The Marketing of Matt By Mike Kahn Seahawks Insider The ambiguous feelings drenched John Drana, the business manager and close friend of Matt Hasselbeck, when the reality of being traded to Seattle from Green Bay in March of 2001 hit them hard. For three years, their friendship and respect had grown since Hasselbeck was drafted in the sixth round and hung on as a backup quarterback with the Packers. But with Mike Holmgren having bolted the Packers two years earlier to not only become head coach but general manager and executive vice president of the Seahawks, it was incredibly flattering that he had elected to deal for Hasselbeck as the quarterback of the future for the Seahawks. “We became friends … very good friends,” Drana said. “We were better friends than client-attorney or manager in our relationship. So when it was announced, my first reaction was, ‘Man, are you kidding me? I find a good friend and he’s shipped out of town?’ But it changed real quickly and I was happy for Matt. He was only 25 at the time and nobody really knew him, so we came up with a plan to take advantage of the opportunity, not just on the field, but off the field.”Read More The Incredible J.P. By Mike Kahn Seahawks Insider They marvel at his freakness, as teammate Leroy Hill describes it. At 6-3, 240 pounds, filled with sinew, strength and speed, there is little room for fat despite his idea of a balanced meal being three hot dogs, a mass of potato chips and an energy drink. For all of his unusual qualities, there is little doubt the signing of Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson to a seven-year contract in 2006 was a ground-breaking move for the Seattle Seahawks that changed the course of not only their defense, but ability to attract the top drawer free agents that followed such as Patrick Kerney, Brian Russell and Deon Grant last season, with Mike Wahle, Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett this season. Read More Matter of trust: Hasselbeck hoping young WRs emerge By Mike Sando ESPN.com (Archive) Updated: June 17, 2008 Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images Bobby Engram caught 94 passes last season and remains a viable target. But after Engram and D.J. Hackett, the Seahawks have a lot of uncertainty at wide receiver. This is a new team in important ways, from the offensive roster to the coaching staff. The offense will need time to find its identity without running back Shaun Alexander and three longtime assistant coaches. Getting the team together for minicamp was a start, but questions at running back and receiver could linger into the regular season. Read More Thursday in Hawkville WORD OF THE DAY Over. As in, it is. The Seahawks' final minicamp, that is. The players practiced for 90 minutes and then scattered for various other corners of the country. New kicker Olindo Mare was leaving for a six-hour flight to Miami. Linebacker Leroy Hill was headed to Atlanta, and looking forward to some serious Southern heat after two weeks of practicing in the rain and chilly temps. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will be in Los Angeles on Sunday because he has scored tickets for Game 5 of the NBA Finals between his beloved Celtics and the Lakers. The next time the entire team will be on the field together is July 25, when two-a-day practices begin at training camp. Read More Hasselbeck connecting with new QB coach Lazor adjustment necessary after life under Zorn By CLARE FARNSWORTH P-I REPORTER KIRKLAND -- When Bill Lazor signed on to replace Jim Zorn as Seahawks quarterbacks coach, no one had to introduce him to Matt Hasselbeck. Lazor, who spent the previous four seasons with the Washington Redskins, already had seen just about as much of the Seahawks' Pro Bowl quarterback as he could handle. Lazor was at Qwest Field in January, when Hasselbeck passed for 229 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks' 35-14 playoff victory over the Redskins. Read More Wednesday in Hawkville WORD OF THE DAY Back. As in, he is. He, of course, is coach Mike Holmgren, who missed the Monday and Tuesday practices after having what the team called a "minor medical procedure." What was up with Holmgren? File this one under "There are some things that just don't need to be made public," even if the subject is as large a public figure as Holmgren. The important thing is, Holmgren was back where he belongs. That was evident from one of the first drills, when he halted the action before it really got started with a boisterous "Whoa. Whoa. Whoa." Holmgren had seen something that just wasn't right, which plays directly into what offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said Tuesday when asked about running practice in Holmgren's absence. Read More Tuesday in Hawkville WORD OF THE DAY Weight. As in, lifting it. During an interview with Rob Sims on Monday, the Seahawks' right guard had some interesting observations about the weight-room work ethic of a couple of teammates. The first was veteran left guard Mike Wahle, who was signed in February and prompted the move of Sims to the right side. "Mike Wahle is just nuts," Sims said. "I call it grown-man strength. Mike's got two kids. Man, you get a little stronger when you have kids. I don't have that yet. Read More Seahawks Notebook: Sims, Mates Adjusting to New Blocking Scheme By Scott M. Johnson For the Kitsap Sun Monday, June 9, 2008 KIRKLAND For the Seattle Seahawks, fixing an anemic running game might take more than just jettisoning Shaun Alexander. The Seahawks hope that a slight change in blocking scheme can help get the ground game back on track. Starting lineman Rob Sims said Monday that the Seahawks have been using more zone-blocking schemes under new offensive line coach Mike Solari. "Last year, we did a lot of man-on-man stuff," Sims said. "This year, we're doing more zone stuff, and that's what (the players) wanted to do last year anyway." The zone scheme leaves offensive linemen responsible for areas, rather than opposing players. Sims said that it fits the personality of Seattle's linemen. Read More Seahawks' Engram says there is a 'possibility' he may not show up for training camp By Scott M. Johnson Herald Writer REDMOND -- Six days after Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren said his leading receiver would "absolutely" be at training camp, a slightly more reliable source was singing a different tune. Bobby Engram, who caught a franchise-record 94 passes last season but is skipping offseason minicamps because of a contract dispute, said Sunday that there is a chance he won't be in attendance when training camp begins at the end of next month. Read More NFL Insider: Seahawks see brand new shade of Red By CHAREAN WILLIAMSStar-Telegram Staff Writer There's a good chance defensive tackle Red Bryant will have a better rookie season in the NFL than he had as a senior in college. Bryant is the first to admit he had a disappointing last season at Texas A&M. He had 19 tackles, 2.5 for losses, and a sack in nine games in 2007 before season-ending knee surgery. Read More Posted: June 8, 2008 The Sporting News Ranks DE's In the latest installment of NFL offseason position rankings, SN's correspondents break down the defensive ends in the NFC. 1. Giants. The team's firepower at the position is unmatched. Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck dominate as pass rushers and run stoppers. Umenyiora might have the quickest first step in the game. 2. Packers. Aaron Kampman emerged as an elite pass rusher in 2006 and hasn't slowed down. Cullen Jenkins has all-around ability but must bounce back from a down year. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is a threat off the edge. 3. Vikings. Jared Allen, acquired in a trade after leading the NFL in sacks last season, single-handedly makes this position a strength for the Vikings. Ray Edwards isn't a bad pass rusher, and backup Brian Robison had 4 1/2 sacks last year. 4. Seahawks. Patrick Kerney had his best season in 2007, and his relentless style energizes the defense. Darryl Tapp had some good moments last year but needs to be more consistent to hold off rookie Lawrence Jackson. Read More Iron Man By Mike Kahn Seahawks Insider There weren’t a lot of guarantees that Seahawks offensive lineman Chris Gray would return for his 16th season in the NFL. Approaching his 38th birthday next month, there was some question whether he would return last year before he signed a two-year deal. So when 2008 rolled around, despite starting 137 out of his past 138 regular season games, the question of Gray’s return arose again. “I asked him to come back,” Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. “I’m not sure that he was going to. I’m not sure that his wife wanted him to play anymore. I appreciate the fact that he came back one more year. He can still play.” Gray said during training camp last season he had to talk his wife Julie into signing off on him playing again. They committed, so much so, they sold their house in suburban Birmingham, Ala., packed up their two children and moved up to the eastside of Seattle. He started all 16 regular season games and the two playoff games at right guard in 2007, and Holmgren said the plan is for him to be backup at both guard spots and center this season while developing young Chris Spencer at center and Rob Sims at right guard in the wake of signing highly-regarded free agent left guard Mike Wahle. “I’ve got one more year on my deal, and I feel pretty good, so why not?” Gray said. “We moved up here before last season and sold our house in Birmingham, so it just made sense to give it another shot. Coach wanted me back and I thought it was a good idea and give them what I’ve got this season.” That’s always been his mantra. While so many of the other Seahawks linemen were recognized during the Super Bowl season – before and afterward – Gray sort of basked in the anonymity of consistency. In the 16th game and final regular season game of 2006, he sat out with a severe thigh bruise, snapping his franchise-record streak of 121 consecutive starts. But he’s more than just an iron man. At 6- 4, 305 pounds, he’s still got enough of the athletic ability that had Auburn give him a full ride as a tight end. Read More |
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