Seattle, WA

Will Olusegun Oluwatimi win the starting job at center for the Seahawks?

Published

2 years ago

June 26, 2023

Will Olusegun Oluwatimi win the starting job at center for the Seahawks?

The Seattle Seahawks stayed in the trenches and doubled up on Michigan Wolverines, using No. 154 to select center Olusegun Oluwatimi. A highly decorated center in college, Olu will be in the thick of the competition to lock down that spot for the Seahawks.

Athletic Profile/Comps

Relative Athletic Score (RAS)

Mockdraftable

Looking at his RAS, Olu is a good but not elite athlete. He’s a bit short at less than 6’3” and didn’t run a great 40-yard dash. There were a number of other centers drafted in front of Olu that were at one time mocked to the Seahawks such as Mockdraftable comp John Michael Schmitz who were regarded as much better athletes.

Wait a minute…

(Insert the “They’re the Same Picture” meme from The Office.gif)

Ok, not really, but it’s pretty freakin’ close. Seattle could have drafted Schmitz at No. 52 if they really wanted but chose not to. Schmitz’s RAS scores are basically “good” across the board except for a poor 40-yard dash and very good shuttle. Besides getting knocked for height, Olu stacks up pretty evenly athletically with Schmitz except for that shuttle – but he did have a significantly better broad jump to offset that.

Mockdraftable also has Ricky Stromberg as a comp who went at No. 97. Again, Seattle could have chosen to keep No. 83 instead of trading it to the Denver Broncos and drafted Stromberg instead. Clearly, neither Schmitz nor Stromberg (to a lesser extent) were as high on their draft board as many assumed.

Since we’re looking at comps, how does Olu stack up against Seattle’s 2022 center, the newly-retired Austin Blythe?

Pretty close again, it turns out. Olu is kind of like a slightly bigger, longer Blythe from an athletic standpoint. His agility isn’t as good, but Olu outperformed Blythe in the jumps which are a good measure of lower body explosion/power. “Austin Blythe +” might not be a ringing endorsement, but Blythe was solid last year with the biggest negative being his propensity to get absolutely run over every once in a while. Olu has more sand in his pants and will hopefully not face that same fate as often.

I’ve heard the Seahawks like to run the ball.

Olusegun Oluwatimi / Center / #55
6’3 / 307lbs / Senior
On this play we see Olusegun spring the RB for a 70+ yard Touchdown Run. Hand placement and a wide base with his feet seal the block. #HTTC #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/pMrRrHNkr1
— The Podfather (@TheBurgundyZone) February 21, 2023

Big Olu should fit right in.

Gut reaction to the pick

Getting a center who produced at a very high level in college at this point in the draft is great value. In case you didn’t know, in 2022 Olu won both the Rimington Trophy as the best center in college football and the Outland Trophy which is given to the best interior lineman. Not just interior offensive lineman. Interior lineman, period, including defense. He was also a consensus First-Team All American. That’s good, right?

Watch this video and tell me you don’t like this dude.

All he’s done in his career is succeed whether it was for three years at Virginia or manning the middle for one of the best offensive lines in the country in 2022 at Michigan. His ability to transition from Virginia to Michigan that quickly and handle all of the line calls shows his football IQ which is especially important at center. That was one of Blythe’s strengths and helped offset his size limitations. Olu should be able to lean on that part of his game as well in the NFL.

Did I mention that Olu was named a team captain at Michigan despite being a graduate transfer? You want a leader like that in the middle of the line. I loved the pick.

Rookie season prediction

Seattle has been looking for a long-term answer at center for what seems like decades. Max Unger was the last one who truly held down that position before he was traded away to the New Orleans Saints in 2015. Justin Britt had a few moments, but ultimately didn’t work out. Otherwise, it’s been a revolving door of cast-offs and stopgap options. Remember Drew Nowak? How about Stephen Schilling? Those guys started multiple games at center for Seattle in the last decade so it’s about time to find someone to claim that position.

The Seahawks brought in Evan Brown in free agency, but that’s only a one-year deal. Joey Hunt is also on the roster, but if you thought Olu was small what does that make Hunt? Olu should have every opportunity to win the starting center job and I wouldn’t bet against him based on what he’s shown in the past. He’ll get the most starts at center this season out of that group and I’ll just hitch my wagon to Big Olu right now – that’s your starting center Week 1 and for the future.

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Seattle, WA

Gus Williams, Seattle SuperSonics star and point guard ‘Wizard,’ dies at 71

Published

6 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Gus Williams, Seattle SuperSonics star and point guard ‘Wizard,’ dies at 71

Gus Williams, the beloved Seattle SuperSonics star who led the franchise to its only NBA championship in 1979, died Wednesday at age 71.

Williams earned the nickname “The Wizard” thanks to his speed and athleticism as a dynamic scoring guard. He played six of his 12 NBA seasons with the SuperSonics, guiding the team to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances. Both of his two All-Star selections came during his time in Seattle.

A second-round draft pick out of USC, Williams started his pro career with the Golden State Warriors and finished second in NBA Rookie of the Year voting in 1976 behind Phoenix’s Alvan Adams. After two seasons with Golden State, Williams joined the Sonics in free agency and quickly became a star once coach Lenny Wilkens made him a permanent starter in the backcourt alongside Dennis Johnson. Williams finished the 1977-78 season averaging 18.1 points in 79 games and helped Seattle reach the NBA Finals, only to fall to the Washington Bullets in seven games.

The Sonics faced off against Washington in the Finals again the following season, this time beating the Bullets in five games. It remains the only championship for the franchise, which moved to Oklahoma City ahead of the 2008-09 season.

Williams finished the championship season as the SuperSonics’ leading scorer at 19.2 points per game. He saved his best for last, averaging 29.0 ppg against the Bullets in the NBA Finals. Despite his heroics, Williams was not named Finals MVP, with that honor instead going to his teammate Dennis Johnson. Four of the five starters on that championship squad and key reserve Paul Silas are now dead, with Jack Sikma, sixth man Fred Brown and Wilkens the only surviving pillars of the team.

Remembering Gus Williams (1953-2025) pic.twitter.com/UGBFH2mq7v
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) January 17, 2025

James Donaldson, one of Williams’ SuperSonics teammates beginning in 1980, started a GoFundMe account on behalf of Williams’ family to raise funds for his burial.

Williams lived in a care facility in Maryland and died five years after suffering a stroke in 2020. Donaldson wrote on GoFundMe that he remained in contact with Williams “throughout most of this terrible journey” that included Williams battling pneumonia and meningitis after his stroke.

“He has spent the last 5 years, flat on his back and bravely battling this terrible misfortune,” Donaldson wrote of Williams’ health. “He fought a good fight, but alas, it just became too much to overcome.”

Donaldson said Williams’ family asked him to set up the GoFundMe account to bring Williams’ body to his hometown of Mt. Vernon. N.Y., so he can be buried next to his brother Ray, also a former NBA player who died of prostate cancer in March 2013. Donaldson said the Williams brothers’ 100-year-old mother and other relatives would like to be able to visit their gravesites together.

“(Williams) was gregarious, funny, always upbeat and (very) charitable with his time and money. Plus, he was always friendly with the fans and they loved him in return,” Donaldson wrote of his former teammate. “Super fast and super quick on the court. Could stop on a dime and outrun everyone out there. With a deadly jump (shot) to boot. Gus was one of a kind!”

Williams’ one-of-a-kind style extended off the court, too. He refused to back down in a contract dispute with Sonics management ahead of the 1980-81 campaign, ultimately sitting out the entire season. He returned the following season and averaged a career-high 23.4 points in 80 games, earning his first All-Star selection, NBA Comeback Player of the Year and first-team All-NBA honors.

Williams’ time in Seattle ended in 1984 when the SuperSonics traded him to Washington. He spent two seasons with the Bullets, followed by one with the Atlanta Hawks before retiring in 1987.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Washington Bullets alumni, Gus Williams.
Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/zhKV1lS5Pw
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— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) January 16, 2025

Williams finished his career with 14,093 points, 4,597 assists and 1,638 steals. He averaged 17.1 ppg in 825 regular-season contests and 19.5 ppg in 99 playoff appearances.

He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.

(Photo: Focus on Sport / Getty Images)

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Seattle, WA

Seattle weather: Cool blast of air for this weekend

Published

13 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Seattle weather: Cool blast of air for this weekend

Seattle weather: Morning fog, sunshine in the forecast

FOX 13 Seattle Meteorologist Ilona McCauley has your latest western Washington weather forecast!

Western Washington is gearing up for some of the coolest air of the season heading into this weekend. A weak cold front will drop our overnight lows into the lower 30s beginning tonight. Chilly conditions will remain into much of next week. It’s time to remember to protect your pipes, plants, pets and people.

A weak cold front moved through earlier Thursday, keeping cold air in place around Western Washington.

As the rain wraps up and the skies clear out, fog will develop overnight. With many spots dipping into near freezing, the possibility of freezing fog along with icy spots will be around for Friday morning’s commute.

Map showing increasing clouds around Western Washington.

Rain and clouds clearing out, leading to overnight fog.

Skies clear out after Thursday stray showers wrap up. Fog will develop on Friday morning with some freezing fog possible. (FOX13 Seattle)

January has gotten off to a cool start already with more cold air on the way. A ridge of high pressure will keep much of our area in a cool, dry, northwesterly flow through at least the end of next week.

The extended 7 day forecast for the Seattle area.

Skies are drying out and some of the coolest air of the season is on the way this weekend. (FOX13 Seattle)

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Seattle, WA

Dominican infielder Kendry Martinez agrees to $2.5 million deal with Seattle Mariners

Published

21 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

Dominican infielder Kendry Martinez agrees to .5 million deal with Seattle Mariners

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Dominican infielder Kendry Martinez was among 17 additional players agreeing to seven-figure bonuses, a $2.5 million deal with the Seattle Mariners.

Thirty-two players have agreed to bonuses of $1 million or more through two days of the international signing period, which opened Wednesday and runs until Dec. 15.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, hoping to sign Roki Sasaki, were among five teams that have not finalized any contracts and kept open their entire signing bonus pool allotment, joined by Kansas City, the New York Yankees and Colorado. The San Diego Padres, also wooing the Japanese pitcher, struck one deal for $10,000, the highest amount that does not count against a team’s bonus pool.

Sasaki is considered an international amateur by Major League Baseball because he is under 25 and has not played six seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. Under the MLB-NPB posting agreement, he has until Jan. 23 to finalize an MLB deal.

Agreements included Dominican shortstop Wilfri De La Cruz and the Chicago Cubs ($2.3 million), Venezuelan outfielder Yorger Bautista and Seattle ($2.1 million), Dominican outfielder Kevin Alvarez and Houston ($2 million), Venezuelan shortstop Liberts Aponte and Cincinnati ($1.9 million), Dominican right-hander Raudy Reyes and Atlanta ($1,797,500), Venezuelan infielder Eliomar Garces and Tampa Bay ($1.6 million), Dominican infielder Juan Cabada and the Cubs ($1.5 million), Bahamian shortstop Ayden Johnson and the Athletics ($1.5 million), Dominican shortstop Dorian Soto and Boston ($1.4 million), Dominican outfielder Royelny Strop and St. Louis ($1.4 million), Dominican outfielder Kenny Fenelon and Milwaukee ($1.3 million), Venezuelan infielder Yulian Barreto and San Francisco ($1,118,700), Dominican shortstop Juan Tomas and the Cubs ($1.1 million) and Dominican outfielder Elorky Rodriguez and Texas (1,097,500

Players born from Sept. 1, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2008, are eligible to sign during this year’s period, which ends Dec. 15. Teams began the week with signing bonus pools ranging from about $5.1 million to $7.6 million.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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