The Diehard stands in awe of Seattle GM John Schneider. Having loaded the roster with young talent at bargain rates, he exploits his team's enviable salary cap latitude to sign top free agents to fortify the team's only glaring weaknesses: wide receiver and pass rusher.
To increase pressure on opposing quarterbacks, Schneider signed two defensive ends. Cliff Avril of Detroit is a Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher (though he has never made the Pro Bowl). Michael Bennett of Tampa Bay is a versatile player who can line up at end or tackle.
If Chris Clemons can't return to form, and if Bruce Irvin can't get any better, then Avril and Bennett help the defense get better.
However, if Clemons recovers fully and Irvin matures as expected, then Seattle may field the league's most terrifying rotation of pass rushers.
Seattle signed Avril and Bennett to reasonable short-term contracts. This gives both players a chance to earn a big payday a year or two down the road, either from the Seahawks or--more likely--from some other team. Meanwhile, Seattle buys some time to find and groom younger and more affordable pass rush talent through the draft. Moreover, Schneider avoided making any commitments that could prevent us from keeping our team's core players as they qualify for free agency in the next few years.
The Seahawks did make a substantial long-term commitment to Percy Harvin. I'll post later on the exciting possibilities Harvin brings to the team.
It was sad to part ways with Leon Washington, but with league rule changes decreasing the frequency of kickoff returns, the only case for keeping two great returners on your roster is as insurance against injury. Seattle never found a way to capitalize upon Washington's skills as a running back, but he'll be a good fit in the New England offense, which consistently and effectively features shifty, undersized backs with good hands. As a Patriot, Washington will have an opportunity to set more career records and continue stating the case that he may be the greatest kick returner in NFL history.
It's easy to get over-excited by off-season acquisitions. Remember Matt Flynn and Bruce Irvin? But things don't always work out as well as we hope or expect. Sometimes things work better (Russell Wilson)...sometimes they go in the crapper (Aaron Curry, the Boz). You just never know.
ReplyDeleteThey 'Hawks have made some big moves for some very good, young players. All of these guys have years left in their careers and are proven contributors. These are very good things. But they still have to mesh with the rest of the team and work with the coaching staff's schemes, and prove that they're on the same page as Carroll and Co.
I'm not trying to be a "glass is half empty" guy. Just saying you may want to curb your enthusiasm till we see what the season brings. There's always some "surprise team" that rears its head and makes a solid play-off run. Last year, that was the Seahawks. The coming year? That team is still a mystery. The Seahawks SHOULD be good...but they still have to play the games. And we won't know how awesome these signings were until they do.
I have been know to get carried away before. I thought the Seahawks should have signed Nnamdi Asomugha two years ago, when he hit free agency as the league's best pass defender, a true shutdown corner for Oakland. His unremarkable tenure in Philly validates your caution that context is everything, and talent doesn't always take up where it left off when transplanted.
ReplyDeleteI expect Avril and Bennett to be serviceable short-term patches. If Clemons and Irvin disappoint, they should allow our defense remain good, if still lacking in the pass rush department.
However, if Clemons recovers fully and Irvin fulfills expectations, then the league's best defense gets even better with an all-badass rotation at defensive end: Red Bryant, Clemons, Irvin, Avril, Bennett. Opposing quarterbacks quaver, because all of our D-linemen have fresher legs, with almost no dropoff between starters and reserves. Bryant and Bennett can play inside, too, so potentially, four of the five could take the field at the same time. If you're an offensive coordinator, who do you double-team?
Like most, I was more puzzled than thrilled by a first round pick for Bruce Irvin. He did OK, but not well enough fully to vindicate drafting him so high.
I do not regard signing Flynn as an error. Who could have predicted what Russell Wilson did? If no other team trades for him, I'm psyched to have such a capable backup.
I don't assume that offseason personnel moves guarantee team success. Consider Philly's Dream Team. But standing pat seldom works.
Winning is hard to predict from year to year. After going 9-7 in '83 and 12-4 in '84, everyone assumed Seattle would continue to contend for the next few years, but the Seahawks fell to 8-8 in '85 and failed to make the playoffs in '86 and '87, too. The AFC West was tough back then, and the NFC West has become a beast.
Just to clarify: I did NOT think signing Flynn was an error; but I was very excited by his addition and my expectation for his play...well, we all saw the QB position ended up VERY different from the expected outcome. You just never know. Sometimes someone random 'steps up,' sometimes the 'sure thing' goes down with injury or a suspension or whatever.
ReplyDeleteBe excited, man: but remember thing's rarely go as expected in the NFL.