Michael Robinson: Too many ‘young guys’ could be issue for Seahawks
Michael Robinson spent the past four seasons with the Seahawks and he earned a reputation as a respected veteran on the club.
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Robinson has eight years of NFL service and has experienced everything from starting only two games in four years in San Francisco, to winning a Super Bowl championship with Seattle.
Veteran leadership is important to have on a football team — it helps keep newer players in check and gives everyone else on the roster someone to look up.
Seattle’s lack of veterans heading into the 2014 season could be an issue for the Seahawks, according to Robinson.
Speaking on the “Dave Dameshek Football Program” this week, Robinson expressed his concern about the Seahawks having too many “young guys” on the roster:
"“My question for the Seahawks this year is…there’s a lot of young guys in that locker room with new money,” Robinson said. “When issues come up in the locker room, who is the veteran that settles it? I mean, last year you had guys like Red Bryant, Chris Clemons, myself that they can rely on.”"
Bryant and Clemons both signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason and Robinson is considering retirement.
Seattle also lost veterans Paul McQuistan (Cleveland Browns) and Kellen Davis (New York Giants) during free agency. The two have a combined 13 years of experience in the NFL.
Robinson believes those losses could seriously affect the team as the season gets going:
"“Things come up,” Robinson continued. “‘Hey guys — stop doing that! Hey, you go over there, you go over there, and it’s over. No more.’ And guys would stop. Right now, guys have gotten paid, you know what I mean? Guys have got egos, you know what I mean? That’s just only natural with money, and they have to watch against that in the locker room, and that’s something that (coach) Pete (Carroll) can’t see — their offices are upstairs. They just have to keep a close watch on it.”"
While the Seahawks do have a number of “young guys” on the roster, they still have a number of veterans on the team.
On the offense, Tarvaris Jackson, Marshawn Lynch, Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice and Zach Miller are among players who have at least five years of experience in the NFL.
On the defensive side of the ball, Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Tony McDaniel, and Brandon Mebane also have at least five years of experience.
Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas are entering their fifth year in the league. Malcolm Smith, K.J. Wright and Richard Sherman are going into their fourth year and offensive leader Russell Wilson is heading into his third NFL year.
While having young players could hurt some teams in this league, I don’t think it’s something the Seahawks have to worry about.
Their coaches keep them in check pretty well and their leaders of the field run the team as if they have been playing the game for years.
We’ll see if they can prove their worth once again in 2014.