Century Link Field, Seattle WA

Century Link Field, Seattle WA

Monday, September 26, 2011

Hawks vs. Cards, Quick Hits

Sitting in section 330 yesterday, it all seemed like one of the ugliest wins I can remember.  Jackson took sacks he shouldn't have taken, we took horrible penalties at the worst times, and time and again I found myself screaming "What is Darell Bevel thinking!?!?" 

But upon further review......

I watched the game back on DVR today, and it didn't look as bad as I thought it was.

There are definitely signs of growth, small as they may be.

Keep an eye on the offensive line.  You can definitely tell that James Carpenter has lost a bunch of weight.  He is really athletic for a guy his size.  He not only got off the ball quick, but there were a few times you could see him get to the second level and obliterate his guy.  He still gets beat in pass protection too much, but his improvement in the last two weeks is one of the most exciting signs we've seen so far.  Moffit did some good things too, and Paul McQuistan was a more-than-adequate replacement for Robert Gallery.  This offensive line could be awfully good if it continues to grow as it has in the first 3 weeks.  There were some big holes for Lynch to run through yesterday, and if we can sustain at least a league-average running attack, it will make the offense better as a whole. 

Our wide receiver group looks really good when Rice is on the field.  He's as good as advertised, our most legitimate downfield threat in a long time.  Baldwin and Tate are nice pieces in the slot, and we all know what Mike Williams can do.  Now... if only Jackson would look Williams way.  T-Jack's disinterest in looking for Williams may be the most baffling and frustrating development so far.

Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas are establishing themselves as the best young combo of safties in the league.  Chancellor's pick to seal the game with 1:04 left was the kind of play a seasoned veteran would make.  He baited Kolb and played it perfectly.  Thomas is simply all over the field.  Overall the defense looks capable of keeping us in games. 

If you were hoping for Andrew Luck, you may be out of Luck.... sorry for the pun.  No way we end up with the first pick in the draft.  I still don't see us winning more than 4 or 5 games right now, but if the offensive line continues to get better, and as long as we're still in the NFC West, anything is possible. 

As much as I would love to see Luck play quarterback for the Hawks for the next 10 years, I simply can't pull for them to lose.  Wishing for Luck is probably wasted energy at this point.  More likely we will be picking in the 5-10 range.  In the meantime, I'm encouraged by what I saw yesterday. 

It's a small step forward.  But the Atlanta Falcons are coming to town, and they're pissed.  This Sunday will be a better barometer of where this team is. 

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Whitehurst warming up. Please yes!!!
Indecisive, slow release, refuses to make a play with his feet.
This just in: Tavarius Jackson sucks.
Walking into Qwes..... Er.... Century Link Field. Home opener.... Can't wait. Go Hawks!!!!!

Friday, September 23, 2011

Best Non-Luck QBs: My New Favorite

The consensus seems to be that the next-best QB prospects after Andrew Luck in the 2012 draft are, in some order, Matt Barkley and Landry Jones. 

After looking a little closer at Texas A&M senior Ryan Tannehill, however, I think he might be better than both of them. 

He's bigger than Barkley, and about the same size as Jones at 6-4 222 lbs.  The advantage he has over Jones is the system he plays in.  The head coach at A&M is former Packers coach Mike Sherman, which means he's running an NFL-style offense.  Take a look at his highlights against SMU this year.

http://youtu.be/yNcKHOJP-NQ

This isn't your typical highlight package only showing the big plays and completions.  It essentially shows every throw he made in that game.  Early on it's a lot of rollouts and bubble screens, but just when you think to yourself "I wonder if this guy can make NFL throws".... at about the 3:00 mark it starts.  He hits a skinny post over the middle to a diving receiver, and then drills a perfect seam route to his tight end for a score.  A couple of things stand out to me about Tannehill:

  • He's working from under center, a lot.  I'd say 75% of the time.  This gives him a huge edge over Jones and other spread-system QB's.  
  • His throwing motion looks nearly flawless; quick, mechanically sound, he really spins a nice spiral and he's accurate all over the field.  His arm also appears to be strong.  Maybe not Matt Stafford strong, but at least slightly above NFL average.
  • He's athletic.  This is a guy who was the Aggies leading RECEIVER as a freshman and sophomore before winning the full-time starting QB job.  He really moves well in the pocket, rolls well, and throws accurately on the run. 
Look a little closer at his history, and there's even more to like about Tannehill.  He turned down multiple scholarship offers to walk on at A&M because he wanted so badly to be an Aggie.  After losing the starting QB job to Stephen McGee (now with the Dallas Cowboys) and Jerrod Johnson, he willingly made the switch to receiver and excelled, but he kept battling to play QB, and when he got his chance halfway through last season he made the most of it, leading his team to an upset over #11 Oklahoma and displacing Jerrod Johnson to the bench for good.

Oh, and another thing... he's smart.  His ultimate goal outside of football is to be an orthopedic surgeon.

I've seen Tannehill listed as a potential first-round pick, but the word "project" is used a lot.  I disagree.  I believe his combination of size, athletic ability, intelligence, arm talent and NFL coaching makes him an intriguing draft target.  I wouldn't be surprised it he ends up being the first QB taken after Andrew Luck in April, ahead of Barkley and Jones.  Also, his potential connection to Seattle shouldn't be ignored here, Seahawks G.M. Jon Schneider was in the Green Bay front office while Sherman was head coach. 

His Aggies are playing Oklahoma State on ESPN tomorrow.  I would suggest you check it out.  You might be looking at the next Seahawks QB.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Hard To Watch



The Seahawks lost to the Steelers today 24-0.

It was ugly.

Let me start by saying that I'm a big proponent of the current rebuilding process, and I'm the first to preach patience.  The choice to completely remake the offensive line was the right one to make, but it's going to take time and it's going to be a furstrating process.  But today, the offensive line was not the problem.

Defensively, the same issues remain.  No pass rush.  No corners who can cover.  Poor tackling.  But... defense was not the problem today either. 

The problem was at quarterback, plain and simple.  Some will look at Tavaris Jackson's 20-for-29 statline and say he wasn't that bad.  But he was. 

There were throws all over the field that he didn't make, and I'm beginning to think it's because he CAN'T make them.  He was given time to throw but couldn't make any plays downfield. 

On the ball that Polumalu almost intercepted in the third quarter, Jackson had all day to throw.  Yet, instead of planting his foot and striding into the throw, he two-footed it, like a basketball player shooting a jump shot.  On other plays he took sacks when he had all day to throw the ball away, or failed to be decisive.  When he did complete passes, they were often too high or behind the receiver. 

I've seen all I need to see to conclude that he's terrible.

The bigger concern is the continued support he's getting from Pete Carroll.  After the game, coach said the loss had "nothing to do" with the QB position.  If he breaks down the film of this game and still feels that way, then for the first time since he was hired I'm going to have to seriously doubt his ability to evaluate talent and lead this organization. 

Furthermore, I need to see more from Darrell Bevel.  He hasn't shown me any ability yet to game plan for the talent that he does have.  Not a single target for Mike Williams in the first half, no attempts to get the ball to Tate or Miller in the short passing game, or to involve Leon Washington despite an impressive preseason and promises to get him the ball more. 

I'm okay with rebuilding... hell I'm in favor of it.  But I need to see progress, and today showed us almost none. 

The worst part is, there were actually signs today that the offensive line is improving.  But until changes are made at the quarterback position, it may not matter. 

Charlie Whitehurst may not be much of an upgrade, but unless T-Jack looks markedly better in the home opener next week, Carroll is going to have a hard time justifying why he isn't at least taking a look at his second QB.