Thursday cyber surfing: And still more on Irvin
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, May 3:
Just when you thought there was nothing left to say about Bruce Irvin, former Seahawks linebacker turned 710 ESPN analyst Dave Wyman says a lot: “His speed off the edge allows him to simply run past and around offensive tackles and tight ends. Irvin said Saturday that he feels he can run forward much faster than any lineman can “kick step” backwards. He did plenty of times at West Virginia, registering 22.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Most importantly, he has the ability to do something that I haven’t seen here in Seattle since my old teammate Rufus Porter used to do it. Irvin can turn a corner at full speed. He leans his body so his shoulders are about three feet off the ground and doesn’t slow down. This leads me to believe that he understands angles, he understands that he must fight for every last inch of space in order to “get home,” and he never slows down to do it.”
Here at Seahawks.com we check in with Michael Robinson, who is altering his approach to this offseason after his first season as a fulltime lead-blocking fullback that ended with him and Marshawn Lynch playing in the Pro Bowl: “Robinson’s mindset this offseason has been to prepare himself so that he can pick up in 2012 where he left off in 2011. That started with hitting the weights earlier than usual, monitoring his caloric intake and also adding to and increasing his regiment of recovery techniques. ‘I usually would take about a month off after the season, completely,’ he said. ‘This year, I took two weeks off. I adjusted my diet a little bit to make sure I was getting the calories in me every day so I can prepare to do the workouts. Now I’m to the point where I’m doing two workouts a day. Already.’ That comes with the position, and being one of the smaller players in the league to play the position. In his matchups with Pro Bowl tacklers last season, Robinson gave up 17 pounds to Willis, 22 to Fletcher, 27 to Lewis and 35 to Urlacher. But Lynch had three of his six 100-yard rushing performances in those games, and in the Week 16 game against San Francisco he broke the 49ers’ 36-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher and also was the first to score a rushing TD against them last season. ‘I always have to fill the weight on me, or it will go away (during the season),’ said Robinson, who is up to 239 pounds. ‘That’s one of the things I really had to adjust to – lifting heavy, on a consistent basis. I’m stronger than I was at this time last year. Hopefully it will pay dividends for me in the fall.’ ”
Wednesday was a sad day in the NFL for anyone who ever played with, coached, played against or just watched Junior Seau, who was found dead in his Oceanside, Calif., home. Tributes and reports are everywhere, but one of the best comes from Jim Trotter at SI.com, who covered the Chargers during Seau’s Pro Bowl-filled run in San Diego: “You have to understand: Junior Seau didn’t live in San Diego. He was San Diego. Largely because he never forgot where he came from. He grew up hard in Oceanside, fighting for food and sometimes sleeping on mattresses in the garage. It’s one reason he focused on young people and struggling families when he established his foundation in the early 1990s. For instance, each Thanksgiving he would shut down the Mission Valley restaurant bearing his name and feed families affected by domestic violence and military personnel away from home. During Christmas, the foundation partners with a local store to allow underprivileged kids an opportunity to “purchase” gifts for family members. In total the Junior Seau Foundation, which also helps young people attend college, has distributed nearly $4 million since its inception. When Seau retired for the first time, we sat in the cool air outside his restaurant and reflected on his career. When I told him that his legacy off the field would ultimately dwarf what he did on it, he stared at me and said nothing. I walked away wondering if he truly understood how many lives he had touched with his generosity. He still seemed to measure his happiness (self worth?) by how people viewed him as a player. And now I wonder if that career didn’t contribute to his passing.”
Wednesday cyber surfing: Still talking about Irvin
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, May 2:
Mike Sando at ESPN.com has some additional thoughts on Bruce Irvin in the wake of the Seahawks selecting the pass rusher from West Virginia with the 15th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft: “The Seahawks envision Irvin as a situational pass-rusher for now and the eventual successor to Chris Clemons in the “Leo” role. Clemons was a 236-pound linebacker coming out of college. He had a 4.7-second time in the 40-yard dash, went undrafted as a junior and floundered in Philadelphia. The Seahawks acquired him with a specific role in mind. Clemons ranks eighth in the NFL with 22 sacks over the last two seasons, more than Julius Peppers, James Harrison, Clay Matthews, Dwight Freeney, Trent Cole, Jason Pierre-Paul and others. Clemons now weighs 255 pounds and has become much stronger against the run. Irvin is Clemons’ height (6-foot-3) and weighs 245 pounds, but he is much faster, having run the 40 in 4.4 seconds. The plan would be for Irvin to grow into a bigger role, not to remain a situational player forever.”
Art Thiel at sportspress northwest recalls the scene in the media draft room when Irvin was selected, and also offers: “What is amusing is that most of the post-draft media analysis downgraded the Seahawks draft because Irvin was taken so high relative to the conventional wisdom. Yet it’s not as if there was documentary evidence that proves Irvin was not worth the purported value assigned the 15th pick. … (coach Pete) Carroll, who knows more about Irvin’s past anyone speculating on the draft, is betting a considerable portion of the Seahawks house that he can design a defensive role that maximizes Irvin’s biggest asset, speed, and minimizes his biggest liability, size. As to whether Irvin’s off-field actions turn him into the next Koren Robinson/Jerramy Stevens or the next Cortez Kennedy/Dave Brown, your guess is as good as anyone’s. And no one’s.”
Nick Eaton at PI.com passes along GM John Schneider’s comments on the Irvin selection from an interview with Dave Mahler on KJR: “In the NFL Draft last week, the Seahawks were clearly in the hunt for a quick and explosive defender. Their top three choices, according to General Manager John Schneider, were linebacker Luke Kuechly, safety Mark Barron and pass-rusher Bruce Irvin. Keuchly and Barron were on many draft analysts’ lists as top defensive picks. Irvin? Not so much. ‘They were, a little bit, standalone guys — not by a huge margin, but the three of them basically were up there all by themselves,’ Schneider said. “Obviously we felt strongly about Barron, we felt strongly about Kuechly as well, but we really wanted to address our pass rush. And it just fell to a spot where we said, maybe if we could move back a little bit, we could still acquire (Irvin). The only problem is, he was so quiet — people weren’t talking about him. And quite honestly that made me uncomfortable.’ ”
Also at ESPN.com, Sando provides a nice rundown on the Seahawks’ wide receiver situation while responding to the question about signing a veteran wide-out in his mailbag: “I’d stick with the current group. Drafting a receiver would have made sense if that receiver were a special player. There was no sense in drafting another receiver indistinguishable from the group. There would likewise be no advantage to signing a veteran stopgap in free agency. We might revisit that stance if Sidney Rice doesn’t rebound from the two shoulder surgeries he underwent this offseason. But with Rice back and the team also expecting more in the receiving game from tight end Zach Miller, I’d be inclined to give the younger players a shot. Golden Tate finished strong last season. He had no dropped passes. He has a chance to take a big step forward now that he’s been in the offense for a year. Doug Baldwin is already a good slot receiver and top option on third down. Ricardo Lockette flashed ability late last season and has a chance to become a dynamic threat down the field (two catches for 105 yards in the final two games last season). Kris Durham is back from injury and projects as a potential replacement for Mike Williams. He’s a big receiver. Ben Obomanu is still an option. Deon Butler will get another chance. I’d rather give snaps to some of the younger prospects than lean on a stopgap veteran unnecessarily.”
Peter King at SI.com lists Russell Wilson at No. 6 on his list of rookie quarterbacks who could have an impact this season: “How about GM John Schneider telling me Wilson was one of the three best players he scouted in 2011? That, plus the fact that neither Matt Flynn nor Tarvaris Jackson have a stranglehold on the starting job, tells me Wilson will have a fair chance to win the job at some point this season.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we check in with Brandon Browner, who is coming off a Pro Bowl season in his first NFL season: “A year ago, Brandon Browner’s NFL career included zero regular-season games played and two training-camp stints with the Denver Broncos. And that was in 2005 and 2006. After one season with the Seahawks, check this resume for the extra-large cornerback who had spent the previous four seasons with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL: Sixteen starts, with Browner and Marcus Trufant the only cornerbacks in the past five seasons to do that for the Seahawks; One Pro Bowl berth, making him the fourth corner in franchise history to play in the NFL all-star game – along with the late Dave Brown (1984), Shawn Springs (1998) and Trufant (2007); Five of his team-high six interceptions coming in the final six games, making him only the fifth player in franchise history to lead the team in his first season – along with Brown (1976), Autry Beamon (1977), Darryl Williams (1996) and Earl Thomas (2010); Two franchise records – one for the longest interception return, 94 yards for a touchdown that iced the Week 5 upset of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants and broke a 33-year-old record; the other for most interception return yards in a season, 220 to break the record set by Brown in ‘84 (179); Two franchise records tied – one for returning two picks for scores, the other for intercepting a pass in four consecutive games. All this after signing a future contract last January and then winning the starting spot on the right side in training camp while Walter Thurmond was sidelined with a high ankle sprain. ‘It is absolutely remarkable what Brandon was able to accomplish last year,’ Kris Richard, a former cornerback for the Seahawks who now coaches the position, said while shaking his head. ‘From where he came, to where he was able to go in one season, it’s very good stuff.’ ”
Yesterday, it was the Top 30 players in NEXT year’s NFL Draft at NFL.com. Today, it’s a mock draft for 2013, complements of Andrew Perloff at SI.com. Here’s who he has the Seahawks selecting: “Matt Barkley, QB, USC. Barkley has been compared to Andrew Luck for staying at USC even though he could have been a high selection in 2012, but he may get picked apart in a way Luck did not. Some people wonder if Barkley is big enough, and how much his outstanding receivers and the system at USC help him look good. Trojans QBs have not done well in the NFL lately, but if anyone can overlook that it’s Pete Carroll.”
And just when you thought it was safe to resume surfing, there’s also a 2013 mock draft at FoxSports.com. But Peter Schrager has Barkley going No. 1 overall to the Raiders. So that leaves the Seahawks with … “Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas. Jackson’s father Jim Jeffcoat was a longtime NFL defensive lineman. Jackson hasn’t quite lived up to expectations yet, but should have a big season in 2012. Matt Flynn plays well in his first full year as a starter, but the Seahawks fall short of the playoffs.”
Tuesday cyber surfing: Wilson’s about more then just height
Good morning, and Happy May Day. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for May 1:
Mike Sando at ESPN.com says you have to use more than height to measure Russell Wilson, the quarterback the Seahawks selected in the third round of the NFL Draft: “His height, measured by NFL scouting combine officials at 5-foot-10 and five-eighths of an inch, doesn’t measure up to long-established league standards. That is why the Seahawks were able to draft the Wisconsin quarterback with only the 75th overall choice even though Wilson appears dynamic by other measures, including his arm, athleticism and leadership.”
Jerry Brewer at the Seattle Times deciphers what the Seahawks just accomplished in the draft: “There is a method to the Seahawks’ whimsical behavior, however. When you examine them closely, you realize they’ve made the right move more times than not. And so far, even their mistakes haven’t been of the franchise-killing variety. Despite all the confusion and debate they inspire, this has been a trustworthy front office. True to form, (coach Pete) Carroll and (GM John) Schneider are testing that theory again. In the aftermath of the NFL draft, you’re left to wonder what the heck they were thinking after they made a surprise pick in the first round, selected a 5-foot-11 quarterback in the third round and spent the weekend shocking the arrogance out of draftniks. …The Seahawks don’t employ the classic approach. But because they’re so thorough and believe so fully in themselves, it’s wise to couch skepticism or at least delay unleashing it until you see the plan in action. They’re eccentric, not stupid. Recognize the difference.”
Art Thiel at sportspress northwest digs a little deeper in the meandering journey that led first-round draft choice Bruce Irvin to the Seahawks: “The riskiest part of the selection of Irvin is that there is no way to measure how he will handle success, which is notorious for devastating pro athletes who’ve never known it. Irvin has had plenty of football success, but he’s barely known two days in a row that weren’t full of travail and headache. Just three years ago, he was living in a two-bedroom, one-bath rental home with another eight or nine players from the Mt. Sac football team, all Samoans. ‘They didn’t know me, but they were good-hearted people,’ he said. ‘They accepted me. But you better find a nice spot before everyone else went to sleep. In that situation, it’s every man for himself.’ ”
Pat Kirwan at CBSSports.com takes a look at the possible gems in those undrafted players who signed with teams as free agents, including kicker Carson Wiggs, who has agreed to terms with the Seahawks: “Wiggs is a big kicker that also kicks off. He has field goals of 59, 53, 53 and 52. I liked him at the Senior Bowl.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we take a look at the start of Phase 2 of the offseason program, which looked a lot like Phase 1 until you took a closer look: “At first glance, Phase 2 of the Seahawks’ offseason program looked an awful lot like Phase 1. The players ran through drills in the indoor practice facility at Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Monday and then shifted to the weight room – just as they had the past two weeks. But the sly grin that washed across Kam Chancellor’s face suggests that a closer look was needed. ‘It was very different,’ the Seahawks’ Pro Bowl strong safety said. ‘The tempo was up and it was more competitive.’ That’s because, unlike the eight sessions that comprised Phase 1, the coaches are allowed to work with the players during the three-week Phase 2 portion of the offseason program. ‘This is Phase 2 right here,’ Chancellor said. ’It’s building blocks, and we’re building up.’ ”
We also heat up some draft leftovers in a rare offseason “Monday metatarsal musings,” including: “Why didn’t the Seahawks take a wide receiver in one of the rounds, with one of those 10 picks? – General manager John Schneider was pretty blunt when asked this question on Saturday. ‘Quite honestly, I thought it was a pretty average group compared to the last couple years,’ he said. ‘It was just a little frayed all the way through.’ So average, that Schneider said wide-outs Doug Baldwin and Ricardo Lockette – who led the team in receptions and averaged 52.5 yards on two receptions last season, respectively, after being signed as free agents following the draft – would have been rated at the top of the fifth round this year. Also, there are three wide receivers among the 10 rookie free agents the club got agreements with right after the draft – Washington’s Jermaine Kearse, Oregon’s Lavasier and Ohio University’s Phil Bates.”
Peter King at SI.com revisits the Seahawks’ selection of Irvin in the first round of the NFL Draft in his “Monday Morning Quarterback” (which had not been posted when we went surfing yesterday): “The Bruce Irvin pick at 15 in the first round wasn’t that odd – at least not to two GMs I spoke with. ‘He was going in the first round, guaranteed,’ one said. ‘He’s got rare pass-rush skills.’ Now, Russell Wilson at 75? Well, believe me or don’t, but one coach within 20 picks of the Seahawks said to me Sunday he’d have pushed hard for Wilson with that pick in the third round. Clearly, though, the second-guessing with Seattle was hot and heavy through the weekend. ‘They just value players differently than almost every other team,’ one personnel director told me. ‘They get a feeling on a guy and it doesn’t matter if they’re the lone wolves – they’re going to take the guy no matter what anyone else thinks.’ ”
So much for the 2012 NFL Draft, Bucky Brooks at NFL.com already has his list of the Top 30 prospects for the 2013 draft, which is topped a quarterback that Pete Carroll knows a little about: “After bypassing an opportunity to enter the draft as a likely top-10 pick a season ago, (USC’s Matt) Barkley is listed atop most draft boards as the No. 1 senior prospect. He has shown the ability to masterfully orchestrate a pro-style offense that puts a lot of responsibility on the quarterback at the line, but he needs to continue honing his throwing mechanics and arm strength to solidify his status as the potential No.1 pick.”
Monday cyber surfing: Irvin ‘arguably hottest player in the whole draft’
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, April 30:
Len Pasquarelli at Pro Sports Xchange supports what general manager John Schneider had to say about the Seahawks’ surprising selection of Bruce Irvin with the 15th pick in the first round – that other teams also were hot for the pass rusher from West Virginia: “ ‘He was,’ the general manager from one of those teams told The Sports Xchange late Friday night, ‘arguably the hottest player in the whole draft the past week.’ That sentiment was shared by several personnel chiefs on Friday and Saturday. There have been suggestions that Irvin, whose tale of personal redemption has become well-known over the last few days, might have even been available to the Seahawks in the second round. But given the interest from other franchises, as confirmed by The Sports Xchange, that is highly unlikely. Among the several teams that either planned to select Irvin or had him on a “short list” of first-round candidates for consideration: the New York Jets (No. 16), Chicago (19th), Green Bay (28th) and San Francisco (No. 30).”
Dave Boling at the News Tribune takes a closer look at Irvin’s troubled past through the eyes of his mother: “The calls in the night were the worst. Bessie Lee knew they brought bad news about her son, Bruce Irvin; she just never knew how bad. They also brought tears, and the weight of it all forced her to her knees. Ask her about those times, and Bessie Lee taps her heart, eyes growing moist. ‘You wear out your knees asking God to take care of him,’ Lee said of those painful moments when she feared for his life. ‘When the call comes through, it’s, ‘Is he shot?’ Sometimes your mind runs deeper than jail. I have watched other people’s kids get shot, even die. You worry about those things. Oh, my Lord, is this call for my child?’ ”
Gil Brant at NFL.com offers his Top 10 undrafted players, and the list includes Washington wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, who signed as a free agent with the Seahawks: “Kearse has been a starter since his freshman year in 2008. His best season came in 2010, when he had 1,005 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. His production tailed off, however, in 2011 (699 yards, seven touchdowns). He brings strong leadership qualities. One thing he has to work on is concentrating better on making the catch – he has had some drops – but has playmaking ability once he has the ball.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com offers his initial thoughts on the Seahawks’ 2012 draft class: “The Seahawks, after getting much bigger in their first two seasons under Pete Carroll, added welcome speed to their roster in this draft. Pass-rusher Bruce Irvin, chosen 15th overall, had the fastest 3-cone time for any player at the NFL scouting combine. ‘If you look at it, our slowest guy was an offensive lineman at 4.85 (seconds in the 40-yard dash),’ Carroll said. ‘There’s great speed in this draft for us, and that’s really exciting across the board, and it’s going to help our special teams enormously.’ “
Sando also passes along this video report that includes praise for the selection of running back Robert Turbin from Eric Allen, the former cornerback for the Eagles who now an analyst for ESPN.
Steve Kelley at the Seattle Times would have liked to see the Seahawks draft a wide receiver: “I wish the Seahawks had more seriously addressed their passing game in this draft, wish they had picked at least one wide receiver. Last season, NFL scoreboards spun like dials on a slot machine. The Green Bay Packers had the worst defense in the league. They lost once. The New England Patriots were the second-worst defense. They went to the Super Bowl.”
John Czarnecki at FoxSports.com gave the Seahawks a grade of B for this past weekend’s NFL Draft: “Coach Pete Carroll is hoping Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson (75th overall pick) develops into Drew Brees. The knock on Wilson is his height; he’s only 5-foot-10, a tad shorter than the 6-foot Brees. But he can throw a deep ball, is very athletic and off-the-charts in the locker room. He can be a great leader. Obviously, he’s going to push Tarvaris Jackson because the Seahawks have put a lot of money in ex-Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn’s pocket. … Their entire draft was one shocker after another. In the first round, they took West Virginia’s Bruce Irvin, who was off a lot of boards because of his arrest last month on a vandalism charge. But Irvin does have tons of ability and, like Carroll said, might be the best pass rusher in this draft. … Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner could fill the void of leading tackler David Hawthorne. Wagner’s college teammate, running back Robert Turbin, is the ‘strong dude’ Carroll wanted for when Marshawn Lynch takes a breather. … They don’t need much help in the secondary, but took two sixth-round flyers on Jeremy Lane and Winston Guy. Grade: B
Saturday cyber surfing: On Wagner, and Wilson, too
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there about the Seahawks for today, April 28:
Steve Kelley at the Seattle Times takes a closer look at Bobby Wagner, the linebacker from Utah State and the Seahawks’ second-round draft choice: “Bobby Wagner is used to people telling him what he can’t do, used to people suggesting he get real and stop dreaming. But most important, he’s used to ignoring all of them and believing in himself. In high school, friends, teachers, even family members told him they believed only 1 percent of players made it to the NFL. Only one school, Utah State, recruited him to play the game that would become his career. ‘I’m used to people saying I can’t do something and then I prove them wrong,’ Wagner said from Ontario, Calif. ‘And that kind of throws it in their face a little bit.’ ” Welcome to the 2012 Seahawks’ chip-on-your shoulder draft.”
Also at the Times, Danny O’Neil contrasts Wagner’s options to those of Russell Wilson, the quarterback from Wisconsin who was the Seahawks’ third-round draft choice: “Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson had so many options he had his choice of professional sports. Linebacker Bobby Wagner had so few choices coming out of high school he went to the only school that recruited him, Utah State. Wilson was a Colorado Rockies baseball prospect just a year ago while Wagner has spent four years as a college starter, playing all three linebacker positions and building himself into the highest draft choice from his school in 30 years. They might not share a story — or even a position — but they now share a team. Both were chosen by the Seattle Seahawks in Friday’s portion of the annual NFL draft. The Seahawks were selecting Wilson as a quarterback for the future and Wagner as a linebacker for the present.”
Eric Williams at the News Tribune was surprised by the Wilson selection, even though Pete Carroll and John Schneider have talked about adding a young QB since they arrived almost in tandem in 2010: “Pete Carroll is serious about this competition thing. Even after signing free agent Matt Flynn to a lucrative multiyear contract to compete for the starting quarterback job with Tarvaris Jackson, the Seattle Seahawks made another significant investment at football’s most important position, selecting Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson in the third round with the No. 75 overall selection.”
Nick Eaton at PI.com revisits how baseball helped lead Wilson from North Carolina State to Wisconsin: “In 2010, he was in his redshirt junior year at North Carolina State, where he was starting quarterback on the football team and a star infielder on the baseball team. He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies, and it seemed his choice was made for him. It was baseball. His father, Harrison, died the day after he was drafted. But he went to Rockies spring training and played Single-A ball in Pasco, Wash., last summer. Eventually, he decided he wanted to go back to football. By that time, N.C. State had released him from his football scholarship, so he decided to go elsewhere. That’s when he transferred to Wisconsin.”
Don Banks at SI.com says count him in on the selection of Russell: “Count me among those who like Seattle’s third-round pick of Russell Wilson, the undersized ex-Wisconsin quarterback the Seahawks took 75th overall. No, he’s not prototypical NFL QB height at just under 5-foot-11, but all he does is make plays and find ways to compensate for his limitations. I’ll take a shot on a guy who has consistently shown the ability to figure out how to rise to the level of his competition, no matter the league.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we look at how the first three players have drafted fill their biggest needs following an active free-agency period: “Think about it. Coach Pete Carroll needed a speed pass rusher for a defense that ranked ninth in the league last season, and got an explosively quick one by selecting West Virginia’s Bruce Irvin in the first round on Thursday. Carroll and general manager John Schneider wanted to add speed at the linebacker position, especially if that player could possibly fill the void in the middle created by the departure of leading tackler David Hawthorne in free agency; and a young quarterback with the potential to be the long-term future at the pivotal position. That’s why they selected Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner and Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson in the second and third rounds on Friday. ‘We’re pleased with the way it’s gone so far,’ ” Schneider said.”
We also take another look at just how surprised Irvin was to the team’s surprising first-round pick: “Irvin did talk with Carroll at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. But that was the last time they communicated – until Thursday night. ‘Since the combine, I haven’t heard from them,’ Irvin said. ‘That’s what really shocked me, because I didn’t think they were really interested in me. This pick just shocked me. I can’t believe it. I’m just astonished right now.’ Asked what he knew about the Seahawks, Irvin offered, ‘I know my man Pete Carroll is the head coach. That’s about it.’ ”
Friday cyber surfing: It’s all about Irvin
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, April 27:
The Seahawks pulled a stunner on Thursday night by selecting pass rusher Bruce Irvin in the first round of the NFL Draft after trading back from the 12th to the 15th spot.
Steve Kelley at the Seattle Times calls the selection a “trust-me” pick: “Unless you were inside the VMAC war room or inside Seahawks coach Pete Carroll’s head, or some other place where you weren’t invited on Thursday, you couldn’t have seen this one coming. Bruce Irvin? Wasn’t he the raw-as-a-floor-burn prospect who was supposed to be picked Friday; a pass-rushing, second-round selection who maybe, just maybe, could be one of the steals of the NFL draft? The Seahawks came into the first round Thursday needing a pass rusher. It was their vaguely-disguised top priority. And, after trading down from 12 to 15, it was their good fortune that every available pass rusher still was on the board. They could have taken the prototypical guy, North Carolina’s Julius Peppers-like Quinton Coples. Or they could have taken the guy Carroll gushed about Monday at the predraft news conference, South Carolina’s versatile. Melvin Ingram. They could have chosen a pass rusher who didn’t have a police record. They could have gone with the safest, sanest pick. But they took the road not traveled. They chose a player Carroll scouted in college, a guy he wanted at USC, but couldn’t get into school.”
Dave Boling at the News Tribune says the selection of Irvin follows a pattern: “Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll can supply valid football reasons for the decisions they make. They love players who have unique physical gifts and fit special niches in their schemes. And you can see the positive effects of the approach in their first two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. But you start getting the sense they also take some extra joy in doing the unconventional, the unexpected, the risky. Going against the grain. They kept it interesting again in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday evening, picking West Virginia pass rusher Bruce Irvin.”
Also at the Times, Danny O’Neil has the details of Irvin’s past – actions and name: “The Seahawks drafted Bruce Irvin. It’s important that you get that name right, and not just because no one mentioned him as a player Seattle would pick in the first half of the first round. There used to be a B.J. Irvin, but that was back in Atlanta where he dropped out of high school and spent a few weeks in jail on burglary charges. He began going by Bruce in 2008, and as he left for junior college, the change was more than symbolic. ‘B.J. was the one that was getting in trouble,’ Irvin said. ‘That’s two different people, man.’ This is Bruce now, a guy who barely played in high school because of his grades but won a national junior-college championship in 2009 before going off to West Virginia, where he racked up 22.5 sacks in two seasons. And on Thursday, Bruce Irvin was the first defensive end chosen.”
Also at the News Tribune, Eric Williams points out that even Irvin was surprised by his selection: “That’s right, with their pick of pass rushers still on the board – including North Carolina’s Quinton Coples, South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram, Syracuse’s Chandler Jones and USC’s Nick Perry – the Seahawks broke away from the pack once again by selecting someone who many had pegged as a second-round pick. Including Irvin. ‘I expected late first round, like thirty-something,’ Irvin said. ‘But I didn’t expect 15. It was a little surprising.’ ”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald provides Irvin’s take on Pete Carroll’s unique view of his unique talents: “I’m just happy Pete Carroll trusted in me and believed in me. Deep down in his heart, he knows I’m a changed person. He knows Bruce. Pete Carroll didn’t even know B.J. He knows Bruce, so that’s all that matters.”
Art Thiel at sportspress northwest says Carroll’s connection with Irvin paved the way for the selection: “It is much easier to get comfortable with a 250-pound guy who runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. Carroll was quicker to a comfort level, owing to the fact that he tried to recruit Irvin to USC. The grade thing was a problem. But in the NFL, little concern is given to recall of 18th century French poets. ‘I’ve known the guy for a long time,’ he said. ‘We were fortunate to know the background more than some other teams.’ ”
John Clayton at ESPN.com says the Seahawks made the most-surprising selection in the first round: “When Luke Kuechly went to the Panthers at No. 9, you knew the Seahawks would bail on the No. 12 pick and trade back. The problem is whom they selected at No. 15. A lot of teams didn’t have LB Bruce Irvin in the first round. Some didn’t have him in the second round. Pete Carroll felt having Irvin along with an additional fourth- and a sixth-round pick was better than staying at No. 12. The Seahawks would have been better served by continuing to move back and get more picks. If they are right on Irvin and his motor, great. But if they are wrong, they didn’t get value back for their trade.”
Also at ESPN.com, Mike Sando offers what he likes about each of the first-round picks in the NFC West, including the Seahawks: “Coach Pete Carroll is personally and passionately invested in Irvin’s success. Carroll and his defensive staff have enjoyed great success when matching players with specific traits to specific roles. Irvin possesses a very specific set of skills. He’s a pass-rusher, plain and simple. That’s all the Seahawks will ask him to do, at least initially. The 14-sack season San Francisco got from Aldon Smith in 2011 serves as a model for what the Seahawks will want from Irvin. Smith did not start a game, but he was a force in passing situations.”
Not surprisingly, the Irvin selection was one of the things Clark Judge didn’t like in his “Judgements” at CBSSports.com: “Are you kidding me? The guy tested off the charts at the combine, but he’s a liability. In fact, one scout told me he didn’t want to do anything but rush the passer, meaning he wasn’t interested in starting or playing special teams. That’s one reason most clubs had him buried somewhere in the second round. Maybe Pete Carroll finds something in this guy. I wouldn’t rule it out, not after what he did with that defense last year. But this one was a considerable reach.”
Don Banks at SI.com also was surprised by the Seahawks’ selection: “There was no bigger surprise Thursday night than Seattle taking West Virginia defensive end Bruce Irvin, a former high school drop-out who has more than his share of character red flags. Irvin has undeniable pass rush skills, but Seattle passed up the likes of Quinton Coples, Chandler Jones and Melvin Ingram to take him. My question? Even if Seattle had a strong conviction about him, did they not stand a pretty good chance of moving back again from No. 15 in order to take him lower in the round and still garner more draft picks? Irvin is said to have a tremendous burst around the edge, and at 6-foot-3, 248 pounds with 4.48 speed, he sounds like a pure pass-rusher who Pete Carroll is hoping to turn loose on opposing offenses. Seattle plans on using him as a situational pass rusher this season, and then is counting on him growing into full-blown beast mode coming off the edge. At No. 15 in the draft, he has to be more than a part-time player, and soon. The Seahawks are taking a gamble on a player they think they know well enough to bet on. But Irvin begins his NFL career with perhaps more doubters than any other of Thursday’s first-round picks.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we look at how the Seahawks got exactly what John Schneider (two more picks by trading back) and Pete Carroll (the pass rusher he coveted) wanted in the first round: “The Seahawks, as it turns out, got two players and three picks in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. First, they traded out of the 12th spot in a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles that also netted the Seahawks extra picks in the fourth and sixth rounds by moving down three spots in the first round. Then, the selected Bruce Irvin, an explosively quick defensive end from West Virginia. ‘We were extremely excited,’ general manager John Schneider said of the not-so-surprising trade that led to the somewhat-surprising selection of Irvin. ‘Obviously, we viewed him as the best pass rusher in the draft.’ ”
We also continue our looks at the best draft choices in franchise history with the second round: “Sherman Smith. Terry Beeson. Keith Butler. Brian Blades. Terry Wooden. Kevin Mawae. Lofa Tatupu. John Carlson. Each was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Seahawks. Each delivered results befitting a first-round pick. But which player was the best second-round pick in franchise history?”
Thursday cyber surfing: Draft Day is finally here
Good morning, and Happy Draft Day. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, April 26:
Eric Williams at the News Tribune says the Seahawks could have to make the choice between versatility (Melvin Ingram) and uniqueness (Quinton Coples) with the 12th pick in today’s first round: “Uniqueness or versatility? That question piqued the interest of Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll when asked which trait his organization valued more heading into this evening’s NFL draft, which begins at 5 p.m. ‘Utility and versatility are huge for coaches,’ Carroll said. ‘Personnel guys see that one dynamic trait and they just want to jump all over it. That’s just been a personal experience. Sometimes you need to pull yourself back and say, ‘What’s the whole picture? What’s going to be his role? How can he fit in for us?’ And there are a lot of guys that have a uniqueness about them because of their versatility. Usually that one dynamic trait – while we all get excited about it – doesn’t carry over exactly to what the coaching staff needs.’ ” Applying Carroll’s assessment to the top pass rushers in this year’s draft, the Seahawks could have a tough decision to make if both North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples and South Carolina defensive end/linebacker Melvin Ingram are still on the board when the team selects today at No. 12.”
Also at the News Tribune, Dave Boling says GM John Schneider has his misses as well as his hits during his first two drafts with the Seahawks: “No GM would cop to his hits and misses after only two seasons, but we can make some general conclusions, and speculate on what Schneider sees as he re-evaluates his effort. Of the 18 Seahawks drafted in 2010 and 2011, 16 made the team, seven earned starting spots and two – safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor – earned Pro Bowl honors. Draft-involved trades brought the Seahawks running backs Marshawn Lynch and Leon Washington. Choices also were given up for little-used backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst. In all, it’s a strong effort that has made the Seahawks one of the youngest teams in the league. But of those 16 draft picks to stick, seven of them finished last season on the injured-reserve list. And five of those were among picks taken in Rounds 1 through 4: Russell Okung, Walter Thurmond, James Carpenter, John Moffitt and Kris Durham.”
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times has his mock draft, and selects a different pass-rusher – Chandler Jones: “QB Ryan Tannehill would be an option if available, but Seattle showed last year it will follow its own evaluations as opposed to conventional wisdom.”
Speaking of Tannehill, Jerry Brewer at the Times has a suggestion: Don’t draft him. “If the Seahawks were left to choose between drafting raw Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill and burning the No. 12 overall pick in the NFL draft, I’d only have only one question standing in the way of my preference. Is that incinerator environmentally friendly? Well, this is Seattle, you know. Yes, it’s a ridiculous thought, but that’s how afraid I am that the Seahawks will break from two years of smart drafting and take a huge risk in selecting a player that they lust after, according to several reports. Considering that the bust potential is quite high for a quarterback who started only 19 collegiate games, not to mention that the Seahawks don’t need to spend a first-round pick on a QB after signing Matt Flynn in free agency, such a bold move would be as scary as it gets.”
O’Neil also wonders if the Seahawks might surprise everyone and go for offense with their first-round pick: “Why do the Seahawks have to get so darn defensive about their first-round pick in this year’s NFL draft? Coach Pete Carroll has clearly expressed his desire for a pass rusher, and the team’s need to add a linebacker is fairly obvious. But with the first round set to start Thursday at 5 p.m., and the Seahawks holding the 12th pick, it’s the offensive side of the football team that seems like it could use a boost. After all, Seattle ranked 28th out of 32 NFL teams in yards gained last season and went seven quarters without scoring a touchdown toward the end of October. Yes, the running game got better over the final eight games of the season, but Seattle still finished with the second-fewest passing yards in any of the past 10 seasons. Receiver Sidney Rice is coming off surgeries on each shoulder, while tight end Zach Miller had a career low in receptions. Seems like the offense could use a little more oomph, doesn’t it? ‘It’s hard to ever pass up a touchdown-maker, you know?’ Carroll said.
Pete Carroll was passing out clues to who the team will draft in movie clips yesterday – as he did with song titles in 2010. Nick Eaton at PI.com passes along the coach’s hints: “There are a few fairly obvious clues — for instance, in “Tommy Boy,” Chris Farley imitates Darth Vader by speaking “Luuuuuuuke” into an electric fan, leading me to think of Luke Kuechly. But, honestly, most of it is all going over my head.”
Mike Mayock at NFL.com gave the Seahawks Coples in his mock draft yesterday, here’s why: “He’s a boom-or-bust candidate. He had a big year as a junior at defensive tackle and got on everyone’s radar. But to me, Coples is not a first-round pick off his senior year of tape, when he was playing defensive end. I recognize his talent, though. He had a great Senior Bowl week and I think Pete Carroll can get the most out of him.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com looks at what it takes to make a trade in the first round of the draft: “NFC West teams hold the sixth, 12th, 13th and 30th overall choices in the 2012 NFL draft. The potential for trading those picks adds intrigue to the draft.”
Sando also weighs in on Mel Kiper Jr.’s mock-draft selection of Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones for the Seahawks: “Kiper will get no argument on this one. After all, Jones was the pick for Seattle during our recent ESPN Blogger Mock Draft, published Monday. In Kiper’s mock, the Seahawks take Jones when Melvin Ingram, Mark Barron, Stephon Gilmore, Quinton Coples and Whitney Mercilus were also options for teams looking to upgrade on defense. Scouts give Jones high marks for work ethic, physical potential and versatility. As Scouts Inc. put it, ‘Best fit will be as a LDE for a 4-3 scheme. Can develop into 5-technique if he continues to get stronger and learns proper technique. Has good core strength, room on frame, and long arms. … Has experience reducing inside to a three-technique on obvious passing situations, as well.’ Sounds like an outstanding fit for the Seahawks given their needs.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we conclude the positional looks in our draft series with the defensive backs: “So the Seahawks are set in the secondary, right? Well, not in (Pete) Carroll’s always-compete – and always-add-to-the-competition – world. When the Seahawks make the 12th pick in the first round, Alabama safety Mark Barron could be tempting; as would South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore if the Seahawks drop a few spots by trading out of No. 12. ‘We’ve discussed every option and opportunity at great length, so we’ve already cleared our way through the decision,’ Carroll said. ‘You obviously can do it for the first 12 picks, and as you get farther down things change. At this position early in the draft and in the first round here, we’re going to get through every one of them, and we won’t be surprised by the opportunity that is presented.’ ”
There’s also a closer look at the cornerbacks and safeties, a Q&A with Barron and look at the best third-round draft pick in franchise history.
Wednesday cyber surfing: It’s all about the draft, of course
Good morning on NFL Draft Eve. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, April 25:
Stop the presses (oops, showing my ink-stained-wretch roots). But Chad Reuter at NFL.com offers a mock draft of all 253 selections. Really. Here are his picks for the Seahawks:
First round: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina. “Improving the team’s pass rush is a priority, and Pete Carroll might momentarily suspend his penchant for long defenders to bring in a playmaker like Ingram.”
Second round: Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State. “A versatile player for a team in need of talent throughout the linebacker corps.”
Third round: Orson Charles, TE, Georgia. “Charles might not be the biggest TE, but Pete Carroll would love his competitiveness.”
Fourth round: George Iloka, S, Boise State. “Iloka meets the Seahawks’ size/speed requirements and would be a valued reserve/special teamer.”
Sixth round: Donnie Fletcher, CB, Boston College
Seventh round: Chandler Harnish, QB, Northern Illinois
Also at NFL.com, Ian Rapoport says John Schneider and the Seahawks might be sitting in the catbird seat entering Thursday night’s first round of the draft: “As far as John Schneider is concerned, he stands on the precipice. The Seahawks general manager views this year’s crop of players as having several tiers. “Little cut-offs or ledges,” he calls them. Based on the evaluations of the Seahawks staff, Schneider believes one ledge comes around the 12th or 13th selection, a separation between the elite and the really good. That’s why, with the 12th pick, Schneider thinks of himself as a man with his toes on the edge, ready to grab a big-time player or leap at a big-time trade. This is where he sees the draft turning. Teams could be scrambling to get up to 10, 11 or 12 to nab the slippers and sliders. Schneider is expecting activity either way. ‘We have to be prepared for other people to come to us,’ Schneider told NFL.com. ‘Either we have to be strong and just sit there and take a really cool player or be able to negotiate in a fast manner with a team trying to get up and just decide whether – say they give you two picks – if those two players would be worth the guy we’d be giving up.’ “
Eric Williams at the New Tribune looks at the safety position in the draft, even though the Seahawks have Pro Bowl tandem of Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, who are entering their third seasons: “Although safety certainly isn’t a need position for Seattle, coach Pete Carroll said the team has considered every possible scenario for a player worthy of drafting at No. 12, which includes the availability of (Mark) Barron. ‘We’ve discussed every option and opportunity at great length, so we’ve already cleared our way through that decision,’ Carroll said. ‘You obviously can do it for the first 12 picks, and as you get farther down along, things change. At this position early in the draft and in the first round here, we’re going to get through every one of them, and we won’t be surprised by the opportunity that is presented.’ ”
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times looks at the pass rushers, a position the Seahawks have yet to upgrade this offseason: “Quarterback is called the toughest job in football. Finding someone to tackle that quarterback is just as troublesome, though. In fact, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he thinks that specific talent might be even harder to locate. ‘The most difficult talent to find is pass rushers,’ Carroll said. ‘It’s why people try so hard and so often with guys early in the draft, trying to nail a pass rusher because they’re just so special.’ The Seahawks had better pack a lunch when they go to work this week because you know what they’re looking for in the NFL draft this Thursday? A pass rusher.”
Also from O’Neil, a look at the USC pipeline that has not exactly flowed from Carroll’s former team to his current team: “Seattle has selected two players Carroll recruited to USC, both in the final two rounds of the draft. The Seahawks chose tight end Anthony McCoy in the sixth round in 2010 and then linebacker Malcolm Smith in the seventh round last year. It’s not a lack of top-shelf talent that explains the lack of interest in other USC prospects. Over the past two years, the Trojans had seven players taken in the first three rounds of the draft. It’s just that none of them were chosen by the coach who recruited them to college. ‘It doesn’t always work to our advantage as you might think,’ Carroll said. ‘So often I’m tougher on those guys because I know them so well and I have their backgrounds.’ “
John Boyle at the Everett Herald also looks at the Seahawks’ search for a pass rusher: “The Seahawks did a lot of things well on defense in 2011 as, over the course of the season, they went from being a young, promising defense to one that was just plain good. But for everything that the Seahawks did do well defensively — finishing seventh in scoring defense and ninth in total defense — there is one area in particular that needs to get better, coach Pete Carroll said. ‘You never have enough pass rush, so it’s always important,’ Carroll said. ‘… We’re always looking. Certainly in this draft it’s one of the issues that we’d like to attend to.’ “
Sportspress northwest examines whether the Seahawks should draft a quarterback at No. 12, complete with a poll where you can offer your opinion: “Regardless of where (Ryan) Tannehill, (Kellen) Moore and (Russell) Wilson rank on pre-draft boards, the question is, Why would the Seahawks consider taking a quarterback when they already have (Matt) Flynn and (Tarvaris) Jackson in the house? Carroll answered that himself when the Seahawks awarded career two-game starter Flynn a three-year, $26 million deal: ‘We are always looking for a quarterback,’ he said.
Mike Sando at ESPN.com offers a scout’s take on where the Seahawks stand in the draft. Says Steve Muench of Scouts Inc.: “The Seahawks are in good shape, yes. The interesting thing about this draft is that Quinton Coles is going to drop. I think Coples or Chandler Jones would make sense for Seattle. The Seahawks are going to get an edge rusher and those guys are two of the bigger defensive ends/edge rushers in this class.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we continue our series of articles previewing the draft with a look at the linebackers: “(Melvin) Ingram is just one of the mysteries in this year’s linebacker class, a group that includes ‘a number of attractive linebackers,’ as Seahawks general manager John Schneider put it. After Ingram, who is generally rated as the top player in this linebacker class, there’s Boston College middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, who plays a position where the Seahawks just lost leading tackler David Hawthorne in free agency; Boise State’s Shea McClellin, who like Ingram is an outside ’backer or rush-end depending who you ask; Illinois’ Whitney Mercilus, who also falls into that ’backer-or-end category; and Alabama’s Dont’a Hightower, a 265-pound thumper of a middle linebacker. When it comes time for linebacker-needy teams to make their picks, it will depend on which player is available and also which best fits their scheme.”
There’s also a closer look at the position and a Q&A with Luke Kuechly. We also continue our look at the best draft choices in franchise history with the fourth round.
Monday cyber surfing: Countdown to the NFL Draft
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks over the weekend as well as for today, April 23:
We’ve finally reached draft week, with the first round coming on Thursday night. Mike Sando at ESPN.com looks at some concerns for each of the teams in the NFC West, including the Seahawks: “The team has no fifth-round pick thanks to the Marshawn Lynch trade. But after signing quarterback Matt Flynn and helping the pass rush with Jason Jones’ addition, the Seahawks should face little pressure to draft for need in the first round. The Seahawks would ideally move back from the 12th overall slot, adding picks – perhaps a fifth-rounder to make up for the one Seattle sent to Buffalo. The team could use a starting middle linebacker. There’s good depth at that position in this draft, meaning the Seahawks can come out OK even if Luke Kuechly is not available. Seattle found starting linebacker K.J. Wright in the fourth round of the 2011 draft, which had less depth at the position.”
Speaking of the draft, former Colts and Bills GM Bill Polian rates the 32 NFL teams on their drafts the past three years. It’s an Insider feature at ESPN.com, so requires registration and a fee. But here’s what he has to say about the Seahawks: “Best value pick: DB Richard Sherman (2011: Rd. 5, 154). Cornerstone pick: DB Earl Thomas (2010: Rd. 1, 14). Seattle has done a good job of putting valuable pieces in place on all sides of the ball. If free-agent acquisition Matt Flynn solves the problem at QB, this is a team on the rise.”
Jerry Brewer at the Seattle Times says the Seahawks are preparing for the draft with an air of confidence: “A year later, it’s easy to see what time, maturation, player development and good decision-making has done for the franchise. The Seahawks went 7-9 again last season, but they grew up while doing so. A playoff nucleus is developing. In free agency, they signed quarterback Matt Flynn to go with Tarvaris Jackson. They’re not in infancy anymore. ‘We’re definitely at a different place,’ Schneider said. And how does stability translate to this NFL draft? It allows the Seahawks to be mysterious, of course, even though they have some clear needs.”
Also at the Times, Danny O’Neil looks at the decision the Seahawks must make at linebacker: “This year, there are a number of top-notch inside-linebacker prospects, starting with (Luke) Kuechly, Alabama’s Dont’a Hightower and California’s Mychal Kendricks, the Pac-12 defensive player of the year. Seattle has an opening in the middle of its defense after letting (David) Hawthorne walk away as a free agent, even though he led the Hawks in tackles the past three seasons. But he came up against the reality that this year’s draft includes some very appealing middle linebackers, from a top-shelf selection like Kuechly to the middle rounds and on through the end. ‘This is a year where, for us, there are a number of attractive linebackers,’ ” (GM John) Schneider said
Dave Boling at the News Tribune says cooler heads are prevailing in the Seahawks’ draft room: “Listen to the words. John Schneider is calm and in control. He has plans and contingencies. He’s a master of the variables; weights and measures, mass and velocity. And he’s ready for the varied ways this week’s NFL draft might unfold in front of him. For instance, the Seahawks’ general manager says that No. 12 is ‘a really cool place to pick.’ But if events warrant, ‘then we feel comfortable with the way we’ve prepared that we could go back, too.’ Stay there, move around, bob and weave. Sure. Schneider’s playing the cool hand. Just listen. But as he speaks, his legs are bouncing beneath the table fast enough to cause the room to vibrate. That’s how these guys are at draft time, all subsurface energy beneath the poker faces. There’s a whole lot more going on than any of them want you to see.”
Also at the News Tribune, Eric Williams says the Seahawks have few holes to fill entering the draft: “Now in the third year of the team’s rebuilding effort, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and Schneider said the team’s roster has been overhauled enough that with the No. 12 overall pick, there’s less urgency to draft for need, allowing Seattle to take the best player available. ‘We’re definitely at a different place,’ Schneider said. ‘When you look at the draft in particular and some of the areas in free agency that we’ve addressed, I think it put us in a position to just let the draft kind of come to us and not feel like we need to move around or not do anything that would put the organization in jeopardy in any one position.’ ”
Also from Williams, a look at UW running back Chris Polk: “NFLDraftScout.com ranks Polk as the No. 5 running back in the draft. Only Alabama running back Trent Richardson is projected to go in the first round. Teams such as Denver, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay and the New York Giants could view Polk as a nice change-of-pace back who can also play on third down because of his natural catching ability. ‘Me, personally, I just sees passes as an extended carry,’ Polk said. ‘I’m not going to fumble the ball, and I’m not going to drop any passes. Just come my way and trust in me, and I’ll get the job done.’ ”
John Boyle at the Everett Herald wonders if, and when, the Seahawks might select a QB in this draft: “The Seahawks hope they found their quarterback of the future when they signed Matt Flynn last month. That does not, however, mean they won’t keep looking for players at the game’s most important position when the NFL draft begins Thursday. Since taking over as the Seahawks general manager two years ago, John Schneider has repeatedly said that he’d prefer to take a quarterback in every draft, regardless of need. That’s a philosophy he brings with him from Green Bay, where the Packers would routinely draft quarterbacks despite having Brett Favre.”
Warren Moon, the Hall of Fame QB and analyst for radio broadcasts of Seahawks games, likes Stanford’s Andrew Luck, and Mike Freeman at CBSSports.com tells us why: “Last year, Warren Moon predicted Cam Newton would shock the NFL, and prove to be one of the best quarterback prospects we’ve seen in a long time. Moon was right. In fact, whatever Moon has said to me about quarterbacks, it’s proven correct. Maybe that’s because he’s one of the best to ever play the position. He was right about Newton and what he says about Andrew Luck bodes well for Luck. Moon, like he did with Newton last year, has been tutoring Luck. Moon thinks the Colts are getting a player that ‘doesn’t have any weaknesses. None. Here’s the thing about Andrew that people need to realize. He does things better than almost any prospect I’ve ever seen. Does he do anything out of this world? No. But he does everything really well. Few quarterbacks actually can do that.”
The beat writers who cover the team took a field trip to the Nike campus last week and filed reports for Sunday on the Seahawks’ new-look uniforms.
O’Neil at the Seattle Times focuses on the design, as created by Todd Van Horne and his staff: “One of the first things you notice about the Seahawks’ new uniforms is one of the last things that Todd Van Horne brought up. He didn’t mention the feathers for a good 23 minutes. Nike’s global creative director for football and baseball talked about the stretch-woven fabric, the aluminum belt buckle and the fact the jersey numbers actually stretch before the conversation turned to the uniform’s appearance. This is significant because while Nike has a reputation for revolutionary designs, appearances aren’t the only innovation in Seattle’s new uniforms. You need to look deeper, turn the uniform inside-out, so to speak, to see how much effort and expertise went into it. ‘Everything we’re going through is to help them succeed within their athletic endeavors,’ Van Horne said. ‘We often say what’s next to the athlete’s skin is almost the most important thing.’ ”
Williams at the News Tribune offers a behind-the-scenes look at the tour: “Nike offered a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the research and development aspects the company used in designing the team’s new uniform to Seattle-area reporters this week. That tour included an afternoon spent in Nike’s research and innovation arm – appropriately located in the Mia Hamm building on the picturesque campus located on 190 acres dedicated to building higher functioning athletic wear. ‘Seattle was the one team that wanted all the innovation that we had, and wanted to reinvent their uniform as an extension of their brand at the same time,’ Van Horne said. ‘I know as neighbors here in the Northwest, we were really proud of that, that they were the ones that raised their hands first.’ ”
Here at Seahawks.com, we continue our series of articles previewing the draft with a look at the defensive linemen: “When the Seahawks go shopping for defensive linemen, they hang in the aisles not necessarily frequented by other teams. That’s because they play fast and furious at the “Leo” end spot with 254-pound Chris Clemons, who has produced back-to-back 11-sack seasons during his first two years in Seattle; but big and bold at the five-technique spot with 332-pound Red Bryant, who returned one of his two interceptions last season for a touchdown in addition to daring teams to run his way. At tackle, they moved Brandon Mebane from the three-technique to the nose last season and all he did was lead the NFC interior linemen in tackles; with the length and leverage of 6-foot-6 Alan Branch taking over at the spot Mebane vacated. The efforts of this foursome are a big reason the Seahawks ranked ninth in total defense in 2011. But coach Pete Carroll wanted more heading into free agency, and wants still more entering next week’s NFL Draft.”
There’s also a closer look at the D-linemen in this draft class, as well as a Q&A with Whitney Mercilus.
We’ve also starting looking at the top draft choices by round in franchise history. You can check the selections for the late rounds, seventh round and sixth round.
