Breaking Down the Seahawks Position-by-Position: Running Back

Last offseason, the Seahawks’ number one priority was to add a number one running back. Since they already had Maurice Morris. they wound up signing Julius Jones and T.J Duckett.

 

Current running backs on the Seahawks roster include: Julius Jones (27), T.J Duckett (28), Justin Forsett (23), and Devin Moore (23).

 

Last season, the Seahawks’ new running back Julius Jones was the starting running back for the Seahawks weeks 1-7. Then, for the rest of the season, it was Maurice Morris who is now in Detroit along with Julian Peterson. Jones had 698 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Maurice Morris had 574 yards rushing and zero touchdowns.

 

This season, new head coach Jim Mora has added new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp who used to be in Oakland and was with Mora in Atlanta.

 

Every team he’s been with has not finished less than 10th in the NFL for running backs. When he was in Oakland he made Justin Fargas, who was nothing, into a pretty good running back.

 

I think if given the chance, Julius Jones could be the same as Fargas. I could see Jones being a top 10 running back in the NFL with Knapp’s offensive scheme.

 

Now, what Seahawks fans would love to see happen is Kansas City releasing running back Larry Johnson and the Seahawks signing him.

 

The Seahawks have about seven million in cap room left after all of their signings. I think Hasselbeck, if Johnson is released, should restructure his contract to give the Seahawks a little bit more room to sign him.

 

It would benefit Hasselbeck. He would have a true number one running back, just like Shaun Alexander. Plus, in Knapp’s offensive scheme, the Seahawks, along with their passing game, could have one of the top five offenses in the NFL.

 

Of course, that’s if they sign Johnson if he’s released. Which has been rumored.

 

2009 projected starting running back: Julius Jones (unless KC releases Johnson and the Seahawks sign him and then it easily becomes Johnson).

NFC West: Still Owned by the Seattle Seahawks

The NFC West has always been considered a weak division, and it still is. Over the last five years before this past season, the Seahawks had won the NFC West. This included one trip to the Super Bowl.

 

Last season, the Arizona Cardinals won the NFC West, which was their first playoff appearance since 1998. During the season, the Cardinals won the division only because of their offense.

 

The Cardinals offense had pro bowlers WR Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin and QB Kurt Warner. Warner broke four Arizona passing records in 2008: passing yards (4,583), passing touchdowns (30), passes completed (401) and passes attempted (598).

 

The Cardinals also set a single-season team record for points scored with 427.

 

The rest of the teams in the NFC West were the San Fransisco 49ers (7-9), Seattle Seahawks (4-12) and the St Louis Rams (2-14). The 49ers usually finish third in the NFC West behind Seattle and recently Arizona.

 

The Seahawks had the worst luck last season by losing all of their key players both on offense and defense to injuries. The Rams have had the second overall pick back-to-back years.

 

With what the Seahawks have done this off-season and also having everyone healthy this season, the Seahawks will be back where they usually are: on top of the NFC West.

 

To recap who the Seahawks have added, they signed WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, DT Colin Cole, TE John Owens, CB Ken Lucas, and FB Justin Griffith. They acquired DT Cory Redding from the Detroit Lions for LB Julian Peterson.

 

For the draft they added LB Aaron Curry, C Max Unger, WR Deon Butler, QB Mike Teel, DE Nick Green, FS Courtney Greene, and TE Cameron Morrah.

 

Curry will replace Peterson at OLB. Houshmandzadeh will be the Seahawks new No. 1 WR. Redding and Cole will share the DT starting spot, but Redding will play more at DE.

 

Lucas will be the starting CB opposite Trufant. Unger has a huge possibility to be the starting center over Spencer. Butler could be the KR/PR and the fourth WR behind Housh, Branch, and Burleson.

 

Adding that with the players they already have, and all healthy the Seahawks could look to win 10-12 games this season.

 

For the rest of the division. The Cardinals resigned Warner, cut James, and did not trade Adrian Wilson, Anquan Boldin, Darnell Dockett and Karlos Dansby. They all have demanded either a trade or a request for a new contract. They haven’t gotten either.

 

The Cardinals have added RB Chris Wells, CB Bryant McFadden and FS Rashad Johnson. So now that everyone knows how the Cardinals work, they won’t do as well next year. I’m predicting 7-9 wins for the Cardinals.

 

The San Francisco 49ers, as usual, will finish either second or third in the west. They have made some nice additions but none that would put them over the top. They added OT Marvel Smith, WR Brandon Jones, WR Michael Crabtree, QB Damon Huard, QB Nate Davis, OT Alex Boone and RB Glen Coffee.

 

They could possibly come in second, but either QB situation just doesn’t work. Alex Smith is good but still unproven. Shaun Hill is a solid QB but I can’t see Hill leading the 49ers to the playoffs.

 

Davis and Huard are just insurance. It will be interesting to see what the 49ers do this season.

 

And last but not least, well actually least is the correct term, the St Louis Rams. Can they make it three for three selecting second overall in next year’s draft?

 

Well, they brought in new head coach Steve Spagnuolo. I can’t say they got better in the off-season. They might have even gotten worse.

 

The Rams cut WR Torry Holt (was a great option with Avery), OT Orlando Pace and recently LB Pisa Tinoisamoa. They added OT Jason Smith, C Jason Brown (way overpaid), and LB James Laurinaitis as key additions.

 

Smith replaces Pace. Brown just becomes the starting center and James Laurinaitis is not as good as Tinoisamoa.

 

I can’t say this team has gotten better. I would have rather seen them take a WR like Crabtree and keep Pace. That way, Bulger could really have someone to throw to.

 

So looking at each team’s key off-season additions the Seahawks not only were the best NFC West team but they did the best out of the entire NFL over the off-season.

 

Think about this. The Seahawks now have an up-tempo head coach in Jim Mora, which is what they need. They get back QB Matt Hasselbeck, a #1 WR in Houshmandzadeh, all of their starting offensive linemen, DE Patrick Kerney and they also get a bonus with Curry and Lucas.

 

So with this entire team healthy, I can really see the Seahawks winning the NFC West easily, going deep in the playoffs and if the defense and offense can go back to their 2005 form, they can get to the Super Bowl.

Seahawks Getting Back to Super Bowl Form—Flying High in 2009

The Seattle Seahawks had one of their worst seasons in franchise history last season, going 4-12. The previous five seasons the Seahawks won the NFC West and had one trip to the Super Bowl. Now the key for Seattle is staying healthy.

 

Last season, the Seahawks struggled with a series of injuries. They had three different starting quarterbacks (Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, and Charlie Frye), 10 different starting wide receivers (Deion Branch, Nate Burleson (played in only one game), Bobby Engram, Ben Obamanu, Logan Payne, Billy McMullen, Michael Bumpus, Mike Hass, and Koren Robinson, each starting at least one game.

 

The Seahawks lost all four starting offensive linemen (Walter Jones, Mike Wahle (ended on IR), Chris Spencer (misses’ entire 09 season), Rob Sims, and Sean Locklear. They also lost DE Patrick Kerney midseason.

 

So, what happens when you lose basically all of your key players? It equals a 4-12 record and the fourth overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft.

 

The Seahawks decided that their worst season should be backed up by their best offseason in recent memory. Coming into the offseason, the Seahawks had needs at wide receiver (a true No. 1), offensive line depth (C, LT), CB, S, QB (future QB), and DT.

 

They had a few key free agents but no-one that was “five star caliber”. They did not retain DT Rocky Bernard, RB Maurice Morris, QB Charlie Frye, FB Leonard Weaver, WRs Bobby Engram and Koren Robinson, TE Will Heller, OG Floyd “pork chop” Womack, LS Tyler Schmitt (cut), and DT Howard Green.

 

They did, however, re-sign OLB Leroy Hill to a two year $13 million contract (six year $36 million contract), RT Ray Willis (two year contract), WR Ben Obamanu, LB D.D Lewis, and FS C.J Wallace.

 

The Seahawks made a big splash when they signed WR T.J Houshmandzadeh to a five year, $40 million contract. He chose the Seahawks over Minnesota and Cincinnati.

 

Their most hated move by fans at the time was their decision to trade OLB Julian Peterson to the Detroit Lions for DT Cory Redding and a fifth round draft pick. The key reason they made the trade was that Redding was willing to restructure his contract whereas Peterson was not. Redding wound up restructuring his contract to a one year, two million dollar deal, blowing up the last six years of his contract.

 

Some other moves that weren’t so well noticed, but the Seahawks are very high on, were DT Colin Cole, TE John Owens, CB Ken Lucas (after the draft), and FB Justin Griffith (after the draft).

 

Where the Seahawks made their biggest mark was in the NFL draft. They had 10 total picks coming into the draft, including the fourth overall pick. There was a lot of buzz that the Seahawks would draft QB Mark Sanchez, but that did not happen. They went with a player that was not expected to fall to them—outside linebacker Aaron Curry.

 

http://www.nfl.com/videos/seattle-seahawks/09000d5d80ffa810/2009-Draft-Seahawks-No-4-pick

 

Right after the draft, a lot of people around the league said that, with the addition of Curry, the Seahawks now have the best linebacking corps in the entire NFL. They have MLB Lofa Tatupu (who signed a six year $42 million contract) and OLB Leroy Hill (who was released when they drafted Curry but wound up signing a six year, $36 million contract).

 

For the rest of the draft. They traded their second round pick to the Denver Broncos for their first round pick in 2010 (which based on 2010 mock drafts and common consensus could possibly be a top 10 pick).

 

Second round pick (trade w/Chicago), C Max Unger. Third round pick (trade with Philadelphia), WR Deon Butler. Sixth round pick, QB Mike Teel. Seventh round picks, FS Courtney Greene, DE Nick Green, and TE Cameron Morrah.

 

Max Unger could have a great opportunity to beat out current starter Chris Spencer for the starting center job.

 

Deon Butler will be looking more at the fourth WR and possibly KR/PR duties. Courtney Greene could beat out FS Brian Russell for the starting job but look to the 2010 draft for the Seahawks future FS, Taylor Mays.

 

On ESPN.com, John Clayton named the Seattle Seahawks the best team in the offseason. Now there might be some bias opinions, but the Seahawks were still one of the top teams this offseason, success wise.

 

The key now, no matter who the Seahawks sign, is health. If the Seahawks’ entire team, or at least two thirds of it, can stay healthy they have a great chance of going deep into the playoffs. The Seahawks’ top passing game and shutdown defense could even lead them to the Super Bowl.

 

The 12^th man would love to see the Seahawks flying high this season and, if they can stay healthy, they will be in for a heck of a ride (in a good way).

Seahawks Negotiating with Levi Jones

According to Alex Marvez of Foxsports.com, the Seattle Seahawks are going to bring in former Cincinnati Bengals LT Levi Jones for a visit.

 

Levi Jones was released by the Bengals recently after drafting LT Andre Smith. Jones could turn out to be the replacement for RT Sean Locklear, when he moves over to LT following the retirement of Walter Jones.

 

The Seahawks decided to pass on OT like Eugene Monroe and Andre Smith and drafted LB Aaron Curry fourth overall. So, Jones would be a better fit for RT talent-wise.

 

I don’t see him being the LT because of Sean Locklear and his huge contract, and as Jim Mora has said that Locklear will move to LT when Walter Jones retires.

 

Levi Jones, because he has been on the market for a while, won’t have a huge price tag. Maybe the Seahawks are will offer him a four year contract if he’s going to be the future RT.

 

If the Seahawks sign Jones, look for Mansfield Wrotto or one of the other backup offensive linemen to be cut.

 

This would be a great addition for the Seahawks. Knowing their injury problems they can never have too many talented offensive linemen.

Seattle Seahawks Aiming for the Future in the Big Picture?

Are the Seattle Seahawks aiming towards the future or are they aiming to win now? Truthfully it’s a little bit of both. This offseason, if you examine who the Seahawks have signed, traded for, or drafted you could clearly see that they are trying to win now but also build towards the future.

 

The Seahawks had needs at wide receiver, safety, running back, cornerback, depth on the offensive line, and a future quarterback. Through free agency, the Seahawks filled two of those needs. They signed wide receiver T.J Houshmandzadeh to a five-year, $40 million contract.

 

The signing of T.J. falls into the category of winning now because he gives the Seahawks a true No. 1 wide receiver, but at the same time it falls into the category of building to the future. Housh will be the Seahawks’ No. 1 wide receiver for five year, until they draft the next Andre Johnson, which could be A.J Green from Georgia—that’s the future.

 

Now they signed defensive tackle Colin Cole to a five-year, $21 million contract. That signing falls into the same one as Housh. The only difference is he’s a lot younger than Houshmandzadeh, so he will be around longer into the “future.”

 

This next move is what made the Seahawks offseason interesting. They traded pro-bowl line backer Julian Peterson, who fit the “win now” only category, to the Detroit Lions for DT Cory Redding and a fifth-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft.

 

That began to show that the Seahawks were not just aiming to win now but to build to the future. What added to that speculation was when the Seahawks restructured Redding’s contract. It states that he will be a free agent next year; he’s going to make only $2 million this season.

 

They just blew up the rest of his contract. So for Redding it’s a one and done. Then after the Draft the Seahawks used the free cap space, which was created when the Seahawks let of Leroy Hill, they signed CB Ken Lucas. Which fills a hole at CB opposite Marcus Trufant.

 

Now for the 2009 NFL draft. The Seahawks had the fourth overall pick, the highest pick since 1997. So, with the Seahawks having MLB Lofa Tatupu already in the fold, and Leroy Hill refusing to sign the franchise tender, the Seahawks lucked out.

 

The Kansas City Chief’s passed on OLB Aaron Curry for DE Tyson Jackson. So it was too easy for Seattle. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell strolled to the podium and announced the following…With the fourth pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the Seattle Seahawks select, Aaron Curry, linebacker, Wake Forest.

 

Which was great for the Seahawks because they didn’t know about Hill, they traded away Peterson, and Aaron Curry was the best player in the draft and the best player available on the board when the Seahawks picked at four.

 

So now the Seahawks have quite possibly the best young LB corps in the NFL, with Leroy Hill, Lofa Tatupu and now Aaron Curry. Curry falls into the category of “win now” but mainly building towards the future.

 

The biggest move that the Seahawks made that shows that they are building towards the future was when they traded their second round pick to the Denver Broncos for their first round selection next year, which a lot of people around the league suspect will be sixth overall or higher.

 

That gives the Seahawks two first-round picks next year, which is any team’s goal if they are building towards the future. For the rest of the draft, they took the following players:

 

Wide receiver Deon Butler in the third round, who is more of a “build to the future” player. Quarterback Mike Teel in the sixth round, definitely a “build to the future” player, but I see him as the next Charlie Frye for Seattle.

 

Strong Safety Courtney Greene could turn out to be a “win now” type of player depending on if he beats out Brian Russell for the starting job. Defensive end Nick Reed in the seventh round could also be a “win now” player.

 

Now every team wants to try and win right now. Which is what the Seahawks are trying to do. But Tim Ruskell is smart, he knows that he has a lot of aging veterans on his team like QB Matt Hasselbeck (34), LG Mike Wahle (32), LT Walter Jones (35), WR T.J Houshmandzadeh (31), DE Patrick Kerney (32), and FS Deon Grant (30) among others.

 

So what Ruskell has done over the last two years and it will be completed next year is bring in top young talent and lock them in long term. Like CB Marcus Trufant (six years $50.2 million), MLB Lofa Tatupu (six years $42 million), OLB Leroy Hill (six years $38 million).

 

They have also signed/drafted OT Ray Willis (resigned), OT Sean Locklear (five years $32 million) and drafted OLB Aaron Curry, C Max Unger, DE Lawrence Jackson among others. And next year the Seahawks have two first-round pick (Denver and their own).

 

They passed on Mark Sanchez this year, so look for the Seahawks to take QB Colt McCoy with Denver’s pick, which will be in the top 10. That way, McCoy can either learn under Hasselbeck or it means they traded him which would also be smart because they could pick up another first or second-round pick.

 

Then with their own pick they could target a FS like Eric Berry or Taylor Mays. Most likely it will be Mays, because Berry is going to go in the top five and Seattle should pick around hopefully 32. So they could possibly trade up to get Mays.

 

Those are really the only two positions that Seattle needs to fill. Running back they can get in the second round or via free agency. But hopefully Julius Jones pulls a Michael Turner this season.

 

So overall, Tim Ruskell has made all the right moves and has put this team in a position where if they can stay healthy they can make a deep playoff run and possibly a super bowl run. They just have to get back to what they did in 2005. Attacking offense and a shutdown defense. When healthy, they have that.

Analyzing the Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart, Pt. 1: Offense

The Seahawks have made substantial changes to their depth chart this offseason, culminating in last week’s NFL Draft.

Over that time, Seattle has added the talents of wide receivers T.J Houshmandzadeh and Deon Butler, defensive tackles Colin Cole and Cory Redding, tight ends John Owens and Cameron Morrah, linebacker Aaron Curry, cornerback Ken Lucas, fullback Justin Griffin, center Max Unger, safety Courtney Greene, defensive end Michael Bennett, and quarterback Mike Teel.

Now to examine the Seahawks current depth chart for the offense…

 

QB: 1) Matt Hasselbeck 2) Seneca Wallace 3) Mike Teel

The Seahawks had three different starting quarterbacks last season. Matt Hasselbeck (seven games), Seneca Wallace (eight full games) and Charlie Frye (one game, no longer with the team). Yeah, that’s not good.

 

Hasselbeck has been injured two out of the last three seasons. The one he wasn’t he went to the pro-bowl only because the Seahawks went to a pass first team under Mike Holmgren. Jim Mora is not that stupid, not saying that Holmgren is but that move wasn’t smart.

 

Now, when healthy, Hasselbeck can be an elite quarterback. But at this time in his career he’s on the back 40. When you’re a quarterback and you have had a recent knee and shoulder injury (Hasselbeck also had surgery on his shoulder last season) it doesn’t usually work out for much longer.

 

Seneca Wallace has done well when he has needed to fill in but I don’t see him being a full-time starting QB in the NFL because of his size and he doesn’t fit the mold of a 16-game starter.

 

Teel is basically Matthew Stafford in seventh-round form. Just a power arm with not too much accuracy. And, of course, without the money and iconic stance.

 

Projected Starter: Matt Hasselbeck (unless injured)

 

 

 

RB: 1) Julius Jones 2) T.J Duckett 3) Justin Forset 4) Devin Moore

Jones and Duckett were brought in last off-season to help out the running game and lift some added weight off Hasselbeck. It wound up being Maurice Morris who was the main running back for Seattle.

 

Jones started the first three games rushing for over 100 yards in 2/3 of the games and then Morris took over from there. The Seahawks didn’t re-sign Morris and he wound up signing with the Detroit Lions (yeah, good luck). So now Julius Jones now has the opportunity to not screw it up because the next full-time starter would be Forset.

 

Unless the Chiefs cut Larry Johnson, as I would love to see the Seahawks sign him. Jones could turn out to be a good running back or the Seahawks will be looking in the draft next year for one.

 

Projected Starter: Julius Jones (unless they sign L.J which I don’t see happening)

 

 

 

FB: 1) Owen Schmitt 2) Justin Griffin

OK, Schmitt is a beast that’s all that needs to be said. Griffin is insurance.

 

Projected starter: Owen Schmitt

 

 

 

WR 1: 1) T.J Houshmandzadeh 2) Nate Burleson 3) Jordan Kent

WR 2: 1) Deion Branch 2) Deon Butler 3) Courtney Taylor

 

Houshmandzadeh is the clear No. 1 wide receiver. This is a make-or-break year for Branch and the entire offense, with the exception of Carlson, Houshmandzadeh, and the offensive line.

 

If Branch and Hasselbeck can get it going this offense can be a great quick strike offense. If they cant I can see them trading Hasselbeck, Branch and Burleson or cutting one of the two WR’s in Branch and Burleson. I think, no matter what, the ‘Hawks will draft Colt McCoy because next year I see McCoy being a better NFL quarterback than Mark Sanchez or Stafford.

 

Projected starter: No. 1 WR: Houshmandzadeh; No. 2 WR: Deion Branch

 

 

 

TE: 1) John Carlson 2) John Owens 3) Cameron Morrah

Carlson had one of the top three rookie seasons for a tight end, along with Mike Ditka. That’s a good person to be up there with. He was the leading catcher for the Seahawks offense last season.

 

With the addition of Houshmandzadeh, I can see Carlson getting even more chances this season because down the middle of the field he will be wide open.

 

Projected Starter: John Carlson

 

 

 

LT: 1) Walter Jones 2) Will Robinson

 

As long as Walter Jones is a Seattle Seahawk he will always be the left tackle. That’s really all there is to say. Everyone who had the Seahawks taking Eugene Monroe or Andre Smith or Jason Smith, where are you. When big Walt retires they plan to move Locklear over to LT and Ray Willis to starting right tackle.

 

Starter: Walter Jones (notice there is no projection because it’s a fact)

 

 

 

LG: 1) Mike Wahle 2) Max Unger

Wahle, just like a lot of other Seahawks, had a season-ending injury in 2008. However, when he is healthy, just like Hasselbeck, he can be one of the top players at his position in the NFL.

 

Unger, whom the Seahawks drafted in the second round of the 2009 draft, can play at any position on the offensive line. So if he doesn’t become the starting center this season and Wahle gets injured, look for Unger to take over.

 

Projected Starter: Mike Wahle (unless he is injured; then it’s Unger)

 

 

 

C: 1) Chris Spencer 2) Max Unger 3) Steve Vallos

Just like Wahle, Chris Spencer had an injury. The only difference is that he missed all 16 games this season. The Seahawks’ pick of Unger could turn out to be better than Aaron Curry just because he can play anywhere on the offensive line. Don’t get me wrong Curry is the best pick in the entire draft. But if Spencer doesn’t work out Unger can come in this year and start.

 

Projected Starter: Max Unger

 

 

 

RG: 1) Rob Sims 2) Mansfield Wrotto

 

Rob Sims, yet again like Walter Jones, Mike Wahle, Chris Spencer, and Sean Locklear, finished the season on IR. He was back at the Seahawks three day mini camp for rookies. Jim Mora said that he liked what he saw out of Sims and that he’s doing great.

 

When healthy, Sims can be a great right guard. Since he’s still young he can get back on the healthy track and be apart of the Seahawks great offensive line. The key for the entire offensive line and the Seahawks is to stay healthy through all 16 games.

 

Projected Starter: Rob Sims

 

 

 

RT: 1) Sean Locklear 2) Ray Willis

As previously stated, Locklear ended the 2008-2009 season on IR. The Seahawks locked Locklear up with a huge contract last off-season with the mindset being that when Walter Jones retires Locklear will become the LT.

 

The biggest part of this could be Ray Willis. The Seahawks number one priority coming into the off-season was to keep Willis in a Seahawks uniform. They accomplished that. Willis will become the starting RT when Locklear moves to LT.

 

Projected Starter: Sean Locklear 

Leroy Hill and Seattle Seahawks Agree: The Trio Is Back Together

The Seahawks franchise tagged Leroy Hill LB on Feb. 19. On Apr. 26, Seattle rescinded that franchise tag, giving the Seahawks $8.3 million in salary cap space, allowing them to fill two more holes on the roster by signing cornerback Ken Lucas and fullback Justin Griffin.

With Aaron Curry and Lofa Tatupu in the fold, Seattle wanted to add the final piece of the puzzle. Today the Seahawks re-signed linebacker Leroy Hill to a six year, $38 million contract with $15.5 million guaranteed.

So what does this mean for the Seahawks’ defense?

Well, with Curry, Tatupu, and now Hill as the three starting linebackers on defense they have hands down the best linebacking corps in the NFL. Curry is the sideline LB, Tatupu is the shutdown middle man, and Hill is one of the best young OLB.

The Seahawks are now looking long term with Marcus Trufant (six years), Lofa Tatupu (six years), T.J Houshmandzadeh (five years), Leroy Hill (six years), and Aaron Curry (probably six years).

The Seahawks Third-Round Pick’s Official Grade, WR Deon Butler: B

The Seahawks kept wheeling and dealing in day two of the draft.

They dealt their fifth-round pick, one of their seventh-round picks, 213th, and a third-round pick in next years draft to get the Eagles third-round pick this year.

To me, that’s way to much to give up and, considering who they drafted, they better be very high on Butler.

Players like FS Rashad Johnson from Alabama and CB Keenan Lewis from Oregon State among others, were still on the board.

Now, onto Butler. He’s basically a younger version of former Seahawks WR Bobby Engram. He’s 5’11” and had a 4.26-40 at the combine. Butler’s going to be a great slot WR for Seattle or fourth string WR.

I give the pick a “B.” I was going to give it a “C+,” because of what they gave up to get the pick and who was still on the board.

Greatest Day in Seattle Sports History: April 25, 2009

Today, April 25, 2009, had to be one of if not the greatest day in Seattle sports history. For many reasons.

 

The Seattle Seahawks started it all by selecting Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry in the NFL draft fourth overall. Curry was the best player in the 2009 NFL draft.

 

The second reason, for all Seattle Sounders FC fans out there, the Sounders won their fourth game and goal keeper Kasey Keller set an MLS record for not allowing a goal in a new MLS-record 389 minutes, which includes the 29 minutes before he was sent off against KC.

 

The record was held by Ronald Waterreus who opened with 375 scoreless minutes for the New York Red Bulls in 2007.

 

And last but not least the Seattle Mariners held on to beat the LA Angels 9-8. They are now 12-6 and stand atop the AL West.

 

Everyone predicted the Mariners to finish last again but this is still a great start for the Mariners.

 

But the key reasons why this is one of the greatest days in Seattle sports history is because of Aaron Curry and Kasey Keller’s MLS record.

 

The only possible down side to the day was the Seahawks letting go of Leroy Hill. But the day as a whole for the Seahawks was great.

 

Let’s now go through the Seattle sports teams and see how there day went and why it equals one of the greatest days in Seattle sports history.

 

 

 

1) Seattle Seahawks: Draft Day

 

The Seahawks started the day with the NFL draft. They had the fourth overall pick in the 09 draft and the possible picks were OT Eugene Monroe, QB Mark Sanchez, WR Michael Crabtree and LB Aaron Curry.

 

Now on a lot of people’s mock draft, Curry was projected to go to the Kansas City Chiefs third overall. Instead they took DE Tyson Jackson and passed on the No. 1 player in the draft LB Aaron Curry.

 

That allowed the Seahawks to be able to pass on a plain value pick like Mark Sanchez who wouldn’t be an immediate impact player and select a value pick AND a immediate impact player in Aaron Curry. That adds a huge defensive presence to the Seahawks.

 

Then in the second round the Seahawks decided to trade their pick to the Denver Broncos for a 2010 first-round pick. This could turn out to be a huge steal for Seattle because if the Broncos defense doesn’t step up and be the 29th defense in the league again and considering Kyle Orton is no Jay Cutler talent wise, this team could earn a top 10 pick next year which would help out the Seahawks a lot.

 

Because the Seahawks are aiming to win right now, which is why they signed T.J Houshmanzdeh and drafted Aaron Curry, who are both immediate impact players, so if the Seahawks go deep in the playoffs and hopefully a Super Bowl title, they could still draft a guy like Taylor Mays or decide than next year is the better year to get a QB for the future. Either way, they will have two first-round picks.

 

So this was a great day for the Seattle Seahawks organization and Seahawks fans.

 

 

 

2) Seattle Sounders FC

 

The Sounders FC started the season 3-0 with three straight shutouts. But they have lost their last two games without GK Kasey Keller. Keller in his first three games had all clean sheets.

 

He kept that going tonight against San Jose and didn’t allow any goals for his fourth consecutive clean sheet. By doing that he set a new MLS record for not allowing any goals. He’s gone 389 minutes without allowing a goal, which broke the former record of 375 minutes.

 

Not only did Keller shut out San Jose but Seattle picked up two goals via Steve Zakuani his second goal of the season and Brad Evans also his second goal of the season.

 

This gives the Sounders a 2-0 win, earning the three points they needed to get back on a winning note.

 

So this was a great night for the Seattle Sounders FC organization to get back on a winning note along with their fans.

 

3) Seattle Mariners

 

The Mariners were supposed to do horrible this season that included not doing great in the month of April. But they are 12-6 and atop the AL West.

 

They held on to beat the LA Angels. Also, SP Carlos Silva got his first win since last August. He had been 1-17 since going 3-0 in his first three starts as a Seattle Mariner. So Carlos Silva broke his slump, and the Mariners just keep on winning.

 

A great win for the Seattle Mariners, especially Carlos Silva, and it keeps the fans happy.

 

NOTE: The UW Huskies held their second Purple vs. white spring game. All of the starters did very well with new head coach Steve Sarkisian on board. QB Jake Locker went 16-of-18, throwing two TDs and 200 yards in a 33-0 win.

 

That’s a nice sight for Sarkisian and his entire coaching staff.

Leroy Hill Now a Free Agent

The Seahawks drafted LB Aaron Curry from Wake Forrest fourth overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. A lot of people around the league were saying that adding Curry with Tatupu and Leroy Hill would be one of the best LB corps in the league.

That idea ended Saturday night when the Seahawks removed the Franchise tag from LB Leroy Hill. The move saves Seattle $8 million in cap room.

 

This happened because Seattle and Hill could not come to a long-term contract agreement. They offered Hill a six year 36 million dollar contract but he declined it. So now Leroy Hill is a unrestricted free agent and can now sign with any team.

I don’t see Hill getting more than five million because he hasn’t made any pro-bowls and was arrested for marijuana in Atlanta Georgia almost a month ago.

 

The Seahawks can still try and sign him. I think Seahawks fans should give it a few weeks and the Seahawks and Hill will come to an agreement. Otherwise this is a huge lose for the Seahawks. Now you just have Tatupu and Curry. That’s a great duo but having Hill makes it even better.

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