Posted by DHarp75 on July 29, 2010 under PartyHawks Central | 
The Seahawks have been fairly quiet since the end of their offseason program, but quietly made a sound one-year investment in Chester Pitts on Thursday.
Pitts played for Houston from 2002-09, and has vast experience at guard and tackle. And considering the Seahawks’ lack of experience – and proven talent – across their offensive line, Pitts provides more competition at several spots. Max Unger opens training camp as the starting right guard, but he had an uneven rookie season and is also the primary backup to injury-prone center Chris Spencer.
Pitts certainly isn’t a long-term answer at 31 years old. But he does bring much needed depth, and hopefully can be a mentor for Spencer, Unger and some of the team’s other young linemen.
The Hawks also said siyonara to DE Robert Henderson, who was acquired from Detroit for Rob Sims, and LB Anthony Heygood, who finished last season on the practice squad.
Posted by DHarp75 on July 20, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Kevin Elllison need to bring the pain ... not numb it.
As the one really “dead” time in the NFL schedule winds to a close, we’re now in single digits until rookies report July 29 so it’s time to update on three items of interest:
Pete Carroll told 710 ESPN on Monday that the Seahawks will not sign WR Terrell Owens. That’s too bad for anyone looking forward to seeing T.O. and T.J. run down the field simultaneously flailing their arms in the air, looking exasperated when the ball goes to John Carlson for three yards and then both barking at Matt Hasselbeck as soon as they get back to the huddle.
Leroy Hill has been suspended for the first game of the season. With it only being a one-game suspension, look for the Seahawks to give Hill a third life with the team. He’s expected to be in more of a traditional linebacker role this year with Aaron Curry rushing the passer more often.
Kevin Ellison pleaded not guilty to drug possession charges and has an October court date after being caught with 100 Vicodin in his car without a prescription. Let’s hope he’s more focused on delivering the pain come this season rather than trying to numb it, because the Hawks desperately need a fierce secondary presence.
Posted by DHarp75 on July 4, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
RB Quinton Ganther's grip on a roster spot is slipping following a DUI.
The last thing coaches tell their players before cutting them loose for several weeks between the offseason program and the start of training camp is to be careful and stay out of trouble. That message apparently didn’t stick with
Quinton Ganther, whose quest to make the opening day roster took a signifcant hit with a
DUI arrest near Sacramento on Saturday.
On a team that already leads the league in offseason transactions, it’s a bad idea to get arrested in the wee hours of the morning when you’re clinging onto the fourth spot on the depth chart. Ganther, signed from Washington in Match, is competing for a roster spot behind Justin Forsett, Julius Jones and Leon Washington. One thing Ganther has for him is being a straight-ahead runner who could be strong in short-yardage, which is the role LenDale White was slated for before he was released.
“We are aware of the situation, and in the process of gathering information,” the Seahawks said in a statement.
When that information is gathered, Ganther could be looking for a new job before training camp rolls around.
Posted by DHarp75 on July 1, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Kevin Elllison will be in the secondary mix afterall.
We were a little dismayed when
Kevin Ellison was waived after apparently failing a physical. As it turns out, the Seahawks only let Ellison go so he could clear waivers and then sign a new contract.
Don’t worry about the contract finagling, the loopholes in the labor agreement are ridiculous. The important point is Ellison is back to compete for the starting strong safety job, which might have been the biggest hole on the team. The Seahawks had been looking at ageless Lawyer Milloy, rookie Kam Chancellor and maybe even ‘tweener defensive back Jordan Babineaux battling for the job. And none would have been a suitable option.
Ellison was a sixth-round pick who started nine games for the Chargers after playing for Pete Carroll at USC. But he was a mid-round talent who dropped due to injury concerns. The Chargers then dropped him because he was arrested for having 100 pills of Vicodin in his car during a traffic stop. If he can handle the pain on his own, Ellison can deliver some pain for Seahawks opponents. He’s not the fastest defensive back in the world, but he is a hard hitter who can bring some much-needed intimidation to a defense that was steamrolled last season.
Posted by DHarp75 on June 25, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Personally, we think “Golden-y Delicious!” with a picture of a maple doughnut would be awesome … right behind a “3 a.m. munchies for “Pot” heads” … for Top Pot doughnuts following Golden Tate’s 3 a.m. hijinks, but we can’t argue with Top Pot’s new ad slogan:
“Irresistible … but please wait until we’re open.”
Since they’re a supplier for the Seahawks, are suggestions would probably be thrown out early on the cutting room floor.
Posted by DHarp75 on under PartyHawks Central |
Kevin Elllison could have helped the Hawks, if he could have passed a physical.
We were excited by the small risk, big reward pickup of former Chargers safety
Kevin Ellison off waivers. But the Hawks decided there was indeed too much risk after he apparently failed a physical, so Ellison was waived before ever hitting the practice field.
A big hitter with the potential to win the starting strong safety job, Ellison played for coach Pete Carroll at USC. He was a sixth-round pick last year for San Diego and went on to start nine games.
Oh well, it’s back to nailbiting every time we see a receiver challenge the seem or try to stretch the field deep, because the Hawks’ current list of contenders at strong safety includes veterans who should be backups and a rookie who isn’t ready to start.
In other news, the team parted ways with DT Barrett Moen, a free agent rookie out of Minnesota, and Oregon rookie DL Will Tukuafu. Both had been signed earlier this month.
In their place, Jonathan Lewis was added to the roster. After finishing last season on Cleveland’s practice squad, he was waived by the team earlier this month.
Posted by DHarp75 on June 24, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Vincent Jackson would add the vertical threat the Hawks' passing game desperately needs.
The offseason of the great tease continues, as Kevin Acee from the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Seattle called to ask about WR
Vincent Jackson,
but the Chargers weren’t interested in listening to offers.
It’s a shame, because Jackson would be exactly what the Hawks need – a big, physical downfield presence in the passing game. And he wants out of San Diego because he isn’t anywhere close to agreeing to a long-term deal. In fact, he’s threatening to sit out the first 10 games of the season. The Chargers appear ready to call his bluff, or just welcome him back in Week 11, when Jackson has to report to the team in order to get the minimum six games required to accrue a season toward free agency.
Right now Seattle has a slew of possession receivers, but no proven weapons who can stretch the field and prevent safeties from sitting on the short- and medium-range passing game. If I’m Matt Hasselbeck, I’d fork over some of my salary to get a threat like Jackson in the fold. If not, he’s a sitting duck for aggressive pass rushes again.
Posted by DHarp75 on under PartyHawks Central |
The Hawks are installing a new offense, so it was good to see WRs T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch back on the practice field as the offseason program winded down this week. T.J. had sports hernia surgery, while Branch underwent another knee procedure.
They both got in two days of work before the team shut things down for six weeks leading up to training camp.
“It’s just great to see these guys back in,” coach Pete Carroll said, “so we have a feel for them.”
T.J. and Deion are the team’s top two receivers, but the offense still lacks a dynamic, playmaking threat. Golden Tate was drafted to be that weapon, but the only playmaking he’s done so far was a 3 a.m. post pattern through the back door of Top Pot doughnuts.
Posted by DHarp75 on June 23, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Kevin Elllison started nine games as a rookie for the Bolts. ... He's also a fan of painkillers.
He played for USC and he’s had off-field issues, so
Kevin Ellison had all the prerequisites to be tossed onto the Hawks’ roster by coach
Pete Carroll.
OK, that’s a little flip. Ellison was actually a very wise pick-up who could help the Seahawks immediately.
A sixth-round pick out of USC by San Diego last year, Ellison was impressive as a rookie, eventually earning the starting job the second half of the season. He was often-injured while with the Trojans, which led to his draft stock plummeting. But he’s also a hard hitter who could provide a physical presence the Hawks’ secondary is SORELY lacking.
All those big hits and bumps and bruises apparently led to a fondness of Vicodin, as Ellison was caught with more than 100 pills this offseason. The arrest and controversy eventually led to the Chargers dumping him this week.
The Hawks could be the beneficiary if Ellison can learn the playbook. Deon Grant was cut loose, leaving Jordan Babineaux, who can’t cover well enough to be a starting corner or tackle well enough to be a starting safety, and aging Lawyer Milloy as the likely candidates on the strong side if rookie Earl Thomas takes over at free safety (looks unlikely to play corner at this point). Rookie Kam Chancellor is probably a year away from being a factor on the defense.
So the Hawks potentially filled a significant area of need by bringing Ellison on board – if he fulfills more of his potential and less of his prescription drug bottles.
Posted by DHarp75 on June 18, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Reggie Williams might have run out of chances to hang on in the NFL.
two-month stint with the Seahawks ended with his release Friday. A good blocker with strong hands but not much speed, the former Husky was out of the league last season following a marijuana possession charge.
It’s a bit of a surprise Williams wasn’t able to stick around until training camp after being signing following a tryout in April. For a team with poor pass blocking that will need to establish a ground game to be competitive in 2010, a strong blocker at wideout figured to have a shot at making the roster. But the Hawks do have a slew of possession receivers and need to identify more options who can stretch the field.
