Go ahead and call me a homer — but I think the Seahawks had a pretty good draft
Over the years I’ve frequently been a pessimistic sportswriter, which is a nicer way of saying a real downer of a columnist. I think it stems from the way many of us learned about journalism - when you cover the home teams, you cover them objectively and don’t root for them like a fan.
The worst thing you can call a sportswriter is a “homer.” You never sugar-coat anything like they do on the flagship broadcasts because when you’re paid by the team, the team wants you to paint the prettiest picture possible even if the team sucks.
I absolutely hate that kind of coverage. It’s as if they think we’re all idiots as viewers and listeners. One time as I was walking to my truck at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, a ROOT Sports employee told me: “I hope you appreciate how you can say whatever you feel like saying because we can’t.”
Sorry, I know I’m burying the lead here, a journalistic no-no, but one more quick aside: I’ll never forget the time when I wrote that I was sick and tired of Rick Rizzs saying “it’s a beautiful day at the ballpark.” My regrettable point was simple - it’s not always a beautiful day at the ballpark. It might be cloudy and cold at T Mobile Park for instance. An even better example, how can it be a beautiful day at the ballpark when the Mariners are typically terrible?
I was just playfully spoofing Rizzs because I get it, he loves the game and loves his job, and it’s fun to be at the ballpark no matter what.
As luck wouldn’t have it, the very next day I ran into Rizzs outside the Mariners’ clubhouse. He came up to me with a sad puppy dog look on his face and said: “Jimmie, what do you want me to say? It WAS a beautiful day at the ballpark.”
I’m 6-feet but felt about 6 inches tall as I apologized to the revered Mariners’ play-by-play announcer, a man who even to this day asks me how my 94-year-old mom is doing when I see him, making me feel even worse that I took a jab at his perpetually sunny disposition.
Today, though, I’m gonna channel my inner Rick Rizzs, which resides somewhere deep inside this 225-pound flab-fest, and let the praise flow all over the Seahawks after what I’d call a successful NFL draft.
How do I know it was successful? I don’t. Then again, do you? Does anyone? I mean, guys who cover this for a living strike out on their draft projections as much as those of us who don’t break down the tape on these players.
I’m just giving general manager John Schneider and new coach Mike Macdonald the benefit of the considerable doubt I normally have. Why? Because I love that they’re going in a different direction, and what the hell, maybe the path they’re taking will lead to oblivion, but initially at least, I’ll follow them and believe they’re going to lead everyone to the promised land.
The Pete Carroll Era had run its course, and the Seahawks wisely decided to trade doubles and singles for the potential of home runs with Macdonald. Know what? If they ultimately strike out and discover that Macdonald is in over his head, I won’t bury them for having a wild hair and taking a shot with a first year head coach with impeccable defensive credentials.
Over the last few days the Seahawks addressed their greatest needs in the trenches, getting two probable starters in first-round defensive tackle Byron Murphy of Texas and third-round right guard Christian Haynes of UConn. They also beefed up their linebacking corps with the fourth-round selection of Tyrice Knight of UTEP.
The Seahawks figure to be faster, quicker and more physical than they were last year on defense. I’m glad they moved on from Bobby Wagner, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, all on the downside of their careers. Some of their replacements are somewhat proven, some are completely unproven, but I’ll trust the judgment of Schneider and Macdonald and assume that all will be better players than the departing aging veterans.
And whatever scheme Macdonald throws out there, it’s fair to think it could be great based on the outstanding defense he directed in Baltimore.
“That’s where the game starts, up front,” Macdonald told reporters after the draft. “It’s going to be important for us to be really dominant in that phase. We want to be imposing.”
I’m sure we heard Carroll say the same stuff over the years, and he went from pulling it off to growing stale. Macdonald deserves an open mind from the Seahawks’ fan base. Besides, we can’t second guess him when he hasn’t even had a chance at a first guess yet.
As far as I’m concerned, the best move the Seahawks have made didn’t occur in the draft. It occurred when they traded for quarterback Sam Howell in March, acquiring a supposed backup to Geno Smith from Washington.
I say “supposed” because Howell figures to give Geno a competitive battle in training camp. The Sam Howell I saw in Washington’s loss to the Seahawks last year was good enough to make me think he could be the future franchise QB. Of course I said the same thing about the dearly departed Drew Lock and was clearly wrong.
If nothing else, should Geno struggle or suffer an injury, Howell looks like a guy who can not only hold down the fort but maybe even build a mansion.
All in all, as they head into the mini-camp portion of their offseason program, the Seahawks appear poised to provide a formidable challenge to the 49ers and Rams in the NFC West. If that happens, it would be a beautiful day indeed.
Jim Moore has covered Washington’s sports scene from every angle for multiple news outlets. You can find him on Twitter @cougsgo.
This story was originally published April 29, 2024 at 5:45 AM.