Seattle Seahawks Draft Rumors - Monday Edition

by Danny Kelly on Apr 25, 2011 1:41 PM PDT

Some, if not most of you have seen the information provided to Rob Staton over at SDB by a proven reliable source within the Seahawks. The rumors include the notion that Ryan Mallett is not even on the Seahawks draft board due to his immobility and not to his character. This, for me, is a little discouraging but ultimately not the end of the world. My guess is that John Schneider and Pete Carroll are looking for a guy more in Aaron Rodgers' mold, not that of Peyton Manning, and the system that they want to put in place is more effective with a guy with some wheels.

Whether this is a smart drafting strategy or not, I do not know. I've voiced it in the past that I don't think you pass up a potential star QB because he doesn't really fit the system you've installed. All NFL offenses have wiggle room in their play calling and it's pretty easy to design the playbook around someone's strengths and weaknesses. Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick are two very different quarterbacks but both have had success in Andy Reid's offense because they cater the playcalling to each QB's strengths and weaknesses. I'm not completely sold on the idea that "Oh, we really like Ryan Mallett and think he'll be really good, but he just can't run fast enough for our offense." But, if these rumors are indeed true, it means that the Hawks don't rate Mallett high enough to draft him.

I'll admit that my discouragement is mostly due to the fact that I think Ryan Mallett will be a very good NFL QB. If we were talking about a Pat Devlin, Nathan Enderle or RIcky Stanzi and the Hawks decided to go with a more mobile guy like Colin Kaepernick instead that's a whole different ballgame, so I admit that my bias towards Mallett is probably putting up some blinders for me. I actually really do like Kaepernick, a guy that Staton notes is 2nd on the Hawks' big board of quarterbacks. Though by almost all accounts he's a project guy that will take a few years of seasoning, he does have a high ceiling in the fact that he has a very very strong arm, is very mobile, is a proven leader, can see out of the pocket due to his good height, and would actually be a good fit for the offense I think the Hawks want to run.

I would even go on record to say I don't think it would be a major disappointment for me if Colin Kaepernick were picked with #25. Getting that franchise QB is an important step, and if they think he's the guy, I say go for it. I certainly believe the notion that with time, he COULD be that guy. I don't think that Christian Ponder or Andy Dalton have near the upside of Kaepernick and thus believe it would be a terrible value to take one of them at #25, which I've recently outlined. But, overall, this Kaepernick character intrigues me enough to say that even if Ryan Mallett is to be passed over (much to my chagrin), Colin Kaepernick could be a solid choice and I would even venture that I'd be tentatively optimistic about it.

Kaepernick, though stylistically different than Aaron Rodgers, has similar, if not better mobility than him. I don't think anyone expects Kaepernick to come in and play like Michael Vick. Although Kaep's straight line speed is very good, he's tall and a little more awkward of a runner than a guy like Vick, whose fluidity and shiftiness is without peer in the NFL at the QB position.

We all saw Rodgers extending plays and getting first downs with his legs. This often came much to the utter frustration of a stretched out defense that respects his arm enough to give him some space to run underneath, and I can't even count the times he converted 3rd downs because of that space in the defense allowing him 10 yards or so to scramble. Nothing is more demoralizing than having him run for a first down in that scenario and then throwing a bomb deep for a TD the next play. How do you plan your defense around that?

I have to assume this is somewhere near the Seahawks thinking in terms of what they want with a QB. Schneider was part of the draft process that drafted Aaron Rodgers, Brian Brohm, Matt Flynn, and Ingle Martin in the last five years or so- all mobile guys.

Although I haven't bought in entirely to these rumors as to their validity, this fact seems to support them. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Schneider has convinced Pete Carroll that this is the direction they want to go - they seem to have an excellent chemistry and for the most part seem to be on the same page. Very intriguing.

I'll be breaking down some more of the information Rob has provided us, but make sure to check out his articles on these rumors because there is some very, very interesting stuff in there.

Tweet Comment 101 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

For no other reason than that it's some how the main thought I had after reading this,

I may as well throw out that Ponder has the mobility and athleticism to run this offense.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 25, 2011 1:44 PM PDT reply actions

I guess so. Just lacks upside of Kaep and to me is a bad value in round 1.

I could be way off though.

by Danny Kelly on Apr 25, 2011 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Isn't being able to take a hit and not get injured an aspect of athleticism?

In that construct, he does not have the athleticism/mobility to run the offense, since he couldn’t stay on the field with a whole lesser class of DE/LB’s coming at him.

What if we simply took the highest ceiling players, who fit ANY system, and worked out the details later? If we do go that route, there’s no way you can convince me Ponder is a good choice in the 1st round.

by Tyler Jorgensen on Apr 25, 2011 7:33 PM PDT up reply actions

It's the recurring arm issues in warm weather on a college team loaded with talent that concerns me

Despite what many pundits want to say, Florida State has been bringing in top recruiting classes year in, year out. They’ve simply underperformed.

And I can’t trust a guy with a marginal arm who continually hurts that marginal arm. He’s coming to bad weather and is going to get hit harder. No gracias.

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Kaep is taller, stronger, better arm, faster, and has no injury/surgery history.

I guess Ponder would be good in 2nd round (at best) but I would cringe so hard and long if they go with him in the 1st.

by Danny Kelly on Apr 25, 2011 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Right there with you

In all honesty, I’m just not dying to get a physically limited QB. I’d like to have a difference maker that can put a scare in a defense.

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Probably a good point to mention, then, that there are different views on his arm strength.

Greg Gabriel said he thinks he can make all the throws. And then that was followed up by Matt Bowen with some video study to illustrate.

It’s also probably a good point of clarification that talking about Ponder as a prospect is not predicated upon him being a 1.25 consideration. I think most of who most of us like there are guys that could easily be taken higher. We’re looking for mid-round value at the pick. Ponder as a prospect is not at that tier but the next one. It could involve a trade down, or up from 57, or just the 57th pick. I’m sure he doesn’t get out of the top 10 of the 2nd though.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 25, 2011 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions

The throws (to my knowledge) are from his junior season tape

Pundits are quick to say, “throw out Ponder’s Senior tape,” but they don’t offer that same luxury to Locker. So, basically we are watching a QB pre-serious arm injuries, which is great, but it doesn’t give the reality of his skill set right now and going forward, which includes worse weather and getting hit harder behind what will most likely be a worse O-line than he had in college, which had some top notch talent (Hudson and Datko come to mind immediately).

And the problem is, the Ponders and Daltons of the world are being discussed as late first rounders, so we have to talk about them in that context. It would be a completely different scenario if they were universally seen as guys available @ 57. This is the main reason I am so against Dalton and Ponder.

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions

It could very well turn out that the "late first round" talk is all coming from the media and fans (who need things to talk about)

And that real NFL teams are going to let these guys slide back to where they actually deserve to go.

If the Seahawks are investigating Ponder as somebody they might be interested in at #57, great. If he goes earlier, they pick somebody else. But if he’s there, maybe they like him.

Just because ESPN says Colt McCoy is great doesn’t mean teams are trading up past each other to grab him in the late first round.

by busplunger on Apr 25, 2011 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh completely agree

Problem is, as fans with no inside knowledge, all we have as a talking point is the mainstream media’s interpretation of how the draft will play out.

The Seahawks obviously need to do their due dilligence on every QB prospect and it’s a completely different talking point for Ponder at 57, which I wouldn’t be opposed to, but still wouldn’t love. But as of right now, the talking point is 25 because the talk has been high second round at the latest for Ponder, and we can’t necessarily assume a perfect trade back scenario to get him.

I totally understand and agree with what you are saying. A similar debate could be made about Danny Watkins. Would love him at 57, hate him at 25. So, again, like you stated, it’s all contingent upon draft position.

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions

We could create our own talking points.

We don’t only have to discuss things through the lense of ESPN. We can talk about Ponder where he deserved to be talked about, as a late second early third round pick where he’s a pretty interesting player.

by Nate Dogg on Apr 25, 2011 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions

He's definitely interesting there

I admit, my opinion on some of these prospects gets so skewed as a direct result of how the media talks about them. Although it’s tough not to when the Hawks are attached to some of these names at 25.

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Media outlets that project Dalton or Ponder to Seattle are media outlets you can ignore.

Find people who’s eye you trust and ignore the rest. We don’t have to only talk about Dalton as a top 10 pick just because Peter King is a dipshit.

by Nate Dogg on Apr 25, 2011 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions

I definitely fault myself for paying too much attention to those people

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I think schematically

he is a fit. The injury concerns are real, and the upside is somewhat more limited than the higher guys which knocks him down to that range. As a plan B or C, they could do worse.

by FWBrodie on Apr 25, 2011 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm with you.

With the 2nd group of QB’s, I’ve always been partial to Ponder (arm/injury concerns, but like his head), and lately have warmed up to Stanzi, who’s kinda his opposite (better tools, but concerns about his head). I don’t like Dalton because of his arm and concerns about TCU’s O padding his stats & hype. If the team can’t get a QB in the 1st, then Ponder in the 2nd is acceptable insurance if they are determined to come out of this draft with at least one pick invested (although ideally I’d like to trade down more and possibly get him in the 3rd – I think he’ll last). Stanzi seems like a guy we could get in the 4th.

I have major doubts either will turn into long-term solutions, but maybe competent enough to push Whitehurst or start the season after Charlie’s a FA if we’re still waiting for the serendipitous combo of luck and draft position to deliver a true franchise QB. Or maybe good back-ups that are able to be flipped for picks later.

"I'm tired of chasing after my dreams. I'll just find out where they're going, and catch up later." - Hedberg

by jteckmann on Apr 25, 2011 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Ponder's extremely interesting where he should fall to-- when our 4th round pick comes up.

Not before.

by Tyler Jorgensen on Apr 25, 2011 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions

He's better than a 4th round pick.

by Nate Dogg on Apr 25, 2011 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Time will tell.

Before this last season, that’s the vicinity he was pegged for, 3rd/4th round.

He had an off year, followed by a great week at the Senior Bowl. That to me is not enough to push a guy to high 2nd/low 1st round status.

If we had a 3rd rounder, I’d gladly take him there— but not before, and for whatever reason, he’s been anointed higher. I just can’t fathom him making it without at least a couple years of backup development work, and you just shouldn’t take a guy in the 1st or 2nd round that will take 2-4 years to possibly become a contributing player for your team.

by Tyler Jorgensen on Apr 26, 2011 2:15 AM PDT up reply actions

Well you could watch the senior bowl, then, or read scouts' takes of senior bowl practices.

Surgery on a grade 3 separated shoulder (there are 6 grades of severity) that has the medical community split on whether surgery is necessary or beneficial. It’s not the same thing as a separated shoulder, which is the ball & socket. It’s the collarbone joining the scapula at the tip.

It’s not a core component of arm strength for a QB, and no lingering issues are expected, although it is probably more vulnerable to re-injury.

And then a wicked bruise on his arm near the elbow, that led to 2 clean up surgeries to remove built up fluid in the bursa sac and fascia and the second one was removal of scar tissue that was impeding healing.

Are those kind of like scopes? A procedure but not quite the same as a surgery because pieces are broken? I don’t know. Is he easy to injure? Maybe. That would be my concern. He seems tough. So does Hasselbeck.

The forebearance on arm strength? It looks like there’s no reason to think these injuries would alter arm strength moving forward. If he threw well after healing, then he’s throwing well again.

Just info. I don’t like the extreme black+white views where adequate is noodle arm, an injured player is condemned as damaged goods. The injuries are a concern, are relevant, ought to be discussed. They oughtn’t be uses as some kind of dichotomy, injured and worthless, or spotless and a valid prospect. I would expect those of you who feel so strongly about Ponder’s arm to give a little more diligence, but I haven’t seen it, so there’s what I’ve learned.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 25, 2011 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs

Apologies for not having time to WebMD his medical history

Not to mention, “injury concerns” differs from “condemnation.” Just like “marginal arm” (by NFL standards) is different than “noodle arm.” Or we can just put words in my mouth?

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions

My words, not yours. I won't impose that on you and I recognize you didn't say those things.

But you did say “No gracias” and your rhetoric conveyed more than concern, but, to me, dismissal.

Which is fine. You can be dismissive. And you can bring up other concerns like weather. But you also brought up Andy Dalton, apropros of nothing else, so I guess I took that bait as you putting both in the “arm too weak” box.

But maybe I’m wrong. And my description of black+white views and so on, it’s not the first Ponder discussion I’ve had here. So sorry I don’t mean to pin that on you. I respect a lot of reasons why others don’t like him, but then Whiskey and others have gotten rhetorical and dismissed him out of hand with language similar to yours and not only is it not a compelling argument, it’s detrimental to the discussion. so I decided it was time to add some substance.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 25, 2011 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Since I'm one of the people you've had this discussion with in the past

I wanted to clarify my comment above about ignoring people who have Ponder to Seattle. You have a very well reasoned interest in Ponder even as high as the first round and even though I disagree with it I respect where you’re coming from. I almost didn’t post that comment because I didn’t want you to take it as dismissive of you specifically.

by Nate Dogg on Apr 25, 2011 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Sorry. I think I made this whole discussion way unnecessarily heavy.

I didn’t mean to have that effect. I didn’t take it that way and I think I’ve developed a good feel for you and how you think. I more or less presumed that you were just marking the bounds of where you think he’s appropriately discussed, and I think it’s a very valid perspective. In fact I basically agree with you. Just because I feel differently doesn’t mean even I think my feeling ought to be convincing to others.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 26, 2011 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Wasn't trying to be a dick. Apologies.

The initial “no gracias”remark was associated with Ponder or Dalton (for that matter) at 25. Without writing too much, my concern with QBs like them in round 1 stems from the fact that we would really be handcuffing our offense in the future to accommodate their physical shortcomings. I think they are guys that will be heavily dependent upon a very strong supporting cast if we are to have legitimate playoff hopes. Its not that arm strength is everything, but the fact of the matter is the lesser arm one has, the much smaller margin of error one has. Therefore, a lesser armed QB needs to have other great if not elite aspects of their game to make up for this shortcoming and unfortunately it’s a guessing game if guys like Dalton and Ponder have elite accuracy and processing skills at the NFL level. I like Ponder much more than Dalton, but the arm injuries are a big concern, specifically because his football livelihood is dependent on that body part. Just because they weren’t massive, doesn’t mean the damage doesn’t add up and not present a liability in the future. I had arm issues growing up and as soon as I thought I kicked it in college, I ended up blowing out my elbow senior year which required Tommy John and change. Therein lies my concern and why I say “no gracias” at 25. 57 is a different story as the investment is much less. Not sure if that helps clarify my thoughts and once again, apologies if I came across poorly. I’m simply here to have brief dialogue with fellow Hawk fans even if that means I don’t see eye to eye with everybody.

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Well argued. I don't think you were a dick. It simply escalated, and no worries.

I’m at least at as much fault as you, if not more.

Honestly, I think Ponder is not a good choice at 25. Just as an evaluated and ranked prospect, I don’t see it, and obviously most everyone else doesn’t either.

I do, however, think there’s a distinction between identified tangible, negative factors that are in play, and the scope to which they are.

Mike Pouncey does not have any real tangible negative factors that amateurs like us can discuss to evaluate him as a prospect. Ponder does.

I think it’s shortsighted to end evaluation there. We found red flags, so he should be wiped off the board? Prospects with no tangible negatives also fail. The 2 most memorable “clean, can’t miss” prospects I recall, as far as having that buzz, were Robert Gallery and Dwayne Robertson. Gallery’s become a good guard. But Dan Marino had like 3 knee surgeries in college or something.

So others can be say they don’t like a prospect with red flags, and I understand. I do respect your opinion and don’t necessarily think you’re wrong or will be wrong. I feel differently and i’m interested to see what happens with the guy.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 26, 2011 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Upon further thought, Calvin Johnson would be the 3rd

cleanest can’t-miss prospect I’ve heard about. He’s worked out pretty well.

Can’t miss prospects like Ndamukong Suh at least still had items like, potential one-year wonder, to think about. Anyway you get the picture.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 26, 2011 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Jacob, I really don't think I've been detrimental to the discussion.

He’s a mediocre at best NFL prospect. Every year there are 5 Ponders who go in the 3-6th rounds. Where they should.

Did he look amazing in college? No.

Did he have great numbers in college? No.

Did he have great talent around him that seemed to underperform? Yes.

Could he stay healthy? No.

Did he make great decisions all the time? Not really.

Because of our need of a QB, we’re discussing a guy with mediocre numbers, who has not been healthy, with an AT BEST average NFL level QB arm. And the things he’s been given credit for, being a heady player, etc., are countered by commentary about how he has a tendency to throw into coverage and make bone-headed mistakes.

Just because the guy did okay in the Senior Bowl practices doesn’t sit well with me. And as far as his “MVP” of the game— that’s on his WR’s backs. He was 7-13 and had guys make a couple great plays. 7-13 is not “MVP Status” it’s a lack of anyone standing out.

I’m unwilling to give him high round status because he threw well with nobody attacking him in a simulated scenario. And what’s more, I’d be happy if we took him— with our 4th round pick. I think he’s a great value there, an okay value in the 3rd (we don’t have one) and a bad value in the 2nd. As a 1st round consideration, he’d be the worst 1st round pick the Seahawks have had in a decade, and that’s a pretty piss poor collection he’d be topping off.

by Tyler Jorgensen on Apr 25, 2011 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions

You have not been detrimental to the discussion. Sorry to be prickly.

I mean to say, dismissing further consideration of a guy because he’s got red flags is detrimental. Flags are indicators of where more evaluation is warranted.

I don’t necessarily think you’re wrong in what you see him as. But most of how you feel seems to be predicated on where he’s drafted.

4th is better than 1st, sure. But what if he’s our 4th rounder and he’s the only QB we acquire? Then we’re probably building a better team, and you’re probably OK with it. But you’re probably OK with it because the plan is to see what Charlie can do while giving him competition, right? The door is open for Charlie or another QB like him next year if he doesn’t capitalize on his last opportunity. Maybe unfair to characterize how you feel; I’ll let you speak for yourself.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 26, 2011 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions

You actually summed it up perfectly there in that last paragraph.

I think Charlie and Ponder (as a 4th) are a great upside QB grouping while we spend our primary resources on improving other aspects of the team.

I don’t believe the Hawks will consider Ponder in the 1st, but I find it interesting that while Danny is going over the top 10 Hawk Draft Picks of all time, I just would never seen Ponder being one of them if we took him 25th.

None of the players on the list start with the caveat of “Although he was deemed to be an extreme reach in the 1st round…”

Reach picks are very rarely great picks, and reaching for a QB seems to be a cardinal sin of drafting.

Ponder in the 1st is a huge reach. It isn’t that I’m against him entirely, but that I’m very against him in the 1st, and mostly against him in the 2nd— though I wouldn’t “freak out” on that, if he fell to 57. I really like him in the 3rd, but we don’t have one, and I LOVE him in the 4th, if that makes any sense.

by Tyler Jorgensen on Apr 26, 2011 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions

I considered adding this to the discussion yesterday.

Had tried to track down Will Carroll on this a month ago but he didn’t respond, but this time he got back to me, in a way, on Ponder:

“(@jacobstevens) Hey I never have found you give a take on Christian Ponder’s arm? Any thoughts?”

(@injuryexpert) coming very soon. Short answer: Bradford.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 26, 2011 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, we'll have to see when the long answer comes out.

But the short answer isn’t thrilling for the idea of taking him 25th.

I loved Bradford’s touch when he was in college, but he didn’t strike me as strong enough armed in the pros.

by Tyler Jorgensen on Apr 26, 2011 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions

I took the answer to be inappropriately suggestive

since Bradford has fantastic accuracy and was a worthy #1 overall pick even if his rookie season isn’t as good as it appeared.

But I also didn’t think he meant it that way. I took it as, people wondered about his shoulder, but they didn’t need to. He’s probably more vulnerable to re-injury but it’s nothing career-altering at this point and shouldn’t lower his draft stock.

I’m somewhat basing that off of what I remember Will Carroll saying about Bradford on FO last year.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 27, 2011 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions

Could you

Sum this up in a sentence or two?

by FWBrodie on Apr 25, 2011 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Sometimes I'm brief, sometimes I'm verbose. Don't read it if it's too long.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 25, 2011 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Just asking

didn’t mean for any negative tone you may have picked up.

by FWBrodie on Apr 25, 2011 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks for that info - it's very helpful, and important

by Danny Kelly on Apr 25, 2011 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions

very good clarification -

by Danny Kelly on Apr 25, 2011 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions

We already drafted Mallett in 1991

It didn’t work out so good.

GET OFF ME!

by flyinmonky on Apr 25, 2011 1:50 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

News flash: there are other attributes besides height

by Suburban Shocker on Apr 25, 2011 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

You mean like immobility?

GET OFF ME!

by flyinmonky on Apr 25, 2011 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Some others

Arm (McGwire’s was average)
Ability to pick up an offense (McGwire had trouble with plays even after a couple of years)
Pocket awareness (McGwire had none)

by Suburban Shocker on Apr 25, 2011 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions

My favorite attribute

is that they are actually two completely different people.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 25, 2011 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs

I was under the impression every QB the Seahawks will ever look at are McGwire and Mirer clones.

by BrianL on Apr 25, 2011 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Only if they are 1st rounders...obviously

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions

The 6th rounders are all Hasselbeck, Brady or Teel

by Greetings from the Lord Humongous! on Apr 25, 2011 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions

If a quarterback you like has a noodle arm he's going to be Drew Brees, obviously.

by Nate Dogg on Apr 25, 2011 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Likewise every athletic QB is Steve Young

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Unless he's black.

by Nate Dogg on Apr 25, 2011 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Then he's JaMarcus Russell.

Which is weird, because JaMarcus is fat and never was athletic in any sort of way.

by J.L. White on Apr 25, 2011 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Or Vince Young

by Greetings from the Lord Humongous! on Apr 25, 2011 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Or Chad Pennington, if you don't

by djafrot on Apr 25, 2011 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

No, Drew Brees = short (or arm is hanging on by a flap of skin)

Orton = noodle arm

by Greetings from the Lord Humongous! on Apr 25, 2011 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Ladies and gentlemen, the Mirer-McGwuire Constant.

by BrianL on Apr 25, 2011 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions

How well does Ryan Mallett's brother hit a baseball?

Does he even have a brother? THIS IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!!!

by J.L. White on Apr 25, 2011 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Is it just me or is anyone else not as excited for the draft as recent past?

Might be cause we don’t have a top ten pick or the unsureness whether there will be a season or not though.

by nflnbafanatic on Apr 25, 2011 2:07 PM PDT reply actions

Without Free Agency, I'm more hyped up than ever.

Whole bunch of unanswered questions going into the draft….wouldn’t it be something if 6 or even 7 teams reach for QBs before us, and a really, really good player fell to our laps? You just don’t know for sure this year.

by J.L. White on Apr 25, 2011 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I've been warming to the idea of Kap.

But less than a year ago I was screaming at him/the TV and he dragged half of Boise St.’s defense down the field play after play after play. Damn I wanted them to blow up the BCS and Kap was the son of a bitch that fucked it/them up.

Oh well, he can be our son of a bitch. I think the kid can play.

70% of space is covered by dark matter, the rest by ET.

by hazbro24 on Apr 25, 2011 2:10 PM PDT reply actions

I watched that game too and was seriously impressed with Kaep.

Little did I know he’d be so high on the Hawks’ board (presumably). I could live with that pick.

by Danny Kelly on Apr 25, 2011 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I think he's Mallet with wheels.

From what I can tell he’s a nice kid with his head on straight with some smarts too.

Runs like a damn gazelle

70% of space is covered by dark matter, the rest by ET.

by hazbro24 on Apr 25, 2011 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Then why is a clown like Dalton projected to be picked before him?

Either everyone is sleeping on Kapernick, or there’s something good about Dalton that I just don’t see. I still would rather not spend a 1st rounder on either one.

by J.L. White on Apr 25, 2011 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Groupthink &

the fact that guys that write and talk about football for a living have to make shit up.

70% of space is covered by dark matter, the rest by ET.

by hazbro24 on Apr 25, 2011 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Since this is a rumor thread,

I read on PatsPulpit that Schefter reports the Patriots are looking to move up a few spots, ahead of the Ravens. We could be a good fit, but I’m not sure if we’d get that 3rd rounder we compulsively seek.

by mkries on Apr 25, 2011 2:21 PM PDT reply actions

Brady beats his 40 time

I think the question with Mallett is can he move well enough to be an NFL QB. He is slower than Tom Brady, we’re talking sloth like. I would make a comparison to Byron Leftwich. We can debate why Leftwich is not a starting QB in the NFL, including his slow release, but many experts don’t feel like he can move well enough to be an NFL starter. Sounds like the Seahawks view Mallett much the same way.

by tom.page on Apr 25, 2011 2:47 PM PDT reply actions

Kurt Warner

Is the best comp I’ve heard (Kip E. at Draft Blog).

by FWBrodie on Apr 25, 2011 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Kurt Warner with a friggin Howitzer for a right arm

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Right

Warner’s arm was a deadly weapon. I think it’s more of a statement about ability to really air it out despite being the most unathletic, helpless, bullseye of a tackling dummy in the pocket.

Don’t protect him and it will get ugly fast, do and he will light people up.

by FWBrodie on Apr 25, 2011 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions

I meant

even though Warner couldn’t bomb it like Mallett, his arm was where he made his money.

by FWBrodie on Apr 25, 2011 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed...and I think you can develop a pass blocking system pretty easily for him

You will sacrifice in a run blocking sense, but you’d hope a consistent intermediate-deep threat which one would hope help make up for that deficiency in the run game.

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Leftwich isn't a bad comparison.

by Nate Dogg on Apr 25, 2011 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think it's fair.

His release seems much faster than Leftwich’s, and while Leftwich isn’t a weak arm, Mallet’s is a flat out rocket.

by Tyler Jorgensen on Apr 25, 2011 7:55 PM PDT up reply actions

If anything, I'd think it helps Mallett

Because Leftwich was just as immobile, if not more, and his throwing motion could be timed with a sundial. But he got plugged into an offense that had previously been based around a mobile QB and it was still workable (My opinion is that the injuries did Leftwich in, Maybe the immobility led to the injuries – but Leftwich had a pattern of them dating back through college, Mallett doesn’t)

Even if the 7th overall pick was too high, there was general consensus Leftwich was a 1st rounder. With Mallett, the worst-case scenario is that he’s as immobile as Leftwich, and even then he has much better tools to compensate with – arm, quicker release, accuracy, experience against better D’s in college.

"I'm tired of chasing after my dreams. I'll just find out where they're going, and catch up later." - Hedberg

by jteckmann on Apr 25, 2011 11:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed entirely.

by Tyler Jorgensen on Apr 26, 2011 2:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Very good points, hadn't considered it that way.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Apr 26, 2011 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Sort of off-topic

but Jason La Canfora recently wrote a mock draft with Dalton going #8, before Gabbert. This is really peak stupid for draft season.

by Greetings from the Lord Humongous! on Apr 25, 2011 3:13 PM PDT reply actions

It's amazing how contagious it is.

La Confora isn’t usually retarded.

by Nate Dogg on Apr 25, 2011 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Frankly I can't get over the fire orange hair

I just have a hard time believing the Marshawn Lynch’s and Mike Williams of the world taking a dude like this seriously. Sure, it seems like a petty, shallow thing to say, but QBs have to have some charisma.

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I feel like he would have been ritually sacrificed 200 years ago, in a more primitive culture because of his freakish looks

by MTJ on Apr 25, 2011 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Cú Chulainn disagrees with you.

He would have made himself a king and a legend, and then pass into myth.

by Tyler Jorgensen on Apr 25, 2011 8:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't forget that all-important quarterback attribute

Specifically: a cool-sounding name.

In the category of “names who sound like they can be your franchise leader,” Jake Locker is far ahead of the rest of the field — Hall of Fame caliber, in fact. Ryan Mallett sits at the top of the rest of the pack as a surefire starter; Andy Dalton, Cam Newton and Christian Ponder sound like career backups. Colin Kaepernick is a marginal talent in this category, and you can just forget about Blaine Gabbert.

by Suburban Shocker on Apr 25, 2011 3:22 PM PDT reply actions

Great point

Gabbert just fell way down my board. Disappointed in myself for not noticing this earlier. BTW Christian Ponder’s name has the same feel to it as Chad Pennington. Can you say injury riddled career?

by FWBrodie on Apr 25, 2011 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions