After watching a lot of blowout football on Super Bowl Sunday for many years, the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens gave us an interesting game to watch. The final score was 34-31, but it didn't have the feel of a Super Bowl that almost got away from the Ravens. San Francisco had their moment, actually many of them, but failed to execute him at the critical moment that could have yielded more points for the NFC champions.
Colin Kaepernick had a slow start, throwing an interception that led to a score by Baltimore. Though, the first year quarterback out of Nevada turned his game around and begin throwing accurate passes and giving the 49ers a wrinkle that the 49ers have been successful using for the 2nd half of the season. Kaepernick has excellent speed and despite a pretty unusual throwing style, he is accurate and has an above average throwing arm. There were several times during the game that Kaepernick looked confused, almost overwhelmed by the opportunity, but he redeemed himself after shaking off some of the nerves that I'm sure were related to his limited experience in the starting QB position.
Alex Smith looked on from the sidelines, thinking only God knows what after watching his starting job taken away after an injury, and then his head coach choosing to go in a different direction. Smith had a spectacular beginning to the season, protecting the ball and distributing it to several receivers on the 49ers roster. He never dreamed that an injury would bench him with San Francisco, permanently. Permanently because there is a very small, miniscule chance that he will remain with the 49ers next season. He makes too much money to be a backup and he also believes he can be a starter somewhere else in the league and so do many other teams. The Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills will all be looking for quarterback help in this years draft as well as free agency where Alex Smith will be talked about much as teams jockey for new personnel during the off-season. Free agency signings will begin shortly and each team that needs a quarterback or perhaps quarterback depth will consider Smith but he does come with a hefty one-year contract of $8 million. He could be a franchise quarterback for one of the franchises needing held at that position, but it's unlikely anyone will absorb his contract. Likely, the 49ers will cut Smith and then if he passes waivers they may attempt to re-sign him at a cheaper price, but he must clear waivers and there are teams interested in bringing him in for an interview and perhaps try out.
This 2013 college football class does not boast great quarterback talent like it did in 2012. Last year a veritable bevy of quarterbacks were drafted in the first 3 rounds, with 5 of them starting the first game of the season as rookies. Andrew luck and Robert Griffin III were selected one and two as expected, but it was Russell Wilson in the 3rd round that raised eyes all around the league. Practically everyone thought Wilson was too short for a third-round selection and definitely too short to be ineffective starting quarterback in the NFL. Obviously, they were all wrong as the Wisconsin and NC State product tour up the NFL and managed to worm his way into consideration for the rookie offensive most valuable player, losing out to RGIII. He threw for over 3000 yards, threw a rookie record-tying 28 touchdown passes to match Peyton Manning's first year and ran for four scores and was 2nd in rushing on the Seahawks offense with 489 yards with 5.2 yards per carry. The other 2 starters were Ryan Tannehill with the Miami Dolphins and Brandon Weedon with the Cleveland Browns. All these rookie quarterbacks played will, but it was only Wilson who got stronger every game and took his team on the road playoff game to Washington DC and the Seahawks first road playoff victory in nearly 30 years. Wilson was 3rd in voting for the rookie MVP, but it was a fair representation of what happened during the regular season. RGIII came out of the blocks on fire and was consistently good throughout the year, just slipping a bit toward the end of the season and allowed his body to get beaten more than I'm sure his coaching staff would have liked. Andrew Luck was also spectacular, joining in Indianapolis Colts team that won just a handful of games in 2011, taking the Colts to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. Luck through many interceptions, but he also attempted far more passes than Griffin or Wilson. He meant more to his team than Griffin or Wilson meant to their respective teams. He also orchestrated 7 come-from-behind victories and all those stats, plus the intangibles he brought to the Colts organization garnered him 2nd in voting. Griffin ran for nearly 1000 yards and threw for over 3000 yards, all the while, this rookie sensation threw only 5 interceptions in regular-season play and that is simply astonishing. Wilson had a remarkable year and proved to everyone I would think, that has vertical limitations were not going to limit his ability to lead the Seattle Seahawks to the playoffs and lead them to greater things off the field. Wilson has married himself to the Seattle community and has willingly accepted the role of leadership on a team that needed a sense of identity, something that Tavaris Jackson, Matt Hasselbeck and nearly every Seahawks quarterback before him was unable to do at his level. I believe number 3, Russell Wilson will remain a Seahawks and Seattleite for a very long time to come and I believe before he's done with his football career, he will have proven that he is the undisputed greatest Seahawk in the franchises history. I know it's early, and I know that Wilson has much to prove, but if his first year in Seahawks blue is any indication of things to come, I say; "Grab your Popcorn" and get ready for some entertaining football, something you can feel proud of and something to get excited about each week of the season. Make no mistake, Russell Wilson is going to be treating the off-season like a long period of studying and becoming the best quarterback that he can be. There is no off-season for RW3, much to the chagrin I'm sure of Mrs. Russell Wilson. Something tells me I think she knew what she was going into before she got on board with this 23-year-old football sage.
Now, the wait for the NFL combine on the NFL network to watch for talent that could help improve an already strong Seahawks roster. They will undoubtedly make some free agent moves in the coming weeks, but Seattle possesses 12 draft selections in April and from the comments head coach Pete Carroll made on 710 Seattle ESPN radio, he's more worried that his draft selections won't crack into his 53 man roster than he is worried who he will pick up in free agency or draft out of college. The Seahawks have few needs on the roster, but free agency will likely take Clinton McDonald and Alan Branch from Seattle's defensive interior line and longtime Seahawk linebacker Leroy Hill will not be offered a contract after more off field problems, strike number 4. Therefore, GM John Schneider will be scanning the country (and Canada) for talent to replace those players and add on to the players that will continue to improve at their positions. Defensive end, linebacker and dominant wide receiver will be on the Seahawks WishList throughout free agency as well as the draft. Sidney Rice and Golden Tate had decent years, but neither of them have the speed that coach Carroll covets, nor are either of them physical enough to play against cover corners and safeties of the NFL. There are several interesting names being thrown around in free agency already; WR Mike Wallace out of Pittsburgh, DE Cliff Avril out of Indianapolis, and Paul Kruger in linebacker out of Baltimore. All of these players could help the Seahawks but they all will likely come with large contract demands. It's probably more likely the Seahawks will build through the draft and sign a couple of free agents that can contribute, but not break the bank. Wide receiver will be one of the most interesting positions to watch, especially with some of the more high-profile names on the unrestricted free agent list. Wes Welker will be available, as I mentioned speed burner Mike Wallace, but also Jacoby Jones, Anquan Bolden, Victor Cruz and Dwayne Bowe are available. Linebackers; Brian Urlacher, Julius Peppers, Paul Kruger. Defensive ends: Cliff Avril, Dwight Freeney, and Glenn Dorsey. Corners and safeties are not in high demand for Seattle, but depth at the position is; Ed Reed, Darrelle Revis, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Quintin Jammer, and Laron Landry. The Seahawks might even consider drafting a kicker rather than go through free agency, due to lower ticket price and the fact that Seattle's kicker Kevin Hauschka suffered a calf injury and may not return to the team as he is a free agent this year himself. Free agency doesn't offer any attractive free agents for Seattle to look at. For these reasons, I believe the draft might be the way Schneider and Caroll will fill the place kicking vacancy. Seattle possesses 12 selections in the 7 rounds of the NFL draft, so if they don't pull off some fancy trades or movement in the draft, they may use one of their selections on a kicker.
Other than that, the Seahawks would like to get some depth in the offensive line, perhaps get a tightend to complement Zach Miller on the other side, freeing him up to become more involved in the passing game and less in the blocking assignments for a tightend. Chris Clemons status will obviously be unknown until he begins his rehabilitation after major knee surgery of his anterior cruciate ligament on his right leg. Bruce Irvin didn't play terrible in his rookie season, but struggled against the large offensive tackles and didn't really have any inside move as an option in his pursuit of the quarterback. He got 7.5 sacks, less than most expected from the West Virginia sack master. Most predicted double-digit in sacks for Irvin. He should be much improved in his 2nd year, and he will be dealing with a new defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. This should be very interesting as the Seahawks defense adjusts to new coaching. Gus Bradley left Seattle for the head-coaching opportunity with the Jacksonville Jaguars and he also took with him the Seahawks defensive line coach. Fortunately, the Seahawks defense has enough veteran leadership, combined with youthfulness to be able to adjust and also build on what was already in progress before Bradley vacated his job as Pete Carroll's valued assistant. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was also courted by several NFL teams with coaching vacancies, but ultimately Bevell chose to come back with the Seahawks and lay another season under Pete Carroll. This was pivotal as Bevell worked well with rookie Russell Wilson and sometimes those relationships can be sacred especially for young quarterbacks but it can also affect veteran quarterbacks as Ben Roethlisberger faltered after losing the Steelers offensive coordinator who was thrown happy for a replacement who historically likes to establish and dominate with the running game. His 2nd year with Roethlisberger should be very telling as to whether he will keep his job for long. The Steelers ran a lot this year and never had a steady, healthy premier running back. It makes one wonder how much they would run if they did have a decent ball carrier on the roster.
I'm very excited for the Seahawks upcoming off-season as well as the new season to come. I think 2013-14 is going to be one of the best in Seahawks history and they certainly have the players to do it. Russell Wilson was the missing piece to the puzzle that Schneider and Carroll have been trying to put together now for 3 years. Wilson is obviously up to the challenge and the sky is the limit for the quarterback standing just 5'10" tall. You would think he was 6'8" and a 29 year old veteran. At just 23 years old, he might be the oldest one of his kind. The Seahawks offense and defense will be mostly intact for the upcoming season and the nucleus that made this team as good as it was, especially down the stretch, are intact. Players like; Russell Wilson, Michael Robinson, Breno Giacomini, Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Zach Miller, Max Unger, Russell Okung, Marshawn Lynch, Robert Turbin, Doug Baldwin and Paul McQuiston. On defense; KJ Wright, Bobby Wagner, Red Bryant, Brandon Mebane, Chris Clemons, Bruce Irvin, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner, Earl Thomas, Greg Scruggs and Malcolm Smith. The only notables that will likely leave Seattle and the Seahawks are; Clinton McDonald, Alan Branch, and Marcus Truffant. Just 3 and Leroy Hill was likely not going to be offered a contract anyway. Special-teams; standouts John Ryan, Leon Washington, Heath Farwell will return. That sounds like a great beginning to what could be an even greater regular-season.
I just can't wait to see what the Seahawks do next… Go Hawks!
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