Prospective Seahawks General Managers: Randy Mueller
by John Morgan on Nov 23, 2009 4:13 PM PST
35 comments
I am saving Sunday's tape analysis for the offseason. Just like last offseason and the two that preceded it, I will scout every important player on the Seahawks roster, cite specific plays from the season that exemplified that player's strengths and weaknesses and project their future within the organization.
Yesterday was filled with so much defeat, complete, non-competitive, Brett Favre benched in the second half, defeat, Seahawks fans deserve a respite. Let us escape from our escape through our escape.
The Tim Ruskell-Mike Holmgren dichotomy is media created foolishness. Holmgren wants back in football. A smaller team, a team that needs the recycled hype and distraction, that is mired in failure and needs anyone, anything to steal the headline from griping and finger pointing, will hire Holmgren.
Paul Allen is a progressive and invested owner. That doesn't put him beyond hiring a general manager he is comfortable with. That is why I start this series with a former Seahawk, Randy Mueller.
Randy Mueller
Mueller cut his teeth with Seattle, working his way up from pro personnel assistant, 1983, to player personnel director, 1990, and finally Vice President of Football Operation in 1995. The signing of Holmgren signaled the departure of Mueller. The two worked together on the disastrous 1999 draft before Mueller became the general manager of the New Orleans Saints.
Mueller drafted Joey Galloway, Shawn Springs, Pete Kendall, Phillip Daniels, Walter Jones, Anthony Simmons and Ahman Green for the Seahawks. He was integral in Seattle escaping Rick Mirer. Mueller traded Mirer to Chicago for a first round pick in 1997.
He went on to work for the Saints starting in 2000. There he helped clean up another coach-executed disaster, flipping Ricky Williams to the Miami Dolphins for two first round picks in 2002. In three season with the Saints, Mueller drafted Marc Bulger, Darren Howard, Kevin Houser, Deuce McAllister, Moran Norris, Donte Stallworth, Charles Grant and LeCharles Bentley.
From 2002 to 2005, Mueller worked for ESPN as an analyst. He signed with the Dolphins in 2005, but then-coach Nick Saban was in charge of personnel decisions. Mueller was in charge for the short period between Saban's resignation January 3, 2007 and Bill Parcells appointment December 19, 2007. The 2007 Dolphins finished 1-15 and Mueller was fired December 31, 2007.
His larger record speaks better of him than his recent work. Mueller might best be described as a fixer. He helps teams escape bad situations and has succeeded at turning high round picks into successful players. He traded Chris Chambers for a second round pick, Wes Welker for a second and seventh round pick (when Welker was a return specialist and part time receiver) and, as mentioned, freed the Seahawks from Mirer and the Saints from Williams. Mueller does not have much experience picking quarterbacks. He did find Marc Bulger in the sixth, and acquired Trent Green for a fifth round pick. Before a brain scrambling hit essentially ended his career, Green was a serviceable quarterback in 2007.
If Seattle is looking to blow up the roster and exchange some of its more valuable players for picks, Mueller is the right guy to dismantle and liquidate. He isn't young, but he is connected. He isn't fresh or sexy, but his record is pretty strong. Mueller is a bridge, and I would think, appeals most to fans that think the Seahawks are not close, not rebuilding, but collapsing; years from contention.
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a 2nd round for Chambers
is on a Dr. Z level of magic.
by Hancock.Brett on Nov 23, 2009 4:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Which dealing Welker away (even considering the 2nd and 7th) cancels out easily.
by Misfit74 on Nov 23, 2009 4:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Not really.
That was great move at the time. Welker is thriving opposite Randy Moss and in a system that accentuates his skill set. He would not be posting routine thousand yard seasons away from Tom Brady, Moss and the Patriots system.
by John Morgan on Nov 23, 2009 4:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I think that's the obvious, easy answer, and I'm not discounting the facts or your reply.
While it’s true he’s thrived in NE due to factors you described, Pennington might have been able to make proper use of him after his coaching staff changed. We don’t know that, so I understand it’s speculative, but the fact of the matter is that Welker is a hell of a player, and worth more than what he was traded for.
by Misfit74 on Nov 23, 2009 4:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Miami traded a return man and part time receiver for a second round pick
that is a good move.
by John Morgan on Nov 23, 2009 4:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
With the Patriots no less.
Mueller got more for Welker than Oakland did for Moss.
by John Morgan on Nov 23, 2009 4:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
True.
I have to understand that those trades must be evaluated with the information at the time. And you’re right: Welker was a part-time receiver and return man at the time of the trade .
Hindsight, I’d take that deal back. Randy probably would, too.
by Misfit74 on Nov 23, 2009 4:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Whenever a subject like this comes up
I like to link to DMZ’s post covering trade evaluation over at USSM.
by BrianL on Nov 23, 2009 4:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Hindsight on that one. At the time, the Dolphins were in full-on rebuilding mode and needed the picks.
Also, Welker puts up the numbers he does because of the system and the talent around him.
by abender20 on Nov 23, 2009 4:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I loves me some Randy Muelller!
I’ll take him back in a hearbeat. I hated when he left!
by Mr. Blache III on Nov 23, 2009 4:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I certainly like the ability of a GM to wheel and deal.
Randy can do that. But, so can Ruskell. There are a lot of picks to like from his Seahawk days, in particular. The Mirer trade was….out of this world. I think I love the Bears for allowing that to happen, and Mueller for pulling it off. .
by Misfit74 on Nov 23, 2009 4:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
just curious
who did we take with the Mirer pick?
by m_b on Nov 23, 2009 5:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It's convoluted, but the answer is Walter Jones.
Seattle had its heart set on Shawn Springs and would have drafted him if it had only one pick in the entire draft. The second first round pick was used on Walter Jones. Seattle traded multiple picks to move up and grab both players.
by John Morgan on Nov 23, 2009 5:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for this article!
You exceeded the expectations I had after you promised to look into GM candidates.
Mueller would be a far far better choice than Holmgren.
by Mr Fish on Nov 23, 2009 6:07 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Mueller is an interesting candidate whose name has been tossed around before. He’s not the most exciting name but his track record is certainly as good as or better than the people he would be succeeding.
What would we grow frustrated with when his time to leave eventually came, I wonder?
by kow on Nov 23, 2009 6:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Of course, retread GM's are only part of who gets considered
Up and comers in other front offices will also be considered, guys like Chris Polian (just an example- supposedly Indy won’t let him go). Of course, those types of candidates are much harder to find out about than retreads.
What’s interesting about the Welker trade is that it originally started out as an RFA poison pill tactic, but New England decided that was too unethical and offered Miami a trade (throwing in the extra 7th rounder) as kind of an apology.
by kearly on Nov 23, 2009 6:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
As a native Floridian, and also a Miami fan
There were many upset Miami fans, who knew the value of Wes Welker. He was a fan favorite and we all knew he was something special.
Then he heads to NE w/ a line and a QB, while Miami goes 1 & 15 with a horrible offense. Mueller failed to address the QB situation, even with his good position. He drafted John Beck in the second after shocking everyone that year, picking Ted Ginn Jr. at #9. Ted currently has impressive return skills, he has yet learned how to run routes.
John, Randy’s larger record speaks for itself. Unfortunately, what is says isn’t so flattering. He is a man far removed from managing a front office given his body of work for the last 6 years. He failed miserably at his last attempt. I’d rather he not tarnish my other football club too.
by GnarlyHawk on Nov 23, 2009 7:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Ew, he's the guy in charge of the Ted Ginn debacle?
No thanks.
It's Great to be a Florida Gator!
"I never met a llama I didn't like." - TJ Duckett
All I want for Christmas is Joe Haden, Eric Berry, and Nandamukong Suh in Seahawks blue.
by Wayward Llama on Nov 24, 2009 4:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Ted Ginn and his slippery hands are in charge of the Ted Ginn debacle.
Bird Law in this country isn't governed by reason.
by whiskey chainsaw on Nov 24, 2009 9:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Disagree
Hands are tertiary to a receives ability to run routes and seperate from a defender. He wasn’t a #9 draft pick and scouting reports showed he had poor route running skills. Miam had a clear need for a QB and there were QB’s on the board who were expected to be taken by Miami. If anything, they should have traded down, instead of grabbing Ginn, if they didn’t want Quinn.
That is the Ted debacle.
by GnarlyHawk on Nov 24, 2009 7:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
"Mueller appeals to fans who think the Seahawks are not close, not rebuilding, but collapsing; years from contention."
Good article, but I don’t see what Mueller would bring to the table that Ruskell and his staff cannot also accomplish. Unless of course you think TR is somehow genetically incapable for picking good players in the first round. If so, we will have a problem next April.
Also, I cannot see the Seahawks as a team that is “collapsing”. The last two games results notwithstanding, our defense has a good core of young talented athletes. Although there are few stars on the roster, we are deep in LBs, receivers, D linemen, and O linemen. How is that a collapsing team? As long as Hasselbeck has a couple years left in his arm, we can rebuild fairly quickly.
Playing two of the best teams in the league the past two weeks had made things appear more bleak than they really are.
"Football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." - Doug Plank
by Stevo's on Nov 23, 2009 10:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I don't see why Mueller would appeal (only?) to fans who think the team is collapsing
Maybe I need to re-read the article to glean its nuances, but that bit seemed like a non sequitur to me.
by Mr Fish on Nov 23, 2009 11:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
3-7
Were in collapse mode. I thought our Defense was pretty good coming into the season but were really not. That’s suppose to be Ruskell strong suit. I thought it was our Offenses lack of production but it’s really not. The Redskins who’s Offense is worse then ours posts a top 5 Defense. And I would take our Offense over the Redskins any day. Truly good Defenses can carry a bad offense. The Ravens won a SB and the Bears with Grossman went to a SB on the heels of a good Defense despite a bad offense. Teams have figured out we can’t stop the pass. This is Ruskells team and his Defense on display. I dread 3rd down and 15 more than 4th and 1. I’m actually happy when its’ 4th and 1. I know we know our players names and think they’re good but our guys aren’t producing on defense. It was embarassing to watch Farve sit the whole 2nd Half and watch Tavaris Jackson, yes folks Tavaris Jackson go 6-8 and throw for a TD. It’s sad to say but it’s time for us to make a change.
by Mr. Blache III on Nov 24, 2009 12:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That's a good argument
but I’m not convinced the team is “collapsing.”
Clearly, the team DID collapse for one and one-half seasons as our O line suffered multiple injures through 2008 and early 2009. But it is not clear to me that the collapse may be ended, and a quick rise from the ashes may in fact be imminent.
Our next 6 games are against mostly average teams. If we go 4-2, for example, we end up with a record of 7-9. With a strong finish we might hit 8-8. Last year we were 4-12, so improving to 8-8 would be a big improvement, not a collapse. And if you expect better than 8-8 next year, that would make this a team on the rise, not in collapse.
Holmgren’s Seahawk’s had records of 6-10, 9-7, 7-9, before improving to 10-6 in 2003. Still, the defense was weak and struggled through 2004 before Ruskell came in to add the key playmakers (Darby, Tatupu, Hill) that helped put the defense over the top.
In Holmgren’s fifth year as head coach, the Seahawks were beaten 35-13 on the road in Green Bay. (Sound familiar?) That 2003 team was not collapsing, it was a team that had several holes on defense. It was a team that would compete in the Super Bowl two years later.
I think we have a lot of talent on our roster. Playing the Cardinals and Vikings on the road back-to-back has occluded this fact. Our coaches and some players are struggling at the moment, no doubt. But I think this is a team that will be on the rise over the next couple of seasons. We have holes to fill and we must must must soon find Matt Hasselbeck’s heir at QB. But I do not believe we are collapsing.
"Football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." - Doug Plank
by Stevo's on Nov 24, 2009 9:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, Matt is still looking for his heir...
by Kryten on Nov 24, 2009 10:31 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Heir brained comment.
Bird Law in this country isn't governed by reason.
by whiskey chainsaw on Nov 24, 2009 11:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
ok, enough with the heir jokes
We should send Matt to the Heir Club… bahahaha…
"Football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." - Doug Plank
by Stevo's on Nov 24, 2009 1:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
We have collaped
We are not that same team that lossed to Green Bay 35-13. In that season we finished 10-6 and lost to Green Bay in the playoffs in overtime. Clearly a team on the rise. This years team is not a team on the rise and this years defense is not good. Maybe a few good pieces at best but NOT GOOD. In that season you referenced (2003) we only had TWO games that we lost by Double Digits. In 2003 by week 10 our defense had only given up 174 points. Compared to the 233 pts we’ve given up so far this year is a far reach in comparison. Our defense isn’t even better then lasts years 4-12 season. Last years 4-12 team had 7 Double Digit Losses all season. Compared to this years team that has had 6 Double Digit Losses in just 10 games. Last years 4-12 team at week 10 had only given up 191 pts compared again to this years that has given up 233 pts.
This is Ruskells team and Defense. He’s been there long enough and has his fingerprints everywhere with the exception of Hasslebeck, Walter Jones, and Marcus Trufant. He’s done some good especially in adding to what Holmgren and Company built before he got there. We wouldn’t have made the SB without his additions in the 2005 season. But he has proven to me that he’s good at adding to an already good mix but not at rebuilding from the foundation. He’s allowed this team to collapse and the Defense that he’s put together is a far cry from last years unit. It’s not that were just losing games but were not even competitve in most of them. It’s very disheartening. When you look at the hard facts its tought to make a case to bring him back. He’s allowed our Offense to get old and has put together a Defense that can’t get off the field on 3rd downs. It’s time for a change.
by Mr. Blache III on Nov 24, 2009 11:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not in the replace Ruskell camp,
but if we had to hire a new GM, we could do much worse than Mueller. I was disappointed when he was let go. I’m also glad to hear
He signed with the Dolphins in 2005, but then-coach Nick Saban was in charge of personnel decisions.. I was listening to the radio a few weeks back when they mentioned that he was with the Dolphins when they failed to sign Drew Brees, even though they were his first choice. I was not aware that he was not in charge of personnel decisions at the time, so we can probably give him a pass on that one.
by Mind of no mind on Nov 23, 2009 11:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah it's difficult to put too much blame on him for the Dolphins struggles
If he wasn’t even in the driver’s seat.
by Tyler Cox on Nov 24, 2009 1:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
My understanding isn't that they failed to land Brees,
but that they chose not to sign him , in large part due to questions about his shoulder injury.
by Misfit74 on Nov 24, 2009 9:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The 2007 1-15 season and 07 draft was directly on Mueller
He made every selection that year. He whiffed on every round, and traded away Miami’s best playmaker for the picks he missed on in the process.
by GnarlyHawk on Nov 24, 2009 7:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
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