Been posting about this hire for a couple of months. The scheme mention also important in that you could see last year our guys blocking in different ways leading to “blown” blocks. Some appeared to be blocking zone and others man and when someone “handed” off, and the rookie not paying attention, blown block and pressure on Geno. Love this article. I recall Wade Smith and a couple guys on here. It’s why you don’t just “throw” Haynes or Lameau or Olu out. 29 year old and “suddenly” is good. No scheme and coaching.
If Ken Walker can just stay healthy, he should have a fantastic season. With his vision and lateral agility/quickness, finding cut back lanes and/or reversing field should be his bread and butter. There has been speculation this offseason about trading him because of his upcoming contract decision, but I don't see that happening before we get a chance to see him in this offensive scheme. The rewards of keeping him on the field far outweigh his current trade value. Just stay health, Ken, and show this league what you can do!
This article is way I’m a paid member of SSJ, you can not fined this kind of deep dive anywhere else, great job SSJ. It’s starting to feel a lot like 2012 with a great draft and a staff that is coming to gather and on the same page. Can’t wait for the season, Go Hawks!
This was a great article and a great reminder of why we subscribe to SSJ. One thing that struck me was Joe Benton's grit throughout his many job changes over the decades. You've got to bring your best every day if you want to establish a career in the NFL. He's seen a lot of players, a lot of staffers and a lot of schemes. Quite an Odyssey he's been on and now his ship has landed in the far reaches of the Pacific Northwest where all that experience will be brought to a team that really needs it. Sure looks like a good hire.
Consistency and familiarity is very important along the o-line and for teams in general. The same can be said for coaching staffs……good coaching staffs that is. We’ll have that on defence, but have a lot of work to do to build that on offence. Good coaching can accelerate that, so I’m hoping Benton and the rest of the coaches can make a big difference quickly, but we’ll see.
Between the offensive coaching changes and the draft class, it will be a very interesting offseason. MM isn’t the most patient guy, so I know he’ll be pushing them.
Bet a lot of fans going to be making negative noise early because of this. Process and growth and some patience. I bet a bunch of people going to say what a wasted pick Grey was at some point in first couple of months of the season.
SSJ did his homework and we benefit. As someone who has studied OL. This history lesson is excellent.
I’m very optimistic. JS had the most success when we were a zone running team. He went OL in the first round and hired Kubiak. MM wants a tough running team. He’s all in. Kubiak has a connection with his o-line coach, so this isn’t just some experiment. Benton has seen it all and will be able to adapt to the talent available to him.
It would be interesting to track the pass protection vs rush efficiency for Benton’s teams. As we heard during the draft press conferences, pass protection is table stakes. Opening up lanes is the gravy. Hopefully, he can find a combination that is effective in both areas.
Wow, nice article. Get to know the OL coach. A coach who has nowhere to go but up. However, I loved the article and you made me love Benton. An old hand at the job. A journeyman coach with mostly success. No one is number one in one year consistently, but it sounds like his tendency is to recognize talent and to nurture talent. I am sold. I don't need John Wooden. I would have been happy with competent and an average resume. This is way better than average and I am filled with hope and more than hope. I have true anticipation of improvement that will be clear with the holes that are created and the time in the pocket. Go offense!
We've got the running backs, and we have a good TE room, and good hands all around (minus MVS) in the WR room. No one is "delicate" or a diva. Let's go to war!
I am excited for what might be! The starting O-line by mid season will be Cross, Zabel, Sundell, Cabledue and Lucas. We become a top 10 rushing team and kick some butt!
No, I think the others could shine and become starters. I just think Sundell and Cabeldue fit the athletic profile for the wide zone scheme better than Olu and Bradford. Time will tell.
I’m fine with him if he wins the job. He is also a very sharp guy, and the center will have the responsibility of calling out blocking schemes to the entire O-line. That will count.
Really think 3 rookies on the oline? If that is true, we’re likely ranked near bottom of Olines again. And changing players means no consistency. No consistency means bad play and failure. I this that’s a major IOL stretch. Not that you are wrong but have a hard time seeing it. But would love a full season from Abe.
HooRah, Danno. Book 'em. I'm seeing MM has us focused on fielding a leading Run Game. He and John seemed to telegraph this early-on. I'll be watching for determined attitudes and joviality among our Big Men. Good article giving us early focus on Benton, Mister Ken. Chief. I feel properly led. We are seeing a very experienced Coach who has proven he can build something from nothing. Our 4th year veterans have an established record. "Competent" is an understatement. We see how it takes a few years to get to All-Pro levels of play on offense, adding our 2nd and 3rd year guys into the driver's seat for performance explosions at all positions. (Eat That, Vegas!) Coach Benton looks to be exactly the guy who will steer a deep bench through the grueling 18 week wrecking ball our western division has proven to be. For the first time, our running backs will actually find holes and gaps made to run through. Again, a deep bench. Imagine how the 12s will respond on Game Day!
So far, so good. I can’t wait until the preseason practice at Lumen Field. Also wondering if we will have another team visit for a scrimmage. We traveled to TN last year. I’d love for the Chargers to come up for a 2 day scrimmage.
Yes I recall, so one should be here in Seattle. I was thinking the Chargers make sense for one. Maybe TN again. He also said they’re much more like a preseason game for evaluation purposes. With all these rookies we’re going to need them to get a better chance to do a thorough evaluation. Then if they approve an 18 game season that will mean only 2 preseason games. These kinds of practices will become more of a necessity.
Been posting about this hire for a couple of months. The scheme mention also important in that you could see last year our guys blocking in different ways leading to “blown” blocks. Some appeared to be blocking zone and others man and when someone “handed” off, and the rookie not paying attention, blown block and pressure on Geno. Love this article. I recall Wade Smith and a couple guys on here. It’s why you don’t just “throw” Haynes or Lameau or Olu out. 29 year old and “suddenly” is good. No scheme and coaching.
If Ken Walker can just stay healthy, he should have a fantastic season. With his vision and lateral agility/quickness, finding cut back lanes and/or reversing field should be his bread and butter. There has been speculation this offseason about trading him because of his upcoming contract decision, but I don't see that happening before we get a chance to see him in this offensive scheme. The rewards of keeping him on the field far outweigh his current trade value. Just stay health, Ken, and show this league what you can do!
This article is way I’m a paid member of SSJ, you can not fined this kind of deep dive anywhere else, great job SSJ. It’s starting to feel a lot like 2012 with a great draft and a staff that is coming to gather and on the same page. Can’t wait for the season, Go Hawks!
This was a great article and a great reminder of why we subscribe to SSJ. One thing that struck me was Joe Benton's grit throughout his many job changes over the decades. You've got to bring your best every day if you want to establish a career in the NFL. He's seen a lot of players, a lot of staffers and a lot of schemes. Quite an Odyssey he's been on and now his ship has landed in the far reaches of the Pacific Northwest where all that experience will be brought to a team that really needs it. Sure looks like a good hire.
Consistency and familiarity is very important along the o-line and for teams in general. The same can be said for coaching staffs……good coaching staffs that is. We’ll have that on defence, but have a lot of work to do to build that on offence. Good coaching can accelerate that, so I’m hoping Benton and the rest of the coaches can make a big difference quickly, but we’ll see.
Between the offensive coaching changes and the draft class, it will be a very interesting offseason. MM isn’t the most patient guy, so I know he’ll be pushing them.
Exactly. And all the fans clamoring for complete overall of the line aren’t seeing that. Need our starting 5 identified early and then they need reps.
“…no play gets stuffed more…or creates bigger gains than the outside zone.” Be good to remember that, especially the first few games.
Bet a lot of fans going to be making negative noise early because of this. Process and growth and some patience. I bet a bunch of people going to say what a wasted pick Grey was at some point in first couple of months of the season.
Coach John Benton seems to me to be a Very Good hire.
Thanks for this very informative behind-the-scenes article, Ken Joe.
THIS IS A FANTASTIC ARTICLE.
SSJ did his homework and we benefit. As someone who has studied OL. This history lesson is excellent.
I’m very optimistic. JS had the most success when we were a zone running team. He went OL in the first round and hired Kubiak. MM wants a tough running team. He’s all in. Kubiak has a connection with his o-line coach, so this isn’t just some experiment. Benton has seen it all and will be able to adapt to the talent available to him.
It would be interesting to track the pass protection vs rush efficiency for Benton’s teams. As we heard during the draft press conferences, pass protection is table stakes. Opening up lanes is the gravy. Hopefully, he can find a combination that is effective in both areas.
Wow, nice article. Get to know the OL coach. A coach who has nowhere to go but up. However, I loved the article and you made me love Benton. An old hand at the job. A journeyman coach with mostly success. No one is number one in one year consistently, but it sounds like his tendency is to recognize talent and to nurture talent. I am sold. I don't need John Wooden. I would have been happy with competent and an average resume. This is way better than average and I am filled with hope and more than hope. I have true anticipation of improvement that will be clear with the holes that are created and the time in the pocket. Go offense!
We've got the running backs, and we have a good TE room, and good hands all around (minus MVS) in the WR room. No one is "delicate" or a diva. Let's go to war!
I am excited for what might be! The starting O-line by mid season will be Cross, Zabel, Sundell, Cabledue and Lucas. We become a top 10 rushing team and kick some butt!
Really think so little of the others?
No, I think the others could shine and become starters. I just think Sundell and Cabeldue fit the athletic profile for the wide zone scheme better than Olu and Bradford. Time will tell.
FYI Olu ran this at both UVA and UM and won Rimington and Outland trophies using these schemes as well as dictating the lines.
I’m fine with him if he wins the job. He is also a very sharp guy, and the center will have the responsibility of calling out blocking schemes to the entire O-line. That will count.
Really think 3 rookies on the oline? If that is true, we’re likely ranked near bottom of Olines again. And changing players means no consistency. No consistency means bad play and failure. I this that’s a major IOL stretch. Not that you are wrong but have a hard time seeing it. But would love a full season from Abe.
HooRah, Danno. Book 'em. I'm seeing MM has us focused on fielding a leading Run Game. He and John seemed to telegraph this early-on. I'll be watching for determined attitudes and joviality among our Big Men. Good article giving us early focus on Benton, Mister Ken. Chief. I feel properly led. We are seeing a very experienced Coach who has proven he can build something from nothing. Our 4th year veterans have an established record. "Competent" is an understatement. We see how it takes a few years to get to All-Pro levels of play on offense, adding our 2nd and 3rd year guys into the driver's seat for performance explosions at all positions. (Eat That, Vegas!) Coach Benton looks to be exactly the guy who will steer a deep bench through the grueling 18 week wrecking ball our western division has proven to be. For the first time, our running backs will actually find holes and gaps made to run through. Again, a deep bench. Imagine how the 12s will respond on Game Day!
So far, so good. I can’t wait until the preseason practice at Lumen Field. Also wondering if we will have another team visit for a scrimmage. We traveled to TN last year. I’d love for the Chargers to come up for a 2 day scrimmage.
I read somewhere MM had said a bit ago that he wanted to do 2 this year
Yes I recall, so one should be here in Seattle. I was thinking the Chargers make sense for one. Maybe TN again. He also said they’re much more like a preseason game for evaluation purposes. With all these rookies we’re going to need them to get a better chance to do a thorough evaluation. Then if they approve an 18 game season that will mean only 2 preseason games. These kinds of practices will become more of a necessity.
Let us not forget that we poached a linebacker from Tennessee midseason. I have to think watching Mr. Jones in practice had something to do with that.
An added plus to getting more real world work with fewer actual preseason games to get that work. My money is on the chargers coming up to play us