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 his first major hire as head coach, Jim Mora tabs Greg Knapp as Seattle's new offensive coordinator. The move was first reported by the NFL Network, and later confirmed by team sources. Knapp worked as Mora's offensive coordinator in Atlanta, and it's been speculated he would be Mora's offensive guy for awhile now.
Matt Hasselbeck and the rest of Seattle's offense will have a new system to learn during the offseason, and it will be interesting to see how the players pick up the new scheme. It's been speculated that Seattle will run the ball more in 2009, and that seems to be Knapp's style from his time in Atlanta and Oakland.
The Falcons led the NFL in rushing in 2005, averaging 159.1 yards a contest with a 1,000-yard rusher and three Pro Bowlers on offense.
However, Oakland head coach Tom Cable did take away the play-calling duties from Knapp during the season while Knapp was with the Raiders, so it will be interesting to see how that shakes out in Seattle, although I would expect Knapp to be the guy calling the plays.
There still has been no word as to the status of former offensive coordinator Gil Haskell, along with defensive coordinator John Marshall or the rest of the coaching staff left over from last season. Haskell has been rumored to be retiring. However, that has not been confirmed, and we should know more about the future of the rest of the staff by late this week early next week.
Also, Mora will address the media on Tuesday
COMMENTS:
From what I've seen/read, Oher is the elite pass proteting prospect, where as the 2 Smiths are better at run blocking.
Only thing is I hope we get Oher over Smith (the Alabama one....unless we put Smith as guard..then I'm for that)
I do not think I like this move.
I've said all along that I'm okay with Mora (and Knapp if that were Mora's choice - which we've pretty much known since last off-season). I am willing to give Mora the benefit of the doubt with Knapp.
Now that we know who our OC is going to be, it's time to start analyzing our players and how they fit with what Knapp will want to do (run the ball in his version of the WCO).
If we are going to become a smash mouth running team, then resigning Willis is a must. I firmly believe Willis is one of the better run blocking offensive linemen in the NFL. He's a nasty kick ass run blocker. The exact run blocker an offense like Knapp needs to be successful. In my opinion, resigning him is a MUST. If Ruskell doesn't resign one of his own original draft picks --- lets just say I'll totally lose what little respect I have for him.
If Walt doesn't fully come back - then Lock can play LT and Willis RT. If Walt is fully healthy, then Willis can play RG - with Lock at his RT position (or vice versa depending on what the new coaching staff wants). Either way, there must be an opening for Willis - as he is, by far, our best run blocking offensive lineman (including Walt).
So shoring up a dominant run blocking offensive line is obviously needed --- but so is needing another RB. Lets face it, J.Jones isn't special. He's okay, but that's it. "Okay" players at too many positions stink of mediocrity and I want to win a dang Super Bowl! I don't see a Jones/Forsett RB duo striking fear into opposing defenses (even with dominant offensive line play - which we don't have yet).
I am fine with Branch, Payne, and Burleson at WR for '09. In a Knapp offense, I think those 3 will be fine (although Branch sucks as a run blocker).
I know we have been critical of Marshall not using his defensive players properly --- but now it's time for Timmay! to get Knapp the players he needs to run his system (not that we're about to see a drastic change). I believe many of the pieces are already in place with Hasselbeck, Weaver (& Schmitt at FB), Carlson, and Walt. But now is the time to resign Willis (and Weaver) and add another powerful offensive lineman in FA or the draft. I can only hope we are able to find a trading parter and get in position to add Duke Robinson.
It seems that in the true, old fashioned WCO like Mike's, big-time WR's aren't needed as much. You just need quick guys or big guys who can run clean routes and catch the ball. There is no real need for a dominant WR with all the tools...I mean...he would help of course, but it is not an actual need...especially with so many 4 or 5 WR sets. You just need bodies that can run and catch basically.
Where as something like this new offense that runs out of more power formations, you need stronger WR's on the ends that can make plays w/o needing or using other WR's as distractions. You need those Wr's who can get seperation on their own and help move the ball. Which Burleson, Engram, Payne, Obo, Bump and Taylor are not. They can all excel in the slot or 4th or 5th WR's...but they aren't true flankers.
That is my thinking
Ruskell's track record for paying guards isn't respectable, so why take a guard and pay him that much? I loved you-know-who and even he's not worth that much and there's no way Smith will ever be better than him.
In my opinion, he will make a good NFL guard, but does not seem to be able to handle speed rushers at the NFL level so I don't want to hear the crap about how he can take over at LT when Walt retires (like Oher could).
Find a trading partner about 8-14 spots later and take Duke Robinson. He'll make a better LG than Smith anyways. And he will cost millions and millions and millions less.
I don't care if the only thing we get to trade down is a 7th round pick in the draft 2,000 years from now... I'd take Robinson at 15 than Smith at 4 any day. That saved cap space could allow us to sign a very good player in FA. Plus, I think Duke is a safer pick than Smith with just as much upside.
Jim Mora jr should have taken a college job for sure than he can screw up that program instead of hawks.
if Haskell retired, why did they hire someone before he had a chance to announce it? i'm not going to go as far as the people who are calling all this "classless" but it does seem a bit odd... but i can understand the need to move on the deals, even if this Knapp guy doesn't exactly have half the NFL beating down his door...
Well, Atl led the league in each of his 3 years there. In fact, as OC his offenses (SF, ATL, OAK) have never finished out of the top 10 in rushing. 8 years, pretty impressive. I'll give him that.
I agree that this bodes well for resigning Willis. I would also be even more surprised if Engram now walks. I like Payne too but Engram is still a better slot receiver than Payne, right now. Going into 2010, I may feel differently. I'll tell you one player that should be very excited, John Carlson. Knapp loves using TEs. Eric Johnson in SF and Clumpler in Atl. I'll look into farther, but I can't think of a dominant RB he's ever had. Unless you include Vick into that, and a case could certainly be made. I don't see them addressing RB this year, for good or ill.
Yeah, sure, he's a good WR at catching the damn ball. bla, bla, bla...
But it sure as heck would be nice to have a WR in an offense like this who was not only a good/great WR... but also a dominant run blocker. And Crabtree is a very good blocker.
I know most people could care less about blockers from the WR position, but I'm the opposite. I hate guys like Branch who are terrible run blockers. Remember Jurevicius in '05? A dominant run blocker like him allowed $haun to gain a lot more yards than he would have (that and he was in a contract year). Yes, we had a pretty darn good line in '05, but what made it even more special was that Hannam was a great run blocking TE and Jurevicius was a dominant run blocking WR.
I still want Oher or Robinson, but the thought of Crabtree doesn't upset me anymore (as long as OL would get addressed in FA and or the 2nd and/or 3rd round --- after getting Willis resigned).
Hopefully Knapp can wash the stink of Al Davis off of him & clear his mind of the Oakland culture of losing before minicamp.
**see Tom Flores
Crabtree has plenty of potential and his strengths would potentially benefit this team eventually. The Crabtree strength that most excites me is the separation he creates on slant routes, and the YAC he is able to gain after the slant. The most successful WCO teams always had an elite slant runner. Physical run blocking also makes me think that he could be worth the risk. The biggest risk to me is that WCO receivers usually don't break out until their third year, and that's a long time to pay 10 mil a year to find out if a player is a bust or not.
All of that said, if the hawks can't find an amenable partner to trade back with I think the #4 pick should be Aaron Curry, to replace the probably departing fan (myself included) favorite Leroy Hill.
Hey I for one am excited about this. we'll just see how it plays out. All the whinning in the world doesn't influence our Head Office and Head Coach. Thank Goodness!!! Some of you guys sound like you know more than the Pro's but your are in a different line of business right. There must be a reason for that.
So chill and enjoy the ride boys!!
The thing is, we're dealing with re-treads and that concerns me. It's like picking up a used car after 3 or 4 owners. The car gets beat up and depreciates in value.
But I do agree on the post by descari that if the GM, the Head Coach, the OC and DC are all on the same page, then it will be good chemistry for the team.
Just not big Knapp fan if mora proves that he doesnt accept a team being mediocore team and get them to play with some fire up their butt and actuality get them to be better as team than that good.
I will give him chance but after that.
Sigh... well, as diehard fan, I have to give this tandem of Mora and Knapp the benefit of the doubt. But I'm not loving what feels like blatant cronyism here. Added to that Ruskell's desire to bring over anyone who ever played in Tampa or Atlanta, and I feel like Atlanta North right now.
Knapp does not excite me but if he is going to keep the WCO going and potentially improve the running game, he is a good hire.
If they are going to re-build the entire system it would be dumb, because Matt has the current system nailed, he has just been without a running game since 2006.
The Holmgren era is over and it is time to clean house.
Obviously, Marshall has to go.
Haskell has never called plays, and our new OC will have to call them, so Haskell has to go.
This is not going to be the same Holmgren Seahawks.
Our D will be better, our O less predictable.
Time to bring in new blood and ideas all around the staff. Not a rebuilding, more of a remodeling.
I think it's exciting.
I watched Oher in his bowl game. He totally dominated his man on every play, slipepd from LT to RT with no problem, was impassable in pass blocking and a road grader in run blocking. He is also a high character guy.
I have a man crush, even though we still need a new QB. But if Bradford and Stafford are gone, he's a no brainer pick.
I think some of these coordinators on the teams that are left in the play-offs --- they are having success because they have good players. I think Knapp has had a crappy QB in Atlanta (the dog killer) and the Raiders are a worthless situation. If he had the keys to good players on offense, I think he will be okay.
Remember Ron Rivera? He was a hot shot DC the years the Bears went to the SB. Then he didn't have the same players and now teams won't sniff around him as a HC. Why? He doesn't have the same players to dominate the way he did. He's a so-so coach who looks like a stud when he has multiple Pro Bowlers (as most coaches would).
I'm not saying it's only about talent. We all agree Marshall is/was a terrible DC.
Dukshire, When you mention Tom Rathman, are you refering to the niner's fullback from their glory days? If so, me likey that idea!!! Tough S.O.B. is putting it mildly! In his prime, he out mack strong'd Mack Strong! (and I love Mack)
GO HAWKS!!!
On a different note; We are all entitled to our own opinions, we all have ownership of this blog. It goes where we take it. With that in mind, for those of who who are so offended that you find it necessary to tell others to go elsewhere, I suggest you become more active here and make a case for your opinion. Just telling someone to leave because you disagree with them is ridiculous.
SEA-HAWKS!!!
But OTH, if Seattle was talking about a D-coordinator job mainly, and then asked him to come as D-line coach, Marinelli might take it badly and just go to Chicago (or elsewhere.) Interesting speculation to me.
What kind of fan are you. Do you have anything good to say about "your team", or are you just here to give everyone else a headache? So many so called fans that can't find a way to support their team. The rest of us can all laugh when we start winning again next year. After all it is the NFC West.
Some of you guys need to get some serious help.
No matter how against this move some of you are...it doesn't make you right.
Also, No matter how much some of us support it...it doesn't make us right either. All I can say is...If you are a Hawks fan...Deal with it...Support your team and if doesn't work...bitch and moan and throw stones as Ruskell walks out of the VMAC for the final time.
I just can't believe how bitter some of you are!! Try to enjoy the fact that we are making changes after a 4-12 season. At least for a litte while! I mean, we haven't even gotten to free agency yet! For Christ Sake!!! Rant over.
I was really hopeful during Training camp this year when the players and Marshall were making statements about letting the Defense be more agressive. After the GB game, I noticed a change back to a very conservative defense. When the players started complaining after the Dallas game, in my book the hand writing was on the wall for Marshall. He had lost at least some of his players.
Having said that, I still think Marshall did the job Mike Holmgren wanted him to do for the time they were here. So, I say "Thank you, Mr. Marshall and I wish you well in the future." But I would like to know from the team if he's really gone or not. We already know now he's no longer the DC.
Is that asking too much?
Go Hawks!
I want our GM & Front Office to be looking closely at and evaluating every single player & coaching candidate that exists on the planet in an unbiased manner. Not just going with someone they're familiar with.
This isn't a knock on Kerney, Grant, Mora, Knapp, etc in any way, but the overall trend indicates a lack of true vision & critical thinking to get this franchise where it needs to be.
Ruskell hasn't been a horrible GM, but I've never seen anything from him that makes me think he'd be described as a great football mind.
as always..
GO HAWKS!
We have a running back like that, Leonard Weaver. The smart thing to do would be to re-sign Morris and Weaver, kick the overpaid and underproducing Jones and Duckett to the curb, and use a Schmitt/Weaver tandem as starters. But it won't happen.
Tom Rathman has been hired by the 49ers.
"I wonder if this may mean Ed Donatell is a strong possibility for D-coordinator? Maybe Marinelli was interviewing for a position coach, not DC. Since Ruskell does have strong ties to Marinelli, he might be able to get him as a D-line coach. Depends if Marinelli is in the running for other DC jobs I suppose."
Weren't you the one ranting about how the interview with the guy who presided over one of the worst defenses in the league last year (Cleveland) signaled that those of us who said it was leaning toward Ruskell/Mora cronies were all wet? Lo and behold Knapp is hired. And you're pining for another failed DC in Donatell (I hope he does go to USC and send their defense into the toilet) with Ruskell/Mora connections? How do you like your crow, regular or extra-crispy?
"Yea! We got the worst OC in the AFC! Yea! Super Bowl!
I watched Oher in his bowl game. He totally dominated his man on every play, slipepd from LT to RT with no problem, was impassable in pass blocking and a road grader in run blocking. He is also a high character guy.
I have a man crush, even though we still need a new QB. But if Bradford and Stafford are gone, he's a no brainer pick."
Exactly. However I don't want Stafford or Bradford. Especially Bradford. No 1st round quarterback. But Oher is the best LT in this draft. If he's there at 4 we must take him, if Ruskell passes on him then he's more stupid than even I think he is. I've yet to see anything to show Locklear is anything more than a temporary fill in as a left tackle, not a 16 game starter there. Duke Robinson is appearing to be a 2nd round talent according to many draft sources, including NFL Network's Adam Schefter.
"What kind of fan are you. Do you have anything good to say about "your team", or are you just here to give everyone else a headache? So many so called fans that can't find a way to support their team. The rest of us can all laugh when we start winning again next year. After all it is the NFC West."
Well dude, some of us just won't accept mediocrity like you're apparently willing to do. We don't want to just "get to the playoffs" by being the least worst team in a bad division. We don't drool on ourselves with the prospect of getting a home game vs. a wildcard team, then get our asses kicked in the next round on the road by a real football team and call that success. Not accepting mediocrity is not supporting the team, in your world, and accepting it is? Not in my world.
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