Conversely, Seahawk pundits did nothing but rag on Fuller and Pocic. I can name a lot of centers from yester-year, Mawae, Pouncey, Mangold, Webster, Stephenson, Unger, and Saturday to name a few. Currently centers just don't get much pub. However, I will challenge you on the LA Rams representing the demise of the center position. The Rams are different in many ways. If you scan the list of current centers, the best teams all have centers ranked in the top sixteen at worst. Though the center calls protections, he is not typically called on to block one-on-one. Today, the center is typically part of a double-team or picks up where help is needed. True? The premium and publicity has gone to the athletic freaks who can match up with the defensive freaks.
I agree that the hawks are taking the right approach at QB. Let’s get our guy next year. This year is all about growth and preparing for the real runs in the next 2-5 years!
Center seems crazy a a priority to me unless just drafting a center anywhere in the draft qualifies. I said Edge. Unless someone steps up big in 2022 we will need to add to the pass rush. In my opinion a bunch of JAGs just won’t cut it if your goal is to win a super bowl, which it is. Number two for me would be corner, followed by receiver, but those two are razor close.
First thought after reading : For the last several contract cycles ("seasons") there's been a slow if steadily rising drumbeat around the question, "when will a team finally say NO to the cycle of rapidly diminishing returns apparent after so many massive multi-year QB contracts...?"
While the hacks and shills of the media monoliths (and their acolytes) keep busy feeding the paymasters daily/weekly memes of the moment into the echo chamber, the 'Hawks went and answered the question quite clearly and distinctly... 2022.
Strangely, instead of sparking practical conversations about the differing ways to operate the blunt end of the business, the situation was met with resounding silence. In fact, the opposite is true. The team has largely been dismissed -- even outright ridiculed -- with a few notable exceptions.
Whose "football IQ" do you trust more, former player/scout Bucky Brooks or puffy corporate desk jockey Bill Barnwell? Former player/GM Louis Riddick or plastic corporate desk jockey Mel Kiper?
Thanks Ken for aligning with the former, as opposed to the latter, and the dialogue that follows.
Consider for a moment : where are all the "feel good" redemption tales league media loves to drop on a daily basis? Young Drew getting a fresh start? Geno "growing up" and finally getting a legit second chance? Instead, it's all snark and ill-informed narratives cooked up in an editorial meeting.
"Seaside Joe" is proving to be a genuine breath of fresh air, sucking the hype out of everything it touches. Your efforts have partially redeemed a *long-damaged* relationship with sports commentary, based on years of proximity to different levels of the game back in my native Cascadia.
I appreciate that you keep Barnwell accountable. All these "insiders" who constantly hear from "sources" about click-baity team moves that don't happen need to weeded out. I'd love to see an accountability score assigned to every writer (and politician!) so readers can assess how valid their prognostications are. Josiah Anderson doubled down on the Seahawks - Mayfield rumors after he was traded! Zero credibility going forward.
Yes. I like the current approach at QB by not throwing money at the problem. This could, if course, change on a whim if one becomes available for the right terms.
I was under the impression that Washington state moved away from the air raid offense, the stat I read post draft is that Washington ran the ball %45 of the time in Lucas' last year there, and had a fairly high run percentage his 2nd to last year there, any thoughts on him being more ready for a pro offense than many speculate?
Expectations for a third round tackle should be "cautious" to begin with. Let's not forget some of Seattle's other day two and day three OL picks over the previous 12 years. Let's just hope he is a viable starter by 2023, anything else is a bonus.
Back in the Blair Bush days the center position seemed more highly regarded. It was my understanding that when Vegas established odds the injuries they took most seriously after QB were center and CB. Maybe that's changed. Regardless, why do you think the center position isn't as valuable as it used to be?
Without looking it up, how many centers can you name that reached the AFC or NFC title games from 2018 to 2021? I can tell you that the Rams did just fine with Brian Allen, a player who they had almost cut in 2020. They were doing fine with Austin Blythe before him, a player who was on the bench last year. Not a lot of the best teams even value center. Seahawks have all the needs at other positions of note. It's not me, it's the NFL.
A QB's job is to carry team on his back to a win possibilty in 4th quarter. Elway & Montana did. Most good QB's cannot. Lock showed he ?may? have that ability. Let's see this year.
I’m really surprised WR was the lowest perceived need on this team of the positions listed. I’d have stuck kicker on their too just to see, but I know they are completely undervalued from a draft perspective, even when games can be won or lost on their leg. That always struck me as odd (see Walsh, Blair). I guess RBs are currently been kicked down the stairs to join kickers in the positional basement.
But anyway, WRs. We have the Demi-god DK, the irrepressible but ageing Tyler, a who-knows-what in Eskridge and a bunch of waiver wire danglers that would be lucky to get another shot elsewhere. And you can never have too many wide receivers! A clear number one priority to me.
There and again, I am knowingly saying that when deep down all I want next year is Will Anderson, everything else be damned.
run polls to “take a day off” but KenJoe curated questions carefully and explains what’s behind them, what influences are at work, and then walks through the results - NOT a day off for K/J!
Thanks - and I don’t count out Geno or Lock - McVay got to a SB with Goff and backups. He hid QB weakness with Quick release plays, a quality run game and a few threats who can stretch the field - maybe Shane can produce results!
Not to belabor this point too much, but I've seen you reference a few times that Abe Lucas played in an Air Raid scheme his whole career. I think that's a bit inaccurate, as he and WSU ran over 40% of the time the last two years. Previous HC Nick Rolovich ran the Run 'n Shoot which is not descended from the Air Raid to my knowledge. It's a small quibble but in the interest of being factual I think it matters.
Conversely, Seahawk pundits did nothing but rag on Fuller and Pocic. I can name a lot of centers from yester-year, Mawae, Pouncey, Mangold, Webster, Stephenson, Unger, and Saturday to name a few. Currently centers just don't get much pub. However, I will challenge you on the LA Rams representing the demise of the center position. The Rams are different in many ways. If you scan the list of current centers, the best teams all have centers ranked in the top sixteen at worst. Though the center calls protections, he is not typically called on to block one-on-one. Today, the center is typically part of a double-team or picks up where help is needed. True? The premium and publicity has gone to the athletic freaks who can match up with the defensive freaks.
I agree that the hawks are taking the right approach at QB. Let’s get our guy next year. This year is all about growth and preparing for the real runs in the next 2-5 years!
Wow, look at all these comments! Thanks everybody! Will randomly choose two comments for gift subscriptions for the 2022 Seahawks season!
Center seems crazy a a priority to me unless just drafting a center anywhere in the draft qualifies. I said Edge. Unless someone steps up big in 2022 we will need to add to the pass rush. In my opinion a bunch of JAGs just won’t cut it if your goal is to win a super bowl, which it is. Number two for me would be corner, followed by receiver, but those two are razor close.
First thought after reading : For the last several contract cycles ("seasons") there's been a slow if steadily rising drumbeat around the question, "when will a team finally say NO to the cycle of rapidly diminishing returns apparent after so many massive multi-year QB contracts...?"
While the hacks and shills of the media monoliths (and their acolytes) keep busy feeding the paymasters daily/weekly memes of the moment into the echo chamber, the 'Hawks went and answered the question quite clearly and distinctly... 2022.
Strangely, instead of sparking practical conversations about the differing ways to operate the blunt end of the business, the situation was met with resounding silence. In fact, the opposite is true. The team has largely been dismissed -- even outright ridiculed -- with a few notable exceptions.
Whose "football IQ" do you trust more, former player/scout Bucky Brooks or puffy corporate desk jockey Bill Barnwell? Former player/GM Louis Riddick or plastic corporate desk jockey Mel Kiper?
Thanks Ken for aligning with the former, as opposed to the latter, and the dialogue that follows.
Consider for a moment : where are all the "feel good" redemption tales league media loves to drop on a daily basis? Young Drew getting a fresh start? Geno "growing up" and finally getting a legit second chance? Instead, it's all snark and ill-informed narratives cooked up in an editorial meeting.
"Seaside Joe" is proving to be a genuine breath of fresh air, sucking the hype out of everything it touches. Your efforts have partially redeemed a *long-damaged* relationship with sports commentary, based on years of proximity to different levels of the game back in my native Cascadia.
I appreciate that you keep Barnwell accountable. All these "insiders" who constantly hear from "sources" about click-baity team moves that don't happen need to weeded out. I'd love to see an accountability score assigned to every writer (and politician!) so readers can assess how valid their prognostications are. Josiah Anderson doubled down on the Seahawks - Mayfield rumors after he was traded! Zero credibility going forward.
Best O-line available. Need to know what we have then let a higher power sort them out!
Yes. I like the current approach at QB by not throwing money at the problem. This could, if course, change on a whim if one becomes available for the right terms.
Definitely need the best Center we can get after QB. No question.
I was under the impression that Washington state moved away from the air raid offense, the stat I read post draft is that Washington ran the ball %45 of the time in Lucas' last year there, and had a fairly high run percentage his 2nd to last year there, any thoughts on him being more ready for a pro offense than many speculate?
yes, that's my bad!
Expectations for a third round tackle should be "cautious" to begin with. Let's not forget some of Seattle's other day two and day three OL picks over the previous 12 years. Let's just hope he is a viable starter by 2023, anything else is a bonus.
Back in the Blair Bush days the center position seemed more highly regarded. It was my understanding that when Vegas established odds the injuries they took most seriously after QB were center and CB. Maybe that's changed. Regardless, why do you think the center position isn't as valuable as it used to be?
Without looking it up, how many centers can you name that reached the AFC or NFC title games from 2018 to 2021? I can tell you that the Rams did just fine with Brian Allen, a player who they had almost cut in 2020. They were doing fine with Austin Blythe before him, a player who was on the bench last year. Not a lot of the best teams even value center. Seahawks have all the needs at other positions of note. It's not me, it's the NFL.
A QB's job is to carry team on his back to a win possibilty in 4th quarter. Elway & Montana did. Most good QB's cannot. Lock showed he ?may? have that ability. Let's see this year.
CB is my vote after QB in 2023. I’m hopeful Tre Brown impresses and we draft another stub CB to pair with him.
I’m really surprised WR was the lowest perceived need on this team of the positions listed. I’d have stuck kicker on their too just to see, but I know they are completely undervalued from a draft perspective, even when games can be won or lost on their leg. That always struck me as odd (see Walsh, Blair). I guess RBs are currently been kicked down the stairs to join kickers in the positional basement.
But anyway, WRs. We have the Demi-god DK, the irrepressible but ageing Tyler, a who-knows-what in Eskridge and a bunch of waiver wire danglers that would be lucky to get another shot elsewhere. And you can never have too many wide receivers! A clear number one priority to me.
There and again, I am knowingly saying that when deep down all I want next year is Will Anderson, everything else be damned.
Great analysis - so many click hunters
(I should capitalize the “c” to reduce ambiguity)
run polls to “take a day off” but KenJoe curated questions carefully and explains what’s behind them, what influences are at work, and then walks through the results - NOT a day off for K/J!
Thanks - and I don’t count out Geno or Lock - McVay got to a SB with Goff and backups. He hid QB weakness with Quick release plays, a quality run game and a few threats who can stretch the field - maybe Shane can produce results!
Not to belabor this point too much, but I've seen you reference a few times that Abe Lucas played in an Air Raid scheme his whole career. I think that's a bit inaccurate, as he and WSU ran over 40% of the time the last two years. Previous HC Nick Rolovich ran the Run 'n Shoot which is not descended from the Air Raid to my knowledge. It's a small quibble but in the interest of being factual I think it matters.
Thank you for the clarification!