Can Babs Unseat Russell?

Written by Mike Parker | 30 July 2009

As discussed in this morning's press briefing with Tim Ruskell, Jordan Babineaux is apparently going to get a shot in camp at unseating starting FS Brian Russell.

Some fans are probably going to break out the champagne at the very mention of this happening, as Russell has been taking a verbal bludgeoning on local blogs (see here, for one) for being the weakest link in Seattle's secondary last year. Also, the natural position of "Big Play Babs" is safety rather than cornerback, and many have been calling for his re-insertion into the starting lineup over Russell.

From where we stand now -- one day before the start of training camp after a dreadful season -- Babs has every chance in the world to beat out Russell for the job. Babs has unrelenting athleticism and hustle, possesses superior instincts over Russell and plays much more physically (not unlike SS Deon Grant.) Riding on all this, I see no reason why Babineaux can't one-up Russell in camp. If that ended up happening, the Seattle secondary would end up with that much more toughness and physical play. (And someone who isn't likely to bounce off a quarterback like a spitball hitting the ceiling.)

Questions to consider, while I'm at this:

-Was Russell's lackluster play in 2008 another casualty of John Marshall's schemes? After all, he played decently in 2007.

-If Babs can't oust Russell, does this spell bad news for the secondary in 2009?

-What is Babs' fate if he remains bound for the bench?

-What is Russell's fate if Babs wins the job?

Comments (9)

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written by jeremy, July 30, 2009

answers to the Q's

1: yes john marshall's schemes were off beat last year. but Russell was not performing.

2: I don't think so, with the new coaches on the defensive side of the ball we should see decent play from Russell if Babs doesn't win the starting spot.

3:If Babs is to remain of the bench he will just be a backup and special teams guy.

4:If Babs wins the starting job then Russell will be cut to make room for new younger talent, not necessarily at safety either.


That's my take on your questions.

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written by Seahawk Addicts, July 30, 2009

Whether or not Babs wins the starting spot is almost irrelevant. This FINALLY makes Russell accountable. I've got no beef with the guy, really, but he walked into a starting job and no level of poor play thus far has jeopardized that role. Jennings was replaced almost immediately when he suffered, but no one (outside of fandom) even discussed Russell being benched.

This is great news, regardless of the results.

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written by brainyhawk, July 30, 2009

The problem though is that Russell is so dang good in practice. He isn't called Mr. Thursday for nothin. Russell throws everything he has into practice and coaches love that. It just doesn't translate to sundays. Babs is gonna have to bust his behind to beat out Russell cause you don't mess with B-Russ in B-Russ's house(the practice field).

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written by nightwulf, July 30, 2009

I look at it this way:
Babs gets burned perhaps more often than he should, ditto for Russell. On the other hand Babs makes HEROIC, game saving plays in clutch situations. Russell, not so much...
in answer to the questions:
1) To put as gently and diplomatically as I can, Marshall the Moron's schemes sucked rancid syphilitic donkey members. Russell was set up to fail, and he did an outstanding job of it.
2)Not necessarily, it could mean that Russell could still play at his 2007 level, and that last year was all due to schemes and injury.
3)We'll keep using him just the way we always have...
4)Retirement after this year, and a coaching job somewhere...he DOES have a very good football mind.
And there you have it

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written by Brian, July 30, 2009

I don't think that it's important who wins the job. Just the competition alone will make them play better by not becoming complacent. I think that we should all really ignore last season as a whole, because nothing was going right. Russell is a veteran, and a good one, and deserves every opportunity to show that he can play the way he did two years ago. If he comes out and stinks it up, that will be another scenario, but until then, the job should be his to lose.

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written by Brainyhawk, July 31, 2009

I disagree that compition in and of it's self will help the free safty positition. This idea assumes that Russell needs a fire lit under his ass to work harder. Russell needs no further flame to work hard, he gives everything he has 24/7. He is just not a very good athlete. Maybe the scheme will help him or maybe last year was just a bad year. But the dude is all grit and spit in the eye. His failings have nothing to do with effort or feeling like the job is his and he doesn't need to try harder. His problems are purely based on his lack of NFL level speed, strenght and instincts(we was a college QB and the angles that he takes show that)

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written by STTBM, July 31, 2009

I dont think Russell gets cut this year, no matter what. Last years injury debacle should have taught all of us that you can never have too much depth.

Russell never was as good as he should have been, and I think he's lost a step. That said, he provides leadership and toughness, and would be a great backup and mentor for CJ and Jamar Adams. So theres no reason not to keep him on the team, even if Babs beats him out.

Babs job may be in jeapordy, which I think is unfair. While he is nowhere near as athletic as Wilson, he is a better nickel back. Wilson is just too damn limited by his short stature to be used all the time. Do you want that guy covering ANY of Arizona's WR's in the red zone?!! (All those guys are over 6' tall).

Still, nothing bad will come of the open competition between Babs and Russell. Babs may have fallen victim to hubris when Ruskell gave him his nice contract extension. I think he relaxed a little--and it showed: He wasnt as good last year. Obviously, Babs has stepped it up or Ruskell wouldnt have declared the Safety position open.

So either way, us fans are bound to win, and I think both players are on the team one more year. After that, who knows? Ruskell has shown he can be ruthless with Free Agents and guys he didnt draft...

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written by 12th Man in AZ, July 31, 2009

I have always been a huge fan of Babs and the speedy tackle to save the Dallas playoff game with the famous Romo fumble sealed it for me. I agree with others on here that Grant should be moved to his natural spot and Babs can start opposite. Can't wait! Great day tomorrow as camp kicks off and really gets cranking over the weekend.

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written by GoSeaHox, July 31, 2009

It's a tough question. On one hand, a lot of the blame for the last season's secondary woes have been attributed to Marshmallow and it is not accurate to judge Russell by his performance under that scheme, if that is the case.

OTOH, Babs has always impressed me with his ability to be in the right place at the right time. Someone has already mentioned my favorite Romo highlight, and there was also the blocked Plakemeyer punt against the 49rs last season that Babs recovered and carried for a first down.

I do not see the competition as being anything but good, especially since you don't dare get rid of Babs (don't want him fixing busted plays for anyone else). If Russell does end up retaining the starting job, Babs will always be breathing down his neck, pushing him to perform.

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