Luke and Shead coming back

[Uncle Si]

Nash...

I'd say both positions will be improved upon with additional signings or draft picks. For certain CB where I can see them drafting two in the first 4 rounds

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

Don't really think it has anything to do with Graham.

I think both guys are well liked by the team, top to bottom, and are slightly being rewarded for being consummate team players as guys done everything asked of them.

And more so with the team adding depth now and hoping their market picks up better next year.

 

[Seafan]

Great signings. They get these guys for a fraction of their actual value.

 

[nash72]

Nash...

I'd say both positions will be improved upon with additional signings or draft picks. For certain CB where I can see them drafting two in the first 4 rounds

Right, then why keep them? I'd rather have the cash back to spend elsewhere.

 

[seahawkfreak]

As John Schneider succinctly described during his recent combine presser, this time of year is all about "checking boxes" of need before the draft. Checking our boxes with experienced veterans on low-risk, prove it deals means we will be less dependent on the draft to fill specific positions of need.

It does NOT mean we will disregard these areas in the draft and undrafted free agency, i.e. kicker, offensive tackle, running back, tight end, cornerback, etc. It simply allows us to be more freewheeling and creative in drafting the best available players for this team.

IMO, that was one of the major dilemmas with the draft classes since our championship. We were forced to play catch-up, due to not having all of our boxes checked with veterans, by targeting very specific players in the draft at very specific positions of need.

Rather than relying on the draft to fill our holes, the team has done a nice job this year of acquiring free agents to meet the base line for the competition. Now the draft can be used to supplement that competition with young -- and hopefully even better -- talent. Think of it as plugging the holes in a leaky boat first (with "prove it" vets) before you spend your time scooping the water out with a bucket (rookies).

This guy gets it. These deals don't guarantee that Willson makes the roster this year. This just frees them up immensely with their draft strategy. Completely expecting the draft to solve your problem at any position just sets you up very poorly in multiple ways. If your competition knows you need something, they can more easily and confidently target where to move to draft someone they covet that you might have wanted.

So what if you go through the offseason not addressing a position at all with the thinking that the draft will solve it and then everyone you "planned" on in the draft gets sniped from you? Then you have a huge void at the position and have to hope it doesn't come back to haunt you due to injuries or anything magnifying it's importance.

Sure it's easy to say "This is a deep TE draft class, why make this deal?" but these guys have to consider the possibility of NOT getting a TE they want in the draft and this gives them insurance for that scenario. You'll see that similarity with all of the signings this offseason. As the quoted poster said, it's Schneider "checking boxes" for draft flexibility/strategy.

 

[Seafan]

As John Schneider succinctly described during his recent combine presser, this time of year is all about "checking boxes" of need before the draft. Checking our boxes with experienced veterans on low-risk, prove it deals means we will be less dependent on the draft to fill specific positions of need.

It does NOT mean we will disregard these areas in the draft and undrafted free agency, i.e. kicker, offensive tackle, running back, tight end, cornerback, etc. It simply allows us to be more freewheeling and creative in drafting the best available players for this team.

IMO, that was one of the major dilemmas with the draft classes since our championship. We were forced to play catch-up, due to not having all of our boxes checked with veterans, by targeting very specific players in the draft at very specific positions of need.

Rather than relying on the draft to fill our holes, the team has done a nice job this year of acquiring free agents to meet the base line for the competition. Now the draft can be used to supplement that competition with young -- and hopefully even better -- talent. Think of it as plugging the holes in a leaky boat first (with "prove it" vets) before you spend your time scooping the water out with a bucket (rookies).

This guy gets it. These deals don't guarantee that Willson makes the roster this year. This just frees them up immensely with their draft strategy. Completely expecting the draft to solve your problem at any position just sets you up very poorly in multiple ways. If your competition knows you need something, they can more easily and confidently target where to move to draft someone they covet that you might have wanted.

So what if you go through the offseason not addressing a position at all with the thinking that the draft will solve it and then everyone you "planned" on in the draft gets sniped from you? Then you have a huge void at the position and have to hope it doesn't come back to haunt you due to injuries or anything magnifying it's importance.

Sure it's easy to say "This is a deep TE draft class, why make this deal?" but these guys have to consider the possibility of NOT getting a TE they want in the draft and this gives them insurance for that scenario. You'll see that similarity with all of the signings this offseason. As the quoted poster said, it's Schneider "checking boxes" for draft flexibility/strategy.

Yep. We have these same conversations every spring.

 

[Uncle Si]

Nash...

I'd say both positions will be improved upon with additional signings or draft picks. For certain CB where I can see them drafting two in the first 4 rounds

Right, then why keep them? I'd rather have the cash back to spend elsewhere.

That cash is going to the position regardless. So why not retain two vets who know the team at a very low cost and almost no risk?

Ahead and Willson don't resolve the depth issues on their own. They are simply part of the solution.

 

[AgentDib]

On the note of compensatory picks look at our current list of 2018 UFAs.

Offense: Jimmy Graham, Luke Willson, Paul Richardson, Justin Britt, Luke Joeckel, Garry Gilliam, Oday Aboushi
Defense: Kam Chancellor, DeShawn Shead, Cassius Marsh, Kevin Pierre-Louis

Hopefully we can extend or resign a few of these guys. Either way, it's clear the Hawks are playing the long term game here.

 

[hawk45]

Shead played well last year and the Cary Williams and Jeremy lane experiments tell me it's worth spending money on a known if injured quantity at CB because we definitely can't pull the Maxwells and Sheads out of nowhere on demand.
I wouldn't love 3 mil on Willson but I'd live with "up to" 3 mil I guess. I'm listing towards Tical more on my attitude about the Willson signing. Just seems eminently replaceable.
If it's for draft flexibility okay. If it's some kind of reward not okay. When you have sunk as much money at the TE position as we have, sentiment is a luxury you cannot afford. The locker room might have soured if you didn't reward a Doug Baldwin but nobody is going to stage a sit in over Willson.

 

[hawk45]

On the note of compensatory picks look at our current list of 2018 UFAs.

Offense: Jimmy Graham, Luke Willson, Paul Richardson, Justin Britt, Luke Joeckel, Garry Gilliam, Oday Aboushi
Defense: Kam Chancellor, DeShawn Shead, Cassius Marsh, Kevin Pierre-Louis

Hopefully we can extend or resign a few of these guys. Either way, it's clear the Hawks are playing the long term game here.

Who of the above do we think fall into the "Tical zone"?

IMO Marsh, KPL, Gilliam.

Willson might move out of the Tical zone for me if Graham is gone for the right low price.

The new OL signings I reserve judgment in the laughably unlikely event we are surprised by anything resembling competent play.

 

[olyfan63]

Don't people remember plays from Willson like the 40-yard-ishTD vs Arizona a couple seasons ago, a little floater Russell threw for Luke to run under? Willson's speed makes the D have to account for him. He's become a decent blocker. Yes, his catch radius and hands aren't all they could be; he has trouble when he has to rotate his torso to try to catch a ball a little behind him. Like others said, solid player, knows the Seahawks scheme, coaches know his strengths and weaknesses, and can use him. Celebrate his return! If we pick up a TE in the draft or FA that beats him out, so much the better. My bet is on Willson being back and having a solid season, with a few key plays at crucial times. A good supporting cast player, solid move by the Hawks.

 

[HawkGA]

How does Shear's deal compare to what he would have gotten with the minimum tender?

 

[HawkGA]

Since you are the .net doc. What is your opinion on the possibility of Shead really having an impact considering he tore his acl January 16th? And apparently it wasn't a clean tear at that?

6-9 months is the new normal for full recovery of an ACL tear.

Every chance that even on the slow cycle of rehab he could be back and contributing to the team on the field in games by September.

I don't provide care for professional athletes so I have to do some mental estimations. The average recovery for an NFL player is in the 10 month range. The recovery time is skewed a bit because of the season. Players who are injured early in the season take longer to recover, because they don't need to be recovered as quickly.

I will compare what we know of Shead to the timeline of Adrian Peterson's recovery. Peterson was in the 90th percentile for recovery, returning to play after just over 8 months. He tore his ACL Dec 24th, less than 1 month before Shead (ignoring the year). In 5 months he was putting lateral strain on the knee with a brace.


Shead posted pictures of early rehab on Friday, January 27th.




So he likely had surgery early that last week of January. I assume it was a ACL replacement. I haven't seen any info on where the graft is from. IMHO, this was a little rushed. They should have done some more pre-hab.

It would be instructional to see where he was 2-weeks post op, but I haven't found that data.


On March 15, Tracy Ford (Ford Sports Performance in Bellevue) posted the following video

[tweet]https://twitter.com/TFordFSP/status/842073847364952064[/tweet]

So, about 8 weeks post-op, he is working primarily on maintaining strength in the core, hip, thigh, and calf. He is starting to put some light, isometric strain on the ACL. I am guessing that he is about 2 weeks behind Adrian Peterson's timeline.

He likely has another 4-6 weeks before he is allowed to start running in a straight line, and another 10-12 weeks before he can start cutting with a knee brace on.

The video shows that he is doing what he needs to to be ready for the big tests sometime between May and July when he will see if he is strong enough to stabilize and protect the leg when he returns to sports specific activities.

I think he is looking at a late October to mid November return. If you want to nail me down, I would say he will return Nov 5th unless the bye week is the 5th or the 12th. If the bye week falls on one of those Sundays, he will return following the bye week.

Can we put an alarm with a link to just this post to see how close doc comes?

 

[jammerhawk]

For Shead this is good b/c he will rehab where he knows the trainers and medical staff, besides this is a clear message the team wants to keep him at last one the next FA period as Shead could justify a good size contract as a healthy FA. If so and the team decides to pass on re-signing him they are potentially buying a draft comp. pick while providing depth for the end of the season @ CB.

Next year may also be a better offseason for TEs.

 

[sdog1981]

Those three weeks with Shead are going to tip the scales.

 

[Tical21]

On the note of compensatory picks look at our current list of 2018 UFAs.

Offense: Jimmy Graham, Luke Willson, Paul Richardson, Justin Britt, Luke Joeckel, Garry Gilliam, Oday Aboushi
Defense: Kam Chancellor, DeShawn Shead, Cassius Marsh, Kevin Pierre-Louis

Hopefully we can extend or resign a few of these guys. Either way, it's clear the Hawks are playing the long term game here.

Who of the above do we think fall into the "Tical zone"?

IMO Marsh, KPL, Gilliam.

Willson might move out of the Tical zone for me if Graham is gone for the right low price.

The new OL signings I reserve judgment in the laughably unlikely event we are surprised by anything resembling competent play.

Haha Tical zone has a fantastic ring to it! And I fully agree on all three players. I'm actually pretty disappointed Gilliam and KPL haven't been sent packing. Just taking roster spots of players who could actually become mediocre or better, because they're nice guys. I'm okay with Marsh as the last guy in your DE rotation because of his special teams play and occasional pressure, but whoever thought it a good idea to make him our 3rd down specialist last year should be beaten with a stick.