Don't think it really matters others imo for reasons already stated.
Maybe we didn't win the trade in 2015.
But Graham was valuable in 2016, and setting franchise records, while being really a dominant safety valve for an immobile Russ.
2017 has looked complicated this far Graham. But I doubt that will remain the case.
Seahawks in the first quarter of the season, you can tell there's been a special attention in developing and strengthening the physicality and chemistry in the running game in all parts.
The passing game has been hit or miss, but protection and drops have been an issue early on this season as well as time in general. Opposing offenses are nickle and diming the Seahawks D trying to win T.O.P. So refining has been an issue as leading to timing and execution troubles.
I think that definately irons out moving forward to point where specifically Graham and Wilson are going to get in sync and develop that dominant connection.
Also, most people with Graham only look at the one part , whether or not, he's an elite pass catcher.
They still say he is a bad blocker, even through has developed in that aspect. I think starting to become more solid as a blocker. Not saying he's good but definitely not as bad as people make him seem based on seeing one play where he might get dominated or whiff.
Around the league (not just here), I've seen O-Linemen, bigger and stronger, whose job is solely to block, get dominated and miss assignments too. That's the NFL.
People will say Graham is soft because of few plays. But I've seen this guy make tough, physical catches in traffic and he's constantly having to make difficult plays on the ball where he's being draped, face guarded, and held. And like right now where timing is an issue and the execution of something like exact ball placement, it's going to lead to negative plays.
People look at his production and usage yet at the same time might neglect what he's doing maybe as a decoy. Is he being bracketed and accounted for pulling coverages that might allow other players to have more space. Is he helping to clear the middle of the field, where Wilson can find room to run? Etc.
I'll admit Graham probably isn't the best fit for a team with aspirations to be a tough, physical running game but he's far from worthless in this system. I also feel his skillset is better suited for RBs like McKissic and Prosise than guys like Lynch, Carson, and Lacy. Rawls is more of a tweenner. Where the space JG might open for them in the middle can spark big plays or possibly the threat of the RBs as WRs, might open things up for Graham to find a mismatch.. But it's always going to come down always in execution and protection, if that's not clean, the results won't be positive.
That's why I'm excited, I feel the Seahawks are starting to find thier rhythm in terms of refining, galvanizing, being on the same page, and just really fine tuning what really works and what needs to be worked on and fixing it.
I see an offense that's going to get better and that's going to really open up for Graham, who in my opinion thrives on rhythm in terms of dominating games like a lot of players do.