News Roundup: 2/13/08

A few things have gone down over the last week that I regrettably did not have time to post here. Hooray for snow days though, so I’ll run through everything I missed.

• Jim Zorn is now the head coach of the Washington Redskins. I’m as shocked as you are, trust me. With the way that circus was carrying on in D.C., I was expecting John Madden to come out of retirement to coach the team. Why Zorn? I honestly have no idea. As far as my knowledge goes, he has never had any experience with playcalling or game management or anything of the sort. Best of luck, Jim.

• Speaking of the Redskins circus, Zorn has now recruited Seahawks RB coach Stump Mitchell. Mitchell will likely receive a title in addition to RB coach, such as assistant head coach.

• You think we’re done? Ha! To complete the ridiculous revolving door between Washington and Seattle, the Seahawks nabbed Redskins QB coach Bill Lazor. I really like this move. Jason Campbell was very impressive before his injury last year, and Todd Collins was certainly ready to step in when he went down. Hopefully Lazor can carry his success to Matt Hasselbeck and the rest of the signal calling crew in the Emerald City. Here’s to you, Charlie Frye.

• Lastly, the ‘Hawks will be visiting with recent Panthers cap casualty Mike Wahle, a former Pro Bowl OG. Wahle knows Holmgren from his days with the Packers, though he played under him for just a season. I would absolutely love to sign this guy. He is only 30 years young, so he can be an effective stopgap at the guard position, and hopefully help Holmgren go out with a bang. Good luck to the front office. I hope you take him somewhere nice for dinner.

Mora to become Seahawks HC in 2009

As you’ve probably all heard or read by now, assistant coach Jim Mora will succeed Mike Holmgren as head coach of the Seahawks in 2009. Holmgren will retire after this season. Mora will continue his duties as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach in 2008.

…I like the move. Get this settled right away so we don’t have to worry about it next year.

As I stated previously, I think Mora is a decent choice for the job. We could do better, but we could also do a lot worse. Mora is an in-house option, so he knows the players and the players know him. He runs a similar West Coast Offense to Holmgren, so there is no need to worry about continuity in the offense. He also has head coaching experience, which is immeasurably important in this day and age with guys like Bobby Petrino and Cam Cameron rearing their ugly heads. He’s still young, and hopefully he learned from his mistakes in Atlanta and is prepared for another go-round. The Seahawks have a lot more talent than he had with the Falcons, and a QB that actually fits in a WCO. I think he can be pretty successful, as long as the University of Washington isn’t looking for a new coach…

Seahawks Scout 7 at Senior Bowl

Yikes, unintentional alliteration.

Anyway, the Seahawks have confirmed that they scouted these 7 players at the Senior Bowl. Here is a brief synopsis of each player, but for a full analysis, head to Scout.com.

Limas Sweed (WR, Texas): An intriguing prospect with a big body and a lot of physical talent. Sweed has a lot of potential, but has also had a lot of injury troubles. His senior season was cut short because of a recurring wrist injury. With a good combine, he could sneak into the first round, making it unlikely that Seattle will select him.

Patrick Lee (CB, Auburn): I admittedly haven’t heard much about Lee. He has a lot of speed, but only average lateral agility. He’ll make a lot of plays on the ball, but can get too aggressive and get burned. He could push himself into the 3rd or even the 2nd round with a good combine.

Jason Jones (DE, Western Michigan): Jones is a big man with long arms. He is a tremendous edge rusher, and dominated the lower ranks of the NCAA. He could be a steal for any number of teams on day 2, as defensive line rotations have become increasingly popular over the last few years.

Terrell Thomas (CB, USC): Another big, physical corner with an unstoppable motor. He has good speed and change-of-direction skills. The big knock on Thomas has been injuries. He should still be selected in the first few rounds, though. If the Seahawks franchise Marcus Trufant like I assume they will, they probably won’t have any interest in Thomas.

Chauncey Washington (RB, USC): Washington carried the load for the Trojans this year, going over 1,000 yards on the season. He is not as highly regarded as former standouts Reggie Bush and LenDale White, though he is a decent prospect in his own right. He is a physical, between-the-tackles style of runner, who could be a good complement to a speed back like Mo Morris (I’m just saying is all…). He could be a decent late round addition.

Marcus Griffin (FS, Texas): Brother of former first round pick Michael Griffin. Not nearly as athletically gifted. He is a hard hitter and a decent playmaker, but his lack of top-end speed will limit him. He will likely be a 2nd day selection.

Tracy Porter (CB, Indiana): Porter is a phenomenal athlete, but lacks the refined technique of top prospects. He is quick, has great top-end speed, and is a solid playmaker. He has about average size for a corner at 5′11, 185, though he could stand to bulk up a bit. He wasn’t incredibly productive in college, but teams tend to gamble on sub-4.4 speed. Look for Porter to go in the 2nd round.

Buzz: Early Mock Drafts

Most of the late-season NFL mock drafts had the Seahawks taking Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart, who would have been a great fit. However, his monstrous performance in the Sun Bowl (282 yards on 25 touches, 2 TDs) lifted his stock considerably. He is expected to go between picks 10-20, putting him out of the Seahawks reach, who pick at 25.

The prevailing pick these days is Rashard Mendenhall from Illinois. Though he has only one season of starting experience, he put up a fantastic junior campaign, rushing for nearly 1,700 yards with 17 TDs. He’s built like a bull at 5′11″, 225. His minimal experience could actually help his longevity in the NFL. Still, a good combine could lift his stock into the top 20 picks, hanging the Seahawks out to dry. I would definitely be excited to select a young RB like Mendenhall, but from what I’ve seen from Tim Ruskell’s draft strategy, he might not be so likely to make a “sexy” skill position pick.

The only other pick I’ve seen for the ‘Hawks is USC TE Fred Davis. He was the Trojans’ top target this season, hauling in 62 passes for 881 yards and 8 TDs. He is a big target at 6′4″, 245, and he has reliable hands (unlike some or all former Seattle tight ends). He is not a burner like Kellen Winslow, and his blocking needs work, but his experience at WR has taught him to run great routes and catch in traffic. Davis would be a satisfactory pick, but I think he would be a bit of a reach in the first round.

Hopefully the end of the Super Bowl melodrama the start of the offseason will bring some greater variety and understanding to future mock drafts. Stay tuned for more, as always.

Zorn Leaves ‘Hawks to Become ‘Skins OC

Jim Zorn, quarterbacks coach for the Seahawks for the last 7 seasons, is leaving Seattle to become offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins. He would have stayed if offered an extension, but Seahawks brass obviously had other plans. The move comes after speculation that he would have become Seattle’s OC next season.

…Ouch. This move is really going to hurt. Zorn is pretty much solely credited with developing Matt Hasselbeck into a Pro Bowl QB. From what I’ve heard, the two also had a great rapport. I think Hasselbeck is good enough to recover from this, but the move could be felt in a few years when the Seahawks start searching for his successor. Good luck, Jim. You’ll be missed…

Holmgren Returns For 1 More Year

As you’ve probably all heard by now (which is good, because my current laziness precludes me from linking to a story), Coach Mike Holmgren will return for another season. His contract expires at the end of next season, after which I imagine he will finally retire. After the Petrino fiasco this year, it’s nice to see guys like Holmgren and Dungy staying around to fulfill their contracts.

Still not sure how I should feel about this. On one hand, I know the Walrus is a good coach, and has had success in this league. But still, I feel that the game is almost evolving past his coaching ability. His playcalling was questionable this year, and his admission of giving up on the running game was a terrible decision. I’m also a little sick of getting ousted in the divisional round every year. This team needs a fire to be lit under their asses, and I don’t think Holmgren can be that guy anymore. The championship window is closing fast. The next coach might inherit a bit of a rebuilding project on offense.

In any case, what’s done is done. No use complaining about what we can’t change. Maybe the Walrus can join the Tuna in Miami next year, and they can have a strangely erotic marine mammal orgy at Dolphin Stadium, which is also home to the Marlins.

Maybe I’m getting a little ahead of myself…

Various Seahawks Tidbits

Nothing major is happening right now with the Super Bowl still 2 weeks away, but here are a few stories from around the web to whet your appetite for offseason activity.

• The Seahawks are one of four teams being considered for a game in Great Britain next year. If they are in fact selected, the Bucs will host the game an ocean away from their Tampa home. The Seahawks may also play internationally against Buffalo. The Bills are likely to get approval on a game in Toronto, in order to expand their Canadian fanbase. The Seahawks might not be a terrible choice, as they have a few followers in western Canada.

• Walter Jones and Patrick Kerney will miss the Pro Bowl because of offseason surgery. Both are scheduled to go under the knife this week to treat shoulder injuries. Kerney has been replaced on the NFC roster by Eagles DE Trent Cole. For the full list of Seahawks having surgery, check Clare Farnsworth’s blog at the Seattle P-I.

• Not that it should come as a surprise, but Shaun Alexander stated pretty plainly that he won’t be restructuring his contract. Said Alexander, “You don’t really do that with your foundation people. You do that with the people you aren’t sure about.” I think his ego has finally surpassed the gap between his teeth in terms of sheer magnitude. Check the Seattle Times for the full story.

Shaun Alexander makes me want to punch kittens. And babies. But not puppies. No way, puppies are too cute. Maybe I should kill two birds with one stone and hit a baby with a kitten. What was I saying…?

Mora stays in Seattle

Seahawks assistant head coach and defensive backs coach Jim Mora has pulled his name out of contention for the recently vacated Redskins head coach position. This obviously raises some eyebrows around the Emerald City. Is Mike Holmgren really retiring this time, and if he does, is Mora in line to replace him? There was a lot of buzz about this when he was first signed last year, and I doubt it’s going to stop until Holmgren makes an official announcement of his decision.

As for Mora becoming head coach, I can’t say I’d be too angry. He gets a bad rap for his days in Atlanta, during which he literally stated that his dream job was head coach of the Washington Huskies, but he’s not all bad. Like Holmgren, he runs a west coast offense, which would make it an easy transition for players and coaches alike. He also has had NFL head coaching experience with a modest track record (if he can get a Vick-led team to the NFC championship, imagine what he can do with a good QB who actually fits in a WCO). Heck, a change of pace might be a shot in the arm for the historically underachieving Seattle organization. They could certainly do a lot worse than Mora (read: Canton Cameron, Bobby Petrino). At least if he bolts in the middle of the season, we’ll know where to find him.

Offseason breakdown: special teams

Now for the final installment of this wondrous series, I’ll dissect the Seahawks special teams.

K: Josh Brown is as good as they can hope for. He had somewhat of an off year, which he allegedly attributes to erratic long snapping, but he should definitely be re-signed this year after getting the franchise tag last season. Brown has proven time and again during his career that he can make kicks when it counts the most. When it comes to the clutch, I’m not sure I’d rather have anyone else.

P: Ryan Plackemeier must have learned a thing or two from Tom Rouen, because he plays exactly like the former Seahawks punter. He is a very good directional punter, without a doubt. He was tied for 4th in the league with 30 punts inside the 20 yard line, and ranked 2nd with 13 punts inside the 10. The problem lies with Plackemeier’s leg strength. I would expect a guy of his considerable girth to possess a leg stronger than my 86 year old grandmother. He fell dead last in the league with a dreadful 40 yards per punt. I would be shocked if the brass didn’t bring in a punter or 2 for some competition, though I don’t see them spending a draft pick to do so.

Miscellaneous: I’m hardly a definitive authority on football, so I won’t try to speak at length about the kick coverage teams. Hopefully something is done to improve kickoff coverage, which ranked 5th worst with 25 yards allowed per return. Combined with Brown’s kickoff average, opponents started the average drive on their own 30. I can’t say for sure if it is a personnel problem or a coaching issue. Still, Seattle didn’t allow a return TD this year, which is hard to complain about. Niko Koutovides is the only notable free agent special teamer.

I couldn’t be happier with the return game. Though they ranked near the middle in kick return average, the tandem of Josh Wilson and Nate Burleson did combine for 2 TDs. Burleson also tore up punt coverage teams, amassing the 4th ranked punt return average in the NFL, behind 2 Pro Bowlers in Josh Cribbs and the amazing Devin Hester. He also scored a huge 94 yard return TD at a pivotal time against the Browns. The only downside to him becoming more involved in the passing game will be his diminished value on returns.

Well, that’s all for my offseason breakdown. I hope you at least enjoyed it a little, and maybe even learned a thing or two. If you like what you read, check back all offseason for more news, opinions, and tons of mock drafts from around the web.

Offseason positional breakdown: defense

Here’s a look at what’s in store on the defensive side of the ball.

DE: No major issues here. Patrick Kerney was a monster this season. Darryl Tapp was largely inconsistent this year, with 4 of his 7 sacks coming in a rout of the Rams. Still, this is not a position of great priority, so I imagine he will enter next season as the starter. Baraka Atkins and Jason Babin will be in the fold, but neither will likely challenge the incumbent Tapp.

DT: The Seahawks need a major overhaul at the tackle position. It should be about time to cut ties with former 1st round pick Marcus Tubbs, who has only played a total of 29 games in 4 years. Even when he managed to stay on the field for more than a week, Tubbs was never the big run stuffer he was projected to be. Chuck Darby will be a free agent, and I don’t see him returning. That leaves a dearth of talent at the position, with only Rocky Bernard, Brandon Mebane, Craig Terrill, and Howard Green left. None of those players has the ability to clog up the middle and give the undersized linebackers a break. Hopefully the staff will address this position in free agency or on day 1 of the draft.

LB: Nothing to report here. I couldn’t be happier with the trio of Julian Peterson, Lofa Tatupu, and Leroy Hill. Peterson and Tatupu will start together in the Pro Bowl, which is Lofa’s 3rd selection in as many years in the league. Both players are also quick to praise Hill, who is very solid. Backups Niko Koutovides and Kevin Bentley will be free agents, but they can be easily replaced should they sign elsewhere. Koutovides is a solid special teamer.

CB: Marcus Trufant will be one of the hottest commodities this offseason if he is allowed to test the open market. After recording 7 INTs and his first career Pro Bowl selection, Trufant could look to garner a similar deal to what Asante Samuel will get, or the deal Nate Clements received last year. It will take some very creative cap management to be able to afford a long term deal for Trufant, after giving out big deals to Peterson, Kerney, and Alexander over the last 3 years. I imagine he will get the franchise tag (for the love of god, don’t play the “transition tag” game again) and be allowed to walk after next season, hopefully giving Kelly Jennings enough time to develop into a #1 corner.

The rest of the CBs are questionable. Jennings was praised a lot for his strong play this season, but I felt that he was only average. He will have to improve a great deal if he is to fill Trufant’s shoes in the long term. Josh Wilson was seemingly absent in the mix, playing only sparingly in 6 DB packages, and missing 4 games because of a badly pulled hamstring. He recorded only 12 tackles in his rookie season, with no picks. Jordan Babineaux, an extremely versatile and clutch performer, will return to the secondary next year.

S: It’s hard to speak ill of the savvy veterans signed to fix the secondary last season, Deon Grant and Brian Russell. Grant apparently instilled a lot of confidence in Marcus Trufant, who responded with a breakout season. He is a vocal leader on the defense, and is a pretty good player too. Brian Russell was unspectacular this year, but his intelligence and play recognition are a key part of the secondary. While I think the Seahawks would do well to look at a more athletic safety, it would be hard to justify replacing Russell. I think they will look at a developmental guy in the later rounds of the draft. Mike Green is a decent backup, but will not challenge for the starting job. C.J. Wallace will return next year after finishing this season on IR. He is a solid special teams player.

Don’t forget to check back for my special teams review!