Safety in Numbers (3/13/2007)
3/13/2007

By Mike Kahn - Seahawks Insider


Bryan RussellKIRKLAND - Less than two weeks into free agency, and there doesn’t
appear to be any variation on the theme that is drawing quality players to the
Seattle Seahawks.

First defensive end Patrick Kerney, then safety Deon Grant, and this week it’s
another safety, Brian Russell, and tight end Marcus Pollard. Toss in the return
of versatile offensive lineman Floyd Womack, and the reasoning is clear.

These guys want to be in a locker room that knows how to win. Russell had
planned to make several visits, including the possibility of returning to the
Cleveland Browns. Admittedly, Russell had trouble containing himself when the
Seahawks brought the San Diego State grad up for his visit last week from his
Southern California home.
“Seattle was going to be my first visit, but I signed before I left,” Russell
said. “I had some other teams I was talking to, and Cleveland was trying to get
me to head back that way. But my No. 1 choice was Seattle. A lot of that was
because of how good they are and the fact that they’re trying to get to a Super
Bowl as soon as possible. Even the other opportunities, they were out there, but
I was hoping Seattle would work.
“I wanted a good decision for myself and my family. So I really tried to look
at it objectively and go over everything with my agent. But at the end of the
day, I could have made the emotional decision because it was good in every way.”
At 6-2, 210, and with five years experience at safety, Russell is thrilled to
join Grant - with whom he shares agent Mitch Frankel - and Mike Green and
Michael Boulware at safety. Russell is admittedly a late bloomer at safety. He
initially went to Penn as a quarterback, then transferred to San Diego State
where he continued to play quarterback until his senior year when he was moved
to safety. He even played cornerback in four games due to injuries in the
secondary.
He was signed as an undrafted free agent by Denny Green with the Minnesota
Vikings, spent 2001 on the practice squad – and also learned a lot about the
position from former SDSU teammate Robert Griffith, a standout with the Vikings.
He got his feet wet in 2002, then in 2003 came of age with nine interceptions,
broke up 11 passes, and added 87 tackles as a starter at free safety. He started
the next year as well with the Vikings, then bolted to Cleveland the following
year as a free agent when the Vikings tender was low, so they parted ways.
He started the past two seasons with the Browns – sitting out four games last
season when stitches popped open and he ultimately was hospitalized with a staph
infection that nearly reached epidemic proportions on the Browns. As a free
agent and at 29 years old, he wanted to be on a playoff team with Super Bowl
aspirations.
There is no secret to why Russell has become a solid NFL safety. He feels the
quarterback experience he had helped prepare him for the responsibilities of
setting the defense at safety. The bonus, for him of course, is he gets to hit
instead of be hit.
























“For me it's preparation, study time,” Russell said. “I think if you know how
a team is going to try to attack you, especially deep, then you can anticipate
some things and take those away. If you can take away the deep shots from an
offense, you give yourself a heck of a chance, because it's hard for offenses to
not make mistakes and go all the way down the field. In Cleveland we played
Cincinnati twice a year, and when you have Chad Johnson and that passing attack,
it puts the pressure on the deep safety. I took a lot of pride in playing good
football against quarterbacks and receivers like that.
“I pride myself in not making a lot of mistakes and not giving up plays. I've
played a lot of deep parts of the field. My job description has been: don't give
up big plays, make sure the breakout runs go down and don't go for a touchdown.
But at the same time, a few years back in Minnesota, I played a lot of quarters
coverage and very similar to what Seattle does now. I think I can tie those two
things in and play smart football and make some plays.”
Obviously, that’s what the Seahawks are counting on and why Russell is
excited. He’s got to sell his house in Cleveland and move his wife to Seattle.
He hopes to be here before the off-season workout program begins to get
acclimated with the staff and his teammates. It’s all part of this master plan.
The Seahawks wanted to shore up the defense with veteran players like Russell,
Kerney and Grant to establish more consistency to go along with the blossoming
youngsters. Both Grant and Russell have played both safety positions, while
Green sat out last season with a broken foot and Boulware was in and out of the
starting lineup. Clearly they now have more flexibility, and they’ve got a new
secondary coach with Jim Mora as well.
“I’m really excited to be a Seahawk, and when I heard Deon was going to be
there it made it that much better,” Russell said. “I’ve watched Deon play on the
field and on TV. He’s just a talented football player. In fact we share an
agent. I’ve called him a few times to pick his brain on a few of the teams and
the secondary game plans they’ve had because they’ve really shut a few people
down – Peyton Manning being one of them – so it’s just exciting to play next to
the guy.
“I think we have a heck of a group of safeties now, and I’m looking forward to
getting up there.”
Plus Two
Bringing back Womack to the offensive line didn’t figure to be an issue. He made
a couple of visits, but the Seahawks fourth round draft choice in 2001 is one of
those rare players who can play all of the offensive line positions except
center and knows the offense inside out. He has played in 62 out of a possible
96 games, with injuries frequently a factor. He has started 31 games, at guard
and tackle, including nine games at guard last season. He’ll compete for a
starting spot this season.
Pollard, 35, is entering his 13th season in the NFL. With Jerramy Stevens a
free agent and Itula Mili released last year, Pollard gives them a legitimate
starter to go along with occasional starter Will Heller and Benny Joppru also on
the roster. Pollard played 10 years with the Indianapolis Colts and the past two
with the Detroit Lions. At 6-3, 250, Pollard has had 40 or more receptions in
four of the past six seasons – with career stats of 123 starts out of 177 games,
including 321 receptions for 4,007 yards and 38 touchdowns.





---------------------------------
Need Mail bonding?
Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]