Seahawks Insider
where there is no offseason

Eric D. Williams took over the Seahawks beat and Seahawks Insider blog in December. Williams has covered the Seahawks, Sonics and high school sports for The News Tribune since joining the paper in 2006. Eric lives in Tacoma with his wife and two children.

Tacoma News Tribune columnist Dave Boling also contributes to the Seahawks Insider blog.

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Seahawks Insider
Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Posted by Mike Sando @ 10:15:29 am

Seahawks president Tim Ruskell and vice president Ruston Webster just finished speaking with reporters following a flurry of activity this morning. Ruskell discussed the team's reasoning for trading Darrell Jackson to the 49ers. They both talked about selecting Baraka Atkins and Mansfield "Manny" Wrotto in the fourth round. A summary follows.

[More:]

  • Ruskell on trading Jackson: He described the move as "best for our football team" given that Jackson wasn't happy with his contract and the situation wasn't getting better; he didn't want to move Jackson within the division but said there weren't suitable alternatives given the level of interest; he expects D.J. Hackett to challenge for the starting job opposite Deion Branch, noting that Nate Burleson has to "step up" and build on a strong playoff performance in Chicago if he hopes to be part of that equation;
  • Webster on Atkins: Webster described Atkins as a 6-4 athlete who can run and rush the passer, a smart player better suited to the outside; the Hawks think Atkins can challenge for playing time as the fourth end in the rotation;
  • Ruskell and Webster on not taking Josh Beekman: They liked Wrotto's upside; they think Beekman is better prepared to play right away, but that Wrotto can develop into a better player after spending this season as a backup; Ruskell said the "ceiling is higher" for Wrotto than it might be for Beekman, although he said Beekman is another good player;
  • Webster on Wrotto: He called the former defensive lineman a player with a wide body, good strength, good balance and feet better suited to guard than tackle (meaning he doesn't move quite well enough to project as a good tackle).
Categories: NFL Draft, Trades and potential trades, Audio Files, 2007 Seahawks Draft 42 comments

COMMENTS:

ErikG803 @ 10:40 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Shouldn't we be trying to win now? If Beekman is ready to play right away, why pick a project?
vegap2 @ 10:42 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
I have no problem with trading Djack to another team, but why trade to one of our rivals? Especially the up and comer that is closest to taking the NFC West crown from us. I understand that Djack wasn't happy in the Seahawks org anymore, but this just doesn't make sense. I don't wish any ill will towards Djack, but I hope I'm not regretting this move come next December. Hopefully he reverts back to the drops again.

On a personal note I'm dreading going into work tomorrow. I've been a die hard Seahawks fan since they came in the league and I currently live within 2 1/2 hrs of the SF Bay area (hopefully moving to Pac NW area this summer). Man am I going to hear it Monday over this!

I hate to say this, but I rathered he gone to the Raiders as a Moss replacement! At least not a division rival...

GO CHAWKS!
mikez @ 10:42 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
I'm not sure what to think of Ruskell at this point.... All I know is the guy has an ego the size of mount rushmore and I'm not feeling very good about him......

M
mek @ 10:48 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
because no rookie OL drafted in the 5th round will be any better on the field than either Gray or Womack. So as they get hurt(womack) and the rookie gets better prepared, he'll take over eventually anyways, so take the player with the most upside.
AggieHawk @ 10:49 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
ErikG803- Ya I’m with you. If Hasselbeck, Alexander, and your best lineman Jones are getting up in age and everyone knows the window is closing on going to the Superbowl, why not get someone to start now to help stabilize the line? Getting a backup is not what the team needs, big question mark on this one.
BB44 @ 10:49 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
I have no issues with the draft picks so far. The trade of Jackson to the Niners doesn't make sense. I'm sure they could've gotten a pick from another team outside of the division, possibly outside of the conference for a 4th rd pick in '08 or a lower 4th rd or 5th rd pick. That's the only complaint I have about the FO.
mrbaileyboy @ 10:50 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
I worry everytime we pick up someone a little different. All we can hope is that another Lofa is in the bunch.
benramm @ 10:50 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
What a false tagline on this post. Ruskell didn't EXPLAIN anything. If Crash Davis tutored general managers... Why wasn't the situation getting any better? What could Ruskell have done to keep a productive player happy?
BB44 @ 10:51 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Boss just went off the board. For a team that needs depth at the TE position, the Hawks had better draft Patrick or Allan at 161.
pabuwal @ 10:55 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Ruskell thinks 1 catch is a "strong performance"? Is that because he brought Burelson in?

Seems like Ruskell wants to field a team with David Greene throwing to a disappearing Branch/Burelson and Alexander getting blown up for losses by non-blocking Guards while his new Long Snapper flubs snaps at the end of playoff games.
ErikG803 @ 10:56 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
If Patrick is there at 161 and we don't him, I'm going postal.
elgranderojo @ 11:00 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
I'm really glad we got a project guard instead of a productive NFL wr. Way to go Tim... we are primed to go 9-7 and have another early playoff exit... I'm very excited!
mike_sandos_worst_nightmare @ 11:02 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
KC just picked a kicker!!! Here we go!! Patrick is ours!!!!

Or at least he better be.....
buddhabrad @ 11:03 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Look. Where there's smoke, there's fire. Jackson was dumped for a reason. Reasons we'll probably never know...until down the line. Like being in the league's substance program or whatever. Granted, sending him to SF is potentially a problem, but they must know something that we don't.

And as an employer, who wants to pay someone $3m+ and then have to listen to him whine about it all day long? Shut up and play or get your butt sent elsewhere.

Jackson's agents and the Hawk front office has been firing off nastygrams to each other for some time now. It's been well-publicized and this trade shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

We cut Wistrom and many of you moan about how stupid the f/o is. And then Wistrom can't get a job anywhere and retires. We don't resign Stevens and many of you moan about how stupid the f/o is. And then we find out about the Salty Senorita and neighbors having to squeegee the puke off their porches every morning.

Jackson won't be in the league two years from now. I'm glad we got something for him and sent a nice message to the rest of the team. Shut up and play. And be able to play 16 games.

swab @ 11:03 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
This entire offseason is a total outrage. We cant figure out how to get Dielman or Graham, but we overpay for an aging white stiff DE because he has a "high Motor" and Ruskell knows him from Atlanta. If you used to play for Tampa Bay or Atlanta, come to Seattle, because Ruskell will overpay for you. Anywhere else, forget it.
Hero @ 11:04 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Rufus Alexader i'm hoping.
seatowntp @ 11:05 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Isn't this time of year fun? It is amazing how much emotion the draft selections can elicit.
PhilKenSebben @ 11:06 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
A linebacker? is this DD Lewis's replacement?
BB44 @ 11:06 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
I hope Allan or Harline is available in the 6th rd. I'm worried about Patrick's weight.
mike_sandos_worst_nightmare @ 11:06 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
We just got an inside LB Will Herring. FUCK YOU RUSKELL!
bjr26 @ 11:06 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Nice!

We just got Patrick!

Just kidding. Just added some depth at LB. Sigh.
ddduncan3 @ 11:08 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
I thought the hawks weren't going to pick a Linebacker and they drafted another one in the 5th, plus no TE yet?
polar @ 11:09 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Seahawk Nation just blew a collective gasket...

Well, there are 5 tight ends worth drafting left on the board. Maybe we can pick one up as an undrafted free agent...
BB44 @ 11:09 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Let's hope we get a TE before the day is through. I'm getting concerned about the offense. Jackson's good. Alexander is another year older. Depth at TE is an issue.
PhilKenSebben @ 11:12 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
whoa whoa whoa, lets not go judging a man by a 5th round pick. lets give the kid a chance.
flahawker @ 11:12 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Swab,

Let me clue you in :

Dielman didn't want to play for the Hawks nor did Graham who is from Colorado.
flahawker @ 11:14 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
I guess the other 31 teams are missing the boat on Patrick as well LOL Imagine that! All the money wasted on scouts and yet not one team has drafted Patrick through five rounds. Amazing!
swab @ 11:16 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
then why bring them in? Another draft where we show no creativity whatsoever. Do we have an offense? I am beginning to wonder because appearently Ruskell doesnt think so.

BTW, does Ruskell ever extend a players contract before free agency begins, or do we just not bother to do that?
hawks4372 @ 11:18 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Great- yet another brainiac, physically weak, high motor (read: talentless), boy scout that can be really positive about life as he's trailing an opponent into the end zone. Why does every single guy this nerd drafts have to be a cookies and milk nice guy with no ability?!!!

I can't wait til the '09 draft when we're picking first after the 1-15 season. Hello again 1992- or worse.
flahawker @ 11:22 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
LOL the overreactions are hilarious.
luke1979 @ 11:26 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Man this forum sure is negative. If you guys are so smart on the NFL draft then why are you not the ones there and not TR.
kosh @ 11:37 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Just curious...if a team offered to sell you their offensive playbook for a 4th round pick would you take it...and then throw in your most productive WR as a bonus?
nighthawk2 @ 11:40 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Swab, what's with the race stuff? I don't care what color a guy is, I care if he fills a need and can play. I didn't and still don't see a need to get Kerney over Wistrom, to me it's a wash, and I question his judgement. But what's with the hating white players?
Prowler @ 11:53 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
I don't understand the mancrushes so many here have on Patrick -- he just doesn't look like a player to me. I'd rather take Michael Allan in the sixth
klm008 @ 11:53 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
I thought you were going to say the reason for the draft picks and trading DJax was because TR had a stroke and all the front office guys rushed him to the hospital, and the only guy left making the picks was the janitor who happened to be there. But, no. The janitor probably woulda made better picks.
BobbyK @ 11:56 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
nighthawk - I'm with you. This isn't the first time people have been crying about players because they are white. There's plenty of good white players in the NFL. Sure, they aren't a majority - but you don't automatically suck if you're a non-QB white player.

Again - thank you Timmy for dumping D-Jack.

TE will be addressed next round when we pick Jake Nordin.
nomorereg @ 11:58 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
hawks4372,

Because Ruskell has calculated that a team of cookies and milk nice guys is going to be more successful over the long run than a team of criminal thugs? Because football is a team game and me-first attitudes don't make a team?

You're free to disagree with him, of course, but you might want to go back and re-read the memo Ruskell sent to the team when he first arrived. He was telling everyone what kind of team he wanted. All he's doing is following through on that promise.

Putting the team first got the Seahawks into one Super Bowl, and I think it's the only way they're going to return.
GK @ 12:54 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
"But, I love how middle-aged guys on their computers at home think they are better talent evaluators than the pros."

Based on previous drafts, and all of the busts, there's a chance that's true.

For all you tards ripping on the people who don't like the picks: don't you have something better to do? If you don't want to talk about what the Seahawks are doing, what are you doing here?
Marinerman1979 @ 13:02 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
naw...I would rather laugh at morons who think they know the ins and outs of the draft.

I love to laugh at stupid people. Like in this thread...people whining about how we draft a 5th rounder that won't start...lol..

Talking about what is going on...and ripping the gm at every turn are two different things...

the last I checked...the GM knows just a wee bit more than you.
dans761 @ 13:02 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
This will come back to haunt us! Holmgren for GM. SHAME ON YOU RUSKELL. how could you do that??
earther @ 13:09 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Washinton just drafted Carson Palmer's little brother. He's a big guy.
hawkfaninoklahoma @ 14:27 - Sunday, April 29th, 2007
anyone ever concider that we might be able to pick up one or more of these te after the draft????? why dont you idiots aply for tr's job if youre so smart??? half of you either never played a game or started any games at any level. leave the guess work to the pro's that what they get payed for and it's their ass on the line!

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