2008 Season Retrospective: Owen Schmitt

by John Morgan on Jun 15, 2009 1:29 PM PDT

Overview: Seattle drafted Owen Schmitt with the 163^rd overall pick of the 2008 NFL draft. Seattle acquired the pick by trading down with Dallas. Schmitt was rated the best blocking fullback in the draft and by some, the best fullback in the draft. His colorful background, modest start, cult following and gladiator-like dedication to his sport made him an instant fan favorite. He played in four preseason games and fifteen regular season games. Of the fifteen, only in week nine did he start or play significant snaps at fullback.

What went right: You get caught up in hype, you rail against it or you ignore it. I have the bad habit of railing against it. I was a Schmitt skeptic. Then we got a little of this:

Overtime, fourth play of Seattle's first drive. 1^st and 10, Chicago 36. Seattle breaks 2 WR, TE, SB. Bears in a base 4-3. Seattle is running a sweep play left, with both guards, left guard Murray and right guard Mansfield Wrotto, pulling. At the snap, Schmitt again attacks the right defensive end, but this time strikes with such force that he levels both end Nick Osborn and tackle [Matt] Toeaina. That pileup picks all three linebackers and Forsett sweeps untouched into the second level. (Wrotto, by the way, ran out of gas, falling before he could engage his block. Too bad too, because Wrotto's assignment, Rod Wilson, went on to tackle Forsett.) For all the hype justifiably surrounding Forsett, Schmitt deserves much love. His run blockin' got me wonderin' "Weaver who?"

Schmitt made the preseason his personal blocking dummy. Justin Forsett was the draw, but Schmitt was the pith. And pith he did, scrambling brains like rocket-fueled Temple Grandin.

What went wrong: Preseason has its share of AAAA players. Guys that can dominate the cream of college football, but don't have what it takes to make the pros. Schmitt has some AAAA qualities. He's try hard and weight-room athletic. He wasn't recruited out of high school. He excelled in Rich Rodriguez's unorthodox spread option offense. Schmitt played half back more than he played fullback.

Outlook: Schmitt was the third fullback selected in 2008. The two before him were their teams' primary starter and the one selected behind him was cut by Arizona. Teams chew through fullbacks. Starting them early and dropping them quickly. Seattle has displayed a pronounced, but prudent ambivalence about Schmitt. He saw some snaps in 2008 despite playing behind an established starter. That starter wasn't in great standing, though. He has been named Seattle's starter heading into 2009, but his replacement is versed in the offense, established, a former fourth round pick himself, and a player that Greg Knapp hand-picked. It's good news Schmitt has been named the starter. It speaks of confidence. Seattle is lucky not to be reliant on him. He has a couple troubling snags. His blitz awareness is weak. He's a bit stiff, especially at or near full speed. I don't think he'll develop into a great receiver. The most important of those three, his blitz awareness, should develop, and though I'm not fond of punting receiving ability at any skill position, Knapp doesn't pass to his fullbacks, and Knapp is the man calling plays. Knapp expects him to block and block and block, and Schmitt's power, acceleration, ferocity and appetite for pain both inflicted and taken suggest Schmitt could be the best lead blocker in football.

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Damning with faint praise?

You end with, “Knapp expects him to block and block and block, and Schmitt’s power, acceleration, ferocity and appetite for pain both inflicted and taken suggest Schmitt could be the best lead blocker in football.” However until the end of your piece it seemed your impression of him is that he was AAAA or could be slightly better. I found it slightly confusing.

NONETHELESS – I’m REALLY enjoying your excellent and in depth articles! Keep up the good work.

by Mylegacy on Jun 15, 2009 2:15 PM PDT reply actions

One of my favorite aspects of John's analysis is;

he trys to give the best we might see and the worst we might see from a player. I think that is what you see here. He could be a guy who is limited by a lack of certain measurables, or his attitude and work ethic might overcome those to the best blocker in the NFL level.

Evidence for that last possiblilty comes from the block that took out 5 players. Some things just cannot be taught, like a complete disrespect for one’s own body.

by cashless on Jun 15, 2009 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks for another good writeup.

I agree that Schmitt could be the next Lorenzo Neal, if you will, with blocking being far and away his greatest asset.

I’m looking forward to one of these for Julius Jones…I checked but didn’t see that it’s yet been done.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Jevon Snead, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Jun 15, 2009 2:17 PM PDT reply actions

Best lead blocker in football?

That’s high praise.

Lacey’s Mike Sellers might disagree, as might his man Clinton Portis. I’m sure others as well… HOWEVER, if that does become the case in a very short amount of time, even if it is simply that Owen is in the discussion, then I think that will do a lot to help our “C” RB core look a lot better in person than on paper…

Go forth Owen, distribute pain and punishment where ever you may roam, and may Julius look like a Caesar because of it.

Please, for the LOVE OF GOD, stop suggesting next year's 1st round pick (or picks) be used for Taylor Mays and or a QB of the future. Let's just let the season unfold, people, and evaluate much deeper in the process!!!

by Tyler Jorgensen on Jun 15, 2009 2:26 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

"He wasn't recruited out of high school."

To some extent, neither was Aaron Curry. His college career should speak for itself.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Jun 15, 2009 3:04 PM PDT reply actions

This is your lamest excuse yet for dogging Aaron Curry.

by John Morgan on Jun 15, 2009 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions

wut?

I don’t see how their status as high school recruits should impact their possible success in the NFL. It would be one thing if you said he wasn’t highly recruited by NFL scouts in college, which is basically the proving grounds of prospects. But I’m not seeing how a low high-school profile is relevant now, especially since he’s had a distinguished college career. Deon Butler wasn’t touted coming out of high school but some Penn State fans will tell you he was far more consistent and possibly even better than Derrick Williams, who was one of the most coveted prep prospects in the nation.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Jun 15, 2009 8:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Not to discount what some Penn State fans might think

but most players with NFL tools are identified in high school. There’s a big difference between a two star prospect only offered scholarships by Wake Forest and East Carolina and a player that worked his way up from Division III Wisconsin-River Falls. Just like there’s a big difference in the rate of success of fourth overall pick, first at their position, unanimous best at their position linebackers and fifth round, third at their position fullbacks.

I’m pretty sure you know all this, so I figure you’re real intent was to point out that Aaron Curry wasn’t well recruited out of high school. Which is somewhat true, if certainly not to level of Schmitt, and for a prospect like Curry, completely irrelevant now. Whereas, for a prospect like Schmitt, that has lingering concerns about his athleticism, it’s relevant and speaks to the fact that like a lot of AAAA type players, he might not have the tools to cut it.

by John Morgan on Jun 16, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions

While I agree with what you are saying...

I was just a roommate with one of his best friends from high school, the kid was in Denver for an internship and ended up renting a room in the same house as me.

He said that their school was about the size of mine in high school (Onalaska WA, 250 kids, “A” classification in the early 90’s) and typically high end athletes either transfer to bigger schools or, even in this day and age, often get underlooked and “lost in the shuffle” unless their pure body type really stands out.

He said Owen was incredible back then, standing out compared to other players at that level both athletically (not that hard), in the weight room (harder) and intensity-wise (which we have to acknowledge is why he is where he is now.)

I agree mostly with what you are saying, but I also believe in the concept of the late bloomer.

Of course, at the same time, I went to middle school with Mike Sellers, and we knew he was different than the rest of us even then, and several of us where very good athletes. I played college hoops, Brian Brennan started at QB at Idaho, Ryan Stoneburg pitched at U of A, and numerous others went on to college sports as well… but even in 8th grade Sellers was extraordinary, which is what you are referring to in concept…

by Tyler Jorgensen on Jun 16, 2009 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Interesting stuff, guys. I'm enjoying this discussion.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Jevon Snead, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Jun 16, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions

In middle school, David Kirtman was a man amongst children.

Playing flag football was terrifying and that was flag football.

But then again, on my brother’s baseball team, the guy who came in for my brother aftemy brother dislocated his shoulder at a Cranberries concert is playing his 12th year is MLB. When my brother returned to health, the other guy promptly returned to the bench and then was a walk on in college.

Some are obvious early on, others not so much.

by Built2Spill on Jun 16, 2009 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions