Seneca Wallace

[pbmax]

The funny thing is: if we had spent a high draft pick on a developmental QB, the same people that are crying about the backup QB spot would have ripped Thompson for doing it. Harrell was their developmental QB for a couple of years. Then, Coleman. It didn't work out. It happens all over the league. Nothing lost really. Seneca is a good backup. They go back to the drawing board next year (or perhaps Tolzien is that guy now; probably not though). At least, we didn't spend a 4th round pick on QB and then cut him his rookie year (like the Raiders just did with Tyler Wilson).

I am not sure what the Packers expected out of Harrell. His arm was limited though it did get better. Coleman as a 7th round pick was raw and was going to take time no matter what.

I think they would be better served by having a slightly higher value backup plus Coleman on the PS for two years and then let it sort itself out. If the higher pick performed like Flynn then for four years you have few worries and time for Coleman to sort himself out.

Would the draft cooperate? Possibly not, but sometime in the last two years there had a be a better prospect that Harrell.

[pbmax]

Dianna Russini @DRussNBC 1h
Just talked to NFL scout: #Jets signing Quinn to help your offense is like having a cold and asking someone with the flu to sneeze on you.

[CaptainKickass]

Seneca Wallace played for quite a while in Holmgren's west coast offense. And played rather well I might add. Not spectacular, but well. I know this because I've seen every Chicken-Hawks game he's ever played in. The terminology differences and playbook "learning curve" should actually be quite minimal for him. He should ramp up quickly.

He used to have legs/wheels comparable to say an older VY. My guess is he's still got more than enough to roll out and/or take off occasionally like AR already does. He's been historically more than reasonably accurate, and sometimes completely spot on, throwing the occasional "wow" pass putting it in the only spot a receiver would have a chance. The Packers receiving talent will make him pretty good to better than he may actually be.

I'm actually quite comfortable with Seneca Wallace as our #2 QB. I was worried for a minute, but now I feel like everything has worked out just fine. If he should be needed, I'm confident he won't throw the game away if he needs to appear mid-game. I'm also reasonably confident he could go at least 2 out of 2 for a 4 game stretch should the rest of the team remain reasonable healthy.

Some highlights to chew on:

[CaptainKickass]

Also - he does one thing that I think he does/did better than AR does currently. And that 1 thing is the use of the pump-fake.

Also - he'd be excellent on trick plays and/or special teams having previously lined up as a WR on occasion- the man has hands that can catch.

[Bretsky]

Seneca Wallace played for quite a while in Holmgren's west coast offense. And played rather well I might add. Not spectacular, but well. I know this because I've seen every Chicken-Hawks game he's ever played in. The terminology differences and playbook "learning curve" should actually be quite minimal for him. He should ramp up quickly.

He used to have legs/wheels comparable to say an older VY. My guess is he's still got more than enough to roll out and/or take off occasionally like AR already does. He's been historically more than reasonably accurate, and sometimes completely spot on, throwing the occasional "wow" pass putting in the only spot a receiver would have a chance. The Packers receiving talent will make him pretty good to better than he may actually be.

I'm actually quite comfortable with Seneca Wallace as our #2 QB. I was worried for a minute, but now I feel like everything has worked out just fine. If he should be needed, I'm confident he won't throw the game away if he needs to appear mid-game. I'm also reasonable confident he could go at least 2 out of 2 for a 4 game stretch should the rest of the team remain reasonable healthy.

Some highlights to chew on:

IMO this is a very solid signing; kudos to MM and TT for addressing this

Coleman and Harrell were junk; it's pretty common knowledge that this was Vince Young's first round in this offense and he didn't have enough time to pick it up. It's also pretty well known he wasn't sharp as a cookie so it would probably take VY longer than the average QB to pick up the offense.

So they signed a savvy vet who's familiar with the WC offense. He's a savy vet who is serviceable and could lead this team to a win or two in a pinch

[bobblehead]

A misty-eyed Ted told everyone how it was his fault that VY failed...he didn't give Vince enough time to learn the position.

Then Seneca Wallace is hired after the preseason is over.

You answered your own question. Wallace had all preseason to learn the offense.....just not ours.

[Mazzin]

Have to give credit, where credit is due. Brandon called this in another thread a little earlier this week, and I had thought he retired. Brandon you have some kind of "in" with the team sir? lol

[NewsBruin]

I like this pickup. Wallace played for Iowa State during my Baylor years, and he was pretty talented as a collegiate. He seemed to be good enough to be a middling NFL starter saddled with a subpar roster and someone who could show up in a pinch. I think he may have been on some teams' rosters during coaching transitions and got lost in the shuffle.

I have zero confidence in Vince Young's effectiveness for more than a quarter. "Yeah, but he's a winner..." dissolves before you finish your rookie NFL season and there's 16 games of tape on you (although Cam Newton is impressing me more than I expected). The guy is physically talented but emotionally stunted. Being the starter - in Tennessee! - had Fisher looking for him in the middle of the night praying he was still alive by the morning. After the lockout, he was 6-7 figures in debt after a high-interest short-term loan, which he blamed on his business manager before admitting he may have signed papers that he didn't pay attention to. Then there was the whole "pro day" tryout in Austin that made him look desperate for roster consideration.

I don't expect a lot of maturity out of all players, but I do from a quarterback. It takes a lot of stability and self-discipline to lead 30 or so guys on offense, break down defensive tape, and hone your strengths and weaknesses before the opposition's scouting catches up with you - all while the home fans are telling you how great you are and will buy your drinks until past closing time if you let them.

I've been spoiled with Drew Brees as part of the closest thing I have to a hometown NFL team and RG3 being my college QB, but my standards for QB are practically superhuman and supernatural. A-Rod carried himself like a starter when he could have coasted through his rookie contract and accepted the "I shouldn't turn it on while it's Bert's team" mindset.

An NFL quarterback, especially one who's made it past his rookie season, needs to have his stuff together light-years beyond I ever could. VY would have some super-growing to do before he got a spot on my roster.

[packer4life]

Wallace has knowledge of the WCO from his days in Seattle. His grasp of the playbook will be lightyears ahead of Young's; I don't think we need to worry that he was signed so late, he should be up to speed by week 3.

My question is how exactly is MM's offense deemed "west coast". It seems to me we ran a more pure version of the WCO during our days under Holmgren. MM's playbook seems a lot more vertical with occasional, effective play-action calls. Anyone have a more detailed grasp of MM's offense that could shed a bit more light on just how different our offense has become in comparison to the days of Holmgren.

[Joemailman]

Wallace has knowledge of the WCO from his days in Seattle. His grasp of the playbook will be lightyears ahead of Young's; I don't think we need to worry that he was signed so late, he should be up to speed by week 3.

My question is how exactly is MM's offense deemed "west coast". It seems to me we ran a more pure version of the WCO during our days under Holmgren. MM's playbook seems a lot more vertical with occasional, effective play-action calls. Anyone have a more detailed grasp of MM's offense that could shed a bit more light on just how different our offense has become in comparison to the days of Holmgren.

MM isn't a part of the Holmgren coaching tree. He's part of the Paul Hackett tree. Hackett was a Walsh assistant at SF from 1983-85 before eventually moving on to the University Of Pittsburgh, where MM worked for him. I think the Packers certainly have elements of the WCO in their offense, although Holmgren probably had a more "pure" version of it. When MM started here in 2006, I recall Favre saying he had to learn a lot of new terminology, but it wasn't like they were starting over. I would agree the Packers are a more vertical team under MM than they were under Holmgren, especially since Rodgers has been the QB.

[packer4life]

I also wonder what other NFL team runs an offense most similar to ours.

[pbmax]

Andy Reid ran the offense most similar to Holmgren in his time as HC of the Eagles.

Multiple personnel/formations? most similar to New England and New Orleans. McCarthy was running two TEs while everyone was still crediting Belichick for being innovative. Of course being McCarthy, one of those TEs often motioned to the backfield or slot.

Pass/run option and play calling? New Orleans.

[SkinBasket]

I'm not sure what people are fretting over. The guy has a career 31 TD to 18 interception rate and has the ability to scramble also. He's played in a similar system--as he played for Mike Holgren in Seattle and then followed Holmgren to Cleveland. It shouldn't take long for him to pick up the system. He's one of the better backup QBs in the NFL, and he's old enough to know that a starting spot is probably not in the cards. In fact, if he hasn't fallen off the map, he's the type of guy that you could carry as a backup for 2-3 years or until you develop a good, young QB to be the backup.

This, and when/if Rodgers gets injured significantly, this team is fucked no matter who the backup is.

[SkinBasket]

Seneca Wallace is just an older version of Matt Flynn and honestly I'm fine with that.

The same way Brady Quinn is just a younger version of Mike Vick. Sometimes you make so much goddamn sense, it tickles my balls.

[Packers4Glory]

I do like Wallace as a back up. He's a steady guy who can move a good offense if he HAS to. Hopefully he doesn't have to play but if they can get him a base set of plays in the offense they can still win some games till AR is back. Vince has the most upside but the floor is also a lot lower. I'd expect him to be as good as Flynn.