Answers to Your Questions Vol 12

by: Michael Steffes

It is Tuesday morning. Three practices to go before the dreaded pre-training camp break. I thought I would start the day off by clearing out the back log of questions from this week so far. I do my best to weed through the comments and find the questions asked. I give my opinions only, the team has yet to ask me for my input and that is probably for the best(smile!). Anyway....


Stevo... Asked if I am convinced Rob Sims is the answer at right guard?

I don't know if I can be truly convinced until I see him play there effectively, but I do believe he is the best option. From the moment Sims was drafted, the team was talking about how they had found a steal and he would be a starter in this league for a long time. Now last year was rough, no doubt. But it was rough for the whole group. Something was missing whether it be mentally, physically, emotionally, who knows? I do agree with you though that competition will be good for the situation, however I would think Ray Willis ranks above Wrotto at this point .

Inaspiral... Asked if we should expect the team to come out throwing, or trying to force the new run game?

I would think the team is going to come out and do what it takes to win. I expect to see a little more balance early in the season, only because they will not want to rely to heavily on the young wideouts. However, it is possible, that if the run game appears abysmal in the preseason that Holmgren will see if they can get it going later. One thing I expect is that Holmgren won't feel obligated to give a specific back a certain number of carries due to superstar status, so he should abandon the run much easier this year if it is not working in specific weeks.

Adam Hawkfan... Asked about Branch's contract status? And Josh Wilson?

Branch has four years left on his deal and considerable salaries. The team obviously could cut him, but it would cost them a pretty big cap hit to do it. They wouldn't save money cutting him till 2010 at the earliest, but, why would they want to. They have invested about 20 million and a first round pick in Branch. No way they take a cap hit to get rid of him, especially because he has been good when on the field. If the Hawks stuck it out with Tubbs this long because of his talent, expect a similar approach with Branch. It is unfortunate that he has been hurt a lot, but many call him a bust, and that is not the case. A bust is guy Scott Mitchell, or Cedric Benson, Branch is just injury prone.

As for Wilson, I haven't heard too much about him, but I expect the team to give him every chance to succeed this year. He was pretty decent for a rookie when on the field last year, but was also banged up last year. Look for him defintely to play a big role in the return game this year.

Strategerie... Asked about Coach Holmgen's gallbladder thingy?

I am pretty sure that turned out to be misinformation. They asked him about it on the radio (Mitch Levy?) and he had no idea what the host was talking about? My guess is that he was getting some preventative care done. Some of those procedures can leave you confined to a residence for a day.

Mr. Snuggles.... Yes, Patrick Kerney did have a torn pec. He missed half the year before we signed him. That is why his signing didn't get much hype as a top move. People thought it would be tough for him to get back to his previous level. However, he exceeded his previous level. Maybe he can lend Plack his hyperbolic chamber for healing.

Tyler Barker... Thanks for the info on weight training. I understand why he would be lifting and how running could be less beneficial to a punter. Mostly I was joking around because Plack isn't very fit, and because punters are generally not thought of as football players. I am sure the team is giving him advice like eating healthy, maybe now that he has injured himself he will take it.

Until next time folks... Read More!

Answers to Your Questions Vol 11

by: Michael Steffes

Happy Friday evening everybody. I hope the week was short and your upcoming weekend is loooooong. Well, in the away from work sense. I know we all like days where the Hawks take the field, and that won't happen again until Monday. In the meantime.... I answer your questions. You know the drill. I give my insight and opinions, take them or leave them, I don't pretend to have absolute knowledge. Here we go...

jrlseattle... asked about the players given tryouts over the first camp?

No JRL, they are gone. When the team signs undrafted guys, they often bring in tryout players too. This way they can swap guys out if they like others better. By this time though, they are installing the offense and doing scheme related stuff they are bit more protective of. During the season the team brings in a group of tryout players every Mon and check them out. It helps them keep their "in case of injury" list together.

darnell... asked if Roanell Smith and Omare Lowe are with the team?

Omare Lowe is. He is going to battle for that versatile defensive back spot. He plays both safety and corner, so he has some value. So far though, it sounds as if Kevin Hobbs is outplaying him.

Chops.... Asked what is up with Alvin Pearman?

Pearman was a restricted free agent and the Hawks opted not to offer him a contract. Because of this he could sign with any team, however there has been little interest. He tore up his knee last year, so it is possible he is still not 100% and we won't hear about a team signing him until mid season, or even next season. He has more than two seasons in the league so he is not eligible for a practice squad.

Funny though, I watched a old VA vs Clemson game on a random Fox sports station or something, and Leroy Hill totally blew him up on one play. It was sweet. Hill was ALL over the field in that game, and Clemson beat a stacked VA team, with Pearman, Schaub, Heath Miller, Chris Canty, and D'Brickshaw Ferguson. I was flipping through, and I couldn't care less about either team, but I never watched Leroy in college, and this peaked my interest. Based on that game, I have no idea how he was available in the third.

Nick.... asked if Forsett is so fast why did he run a 4.6?

I just wanted to add on to what was already said. Not only is he quick, but 4.6 isn't slow. 5.0 would be slow. Maybe Forsett runs 4.6 with his pads on? A lot of guys have combine speed but not game speed. What I have seen watching Cal, is that Forsett plays very fast on the field, so those reports don't surprise me so much.

Surf Hawk.... "the big four" vs the "the four young unknowns"

I like your nickname too. Either way, these four young WRs need a nickname. Hopefully we can keep them together, because in a year or two maybe they will have a league wide nickname.

Christopher Mattix... Using Owen Schmitt as a linebacker?

I have to say Chris that is very creative, but a little far fetched. Let me tell you why. First, Schmitt has been playing fullback for many years, and it is pretty hard to make the switch from O to D. Linemen can sometimes do it, but fullback to linebacker is a pretty different skill set. Linebackers are often as fast as tailbacks. They have to be able to flip their hips and run, in order to cover receivers. One of the reasons Schmitt is a full back is because he is a bit to big and slow to carry the ball full time. However, as a blocker he is top notch. Not saying he couldn't, but I am not sure he is athletic enough to play LB. Plus, the team drafted him to be a fullback. They need someone behind Weaver, who is a free agent after this year.

Evan... Kurt Warner's wife is the worst...by far! Although she has toned it down in recent years. When she used to call into to local talk radio, that was freakin' funny, and I am sure very embarrassing for Kurt.

Hasselhawk.... Asked if rookies are getting paid right now?

All of the players make a certain amount per week in the offseason. I am not sure what it is exactly, but it is dictated by the CBA. My guess is that it is like $800 a week. Same for the vets. The way the vets make offseason money is through workout bonuses. You hear those attached to contracts all the time. What they are is payments for the player as long as he attends offseason programs. As for salary, everybody gets it divided up into 17 game checks, so as long as the rookies are under contract before week 1, they get paid. The reason the Hawks haven't signed anybody yet, is because when they do they will have to release players. Right now they are using the draft picks roster spots for undrafted guys.

OK, that is all I have for now. It always seems like there are more questions, until I start to answer them. In the meantime..... get your boogie on folks, its Friday night! Read More!

Answers to Your Questions Vol 10

by: Michael Steffes

Mini camp comes, and with it lots of questions. I have gone back over the last few days, because it seems there are a bunch of questions, and done my best to answer them. Keep em' coming, but remember I have no inside info or telepathic powers. This is just my opinion.

To Continue....

Christopher Mattix, asked about Lo Jack?.... Well, he is back with the team and seems to be fitting in nicely. I don't really know much because nobody has said much about him lately. He seemed like he did well during the first camp he was at, and he hasn't been around until recently. I think that he will do just fine. He seems poised to step right in and contribute, but so far the beat reporters seem to be noticing Red Bryant more often.

Also, I think it would be about 50/50 on getting Kent on the practice squad. The best bet may be to put him on the week 1 roster, and then try and slip him through early in the season, before injuries but after rosters are mostly set.

DSAHawker... Asked about the hill run? Mora has a run he likes to do, up Tiger Mountain. It is only about three miles long, but it is supposedly quite steep. He invites the players to run it with him all the time. Kerney puked while doing it. Mora consistently beats the players up the mountain. I am not sure if this is what he was talking about, but Hasselbeck said the DB's have been going jogging with Mora after practice this year.

AYO, asked about June 1st Cuts? Hawkdude had it right. Shaun was not designated a 6/1 cut, and I don't think that Ashworth was either. As far as I know the Hawks didn't use the 6/1 effect at all this year. That is a good sign, there will be no dead money on the books next year.

Hulk... said Duckett may not make the team.... I just wanted to disagree with you briefly. I think Duckett is pretty safe. Even if he doesn't appear set to step into a well defined role, they will keep him as insurance. He would be very valuable should Morris or Jones go down, and neither of them are ultra durable. He will stick around and the team will eventually find good use for him.... I hope.

JDot Porter... Had three questions....

1) Asked about Jordan Kent. Kent has supposedly made big strides from last year. Unfortunately he had a long way to go. Right now, he is likely the lowest of all the oft mentioned receivers, but the team loves his speed, and his potential, so don't be surprised if they find a way to make sure he doesn't get snapped up by another team.

2) The WRs look like this. Burleson is starting at the split end, or X spot. Ben Obamanu and then Jordan Kent would be behind him. Bobby would be on the field as the starting flanker, with Payne and Taylor competing behind him. However, when three receivers are on the field, which is often, Bobby would move to the slot. Then either Payne or Taylor will be on the field. Then of course there is Deion Branch who is not likely to play until October at the earliest.

3) I think the starting TE is still up in the air right now. Holmgren said he would like John Carlson to start, however, he also admits that is asking a lot of a rookie in this system. Hasselbeck seemed to favor Putzier a bit when talking about the position on the radio this morning, saying he is sneaky fast. My best guess is that Putzier starts out as the 1st string TE, but by midseason Carlson starts to take over.

Pat... Asked to explain my big picture comment? What I mean is that Chop is a fill in anyway. Kyle Williams too. I could really care less about the players shuffling in an out right now because 3/5 of the starters are hurt. Those are the big picture guys I want to see getting reps together. Hope that helps.

Evan... Asked about PK Sam? I haven't heard anything Evan. He should have been around all offseason so far, so that gives him a leg up on some of the undrafted rookies. He also has one big plus, and that is his return ability. With coach wanting to get Nasty Nate off the kick return units, if Sam flashes the return ability he has had in the past, he could get a good look for the final roster.

Ok, hope you enjoyed. I am beat folks. Don't expect too many late night posts for the foreseeable future, at least during the week. You probably saw me reference this in either the comments or a 5am post, but my lady has us going to an extreme fitness bootcamp at 6 every morning. Right now, I am ready for bed and my whole body hurts, only one problem...It is still light outside! Craziness! I can't go to sleep if it is light outside can I? Read More!

Answers To Your Questions Vol 9

by: Michael Steffes

Wow great to see so much excitement surrounding the season! Sounds like Seahawk Addicts will have a representative reader at almost every game. Also, seems like a lot are interested in doing a meet and greet. I am certainly in favor. I will see what I can find as the best way to set something up for a pre-game tailgate. I have a little something up my sleeve for the New England game too, which will be an all day tailgate because of the evening kickoff. I will have to see how things shape out.

Anyway, I thought I would use this post as a way to address many of the great comments from the day. Here we go....

AuburnCaHawkfan... As for now, I am only planning on going to the home SF game, but that has been the plan before and I end up at Monster Park, or whatever they are calling it these days. Crappy stadium, but a great place to jive it up with Niner fans. That would probably be cheap to get to for me, so I will keep you updated.

Chris (Sullivan I think?) Enjoy Miami! I wanted to go, but I got Giants tickets given to me instead. Miami will be a rager!

Steve.... Why do SA's think Julius Jones will lead the team in touchdowns?

That is a good question Steve. I understand your point with the RB by Committee limiting touchdowns by any one RB. I think the same ends up happening with WR's too though. I expect Nate to get nastier this year as well. Hopefully he scores even more. As for the poll, I say lets chalk it up to running game optimism. I am confident both guys get double digit TD's.

BobbyK... That will be a fun game regardless of it being the first preseason game. You will have to report back and tell us about the experience. Although, I think the famous crowd noise will be a bit tempered. In any other year, the preseason is mostly a throw away, but this year there are so many compelling story lines. Hopefully you will be able to get up and close to the action.

Scotia Seahawk.... Asked how I get tickets to road games?

I am a big fan on Ebay for tickets, but I have found the key is to watch it like a Hawk for a good deal. Right now tickets for all the games are expensive because people haven't even received the actual tickets. Once fans actually have the tickets, you can find some decent deals. Not everyone is a cold hearted scalper these days, although the secondary market has totally exploded in recent years. Luckily for the Giants game, I got tickets from a family friend. I often take friends I have around the country to games at Qwest, like the last Giants game (poor guy), and that way when the Hawks play on their turf it gets returned.

Stratagerie... Oh yeah, you can tailgate and not go to the game for sure. Most of it takes place outside the stadium. You got to get to a game this year girl. Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan will come through for ya!

Jarrod.... We will have to figure something out for the Bills game. I also found out there is a So Cal Seahawks group that meets in Culver City as well, really close to me. However, in the end I have a feeling I will like to be near my computer during most road games.

Papahawk.... Sounds like you got a great system! Parking is a killer down there! I usually park in the North lot because I get a pass with my tix, but maybe when there is going to be a big SA crowd, we could just get one or two cars to park and the rest could walk in. That might be the best way to go about getting a Seahawk Addicts tailgate together. I got a person or two in mind already.

Jeremy, AL, and Josh... Dallas game is going to be sweet!!!! I am going to be tied up a bit with family stuff, but I can't wait to see a bunch of Hawks fans in Big D! Julius is going to cut through the Dallas D like John Madden does a tur-duck-en!

Great Job today folks. Sounds like we are all in the same boat, just can't wait for the season to get going. Read More!

Answers To Your Questions Vol 8

by: Michael Steffes

Ooh lots of questions about the next years issues. Me likey. Anyway, I am glad there was a response. You guys know the drill. I am not an expert, not does Tim Ruskell speak to me in dreams, although that would be sweet. In other words, these are my opinions, guesses, etc. But if it makes you feel better they are certainly educated guesses. Enjoy....


Chris... asks what type of turnover we can expect with Mora taking over? and Who will be the captains this year?

First off, the Mora issue. My gut feeling is that Haskell is going to call it quits with Holmgren. If anybody has a right to be a little sore on the Mora hiring it is him. That is fine though because Mora will want to bring in Gregg Knapp who he worked with previous. Knapp is in the last year of a two year deal in Oakland. If you noticed they ran the ball pretty well last year for such a crappy team so that aint all bad. Mora and Marshall have worked on several defenses together so I could see him staying. Most of the new coaches like Dunn, Lazor, and maybe even Solari knew about the change so they should stay. Also Mora has ties with Gilbertson so he likely keeps his spot. Now if the team somehow bombs this year this could all be up for debate again.

As for the captains, you are on the right path. Hass, Lofa, and Deon Grant all return. Mack Stong, Niko Koutouvides and Josh Brown's C's all remain unused. I think that some likely candidates are Laury, Morris, Engram maybe. Not sure who will take Brownies, special teams seems a bit thin on captain prospects.

Shams... How will I celebrate when the Hawks win on Thanksgiving?

That is a good question. Likely by having leftovers, writing a nice blog post about the game, and passing out when the Eagles go up on the Cards by 3 touchdowns. There are three things I do on Thanksgiving...Eat, Sleep, and watch football and I try do all of them three times. Being in Dallas will limit my ability to nap all day, so likely I am passing out early with a big ass smile on my face.

Lyric... asked if the Hawks could bring back K-Rob?

To tell the truth I don't think there is anyway it happens. They haven't been linked to him so far either. I think that would be like getting back together with a girlfriend who things ended badly with. You can never really trust the person again and when there are so many other choices, why bother? That said, the idea does intrigue me. If Koren has his life together, then i wish him well. Coming back to Seattle and redeeming himself would be a great story. Still, I am a bit skeptical it would ever happen that way.

As for the Mora thing, I think that the offense will be similar after coach leaves. Even in Atlanta when they lead the league in rushing, it wasn't a smashmouth system. Besides, the NFL is a passing league these days. To put up a lot of points you have to be able to throw. Those Atlanta teams ran a lot, but they didn't win as many as if they could have thrown too.

Steve... Do I think Morris will be the starter?

I don't think it really matters. I expect there to be a big time share in the backfield this year. Morris really had a breakout year last year and he is in a contract year so he could be set up for another jump in stats. I think that Jones may be the starter in name, but expect Morris to figure in heavily, especially early. Remember, he is the only tailback who knows the system. As for next year, I wouldn't count on it. The Hawks are hopefully going to have very few needs next year and taking a running back is a strong possibility.

OregonHawk.... asked which position is our weakest and which is our strongest?

I am going to go hands down with linebacker as our strongest. I think the Hawks have the best linebackers in the NFL. There are lot of good units on this team but LB is tops, as least as far as the starters go.

The worst unit is a bit tougher. I would say it is tight end. Only because Heller is the only returner and he is a blocker. Both receiving tight ends are new and essentially unproven. Until they prove it, it is the weak spot. Wide receiver at least has the two most productive members from last year returning.

realspd.. asked about coaching changes too?

I kind of addressed this up above. Haskell is the most likely to leave. Marshall has a tie to Mora so unless Holmgren takes a job somewhere he is likely to stay. Not sure he has the reputation some d-coordinators do around the league, so he shouldn't be in high demand.

Here is what we know about Gregg Knapp. Knapp is likely going to be the offensive coordinator next year. He got is first coordinator gig under Mariuchi when Mora was running the defense. Other than T.O. dressing him down, he was pretty successful. Jeff Garcia went to a couple of Pro Bowls under him and the Niners went to the playoffs. His first year in Atlanta the team went to the NFC Championship game. From there on out MV became larger than life and never quite lived up to the hype. Mora and Knapp's reputations suffered. However, if you watched those teams, they could run on anybody. Unfortunately, teams stocked the box and Vick was horribly inaccurate when passing. Hasselbeck is a different guy to put it mildly. Considering the improvement Oaklands offense made under Knapp, imagine what he can do with the Hawks talent. Watch Oakland this year and watch their scheme, cause we will likely look similar in 2009 and beyond.

Thats all, I will try and remember to do this more often. Sorry for the lapse. I will be happy to answer questions as often as wanted, especially with the lack of news right now, so feel free to throw questions into the comments sections.

Also, I want to thank all of you who have been supporting the site. Several people have used the Seattle Team store to get gear and I appreciate it. They are going to have Carlson and Jackson jersey's soon, for those who asked. Traffic is a bit slow right now because of the dead time so if you are a regular please remember to even the smallest little bit helps. I really appreciate it. Read More!

Answers to Your Pro Day Questions

by: Michael Steffes

Alright, in an effort to sum up my Seahawk Addicts field trip I am going to answer all the leftover pro day specific questions. If there was some nugget of info you were looking for and didn't find, hopefully it is here. Also, I have managed to get my pictures into a slide show which I have included for you as well. To check it out...



The video didn't turn out so great, it was set to Purple Haze, which didn't make it some how, the tags kind of obstruct some of the shots, and they looked a lot better at full size, but take it for what it is worth. And if someone wants to get an a much better camera, I got no complaints! Mom?? Are you reading this....we can only hope!





CTS...Is Fred Davis still my top ranked TE??

I guess he is, but I certainly was not inspired. His production during the season was undeniable. He also defintely takes good care of himself. Still I was disappointed. I would say now, I am much less bullish on this years tight ends and no longer feel comfortable saying we are going to get a long term solution this year.

Shams... Not to me, but oh well, wanted to know what round to take Carlson?

Shams, I have to think the Hawks would use their second rounder to get him. It is possible they could trade up in the third, but my guess is that if he is the one they are targeting, they just grab him at 55 rather than take the chance someone like Green Bay takes him right behind them.

Anon... Commented on the 40 times not being so bad...

I actually agree. That was the first thing I thought. But then a d linemen like Alex Morrow ran a 4.9, so you could say, well that is only .2 above him. For some reason, those tenths make players better pros or else people wouldn't care. That said, when you look at him on tape, Davis gets behind people, so it is possible he can run that with pads on which would make him comparatively faster.

Christopher Mattix... Asked about C. Washington being on our board, and Hawk personal

I would say that Washington is certainly on our board. I included him in the 7th round preview. That would have been great for the Hawks because it is possible they could have gotten through to the practice squad if he didn't make the team. My guess is that he now goes ahead of guys like Mike Hart and Allen Patrick, but who really knows? Either way, he seems like it might be worth the risk to spend a 2nd day pick on him and see if he looks good in pads.

As for personal, I looked long and hard for Hawk guys. Most teams, Hawks included, send scouts to these things. Ruskell probably would be the only one I would recognize, and he was in Fla. Many scouts wore their teams gear. I saw Bears, Broncos, Jags, and many others, but no one really advertising Hawks. I thought maybe one guy was, his polo shirt was the right color, and if it is any clue, he watched the linemen really close and spent time talking to each of them afterwards.
Misfit.... asked about what position Rivers will play? Who records times?

Weakside linebacker is what he is expected to play. Much in the mold of a Lance Briggs. He is so fast an athletic he will do well in both coverage and pass rushing. Too bad he won't be around at 25, or it wouldn't matter what happens with Leroy. Rivers is gonna be a good one!

Everybody records their own times. I am not sure whose they announced. It was funny though, after the running, there was a giant huddle of scouts for about 20-25 minutes where they were all checking out each others times. It was odd to see.

Erik... Good observation on Baker. And maybe we will never know, because he may end up with good guys around him again. I would be happy to be see him next to Locklear for years to come, on either side.
Anonymous... Asked if Booty fits what the Hawks will want to do with the Mora years?

I say a big time yes! If there is one knock on Booty it is his arm strength. Mora will keep a WCO offense which works far better with an accurate QB. Putting the ball on the money allows the receivers to take off after those short routes. Booty is extremely accurate. Plus, IMO, there is something about him that shows in how he handles himself. I get the feeling that people respond to him well. That is always important in the NFL. Also, if you take out the Stanford game, in which he broke his finger and played though it, he has very limited interceptions, which would be great if the team continues to have an outstanding defense.

Anonymous.... This was in one of the threads, but not really related. But hey I am on a role here!

Anon asked about Weaver and Womack. Weaver has until 8 days before the draft to solicit offers, which he can sign, and then the Hawks have option to match or receive a 2nd round pick. It makes no sense for him to sign until that deadline, because someone could offer him a big deal, as unlikely as it is at this point, why not just wait? He will sign soon.

Womack, it doesn't look like is coming back. However, I wouldn't count him out just yet. Two things could happen. After the draft, if a team, Hawks included, couldn't find a linemen they liked, they will grab Chop as a backup. Right now, if the Hawks add a linemen in the draft, that will pretty much fill all the spots. Another thing is that if Chop goes unsigned, my guess is that he would be on the top of the list for an injury replacement if someone gets hurt in camp or during the year. Right now, though, he needs to be patient.

Read More!

Answers to Your Questions Vol. 7

Howdy All. Well I feel like I am on a roll today. Draft preview....check. Power Rankings.....Check. Obligatory Notre Dame prospect video....huh?(Really I hate ND, but this year for some reason I like their players). So what is left?? Answers to your questions.


I will get right to it. So. Here. We. Go......


Evan... asked what the Vet minimum is and is there a way to find out?

Well this is actually something you will find fascinating. I am not sure where I read this, but I put it in my salary cap notes for future use. The vet minimum is actually 730K this year. However, if you give a player the vet minimum and NO signing bonus, the cap charge is only 438K. It is like an incentive plan to encourage teams to keep vets around. I will go back and see if I can find the source.

Yung Hawk...Asked if Martellus Bennett could slip and what I thought of him?

I originally thought very highly of Bennett, but I have heard several people, including Rob Rang, say that he isn't the kind of player Tim Ruskell usually prefers. He is has a boisterous personality and has a questionable motor. Really, he needs people to light a fire under him, he doesn't really self motivate, or at least that is what is being said. He could slip to the third, but I doubt all the way to the Hawks pick. It is hard to know where the TE's are going to go because a lot are projected in a similar range, so it really is up to the teams.

Lone Star Hawk...asked about Craig Stevens of Cal?

I will only say this. Stevens is probably a fine football player, but he the 8th or so rated TE for a reason. Considering that this is really the one hole the Hawks have to fix, it would make sense for them to get some one higher off their board. Also, where would the team be if it waited to try and get Stevens and then he got taken earlier than expected, there is really nobody who could play right away behind him.

CDALLAN ...asked if it is possible that Leonard Weaver is the best TE on our roster?

I would say no, absolutely not. Weaver is a full back. The team saw him as a fullback when they signed him and have been grooming him for this role. If they thought he had any future at TE they likely would have tried him there by now. If they moved him to TE, it would essentially weaken two positions (FB,TE), so they are much better finding players that they project as good TE's.

Zaxk... Says he tells 10 people a day about the site.

Thank you Zaxk! It is passionate readers like you that have helped it grow so fast. I think that is really cool that you are so pumped about it. I really am enjoying doing it. The more people the better, I say, as long as it stays civil.

Shams... That is a funny term "seahawks widow". She is well aware of how the season goes. She goes to a least a couple of games a year. She also knows I am SOB to be around till about Wednesday if the Hawks lose. She doesn't find it very amusing, but you take the good with the bad right? No one can claim I am not passionate about it!

M|sf|t (is that how you do it?).. asked if we should look at third round Rb's?

To be honest, I think the signings of Jones and Duckett probably tips the Hawks hand that they don't really like a lot of mid to late round backs. I think they may take one at the top if they really like him, or at the very end as a project, but I my guess is they leave the middle round "depth backs" to someone else. My guideline is kind of been, if he is better than Morris right now, consider him, but else just role with Morris, he is cheap and had a career year last season. As far as guys I like in that range... I really like Tashard Choice. He isn't super fast, but he runs hard and he had a really nice catch about 15 yds down field in the Senior Bowl that really opened my eyes to his receiving ability.

Shams...Asked does Larry Tripplett have anything left?

That is the 730K(vet minimum) question. He hasn't gotten much interest has he, which would seem to suggest he doesn't. However, he still only 29. He started all 16 games in each of the last 2 years. Last year he had 18 tackles, 1 sack, 4 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery and 1 int. The Hawks like to rotate their DT's to keep them fresh. I think he would work as a rotational guy, but he may want to be a starter. I don't know. His strengths are his athleticism and quickness which suit the Hawks scheme well.

All right bloggies. Thats all for now I hope you are picking up what I am puttin' down! Dig it! Read More!

Answers to Your Questions Vol. 6

Oh how do we fill the hours between another lost free agent and the inevitable return of Pork Chop Womack. Well, maybe not. By answering questions, thats how.

First, I want to give all of you all a little update on the site. Probably sometime close to the draft, the site will be moving from the Google based blog to a Wordpress run and privately hosted site. I am working with a professional because I really only want to do this once, at least for quite some time. The new format is going make things much easier to manage. I should even be able to blog from my celly, and the site will be much more mobile friendly for you as well. We will see all the fun and games we can put into it, but I am going to do my best to make it super user friendly. The one exception will be that you have to register to comment. It is kind of a pain, but I get the sense that the anonymous poster thing is getting old. Especially when incidents like yesterday happen. Those who saw it, know what i am talking about. More updates to come. Thanks for all of you who have been going the extra mile to support the site, that is what is making this possible.

Anyway, on to the questions.....

Tmann-- Thoughts about Trufant and things....

Tmann you make some very good points I wanted to bring up. There was a lot of talk about how the Seahawks essentially faced 9 backup QB's in a row. I hadn't thought of it in regards to Tru before. The best QB's we faced were arguably Carson Palmer and Brett Favre. Both Qb's had pretty darn good games against us. Maybe Tru's season was a bit overrated due to the opponents. I think the thing he does best is tackle, which is less effected by that, but as for coverage, I have yet to find some one who is adamant that he IS a lock down, Champ Bailey like corner. Well....except Tru.

Zaxk--Asked about Alvin Pearman??

I kind of answered the question a bit already, buy confirming that our fifth round pick is gone because of this trade. We got a 7th back. Plus we didn't even offer him a contract so it looks like a bad decision. However chances are he is hurt. I wanted to talk a little more about this, because I was reading last night about the draft in which Pearman came out of Virgina. This is the same book in which Ruskell is also one of the main focuses. He LOVED Pearman. He was a total Ruskell guy. A team player, organized work outs, etc etc. He clearly had his eye on Pearman since that draft, but had to wait until last year to acquire him. Too bad he got hurt, cause I bet it would have been another underrated move.

Anonymous1 -- Asked if we would be interested in Grady Jackson?

Andrew kind of answered this in the post, but I am pretty sure Ruskell doesn't. He had the opportunity to sign him last year, when we arguably were in much greater need of a DT and he didn't even sniff around. The Hawks defensive tackles are asked to be quick and penetrate, thus forcing the action outside where the ends and LB's make a lot of plays. Jackson is more of a take up space guy, so I don't think he really fits our system. That is probably also why they showed absolutely no interest in the DT merry-go-round this offseason, despite Holmgren saying they needed "another big honker in the middle".

seahawker0624-- Asked if the Cards would give up picks for Trufant?

I don't think that would work out so well being in the division. However, the Jackson thing worked well, but mostly because he wasn't a high character team kinda guy. Also, I don't think the Cards are that interested in paying big money for a corner? Now Anquan Boldin wants new money too? If anything, I think maybe they swap Boldin for Lito Sheppard with the Eagles? Hopefully we don't have to trade 23

CDALLAN- Asked if the Hawks could get two 2nds for their First and third?

The numbers don't really work out that way. I looked at the combinations. We need to give our 1st and 2nd to get the two high 2nds. Here are the values

Falcons.... Seahawks....
#34=560......#25=720
#37=530......#55=350
#48=420......#86=160

Unfortunately we don't know what number the forth round pick will be, but it is possible we could give up the 1st, 3rd and 4th for two seconds. That would leave the Hawks w/ 3 2nds, a 6th, and a 7th. Actually, 3 seconds sounds great to me. Ruskell does damage in the 2nd and they don't get that much money. Lofa isn't even a making a million bucks this year and it is the last year of the deal.

BobbyK-- Amen Brutha!!! I don't think this team should think tackle for two more years, unless it is to replace Ray Willis as a backup. He is a free agent next year. You watch, Walt will be back in rare form again. Did you read the Sando article? His shoulder problems come from a lack of coaching the fundamentals. Solari will get him back on his game!

USAFANARC-- Asked when the Schedule comes out??

The schedule usually comes out a week after the winter meetings. At the winter meetings, they will announce the prime time lineup,the first game,the Thanksgiving lineup, the Mon night lineup, the first few Sunday night games, etc. Then the whole schedule comes out about a week later. Hopefully the Hawks will be listed on a bunch of those.

Anonymous2- Asked about 2nd day corners?

The guys I like, at least for the Seahawks are Patrick Lee of Auburn and Chevis Jackson of LSU. Both played against top flight competition and held up fine, but their measurables have dropped them. Plus, Ruskell loves those SEC guys. Also, there are two safeties to watch for, Jamie Silva of BC, and Tom Zibikowski of Notre Dame. Both fit the Ruskell mold to a tee.

Zaxk -- Asked about Deion Branch long term?

Zaxk, I think the earliest they would cut him would be after 09'/before 10' season. First off, they will give him a whole season to come back and play. Also, there will be some uncertainty if Bobby retires or leaves next year. Also, I think the cap ramifications and TR's ego will get in the way of cutting him any sooner. Better to just cross your fingers or pray for his health and hope he starts producing to match his contract.

Anonymous3-- Asked if we could have 1 player in the draft, who would it be?

Definitely not McFadden. Too many issues. It is possible that it would be Jonathan Stewart with his talent and local ties, but I would think it would be Sed Ellis. He plays the DT style that fits the Hawks perfect. He is a Warren Sapp clone in some ways, with out the bad breath and attitude. Sapp did ok in Tampa under this system huh? Sapp is probably gonna make the HOF, to bad I never liked him one bit.

Wes-- Asked about D-Jack Rumors??

Nope. None! Won't be any! He an Ruskell did not see eye to eye. Clare Farnsworth had a story on his blog about Holmgren joking that he had re-signed, but the way he did it was to make light of people who thought that might happen. IT WON'T! Trust me!

PhilDurt-- Asked a bunch of stuff

First... Robinson the long snapper is retiring. He was talked out of it last year but is done now for sure.

Babin never was active, I was expecting him to be cut, he still may. He is making almost a million dollars this year. Howard Green played well last year at the end of the season. He will come to camp and if Tubbs goes down, or someone else, expect him to stick. If the Hawks draft a DT high, and/or Tubbs is healthy he will probably be back on the street. Tavalou and Williams are camp fodder. Vallos and Wrotto will be doing their best to improve. Vallos can go back on the practice squad for one more year, which is probable. He will take over the back up G/C role after Gray retires next year, as long as he is capable. Wrotto expects to compete for a job. He may get it too. He has a ton of upside, he has only been playing Offense for 3 years. I posted a quote from him in the last Answers thread. Check it out. Don't know how Tubbs is doing. I am sure he is rehabbing his butt off, probably in Kirkland.

Finally, Mack Strong is still on the roster because he didn't officially retire. This is because if he retires he loses his medical, which he needs right now cause of his neck. That is probably why he didn't want to coach too. Unfortunately he is still counting against the cap too.



WOW that was a lot. I hope I enlightened at least one of you. Thanks for all the questions and all the support. I am so glad how this site is flowing right now. Everybody is doing a great job with their comments. You guys make it work, and I couldn't be happier. Yesterday with in seconds, we had several people respond in numerous ways to an idiot. Things like that make it worth it. Thanks!!











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Answers to Your Questions Vol. 5

There hasn't been much going on, but there weren't a whole of questions either. But I will give my opinion on what was asked. Hopefully there will be a lot to talk about next week. I for one expect at least a couple of moves to be made. We'll see.

In the meantime.....

Brian-- Asked about Jonathan Stewart and Todd McShay saying he would slip to the second....

It is entirely possible that he slides now that he has had surgery. Normally, I wouldn't think it would be a big deal, but he already has a reputation for being injury prone. I do think it is possible the Hawks would pass on him. Despite the rumor I posted about Ruskell liking him, it could all be smoke screen. My guess is that they would be more willing to move back and hope he is still available rather than move up in the 2nd. Not many teams behind them need backs. I have also heard the front office likes next years RB class a lot too, so my guess is as good as yours. I hope he is there at 25 and we get to find out. If it were me, I would take him, I think players who really want to be in Seattle are few and far between, especially with his talent.

Hawksnest-- If I ever have the occasion to talk with Anna Park, I will send on your regards. I wouldn't hold your breath though, it seems I am the only one posting of recent.

Steve R -- Asked which will happen first of three events....

I would rank them like this 1) DJ signs somewhere....2)We sign some sort of LB/ST player....3)We release Shaun.

Honestly, I expected Shaun to be gone by now. I was wrong. The team is holding on to him for some reason. Shaun doesn't appear to be asking for his release, so it tells me that his agent is working behind the scenes, or he is contemplating retirement.

Griffin--- had numerous questions........

I think what is holding up a contract for Trufant is money. The team and the player believe they are worth different amounts. Hopefully something will change. Trufant can wait as long as possible before coming off his demands, who knows, someone MAY sign him to an offer sheet, even though it is unlikely.

At LB, I think the Hawks may do either, or both. The may sign a veteran if he fits the Ruskell mold and comes for the right price. I also think for sure they will draft a LB at some point, just in case things break down with Hill or Tatupu between now and next year when they become free agents.

Here is the most recent thing I saw about Wrotto. He was asked to give a quote for a GT where are they now piece in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. This is what he said.....

“I’ve proven I could be a solid backup, which was my goal,” Wrotto said. “Now, I want to prove I can compete for a position.”

This year will tell us a lot about Wrotto. From the video I have seen he is very athletic for his position, so if the team decides to go zone blocking, he may fit in nicely.

My thoughts on the Hawks taking a back, as I have said since they signed Jones, is that either they take one in the 1st or 2nd, so they can try and trade Mo Mo on the middle night of the drafts for a late round pick, or they take a guy like a Chauncey Washington in the 7th and try and sneak him onto the practice squad. Either the team finds someone they know will out produce Mo Mo, or they take a project. That is only my opinion, but it makes little sense to cut Mo for a mid round rookie and then have so many new backs. Morris knows the system and will be a valuable asset at 1 mil for the season.

Thats all for now folks. I would also like to thank all of you for keeping the comments so football centric. 99% of the time we discuss issues and ideas here and there is very minimal name calling or personal attacks. I think everyone can agree, this is one of the main reasons this has become such a fun place to discuss the Hawks 24/7. Thanks again, for everything, I want you to know I really appreciate it.





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Answers to Your Questions Vol. 4

Ok, here we go. One more Saturday night. Many of you have taken advantage of this fan friendly night. So while I will tell you what ye lots, i know very little.

One thing I do know however, and haven't mentioned until tonight, is that Seahawk Addicts celebrated its one month anniversary yesterday. Incredible! The site is flourishing and I haven't keeled over. All because of you..the loyal reader. Pat your selves on the backs! and as always, your contributions to the site are what makes it great, so keep it up!

To see the rest......

1) What do I think the Hawks will do with the rest of FA? I think that most you can hope for is depth. There won't be any big name signings. I would suspect that the next piece is a backup linebacker. Other than that, they will focus on Trufant and then Hackett I hope. This week will be pretty telling for Hack. The Hawks could probably have him back at this point if they want him. Do they?

2) Is it still possible the Hawks take a running back in the draft? Absolutely! Tim Ruskell just doesn't want to be bullied into it. In fact, I would really only expect one of two things, either they get a back on day one(which is now only two rounds) and then try to trade Morris for a 6th or 7th, or they take a back with a 6th or 7th that can be slipped onto the practice squad. A middle round back would be dicey cause they would have to cut Morris (or go with 4 tailbacks who expect carries) with no guarantee of having a quality backup to Jones. This is all assuming Shaun will be out by mid week.

3) Who will fill the LB/SP void??? Yeah, this is getting kind of important huh? If the season started today special teams would be a disaster. No kicker, No Captain. I think the team will look to the guys they have to be the captain, like Laury or even Herring, but they still need more. Caleb Miller is the latest to visit. He is coming from Cincy, so maybe he will pay the Hawks to play on less dysfunctional team :-) Not likely, but he may take the minimum.

4)How bout Pacman?? Great for Lake City Way......Bad for the Kirkland PD. Maybe he and Warren would hit it off. Ooooh that was bad!

5)Whats up w/ Tubbs? I can only assume he is working his butt off. Two things work in the Hawks favor with Tubbs. First, he has got to be hungry to play. His injuries may have really changed his work ethic problems for the good. Second, it is his contract year. Remember, before last year, Albert Haynesworth was best known for stomping a dudes face. If Tubbs gets healthy and is motivated he could eat a center or two and have a Bulger or Smith for desert!

6)Brady, I will certainly ask about making it more mobile friendly, but I will be honest with you, I far prefer it to be computer friendly first. Gadgets like Schmap are fun! Maybe there will be a way to create a separate mobile page. We shall see!

7) ACL Injuries-- I can not think of any specific DT's who have had ACL's and come back, but i am sure there are plenty. Lineman have knee problems all the time. Luckily they can throw some braces on and get errr done. They don't have to move that great, just enough to get to the QB or RB every once and while. Griffin was right, We can't cut Branch while he is hurt. That said, tactics like that wouldn't go over so well even if it could be done, and third, Ruskell isn't going to cut bait on that acquisition and contract so soon, it would be like admitting he totally wasted a 1st rounder. Branch still has a lot of playoff experience. Lets hope he can get healthy and contribute by then next year.

8) Could it be true that Julius Jones is going to be paid more than Shaun this year? PFT says so. yes and no. First off, PFT is still trying to prove that their report at the combine that 37 was about to be released is true. That said, they are right. Because Jones signed this year he is probably getting a signing bonus. That article said 4 mil. So if they pay him 1.5 mil with a 4 mil signing bonus, he is actually making 5.5 mil, while Shaun is making 4.4 . However, this is mute because Shaun would count 6.6 against the cap, while Jones, in this scenario would count 2.5. With that and Duckett counting around 1 mil, they save a million in cap space and have two younger backs instead of one older, injury prone back.

Cash is not an issue with this organization, Cap space is!

Coach B-- I did see that about Alge Crumpler's contract #'s. He came cheap. If he returns to pro bowl level, it is gonna look awfully bad. However, it is possible the front office just didn't mesh with him. He is a pretty vocal guy, so maybe they thought that wasn't what they wanted, at least from him. Maybe they wanted someone to fit in and let Hasselbeck handle the ra ra for the offense.

CaliHawkfan--- I can suggest two things. You can either use the Salary Spreadsheet link on the right side of the page, but I have only entered those making more than the minimum (which doesn't count against the cap). Or you can go to the NFLPA, which i just turned into a link and you can search under the Seahawks by position and see who is under contract.
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Chance to Catch Your Breath

Seems like is going to be a slooooooooooooow day for football news. Of course as soon as I hit publish, three stories will probably break. Anyway, I thought I would go fan friendly this evening.

So, you the viewer is in charge. It is 4:15 now, I will give you guys and gals till 7 or so to fill the comments with questions, and or good ideas for analysis/posts. Then I will do my best to answer questions and create a couple good posts for discussion. Help me feed the beast, so to speak!

There has been plenty of news, so you I bet there will be some good ideas. Have at it! Read More!

Answers to Your Questions Vol. 3

Howdy folks.... I got a feeling that info is going to be coming hot and heavy starting tomorrow, so I wanted to get the backlog of questions that had been asked out of the way.

Free agency starts tomorrow at 9pm. That is important for two reasons. First if you haven't entered in the Seahawkaddicts DRAFT GEAR CONTEST, that is the deadline. The info for entry is in the left hand side bar. Second, I am have have been working my butt off all week, so that Thursday night and all day Friday can be devoted to breaking Free Agency info as it happens. So check back often to find out who has signed where, and, as always, I will put a Hawks spin on it.

In the meantime, to see answers to your questions.......

Brian--asked my take on the RB's at the combine and will one of the big 3 will make it to the Hawks?

I thought the RB's at the combine preformed very well as a group. The only guy who really hurt himself was Mike Hart, boy was he slow. That said, I bet he is a great pro. The reason RB's often come from later in the draft is that its has less to do with speed and more to do with desire(insert Shaun Alexander comment here). That said, I would say it is about 50-50 that one of the big three makes it to the Hawks. The CB's did very well too, which might convince teams like AZ or Hou to take a 1st round CB instead. The good news, it appears now that local boy Jonathan Stewart is the 3rd back chosen. Boy would he look good in blue and teal.

Griffin- Asked me to review the tight ends at the combine and was J. Stewart supposed to be faster than 4.4?

I will start with Stewart, since I just covered that. 4.4 is fine. Especially for a guy 5'10'' 235. Anything under 4.5 is fine. It is 4.7 or 4.8 when teams get worried. As for the TE's, the top guys preformed poorly and the bottom guys performed well. I still think Davis will be a fine pro, but maybe now he slips. This can only be good for the Hawks. Also, Dustin Keller may have taken the spot atop most boards. He looked like the next Dallas Clark, and I don't want to hear about how he can't block. He played in the Big Ten. Trust me, they block up there!

Cris.Sullivan-- Asked who will fill DJ Hackett's shoes, and what is Berrian's value?

I think the answer to who fills DJ Hackett's shoes is who performs best in camp. I understand that the 4 guys currently on the roster don't have much experience, but neither did a guy like Matt Hasslebeck when Holmgren traded for him. What I am saying, is that I trust the coaches evaluation, and they like all 4 of these guys (the guys in the current poll). One on them will stand out and the others will get a chance to gain experience at times. Whether it is a downgrade, possibly, but DJ Hackett came out of nowhere when DJ went down in 05 and he was great. I will take a wait and see approach. As for Berrian, he is probably the best WR on the market not named Moss. That said, he is still probably a #2 who will get paid like a #1.

Anonymous -- asked for a breakdown of Nate Clements deal.

It is a 8 yr 80 million $ deal. However the final year has already voided, so technically it is 7yrs 64mil. The 9ers had so much space last year they paid his bonus as a roster bonus, so it all counted last year. This allowed them to give him bigger base salaries. Here is the breakdown from rotoworld...

3/2/2007: Signed an eight-year, $80 million contract. The deal contains $22.6 million in guarantees, including an initial roster bonus of $11 million. With a void year in 2014, it is essentially for seven seasons and $64.02 million. 2008: $3,383,334 (+ $10 million roster bonus), 2009: $3,516,666, 2010: $6 million, 2011: $7.25 million, 2012: $9 million, 2013: $10.77 million, 2014: $15.48 million, 2015: Free Agent. Cap charges: $5.55 million (2008), $5.68 million (2009), $8.17 million (2010).

As you can see it is backloaded pretty heavily. It really is a fascinating deal.

SteveR-- Do I think it is possible that DJ Hackett has a wink wink deal with Jim Zorn?

It is a possibility. I think that there would be an advantage in Hackett going to the Skins that no one else can provide. He can help players believe that Zorn is a good coach. Plus, at least Zorn will have somebody who isn't learning the system brand new. That said, if somebody decides to pay Hack based on potential and not production, the Skins who have cap issues, might not be able to match.

Andrew-- Asked for a breakdown of Randle El's Contract...

3/12/2006: Signed a seven-year, $31 million contract. The deal includes $10 million in guaranteees. 2008: $605,000 (+ $1.5 million roster bonus), 2009: $4 million, 2010: $4.25 million, 2011: $4.5 million, 2012: $5 million, 2013: $6 million (Voidable Year), 2014: Free Agent. Cap charge: $2.7 million (2008).

Anonymous -- asked what Jamie Silva's 40 time was?

4.56... pretty good... especially since he is known for his competitiveness and not his measurables.

JColeman-- Asked about Jordy Nelson?

What I saw of him during Senior Bowl week, I really liked. He is big, faster than he appears, and has great hands. I think he will make somebody look real smart for taking him on the second day. I doubt it will be the Hawks. They have 4 wr's who need to see time, and other holes to fill.

HawkDude--Asked if there is anybody the Hawks could look at if Trufant won't sign a long term deal?

The one guy I thought of as a possibility is Brian Kelly. Ruskell drafted him in Tampa. However, I think they would either draft a CB or look at the market next year. Trufant basically has to play this year, and I don't think the threat of a holdout would scare the Hawks. Do you remember Walter Jones, he missed camp 3 years in a row.

Derek--wanted some Alge Crumpler info?

He supposedly is visiting Tampa right now, and visiting Ten. next week. I have not heard of a visit to Seattle. However ,there is an interview from Mon between Softy and Clayton (on KJRAM.Com) in which Clayton says Seattle is in the mix. Apparently Carlester Crumpler, who played for the Hawks, still lives in the area. This could be huge in convincing Alge to move so far away from home. He has said he prefers the south. If he is all about winning, as he says, he will certainly let the Hawks make a pitch.

IdahoHawksFan-- asked about how the Skins could be interested in Hackett if the are in cap hell?

They have spent the last two weeks renegotiating deals. The redid about 10-12 contracts. Currently I think they are under the cap about 4 or 5 million. They also cut some guys and can still get rid of guys like Brunell who has a big cap hit. They are also rumored to be in on Lance Brig