Seattle Seahawks Spotlight: The Quarterback Conundrum

“If you want to get people to call into your radio show, ask if Dave Krieg should be the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks.”

I probably didn’t get that quote exactly right, and I don’t even remember who it was said it, but I do remember hearing that statement while listening to KJR a long time ago while driving home one day. Clearly the name involved has changed, but the sentiment hasn’t.

Looking around the websites dedicated to the Seahawks, the most talked about player this week is the one that is no longer on the team. I’m referring, of course, to Matt Hasselbeck. I expect that this will continue throughout the season, as every Tarvaris Jackson pass will be a referendum on John Schneider’s decision to let Hasselback walk. But this debate started years ago. Hasselbeck has generated strong opinions of both types for some time now.

To his fans, Hasselbeck is a very good QB with simply no talent around him; no running game, a horrible offensive line, and pedestrian receivers. His stats suffered as he tried to win games by himself, forced to make throws he’d wouldn’t have even tried had he had a competent running game to fall back on. With decent talent around him, he could lead this team to another Superbowl.

To his critics, Hasselbeck is an old fragile player who makes too many mistakes. He is a “system quarterback” who succeeded because of Mike Holmgren’s offense and not because of his own skills. He is given too much credit for the team’s success a few years ago, and not enough blame for the team’s recent failures.