Where are you at with the Graham/ Unger Trade?

[massari]

Though again, like the Unger move, the real problem here was that Seattle failed to address the position the rest of the offseason, with the team failing to acquire a blocking TE replacement for Miller and Moeaki.

Blocking TE's are cheap, so why didn't they get one at the trade deadline, or even before the season?

 

[scutterhawk]

Since the Saints' Ben Watson is on pace to have more yards and TDs than Jimmy this year, maybe we traded for the wrong guy?

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/662718905455022080[/tweet]

Put Drew Breese behind the Seahawks O-Line through the first 8 games, have him try to implement games that were drawn up by Bevell, would you still believe Ben Watson would have the same success?
Yea.....Me Neither :lol:

 

[Tical21]

It hasn't really made sense to me. For a team that you would think should value blocking out of the TE position possibly more than any other team in the NFL, to pay a whole bunch of money and give a first round pick to one of the worst blocking TE's in the game seems confusing at best, especially when the team hasn't shown any ability to utilize the TE in the passing game.

Now our worst player is our center, and we have a superstar TE that we don't know how to use. Our offense has taken a MAJOR step backwards this year,especially in the red zone. I'm not sure how Unger is doing over there, but I'm not sure how you can possibly call this a win for the Seahawks.

 

[Overseasfan]

Looking back I don't think either side is a winner or loser here. Pretty fair trade overall but I do think that Graham gives us a lot more potential. Once he becomes completely integrated in our offense we'll be able to put up some serious numbers.

Short term = equal
Long term = we win

 

[Laloosh]

It hasn't really made sense to me. For a team that you would think should value blocking out of the TE position possibly more than any other team in the NFL, to pay a whole bunch of money and give a first round pick to one of the worst blocking TE's in the game seems confusing at best, especially when the team hasn't shown any ability to utilize the TE in the passing game.

Now our worst player is our center, and we have a superstar TE that we don't know how to use. Our offense has taken a MAJOR step backwards this year,especially in the red zone. I'm not sure how Unger is doing over there, but I'm not sure how you can possibly call this a win for the Seahawks.

At the time of the trade, I'm guessing Pete and John thought that McCoy was going to be their blocking TE. He's no Zach but he'd have been a lot better at it then what we have now.

 

[Ambrose83]

IMO people keep getting this deal wrong. It wasn't a one-for-one trade.

Unger was banged up, consistently missing time and could've been on the way out anyway. The Seahawks, instead of cutting him, got a fourth rounder. Whether you think that's fair value or not, not many ageing, injured center's get anything for you when they leave. And let's not forget -- when Unger was out last year, did anyone notice the performance of LJP or Patrick Lewis? They came in and the team didn't really miss a beat. You can make a very strong case that Seattle's problem this year isn't the removal of Unger from the line. It's the fact they had to break in three new starters at LG, C and RT because Britt couldn't hold down the RT spot and Alvin Bailey blew his chance at guard. The overall lack of chemistry and experience cannot be underestimated.

That leaves it as simply Graham for a first rounder. Yes you have to pay his salary, but who would you take with pick #31 instead of Jimmy Graham? Whatever your thoughts on his production so far, he is undoubtedly one of the elite TE's in the game. And Seattle got him for what? A pick Schneider admits wouldn't have got a first round talent. They were long gone. There were around 15 first round prospects in 2015. So you're looking at second round talent at the price of a first rounder.

They got a difference maker, an X-factor. And yeah, he isn't tearing up the league. Yet. But in terms of a pure deal, it's a relative bargain for the Seahawks. Now they just have to make it work. But what they acquired him for -- and this deal in total -- not sure how anyone can judge it as a bad move by the Seahawks.

THIS- how any of you see it any other way boggles my mind.

 

[Jville]

I was disappointed in the Unger deal. It represented a clear departure from a Zack Miller style tight end. A Greg Olsen acquisition, on the other hand, would have been enthusiastically celebrated by me. Olsen would have brought the same play call uncertainty to the field as Miller. And like Miller, Olsen is a full time player. His presence doesn't telegraph play selection so he doesn't come off the field. Without Miller or a similar replacement Seahawk blocking has suffered as a consequence. The run game has suffered. Their capacity to sell the run for play action has suffered. And they lost a key cornerstone in their pass protection and play action. None of that is Graham's fault. It is, instead, the consequences of choices made by Carroll and Schneider Company.

Graham does bring an exceptional dimension to their passing game. I thought his acquisition signaled a reach for a big red zone receiver. In any case, it was an acquisition targeted to enhance the passing game. And, although I can certainly follow along and appreciate Graham's improving blocking game, his special contributions are those of an unusual and exceptional jumbo receiver.

Choices are always about trade offs. The trade offs between a specialist and a better rounded competitor produce some of the more interesting affects and consequences. They affect play calling and often open up opportunities for others on the roster. The increasing use of a versatile Will Tukuafu out of both the fullback and tight end positions signals, for me, the presence of a void in their offensive make up. An ongoing void they are still working to fill.

It's common for many of us to get caught up and celebrate extraordinary specialists. Especially in this media and fantasy centrist era. But, the versatility of well rounded competitors does instill uncertainty in the mind of opponents. And uncertainty instills hesitancy. It challenges an opponents confidence. It buys those initial moments, opens up the field and opens up play calling. Indeed, the presence of well rounded competitors on the field of play remains a requisite for winning.

 

[massari]

I was disappointed in the Unger deal. It represented a clear departure from a Zack Miller style tight end. A Greg Olsen acquisition, on the other hand, would have been enthusiastically celebrated by me. Olsen would have brought the same play call uncertainty to the field as Miller. And like Miller, Olsen is a full time player. His presence doesn't telegraph play selection so he doesn't come off the field. Without Miller or a similar replacement Seahawk blocking has suffered as a consequence. The run game has suffered. Their capacity to sell the run for play action has suffered. And they lost a key cornerstone in their pass protection and play action. None of that is Graham's fault. It is, instead, the consequences of choices made by Carroll and Schneider Company.

Whoa, I didn't know Olsen was available. We'd still have the 1st rounder and possibly Unger if they got Olsen. Maybe they tried to sign him but wanted to stay in Carolina. unno:

 

[Hasselbeck]

I was disappointed in the Unger deal. It represented a clear departure from a Zack Miller style tight end. A Greg Olsen acquisition, on the other hand, would have been enthusiastically celebrated by me. Olsen would have brought the same play call uncertainty to the field as Miller. And like Miller, Olsen is a full time player. His presence doesn't telegraph play selection so he doesn't come off the field. Without Miller or a similar replacement Seahawk blocking has suffered as a consequence. The run game has suffered. Their capacity to sell the run for play action has suffered. And they lost a key cornerstone in their pass protection and play action. None of that is Graham's fault. It is, instead, the consequences of choices made by Carroll and Schneider Company.

Whoa, I didn't know Olsen was available. We'd still have the 1st rounder and possibly Unger if they got Olsen. Maybe they tried to sign him but wanted to stay in Carolina. unno:

He was never available. :lol:

I like this train of thought though.. I would have enthusiastically celebrated the team acquiring JJ Watt, Chris Harris, and the Cowboys offensive line.

 

[brimsalabim]

Our office failed to account for the fact that we traded our starting center from a line that was already pretty bad. Our staff then decided not to change our offense to accomidate Graham's strengths and weaknesses. I am happy with the trade in spite of the poor deceisions that followed.

 

[Hasselbeck]

Our office failed to account for the fact that we traded our starting center from a line that was already pretty bad. Our staff then decided not to change our offense to accomidate Graham's strengths and weaknesses. I am happy with the trade in spite of the poor deceisions that followed.

They traded Unger when he was going to be released any way. Agree or disagree with that, that was going to be their decision.

 

[Seahawkfan80]

I am fine with it at the moment as the evaluation is not complete yet. The final point of the evaluation will occur in about 1 and a half years. At that time the full integration of the parts and pieces will be complete.

 

[Donk70]

Problem isn't with Graham, he's still all world. Problem lies with Bevell and his play calling, Bevell's faith in Russ to run the offense, Russ's eroding skills, and Russ's lack of decision making.

 

[chris98251]

Problem isn't with Graham, he's still all world. Problem lies with Bevell and his play calling, Bevell's faith in Russ to run the offense, Russ's eroding skills, and Russ's lack of decision making.

Disagree with Eroding Skills and decision making, when unleashed his skills and command jump out big time, it's being collard and controlled that he becomes a shell of the player he really is.

 

[Donk70]

Problem isn't with Graham, he's still all world. Problem lies with Bevell and his play calling, Bevell's faith in Russ to run the offense, Russ's eroding skills, and Russ's lack of decision making.

Disagree with Eroding Skills and decision making, when unleashed his skills and command jump out big time, it's being collard and controlled that he becomes a shell of the player he really is.

If you continue to let Russell act without structure in the offense, eventually bad things will happen. He'll get hurt or cause a turn over. Russell needs to operate with a better Oline, a system where he's able to process reads so he can go check 1, 2 3, and either run or throw it away.

 

[chris98251]

Any QB that doesn't have time to make his reads will fail in an offense.

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

Still happy about it. Sure, our offensive line is whack. But I feel the line will get better (wishful thinking). Graham will have a huge game this season and will make a difference (still wishful thinking).

 

[rcaido]

Our D wasn't all there for the half of the season & Lynch was injured half the time. We seem to be in full strength & i think our offense will start clicking once we start with the run game again. Having Graham is awesome. Never really care for Unger even when he was healthy so yeah this is a good trade. Graham will be huge for us.

 

[NINEster]

A good trade for the New Orleans Saints.

 

[Laloosh]

A good trade for the New Orleans Saints.

Good trade for both imo. Wilson and Graham will be playing together for years to come. The line can't get any worse.

I think they'll be just fine.