Today marks the start of an eight-practice Seahawks minicamp that's to be spread out over the next two weeks, and also the start of a vow to myself to update this goddamned blog more often. Being unemployed certainly has its merits, but that's another story...
So, first thing's first.
I'm going to jump the gun on this one and dub WR Logan Payne "White Chocolate" or "The Great White Hope." I've heard buzz about this guy since he was signed off the practice squad last December, just before the playoff game in Green Bay. If Holmgren has faith in this kid, no better example of that could've been shown than signing him before the most important game of the year. Nevermind the fact that it was somewhat ill-fated. Besides, we cut Marcus Pollard's ass quicker than the average Jets' fan cuts the cheese. No point in hanging onto the dead weight that blows the game when it counts. (I won't mention names, but Jerramy Stevens really fu...oops, too late.)
But beyond just Payne (maybe his nickname should be "Max?!"), the buzz around Seahawkville lately seems to be centering itself around the young group of receivers, the new running game and the defensive unit that seems to be more stacked than the Romanian army. I think, dear readers (do I even have any out there?!) that I'll break these down individually so we can possibly discuss each without anything getting too muddled. Unless of course I go off on a wild tangent about how much I hate Pittsburgh, why the Lakers suck, or what the hell that huge freaking bird is doing staring at me from outside my window for the past 12 minutes. Let's hope this is fruitful. (The writing, that is.)
The running of the 'Hawks
When the team signed Julius Jones and TJ Duckett a few months ago, I was ecstatic. I was, admittedly, also pretty happy to see Tim Ruskell finally saying enough is enough and cutting Shaun Alexander. His talent was fantastic and he played a pivotal role in getting the 'Hawks to XL, despite the fact that their real opponents were the ones wearing black and white, not black and gold. JESUS, I'm getting on the verge of another Pittsburgh tangent and I haven't even written a full paragraph yet. This could be bad.
No more. NO MORE OF THIS BABBLE I SAY! Where was I?! Right...Julius Jones. TJ Duckett. The new blood.
Alexander's role with the Seahawks came to an end, if you ask me, in the middle of '07 when the Qwest Field fans began booing him like he was Ben Roethlisturdburglar. And Holmgren wasn't afraid to come forward and say, "We couldn't run worth a lick" after the Pittsburgh rematch. It was ugly, and none of the fans want to remember that. But we knew Alexander's time was up afterwards, and the management knew it as well.
With the new look running game that's been assembled, Seattle has created a monster ground offense to complement Matt Hasselbeck's receiving weapons. Julius Jones, by the way, has the potential to be used as a great blocker and receiver in addition to being a powerful runner who hits the holes as hard as a jackhammer tearing the holy hell out of any given street in South Lake Union. And the team has been MISSING this facet since 2005, which was Shaun's last gasp. The past two years have left something to be desired - let's be real. And now, the chance to rise up as true contenders once again has presented itself. This gives me a nice, comfortable feeling in my gut. Kind of like when I finish a dark beer.
The youth of today
Courtney Taylor. Ben Obumanu. Logan Payne. Jordan Kent. They're all names that the average football fan will be wholly unfamiliar with, but around here in the Pacific Northwest, they're drawing increasing excitement.
Obumanu stepped in for Deion Branch a few times last year, and at other various points when a hole in the receiving game needed to be plugged up. He actually emerged for a touchdown catch in the New Orleans game last year, which I still fully blame on the fact that then-long snapper Boone Stutz is a bumbling douchenozzle, but that's another tangent for another time as well. The point is, Ben has his best years ahead of him, and a quarterback in his prime. This smells delicious.
Courtney Taylor saw limited playing time last year, also stepping in on third-down plays and playing an occasional role in Holmgren's freakishly complicated offense. If the guy can withstand some of the plays I saw the offense execute last year, I'm fairly confident he can produce when it counts. Other than that, he's a bit of a question mark with guys like Logan Payne being the talk of the town.
And what a talk this has been. Nate Burleson was on local radio recently, praising the Great White Hope's efforts in practice thus far in the offseason. Michael Steffes over at seahawkaddicts.com says he's already penciling Payne in for 40 catches and 500 yards this year, and while I'm optimistic about agreeing with that, I wonder how many times he'll see the end zone. Preferably with the ball in his hands.
But that's not to be negative. I'm jazzed at the fact that we might have a Nasty Nate protege' on our side this year. Besides, I'd start taking bets on how long it takes Payne to start doing the white guy version of the Seahawk end zone dance perfected by Burleson last year. And the Bears thought they were cool in '84 with that rap video nonsense. In your face, Fridge.
Armed to the teeth
The Seahawks' defense was a beast last year, allowing 291 total points and tying for second-best in the NFC. They had a solid secondary, led by safeties Brian Russell and Deion Grant; not to mention a murderous linebacking corps and a hell of a defensive end in Patrick Kerney.
For Tim Ruskell, though, that wasn't enough.
The No. 1 pick from Seattle in the draft this year was yet another defensive end - a guy from USC by the name of Lawrence Jackson. He's affectionately earned the nickname "Lo Jack" out here, which strikes me as insanely funny because my dad used to have a middle school student who got the same nickname because he wore an ankle bracelet. Apparently the kid got in trouble with the law a couple times.
Fortunately, our Lo Jack doesn't seem to have any behavior problems, but he apparently does hate getting up early.
If that's his biggest challenge so far, though, I can live with that.Jackson is adding another element to a defense that's already armed to the teeth with talent. Grant and Russell are of course back for more, and the new draft class includes DT Red Bryant, who reportedly plowed the living shit out of new RB Justin Forsett at today's minicamp. Bryant later said he didn't realize how hard he was coming out of the hole at Forsett, but if that's how hard he hits at a minicamp, I'm looking forward to what he might do to Adrian Peterson on August 8.
Speaking of which...has the season started yet? Because god damn, another two months seems like an eternity.
I haven't been this jacked up about a football season in forever. Some people tell me "it's only football, Mike," and those usually end up being their last words. Don't tell anyone.
