If we were really comfortable with Seneca Wallace as a backup QB, then we would not be looking for another verteran, simple as that. The idea to use Seneca in a slash role is very valid, but it also provides an excuse for how we can be confident in our backup QB, while still expressing interest in a signing a veteran QB. Last offseason, the Seahawks pursued Brad Johnson, but ultimately Minnesota offered him more money. That was really when the bad blood started between the two franchises.
Seneca Wallace is an impressive athlete. He works hard and knows the Seahawks system. No doubt he has developed a great deal under Jim Zorn. He is not, however, a typical NFL QB at 5'10" and the height is a real problem as it hurts his ability to see over the line and the entire field. As a senior he was initially a Heisman candidate, but did not fare well down the stretch and ended up completing only 55% of his passes with 15 TDs and 18 INTs. He did run for 8 TDs. If you watched him play in college, he made some ridiculous plays with the ball in his hands, but not a lot of great throws. His catch in the NFC Championship game was great. When he gets in the game, he still does not look completely comfortable and it looks like he has a hard time seeing everything. I do not want to be too hard on him, but he is much better suited as a slash-type player than an NFL QB.
At this point, Seneca might be a better fit than someone new like Shaun King. King certainly has bounced around and it is a moot point now that he signed with Indianapolis, but he must be decent if Dungy picked him up so quickly. He was 15-8 as a starter in this league in his first two seasons and took his team to the playoffs twice. He has lost his 3 starts in spot duty. Seneca Wallace is 0-0 as a starter and has only 25 attempts during the regular season. It would be nice to get someone who has some starts under their belt and more game experience. Alex Smith is a great example of how tough it is when you throw someone in there without any experience. I do not think it is unreasonable that King and Wallace might have been comparable, if you assume we would have signed King and he would have gone through camp and preseason. The big advantage is moving Seneca into a more natural role for him as a slash.
I have to think there is a QB out there for us, either this year or next. I think we might also have missed the boat in not trying to sign Craig Nall out of Green Bay. He was a west coast offense guy and is now trying to be the starting QB in Buffalo. He was an UFA. He has limited playing time, but it is hard to argue with his career stats: 23 for 33, for 314 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs with a passer rating of 139.4. Rumors out of Buffalo have him anywhere from being the starter right now to being third behind Kelly Holcomb and J.P. Losman. Buffalo signed him to a 3-year deal and he is scheduled to make $600,000 this year and then $1.1 million and $1.25 million the next two years. If he does not turn out to be the starter after this year, Buffalo will likely trade him or cut him as $1.1 million would be a lot to pay a backup or third stringer.
Anybody know of any other QBs you would like to see wearing a Seahawks uniform next season? Not that these guys are so great, but Tim Rattay will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, as will Jeff Garcia who signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia.
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