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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I caught up with a harried Tim Ruskell going from one meeting to another at the hotel here, and he gave me some time to discuss many things Seahawk. Here are some of the things we covered:
* He feels good about free agency, primarily because it allowed them to not feel like they are hostage to filling a position in the draft. He said he thought they exceeded expectations in free agency, Josh Brown leaving the only blemish. Ruskell declined to comment about whether he thought St. Louis tampered with Brown or whether he contacted the league about it.
* Speaking of kicking, Ruskell said he thinks recently signed Olindo Mare can do the job, but they are not ruling out taking a kicker in the draft. It depends on how that plays out, Ruskell said, meaning if one of the top kickers is still available in the sixth or seventh round, they are likely to take him. Otherwise, they will go with Mare. Ruskell said though Mare still has one of the strongest legs in the NFL, accuracy has been his problem, and Mare has said it is because the long snapper/holder/kicker combination has not been good in recent years. It is up to Mare to prove he still can be accurate.
* Speaking of long snapping, Ruskell said he thinks Tim Lindsey can do the job, but it is a position they will continue to monitor and improve. "You know, I always underestimated that," Ruskell said. "You get a snapper, you get a kicker, you get a holder, we should be fine. It is not quite as easy as that. Our example is a great one. Once we solidified that battery, we didn’t miss a kick at the end of the year. So we will pay attention to that. And I think that will help Olindo as well." Ruskell also said Jeff Robinson could be brought in in an emergency.
* Ruskell did not want to address why the Seahawks were one of only seven teams to vote against the radio device in defensive players' helmets.
* Leroy Hill is in the midst of changing agents, which has delayed the team negotiating with Hill's side on a contract extension. That changeover needs to be resolved before it is a discussion.
* The team is likely set with signings. The rest of the roster will be filled out via the draft and then undrafted free agents. Ruskell said the team is likely to sign a record number of undrafted free agents to get its roster to 80. "Based on what I am hearing from the scouts, we have good information on those guys, so I am feeling good about where I am at," Ruskell said.
* Though I have heard rumors that the Seahawks are the team that is going to play Buffalo in Toronto, perhaps on a Monday night, Ruskell said he has not been told that. He said he has not even been given that hint.
* The team will hold training camp in Kirkland, primarily because it was required to sign a contract with Northwest University a year in advance to guarantee the space. They had to do that in case Renton is delayed. Ruskell said they are currently talking with Mike Holmgren about the feasibility of holding one practice a week in Renton that would be open to the fans. Then the plan, depending on construction schedules, is to move into Renton in the second or third week of the preseason.
* Shaun Alexander has had the cast removed from his wrist but is wearing a splint. He is scheduled to have the wrist tested and examined in the not-too-distant future.
COMMENTS:
Did Ruskell say that if one of the top kickers is still available in the sixth or seventh round they are likely to take him or is that your interpretation? Are you putting words in Ruskell's mouth? Did Ruskell say otherwise they will go with Mare or is that you saying that? Can you read Ruskell's mind? How do you know that is his meaning?
My own feeling is that if we (Hawks) draft Stewart or Mendenhal (spelling?) Alexander will be let go, but if neither of those guys are there at the end of round one then we will keep Shaun.
As I write this I wonder about the possibility that Alexander would be involved in a deal to move up in a position to get one of said RB's?
Regardless, I am hoping for Shaun to retire as a Hawk after he leads us in the SB this year. Jones and Duckett?! Come on,...come on.
Uh, "Timmay!" have you noticed that Jeb Putzier is our best TE at the moment? Or are you just on drugs?
It's statements like this that seriously make me question the guys stability. Did he watch any of our games last year?
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