seabowl":3ic1kssm said:
I've read through the comments so far and IMO there isn't one that convinces me that we are better.
Jackson on the OL is a very good upgrade. Everett is a good upgrade too but not tremendous when you look at him replacing both Hollister and Olsen. Hyder is a good player but losing Reed in the middle will hurt. Anyone thinking Witherspoon is an upgrade over Griffen is smoking something. Other then that everything else is pretty much the same as the end of last year's roster of who's left. Also those mentioning the emergence of players like Taylor, Collier, etc. I wouldn't get my hopes up. I did that with players like Rasheem Greene and he has turned out to be below average.
Look not trying to burst anyone's bubble but I'm just not putting on the rose colored glasses because this group has not improved on paper at least to this point as a whole IMO.
I dont think you can look at it simply through the lens of individual player acquisition. The way the FO sees it, its not just the new faces.
On the DL, its also the introduction of Darrel Taylor to a line that was already formidable toward the end of last year, albeit not as stout against the run as i would have liked - and the ripple effect that has in terms of current players switching roles (ie Collier moving inside). My wager is that they think Hyder will be able to do some of the same, and with Dunlap and Taylor on the edges, theres not a whole lot NOT to like about it.
In the secondary, its about the return of Marquis Blair, who by all accounts was a star waiting to erupt in a psuedo Bam Bam - light kind of way. The guy is a difference maker. And with him and Amadi on the field, i have to think they feel pretty good about the flexibility they have in coverage packages. Is Witherspoon the answer at CB, maybe not, but its not like Byron Maxwell was a superstar cover guy either. he was just a solid, solid player who had other measurables that fit the scheme and what the Hawks like to do. And you cant discount attitude and aggression either. thats one ingredient that the LOB had, regardless of talent... That 'edge'. Browner had it, Maxwell had it... the entire secondary played with it in the Hawks heyday. Thats the single biggest plus i see in losing Griffin. the guy was talented but didnt have the 'chip' that Hawk defenses thrive off of. No fire.
Also, Flowers showed considerable improvement as the season progressed. And Dunbar will have had a good 9 months to get right by the start of the season.
Not going to comment on the LB's as the KJ situation has yet to settle.
But overall on D... i think we made smart, strategic moves that will make our style of play much more effective. We've put talent AND aggression where we need it. We have guys coming off of injury that will be looking to prove themselves and new faces that come to us with some knowledge of what we run on D already.
But we need a big body to plug the middle.
On O, whats not to like? The single biggest factor here that makes us better is Waldron. Assuming he does what we think he's capable of, the O will be better with taht single move alone. We gave him a key piece at TE that i think will factor significantly in the playcalling. Plus Diss isback and will be a year removed from his major surgery, so i'd expect him to be better. And we get to see Parkinson, who by all accounts was an excellent pick
Having Carson at RB isnt just about his talent. Its about a style of play that energize the offense (along with DK) in the same way that Blair, Adams, Dunlap, and Reed do on defense.
The seahawks build as much around mental make up and 'fire' as any team ive ever seen. When we were best, we had ADB who wouldnt back down from anyone and an entire receiving core that played with a chip. There was Marshawn who challenged opposing team's manhood on every carry ('nuff said). Enough maulers on the O-line to shift the balance of power late in games, and then just enough talent throughout to win.
The LOB (and entire D for that matter) was just a generational thing, but in terms of ingredients today? Adams, Blair, Reed, Diggs... thats a solid, solid mix of talent and fire. Dunbar can bring it as well... and flowers showed Spark. Witherspoon, if you read up on why he soured in SF, seems to have all the talent and ego to fit our system, biut floundered in SF due to confidence issues as a resulty of injury and a few bad games. Is that a positive sign for a corner? no. but i cant imagine a better place for a talented DB to land who might be lacking in that aspect than in the DB room with Adams, Diggs, Reed and the rest.
And the O-liine?
Brown
Jackson
Pocic
Lewis
Shell
Could the center be improved? sure. but whats not to like? Not only do we shore up the LG spot, but the group has a year together now. Consistency cannot be overestimated. My biggest concern is having Brown go down. if that happens, all bets are off.
So all in all, we are adding considerable talent in just getting guys back that we lost. Through FA'cy We are adding guys that might not have consistently lit the world on fire where they were, but by the 'Hawks measuring stick, will likely play above what they would on other rosters because of the unique traits they have and how they 'fit' into out system.
And on offense, we will have a scheme that other teams in the division wont know how to prepare for.
Key to all of this (i think) will be our ability to effectively run the ball and control the clock. That doesnt mean 3 runs and a cloud of dust every possession, but with the addition of Waldron, hopefully a rushing attack that can cut you like a scalpel and crush you like a sledgehammer. Then, a passing game that will have defenses constantly guessing and an attitude of its own with the fire that DK brings. i think the moves we've made will undoubtedly help us do that.
On D - we just have to be able to stop the run up the middle and also get pressure there. I think we are solid edge wise and above average on the back end. If the Offense can keep the ball for better than 30 minutes a game, I think we will be markedly better than we were last year... without Russ having to 'cook'.
In my opinion, this offseason has been nothing short of brilliant.
