1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Seahawks Insiders. Second down and two, 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: the hand off the penny at the fifteen touchdown Streehawks 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: getting you ready for Seahawks football every Sunday first and 4 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: tend ath to Seattle forty play faked Stafford's gonna stop, 5 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: gonna look gets hit Gouff down back in midfield. Getting 6 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 1: to him in the backfield is GARYL. Taylor presented by Delta, 7 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: the official airline of the Seahawks. Now here's your host, 8 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: Jen Mueller. Gosh, it's been so long since we've heard 9 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: that open. I daresay too long as we've welcome in 10 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: John Boyle from Seahawks dot Com. It has been several 11 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: weeks since we have sat down to record an episode. 12 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: But what we know is the conversation around Seahawks football 13 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: never stops exactly, and especially this time of year, everything 14 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 1: starts heating back up again. You get that little lull 15 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: after the season, but you know free agency is about 16 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: to come up. People are just in Indianapolis for the Combine, 17 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: so there's a lot of talk about the draft going on. 18 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: It's the NFL rarely rests is what this league has 19 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: turned into, which is fun. It could also be exhausting 20 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: if you cover the league. But I think there is 21 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: a sense of relief from folks knowing that Geno Smith 22 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: and the Seahawks did exactly what they said they were 23 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: going to do, and they worked out a way to 24 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 1: make sure that that partnership was going to continue. John, 25 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: did you have any doubt that they would reach this conclusion? Yeah, 26 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 1: I mean I sure seemed like the logical conclusion. Gino 27 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: Smith really enjoyed his year here, played phenomenal. He talked, 28 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: you know the day this season, he talked about wanting 29 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: to be back, and Pete Carroll John Schier consistently said 30 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: the same. But it's you know, there's always some concern 31 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: because you just never know how negotiations are going to go. 32 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 1: You know, you know, a certain deal can get done 33 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: with another player at that position and can mess up 34 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: the market. You know, there's just so many things. So 35 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: even if both sides want to happen, it's a good 36 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: feeling to, like you said, see it actually get done 37 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: and see these two sides agreed to deal and know that, 38 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: you know, after a great Pro Bowl season, Gino Smith 39 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: is going to be back. Well. And I think that 40 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: some people read into the timing of this a little 41 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: bit in that I have been asked by outside media outlets, 42 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: you know, was there a concern because it kind of 43 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: went down to the wire, right, Yeah, But I don't 44 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: look and I talk to people inside the building. A 45 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: deadline's there for a read exactly right, and you can 46 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: negotiate up until the deadline. Yeah, I mean that's always 47 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: you know, deadlines are what's going to make things get 48 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: done because even if you're talking, you always know, like 49 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: we're not gonna you know, either side's not gonna say, Okay, 50 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:33,519 Speaker 1: I'm good with this, knowing that you have another week 51 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: or month or whatever it is to deal part of it. 52 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,519 Speaker 1: You know. The biggest deadline, of course, was the fact 53 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 1: that franchise take deadline was coming up, so that if 54 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:43,119 Speaker 1: the Seahawks, if that was an option for them to use, 55 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: they had to make that decision by this week. But 56 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: then the other thing is a lot gets done at 57 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: the combine. I mean, all the agents are there, all 58 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: the GMS, scouts, everybody's in one place. So that's one 59 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: of a lot of the discussions for you know, especially 60 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: resign your own guys. That starts to heat up. So 61 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 1: it's kind of natural timing that it happened right now. Well, 62 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: I would also say it is not like these conversations 63 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: just started taking place. That that's the difference on the outside. 64 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: You're not hearing at what point these started and how 65 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 1: many different conversations and how much was a formal sit 66 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: down versus a passing in the hallway and those sort 67 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: of just yeah, I mean these are actual yeah, especially 68 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: when you're talking quarterbacks and the money involved, Like these 69 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,920 Speaker 1: are long, complicated process where there's a lot of meetings, 70 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: a lot of phone calls. That's you know, a lot 71 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: going on, and then you know, as always, when the 72 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: deadline approaches, things kind of heat up and we saw 73 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: a good deal get done. You mentioned the money involved. 74 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: It is interesting when you start diving into or you 75 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: hear people like Pete Carroll talk about this contract and 76 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: what it actually is. The details will come out as 77 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: we get further kind of into this and closer to 78 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 1: the season, but it certainly seems like once again Gino 79 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: is betting on himself. When you guys get your chance 80 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: and you really dig in, you'll see that it is 81 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: leaning that way. We're counting on him coming through and 82 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: doing the things he was able to do last year, 83 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: and if he does that, he's gonna get rewarded. And 84 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: we know that if that, if he's able to come 85 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: back and do that, he's gonna have a great season 86 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:09,119 Speaker 1: and we're going to be in great shape. We're gonna 87 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: have a real chance to be at the best at 88 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: our best. So it is heavily structured that way, and 89 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: you know he's gambling a little bit in that sense 90 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 1: on himself. The question there, if you missed it yesterday, 91 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: was asking Pete Carroll about the nature of the contract. 92 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: What's been reported is there's you know, obviously he's getting 93 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 1: a lot of money no matter what, but there's also 94 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 1: a lot of money available in incentives. And you know, 95 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 1: if anyone's gonna bet on himself and believe in himself 96 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 1: right now, so you know Smith, I mean you look 97 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: at lasted he more than doubled his salary with a 98 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: incentives for games played, making the Pro Bowl, making the playoffs. 99 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: So the guy's confident and for good reason. And as 100 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: Pete Carroll went on to say, is look, if they 101 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 1: have to pay him the max value of that contract, 102 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: that's awesome because that means he hit a bunch of 103 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: big markers and did a lot of good things. So 104 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: you know, you might think, on the surface, oh, the 105 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: team doesn't want to pay him, they would love to 106 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: pay all that money out because that means things are 107 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 1: going really well. And if you wonder just how far 108 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: the Seahawks can ride Gino Smith in this offense, look, 109 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 1: the numbers last year indicate that the Seahawks offense was 110 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: among the best in the league. Tenth most passing yards, 111 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,280 Speaker 1: thirty touchdown passes thrown by Gino Smith that is tied 112 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 1: for the third most among quarterbacks last season, and bottom 113 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: third in interception So all of those key indicators, not 114 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 1: to mention leading the league in completion percentage, all of 115 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: the key indicators are there. And then again Pete expressing 116 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: faith that Gino can get them where they want him 117 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 1: to go. Heck yeah we could. Heck yeah we can't. 118 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 1: He's going to do his part. We gotta do that. 119 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: We have a lot of work to do. We have 120 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff we have to get done. We 121 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 1: have a lot of decisions to make. This extraordinary draft 122 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: coming up has been ongoing too, and we haven't left 123 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 1: that topic either, you know, that's been ongoing. So there's 124 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: multiple topics like just like I like a lot of 125 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: balls in there at the same time. You know, let's 126 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: music play and let's you know, let's be dancing, let's 127 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: do the whole thing. Well, that's what's going on. And 128 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: the focus right now obviously is continuing the evaluations for 129 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: the draft, but free agency is at him specifically. Pete 130 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: Carroll was asked if Geno Smith could get him to 131 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl. Yeah, and he said, heck, yeah, yeah. 132 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: I mean, there's no reason to think with as well 133 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: as Geno Seith played last year and this was a 134 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: playoff team, if they take care of the other things 135 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: that they know. We've heard it over and over again, 136 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: Pete Carron Johns Shire talking about getting better upfront when 137 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: you look at the you know, the draft resources they have, 138 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: you know, the expectation that next year's classes or last 139 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: year's class is going to make a year two leap. 140 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 1: This team should be able to get a lot better. 141 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: And if you build a better team around a quarterback 142 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: who did what Gino Smith did last year and who, 143 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: let's face it, could you know he'll be the first 144 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: tell you it can get better. That was his first 145 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 1: year starting and playing regularly since twenty fourteen, so I 146 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 1: don't buy this idea that like, oh he's a one 147 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: hit wonder. I mean, if anything, he should continue to 148 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 1: grow well, and it gives Seattle options. I think that's 149 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: the thing I keep coming back to, whether it is 150 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: an option to draft a quarterback, whether it's an option 151 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: to use those high draft picks someplace else. You know. 152 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 1: John Schneider was asked, why do you need to lock 153 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 1: up a quarterback because they don't grow on trees, which 154 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: side note always makes me feel bad for position groups 155 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: that do grow on trees. Yeah, I mean yeah. Do 156 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: you never hear a gm be like, oh, well, those 157 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 1: guys grow on trees, we don't have to worry. Yeah, Like, 158 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: I don't know, do linebackers grow on trees? Maybe? I 159 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: don't know. Do good ones probably don't grow on trees. 160 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: There's a scarcity of every good NFL player. There's a reason, 161 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: right these guys make the money they do it. I 162 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: just started thinking about that, Like, I probably actually just 163 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: grow on a tree. You can probably just go and 164 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: find somebody else. Anyway, you don't grow. I forgot what 165 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: we're talking about. Well, what I'm saying is they give 166 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: them options. And you and I were both at the combine, 167 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: you watch those drills up close. I was keeping an 168 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: eye from a distance, but having a lot of conversations. 169 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: What were some of the conversations that maybe shifted during 170 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: that time in the combine as it relates to available 171 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: first round draft picks. Yeah, I mean, I think we've seen, 172 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: as happened so often with the draft, quarterbacks tend to 173 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: get pushed up as we get closer to the draft 174 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: because there is so much value in that position that 175 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: if you can find the right guy, you take them, 176 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 1: and you might take them higher than you know, you 177 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: might not have him really grated as a top five pick, 178 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: but boy, if there's that chance, you go get him. 179 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: And that's why we've heard Pete Carroll and John Shire 180 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 1: say over and over again that, look, we love Geno Smith, 181 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 1: we want him back, but that does not preclude us 182 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: from taking a quarterback because to John Shire's point, they 183 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 1: don't grow on trees and you're not hopefully you're not 184 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: going to be in this position again of having a 185 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: top five pick. So if you love one of those, 186 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: you know there's generally four guys considered top half of 187 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: the first round type guys. If you love one of those, guys, 188 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: and he's there. You've got to look really hard at that, 189 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: even if there are other needs you could be feeling. 190 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 1: It is interesting that Pete Carroll actually brought up that 191 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,439 Speaker 1: number five pick, yeah, that it would not preclude them 192 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: from taking a quarterback at number five. I'm going to 193 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: be honest with you. I never thought about a quarterback 194 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: at number five. I kept thinking defensive side of the ball. 195 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,439 Speaker 1: Of course, you can't overlook anything. I even know that 196 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: they're going to make a pick at number five. They 197 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: have a lot of back is always in play. When 198 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: you draft a quarterback, you are sending a message. And 199 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: there could be some concern that you draft a quarterback 200 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 1: early on. That could put pressure on Geno Smith. It 201 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,959 Speaker 1: could send the wrong message what happens to this offense? 202 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: And Pete says, yeah, I wouldn't worry about that too much. 203 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 1: Whatever we do, he's going to be he's gonna take 204 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: it in stride. He's not gonna worry about anybody. And 205 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: this is as a reward to what he's done, even 206 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: solidifies his confidence and understanding how much trust we have 207 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: in him. So um, you know, and if if that 208 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: is to happen, that is a choice for the long 209 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: haul of the future and all that will see what 210 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: happens with everything Gino Smith's been through his career and 211 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:47,199 Speaker 1: then to come out and do what he did last year. 212 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: I just the mental makeup that takes to stick with 213 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,319 Speaker 1: it for all those years, to back up and feeling 214 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: like you're probably not going the opportunity you deserve, and 215 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: to stick it out and then take advantage of the opportunity. 216 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 1: But finally does I'm like, I have zero concerns about 217 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: the mental makeup of a guy who's done, when he's 218 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: done his career, and like, yeah, obviously you're going to 219 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,319 Speaker 1: feel something if they draft a quarterback because you're like, Okay, 220 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 1: well maybe they're looking at the future without me somewhere 221 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: down the road, but it's going to have zero impact 222 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 1: on how he plays here. And if anything, I think 223 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: it would just be a motivator. It'd be like, look, okay, 224 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 1: I'm going to prove to them that they didn't need 225 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: to do this because I can be the man for 226 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: years to come. And I just I don't see any 227 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 1: negative there other than obviously you could be using that 228 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: pick on some other position need But you know, I 229 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: can definitely see the argument if you love a quarterback 230 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: there at five. Well, and I think what we have 231 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 1: also seen is this not only does it take a 232 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: strong mental makeup, but it does take time in this system. 233 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: And last year Gino Smith had had the benefit of 234 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 1: sitting behind Russell Wilson but also experiencing Shane Waldron's offense. 235 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: It's really unreasonable to think that somebody comes in brand 236 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: new to the NFL, brand new to this system and 237 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: can excel right away. I mean, there's just some common 238 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: sense that needs to be applied, yeah, to that position. Also, 239 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: let's think about what Gino did with two rookie tackles 240 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: and maybe not the deepest wide receiving corps in the league, 241 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,960 Speaker 1: battling some injuries at running back. Boy, there is there's 242 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: a lot of reason to think that he gets better. 243 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: And it's it's not even because of him. Yeah, I 244 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 1: mean he improves, but yeah, those and all the pieces 245 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:22,439 Speaker 1: those tackles are just gonna get that much better. You know, 246 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 1: you've got the draft picks to potentially add to that 247 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: line somewhere or whether it's you know, they need to 248 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: figure out center. Now that Austin blithe is retiring, congrats 249 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:31,719 Speaker 1: to him on a great career, by the way, but 250 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: you know there's they got a lot to add there 251 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: and then they you know, they can get some depth 252 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: a receiver, they can you know, there's just a lot 253 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: of ways they can use When you have this kind 254 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: of draft capital at your disposal, it's just really easy 255 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 1: to get excited this time you're about you know, ways 256 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,559 Speaker 1: they can upgrade well. And the Seahawks have hit on 257 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: a lot of good players. Take a look at last 258 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 1: year's draft. No team started as many rookies as Seattle 259 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: did and gave them as many snaps as Seattle did. 260 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: Having said that you don't hit on every pick, and 261 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,079 Speaker 1: John Schneider talked about that at the draft, I mean, 262 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: I don't want to use the word drought, because some 263 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 1: of it is draft capital that you had, and it 264 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,839 Speaker 1: depends on where you are drafting and overall success of 265 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 1: the team. But look, they've got enough of a track 266 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,599 Speaker 1: record here and enough of a book on how to 267 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: draft that they can rely on it and ultimately try 268 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: to hit on these picks once again, and I would 269 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 1: say that comparing players are just purely drafting for need. 270 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: And then some of the background information that we had 271 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: on players, really good people but from maybe from a 272 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: confidence standpoint or a swire standpoint, weren't necessarily able to 273 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: compete with you know, the Richard Sherman's and the Camp 274 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:44,719 Speaker 1: chancellors and the Bobby Wagner's and the kj's and the 275 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 1: man you know, Earl talk, you know what I mean, 276 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 1: So you have to We knew we had to do 277 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 1: a little bit better job in that regard. But to 278 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 1: your point, you know, when we got here twenty ten, 279 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 1: eleven twelve, you know, we're just picking players and building 280 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:02,439 Speaker 1: this thing. So you know, you know, I'm not to 281 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:05,320 Speaker 1: sound weird or anything, but we're we're damni football team 282 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: there for a number of years. So it's very hard 283 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: to make our team. Yeah, I mean, that's the thing 284 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: I go back to a lot when people want to 285 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: criticize past drafts. It is like, look that you know, 286 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: they could have made some different picks and could have 287 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: done better in areas, But it is really hard when 288 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: you are a back to back super Bowl caliber team 289 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 1: for young guys to break in. Like, first of all, 290 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: your your draft capitals worse because you're picking up the background. 291 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: But secondly, like to his point, it's hard to bring 292 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: guy in who's gonna push you know, Pro Bowl, borderline 293 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame caliber guy. And that's where when you talk, 294 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: you know, I think a lot of people I heard 295 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 1: questions that the Combine people wanted to frame it as 296 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 1: like the Seahawks totally redid their draft process last year 297 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: and that's why they drafted better. You know, they didn't 298 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: change a lot. But one thing I think that we 299 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: did hear them admit to is there's a little more 300 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: focus on the fit, on the you know, the competitiveness, 301 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: whether it's you want to call it, the grit, just 302 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: sort of that ability to come in and do what 303 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 1: we saw a lot of these rookies do, which was 304 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,839 Speaker 1: not back down from the challenge of pushing veterans to 305 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: take their jobs right away. And I think that's something 306 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: you know, you put a little more emphasis on that 307 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: and find some good players and you're going to get 308 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 1: a bunch more guy. You're not going to hit on 309 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 1: all ten or however many picks end up making, but 310 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: you hit on you know, five six of them who 311 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 1: can contribute. That can make a huge difference in twenty 312 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: twenty three. I think what we are also seeing about 313 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: some of those draft classes that John Schneider was talking about, 314 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: is they truly were elite? They were different. It is 315 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: amazing that they all ended up in the same team. 316 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: But the further you get away from that team, by 317 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: the way, ten year anniversary of the Super Bowl championship 318 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: this year, the further away you get, the more you 319 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: appreciate those players and their ability really have stood the 320 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: test of time. They are the bar for a lot 321 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 1: of these kids that were at the drafts. Yeah, for sure. 322 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: I mean you hear that. You hear guys talking their 323 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: interviews about like for years we've heard running backs, Oh, Marsham, 324 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: who do you model in your game after Marshall Lynch safeties, 325 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: Cam Chansor and Earl Thomas Richard Sherman at quarterback. I mean, 326 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: they had multiple guys who were basically the standard at 327 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: their position for the better part of a decade. I'm 328 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: curious because not everybody is sending folks to the draft 329 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 1: or excuse me, the combine anymore. How much like teams 330 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: are choosing it. This is a COVID thing, and this 331 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: is kind of yeah, changing philosophy. How much do you 332 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: think you I don't want to put you on the 333 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: spot about the Seahawks so I find it valuable to 334 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: see people working in a space, like in person in 335 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: front of me, handling whatever that situation is. How much 336 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: value do you or do you think the organization gets 337 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: out of getting eyes on the ground and on those people. 338 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: I think the CXR team, I think that sees a 339 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: lot of value. And I mean to your point. There 340 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: have been some stories this year in particular about some 341 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: teams are just mostly sending scouts and they're leaving their 342 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 1: coaches behind to do other work. And I can see that, 343 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: and one thing one factor in that they might change 344 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: how every team does it is kind of how long 345 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 1: the coaches are there, because they change a schedule a 346 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: little bit, and it does require if you're going to 347 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 1: be there for to interview a player. Let's say you're 348 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: the running backs coach and you want to interview the 349 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: running back and you want to be there to work 350 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: out Those can be pretty spread out with this new 351 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: combine schedule. So I do see where maybe not every 352 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 1: position coach goes anymore. But you know, the Seahawks really 353 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 1: value that. I mean, I've I've been lucky enough to 354 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: be in a lot of these interviews with the players 355 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: and Pete Carroll is usually the guy leading it. I 356 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: mean he starts off asking a lot of the questions, 357 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: and it's it's important for them to get that face 358 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 1: time with the guys who really feel like they get 359 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: to know him a little bit. And then I do 360 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 1: think there's just value in seeing them on the field too, 361 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: up close and personal. You know, the Seahawks usually try 362 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: to if they can get some coaches or scouts involved 363 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: in the drills on field to be around the guys. 364 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: Sanjay Law was down there doing some of the receiver 365 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: drills this year, so they do see a lot of 366 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: value in that. Yeah, I think that there's value, but 367 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: I am curious as to what's going to happen to 368 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: that as it goes on. And look, now that you've 369 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: got Geno Smith locked up, you know where that offense 370 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: is heading. You know that you've got options when it 371 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 1: comes to picks, and you've got a lot of draft 372 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: capital to work with. You got it that there's going 373 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: to be an awful lot of conversation. Well, there already 374 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:08,399 Speaker 1: has been conversation about shoring up the defense and making 375 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 1: changes on the defensive side. John Schneider didn't pull any 376 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: punches when asked about that at the combine. No, I 377 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 1: think we got a lot better. Yeah, we need we 378 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: need to be better up front. I think that's, you know, 379 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 1: pretty evident. We were on the field a lot. You know, 380 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: we didn't didn't defend the run real well. We had 381 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: some games in there we did a really nice job, 382 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: and then you know we had we had several games 383 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:30,199 Speaker 1: that didn't go so well. We know what the issues 384 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:32,880 Speaker 1: are and we're ready to have him and fix them. 385 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 1: In a separate answer, but very related, John Shires asked 386 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: about the forty nine ers and kind of closing that gap, 387 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 1: and that was another thing he alluded to. It's like 388 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: we saw the difference. I mean, you look at a 389 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,439 Speaker 1: team that has hit on a lot of picks and 390 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: had a lot of draft capital investment. That just the 391 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,439 Speaker 1: difference that makes when you have those elite game record 392 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 1: types on your defensive front. And that's Pete Carroll his 393 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: year in press conference. That was one of the first 394 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: things he pointed out too, is when they need to 395 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 1: get more disruptive upfront. Some of that can be in coaching. 396 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: You know, they Pete Carroll talked about on the radio, 397 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: say they hired BT Jordan to be their past rush specialists. 398 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: You know, if some of that can be coaching up 399 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: the existing guys, some of it can be evaluating the scheme. 400 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 1: They're only one year into what they're doing schematically, and 401 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: so they'll be improvement there. But a lot of it's 402 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,359 Speaker 1: also to who they add, whether that's the draft, free agency. 403 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 1: They know that to be a truly elite team, they 404 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: need to be one that just wins more of those 405 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: battles than the trenches. Seattle's defense allow the third most 406 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: rushing yards in twenty twenty two, twenty one rushing touchdowns. 407 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 1: There were games or boy, they would sell out to 408 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 1: stop the run, and then there were games that they 409 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 1: just couldn't find that rhythm. And there's questions with some injuries. Yeah, 410 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 1: they need to sort through too. That all factors into 411 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,199 Speaker 1: free agency and the draft as well. Yeah, I mean 412 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 1: there's some key guys Jordan Brooks and Jamal Adams kind 413 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 1: of the chief amongst them of you know, when will 414 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:49,679 Speaker 1: they be back and you know, do you need to 415 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 1: address that position more or not know? I mean, linebacker 416 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: is a position right now that you look at like, 417 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: we don't know when Jordan Brooks gonna be back and 418 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: Cody Barton's about to become a free agent, so that 419 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: you know, there's a lot of question is to answer 420 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:02,120 Speaker 1: here in the next couple of months. You know, I'm 421 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 1: so glad that you've phrased it like that because I 422 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: don't have a whole lot more answers right now. Like, 423 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 1: I just love watching what transpires, and you're seeing a 424 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,400 Speaker 1: changing of the guard around the league. First of all, 425 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:15,160 Speaker 1: you're seeing some former Seahawks become available, which I think 426 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: is interesting on lots of fronts. I also think that 427 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: there's going to be some conversations we didn't anticipate that 428 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: come out of free agency. So my proposal is this, 429 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:29,400 Speaker 1: we put a pin in this conversation, we circle back 430 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 1: around like after we know some of that and before 431 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 1: the draft. You know what's great about this, Jen, It's 432 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 1: not our job to have the answers. We're just here 433 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: to talk about it. There's people downstairs who you know, 434 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: are much more qualified than us to answer the question. 435 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 1: But we have answers. Whether they're the right answers are 436 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,239 Speaker 1: you know, yeah, we can, I mean that's debatable, right, 437 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 1: I can give you an answer, sir. You might not 438 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 1: like my answer. They might not like my answer. I 439 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 1: might get in trouble if I give my answer, so 440 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 1: let's call that a day. We'll wrap up this edition 441 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:00,159 Speaker 1: of the Seahawks Insiders podcast. Thanks for listening. We'll you 442 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: next time. M m m m