This quote from Jim Mora courtesy Seahawks Insider...
"In a perfect scenario, you could have them every day of training camp, but that's just not the way it is," he said. "So, as long as we set it-I mean it-by that Wednesday, I think we'll be okay. It won't be perfect, but it'll be what it is, and we'll make the best of it."
sparks an interesting discussion. If Walter Jones cannot practice before September, but the team believes him to be fully healthy, should he start week one at left tackle? I ask your opinion because I've been thinking it over and am not sure I know the right answer.
Seattle did not put Jones on the PUP list to start training camp. That prevents Seattle from putting Jones on the PUP list to start the season, meaning that either Jones will be healthy, Jones will not be healthy but be on the 53 man roster or that the Seahawks will put Jones on the IR. Assuming Jones and the team do not decide he is still seriously injured or just no longer physically capable of playing, he isn't likely to start the season on the injured reserve. So he's taking a spot.
Jones held out of training camp from 2002 to 2004 and was named to three consecutive Pro Bowls, a second-team All-Pro (2002) and a first team All-Pro (2004). He did not allow a single sack in 2004. At the same time, I remember Jones' presence in training camp in 2005 being cited for the offensive line's cohesiveness and resulting dominance. That could be a classic case of explaining the unexplainable: the too human tendency to look for connections where there's only coincidence, but it could also be true.
Cohesiveness seems especially important this season. Seattle has a new offensive system and is implementing a zone blocking scheme. That scheme is both very different from Mike Holmgren's drive blocking scheme, and more interdependent.
So, to reiterate and flesh out, does Seattle honor Walter Jones talent and start him any way they can? Is Jones still so talented he deserves such honor? Or is Seattle honoring only Jones' legacy and importance to the fans and damaging the team's chances to contend in 2009?