Ken Hamlin an upgrade? I say yes... decide for yourself...

[Hot_Toddy]

The "Did we upgrade" question:

Ken Hamlin (through 7 games in 2007) 29 Tackles/4 PDef/2 INTs

Combo of Watkins and Davis(TOTAL in 2006) 53 Tackles/4 PDef/3 INTs

.....Looks like a major upgrade to me. But to give Watkins his credit here, he had all of the PDef and INTs last year..Davis had none.
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So why did Seattle let Hamlin go and pay HUGE dollars for their "Improved Safeties".....

Brian Russell (through 7 games in 2007) 30 Tackles/4 PDef/1 INT

....Good Question. Hamlin has one more INT and one less tackle.
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May as well compare Roy and Grant here as well, seeing that 30 million to Deon is why Hamlin was let go: SS's:

Roy Williams (through 7 games in 2007) 37 Tackles/3 PDef/2 INTs

Deon Grant (through 7 games in 2007) 34Tackles/3 PDef/2 INTs

.....Looks to me like we got the better end of the deal all the way around.

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Yes, I watched Hamlin have 1 bad game - as well as a few bad angles and missed tackles in a couple of others. I have also witnessed our Free Safeties of the last several years have TD after TD thrown on them all year long as well.....Not the case this year (with the exception of the Pats game).

And yes, I have also watched bits and pieces of Seahawk games this year - since my buddy, who is a Seahawk fan, comes over to my place to watch their early games......You don't even want to see those guys in action, you would vomit. I'm basically saying that I'm not just looking at stats when I post this.

I also like Pat Watkins (bigtime), I believe he'll be a very good one for us. But let's not say that Hamlin isn't a major upgrade for us this season. It just seems if Hamlin makes a mistake it gets blown out of proportion, yet you rarely hear the good he is doing for us (i.e. a split second from being the one to get that fumble recovery against the vikes). Same thing with Roy.

And let's not forget that our 2 safeties have been trying to take care of an injury riddled and inexperienced secondary this year. When T-New and Henry come back they should be a whole lot better.

Just my opinion anyway. Fire away.

Links:
Ken Hamlin
http://www.nfl.com/players/kenhamlin...e?id=HAM413954
Pat Watkins
http://www.nfl.com/players/profile?id=00-0024352
Keith Davis
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6269
Roy Williams
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5894
B. Russell
http://www.nfl.com/players/brianruss...e?id=RUS390427
Deon Grant
http://www.nfl.com/players/profile?id=00-0019560

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

His stats are better yes, but I think that's just as much a product of the defense we're playing this year as it is him. We seem to play facing the ball a lot more than we did under Zimmer's defense and that seems to lead to more interceptions. I could be wrong though.

In all honesty, I want a better FS. I want to draft a good FS that is comfortable in space in the early rounds. Hamlin is okay and better than anything else we've had back there since Woody, but that's not saying a whole lot. I still think we need to improve at that position.

 

[Rack]

Different defenses, different SCHEMES, different defensive coaches, against different teams during a different year.

YOu can't compare stats. But you can see them playing on the field and, yes, Hamlin is an upgrade but that's not saying much compared to Davis/Watkins.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I believe Hamlin has been an upgrade BUT not a significant one... He's looks lost back there at times, which doesn't bode well for a safety in the NFL.

 

[sago1]

Frankly, I don't know it. It just seems to me that our secondary continues to have the same problems there like we did last year against teams who have more then decent passing QBs and a running game. Now maybe with both Newman and (hopefully) Henry starting against the Eagles maybe our secondary makes a big improvement.

So I'll punt on this decision until later in the season and also because I want to see more of Pat Watkins. Just think Watkins has a huge upside & would love to see him really step it up and win the starting FS spot by the end of the season.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Frankly, I don't know it. It just seems to me that our secondary continues to have the same problems there like we did last year against teams who have more then decent passing QBs and a running game. Now maybe with both Newman and (hopefully) Henry starting against the Eagles maybe our secondary makes a big improvement.

So I'll punt on this decision until later in the season and also because I want to see more of Pat Watkins. Just think Watkins has a huge upside & would love to see him really step it up and win the starting FS spot by the end of the season.

Sometimes I forget about Watkins and maybe he'll be the answer at some point. He just seems lost back there sometimes. The questionable PI call against the Patriots is an example of this. He's in the right spot and if he just sits down where he's at, it's an easy interception. Thing is, it's like he gets happy feet and then steps towards the wideout coming across and bumps into him.

I just want someone who looks comfortable back there for a change. We still haven't had that since Woody.

 

[Yeagermeister]

He couldn't help but be an upgrade.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

its not like we paid star money for Hamlin, for what were paying and from our recent history of past FS's, id say hes been an upgrade.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think Hamlin has done a decent job and hope he can take it up another notch

 

[BruceWayne]

no doubt he's an upgrade

 

[Future]

I think Watkins played better than Hamlin has before the Philly game, but Hamlin is more consistent.

As Watkins continues to get acclamated to the NFL, he will get better and think he will become the starting FS week in and week out, no questions asked.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Cool stats. I am a fan of Hamlin. I think he also brings a different additude back there with his leadership. He still has some of that SS in him and bits on some fakes but overall i have been very pleased and wouldn’t mind seeing him here next season.

 

[Hostile]

I sure like him. I think he's been a great addition. I hope he stays more than just his 1 year contract.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Hamlin has certainly helped but he looked like crap against Brady and the Pats... and he blew several tackles in the Giant game.

I wouldn't want to resign him for a big contract based on what he's shown so far.

 

[Clove]

I think we would all like to have an allstar secondary, and that's not going to happen. Hamlin can play SS or FS, I like how they are using Watkins, Hamlin has been a huge upgrade so far, he's not dominant, but we need to choose where we want our dominance in the secondary to be.

 

[ddh33]

I really appreciate the things that Hamlin has brought to this team. I think his energy and leadership has been big. But it also seems to me that his worst two games were the two games where the defense was gashed. I didn't think he played well at all against the Giants or the Pats.

 

[Coakleys Dad]

He hasnt been perfect but he has provided leadership, energy and has definitely been an upgrade.

 

[viman96]

I think he is a good addition to the Defense.

But where are the stats to how many TD's each has given up this year? Or 3rd down receptions that resulted in a 1st down? 3rd down tackles that prevented 1st downs?

Those are the telling stats for the saftey postion.

 

[adamknite]

He hasnt been perfect but he has provided leadership, energy and has definitely been an upgrade.

I agree 100% with you. To this point he's played exactly how I expected, which is a good thing.

 

[AbeBeta]

Upgrade yes. But Davis and Watkins stank so much last year that just being an upgrade isn't that big a deal.

People are talking about his "leadership" but I haven't really seen him exert himself yet in those areas.