This isn’t Pete Carroll’s first go around as an NFL head coach but it is his first off season as a NFL head coach AND executive vice president. Not only is Carroll the EVP and head coach but if there is a discrepancy between Carroll and new general manager John Schneider, Pete Carroll would win the coin flip 100 percent of the time.According to Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke the team will be built around both Carroll and Schneider but should their be a discrepancy about a trade/signing/draft pick Carroll would be awarded his decision because the team is going to be built around Carroll’s philosophy.
Now as Pete Carroll and John Schneider continue this rebuilding process this is the year where it can make or break the success of the Seahawks for a long time.
The Seahawks have two first round pick in the upcoming 2010 NFL draft and three of the top 40 picks in the draft so that’s where Carroll and his crack staff can’t slip up.
Carroll also has to use free agency as a source to fill some of the teams needs as well. Carroll has said from day one he wants competition at every position because having competition drives everyone involved and inevitably makes everyone better.
So as Carroll and Schneider get ready to begin their first off season together they are going to need to make the right moves in free agency to set up their success in the draft, which will be the bread and butter of their first off season together.
So with that being said here are a few do’s and don’ts for Pete Carroll and John Schneider in their first free agency.
Do’s:
- (do) Bring in only the players that fit perfectly into both Carroll and Schneider’s philosophy. For example if a player fits into the zone blocking scheme at a need position on the offensive line then bring that player in. If there is some concern at all about a player fitting into the scheme at any position avoid that player because they can’t afford to take risks this off season.
- (do) Sign a defensive back (cornerback or safety) that can be an immediate starter next season. One of the biggest areas for concern with the Seahawks is their defensive backfield, mainly at safety. Jordan Babineaux and Deon Grant where the starting safeties last season. Babineaux recorded over 100 tackles but consistently dropped the ball in coverage so he’s a huge question mark heading into next season. Grant isn’t getting any younger at the age of 30 and entering into his 12th NFL season. The Seahawks need to get more athletic and younger at safety and Pete Carroll can do that via free agency.
Antrel Rolle, 27 (6 year pro,S), Dunta Robinson 27 (7 year pro, CB) and Sean Jones, 27 (7 year pro, S) would most likely be the three targets for Pete Carroll in free agency. Rolle would be a win-win for the Seahawks because he’d fill a void in the secondary as well as taking him away from division rival, the Arizona Cardinals.
Carroll and Schneider would be smart to spend the $8-10 million on Rolle.
- (d0) keep an eye on the amount of money put into free agency even though this is an uncapped year and Paul Allen is the owner, who showed this off season he will spend the high end prices to bring a Super Bowl trophy to the city of Seattle.
Carroll and Schneider said they will not break the bank in free agency however Paul Allen said the exact same thing last year and they wound up signing TJ Houshmandzadeh to a five year, $40 million dollar contract. So coaches and general managers will always say things like this because they have no clue what the market will look like.
So the Seahawks can afford to spend $8-10 million on Antrel Rolle, $8-10 million on Dunta Robinson and then sign a mid level free agent on the offensive line but not much more than that with the Seahawks holding the No. 6 and No. 14 overall picks in the draft.
Don’ts:
-(don’t) sign any free agent running back in free agency. There have been rumors galore about the Seahawks being interested in free agent running backs Thomas Jones, Darren Sproles, Chester Taylor and LaDainian Tomlinson among others.
It won’t happen and Carrol and Co. would be a fool to spend the rumored $4-6 million on any free agent running back this off season. If the Seahawks feel they need an every down back they will address it through the NFL draft because it’s a “core position”.
Pete Carroll and John Schneider both believe in building the core of the Seahawks franchise through the NFL draft. The core positions being quarterback, running back, left tackle, left guard and defensive tackle/end. So don’t look for the Seahawks to be strongly searching for a free agent running back to sign this off season.
- (don’t) sign any player over 30. The Seahawks are a rebuilding franchise and have a lot of aging veterans already on the roster with Matt Hasselbeck (34), Patrick Kerney (33), Walter Jones (36), Deion Branch (30), TJ Houshmandzadeh (32) and Deon Grant (30) all playing at core positions.
The Seahawks need to get younger across the board and especially at the core positions. So what does that mean? The Seahawks have to avoid signing players over the age of 30 in free agency because it won’t fit the new regime and schemes that Carroll and Co. have put in place.
Pete Carroll and John Schneider have put in place and exceptional plan of how they want to reshape and retool the Seattle Seahawks organization and if Carroll and Co. can keep to their core values as well as the “do’s” and “don’ts” listed above there is no reason why the Seahawks can’t still be winners in free agency while at the same time pick up key pieces to add to the roster before the 2010 NFL draft.
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