Monday, July 18, 2005
THE TRENCHES, MID-JULY EDITION
Last year, I had started "The Trenches", a post full of NFL-related items. For one reason or another, I had stopped doing those posts once the season started. Bad habit, I guess. This season, I want to make sure that I post "The Trenches" at least once a week. While we do hit on the Seahawks heavily, we also try to talk about the rest of the NFL as much as possible, especially during football season.
Consider this the 2005 debut of "The Trenches".
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TRAVIS HENRY FINALLY OUT OF BUFFALO?
The winner of the Travis Henry sweepstakes may be the Tennessee Titans.
Barring any unexpected complications, i.e. a failed physical, Henry will be traded to the Titans for a 2006 third-round choice. Henry wants out of Buffalo because he isn't the starting running back. Willis McGahee is the starter for Mike Mularkey offense.
Since coming into the league out of Tennessee in 2001, Henry has rushed for 3,849 yards and 27 touchdowns. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2002 (1,438 yards) and 2003 (1,356 yards).
Henry would challenge incumbent running back Chris Brown for the starting job. Brown missed 5 games in 2004 due to injury and is recovering from a broken hand, which happened during offseason practices. It is not out of the question that Henry could very well take Brown's starting job. In fact, I think Henry will be the starting running back for the Titans when they travel to Pittsburgh on September 11.
For the Seahawks fans who wanted Henry, sorry. Which brings me to the next topic...
ALEXANDER, SEAHAWKS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE
It is after July 15, therefore running back Shaun Alexander and the Seahawks are able to negotiate a possible long-term deal. The Seahawks used the franchise tag in February on Alexander, so they could not negotiate with Alexander until July 15.
Obviously Alexander wants a long-term deal. I've said here many times that he deserves a long-term deal. However, he has to sign the 1-year tender of $6.32 million in order to be able to negotiate a long-term deal with the Seahawks. Seahawks fans can only hope that this situation will be resolved one way or the other in the coming weeks. Hopefully that "one way" will be Alexander signing a long-term deal to stay in Seattle.
THE RIGHT STUFF
When the NFL season opens in September, there could be at least 15 teams with new starters at right tackle. The Seahawks will be one of those 15 teams.
As far as the Seahawks' offensive line goes, here's my starting offensive line:
Left tackle Walter Jones
Left guard Steve Hutchinson
Center Robbie Tobeck
Right guard Floyd Womack
Right tackle Ray Willis
That's right, I have the rookie out of Florida State, Ray Willis, as my starting right tackle. While the Seahawks will definitely give Sean Locklear and Wayne Hunter the opportunity to compete for the starting right tackle job, I think Willis has the "right stuff", pardon the pun, to play right tackle for this team. Nevermind the fact that he's a rookie. Willis is just as good as his former Seminole teammate, tackle Alex Barron, if not better. Barron went to the St. Louis Rams in the first round.
Womack has experience at right tackle. But at this point, I think he would be better suited at right guard. Chris Gray, the incumbent at right guard, is back with the Seahawks, but he's not as good as Womack. I believe you put your five best offensive linemen on the field. Those five guys are Jones, Hutchinson, Tobeck, Womack, and Willis.
What about Chris Spencer? The rookie center out of Ole Miss will have a chance to learn from Tobeck this season, then will take over as the starter in 2006, if not sooner. Center is the hardest position on the offensive line as far as learning goes. I'd rather have a rookie starting at right tackle (Willis) than a rookie starting at center. That's not to say that Spencer isn't good enough to start right away, because he has the talent to do so. There's a reason why the Seahawks passed up on a few defensive players to grab Spencer with the 26th pick overall this past April.
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I came across this over the weekend, so I'll bring it up for y'all.
You've probably heard of Baseball Prospectus. Sure you have.
How about the Pro Football Prospectus?
Believe it or not, the Pro Football Prospectus does exist. The prospectus was done by the folks at Football Outsiders. Here's a brief intro to the Pro Football Prospectus, straight from Football Outsiders themselves:
For the over 14 million people who play fantasy football every year; for the hardcore fan who wants information beyond sports page recaps; for everyone who bets on the NFL; and for the smart, casual enthusiast looking for entertainment and insight comes the essential preseason annual. With numerous statistical measures that go far beyond standard NFL stats, Pro Football Prospectus finally gives NFL fans the kind of Sabermetric-like statistical analysis that revolutionized the fanÂs understanding of baseball. And like its sister publication, Baseball Prospectus, it's written with a knowing dry wit that gets under the skin of America's most popular spectator sport.
If you've read Sports And Bremertonians, you know that I don't get into statistical analysis in baseball too often. This may come as a surprise to some people, but I'm very interested in diving into the football statistical analysis pool.
Now, don't expect me to become a total stats freak when it comes to football. Football is too complex of a game to rely on just statistics. But a little statistical analysis in football can't hurt anybody, can it?
The NFL is a much friendlier league than Major League Baseball when it comes to statistical analysis. A big reason for that is because the NFL changes every couple of years. The 2-point conversion and instant replay are two major examples of the changes in the NFL over the past 15 years or so. When was the last time baseball made a rule change? No, I'm not crying out for any rule changes in baseball, because baseball is fine as it is.
The 2005 Pro Football Prospectus is $12.89 at Amazon.com. By the way, if you want free shipping on your order, make sure to buy at least $25 in merchandise. David and I have done that in the past and it's well worth it.
Seahawks training camp opens up next week, with the rookies reporting to Cheney on July 26 and the veterans on July 28. It's about time.
Consider this the 2005 debut of "The Trenches".
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
TRAVIS HENRY FINALLY OUT OF BUFFALO?
The winner of the Travis Henry sweepstakes may be the Tennessee Titans.
Barring any unexpected complications, i.e. a failed physical, Henry will be traded to the Titans for a 2006 third-round choice. Henry wants out of Buffalo because he isn't the starting running back. Willis McGahee is the starter for Mike Mularkey offense.
Since coming into the league out of Tennessee in 2001, Henry has rushed for 3,849 yards and 27 touchdowns. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2002 (1,438 yards) and 2003 (1,356 yards).
Henry would challenge incumbent running back Chris Brown for the starting job. Brown missed 5 games in 2004 due to injury and is recovering from a broken hand, which happened during offseason practices. It is not out of the question that Henry could very well take Brown's starting job. In fact, I think Henry will be the starting running back for the Titans when they travel to Pittsburgh on September 11.
For the Seahawks fans who wanted Henry, sorry. Which brings me to the next topic...
ALEXANDER, SEAHAWKS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE
It is after July 15, therefore running back Shaun Alexander and the Seahawks are able to negotiate a possible long-term deal. The Seahawks used the franchise tag in February on Alexander, so they could not negotiate with Alexander until July 15.
Obviously Alexander wants a long-term deal. I've said here many times that he deserves a long-term deal. However, he has to sign the 1-year tender of $6.32 million in order to be able to negotiate a long-term deal with the Seahawks. Seahawks fans can only hope that this situation will be resolved one way or the other in the coming weeks. Hopefully that "one way" will be Alexander signing a long-term deal to stay in Seattle.
THE RIGHT STUFF
When the NFL season opens in September, there could be at least 15 teams with new starters at right tackle. The Seahawks will be one of those 15 teams.
As far as the Seahawks' offensive line goes, here's my starting offensive line:
Left tackle Walter Jones
Left guard Steve Hutchinson
Center Robbie Tobeck
Right guard Floyd Womack
Right tackle Ray Willis
That's right, I have the rookie out of Florida State, Ray Willis, as my starting right tackle. While the Seahawks will definitely give Sean Locklear and Wayne Hunter the opportunity to compete for the starting right tackle job, I think Willis has the "right stuff", pardon the pun, to play right tackle for this team. Nevermind the fact that he's a rookie. Willis is just as good as his former Seminole teammate, tackle Alex Barron, if not better. Barron went to the St. Louis Rams in the first round.
Womack has experience at right tackle. But at this point, I think he would be better suited at right guard. Chris Gray, the incumbent at right guard, is back with the Seahawks, but he's not as good as Womack. I believe you put your five best offensive linemen on the field. Those five guys are Jones, Hutchinson, Tobeck, Womack, and Willis.
What about Chris Spencer? The rookie center out of Ole Miss will have a chance to learn from Tobeck this season, then will take over as the starter in 2006, if not sooner. Center is the hardest position on the offensive line as far as learning goes. I'd rather have a rookie starting at right tackle (Willis) than a rookie starting at center. That's not to say that Spencer isn't good enough to start right away, because he has the talent to do so. There's a reason why the Seahawks passed up on a few defensive players to grab Spencer with the 26th pick overall this past April.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
I came across this over the weekend, so I'll bring it up for y'all.
You've probably heard of Baseball Prospectus. Sure you have.
How about the Pro Football Prospectus?
Believe it or not, the Pro Football Prospectus does exist. The prospectus was done by the folks at Football Outsiders. Here's a brief intro to the Pro Football Prospectus, straight from Football Outsiders themselves:
For the over 14 million people who play fantasy football every year; for the hardcore fan who wants information beyond sports page recaps; for everyone who bets on the NFL; and for the smart, casual enthusiast looking for entertainment and insight comes the essential preseason annual. With numerous statistical measures that go far beyond standard NFL stats, Pro Football Prospectus finally gives NFL fans the kind of Sabermetric-like statistical analysis that revolutionized the fanÂs understanding of baseball. And like its sister publication, Baseball Prospectus, it's written with a knowing dry wit that gets under the skin of America's most popular spectator sport.
If you've read Sports And Bremertonians, you know that I don't get into statistical analysis in baseball too often. This may come as a surprise to some people, but I'm very interested in diving into the football statistical analysis pool.
Now, don't expect me to become a total stats freak when it comes to football. Football is too complex of a game to rely on just statistics. But a little statistical analysis in football can't hurt anybody, can it?
The NFL is a much friendlier league than Major League Baseball when it comes to statistical analysis. A big reason for that is because the NFL changes every couple of years. The 2-point conversion and instant replay are two major examples of the changes in the NFL over the past 15 years or so. When was the last time baseball made a rule change? No, I'm not crying out for any rule changes in baseball, because baseball is fine as it is.
The 2005 Pro Football Prospectus is $12.89 at Amazon.com. By the way, if you want free shipping on your order, make sure to buy at least $25 in merchandise. David and I have done that in the past and it's well worth it.
Seahawks training camp opens up next week, with the rookies reporting to Cheney on July 26 and the veterans on July 28. It's about time.
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