Here's What We Should Be Talking About: OL FAs & Draft Picks

[Seymour]

First... I get a hold of Walter Jones and see if I can bring him in as an assistant OL coach. Bringing him in to coach our guys up on pass blocking just makes sense considering he was, hands down, the best pass blocking lineman in NFL History and he's in the Seahawks ROH. Who wouldn't salivate over Jones and Cable developing our offensive linemen?

Let go of Okung... He's likely to draw 7-8 million dollars a year. We can get two or three OT/OG types that can compete for the start at LT. If we resign Okung, he's pretty much penciled in at LT and I don't like anybody being penciled in on the line after our line's performance last year.
MY FA TARGETS:
Ben Ijalana - He's a young athletic physical OT that was very raw when he was drafted and he's been stuck behind Ferguson at LT in New York. He's likely been blocking for Geno Smith in practices and is familiar with protecting scrambling QBs. I'd love to see this kid competing for the start at LT. 3 year deal.
1st year - 1.5 Base + 1 Mil. Bonus; 2nd year - 1.5 Base + 500K Bonus; 3rd year - 1.5 Base + 500K Bonus w/ opt out.

Chris Hairston - another young mauler that's capable of competing for the start at LT. Has started at LT in Buffalo and started a few games last year for San Diego. He's probably familiar with blocking for scrambling QBs due to his time blocking for Manuel. I like the youth and upside with this guy. 3 year deal.
1st year - 2 Mil. Base + 1 Mil. Bonus; 2nd year - 2 Base + 1 Mil Bonus; 3rd year - 2 Mil. Base + 500K Bonus

Tyler Polumbus - Not young, but he's been here before, he's familiar with our offense, our coaches and our players. He was also one of the most versatile linemen we had and he was efficient when he played here. We bring him in to compete for a start at OT and help the two young guys along with adapting to the offensive system. 4 year deal
1st Yr - 750K + 500K Bonus, 2nd Yr - 750K + 250K Bonus, 3rd Yr - 750K + 250K Bonus, 4th Yr - 750K

I'd offer JR Sweezy a 2 year deal with an opt out in the 2nd year, basically a prove-it deal, and I cut ties with Bailey. Sweezy has physical upside, but his pass blocking is suspect to say the least. If we brought in Walter Jones to help Cable coach our offensive linemen up; I'd love to see what Cable and Jones could do with Sweezy.
1st Year - 1.5 Mil + 1 Mil Bonus, 2nd year - 1.5 Mil + 500K Bonus.
If he wants more than that, I look to free agency.
FA TARGETS:
Senio Kelemete - Washington native, young, athletic and talented. Could probably be landed for less than we'd spend on resigning Sweezy. I also like the fact that he's on the short side for an offensive lineman. With Wilson at QB, we should be looking to go short and stout on the inside, so our interior line isn't screwing with Wilson's vision.
Jeff Allen - Young talented OG for the Chiefs that we could probably land at about the same price we'd get Sweezy resigned for. Definitely an upgrade over Alvin Bailey IMO.

Then we go with the draft: I trade out of the 1st into the 2nd, pick up an extra 5th or 6th. The payout on a 2nd round pick is less than a 1st round pick and let's just be realistic about JS & PC.... Their 1st round picks are hardly ever homerun picks. They do waayyy better with their picks after the 1st round, so trade out and draft to their strengths as evaluators. Our best picks under them have always come from rounds 2 - 6. Also... If we bring in Walter Jones, let Walter Jones take part in evaluating the offensive linemen in the draft because our evaluation of offensive linemen has been misses for the most part.

I seriously doubt Pete will be replacing his son with Jones as assistant Oline coach. Always compete, unless you are a coach (then you are safe).

 

[firebee]

First... I get a hold of Walter Jones and see if I can bring him in as an assistant OL coach. Bringing him in to coach our guys up on pass blocking just makes sense considering he was, hands down, the best pass blocking lineman in NFL History and he's in the Seahawks ROH. Who wouldn't salivate over Jones and Cable developing our offensive linemen?

I seriously doubt Pete will be replacing his son with Jones as assistant Oline coach. Always compete, unless you are a coach (then you are safe).

I don't believe their are any rules to how many assistant coaches or position coaches a team can have and Pete Carroll would be doing his son a huge favor by bringing in Walter Jones. Jones would probably be able to integrate drills and offer pointers on technique that would only help and improve Brennan's coaching ability over the long haul. I think PC would be a fool to deny Brennan the opportunity to be mentored by the best offensive lineman in NFL history.

 

[HawkFan72]

We don't work this way. We build them, we don't buy them.
We buy a good left tackle, we gotta let some skill guys go.
It's a budget thing, it ain't like Allen can pay more.
duh

Both Bennett and Avril were "bought" through free agency.

They were also bargain deals on one year (Bennett) and two year (Avril) contracts. For some reason, there was not a high demand for DEs that year in Free Agency and the Seahawks reaped the rewards. They also had a ton of cap room that year so they could afford to splurge a bit.

If a similar caliber O-lineman was available on a deal like that, you could expect JS to pick him up.

But the point is that JS never has been the type to go out and spend big money or get into a bidding war over an outside free agent Lineman.

 

[tmobilchawker79]

I just wanted to say, Jones is a good idea, however just because you can "do" doesn't mean you can teach. Not saying he can't coach, just that not all great players are good coaches.

 

[Seymour]

First... I get a hold of Walter Jones and see if I can bring him in as an assistant OL coach. Bringing him in to coach our guys up on pass blocking just makes sense considering he was, hands down, the best pass blocking lineman in NFL History and he's in the Seahawks ROH. Who wouldn't salivate over Jones and Cable developing our offensive linemen?

I seriously doubt Pete will be replacing his son with Jones as assistant Oline coach. Always compete, unless you are a coach (then you are safe).

I don't believe their are any rules to how many assistant coaches or position coaches a team can have and Pete Carroll would be doing his son a huge favor by bringing in Walter Jones. Jones would probably be able to integrate drills and offer pointers on technique that would only help and improve Brennan's coaching ability over the long haul. I think PC would be a fool to deny Brennan the opportunity to be mentored by the best offensive lineman in NFL history.

There may be no "rules" but how do you explain to Paul that we need 2 assistants because one is going to help train "my son" while he's being paid to do a job?

May as well put up the white flag that you are taking everything you can from the owner.

 

[firebee]

First... I get a hold of Walter Jones and see if I can bring him in as an assistant OL coach. Bringing him in to coach our guys up on pass blocking just makes sense considering he was, hands down, the best pass blocking lineman in NFL History and he's in the Seahawks ROH. Who wouldn't salivate over Jones and Cable developing our offensive linemen?

I seriously doubt Pete will be replacing his son with Jones as assistant Oline coach. Always compete, unless you are a coach (then you are safe).

I don't believe their are any rules to how many assistant coaches or position coaches a team can have and Pete Carroll would be doing his son a huge favor by bringing in Walter Jones. Jones would probably be able to integrate drills and offer pointers on technique that would only help and improve Brennan's coaching ability over the long haul. I think PC would be a fool to deny Brennan the opportunity to be mentored by the best offensive lineman in NFL history.

There may be no "rules" but how do you explain to Paul that we need 2 assistants because one is going to help train "my son" while he's being paid to do a job?

May as well put up the white flag that you are taking everything you can from the owner.

Pass protection specialist... Do you want to protect your 20 million dollar investment in Russell Wilson or not? Brennan and Cable are able to coach our guys up on the blocking schemes and run blocking, but pass protection is clearly a weakness for them as coaches. We need a pass protection specialist... Walter Jones was the best pass blocking offensive lineman in the NFL. It's not putting up a white flag... It's admitting the weaknesses and addressing them to protect Paul Allen's biggest investment on this team... Russell Wilson. Do you want to spend a million off the cap to protect your 20 million dollar investment that counts toward the cap or do you want to risk getting your 20 million dollar investment smashed.

 

[thebanjodude]

Best offensive tackles in free agency: http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/right-tackle/


Best offensive tackles in draft: http://walterfootball.com/draft2016OT.php

Your right. Let's talk about this.

Which right? His right to party?

Yes, I am a grammar Nazi.

 

[Attyla the Hawk]

The Seahawks need to let the board come to them. Whether the top person on their board at #26 is a defensive lineman, an offensive lineman, a wide receiver, a cornerback, or whatever, Seattle needs to be prepared to take him.

They kind of do this. With a twist. They look at talent level relative to current talent.

The one thing we've been consistent on though, is that we have addressed needs every year. That hasn't changed and I expect this year will be no different. Odds are not good that we go strict BPA.

Of course, what happens in free agency will shape a lot of it, too. I personally suspect Okung has played his final season in Seattle, so OT does become more of a priority if that happens. This is actually probably the best draft since 2010 for Seattle to draft balls-out for OL because we're largely set at most other positions.

I suspect this also. Seattle has established a strong track record for letting injury prone players go.

I'd love to see us part ways with Okung. His talent is unquestionable, but he's never been able to stay healthy. I'd much rather we build with some guys in the draft, I just think, if we pay much to keep him, the injury problem will only get worse and then we're just left with a cap hit and still no viable reliable left tackle.

Signing him doesn't preclude drafting a LT. That contract is fairly minimal for the first couple years for a draftee. There isn't an extra cap hit in this scenario, except for the cost of the replacement on the roster which is going to be a cheap street FA.

On paper, it seems to me that we have one of the best defensive lines in the league. But I always felt the pressure was subpar. Even very bad QB's were avoiding the rush with little problems.

This can't be stressed enough. We have on paper pass rush. It's very feast or famine. That's the nature of edge pressure. Which Seattle is incredibly good at.

Where we totally suck at is interior pressure. That's typically consistent. When our ends don't create pressure, QBs have all day to throw. Another telltale sign is the lack of opportunities to force turnovers. Seattle's secondary is great. But production wise, they are not. There is very little acceleration of the passing timing needed to force risky/inaccurate throws.

Our pass rush one dimensional. Not only do we not produce in the face pressure. But we provide the means for QBs to step up and avoid edge pressure reliably -- lessening the impact of edge wins.

We don't work this way. We build them, we don't buy them.
We buy a good left tackle, we gotta let some skill guys go.
It's a budget thing, it ain't like Allen can pay more.
duh

One thing that JS has always been consistent with it he won't disavow any avenue to improve. He's mentioned many times that every offseason is unique. That the FA market is different year to year.

If there is a FA that fits in quality and price, we'll pursue him. The way the market has borne out the last several years, is that DL talent at the tail end of their careers has been the more valuable FA spend. OL talent has been heavily overpaid.

Seattle wants to get tougher quick. On the OL and DL. I suspect Seattle will be open to either position group in the UFA/Trade period in March. I do expect us to push for Rubin. Mebane is going to be cheap or gone.

It's not realistic to think we'd add 2 legit year one OL competitors as well as a quality DT rotation guy in the draft. We will pick players. They will look like good prospects. But not all realistic contributors in 2016. It 'could' happen. Just not very likely.

 

[McGruff]

First... I get a hold of Walter Jones and see if I can bring him in as an assistant OL coach. Bringing him in to coach our guys up on pass blocking just makes sense considering he was, hands down, the best pass blocking lineman in NFL History and he's in the Seahawks ROH. Who wouldn't salivate over Jones and Cable developing our offensive linemen?

I seriously doubt Pete will be replacing his son with Jones as assistant Oline coach. Always compete, unless you are a coach (then you are safe).

I don't believe their are any rules to how many assistant coaches or position coaches a team can have and Pete Carroll would be doing his son a huge favor by bringing in Walter Jones. Jones would probably be able to integrate drills and offer pointers on technique that would only help and improve Brennan's coaching ability over the long haul. I think PC would be a fool to deny Brennan the opportunity to be mentored by the best offensive lineman in NFL history.

Good or even great players don't always make good coaches. Jones never struck as the teaching type, and more often than not he was content to do his own thing away from the team.