Why a Change of Scenery Can Be Good for Seahawks Newcomers
By Luke Allen
A change of scenery can do wonderful things for people.
Seahawks’ newcomers Eddie Lacy, Dion Jordan and Blair Walsh all have one thing in common.
They’re all three coming off disappointing 2016 seasons.
For Eddie, it was his weight issues and nagging ankle injuries that kept him sidelined most of the 2016 season.
For Dion, he has widely been regarded as a bust since Miami took him with the second overall pick in the 2013 draft. From 2015 to now, the defensive end from Oregon has played a combined zero games.
For Blair, his downfall started when he was playing against the team he’s on now. In January of 2016, during the Wild Card playoff matchup between the Vikings and Seahawks, Blair missed a chip-shot 27-yard field goal to win the game. Since that kick that infamously sailed wide left, he’s been dreadful as a kicker for the Vikings.
These guys expect to play a major role with the Seahawks in 2017.
Eddie Lacy is expecting to compete for the starting position as the Seattle Seahawks running back.
Blair Walsh is the only kicker on the roster.
Dion Jordan looks to provide depth for a pass-rush attack that was lacking last season, if he can overcome his latest knee surgery.
Maybe a fresh start with a new team is all these three guys need. We saw it with Peyton Manning in 2013, Matt Forte with the Jets, Justin Forsett with the Ravens, and many others.
The Seahawks’ culture is known for giving second chances. They are also known for signing the players nobody else wanted. An overwhelming number of the Seahawks stars were undrafted or taken very late in the draft.
Walsh is an interesting story this offseason. He was signed due the departure of long-time reliable kicker Steven Hauschka. Hauschka didn’t have a great season last year. The Seahawks decided not to pay him—and settled with the cheaper option, Walsh. Walsh, ironically, was once the most reliable kicker in the league.
Lacy has been in the news lately for his contract incentives to lose weight. Thus far, he’s collected $110k for losing weight, and it looks like he’s still dropping some pounds.
Joining a new squad will provide a place for all three of these players to forget their past struggles, and focus on their future successes. They should all three come in with fresh mindsets and be able to start a new chapter in their careers.
If the Seahawks can turn these players around into the stars they once were, this offseason will have been a huge success. If not, the entire offseason would’ve just looked like a giant flop.