Life After Hasselbeck: Teel, Whitehurst, or …?

Matt Hasselbeck will turn 35 years old this September – even the most casual fan will assume his best days are behind him. It is time to start thinking about life after Hasselbeck.

Entering the offseason, fans were optimistic about the plethora of early-round draft picks Seattle had accumulated. The assumption was that the Seahawks would invest at least one of them in a promising, young quarterback.

Some were even more optimistic, thinking that Seattle already had a capable replacement in-house: Mike Teel. After flashes of brilliance in the preseason, the former sixth-round pick captured the attention of several observers looking for the next starting quarterback. These fans are optimistic and loyal; Mike Teel must get a shot to prove himself, or at least they think so.

Finally, there are the most optimistic bunch: the homers who managed to follow Seahawks football through the 90’s with a smile. Despite giving up a lot for Charlie Whitehurst, these folks trust in the organization and believe that he could develop into something special. This is possible, of course, because different people were calling the shots when the Seahawks traded for Kelly Stouffer and drafted players like Dan McGwire and Rick Mirer. Pete Carroll and John Schneider know what they’re doing.

Any way you look at it, the Seahawks are a team focused on rebuilding. Matt Hasselbeck is not a long-term solution and it is time to find someone capable of replacing him.

I’m surprised at how many people support Mike Teel and believe he could develop into a starter in the National Football League. Performance in the preseason has never meant much, but I will admit that he looked pretty good throwing against third- and fourth-string NFL defenses.

Despite promising exhibition skills, are Pete Carroll and friends even considering the former Rutgers quarterback?

Charlie Whitehurst was acquired largely because of potential and physical prowess. For a quarterback, he is very athletic and runs well. He is quick and capable of throwing on the move and outside of the pocket. Throw in his physical attributes – 6-foot-4, 220 pounds – and you’ve supposedly found yourself a star in the making.

Whitehurst seems like a perfect fit in the new offensive scheme to be implemented by Jeremy Bates and the coaching staff. Another hybrid West Coast offense the features a lot of bootlegs and regularly moves the pocket.

But what about Teel?

ESPN.com’s Mike Sando think the Seahawks could draft a quarterback next month:

"Coach Pete Carroll pointed to Charlie Whitehurst’s combination of size and athleticism as drawing points after Seattle acquired the quarterback from San Diego.That could affect third-string quarterback Mike Teel, a sixth-round choice of the Seahawks’ previous leadership. One scouting report on Teel read, “Lacks the mobility to consistently make plays outside the pocket.” It’s something to keep in mind as the Seahawks fill out their roster at quarterback behind Matt Hasselbeck and Whitehurst."

Teel may never get his opportunity to start in Seattle. In fact, the 6-foot-3 signal caller might not even be in Seattle’s plans for future seasons.

Another quarterback could be added to the roster in next month’s draft; if an early selection is invested at the position, it’s likely at least one of Seattle’s current quarterbacks won’t be on the roster next season. And with trade rumors surrounding Hasselbeck silenced, Teel is probably the odd man out.

Which direction would you prefer? Mike Teel, Charlie Whitehurst, or someone else?

Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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