Skip to main content
Advertising

NFC West Notes From The 2017 NFL Combine

Quick highlights of what NFC West coaches and general managers had to say at the NFL Combine this week.

Earlier this week, NFL coaches and general managers met with media members at Lucas Oil Stadium in preparation for the 2017 NFL Combine. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider spoke about the team's approach to the offseason and more, and their coaching rivals in the NFC West also passed along interesting information.

Here are three quick highlights from Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim, new San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead: 

1. Carson Palmer is helping groom Arizona's next quarterback.

Once the regular season ended, the Cardinals were unsure whether or not veteran starting quarterback Carson Palmer would return for his 15th season. Regardless of his decision, the Cardinals were going to begin the process of looking for their next franchise quarterback because of Palmer's age (37). Now, Palmer is back in the fold, and for what could be his last year, he will now help develop Arizona's next quarterback instead of shying away from it: 

"One thing about Carson is he is a true pro," Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said. "He gets it. There a lot of times we spend time just talking about our roster. He has good perspective in that area, to be able to have a player who has that kind of experience, to be able to lean on, hear what he has to say about guys in the locker room. There's no doubt he understands. He wants the right thing for the organization. He's mature enough to look at the big picture."

Keim also added that the Cardinals won't force themselves to draft a quarterback just because they're searching.

"There is always that pressure. But at the end of the day, you can't force the pick either. You have to really like what you see on tape, off the field, because if you take a quarterback high, and he doesn't pan out, it's going to set you back for years. Because you have to give him time to develop."

2. Shanahan is adjusting to his new and different role as a head coach.

Kyle Shanahan spent the last few years crafting NFL offenses, most recently the Atlanta Falcons, who are coming an appearance in Super Bowl LI. As a first time head coach, Shanahan explained how different his job is now compared to being strictly a coordinator. 

"Mainly this time of year in the past, I've gone into the office in my sweats, I've shut the door and turned on the tape, came out of it for lunch and then leave to go home," Shanahan explained. "As a head coach, it's different. A lot more things come up in the building, especially when we're all new. I'm sure that will get smoother next offseason. Just trying to put together a coaching staff and learning how the building works out, being able to balance being downstairs with the coaches and making sure I take the time to go upstairs with all the personnel guys who are working on that year round, it takes time to get on the same page. You can't just do that through talking all the time. You've got to watch tape together. You've got to do it again. You've got to go over and over with a bunch of different people. In the past it's just been the offensive staff. Now it's a little bit of everybody." 

3. The Rams want to re-establish Todd Gurley.  

Rams running back Todd Gurley had a disappointing sophomore season in the NFL by rushing for 885 yards (3.2 yards per carry) and six touchdowns after posting 1,106 and 10 scores his rookie year. Los Angeles Les Snead reflected on how a collective effort must be made to get Gurley back to his Pro Bowl form. 

"It was definitely a sophomore slum," Snead said. "But I think, hey let's start with myself, did we put enough around Todd? It starts with Todd, it goes to the OL, the receivers. It's a we thing. It's not just one player. That's what this offseason's about. Trying to figure out how do we get him back to that freshman year, that Rookie of the Year season." 

Photos of Seahawks general manager John Schneider meeting with the media on Wednesday, March 1 at the 2017 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.
2025 Pro Bowl Voting Is Now Open!

2025 Pro Bowl Voting Is Now Open!

Vote for your favorite Seahawks players to send them to the 2025 Pro Bowl in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, February 2nd.

Advertising