Instant Analysis: Seahawks Sign Flynn

Well that didn’t take long, did it?  Less than an hour after I wrote about the Miami/Seattle/San Francisco QB carousel, the Seattle Seahawks have finally played their hand, signing former Packer QB Matt Flynn to a 3-year contract.

The deal reportedly pays Flynn $26 million, with $10 million guaranteed.

(Editorial Disclaimer: While I majored in journalism and used to work as a journalist, and try to always be as objective as I can in my writings, I AM A SEAHAWKS FAN!  In pieces like this, objectivity is sometimes difficult to achieve)

The Seahawks have been outspoken in their support of Tavaris Jackson, but clearly this signals a new day in the Pete Carroll/John Schneider regime.  While there are questions about Flynn’s ceiling, he should be an upgrade over Jackson.  He better be, because he’s being paid like a starter.  If Jackson were to beat him out, it could be a competitive and public relations disaster.

What did the Seahawks get in their new QB?  Hard to tell.  Judging by Twitter, most of their fan base thinks he’s going to be something between Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, but I see something more like…. Ryan Fitzpatrick.  He’ll have some struggles and growing pains (get ready Hawk fans, there WILL be some 3 INT games), but he’ll move the chains more consistently than Jackson.  He’ll spread the ball around more, use his weapons, take what the defense gives him.  This could make a guy like Mike Williams a MUCH bigger factor in the offense.  Remember all the times he was wide open, only to be completely ignored by TJ?  That won’t happen with Flynn.

My biggest concerns are based in his physical limitations.  He has some athletic ability and can get out of trouble, which is good, but his arm is below average.  Watching that record-setting Detroit game in it’s entirety, it appears he needs everything to go well for him to be accurate.  He needs to set up, get off his back foot, and use maximum effort to spin the ball.  His motion may surprise you if you haven’t seen it before, it almost looks like he’s shotputting the ball at times.  He’s definitely not a dart thrower.  He takes chances, and throws the ball into coverage (had 3 easy interceptions dropped in that Detroit game) but he also appears decisive and gets the ball out quick once he makes his reads.

Ah yes….the reads.  This is where I think he provides the biggest upgrade over Jackson.  TJ looked at times like a playground QB.  He could wow you with a fastball on the money when everything was falling down around him, but time and again he would miss the easy slant or the simple first down.

But here’s where I differ in my opinion from most Seahawk fans.  This isn’t about Matt Flynn being better than Tavaris Jackson; is he good enough to be our LONG TERM quarterback, capable of taking us to Super Bowls and winning them?  I don’t think he is.  What I DO believe is that the Seahawks are building a roster that’s balanced enough, talented enough, and deep enough to win with a solid quarterback, and Flynn can definitely be that.  I see it as a positive move, based on the options available to them.

In my opinion, the ideal scenario is that Flynn gives Seattle a chance to win a couple of division titles, and groom whichever QB the Seahawks take in the first round in next year’s draft.  Why 2013?  Because that draft is shaping up to be one of the most bountiful quarterback classes we’ve seen in years.  Deep enough that a team drafting in the 20’s can still get a franchise signal-caller.  And if they find THAT guy and he turns out to be THAT good, Flynn’s contract is reasonable enough that it won’t cripple the club to make that transition.

And if Flynn turns out to be as good as most fans are hoping, that’s exactly where the Hawks will be drafting now that they’ve finally made a bold move at the most important position on the field.