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Seattle Seahawks Select Russell Okung Sixth Overall

Russell Okung is an exceptionally talented left tackle.

From a pure tools perspective, Okung is blessed with long arms and a broad, thick build. That's an ideal mix for a left tackle. It allows him to anchor against the bull rush, an increasingly important quality for tackles as more and more teams transition to a 3-4, but also entangle edge rushers and stop or slow them. He has good straight line speed, but much more importantly, exceptional footwork. He moves through garbage with ease, pulls effortlessly, and gracefully redirects in space. Okung could master any scheme and should thrive as a zone blocker.

He isn't a finished player. There's some nicks in his total game, but Okung has years to refine the details and a huge well of talent to draw from. He should give the Seahawks a cornerstone player for now and into and through the next decade. That is the hidden value of drafting an offensive tackle. Offensive linemen not only enjoy great career longevity, but a long prime that can last into their thirties.

It's not often that a pick is both sexy and practical, but Russell Okung is just that. He improves Seattle dramatically for next season and for seasons to come.

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I had five players ranked as tear-one mentally

And one of ‘em fell to us in Oking. I’m absolutely pumped.

Welcome to Seattle, Russell, stick around for a decade.

by Thomas Beekers on Apr 22, 2010 5:42 PM PDT reply actions  

tier-one*

TOO PUMPED TO TYPE PROPERLY

by Thomas Beekers on Apr 22, 2010 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

Awesome pick, love it

by Pure on Apr 22, 2010 6:01 PM PDT reply actions  

Beautiful

I love this pick.

It is what it is...

by kidder95 on Apr 22, 2010 6:16 PM PDT reply actions  

Center, LG, LT

Spencer, Unger and Okung? I can live with that. I like that a whole lot. I like the Safety pick at 14 as well, it filled an immediate need. I believe that both of these young men will be opening game starters. I hope Seattle takes a WR or QB with their next pick.

What? No SOUL?

by mrcoffee1969 on Apr 22, 2010 7:22 PM PDT reply actions  

Don't forget Hamilton in their as well!

Our crappy offensive line suddenly got 100% better.

by Seahawksfan23 on Apr 22, 2010 9:16 PM PDT up reply actions  

According to coach Gibbs

On the left side, it will be Okung and Hamilton.

I assume the line will turn out as such: Okung, Hamilton, Spencer, Unger, Locklear.

Talents that I covet:

Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, Sam Bradford, Mike Iupati, Golden Tate, Earl Thomas, and Freddie Barnes

by Carl Shinyama on Apr 22, 2010 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions  

You know,

that’s really not sounding bad at all. My optimism is pretty high right now!

Though they sink through the Sea, they shall rise again...Death shall have no dominion...

by Cheddar28 on Apr 22, 2010 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

Black Irish are actually white.

Though they sink through the Sea, they shall rise again...Death shall have no dominion...

by Cheddar28 on Apr 22, 2010 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

I saw Charlie's Angels II: Full Throttle

And Bernie Mac said he was Black Irish, Tebow rest his soul. So who am I gonna believe, chedder, or the late great Bernie Mac in a movie I never should have been caught dead watching?

by Chirp on Apr 23, 2010 12:18 AM PDT up reply actions  

Er, I mean there are black Irish people.

But historically “Black Irish” are the descendants of Spaniards who washed up on the shores of Ireland after the Spanish armada got sunk in…crap I can’t remember which century.

Though they sink through the Sea, they shall rise again...Death shall have no dominion...

by Cheddar28 on Apr 23, 2010 8:50 AM PDT up reply actions  

I'm messing around.

I know the basic story of the “Black Irish.” I just went with the O’Kung thing.

by Chirp on Apr 23, 2010 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions  

D'oh

and here I thought I was being interesting. This was for redwolf75’s benefit then :D

Though they sink through the Sea, they shall rise again...Death shall have no dominion...

by Cheddar28 on Apr 23, 2010 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions  

The interesting part:

There are black people in Ireland!?

by Chirp on Apr 23, 2010 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions  

Love, love, love this pick.

I thought no way he would still be there at #6. This pick alone makes this draft awesome.

"What people need to know is that those pictures were taken a year and a half ago, and I've grown since then." - Greg Oden

by dario argento on Apr 22, 2010 9:31 PM PDT reply actions  

Love, love, love this pick.

I thought no way he would still be there at #6. This pick alone makes this draft awesome.

"What people need to know is that those pictures were taken a year and a half ago, and I've grown since then." - Greg Oden

by dario argento on Apr 22, 2010 9:31 PM PDT reply actions  

That article shows why Hamilton was brought in.

He’s going to be the guy that helps Okung into the NFL… and I’ll bet he helps Spencer on the other side too.

Pretty good how this all worked out.

by djafrot on Apr 22, 2010 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

From Sando (concerning starting from day 1)
Gibbs said he went into the draft hoping to land tackles Russell Okung or Trent Williams. Okung will start at left tackle from the beginning, Gibbs said, and recently signed guard Ben Hamilton will mentor him.

Hamilton, who played for Gibbs in Denver, previously mentored the Broncos’ Ryan Clady. Gibbs said he wouldn’t want to throw a rookie into action right away without having a veteran experienced in the offensive system to line up nearby. The team signed Hamilton with that in mind, Gibbs said.

by Chirp on Apr 22, 2010 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions  

Okung is 22 and Unger is 24.

These guys are gonna be around for a long time. Whoohoo! And Lock and Spencer are both 28. Yay prime + budding talent infusion!

by MT Olson on Apr 23, 2010 12:54 AM PDT up reply actions  

I'm definitely happy about this.

Didn’t expect him to be available at 6.

by Ocho on Apr 22, 2010 9:57 PM PDT reply actions  

How can you not root for him?

A way better story than Team Jesus

I love his story. We got the replacement for Walt with the 6th pick.

I wish Cops was on...

by Generzal Zod on Apr 22, 2010 10:33 PM PDT reply actions  

Great piece.
"If you’ve got to tell people why you’re that good," [Okung] says, "you’re really not that good."

Also, here’s Okung on replacing Big Walt from this:

Okung sounded awed to be replacing Jones.
“He’s a great player … obviously a future Hall of Fame guy,” the 2009 Big 12 offensive lineman of the year said. “I can only hope I can be as good as him.”

by thebyron on Apr 23, 2010 6:49 AM PDT up reply actions  

I love that kind of stuff

he kind of reminds me of Walt

I wish Cops was on...

by Generzal Zod on Apr 23, 2010 7:10 AM PDT up reply actions  

Especially this line.

“Okung has two decibel levels: quiet and silent.”

I’d caution against expecting something that looks like Walt, because Walt came out running a 4.6, along with having perfect feet and balance. Okung is probably not going to reach that unbeatable level, and if he does he’ll still not look like Walt did most likely.

But with Gibbs he’ll probably be at his most athletic, and he’s already benching a ridiculous 38 reps with 36 inch arms. Only Bruce Campbell is on his level for upper body strength and long arms. Okung looks like a winner.

by cashless on Apr 23, 2010 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions  

Was thinking personality and passion for the game

Walt was special on a level few attain but this guy is going to be a bad ass.

I wish Cops was on...

by Generzal Zod on Apr 23, 2010 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions  

Definitely.

He is gonna be a bad ass, I’m really excited. I was afraid of having a line that was TOO finesse, but if we really are keeping Spencer, him and Okung are both powerful players, picked where only top talents at their positions are picked. I would love the addition of Rodney Hudson next season, but regardless of how Gibbs builds the OL, it’s going to be stronger than I expected, which makes me happy.

by cashless on Apr 23, 2010 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

Okung's gonna be a stud.

coming into the draft I wanted Okung at 6 and Clausen at 14 cuz im not sold on Charlie “qb of the future” whitehurst but Earl thomas is a great pick. i was nervous during washington and KC’s picks hoping Okung would stay on the board, and fortunately, washington picked the 2nd best LT over the best LT in this draft.

maybe we can pick up our qb in next years draft, although im not sure who’ll be in it besides jake locker who we aint gettin. i hope they dont actually believe whitehurst is the answer. i kinda doubt they do though………..anywayz, im rambling, so great 1st round for the HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

by 64-18 on Apr 22, 2010 11:02 PM PDT reply actions  

we got who we needed

  Last year when we didn’t get the tackle we needed I was highly disappointed. I didn’t believe it when I first heard they were putting Sean in at L-tackle and it did turn into a fiasco in the O line. In the end it works out for the best though. We have a much higher quality player than we would have got last year with much improved coaching staff. Its hard to not be optimistic with today’s picks.
still a lot of holes to fill but 2 were filled with very good picks

yea dude

by dirtyktm on Apr 23, 2010 4:58 AM PDT reply actions  

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