Seahawks 5th Round Pick: Owen Schmitt
by John Morgan on Apr 27, 2008 11:37 AM PDT
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PrintGot me. I'll try and update this, but, yeah, I'm flummoxed.
. . .
Okay, here we go. This is a pick against Leonard Weaver. Weaver did some exciting stuff last year, but has yet to truly take to the fullback position. He's not a dominating lead blocker and still misses too many assignments pass blocking.
Ignore Schmitt's rushing numbers for a second. He made some hay in college, but his he's a short yardage and powerful straight line rusher in the pro, max. When you think Schmitt, you should think Lorenzo Neal. A punishing lead blocker. Schmitt broke 10 facemasks while playing at West Virginia. He plays with the power and meanness of a floating guard. This guy will absolutely blow guys up, into the ground and then grind them into dust.
Sorry, but this could mean sayonara Leonard Weaver. This year. However, those great fullbacks, Neal, Moran Norris, formerly Mack Strong, who create rushers, who selflessly make running games - that's Schmitt.
This is confirmation that Seattle will be moving to a power running attack, and, somewhat sadly, that Leonard Weaver's time in Seattle is running out.
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what the fuck
pardon my french, but Ruskell left Nicks and Chauncey Washington on the board?
That is not good.
Celebrated my 20th birthday on 02/05/2006. Not a good day.
According to Scott Wright
Has good size and a solid frame…Really tough, strong and powerful…Outstanding blocker…Runs hard and is a load to bring down..Has good hands and runs decent routes…Effective in short yardage situations..Hard worker and a true team player.
A throwback, I like that.
It's simple
They didn’t draft a RB because they see Jones, Duckett and Weaver as their trio. Kirtman or this guy makes the squad as a fullback so they can move guys around. I don’t know anything about the guy, but the pick of a FB makes sense to me.
Looks like our FB of the future to me
Seahawks really wanted to address the short yardage situation this season, and they’ve done it with Duckett and Schmit.
Our running game is looking better and better.
That's a good point
The goalline situations will be way different too. Two goal line backs, a new TE, better blocking… Hmm…
From ESPN Insider
Strengths: Possesses prototypical NFL fullback size with good height and excellent bulk. Is well-proportioned with excellent upper and lower body strength. Possesses good straight-line speed for his size. Shows a second-gear in the open field and can be a punishing runner for DB’s to bring down once he gets a head of steam. He has a great feel for the passing game for a FB. Understands his routes and has been a reliable dump-off option throughout his career. Displays very good awareness as a blocker both run and pass. Generally gets in good position and shows the foot quickness to consistently reach his blocks on the second-level as a run blocker. Ideal intangibles. Hard working and extremely “coachable”. He picks up new schemes quickly and has spent some time in spring of 2007 working at tight end. He gives a great effort in the weight room and has freakish strength. Has been mostly durable throughout his career and has shown great toughness playing through knee and ankle injuries in the past.
Weaknesses: Needs to play with better overall leverage. Enters the phone booth too high and loses some of his power as a result. He displays good initial pop but does not consistently sustain. Will need to improve his ability to uproot LBs as an iso-blocker. Runs a bit high at times, so he isn’t always as powerful as he should be for a runner with his size and strength. He has been reliable as a receiver but he is clearly not a natural hand catcher. Also struggles to flip his hips in space to get upfield quickly. Has good speed on a straight-line but doesn’t display much wiggle as a runner. Won’t make many defenders miss in space. He has had some fumbling issues early in his career but has improved in that regard. Suffered minor injury at the Senior Bowl but it is not expected to have long-terms implications.
no
he will play
Coach Owens has no bones
by Scruffy Lefty on Apr 27, 2008 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
well, I don't know if he we needed to draft him
but as someone mentioned in the other thread, he’s going to be an easy fan favorite.
Plus, he seems like a lock to contribute, which is gonna be more than a lot of teams say about their 5th round pick.
FREE JEREMY REED!!
"Sorry, but this could mean sayonara Leonard Weaver. This year."
I know you know more about this team than I do, but since when was Weaver on thin ice? I don’t see this guy as being able to step in as the starting FB at all. If anything he gets a few carries like Weaver did behind Mack.
On paper and film, maybe.
But he’ll have to beat Weaver for the spot, unless they move him to HB, but they already have Duckett in that role. I don’t see it.
by lemonverbena on Apr 27, 2008 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm not gonna lie, I went "wtf" when I
fist heard about this pick. Now? I’m lovin’ it. This guy is a beast, our fb of the future. To be honest, Weaver really is a situational player, as much as I luv ‘em.
I really don't see him in competition with Weaver
They’re very different players, and H-Back (I guess thats what I’d call Weaver) and a Fullback. Personally I think a goal line / short yardage package of Schmitt and Weaver would be more formidable than Schmitt and Duckett because of Weavers ability to catch the ball and get tough yardage out near the sidelines as well. I think Morris is definitely odd man out at this point.
Why would Morris be out?
It looks like:
Jones
Duckett
Morris
Weaver
Schmitt
Unless they draft a RB late, or some UFA blows everyone away in camp, Morris has a roster spot.
by lemonverbena on Apr 27, 2008 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions
In the past
They usually ran with a FB, 2 RB and then a 3rd string RB that was just a special teams player. For them to carry 5 running backs that should all see the field would be out of the norm. Also, Morris doesn’t fit the more power oriented attack that they’ve started to build. He’s not bringing anything to this team that they don’t already have.
I agree that Morris' role seems to be filled by Jones.
But Morris has always been willing to do anything he is asked, including special teams. I think they like Mo Mo a lot more than we’re giving credit for, but agree that it looks crowded back there. But if they were going to save cap room, why not trade Morris for a draft pick yesterday or today? Now you’d have to cut him and eat salary.
They may very well go with 4 RB and a special teamer yet to be signed, but I think Morris still has a good shot of making the roster.
by lemonverbena on Apr 27, 2008 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Weaver
I agree with John’s assessment. The Schmitt pick (say that four times fast) is consistent with Seattle’s number one goal this offseason: improve the running game. Wahle, Duckett, Jones, Carlson* and now Schmitt are all part of that. Bummer for Leonard, but he’s not a Holmgren type of FB.
- Carlson’s strength is his versatility. He does need to come out on running downs because he can block; he doesn’t need to come out on passing down because he can run routes and catch. That versatility allows Holmgren to employ the power running game to greater effect without telegraphing the play call by taking out a pass-catching TE (Putzier) and putting in a blocking TE (Heller).
I was thinking the same thing...
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
by dcrockett17 on Apr 27, 2008 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I like the pick
But it makes less and less sense to have Morris on this team, why has he not been dealt yet?
Weaver only had a one year tender
Perhaps an emergency FB if Weaver is hurt? Especially since Kirtman doesn’t do anything.
See ya Shaun.
I love this pick and the last one...
And if we really do move to a power rushing attack ala 2000 panthers + our current defense… perfect time to be a seahawks fan.
the more I think about the pick, the more I love it
I’m a huge Weaver fan, but I really like Schmitt, I really think he’s gonna be a legend in Seattle.
FREE JEREMY REED!!
Weaver is a RB, not a fullback people
Don’t ever forget that. He only became a fullback out of necessity, and that’s not where they want to keep him. And I don’t think he wants to stay there.
So, we've had this guy for all of 20 minutes...
...and he’s already our starting FB? Dude would have to light the world on fire to step in and start on a Holmgren team from the 5th round.
by lemonverbena on Apr 27, 2008 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions
It would be quite a feat
but not unthinkable. Seattle’s situation at fullback isn’t exactly settled.
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
by dcrockett17 on Apr 27, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Why is that?
He can play, he’s not a project, he should be able to step in and play the FB position from day 1. Plus, we don’t have anyone that can actually play FB on the roster right now.
quite corking even
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
by dcrockett17 on Apr 27, 2008 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions
NO takes Wisconsin kicker Mehlhaff
I know that many were eyeing him in the 7th round. Too bad, though hardly the end of the world.
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
Weaver is going nowhere....
come on now. This is a backup fullback pick. That’s it.
Nuss above has a pretty fair point about Weaver.
He really just isn’t a true FB, no two ways about it.
Still quite a valuable player, needless to say.
Just out of curiosity...
Why didn’t we take Peyton Hillis out of Arkansas? He was the top rated FB, he can catch out of the backfield, and he’s dynamite on special teams…
by SeaTownBlueDevil on Apr 27, 2008 12:45 PM PDT reply actions
He's an H-Back
He’s not big and doesn’t really block with authority. He doesn’t work in our offense. He does catch a lot of balls though.
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
by dcrockett17 on Apr 27, 2008 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions
NFLDraftScout.com rated Schmitt the top fullback in the draft
says Clare Farnsworth.
by lemonverbena on Apr 27, 2008 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
sweet
NFL Network commentator picks Red as the Day 2 steal.
Skins take Brennan
hope he gets a shot with Zorn.
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
Which one>
Kirk Barton
Chauncey Washington
Ali Highsmith
Joshua Barrett
Andre Woodson
Ok My 2 cents
John has been mentioning transitioning to the Air Croyell offense after the holmgren era. And as much as I hate that idea this pick leads me to believe that this might be true. Weaver would be a perfect fit for that HB role that Cooley played for the skins.
Also the hawks did start running a max protect shotgun offense last year. Where they would use 2 FB to stay back and protect Hass. I can see them doing this a lot more this year especially with a developing TE and with Weavers ability to go out and catch a pass.
Coach Owens has no bones
long snapper
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
We knew that might be a possibility late in the draft
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
I suppose one calls that a "need" pick
I call it a “could have brought him in as an undrafted free agent” pick
"Hey, guess what? Nobody cares who would win in a crazy fantasy fist-fight between Anne Frank and Lizzie Borden." The Monarch
by crushedoptimist on Apr 27, 2008 1:06 PM PDT reply actions
We've cornered the market...
on Schmitts
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
So no S, no OT, no RB so far
I hope they bring in some good undrafted free agents
"Hey, guess what? Nobody cares who would win in a crazy fantasy fist-fight between Anne Frank and Lizzie Borden." The Monarch
by crushedoptimist on Apr 27, 2008 1:19 PM PDT reply actions
We've cornered the market...
on Schmitts
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
oops, sorry about the re-post
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
last time we did that we drafted Jason Kyle (in ‘94 I think), listed as a LB out of Arizona State but he is a snapper-only. Kyle is still snapping in his 14th season in the league (Panthers).
With a 6th round pick, if this guy is as good as I hear he is, he should be well worth the pick.
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
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