Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com is reporting that running back Edgerrin James has signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Cardinals released James last season with year remaining on the deal. If true, it’s an interesting move for Seattle and leaves you wondering who is the odd man out. Florio is speculating that it could be T.J. Duckett, which makes some sense because Edge could take over as your short yardage guy. Folks in the national media have questioned the Seahawks depth at running back for awhile, so apparently those concerns have been confirmed with this move.
Seahawks head coach Jim Mora will talk this afternoon, so I’ll have more details after the interview.
Inteeresting. From what Mora and Ruskell have said they were excited to have ducket with them again. Cant wait for the interview to clear some stuff up
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I am cautiously optimistic about this move. Clearly the running game has been stagnant at best and a shake-up would appear to be in line. what does it mean for backs vying for a rosetr spot? I think days are numbered for a couple of backs. another surprise on the horizon? I think it is ighly likely that one or two of the RB stable may be outed soon.
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So what, is Edge going to play OT? Or does this mean that JJ’s knee is maybe more than a bit sore? Or is this a reflection of Duckett’s performance last Saturday? It can hardly be a surprise that Duckett wasn’t effective as the starter. He a short yardage back. He was brought in to be the short yardage back. By definition, a short yardage back is not the starter.
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Let me try this again…
I am cautiously optimistic about this move. James has got a chip on his shoulder and has something to prove. Clearly the running game has been stagnant at best and a shake-up would appear to be in line. What does it mean for the backs vying for a roster spot? I think their days are numbered especially for a couple of backs… Another surprise on the horizon? I think it is highly likely that one or two of the RB stable may be ousted soon.
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Before you guys start dismissing Edge, lets remember he was a key cog in Zona’s playoff run. He had two games of around 75 yards in the playoffs.
At this point, Seattle’s RB lack the confidence of a guy who’s played at a high level. Is Edge older and not as good? Yes. But he will be a hard go to bring down and gives Seattle a RB who’s “been there and done that’.
Welcome Edge, now lets show Zona they shouldn’ve let you go!
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As for the line situation I think the injury situation with Jones and Spencer forces the ‘hawks to change the guard sooner than they planned and get some of the “nastier” linemen on the field . the zone-blocking scheme will rear its psoitive results soon. The zone scheme is rewarding to backs with definitive decision making. Floating and gliding will be things of the past.
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Good move. I’ll take my chances with James over Duckett. I’ve always thought that they could have found a younger hungrier player with more upside to be our short yardage guy. Seems like it would have maximized the position by giving a young guy a very specific role while he develops skills to expand his duties. Seems like common sense, but what the hell do I know?!
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repost
Tim Ruskell is officially working out his fate and Seattle will not be involved by the end of this season, barring some miracle. Let’s all face what we’ve thought outloud or in the back of our minds, Tim Ruskell is becoming the Bill Bavasi of the Seahawks. All of his moves show a frantic man trying to save his job! Really, was curry the best choice for the Seahawks? I don’t think so. I’m almost sure he’ll be a good player but not the player we needed. People are going to reflect on who we could have and should have got (probably BJ Raji…He punched through O-lines who were tripple teaming him) becuase when you break it down to the simple, you build an offense around a good OL and you do the same with a defense! Tim is frantic and not making calculated moves and that’s why you’re seeing picks like Arron Curry and FA acquisitions like edgerrin James.
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I agree with most of you. James has been there and done that when it comes to the kind of running game the Hawks are trying to implement into there scheme. James can come in here knowing what to do and help teach the rest of the RB’s so Knapp doesn’t have to do it all. He also brings a veteran presence when it comes to game time, and even though he isn’t what he used to be, the other team still knows he is a presence and they still have to acknowledge that.
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Does Edge have experience in a system that uses zone blocking? What kind of runner is he?
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I agree with most of you. James has been there and done that when it comes to the kind of running game the Hawks are trying to implement into there scheme. James can come in here knowing what to do and help teach the rest of the RB’s so Knapp doesn’t have to do it all. He also brings a veteran presence when it comes to game time, and even though he isn’t what he used to be, the other team still knows he is a presence and they still have to acknowledge that. So they cannot just write off our running game and they have to show some attention to it
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haha yeah Audible…..he ran the zone blocking scheme for 7 years with the Colts
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variable – so, who’s our next gm?
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Glad to have him! Especially from a division rival that crapped on him. He is a quality back and also an experienced leader. $2 million is good value. My guess is TJ is on his way out, unless JJ or Forsett come up with a serious injury or something before final cuts. Would cutting Duckett cost us anything against the cap for this season?
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Shouldn’t we be trying to get an offensive tackle?
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With Edge at least the next two weeks will be an exciting time for RB’s in Seattle. He had very good numbers in 2007 and 2006 with about 1200 yds. rushing each year and some good receiving numbers. He does appear to fumble a little so stay tuned. I believe a much younger Hightower took snaps in 2008 and led to his release until the tards picked him up and he did great in the playoffs. He has a recent Super Bowl ring so maybe he does have a chip on his shoulder. We can hope. He is a load on stretch plays and should be able to run behind zone blocking (I hope).
I wonder if trying to make Duck a starting RB was a good thing. He was, is and always will be a short yardage and goal line back. It would tough to see a guy cut because the Team overreached in trying to use him where he isn’t best.
I wonder why Seattle didn’t do something yet on OT? I see Miami traded two OL to KC for a 2010 pick TBD. I hope the front office has someone they believe will be released later they can pick-up for OT depth. Or they can try a Miami/K.C type deal and trade a WR and DE to someone for a servicable OT before final cuts or get one after 53 man cuts.
Eric Williams – do you know the Hawks salary cap status? How much do we have left in the tank as we approach the season start? With Edge $2M in 2009 that is a chunk and we may still need OT and CB help later on.
Thanks.
GO SEAHAWKS
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Getting a decent OT, well the train went by when the draft was over.
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Hey Airbags!
Glad you asked the question! While my initial post is not far fetched my response to you may be. Our next GM would not be a surprise but would be a relief–Mike Holmgren.
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Uh, oh…the yearly calls for Ruskell’s Head on a Platter are already here!
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Levi Jones….i’m sure they have something up there sleeves after this addition
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so i think that they should just can all there old slow rb and keep james and the little ppl
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What’s the scoop on Levi Jones? Didn’t he have microfracture surgery or something last year?
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variable – i figured you’d say that, because that’s what i would have said.
however… maybe new blood is in order?
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Audible
-should we wait to call for a new GM after another crappy season? What than would be the point? It might as well be called for at the start of the season if at all. Now, maybe I’m wrong but I think we had the components to return to the super bowl and win it after the 05 debacle but ever since then we’ve been mismanaged and have now slid into mediocrity again where we may be tied to for the foreseeable future.
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airbags-I guess we’ll know for certain if new blood is in order after we see what results from this season. Bad season or not, the injury excuse gets old really quick.
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Who would you pick for a GM outside of Mike Holmgren? I wouldn’t say i’d pick him but Denny Green, didn’t he build the talent up with the viking and Cards, atleast to some degree?
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GM replacement talks may feel good in preseason but I’ll wait till the end of the season to see how it all plays out. It seems that possibly some folks may have authority or Father figure issues in that changing GM’s doesn’t always work but attacking a GM seems to help folks vent..
I believe TR is better than what we had. Holmgren might be a possibility but based on his performance here I have yet to see it as a GM. Maybe time has helped him learn the GM job.
But for now let’s settle the OT mess and CB potential issues with Tru out ???.
GO SEAHAWKS
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Franco Harris anyone?
In all seriousness, I think this is a good move for the here and now. Edge is an upgrade over Duckett. However, Edge has clearly lost a few steps. He did fine in the post season run last year, yes, but many people talked about how Edge and Hightower turned a lot of 20 yard runs into 7-8 yard runs based in their not having a burst. Still, I’ll take Edge over Duckett any day. There’s a reason Duckett never sticks around in one place. And Edge will be making (I think) over a million less than Duckett. Better player at a better price? That’s a good deal if you ask me. Still, beating a dead horse again, but as many of you have already said — this does nothing for our OL. That’s what needs the most help on our team.
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Great, a backfield full of has-beens and one promising young guy (Forsett). Maybe we should trade Forsett to Casey Treat for Shaun Alexander and a pile of free beer tickets….
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The injury excuse gets old quick, but the worst thing is the lack of talent acquired with the first round picks.
Spencer is a bust, Kelly Jennings is looking like a bust and Deion Branch is not worth the pick we gave up. The book is still out on Jackson, but so far nothing. Curry is a can’t miss, if you miss with the 4th pick in the draft, something is wrong.
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It’s early, but the Rams seemed to have missed with the #2 pick.
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Hmmm…..just hmmmmm
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Duckett’s straight-up running style may be good for Olympic sprinters, but backs need to get their pads low. Duckett ran a 4.45-40 when he was drafted which was amazing for a 245# RB, but he continued to run with an upright stance on the field, which only works when you have line blocking that allows the defense only arm-tackle attempts from the sides. Our ZB OL isn’t up to that level yet, so Duckett was getting stuffed for loss or small gains. Head-on, LBs have the advantage over upright-running RBs, even Refrigerator Perry types. With power or man blocking, Duckett could find a large-enough hole to make the short yardage gains he was asked to do.
Hawks need better production from the OL, both on interior cut-blocks and on backside seal blocks. When can we see Walt back?
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On Edge, he had production problems from the RB spot until the Cards got Grimm to fix their OL. By Grimm’s 2nd year AZ’s OL was changed from non-functioning to something that started to resemble a good OL. It’s now a very good OL (except for some injuries) and meanwhile PIT’s OL has become a fairly poor OL. Once AZ’s OL was improved, Edge’s number went up. This RB change will not solve the rushing problem. The focus has to be squarely on the OL, and next year’s draft (Russel Okung).
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