SB Nation - Patrick Kerney

With the 6th Pick in the 2010 Stampede Blue Community Mock Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select...

mgrex03 — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:00:33 -0000

Logo by coltsfan723

Gerald McCoy, DT - Oklahoma

Pick made by shake n bake:

While the Seahawks have serious needs at QB and LT, Seattle should have no problem getting a quality LT prospect at the #14 pick and McCoy is the clear best player on the board at a position where they could use an upgrade. McCoy also addresses the Seahawks other top 3 need, though a bit unconventionally. The Seahawks leading sacker was 33 year old Patrick Kerney with just 5. Seattle needs a better pass rush. Most attempts to address this are with a DE, but McCoy is the best pass rushing DT in the class.

How will he impact the Seahawks in 2010?

Pairing McCoy with Brandon Mebane (5.5 sacks in 2008) inside in passing situations could bring some serious heat along the shortest route to the QB. McCoy would fight Mebane for a starting spot, rotate heavily if he lost, and likely pair with Mebane in passing situations.

If McCoy is taken #6 by the Seahawks, it would be the first DT taken in the first round by the Seahawks since 2004, when they drafted Marcus Tubbs #23 overall. He will also be the first DT from Oklahama drafted in the first round since Tommie Harris was drafted #14 overall by the Bears in 2004.

McCoy's Scouting Report from Mocking the Draft

The Browns, and 2ndBlueGeneration, are on the clock...

Pos	Team	Player	Pos	School	Drafter
1	St. Louis	Jimmy Clausen	QB	Notre Dame	TouchdownColts
2	Detroit	Russell Okung	OT	Oklahoma St.	coltsfan723
3	Tampa Bay	Ndamukong Suh	DT	Nebraska	TheAngelsColts
4	Washington	Sam Bradford	QB	Oklahoma	Colts Homer
5	Kansas City	Eric Berry	S	Tennessee	sanders_fan89
6	Seattle	Gerald McCoy	DT	Oklahoma	shake n bake
7	Cleveland				2ndBlueGeneration
8	Oakland				LovinBlue
9	Buffalo				Cassieper
10	Jacksonville				peytonsthebest
11	Denver				JPBarnett
12	Miami				fpacheco
13	San Francisco				BlueVol03
14	Seattle				shake n bake
15	N.Y. Giants				gizzardfanny
16	Tennessee				Addai Another Day
17	San Francisco				BlueVol03
18	Pittsburgh				LV Steelers Fan
19	Atlanta				fiftycal2004
20	Houston				Aerostar193
21	Cincinnati				FineClub
22	New England				skywalker
23	Green Bay				bracketismyboy
24	Philadelphia				TehRhino
25	Baltimore				SupermanWearsBobSander'sPJs
26	Arizona				NYKings
27	Dallas				jules62
28	San Diego				chad72
29	N.Y. Jets				diagenesis
30	Minnesota				DClark#44
31	Indianapolis				mgrex03
32	New Orleans				palco

Poll

What's your take on draft pick #6?

The Tim Ruskell Mock Draft

John Morgan — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:28:47 -0000

More photos » Chuck Burton - AP

In an alternate reality, Peppers is a Seahawk.

Browse more photos »

Someone mentioned that they like mock drafts not for their accuracy but because they present a list of players in a fun, readable format. Eventually I would like to post what I consider realistic mock drafts for the Seahawks. Today I present the exact opposite: A hypothetical mock draft.

The history here is simple: Tim Ruskell never resigns and is instead signed to an extension. Jim Mora gets the axe. Keeping with Ruskell tradition, the team makes no major or disharmonious coaching decisions but instead simply promotes Dan Quinn. We're left with the 2009 coaching staff minus Mora.

Free agency is typically active and Seattle signs Julius Peppers to an eleventy billion dollar contract. Patrick Kerney is dropped with the forced-restructure/pennies-on-the-dollar-trade method employed to move Julian Peterson. I don't know what we get in return. A box of donuts. Peppers is the draw, but he must be complemented with an aging veteran counterpunch that undoes any value Seattle reaps by signing him. LaDainian Tomlinson it is.

6. Eric Berry: Ruskell knows he must rebuild the offense to contend again, but the prospect of drafting a low-risk, ultra-talented safety beguiles him. Pundits applaud Ruskell for drafting the best available talent while excusing concerns that Matt Hasselbeck is washed up.

(Ruskell trades the #14 pick and Seattle's seventh round pick to Philadelphia for the Eagles #24 pick, #70 pick and second pick in the fourth round)

24. Brian Bulaga: Ruskell ignores concerns about overall athleticism and future health and instead selects the tackle that scouts best: Brian Bulaga. Bulaga is everything you expect in a Ruskell pick: good tape, good teammate, major conference, successful program, leader, reasonably scheme correct and a likely faller because sexier picks will eclipse him.

40. Colt McCoy: Seattle finally gets its quarterback of the future when Ruskell selects the winneringest winner in college football history. In the flush of celebration, Tim Tebow rushes to Colt and gives him a bear hug, enveloping the fragile quarterback and creating a fatal rise in blood pressure that McCoy's tiny, wholesome heart can not counter. Seriously though, McCoy is a dead wringer for what Ruskell wants in a quarterback, minus maybe that he's shorter than prototypical.

70: Jon Asamoah:

107: Syd'Quan Thompson: What Thompson lacks in size or speed, he makes up for by being very good at football. It didn't surprise me when Thompson elected not to run at the Combine and then put up poor times in his pro day, perhaps the first thing I noticed is that he plays with a huge cushion to avoid being burned. When he plays up, he can't flip his hips and run. The agility is there, but the burst and top end speed is not. His awareness and ball skills must somehow overcome these basic flaws, and if he can play closer to 200, he has overall skill-set of a Cover 2 corner.

130. Ben Tate: Tough inside rusher and three-down back that shouldn't last this long but might, Tate fits the Ruskell profile: Two year starter and three year contributor at Auburn, successful, underappreciated athlete, and solid screen receiver to fit Knapp's offense.

140: Arthur Jones: Ruskell typically stayed away from injured players, but Jones' torn pectoral should not cause too much concern. The torn lateral meniscus in his knee is worrisome, but with Jones tumbling and arguably among the best defensive tackles in the draft, Ruskell breaks character a bit, if only to honor other biases. Jones is humble and hard working and a team leader, and scouts better than he performs in drills.

179: Shay Hodge: Big-bodied receiver with decent production but not great tape, Hodge is a late riser that probably can not translate his practice skills to the football field.

Poll

Is the hypothetical Tim Ruskell draft better or worse than you expect from the actual Seahawks draft?

What Separates Aaron Kampman and Kyle Vanden Bosch from Darryl Tapp and Lawrence Jackson

John Morgan — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:15:22 -0000

More photos » Mark Humphrey - AP

"Hi, my name is Kyle. I had couple good seasons through my peak years, but am old and mostly washed up now. You can pay me too much, I'd love that--twins, buddy--but it would only set your franchise back and negatively impact your future cap."

Browse more photos »

Rumors persist, so let's see if I can clobber this nonsense before it robs me of sleep.

Green Bay drafted Aaron Kampman in the fifth round of the 2002 draft. In his first two seasons, he started 16 games, played in 24 and had 2.5 sacks. 2.5. Those were his age 23 and 24 seasons.

He started all 32 games he played over the next two seasons, his age 25 and age 26 seasons, and improved his sack totals to 4.5 and 6.5. Subtle, aren't I?

The next year, he turned 27, and BOOM SHAKALAKA! he recorded 15.5 sacks.

28: 12

29: 9.5

30: 3.5 and was injured for most of the season.

Arizona drafted Kyle Vanden Bosch in the second round of the 2001 draft. Over four seasons, he started 20 games and had four sacks. Tennessee signed him in 2005, the year he turned 27, and WITH AUTHORITY! Vanden Bosch started 16 games and recorded 12.5 sacks.

28: 6.5

29: 12

30: 4.5

31: 3

I'm not making this up.

Seattle drafted Darryl Tapp in the second round of 2006. Through four seasons, he has 18 sacks. Kampman, 13.5. Vanden Bosch, four. He turns 26 in 2010. He is entering his prime. In 2009, he had 13 quarterback hurries, tied for seventh in all of football. He's improving. He's hugely valuable. He's not old man Kampman or old man Vanden Bosch, he's the next Kampman, the next Vanden Bosch.

If he gets the chance.

Lawrence Jackson is 24. He has 6.5 sacks through two seasons. Better than Kampman; better than Vanden Bosch.

Pass rushers peak. Tim Ruskell struck gold by signing Bryce Fisher before his age 28 season. Pass rushers fade, Ruskell signed Patrick Kerney, got a surprise breakout season, and then was stuck with a declining end that cost too much to cut.

It's so early in the process. Please, please do not screw this up. The talent you covet is on the roster, waiting to develop. Don't sign a veteran because of the illusion of a sure thing. Tapp and Jackson are younger, cheaper, healthier and have better potential than either Kampman or Vanden Bosch. And if they don't develop, you have committed nothing. If Kampman or Vanden Bosch bust, you've set the franchise back the way Grant Wistrom did, the way Kerney is.

Seahawks Can Win Free Agency by Predicting the Market

John Morgan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:23:25 -0000

More photos » Elaine Thompson - AP

Nate Burleson's absolute value is immaterial, his value is defined both by the Seahawks need, strong, and the market, barren.

Browse more photos »

Seattle has no excuse for losing talent. It has already likely lost Nate Burleson and Cory Redding because of a perceived discrepancy between their worth and what they would actually be paid. Running a football franchise is competing in a game, and the rules change regularly. I have never been a strong advocate for Burleson, but losing him without compensation is like giving your opponent the Mediterranean-Baltic monopoly without compensation. Even the minimally valuable is more valuable than nothing.

Approaching an uncapped season, and its specific rules and limitations, Seattle should have prioritized not their own needs, but the markets needs. Allow me to explain.

Nate Burleson

Burleson turns 29 in August. He is within a wide receiver's peak seasons, and in fact had his best season in Seattle in 2009. He did that despite recovering from an ACL tear he suffered September of 2008. The market is especially thin for wide receivers, and wide receivers like corners are in constant demand because teams regularly use five. If the question was, which free agent was the best at his respective position, than franchising Olindo Mare made sense. He was among the best kickers in football last year. But the question is not which player was best at their position, but which player would be hardest to replace. And that is clearly Burleson. Seattle is thin at wide receiver. The market is thin at wide receiver. The wide receiver class is relatively thin, and first year wide receivers rarely ever produce at a high level.

Verdict: Seattle should have franchised Burleson. It would fill an immediate need without tying the team to a contract they could regret. He may not be worth the initial value, but, again, that's immaterial. Burleson is not worth $9.52 million in a vacuum, he's worth $9.52 million for Seattle in 2010.

Cory Redding

Redding is 29 and will turn 30 in November. He is within but exiting a defensive tackle's peak seasons. He's also had health problems as recent as 2008, but was mostly healthy for 2009. Seattle has a strong need at defensive tackle, but luckily the 2010 class looks loaded. The greater problem is that even if Seattle were to slap a transition tag on Redding, because he was converted to end last year, he would still cost over $10 million. A gut reaction might be that Redding is not worth $10 million, and it's likely he's not, but does it matter? Teams have a self-imposed cap, but even within those constraints, Seattle is likely to free itself of both Walter Jones and Patrick Kerney.

Verdict: Redding is a good candidate for a transition tag, because it would only lock Seattle into one season, it would give the team flexibility, it would likely discourage another team from pursuing him, and would fill an immediate need without damaging the team's cap in the future. If that is too rich for Seattle's blood, defensive tackle is a position Seattle could target in the draft and expect good results. The downside is that losing Redding hurts overall draft flexibility.

Olindo Mare

Seattle already slapped the franchise tag on Mare, making discussion of Mare and the above players somewhat pointless, but let's explore this again just for a second. Kickers are valuable, but what they are most valuable for, kick off distance, seems to be undervalued by the market. Knowing that, and knowing that the replacement value for a kicker is very high, possibly higher than league average given the emphasis on field goal percentage rather than kick off distance, it makes no sense to invest such a valuable resource into such a replaceable player.

Verdict: If Seattle was so enamored with Mare, and he's very good, offering him a long term extension would have been the right move. Ensuring that Seattle has a kicker for 2010 is spinning your wheels, and spending an irreplaceable resource to do it.

Onto the RFAs:

Ben Obomanu

After failing to develop into a capable receiver, Obomanu developed into a decent gunner. Seattle could assign him an original round tender, but since Obo was selected in the seventh round, that would do little to dissuade other teams from signing him. That might be the best possible solution. Seattle needs roster spots to add high upside talent, and Obomanu turns 27 this fall and has little upside to speak of. A team can find gunners.

Verdict: Assigning Obomanu an original round tender could earn a draft pick, and if no team bites, he could challenge a group of more talented rookies in training camp before being cut. If Seattle is not inclined to play games, Obomanu is an easily replaceable player and should in fact be replaced by a player with greater upside.

Brandon Frye

Frye has more value to Seattle than he does with another team, and, given his injury, he's not likely to be plucked from the roster if Seattle signs him to any kind of tender. He was selected in the fifth round. An original round tender should lock him up. Or, Seattle could attempt to sign him as a free agent, but would be playing with fire at a position it has little to no depth.

Verdict: An original round tender gives Seattle cheap depth without risking much.

The final three are players that would normally be unrestricted free agents. They are also the three most important players for Seattle to keep.

Darryl Tapp

Tapp has value not only to Seattle, but in a marketplace likely looking for the next Elvis Dumervil, value outside of Seattle. Tapp may not be on that level, but he's entering his prime, has a good record of health, and could upgrade a team looking for an immediate impact. A competent right defensive end with upside, Tapp is also irreplaceable for the Seahawks themselves.

Verdict: Placing a first and third tender might seem like an overvaluation of Tapp, but though it guarantees him $3.17 million, it would also lock him in for another season. Seattle should be at the point where they are talking to Tapp about a long term extension.

Chris Spencer

An original round tender would keep Spencer in blue, because he was selected in the first round of 2005, but the smarter play might be a second round tender. A second round tender would not only save Seattle roughly $800,000, it could turn a talented but redundant player into a draft pick. Another team, like Tennessee, might see Spencer as an immediate starter and a better talent than available in a marginal center class. It's unlikely that Tennessee would trade a second round pick for Spencer straight up, if not impossible, but it could be an entry for negotiations.

Verdict: Max Unger makes this an awkward decision. Seattle would be foolish to allow Spencer to leave for nothing, but he may not have a position with the team in 2010. Putting a second round tender on Spencer would either keep him here and give him another shot to prove himself, or land Seattle a pick.

Rob Sims

Sims is the second most valuable restricted free agent in the Seahawks RFA class and should be protected with a first round tender. It might seem like overpaying, a first round tender would cost $2.52 million, but it is not overpaying when we consider Sims value to the team, the difficulty with which Seattle would have replacing him, his age, 26, health, talent and developing ability.

Verdict: Sims is another player worth overpaying for, because he represents a clear need and is clearly better than Seattle is likely to get in free agency. Seattle should explore locking him into a long term contract.

That might seem like a lot of money paid out, and it is, but Seattle is not likely to be players in free agency, what free agents even present themselves, and regarding money, it's all short term commitments, much of which would be displaced by dropping Kerney and Jones.

2010 NFL Free Agency Preview: Seattle Seahawks

Josh Branco — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:00:25 -0000

On Tuesday we put up the Arizona Cardinals Free Agency Preview, and now we're moving on to the second installment in this series. Next up, the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks have been a supreme disappointment ever since making it to Super Bowl XL in 2006. That did not change in their first and only year with Jim Mora as head coach. Seattle was decimated by injuries, especially on their offensive line, which led to another disappointing losing season.

2010 will mark the return of Pete Carroll to the NFL as the head coach of the Seahawks. No doubt he will bring the same youthful energy that defined his tenure at USC, but what changes does he have in store for Seattle's depleted roster?

After the jump, let's take a look at who is eligible for free agency this off-season...

Free Agents

WR Nate Burleson (UFA) - At only 28 years of age and coming off the best season of his career, Burleson should garner some interest on the open market. The Seahawks are expected to release Deion Branch, their other top receiver, but it is unclear what they intend to do in regards to Burleson.

T Brandon Frye (RFA) - Frye has spent the majority of his career on the practice squad, but saw some time as the starting left tackle this season due to injuries. He was placed on injured reserve October 13^th after suffering a neck injury.

LB David Hawthorne (ERFA) - Hawthorne impressed the Seahawks management when he filled in for the injured Lofa Tatupu at middle linebacker. They have even discussed including some 3-4 packages in their defense, as a way of getting Hawthorne on the field. Whether or not they go so far as to change their defense to get him snaps, it seems like Hawthorne is a lock to return to Seattle in 2010.

LB Lance Laury (RFA) - Laury is a key contributor on the Seattle Special Teams. Even if he is not tendered a qualifying offer and becomes an unrestricted free agent, it seems likely that he will remain with the Seahawks.

DB Ken Lucas (UFA) - Lucas spent much of the season as Seattle's starting right cornerback. It's possible that he will return to the club, but they could use an upgrade at the cornerback position.

K Olindo Mare (UFA) - Mare set a franchise record when he ended the season with 21 consecutive field goals. He was superb in 2009 and there's a good chance he'll be back with the club in 2010.

WR Ben Obomanu (RFA) - Obomanu missed all of 2008 with an ankle injury, and he did not have much of an impact in 2009. He has recorded 15 receptions during his three years with the club.

DL Cory Redding (RFA) - Seattle traded for Redding before the start of this season, hoping to pair him with Patrick Kerney at the defensive end position. Redding was solid but unspectacular in his stint with the Seahawks.

G Rob Sims (RFA) - Sims was projected to start at guard for the Seahawks, but missed a good chunk of the season due to injury.

C Chris Spencer (RFA) - Lost his starting center position to rookie Max Unger. He spent the last three weeks rotating at the guard position.

DL Darryl Tapp (RFA) - Played behind Patrick Kerney and Cory Redding at the defensive end position. He has been a consistent player throughout his four year career.

Needs

Left Tackle - All-Pro tackle Walter Jones was unable to play at all this year, and according to his Twitter page he will be retiring from football. Sean Locklear spent 2009 as the starting left tackle, but he is not thought of as the long term answer at the position. If they are going to improve their offense in 2010 they will need to rebuild their line, starting with an upgrade at left tackle.

Guard - Rob Sims and Chris Spencer have shown some potential at the guard position, but they have not been able to put it all together as of yet. This could be an area where bringing in another player to add some competition could yield improved play on the interior of the Seahawks line.

Quarterback - Once considered one of the league's elite quarterbacks, Matt Hasselbeck seems to be on the downside of his career. In 2009 he was largely ineffective, even on the rare occasions when his offensive line afforded him time to throw. Given that Hasselbeck is now 34 years old, it seems likely that Seattle will bring in a young quarterback at some point this off-season to groom for the future.

Running Back - Justin Forsett averaged over five yards a carry this season, but adding another back to compliment his running style could give the Seahawks lackluster running game a boost.

Safety - Neither of the Seahawks starting safeties are playing at a very high level. Both Jonathan Babineaux and Deon Grant were exposed in coverage situations in 2009. Look for Seattle to pursue a safety with more ball skills to upgrade the position.

Defensive Line - You can never have enough defensive linemen, and the Seahawks would do well to upgrade their line in order to fully take advantage of their talent linebacker corps. Another big body up front would help keep the second level of their defense running free to the ball. The addition of another outside pass rusher to partner with Patrick Kerney would also help to shore up their pass defense.

Summary

Given all their needs, I think upgrading the offensive line is the most pressing. An improvement in the trenches would immediately improve their entire offense. When you consider the value that teams assign to franchise left tackles, it seems likely that Seattle will hold off on pursuing a starting tackle in free agency and instead focus on picking one up via the draft.

It is more likely that they will look to add depth to the interior of their line via free agency. By increasing their talent pool on the offensive line, they can help mitigate the effect of injuries on their offensive production.

The other big question mark on the offensive side of the ball concerns the quarterback position. At the age of 34, Hassellbeck does not fit in with where this team is going. It seems very likely that Carroll and company will look to add a talented young quarterback at some point during the draft or free agency. There have even been rumblings of a possible Matt Hasselbeck - Mike Holmgren reunion in Cleveland. Still, if the offensive line is improved I would expect Hasselbeck to return as the starter and to be productive in 2010.

Since being hired as the head coach, Pete Carroll has been linked to just about every former USC player now in the NFL. Everyone from Reggie Bush to LenDale White have been rumored to be heading for a reunion with Carroll as a member of the Seahawks. While only time will tell if any of these rumors actually come to fruition, I think for the most part they will remain hearsay and conjecture.

One thing Carroll has always been known for is his defensive coaching prowess, and I that is the side of the ball where he will make the most impact. He will likely try to find a way to improve Seattle's pass rush, as well as finding at least one play making safety.

Do you think there is any truth to the rumors of possible USC reunions involving Carroll and his former college players? What would you do at the quarterback position if you were running the Seahawks? Seattle has some talent in their receiving corps but they lack a true number one, who would be a good fit for them at that position?

Fixing the Pass Rush, Part One: Reconfiguring the Front Four

John Morgan — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:00:18 -0000

Sunday was Alanya and I's two-year anniversary. I'm not spending it blogging. For the next few days, whatever you see will be a scheduled posts. After I return I am powering through to my deadline. So, you know, it might be a little slow around here. Even slower, even.

Every 4-3 wants to create pressure through its front four. It's a Platonic Ideal. Pressure, as we interpret it, is a combination of many factors. There's the basic: A front four can have four capable pass rushers, and pressure can come simply from their ability. That's the Tampa 2 model.

There's the more nuanced: Pressure can come from a dominant secondary, and a front four that motors itself into late arriving pressure. That's much harder to achieve. A secondary struggles to shut down a single receiver. Shutting down every receiver usually means the quarterback sucks. A professional secondary can rarely create pressure of its own, but it does contribute. It extends the clock.

And then there's the complete: Pressure is partially the front four, partially the remaining seven in coverage, and part game situation. Through winning, scoring, controlling field position and forcing long down and distance, a team puts pressure on a team to pass. It makes its opponent predictable. A team that wants to improve its pressure, and again all teams do, must configure their personnel to best achieve the above goals. It might trade off other goals like stopping the run, forcing turnovers, or being stout in short yardage, but it's a worthwhile trade. Because some goals reward less, and some goals are futile to pursue.

Jim Mora wanted to pressure through the front four. That didn't work too well. Seattle forfeited pressure from two of its four starting defensive line positions. Colin Cole is, has always been and will forever be a plugger of no ability to pass rush. One down. It moved a semi-accomplished and certainly good defensive tackle to defensive end. Cory Redding was high motor, disruptive, etc, but a productive pass rushing defensive end? No. Two down.

At that point, almost regardless of the remaining talent, Seattle had hamstrung its pass rush. Even the most blitz heavy defense typically rushes four, and forfeiting two positions in favor of stopping the run had predictable results. Cole alone was handicap enough, and Seattle doesn't have the transcendent talent to start anyone as pass rush inept as Cole, but putting a defensive tackle at end was the coup de grace.

The first step to fixing the pass rush is obvious. Seattle must stock it front four with players that can contribute pass rush on every attempt. It needs to change its profile. It endeavored to stop the run and did, and had little to show for it. It endeavored to become stout in the middle and did, and lost through the air. It endeavored to force interceptions and tried, and found itself clapping and slapping asses completion after completion.

The team has flirted with Darryl Tapp on and again, but never committed to him. He deserves a chance to start at right defensive end. He started throughout 2007, the team's best defense of the decade, and again in 2008 after overtaking Lawrence Jackson. He has speed off the edge, a deadly inside move and enough presence as a run stopper to avoid being a liability. He turns 26 in 2010. Even if he's not a great defensive end, he's a good pass-rushing end entering into his prime. The team should not fool themselves into thinking a rookie end will be better than Tapp. It's possible, but certainly not probable, and whatever gains they get, they get only above what Tapp could be expected to produce. That position should be just about locked down.

Brandon Mebane should move back to over- or one-tech tackle. Mebane was an average to good pass rusher at the three tech, but an elite pass rusher for a one-tech. Whatever he was in college, Brandon has proven his ability as a clotting presence within the interior that motors into slow developing rush, and consistently pushes the pocket towards the quarterback. As a three-tech, Mebane may be only average, and why settle for average from a player that's already proven greatness?

Tapp and Mebane formed the left side of the 2007 line. It was younger and less capable then, and still played a vital part in Patrick Kerney's rampage. That line also had a still somewhat able Rocky Bernard. Bernard in his time was a very good three tech. He could pass rush, he could hustle rush, he could engulf a runner and he was rarely blown back. Seattle never developed an heir apparent, chose instead to displace Mebane, and in a bit of a shocking twist, really missed Rocky in 2009.

The in-house candidate for three-tech is Cory Redding. Seattle would need to bowl over (dumb) or franchise (less dumb) Redding to retain him. According to cosmic market laws, Redding is not worth the $6+ million it would cost to franchise him, but given the uncapped nature of 2010 and Paul Allen's resilient billions, it's a low-commitment move that allows Seattle to retain otherwise lost talent.

Redding is another player that made his professional mark at one position after excelling in college at another. Perhaps because of necessity, but I doubt it, Mora opted for Redding's college position. The scuttlebutt was that Redding had suffered a serious knee injury and maybe couldn't play at a 300 anymore. That sounds fishy, to say the least. Redding looked almost identically built in Seattle as he did in Detroit, and was one of Seattle's most active, consistent and healthy players. If it's medically possible, Redding should return to tackle, where he can again be an above average pass rusher for his position instead of a forfeit. A shorter path to the quarterback could do wonders for a player that was often almost but not quite.

Lawrence Jackson fills out the four.

In a perfect world, this is where I devolve into rosterbatory fantasies about trades and the draft. One might not look at the above as an amazing collection of talent. It's not. It's simply the best configuration within the existing talent. Depth and talent should be added, especially at defensive tackle, but this team needs, must salvage its offense. Abandoning a mostly built defense midstream guarantees a rebuild, and sets the Seahawks at square one. In a wide open division, with a very young and talented defense, with an offense that has some parts but needs crucial pieces to function, that's forfeiting any chance of short term success. And, if this essay has a theme, it's that good teams never forfeit anything. Not one play, not one yard, not one position, and surely, not a group of skilled, young, scheme-appropriate talent that's all upside and that has hardly had a chance to prove itself.

Seattle could pour resources into its front four and improve one part of its pass rush, but doing so would sacrifice other indirect sources of pass rush. It doesn't have that luxury. In parts two and three, I'll explore how, by retaining its front four, but improving its secondary and especially its offense, it can make this bunch of nothing look like a pretty good hand.

Pete Carroll Bores Me

John Morgan — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:56:24 -0000

Site hits have been up lately. Perhaps people are anticipating another angry tirade. I could record myself swearing like a child again. That would be welcome. The market for opinion is robust and if one can keep their output up, it minimizes standards for process, accuracy and intelligence.

Here's the thing: I don't know how successful Pete Carroll will be and I don't know how to know. It's hard enough to evaluate an established NFL coach. This time last year, I didn't know what kind of coach Jim Mora would make. He had supporters and detractors and facts to support either. A few people thought the Seahawks would succeed in Mora's first year before declining over the next two seasons, because Mora's Atlanta Falcons succeeded in his first year and declined over the next two seasons. Surprisingly, Mora was not in total control over the innumerable variables that produced that performance in Atlanta.

Seattle would not win a Super Bowl if it hired Bill Cowher. It wouldn't draft a great quarterback if it hired Mike Shanahan. It didn't reach the NFC Championship under Mora. It won't become a dynasty because of Pete Carroll.

Mora didn't fail because his team failed. He was fired because his team failed, but he didn't injure Matt Hasselbeck, end Walter Jones career, put Lofa Tatupu on IR, turn Marcus Trufant into a penalty machine or cut off Patrick Kerney's arms. Mora didn't make the 2009 Seattle Seahawks bad. He made them worse.

He needlessly lost talent. He eventually lost his team. I could look at each of Mora's coaching decisions in context and evaluate how and why they succeeded or failed. It wasn't until about a month before his firing that I became confident he wasn't a good head coach.

Mora had to define himself and so will Carroll. What he accomplished at USC will not translate to the pros. One needs only to consider Nick Saban to see that the ability to run a successful college program and the ability to run a successful pro team are not the same.

Saban finished 15-17 as an NFL head coach. He inherited a loser, stumbled onto the right side of .500 in his first season, ran out virtually the exact same quality of team his second season, but suffered various kinds of bad luck, finished 2006 6-10 and left the Dolphins to return to college. Saban bookended his short and unsuccessful time in Miami with a national championship at LSU in 2003 and a national championship at Alabama in 2009-10.

Saban is the first coach since 1936 to win a national championship at two different programs. That feat puts him in the discussion for greatest college coach of our era. He isn't a brilliant mastermind, but certainly knows something about winning at the amateur level. Whatever that is, it didn't follow him to Florida, and whatever caused him to fail in Miami didn't follow him to Alabama.

Carroll can not import winning. Whatever allowed him to win at USC won't translate to Seattle. That doesn't mean he'll fail. That doesn't mean he'll succeed. Pete Carroll's collegiate career doesn't tell us anything about how he'll fare as an NFL coach. Neither do the careers of Saban, Spurrier, Kiffin or Petrino.

Pretty bland.

I guess we'll just have to wait and watch what Carroll does and evaluate his decisions rather than his reputation, hype, type, tresses and tan.

Tennessee Titans vs. Seattle Seahawks Series at a Glance

Jimmy — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:16:41 -0000

The Seahawks lead the all-time series 9-5. The last time these two met was this game in 2005. We will call it the Ben Troupe game because he had 116 yards receiving. That is nothing short of a miracle. Jeff Fisher is 0-5 against the Seahawks.

This game is obviously all about Chris Johnson and the records that he is chasing. He needs 63 rushing yards to break Earl Campbell's franchise record for single season rushing yards, 75 yards from scrimmage to break Marshall Faulk's record, 128 rushing yards to get to 2,000, 128 rushing and 17 receiving to become the first player ever with 2,000 rushing and 500 receiving, and 234 to break Eric Dickerson's single season record.

The CBS broadcast will be handled by Ian Eagle and Rich Gannon.

NFL game capsule info after the jump

	TITANS	SEAHAWKS
SERIES LEADER		9-4
STREAKS		Past 5
COACHES VS. OPP.	Fisher: 0-5	Mora: 0-0
LAST WEEK	L 42-17 vs. Chargers	L 48-10 at Packers
LAST GAME	12/18/05: Seahawks 28 at Titans 24. Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck passes for 3 TDs as Seahawks rally to win 10th consecutive game & clinch 1st-round bye.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/29/98: Seahawks 20, Oilers 18. Seattle’s Todd Peterson kicks 48-yard game-winning FG with 1 second remaining after Seahawks drive from own 29 with 33 seconds left.
BROADCAST	CBS (1:15 PM PT): Ian Eagle, Rich Gannon. SIRIUS: 130 (Sea.). XM: 111 (Sea.)

STATS

PASSING	Young: 135-231-1,708-10-6-85.2	Hasselbeck: 278-458-2,854-16-16-75.7
RUSHING	Johnson: 322-1,872 (1L)-5.8-12 (T3L)	J. Jones: 163-602-3.7-2
RECEIVING	Johnson (RB): 47-483-10.3-2	Houshmandzadeh: 76-845-11.1-3
OFFENSE	354.6	317.3
TAKE/GIVE	-3	-9
DEFENSE	369.4	359.9
SACKS	Ford: 5.5	Kerney: 5
INTs	Finnegan: 5	Hawthorne: 3
PUNTING	Kern: 44.9	Ryan: 47.1 (3L)
KICKING	Bironas: 113 (35/35 PAT; 26/30 FG)	Mare: 93 (27/27 PAT; 22/24 FG)

NOTES

TITANS: Club will play 1st game at Qwest Field…Ten. aims for 9th consecutive win against NFC…Team ranks 2nd in NFL w/163.9 rush yards per game…QB VINCE YOUNG is 3-0 vs. NFC in ’09 & has completed 45 of 70 passes (64.3 pct.) for 691 yards w/2 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 106.3 passer rating vs. NFC this season. Young is 2-1 as starter on road in ’09 w/3 TDs vs. 1 INT & 82.9 passer rating…RB CHRIS JOHNSON (1,872) needs 63 rush yards to surpass Pro Football HOFer EARL CAMPBELL (1,934 in ’80) for most in franchise history & needs 128 to become 6th player in NFL history to reach 2,000. Johnson (10) aims to tie MARCUS ALLEN for 2nd-most consecutive 100+ yards games in NFL history. Johnson seeks 5th consecutive game w/100+ rush yards vs. NFC…WR NATE WASHINGTON has career-high 41 rec. in ’09…In 3 career games vs. Sea., TE ALGE CRUMPLER averages 17.7 yards per catch & has 3 TD rec. (11 rec., 195 yards)…DE JACOB FORD aims for 3rd consecutive game w/sack. Ford (5.5) needs 1.5 sack to tie career-high of 7 in ’08…SEAHAWKS: QB MATT HASSELBECK completed 21 of 27 (77.8 pct.) for 285 yards with 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 147.7 rating in only start vs. Ten. In starts with 10+ att. & 100+ rating, his teams are 26-5 (.839). Needs 146 yards for 6th career 3,000-yard season…RB JUSTIN FORSETT has 5 TDs (4 rush, 1 rec.) in past 7. Has 881 scrimmage yards & needs 119 to reach 1,000. RB JULIUS JONES rushed for 122 yards & TD in only meeting (10/1/06 with Dal.)…WR T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH ranks 3rd in NFL with 370 receptions since 2006. Has 76 catches, 6th season in row with 70+ receptions. TE JOHN CARLSON needs 7 catches & 68 yards to set career-highs (55 & 627 in 2008). Aims for 4th in row with TD catch. Has career-high 6 TDs…CB JOSH WILSON has 2 INT-TDs this season & 3 in career. All have been 60+ yards. LB DAVID HAWTHORNE leads team with 107 tackles. S JORDAN BABINEAUX is 2nd with 100 tackles. CB MARCUS TRUFANT needs 1 INT to reach 20 career. DE PATRICK KERNEY has 14 sacks in past 14 at home.

John Lynch Nails Jim Mora Dead to Rights

John Morgan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:18:26 -0000

John Lynch is not the most eloquent person. Ron Pitts is the eloquent counterpunch to Lynch's disarming enthusiasm. That's the typical play by play-color commentator dynamic. Pitts is intelligible. Lynch is emotive.

Their purpose is one part atmosphere and one part information. I typically take the atmosphere and tolerate the information. A football fan shouldn't look to the commentators to provide piercing insight or real-time strategy breakdowns. Coaches want to be opaque and unpredictable, but also logical and efficient. It's not enough to be either. A good coach must be both.

A good coach should not be caught dead to rights by color commentator John Lynch.

Lynch met with Matt Schaub in a production meeting prior to the game. Before this play, Lynch relayed that Schaub expected his old coach to drop coverage early

(3-10-SEA 40 (13:36) (Shotgun) 8-M.Schaub pass deep middle to 80-A.Johnson to SEA 17 for 23 yards (36-L.Milloy, 27-J.Babineaux)

And if that didn't work, blitz.

(1-10-SEA 17 (12:58) 8-M.Schaub pass short middle to 80-A.Johnson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN)

Seattle rushed Darryl Tapp, Craig Terrill and Patrick Kerney on third and ten. The Texans responded with a four-wide receiver set that, absent a pass rush, eventually shredded Seattle's zone.

Seattle rushed six, including Aaron Curry and David Hawthorne, on the subsequent play, and Andre Johnson streaked into the vacated middle for an easy reception and score. The Texans play calls could not have been better fit to beat the Seahawks defense.

Schaub last played under Jim Mora in 2006. Mora was then fired and hired by the Seattle Seahawks. Schaub, Lynch, millions of home viewers and Gary Kubiak perfectly anticipated Mora's tendencies. Tendencies, we can only assume, that have not changed since his time in Atlanta. Tendencies, described by Lynch by way of Schaub, that are fixed, motivated by frustration and easily exploitable.

I once worked in a warehouse finishing furniture. I would play chess with a coworker during breaks. Every time I won, he wanted a rematch, and would play worse, and become more frustrated and sloppy, and play worse, and become more frustrated and sloppy, and play worse...

The Future of Matt Hasselbeck is the Future of the Seattle Seahawks, Pt. 3

John Morgan — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:59:19 -0000

I hope Mike Holmgren signs with Cleveland. I have selfish interest, namely Seattle not re-signing Holmgren, but I have more noble interests as well. Cleveland has one of the youngest, most talented offensive lines in the NFL. It starts Joe Thomas at left tackle, Eric Steinbach at left guard and Alex Mack at center. Right guard Hank Fraley and right tackle John St. Clair are interchangeable organizational soldier types. It doesn't have great skill position talent, but that's where Holmgren shines. He finds scheme appropriate players that can excel behind a dominant offensive line. Holmgren is also an expert at developing young quarterbacks.

Why start with a tangent? In this scenario, Seattle ditches Matt Hasselbeck and signs free agent Jason Campbell. Tim Ruskell is out and his departure hints at a potential rebuild, but if Seattle can win some down the stretch, and especially if Seattle can win some down the stretch because of its Ruskell built defense, the Seahawks might adapt certain Ruskell ideals even without Ruskell.

Ruskell was risk adverse. He had a narrow definition of "his guy". His aversion to risk may have served him well, but his narrow definition did not. Consider Deon Butler. Ruskell traded into the third round to select Butler because Butler was "his guy". Butler dripped Ruskell: Four-year starter at a major conference powerhouse, undersized but fast, coachable, hard working and quietly productive. Ruskell conflated "his guy" with risk aversion and overpaid for a risky player. Despite his track record and accolades, Butler could bust because he is overmatched by NFL competition.

Ruskell spent big to get his guy, but his guy was never less risky than Juaquin Iglesias, Mike Thomas, Brian Hartline, Louis Murphy, Austin Collie or Johnny Knox - the six receivers selected after Butler. And only Iglesias has underperformed Butler. Ruskell projected his internal bias on the players he drafted. It rarely conflicted with his risk aversion, but when it did, it often spelled failure.

Campbell is a prime target for any risk adverse general manager. His connections to Auburn's unbeaten season might have spoken to Ruskell's personal bias, but his standing as a young, established NFL quarterback speaks to rational roster construction. Campbell has the tools of an NFL quarterback - arm strength, size, mobility - and those tools are NFL tested. He has adapted to multiple playbooks and played near league average football on some very poorly constructed offenses. As we've seen in Chicago and Denver, the quarterback may be the center and most essential part of any NFL offense, but it is not more important than the other ten men that take the field.

This Plan Might Be Enacted Thus:

Seattle trades or cuts Hasselbeck. It wishes him well, gives lip service to rebuilding and is satisfied to see him sign with Cleveland. Hasselbeck joins muscle milk buddy Brady Quinn and assumes the Trent Dilfer role.

Walter Jones retires.

Seattle cuts Patrick Kerney, Deion Branch and Seneca Wallace.

That gives the Seahawks money to burn. Seattle signs Campbell to a frontloaded contract with a third-year buyout clause. Campbell is playing through the last year of his rookie contract and though he's rich, he's not quarterback rich. Seattle buys maneuverability and Campbell's services by stacking his 2010 salary with zeroes.

Seattle could still be a player in free agency after signing Campbell. It will attempt to fill holes and free itself to draft best available talent throughout the draft.

Signing Campbell and cutting dead weight frees Seattle to make a big splash in the NFL draft. It has money to afford another early first round prospect and the picks to trade up. It could take a centerpiece player on defense like Ndamukong Suh. By releasing Hasselbeck and signing Campbell, the burden falls off the offense. Seattle buys itself time. If Campbell struggles in Seattle's still wrecked 2010 offense, he's young and can be released. Campbell has a bad reputation. He hasn't earned Seahawks fan loyalty and we are unlikely to experience the same kind of revulsion and outrage watching him battered to bones as we do watching Hasselbeck torn asunder.

Campbell is signed as a stopgap+. The Seahawks compliment the signing with a project quarterback selected sometime in 2010's epic quarterback draft. A looming correction to the onerous rookie pay scale is encouraging players to declare, and while the draft lacks a Matt Ryan or Peyton Manning, it might be the deepest quarterback draft in modern history. Colt McCoy, Zac Robinson, Sean Canfield, Ryan Mallett, Dan LeFevour, Pat Devlin and Tony Pike will all likely fall deep into the second day. Seattle will have an established starter for 2010 to test its system and offense, and a talented young quarterback developing behind the scenes.

How it works: Seattle successfully moves into the top of the draft and selects a once in a generation defensive talent. That helps push Seattle's cheap, young and talented, but by no means dominant, defense from potential to production. The team is not a contender again in 2010, but it's close.

Campbell outperforms Hasselbeck. He's younger and healthier and continues to play like a league average quarterback. Campbell could also breakout. Seattle is set for either possibility. It builds its offense towards the future by continuing Ruskell's habit of drafting late and mid-round offensive talent and seeing who shakes out. The major rebuild will wait until next offseason. 2010 is about seeing what they have and what they need, something a diminished Hasselbeck has made difficult to impossible this season.

The young defense provides excitement and gives the team a direction and identity. Campbell's arm opens the run game and Seattle executes the grind and smother attack Jim Mora and Greg Knapp seek. The team takes a flier on another young back (or two) and someone sticks, filling out a balanced and productive if unspectacular committee of backs. It's Ground Chuck all over again.

How it fails: Seattle cuts Hasselbeck but doesn't sign Campbell, or Seattle retains Hasselbeck and projects to have one of the worst offenses in football in 2010, or Seattle signs Campbell but Campbell performs no better than Hasselbeck and Seattle's young quarterback is prematurely forced into action. The meat of this is that Seattle does not spend enough on its offense and that offense again undermines the defense.

Contrarily, the defense never steps up. It continues to stifle the run but still cannot stop the pass. Seattle's defensive savior is a rookie and like Aaron Curry, more potential than player. The defense is average, but no better and as the offense putters towards the bottom of the league, the not-good-enough defense shoulders the consequences. Seattle changes the face of its failures but not its failures and what little can be salvaged from Ruskell's roster is older, more expensive and closer to free agency. Campbell is signed to stave off a full rebuild and does. He plays two seasons of league average football and is cleared when Seattle must clean house in 2012.