Football Fan Spot

Seattle Seahawks 2013 Needs

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stevenlourie

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When the Seahawks’ took Russell Wilson in the 3rd round, it wasn’t really criticized. That seemed to be a fitting range for him. However, then it was reported that GM John Schneider compared him to Drew Brees and “had to have him” because he felt he was one of the top-3 players he scouted in 2011, which sounded like hyperbole and maybe a little bit crazy. The Seahawks then made him their week 1 starter in pre-season, as he beat out expensive free agent signee Matt Flynn, and 8 games into the season, it was starting to look like possibly a mistake.

The Seahawks were only 4-4 despite a strong defense and Wilson had just 10 touchdowns to 8 interceptions (and one of those touchdowns was really an interception). However, Wilson’s play over the next 10 games proved Schneider right and then some. It didn’t look like hyperbole any longer that this kid was Brees-esque and one of the top-3 players in the draft. He threw 19 touchdowns to 3 interceptions the rest of the way, winning 8 of 10, and even though the Seahawks came up short in Atlanta, they have plenty of reason to be hopeful for the future.

Wilson is clearly their franchise quarterback and while he wasn’t the franchise savior that Robert Griffin was, Wilson is probably the most likely of the 2012 draft quarterbacks to win a Super Bowl in the next few years because he’s supported by a fantastic running game and what was the league’s #1 defense in 2012. This team won 7 games in 2011 despite 14 games of Tarvaris Jackson and 2 games of Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback. They just needed a quarterback and now they found one. Given their amazing home field advantage, if they can ever get a top seed, they could be very dangerous in the post-season.

Offensive Tackle

Russell Wilson’s mobility made this offensive line look better than it was, but they have some obvious holes. Breno Giacomini struggled on the right side at tackle. James Carpenter was supposed to play there, but the injury prone former 1st round pick was moved to guard. They could use an upgrade over Giacomini.

Guard

Carpenter may have moved to guard, but that doesn’t mean he played well. None of their guards really did. John Moffitt, a 3rd round pick from that same draft, 2011, Paul McQuistan, a veteran journeyman, and JR Sweezy all struggled there. Sweezy was the worst and, considering he was a 7th round pick rookie converting from the defensive line, that makes sense. Schneider and Pete Carroll have made a lot of smart decisions, but I have to make fun of them for that one. Sweezy said he hadn’t played offensive line since middle school. How did they decide to convert him to offensive line? Did they watch his middle school tape?

Defensive Tackle

Jason Jones and Alan Branch are both free agents. The Seahawks mentioned adding some extra pass rush this off-season. Defensive tackle is where they really need it. Jones is a solid pass rusher, but he’s only a situational player and that’s it and of course he’s a free agent anyway. Branch is a good run player, but doesn’t get much pass rush.

Wide Receiver

The Seahawks could use some receiving help. Doug Baldwin and Golden Tate are talented young receivers and Sidney Rice is good when healthy, but that’s not always the case.

Defensive End

Speaking of not healthy, Chris Clemons tore his ACL and will be in a race to play week 1. Meanwhile, Red Bryant struggled mightily through injuries this season. Bruce Irvin was their first round pick last year, but I still have concerns about his run play and his ability to be a starter. He was terrible in his only start against Atlanta after Clemons got hurt. They said they want to add more pass rush. Here could be a place to do it.

Outside Linebacker

If they don’t re-sign LeRoy Hill, they will need a new 3rd linebacker, though I suppose they could give Malcolm Smith the job. The 2011 7th round pick impressed in limited action this year.

Kicker

Steven Hauschka is a free agent who will need to either be re-signed or replaced.

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  1. jared Avatar
    jared

    Steven, you said one of Wilson’s touchdowns was really an interception. This is a completely false & untrue statement. You really need to do your research and learn how to interpret the rules if you are going to publish things of such nature.
    First, I would advise going and watching the play frame-by-frame. Not slow motion, but frame-by-frame. Because it is indeed a touchdown. Here I’ll help you out.
    Here is Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3, Item 5.
    Item 5: Simultaneous Catch. If a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and both players retain it, the ball belongs to the passers. It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control. If the ball is muffed after simultaneous touching by two such players, all the players of the passing team become eligible to catch the loose ball.

    People reference a shot on the ground, where Tate’s arm is off the ball. Irrelevant. The key questions are who gained control, and when, and then when the play is dead for purposes of the players still wrestling for the ball. It is simultaneous possession by rule, regardless of what happened on the ground twisting around. There is no such thing as a player having more control than the other based on having it near his chest. It was a bang-bang play. Watching frame-by-frame, Tate made contact with the ball first, with his left hand, and never in the play is there any evidence that Tate’s left hand lost contact with the ball.
    Tate has “two hands” on the ball and two feet on the ground, all he needs is a football move to make it a completion. In contrast, at this point Jennings has not made contact with the ground. Split seconds after this point, Jennings finally has two feet on the ground. Tate’s buttocks are already on the ground. At this point, Tate has a legal completion. He has two hands on the ball, two feet on the ground, and has been tackled (ass on ground), a valid football move to satisfy the requirement for a completion. Jennings still has to make a valid football move to make an interception.
    In summary, Tate made a one handed catch by stopping the descent of the ball with his left hand; his left hand remains in contact with the ball through the catch. 1/60th of a second later, Jennings started a move to wrest the ball away from Tate before Tate could hit the ground, but he never pulls it out of Tate’s left hand. Tate had two hands on the ball and two feet on the ground before Jennings had established contact with the ground (even though only one hand is required for a catch). Tate had already made the catch/completion (controlling the ball, two feet inbounds, and a football move) at the moment that Jennings established two feet, but before Jennings had completed the catch. Well after Tate had completed the three acts necessary for it to be ruled a catch, and after a touchdown had occurred, Jennings wrested the ball away.
    The simultaneous catch rule does not have any stipulations about degrees of control or degrees of possession. Any argument based on the fact that Jennings looked like he had “more control” isn’t clearly recognized in the rule book on simultaneous catches (although it clearly plays a role in fumble recovery calls). The rule stipulates when players establish “simultaneous control” the rule applies – it does not stipulate equal control. You may disagree with the way the rulebook is written, but to me it is very clear that the play can be easily interpreted as a simultaneous catch.

    Touchdown Seahawks!!!!!

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    1. Steven Lourie Avatar
      Steven Lourie

      even the NFL admitted it was the wrong call. give it up. just be happy it went in your favor and you had a good season.

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      1. Nico Avatar
        Nico

        Actually the NFL DID support the call of a touchdown.

        http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000066164/article/nfl-supports-decision-to-not-overturn-seahawks-touchdown

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      2. Steven Lourie Avatar
        Steven Lourie

        http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/NFL-admits-refs-error-but-TD-is-good-3894432.php
        Plus the ref who made the call admitted he made the wrong one afterwards and Golden Tate even admits he pushed off.

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