Tag Archives: Seattle Seahawks

NFL

Wells, Jonathan

bow02 jwells
Card: Bowman 2002
Acquired: 2014, Albany Acquisition

Jonathan Wells played for the Ohio Buckeyes, where he ground out 479 carries for 2,381 yards and 27 touchdowns. He’d be taken at the top of round 4 by the then expansion Houston Texans in 2002.  Wells was expected to back up James Allen who had signed as a free agent, but Jonathan ended up getting the start in the Texans first game against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished the season as the Texans leading rusher with 529 yards and 3 TDs.  After a rough 2003, Jonathan rebounded in 2004 with 82 carries for 299 yards and 3 TDs in a crowded backfield. Splitting time at fullback the following season, Wells started 6 games rushing 90 times for 325 yards and a career high 4 TDs to go along with 22 receptions.  The team sunk to a 2-14 record and head coach Dom Capers was relieved of his duties after the season.  With a new regime installed under new head coach Gary Kubiak, Wells was a free agent. At a tryout with Seattle he blew out his calf and decided to put his energy into something else.

Wells had a nice run in Houston and was the franchise’s first career leading rusher. In addition, Jonathan was captain of the special teams 3 years running. Although Wells and fellow rookie QB David Carr were forced into the lineup right from the start behind a horrible offensive line, Jonathan has no regrets. Currently he’s been involved in record label management and is a big Buckeye fan to this day.

G/Gs 60/18   Rush 374     Yds 1167    Avg 3.1     Td 10      Lg 37
Rec  44     Yds 323     Avg 7.3      Td 2      Lg 28

 

NFL

Branch, Alan

UD08p BranchCard: Upper Deck 2007 (43/99)
Acquired: 2014, Target Autographed Memorabilia

A dominating run defender in college for the Wolverines, that clocked in at a space eating 6’6″, 325, -Alan Branch was a second round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2007.  Coveted for his positional flexibility, Branch could play defensive tackle, nose, or defensive end (in a 3-4 alignment). In 35 games for Michigan, Alan had 56 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, a pick and 3 forced fumbles.

Branch had trouble cracking the Cardinals starting lineup, and did not see very much starting time until his final season with the team in 2010. During that year, Alan started 3 games and posted 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 27 tackles. In 2011, Alan signed with the Seattle Seahawks, and moved into the starting rotation for the squad.  His stop with the team yielded his best 2 seasons of his career, as he posted 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 37 tackles, for Seattle as a defensive tackle. He’d sign a contract with the Bills and kick out to defensive end, collecting 21 tackles in 13 starts. He re-upped with the team for 2014 but was arrested for DUI. As many teams in the NFL have taken a very hard line approach to any transgressions, the Bills immediately cut Branch. Alan found a home with the New England Patriots later that year and looks to assume a greater role in the defense in 2015 with the departure of Vince Wolfork.

College Football HoF, NFL, University of Texas

Johnson, Johnnie

utud11 jojohnsonCards: UT Upper Deck 2011, UT Upper Deck All Time Alumni 2011, UT Upper Deck NCAA All-Americans
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent:  6/2    Received: 6/14   (12 days)

Johnnie Johnson is another member of the Texas’ DBU connection. He boasts an impressive resume that includes winning the 1978 Defensive Back of the Year Award (before the advent of the Jim Thorpe Award), and was a two time All-American. He was also an accomplished speedster and returner, finishing with 114 punt returns for 1004 yards and a TD.  During his time at UT he anchored a secondary that consistently ranked among the tops in the nation.

utud11 jojohnson ATAA first round draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams in 1980, Johnnie was selected 20th overall. In his rookie year, he’d start all 16 games. Quickly Johnson asserted himself as a force in the secondary, returning an interception for a team record 99 yards for a TD against the Packers.  He’d also recover 5 fumbles that rookie season.

Johnnie continued to have a nose for the football, recovering 22 fumbles during his career that spanned 10 seasons in the NFL earning an All-Pro nomination in 1983. Johnnie also had a habit of finding the end zone recording 4 TDs. He played nearly his entire career for the Rams, eventually even seeing Longhorn Jerry Gray also join him in the secondary. In 1989, Johnnie signed with the Seattle Seahawks via Plan B as his age became a liability.  After 2 games, the Seahawks cut Johnson due to the pounding that he took on his knees from the Kingdome turf. Johnson retired and started signing real estate, but the Rams came calling, needing depth in the secondary- and Johnson couldn’t resist one last go round. He’d retire for good after the season.

utud11 jojohnson NCAAJohnnie was one of the more venerable and popular players on the LA Rams during his career. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. Johnson is president of World Class Coaches- an organization committed to teaching basic fundamentals as part of its basic coaching instructional delivery process. He also is a member of the Moving Families Initiative, which helps kids adjust to the challenges that they face when moving to new schools and neighborhoods.

G/Gs 124/108     Tac N/a    Sac 2.0    Fum  2
Int 22   Yds 390   Avg 17.7    Td  4  Lg 99t