Seattle Seahawks Position Breakdown: Running Back

Current RB’s: Starter- Julius Jones, TJ Duckett, Justin Forsett, Devin Moore

 

In the 2007 offseason, the Seahawks completely reshaped their RB situation. They signed Dallas castoff Julius Jones to a four-year/$14 million deal to be the feature back.

They grabbed former Atlanta Falcons RB TJ Duckett with a five-year/$18 million contract to be the short yardage specialist. He was let go by the Lions after a largely unproductive season.

They drafted elusive RB Justin Forsett out of Cal in the seventh round of the 2008 draft. 

Forsett lit it up in the preseason, gaining 248 yards on 46 carries, He shined in the KR role, and gave Seattle fans a potential glimpse at the next Darren Sproles (San Diego Chargers RB).

Devin Moore is an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming who had a productive college career, rushing for 2,963 yards and 15 TD’s.

The Seahawks let longtime RB Maurice Morris walk in free agency this offseason. He signed a three-year/$7 million contract with the Detroit Lions.

With Morris gone, Julius Jones will be the feature back in an offense transitioning to the Zone Blocking Scheme. He is referred to as a one cut type RB, the type of RB who flourishes in the scheme the Seahawks are converting to in 2009.

After two fumbles in a 34-9 loss to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, Jones was benched in favor of Morris. For the final six games he was in coach Holmgren’s doghouse. He  only carried the ball 19 times the rest of the season.

Jones has a lot to prove after being a mediocre player for the majority of his career. He has only topped 1000 yards rushing once in his five year career. This is a pivotal season for him and he should be hungry and out to prove that he is capable of being a true feature back with Morris now gone.

TJ Duckett will be the short yardage specialist next season, and for years to come. He thrived in the role in 2008, and was one of the few bright spots in a dismal season. He punched in 8 TD’s and was an effective 15/18 on short yardage attempts of two yards or less.

He should see an expanded role under Offensive Coordinator Greg Knapp, whom under he enjoyed his most success in Atlanta. In the three straight seasons, Atlanta boasted the No. 1 rushing attack, Duckett posted a 4.0 YPC average and scored 27 TD’s.

Justin Forsett might see an expanded role in the offense as well, although it is too early to tell. He is only a second year player and is very raw, he has plenty of talent and upside. He will be a special teams player who will handle a good portion of the KR/PR duties.

Devin Moore is a roster hopeful who will compete with Justin Forsett for the third, and likely final RB spot on the roster. Look for the Seahawks to relegate him to the practice squad rather then outright cutting him if he doesn’t make the active roster.

The Seahawks are equipped with a fresh a new Zone Blocking Scheme, and an Offensive Coordinator who knows how to run the ball (offenses never finished below 10th in rushing).

They are poised for a breakout season running the ball. Success in the ground game will translate to success in their passing game. Passing is something they have done well in recent years (except for 2008).

No one expects anything from Seattle in 2009, I say, prove them wrong, let’s run the ball down their throats boys.

Seattle Seahawks Position Battle: Cornerback

The Seahawks’ pass defense was an obscure abomination during the 2008 season. They finished ranked dead last in passing defense, yielding 259.3 yards per game. They hit rock bottom, and anything will be an improvement over last season’s campaign.

Aaron Curry: Draft’s Best Prospect, Not a Top 10 Rookie?

I would not say I was surprised to see a very laughable report done by NFL.com senior writer Vic Carlucci. The report was his prediction of the rookies who will make the most impact in the upcoming 2009 season.

Why Jay Cutler Will Fall Flat on His Face in Chicago

The petulant child—Jay Cutler—finally got his wish, and the blockbuster trade to the Chicago Bears commenced. Chicago now has their first “franchise” QB since Jim McMahon was taking them to the Super Bowl once upon a 1985.

I still don’t understand the reasoning behind labeling Cutler a franchise QB when he has a losing record as a starter (17-20) and has exactly zero playoff appearances. What makes me smirk is that the Broncos not only made out with three high draft choices, they also get a QB who is 21-12 as a starter, who proved he can win, in Kyle Orton.

Cutler, say goodbye to your young, stud offensive line who only gave up 11 sacks in 2008. Say goodbye to that magical running game they brewed up there in the Mile High City, now headlined by rookie RB Knowshon Moreno.

As you enter Bears training camp later this month, absent will be WR’s Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, perhaps the top young duo of WR’s in the league. Along with slot WR Brandon Stokely, makes a very formidable trio you no longer have.

Say goodbye to the offense ranked second in yards, third in passing, and 12th in rushing in 2008.

At least Cutler is leaving the 30th-ranked defense in points allowed, and 26th in passing yards per game right? Well, not exactly.

Say “Hello” to the 21st-ranked passing attack, 24th-ranked rushing attack, and a team who ranked in the bottom quarter of scoring.

Say “Hello” to the 30th-ranked pass defense, and to a unit who gave up 334.4 yards per game, ranking in the bottom third.

Cutler should help raise that offensive passing number higher; that was what he was brought into do. The only problem is, who is going to catch his passes?

The Bears’ Devin Hester is the No. 1 WR, in 2008 he brought in 51 passes for 665 yards, and three TD’s, compared to Broncos No. 1 WR Brandon Marshall who had 104 catches for 1265 yards, six TD’s. Marshall at least doubles Hester in each category.

The Bears’ No. 2 WR is Rashied Davis. He hauled in 35 catches for 445 yards and two TD’s, compared to Broncos No. 2 WR Eddie Royal, who grabbed 91 balls for 980 yards and five TD’s, almost tripling Davis’ output.

The Bears’ No. 3 WR is Earl Bennett, who has yet to catch an NFL pass, compared to Broncos No. 3 WR Brandon Stokely who had 49 catches for 528 yards three TD’s. I think there’s a pattern emerging.

The Bears did do themselves justice by grabbing Juaquin Iglesias in the bottom of the third round. I would not bank on a third-round WR to jump start an entire unimpressive WR unit.

It’s not like the Bears had an incompetent QB leading their team either; Kyle Orton can win games. It’s not like this team was rushing more then Denver, they were ranked 12 slots lower in running the ball.

Cutler will have two reliable TE’s in Desmond Clark and Greg Olson though. They combined for 95 catches, 941 yards, and six TD’s, fairly similar to the output he got in Denver.

I am sorry to break the news, but you probably wont be successful in attempting to lineup your TE’s as the WR’s the entire game.

The Bears made a bold move, a move that has taken Chicago by storm, and has the entire city saying the words “Jay Cutler.”

They sacrificed a lot to obtain their franchise QB; in many eyes, too much.

They even went out and got Pro Bowl T Orlando Pace the same day to protect his blind side for the next three years.

That’s all great except when you have no one to throw to. When teams start doubling Hester and blitzing every single play, Cutler is not going to have the luxurious security blankets he had in Denver.

The first time Rashied Davis drops a 30-yard TD pass, or a five-yard slant pattern, he is going to truly miss that guy named Brandon Marshall, and that team called the Denver Broncos.

Five Seattle Seahawks Who Need To Step It Up on Defense

After missing the postseason for the first time in five years, the Seahawks got smacked in the face with something called reality.

They were not invincible in the NFC West, and they found there was not a typical playoff spot reserved for them.

Injuries played a factor in the 4-12 demise, but plain and simple, they were a bad and ineffective football team.

The key players (QB Matt Hasselbeck, LT Walter Jones, LB Lofa Tatupu etc.), were either hurt or did not play at the high level they are capable of performing at.

The bad taste and the disappointment cannot leave this team, it needs to grow on them, and motivate them to not re-live that awful season.

Here are five Seahawks players on defense who need to either put up or get off the field.

Five Seattle Seahawks Who Need To Step It Up on Offense

After missing the postseason for the first time in five years, the Seahawks got smacked in the face with something called reality.

They were not invincible in the NFC West, and they found there was not a typical playoff spot reserved for them.

Injuries played a factor in the 4-12 demise, but plain and simple, they were a bad and ineffective football team.

The key players (QB Matt Hasselbeck, LT Walter Jones, DE Patrick Kerney, etc.) were either hurt or did not play at the high level they are capable of performing at.

The bad taste and the disappointment cannot leave this team, it needs to grow on them, and motivate them to not re-live that awful season.

Here are five Seahawks players on offense who need to either put up or get off the field.

Brett Favre Is a Minnesota Viking: What Is His Impact?

Drama, saga, rumor, retired, unretired, spotlight, tiring, relentless.

All of these words can describe how a vast majority of NFL fans, including myself, feel about the endless Brett Favre unretirement game. 

Thankfully, that is all about to be in the past, as it has been reported by multiple radio and Internet sources that Favre will be in Vikings training camp, and it is inevitable he will suit up for the purple and gold.

Ted Thompson, your worst fear has been realized—now you have the angry Favre ready to smack you in the face twice a year. The Packers were willing to pay Favre $20 million to stay retired just so this could not happen. They conjured up some clause that said they would receive three first round picks if he were to be traded to Minnesota.

They were really serious about keeping him out of the purple and gold, but their efforts were futile since the Vikings and Favre are now an item.

What does this mean for the Vikings and, more or less, the entire NFC?

Watch out—the Vikings’ offense is going to roll over you, and you’re not going to get by that rush defense after Week Four, when the Williams Wall returns. 

With the addition of Favre, the Vikings have filled their only glaring hole on the roster: the QB position. 

The three-time MVP QB will now get a chance to play with All-Pro RB Adrian Peterson, who could very well garner a few MVPs himself before his career is all said and done. 

The Vikings are a great rushing team led by Peterson, who in only his second season rushed for 1,760 yards for a 4.8 YPC average. They have great depth at the position with Chester Taylor as the backup, who averages 4.0 YPC himself. 

As a former player, I know you cannot give all the credit to those two; a stout OL makes RBs look great. Without the best left side in football, anchored by All-Pros Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson, the Vikings’ rushing attack would implode more than explode. 

With the addition of T Phil Loadholt through the draft (a steal in the second round), they have a great young RT who can learn from two of the best in the business. 

With a prominent running game and a mediocre passing game, the Vikings still won the NFC North in 2008 with a 10-6 record. Now with the addition of a healthy Favre and blazing first round pick WR Percy Harvin, the Vikings have begun to load up in the passing game as well. 

Pairing the aforementioned Harvin with fellow burner Bernard Berrian gives Favre two perfect weapons for his  gun-slinging mentality. Along with WRs Bobby Wade and Sidney Rice, Favre has a nice set of four WR’s to throw to. 

Now that the Vikings have a top QB, opposing defenses cannot load eight men up in the box to smother Peterson. The Vikings are going to be able to use the play-action very effectively; just Favre’s presence is going to open up more room for Peterson to run. 

Vikings fans, even though I’m thinking possible NFC Championship game, don’t get too giddy quite yet. There are a few cons when you pluck an ancient QB from the dead.

He is old, and old equals injury prone. We saw what happened to his performance in the last five games with the New York Jets when he hurt his shoulder.

This time around, if he is hurt, he needs to stay off the field—simple as that. If the Vikings can get the 2007 and the not last five games of 2008 Favre, a 2009 Vikings Super Bowl bid is not too bold a statement to make.

Before we all get too far ahead of ourselves, a good goal for the Vikings is to win a playoff game for the first time in a while; then we can get ahead of ourselves.

Also, get ready for some bad throws. He is a gunslinger, and he will lose you a few games with his wild arm. This is the guy who holds the record for most passing TDs and the most INTs—remember that.

Having two extremely fast WRs will tempt him to throw deep more often then he did in New York, when he only had one guy with extraordinary speed in Laveranues Coles.

As far as the revenge factor, all you can do is hope he is not only in for this gig to be able to whack the Pack twice a season. Of course, that is something he should be looking forward to, no doubt, but if it is the overriding factor in his decision, he is doing more harm than good.

If he can be there mentally for the other 14 games, then the Vikings are an 11-5 team at worst, barring a catastrophic 2008 Seahawks-esque injury plague. 

Good job Minnesota—you went out and got that final piece to the puzzle on your roster. Now just hope you don’t bomb it and pull another one and done in the playoffs. You now have too good of a team with Favre at the helm to be making any excuses if you lose.

Every team has their window when all the pieces are in the right slot. For Minnesota, that Super Bowl window is wide open; now is your golden opportunity. After Favre is done, it closes again until another competent QB comes through. Take it in while you can.

Knowing Favre, you could squeeze another year out of him after 2009 now that he has gotten his way.

I’m glad this saga is all over for now, hopefully; with Favre nowadays, you can never overestimate how many headlines he can muster up.

An NBC affiliate was the first to report the impending Favre signing.

Also Vikings fans, check on your arch rival for some big news from the Cheeseheads as well.

Report: Brett Favre Is a Minnesota Viking

The saga is over—again. The Vikings have an agreement in principle with quarterback Brett Favre, who will report to Vikings training camp.

Multiple sources, both radio and Internet, are claiming a contract is near completion and that Favre will likely land an incentive-laden, one-year deal that could reach the $8-10 million range. A formal announcement will likely not come until later this week, but the light is green to go—or really it’s purple, right?

A formal announcement is even more unlikely with Packer Report stating that Vikings head coach Brad Childress will be fishing in Alaska along with Eagles head coach Andy Reid.

Unless the deal falls through, Favre gives the Vikings a proven top option at quarterback that represents an instant upgrade over Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, who were expected to compete for the starting job.

Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, has denied a deal is finalized, but don’t most agents do that as part of their typical protocol?

Speculation intensified when Favre had surgery on his shoulder earlier this offseason, something he would not have done at that time had football not been on his mind.

From my view, the expected addition of Favre makes the Vikings not just the favorites in their division, but also favorites to win the NFC. If there ever was a final piece to the Vikings’ puzzle, Favre is it.

They have a top rushing attack, headlined by All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson, and two burners at wide receiver in Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian to match Favre’s gunslinger mentality.

I hope he is not in this solely for the revenge factor of getting to whack the Pack twice this season. He needs to be there mentally for the other 14 games, or it will do nothing but hinder this team.

Knowing Favre, and seeing how he has gotten his way, we could see him in Minnesota beyond 2009 at this point.

---

P.S. If you are a Madden player, put Favre on your team and try it out, completely amazing!

An NBC-affiliated site was the first to churn out the news.

Also Vikings fans, check this out, your arch rival Cheeseheads made an impact move yesterday.

Brett Favre Is a Minnesota Viking: What Is His Impact?

Drama, saga, rumor, retired, unretired, spotlight, tiring, relentless.

All of these words can describe how a vast majority of NFL fans, including myself, feel about the endless Brett Favre unretirement game. 

Thankfully that is all about to be in the past, as it has been reported by multiple radio and Internet sources that Favre will be in Vikings training camp, and it is inevitable he will suit up for the purple and gold.

Ted Thompson, your worst fear has been realized—now you have the angry Favre ready to smack you in the face twice a year. The Packers were willing to pay Favre $20 million to stay retired just so this could not happen. They conjured up some clause that said they would receive three first round picks if he were to be traded to Minnesota.

They were really serious about keeping him out of the purple and gold, but their efforts were futile since the Vikings and Favre are now an item.

What does this mean for the Vikings and, more or less, the entire NFC?

Watch out—the Vikings offense is going to roll over you, and you’re not going to get by that rush defense after week four, when the Williams Wall returns. 

With the addition of Favre, the Vikings have filled their only glaring hole on the roster, at the QB position. 

The three-time MVP QB will now get a chance to play with All-Pro RB Adrian Peterson, who could very well garner a few MVPs himself before his career is all said and done. 

The Vikings are a great rushing team led by Peterson, who in only his second season rushed for 1,760 yards for a 4.8 YPC average. They have great depth at the position with Chester Taylor as the backup, who averages 4.0 YPC himself. 

As a former lineman myself, you cannot give all the credit to those two; a stout OL makes RBs look great. Without the best left side in football, anchored by All-Pros Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson, the Vikings’ rushing attack would implode more than explode. 

With the addition of Phil Loadholt through the draft, they have a great young RT who can learn from two of the best in the business. 

With a prominent running game and a mediocre passing game, the Vikings still won the NFC North in 2008 with a 10-6 record. Now with the addition of a healthy Favre and blazing first round pick WR Percy Harvin, the Vikings have begun to load up in the passing game as well. 

Pairing the aforementioned Harvin with fellow burner Bernard Berrian gives Favre two perfect weapons for his gunslinging mentality. Along with WRs Bobby Wade and Sidney Rice, Favre has a nice set of four WRs to throw to. 

Now that the Vikings have a top QB, opposing defenses cannot load eight men up in the box to smother Peterson. The Vikings are going to be able to use the play action very effectively; just Favre’s presence is going to open up more room for Peterson to run. 

Now Vikings fans, even though I’m thinking NFC Championship game, don’t get too giddy quite yet. There are a few cons when you pluck an ancient QB for your team.

He is old, and old equals injury prone. We saw what happened to his performance in the last five games with the New York Jets when he hurt his shoulder.

This time around, if he is hurt, he needs to stay off the field—simple as that. If the Vikings can get the 2007 and the not last five games of 2008 Favre, a 2009 Vikings Super Bowl bid is not too bold a statement to make.

Before we all get too far ahead of ourselves, a good goal for the Vikings is to win a playoff game for the first time in a while; then we can get ahead of ourselves.

Also, get ready for some bad throws. He is a gunslinger, and he will lose you a few games with his wild arm. This is the guy who holds the record for most passing TDs and the most INTs—remember that. Having two extremely fast WRs will tempt him to throw deep more often then he did in New York, when he only had one guy with extraordinary speed in Laveranues Coles.

As far as the revenge factor, all you can do is hope he is not only in for this gig to be able to whack the Pack twice a season. Of course, that is something he should be looking forward to, no doubt, but if it is the overriding factor in his decision, he is doing more harm than good.

If he can be there mentally for the other 14 games, then the Vikings are an 11-5 team at worst, barring a catastrophic 2008 Seahawks-esque injury plague. 

Good job Minnesota—you went out and got that final piece to the puzzle on your roster. Now just hope you don’t bomb it and pull another one and done in the playoffs. You now have too good of a team with Favre at the helm to be making any excuses if you lose.

Every team has their window when all the pieces are in the right slot. For Minnesota, that Super Bowl window is wide open; now is your golden opportunity. After Favre is done, it closes again until another competent QB comes through. Take it in while you can.

Knowing Favre, you could squeeze another year out of him after 2009 now that he has gotten his way.

I’m glad this saga is all over for now, hopefully; with Favre nowadays, you can never overestimate how many headlines he can muster up.

 

An NBC affiliate was the first to report the impending Favre signing.

Also, check on the Vikings’ archrival for some big news from the Cheeseheads as well.

Green Bay Locks Up Greg Jennings With Extension

Greg Jennings is now one of the NFL’s highest paid WR’s.

ESPN has just reported that a contract has been finalized that will pay him $27 million in “new money” through 2012.

The contract calls for roughly $16 million in guarantees.

In comparison, top Free Agent WR TJ Houshmandzadeh got about $1 million less from the Seattle Seahawks in annual salary then Jennings is receiving.

Extending Jennings keeps intact one of the top WR combos in the NFL along with Donald Driver. Driver has topped the 1,000 yard mark six times over the past seven seasons.

Jennings’ was set to become a Free Agent after the 2009 season and likely would have garnered an even larger contract on the open market.

 

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