I hope Mafe and Hall are watching. I can just imagine MM pulling them aside at practice to point over at Demarcus "Tank" Lawrence running a drill and saying, "Look! That! You want to earn a second contract here? Do that!" The locker room value of signing guys like Lawrence and Kupp can't be overstated.
The case for him ending up as our starting center is that they are still giving him starting center reps. So they are interested in giving him the chance to earn the job. If he were just being given reps to be center "in a pinch", or if they didn't think he was able to win the job, he wouldn't be given center reps with the 1s.
Haynes is still odds on for RG. As I said yesterday I get the Centre potential, but he's a RG and a damn good one with a proper OC.
I see why he's getting test snaps. But I can't see them actually moving him to Centre ahead of Olu/Sun this season. Possibly if they flail out he moves up as an option for 2026.
Haynes main fight is to lock down at RG, and that is against Bradford. Whilst Olu should beat out Sundell at Centre, with Zabel at LG. For me it's a real easy case of "don't over complicate things". The front 5 is for me all there. And we have a decent and flexible second 5 in backup. With a proper OC (sorry Grubb, you were awful) we're going to see big improvement. Just don't fuck it up by getting cute!!
Yeah, it's a bit confusing. If you have two guys you like at center, why add another person into the mix? Maybe it's just for flexibility if you have injuries, or maybe Olu and Sundell aren't taking hold of the spot. Dunno. And until the pads come on Monday, we probably won't know much about how to handicap who the front runners are. I don't really care, I just want the best 5. I liked what little we saw of Sundell last year, and he's stronger this year, so he was a guy I figured would be in the best 5, but he'll have to earn it.
I'm betting that Haynes' center play now is to see if he could play it in a pinch if injuries hit this year, and maybe to test the waters for a future move
There may be some irrational exuberance in this article about Haynes, I'm afraid. He really hasn't distinguished himself at any point or at any position, and coach Mac said yesterday he was running behind both Bradford and Sundell at right guard.
That's not what he said. He said that Christian was in the mix for the starting center job and that *right now*, Olu and Sundell are ahead of him, *at center*. The competition at right guard wasn't mentioned at all.
Well, I’m def feeling vindicated. That DeMarcus Lawrence signing was HUGE and how we got him at that price I’ll never know. Nor why Jerry let him get away especially bc Dallas is such a circus and you need a guy like him to set the tone in the locker room
I just hope he stays healthy bc he’s def a beast and with Mafe and Hall and Williams we are going to be collapsing pockets and setting the edge like nobody. Look out!!
The problem with Fant was basically no YAC! 250 LBS' TE should be able to pick up extra yard after contact, especially against 180 and 200 LBS DBs and safeties.
I think the roster is far from complete with some additions at LB, IOL , WR and TE to come. Some very good players get cut on the final days for various and sundry reasons...age, contract, scheme fit, numbers game etc.
This isn't in the surprise category but the most pleasant news has been the lack of news about Jalen Milroe. I've heard nothing about him missing receivers, overthrows or underthrows or interceptions. All the news about Jalen pre-draft was how he was missing badly and I don't think reporters attending wouldn't share if that was still happening.
He said Milroe made a pro-level throw in-between coverage levels down the sideline that was very impressive today, albeit against 3rd stringers. He warned the listeners to watch out for fan overhype with him coming in preseason games
It’s too bad about Kenny McIntosh, he had flashes in the run game last season when he got on the field, and had excellent hands and route running ability for a RB. Damien Martinez might have a higher upside as a rusher, but he has not shown as much in the receiving game from RB.
I agree Haynes will be a starter, I had him starting at RG, with Sundell at center. I think if Haynes is a better fit at center than RG, the starting lineup would be Cross/Zabel/Haynes/Sundell/Lucas. I also feel that Bradford will be traded if he does not win the RG competition. He does not offer the position flexibility to play center or tackle, so his value as a backup is not as high as some others. It’s so hard to predict before pads and actual competition. I guess it’s pretty clear Zabel is not yet taking reps at center. Has anyone heard differently?
Last year we watched Sundell and Laumea show us what a pure adrenalin rush can do when the opportunity came their way. Olu and Bradford? Not much. I think that gets you gone with MacDonald. He wants to see them hyped and excited for the opportunity to get in the Game. Maybe they are lowkey personalities, which is fine, but not on an MM Offense intent on rebuilding. That attitude is poisonous to an O-Line searching for definition.
I hope AJ Barner and the rookie can stay healthy all year. With all the 12 personnel Kubiak is supposed to run, I was kind of shoked we cut Fant. I know the $ was too much, but to just say we'll run with a 2nd year player and a rookie is curious.
Yes! And when the Seahawks drafted him, blocking was a big weakness of his game. He worked to become a blocker. Something Fant never seemed to embrace. Fant could block, but he never embraced it the way Parkinson did to transform his game. This gives me hope that Arroyo will put in the work to improve as a blocker.
Wow, I feel the polar opposite. Except about the cheaper part. Barner looked really good last year, and maybe even the better player. We have no idea what Elijah is going to do. Saubert has fewer than 50 career receptions and 3 TDs. To me it’s a promising 2nd year guy, a gifted rookie with a history of knee injuries and a journeyman vet. But I loved our former TE room, underutilized and expensive as it was. I hope this group will make me feel like a dummy for doubting them.
Pretty sure he hurt it again (or maybe his other knee) in the Senior Bowl. Contusion/bruise type thing. I’m not saying he’s falling apart but teams worrying about his health and durability was said to be the reason for his draft slide.
Well, in my opinion, worth less than 2 cents, Arroyo will get more than 450 yards and more than 1/2 a TD to better Fant. Barner will block better and continue to improve upon his rookie performance to better Parkinson, and Saubert will block as well as Dissly. Plus we’ll have both Russell and Ouzts as potential TEs on occasion. I like it better than anything we’ve had in a long while.
Sorry Danno. Saubert is not equal to Dissly. Actually equate AJ to Dissly because Dissly could catch. Arroyo, as Chuck said, gifted “rookie” who hadn’t proven he can play a whole season. Saubert better block than Colby but Colby light years ahead in overall TE play. And at this point, keeping a FB and QB likely means Brady, or Saubert have an uphill battle to stay on 53 man roster. As SJ said, those 3 in 2023 caught everything thrown their way. Issue being, OC didn’t use TE. Hawks gambling TE room works. I truly hope it will because I love TEs and FBs (Mack powerhouse Strong/John L Williams/too briefly Leonard Weaver) play calling. PC seemed to just not appreciate TEs like under appreciated Centers.
Respectfully, Russell and Saubert are in like the flynn. Russell is our backup fullback and a outstanding special teams guy. He also helps set the culture. Saubert is one of the best blocking tight ends in the league. That's why they hired him. Coach also made a comment about Bobo pretty much affirming that he will be on the roster. Coach wants a offense that can physically dominate.
I didn’t say he was better than Dissly. Dissly is a better receiver. But we have Arroyo and Barner for receiving. I said Saubert could block like Dissly. Overall the TE room today is better and cheaper than it’s been in a while.
Cheaper yes. Better no. Unproven. And Saubert can only block. Thats it. And do not know it’s even equal to Dissly. So, 2023 to 2025 TE room, only cheaper. Dissly, Colby, Fant can all catch. All great hands. Clearly not the better TE room. Potentially they can be. But right now no. And again may not have Saubert. The cuts will be interesting since we know they like DLine depth. Keeping FB and third QB limits numbers somewhere.
Dissly, Colby, and Fant were gathering dust on the shelf. Very underutilized. This new group of tight ends will be essential to the offense. They will get much work. And Saubert WILL make the 53.
He is a superlative blocker and adds veteran presence to the room. Not to mention he is familiar with this offense.
Key word “underutilized”. That’s not on them. That’s coaches. What they were was proven receiving tight ends that caught everything thrown their way. This new group would not be any better with the prior coaches. And they are unproven. AJ looked good and hopefully has a year 2 growth. As for Sauebert, likely he is but he’s now in competition with a proven ST and quality player. As I noted, can’t keep them all. Third QB hampers a team. Keeping a FB takes away from a position group be it OLine, Receivers or likely TEs. Going to be some end of the roster hard decisions. I suspect Seubert and figured as such when they signed him, but he’s provides absolutely nothing as a Receiver. Assuming Ouzts is perfect for his role, then the better ST makes the roster. Keeping Milroe and Ouzts puts pressure on OLine, DLine and the TE/WR rooms.
I hope Mafe and Hall are watching. I can just imagine MM pulling them aside at practice to point over at Demarcus "Tank" Lawrence running a drill and saying, "Look! That! You want to earn a second contract here? Do that!" The locker room value of signing guys like Lawrence and Kupp can't be overstated.
Haynes at center makes a lot of sense if the OL coaches rate him
and Bradford as better than Olu and Sundell. Then it is about getting the five best linemen on the field.
I'm still waiting to see some fire out of Olu and some brains out of Bradford. Watching some tape on his replays from last year are painful.
True, now that I listen to that again. But that doesn't strengthen the case for Haynes ending up as our starting center at all.
The case for him ending up as our starting center is that they are still giving him starting center reps. So they are interested in giving him the chance to earn the job. If he were just being given reps to be center "in a pinch", or if they didn't think he was able to win the job, he wouldn't be given center reps with the 1s.
Long shot, at best.
Haynes is still odds on for RG. As I said yesterday I get the Centre potential, but he's a RG and a damn good one with a proper OC.
I see why he's getting test snaps. But I can't see them actually moving him to Centre ahead of Olu/Sun this season. Possibly if they flail out he moves up as an option for 2026.
Haynes main fight is to lock down at RG, and that is against Bradford. Whilst Olu should beat out Sundell at Centre, with Zabel at LG. For me it's a real easy case of "don't over complicate things". The front 5 is for me all there. And we have a decent and flexible second 5 in backup. With a proper OC (sorry Grubb, you were awful) we're going to see big improvement. Just don't fuck it up by getting cute!!
Yeah, it's a bit confusing. If you have two guys you like at center, why add another person into the mix? Maybe it's just for flexibility if you have injuries, or maybe Olu and Sundell aren't taking hold of the spot. Dunno. And until the pads come on Monday, we probably won't know much about how to handicap who the front runners are. I don't really care, I just want the best 5. I liked what little we saw of Sundell last year, and he's stronger this year, so he was a guy I figured would be in the best 5, but he'll have to earn it.
I'm betting that Haynes' center play now is to see if he could play it in a pinch if injuries hit this year, and maybe to test the waters for a future move
There may be some irrational exuberance in this article about Haynes, I'm afraid. He really hasn't distinguished himself at any point or at any position, and coach Mac said yesterday he was running behind both Bradford and Sundell at right guard.
That's not what he said. He said that Christian was in the mix for the starting center job and that *right now*, Olu and Sundell are ahead of him, *at center*. The competition at right guard wasn't mentioned at all.
Moving Haynes to C would also give us the most experienced guy in the system making the OL calls. That's a plus for sure
Well, I’m def feeling vindicated. That DeMarcus Lawrence signing was HUGE and how we got him at that price I’ll never know. Nor why Jerry let him get away especially bc Dallas is such a circus and you need a guy like him to set the tone in the locker room
I just hope he stays healthy bc he’s def a beast and with Mafe and Hall and Williams we are going to be collapsing pockets and setting the edge like nobody. Look out!!
Let Drew brew. Go Hawks.
The problem with Fant was basically no YAC! 250 LBS' TE should be able to pick up extra yard after contact, especially against 180 and 200 LBS DBs and safeties.
I think the roster is far from complete with some additions at LB, IOL , WR and TE to come. Some very good players get cut on the final days for various and sundry reasons...age, contract, scheme fit, numbers game etc.
Well how about this one. We may have just lost Kenny Mac with an ACL. Crap. Not what we needed.
I hate that for him, but if we had to lose a RB for the season…
Didn't Holani get a TD in one of this three carries last year?
This isn't in the surprise category but the most pleasant news has been the lack of news about Jalen Milroe. I've heard nothing about him missing receivers, overthrows or underthrows or interceptions. All the news about Jalen pre-draft was how he was missing badly and I don't think reporters attending wouldn't share if that was still happening.
For a developmental prospect—-no news is good news! Hawkblogger mentioned during his report that Milroe looked much more polished since minicamp.
He said Milroe made a pro-level throw in-between coverage levels down the sideline that was very impressive today, albeit against 3rd stringers. He warned the listeners to watch out for fan overhype with him coming in preseason games
It’s too bad about Kenny McIntosh, he had flashes in the run game last season when he got on the field, and had excellent hands and route running ability for a RB. Damien Martinez might have a higher upside as a rusher, but he has not shown as much in the receiving game from RB.
Holani is an explosion waiting to happen.
Yes, Here's hoping that Mr. McIntosh hears well 'n quickly.
Kenny led the RB room in ypc last year. He also has the softest hands in the room.
Kenny was tied at ypc with Charbs with 7.3 and he only had 3 catches to Charbs 42.
He had the 2nd most receiving yards of any college running back the year we drafted him. Maybe he will be back next year.
I think he had 75 receptions without a single drop. In college. That's pretty crazy if you think about it.
He’s had some bad luck with injuries. Maybe he’ll catch a break next year.
I agree Haynes will be a starter, I had him starting at RG, with Sundell at center. I think if Haynes is a better fit at center than RG, the starting lineup would be Cross/Zabel/Haynes/Sundell/Lucas. I also feel that Bradford will be traded if he does not win the RG competition. He does not offer the position flexibility to play center or tackle, so his value as a backup is not as high as some others. It’s so hard to predict before pads and actual competition. I guess it’s pretty clear Zabel is not yet taking reps at center. Has anyone heard differently?
Last year we watched Sundell and Laumea show us what a pure adrenalin rush can do when the opportunity came their way. Olu and Bradford? Not much. I think that gets you gone with MacDonald. He wants to see them hyped and excited for the opportunity to get in the Game. Maybe they are lowkey personalities, which is fine, but not on an MM Offense intent on rebuilding. That attitude is poisonous to an O-Line searching for definition.
I hope AJ Barner and the rookie can stay healthy all year. With all the 12 personnel Kubiak is supposed to run, I was kind of shoked we cut Fant. I know the $ was too much, but to just say we'll run with a 2nd year player and a rookie is curious.
I think we are better at TE than we have been in a while. I like Arroyo/Barner/Saubert better than Fant/Parkinson/Dissly. And it’s so much cheaper!
From an overall potential perspective, I'd agree. But, I did love Parkinson. Dude could run and block.
Yeah, I was a bit bummed when Parkinson left. But we gonna be aright.
Yes! And when the Seahawks drafted him, blocking was a big weakness of his game. He worked to become a blocker. Something Fant never seemed to embrace. Fant could block, but he never embraced it the way Parkinson did to transform his game. This gives me hope that Arroyo will put in the work to improve as a blocker.
Wow, I feel the polar opposite. Except about the cheaper part. Barner looked really good last year, and maybe even the better player. We have no idea what Elijah is going to do. Saubert has fewer than 50 career receptions and 3 TDs. To me it’s a promising 2nd year guy, a gifted rookie with a history of knee injuries and a journeyman vet. But I loved our former TE room, underutilized and expensive as it was. I hope this group will make me feel like a dummy for doubting them.
Technically he has a history of one knee injury, not knee injuries. Due to timing it affected 2 seasons.
Pretty sure he hurt it again (or maybe his other knee) in the Senior Bowl. Contusion/bruise type thing. I’m not saying he’s falling apart but teams worrying about his health and durability was said to be the reason for his draft slide.
Well, in my opinion, worth less than 2 cents, Arroyo will get more than 450 yards and more than 1/2 a TD to better Fant. Barner will block better and continue to improve upon his rookie performance to better Parkinson, and Saubert will block as well as Dissly. Plus we’ll have both Russell and Ouzts as potential TEs on occasion. I like it better than anything we’ve had in a long while.
Sorry Danno. Saubert is not equal to Dissly. Actually equate AJ to Dissly because Dissly could catch. Arroyo, as Chuck said, gifted “rookie” who hadn’t proven he can play a whole season. Saubert better block than Colby but Colby light years ahead in overall TE play. And at this point, keeping a FB and QB likely means Brady, or Saubert have an uphill battle to stay on 53 man roster. As SJ said, those 3 in 2023 caught everything thrown their way. Issue being, OC didn’t use TE. Hawks gambling TE room works. I truly hope it will because I love TEs and FBs (Mack powerhouse Strong/John L Williams/too briefly Leonard Weaver) play calling. PC seemed to just not appreciate TEs like under appreciated Centers.
Respectfully, Russell and Saubert are in like the flynn. Russell is our backup fullback and a outstanding special teams guy. He also helps set the culture. Saubert is one of the best blocking tight ends in the league. That's why they hired him. Coach also made a comment about Bobo pretty much affirming that he will be on the roster. Coach wants a offense that can physically dominate.
I don't think they will keep 4 TEs *and* a FB. Probably Saubert or Russell, but not both.
I appreciate your opinions. I’m just buying in full time to this team. I think the upside is huge.
I didn’t say he was better than Dissly. Dissly is a better receiver. But we have Arroyo and Barner for receiving. I said Saubert could block like Dissly. Overall the TE room today is better and cheaper than it’s been in a while.
Cheaper yes. Better no. Unproven. And Saubert can only block. Thats it. And do not know it’s even equal to Dissly. So, 2023 to 2025 TE room, only cheaper. Dissly, Colby, Fant can all catch. All great hands. Clearly not the better TE room. Potentially they can be. But right now no. And again may not have Saubert. The cuts will be interesting since we know they like DLine depth. Keeping FB and third QB limits numbers somewhere.
Dissly, Colby, and Fant were gathering dust on the shelf. Very underutilized. This new group of tight ends will be essential to the offense. They will get much work. And Saubert WILL make the 53.
He is a superlative blocker and adds veteran presence to the room. Not to mention he is familiar with this offense.
Key word “underutilized”. That’s not on them. That’s coaches. What they were was proven receiving tight ends that caught everything thrown their way. This new group would not be any better with the prior coaches. And they are unproven. AJ looked good and hopefully has a year 2 growth. As for Sauebert, likely he is but he’s now in competition with a proven ST and quality player. As I noted, can’t keep them all. Third QB hampers a team. Keeping a FB takes away from a position group be it OLine, Receivers or likely TEs. Going to be some end of the roster hard decisions. I suspect Seubert and figured as such when they signed him, but he’s provides absolutely nothing as a Receiver. Assuming Ouzts is perfect for his role, then the better ST makes the roster. Keeping Milroe and Ouzts puts pressure on OLine, DLine and the TE/WR rooms.