Could Zabel be one of the most impactful rookies in Hawks history?

[chrispy]

Zabel's been solid, but the improvement in the O-line may also be the result of Klint Kubiak, John Benton, and the fact that Charles Cross and Abe Lucas are finally healthy again.

Last year's O-line was a mess. Stone Forsythe played in 9 games. Saotoa Laumea started 5 games, and Michael Jerrell started 3 games. Even George Fant started 2 games.

Agree
...and a QB that has that doesn't hang onto the ball.... No OLine can protect forever and even Anthony Bradford of games 1-4 can protect for 2 seconds (much of the time).

 

[Bobblehead]

IDK.. I don't know if he was any more impactful than say, Walter Jones, Cortez Kennedy, Steve largent was.

 

[Hollandhawk]

Malik McDowell made quite the impact as a rookie ....

 

[calinator]

First name that comes to mind for me is Lofa. Undersized linebacker that it seemed a lot of .Net at the time thought would be a diamond in the rough and that was exactly what he showed that year. Shoring up the mike spot and the Seahawks making the superbowl in his rookie year. It's funny to say that because Bobby Wagner exists and was also a 2nd rounder.

The other obvious one is Russ even if I may not have always been his biggest fan he took the QB position and was pretty impactful immediately with a nice playoff run and winning a superbowl in his 2nd year and almost 3rd as well.

 

[Shane Falco]

All I care is that he's had an big impact.

 

[Double Tribble]

Yeah, no. Definitely Russ, by miles. But it's a great conversation starter.

 

[rjdriver]

Hands-down, the most impactful rookie for Seattle was Curt Warner. 1449 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had 42 receptions and another touchdown. Warner is #1 and all are after him

Nice post. 1982 was the strike shortened season and we went 4-5. Curt Warner was drafted and Chuck Knox was hired the next season. We went 9-7 and more importantly went to the AFCCG. I agree we don’t sniff 9 wins and a playoff win against the Dolphins had #28 not been drafted.

 

[rjdriver]

Yeah, no. Definitely Russ, by miles. But it's a great conversation starter.

What’s cool is they both kind of symbolize a new direction and identity of the team.

Russ was the embodiment of Pete’s “always compete” mantra by beating out a recently signed FA vet in year one.

Zabel represents a new direction where the trenches are priority and not an afterthought.

 

[Nv_Hawks]

Hands-down, the most impactful rookie for Seattle was Curt Warner. 1449 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had 42 receptions and another touchdown. Warner is #1 and all are after him

Many don’t know this. In 84, Curt Warner was injured and who replaced him? Franco Harris, who’s officially is the first player to ever wear a Hawks uniform to enter the HOF.

 

[Atradees]

lofa tatupu's salute to Ken Norton. Boxing the goal post. We were whooping the eagles.





For me the Zabel pick and his performance is just awe. We can maybe figure this oline thing out.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

What a night.

 

[Lagartixa]

Many don’t know this. In 84, Curt Warner was injured and who replaced him? Franco Harris, who’s officially is the first player to ever wear a Hawks uniform to enter the HOF.

The first time I went to a Seahawks game was in September of '84 in Foxborough. Curt Warner was on the cover of the game program (Gameday magazine), and there was a big article about him in there, because there was no way to print new programs with different content after Warner got injured.

I knew Harris almost certainly had nothing left, so I wasn't shocked that Harris wasn't able to help the Seahawks, including in the game I attended. I got Harris's autograph in the game program after the game anyway and was sincerely happy to get it. He was washed and I knew it, and he wasn't going to be a positive contributor to Seahawks success, but I admired his work from his Steelers days. I didn't actually start disliking that team until early 2006.

 

[pmedic920]

Admittedly This isn’t really going out a limb.

He’s way better than many realize.
He’s only going to get better.


ETA
OUR O LINE PLAY has gotten significantly better, he’s a huge part of the reason.

 

[SocialParasite]

I wish they had the technology to clone him, and then have his clone play RG.

 

[Maelstrom787]

I think its impossible to know. He looks great, but I can't tell how much he's elevating the group on the merits of his talents vs. the coaching elevating the group as a whole.

I think he'd be struggling, and be perceived as struggling, in the absolute mess Grubb put on the field and probably under Waldron as well.

That is NOT to say he's bad whatsoever. He's doing a damn good job and I wouldn't draft anyone over him at 18 despite reservations I had on draft night. I'm just so grateful we've got a tried-and-true staff coaching the OL as a unit in lockstep with the rest of the scheme. Everything is flowing and that's allowing EVERYONE to play to their potential - hell, even Bradford.

It's an incredible feeling seeing a Seahawks line play good, smart, synchronized football. Zabel's gonna be here for 10-12 years and early returns are that of an eventual ring of honor player.

 

[Ruminator]

Zabel has been one of the best picks ever for Seattle. I believe his addition alone, compared to previous OL personnel in recent years, has shaved off well over 50% from what the pressure/sack count would have been otherwise. 2025 is the culmination of 3 years of Seattle amassing exactly the right players at the right time. We're 90% there to true greatness, and that's a position any team would kill to be in.

 

[seabowl]

Zabel has been one of the best picks ever for Seattle. I believe his addition alone, compared to previous OL personnel in recent years, has shaved off well over 50% from what the pressure/sack count would have been otherwise. 2025 is the culmination of 3 years of Seattle amassing exactly the right players at the right time. We're 90% there to true greatness, and that's a position any team would kill to be in.

Nothing against Zabel, but Walter Jones and Hutchinson were equally if not more impressive as rookies

 

[Ruminator]

Nothing against Zabel, but Walter Jones and Hutchinson were equally if not more impressive as rookies

Maybe.

"one of" is key phraseology, here.

You never know, Zabel could go on to be even better than Jones and Hutch in the coming weeks. Just an unknown for now.

 

[sutz]

Nothing against Zabel, but Walter Jones and Hutchinson were equally if not more impressive as rookies

Actually, I think Walter struggled in his first year, aggravated by injuries.

 

[Hollandhawk]

Emmanwori starting to look pretty special too. When is the last time 2 rookies made impacts like this in their rookie year? Wagner and Wilson turned into great players, but were they THIS good this early?