Getty ImagesDuring his career at Utah State, Bobby Wagner played both inside and outside linebacker.
When the Seahawks took Wagner with the 47th overall pick last month, speculation began as to where he would line up in the Seattle defense. We got our answer during the team’s rookie minicamp over the weekend. Wagner lined up exclusively at middle linebacker and coach Pete Carroll said that he’s going to get a chance to be the starter there come the regular season.
“Bobby’s going to get a heck of a chance,” Carroll said, via the Associated Press. “We want to see him. We’d love to get that speed on the field if we could. It’s rare to find a linebacker that runs that fast,” Carroll said. “… But he’s got to do it. He’s got a long way to go before he can take that over.”
Wagner’s speed and athleticism give him an edge over Barrett Ruud, especially with Ruud battling multiple injuries, and Matt McCoy, but there were doubts about his football instincts leading up to the draft. Those can be honed a lot more easily than the physical gifts that Wagner already has, however, and the Seahawks will take steps to limit the pressure on Wagner by giving the playcalling duties to strongside linebacker K.J. Wright.
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Outstanding!
Wagner is very talented and could quietly become one of the best LBs in the league.
I pegged him as starting MLB the moment I heard his name called. Ruud is a stopgap at best. Pete isn’t afraid to put a rookie into the starting lineup.
Pete said the priority was to get faster on defense, and with Wagner and Irvin joining the team, that is going to happen.
what happened to david hawthorne??? i remember reading on this same site that some seacawks fans were posting he was better then patrick willis!! i tell you ” KIDS THESE DAYS”
You know, my hats off to Pete Carrol. After listening to him say individually that every position is a competition and every player is in their position competition, one by one, I am convinced he is doing the best he can with what he was given. When your team consists of (minus Beast Mode himself) middle-grounders, all of them, why not make every position an open competition? If youre given a bunch of 50s out of 100s, youre gonna want to know which is a 58 and which is a 51, not much difference but at least he is trying to squeeze the most from his team and is putting the best guys in the starting position. My hats off to him for not just resigning to the normal “none of them are very good so whats it matter which one starts. Who did we pay the most and has a bigger name? Ok he starts.” and apparently is actually counting his change at the gas station, so to speak.
That or he has no idea what he is doing, which is also quite possible.
“Bobby’s already the greatest MLB this game has ever seen, he’s better than LT, Dick Butkus and Ray Lewis combined!” Carroll said
joetoronto says:May 14, 2012 11:41 AM
“Bobby’s already the greatest MLB this game has ever seen, he’s better than LT, Dick Butkus and Ray Lewis combined!” Carroll said
Well Joe it’s safe to say he’s probably better than any LB on the Raiders
Great story, and all, but is that ADVERTISING for Bing on his jersey??? Give me a break!!!
As a Eagles fan I was pretty impressed when I watched tape of Bobby Wagner , but then I saw Mychal Kendricks tape & realized that Kendricks is the far better LB . While Wagner should have a pretty productive NFL career , Mychal Kendricks will be a perennial pro-bowler.
cali49er707 says:
May 14, 2012 11:23 AM
what happened to david hawthorne??? i remember reading on this same site that some seacawks fans were posting he was better then patrick willis!! i tell you ” KIDS THESE DAYS”
Niner fans have won ONE Division title in 10 years, yet they still talk trash. Kinda funny!
Thinkl about the possibilities with Wagner in there. The ‘Hawks’ defense finished 9th overall last season without a pass rush. Now with Clemons, Jones and Irvin all adding tremendous pass rush pressure, and with a secondary that has 3 Pro Bowlers, that gives the opposing teams short passes over the middle. (The Hawks finished dead last in 2011 at defending passes to running backs and TEs.) With Wagner’s added speed we will be shoring that up, too. I think we’re looking at a top 3 defense in 2012.
44boz says:
May 14, 2012 12:47 PM
cali49er707 says:
May 14, 2012 11:23 AM
what happened to david hawthorne??? i remember reading on this same site that some seacawks fans were posting he was better then patrick willis!! i tell you ” KIDS THESE DAYS”
Niner fans have won ONE Division title in 10 years, yet they still talk trash. Kinda funny!
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WHO’s YO DADDY??? when was the last time you won anything BUT a division title????? ohhhhh thats right NEVER!!! scoreboard 5 to 0 buddy!!!
PC and JS have done a solid job rebuilding this team starting with the defensive side of the ball. If our middle of the road offense can score us at least 16 points on a weekly basis I have a feeling we’re going to win a lot of those games.
There’s a power shift going on and most people outside the NFC West won’t realize it until it’s too late!! It’s going to be a great decade of football.
Thing about Niner fans talking about rings is, you gotta wonder if they were even alive when they won the last one.
Good player. If you want to see gim at his best, watch last season’s opener versus Auburn. He nearly beat them by himself. Very impressive.
cali49er707 says:
May 14, 2012 11:23 AM
what happened to david hawthorne??? i remember reading on this same site that some seacawks fans were posting he was better then patrick willis!! i tell you ” KIDS THESE DAYS”
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cali – true to true 49er fan fashion, you’re way behind the rest of the world…Hawthorne signed a 5 year deal with New Orleans back on April 3.
44boz says:
May 14, 2012 12:47 PM
cali49er707 says:
May 14, 2012 11:23 AM
what happened to david hawthorne??? i remember reading on this same site that some seacawks fans were posting he was better then patrick willis!! i tell you ” KIDS THESE DAYS”
Niner fans have won ONE Division title in 10 years, yet they still talk trash. Kinda funny!
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And what have the Seahawks done…………..ever?
Oh “You guys” won games? Your not playing, Your just fans HUSH!!
He was great in Hart to Hart and the Austin Powers films.
cali49er707 says:
May 14, 2012 1:02 PM
WHO’s YO DADDY??? when was the last time you won anything BUT a division title????? ohhhhh thats right NEVER!!! scoreboard 5 to 0 buddy!!!
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Well let’s see, where should I start….
2004:
won the NFC west
2005:
won the NFC West
won divisional playoff game
won NFC Championship
2006:
won the NFC West
won first round divisional playoff wildcard game
2007:
won the NFC West
won first round divisional playoff wildcard game
2010:
won the first round wildcard divisional playoff game
Does that answer your question?
Oh, and Seattle is 11-5 against the 49ers since 2003, and 13-11 all time.
No. Not really.
You aint got Montana and Young anymore. Let’s see how Alex Smith and Randy Moss work out for you. Isn’t Moss like 50 now? How about your first round pick Crabtree? The Saints were right… He has not heart and can’t play.
One good year and you guys start talking smack. Typical Niner fan.