The Seahawks didn’t bring in Whitehurst to be a backup. Matt Bowen
How long will it be until Charlie Whitehurst, Seattle’s new QB, takes Matt Hasselbeck’s job? Because beyond the money that Whitehurst will be paid over the next two seasons, NFL teams don’t give away draft picks — and move back 20 spots in the second round — to bring in backups.
Instead, they make those deals and spend those valuable picks to upgrade their roster — especially when there’s a new head coach in Pete Carroll. This entire roster will be turned over in the next two years, and it’s starting at the QB position.
Asked about the already assumed QB controversy for the Seahawks, Carroll, the former USC head coach, told Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times, “Charlie is coming in here to battle. He's going to show where he fits into the whole thing. He doesn't have a lot of playing time in the regular season, but he has logged a lot of time in the preseason. ... We would not have done this if we didn't think we were bringing in a highly competitive player. We're counting on Matt to lead this thing, and Charlie is going to take his shot at it every turn.”
From a veteran player’s perspective, any time a coach uses the words “battle” or “compete,” and he’s talking about your position, he’s looking to replace you. Sure, Carroll said the politically correct thing about Hasselbeck — a player who has won for the franchise in the past — but this is a new team with new expectations. Those wins in the past don’t mean anything in 2010 as far as the new coaching staff is concerned.
I understand that Whitehurst is a relative unknown in this league, and I also understand the criticism that Seattle is taking for giving up so much to bring him in to town. But from the people I talked to in the league before — and after -- the deal, there are high expectations for Whitehurst. And plenty of speculation that he’ll develop into a productive player for Carroll and the Seahawks.
We should assume that Hasselbeck will go into training camp as the No. 1 QB, but every snap he takes in practice and the preseason will determine how long he holds that role. Because Carroll will give Whitehurst as many opportunities as it takes to win the job. And if it doesn’t happen in August, it’s still coming — sooner rather than later.
Whitehurst is the quarterback of the future for Seattle, and because the Seahawks decided to go with a veteran instead of a rookie, who wouldn’t be prepared for the transition to the NFL on the first day of practice anyway, this is as real as it gets when we talk about a camp battle.
The veteran, from the old regime, vs. the young QB hand-picked by the new head coach. Hasselbeck will have to fight off Whitehurst every day to keep his starting gig — and prove Carroll wrong.
Follow me on Twitter: MattBowen41
Hasselbeck had a great career in the NFL, but it is time to move one. Carroll is going to clean house.
Interesting that Hasselbeck didn't end up in cleveland.
Whitehurst is ready, got the tools and far more importantly, the complete mindset/commitment and training. If the seahawks can block and tackle, they have a good chance to turn the corner.
One thing I do know about Coach Carroll:he not only appreciates but demands hard and dedicated competition for every position on his team. He doesn't go into camp ever saying "This Guy is my starter". He wants to see every player fight for his starting job and he wasn't going to let Matt walk into camp secure in his being the starter, no matter what the potential is for Whitehurst (which I think is much greater than any of us can realistically expect right now). He wanted to see a QB controversy.. He needed one to get Matt psyched to play after the recent disappointing years. NOW we get to see just how good a coach Pete Carroll is, and can he utilize all the tools that he sharpened at SC. This is going to be one wild ride. The Hawks' road to greatness starts NOW!
I do believe Holmgren did the same to get Hasselbeck from GB to replace Kitna. Hopefully it will light a fire under Hasselbeck.
Hasselbeck won't fold up his tent and snivel away. Matt's the starter and the job is his to lose. Senneca Wallace never challenged Hasselbeck for starter making him expendable. Now former third string QB, Mike Teel will meet his competitor, Charlie Whitehurst. Will the Hawk's pull a QB out of this year's draft?
We'll see! The new Brain Trust play's they're cardsmuch closer to thier vests.
Little on RB's either - Iseverything going to be quiet on the Western Front until the 20010 Draft
I can see Coach Carroll entertaining quite a few walk on QB's this year, all for the #3 position and one for the practice squad.
Hasselbeck will be the Seahawk's starter. All the QB's are learning a new system but Matt has played it before. This should be a good introductory year of the Carroll Era. But Matt's too tough and smart to go down.
Here's hoping that the Hawks get at least two OL/OG in the April draft.
Go Hawks!!
This was a very good move by Schneider to bring in a player that will push a current starter to play his best (and it should expose early his eye for talent). Dropping 20 spots in the second round of this deep draft will turn out to be very minor and hopefully next years third won't be almost a low 2nd, like this years would have been. The Hawks have so many holes they need to go strictly with "best available" in this draft, which certainly Schneider has learned from Thompson.Like Jimmy Johnson in his first few years after leaving the Hurricanes, Carroll will have an advantage of familiarity with college players for the next few drafts only, so the Hawks need to make hay while they can.
Offseason training is crucial...
Breaking down the slant route...
Why the rest of the NFL needs...
Chalkboard breakdown of the 9...
Breaking down my game notes from...
Mar 19, 2010
09:25 AM
"Tomorrow is guaranteed to no one." The late, great Walter Payton