The LA Steelers?

Tuesday’s story (July 29th) on Yahoo sports about Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys owner) dismissing the relocation of the Pittsburgh Steelers to Los Angeles appears to be smoke and mirrors. Anonymous insiders say Edward Roski Jr secretly met with Investor Stanley Druckenmiller just this past weekend in Las Vegas to discuss terms for the team’s relocation to Los Angeles.

On July 7th, 2008, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the current Steelers ownership group announced plans to sell controlling interest of the team to comply with NFL ownership regulations. Four of the five Rooney brothers that own the Steelers have decided to sell their interests in the team to further pursue their interests in the race tracks they own in New York and Florida. Because these race tracks and gambling interests have violated league rules since 2006, the league is forcing the sale.

On July 11th, 2008, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller was in negotiations for purchasing the team shares belonging to the Rooney brothers. Coach Tomlin was quoted as saying,” the situation could become a distraction for the team.”

In April of this year developer Edward Roski announced plans to build a NFL stadium 20 miles outside Los Angeles. Roski, part owner of the LA Lakers and Kings has already completed environmental impact studies with construction likely to begin as soon as the fall of 2008. Unique in stadium financing is the $800 million dollar facility will be totally privately financed requiring no public money. The Los Angeles Stadium will have a seating capacity of 75,000 people and feature all the modern amenities that current NFL stadiums contain.

Other teams mentioned in the media that could potentially relocate to LA Stadium include: the ST Louis Rams, the San Francisco 49ers, the Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the San Diego Chargers. At this time though it appears the Pittsburgh Steelers have the jump on all other teams in negotiations. The question I ask of the readers today is: if this relocation comes to fruition should the Los Angeles Steelers still be called the Steelers? If not, what new name would you suggest?

He guns down the field blowing by the LB snags Matt Hasselbeck's pass, does a juke move on the CB, then stiff arms the Safety as he scampers into the End Zone. Ahhh yes, one of Seattle's young guns.

Setting the stage: in 2007 the Seahawks traded away their leading receiver Darrell Jackson to San Francisco, next in 2008 they let DJ Hackett leave via free agency to Carolina. What happened in 2007-2008 to make these two solid wide outs expendable?>
The answer is fourfold: Logan Payne, Courtney Taylor, Ben Obomanu, and Jordan Kent. Obomanu was drafted in 2006, Taylor and Kent were drafted in 2007, and Payne was signed as an un-drafted free agent in 2007. They are Seattle’s new young guns and a perfect fit for Holmgren’s West Coast Offense.

First off, they all have height (all over 6’) making them large targets for Hasselbeck. Secondly, they all have size (all are over 200lbs) making them durable and hard to bring down after the catch. Thirdly, they all are excellent blockers. Finally, they all have exceptional hands, which is critical in Coach Mike’s system. (Jackson and Hackett were both part of the 2004 Seahawk receiving corp that continually dropped 3rd down passes killing drives. Ouch!)

Due to Deion Branch’s absence with an injury until September (possibly mid-season) an opening at the wide-out position is setting up a training camp shootout between these young guns. It started heating up during mini-camp when Bobby Engram sat out in a contract protest giving the youngsters more opportunities. With Nate Burleson and Engram entrenched as the #1 and #2 receivers, expect the bullets to be flying all through training camp as the young guns elevate their game a notch or two for the third wide-out spot. Even the coaches have no idea which one will win out in the end. It all adds up to an exciting pre-season for Seahawk fans.

Below are a few college highlights of these stars in waiting:

Logan Payne

At 6-2, he has been described as a taller Steve Largent. His senior year at the University of Minnesota he led the team in catches, yards, and touchdowns.

Courtney Taylor

At 6-1, he set school records at Auburn for receptions and is fourth all time in receiving yards.

Ben Obomanu

At 6-0, he is second all-time at Auburn in touchdowns, and led the team in receptions and touchdowns his senior year.

The Prototypical West Coast Offense Running Back

There has been a great deal of debate about whether or not Seattle improved its running game with the free agent acquisitions of Julius Jones and TJ Duckett. The doubters contend they are has-been running backs and that they should be considered backups. Their supporters contend they were not getting a fair shake with their previous teams and their numbers prove they can still get the job done. The doubters miss the biggest difference; the offensive systems in which they played.

 Neither Dallas (where Jones came from), or Detroit (where Duckett came from) run a West Coast Offense (WCO).  Why should that matter? What is the WCO? The WCO simplified is 60% pass/40% run: spreading the defense over a much bigger area of the field, both horizontally and vertically; creating mismatches in the speed, size, or number of receivers defenders try to cover. While potentially throwing on any down and any distance to avoid tendencies that defenses could key on; simultaneously maintaining possession through the air instead of solely on the ground.

Well in the WCO to catch passes and block are valued equally with a running back’s ability to run the ball. These abilities haven’t been combined in a Seattle tail back since Ricky Watters. In the recent past with Shaun Alexander at tail back Holmgren used a balanced attack with 50% run/50% pass. Alexander was a power runner who was a terrible blocker and poor receiver. He just didn’t fit the WCO. Mo Morris did a better job in all these areas last year while filling in for Shaun Alexander; but without a backup to spell him he wore down as the game and season progressed. Last year proved Morris just doesn’t have the size (he is 20 lbs lighter than Jones and 40 lbs lighter than Duckett) to be an every down back for more than a game or two.

 Now with the additions of Jones and Duckett the Seahawks have three tail backs that can pass block for Hasselbeck, or slide into the flat and catch the short dump off pass. Rotating these three backs will keep them fresh all season, and most importantly they’ll be able to run whatever play coach Holmgren calls.

 What is a prototypical WCO running back? This is a back that might break 1,000 yds rushing if he was the feature back; but would also be one of the teams leading receivers. In fact, he could even lead in both categories as Roger Craig did in 1985 (1050 yds rushing & 1016 yds receiving).  They have to be able to pick up any blitz with a good solid block, otherwise the QB can be blindsided.  Sure hands and the ability to run after the catch are essential. They frequently turn a short pass reception into a big gain. Stamina is very important especially if the team only has one feature back. Over the course of the season they typically would have more pass receptions than rushing attempts. All of these qualities with even stronger blocking ability are also required of the fullback. John L. Williams comes to mind here. TJ Duckett is a possibility to move to fullback as has been suggested by coach Holmgren.

In conclusion, is Seattle’s run game improved? Probably, my previous blog explained zone blocking and how it will also help the run game. Even more importantly for the first time in years (except for a part of last season when Morris filled-in) Holmgren will have all the tools to properly run his much loved WCO. This year the advantages of running a true WCO will make Holmgren’s play calling less predictable and harder to defend.