The maneuvering will continue right up until April 26th, as the Seattle Seahawks’ brain trust led by Tim Ruskell, Mike Holmgren, and now Jim Mora Jr., among others, work to resurrect a running game that might just be the key to once again attaining the heights and possibly winning a Super Bowl Championship.
Tim Ruskell Mike Holmgren Jim Mora Jr.
Since their appearance in Super Bowl XL against the victorious Pittsburgh Steelers, star running back Shaun Alexander’s health and then productivity went down the tubes. This decline occurred just one year after Shaun signed one of the richest contracts ever awarded to a running back. Alexander’s lack of production can’t be laid simply at his feet though as the loss of All-Pro Guard Steve Hutchinson to Minnesota was definitely a big contributing factor. Age has also become part of the equation as other offensive line starters from the XL days have since departed. The Hawk’s O-line has been bolstered by the drafting and steady improvement of four year veteran right tackle Sean Locklear (a 3rd round draft pick in ’04 out of N.C. State who was re-signed to a long-term contract this off season), three year veteran center Chris Spencer (a 1st round pick in ‘05 out of Mississippi), and third year pro guard Rob Sims, who provided a very pleasant surprise as a good, steady player selected with a 4th round pick in the ’06 draft out of Ohio State. Perennial All-Pro left tackle Walter Jones and a new Seahawk signed as a free agent, Mike Wahle, will team with these young players to become a formidable front line ready to pass protect and punch running lanes. Wahle, an eleven year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler who was a salary cap casualty with the Carolina Panthers, will most likely assume the left guard position next to Jones.
You know, an NFL General Manager not only requires an eye for on-field talent, but also for talent among the coaching ranks. Ruskell’s next move was to bring in a new offensive line coach. Mike Solari was brought in with a sterling resume’ built over eleven years with the Kansas City Chiefs. Mike was a key link in the Chief’s top running attack over the last decade and is expected to bring his expertise to bear with the Seahawks.
Ruskell then re-entered the free agent market and signed two new Seahawk running backs. T.J. Duckett, at 6’0” 254 pounds fills a direct need for the Hawks as their lack of a “punch it in” big back was very noticeable in 2007 and this is Duckett’s specialty. T.J. will join Leonard Weaver, a good situational change-up type fullback with excellent pass receiving and pass blocking skills. The Hawks appear to be well set with these two. Julius Jones was then brought in to directly challenge for the starting running back position amid much speculation that this move may spell the end to Shaun Alexander’s career with the Seahawks. Although nothing concrete has come out of the Seahawks’ front office to that effect (other than the obvious Jones signing), it is generally agreed that it is just a matter of time before Shaun is released. Some may hope for a trade, but that is simply wishful thinking. No, the Hawks will have to cut their losses and give Shaun his unconditional release. Thanks for the memories, Shaun.
Julius Jones was the lead back with the Dallas Cowboys in their two back system where, from my perspective, he was used early to force the opposing defenses to respect his slashing style and consequently give the Tony Romo little more time in the pocket off play action. Late in the game, and usually holding the lead, the Cowboys would then unleash Marion Barber on the opponent’s now softened up defense to much success. Jones’ style is in contrast to Alexander in that he is more of a head down, straight ahead then cut rusher whereas Alexander turned into a sideways dancer hoping to find an opening.
The other Seahawk running back, Maurice Morris, is entering his 7th season in the league and while being a steady back-up and kick returner, age is becoming a concern leading me to believe he is another candidate to possibly be released. I say this because I believe the Seahawks may use their first pick in the upcoming draft to secure another running back, and this is where the thrust of this article will now take us.
There have been rumblings coming out of Hawk land that Tim Ruskell has become infatuated with the University of Oregon’s early draft entry, Jonathan Stewart. As the days dwindle down before the 2008 draft, Stewart’s potential draft position has been on somewhat of a roller coaster. Prior to the Scouting Combine he was looked upon as the number two rated back in the draft. Then his performance in the combine created more questions than answers as his ability to run away from defenders was questioned. This while posting a 4.46 second 40 yard dash and running it 5 pounds heavier than his collegiate playing weight. Stewart’s strengths were said to be his power, size and tackle breaking ability while he was downgraded for his acceleration, breakaway speed and elusiveness. Next came the revelation that Stewart needed to undergo surgery to repair a turf toe injury suffered last November. These two occurrences lowered his draft value in many minds from a mid 1st rounder clear down to the middle of the 2nd. Now I’m no orthopedic surgeon, but wouldn’t that type of injury have a negative effect on a runner’s ability to accelerate, display breakaway speed and be elusive? So here we stand a couple of weeks in front of the draft and Stewart is being projected back into the top twenty.
Ruskell’s supposed interest in Stewart is now leading to speculation that the Seahawks just might try to move up from their 25th selection in the first round in order to secure Stewart. There are currently four teams drafting ahead of the Seahawks that have either a first or second priority at the running back position in this draft and possibly a fifth team depending on where Arkansas’ Darren McFadden might be available. There is a lot of speculation that if McFadden is on the board when the Raiders’ fourth pick of the draft comes up, Al Davis will take him even though this is not a position of need for them. With the sixth pick, the New York Jets are the first team to pick with a definite need at running back and they would surely jump at McFadden if the first five teams pass on him. After the Jets you have to drop clear down to the 13th and 14th picks (Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears) before two teams with definite running back needs pop up. This sets the circumstances that the Seahawks have to work with.
Of the teams selecting between the 6th and 13th picks there are two that could be considered potential trading partners based on their areas of top need and the availability of players worthy of a high selection. Buffalo needs a top flight receiver and yet their 11th pick is considered too high for the available talent. The Bills second and third highest needs are cornerback and outside linebacker. All three of Buffalo’s highest need areas are for positions that this draft is talent rich in. I look for the Bills to make a deal for more draft picks, and they could use them, by the way. The Denver Broncos hold the 12th pick and in their situation, their top need is for an offensive tackle. With Miami, Atlanta, Oakland, Kansas City and Baltimore all possibly taking offensive tackles in the first round ahead of the Broncos, there may not be a tackle of high enough quality left by the time their pick comes up. Denver’s next highest needs are for a defensive tackle and an inside linebacker, both of which would probably be a reach with the 12th pick as well. Denver has a history of trading down for more picks.
Either the 11th or 12th pick would most likely cost the Seahawks their first round 25th pick and second round 55th pick based on the NFL Draft Value Chart. They would then have to take their chances on having a fairly good tight end still available when they make their third round pick with the 86th selection in the draft and considering that this is a fairly low need choice for most teams this year, the gamble might bring them someone like Notre Dame’s John Carlson or Tennessee’s Brad Cottam.
The defense was addressed over the last three years and has become the team’s strength with long term contracts written to secure key contributors and Pro Bowlers, Lofa Tatupu and Marcus Trufant. Now the attention is squarely centered on the offense…
I’ve got to believe Tim Ruskell is looking at all of this with an eye towards completing the puzzle that may well lead to a Super Bowl Championship in the not too distant future.
Good read Dwindy1, I belive that Ruskell ill try to get Stewart, and if that happens, watch out for the Hawks this year. Something else I dont see talked about regarding the TE issue, why not just use Will Heller? I think he is a decent TE with good hands, and good enough blocking ability. I cant see why we dont start him and see what he can do, if it doesnt work, then we have that Putzer guy who we signed anyway, he should do. We havent had a good TE in a while anyways, and we still seem to make the playoffs each year. I suppose its up for debate, what is more important to our team, a good running game or a good TE?
The answer is running back based purely on game plan diversity and the number of touches. The old 49er teams always had very productive TEs and it certainly is beneficial, but nothing like having a reliable running game. The Niners had the two Nebraska backs Craig and Rathman to grind their opponents down.
If the Seahawks do make the move and get Stewart I could see them working a two back system similar to the Cowboys with Jones and Stewart... We'll see!
Uh-oh. Dwindy, I think the spammers are back! (see previouis comment by "bikinibeachgirl")
She came on my blog talkign about that site, too. I figured I'd check other blogs in the NFL section front page right now to see if this person had commented elsewhere. I was right.
I look at it on a number of levels but foremost is need, followed by player availability and value. If I was actually involved, the financial angle concerning cost, time before a guy is ready to play, and how his cost fits into the overall salary picture would also be a big consideration.
So it goes like this... 1. Need, 2. Player to be considered (value), and 3. The financial side. Since money is no object for me... If I can't fill the need with a value type player, then I consider the best available athlete if there is a lesser need for that player.
Al Davis, picking fourth, has much greater needs than running back and with only three options off the board he can fill any one of them with a value pick. If he takes McFadden, he'll get a potentially great player but leave his team groping in an area of greater need when he could be shoring up problems not living with them. Then next year I'd assume the Raiders will once again have another top five five...
D-Man.....I used to think by need also. The main writer, Vic Ketchum, at jaguars.com has convinced me to go best player in the draft.
He says go best player, (1) It keeps the competition from getting the best player available. (2) Even if you have your starters set at the same posistion, the team will find a way to play the guy. (3) If you draft by need, you may be taking the 10th, or worse, best available player. This adds up per round and per year of draft.
Granted there are exceptions....if you have three stud RBs, no sense in drafting a fourth. Or, if a once-Every-ten years QB is available, but not the best available player, you might have to take him based on need.
This isn't hoping that Stewart falls to the Hawks but rather what they may do to move up and grab him... Many variables come into play for this to happen. It assumes if McFadden goes to the Raiders the Jets will take either Illinois' Mendenhall or Texas' Charles. There is another back rising on the boards, Chris Johnson, a burner from East Carolina (he can do kickoff returns as well as run the ball) that wouldn't be too bad a selection if Stewart is off the board early...
There have been and continue to be teams that follow that philosophy. I think the old pre-JJ Cowboys used to draft that way. I've never seen any comparisons run trying to determine which approach is best and I think if you looked at the past SB winners you'd find a pretty even split along those lines...
I'll tell you one thing, selecting on team need is sure easier for people doing mock drafts as you don't have to look into another person's mind so much to determine who they think is the highest value player. In my assessment of the available talent I track eight different talent services and average out over 400 possibilities... Then I meld in each team's need and go from there. It is not an exact science since personal preference is a big component in reality... But it's fun trying!
Nice post Dwindy, I would not be suprised to see our 'hawks in the NFC title game this year. Hopefully this draft class will work like the Giants' class did last season.
It won't be long and we'll at least know what the Seahawks' brass is going to do with their 6 draft picks... I'd like to see a good young RB. If not Jonathan Stewart then maybe East Carolina's Chris Johnson... Then maybe USC's TE Fred Davis! I would consider that a very good draft. Finally they need another DT and WR...
This year's draft should be very interesting to watch to see the teams will actually be able to draft the players that they really need. Or if they will have to settle.
It would be very nice to see Miami back on top of their game. It has been along time since they have been in contention for anything other than finishing last in their division.
I think Miami is on the rebound big time. The ownership change is a large part of that. The new 50% owner will shortly own it all, and don't kid yourself, he had a big hand in the hiring of Parcells. He is the money man from whence all will flow. Parcells has been very busy putting his kind of people on the roster and now comes his first draft. Bill is famous for making the comment when he was the head coach and not allowed to be the general manager too "I cook the meals, now I'd like to buy the groceries!" He's buying the groceries now and overseeing the cook!
Look for good things over the next couple of years in Dolphin land...
Nice pic of Duckett bulldozing Ed Reed up there. That makes me feel better about those third down conversions LOL. I want to see this Duckett guy in action.
Hey Dwindy, how's my favorite Seahawk fan? Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. I can see the Hawks moving up ahead of the Texans to get Stewart.
As for my Panthers, I think we're going to draft either an O-lineman or D-lineman in the first round, since both lines have glaring needs. I can see the Panthers drafting either Derrick Harvey (DE from Florida and a speed rusher) or either OT's Chris Williams (Vanderbilt) or Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh).
I just hope SOME TEAM can rise up and challenge New England in the AFC East!
I consider Duckett to be the opposite of Leonard and expect to see him later in the game if the lead is in hand. A one two fullback punch so to speak...
Funny how each team's needs get overhauled as the draft approaches. I was hoping for a first round TE and now even the 25th pick looks like a reach for USC's Davis or Purdue's Keller... You were hoping for a big back like Stewart and now you're looking at O-linemen... I'm kinda thinking a really good fit for Carolina is the big DT out of North Carolina, Kent Balmer and he's rated in the middle of the first round now. There will be a couple of excellent OT's at 14 in the first and possibly the Virginia guard Albert... Any way you cut in, Carolina should get a quality player.
dwindy im sure unless i havent said about me.... im a seattle seahawks fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!! also i like the mariners...... but i hate the washington huskies go figure
Dwindy, with the depth of backs in the draft, I can see Carolina getting a good back in the middle to later rounds. Almost every mock draft in existence (or so it seems) has the Panthers drafting Derrick Harvey at #13. I wouldn't have a problem with that, as the Panthers need a speed rusher to replace Mike Rucker. Balmer could be the run-stuffing DT the Panthers sorely need. But I sense the Panthers will draft an O-lineman.
I'm surprised at how high the early entry guard out of USC, Chilo Rachal, has risen on the board. He may be a first rounder too and they claim he has a huge upside. Who knows, the Hawks are still looking for Hutchinson's replacement...
Many options to mull over right now. I just wish if there is going to be a blockbuster trade on the front end of the draft they'd go ahead and get it done instead of waiting until the clocks running. It would sure make trying to figure this out a lot easier!
Sorry buddy I've been gone a while and also have been goofin around on the Mariners board.
Dude this is a GREAT post, of course I'm being bias. I've mock drafted myself out, I just can't wait for this day to come. I'm really curious about our receiving core. I assume guys like Obomanu and Payne will see some more playing time. Hasselbeck has put up decent and consistant numbers with some butterfinger receivers in the past, to some pretty decent receivers today. But he needs that "one guy" some of these other top ten QB's have. I don't think there is any immediate impact receivers in the draft, there are good ones, don't get me wrong. So I hope Obomanu and Payne are some sleepers ready to take their turn on the field.
The Seahawks are looking good, but are they building to beat Indy or the Pats? That is the only way to the SuperBowl. The Pats loaded up on offense to beat Indy and they did. Will a big time running game be enough? They need to be able to stop 2 incredible passing games. Can they?
Our secondary was lights out! It was 2nd in the NFL, allowing the fewest passing yards and TD passes. Tom Brady gets to feel the wrath of our secondary this year in the loudest stadium, QWEST FIELD......I hope....lol.
Cboy4evr,
Those Rams games always seem a little tough for us, but I sure don't see a whole lot of offseason improvement there.
Wait till next year, Tru and Jennings will only get better.
It takes corners a few years to become pro-bowler material, Tru is at that level, Jennings improved a bunch last season and will be very good soon.
Before the Green Bay playoff game they were saying that Green Bay and Seattle had the best corner pair in the NFC. While GB's corners are aging ours are still young!!
I'm a sports fanatic living on the west coast of Florida. I'm a rare bird that moved here from the left coast a couple of years ago. I advocate an even playing field in all of life's endeavors.
best slot
departed. The Hawk’s O-line has been bolstered by the drafting and steady improvement of four year veteran right tackle Sean Locklear (a 3rd round draft pick in ’04 out of N.C. State who was re-signed to a long-term contract this off season), three year veteran center Chris Spencer (a 1st round pick in ‘05 out of Mississippi), and third year pro guard Rob Sims, who provided a very pleasant surprise as a good, steady player selected with a 4th round pick in the ’06 draft out of Ohio State. Perennial All-Pro left tackle Walter Jones and a new Seahawk signed as a free agent, Mike Wahle, will team with these young players to become 
a formidable front line ready to pass protect and punch running lanes. Wahle, an eleven year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler who was a salary cap casualty with the Carolina Panthers, will most likely assume the left guard position next to Jones.
for on-field talent, but also for talent among the coaching ranks. Ruskell’s next move was to bring in a new offensive line coach. Mike Solari was brought in with a sterling resume’ built over eleven years with the Kansas City Chiefs. Mike was a key link in the Chief’s top running attack over the last decade and is expected to bring his expertise to bear with the Seahawks.
pounds fills a direct need for the Hawks as their lack of a “punch it in” big back was very noticeable in 2007 and this is Duckett’s specialty. T.J. will join Leonard Weaver, a good situational change-up type fullback with excellent pass receiving and pass blocking skills. The Hawks appear to be well set with these two. Julius Jones was then brought in to directly challenge for the starting running back position amid much speculation that this move may spell the end to Shaun Alexander’s career with the Seahawks. Although nothing concrete has come out of the Seahawks’ front office to that effect (other than the obvious Jones signing), it is generally agreed that it is just a matter of time before Shaun is released. Some may hope for a trade, but that is simply wishful thinking. No, the Hawks will have to cut their losses and give Shaun his unconditional release. Thanks for the memories, Shaun. 
used early to force the opposing defenses to respect his slashing style and consequently give the Tony Romo little more time in the pocket off play action. Late in the game, and usually holding the lead, the Cowboys would then unleash Marion Barber on the opponent’s now softened up defense to much success. Jones’ style is in contrast to Alexander in that he is more of a head down, straight ahead then cut rusher whereas Alexander turned into a sideways dancer hoping to find an opening.
Prior to the Scouting Combine he was looked upon as the number two rated back in the draft. Then his performance in the combine created more questions than answers as his ability to run away from defenders was questioned. This while posting a 4.46 second 40 yard dash and running it 5 pounds heavier than his collegiate playing weight. Stewart’s strengths were said to be his power, size and tackle breaking ability while he was downgraded for his acceleration, breakaway speed and elusiveness. Next came the revelation that Stewart needed to undergo surgery to repair a turf toe injury suffered last November. These two occurrences lowered his draft value in many minds from a mid 1st rounder clear down to the middle of the 2nd. Now I’m no orthopedic surgeon, but wouldn’t that type of injury have a negative effect on a runner’s ability to accelerate, display breakaway speed and be elusive? So here we stand a couple of weeks in front of the draft and Stewart is being projected back into the top twenty.
