Should Seattle Seahawks Sign Rex Grossman and Install The Wild Cat?

Here's something that is clear about the Seattle Seahawks—they are trying make Seattle into the Atlanta Falcons of Jim Mora Jr and Gregg Knapp, with players like FB Justin Griffith and HB TJ Duckett. Those teams of course, led the league in rushing.

All they need now is Warrick Dunn.  Maybe.

The question that hangs in my mind though is whether Matt Hasselbeck can stay healthy and whether he is regressing. Even when Hasselbeck was healthy, the Seahawks were erratic after the Super Bowl in 2006.

That told me that the Seahawks weren't keeping up with the competition once they became the target. Sure, Seattle would win the NFC West, but mostly by fact that San Francisco, St. Louis, and Arizona weren't any better, but that is no longer the case.

Seattle became complacent as the division improved, and that is why they struggled, and could continue to struggle.

To be honest, I've never thought that Matt Hasselbeck was as good as some thought. He had an All-Pro line and an MVP runner. He struggled for most his early career until the line and Shaun Alexander came through. Even Trent Dilfer was able to lead a similar team nearly to the postseason in 2001 (9-7 record).

That told me that a solid leader at quarterback could lead the Seahawks, yet the only reason that Hasselbeck had shined was because of Alexander and the line, while the biggest problem that Seattle had was in the passing game. Once the Seahawks leaned on Alexaner, they succeeded. When they leaned on Hasselbeck, they struggled.

Much of Seattle's fate in 2009 does rely on Matt Hasselbeck to lead the team, so if he gets hurt again, Seattle would need to rely on Seneca Wallace again as a pocket passer.

I'm not sure that's the best solution; however, Wallace can play like Michael Vick—so it might make sense for Gregg Knapp to install the Wild Cat formations.

When Seattle can run the ball effectively, they succeed

Fad, trend, en vogue, whatever—Seattle's personnel fits the Wild Cat, and I think they could execute it quite well.

Despite what many Seattle fans think, 2006 NFL MVP Shaun Alexander led the team to the Super Bowl—not Hasselbeck. Thus, I do believe that Seattle should commit to the run once again rather than rely on Hasselbeck.

In my opinion, a commitment to the run would make Seattle the team to beat in the NFC West, whereas they will be terrible if they lean on Hasselbeck.

That is also why Seattle should consider whether they should sign Rex Grossman as a backup.

Here is what the Seattle roster looks like to me

Some explanations:

Backups are contingent on camps, but I penciled in those with most experience.

I excluded Billy McMullen because of age—hate to do that, but it happens, when there are younger players behind you.

I always round ages up to nearest even number.

INJ = Injury concern

Bold = rookie or new or unproven starter

Underline = not earning paycheck

SB = Switchback which is my word for "change of pace"

DS = Down specialist

STE = Switch-tackle/end; can play end or tackle; three-technique position

NT = nose tackle

NB = nickelback

SE = Split end

FL = Flanker

SL = Slot

STG = Special teams gunner

QB      Matt Hasselbeck         (34) (INJ)      Seneca Wallace     (28)

HB                                      (00)      TJ Duckett                  (28)

SB       Julius Jones               (26)

FB       Justin Griffith             (30)      Owen Schmitt              (24)

DS       TJ Duckett                (28)

SE       Deon Butler              (24)      Jordan Kent                  (26)

FL       TJ Houshmanzadeh     (32)      Logan Payne                (24)

SL       Deion Branch              (30) (INJ)

WR     Nate Burleson             (28) (INJ)

TE       John Carlson               (24)      Cameron Morrah         (22)

TE       John Owens                (30)

LT       Walter Jones                (36)      Kyle Williams             (26)

LG       Mike Wahle                 (32)      Steve Vallos               (26)

C         Chris Spencer              (26)      Max Unger                  (24)

RG      Rob Sims                    (26)      MansfieldWrotto            (26)

RT       Sean Locklear             (28)      Ray Willis                   (26)

LDE    Patrick Kerney            (32) (INJ)  Baraka Atkins             (26)

NT      Cory Redding             (30)          Brandon Mebane        (24)

STE     Colin Cole                   (30)        Craig Terrell              (30)

RDE    Darryl Tapp                 (24)        Lawrence Jackson       (24)

DS       Baraka Atkins             (26)

LOLB Aaron Curry                  (24)      Lance Laury                 (28)

MLB   Lofa Tatupu                (28)      David Hawthorne           (24)

ROLB Leroy Hill                    (28)      DD Lewis                      (30)

DS       DD Lewis                   (30)

LCB    Marcus Trufant             (28)      Ken Lucas                  (30)

RCB    Josh Wilson                  (24)      Kelly Jennings             (28)

NB      Ken Lucas                    (30)

FS        Brian Russell               (32)      CJ Wallace                 (24)

SS        Deon Grant                 (30)      Jordan Babineaux       (28)

DS       Jordan Babineaux          (28)

K         Olindo Mare                  (36)

P          Jon Ryan                     (28)

LS       Tyler Schmitt                (24)

H                                          (00)

PR       Justin Forsett               (24)

KR      Justin Forsett                (24)                 

STG     DD Lewis                     (30)

STG     Lance Laury                 (28)