Julius Jones? WTF?

[Ex-hippie]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3282689

Why are the Seahawks paying big bucks for more mediocrity at RB? I know, Duckett and Jones can do that whole Thunder-Lightning thing, but that doesn't change the reality that neither one is particularly good. Now the whole RB situation is a mess. I'm starting to lose my confidence in Ruskell this offseason.

[Troy McClure]

ugh.

ugh.

Fire Ruskell.

[MrNate]

I do think this is the death knell to SA's career in Seattle, I like the thunder and lightning combo, but now I am really rooting for Mendenhall or Stewart to fall for us and have a few years to develop.

[Bulltalk]

Hmm...I got nothing, hippie.

[Sweezo]

I really didn't expect the 'Hawks to sign Jones, and his numbers/injury history don't make me think he is crazy good compared to Morris...but it does intrigue me.

[HeavyP]

He is a better version of Mo Morris. He was cheap (3 million annually), not as cheap as a 2nd or 3rd rounder, but probably cheaper then any first round talent. I don't see any real downside to this move. We can Jettison Mo Morris out for a pick (4th or 5th rounder). And SA Will probably be gone too. I'm more than okay with all of this. "Considering that a signing bonus is sure to be involved, the first year cap hit is likely to be substantially less than the 4.6 million the Hawks can save by cutting Shaun and designating him as a June 1st cut"

[b_roy7]

Meh, bit of a gamble, but it might turn out good. If Stewart or Mendenhall fall, I say they take them. I could see some reason for this signing since both their stocks are raising.

[Bulltalk]

Meh, bit of a gamble, but it might turn out good. If Stewart or Mendenhall fall, I say they take them. I could see some reason for this signing since both their stocks are raising.

The thing though is the signing of Ducket AND Jones when we already had Mo and Weaver. It's made me a little suspicious as to whether they'd nab Stewart or Mendenhall if they should fall to us. It almost seems as if he's jettisoned that idea, and almost certainly seems to have jettisoned the idea of Felix Jones, unless his stock suddenly soars.

It seems like he's really positioning the Hawks to pick BPA at either the OL, DL, or possibly TE with our first pick, though it seems like TE might be a reach in the first round. WR seems *possible* if we don't resign Hackett, or CB if we lose Trufant in a deal.... So many possibilities. NFL draft is quite the football fan off-season bonanza.

Can you trade a newly signed FA on draft day? I'm brain farting on the rules.

[Ex-hippie]

I guess I wouldn't completely write off going for Stewart or Mendenhall in the draft (although it appears that Mendenhall's chances of lasting until #25 are now approximately zero). And if the team decides to forgo a RB in the draft, at least it sets us up to trade down in the first round and grab some extra picks to replenish the depth we seem to be losing at other positions. Perhaps not exciting, but it could be smart.

On the other hand, the last two drafts have already been what I would call "maintenance" drafts: short on players with major upside, but with several future solid starters and role players. That's fine, but at some point, don't you have to shoot for the moon?

[HeavyP]

Don't be surprised if we take Brian Brohm in the first round if he's there. Lets not forget, it's Holmgren's last year but it's not Ruskell's. He didn't want to take a RB because the big 3 RB's probably wouldn't drop to us. Also, you can draft a RB and plug him in for immediate success, so the year we really need a RB (no longer this year) we can do that.

I think our priorities go DT/OT/OG/TE for our first round pick. The problem is with DT the only one around our pick range will be Kentwan Balmer, who has character issues. SO I don't think we'll be taking a DT. There is PLENTY of talent at the OT in the first round this year, so that's my guess. Also, there's that Guard from Virginia who's getting a lot of hype. Also I doubt any TE goes in the first round, and the gap between them isn't very large. So you can get one in the third round.

[Bulltalk]

Don't be surprised if we take Brian Brohm in the first round if he's there. Lets not forget, it's Holmgren's last year but it's not Ruskell's. He didn't want to take a RB because the big 3 RB's probably wouldn't drop to us. Also, you can draft a RB and plug him in for immediate success, so the year we really need a RB (no longer this year) we can do that.

I think our priorities go DT/OT/OG/TE for our first round pick. The problem is with DT the only one around our pick range will be Kentwan Balmer, who has character issues. SO I don't think we'll be taking a DT. There is PLENTY of talent at the OT in the first round this year, so that's my guess. Also, there's that Guard from Virginia who's getting a lot of hype. Also I doubt any TE goes in the first round, and the gap between them isn't very large. So you can get one in the third round.

Interesting thoughts.

I don't think you can rule out DE in the equation, and, as a matter of fact, I'd probably put it at least on a par with DT if a stud was available to us in the first round. I just believe in this day and age that you've GOT to be able to get consistent heat on the quarterback. The Hawks loss to the Packers, and the Giants Super Bowl win impressed this fact upon me all over again.

True, DT might need to be shored up from a depth standpoint, but you could always use a DE who's a pass rushing beast. Tapp is solid, but doesn't appear extraordinary. If Kearny had another monster on the other side, and with Peterson occasionally blitzing in certain schemes, we could be even better defensively, and we're pretty good right now.

[Ex-hippie]

So in this thread, we've seen suggestions that the Seahawks use their first round pick on a QB, RB, OT, OG, TE, DT and DE. In another thread I've seen it suggested that we take a WR. If Trufant doesn't re-sign then we're clearly adding CB to the mix. So we're all in agreement on one thing: we will not spend the pick on a center, linebacker or safety. Short of that, we're back to the same strategy as every year: BPA.

[Bulltalk]

So in this thread, we've seen suggestions that the Seahawks use their first round pick on a QB, RB, OT, OG, TE, DT and DE. In another thread I've seen it suggested that we take a WR. If Trufant doesn't re-sign then we're clearly adding CB to the mix. So we're all in agreement on one thing: we will not spend the pick on a center, linebacker or safety. Short of that, we're back to the same strategy as every year: BPA.

I'd eliminate QB, CB if we resign Trufant, and WR if we resign Hackett, but, basically, yes.

[HeavyP]

Only because no safety is worth it. I'm always in favor of BPA, I almost Hope it's Brian Brohm.

[Ex-hippie]

-= original quote snipped =-
I'd eliminate QB,

I almost Hope it's Brian Brohm.

Good, so we're all in agreement!

[Ex-hippie]

Anyway, as I think about it, I think HeavyP's suggestion that we draft Brohm is intriguing. Brohm does have good talent; although he's coming off a disastrous year, he's the same guy who was projected as the #1 overall pick as of a year ago (and in fact could easily have challenged JaMarcus Russell for that honor if he had come out in 2007). A year with Mike Holmgren might do him a world of good. But is Hasselbeck (who is 32) that close to retirement? Brohm certainly wouldn't play in 2008 and probably not in 2009 either. After that, he's going to start to look like Aaron Rodgers, who is just now about to get his first chance, without much time left on his contract. I'll say this much about selecting Brohm: it will break our streak of drafts that don't give us anything to talk about.

[Bulltalk]

Anyway, as I think about it, I think HeavyP's suggestion that we draft Brohm is intriguing. Brohm does have good talent; although he's coming off a disastrous year, he's the same guy who was projected as the #1 overall pick as of a year ago (and in fact could easily have challenged JaMarcus Russell for that honor if he had come out in 2007). A year with Mike Holmgren might do him a world of good. But is Hasselbeck (who is 32) that close to retirement? Brohm certainly wouldn't play in 2008 and probably not in 2009 either. After that, he's going to start to look like Aaron Rodgers, who is just now about to get his first chance, without much time left on his contract. I'll say this much about selecting Brohm: it will break our streak of drafts that don't give us anything to talk about.

Intriguing...yes. But I'm about a year away from such considerations. With Frye and Wallace, I think we look elsewhere this year. Why not go for it NOW when the going's still good?

[S0yb3anB0y]

Remember Ahman Green? Well I think Jones can be that type. Explode for 2 probowl years then decline.

[TheUrbanZealot]

I really don't understand these signings either- they have Mora written all over them though...

We also signed Weaver too. So now we have Jones, Duckett, Weaver, Alexander, and Morris...wow, no one really stands out.

We did this when there is a draft that will have Felix Jones likely available to us at 25. I don't think people realize how talented this guy is, but I guess we'll learn the hard way (when he's running for a buck fifty on us).

I am trying my hardest to get excited and I just can't. It's obvious that Morris or Alexander or both are gone, but I don't see what Jones does much different than Morris, and I don't see what Duckett does that Weaver can't do better.

I think Jones ran for like 200+ on us Sunday or Monday night one time and I guess that's still etched in our memory...

[Sweezo]

Weaver's a fullback...