ILB Adam Seward [merged - old 2008 thread]

[BrianPat]

Re: WAAF Reporting

Re: 'diamond in the rough' - Wes Welker?

Many people (including quite a few on here) were wondering what we were playing at trading for him last year.

Not me man, I watched the 2 games we played the Dolphins, he was killing us the whole first game. The second game the Pats were covering him like he was Randy Moss. I watch 3 other Dolphin games that year and he was all over the place, he reminded me of Wayne Chrebet. I always hoped Tim Dwight would be our version of Wayne Chrebet in time, but saw that Wes was already there and wished we had him.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: WAAF Reporting

Not me man, I watched the 2 games we played the Dolphins, he was killing us the whole first game. The second game the Pats were covering him like he was Randy Moss. I watch 3 other Dolphin games that year and he was all over the place, he reminded me of Wayne Chrebet. I always hoped Tim Dwight would be our version of Wayne Chrebet in time, but saw that Wes was already there and wished we had him.

My understanding is that Tim Dwight (the human equivalent of a glass cannon if ever there was one) was actually seriously injured much of the year that he was with the Pats; that was one of the reasons why they had no problems with the JEST signing Dwightning to a long-term contract.

 

[Lansdowne]

Re: WAAF Reporting

Also nitpicking, but Seward is actually 25, set to turn 26 this June.

 

[aluminum seats]

Re: WAAF Reporting

I'm sorry, that's not a fair comparison, Rodney was a starter and one of the best at his position for years before he came to the Pats.

The Vrabel comparison works best !

I think Harrison qualifies, though--at the time of the signing I don't think there was any expectation he would be as good as he was, and for as long.

I don't think Welker was a surprise, either--maybe his numbers, but I (and a lot of other people) loved that signing right away. I'm really talking about the kind of signing where you pick up a guy you just hope will help/provide depth, whatever, and at the end of the year you say, "wow, how could we have won that super bowl without him?"

 

[Crazyeechrispats1]

Re: WAAF Reporting

Welcome aboard Mr Seward!

 

[NE_PATS_FAN_54]

Re: WAAF Reporting

can the panthers match or is that it, if he signs with us he is ours?

Would this signing give us a clearer indication on who we might draft at #7? You cannot go wrong with best player available, without a history of injury.

carolina can match, if they dont, they get a 5th round pick. i think its a good deal for both sides. i think hes better than any 5th rounder we could get.

 

[NE_PATS_FAN_54]

Re: WAAF Reporting

the panthers would have a week from when seward signs the offer sheet to decide whether or not to match the offer sheet.

 

[NE_PATS_FAN_54]

Re: WAAF Reporting

Strengths: Has very good size and upper body strength. He is strong and powerful at the POA. Does a good job of filling hard and taking on blocks. He shows good short area power to take on blocks in the phone booth and has developed good technique in terms of using his hands in order to shed and pursue. He has good straight-line speed and also has good short-area quickness. Makes quick reads, diagnoses things quickly, and fills aggressively. Has good tackling skills and shows power at the POA. Has good instincts in zone coverage and very good ball skills when he's in position. Has excellent leaping ability. Has the right mentality to chase kicks on special teams in the NFL and is also a solid and powerful enough tackler to make an impact in that area.

Weaknesses: Has good overall size but needs to improve his base. Is a bit top-heavy and lacks ideal lower body strength. He plays too high at times and lets too many blockers get into his lower body when pursuing. He has good straight-line speed but seems to lack a second gear in pursuit. Had a terrific workout in terms of speed and agility at the combine but does not look as natural in space as his times would indicate. He looks a bit stiff in coverage and does not have the ideal hip fluidity to cover a lot of quicker backs out of the backfield one-on-one.

Overall: Seward redshirted in 2000 and wound up taking over as a starting "strongside" linebacker as a redshirt freshman in 2001. He moved to middle linebacker in 2002 and was a starter there for his last three seasons at UNLV. He started all 12 games for the Rebels as a junior in 2003 and finished with a team-high 119 total tackles, 8.5 TFL, one-half sack and two INT's. He returned as a starting ILB in the Rebels 3-4 scheme as a senior in 2004 and finished with 121 total tackles, including seven TFL and one sack. Seward's athletic ability and explosiveness doesn't always transfer to the field. He can look stiff in coverage and he doesn't seem to have great closing burst on film. However, Seward was an ultra productive and durable linebacker on the collegiate level who answered many questions about his NFL "measurables" with a jaw-dropping performance at the combine. At 248 pounds, Seward was near the top or set the bar at the ILB position on the bench press (33 reps), 40-yard dash (4.62), vertical jump (36 ½"), broad jump (10'), short shuttle (4.11) and three-cone drill (7.16). There was always a feeling that Seward got by with just decent natural athleticism at the mid-major level, but after looking at his workouts and studying his production on film, it's easy to understand why he's one of the fastest rising prospects as we close in on the 2005 draft. Seward still doesn't show the fluidity and explosiveness of a first or second round linebacker but all things considered; it wouldn't be shocking if Seward snuck into the late-Day 1 vicinity of the upcoming draft.

from espn.com scouts inc......they had him rated as the 4th best ILB prospect in 2005. ahead of lofa tatupu and kirk morrison

 

[BrianPat]

Re: WAAF Reporting

I think Harrison qualifies, though--at the time of the signing I don't think there was any expectation he would be as good as he was, and for as long.

I don't think Welker was a surprise, either--maybe his numbers, but I (and a lot of other people) loved that signing right away. I'm really talking about the kind of signing where you pick up a guy you just hope will help/provide depth, whatever, and at the end of the year you say, "wow, how could we have won that super bowl without him?"

OK, I missed your point in your OP, yes, as far as wondering if he'll produce and then have them be one of the highest producers, yes this applies to Rodney

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: WAAF Reporting

This gets old fast.

We all understand Beisel sucked, but that doesn't mean every guy they sign is going to suck as well.

Thank You.

Mr. Vrable says hi.

Q: Who else besides Vrabel has been a successful 'steal'/'find' at the linebacker position?

A: Nobody, which is why Beisel is a perfectly appropriate response.

 

[fumbrunner]

Re: WAAF Reporting

Spelled "Vrable" would it be pronounced "vraablay"?

Unless you are Brett "Farve"

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: WAAF Reporting

Q: Who else besides Vrabel has been a successful 'steal'/'find' at the linebacker position?

While these guys don't have the story Vrabel has and we hoped Beisel would have they are finds that we got more out of than others expected.

Cox
Phifer
Seau
and
TBC

When we signed Seau, Cox and Phifer people didn't expect to see what we got out of them (Cox could have given more but was hurt)

And TBC was a find in the seventh RD, he wasnt the greatest LB but he was a real good pass rush specialist and adiwuate starter for a seventh rd pick.

Also BB inherted Bruschi, TJ, and Willie Mac so he has not had to try and find those guys up until the last few years.

 

[BHSL2]

Re: WAAF Reporting

Q: Who else besides Vrabel has been a successful 'steal'/'find' at the linebacker position?

A: Nobody, which is why Beisel is a perfectly appropriate response.

Since Seward was a highly-rated prospect, we're banking on the fact that he's got more Talent than Beisel ever had. The interesting thing about Beisel was that he came from a sucky defensive system and our system made him that much worse. He was never anything good.

 

[NE39]

Re: WAAF Reporting

Q: Who else besides Vrabel has been a successful 'steal'/'find' at the linebacker position?

A: Nobody, which is why Beisel is a perfectly appropriate response.

They signed Chad Brown on a flier. They signed Junior Seau. They signed Adalius Thomas and Rosevelt Colvin to big-money deals.

Beisel was a college DE, NFL DE/OLB 'tweener who they tried to convert to ILB. It didn't work.

Sewell is a college and NFL ILB who hasn't played any significant action, outside of preseason.

They are completely different, so why would you compare them?

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: WAAF Reporting

While these guys don't have the story Vrabel has and we hoped Beisel would have they are finds that we got more out of than others expected.

Cox
Phifer
Seau
and
TBC

When we signed Seau, Cox and Phifer people didn't expect to see what we got out of them (Cox could have given more but was hurt)

And TBC was a find in the seventh RD, he wasnt the greatest LB but he was a real good pass rush specialist and adiwuate starter for a seventh rd pick.

Also BB inherted Bruschi, TJ, and Willie Mac so he has not had to try and find those guys up until the last few years.

This is the point. Only one 'find', yet people toss up Vrabel as if it's a magic shield. Vrabel's a great story, but there's only been one Vrabel in 8 years. Automatically expecting Seward to be a Vrabel, just because it's happened once, is running against the tide.

 

[PatsFan37]

Re: WAAF Reporting

Since Seward was a highly-rated prospect, we're banking on the fact that he's got more Talent than Beisel ever had. The interesting thing about Beisel was that he came from a sucky defensive system and our system made him that much worse. He was never anything good.

I always had the feeling that Beisel was sunk by his intangibles. He seemed to have unpleasant moments in the locker room. He overran plays with an aggressiveness that took him out of position and doesn't work well in a read-and-react defense. I don't mind that he occasionally got run over by RBs, I've seen that happen to most of our ILBs at one time or another.

What I don't get is this urgency to dump Seward in the same wastebasket as Beisel simply because both were projected to play ILB for the Patriots, one of the most difficult positions to project. The physical characteristics seem right. He has some 3-4 experience. Maybe he'll be a Beisel and maybe he'll be a Bruschi. We don't know. But if the FO is willing to make an offer, I'm happy to see what might happen.

Rather that than go into the season with no depth at ILB besides Alexander and a rookie or two.

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: WAAF Reporting

This is the point. Only one 'find', yet people toss up Vrabel as if it's a magic shield. Vrabel's a great story, but there's only been one Vrabel in 8 years. Automatically expecting Seward to be a Vrabel, just because it's happened once, is running against the tide.

Your point actually seems to be that because there has only been one Vrabel that this guy has to be the next Beisel.

Most people think neither. He is a MLB with some NFL experience, 3-4 college experience and he could be a decent addition that could turn into our next starting ILB. He doesn't have to have a vrabel like career for this to be a good move.

 

[otis p. driftwood]

Re: WAAF Reporting

This is the point. Only one 'find', yet people toss up Vrabel as if it's a magic shield. Vrabel's a great story, but there's only been one Vrabel in 8 years. Automatically expecting Seward to be a Vrabel, just because it's happened once, is running against the tide.

Was anyone here expecting Seward to be a Vrabel? Anyone...besides you, so you could have someone to argue with? No one is expecting anything from him except what the scouts suggest he may be capable of.

I think the point is more along the lines a fair number of people simply being tired of hearing/seeing "oh, they signed Beisel" whenever an FA LB is mentioned--because yes, Beisel sucked...but Vrabel hasn't.

Beisel sucked. Brown wasn't good. Vrabel has been amazing. I'd say the batting average is still pretty frickin good.

 

[BPF]

Re: WAAF Reporting

Pre. He broke his foot a few games into his first season, didn't he? Then never got much chance to get back once it healed?

I posted this on the other thread 3 days ago. He was hurt in college.


Here's a piece on why Seward slipped to the 5th Rd and how his career, dating back to senior yr @ UNLV, has been slowed by a series of foot injuries. We could have a steal on our hands here if we end up with this kid now that he is healthy and in a scheme that better fits his strengths.

http://car.scout.com/2/553021.html

Exclusive: Q & A with Adam Seward

By Matt Edwards
PantherInsider.com
Posted Aug 4, 2006


Pantherinsider.com writer Matt Edwards caught up recently with Panther linebacker Adam Seward.

Edwards: First of all, how’s the foot doing?

The foot – ah, it’s great. It’s 100%. You know, it’s unfortunate what happened how it broke in the fourth game of the season on Monday night, but it’s something that Coach Fox and everyone knew what was wrong with me. It’s one of the, actually probably the main reason that I slipped to the fifth round of the draft, because I was projected a lot higher, like the third round. It’s good to get it fixed and it’s better that it happened now instead of like the third or fourth year. Just get it out of the way now and get it fixed and I’m just looking forward to having a great year this year with a foot that’s 100%.

Edwards: What exactly was wrong with the foot?

I had a stress fracture going into my senior year of college. I had an option to let it go because it was just a crack in my fifth metatarsal, which is like the last bone in your foot. They were like, well, you can just go ahead and try to play with it and we can take a chance of it being okay, or we can just put a pin in it right now and you probably wouldn’t start the first game but depending on how you felt you could come back as soon as you felt like you were ready. I just felt like at that time it was something that I need to do, so I went ahead and got it fixed and believe it or not, four weeks out of surgery, I didn’t start, but I played probably 30% of the snaps at Tennessee, our opening game. From that point on, I just started to play every play and it was something I did because I wanted us – you know I thought that we had a good chance to win, especially if I was in there playing.

Unfortunately, I did more damage to my foot than I ever thought possible and I ended up breaking the pin in my foot. When I showed up at the combine, I had ex-rays done on my foot and it revealed that not only had my stress fracture not healed because I had been playing on it and not giving it a chance to heal, but also that the pin was broken in my foot too. That was just a bad situation. Thankfully here with the Panthers we have a great orthopedics staff and they saw no problems with it, they took me right away and [the foot injury] was something they knew would happen. They knew I would have to have surgery on it eventually and I’m just glad I was able to make it to the fourth game and show the team and the fans what I can do and just give people a reason to be excited about me next year.

Edwards: At the mini-camp, you worked with the second team at inside linebacker, correct?

Uh… yeah. I mean, they’re still trying to decide what they’re going to do with me I guess. Obviously, they’re going to have the best three linebackers playing. This is something they’d obviously planned on going into mini-camp. So, yeah, I was working with the second team at inside linebacker, but in a couple of our packages when we bring in four linebackers I actually start and play outside linebacker in that package and a couple other packages as well. So, that’s one of the things they like about me is that I can play inside or outside linebacker, but you know whatever they decide to play me at is fine, I just want to help the team win any way I can.

Edwards: I understand that Morgan of course is going to be in the middle and then they’re looking at Thomas Davis more at the strong side position (Yeah.) So that leaves the weak side position open. Are they looking at you at all at the weak side position?

I believe they are, yeah. I mean, I think another priority, along with the weak side is – you know especially with Dan Morgan’s history, he’s a great linebacker, but he’s yet to play a full season – so they want to make sure that they have somebody (from what I was told and what they told me and from an obvious standpoint) that they want to have someone that they feel can come in the game when he goes down and not miss a beat. You know, they don’t want to have that – they don’t want to have that spot being a guy that really can’t come in and feel in. I think with me they feel I can do that very well. So, they want to make sure that they’re solid in that area just in case something happens to him because it’s happened for the last four of five years that he’s played. But with me, I just want to help any way I can. I would love to play that weak side spot; I think I can do it and that’s my goal going into training camp, to solidify that spot and show the coaches that can play it and you know I think I can. I believe in my ability. But, like I said, wherever I play at, I’m fine. As long as I can help the team win and whatever that is – that’s fine with me.

Edwards: Speaking of Dan Morgan, how is he doing?

Oh, he’s great. He had… I believe it was shoulder surgery at the end of the season, but he’s doing well. He looks great out there through mini-camp and in summer school. You know, he’s a great guy; he’s a great mentor and he’s a great leader. He’s a guy who’s just a lot of fun to hang out with and he teaches me a lot about just playing linebacker in general and he just makes the linebacker corps just a much tighter unit. He’s doing well, he looks great, and I think he’s going to have a big year this year.

Edwards: From your perspective, how does he handle the injury situation mentally?

Uh…gosh, well… He does it… It’s got to be frustrating, obviously for people to label you as injury prone or what not. But I think he does a good job of blocking that out. You know he’s a great player, he has great ability and I can tell this year that he’s in the weight room more, working on his strength a lot more, trying to build up his upper body hopefully to prevent those type of things. But, injuries you know they’re not something you can always prevent. You can lift, you can work out, you can take care of your body, but sometimes in games, sometimes in practice even, things just happen. But, he’s a veteran, he’s going into his sixth year and I think that if there’s anyone that can handle that kind of – I don’t want to call it pressure

 

[ExeterSportsGuy]

Re: WAAF Reporting

Thanks for the repost BPF! I knew i read that somewhere. I'm sort of excited to get this guy, especially now. If this is the first time he's been 100% in years, than we could be seeing his BEST football to come, if in fact, he's a Patriot!