac Bruce, but improvement will be seen. I realize I'm basing this more on potential than production, but guys like Morgan, Hill and Davis bring serious talent to the table. I think the odds are higher that they improve rather than stagnate or regress. I know my fans at Field Gulls will disagree, but that's the glory of debate.

Play Calling: This is an issue for the 49ers simply because of the new offensive coordinator....again. Under Jimmy Raye, what kind of play-calling will we see? Coach Singletary wants a smash mouth running game, but will he and Raye force that kind of game even if it's clearly not working? Will Jimmy Raye truly use Vernon Davis as a more traditional receiving tight end, rather than a receiver? Every offensive coordinator speaks of the talent of Davis, but then proceeds to under-utilize him. Jimmy Raye and the play-calling becoming the ultimate question mark for this offense in 2009. The right play-calling will put Hill/Smith in a position to be successful. Maybe not Pro Bowl successful, but again, this team does not need that from their quarterback.

Although there are a lot of question marks, suggesting the performance in 2009 requires making guesses on the answers to those questions. I won't suggest that this offense is going to explode like nobody would believe and leave the 49ers ranked at the top of the league. It is simply not built to be that kind of offense and I am fine with that. I think there's a good chance we'll see a good to very good rushing attack and a middle of the road passing attack. If that comes to fruition, the 49ers will be in good shape. Accordingly, I'll give them a grade of C. It might not quite jive with my individual grades, but that's life.

St. Louis Rams
Blogger: VanRam

Like everything else in the dawn of this rebuilding era, the Rams offense is marked by...question marks, what else. The Greatest Show on Turf era died a slow and torturous death over the last few seasons as players got old and injured, coaches came and went, and past drafts failed to restock the talent pool. The front office tried a "win-now" strategy with those rusty parts, and now they're enjoying a forced retirement in the team's original sunny SoCal home.

Running Game: With Steven Jackson, the Rams have the main ingredient for a top notch running game. The new regime knows that, and has spent considerable effort and dollars to make the blocking game more physical and aggressive as part of a new offensive system that will make Jackson the point from which all offense flows. The question mark here is health. Jackson missed time in each of the last two seasons. That has fantasy drafters worried, but the handful of people who watched the Rams last year know that much of SJ's injury problems came about as a result of the offensive line, or lack thereof, which forced him to shoulder more of the load. He still topped 1,000 yards in 12 games for one of the two worst offenses in the league. If Jackson stays healthy, additions like C Jason Brown and FB Mike Karney will be remembered as masterstrokes.

Passing Game: Here's where it gets really complicated. The Rams have (some would say had) an accurate QB with a good arm, a guy who has proven himself...before he got sacked over and over again. In the last two seasons, Bulger has made poor throws and poor decisions in the pocket, some of which can be blamed on the line, some on the QB. His accuracy got better last year, back in line with career norms, and if he can adjust to the new offense and get comfortable behind a rebuilt o-line he should get back to respectability. Of course, he'll still need someone to throw to. Jackson and TE Randy McMichael will be the main targets in the new West Coast offense. The receivers, led by second year man Donnie Avery, are the next big question mark. Can they produce with such limited experience? Avery will be used as more of a playmaking type, while Keenan Burton and the guys behind him are expected to fall into the all important chain-mover possession role.

Play calling: It's a new offensive system under Pat Shurmur, one that will look a lot like what the Eagles have been using. It success will depend on, in addition to the things mentioned above, how well the players pick it up. If they can establish the running game with Jackson, things should fall into place. Regardless, it may be another season before it hits on all cylinders.

Even with so many dangling plots sewn into it, the Rams offense, at last, has a vision to strive for and a pattern to guide it. How far it gets this season remains to be seen, but at least the team and fans will learn what they have and what they need as a new era unfolds. Grade D+