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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In coming here, what are some of the things you have learned about the guys on film and some of the things you would like to change or work on? “I think the big thing we are excited about here are the athleticism of the offensive linemen here. It’s a group that can move and can space and do some nice things. So we are just trying to develop some technique, consistency and being able to perform as a unit.”
Are you going to make any big changes? “No. It is Coach Holmgren’s offense. We are doing what we do. All we are trying to do is improve the techniques and the fundamentals.”
How did you end up out here? “I had a chance to become the offensive line coach, so I took a plane (smiles).”
I figured. Perhaps I should have asked it this way: Were there other teams that had an interest in you? “Yes. There were. I had some choices. I thought this was a great opportunity, I loved the organization, I liked the way they always drafted along the offensive line and that has been an important part. And I saw the opportunity to work with coach Holmgren.”
What is your relationship with him? “It is really just the respect and admiration I have had for him, coming from the San Francisco 49ers organization. I missed him when he came out. He was coming out and I was coming in with Mike Shanahan. But I heard nothing but great things, and there is a great respect, especially with the 49ers vs. Green Bay, and what a great opportunity to work with somebody like Mike Holmgren.”
What happened with your tenure in Kansas City both as offensive line coach and as offensive coordinator? “Kansas City was a great situation. I was offensive line coach, it was great, I really enjoyed the organization, and then Herm Edwards became coach and gave me an opportunity as offensive coordinator. It was great. Herm and I played together and he gave me an opportunity and I didn’t get the job done. No excuses. No explanation. I didn’t get the job done and that is part of the job.”
Why was that? Did it have anything to do with Larry Johnson’s situation? “No, no, no. I didn’t get the job done. That is on me. I needed to call better plays, call plays that work.”
You always had a good running game in Kansas City. What do you think about the changes here, with Shaun leaving and Julius coming in? “That’s the thing about the NFL, there is constant change in the NFL. It is a great opportunity, and I know coach Holmgren is evaluating right now what they do best and we want to orchestrate and lean on what they do best, whether it is toss them the ball, move them ball, or is it zone blocking? That is what training camp and preseason is for and we will get a better feel was we get into that mode with pads on, rather than just shorts.”
What are you hoping to accomplish during the minicamps? “Yeah, just get a feel. I’m just trying to get a feel for the offensive line. Gil does a great job with the offense and he is getting a feel for what the run game can do, and how that balances with the pass game. That is his responsibility as the offensive coordinator, and I know he will do a great job. My job is just to get make sure the offensive line is performing at a championship level.”
How is your relationship with Mike DeBord? “It is great. I didn’t know Mike DeBord before. He is a very find line coach, a fine position coach coming out of a quality institution. We are just dividing up responsibilities and trying to get the most out of each minute.”
How do you work that out if you both comes from different systems and have different philosophies? “It is my responsibility. I am the offensive line coach. One of the reasons I was hired here was my background with the San Francisco offense. I know the drills we need to do, and the steps we need to do for building blocks in order to progress.”
Is what lineman are asked to do in the San Francisco offense different that what they are asked to do in the Kansas City offense? “When I went to San Francisco, I learned that system from Bob McKittrick. And then when I went to Kansas City, that was why I was hired there, because of Paul Hackett. I am just throwing out names now. But that was why I was hired in Kansas City. It was the West Coach offense. But that is what we have done. We pull linemen, and we look for athletic linemen. I had a great opportunity and I had a chance to work with some great offensive linemen there.”
One of the biggest things people look at our here is short-yardage situations. What is the biggest thing that goes into that for an offensive line to be successful. “I think the biggest thing we have to do is do what our backs do best, and we have to be consistent in what we ask of the offensive scheme. Gil Haskell has done a great job in the offseason of film study and looking at the best short-yardage and goal line packages. We know what we need to improve on and what direction we need to go and that is something we are working on.”
When you are trying to rebuild a running game like the Seahawks are trying to do, does it help that all the parts are new? “It is still the same system. It is still Mike Holmgren and Gil Haskell’s offense. The blueprint is here and we have to master the techniques and fundamentals.
COMMENTS:
Ruskell has said that we have an established "Seahawks way" of doing things and rather than make wholesale changes to suit whoever we hire that we seek to hire people that fit into our system. I wouldn't expect great changes even after Holmgren does retire.
What will stand out in the '08 running game is that the runner will hit the designated hole/lane immediately. With multiple RB at their disposal, the backs will either run downhill where they are supposed to, or they will sit. If John Carlson turns out like he is expected to, the offense should revert to a more classic WC offense. With health on the line and a return to form on a Jones/Wahle left side, quick-hit runs will turn into nice gains.
I think the 2008 Seahawks are a snake in the grass in the NFC, and I'm excited to see how they come together. Health on the line and and the WR corps would seem to be the biggest question marks.
What a great attitude to have from a new coach!! You would think he was just up from college and this was has first real job.
On the subject of why we need better technique and if Coach Solari can make the changes, I remember two years ago that Walter made a comment that "whomever played next to me was going to be on their own"- he was tired of giving on the job direction.
This is the #1 knock on former Coach Board. He didn't teach. Obviously, it didn't work out with Simms on Walter's hip and I wonder how much influence Walt had in the signing of Wahle. The big guy doesn't say very much -- but I'll bet Simms gets the message and I hope the he does better with Lock.
It's not easy to move around from left to right. Most players hate it. Lets hope that Simms is young enough to work on it and become can become a team with Lock on his right.
This is where Solari will earn his keep. It won't be with Walter and Wahle!
Living in Paradise --
JS Hawaii --
PS: Mr Hughes, where did Ray Rhodes go, or did he retire?
Also, in a photo of Hass, SW, & Holmgren in another Hawk website, Holmgren was animated and talking to Hass (& SW), but looked like Hass was turned away with his eyes looking upwards. Does Lazor have the ability to smooth any rough waters between coach and Hass, like Zorn could, or is Holmgren going to really take over the QB coaching position this year?
Quote:
"This is the #1 knock on former Coach Board. He didn't teach. Obviously, it didn't work out with Simms on Walter's hip and I wonder how much influence Walt had in the signing of Wahle."
End Quote
Coach Board isn't a former coach, he's the DLine coach and a good teacher.
I think you were talking about former coach Laveroni who failed to get the OLine to perform well last year and was thought to be suspect as a teacher, Debord is the new assistant OLine coach. Coach Solari hasn't worked with Debord previously, but has indicated they work well together.
Phil Simms was the old quarterback with blond hair who played for the Bengals and the Giants, Rob Sims is the big dude our former LG who is going to be tested at RG to see if he can play tough enough to be an NFL starter at RG. Hopefully he will rise to the challenge.
Coach Gilbertson was an assistant OLine coach last season but seemingly the fit wasn't good with Laveroni as they weren't able to get an underperforming interior Oline to work with a Rb who decided he wasn't going to hit the holes intermittently created. Rhodes went to Houston this offseason when the exodous began after the Mora Jr. succession announcement.
Solari may well institute differing blocking schemes. He isnt going to tip his hand. And next year there will be more changes, especially if Haskell leaves...for now, Solari is trouble-shooting, working on correcting the little mistakes that added up to blown plays.
And I would argue with those who think Solari wont have a large effect on Wahle or Jones. I beg to differ: Jones was not even close to Pro Bowl form last year, and Solari thinks it is due to his sloppy technique over the last two years. He said that Jones' shoulder problems are likely due to being out of shape and sloppy technique, and that those things often happen to great lineman. Solari's job is to get Jones back to doing his technique right, and to challenge him. Same with Wahle--Wahle needs to get his strength back, and to be challenged. Solari will help both, and Walt has a good chance to return to health and All-Pro status.
And if Sims cant handle the switch to RG, Willis, Womack, and the rest are waiting for thier chance. I think Solari is the answer--the system isnt broken, it just needed some tweaking and maintenance!
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