Prospective Seahawks General Managers: Eric DeCosta

by John Morgan on Nov 23, 2009 4:59 PM PST Comment 27 comments

Randy Mueller is a known commodity and undervalued by many because of it. Eric DeCosta is the young stud, and his value is much harder to predict. DeCosta is 38. He worked in the Ravens scouting department from 1996 to 2008. He was promoted to director of player personnel in 2009.

DeCosta was in charge of the Ravens' 2009 draft and selected Sandra Bullock's adopted son at 23. He traded up in the first when Michael Oher fell, and exchanged the Ravens first and fifth round picks for the Patriots 23^rd overall pick. The rest of Baltimore's draft is MIA. Combine-sensation Paul Kruger has two tackles and has played in only three games. Third round pick Lardarius Webb has played in ten games, playing nickel and dime corner, but has been most valuable for his return skills. Webb has averaged 28 yards in 21 returns, including 14 returns over 20, 3 returns over 40 and a 95 yard return for a touchdown.

No other player from the 2009 draft is slotted for a significant role in the Ravens future. The Oher pick is reminiscent of Mike Holmgren drafting Steven Hutchinson. Both were much hyped offensive line prospects that fell. I only give DeCosta a modest amount of credit for trading up and selecting Oher in the late first round. It was a feat of opportunism, but an opportunity not soon repeated.

DeCosta is best known for scouting defensive talent. Heck, everyone associated with the Ravens is best known for scouting defensive talent. Ozzie Newsome is the big fish in Baltimore, and before 2009, it's difficult to know where Newsome ends and DeCosta begins. DeCosta is a hotshot youngster with good hype and ties to one of the best-run organizations in the NFL. He is high risk-high reward; could be the general manager for the next twenty seasons, or bury the Blue even deeper.

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How do we/you know which GMs, or candidates are (or might be) available?

I’d like to find a source of contract info for related front-office people, etc, if you have one or more.

by Misfit74 on Nov 23, 2009 5:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I hate hype.

But by it’s very nature I am always sucked in with it. I would like a young stud GM, but am uncomfortable with DeCosta. We know what we get with Ruskell at least; underachieving 1st rounders and pretty-good mid-round talent.

by DJ C-Raig on Nov 23, 2009 5:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Hard to get excited about this guy

… when all we know about him is what he did in the most recent draft. And that record is hardly astonishing.

I would also hesitate to go with someone whose expertise is scouting defensive talent. The old saying that defense wins championships has been disproven. Passing offense is the most significant factor. I think we’re in good shape with our receivers, but we need someone with an eye for QB and OL talent. So I’d take Mueller over DeCosta (or Ruskell).

by Mr Fish on Nov 23, 2009 6:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Here are some names to look at

link Already looked at one of them, but Tom Heckert seems like an exciting prospective GM.

by Trepidation on Nov 23, 2009 6:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the link

Doug Whaley looks awefully good, coming from the Steelers…

Chad Brown for the Ring of Honor!

by Big Seahawk Loser on Nov 24, 2009 1:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Has to be a serious candidate.

by Misfit74 on Nov 24, 2009 12:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Heckert sounds awfully good

Whoever it is needs to be pass centric both on offense and defense. The Eagles have definitely been that.

by Nate Dogg on Nov 24, 2009 3:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, thank you for the link.

by Misfit74 on Nov 24, 2009 12:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hard to judge a guy on one draft after only half a year.

Sure Kruger hasn’t done anything, but the same could be said of LoJack a year ago (not that he’s done anything now, but he’s less of a bust than before). I’d also argue that one elite LT which is worth say $40 million over 5 years and a bunch of crap can be viewed as a successful draft.

by LantermanC on Nov 24, 2009 8:56 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I already know the answer to this

so its really a rhetorical question, but why couldnt we have someone come in specifically to draft the 1st rounder and let Ruskell do 2-7?

by Strictnine on Nov 24, 2009 11:01 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

An consultant is a possible solution and not far fetched.

But Ruskell’s only flop in the first is Kelly Jennings, and I think Jennings suffers unduly from Seattle’s often lacking pass rush.

by John Morgan on Nov 24, 2009 12:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

How about for quarterbacks?

From what I can see, it doesn’t look like we have anyone in the FO or in the coaching staff that has recognized ability to scout/draft qb’s. Of course I could be wrong, but with two first rounders and a definite long-term need at qb, this would seem like the most necessary occasion to have that kind of knowledge.

by djafrot on Nov 24, 2009 12:39 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure any GM has a great record on being right about young QBs every time

Unfortunately, drafting the QB position seems like a crapshoot for all the GMs. A.J. Smith in San Diego might be the exception?

The Colts don’t have the heir-apparent to Peyton Manning.
Saints had to trade for Brees.
Vikes had to trade for Favre.
Tom Brady was a 6th rounder, so the Patriots didn’t really see him coming.
Tomy Romo was undrafted.

What the hell is the secret to drafting a great QB???

"Football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." - Doug Plank

by Stevo's on Nov 24, 2009 1:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Heh, the secret is probably to be awful and have a chance to draft Mannin, Ryan, Stafford,etc.

SEA!

by MFAN on Nov 24, 2009 1:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And we have a winner.

by BrianL on Nov 24, 2009 2:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

In the correct year, as well

so you don’t get Alex Smith or David Carr.

That’s one thing that AJ Smith and the Chargers benefitted from, in being awful with and after Leaf. Didn’t just have two 1st overalls, but had them in years where the top guy was so highly desired, that they got such a ransom for Vick & Eli.

There are drafts where the very top is highly desired, and turns out poorly like the Bush/Young draft, or the 1999 draft, but this decade, when the Chargers haven’t had the first overall pick, generally it hasn’t been terribly desirable. More teams had really, really wanted to be able to trade out of it than there were teams wanting to trade into it.

by jacobstevens on Nov 24, 2009 4:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That's a good point. You'd think there would be a guy who was better at evaluating QBs.

But if you had that ability, it wouldn’t do much good on just one team since if the guy presumably did his job, he wouldn’t be drafting another QB for another decade, at least not with a high pick.

by LantermanC on Nov 24, 2009 2:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ahem,

You think a good team pass-rush would give Jennings awareness and ball-skills?

by Misfit74 on Nov 24, 2009 12:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The ball skills will probably never be there, but Jennings played well as a cover corner in 2007 when the team had a pass rush.

SEA!

by MFAN on Nov 24, 2009 12:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd love to see Holmgren looking over Ruskell's shoulder while he selects a QB in the draft...

Wow, would that piss TR off or what? Not going to happen. Still, I’d trust Holmy’s judgement on a QB more than most.

"Football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." - Doug Plank

by Stevo's on Nov 24, 2009 1:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Brock Huard agrees.

by John Morgan on Nov 24, 2009 1:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

damn, I knew someone would point out the 3rd rounder for Huard.

I don’t suppose Mike Holmgren would be willing to sign on as our next Quarterbacks Coach? :-/

"Football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." - Doug Plank

by Stevo's on Nov 24, 2009 2:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm willing to give him a mulligan on that.

Since he did go to greatest university known to mankind and played for the greatest college football team ever (Huskies, not the a specific Husky team).

by LantermanC on Nov 24, 2009 2:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Brock threw a magnificently beautiful ball while playing for UW.

I mean, that thing was awesome . Reggie Williams never looked so good, either.

by Misfit74 on Nov 24, 2009 3:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That was back when UW had a very good track record with NFL QB's too.

When Huard was drafted, there was something like 6 or 7 UW QB’s on NFL rosters.

by kearly on Nov 24, 2009 3:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm all in for youth and risk

Nothing risked; Nothing gained.

Life is a series of risks. Why not.

It is what it is...

by kidder95 on Nov 24, 2009 9:06 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

DeCosta

This is a moronic post. First of all, DeCosta is was the Director of College Scouting for Baltimore from 03-08. In that time, the Ravens drafted Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Leron McClain, Jared Gaither, Haloti Ngata, Jason Brown, Dawan Landry, Terrell Suggs, Jarrett Johnson, Ben Grubbs, etc……You can’t simply look at 2009 as a means to evaluate DeCosta. He’s been with the organization since 1996. The Ravens have traditionally been one of the finest drafting teams in the NFL. DeCosta obviously deserves alot of the credit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Decosta

This blog comes across as sort of axe-grindish…..Let’s be objective and find the best candidate to work with our coaches to build a quality team.

by michaelcorle on Dec 2, 2009 8:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs