Tag Archives: Mike Holmgren

Mixed Feelings with Mora

Jim Mora was fired today as the head coach for the Seattle Seahawks.

What a difference a year makes. Only about 14 months ago, he had two organizations desperately wanting him as their head coach in town. The Huskies (his alma mater and dream job) and the Seahawks who already had him under contract. Now, neither wants him. Steve Sarkisian is holding a press conference today on Jake Locker and Mora is looking for work.

Today, I have very mixed feelings…

Sad – I like Mora. He’s a local product who played high school and college ball here. His dad is a former Husky and Seahawks assistant coach. He lives in the area and is genuinely passionate about this team.

Happy – He lost this team mid-season. Too many incidents dealing with blaming players (Olindo Mare), losing control (Housh’s finger in his chest), and a cataclysmic collapse the final four games.

Sad – I think he has the ability to be a good NFL coach.

Happy – I don’t think he will ever be a great NFL coach.

Sad – I think he’s a good guy, who is passionate about his team and life. I feel bad for him and his family.

Happy – Time to move on. It’s never easy being the first guy to replace a legend. The entire process was bungled and now we can close the book and move on.

I’m not doing cartwheels over Pete Carroll, yet. I don’t know if I like giving away full control if that’s the deal. Who would I like to see? The name Jon Gruden pops in my head. Here’s a young guy with passion and presence who has been successful and won a Super Bowl. Brian Billick is another proven, Super Bowl winning NFL coach. Don’t get me wrong, Carroll would bring the spotlight back to Seattle. I just worry that we went down this same road before with a proven NFL talent in Mike Holmgren and it didn’t work until it was split.

Wild day. What are your thoughts?

Dan

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Monday Morning QB #2 – Time to blow up the Hawks…

Dan Weedin

1 – It’s clear after yesterday’s debacle, that it’s time to blow the Seahawks up. Mike Holmgren will not return in any capacity, the team is looking for fresh blood at the GM position, and it’s now time to begin re-building. This is clearly not about effort as many of you may think. This is about one word – talent. Or, lack thereof. Yes, there may be a few who aren’t putting forth their optimal effort. On a 53-man team, that’s inevitable. But the bottom line here is that this time has no talent on the offensive or defensive lines, no consistent depth, and not enough nasty. Other than Max Unger, Ray Willis, and Brandon Mebane, it may be time to overhaul the entire lot…now.

2 – Do we expect any more Christmas gifts from Trader Jack? Jack Zduriencik let us open a lot of packages early last week by delivering Chone Figgins, Cliff Lee, and Milton Bradley. This Mariners team, who like the Hawks were in rebuilding mode just 14 months ago, are now in championship contender mode. You heard me. Why limit our dreams to a divisional championship. Jack says he’s not done and I believe him. Take what we’ve added to an 85-win team and there is no reason to believe that if we hit the playoffs, we can’t contend for a World Series. What a way to send Junior out, right? This is a Spring Training that I can’t wait to start!

3 – Steve Sarkisian and his staff are 6 weeks away from announcing their Class of 2010 recruits, led by Nick Montana. If Team Sarkisian is going to make a lasting legacy on this program, it begins with recruiting. Should be fun to watch the weeks unfold.

As always, I welcome your comments and questions. Let ’em rip!

Dan

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The Case Against Mike Holmgren

Dan Weedin

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a HUGE Mike Holmgren fan. I was terribly disappointed when I learned that he was stepping down as head coach last year. You don’t replace a legend quickly or easily (see Lou Piniella and the Mariners). That being said, I wasn’t in favor of bringing him back as General manager or President of the club. It sounds today, like the Seahawks share that view and “The Big Show” will be headed for Cleveland ant banks of Lake Erie, not the Puget Sound.

Here’s my case:

1 – Holmgren immediately becomes the best coach in the building. That puts a tremendous amount of undue pressure on Jim Mora. He needs to be given a fair opportunity to succeed without a call going out from the 12th Man for Holmgren to return to the sideline after every loss. His mere presence creates unease.

2 – I lived through the Tom Flores debacle. Flores was a two-time Super Bowl winning coach with the Raiders. He came into the President and General Manager position for the Hawks in the late 80’s. Next thing you know, a little adversity and Chuck Knox is shown the door and Flores is back on the field. I don’t need to remind Seahawks fans how THAT turned out. Flores may still have been a good coach, but he was a crummy GM and did himself in. I’d hate to have that legacy for a guy who should be revered her forever.

3 – I’m not sold that Holmgren can do the job well. He was okay in tenure before Tim Ruskell came in. He said he learned from his mistakes and I’m sure he did. I don’t think this team can take the chance.

4 – We need to take a page from the Mariners and Huskies.

We need fresh blood.

When the M’s hired a no-name (in fact hard to say name) out of Milwaukee, everybody said “Who?” When new GM Jack Zduriencik hired a no-name to manage the team, Mariners Nation screamed, “Who?” A year later, Jackie Z and Don Wakamatsu are heroes and the Mariners are the darlings of the town again. Wakamatsu was a guy who was very familiar with the AL West, having had working relationships with all the other clubs. That was a big deal because he understood our competition and what it takes to win the division.

Scott Woodward and the Huskies went and grabbed Steve Sarkisian from the best program in the conference. He knows the competition. He had experience recruiting the area. It was a big deal.

I’d love to see the Hawks make a play for Arizona Cardinals Director of Player Personnel, Steve Keim. By all accounts, this guy is an up and comer in the NFL. He’s been part of the resurgence of the best team in our conference. He’s new blood.

Maybe there are other “diamonds” out there like Trader Jack was for the M’s. We need to look.

Mike, thanks for the memories. You were the best coach in this franchise’s history and that will never be taken away. Good luck in Cleveland.

Tod Leiweke…time to bring in new blood and take a page from your buddies the Mariners and Huskies. Worked pretty well for them.

Dan

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