Update on Schmitt and the Rest of the Trio

Is a blog still a blog without new content? Well, here we go...

Owen "Beer Truck" Schmitt is overwhelmingly the most impressive of the big three that also includes Patrick White and Steve Slaton.

Schmitt was picked up by the Eagles from the Seattle Seahawks at the beginning of the season and has since accumulated more receiving yards than in his previous two seasons. So far he has 70 yards on 7 receptions. The most in one game was 3 receptions for 43 years against the Washington Redskins, which included yet another impressive leap reminiscent of the good old days. That catch and one other can be seen in the video below.

Patrick White and Steve Slaton have, in comparison, have had less than ideal years.

Slaton, after an impressive outing during his rookie season with the Houston Texans, has floundered since the beginning of last season. In the previous season, he suffered through fumble troubles, dropping the ball 7 times, while competing for snaps with other tailbacks. This year, still not at the starting job, Slaton has only had 17 touches but has a 5.5 yards per carry average and no fumbles.

As if you didn't know, White was cut from the Miami Dolphins before the start of the season. Luckily, he's a talented guy and took a contract from the Kansas City Royals. Probably for the best, considering the looming NFL lockout and the fact that he has the potential for a significantly higher paycheck in the MLB than the NFL. Must be nice to have those kind of options.

Back in Buisness? Pat White is.

I've been out of the loop for a while but I think I'm going to get back into it now that football season has returned.

For my transgressions, please accept the following videos:

This is a quick clip of Pat White converting on third down at the end of the week 5 five Jets versus the Dolphins game.



And if you haven't seen this, I don't know where you've been.

Every dog has his day

Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver will likely be lost to free agency (though they will attempt to keep him). Did he go to WVU? No. Should you care? Yes. Guess who his backup is?

UPDATE (3/21/09): If you haven't figured it out already, that dog is Owen Schmitt. And it appears he will indeed have his day.

2004 Undrafted Players

Lance Frazier: As an undrafted free agent in 2004, Frazier was initially picked up be the Baltimore Ravens but was quickly waived before the beginning of the season. The Cowboys picked him up and gave him playing time.

During the 2004 season, Frazier played on both defense and special teams. On special teams he returned punts 24 times and had a 9.9 yardd return average. He also fumbled twice, both in a loss to the Eagles, garnering the ire of then head coach Bill Parcels. On defense, he had 34 solo tackles and 2 interceptions.

In 2005, the Cowboys released Frazier shortly after he sprained his ankle. Other than a short 2006 training camp stint with the Seahawks, he has not returned to the NFL.

After being cut from the Cowboys in 2005, Frazier began his AFL career. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Storm, however I can't find anything on his production there. In 2006 he was traded to the New Orleans Voodoo, an expansion team at the time, but was put onto the exempt roster because he was offered a contract in the CFL. As far as his AFL status is concerned, his contract was traded to the Philadelphia Soul but he is still on their exempt roster.

In 2006, when the AFL's Voodoo exempted Frazier, he began his CFL career. He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders where he has spent the past three years. He only played one game in 2006, possibly because of his Seahawk's training camp stint. In 2007 and 2008 he appeared to progress. In 2008, he led the team with 5 interceptions. In 2009, the Roughriders resigned him before he entered free agency.

Schmitt Looks Ahead, Behind

WCHS, Radio 58

Former West Virginia University fullback Owen Schmitt returned to the Mountain State on Thursday to mingle with fans.
. . .
"He (Schmidt) said if I could get paid, I swear to you he said I'd play the rest of my career at West Virginia University if they paid college players," Tony said.

The moment that captured Owen's love for the school and the state is captured forever on YouTube where he gave an emotional account of what it meant to play for WVU at the end of the Fiesta Bowl his senior. He says his current teammates on the Seattle Seahawks still ride him a little about that.

"It was a special moment. It came from the heart after the game. I still get a lot of slack for it in the locker room," Owen says.
. . .
The 6'2” Schmitt has seen action on the Seattle's offense and special teams playing in every game except the opener. He's hoping this next season will be his year to start.

"The GM (of Seattle) I was talking to him. Tim Ruskell, he told me just come in shape and fight for that starting job. Come in knowing that you're fighting for the starting," Schmitt said.

In next few weeks, Owen Schmitt will begin intensive training before he returns to Seattle for spring training camp.
. . .
http://www.58wchs.com/includes/news_items/3/news_items_more.php?id=5029§ion_id=3

2008 Undrafted Players

Marc Magro: Undrafted in 2008, linebacker Margo was signed to the Miami Dolphins practice squad. After this, there is some conflicting information. There are sources saying he was cut by the Dolphins in October but picked up by the Rams in September. Not possible. Either way, he ended up with the Buccaneers practice squad.

Johnny Dingle: The Kansas City Chiefs picked up Dingle, who left college early, after he was undrafted in 2008. The Chiefs played him during the preseason but released him before regular games began.

Keilen Dykes: The Arizona Cardinals signed Dykes, a defensive tackle. He was released before the beginning of the season but then resigned to the practice squad.

Darius Reynaud: The Vikings picked up Reynaud after the draft, released him, then re-signed him the the practice squad. During the season, he was given a chance as a kick returner. Reynaud returned eight kicks for 201 yards, a 25.5 yard average. He was limited during the latter portion of the season, due to a turf toe injury.

Eric Wicks: Wicks was signed by the Seattle Seahawks but was released before the regular season after two injuries.

Owen Schmitt - Rookie Season

Owen Schmitt, everyone's favorite Mountaineer at one point or another, was drafted late in the fifth round (163rd overall) by the Seattle Seahawks. He was used sparsely by Seattle as a backup fullback. He only carried the ball five times but had a respectable 4.2 yards a carry. Hopefully he'll see more playing time next year. Much of that will hinge what the Seahawk's offense looks like after the coaching change.

Below is a nice little highlight from a pre-season game. Look familiar?