Seattle Seahawks: Part 1, Have They Painted Themselves into a Corner at QB?

It's not often that the you witness the fate of your team's fortunes change for perhaps the better part of a decade while sitting in the ladies' shoe department at Nordstrom's watching your wife try on heels. 

But oddly enough, there I was, trying to maintain my sanity after a long day of holiday shopping suddenly fixated on the TV monitor in the lobby watching Matt Barkley announce his decision to return to USC for his senior season. 

Understand I'm all for higher education and believe it's important to enjoy that time/opportunity as a college student, yet deep down I knew this move would send a ripple through the plans of several NFL franchises in need of a franchise quarterback next season. 

It's not that the 'Hawks should have or would have selected Barkley in the April draft, it was the fact that for now they, along with a handful of other teams, simply couldn't. 

Right now there are roughly 3.5 teams in need of making a move this offseason with the Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks—and perhaps the Cleveland Browns—making that list.  On a side note, wouldn't it seem strange if Mike Holmgren's decision in Cleveland with Colt McCoy could in some way have a lasting effect in Seattle? 

Meanwhile, with Barkley off the table, the number of viable options, assuming Andrew Luck goes No. 1 to Indianapolis, is now three, if you count Robert Griffin III, Matt Flynn and a supposedly healthy Peyton Manning.

That's it.

The names Kyle Orton, Ryan Tannehill, Kirk Cousins, Nick Foles, etc. are not in play here.  While all of them could in some way serve a team looking for a quarterback either to start immediately (Orton) or develop down the road (second- and third-round draft choice), none of them are bold choices capable of making both an immediate and lasting impact for a franchise.   

So, have head coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider painted themselves into a corner at quarterback?

It would sure seem so.

Let's face it, RB3 and Flynn aren't secrets anymore given Griffin's Heisman win and Flynn's banner day during the final week of the NFL season.  Tarvaris Jackson, while certainly a gamer who improved over the course of the season, isn't a long-term solution.

The games surrounding Charlie Whitehurst, aka Clipboard Jesus, and whoever else are not going to cut it much longer.  Seattle Times writer Jerry Brewer did a great job outlining the situation a few weeks ago, but now what?  Halfway through a four-year deal, Carroll has to make a move soon; otherwise, he risks going down with the likes of T-Jack and a rapidly aging Matt Hasselbeck.

Owners around the league have shown little patience in such matters, as evidenced in St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Miami and Indianapolis, just to name a few.  The "win now" mentality affords little to no margin for error.  So today's vote of confidence really doesn't mean much.  Following consecutive 7-9 seasons, time is of the essence for Carroll and Schneider.

Under such circumstances it would seem likely a big move will come to fruition, yet these two have had a tendency to zig when others would have zagged.  Still, it is important to consider two points.

1. For Pete Carroll, this is it at the pro level. 

Already 60 years old, a failure in Seattle would either send him into early retirement or possibly a coaching gig in the Mountain West conference.  He can't wait another year with the team he is building to continue to come up short without a long-term option at quarterback.  He may never admit it, but he knows this will be the last thing people remember about him, and Carroll is too much of a competitor to let that one critical detail trip him up. 

2. John Schneider cannot afford to screw up his first GM job.

Whether he lasts in Seattle past this contract or gets another shot any time soon after will largely depend on what happens here in securing a triggerman for the 'Hawks offense.  Otherwise, he will be left with the legacy as a guy who lacked the nerve in making the big move.

Until now, both have managed to have their cake and eat it, too, by making relatively safe moves and not taking any major risks.  Being shrewd is one thing, being bold is a whole other story.  For example, this past year the 'Hawks picked up two relatively unknown Stanford grads in Richard Sherman and Doug Baldwin who not only made the roster, but have earned starting roles for next year and potentially for some time to come.  It's that kind of smart thinking/scouting that should earn Carroll and Schneider copious amounts of praise, but both moves came with little risk.  If either or both flamed out, it posed minimal risk to their jobs. 

Being bold means putting your job on the line with perhaps the latest example on the Seattle sports scene coming with Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik shipping a young pitcher like Michael Pineda to the Yankees for hitting prospect Jesus Montero.  If that deal bombs, it will likely cost Jack Z his job.

At the end of the day, it's a harsh world out there, but both of these men have to be aware of that fact, otherwise they're simply ignoring the reality of what their competitors are facing. Thus far they've managed to do a solid job rebuilding the 'Hawks through the draft and some shrewd moves, but all through this time they've stalled on the one big piece.

Expect a big move, it's time.

Holding on to draft choices you yourself may never get to use borders on foolish, if not dangerous.

Have Carroll and Schneider painted themselves into a corner at quarterback?

Yes.

What can they do about it? 

Thursday in Part Two I will outline the options.