Pete does certain things that drive us all nuts but then sometimes he reverses course. Think of all the years he kept promising rookies on the bench in favor of so-so veterans. This year, he's played the rookies a ton. I would like to see Mafe get more playing time instead of half his snaps going to Irving. That's a little Petesque.
Good golly, Center IS a position of need for certain.
This year, there are 4-5 stud centers entering the draft. A big-time upgrade can be had in the mid-2nd to mid-3rd round range...John Schneider is fond of nabbing value in positions of strength within the draft. I suspect we may even trade up with our 3rd-rounder to the late second/early third get our Stud Center of the Future for this O-line. Far more affordable and you have them for longer. Centers rarely draft high...draft one for Value is what I am calling for...an affordable Center free agent as a place-holder/back-up like KC did (oh, with Austin Blythe even) hopefully it will be delivered.
We need to guard against this position becoming our center of attention since a high quality left guard to pair with Cross is a bigger need. I'd move Lewis back to right guard and use Haynes as the swing backup. According Spotrac, Bradbury, Boseman, and McGovern would each command about $12/mil apy with Bradbury getting a 4 year deal and the others getting 3 year contracts. That might make a rookie worthwhile even though it would likely be 2024 before we start seeing improved play. It's not surprising that ranking for center are inconsistent across sites. John Michael Schmitz (John Jacob Jinglehimer Schimdt, his name is my name too... sorry, can't help it.) is the most frequent top center, Steve Avila of TCU is 340 lbs, Jarrett Patterson of ND, Sedrick Van Pran of Georgia (could be top center next year but still need development), and Victor Oluwatimi of Michigan are some of the top picks. The class goes ten deep with no one projected before the second or third round.
Blythe simply cannot anchor. He gets blown up on the regular, by all kinds of DTs...I understand he knows the offense. That is good. But it doesn't do much good to know the offense if he can't reliably block.
Agreed, and what's more, history suggests Pete will do as you suggest. The defense needs some stars and the offense needs some decent interior line play right away. Let's hope they find the right mix for the right price.
Yes, I think of that move as the beginning of the end for the great LOB teams. Even though Unger was obviously on offense. Technically the LOB fell apart later. But it was the moment the team slipped from great to better than most.
I don't claim to know the answer Kenneth, but you are absolutely right in making this the subject of a post. WTF?! Pete obviously doesn't value center as a position given our drafting, trading Unger, letting Pocic walk, etc... Not that Pocic was great, but he also didn't cost a lot. For a defensive minded coah who values pressure up the middle, its a little mind-boggling thay he doesn't value protection uo the middle. Unger was an under-valued reason we won the super bowl, and I'd be willing to bet that Marshawn would agree with me.
I know what Seattle should do and it's what you said. We need an upgrade at gaurd and center. Our up grade at center is on our team, Damien Lewis. The problem with that is we would then need two gaurds. I can't see Gabe Jackson being on the team next year. Phil Hayes will become a fulltime gaurd. That leaves us still needing to get a good back up because Hayes is a bit of an Injury risk. The reason Lewis would be a good option is because its hard to get a good center as there is only one center position per team. If a team gets a good center they tend to keep them. There are many centers who have had double digit seasons as a teams starting center. I think Lewis is physically able and smart enough. Please correct me if I am wrong but I believe Lewis played some center at LSU. It will take some outside the box thinking to solve this and solve this we must. How many times have you seen K9 get the ball, on a handoff, with immediate pressure right up the middle and get tackled on his second step. Even Penny who I have supported throughout his career has suffered the same thing. There are only two runningbacks in the last ten years to overcome this. Chris Carson and Marshawn Lynch and that is because they have super human strength.
I would add that for a short time, Thomas Rawls also overcame the O line's blocking for the time he was healthy and productive. Which reminds me, on Brock & Salk years back during the Pete Carroll show, Mike once asked what ever happened to that guy once he got healthy. Pete said, "Eh, maybe I'll tell ya off the air." Made me wonder if there wasn't an issue outside of health with him.
Happy Birthday. May you be blessed with many more!
Pete does certain things that drive us all nuts but then sometimes he reverses course. Think of all the years he kept promising rookies on the bench in favor of so-so veterans. This year, he's played the rookies a ton. I would like to see Mafe get more playing time instead of half his snaps going to Irving. That's a little Petesque.
Good golly, Center IS a position of need for certain.
This year, there are 4-5 stud centers entering the draft. A big-time upgrade can be had in the mid-2nd to mid-3rd round range...John Schneider is fond of nabbing value in positions of strength within the draft. I suspect we may even trade up with our 3rd-rounder to the late second/early third get our Stud Center of the Future for this O-line. Far more affordable and you have them for longer. Centers rarely draft high...draft one for Value is what I am calling for...an affordable Center free agent as a place-holder/back-up like KC did (oh, with Austin Blythe even) hopefully it will be delivered.
Our last high center draft still leaves a bad taste. Pocic.
We need to guard against this position becoming our center of attention since a high quality left guard to pair with Cross is a bigger need. I'd move Lewis back to right guard and use Haynes as the swing backup. According Spotrac, Bradbury, Boseman, and McGovern would each command about $12/mil apy with Bradbury getting a 4 year deal and the others getting 3 year contracts. That might make a rookie worthwhile even though it would likely be 2024 before we start seeing improved play. It's not surprising that ranking for center are inconsistent across sites. John Michael Schmitz (John Jacob Jinglehimer Schimdt, his name is my name too... sorry, can't help it.) is the most frequent top center, Steve Avila of TCU is 340 lbs, Jarrett Patterson of ND, Sedrick Van Pran of Georgia (could be top center next year but still need development), and Victor Oluwatimi of Michigan are some of the top picks. The class goes ten deep with no one projected before the second or third round.
Blythe simply cannot anchor. He gets blown up on the regular, by all kinds of DTs...I understand he knows the offense. That is good. But it doesn't do much good to know the offense if he can't reliably block.
I know the offence too, but I weigh 160lbs. Nobody want's me at the center position.
Agreed, and what's more, history suggests Pete will do as you suggest. The defense needs some stars and the offense needs some decent interior line play right away. Let's hope they find the right mix for the right price.
Max Unger for Jimmy Graham was the worst trade in Hawks history. Still looking for a replacement after all these years.
Yes, I think of that move as the beginning of the end for the great LOB teams. Even though Unger was obviously on offense. Technically the LOB fell apart later. But it was the moment the team slipped from great to better than most.
I know this is an artricle about available FA options, but I would really like the Seahawks to find a way to draft this guy:
https://www.maizenbrew.com/football/2022/12/8/23500993/michigan-football-center-olu-oluwatimi-wins-rimington-trophy
He's not my favorite but is in the top five. He's projected as a 4th/5th round pick.
I don't claim to know the answer Kenneth, but you are absolutely right in making this the subject of a post. WTF?! Pete obviously doesn't value center as a position given our drafting, trading Unger, letting Pocic walk, etc... Not that Pocic was great, but he also didn't cost a lot. For a defensive minded coah who values pressure up the middle, its a little mind-boggling thay he doesn't value protection uo the middle. Unger was an under-valued reason we won the super bowl, and I'd be willing to bet that Marshawn would agree with me.
We NEED a quality center!
I know what Seattle should do and it's what you said. We need an upgrade at gaurd and center. Our up grade at center is on our team, Damien Lewis. The problem with that is we would then need two gaurds. I can't see Gabe Jackson being on the team next year. Phil Hayes will become a fulltime gaurd. That leaves us still needing to get a good back up because Hayes is a bit of an Injury risk. The reason Lewis would be a good option is because its hard to get a good center as there is only one center position per team. If a team gets a good center they tend to keep them. There are many centers who have had double digit seasons as a teams starting center. I think Lewis is physically able and smart enough. Please correct me if I am wrong but I believe Lewis played some center at LSU. It will take some outside the box thinking to solve this and solve this we must. How many times have you seen K9 get the ball, on a handoff, with immediate pressure right up the middle and get tackled on his second step. Even Penny who I have supported throughout his career has suffered the same thing. There are only two runningbacks in the last ten years to overcome this. Chris Carson and Marshawn Lynch and that is because they have super human strength.
This is a good year for guards in the draft.
I would add that for a short time, Thomas Rawls also overcame the O line's blocking for the time he was healthy and productive. Which reminds me, on Brock & Salk years back during the Pete Carroll show, Mike once asked what ever happened to that guy once he got healthy. Pete said, "Eh, maybe I'll tell ya off the air." Made me wonder if there wasn't an issue outside of health with him.
Me, too! I feel your pain, Geoff!
When I hit 80, my wife is going to trade me in for 2 40s