Seahawks Off-Season progress
As I sat at work listening to my co-worker panic about the Seahawks off-season progress so far, I began to panic myself. He rattled off the fact that the Seahawks have parted ways with Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Jimmy Graham, Luke Willson, Paul Richardson, Sheldon Richardson and are likely to be without Cliff Avril and Kam Chancellor as well. I felt a little sullen. Next he mentioned how we were rumored for Ndamukong Suh, but that seems to be falling through. What about our trades for players like CJ Smith? Is Earl Thomas going to be gone too? We have so few draft picks this year…the sky was definitely falling. After hearing all of it, I thought fear not, Seahawks; There is a plan.
Yes, it is really easy to think of the doom and gloom of losing so many players that have meant so much to this franchise. Yes, it is easy to be frustrated with smaller moves in free agency. Also with the lack of draft excitement (because Seattle has so few picks).
So what are the positives of this off-season? Well, we have some cap space now. That’s a good thing right? Let’s take a short look at the roster as it stands right now.
Offense
Quarterback
Russell Wilson, Trevone Boykin and maybe Austin Davis
Chances are Seattle is going to bring Austin Davis back since he is familiar with Brian Schottenheimer’s offense. That will be a welcome edition in quarterback meetings. This duo probably won’t keep us in competition for the playoffs if Wilson goes down, but I am not going to worry about that doomsday at the moment.
Running back
Chris Carson, Mike Davis, JD McKissic, CJ Prosise
Carson is the big piece we need to work this season. We had a terrible running game last year, and we have spent the off-season finding better run blockers to improve. Carson is coming off an injury, but before the injury he showed great promise.
Mike Davis a very solid number 2 running back. He will not set the world on fire, but he will be steady.
McKissic is a speed threat. He is a good 3rd down back, but a little small, and that causes some issues in pass blocking. His speed and pass catching skill set are really good for the roster though.
Prosise is a tough call. He is currently on the roster, but he can never stay healthy. When he is healthy, he is at the very least a perfect 3rd down back and at the very best, a highly effective starting running back. The problem is, he never stays healthy.
Need: Although this group wasn’t spectacular last year, they did alright with a bad offensive line. A running back should still be added in free agency, the draft or as an un-drafted free agent. Someone with top running talent just in case Chris Carson works out.
Fullback
Tre Madden, Jalston Fowler
Madden is more of a running back (he played running back in college) and a special teams ace. Fowler is the blocking fullback, and capable special teams player. He offers very little in the offense as a receiving threat.
Both are capable at fullback. We would have something special if we could combine the two, but in either case fullback is not a need.
(Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)
Wide Receiver
Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Jaron Brown, Amara Darboh, Tanney McEvoy, Marcus Johnson, David Moore
Baldwin is not your typical top receiver; he lacks size, but he has every other thing you look for. He rungs great routes, understands how to sit down on a zone, and he runs well after the catch. Angry Doug has excellent hands and Russell seems to have a good connection with Baldwin on scramble drills.
Lockett looked like a star in the making his first year in the league. I think the injury set him back a bit, but he still offers the ability to score on any play. He is also very small and is most effective in the slot.
Jaron Brown is replacing Paul Richardson. Many fans think this is a loss, but I think for our offense, it will be good. Brown is just as effective as a deep threat. He may not make the acrobatic catches that Richardson did the past year and a half, but he will bring consistency and speed. Brown is also a very good blocker at receiver and an excellent special teams player. He brings size, speed and special teams play.
Darboh, McEvoy, Johnson and Moore are currently in a battle for that next receiver spot. None has shown a lot yet, but all have that bigger body the Seahawks wanted. Darboh looks like a possession receiver. Moore and Johnson are home run threats and McEvoy is a work in progress.
Need: This group isn’t perfect, but they will block better with the addition of Brown. They will be roughly the same receiving group from last season. A special wide receiver could be sought after, the team went after Terrelle Pryor pretty hard, so the Seahawks remain on the lookout.
Tight End:
Ed Dickson, Nick Vannett, Tyrone Swoopes
Dickson is one of the better blockers in the league at tight end. This has been the focus of the off-season so far. His presence should improve the running game and he isn’t terrible as a passing option. He doesn’t take the top off a defense at tight end the way Graham and Wilson did, but he offers so much more as a blocker.
Vannett will likely get his opportunity to see a larger role. He is a good blocker, with the ability to get better. He also offers good consistent hands for the most part. Again, not a player who takes the top off a defense, but he gives a dependable target for Russell Wilson.
Swoopes is a project we are still developing. There is a chance they will try to stash him on the practice squad one more time.
I think the Seahawks are done in Free Agency at tight end, unless they take a chance at Marcedes Lewis as the best run blocker at tight end in the NFL per Profootballfocus.com, with a run block grade of 87.1.
Need: It would seem logical the Seahawks will look to add 1 tight end in the draft.
Left Tackle:
Duane Brown, George Fant
This is a very solid position on our offensive line. Brown is a former pro bowl tackle who brings experience and leadership to our team. He is a legitimate left tackle.
Fant was a highly thought of prospect last year before his injury. Once he is fully healthy, it will be tough to keep him off the field.
Left Guard:
DJ Fluker, Rees Odhiambo, Ethan Pocic
By all accounts, Fluker was brought in because Solari likes him, and he is a very good run blocker. He is a former first round pick with all the measurables needed to expect him to be a good guard. He has been pretty bad as a pass blocker and should stay on the inside where his size and strength can play up and you can hide some of his movement weaknesses.
Rees was looking really great in camp last year before Fant went down, and Rees had to move out to tackle. He isn’t a tackle, that project didn’t work. He should get every chance to earn the backup job behind Fluker though at left guard.
Pocic could play guard in a pinch. He is under-powered at the point of attack and gets pushed back by bigger defensive tackles, but he will get stronger in time.
Center
Justin Britt, Joey Hunt, Ethan Pocic
Britt has been our best and most consistent lineman the past 2 seasons. He is a building block.
Joey Hunt was a smallish center who exhibits great instincts and quickness, but he still feels underpowered.
Pocic is listed because he can literally play anywhere on the line.
Right Guard
Germain Ifedi, Ethan Pocic, Jordan Roos
Germain Ifedi is a guard in my book. He didn’t show the quickness on the outside last season to handle the elite edge rushers in the league. He struggled knowing of that disadvantage which caused him to false start and hold way more than we would like. Ifedi feels like a clone of DJ Fluker to me. A powerful run blocker lacking the foot quickness for the outside, but could be an outstanding guard. He played solid at guard his rookie season, and I think to save his career a move to guard is necessary.
I list Pocic as the backup here because he showed great promise here last season. Ending the season as the starting right guard, but he was still underpowered. Where Ifedi’s issue was quickness, that is Pocic’s strong suit.
Jordan Roos is a beast of a man, but still a project. He brings a level of nasty the Seahawks need on their roster.
Right Tackle
Ethan Pocic, George Fant, Germain Ifedi
With Ifedi moving in to guard, that leaves a hole at right tackle. However, it solidifies 4 out of 5 line spots. As stated before, Pocic fits better at tackle right now where he can use his athleticism and movement skills to mirror edge rushers and not worry about being overpowered by bigger defensive tackles.
As mentioned before, Fant is pushing for playing time as soon as he is healthy. He has the same movement skills if not better than Pocic and 2 years gaining strength in the Seahawks weight room. Even if he doesn’t beat out Pocic, he is the left tackle of the future behind Duane Brown.
I still list Ifedi out here just in case. He isn’t great at tackle, but he can get by.
Need: I believe a tackle is still a need to address. At the very least to give Pocic and Fant competition. I don’t believe anyone will be added in free agency, look for the draft to address the position.
Related Story: The Seahawks free agency stuff so far...
Analysis:
The Seahawks have made moves so far by adding DJ Fluker, Jaron Brown and Ed Dickson. These players are run blocking additions, whom should not hurt in the passing game. We lost some pass catching threats in Paul Richardson, Jimmy Graham and fan favorite, Luke Willson. That hurts, but we lose them in order to improve the running game. We still have some holes to fill, but if we can have some semblance of a rushing attack without sacrificing our passing attack this season, I would have to think that everyone would consider that an improvement.