I was so pissed after that draft...absolutely hated it. I liked Pocic's highlights and loved watching Carson's reel dreaming of Jr Beastmode. I don't think I feel that way about this years draft. There seems to be a better plan for each player and the player matches that plan (which is why we drafted a FB in 5). I mean we could come out and start several rookies from this class which I did not previously think was likely given the draft board and our draft positions (pre-trade). We could see Zabel, Ouzts, Emmanwori, and even Arroyo start while Horton, Milroe, Martinez, Mills could see rotational roles and even R White and Cabeldue could see time. And don't sleep in Richman, I have been watching full games to see what he's got and he's not bad, and being a 4 year starter at Iowa bodes well.
It's good to have the depth in the CB room. Injuries will happen, and you need serviceable guys in there. He may not even make the roster. He's a good tackler though, so that won't hurt his chances.
You’re kind hoping a lot of the defensive draft and other moves are at least B or B+. It would be really, really great to have an explosive, not just serviceable pass rush. It would be really excellent to have a shut-down secondary, so that the pass rush can get home. It doesn’t have to be LOB-era great, but working in tandem would be the aim. Consider Philly’s dismantling of KC last year as an impossibly high bar. But you want to go that direction. You want other teams to fear your D. Seattle hasn’t had that in forever. And, duh, if you also RUN THE BALL, you then shorten the time of possession for the other team, and you’re back to Pete ball. I’d argue that a bunch has changed since then, so that era won’t be the right or precise recipe, but something similar. I have big questions around Darnold, naturally. Everyone does. But for once I do think the defense will be properly constructed.
I don't think Shaq is coming to compete for a 3rd corner starting job unless the Emmanwori experience goes very wrong. There are more advantages to playing big nickel if you can vs. a nickel corner.
If Emmanwori can play the big nickel effectively, then Spoon is going to be outside a lot more. Drafting Nick probably changed their plans & needs concerning another corner free agent, which is why they haven't been in that much of a hurry.
Hundred percent agree...if NE looks good at nickel spoon is gonna end up outside more. I just think Woolen doesn't fit the scheme well. Jobe took Woolens job last year and only missed the last game due to knee injury. I know I'm probably in the minority on SSJ but Jobe got better and outplayed Woolen imo. Part of the reason for our defense turnaround last year came during the time when Jones, Knight and Jobe were subbed in. And I swear if we just get out of our own way (snaps, penalties, red zone picks, etc) we might win three more games and our perspectives change a bit. I, for one, see some very positive things shaping up. We just need to keep chipping away and coming together...go Hawks.
Not a huge fan of this signing, I did not always like Shaq when he was here...unless that means we are dealing Woolen, which I would support if coaches are done trying to get Woolen to look for the ball and tackle aggressively. I think if we are dealing Woolen he still starts until we can unload him, we can't risk devaluing him prior to a deal. Shaq credited with allowing only 2 td's last season while Woolen gave up 6 so maybe we've improved on paper...
Woolen looks to me as if he has tempered his tackling after his rookie year. Some guys go at it with abandon and survive. Witherspoon, for one. Jamal Adams did also until his body matured and the bones got brittle. Riq is smart to take time to train himself away from injury, once he saw (and felt) the danger in taking down All Star Running Backs and Tight Ends. These guys have their wagons LOADED. Letting up initially pissed me off, but you guys (and gals) and SSJ have me appreciating the more subtle realities these players face. I see this hire as a way to alleviate the pressure and pain it takes to stay in the game. Playing hurt is one thing. Playing injured is another. Ask Carter, or Penny. Or McCaffrey. Adams. Shaq is still a decent starter and an even better bench player. He played that abandon game, if I remember correctly. That he's still around speaks volumes. How many times have we watched an offense go through a replacement to win a game? Deep Bench. Good coaching. Good pick, Schneider.
I don't think Woolen is going anywhere. He and Spoon should never leave the field. I see this signing as a depth option due to the lack of experience behind Jobe.
HawkBlogger devoted an episode to Riq’s numbers and they do not support trading him. The benchings are peculiar, at best, but his run D, in particular, has gotten much, much better.
Griffin I agree is sort of a so-so signing. He is only an outside corner and 2 picks in his career shows he is not a game changer that way. He was a good tackler.
I still want a true nose tackle for flexibility to move Murphy around a bit.
It's not much more than they're paying Jobe. I think this signing is more a reflection of the lack of depth behind Jobe than it is of trying to replace him in his backup role. Though Jobe and Griffin are probably competing for playing time in dime and sub-packages now.
I agree. I think they’re hoping one or two of the younger guys steps up and takes the job. I see Shaq as an Artie Burns replacement. Someone with a high floor if they need to call on him. The guaranteed number would tell us what they really think his role is. If it’s $1 million, then there’s a chance he doesn’t make the 53. He’ll be competing with Pritchett, Jean-Charles, Jobe, and the two UDFAs for the last two CB spots.
The Seahawks drafted 11 players in 2017, including Shaq Griffin.
- Ethan Pocic and David Moore are the only other 2 who are still active
- Lano Hill, Naz Jones, and Amara Darboh were the other 3rd round picks that year
- Seattle's last pick was Chris Carson
- Hill, Tedric Thompson, and Mke Tyson were Carroll's 3 other shots to rebuild the secondary
- 2nd rounder Malik McDowell and 3rd rounder Amara Darboh were released before their second years
- 6th rounder Tyson was released at final cuts as a rookie
- 6th rounder Justin Senior failed to make the team as a rookie and never caught on with a different team in any capacity
- Thompson started 16 games for the Seahawks, but somehow played in fewer total games than Hill, who only started 6 games
I was so pissed after that draft...absolutely hated it. I liked Pocic's highlights and loved watching Carson's reel dreaming of Jr Beastmode. I don't think I feel that way about this years draft. There seems to be a better plan for each player and the player matches that plan (which is why we drafted a FB in 5). I mean we could come out and start several rookies from this class which I did not previously think was likely given the draft board and our draft positions (pre-trade). We could see Zabel, Ouzts, Emmanwori, and even Arroyo start while Horton, Milroe, Martinez, Mills could see rotational roles and even R White and Cabeldue could see time. And don't sleep in Richman, I have been watching full games to see what he's got and he's not bad, and being a 4 year starter at Iowa bodes well.
And in my opinion, Carson, the 7th rounder, was the best of them all, including Griffin. If only it weren’t for the neck…
The mid-teens drafts were by and large a blight on the franchise.
It's good to have the depth in the CB room. Injuries will happen, and you need serviceable guys in there. He may not even make the roster. He's a good tackler though, so that won't hurt his chances.
You’re kind hoping a lot of the defensive draft and other moves are at least B or B+. It would be really, really great to have an explosive, not just serviceable pass rush. It would be really excellent to have a shut-down secondary, so that the pass rush can get home. It doesn’t have to be LOB-era great, but working in tandem would be the aim. Consider Philly’s dismantling of KC last year as an impossibly high bar. But you want to go that direction. You want other teams to fear your D. Seattle hasn’t had that in forever. And, duh, if you also RUN THE BALL, you then shorten the time of possession for the other team, and you’re back to Pete ball. I’d argue that a bunch has changed since then, so that era won’t be the right or precise recipe, but something similar. I have big questions around Darnold, naturally. Everyone does. But for once I do think the defense will be properly constructed.
I'd love to see Jobe hang onto his spot by beating Griffin in open competition.
I's love to see Jobe win the job too.
I don't think Shaq is coming to compete for a 3rd corner starting job unless the Emmanwori experience goes very wrong. There are more advantages to playing big nickel if you can vs. a nickel corner.
If Emmanwori can play the big nickel effectively, then Spoon is going to be outside a lot more. Drafting Nick probably changed their plans & needs concerning another corner free agent, which is why they haven't been in that much of a hurry.
Hundred percent agree...if NE looks good at nickel spoon is gonna end up outside more. I just think Woolen doesn't fit the scheme well. Jobe took Woolens job last year and only missed the last game due to knee injury. I know I'm probably in the minority on SSJ but Jobe got better and outplayed Woolen imo. Part of the reason for our defense turnaround last year came during the time when Jones, Knight and Jobe were subbed in. And I swear if we just get out of our own way (snaps, penalties, red zone picks, etc) we might win three more games and our perspectives change a bit. I, for one, see some very positive things shaping up. We just need to keep chipping away and coming together...go Hawks.
Not a huge fan of this signing, I did not always like Shaq when he was here...unless that means we are dealing Woolen, which I would support if coaches are done trying to get Woolen to look for the ball and tackle aggressively. I think if we are dealing Woolen he still starts until we can unload him, we can't risk devaluing him prior to a deal. Shaq credited with allowing only 2 td's last season while Woolen gave up 6 so maybe we've improved on paper...
Woolen looks to me as if he has tempered his tackling after his rookie year. Some guys go at it with abandon and survive. Witherspoon, for one. Jamal Adams did also until his body matured and the bones got brittle. Riq is smart to take time to train himself away from injury, once he saw (and felt) the danger in taking down All Star Running Backs and Tight Ends. These guys have their wagons LOADED. Letting up initially pissed me off, but you guys (and gals) and SSJ have me appreciating the more subtle realities these players face. I see this hire as a way to alleviate the pressure and pain it takes to stay in the game. Playing hurt is one thing. Playing injured is another. Ask Carter, or Penny. Or McCaffrey. Adams. Shaq is still a decent starter and an even better bench player. He played that abandon game, if I remember correctly. That he's still around speaks volumes. How many times have we watched an offense go through a replacement to win a game? Deep Bench. Good coaching. Good pick, Schneider.
I don't think Woolen is going anywhere. He and Spoon should never leave the field. I see this signing as a depth option due to the lack of experience behind Jobe.
HawkBlogger devoted an episode to Riq’s numbers and they do not support trading him. The benchings are peculiar, at best, but his run D, in particular, has gotten much, much better.
Griffin I agree is sort of a so-so signing. He is only an outside corner and 2 picks in his career shows he is not a game changer that way. He was a good tackler.
I still want a true nose tackle for flexibility to move Murphy around a bit.
Looks like 1 year for $3 million and incentives up to $4 million. Unclear on guaranteed number.
Griffin is a desperation hedge—if worst comes to worst, they can throw him out there. Signing him is actually a bit alarming.
It's not much more than they're paying Jobe. I think this signing is more a reflection of the lack of depth behind Jobe than it is of trying to replace him in his backup role. Though Jobe and Griffin are probably competing for playing time in dime and sub-packages now.
I agree. I think they’re hoping one or two of the younger guys steps up and takes the job. I see Shaq as an Artie Burns replacement. Someone with a high floor if they need to call on him. The guaranteed number would tell us what they really think his role is. If it’s $1 million, then there’s a chance he doesn’t make the 53. He’ll be competing with Pritchett, Jean-Charles, Jobe, and the two UDFAs for the last two CB spots.