OK, so this isn't the Lombardi Trophy, but two members of the Seahawks roster can boast of winning a championship, even if it is the World Bowl of NFL Europe.B.J. Tucker (CB) and Ryan Dutton (P) found themselves on the winning side of this event, while three other Seahawks, Michael Harden (CB), Christian Mohr (DE) and Kevin Miller (K) were on the roster for the runners-up. Honorable mention should also go out to Gibran Hamdan (QB) who was playing well for the eventual champion Amsterdam Admirals, before suffering an injury early in the season.
Hopefully the championship experience that these guys picked up "across the pond" will carry over to the mainland, and they'll be able to contribute to the overall goal of reaching the ultimate championship game this season.
Excellent post Alba, I was considering writing a similar piece but figured I'd hold off to see if a better version was put out..and once again patience proves to be a virtue.
ReplyDeleteI watched the game Sat. and Miller and Harden looked especially outstanding. In fact Harden made a spectacular defensive play in the endzone to prevent the other team from continuing their drive and forced a FG. He's an outstanding cover guy......and Miller can really boot the ball down field. I think he could wind up our starter @ Kicker.
Tucker and Mohr could also push hard for a roster spot and perhaps a starting job, if nothing else they'll be excllent guys to puish other players in camp as well as solid STs players and backups.
Thanks for the props, Vin, and the game analysis.
ReplyDeleteI can't help looking at that trophy and thinking either it's a basketball award, or some futuristic UFO spacecraft!
Posted by alba
I can't watch the NFLE. Dunno why. I can watch a little Arena, and a little college. Can't take NFLE. Maybe its the announcers. Or the Skoda patches.
ReplyDeleteRegarding our NFLE players, they say the game speed is way down in NFLE, so if Harden looked great, maybe he is low end NFL material with upside. Although I think we're pretty locked up at CB now, maybe he makes the p squad.
I would imagine the kicking game to be the same, but without the accent here, so hopefully Miller can push Brown. Vin, did you notice if he kicked any field goals? Is he accurate from range? Cuz I would rather have a guy who is accurate over a big leg, and carrying more than 2 kickers/punters is out of the question, IMO.
Posted by Josh from SC
Josh, I disagree on the speed of the game, and would like to point out that there are a lot of former NFLE players playinga nd succeeding in the NFL, three Pro Bowlers from Kansas City alone. Also remember where Warner and Delhomme came from (both are Super Bowl winners).
ReplyDeleteAnd Miller did miss a 43 yarder wide right, but his kickoffs were pinning the other team very deep. I'd also like to point out that if the defense holds that deep field position and the Hawks can actually manage to maintain drives into the End Zone....we don't need mega accuracy from the kicker...and might I also point out that success starts with field position.
But I guess you have a point also...I am after all, dealing in 'what ifs' as far as the defense and offense go. But if they succeed then our kicker doesn't have to hit 98% of his FGs. Maybe he can come in a nd show Josh how to get better distance from his kickoffs.
Posted by vinnyhawkalugi
don't forget our own Jon Kitna was an NFLE Champion too!
ReplyDeletePosted by alba
I think most would be surprised to find out how many very good players started in the NFLE.
ReplyDeletePosted by vinnyhawkalugi
Vin, I don't watch NFLE, I said they say the speed is not the same, but you know how they can be.
ReplyDeleteDelhomme is not a SB winner, but I agree, a fine QB.
3 KC pro-blowers? Trent Green, Dante Hall and who? Not disputing, just curious.
And a 43 wide right, that isn't good but isn't bad either. As long as a guy can hit that most of the time he can probably play in the NFL, I was just curious about that his accuracy. According to this link , its pretty good. 24/25 PAT, one blocked, and 17/21 FG with a long of 48. The only longer kicker in NFLE kicked a 54. And he is an East Carolina boy!
Posted by Josh from SC
Josh, first of all, who's they ?
ReplyDeleteMy bad on the Delhomme, don't know what I was thinking.
Not sure who the third KC Probowler was....KC's owner said it in an interview during the game.
And nice job of digging up Miller's numbers, guess I coulda done that....but efficiency is not my strong suit.
E.Carolina? (heard of North and South but East?....:D )
Posted by vinnyhawkalugi
They are the bobbleheads on various websites and television programs... uhhh, oh yeah, the media. And its also sort of a Pulp Fiction reference. Also there is the fact that often, they is us!
ReplyDeleteI don't even know which Carolina E Carolina is in actually :-)
Posted by Josh from SC
By the by, to answer your question Josh, from NFL.com
ReplyDelete"But to Peterson, the value of NFL Europe ought to be self-evident. "We've sent 129 players to Europe over the years," he said. "On average, three each season make our team. Seventeen have been starters, and three (guard Brian Waters, defensive end Gary Stills and kick returner Dante Hall ) have gone to the Pro Bowl. None of those three would have made the NFL without that extra season in Europe. "
Posted by PaulieP
I thot T Green was an NFLE guy. Thanks Paulie.
ReplyDeletePosted by Josh from SC