By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

Seattle like most teams was in desperation mode to make moves to improve their team. Rather than making silent quiet signings and build through draft picks, they decided to bust out an array of bold moves. First they went after arguably the highest profiled college coach out there, and one that has had semi success before in the NFL ranks. Pete Carroll brings the dynamic of transforming the way he was able to mold young players at USC to maybe doing the same with young NFL contract athletes trying to fulfill their first contract obligations.

A city that is still reeling from the loss of an NBA franchise, Seattle, hopes that a revival to the years of Shaun Alexander’s breakout years is back. The division that the Seahawks dominated in laughable fashion for years after the realignment suddenly shifted to Arizona and San Francisco. It all started with the debacle of letting Steve Hutchinson sign with the Minnesota Vikings, and than countering that deal by unloading the same type of money on bust receiver Nate Burelson. From their Shaun Alexander tanked quicker than the media and NBA fans have on LeBron James. Their veteran quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck just could not avoid injuries the past few years, and had little support on the offensive side of the football.

Pete Carroll is not one to sit back and he has instantly made some trades that he thinks can boost this team now. Divisional foes come in with just as many question marks as Seattle so these type of moves could send strong signals to the teams veterans and ignite them in the right direction. After all Arizona will be running with either Derek Anderson or Matt Leinart, and San Francisco is finally setting forth their confidence with Alex Smith.

The head scratching trade for Charlie Whitehurst was a hot topic for multiple days, but one that did not get as much hype was the trades for Leon Washington and Lendale White. Even though Julius Jones is still on the team we do not expect that to remain through training camp. Towards the end of last season Justin Forsett was the main back for Seattle. Jones has struggled to reign in solid years with little to no competition the past several years, especially when he was paired with Edgerrin James.

Carroll thinks he can end White’s up and down battle in his NFL career with weight, alcohol, and commitment to football shape(conditioning). White’s already responded well by showing up to mini camp and what some would say the best shape he has for NFL mini camps. Linking with Carroll has seemed to put a flashback energize in him. White has already been a carousel fantasy back throughout his career. What could we expect from him as a feature back, as he is expected to be in Seattle? With fantasy owners not sure of how Seattle will share carries and their offensive woes the past few seasons, White will be a strong fantasy sleeper.

Last year he was just put aside completely by the emergence of Chris Johnson. The two seasons before last year though he was putting up monster touchdown numbers as an overweight and questionable work ethic athlete. He is still only 25, and double digit touchdowns entering the fold for White is a realistic outlook.

Than you have the flash and dash factor of Leon Washington. A back that has been dangerous in every phase of the game once he has his hands on the football. Call it crazy, but doesn’t it look like Carroll’s trying to build a backfield similar to his days at USC…..Bush/White. Washington’s role has yet to be determined and could stay just about the same as it was with New York. The thing about Washington though is he is a capable enough back to supplant White if White lets up and loses focus as he tends to do throughout a season. If so, we could see Carroll easily losing his patience and shifting the majority of carries to Washington. Even though Washington has never been a prime feature back, his yards per carry have been among the best in the league since he came into the league.

Heading into your early fantasy June drafts, White is the lone obvious strong back to draft from Seattle. He should get double digit touchdowns and if he is a feature back getting 15-20 carries than a 1,000 yard season should not be far sighted. Washington’s role and fantasy impact will depend more on training camp and preseason work. Injuries or depth chart movements could turn Washington from a late round June fantasy pick, to a serious sleeper in August/September.

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

There are numerous free agent names that would have been considered marquee free agents just a few seasons ago. The game has shifted quickly for these athletes and landing a job isn’t a guarantee for them. For Brian Westbrook the question of returning to the game as his best interest is priority number one. It seems as if he is willing to take that risk after sustaining multiple concussions last year that put serious doubts in a likelihood of a return.

Before the concussions Westbrook was already showing signs of slowing down. He was not as much of a strong hold in the Eagles offense as in 2004-2007. Getting out in the open field as a running back or pass catching back was his main staple, and the Eagles used it to flourish for years. McNabb never truly had a go to option at wide receiver but Westbrook was able to fill that void. As McNabb declined in quarterback scrambles and settled as a pocket passer the dumps to Westbrook were sort of safety plays for McNabb to avoid scrambling.

The rise of Westbrook’s career and rapid decline happened due to nagging knee, ankle, and leg injuries. It seemed he would have some sort of injury each and every year but upon his return it was as if nothing happened. At one time he was not practicing on a weekly basis but mustering enough out of his body to play on Sundays. That was an attest to Westbrook’s endurance and threshold for pain. Questioning his work ethic has never been a matter.

When the Eagles cut ties with Westbrook suitors have been few if any. St. Louis has been one team that has but everyone knows that team is a nightmare franchise currently. He’d definitely be just a third down back and would have to totally rebuild with a losing franchise. From an athlete that has been near a Super Bowl victory and countless NFC championship appearances waiting out for another option seemed best.

Suddenly the linking with his old quarterback Donovan McNabb could be a possibility. The Redskins plan on engaging in conversations with the possibility of signing Westbrook. Looking at the Redskins backfield the names seem great but “OLD”. You’d have Willie Parker, Larry Johnson, Brian Westbrook, and the Redskins prime back all these years in Clinton Portis. No youth at all and plenty of miles on each back. Sounds like another Dan Snyder just sign him because of his name type of move.

All of these backs together would likely not happen. Larry Johnson is being given a chance to show he has something left. Based on the way he has played the past few seasons, Washington might give him his walking papers even before training camp starts. Parker and Westbrook together is very interesting, and the pairing would be strange. If Westbrook comes in and shows he has overcome injury woes and concussion worries we’d expect him to be behind Portis on the depth chart. That and for the simple fact that he already has great chemistry with quarterback Donovan McNabb.

The backfield in Washington looks so crammed that value for a straight up fantasy value running back is ugly. Reasoning beyond a touchdown value back is not going to be found here. Maybe spend a late round pick in case of injuries mounting up, but that’s it. Drafting any of these backs looks like a crowded college backfield that a coach just doesn’t know what do with it. An area that looks hopeful that plagued McNabb and was one of Westbrook’s flaws is short yardage situations. Johnson and Portis can get that third and one, or other short plunges to keep the chains moving.

With the NFL seemingly getting younger at the running back position, Washington is on the other side of the trend. Johnson and Westbrook are 31, Parker 29, and Portis somehow only 27 but going on 36 in NFL running back years. Don’t forget the guy that’s behind the helm in Mike Shanahan. The names may be there now, but Shanahan has went wild before with a no name low round pick or free agent pickup to garner carries.