None of these players are Benson Mayowa but there is shockingly little in the way of Idaho Vandals Football pictures on the internet.

The sixth installment of “Obscure Seahawks Bi-Weekly” looks at LEO prospect Benson Mayowa out of Idaho. Mayowa has only been a Seahawk since Monday but might just have a chance to stay awhile.

The Basics

Age: 21

Height: 6’ 3”

Weight: 236

Position: LEO

College: Idaho

Number: #47

Method of Acquisition: Signed as an undrafted free agent 5/13/13

Years Pro: R

40 yard dash time: 4.73 seconds

Vertical: 37 ½

NCAA career stats:  45 GP, 67 Tackles, 19 TFL, 11 Sacks, 11 FF, 7 PD

Fun Fact: Mayowa’s 20 yard shuffle time of 4.26 would have been tied for first at the Combine among defensive ends with Ziggy Ansah.

Scouting Report

The term that keeps coming up in scouting reports of Mayowa is ‘short-area quickness’. Whenever I investigate these fringe roster players I look for the unique talent that made them appeal to the Seahawks and for Mayowa it has to be his quickness. As shown above he had an elite 20 yard shuffle time and the buzz from his tryout was that he was very quick off the ball. That first step is essential for pass rushers and it’s a good thing that Mayowa has it because there isn’t a ton else exciting about him. His NCAA career was fine, but far from distinguished, his long speed is pedestrian and he’s on the small side, even for a LEO. Mayowa may be a one-trick pony but LEO is a one-trick position and if he can use his quickness to be disruptive in the passing game then no one will complain.

Chances of Making the Team

Not bad, at least for now. With Bruce Irvin’s suspension and the injury to Chris Clemons, Clint Avril is the last pure LEO left on the roster. Michael Bennett can play the role but he is more of a hybrid player. On 3^rd downs Bennett will probably see time at DT so the Seahawks will need someone to rush across from Avril. Even if they have Bennett line up on the other end there will need to be at least one LEO backup. Although someone else could be brought in, the only three real candidates for the role are Mayowa, fellow undrafted free agent Kenneth Boatright and 2013 draft pick Ty Powell. Boatright is the least athletic of the trio and looks unlikely to figure in Seattle’s plans. Powell has better long speed and a little more size than Mayowa but as a 7^th round pick it’s not as if he will be guaranteed a spot on the roster. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Seahawks bring in John Abraham to help them get through this pass rushing crisis, but he may not be inclined to sign what would amount to a 4 game contract.  The door seems to be wide open for Mayowa while Irvin is out but I think there will probably be another move because I doubt a serious contender like the Seahawks would leave such an important role to such unproven players. Arbitrary Estimates: 25% chance of making the team, 35% of making the practice squad.

Tyrann Mathieu

May 10, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Tyrann Mathieu (32) looks on during rookie minicamp at the Cardinals Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Keith talked about Tyrann Mathieu’s issues and why he won’t fit in the league in his Cardinals draft review, not to mention the fact that he thinks the Cardinals wasted their 3rd round draft pick on him. There’s no way to disagree with the problems that this kid has been dealing with, however the possibility that this was a mistake by Arizona doesn’t mean it wasn’t a great opportunity and fit for somebody… like for example Mathieu himself.

Even people that “don’t get it” in life can change if given the right situation. It doesn’t get any more right for Mathieu than dropping out of the top 2 rounds (where he planned on being) but still onto a team where he could be a difference-maker immediately. True, not all individuals with similar issues succeed in turning it around just because they are put into this same situation, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great opportunity for somebody to do it and that they won’t.

And so, for this troubled kid, lining up in the face of a pro-of-pro’s and future Hall of Famer, as well as down the line from his former teammate at LSU on a day-to-day basis may trigger something of a switch inside him to get it together. Don’t forget also that Bruce Arians seems to have positive effects on his players. But Mathieu remains one of those ultimate boom or bust candidates that could be an all-pro or out of the league in 6 months.

He’s got the right fit, but it’s up to him now to make it work. I hope he does, because it’s never good to see these guys fall off when they could’ve been good.

This is a picture of Portland State playing football. Myles Wade played for Portland State, that’s about the best I can do.

For the second edition of the controversially named “Obscure Seahawks Bi-Weekly” series (I understand the complaints but I’m sticking with it because the dictionary is on my side and it sounds like the name of an excellent bird watching periodical to me) the player featured is DT Myles Wade. Wade is an intriguing player who is something of a physical specimen with a bit of an odd path to the NFL (JUCO transfer followed by two years at Texas Tech and one at Portland State where he went into graduate studies to maintain his eligibility). Sounds like a Seahawk to me, here’s a closer look.

The Basics

Age 23 (24 in August)

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 310

Number: #95

Method of Acquisition: Free Agent 1/16/13, Wade had made his way to the Seahawks practice squad from the Buccaneers by the end of the 2012 season.

Years Pro: 2

40 yard dash time: 5.10 seconds

Vertical: 35 ½ inches

Benchpress: 42 reps

NCAA career stats: 27GP 15 GS 38 Tackles, 3 Sacks, 4 TFL

Fun Fact: Wade blocked two kicks in his 2011 year at Portland State, one of them to win the game against Northern Arizona.

Scouting Report

Myles Wade has very impressive physical tools but his fairly unproductive NCAA career demonstrates that those skills don’t always manifest themselves on the field. He is stout and strong and as such could have a future as a rotational run stopper, but reports indicate that Wade is stiff and does not move especially well, suggesting a virtually non-existent pass rushing ceiling. His strength does lend itself to the bull rush which explains the blocked kicks and the sacks he recorded. Wade was thought to be a sleeper approaching the 2012 draft and it was something of surprise he went undrafted. When it comes to “unique characteristics” Pete Carroll is likely enamored with Wade’s measurables in general, and his raw strength in particular.

Chances of Making the Team

Slim to none. Although defensive tackle was a well-documented need for the Seahawks this off-season they have so many bodies at the position now that it’s hard to imagine Wade having a chance. Mebane is a lock to make the roster, and the two new draftees Jordan Hill and Jesse Williams looks like pretty safe bets as well. The Seahawks will keep four or five defensive tackles so that leaves 2012 4^th round pick Jaye Howard, free agent signing Tony McDaniel, and 5^th year pro Clinton McDonald fighting for one, or at most two, spots on the roster. I don’t see Wade beating out all three of those guys or even two of them. That being said, it is always good to have depth on the defensive line and they’ve had Wade on the practice squad before so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him there again. Arbitrary Estimates: 1% chance of making the team, 22% chance of making the practice squad.

A.J. Jenkins

Aug 18, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver A.J. Jenkins (17) on the line of scrimmage against the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at Reliant Stadium. The Texans defeated the 49ers 20-9. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco upgraded their wide receiving corps in the NFL Draft by selecting Quinton Patton of Louisiana Tech in the 4th round. Had Patton not been available the Niners may have stayed away from the position at that spot in the draft, but he was, much to the presumable chagrin of 2nd-year receiver A.J. Jenkins.

After being selected in the first round (30th) of the 2012 NFL Draft by San Francisco, Jenkins failed to contribute at all during the season, playing in three games on not making a single catch after pre-season. But he figured to become much more active this year as the 4th or 5th receiver mixed in with Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, Mario Manningham and Marlon Moore. Boldin and Moore came over via trade and free agency, respectively.

Patton offers the Niners a bigger option and a better route runner, so it’s another hurdle that Jenkins has to hop for playing time if he wants it. If Jenkins’ becomes obsolete in the offense again this season, it might be trade-time for Jenkins to release some cap space on a loaded and highly over-paid roster. That’s if he makes the roster in the first place, which I think he has to.

Then again, this could be the motivation that Jenkins needs to really step up his game. At this moment though, he’s in a precarious position, probably banging his head against a pillow at night.

Craig Dahl

Dec 30, 2012, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate (81) runs for yards after a catch in front of St. Louis Rams safety Craig Dahl (43) during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Veteran Craig Dahl is in a little bit different boat for the 49ers, but the same principle applies. Dahl was brought on board from St. Louis after Dashon Goldston packed his bags in free agency to head to Tampa. Originally he was  said to be in the competition for the starting replacement job alongside Donte Whitner. But then San Francisco changed the game this past weekend by moving up 8 spots to draft Eric Reid of LSU in the 1st round.

Reid will be the starter on opening day and Dahl, if he makes the roster, will be more of a watch-from-the-sidelines type of guy. He could end up a winner by default at the end of the season though, if he does indeed make the roster and San Francisco holds up the Lombardi Trophy for their 6th championship in 2014.

Sam Bradford

Dec 30, 2012, Seattle, WA, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) scrambles out of the pocket against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

A decisive winner in this draft is one Mr. Sam Bradford, the quarterback of the St. Louis Rams. He wins on a lot of levels and for a lot of reasons. After losing Steven Jackson and Brandon Gibson in free agency, the quarterback was starring down the barrel of a decisively less loaded gun going into last weekend but  I bet he busted a move similar to any number number of touchdown dances he has been concocting after the 4th round pick of offensive guard Barrett Jones, the 6’4″, 306 pound hogmollie out of Alabama. He just couldn’t help himself, is what I’m thinking.

The Rams had already drafted the record setting, West Virginia combo of Tavon Austin and Steadman Bailey the first two nights, which had to have put Bradford into a comfortable coma for the first time since the end of the season. Then he wakes up and the Rams staff secures his offensive line with a well known name from an elite college program. A line, by the way, that was already bolstered by the free agency acquisition of Chris Long at the left tackle spot.

Not to be forgotten is the additional pickup of tight end Jared Cook via free agency and the return of receivers Austin Pettis, Brian Quick and Chris Givens. The Rams offense is a different monster and will be a completely new challenge for defensive coordinators around the league and especially in the conference. Here’s a link to a good article on the new Rams’ identity by Ramblin’ Fan.

Jan 1, 2013; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal tight end Zach Ertz (86) catches a pass over Wisconsin Badgers defensive back Dezmen Southward (12) in the first half during the 2013 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

On Friday night the 2nd night of the NFL Draft some of the big name specialty players finally started coming off the board after a predominantly trench player 1st round. There was only 1 Quarterback taken in the 1st round and zero Running backs.

The Tennessee Titans made the first trade of the 2nd round by moving up into the San Francisco 49ers spot and Drafting the Physical Wide Receiver Justin Hunter from Tennessee. The Eagles then

Drafted Tight End Zach Ertz from Stanford who could really develop into a nightmare for defenses to cover in Chips Kelly’s up tempo high speed offense.

After day one there was not a single Running Back taken, although by the end of the 2nd round 5 Running Backs had come off the board. The first to be taken was Giovani Bernard from North Carolina selected by the Cincinnati Bengals followed by Le’veon Bell selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then came the selection of the all-time NCAA Touchdown record holder Montee Ball selected by the Denver Broncos. It wasn’t until the 61st pick that the number 1 rated Running Back came off the board when Eddie Lacy was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. With the last pick in the 2nd round of the Draft the Seattle Seahawks made their first pick when they picked the highly talented Christine Michael out of Texas A&M.

Another player that slid out of the 1st round was Notre Dame Linebacker Manti Te’o who was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the 38th pick in the Draft. The Chargers are hoping they selected the playmaker that they have been missing since Shawne Merriman left.

In the 2nd round the New York Jets finally selected what they hope will be their Quarterback of the future when they picked Geno Smith from West Virginia. Smith was predicted to be the first Quarterback selected but after EJ Manual was picked by the Buffalo Bills in the 1st round the slide continued until he was picked with the 39th pick in the Draft.

Also selected on day 2 was the Honey Badger Tyrann Mathieu from LSU who was selected by the Arizona Cardinals. Mathieu was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2011 but after being in trouble with the law and team policies in the spring and summer of 2012 he didn’t even step foot on the football field in 2012.

Now that most of the big names are off of the table after an exciting 2nd and 3rd round of the NFL Draft it is time for teams to fill their rosters up and attempt to find the next Russell Wilson of the 2013 Draft. Matt Barkley is the one big name still on the board so we will have to wait until this afternoon to see who gets the once prized Quarterback from University of Southern California after his huge slide down the Draft boards.

January 19, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; West running back Christine Michael of Texas A&M

The Seahawks have finally made their first pick in the 2013 draft. It just took until the final pick of the second round to get here. With that pick, Seattle took Christine (pronounced Chris-TIN) Michael, a running back from Texas A&M. Chances are you’re wondering who the hell that is. Allow me to enlighten you.

According to NFL.com, Michael’s strengths include a “low center of gravity” but with a “thickness throughout his frame to take and give out punishment.” He has more speed than one would think when he is able to break open as well. Overall, Michael is a bruiser that will be a nice compliment to Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin. Both Lynch and Turbin are hard to bring down, and Lynch will occasionally level a tackler, but Michael has the ability to straight damage some defenders. Michael is also a good blocker that is able to lead the ball into the second level.

According to CBS Sports, Michael started 2012 rated by some as the “top senior running back in the country.” Attitude issues, however, took him out of the starting role, and the spotlight, which is probably a big reason he was relatively unknown and is yet another “what the what” pick by Pete Carroll and John Schneider.

Michael has had injury issues and missed the ends of both his sophomore and junior year. He broke his right leg in 2010 and the following season he tore his ACL. However, in 13 games he ran for 1,530 yards and 12 touchdowns. If he can check his attitude issues at the door and stay healthy, Michael should have an opportunity to contribute greatly in Seattle.

If Seattle starts utilizing a running back by committee approach it could be a very different dynamic on offense and make them harder to prepare for and defend. Diversity is a killer.

Another thing that I just thought of is whether or not Seattle might consider lining up Michael at full back and getting all three backs (Lynch, Turbin, and Michael) on the field at the same time. This could also give Seattle more flexibility when it comes to dealing with Michael Robinson’s contract.

This pick could also have fantasy implications as it might limit carries by Lynch.

No matter what, I think we should all get #inpcjswetrust trending because I expect a lot more unexpected picks out of Seattle for the rest of the draft.

Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Xavier Rhodes (Florida State) is introduced as the number twenty-five overall pick to the Minnesota Vikings during the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

With the 1st pick in the 2013 NFL Draft the Kansas City Chiefs Select Andrew Luck. Not exactly, this year’s NFL Draft doesn’t have the flash or the instant star player’s in it like the 2012 Draft. The 2013 NFL Draft was full of meat and potato players, 6 of the 1st 11 players Drafted in the 1st round were Offensive Lineman.

The Kansas City Chiefs used almost every second of their 10 minutes on the clock and after months of film study and listening to possible trades they selected Offensive Tackle Eric Fisher out of Central Michigan, Fisher is slated to protect Alex Smith’s blindside. The Jacksonville Jaguars knowing that is would get to take whichever Offensive Tackle the Chiefs didn’t take, took Offensive Tackle Luke Joeckel from Texas A&M. Joeckel was thought by many to be the 1st pick although in the last few weeks his hold on the top Draft pick slot weakened.

The Miami Dolphins continued their aggressive off-season by trading their 1st and one of their 2nd Round picks with the Raiders for the right to the 3rd pick of the Draft which they used to select Dion Jordan Outside Linebacker from Oregon. Another notable trade was made by the St. Louis Rams who jumped in front of the New York Jets to snag speedy Wide Receiver Tavon Austin from West Virginia. Buffalo Bills who moved back in the draft after completing the trade with the Rams and made the biggest surprise pick of the Draft by selecting EJ Manual Quarterback from Florida State. Manual who has the size and speed to be a starting Quarterback, although he was projected as a 2nd or even a 3rd round pick, thus leaving Geno Smith the Quarterback from West Virginia still on the board when all of the 1st round selections were completed.

The San Francisco 49ers moved up from the 31st pick to the 18th pick after swapping with the Dallas Cowboys and also throwing in an additional 3rd round pick. The 49ers looked to fill the void at Safety left by Dashon Goldson when he left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Free Agency. That void was filled by selecting hard hitting Eric Reid out of LSU.

The Minnesota Vikings were able to Draft three players between the 23rd and the 29th picks. The Vikings selected Shariff Floyd Defensive Tackle from Florida selected 23rd, Xavier Rhodes Cornerback from Florida State selected 25 (pick received in the Percy Harvin Trade with Seattle Seahawks), and with the 29th pick from the New England Patriots they selected Cordarrelle Patterson Wide Receiver from Tennessee.

The 1st Round of the 2013 NFL Draft didn’t have the high profile names or the marketability of recent Drafts but it did give teams plenty of opportunities to fill needs both on the Offensive and Defensive Lines. Many teams ditched the best player available motto and went after players of need. With plenty of specialty players available in the 2nd Round of the 2013 Draft there could be almost just as much excitement on day Two and there was in round One.

The rankings have been updated as of yesterday so they account for all of the free agency acquisitions and releases that have taken place up to now. You will also see more daylight between teams’ highest and lowest rankings since there aren’t actually any games to help guide us.

The teams that have the biggest differences between their highest and lowest rank are:

• Rams (16) – David 9th, Micah 25th
• Vikings (13) – David 8th, Hanley 21st
• Steelers (12) – Nick 9th, Micah 21st
• Chiefs (12) – David 20th, Nick 32nd
• Falcons (11) – Diane 2nd, David 13th
• Colts (11) – Diane 8th, David 19th
• Giants (10) – Micah 8th, David 18th
• Buccaneers (10) – Hanley 12th, David 22nd
• Cardinals (10) – Hanley 19th, David 29th

As can be expected of a division that includes both San Francisco and Seattle, the NFC West had the highest average ranking in the NFL with 11.5. The NFC North is next with an average ranking of 12.75. The worst division in the NFL is, not surprisingly, the AFC West with an average ranking of 21. The highest ranked team in the AFC West is Denver (3rd overall), with the other three teams 24th or lower.

Obviously, these rankings are very preliminary and will change once the draft happens. Draft day is overall a bad predictor of how good a team will be the next season. There aren’t many teams that are a top five pick away from a Super Bowl or even division dominance. Draft picks are more of an investment in a player’s future potential that, if successful, will explode in a player’s second or third season. Teams like Seattle and San Francisco cut some dead weight, and reloaded for the following season without the need to change much. Other teams like Jacksonville, Kansas City, Oakland, and the New York Jets have further to go.

Until the next rankings are published in August, enjoy these for what their worth – conversation fodder. And if draft day is your gig, enjoy that as well. The first pick that matters to me is the 24th pick of the second round.

Dec 30 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn (9) checks off in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

When I heard that Seattle signed Quinn instead of Seneca Wallace or Matt Leinart, I was confused. I thought that Quinn was the least likely to be chosen.  Quinn lacks the raw foot speed of Russell Wilson. However, he does have good footwork in the pocket and is able to shuffle his feet well enough to create room.  Don’t expect Quinn to be running the ball out of the zone read option anytime soon, though.

I was comfortable with Wallace as Matt Hasselbeck’s backup. He is not great by any measure, but he has a strong arm and can make plays with his legs. He is also someone who can take care of the ball and limit mistakes.

Following the Quinn signing I had to find out more about his abilities. What did Pete Carroll see in him above Wallace, Leinart, and Thigpen? Carroll likes players who bring a unique skill set to the team. What is  Brady Quinn’s? He had flamed out in Cleveland, Denver, and Kansas City. All three teams basically said, “thanks, but no thanks.”

After doing some reading, I learned that Quinn is, in fact, very unique, at least to Carroll. In Matt Flynn, Seattle had one of the best backups in the NFL as well as a good starter. Seattle hopes Quinn will be able to share his experience with Russell, and Russell with Quinn to create a strong quarterback room.

During my research I found an interview with Quinn’s former quarterback Coach in Kansas City, Jim Zorn. In it Zorn praised Quinn for his football IQ, work ethic, and attitude. He spoke highly of Quinn’s ability to make calls at the line of scrimmage and predict what the defense is trying to do, and put the offense in a position to be successful. This carries some weight since Zorn himself was a quarterback and has coached the likes of Trent Dilfer, Matt Hasselbeck, and Joe Flacco.

While Zorn’s opinion is valuable, the fact that Quinn has not translated his skill set onto the field for an extended period of time is troubling. He has shown flashes of being a solid NFL quarterback but has yet to prove he can play consistently at a high level.

Having a solid offensive foundation in place, including an above average receiving corps, may help Quinn out. I do believe having a quarterback who is willing to talk things out with Russell Wilson will benefit both players. Flynn was not known to share Wilson’s regimen of arriving first and leaving last, which may have been a big factor in trading him. I do not believe Carroll would have signed Quinn if he felt that Quinn would be unwilling to help the growth of Russell Wilson in the film room and playing field.

My ideal quarterback situation is to have a starter who makes those around him better, and, if needed, can take games over. I believe Seattle has that in Russell Wilson. The backup must be able to competently run the offense, not make too many mistakes, and put the ball in other play-makers’ hands. In other words, play completely and comfortably within himself and the system

It remains to be seen if Quinn is a lock to be the number two quarterback behind Russell Wilson.  Josh Portis, is also a talented quarterback who Seattle likes and resigned with the team during the off-season. The NFL draft will include players such as USC’s Matt Barkley, who played under Pete Carroll for a season, and Matt Scott, who has risen up draft boards since the combine. Scott is raw as a passer, but is able to move around well, and run the same offense that was installed for Russell Wilson.

It remains to be seen whether Quinn can live up to that standard. I will be excited to see the steps he takes in preseason to better both himself and the team.

Nov.11, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) warms up before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 edition of the Seattle Seahawks, barring horrific injury or unexpected regression, has a chance to be the best team Seattle has ever fielded. That’s no guarantee of a Super Bowl. That’s no guarantee of a division title. It’s no guarantee that they don’t go 0-16. However, if someone offers you an over/under of 0.5 wins for the season bet your life savings on the over. Times are good and Seahawks fans should, and I think largely do, appreciate what they have at this moment.

For this reason it is odd that I have been overcome with nostalgia for some vastly inferior Seahawks teams from the not too distant past. Specifically, I’ve caught a bad case of Matt Hasselbeck-related melancholy  Given the dearth of quarterback depth right now, Hasselbeck would have been a great addition this off-season, from a football standpoint. The kind of nostalgia I’m talking about though, is too strong to be based on the desire for a second string quarterback upgrade.

Before we go deeper down the rabbit hole, this is the video that got me thinking about Mr. Hasselbeck in the first place.

The thing that stood out to me that in this video is that Hasselbeck just seems to be a really fun enjoyable person to be around. I realized that I don’t miss Matt Hasselbeck as our quarterback. Russell Wilson is more exciting and arguably had a better rookie year than any season Hasselbeck had. I miss Hasselbeck as a guy.

This is an unusual thought for me to have. Firstly, I’m largely drawn to football based on my own experiences playing and a very strong interest in the strategy of the game. I’m much more interested in statistics than narratives; personalities have never been a big part of my fan experience. Of course, I have my favorites like anyone else. My current favorite player is Kam Chancellor but I couldn’t tell you anything about the man except that I love his unorthodox size for a safety and the way he hits.

Matt Hasselbeck is a big exception to the way I think about football players. Most players seem to be either in the camp of cliché artist or smack talker. I often find myself bored with the predictable nature of their interviews. Hasselbeck is different. He strikes me as a guy with a sense of humor who is very genuine and transparent. I find both traits refreshing and entertaining. My usual assumption with players is that I don’t know much about them as people because I am exposed to such a small sample of their personalities. For some reason I always felt like Matt Hasselbeck was someone I sort of knew.  For example, this video from a couple of years ago depicts a guy who is a multi-millionaire star athlete who acts like he’s just a guy. That is a pretty rare find.

Here’s another brief example.

I promise this post won’t devolve into me just sharing examples of Matt Hasselbeck being cool because I think you get it at this point. Or not. Either way I’m not really in the business of just posting a bunch of links.

Ultimately, I miss having Matt Hasselbeck on the Seahawks because of the person he is, and that’s probably a first for me. I’m not trying to deify the man, he just seemed like a really decent human being to me and I always liked having him on the team. I also don’t mean to criticize Russell Wilson. Wilson seems like an intelligent, hardworking and well-spoken man and I have nothing against him. I just don’t yet feel like I know much about him as a person, and, based on the way he carries himself, I’m not sure I ever will. It is Wilson’s prerogative to present himself any way he likes and I don’t begrudge him that. Maybe I’m just not a great interpreter of him and other fans feel like they know him inside and out. It’s hard for me to say.

The point is, even though I would take Russell Wilson over Matt Hasselbeck as starting quarterback every time, it doesn’t mean I don’t miss Matt. There is a lot more to sports fandom than X’s and O’s, wins and losses, or numbers on a page. I suppose it took a video of a third string quarterback I’ve never heard of hitting a half court shot to remind me of that today.

December 30, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn (9) leaves the field after the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

This season, and in reality over the last few years, the Seattle front office has been making so many prudent transactions that it’s beginning to approach infallibility in the eyes of many fans. With the recent signing of Antoine Winfield, on a very reasonable contract, the legend of John Schneider grows further. It is not my goal to discredit the Seahawks GM because I agree with most of the praise he has been getting wholeheartedly. Perhaps for that very reason my standards for this front office have reached unreasonable levels, but alternatively I think that each transaction can be evaluated for its merits in isolation.

With this in mind I find the Seahawks signing of Brady Quinn both puzzling and problematic. In a perfect world Brady Quinn will never take a snap for the Seattle because Russell Wilson will be durable or, preferably, invincible. However, football is a violent game where injuries are common and as a result it is important to have quality depth, especially at the game’s most important position. Brady Quinn is not quality depth. I’d go so far as to say that Brady Quinn isn’t an NFL caliber quarterback. I don’t know if the Seahawks believe that they can unlock some hidden potential in Quinn but he turns 29 this year so you can color me skeptical.

Here is a look at Brady Quinn’s careers stats:

I know that the win-loss record is a bit of an unfair way to evaluate quarterbacks but it helps paint a picture of Quinn’s relatively legendary ineptitude. Things do not look rosier when we delve into some of the more advanced statistics. Keep in mind that for every statistic in the table below, 100 is the league average.

Quinn approaches adequacy when it comes to avoiding sacks and interceptions but proves woeful in all other facets of quarterbacking. Quinn is mildly athletic, having rushed for 4.2 yards per carry and 7.7 yards per game in his career but he can’t run the read-option. It’s not as if he’s a grizzled veteran that has some kind of unique perspective to offer in the locker room (if you are the type who thinks that sort of thing matters).  Quinn also did not make great strides last year which might have suggested he would improve on his career numbers in the future. His QBR in 2012 was 27.4 (average is 50), a career low and good for 35^th in the NFL. (Only 39 quarterbacks threw enough passes to qualify.)

I wish I had some profound insight to add here. All I have to say is that Brady Quinn is an abysmal NFL quarterback and I can only hope that John Schneider finds someone better in the draft or that Josh Portis can step into the backup role. Usually, whether I agree or not, I can find the logic in the transactions made by the Seahawks’ front office, but this time I’m dumbfounded.

Sep 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) carries the ball during the 2nd half against the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Green Bay 14-12. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

I realize I am a little late on this but I when I heard that the NFL had scheduled Seattle to play in Green Bay for the third preseason game I was not thrilled. I realize there are a few ways to look at this, but being what I consider a “realist” (you may call me more of a pessimist - I am a Seattle fan after all) this game (potentially) has trouble written all over it.

Traditionally the third preseason game is the “dress rehearsal” for teams. It’s when all the starters start and teams, at minimum, run through their rudimentary offensive schemes. This also means that there is higher risk for an injury to a critical player. Of course, this is the exact same situation that these athletes will play in all season long, but this is preseason and there is literally nothing but “live” experience to be gained in these games.

I’m assuming all of us remember the grace and dignity with which some Green Bay players and fans handled the controversial call at the end of the game last season. If Green Bay had won, and all things stayed the same, they would have had a first round bye instead of San Francisco.* With that in mind, I’m not sure that Green Bay won’t come out extra chippy and play with what I’ll call an unnecessary edge. In other words, I don’t want Seattle players to be at risk of any cheap shots by some grudge-holding chuckle-nuts who somehow think Seattle is to blame for a call that still can’t be concretely reversed.

I may end up being wrong and the game takes place as every other preseason game has for years, but that isn’t what the NFL is hoping for. The NFL scheduled this game in prime time because it’s hoping for a knock-down drag-out grudge match before there is anything meaningful on the line. If this was the first, second, or fourth game, or even not in a prime-time national telecast I probably wouldn’t think twice. Unfortunately, the NFL is just looking for action no matter how cheap it may be.

Hopefully, both teams play hard and use the game to prepare for the regular season rather than settle any perceived grievances. Nothing would be worse than seeing a critical starter, for either team, get taken out because of some cheap block or late hit and start the regular season injured. Green Bay doesn’t have a reputation for playing dirty and neither does Seattle, so a standard preseason game is completely within in the realm of possibility. I just figured I’d air out my paranoia and give everyone a chance to talk me off the ledge.

*It was previously stated that the loss to Seattle didn’t affect playoff seeding. It did. San Francisco tied St. Louis and was therefore only ahead by .5 games at the end of the season. Green Bay therefore had to play in the wild card round and consequently travel to San Francisco for the divisional round instead of hosting.

Oct 21, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive back Antoine Winfield (26) against the Arizona Cardinals at the Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 21-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Rarely when your team schedules a visit with a soon to be 36 year old cornerback should you be excited, but today might be the exception to that rule. Antoine Winfield is scheduled to visit Seattle this week as the Seahawks try to address something of a question mark at the nickel corner position. Although Walter Thurmond and Jeremy Lane are candidates for this spot Winfield is a definite upgrade.

The first concern with Winfield is his age given that he is 35, turning 36 in June. To be wary of an old player at such a physically demanding position is natural but Winfield does not seem to be slowing down. The 5-9 190 lb corner started 15 games last year and played in all 16, and while he has missed 17 games in the last four years, he comes in without any current injury concerns. After injury the second most important concern about aging players is declining performance. Winfield puts this concern to rest given that his 2012 season was one of the best in his 14 year career. He had three interceptions, tied for his 3^rd best career total, and 12 passes defended which was tied for 2^nd best in his career. These numbers suggest that Winfield hasn’t lost enough to be a liability in coverage, even if the reality is that pure coverage has never been his specialty.

The real reason why this potential signing is so brilliant is because Antoine Winfield fits perfectly with what Pete Carroll likes to do on defense. Arguably his greatest talent is in run support, which is a point of emphasis for this defense since Carroll has been in Seattle. Defending the run was also a greater weakness than many realized in 2012 as the Seahawks conceded a problematic 4.5 yards per carry. Additionally, Winfield has shown the ability to get to the quarterback on the cornerback blitz, something that Pete Carroll is very fond of, especially out of the slot.  In the last five seasons Antoine Winfield has produced 6.5 sacks, which is not a staggering number but not an irrelevant one either for a cornerback. When one considers that games missed over that span it is even more impressive. Winfield can clearly be an interesting occasional weapon rushing the passer out of the slot, something that makes him even more appealing to the Seahawks.

A visit is no guarantee of a signing but this one caught my eye because Antoine Winfield appears to be a really good fit for this Seattle team. As a Super Bowl contender the Seahawks should be looking to sign older players at a discounted price to help them win over the short term the way the Patriots have been doing for years. I don’t know exactly what Antoine Winfield’s price is but I can’t imagine he would be particularly cost prohibitive and it seems like he would be an excellent addition due to his ability to stop the run, rush the passer, and hold up in in coverage, even during his twilight years.

In any backup quarterback you want someone who can keep the offense from self-destructing and put the players around him in a position to make plays without making critical mistakes in critical moments. You don’t necessary need the backup quarterback to make big plays but they need to be able to move the offense down the field.  Leinart, Wallace, Quinn and Thigpen all have been career backups and have shown spurts where they have been able to move the ball downfield, none have done it at a consistent level, which is why all four are looking for a job as a backup.

Sep 11, 2011; Kansas City, MO, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyler Thigpen (4) warms up before the game with the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

In Quinn and Leinart you get two quarterbacks who can stand in the pocket and deleiver the ball to receivers in a west coast timing offense when the running game is clicking forcing the linebackers to cheat up, creating passing lanes underneath.  In Thigpen and Wallace you get very much the same just an extra element. Thigpen and Wallace both can get out of the pocket and make plays with their legs, neither is as crafty as Russell Wilson but the threat to run the read option is there with them, while Quinn and Leinart are not able to do so.

Who gets the job at quarterback then? My guess is as good as any but I’d think Tyler Thigpen is the most likely to sign.  Seattle’s offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell spent time with Thigpen in Minnesota before Thigpen was cut and picked up by the Chiefs in 2007, his rookie year. Thigpen while with the Chiefs was able to run for 386 yards, and 3 touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per rush.  Thigpen is a talented passer too who is able to throw the ball downfield and find open receivers. Don’t expect him to go out and make the plays we often see from Wilson, but expect him to be able to run the same offense.  Leinart, Quinn, and Wallace could all be possibilities but the fact that Thigpen is only 28 and quicker on his feet than the rest I expect him to get the nod on Monday.