Seahawks News Thread
- Thread starter savage
- Start date
That's just perfect. 8 Days before the home opener and we lose a key offensive coach. I'm not looking forward for this season at all.
I might as well get ready for more L's than W's and expect a shit load of shit talking from the 49ers fans about it.
I hope the Seahawks will pick up a decent OL coach that has a good track record.
And then the team loses one of it's premier WR's, and the team still has to pay his ass $7M, SMH.
Tough season ahead for the Seahawks.
This is why I don't talk a gang of shit for my team prematurely.
I might as well get ready for more L's than W's and expect a shit load of shit talking from the 49ers fans about it.
I hope the Seahawks will pick up a decent OL coach that has a good track record.
And then the team loses one of it's premier WR's, and the team still has to pay his ass $7M, SMH.
Tough season ahead for the Seahawks.
This is why I don't talk a gang of shit for my team prematurely.
Other veterans cut by the Seahawks included linebacker Tyjuan Hagler, wide receivers Brandon Jones and Ruvell Martin, defensive tackle Amon Gordon and defensive end James Wyche. Safety Jamar Adams and running back Louis Rankin, both contributors for the Seahawks at the end of last season, were waived.
SEATTLE -- Offensive lineman Stacy Andrews has been traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Seattle Seahawks for an undisclosed 2011 draft pick pending league approval.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman says the addition of veteran guard Reggie Wells made Andrews available. Seattle officials said the trade was still pending approval from the league.
Andrews was a highly regarded offseason pickup by the Eagles after the 2008 season, but started just two games in 2009. Andrews has said he's more comfortable playing tackle than guard and that could be of value in Seattle with tackle Ray Willis being placed on injured reserve Saturday.
Andrews spent his first five seasons with Cincinnati before going to the Eagles.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman says the addition of veteran guard Reggie Wells made Andrews available. Seattle officials said the trade was still pending approval from the league.
Andrews was a highly regarded offseason pickup by the Eagles after the 2008 season, but started just two games in 2009. Andrews has said he's more comfortable playing tackle than guard and that could be of value in Seattle with tackle Ray Willis being placed on injured reserve Saturday.
Andrews spent his first five seasons with Cincinnati before going to the Eagles.
Seahawks roster analysis following cut to 53
Here's a position-by-position look at the Seahawks roster now that Saturday's cuts are official.
Some things can still change as the team continues to make moves -- including a trade with the Eagles for offensive lineman Stacy Andrews that is not yet finalized -- but this is where things stand as for now.
QUARTERBACK
Survivors: Matt Hasselbeck, Charlie Whitehurst.
Cut: J.P. Losman.
Analysis: Losman's departure means the Seahawks will now bring in a new No. 3 quarterback, with veteran Patrick Ramsey the most-likely possibility after being released by the Saints. He worked with coordinator Jeremy Bates in Denver in 2007-08 and is an upgrade over Losman. Matt Leinart remains the interesting wildcard after his release by Arizona.
RUNNING BACK
Survivors: Justin Forsett, Leon Washington, Quinton Ganther, Julius Jones, Owen Schmitt.
Cut: Louis Rankin.
Analysis: Not sure the wheels have stopped spinning on this position. Jones and Schmitt still vulnerable if GM John Schneider finds someone he likes better on the waiver wires. Rankin has speed and caught people's eyes again with his TD return in preseason finale, but was way behind the three veterans throughout camp at running back.
WIDE RECEIVER
Survivors: Deion Branch, Mike Williams, Golden Tate, Deon Butler, Ben Obomanu.
Cut: Ruvell Martin, Brandon Jones, T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Analysis: No surprises here once the stunner on Houshmandzadeh came down. That move will likely be debated for a long time, but Carroll and Schneider clearly want to get everybody rowing the same boat and didn't think Housh was right fit ... much like LenDale White earlier this summer.
TIGHT END
Survivors: John Carlson, Chris Baker, Cameron Morrah, Anthony McCoy.
Cuts: Nick Tow-Arnett.
Analysis: Most teams only keep three tight ends, but Baker has been hampered by a sore hamstring and McCoy hurt his ankle recently so makes sense in this case. Probably won't go with four for full season, but want to see how things sort out with youngsters Morrah and McCoy.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Survivors: Russell Okung, Chris Spencer, Max Unger, Sean Locklear, Mansfield Wrotto, Mike Gibson, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus, Ben Hamilton, Steve Vallos.
Placed on injured reserve: Ray Willis.
Cuts: Joe Toledo, Jacob Phillips, Jeff Byers, Mitch Erickson.
Analysis: This won't be the exact group that opens the regular season, with Vallos, Polumbus and Hamilton all vulnerable to being replaced by late additions. One will depart as soon as trade with Eagles for Andrews goes through. We'll see what else comes up off the waiver wire.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Survivors: Chris Clemons, Red Bryant, Brandon Mebane, Colin Cole, Kevin Vickerson, E.J. Wilson, Dexter Davis, Kentwan Balmer, Craig Terrill.
Cuts: Nick Reed, Quinn Pitcock, Amon Gordon, Rob Rose, James Wyche.
Analysis: Reed's injury settlement waiver was only real surprise and team likely will add speed-rusher if possible now that he's out. Terrill beat out Pitcock for last tackle spot for now, with Balmer also kept even though he suffered ankle injury just after being acquired for sixth-round draft pick.
LINEBACKER
Survivors: Lofa Tatupu, Aaron Curry, David Hawthorne, Will Herring, Matt McCoy.
Placed on reserve/suspended list: Leroy Hill.
Cuts: Tyjuan Hagler, Joe Pawelek.
Analysis: Thought Hagler might survive, but Dexter Davis' versatility as both DE and LB allows flexibility. McCoy sticks as special-teams standout for now.
CORNERBACK
Survivors: Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Walter Thurmond, Roy Lewis, Kennard Cox.
Cuts: Marcus Brown, Cord Parks.
Analysis: After trade of Josh Wilson, the surprising keeper is Kennard Cox as Seahawks kept five corners for now. Fans liked Parks kickoff return ability in preseason, but he never was in hunt at cornerback and Leon Washington will be regular-season return man.
SAFETY
Survivors: Earl Thomas, Lawyer Milloy, Jordan Babineaux, Kam Chancellor, Kevin Ellison.
Cuts: Jamar Adams.
Analysis: Ellison is surprise here for now, kept ahead of Adams as a fifth safety for now. He and Chancellor were both third-string through camp, but team didn't want to risk losing Chancellor, its fifth-round draft pick. Not surprised Ellison survived, but that he didn't get more action during camp after starting nine games in San Diego last year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Survivors: Olindo Mare, Jon Ryan, Clint Gresham.
Analysis: No surprises here.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/220351.asp
Here's a position-by-position look at the Seahawks roster now that Saturday's cuts are official.
Some things can still change as the team continues to make moves -- including a trade with the Eagles for offensive lineman Stacy Andrews that is not yet finalized -- but this is where things stand as for now.
QUARTERBACK
Survivors: Matt Hasselbeck, Charlie Whitehurst.
Cut: J.P. Losman.
Analysis: Losman's departure means the Seahawks will now bring in a new No. 3 quarterback, with veteran Patrick Ramsey the most-likely possibility after being released by the Saints. He worked with coordinator Jeremy Bates in Denver in 2007-08 and is an upgrade over Losman. Matt Leinart remains the interesting wildcard after his release by Arizona.
RUNNING BACK
Survivors: Justin Forsett, Leon Washington, Quinton Ganther, Julius Jones, Owen Schmitt.
Cut: Louis Rankin.
Analysis: Not sure the wheels have stopped spinning on this position. Jones and Schmitt still vulnerable if GM John Schneider finds someone he likes better on the waiver wires. Rankin has speed and caught people's eyes again with his TD return in preseason finale, but was way behind the three veterans throughout camp at running back.
WIDE RECEIVER
Survivors: Deion Branch, Mike Williams, Golden Tate, Deon Butler, Ben Obomanu.
Cut: Ruvell Martin, Brandon Jones, T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Analysis: No surprises here once the stunner on Houshmandzadeh came down. That move will likely be debated for a long time, but Carroll and Schneider clearly want to get everybody rowing the same boat and didn't think Housh was right fit ... much like LenDale White earlier this summer.
TIGHT END
Survivors: John Carlson, Chris Baker, Cameron Morrah, Anthony McCoy.
Cuts: Nick Tow-Arnett.
Analysis: Most teams only keep three tight ends, but Baker has been hampered by a sore hamstring and McCoy hurt his ankle recently so makes sense in this case. Probably won't go with four for full season, but want to see how things sort out with youngsters Morrah and McCoy.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Survivors: Russell Okung, Chris Spencer, Max Unger, Sean Locklear, Mansfield Wrotto, Mike Gibson, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus, Ben Hamilton, Steve Vallos.
Placed on injured reserve: Ray Willis.
Cuts: Joe Toledo, Jacob Phillips, Jeff Byers, Mitch Erickson.
Analysis: This won't be the exact group that opens the regular season, with Vallos, Polumbus and Hamilton all vulnerable to being replaced by late additions. One will depart as soon as trade with Eagles for Andrews goes through. We'll see what else comes up off the waiver wire.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Survivors: Chris Clemons, Red Bryant, Brandon Mebane, Colin Cole, Kevin Vickerson, E.J. Wilson, Dexter Davis, Kentwan Balmer, Craig Terrill.
Cuts: Nick Reed, Quinn Pitcock, Amon Gordon, Rob Rose, James Wyche.
Analysis: Reed's injury settlement waiver was only real surprise and team likely will add speed-rusher if possible now that he's out. Terrill beat out Pitcock for last tackle spot for now, with Balmer also kept even though he suffered ankle injury just after being acquired for sixth-round draft pick.
LINEBACKER
Survivors: Lofa Tatupu, Aaron Curry, David Hawthorne, Will Herring, Matt McCoy.
Placed on reserve/suspended list: Leroy Hill.
Cuts: Tyjuan Hagler, Joe Pawelek.
Analysis: Thought Hagler might survive, but Dexter Davis' versatility as both DE and LB allows flexibility. McCoy sticks as special-teams standout for now.
CORNERBACK
Survivors: Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Walter Thurmond, Roy Lewis, Kennard Cox.
Cuts: Marcus Brown, Cord Parks.
Analysis: After trade of Josh Wilson, the surprising keeper is Kennard Cox as Seahawks kept five corners for now. Fans liked Parks kickoff return ability in preseason, but he never was in hunt at cornerback and Leon Washington will be regular-season return man.
SAFETY
Survivors: Earl Thomas, Lawyer Milloy, Jordan Babineaux, Kam Chancellor, Kevin Ellison.
Cuts: Jamar Adams.
Analysis: Ellison is surprise here for now, kept ahead of Adams as a fifth safety for now. He and Chancellor were both third-string through camp, but team didn't want to risk losing Chancellor, its fifth-round draft pick. Not surprised Ellison survived, but that he didn't get more action during camp after starting nine games in San Diego last year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Survivors: Olindo Mare, Jon Ryan, Clint Gresham.
Analysis: No surprises here.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/220351.asp
While many fans were surprised that veteran running back Julius Jones was still on the Seahawks' 53-man roster after Saturday's cuts, that apparently didn't last long as ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting Jones and safety Jordan Babineaux have been released on Sunday.
The Seahawks are still making a host of roster moves, including the reported release of defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson and fullback Owen Schmitt as well.
The Seahawks haven't confirmed any of those moves yet, but did announce that veteran offensive linemen Mansfield Wrotto and Steve Vallos as well as young safety Kevin Ellison were released.
The team said Dolphins defensive back Nate Ness and Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith were claimed off waivers, while a trade for Eagles offensive lineman Stacy Andrews is now complete.
Vallos and Wrotto were both 2007 draft picks of the Seahawks. Vallos started eight games over the past two seasons, while Wrotto made five starts at guard and had been filling in this preseason at left tackle in place of injured rookie Russell Okung.
Wrotto's release signals that Andrews likely is viewed as the fill-in left tackle until Okung gets healthy. Andrews played guard last year for Philadelphia, but previously started at tackle for two seasons in Cincinnati and has stated he prefers that position.
Dietrich-Smith, 24, signed with the Packers last year as an undrafted free agent out of Idaho State and played 13 games in a backup role. He obviously is familiar to GM John Schneider, who was with Green Bay last year, and can play center or guard.
Ness, 24, was a free safety at Arizona who has been converting to cornerback with the Dolphins this offseason. He was with the Seahawks briefly last year before being signed to Miami's practice squad. Ness was on the Dolphins' 53-man active roster for one game in 2009, but didn't play.
Until all the dominoes fall -- and the Seahawks release their full list of moves -- it'll be impossible to analyze any of this, but Sunday's maneuvers figure to save Seattle considerable cash for players who were destined to be backups.
Jones and Babineaux each had $2.45 million contracts, while Vickerson was due $1.8 million.
Jones' release won't surprise Seahawks followers who watched him struggle this preseason, along with the rest of Seattle's running backs, after failing to excite anyone in his first two seasons either with 698 and 663 yards while operating as the primary running back.
Justin Forsett and Leon Washington have looked quicker and more suited to the Seahawks' zone-blocking system in camp and Seattle likely will add another running back today off the waiver wire.
Babineaux started 16 games at free safety last year, but was replaced this year by the drafting of Earl Thomas and the elevation of veteran Lawyer Milloy to the No. 1 unit.
Seattle also released safety Jamar Adams on Saturday, but kept Ellison and Kam Chancellor, both of whom spent the preseason working on the third team while Adams and Babineaux were the No. 2 rotation.
The Seahawks are also reportedly bringing in rookie quarterback Zac Robinson, who was released by New England on Saturday, though it appears he's headed to the practice squad.
I'll continue to update the day's transactions both here and on my Twitter account at gregjohns1.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/220385.asp
The Seahawks are still making a host of roster moves, including the reported release of defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson and fullback Owen Schmitt as well.
The Seahawks haven't confirmed any of those moves yet, but did announce that veteran offensive linemen Mansfield Wrotto and Steve Vallos as well as young safety Kevin Ellison were released.
The team said Dolphins defensive back Nate Ness and Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith were claimed off waivers, while a trade for Eagles offensive lineman Stacy Andrews is now complete.
Vallos and Wrotto were both 2007 draft picks of the Seahawks. Vallos started eight games over the past two seasons, while Wrotto made five starts at guard and had been filling in this preseason at left tackle in place of injured rookie Russell Okung.
Wrotto's release signals that Andrews likely is viewed as the fill-in left tackle until Okung gets healthy. Andrews played guard last year for Philadelphia, but previously started at tackle for two seasons in Cincinnati and has stated he prefers that position.
Dietrich-Smith, 24, signed with the Packers last year as an undrafted free agent out of Idaho State and played 13 games in a backup role. He obviously is familiar to GM John Schneider, who was with Green Bay last year, and can play center or guard.
Ness, 24, was a free safety at Arizona who has been converting to cornerback with the Dolphins this offseason. He was with the Seahawks briefly last year before being signed to Miami's practice squad. Ness was on the Dolphins' 53-man active roster for one game in 2009, but didn't play.
Until all the dominoes fall -- and the Seahawks release their full list of moves -- it'll be impossible to analyze any of this, but Sunday's maneuvers figure to save Seattle considerable cash for players who were destined to be backups.
Jones and Babineaux each had $2.45 million contracts, while Vickerson was due $1.8 million.
Jones' release won't surprise Seahawks followers who watched him struggle this preseason, along with the rest of Seattle's running backs, after failing to excite anyone in his first two seasons either with 698 and 663 yards while operating as the primary running back.
Justin Forsett and Leon Washington have looked quicker and more suited to the Seahawks' zone-blocking system in camp and Seattle likely will add another running back today off the waiver wire.
Babineaux started 16 games at free safety last year, but was replaced this year by the drafting of Earl Thomas and the elevation of veteran Lawyer Milloy to the No. 1 unit.
Seattle also released safety Jamar Adams on Saturday, but kept Ellison and Kam Chancellor, both of whom spent the preseason working on the third team while Adams and Babineaux were the No. 2 rotation.
The Seahawks are also reportedly bringing in rookie quarterback Zac Robinson, who was released by New England on Saturday, though it appears he's headed to the practice squad.
I'll continue to update the day's transactions both here and on my Twitter account at gregjohns1.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/220385.asp
Housh sings 1 year deal with Ravens
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...-oneyear-deal-with-ravens?module=HP_headlines
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...-oneyear-deal-with-ravens?module=HP_headlines
A second draft
One question: Who was in charge of making the “Hello, My Name Is …” badges before the Seahawks’ team meeting on Monday?
After a whirlwind weekend of roster additions and deletions, the team that gathered to begin preparing for Sunday’s regular-season opener against the San Francisco 49ers at Qwest Field was very different from the one that closed the preseason on Thursday night against the Raiders in Oakland.
There are six new players on the roster that was reduced from 75 to 53 on Saturday and then tweaked again Sunday and Monday: running back Michael Robinson, defensive back Nate Ness, guard Evan Dietrich-Smith, tackle Stacy Andrews, defensive tackle Junior Siavii and defensive end Raheem Brock.
Among the players released were two starters from last season – wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and free safety Jordan Babineaux; and three others who had started games – fullback Owen Schmitt and offensive linemen Steve Vallos and Mansfield Wrotto. Houshmandzadeh was the team’s leading receiver in his only season with the club, while Babineaux registered a career-best 105 tackles last season to finish second on the team.
The roster now includes 27 players who are in their first season with the Seahawks, and another eight who are in their second – or, 66 percent of the roster – compared to six who remain from the team’s run to the Super Bowl in 2005.
“We’re bigger. We’re faster,” general manager John Schneider said. “We’re clearly a more talented football team.”
That’s because the Seahawks treated the weekend where almost 700 players hit the open market like a second draft. Just as they had with the college players in April, the team’s pro personnel staff – vice president of football operations Will Lewis, director of pro personnel Tag Ribary and assistant director of pro personnel Trent Kirchner – stacked a “draft board” of players that could become available and interested the Seahawks.
“John has been talking about this the whole time; that we’d have free agency, we’d have the draft and then we’d have this period right here,” Carroll said. “And if we wanted to compete, this would be a very active opportunity for us.
“So we were very well prepared for it, we had our sights set on some guys and went after it very aggressively. We worked the whole weekend trying to come up with the decisions to make.”
But was it the prudent thing to do with the regular-season opener at the end of the week?
“The fact that the season’s right there, if you look at it there’s very few adjustments in any way at all to the starting units on either side of the ball,” Carroll said. “The guys that are coming in here are going to fight to try and help us when they can, as soon as they can.
“We needed to do this. We could have sat back on it and I think John and I both would have regretted the opportunity passed. So we had our sights set on this time. This is not a surprise to us at all. I’m thrilled at the results.”
Here’s what the second “draft” weekend delivered:
Michael Robinson. He will help immediately on special teams. Robinson had 27 coverage tackles for the 49ers in 2007.
“Michael Robinson is a fantastic ‘get’ for us to bolster special teams,” Carroll said. “We’ll look for him to be a factor.”
Junior Siavii. He doesn’t have as much bulk (315 pounds) as Vickerson (333), but Siavii is a natural nose tackle and probably more athletic.
“Vick was a big, strong man; he did some good things for us,” Schneider said. “But in terms of pure players, they’re both strong point-of-attack players. They’re both big men.”
Stacy Andrews. He brings size (6-7, 340) and experience (34 career starts) to an offensive line than can use both. That’s why the trade was made to acquire him from the Philadelphia Eagles.
“With Stacy it’s a matter of getting bigger and stronger,” Schneider said. “In terms of that trade specifically, that was one of those that kind of just kept coming to us. It came to a point where we just felt like we’d be silly not to do it.”
Evan Dietrich-Smith. As Carroll did in assessing the former USC players during the college draft, Schneider used his first-hand knowledge of the former Packers offensive lineman. Schneider came to the Seahawks in January from Green Bay
“So I obviously have a good feel for who their younger ascending players are,” Schneider said. “We’re adding a guy that maybe doesn’t have ideal size (6-2, 308), but is an extremely smart, tough, quick and nasty football player.”
Nate Ness. The Seahawks like bigger defensive backs who also are versatile. The 6-1, 190-pound Ness can play safety as well as cornerback. That’s a needed plus, since starters Lawyer Milloy and Earl Thomas and rookie Kam Chancellor are the only safeties on the roster.
“He’s a real intriguing guy,” Schneider said. “He’s a guy I actually went in there and evaluated at Arizona. He has that size and length that we’re looking for. He always has his hands on the ball. He’s always around it. He’s one those players that the ball kind of bounces to him. He’s got real nice ball skills.
“I always kind of had a hankering for the guy. Then to watch him move from safety to corner and spend the whole offseason working there, to be able to perform the way he did was intriguing.”
Raheem Brock. To the on-going discussion regarding how the Seahawks will generate a better pass rush this season, add Brock’s name. He had 28½ sacks the past eight seasons for the Indianapolis Colts and provides needed depth behind Chris Clemons, the starter at the hybrid “Leo” end position.
“The spot I’m playing here isn’t that much different than I’ve been playing,” said Brock, who was here as a member of the Tennessee Titans for the preseason opener last month – when he had three tackles and a QB pressure.
“I didn’t think I’d be coming back here. But anything happens in this league.”
Does it ever. The Seahawks have now made 180 roster moves since Carroll and Schneider were hired in January.
While Schneider admitted there is some risk involved in making this many roster moves this close to the season opener, he also said that acquiring the players who were added was worth the risk. And Carroll concurred.
“I think we’ve really helped our football team, and made it known what we’re all about as far as in this locker room,” Carroll said. “These guys know we’re going to keep battling to make this team as good as we can make it, as soon as we can.”
http://www.seahawks.com/news/articles/article-1/A-second-draft/79f512d7-6d19-4f07-b5b8-aba575ab9a71
One question: Who was in charge of making the “Hello, My Name Is …” badges before the Seahawks’ team meeting on Monday?
After a whirlwind weekend of roster additions and deletions, the team that gathered to begin preparing for Sunday’s regular-season opener against the San Francisco 49ers at Qwest Field was very different from the one that closed the preseason on Thursday night against the Raiders in Oakland.
There are six new players on the roster that was reduced from 75 to 53 on Saturday and then tweaked again Sunday and Monday: running back Michael Robinson, defensive back Nate Ness, guard Evan Dietrich-Smith, tackle Stacy Andrews, defensive tackle Junior Siavii and defensive end Raheem Brock.
Among the players released were two starters from last season – wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and free safety Jordan Babineaux; and three others who had started games – fullback Owen Schmitt and offensive linemen Steve Vallos and Mansfield Wrotto. Houshmandzadeh was the team’s leading receiver in his only season with the club, while Babineaux registered a career-best 105 tackles last season to finish second on the team.
The roster now includes 27 players who are in their first season with the Seahawks, and another eight who are in their second – or, 66 percent of the roster – compared to six who remain from the team’s run to the Super Bowl in 2005.
“We’re bigger. We’re faster,” general manager John Schneider said. “We’re clearly a more talented football team.”
That’s because the Seahawks treated the weekend where almost 700 players hit the open market like a second draft. Just as they had with the college players in April, the team’s pro personnel staff – vice president of football operations Will Lewis, director of pro personnel Tag Ribary and assistant director of pro personnel Trent Kirchner – stacked a “draft board” of players that could become available and interested the Seahawks.
“John has been talking about this the whole time; that we’d have free agency, we’d have the draft and then we’d have this period right here,” Carroll said. “And if we wanted to compete, this would be a very active opportunity for us.
“So we were very well prepared for it, we had our sights set on some guys and went after it very aggressively. We worked the whole weekend trying to come up with the decisions to make.”
But was it the prudent thing to do with the regular-season opener at the end of the week?
“The fact that the season’s right there, if you look at it there’s very few adjustments in any way at all to the starting units on either side of the ball,” Carroll said. “The guys that are coming in here are going to fight to try and help us when they can, as soon as they can.
“We needed to do this. We could have sat back on it and I think John and I both would have regretted the opportunity passed. So we had our sights set on this time. This is not a surprise to us at all. I’m thrilled at the results.”
Here’s what the second “draft” weekend delivered:
Michael Robinson. He will help immediately on special teams. Robinson had 27 coverage tackles for the 49ers in 2007.
“Michael Robinson is a fantastic ‘get’ for us to bolster special teams,” Carroll said. “We’ll look for him to be a factor.”
Junior Siavii. He doesn’t have as much bulk (315 pounds) as Vickerson (333), but Siavii is a natural nose tackle and probably more athletic.
“Vick was a big, strong man; he did some good things for us,” Schneider said. “But in terms of pure players, they’re both strong point-of-attack players. They’re both big men.”
Stacy Andrews. He brings size (6-7, 340) and experience (34 career starts) to an offensive line than can use both. That’s why the trade was made to acquire him from the Philadelphia Eagles.
“With Stacy it’s a matter of getting bigger and stronger,” Schneider said. “In terms of that trade specifically, that was one of those that kind of just kept coming to us. It came to a point where we just felt like we’d be silly not to do it.”
Evan Dietrich-Smith. As Carroll did in assessing the former USC players during the college draft, Schneider used his first-hand knowledge of the former Packers offensive lineman. Schneider came to the Seahawks in January from Green Bay
“So I obviously have a good feel for who their younger ascending players are,” Schneider said. “We’re adding a guy that maybe doesn’t have ideal size (6-2, 308), but is an extremely smart, tough, quick and nasty football player.”
Nate Ness. The Seahawks like bigger defensive backs who also are versatile. The 6-1, 190-pound Ness can play safety as well as cornerback. That’s a needed plus, since starters Lawyer Milloy and Earl Thomas and rookie Kam Chancellor are the only safeties on the roster.
“He’s a real intriguing guy,” Schneider said. “He’s a guy I actually went in there and evaluated at Arizona. He has that size and length that we’re looking for. He always has his hands on the ball. He’s always around it. He’s one those players that the ball kind of bounces to him. He’s got real nice ball skills.
“I always kind of had a hankering for the guy. Then to watch him move from safety to corner and spend the whole offseason working there, to be able to perform the way he did was intriguing.”
Raheem Brock. To the on-going discussion regarding how the Seahawks will generate a better pass rush this season, add Brock’s name. He had 28½ sacks the past eight seasons for the Indianapolis Colts and provides needed depth behind Chris Clemons, the starter at the hybrid “Leo” end position.
“The spot I’m playing here isn’t that much different than I’ve been playing,” said Brock, who was here as a member of the Tennessee Titans for the preseason opener last month – when he had three tackles and a QB pressure.
“I didn’t think I’d be coming back here. But anything happens in this league.”
Does it ever. The Seahawks have now made 180 roster moves since Carroll and Schneider were hired in January.
While Schneider admitted there is some risk involved in making this many roster moves this close to the season opener, he also said that acquiring the players who were added was worth the risk. And Carroll concurred.
“I think we’ve really helped our football team, and made it known what we’re all about as far as in this locker room,” Carroll said. “These guys know we’re going to keep battling to make this team as good as we can make it, as soon as we can.”
http://www.seahawks.com/news/articles/article-1/A-second-draft/79f512d7-6d19-4f07-b5b8-aba575ab9a71
Seahawks' roster analysis in wake of crazy weekend
I did a position-by-position analysis Saturday after the Seahawks' initial cutdown to 53 players, but given all the subsequent churn it seems worthwhile to take another look at exactly how the roster shakes out ... at least for now.
I suspect there'll be another move or two by quick-twitch GM John Schneider before Sunday's 1 p.m. season opener against the 49ers, but here's how the latest moves affect each position.
QUARTERBACK
Survivors: Matt Hasselbeck, Charlie Whitehurst.
Cut: J.P. Losman.
Analysis: After rumors and speculation about signing veteran Patrick Ramsey or Matt Leinart, the Seahawks instead will go with two QBs on their 53-man roster and signed rookie Zac Robinson out of Oklahoma State to the practice squad as a developmental guy. Despite all the change, Hasselbeck is still standing ... which is where the Seahawks' line has to keep him if this season is to have any chance.
RUNNING BACK
Survivors: Justin Forsett, Leon Washington, Quinton Ganther, Julius Jones, Michael Robinson.
First cut: Louis Rankin.
Second cut: Owen Schmitt.
Analysis: Jones is still on team, largely because Schneider couldn't get the guy he wanted to replace him off the waiver wire and he was willing to take a pay cut. But Forsett will be the opening-day starter and he and Washington should split the majority of carries. Schmitt's release means there's no true fullback, though Ganther (5-9, 220) will handle that role when needed. Robinson is more of a special teams standout than a runner, though he could also fill a bigger-back role at 6-1, 223.
WIDE RECEIVER
Survivors: Deion Branch, Mike Williams, Golden Tate, Deon Butler, Ben Obomanu.
Cut: Ruvell Martin, Brandon Jones, T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Analysis: The pressure now is on this group to prove it can flourish without Housh. It's an interesting gamble given Williams has been out of the league the past two years and Branch has been nearly as invisible at times due to injuries. Both had good preseasons, but need to show they can do it now for 16 games. Tate and Butler have to step up in the regular season as well and I think both could be big contributors.
TIGHT END
Survivors: John Carlson, Chris Baker, Cameron Morrah, Anthony McCoy.
Cuts: Nick Tow-Arnett.
Analysis: Carlson had a quiet preseason, but could also be one who steps up further in Houshmandzadeh's absence as a middle-of-the-field threat. I doubt all three of the backups will be on the roster all season, but team needs to see Baker get fully healthy and let things shake out with young Morrah and McCoy.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Survivors: Russell Okung, Chris Spencer, Max Unger, Sean Locklear, Mike Gibson, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus, Ben Hamilton, Stacy Andrews, Evan Dietrich-Smith.
Placed on injured reserve: Ray Willis.
First cuts: Joe Toledo, Jacob Phillips, Jeff Byers, Mitch Erickson.
Second cuts: Mansfield Wrotto, Steve Vallos.
Analysis: The merry-go-round is still spinning with this group. The trade for Andrews makes Locklear vulnerable at right tackle. Polumbus, acquired last week, will start at left tackle Sunday unless Pitts proves his surgically-repaired right knee is ready to roll after just one week of practice. Hamilton lost his starting role to Gibson at left guard and Dietrich-Smith's arrival -- and the potential of Pitts playing guard once Russell Okung returns -- puts his tenure on a short leash.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Survivors: Chris Clemons, Red Bryant, Brandon Mebane, Colin Cole, E.J. Wilson, Dexter Davis, Kentwan Balmer, Craig Terrill, Raheem Brock, Junior Siavii.
First cuts: Nick Reed, Quinn Pitcock, Amon Gordon, Rob Rose, James Wyche.
Second cuts: Kevin Vickerson.
Analysis: Vickerson's departure surprised me, but his history of missing practice time with a variety of nicks might have raised concerns. Siavii is a veteran who played well in a backup role for the Cowboys last year after finally recovering fully from a three-year battle following microfracture surgery. Brock provides veteran backup and some rush off the edge behind Clemons at the Leo position. Wyche was re-signed to the practice squad for further depth there.
LINEBACKER
Survivors: Lofa Tatupu, Aaron Curry, David Hawthorne, Will Herring, Matt McCoy.
Placed on reserve/suspended list: Leroy Hill.
Cuts: Tyjuan Hagler, Joe Pawelek.
Analysis: This position looks pretty deep when you add in Dexter Davis (listed with the defensive line) and when Hill returns after his one-week suspension, which is probably why there were no-last minute changes other than re-signing rookie Pawalek to practice squad.
CORNERBACK
Survivors: Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Walter Thurmond, Roy Lewis, Kennard Cox, Nate Ness.
Cuts: Marcus Brown, Cord Parks.
Analysis: If you think something doesn't add up here, you're right. Keeping six cornerbacks (and just three safeties) is unusual and I suspect some adjustment will be forthcoming. Lewis can play safety in a pinch, but that doesn't seem ideal. Ness is a lanky 6-1 youngster who'll get a good look at corner because the Seahawks want to get bigger there. It's surprising to see Cox still on the roster, but he probably shouldn't sign a long-term lease.
SAFETY
Survivors: Earl Thomas, Lawyer Milloy, Kam Chancellor.
First cuts: Jamar Adams.
Second cuts: Jordan Babineaux, Kevin Ellison.
Analysis: As noted with the cornerbacks, the numbers here don't make sense ... and thus further change can be expected. Chancellor can't play free safety, he's a banger who's best up in the box, so something needs to be done behind Thomas. Expect a move here shortly.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Survivors: Olindo Mare, Jon Ryan, Clint Gresham.
Analysis: The most stable group on the squad, which says something. Then again, Mare and Ryan might have been the MVPs of the 2009 season. Which also said something.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/220514.asp
I did a position-by-position analysis Saturday after the Seahawks' initial cutdown to 53 players, but given all the subsequent churn it seems worthwhile to take another look at exactly how the roster shakes out ... at least for now.
I suspect there'll be another move or two by quick-twitch GM John Schneider before Sunday's 1 p.m. season opener against the 49ers, but here's how the latest moves affect each position.
QUARTERBACK
Survivors: Matt Hasselbeck, Charlie Whitehurst.
Cut: J.P. Losman.
Analysis: After rumors and speculation about signing veteran Patrick Ramsey or Matt Leinart, the Seahawks instead will go with two QBs on their 53-man roster and signed rookie Zac Robinson out of Oklahoma State to the practice squad as a developmental guy. Despite all the change, Hasselbeck is still standing ... which is where the Seahawks' line has to keep him if this season is to have any chance.
RUNNING BACK
Survivors: Justin Forsett, Leon Washington, Quinton Ganther, Julius Jones, Michael Robinson.
First cut: Louis Rankin.
Second cut: Owen Schmitt.
Analysis: Jones is still on team, largely because Schneider couldn't get the guy he wanted to replace him off the waiver wire and he was willing to take a pay cut. But Forsett will be the opening-day starter and he and Washington should split the majority of carries. Schmitt's release means there's no true fullback, though Ganther (5-9, 220) will handle that role when needed. Robinson is more of a special teams standout than a runner, though he could also fill a bigger-back role at 6-1, 223.
WIDE RECEIVER
Survivors: Deion Branch, Mike Williams, Golden Tate, Deon Butler, Ben Obomanu.
Cut: Ruvell Martin, Brandon Jones, T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Analysis: The pressure now is on this group to prove it can flourish without Housh. It's an interesting gamble given Williams has been out of the league the past two years and Branch has been nearly as invisible at times due to injuries. Both had good preseasons, but need to show they can do it now for 16 games. Tate and Butler have to step up in the regular season as well and I think both could be big contributors.
TIGHT END
Survivors: John Carlson, Chris Baker, Cameron Morrah, Anthony McCoy.
Cuts: Nick Tow-Arnett.
Analysis: Carlson had a quiet preseason, but could also be one who steps up further in Houshmandzadeh's absence as a middle-of-the-field threat. I doubt all three of the backups will be on the roster all season, but team needs to see Baker get fully healthy and let things shake out with young Morrah and McCoy.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Survivors: Russell Okung, Chris Spencer, Max Unger, Sean Locklear, Mike Gibson, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus, Ben Hamilton, Stacy Andrews, Evan Dietrich-Smith.
Placed on injured reserve: Ray Willis.
First cuts: Joe Toledo, Jacob Phillips, Jeff Byers, Mitch Erickson.
Second cuts: Mansfield Wrotto, Steve Vallos.
Analysis: The merry-go-round is still spinning with this group. The trade for Andrews makes Locklear vulnerable at right tackle. Polumbus, acquired last week, will start at left tackle Sunday unless Pitts proves his surgically-repaired right knee is ready to roll after just one week of practice. Hamilton lost his starting role to Gibson at left guard and Dietrich-Smith's arrival -- and the potential of Pitts playing guard once Russell Okung returns -- puts his tenure on a short leash.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Survivors: Chris Clemons, Red Bryant, Brandon Mebane, Colin Cole, E.J. Wilson, Dexter Davis, Kentwan Balmer, Craig Terrill, Raheem Brock, Junior Siavii.
First cuts: Nick Reed, Quinn Pitcock, Amon Gordon, Rob Rose, James Wyche.
Second cuts: Kevin Vickerson.
Analysis: Vickerson's departure surprised me, but his history of missing practice time with a variety of nicks might have raised concerns. Siavii is a veteran who played well in a backup role for the Cowboys last year after finally recovering fully from a three-year battle following microfracture surgery. Brock provides veteran backup and some rush off the edge behind Clemons at the Leo position. Wyche was re-signed to the practice squad for further depth there.
LINEBACKER
Survivors: Lofa Tatupu, Aaron Curry, David Hawthorne, Will Herring, Matt McCoy.
Placed on reserve/suspended list: Leroy Hill.
Cuts: Tyjuan Hagler, Joe Pawelek.
Analysis: This position looks pretty deep when you add in Dexter Davis (listed with the defensive line) and when Hill returns after his one-week suspension, which is probably why there were no-last minute changes other than re-signing rookie Pawalek to practice squad.
CORNERBACK
Survivors: Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Walter Thurmond, Roy Lewis, Kennard Cox, Nate Ness.
Cuts: Marcus Brown, Cord Parks.
Analysis: If you think something doesn't add up here, you're right. Keeping six cornerbacks (and just three safeties) is unusual and I suspect some adjustment will be forthcoming. Lewis can play safety in a pinch, but that doesn't seem ideal. Ness is a lanky 6-1 youngster who'll get a good look at corner because the Seahawks want to get bigger there. It's surprising to see Cox still on the roster, but he probably shouldn't sign a long-term lease.
SAFETY
Survivors: Earl Thomas, Lawyer Milloy, Kam Chancellor.
First cuts: Jamar Adams.
Second cuts: Jordan Babineaux, Kevin Ellison.
Analysis: As noted with the cornerbacks, the numbers here don't make sense ... and thus further change can be expected. Chancellor can't play free safety, he's a banger who's best up in the box, so something needs to be done behind Thomas. Expect a move here shortly.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Survivors: Olindo Mare, Jon Ryan, Clint Gresham.
Analysis: The most stable group on the squad, which says something. Then again, Mare and Ryan might have been the MVPs of the 2009 season. Which also said something.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/220514.asp
Roster churn continues: Terrill out, Babineaux back?
Players had the day off Tuesday, but the roster rotation at Seahawks headquarters continued with veteran defensive tackle Craig Terrill being released after six seasons in Seattle.
Terrill's release has been reported by Pro Football Talk and apparently confirmed by Terrill's statement on his Twitter account: "Thanks to the Seahawks for 6 great years."
Meanwhile, KJR-AM is reporting that safety Jordan Babineaux could be re-signing with the team today after being released Sunday.
From a numbers standpoint, those moves make sense given that the Seahawks don't have a backup free safety after releasing Babineaux, Jamar Adams and Kevin Ellison over the weekend, while the defensive line was over its normal limit with the signing of Junior Siavii and the return to health of Kentwan Balmer.
Terrill played primarily a backup role, starting four games in his six years since being drafted in the fifth round in 2004. He totaled 90 tackles and eight sacks, while also contributing largely on special teams.
With Brandon Mebane, Colin Cole and Siavii at tackle and Balmer and Red Bryant able to play both end and tackle, Terrill's role became tenuous.
As for Babineaux, there's no word from the team yet, but it wouldn't be surprising if the veteran agreed to rework a contract that would have paid him $2.45 million prior to his release.
As I discussed in my position-by-position analysis today, the Seahawks had to make some sort of move at safety given the way the roster stood after the latest moves.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/220544.asp
Players had the day off Tuesday, but the roster rotation at Seahawks headquarters continued with veteran defensive tackle Craig Terrill being released after six seasons in Seattle.
Terrill's release has been reported by Pro Football Talk and apparently confirmed by Terrill's statement on his Twitter account: "Thanks to the Seahawks for 6 great years."
Meanwhile, KJR-AM is reporting that safety Jordan Babineaux could be re-signing with the team today after being released Sunday.
From a numbers standpoint, those moves make sense given that the Seahawks don't have a backup free safety after releasing Babineaux, Jamar Adams and Kevin Ellison over the weekend, while the defensive line was over its normal limit with the signing of Junior Siavii and the return to health of Kentwan Balmer.
Terrill played primarily a backup role, starting four games in his six years since being drafted in the fifth round in 2004. He totaled 90 tackles and eight sacks, while also contributing largely on special teams.
With Brandon Mebane, Colin Cole and Siavii at tackle and Balmer and Red Bryant able to play both end and tackle, Terrill's role became tenuous.
As for Babineaux, there's no word from the team yet, but it wouldn't be surprising if the veteran agreed to rework a contract that would have paid him $2.45 million prior to his release.
As I discussed in my position-by-position analysis today, the Seahawks had to make some sort of move at safety given the way the roster stood after the latest moves.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/220544.asp
The mysterious departure of Alex Gibbs
Of all the offseason hires by Pete Carroll, the biggest and most ballyhooed was the addition of offensive line coach Alex Gibbs to his Seahawks coaching staff.
Gibbs, 69, was heralded as the guru of zone blocking and one of the most-respected assistants in the NFL.
He was the guy who could take late-round draft picks of marginal talent and mold them into a lean, mean fighting machine that would mow down opposing defensive lines with their cut-blocking skills and open up creases to revive Seattle's ground game.
He was the man excited about the potential of first-round draft pick Russell Okung, the fellow whose familiarity with veteran guard Ben Hamilton made him a perfect fit, the perfectionist who was cussing and yelling and setting a tough tone for Seattle's rebuilding line at every practice.
And then he up and quit, eight days before the regular season opener.
Explanation please?
The Seahawks communications director passed word that Gibbs was "worn out." Carroll said Gibbs merely did what he had to do, but the team and everyone involved was better for the time spent with him this offseason.
GM John Schneider sung his praises and indicated the hard-wired assistant just felt he didn't have enough left in the tank to get through the season.
"What I can tell you is he's a hard-charging, proven, grizzled vet that just felt like he wasn't going to be able to push through," Schneider said.
But there's more to than that, of course. There is a reason Gibbs is worn out. The Seahawks' line is in far more transition that surely he bargained for when he took the job.
The coach who has a reputation for taking players and molding them into his way of doing things kept getting new parts he needed to start over from scratch with.
The club traded for tackles Tyler Polumbus and Stacy Andrews just in the last week, then signed guard Evan Dietrich-Smith. Getting new players ready in short order puts an added burden on assistant coaches who have to tutor and help those newcomers catch up.
Asked about the challenge of so much roster churn, Schneider noted that "if you have a coach and coaching staff that are willing to move forward and teach and put in the extra time to get new players ready, then it can be an extremely exciting period to add players."
That response wasn't specifically about Gibbs, nor was the veteran coach new to the notion of late additions on an NFL roster. It happens everywhere, but rarely to the level the Seahawks are attempting this late in preseason, so it's reasonable to wonder if this situation wasn't exactly what Gibbs thought he was signing up for when he joined Carroll's staff.
It's also worth asking if Gibbs was displeased with the addition of two tackles in Polumbus and Andrews who don't fit his preferred mold of smaller, more athletic types who can run and cut block.
Polumbus is 6-foot-8 and 300 pounds. Andrews checks in at 6-7, 340, and his trade to Seattle was coming down just about the time Gibbs checked out.
Schneider was twice asked Monday during a group interview at Seahawks' headquarters whether that acquisition created a problem for Gibbs. His answers seemed revealing in what he did and didn't say in that regard.
"Alex obviously has a specific criteria for what he believes makes his zone scheme effective," Schneider said. "But there's also bigger zone teams out there. We went through it in Green Bay. We added a guy named Josh Sitton who is 320-some pounds.
"With Stacy, it's a matter of getting bigger and stronger. If you watch the Philadelphia Eagles, they knock people off the ball. In terms of that trade specifically, it kind of kept coming to us and it came to a point where we just felt it would be silly not to do it."
But did Gibbs ever express a desire for a different type of player?
"Sure. Like I said, Alex has a certain criteria," Schneider said. "But you also have to go play football games. So ideally, you know how it is. Ideally I'd have liked to have been a bigger running back. You have to go with what you have to be able to win games."
Gibbs, for all his genius, has a history of not staying anywhere too long.
His NFL resume: three seasons with the Broncos, two with the Raiders, two with the Chargers, one with the Colts, two with the Chiefs, nine with the Broncos again, three with the Falcons, two with the Texans and now six months with the Seahawks.
He's also become more of a consultant in recent years than a full-time assistant coach. His last two seasons with Atlanta were as a consultant, not a coach. He had a similar relationship, though not title, with the Texans.
He got to know Carroll by acting as a consultant at USC about the installation of the zone-blocking scheme.
So it's quite likely that the day-to-day challenges of coaching were grinding down Gibbs, as several people in and around the Seahawks organization say he'd appeared worn down recently.
Now that he's gone, we may never know the exact reasoning. Gibbs disliked talking to reporters even in the best of times, which was too bad because the one occasion he spoke to the media in Seattle was the day of the draft after Russell Okung's selection and he was colorful, entertaining and informative.
For his part, Carroll sung Gibbs' praises as "one of the greats that ever coached in this league," but then said dealing with his departure is "not as drastic as you may think."
Carroll had only figured Gibbs would coach a few years in Seattle, so he'd also brought in long-time NFL assistant Art Valero to be his assistant. Now he's hired former USC assistant Pat Ruel to work with Valero.
Schneider acknowledged the situation "is not ideal," but noted Ruel has background both with himself in Green Bay and Carroll and offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates at USC.
Ruel, who was coaching with the Omaha Nighthawks in the UFL, wasted no time accepting Carroll's new offer, which came Friday night ... just hours after Gibbs said he was quitting.
That's the way the coaching world works. Ruel himself had been jettisoned from Carroll's old staff when Carroll hired Gibbs instead of keeping him on after five years together in Los Angeles.
"I felt like a girlfriend that got left behind, but there were no hard feelings," Ruel said with a chuckle. "There are other dates out there you know? But I love coach. He and I go way back. Sometimes things just work out. Sometimes we all have to go our own directions and I was just fortunate he re-routed my path."
Ruel's response when Carroll got ahold of him in Omaha?
"I told him I was in a three-point stance and my hand was back," said Ruel, referring to the takeoff of a defensive lineman.
As for Gibbs? He's more like a wide receiver at this point, running a fade route into oblivion.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/220590.asp
Of all the offseason hires by Pete Carroll, the biggest and most ballyhooed was the addition of offensive line coach Alex Gibbs to his Seahawks coaching staff.
Gibbs, 69, was heralded as the guru of zone blocking and one of the most-respected assistants in the NFL.
He was the guy who could take late-round draft picks of marginal talent and mold them into a lean, mean fighting machine that would mow down opposing defensive lines with their cut-blocking skills and open up creases to revive Seattle's ground game.
He was the man excited about the potential of first-round draft pick Russell Okung, the fellow whose familiarity with veteran guard Ben Hamilton made him a perfect fit, the perfectionist who was cussing and yelling and setting a tough tone for Seattle's rebuilding line at every practice.
And then he up and quit, eight days before the regular season opener.
Explanation please?
The Seahawks communications director passed word that Gibbs was "worn out." Carroll said Gibbs merely did what he had to do, but the team and everyone involved was better for the time spent with him this offseason.
GM John Schneider sung his praises and indicated the hard-wired assistant just felt he didn't have enough left in the tank to get through the season.
"What I can tell you is he's a hard-charging, proven, grizzled vet that just felt like he wasn't going to be able to push through," Schneider said.
But there's more to than that, of course. There is a reason Gibbs is worn out. The Seahawks' line is in far more transition that surely he bargained for when he took the job.
The coach who has a reputation for taking players and molding them into his way of doing things kept getting new parts he needed to start over from scratch with.
The club traded for tackles Tyler Polumbus and Stacy Andrews just in the last week, then signed guard Evan Dietrich-Smith. Getting new players ready in short order puts an added burden on assistant coaches who have to tutor and help those newcomers catch up.
Asked about the challenge of so much roster churn, Schneider noted that "if you have a coach and coaching staff that are willing to move forward and teach and put in the extra time to get new players ready, then it can be an extremely exciting period to add players."
That response wasn't specifically about Gibbs, nor was the veteran coach new to the notion of late additions on an NFL roster. It happens everywhere, but rarely to the level the Seahawks are attempting this late in preseason, so it's reasonable to wonder if this situation wasn't exactly what Gibbs thought he was signing up for when he joined Carroll's staff.
It's also worth asking if Gibbs was displeased with the addition of two tackles in Polumbus and Andrews who don't fit his preferred mold of smaller, more athletic types who can run and cut block.
Polumbus is 6-foot-8 and 300 pounds. Andrews checks in at 6-7, 340, and his trade to Seattle was coming down just about the time Gibbs checked out.
Schneider was twice asked Monday during a group interview at Seahawks' headquarters whether that acquisition created a problem for Gibbs. His answers seemed revealing in what he did and didn't say in that regard.
"Alex obviously has a specific criteria for what he believes makes his zone scheme effective," Schneider said. "But there's also bigger zone teams out there. We went through it in Green Bay. We added a guy named Josh Sitton who is 320-some pounds.
"With Stacy, it's a matter of getting bigger and stronger. If you watch the Philadelphia Eagles, they knock people off the ball. In terms of that trade specifically, it kind of kept coming to us and it came to a point where we just felt it would be silly not to do it."
But did Gibbs ever express a desire for a different type of player?
"Sure. Like I said, Alex has a certain criteria," Schneider said. "But you also have to go play football games. So ideally, you know how it is. Ideally I'd have liked to have been a bigger running back. You have to go with what you have to be able to win games."
Gibbs, for all his genius, has a history of not staying anywhere too long.
His NFL resume: three seasons with the Broncos, two with the Raiders, two with the Chargers, one with the Colts, two with the Chiefs, nine with the Broncos again, three with the Falcons, two with the Texans and now six months with the Seahawks.
He's also become more of a consultant in recent years than a full-time assistant coach. His last two seasons with Atlanta were as a consultant, not a coach. He had a similar relationship, though not title, with the Texans.
He got to know Carroll by acting as a consultant at USC about the installation of the zone-blocking scheme.
So it's quite likely that the day-to-day challenges of coaching were grinding down Gibbs, as several people in and around the Seahawks organization say he'd appeared worn down recently.
Now that he's gone, we may never know the exact reasoning. Gibbs disliked talking to reporters even in the best of times, which was too bad because the one occasion he spoke to the media in Seattle was the day of the draft after Russell Okung's selection and he was colorful, entertaining and informative.
For his part, Carroll sung Gibbs' praises as "one of the greats that ever coached in this league," but then said dealing with his departure is "not as drastic as you may think."
Carroll had only figured Gibbs would coach a few years in Seattle, so he'd also brought in long-time NFL assistant Art Valero to be his assistant. Now he's hired former USC assistant Pat Ruel to work with Valero.
Schneider acknowledged the situation "is not ideal," but noted Ruel has background both with himself in Green Bay and Carroll and offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates at USC.
Ruel, who was coaching with the Omaha Nighthawks in the UFL, wasted no time accepting Carroll's new offer, which came Friday night ... just hours after Gibbs said he was quitting.
That's the way the coaching world works. Ruel himself had been jettisoned from Carroll's old staff when Carroll hired Gibbs instead of keeping him on after five years together in Los Angeles.
"I felt like a girlfriend that got left behind, but there were no hard feelings," Ruel said with a chuckle. "There are other dates out there you know? But I love coach. He and I go way back. Sometimes things just work out. Sometimes we all have to go our own directions and I was just fortunate he re-routed my path."
Ruel's response when Carroll got ahold of him in Omaha?
"I told him I was in a three-point stance and my hand was back," said Ruel, referring to the takeoff of a defensive lineman.
As for Gibbs? He's more like a wide receiver at this point, running a fade route into oblivion.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/220590.asp
A surprise choice at captain
You know it's getting down to crunch time for the Seahawks when team captains are elected and a plane flies over the practice field towing a huge 12th Man banner.
Indeed, kickoff is less than 48 hours away now and the serious work has been done in preparation for the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks players on Friday voted for Matt Hasselbeck (offense), Lofa Tatupu (defense) and Roy Lewis (special teams) to be the year-long captains. A weekly offensive and defensive captain will also be named starting next week based on their play the prior Sunday.
Hasselbeck and Tatupu were no surprises, given their long-held seniority and leadership positions on the club. But for Lewis, a former University of Washington cornerback who spent most of last year on the practice squad or inactive roster, this was a day that won't soon be forgotten.
"It's crazy. It's an honor. I'm actually kind of speechless," said Lewis, who rarely is at a loss for words. "I voted for Olindo (Mare) and if Sean Morey was still here I'd have voted for Sean, because those are the guys I look up to as far as special teams and how they approach and being prepared."
Lewis plays on every special team. He blocked three punts in college and also was a kick returner, though those duties will be left to Justin Forsett and Leon Washington. Lewis is a blocker on return teams now, as well as coverage duties.
"I'll go out and continue to play with that same energy and effort and intensity and toughness and bring guys along with me to keep that spark and energy going so special teams continue to be a weapon for us," he said. "It's a phase a lot of teams overlook, but here we value and cherish it and we approach it that way."
The captains were announced to the team as they gathered in a circle at the end of Friday's practice.
"Those guys are great leaders and have been really strong for us from the start," coach Pete Carroll said. "I'm really pleased those are the guys they chose."
It's really exciting for Roy. He's been a spark plug for us and so consistent as a performer all offseason and throughout. He's made a big impression on these guys and that's why they chose him. He's got a big, active role in teams, so we're excited for him."
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/220968.asp
You know it's getting down to crunch time for the Seahawks when team captains are elected and a plane flies over the practice field towing a huge 12th Man banner.
Indeed, kickoff is less than 48 hours away now and the serious work has been done in preparation for the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks players on Friday voted for Matt Hasselbeck (offense), Lofa Tatupu (defense) and Roy Lewis (special teams) to be the year-long captains. A weekly offensive and defensive captain will also be named starting next week based on their play the prior Sunday.
Hasselbeck and Tatupu were no surprises, given their long-held seniority and leadership positions on the club. But for Lewis, a former University of Washington cornerback who spent most of last year on the practice squad or inactive roster, this was a day that won't soon be forgotten.
"It's crazy. It's an honor. I'm actually kind of speechless," said Lewis, who rarely is at a loss for words. "I voted for Olindo (Mare) and if Sean Morey was still here I'd have voted for Sean, because those are the guys I look up to as far as special teams and how they approach and being prepared."
Lewis plays on every special team. He blocked three punts in college and also was a kick returner, though those duties will be left to Justin Forsett and Leon Washington. Lewis is a blocker on return teams now, as well as coverage duties.
"I'll go out and continue to play with that same energy and effort and intensity and toughness and bring guys along with me to keep that spark and energy going so special teams continue to be a weapon for us," he said. "It's a phase a lot of teams overlook, but here we value and cherish it and we approach it that way."
The captains were announced to the team as they gathered in a circle at the end of Friday's practice.
"Those guys are great leaders and have been really strong for us from the start," coach Pete Carroll said. "I'm really pleased those are the guys they chose."
It's really exciting for Roy. He's been a spark plug for us and so consistent as a performer all offseason and throughout. He's made a big impression on these guys and that's why they chose him. He's got a big, active role in teams, so we're excited for him."
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/220968.asp