Tuesday, February 21, 2012 @ 8:54am
The Seahawks' first moves should be ...
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By Brock Huard
Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines.
March 1 for the Sacramento Kings. March 8 for the Colts and Peyton Manning's $28 million bonus. March 13 for the beginning of NFL free agency. The next two-plus weeks will be busy with activity, but for Seattle sports fans let's hope that activity won't be confused for achievement.
The time has come for deals to be completed and there are three no-brainers when it comes to the Seahawks, as long as the eye is never taken off of the prize.
Quarterback is the top priority and the prize, but nothing can be accomplished on this front -- at least technically speaking -- until Manning is officially released in Indianapolis or the March 13 sweepstakes begins for Matt Flynn. I have made my intentions very clear on the Manning front, and though my letter got returned to sender, Dan Pompei of The National Football Post had the following update on Manning over the weekend:
"Based on the buzz around the league, the Seahawks could be the early frontrunner for Peyton Manning, assuming he is released. Pete Carroll needs a quarterback and is believed to have a strong interest in at least exploring Manning. The Seahawks could offer Manning an attractive scenario. They have a young team with some fine skill players to put around him. They play in one of the league's loudest stadiums. Manning wouldn't be subject to the same kind of scrutiny in Seattle that he would in a lot of other markets. The Seahawks also could have a better feel for Manning's medical situation than some teams. One of their team physicians [is] Stan Herring, who also is one of the country's preeminent specialists for spine injuries. Herring is a member of the NFL's Head, Neck and Spine Committee."
I have a feeling that Manning's agent, Tom Condon, will be a busy man in Indianapolis at the scouting combine this week and like Dan Pompei, I believe Carroll and John Schneider will at the least be exploring the Manning possibility.
 Red Byrant could be in line for a deal similar to the one Brandon Mebane singed a year ago. (AP) |
Speaking of Lynch, momentum clearly looks like the franchise tag may come into play for the hard-charging running back. The Seahawks would prefer a deal that is structured with three years of security (roughly $20 million in salary/bonuses) whereas Lynch and his agency want the payoff that comes with a breakthrough year -- he rushed for over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns -- a deal within earshot of Chris Johnson's or that of Adrian Peterson. If no compromise is reached, expect Lynch to be tagged with the $7.7 million franchise tag before the March 5 deadline.
Robinson and Lynch are no-brainers and the the leverage, dollars and "sense" in many ways favors the Seahawks. The wildcard becomes move No. 3: Big Red Bryant. Though the Seahawks have made a very strong offer to Bryant, he is yet to accept the deal and may want to see what the free-agent market will bring.
Bryant has a very intriguing story to spin, one with 22 games of evidence and footage showcasing his run-stuffing capabilities while anchoring a top 10 rush defense. Conversely, the big man from Galveston, Texas has two more sacks than I do in his NFL career. I can't help but remember an old defensive line coach in Indy, John Teerlinck, who had a very large sign displayed prominently in his meeting room that read "$acks= $$$."
Bryant will be 28 in 2012 and recovered from a torn ACL in 2010, yet fits perfectly into the five technique role in Carroll's defensive scheme. Beyond the Xs and Os, Bryant in many ways became the intimidating and over-powering face of an immovable front seven in 2011. A deal like Brandon Mebane signed a season ago (five years/$25 million with $9 million guaranteed) makes sense. Like Mebane, this will more than likely be Bryant's biggest shot at a major payday and his body of work calls for a multi-million-dollar guarantee.
Though the Hawks would hate to lose him, I don't see them drastically over-paying. In fact, like Mebane last offseason, if the Hawks can't finalize a deal before March 13 other suitors will come calling. And when they do, Bryant will have to make a decision between the marriage of fit and scheme he has in Seattle or the opportunity for a little bigger payday and uncertainty elsewhere.
Bottom line, quarterback is priority No. 1, and whether it's Manning, Flynn or a draft pick, the position has to be addressed first and foremost. Lynch and Robinson are no-brainers; in many ways they epitomize the identity of the offensive and special teams units. Lastly, I "want" Big Red, but I don't know if the Seahawks "need" him at any cost.
Monday, February 20, 2012 @ 2:02pm
ESPN's McShay weighs in on Ryan Tannehill, Seahawks
The Seahawks apparently won't add a quarterback this offseason simply to address their need for a long-term solution at the position. General manager John Schneider said as much last week, telling Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com that "I just know if you panic at the position, it can set the organization back. So we're not going to do that."
Schneider's comments suggest that the Seahawks won't reach for a quarterback, i.e., drafting one well head of where their grade on him merits. That thinking comes to mind when discussing the possibility of Seattle using its first-round pick on Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill, who, by most accounts, is one of the top quarterbacks in the draft but perhaps not one whose resume and ability would justify a top-15 selection.
 Ryan Tannehill has just 19 starts at quarterback, having played receiver for his first two and a half seasons at Texas A&M. (AP)
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McShay cited the Vikings' selection of Christian Ponder with the 12th overall pick last year as an example of how a team's need at quarterback can lead it to draft a player who would otherwise likely be taken much later.
"And that's why it won't surprise me, even though most teams will have a later first-, early second-round grade on Tannehill, or some teams I've talked to even think he's later second-round and are convinced," McShay said. "So there's a wide array of opinions on him, but it wouldn't shock me if we wound up seeing Tannehill. I do think he's the third best quarterback, so if he comes off the board at 11 or 12 it certainly would be no greater shock than Christian Ponder a year ago to the Vikings."
Tannehill began his college career at receiver after failing to win the team's starting quarterback job during camp. He led the Aggies in receiving as a freshman and sophomore before taking over as the starting quarterback midway through his junior season. In 13 games last season, Tannehill completed 61.6 percent of his passes and threw for 3,744 yards, 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Tannehill has just 19 career starts at quarterback, leading McShay to believe that he has plenty of room to develop.
"He still has a lot to learn in an offense that struggled this year at times and was very inconsistent in terms of the supporting cast," McShay said, "but I think with his athleticism, his arm, his ability to make throws on the run and create after the initial play breaks down, there's a lot of potential there. And certainly if you have time to develop him properly he has a chance to be a really good starter in the NFL."
Drafting Tannehill in the first round wouldn't necessarily force the Seahawks to make him their starter right away. Incumbent starter Tarvaris Jackson is under contract for another season, and at a reasonable price. The consensus is that he will at least be on the roster next season, possibly as the team's starter.
Follow Brady Henderson on Twitter @BradyHenderson
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McShay: DE Quinton Coples could fall to Seahawks
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 7:36pm
McShay: DE Quinton Coples could fall to Seahawks
The Seahawks have identified pass-rush as an area they'll look to improve, no surprise given that their 33 sacks last season put them in a tie for 19th in the NFL.
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay joined "The Kevin Calabro Show" this week and spoke extensively about one player that could help in that department, Quinton Coples.
 Todd McShay considers former North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples the fifth-best player in the draft. (AP) |
"The talent is top-five," McShay said. "I mean, it's hard to really debate that when you look at his size, his quickness, his ability to turn speed to power as a pass-rusher, his ability to seal off the edge and really defend the running game with some power, size and strength, he can do it all."
Coples' resume includes 24 sacks, 40.5 tackles for loss and two first-team All-ACC selections in four seasons at North Carolina. McShay ranks him as the draft's top defensive end and fifth-best overall player. ESPN Scouts Inc. ranks him as the No. 3 player in the draft. Coples is just under 6-foot-6 and weighs 281 pounds.
Why would a player like that fall out of the top 10?
"You go back and study him in 2010, I thought he gave a more consistent effort and played with more urgency in 2010," McShay said. "Then you watch the Senior Bowl, all the practices and then the game, and that's the guy that you see on tape back in 2010. It's not the same player you see all the time in 2011, so there's some concern there."
A coin flip at the scouting combine later this month will determine whether the Seahawks pick 11th or 12th overall. McShay thinks misgivings about Coples' inconsistent effort combined with alternatives in Melvin Ingram and Courtney Upshaw -- -- both of whom McShay deems worthy of a top-12 pick -- may cause teams drafting ahead of Seattle to pass on Coples.
McShay also didn't rule out the possibility of Seattle taking either Ingram or Upshaw, instead.
"If that's the route they decide to take ... I'd have to think they're going to get a good football player," he said.
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 1:21pm
Seahawks, Sounders FC support potential arena
Seahawks owner Paul Allen released a statement Thursday regarding a potential new arena in Seattle, as did Seahawks/Sounders FC president Peter McLoughlin and Sounders FC general manager and owner Adrian Hanauer.
Allen: "It was a sad day when the Sonics left Seattle, a move I opposed. It's exciting to think about the NBA coming back to Seattle and renewing the rivalry with the Portland Trail Blazers. However, it is too early for me to comment any further without a specific plan or proposal to review."
McLoughlin and Hanauer: "We support anything that is good for the Seattle community and downtown development. Both the Seahawks and Sounders believe that the economic and cultural benefits of professional sports are a central and important contributor to any community's growth."
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 12:58pm
Marquand Manuel's importance to 2005 Seahawks
Marquand Manuel's addition gives the Seahawks' coaching staff a key member of the most sucessfull team in franchise history.
Manuel, hired this week as assistant special teams coach, stepped in at free safety during the 2005 season when Ken Hamlin suffered a season-ending head injury.
Brock Huard remembers Manuel's importance to that team and how his absence in Super Bowl XL was a major factor in the outcome.
You can download Thursday's podcast here.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 @ 6:11pm
Report: Ex-Seahawk Lofa Tatupu visits Saints, Titans
Former Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu has visited with the Saints and Titans in an attempt to return to the NFL after sitting out last season, Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reports.
 Lofa Tatupu |
Tatupu was a second-round pick in 2005 and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons before a rash of injuries caused a steep decline in his play. He played in all 16 games in 2010, his last season with the Seahawks, but didn't appear to be fully healthy.
According to La Canfora, Tatupu met with New Orleans on Monday and Tennessee on Tuesday.
"He's too smart of a football player to be on the street if he's healthy, but if he's not healthy -- and clearly he wasn't last year -- then maybe he has to start thinking about another career," John Clayton told "The Kevin Calabro Show" on Tuesday. "Let's hope he [is healthy] because he's a really good player, a really good guy and he could help out New Orleans or whatever team that's going to be looking at him."
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 @ 5:39pm
Seahawks add Marquand Manuel, 3 others to staff
Special to 710Sports.com
The Seahawks added four members to their coaching staff Tuesday, including former Seattle safety Marquand Manuel.
A starter on Seattle's Super Bowl team in 2005, Manuel will be the special teams assistant. He is one of two new members who will work full-time. The other is Keith Carter, who will become an offensive quality control coach after holding various offensive coaching roles in his three years at the University of San Diego.
In his two years with the Seahawks, Manuel played in 31 games and had 77 total tackles. His return to Seattle comes after interning for a year with the University of Florida football team.
Kenechi Udeze and John Glenn will join the Seahawks after serving under Steve Sarkisian at Washington. Udeze will be a coaching intern, working with the defensive line, while Glenn will work with Manuel and special teams coach Brian Schneider.
The team also moved Rocky Seto from assistant defensive backs coach to defensive passing game coordinator.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 @ 1:51pm
The Seahawks can't afford to settle at quarterback
The gloves came off when Danny O'Neil joined "Brock and Salk" for a discussion on the Seahawks' options at quarterback.
O'Neil, who covers the team for The Seattle Times, disagreed with Salk's contention that the Seahawks should identify their guy and do whatever it takes to acquire him. In O'Neil's view, the team should make value a priority.
Salk defended his point in Tuesday's Wrap Up video.
You can download Tuesday's podcast here.
