Lofa "Lightning Rod" Tatupu

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MaxHawk, 12 Seahawks Street Writer.

They said he was too small. They said he wouldn't make it. We all know they've said that before. Steve Largent to name one off hand....Come to think of it you needn't say anymore. Those who have paid close attention have witnessed the birth of the one position that hasn't been present for many years in the Seahawks defensive line, MLB. In his rookie season, he amassed 104 tackles, four sacks, deflected 6 passes and racked up 55 yards of defensive offense with is pigskin theivary thru interceptions and fumble recovery's. Lofa Tatupu is no joke my freinds. He gets any better and I'll personally start reffering to guys like Singletary and LT.

Scoff if you must, but pay close attention to the man who was voted defensive rookie of the year. My man Lofa even slipped a TD into his nfl debut.

Selected with the 13th pick in the second round (45th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. Highest choice used on a linebacker since Anthony Simmons was taken 15th overall in the 1998 draft.

With his lower center of gravity he has the abillity to sneak in low and behind a reciever to snatch the ball from the waiting recievers fingertips without the unsuspecting offender even knowing he has been there before its too late and Lofa has disapeared down field. At 238 pounds, Tatupu has the power of a big RB when he has personally turned the defense into his offensive playground. Give Lofa the ball and fun things happen.

(source of the following, Maike Kahn, Seahawks insider, Seahawks.com)

Edited by MaxHawk to condence.

John Marshall, the linebackers coach of the Seattle Seahawks said. “You can learn about a rookie real fast by the way they respond to a challenge. What everybody noticed on the first day he played in training camp – he belonged.

Rarely does a rookie jump right in, call signals and set a defense. In fact, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say the Seahawks wouldn’t have been preparing for their Super Bowl XL matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday were it not for Tatupu’s presence. He was the lightning rod for transforming a porous run defense with no pass rush into one that was second in red zone defense, allowed just one 100-yard rushing game all season and led the NFL in sacks.

“I knew from the first day he took over the huddle,” Seahawks defensive tackle Chuck Darby said. “Anytime you take over the huddle, it becomes the linebacker’s house, the huddle. He makes the calls.”

Keep in mind, that was Day One.

That was the first step toward Tatupu leading the team in tackles and picking off three passes during the regular season, and then intercepting another pass in the big win over Carolina in the NFC Championship game. That was followed by him taking out the Panthers starting running back Nick Goings in the first quarter with a monumental hit that gave Tatupu a concussion. It didn’t stop him from playing, but he doesn’t remember much. If ever there was someone who can just play on instinct, he’s it.

“The coaches do a great job in keeping us team oriented,” Tatupu said. “You have to play together or you’ll never stop anybody’s run game. We’ve been pretty consistent against the run and we just have to keep going.”

It isn’t a problem because the defense has followed his lead. Oh, they have great leadership with veterans Darby, Grant Wistrom and Bryce Fisher – all great effort guys. There is extraordinary talent with Michael Boulware, Leroy Hill and Marcus Trufant. And there is plenty more where that came from.

But it all fits because of Tatupu.

“Middle linebacker is like the quarterback of any defense, and for that responsibility to be put on a rookie is something very rare in this league. What makes it even better is that most times coaches just put them out there and say, ‘Go make plays, don’t think too much.’ Lofa’s whole game is about thinking, then reading and reacting. He’s handled that better than any young player I’ve seen in my career.”

A big part of the smooth transition not only comes from him being an extraordinarily instinctive football player, but being in the heart of Pete Carroll’s national championship defenses at USC. It’s more than just playing in a pro-style defense. The pressure of competing for a national championship on an annual basis as the signature football team in Los Angeles is not small task.

“I guess USC kind of prepared me for situations like this,” Tatupu said. “We’ve been in the spotlight for the last few years and I’m fortunate to be in this same position my first year in the NFL.”

He’s not a mouthy leader or a smack-talker out on the field. He sets the defense, sees the play and constantly gets a great break on the ball. He prepares incessantly, which helps recognition. But that is only part of it.

“Lofa was probably born a linebacker,” Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. “There is no learning curve there. He is really a special kid that way. He’s just an amazing young man and I’m very, very happy he’s on our football team and he’s just going to get nothing but better. He’s mature beyond his years and he has been the real glue on our defense, I think. The amazing part about it is he’s a rookie.

“I’ve taken him off of most of the special teams, otherwise he’d run down on kickoffs. He made a play (in the divisional playoff win over Washington) deep in the middle of the field running down there with somebody. It made me a little nervous to see our middle linebacker 40 yards down the field covering a wide receiver. So I politely buzzed John (Marshall) and I said ‘John, is that what you wanted?’ He’s a great kid and we are lucky to have him.”

Tatupu says he saw the magic almost immediately in Seahawks mini-camp after the draft – with fellow rookie Hill and D.D. Lewis as the brash, young and fast linebackers who would fly around the field. It was a brand new group for the shaky defense of a year ago and the excitement was palpable – even though Hill didn’t take over permanently until veteran Jamie Sharper’s knee could go no more by the ninth game of the season.

“We felt it from the first mini-camp, and I’m not lying to you,” Tatupu said. “We made a commitment back then, and I know we lost the first game of the season and our heads were kind of down for that next week going into Atlanta. But as soon as we got that first win we just felt confident out there. Things started to pick up and we had a nice streak.”

Nice streak? Obviously he was spoiled at USC. NFL teams don’t just go out and put together 11-game winning streaks like the Seahawks did this season. Tatupu wasn’t the primary reason, but they wouldn’t have done it without him either.

His teammates are the first ones to say so.

“His presence has been huge,” Michael Boulware said. “Like I said earlier in the week, he is the reason USC probably lost the National Championship game this year, and the reason why we are here. It has been amazing how he has stepped into a leadership role and been able to make the big plays and keep everyone calm. He has been a big asset to this team, and even in the locker room his whole spirit has been awesome.”

Dad just told me to win the game, Tatupu said. “They didn’t win the game when they made the Super Bowl. But it wasn’t from lack of trying. It’s the Super Bowl and you have to prepare the best you can and just come out and play.”

Tatupu would never offer anything less. He’s already been underestimated coming out of high school and college by the so-called experts. (source seahawks.com)

Lofa is no joke my freinds. I highly expect our defense to be in the top ten and wouldn't be suprized a bit if it ranks as one of the best defenses in the nfl led by Lofa "The Lightning Rod" Tatupu.

If you aren't jacked about our upcoming season, you haven't got a pulse and should see your doctor or shrink as soon as possible. Its a known fact that getting back to the Superbowl after losing the Superbowl are slim to none. I see this team as the one to break the odds and return to the bowl with a victory and should well be the team to beat in the NFL.


MaxHawk...12 Seahawks Street Writer