Re: KJ Wright Signs 4 year extension UPDATED WITH BREAKDOWN

[Largent80]

Of all our LB's Wright has been the worst and in a tie with Smith for the least impactful player at LB on the team..

What Bizarro KJ Wright are you watching?

Dude has 65 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 forced fumbles this year. He's an upper tier Outside LB that paired with Bobby has the speed and coverage ability to not only give Irvin the freedom to rush the passer, but allows Kam to smash people in the box, as opposed to what most strong safeties do, chase TE's around the field for four quarters. Wright makes this happen, not Wagner.

And this doesn't preclude us from signing BOTH Wagner and Avril.

I said, he has been playing better LATELY. Before lately, he stank. His pass coverage isn't all that, even now.

He's one of the better pass covering LB's in the league, I'm not sure what you expect out of an outside LB. Could we have resigned him for 5.5 or 6M? Probably, but why quibble over half a million?

Do you not like this because you think it mean not signing other guys? Because that's wrong too.

I'm always wrong. Feel better?

 

[Hawks46]

$27m over 4 years is double what I'd want to pay for KJ. Unless the cap rising means we can fit this in, I'm not sure I like it.

Looks like Malcolm Smith is leaving at the end of his contract then. We have KJ at WLB and KPL on the bench...

Yeah, it's a head-scratcher.

Maybe this is more about rewarding their "guys" over pragmatism.

Well KJ brings a different skill set than our other OLB's. Irvin has basically relegated Malcom Smith to the bench in only 1 1/2 years starting at OLB. KPL has come in and also made a good impression, and he'll be a bit cheaper than Malcom to resign.

Wright is better at playing the run, he's great at covering the flat, and when he can get in a TE's mug coming off the line (like Graham) when teams split their TE's out wide, he generally neutralizes them. He's also got the best length of all our LBers, but he's also the slowest. For his physical measurables, I'm a bit surprised he got this contract from us as Pete likes speed at the LBer positions, but I'm guessing we need one good thumper out there.

 

[Scottemojo]

$27m over 4 years is double what I'd want to pay for KJ. Unless the cap rising means we can fit this in, I'm not sure I like it.

Looks like Malcolm Smith is leaving at the end of his contract then. We have KJ at WLB and KPL on the bench...

Yeah, it's a head-scratcher.

Maybe this is more about rewarding their "guys" over pragmatism.

Well KJ brings a different skill set than our other OLB's. Irvin has basically relegated Malcom Smith to the bench in only 1 1/2 years starting at OLB. KPL has come in and also made a good impression, and he'll be a bit cheaper than Malcom to resign.

Wright is better at playing the run, he's great at covering the flat, and when he can get in a TE's mug coming off the line (like Graham) when teams split their TE's out wide, he generally neutralizes them. He's also got the best length of all our LBers, but he's also the slowest. For his physical measurables, I'm a bit surprised he got this contract from us as Pete likes speed at the LBer positions, but I'm guessing we need one good thumper out there.

Smith is banged up, right? He is pretty good in coverage, but dismal as a run stopper.

 

[aredub]

This is a great signing. I don't get all the negative reaction to keeping one of our young talents. He can play all 3 LB positions and has been a valuable asset lining up against TE's. I love this signing. Wager will get his, don't worry he isn't going anywhere.

 

[cdallan]

Very true, Vols, I just know we can't keep them all, and Irvin and Wags will be free to negotiate very soon. Irvin is likely to have his 5th year option taken by the Hawks. Now I think Avril walks, because that is a lot of cash to lock up in the defense without getting lopsided.

I worry about that, too. Maybe that's why they moved on Wright during the season, before any official cap increase numbers came out. We lock him into an OLB contract for realistic current numbers instead of for inflated "fresh cap money" numbers.

I still think Wright's number may be a little inflated, but nothing crazy...........and according to him, he thinks the same.

DAVIS HSU retweeted
John Boyle ‏@johnpboyle 31m31 minutes ago
KJ Wright said he had a number in mind to re-sign, and the #Seahawks actually exceeded it.

6.5M sounds good to me, that means we can sign Bobby for around 8M, and Avril around the same as Bennett. Irvin? If I had to guess Pete and John try to either talk him into a low extension like Baldwin, or cut him as I don't think he worth his 3M option.

I don't know how to feel about this if true. On one hand, it's bad business, on a human level, it's awesome.

I think you summed up my feelings well too. On the one hand, yay we reward one of our guys. On the other hand, we were bidding against ourselves...and managed to go too high.

 

[Scottemojo]

Ok so i lied that wasn't my last post.. Do I expect them to be perfect? No. I can find other mistakes of various levels. But go find me a team that makes zero mistakes, that hits on picks like this organization does and has been as close to back to back super bowl apperances? Ill wait.......................

Why do you need to bash this organization right now? This is the absolute pinacle of the franchise. They have never been to this level and you feel the need to bash. I honestly feel sorry for you you can't enjoy this.

Thanks, I am most of all to be pitied. I lack most of the passive aggressiveness I need to survive in this world.

First, if we all agreed, this place would be BORING.
Second, I didn't bash anyone. I said I thought KJ was less important than 8 other defensive players and I posted a picture.
Third, I scream as loud as anyone on gameday.

To be honest, the picture you posted was relevant and amusing, it showed that as much as we can trust PC and JS, they're capable of making mistakes. He went off on a whole other tangent.

Scotte doesn't need your pity, he's one of the bestest and most handsomest contributors on this board.

MysterMatt is the board candy, not me.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

I think this also means they think Marsh can take Avril's spot.

I hope so. Marsh had my heart forever when it was reported that he was watching The Last Samurai with his pitbull instead of draft coverage when he was drafted.

Marsh is years away from being the DE that Avril is.

Relax people, there is still plenty of cap space to sign both Avril and Wagner. All this does is keep one of the important pieces of a very good defense in tact. If you don't think Wright is an important part of this defense? Well then I can't help you and we have to part ways on the crazy train.

 

[cdallan]

$27m over 4 years is double what I'd want to pay for KJ. Unless the cap rising means we can fit this in, I'm not sure I like it.

Looks like Malcolm Smith is leaving at the end of his contract then. We have KJ at WLB and KPL on the bench...

Yeah, it's a head-scratcher.

Maybe this is more about rewarding their "guys" over pragmatism.

Well KJ brings a different skill set than our other OLB's. Irvin has basically relegated Malcom Smith to the bench in only 1 1/2 years starting at OLB. KPL has come in and also made a good impression, and he'll be a bit cheaper than Malcom to resign.

Wright is better at playing the run, he's great at covering the flat, and when he can get in a TE's mug coming off the line (like Graham) when teams split their TE's out wide, he generally neutralizes them. He's also got the best length of all our LBers, but he's also the slowest. For his physical measurables, I'm a bit surprised he got this contract from us as Pete likes speed at the LBer positions, but I'm guessing we need one good thumper out there.

All fair points. I thought as Pete would look for some little more speed as well.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

On the other hand, we were bidding against ourselves...and managed to go too high.

by 500k at most, so I guess no SB next year cause of not being able to sign a long snapper. WHY GOD WHY!

 

[SomersetHawk]

MysterMatt is the board candy, not me.

I'm not into Danny McBride types.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

I think this also means they think Marsh can take Avril's spot.

I hope so. Marsh had my heart forever when it was reported that he was watching The Last Samurai with his pitbull instead of draft coverage when he was drafted.

Marsh is years away from being the DE that Avril is.

Relax people, there is still plenty of cap space to sign both Avril and Wagner. All this does is keep one of the important pieces of a very good defense in tact. If you don't think Wright is an important part of this defense? Well then I can't help you and we have to part ways on the crazy train.

Frankly, my thinking is that they are probably be cutting some offensive players who haven't been pulling their contract weight the last couple of years. Okung, Unger, and Miller.

 

[pehawk]

We need some agreed upon rules;

1) If you question it, at all, you're a negative nancy and think KJ sucks

2) Bark at the negative nancy's using vague phrases like "you don't want us to keep the best defense in football intact?"

Are those the rules, ladies?

 

[cdallan]

Ok so i lied that wasn't my last post.. Do I expect them to be perfect? No. I can find other mistakes of various levels. But go find me a team that makes zero mistakes, that hits on picks like this organization does and has been as close to back to back super bowl apperances? Ill wait.......................

Why do you need to bash this organization right now? This is the absolute pinacle of the franchise. They have never been to this level and you feel the need to bash. I honestly feel sorry for you you can't enjoy this.

Thanks, I am most of all to be pitied. I lack most of the passive aggressiveness I need to survive in this world.

First, if we all agreed, this place would be BORING.
Second, I didn't bash anyone. I said I thought KJ was less important than 8 other defensive players and I posted a picture.
Third, I scream as loud as anyone on gameday.

To be honest, the picture you posted was relevant and amusing, it showed that as much as we can trust PC and JS, they're capable of making mistakes. He went off on a whole other tangent.

Scotte doesn't need your pity, he's one of the bestest and most handsomest contributors on this board.

MysterMatt is the board candy, not me.

Correct. You would not be able to pull off his "miniature Russell Crowe on Alderan, wearing a scarf" look.

 

[DavidSeven]

I think KJ was identified as a core guy quite a while ago. Probably as early as 2012. I remember Pete calling out his name as a "core guy" along with Kam, Earl, Sherm, etc. some time back. They obviously feel he is essential to some part of their scheme. I'm guessing it has a lot to do with his ability to cover TEs and also his ability to defend the screen game. How often have teams been able to kill us through TEs or screens? It's rare. He is a valuable cog that does contribute something unique due to his length. KPL has popped on screen, but we don't know that he can give us what KJ does in coverage (I'd actually be surprised if he could). I think KPL is more of a replacement for Malcolm Smith / depth behind Irvin.

Realistically, this team could keep filling their base DT spot with bargain veterans. It's an important position to fill with a good player, but that spot in the scheme doesn't rely as heavily on uniqueness. We just need a big guy and can likely find the Tony McDaniels and K. Williams of the world pretty easily through the second phase of free agency. Finding a LB who can reliably cover TEs and fill any spot in your LB corps is harder.

I'd really need to see what the real numbers are and how that impacts later signings before I can judge.

 

[cdallan]

We need some agreed upon rules;

1) If you question it, at all, you're a negative nancy and think KJ sucks

2) Bark at the negative nancy's using vague phrases like "you don't want us to keep the best defense in football intact?"

Are those the rules, ladies?

And Pe's got his time of the month, so you better say something nice about his hair.

 

[pehawk]

I think this also means they think Marsh can take Avril's spot.

I hope so. Marsh had my heart forever when it was reported that he was watching The Last Samurai with his pitbull instead of draft coverage when he was drafted.

Marsh is years away from being the DE that Avril is.

Relax people, there is still plenty of cap space to sign both Avril and Wagner. All this does is keep one of the important pieces of a very good defense in tact. If you don't think Wright is an important part of this defense? Well then I can't help you and we have to part ways on the crazy train.

Two months ago you called one of my posts "worst of the day" for hypothesizing Tharold Simon will start outside over Maxwell. You said he was a "few years away".

Is this like that? Because that was awesome. I love your tutorials...they're always spot on.

 

[Largent80]

 

[SomersetHawk]

We need some agreed upon rules;

1) If you question it, at all, you're a negative nancy and think KJ sucks

2) Bark at the negative nancy's using vague phrases like "you don't want us to keep the best defense in football intact?"

Are those the rules, ladies?

Keeps it simple doesn't it?

I did drag once, called myself Nancy, you can put me down for her.

 

[kearly]

I am only watching broadcast views, and I have only watched a few games twice. I'm sure there are things I still need to learn about Wright. That said, he is easily our most burnable LB, both in coverage and run support. But on the other hand he has some Kam-esque type stops in the open field and makes plays on the ball that make him look like a stud. He is a mixed bag, and with Pete's incredible ability to evaluate talent, I was looking forward to him drafting an even better LB to replace KJ. In fact, it's very possible we might already have that quality replacement on the team (Irvin and Pierre-Lewis).

Though I think Wright is a good player overall, he is a liability more often than any other member of Seattle's back seven. I was hoping Seattle would move on from him, or keep him at a dirt cheap price.

I don't think this is a terrible move. Overpaying for players isn't that big of a deal to me. It never really bothered me that Rice and Miller were so overpaid, because they were nice players. Being cheap with players is its own kind of problem, so I don't mind erring on the side of lavishness.

It is a bummer though that this move will probably necessitate the loss of Cliff Avril. I don't think we're ready to move on from Avril yet. This move could also make it a challenge to pay Lynch in 2015 as well.

This continues a pattern of Seattle slightly overpaying their in-house players. Kam, Max, Earl, Sherm and now KJ all came in about a million per year higher than most were guessing they would. That's not a complaint, but I think it's instructive for anyone that thinks Wilson is going to sign for $15 million a year.

Wagner is about to get PAID, which is both obvious and good news. That is the silver lining of this Wright deal for me. No way they sign Wright to this much money if the FO didn't already have Wagner's next deal penciled into their 2015 ledger.

 

[SomersetHawk]

I think this also means they think Marsh can take Avril's spot.

I hope so. Marsh had my heart forever when it was reported that he was watching The Last Samurai with his pitbull instead of draft coverage when he was drafted.

Marsh is years away from being the DE that Avril is.

Relax people, there is still plenty of cap space to sign both Avril and Wagner. All this does is keep one of the important pieces of a very good defense in tact. If you don't think Wright is an important part of this defense? Well then I can't help you and we have to part ways on the crazy train.

A few weeks ago you called one of my posts "worst of the day" for hypothesizing Simon will start over Maxwell. You said he was a "few years away".

Is this like that? Because that was awesome.

If you're going to call someone out folks, this is how you do it. Pay attention folks, especially you RunTheBall.

Textbook.