Seahawk Addicts
To think a week or so ago everyone gave me shit for saying Weaver was the best FB on the team and that Schmitt hasn't proven anything yet.
I love the thought of Weaver & TJ Duckett in goal line situations or on 3rd & short. Hell, I like that combo on most downs if they continue to practice like they did today.
I'm demanding we form a "Get Logan Payne Signed" committee going on or something. This kid is the real deal.
I'm rooting for Logan to make WR#3, or at least #4.
Also, T.J. training at FB? I hope this means the smashmouth offense I've been dreaming of. WISHBONE Formation!!!! Looking forward to alot of split-back plays and variations. Maybe even T Formation, Power I, or Maryland I. Oh, the possibilities make my head spin. We got all these backs, lets capitalize on 'em.
Also, awesome work Michael. Its getting to the point to where I dont even check the other blogs unless you think its worthy enough of putting up a link to it.
I still believe MoMo is the odd man out in the RB rotation. He is a solid player but JJ is just a little bit better and has game breaking speed which MoMo doenst have. I think by mid year we are seeing a JJ / TJ backfield.
I also dont get what the big secret is about TJ learing the FB spot. We know he is a better running the ball than Weaver so if he can also block why wouldnt you stick him back there with MoMo or JJ? Think of the options that gives you - they can line up with TJ at FB and run the ball with TJ leading the way, or line them both up in the back field and hand of to either one, or flex MoMo to the outside which still doesnt tip the hand of the offense if its run or pass. They flexed SA outside some last year and it was a joke, the LB barely took a step towards him. They cant do that with JJ or Momo, somebody has to get over to him which opens up the middle for TJ or Carlson in the passing game.
Holmy's offense was the best in '05 because they lined up with a set of guys and could run a bunch of different plays keeping the D on there heels. The hawks dont have to switch formations and do all those shenanigans like the Steeler to win when the offense is clicking. Not showing a strong side and having the ability to run / pass out of the same formation is a big part of our offense.
MoMo may not be on the team for much longer. I'm about 90% sure he only has a year left on his contract. If Forsett steps up, he may be Mo's eventual replacement.
Interview with Logan Payne:
"Logan, do you always catch the ball?"
Logan:
"I catch the ball all day, every day.
It's all I do! I don't give a f*&#!
Has LaCharles Bentley signed anywhere yet?
If not, you may want to consider bringing him in as insurance. We have gaurds playing center as Holmy said and we may not be able to count on the 2 Chris' this year.
The center position concerns me.
Gonzo... we actually extended him last year.
Check it out
realsp...
I think your statements about 05' are a touch incorrect. In 05' teams new we going to run, they just had absoulutely no way of stopping it. Although Shaun had his best year pass blocking which allowed the team to leave him in on 3rd downs more. But in 05' the team would just line up in I formation and run it down the opponents throats. The last two years I formation has been a joke. Everybody knows we are running and hence we take a 2 yard loss.
But I do like where you are going with TJ. I hadn't thought of it that way. When the HB flexes out, essentially the FB becomes the feature back. Duckett is going to be the best option by far in those situations because teams respect him as if he was a HB.
Truehawk...
I think it is pretty telling that Bentley hasn't signed, or even had serious discussions with anybody. Judging by and old Adam Schefter article, my guess is that the Hawks have seen his medicals. If they wanted him, they would have brought him in before camp so he could have the max time learning the system.
Hopefully Spencer is back and in form in time for the last 2 preseason games. That should be enough time for him to get ready. Any sooner would be gravy.
our backup plan if Spencer is out is what exactly?
is the aug 2 scrimmage going to be televised (FSN, maybe)?
i'm eager to see the likes of payne and schmitt in the preseason and hopefully get a better idea of their actuall NFL-readiness.
it's great to hear the camp highlights now, but i can't help but think that schmitt is destined for ST this season while learning the ropes, and that payne may still be even with kent until he really shows what he's showing now in the preseason... it would be awesome if that turns out wrong.
shams,
right now it appears the depth is:
spencer > gray > vallos > wrotto
but spencer will be ready. gotta be.
thanks , but how is this not our biggest worry thus far? Gray is the backup???
Great thread. Thanks Michael for all the great Seahawk info!
HB - TJ/JJ/Momo
FB - Weaver/TJ
these are all great combos, I'm just not sure there are enough touches to go around.
The advantage to Weaver at FB is his recieving ability out of the backfield.
Holmgreen has to be excited about the endless possiblities of play calls.
Split backs... thats where its at this season.
Great to hear Weaver is blocking better! And great to hear Ducket may play both TB and FB!
Michael, you say "with Weaver and Schmitt, do we need Duckett playing FB as well". What makes anyone so sure Schmitt is going to make the team? Practice squad maybe. I would think that Forsett and Schmitt start out as likely practice squad guys who are basically fighting for a spot on special teams. What have we seen from Schmitt that would suggest he could beat out TJ Duckett? I'm ready, but I just don't see it.
If I am understanding correctly Jones and Morris will supposedly split the tailback carries. Duckett, if he has a role at all, will do the short yardage. Weaver is solidifying his hold on the #1 FB.
Here's the problem. Weaver's weakness was as a lead blocker, since he is only recently a convert to FB. If he is now decent at THAT then you have many more running backs on the roster than you can possibly justify.
Weaver was already a better than average rusher and receiver for a fullback. In limited attempts he has a much better YPC than Jones, for instance, and 16 more receptions in 2007 than Jones even though JJ is supposedly a good receiver. That is to say, Weaver has done everything he's supposed to in terms of earning himself more touches as an offensive threat. So where will those touches come from?
Then there's Schmitt, and we really don't know if he will be any good at the pro level but he's already a fan favorite because he's a "character." Not to mention Kirtman, Forsett, and the others.
And of course, since the fans are in love with the new TE and the young WRs they are going to have to throw like the Patriots in order to spread the love around, aren't they?
There are way too many chefs and only one footballl on the field at a time. Some of these superduper players that everybody is in love with are either going to be cut or languish pointlessly on the sideline. In some ways that's a good problem to have, but in others (cap dollars, pissed off players) it's not. If this was all just a matter of raw rookies competing for the last few roster spots it's no big deal, but they have a gaggle of RBs and FBs who think they are God's gift. In his role as psychologist Holmgren's got his work cut out for him.
This is how Tim fixes, bring in a bunch of talent and let them compete.
This is exactly what our run game needed. No more SA and lots of hungry guys wanting touches. The only bruised ego is the one that got cut.
We now have healthy competetion and depth. We also have the potential to do a trade should we have depth issues in other areas or an unexpected injury.
I see the following RB roster:
RB: Jones, Morris, Duckett
FB: Weaver, Schmidtt
Duckett won't supplant Weaver at FB. People who think Weaver has blocking problems need to get past the Greenbay preseason game from last season, as he laid some monster blocks with regularity after becoming the starting FB.
Schmidtt is a fan favorite like that guy in KC, mohawk & all, but we'll have to see the NFL result on field.
Question,
Since this will be the first time since SA was the starter that Holmgren will be running a true WCO. Does anyubody know how many times that he actually ran a I-formation when using a pure WCO style? My guess is you would have to remember his GB days and maybe when Ricky Watters was the running back.
My understanding was that the "overuse" of the I was one of the changes he made because of Shuans special talents.
Coach use to say that when you have a talent like Shaun you adjust things a bit. I always thought that was the I formation running on first and second down.
Also, the team had to throw from the I because they would leave Mack to protect Matt. This year, I would expect to see split and single backs much more.
"This is how Tim fixes, bring in a bunch of talent and let them compete.
This is exactly what our run game needed. No more SA and lots of hungry guys wanting touches. The only bruised ego is the one that got cut."
Here's the problem; Jones and Duckett have signed for something like $9 million in guaranteed money between them. For the sake of argument say that Morris, Forsett, Weaver, and Schmitt come out of camp looking the best. You can't just cut Jones and Duckett without eating a big chunk of cap dollars, pointlessly. Add that to what they already ate of Alexander's contract, and you'll have some ridiculous quantity of dead money invested in running backs who are either not on the team or are languishing on the bench.
Both Jones and Duckett come in with big question marks. Jones had stats even worse than Alexander's in '07, and Duckett has barely carried the ball for two years. Yet, they both were given multiyear deals with signing bonuses and told to "compete" for a job. That one's a puzzler to me. And decisions like this tie into other situations, such as Engram's, who must be wondering why the team can't find a couple extra million for him when they are handing out $4-5 million signing bonuses to running backs who might not even be good enough to make the team.
My opinion is that because of the various contracts and egos in the backfield that the team needs to commit fairly early on to a set of roles for the players, with some flexibility of course. My biggest wish out of this process was to see Weaver get more carries and receptions but it's questionable whether that's even possible given the logjam in the backfield.
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