NFL Draft 2011 - Seahawks News for Monday
by Danny Kelly on Apr 25, 2011 11:44 AM PDT
Email
PrintThis is going to be a pretty hectic week so I wanted to take a minute to point out a few more prospect visits that have happened recently.
Most notably, Colorado CB Jimmy Smith came to town. We've talked about him a ton lately so I'll leave it at that but check out a great piece by Eric Williams on Smith that weighs the risks vs the potential reward.
Apart from that, Missouri DE Aldon Smith was in Seattle for a visit and this could develop into a really interesting storyline if the Hawks are indeed targeting the pass rusher at #25. We've argued over it here a few times, but the idea of having an elite talent at the LEO end is enticing. Thus far, the Hawks have mainly used specialists like Chris Clemons and Raheem Brock, and late-round or free agent guys like Dexter Davis, Nick Reed and Ricky Foley at that position. Clemons and Brock did a great job in 2010, especially considering they had been passed over mostly by their previous teams for major playing time. Both are not getting any younger and currently only Dexter Davis is there as depth. The thought of bringing in an elite talent to rush the edge a la Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, or John Abraham seems pretty attractive if other top-tier guys are off the board.
Seattle also hosted USC CB Shareece Wright and UW ILB Mason Foster. Both players are very intriguing, Wright possibly more because he's likely to be available in the mid rounds. Foster has been shooting up boards and is likely to go in the 2nd or 3rd rounds. Wright is a Pete Carroll recruit that plays with tenacity and has decent size if the Hawks want to target a CB in the mid rounds.
Apart from that, Arkansas State safety M.D. Jennings recently visited as well, and is an interesting prospect because of his perceived ability to play both safety and corner, something the Hawks could use. The Hawks have worked out a lot of these types of guys recently so don't be surprised to see a safety picked in the mid-late rounds that has a similar profile. 'Swift, ballhawking former corner that now plays safety' is a common phrase I've been reading about recent Seattle prospects like Chris Conte, Anthony Walters, Rajric Coleman, and down the line. Heads up on that.
66 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I'm mixed on Clemons and Brock.
They put up impressive sack totals, but it was a bit scary how often they didn’t factor in plays at all.
It’s probably more attributable to the DTs, but the Seahawks D-line did a very poor job pressuring the passer on the whole in 2010.
I really hope Carroll/Schneider are targeting at least a semi-elite DT in the top rounds. Unless there is literally no DT prospects left, we shouldn’t draft a DE.
"Pass rushers enter the world of Okung but never leave." - JM
Author of The Seahawks Asylum: http://seahawksblog.wordpress.com
Especially considering how apathetic they seem regarding retaining Mebane,
the only DT we have with any talent whatsoever.
Offseason 2011: Kelly Jennings, Craig Terrill, and Matt Hasselbeck...good riddance.
by Wayward Llama on Apr 25, 2011 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Yep. I consider Mebane as good as gone.
But hey! We’ll be awarded a 3rd round pick!!! Eh!? EH!?!?!
twirl finger
"Pass rushers enter the world of Okung but never leave." - JM
Author of The Seahawks Asylum: http://seahawksblog.wordpress.com
Why does everyone think this?
Last I heard, both parties wanted a deal done. Sometimes these things take some time, and them putting the tender on him reaffirms that they’re committed to making something happen.
I still think Mebane is in our plans.
Ka-Kaaa!
Schneider was relatively luke warm about Mebane at the combine:
Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane is also scheduled to be a free agent, and Schneider was asked to evaluate him.
“Brandon played well,” Schneider said. “I think Brandon is a steady pro.”
Does that mean the Seahawks want Mebane back?
“Yeah, definitely we hope to have him back,” Schneider said. “We talked to his guys last night. We’re having good discussion with them.”
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawksblog/2014329904_qa_john_schneid.html
I think Mebane and his agent feel he’s a lot better than a “steady pro” and may be looking for a big payday.
Whatever the final result, I think a lot of contracts are being held up by the CBA uncertainty. The FO has only signed a few contracts ahead of the offseason and those were all for very small stakes. Quite a few other teams are in similar situations, for instance the Ravens still haven’t re-signed Wilson or Housh or Redding. I expect a lot of activity when we get a new CBA.
by Greetings from the Lord Humongous! on Apr 25, 2011 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Well...
Schneider doesn’t speak with the most enthusiasm in any of his interviews. Carroll is the guy you go to if you want to know that everything will be okay. He “loves” everyone!
But seriously, Schneider is a thinker, and not much of a speaker. I really doubt he sees Mebane as just another pro.
Ka-Kaaa!
What is so wrong with putting him back at the one, shifting cole back, eliminating terrill...
And just draft 2 dt’s and maybe sign a couple udfa’s throw them at the wall and see what sticks for a slippery three tech that is more agile than powerful..
by Seahawks4life on Apr 25, 2011 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I would love
To put Mebane back at the 1 tech spot and draft Drake Nevis to pair with him with Cole rotating, but it seems unrealistic for some reason.
That or he doesnt want people to
think that he’s worth more, therefore he wont be asking as much…..? maybe Mind games people!
by RawkEmHawkEmBirdbots on Apr 25, 2011 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions
That's my take on this.
The GM doesn’t come out and say “He’s the greatest DT that ever lived!” because it weakens his bargaining position. It’s a negotiation remember.
"When I bust I swing exactly like my homeboy"
Would you rather...
Franchise him and pay like he’s a top-tier DT? How many millions would that be anyways?
Maybe they were close enough to getting something on paper, but ran out of time (thus using this as insurance).
Ka-Kaaa!
They could have put a first or second round tender on him
It wasn’t franchise or original round only. They had time to lock up Obo but not Mebane? With the interest he’ll likely get from teams that will use him to his strengths I’m not expecting him to be back.
We hardly spent anything on Obo (3 years, $7 million)
and Mebane is likely asking for at least 2-3 times that much per year for twice as many years.
by Greetings from the Lord Humongous! on Apr 25, 2011 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions
If he's worth that much in salary, he's worth more in tender.
At least, that’s what I would think.
The franchise tender for a DT was $12.4 million (thanks, Redskins!):
by Greetings from the Lord Humongous! on Apr 25, 2011 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Nate pointed out that we could have put a 1st or 2nd round tender instead of 3rd.
A 3rd clearly means we’re trolling for a draft pick from someone, not that we’re interested in him too much.
I never saw us franchising him.
Yeah, I thought the idea was to respect Mebane's wish to test the market...
…which a 3rd round tender does in a way a first round wouldn’t. The Seahawks still have the option to match any offer (the market having been set) and pay Mebane to stay.
That’s my read, anyway. Much more favorable then what they have (not) done for Spencer or Locklear, for instance.
I really don't think
Mebane’s wishes would be a factor if they really wanted to keep him. Sounds like a nice way to spin, “we may or may not want you back.”
Hell yeah!
A third round pick and re-sign Craig “Flop Around Uselessly and Fall On the Ground” Terrill!"
Victory !
Offseason 2011: Kelly Jennings, Craig Terrill, and Matt Hasselbeck...good riddance.
by Wayward Llama on Apr 25, 2011 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I would consider passing on Mallett and Locker is Aldon Smith were on the board, too.
I don’t know if I would have the balls to do something like that, but I would consider it. What a prospect. Enthralled with him.
Head of catering.
His career would be over by now :(
Head of catering.
by jacobstevens on Apr 25, 2011 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I got a good chuckle out of that
Funny thing is Babin likely would’ve been a much more useful piece for Carroll than he ever was for Marshall.
Ahhh, more good Ruskell memories – for a guy that was advertised as a lifelong scout & evaluator, he was completely oblivious regarding scheme fit. Like a toddler trying to force square pegs into round holes. And they’d go into the season using a roster spot on these guys – only for Ruskell to cut them in Week 7 so he could move a 2nd FB or back-up LS onto the gameday inactive roster. /shrug.
"I'm tired of chasing after my dreams. I'll just find out where they're going, and catch up later." - Hedberg
While I think the LEO position is one of our least weak areas
I wouldn’t put it past the FO to grab a guy like A.Smith, especially if he’s around if/when they trade back into the 2nd. I think Brandon Graham might have been a target last year at #13 (and that the Eagles traded up to grab him ahead of us) and that the FO wouldn’t mind grabbing a guy here. I think we need to work on the OL/QB/CB positions more, though.
by Greetings from the Lord Humongous! on Apr 25, 2011 11:57 AM PDT reply actions
Maybe I'm spoiled from the Peterson-Tatupu era
but I wouldn’t mind some mid-round to 2nd round help at linebacker.
Recently engaged! Best. Off-season. Ever.
No I meant
that maybe my thought that we need better starters or depth at linebacker is a product of me being spoiled by the great play we had from Tats and Peterson in 06 and 07.
Recently engaged! Best. Off-season. Ever.
I would kind of love to snag Foster with the 2nd pick..
Just because the guy can flat-out make plays. In reality Tatupu could be out of the league tomorrow if he has another concussion, and we’re pretty sure Hill isn’t coming back. Who does that leave us with? Curry and Hawthorne. I don’t know about you, but I’m a little uncomfortable with that idea..
JUSTSAYIN.
Ka-Kaaa!
Seconded for Foster
Loved the guy at UW. Loved him after the Combine. The guy just flat out made play after play after play after play on a defense that even on its best days wasn’t very good. Form perfect tackles, great read and react ability – the realist in me knows there’s probably no hope we land him. But hope springs eternal!
I think it's time
to step back from valuing the LB position highly as an organization. I mean, really it hasn’t worked. Early draft considerations should be focused on all of the positions that have been neglected so that the Hawks could try and fail at having the best LB corps in the NFL every year.
Shareece Wright would be an awsome mid round pick up.
Maybe if we get back into the 3rd. Don’t know if he’ll be around in the 4th. Man, we need some corners.
70% of space is covered by dark matter, the rest by ET.
That's what I'm thinkin.
Unless that guy we picked up this offseason is the sheez neez.
by RawkEmHawkEmBirdbots on Apr 25, 2011 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions
"elite talent to rush the edge a la Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, John Abraham, or Jason Babin"
Are we really putting Jason Babin in this category? Seems like his one decent year out of eight is kind of an abberration.
Offseason 2011: Kelly Jennings, Craig Terrill, and Matt Hasselbeck...good riddance.
He shouldn't have mentioned ANY of them and "elite" in the same sentence.
You are correct that Babin is a “never-was”, but Freeney, Mathis, and Abraham are equally no longer elite (if they ever were…but that is certainly open for debate) and can all be considered “has-beens.”
by Chief Knockahomer on Apr 25, 2011 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Uh, what?
Demarcus Ware will EASILY make the hall of fame.
I’d agree with Mathis/Abraham – but they’re definitely above average.
If the next two DEs we drafted ended up like Mathis and Abraham, I’d be freaking stoked.
"Pass rushers enter the world of Okung but never leave." - JM
Author of The Seahawks Asylum: http://seahawksblog.wordpress.com
Freeney, Abraham, and Mathis are
all excellent defenders which strongly anchor a part of their defense! No, they arent making highlights like Clay Mathews, but they are definitely a focal point in the game plan of their opponents.
by RawkEmHawkEmBirdbots on Apr 25, 2011 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions
You're right.
That extra .5 sacks Clay Mathews got was really spectacular as opposed to Abraham’s mere 13.
I realize he’s way down in Atl, so just about as far from Seattle as possible, but the guy is and has been one of the best and most versatile DE’s in the league for years. If he was here, we’d be talking about his HoF career. He’s amazing.
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 8:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Abraham isn't elite anymore?
He had 13 sacks last year. What more do you want?!?!?
And Abraham is in the NFL top 20 in career sacks, with 102.5 and counting.
Admittedly sacks only started being kept in 1982, but he’s certainly deserved elite status last year as 5th in the league in sacks.
But in the larger scheme of things it is certainly not “open for debate” with regard to him. He is elite.
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 8:45 PM PDT up reply actions
What do you guys think about seeing Smith again this weekend?
Is us doing one last talk to make sure that he would be our selection at 25 if available? Or is this visit more of an indication that we wouldn’t take him?
Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water. The other third is covered by Earl Thomas.
I don't know that visiting with him at this point means any more than the visits they've had with other players.
It could be because of scheduling issues and it could be because interviews are the best way to get a better picture of Smith’s red flags. Without knowing how the visit went it’s hard to say whether it makes it more or less likely that the Hawks take him.
With any luck he'll get arressted before thrusday
and put that notion right out of Q/PM’s heads.
70% of space is covered by dark matter, the rest by ET.
Will Aldon Smith have more of an impact on our defense,
or will Jimmy Smith have more of an impact on our defense? Personally I think that our need of CB is really important. Are there any serviceable free agents this year at DE?
by RawkEmHawkEmBirdbots on Apr 25, 2011 3:12 PM PDT reply actions
Smith.
I don’t know if there’s empirical evidence for this, but I was always under the impression that pass rush is more important than coverage.
If it makes you feel better I responded to my own comment thinking it was yours.
Head of catering.
by jacobstevens on Apr 25, 2011 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Saw that, and was wondering.
Was debating responding to that and confusing the hell out of everybody.
Kind of a relative question.
Relative to current state, yeah I agree with you. Regardless of current state, Aldon I think.
But value relative to the ability to acquire good talent elsewhere? Jimmy, good CBs are harder to find outside of the 1st round but the Leo is a different beast.
Head of catering.
by jacobstevens on Apr 25, 2011 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions
They're both Smith : )
Head of catering.
by jacobstevens on Apr 25, 2011 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I'd say Jimmy
Aldon doesn’t scream “upgrade” over Clemons from what I’ve seen. Jimmy at the very least is a size/speed upgrade immediately.
I doubt it's a decision Seattle will have to make.
Good chance both of those guys are long gone by 25.
Normally I skew towards the DE
Because I believe a good, consistent pass-rush can mask a lot of deficiencies in the secondary (and force a lot more turnovers)
I also doubt Aldon Smith will be there at #25. Even if he was, I don’t know if I’d pull the trigger. He strikes me as the classic speed rusher who will get washed out vs the run, just like Clemmons. My belief is if the team invests the higher pick in a LEO, it needs to be one who offers at least something against the run. My choice would be Justin Houston – and if the team does some trading back, he could possibly be there in the 2nd.
"I'm tired of chasing after my dreams. I'll just find out where they're going, and catch up later." - Hedberg
So little chance I never really thought of him for us, but yeah.
Or Von Miller. If I had to pick one guy who will be a star from this draft, it’s Von.
Head of catering.
by jacobstevens on Apr 26, 2011 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions
I suppose that DE is GENERALLY a safer
quicker positive impact than a drafted CB. GAWD WE NEED SOME PLAY MAKERS!!!!
by RawkEmHawkEmBirdbots on Apr 28, 2011 9:54 AM PDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Field Gulls
Related FanShots on Field Gulls
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Former high-school star Brian Banks does serious time on trumped-up charge, now hopes for an NFL shot
- Former ‘idiot kicker’ Mike Vanderjagt in trouble after accosting junior-high heckler
- Adrian Peterson blows teammates away in footraces; appears to be on the mend
- UPDATE: Charlie Sheen didn’t buy Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl ring
- Alex Smith gets blown up by Jon Beason over Cam Newton comments
