Seahawks’ third quarterback still looks too Greene

By Chris Cluff  |   Wednesday, August 22, 2007  |  Comments( 1 )

Seattle Seahawks
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It's all but official. David Greene is about to become the first draft bust in the Tim Ruskell era.

The Seahawks' former third-round pick has failed to show much improvement in three training camps, and his performance last weekend confirmed once and for all that he will never challenge for the No. 2 quarterback job in Seattle. The Seahawks seconded that thought when they re-signed backup QB Seneca Wallace to a three-year extension this week.

In fact, if Greene continues to play so poorly, the Seahawks would be better off going with two quarterbacks and using Greene's roster spot for a more valuable player at another position.

Going into the game in Green Bay last Saturday, everyone considered it Greene's chance to show how much he had learned. Instead, the Seahawks might have learned at last that Greene was a poor choice in the third round of the 2005 draft.

Greene completed just 6 of 17 passes against the Packers, missing many receivers by wide margins and having three passes intercepted.

Leading up to the game, coach Mike Holmgren told reporters Greene's performance would be a major marker in his progress.

"I would say this game is very important to him," Holmgren said. "I've also said this, 'One preseason game doesn't make you or break you,' but Dave's been here awhile now. My expectations for him are high, so this is an important week for him. He has to show his accuracy. He has to be able to throw the ball where he wants to throw it."

Greene didn't do that, and Holmgren was not pleased by what he saw, saying after the game, "I don't think he had a very good night. My initial reaction is I wanted him to play better than he played."

Greene was just as unhappy with the turnovers.

"I know, personally, I forced the ball. I should have just either eaten it or thrown it away," he told reporters. "There's a lot I have to work on. This was a big opportunity for me, and obviously I wanted to come out there and make a lot of plays and make things happen. First thing you have to do is protect the ball; that's what they want to see. Didn't do a very good job of that."

Greene's lack of progress over the past two years has prevented the Seahawks from using Wallace in other roles because Holmgren has not wanted to risk getting Wallace injured and having to use Greene at quarterback if starter Matt Hasselbeck also were hurt.

Greene's lack of development stands out even more considering the success of the Seahawks' '05 draft class, the first group picked by team president Ruskell. First-round choice Chris Spencer is now the starting center, and linebackers Lofa Tatupu (second round) and Leroy Hill (third round) have started since they were rookies - with Tatupu going to the Pro Bowl in each of his first two years. Even lineman Ray Willis, a fourth-round pick, is starting to factor into the offense.

When the Seahawks selected Greene with the 85th overall pick, it seemed a frivolous use of a first-day draft choice. And that is how it has played out. Among the more useful players they could have chosen instead: Adam Snyder, who has become San Francisco's top utility lineman; Dominique Foxworth, Denver's third cornerback; safety Kerry Rhodes, who has started every game in his first two seasons with the New York Jets; Marion Barber, Dallas' No. 2 running back who led the NFC with 16 touchdowns last year; Brandon Jacobs, the New York Giants' new starting RB who could have played fullback for Seattle; and Jerome Mathis, Houston's flashy kick returner.

Greene's position on the team seems safe if only because the Seahawks have no one to challenge him for the third spot and because Holmgren has always carried three quarterbacks in Seattle. Before the Green Bay game, the coach also said Greene has played well to this point in camp. But if the 25-year-old signalcaller continues to have trouble completing passes in games, it would make more sense to go with two quarterbacks and use that other roster spot for a sixth receiver or 10th defensive lineman.

Get original Seattle Seahawks coverage at RealFootball365.com
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About Chris Cluff

Chris Cluff spent 10 years as an editor and sportswriter for The Seattle Times. He was a key figure in the newspaper's coverage of the Seahawks, particularly during their Super Bowl run in 2005. He also has written two books on the Seahawks: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Heart-Pounding, ...
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