Seattle's Interest in USC's Pro Day
by John Morgan on Apr 2, 2009 1:13 PM PDT
in Seahawks News
18 comments
Don't be surprised if Sanchez goes fourth to Seattle. Half of the Seahawks' front office is in town. -Sam Farmer LA Times
I would be very surprised.
As Mike Sando points out, Seattle leads the league in USC alumni. Seattle could populate half the city of LA with suits and still have no true interest in Sanchez. Given their draft position and MO, I would say Seattle drafting Sanchez is downright unlikely. Here are five players Seattle could have watched.
Cary Harris CB
It's funny for someone so fast to be thought so slow. And I'm not talking relative to the entire population; Harris has some of the best foot speed in his class.
| Short Speed (0 to 10) |
| Darius Butler: 1.46 |
| Malcolm Jenkins 1.47 |
|
Vontae Davis: 1.47 |
| Alphonso Smith: 1.50 |
|
Cary Davis: 1.64 |
|
Middle Speed (10 to 20) |
| Vontae Davis: 1.06 |
| Darius Butler: 1.10 |
| Alphonso Smith: 1.10 |
| Cary Harris: 1.14 |
| Malcolm Jenkins: 1.15 |
| Deep Speed (20 to 40) |
| Darius Butler: 1.85 |
| Alphonso Smith: 1.87 |
| Vontae Davis: 1.87 |
| Cary Harris: 1.88 |
| Malcolm Jenkins: 1.89 |
It's getting to that deep speed that makes Davis looks slow. Which creates a semi-paradox. Scouts see Davis as an effective zone corner. Zone coverage would, at least one would guess, depend more on short area quickness than deep speed. The kind Malcolm Jenkins has, but Davis doesn't. Davis must have excellent awareness and reaction time. And he has deep speed, so he can recover on deep routes. What then is the problem?
Davis is the classic long-strider, and where I think he'll struggle is in and out of cuts. That's significant, because that means he'll struggle in man coverage, short routes and long routes. So, don't put him in man coverage. Harris's awareness, ball skills, open field tackling ability and long speed make him a fit for a variety of zones. Seattle ran some kind of dime defense on one out of five plays. Utility defensive back and dime back Jordan Babineaux participated in 35% of all snaps. Babs looked okay in the reduced role, but Seattle could upgrade. Significantly upgrading your defense on a third of all snaps, many of those snaps in high leverage situations, is part of how a good defense becomes great.
Kyle Moore DE
Beware the lesser members of great teams. Moore played a lot of 3-4 end, and though he led the Trojans in sacks, not all sacks are made the same. I'm not fond of Seattle selecting Moore in the fourth, but should he slip to the fifth, given his mix of size, strength, and athleticism, he could make him an Ellis Wyms/Cory Redding type situational defensive lineman. I don't see the burst off the snap or the need, but should he slide into the fifth, I can see the value.
Kaluka Maiava and Kevin Ellison LB
Seattle could add to their linebacker depth by targeting either of the two. Ellison reminds me of Cato June.
Patrick Turner WR
Turner is a project receiver with good upside. His footwork pops off the screen. His height, 6'5", and ability to box out defenders, make him a legitimate red zone threat. If Turner sags too deep into the second day, Seattle could scoop him up and throw him on the pile.
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No to Sanchez
We don’t need him let’s get Stafford, Curry, Crabtree Smith or Monroe or move down.
by A'Seahawks_Warriors on Apr 2, 2009 1:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
They get a look at all these guys
who could slide and be good pick ups late in day 2, all while alerting teams to the possibility that Seattle might grab Sanchez at 4. Which could make it easier for Seattle to move back a few spots in the 1st round. Sneaky sneaky…
by Fear on Apr 2, 2009 1:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I am also intrigued by Turner.
Especially since he could be had for a 5th rounder (at best it seems).
We have no shot at him due to his draft position, but I was very impressed with the video of Clay Matthews. I always wondered what exactly meant when they said ‘stiff hips’ or ‘fluid hips’, well, Clay Mathews has that in spades. He can change direction and go left and right oh so smoothly. Especially after showing Maualuga and Cushing’s drills, whom, while both impressive, looked ‘stiff’.
Lastly, good lord, if you watch the 40 videos, the LBs and Patrick Turner are such physical specimen. I don’t know when it became the norm to do a 40 shirtless, but Cushing and Turner especially must have around 4% body fat.
by LantermanC on Apr 2, 2009 1:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sure that's all well and good John,
but unconfirmed reports had the Jags taking Sanchez and the Hawks out to dinner. Dinner!
by abender20 on Apr 2, 2009 1:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Also a quick editing note, check your spelling/naming in the table then promptly burn this comment.
by abender20 on Apr 2, 2009 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
also this comment:
“I would say Seattle drafting is downright unlikely”
Oh noes! Are we forfeiting the entire draft?
by djafrot on Apr 2, 2009 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, that 40 chart is something else.
Anyone else surprised by it?
Vontae and Jenkins are the same through the first 10.
Then Vontae blows Jenkins away by .09 seconds in the next 10.
Then Jenkins is only .02 seconds over the next 20 yards.
by LantermanC on Apr 2, 2009 1:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
On a side note, how much fun would it be devising random combine drills.
Here’s one I just thought of (copied a bit from Madden/dodge ball). You’re in a circle that’s 15 feet in diameter, There are 8 Tennis ball machines firing balls at you (motion sensors) at varying speeds. A total of 100 balls are launched at the player in the span of 3 minutes. Score is just how many balls did not hit you.
by LantermanC on Apr 2, 2009 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This would be useful only in avoiding Darren Sproles.
by abender20 on Apr 2, 2009 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It would make for some hilarious footage.
Imagine if Andre Smith did the drill?
by LantermanC on Apr 2, 2009 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure about Turner.
For a big guy like that, he seems to catch easy passes with his chest. Can this be fixed by coaching?
by djafrot on Apr 2, 2009 1:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm curious about Maiava.
I’ve never actually seen him play, but everybody who followed high school football on Maui says he’s the real thing (he was a popular player here on Maui). I can just see it him getting the kind of press that Shane Victorino gets here if whoever drafted him goes to the Super Bowl and he’s starting.
Weez the juice!!
by Carl Shinyama on Apr 2, 2009 6:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Moving down is beginning to sound better..
The more i hear “Sanchez” and “Seatle” thrown around. Please Ruskell, no.
Searching for my lost shaker of salt
by JimmyBuffet on Apr 2, 2009 6:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Actually, yes, I have seen him play.
USC vs. Washington this year (which was a straight up embarrassement) and last. I just don’t remember how he played, probably because they down by so much that I stopped paying attention to specific players and hoped for what would be an extreme miracle the longer that the game went on.
Weez the juice!!
by Carl Shinyama on Apr 2, 2009 7:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I like Turner's hands.
He’s like the WR version of Shaun Alexander. The closer he is to the end zone, the better he gets, or so that video seems to suggest.
He runs very good routes and catches well in traffic. He’s not a great open space runner after the catch, but that’s OK, just get to where you’re supposed to be and get the first down (and TD’s if you can wing it). I wonder what his blocking skills are like? Or even any special teams contributions that he could make?
Weez the juice!!
by Carl Shinyama on Apr 2, 2009 7:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Why are you so down on Sanchez?
I understand you may think he’s second best in this draft, but there is quite a bit of evidence out there pointing towards Seattle going for the qb who fits the west coast system: Sanchez. You’ve skimped big time on breaking his game down for your readers, going into all sorts of detail elsewhere. You may not like him, but he’s out there and he’s just as big a possibility to be wearing ‘hawk colors as, say, Patrick Chung. If you got to hate on him, then hate on him. But give us the goods on what his game tells you. Don’t be blinded by your love for Stafford.
Oh, and I love your writing. K, done.
The Odenphant is true king of the jungle.
by maxmillian on Apr 6, 2009 12:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
" You may not like him, but he’s out there and he’s just as big a possibility to be wearing ‘hawk colors as, say, Patrick Chung"
Patrick Chung’s career has spanned 51 productive starts, a known leader and fairly intelligent fellow.
Sanchez has started for one total college season with a ridiculously good defense to help him out, and he was accused of rape.
Tim Ruskell’s draft trends historically gravitate towards multiple season starters without character concerns.
"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."
by Fearless Frog on Apr 6, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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