The line rebuilding process begins

Ex-hippie · Post #1 » by **Ex-hippie** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:17 pm

Dang, it's been quiet around here.

Mike Wahle, anyone? Anyone know how much he has left in the tank?

Post #2 » by **Sweezo** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:08 am

That really came in under the wire. I saw some fans leave comments yesterday about Wahle being in town for a visit but the press seemed to let it slide. I would think Wahle has something left in the tank...wasn't all that long ago he went to the Pro Bowl in back to back years, right? Just one or two seasons ago?

Hopefully he's the team's answer at RG and they're still considering options at LG.

EDIT: That last comment makes it seems like I'm displeased with the signing. Which I'm not. Wahle at LG and Sims at RG is a definite improvement. But Wahle at RG and ??? at LG may be even better. But I'm greedy.

Now the question is...what to do in the draft? Signing Wahle means you don't have to think LG so much, and perhaps have the luxury of...drafting BPA?

Post #3 » by **Bulltalk** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:54 am

Bravo Hawks. No messing around. Go right out and sign a need. If we can get a good two years starting out of him, I'm peachy with this.

NateMustGo · Post #4 » by **NateMustGo** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:07 am

Yea just read, he's ours for the next five years. Man that was quick.

Ex-hippie · Post #5 » by **Ex-hippie** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:52 pm

Sweezo wrote:EDIT: That last comment makes it seems like I'm displeased with the signing. Which I'm not. Wahle at LG and Sims at RG is a definite improvement. But Wahle at RG and ??? at LG may be even better. But I'm greedy.

My vote for "???" is Sean Locklear. And the RT will be Jordan Gross. But I, too, am greedy.

Post #6 » by **Sweezo** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:13 pm

Alge Crumpler was just released by Falcons. Damn. Get that Mora/Kerney connection working again...now.

Ex-hippie · Post #7 » by **Ex-hippie** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:16 pm

Sweezo wrote:Alge Crumpler was just released by Falcons. Damn. Get that Mora/Kerney connection working again...now.

Plus, big bro Carlester Crumpler played in Seattle for several years. Maybe he can give the city a nice plug.

People have been saying for a few years that Alge is overrated -- and he's now become one of those "so overrated he's underrated" players. He just might be a bargain now.

Post #8 » by **Sweezo** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:12 pm

He may be at a point where he's declining, but signing him doesn't preclude drafting a TE...just means we'd have options, unlike last year. He may not be as great as he was but he'd be a ridiculous improvement over what we had this past season.

Troy McClure · Post #9 » by **Troy McClure** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:01 pm

Please, sign him. Just for a year long deal....I'll be a happy 'hawk fan.

Ex-hippie · Post #10 » by **Ex-hippie** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:50 pm

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has suggested that the Seahawks might be interested in pursuing Crumpler.

I'm just a bit skeptical, though. Crumpler is 30, is coming off a poor year and has a bum knee. I'm thinking his release isn't 100% salary-related. Atlanta may well have acted out of the belief that Crumpler is finished. In which case, from our perspective, he's pretty much the same as Marcus Pollard a year ago. I trust that the Seahawks will do their homework and go after Crumpler if, and only if, they are persuaded that he can still play at a reasonably high level for another year or two. No more Pollards.

Post #11 » by **Sweezo** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:49 am

I think there's a big distinction between Pollard and Crumpler, as Crumpler's not that far removed from being one of the best TEs in the league, and I can't really look at anyone on that Falcons roster who seemed to succeed last season. But I could be wrong...

I trust the Seahawks to make the right decision...I don't see them throwing a bunch of money Crumpler's way if they think he's finished or a poor fit.

Ex-hippie · Post #12 » by **Ex-hippie** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:31 pm

Jordan Gross is going to be franchise-tagged. So much for that little fantasy of mine.

Post #13 » by **Sweezo** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:24 pm

And it sounds like the 'Hawks aren't one of the teams interested in Crumpler. Makes sense...I can see their reason for concern, and they certainly have people in place in the organization who know all about Crumpler.

Post #14 » by **Sweezo** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:52 am

Speaking of the line, we've resigned Locklear for 5 years, $32 million. Imagine how much better he'll look without having Chris Gray next to him.

Ex-hippie · Post #15 » by **Ex-hippie** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:52 pm

Looks to me like we're not out of the running for Crumpler: http://www.ajc.com/falcons/content/spor ... _0222.html

I've got nothing further to say beyond what Sweezo and I have both said: we trust Ruskell to get this one right. If Crumpler can contribute then Ruskell will go after him hard; if not, then Ruskell will let him go.

Sounds like a rather steep price for Locklear, but he's a quality lineman in his prime, and currently we don't have enough of those. Can't complain.

Post #16 » by **Sweezo** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:30 pm

I think the Locklear contract is fair. Sure, the team probably could have just gone with a tackle in the draft, but they're doing a good job of ensuring they're not entering the draft with a ton of needs.

It kinda sounded last night like the team was flirting with just letting Josh Brown go and replacing him in the draft. Which is...fine. I hate seeing teams spend a bunch of money on a kicker, even though I do like Brown. If he wants $2.5+ million a year, well...there's better ways to spend that money.

Ex-hippie · Post #17 » by **Ex-hippie** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:47 pm

Sweezo wrote:It kinda sounded last night like the team was flirting with just letting Josh Brown go and replacing him in the draft. Which is...fine. I hate seeing teams spend a bunch of money on a kicker, even though I do like Brown. If he wants $2.5+ million a year, well...there's better ways to spend that money.

^^Yep.

Post #18 » by **Bulltalk** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:37 pm

People too often tend to forget that the FA market includes your own FA's. It's nice to see the Seahawks getting busy with the offensive line right from the start. Signing one of our own FA offensive linemen, and going out and plucking a new one.

Nice.

Post #19 » by **Sweezo** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:56 am

Sounds like Crumpler wants $4 million per. Ummm...no.

Ex-hippie · Post #20 » by **Ex-hippie** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:22 pm

I found this article slightly disturbing: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/s ... ine24.html

The disturbing part is the positive comments by Holmgren regarding both Shaun Alexander and Chris Gray. In a way, they're almost mutually exclusive: (1) Alexander was less to blame for his dismal 2007 than his offensive line, and (2) we're happy to bring back the weakest link from the 2007 offensive line to play a significant role. He can't possibly be right on both points, but he can be wrong on both, and I think he is. True, Alexander doesn't get 100% of the blame, but it was pretty clear that he was diminished as a runner, not running authoritatively, and frequently going down on first contact. As for the rest of the blame, a big chunk of it rests with Gray. Put more bluntly, however you want to whack up the blame, it's pretty clear that the two offensive positions in greatest need of an upgrade are RB and RG. Yet here is Holmgren, speaking enthusiastically about bringing both Alexander and Gray for next year.

The best spin I can put on this is that Holmgren is just trying not to tip his hand before the draft. "Oh sure, we might think about adding a running back for depth, ho hum." At least I hope that's what it is.