Replacing Matt Hasselbeck

Fail personified.

The new GM is here, the coaching staff is just about complete, and Seattle is ready to approach the offseason. This offseason is even more important than last year's because the Seahawks are starting over. Mike Holmgren's staff from his last season as coach is gone. Jim Mora's offensive staff is finito. It's now back to square 1 in building a contender.

There is no doubt the most important issue heading into free agency and the NFL Draft is the situation at QB. Right now Matt Hasselbeck is our starter. In my opinion he will stay with the team heading into training camp. For the first time in his career however, there is significant uncertainty about whether or not he's going to hold down that job next season. Three out of the last four years we have seen Hasselbeck suck, get injured, or a combination of the two. During the final 4 games of last season he threw 4 touchdowns and 10 interceptions against the 18th (Houston), 10th (Tampa Bay), 5th (Green Bay), and 31st (Tennessee) ranked secondaries. From December 13th to January 3rd, the Seahawks played the worst football of any team. The case could be made that they were the worst team in the NFL during that timespan; not necessarily by record but by the quality of play.

Hasselbeck played a role in the three blowout losses by quickly pissing away possession via tossing interceptions or finding a creative way to fumble against Tampa Bay. He then finished off his turdbomb of a season by throwing an interception against Tennessee in a sheer moment of panic and desperation.

I think change has to come before it gets to the point where Hasselbeck is being trotted out there because he's Matt Hasselbeck. John Schneider has many ways of approaching the replacement of the franchise's greatest ever QB come September 2010. When I mean "replace", I mean the premise of this article involves him losing his starting job before the regular season begins.

Option 1: Matt Hasselbeck Remains the Starter

The Seahawks could take a gamble for the 3rd straight year and bank on a healthy Matt Hasselbeck. With that is the assumption that he will also be competent. Mike Teel and Seneca Wallace remain his backups and never really pose a threat towards taking his job. Seattle doesn't draft a QB and keeps this part of the roster intact.

There is only one way for this to work and that is to build around him and pray that he doesn't willingly dive into Patrick Willis' flying elbow. He proves to the NFL there is still life in the old dog and leads Seattle to one more shot at the Super Bowl under his wings.

Option 2: Start Seneca Wallace or Mike Teel

If Santa is kind, he'll give me an early Christmas gift, and send Seneca elsewhere. I'll run around naked at Westlake Mall if Teel is the starter for our 1st regular season game.

Option 3: Sign a Free Agent Quarterback

Choices: Kyle Orton, Jason Campbell, Chad Pennington, Tavaris Jackson, Kellen Clemens, Charlie Batch, David Carr, Brodie Croyle, Daunte Culpepper, Rex Grossman, Joey Harrington, Jon Kitna, and Chris Redman.

Those are your top options in free agency. It's highly unlikely Jason Campbell leaves Washington.

Option 4a: Draft a Quarterback (Rounds 1-2)

This isn't the most talented QB class in the world, but there are enough options available in the first two rounds for the Seattle Seahawks to choose from. Jimmy Clausen, Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow (NO!!!!), and Tony Pike are projected to be chosen in the first two rounds. Clausen, Bradford, and Tebow could end up being nabbed within the top 16 selections, while Pike drops to the early 2nd round. Drafting a QB and plopping him straight into the starting job is always risky, but keep on believing that we get that quarterback -- someone like Matt Ryan -- who has good success right off the bat. I understand Ryan is a rare kind, but that won't stop me from believing we can get one ourselves.

Option 4b: Draft a Quarterback (Rounds 3-7, Undrafteds)

Normally when a QB is drafted in the later rounds the chances of winning the starting job before the season starts is slim and none. They would have to kick ass in a QB competition during camp and/or badly outperform the competition during preseason. Otherwise their best hope of getting in is if the starter(s) ahead of them come down with an injury. Sean Canfield, Colt McCoy, Jevan Snead (NO!!!!), Dan Lefevour, Max Hall, Zac Robinson, Jonathan Crompton, etc. will be available for service during these rounds as additional project QBs.

Option 5: Trade for Someone

It would be best not to come up with wacky scenarios and make idiotic and mindless speculation for the sake of figuring out which starting caliber QB can be traded to Seattle.

I'm not saying Hasselbeck will get replaced as starter this season, but I do see the following options as ways to do so in case this actually happens. For the time being I believe Hasselbeck will be kept on the roster and at a minimum Schneider will draft a quarterback, who in turn will be an Matt's understudy.

This is obviously just one aspect of the rebuilding phase, but it's something that needs significant attention from the organization, and if it's still Hasselbeck then we'll likely be watching 16 more games of the picture above.