Wow - Bennett Wants Trade\New Contract?

[NorthHawk]

We know how our Offense has been built to date, but maybe they want to add another element - a bit of finesse.
I'm sure they know the type of player he is when they traded for him and know his limitations so it wouldn't surprise me if they don't ask him to be as good a blocker as current and past receivers.
I see his value as being with what he brings that we don't already have and to limit that so he fits the current profile might in fact limit his effectiveness here.
It would be like turning a Secretariat into a plow horse (an extreme metaphor to make a point). The value of the acquisition would be lost.

[RiverDog]

We know how our Offense has been built to date, but maybe they want to add another element - a bit of finesse.
I'm sure they know the type of player he is when they traded for him and know his limitations so it wouldn't surprise me if they don't ask him to be as good a blocker as current and past receivers.
I see his value as being with what he brings that we don't already have and to limit that so he fits the current profile might in fact limit his effectiveness here.
It would be like turning a Secretariat into a plow horse (an extreme metaphor to make a point). The value of the acquisition would be lost.

We're not morphing into a finesse offense. Our defense dictates what kind of offense we deploy. You said it yourself in other threads, that our offense is just "along for the ride". Our offense is all about protecting the ball, taking advantage of limited scoring opportunities, and not putting the defense in bad positions. Since Russell arrived in 2012, we've been a top 5 rushing team for each of the 3 years he's been here, including the #1 rushing team in the league last season, and I don't see the signing of Graham as an indication that we're moving away from that philosophy. It would take a lot more different personnel than one player like Graham to go from smash mouth to finesse. If you look at Pete's teams both in the NFL and at USC, they were not finesse teams. They've always been strong defensive teams with ball control offenses.

Graham will add another dimension to our team and will make us more difficult to defend and IMO it's a plus to have him on our team, but he's not going to change our entire run first philosophy. He's not a 3 down tight end ala Zach Miller.

I think Bennett raises a legitimate point about Graham's softness and ability to block, although if I had my druthers, I'd rather he kept his opinion to himself so as not to create a controversy.

[NorthHawk]

I never said we were morphing into another type of Offense, rather adding an element of finesse, that opposing Defenses will have to consider, and that it might be best to use the players skill that separates him from others to the maximum instead of limiting his upside and asking him to do something he's not comfortable with or good at.

To use a football comparison, like how Defenses used Deion Sanders and not asking him to be big on run support. That would have taken away his unique contribution to the teams he played for and it didn't make any of those Defenses "soft". Graham is obviously not the Offensive equivalent of Sanders, but it's an additional skill set we haven't had, and Pete has said he wants to find ways to use those special qualities or abilities of each of his players that make them special.

[HumanCockroach]

It might not have made the defenses soft, but it didn't change the fact that Deion was indeed soft. It made the against the run, the other ten had to pick up the slack, if Graham refuses to do his job, the same will be true amongst the Seahawks offense in running plays. Just the way it is with incomplete football players. Graham may offset the weakness but that is something we all will have to wait to see.

As for Bennett's comments? Eh, they are accurate, at least in Bennett's opinion, and it shouldn't make much if a difference in the grand scheme of things.

[NorthHawk]

That they traded out of the first round and gave up a probable chance at a higher ranked traditional TE like a Clive Walford seems to suggest they have something different in mind for Graham.
Maybe the majority of time he will be lined up in the slot or wider - who knows?
What we do know is a big WR or a big pass catching TE gives us a different look and something for other teams to plan against.

Regarding Sanders, he made the Defenses he played on better, so who knows if Graham can help make our Offense better.

[jshawaii22]

RD wrote: Bennett's comments are not all personal. He's criticizing Graham as a player, says he's going to be asked to block more on a run first team than he was asked to do in NOLA. IMO Bennett is bringing up some legitimate concerns about Graham, some of the same concerns I have, ie that Graham is not a 3 down player.[/quote]

RD, that may very well be true, but having a TE that is more receiver then blocker is not out of the norm. I can see splitting him out or having him outside another TE in short yardage plays and using him to our advantage as a pass catcher. I don't think it's that big of a deal. Does Willson block much? I don't remember anyone touting him as a blocking TE. We also have McCoy and he is, what, 280 lbs? If he's healthy, he can block.

[HumanCockroach]

Maybe McCoy can block, course, no one has seen him play a regular season snap in over two full years, if anyone is banking on McCoy as an answer they might want to cross fingers on both hands and all the toes as well.

[RiverDog]

RD wrote: Bennett's comments are not all personal. He's criticizing Graham as a player, says he's going to be asked to block more on a run first team than he was asked to do in NOLA. IMO Bennett is bringing up some legitimate concerns about Graham, some of the same concerns I have, ie that Graham is not a 3 down player.

RD, that may very well be true, but having a TE that is more receiver then blocker is not out of the norm. I can see splitting him out or having him outside another TE in short yardage plays and using him to our advantage as a pass catcher. I don't think it's that big of a deal. Does Willson block much? I don't remember anyone touting him as a blocking TE. We also have McCoy and he is, what, 280 lbs? If he's healthy, he can block.[/quote]

I agree, and I'm not complaining. I like the trade. And I agree with North that we more than likely will see something more out of Graham than a traditional in line tight end. IMO we'll see him more of a hybrid TE/WR. I look at it as a net plus.

But nevertheless, it still leaves a need, and that is that we don't have a real good replacement for Zach Miller. We need a solid blocking tight end who can be a dependable receiver. Luke is a good receiving tight end, but he's not much of a blocker, at least not on the same level Miller was, and McCoy can't catch a cold. We might as well start that battery mate of Jon Ryan's if McCoy is our best option.

[NorthHawk]

If we are looking for a blocking TE with a little pass catching ability, it would mean letting go of one of the existing TEs currently on the roster. If we use Graham mostly split wider, it's less of an issue and we can still get some added blocking with Gilliam when or if required.

If we go the draft route, there should be some players that can play a traditional TE role in later rounds.
A quick check of NFL DraftScout has 2 that might be of interest (if you assume their evaluations are accurate).

Nick Boyle from Delaware 6-4 268 High Motor, good blocker, and competitive.

C.J. Uzomah from Auburn 6-6 262 OK blocker, soft hands, lots of potential.

[RiverDog]

If we are looking for a blocking TE with a little pass catching ability, it would mean letting go of one of the existing TEs currently on the roster. If we use Graham mostly split wider, it's less of an issue and we can still get some added blocking with Gilliam when or if required.

If we go the draft route, there should be some players that can play a traditional TE role in later rounds.
A quick check of NFL DraftScout has 2 that might be of interest (if you assume their evaluations are accurate).

Nick Boyle from Delaware 6-4 268 High Motor, good blocker, and competitive.

C.J. Uzomah from Auburn 6-6 262 OK blocker, soft hands, lots of potential.

I do think we'll be looking for a blocking tight end in the draft. I can't believe that we're satisfied with our current roster.

[jshawaii22]

If the team resigned him, at least for now, you have to consider McCoy as an option. Many of us called out Okung for the same thing 2 years ago and he's been 'almost' healthy for a couple of years. Is he still 'injury prone'?

You never know with football whether or not someone is really 'injury prone'... I guess we'll find out this year on McCoy, but right now, he's our 'blocking' TE.

js

[savvyman]

As usual - Where there is smoke you will most likely find a fire......


http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seah ... -workouts/


>>>>><The Seattle Seahawks will begin their voluntary off-season program today with two weeks of strength and conditioning drills and physical rehabilitation.

One player not expected to attend is defensive lineman Michael Bennett, who has asked the team to renegotiate his contract. A source said Bennett would not report to the beginning of the workout period Monday.

Bennett is entering the second year of a four-year deal worth $28.5 million signed in March, 2014.

Bennett has denied a report that he has asked to be traded. But sources have said Bennett would like the team to redo his contract.<<<<<<<<<<

[c_hawkbob]

Second year of a 4 year deal is just too soon unless you're JJ Watt.

[Oly]

Second year of a 4 year deal is just too soon unless you're JJ Watt.

This.

[RiverDog]

Bad news. With Russell's contract issues front and center and Bobby Wagner's deal yet to be done, we can't afford to be redoing every player that thinks they might be a little underpaid.

Bennett seems to have an axe to grind with someone. He was less than enthusiastic about the Graham trade and now he wants his contract renegotiated.

[Anthony]

Bad news. With Russell's contract issues front and center and Bobby Wagner's deal yet to be done, we can't afford to be redoing every player that thinks they might be a little underpaid.

Bennett seems to have an axe to grind with someone. He was less than enthusiastic about the Graham trade and now he wants his contract renegotiated.

Yeah well they opened yup that can of worms with the Lynch thing of the last 2 years.

[jshawaii22]

Marshawn > Bennett, especially last year. Not a good comparison, but it still sucks. You sign a contract, you agreed to take the front money based on that contract and now it's not good enough? Why, you weren't All Pro. You didn't get 10 sacks. I don't see you getting the face time the other D-Stars around the league get. I think he's paid in the ballpark for his worth.

[NorthHawk]

To add fuel to the fire, Bennett wasn't at the optional workout Monday.

[Oly]

While I'm not at all in Bennett's corner on the contract reworking, I can't help but think of Big Walt right now. I'm trying to remember if Big Walt was ever at voluntary camps. Hell, he held out of camp altogether several times, but when he was on the field he played his heart out and when he was in the locker room he was a consummate teammate.

I think I'll just give Bennett the benefit of the doubt until he starts missing games or performing poorly in them because he didn't attend a voluntary camp.

[RiverDog]

Yeah well they opened yup that can of worms with the Lynch thing of the last 2 years.

Agreed.

What's stopping Earl or Sherman from demanding that their contracts be re-negotiated? I swear, the terms of these contracts aren't worth the paper they're written on.

[NorthHawk]

While I'm not at all in Bennett's corner on the contract reworking, I can't help but think of Big Walt right now. I'm trying to remember if Big Walt was ever at voluntary camps. Hell, he held out of camp altogether several times, but when he was on the field he played his heart out and when he was in the locker room he was a consummate teammate.

I think I'll just give Bennett the benefit of the doubt until he starts missing games or performing poorly in them because he didn't attend a voluntary camp.

I think when under contract, Walt was at each voluntary camp (if that CBA had voluntary camps).
However, when Franchise Tagged, he would show up the Thursday or Friday before the first game and be ready on Sunday.

[Oly]

I think when under contract, Walt was at each voluntary camp (if that CBA had voluntary camps).

If that's true, I stand corrected.

[Hawktawk]

It looks like Schneiders perfect plan is fraying a bit around the edges. Bennett gives it all he has on the field and other than the stupid off sides penalties including the one that absolutely sealed the Superbowl loss he has performed well. But we cant pay everyone. Hopefully Bennett will come in line.

[Anthony]

It looks like Schneiders perfect plan is fraying a bit around the edges. Bennett gives it all he has on the field and other than the stupid off sides penalties including the one that absolutely sealed the Superbowl loss he has performed well. But we cant pay everyone. Hopefully Bennett will come in line.

He is defense they have shown they take care of the defense and RB. If they cave to him guess were the money comes from? Wilson, they will then ask him to take even less, because he is a Nice Team First guy" in other words they will take advantage of him, since he is also evidently not a core guy.

[NorthHawk]

Hey! This thread is about Bennett, not Wilson.
How dare you change the focus of such a dominating player.

[RiverDog]

Hey! This thread is about Bennett, not Wilson.
How dare you change the focus of such a dominating player.

LOL!

[HumanCockroach]

Beat Me to it.

[Agent 86]

Hey! This thread is about Bennett, not Wilson.
How dare you change the focus of such a dominating player.

I actually did laugh out loud at this

Sometime it's just too easy...