Thanks GOODNESS it's TGIF!!! WOOOOOOOOO!
The Thursday draft compilation " Seahawks Draft Blog
Twenty-four hours after I projected Sam Montgomery (DE, LSU) and Michael Brockers (DT, LSU) as potential top-12 picks, ESPN’s Todd McShay included them on his big board for the first time. This isn’t unexpected - a mediocre number of top-end players always makes you wonder if the best underclassmen will capitalise. Here’s McShay’s evaluation:
Seattle Seahawks Blog - Hawk Blogger: GUEST WRITER/SCOUT: Evaluating The Rookie Season Of K.J. Wright
Well once again I had the pleasure of contributing to hawkblogger.com thanks to Brian asking me to contribute and perform an analysis. This time, we're looking at K.J. Wright and the season that he had as a rookie in 2011 for the Seahawks. This was a fun analysis to do because even I learned some things about Wright that I didn't notice during the season, even with as closely as I watch him play in several of the games after he took over for Aaron Curry when Curry was benched early in the season.
Keep an eye on Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
You likely won't find Russell Wilson's name in the first round of many early mock drafts, but it won't be for a lack of production. The Wisconsin quarterback led the nation in QB rating while throwing 33 touchdowns and four interceptions for the No. 9 Badgers. Brock and Salk say in Thursday's Wrap Up video that Wilson is an intriguing pro prospect, and one that has a good chance to shoot up the draft boards as April approaches.
Let's face it, the Seahawks need an upgrade at QB - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
I've got nothing against Tarvaris Jackson. We've had him on "The Kevin Calabro Show," and I like what I've heard from him as a person. I just don't want to see him as the Seahawks' starting quarterback next year. At every other position, I would argue that the Seahawks have Super Bowl potential. At quarterback, not so much. Better put -- not even close.
Seahawks.com Blog | 2011 honor roll "
Seahawks.com passes out its honors for the just-completed season:
2011 All-NFC West Offense - NFC West Blog - ESPN
A look at my all-NFC West picks for the 2011 season, beginning with the offense:
2011 All-NFC West Defense - NFC West Blog - ESPN
A look at my all-NFC West picks for the 2011 season, continuing with the defense:
2011 All-NFC West Specialists - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Several special-teams coverage players drew my attention. Seattle's Heath Farwell led the NFL in special-teams tackles (counting assists) despite playing only 11 games. He blocked a 49ers punt in Week 16, helping Seattle take a 17-16 lead in the final minutes. The 49ers' Blake Costanzo and C.J. Spillman made plays, as did the Cardinals' LaRod Stephens-Howling and O'Brien Schofield. I went with Farwell and Spillman. We could not go wrong with any of these guys. They all deserve recognition.
Oklahoma Sooners QB Landry Jones to return for senior season - ESPN Dallas
Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones, the school's all-time leading passer, announced Thursday that he is returning to school for his senior year. "I want to accomplish the goals that I set before I got here, and there is still a lot more to do," Jones said. "I want to make sure I've exhausted every effort in that area. And I want to be a senior. I enjoy being at OU and with my teammates and look forward to graduating with the guys that were in my class when I got here."
TonySoftli.com: Free Agency First, but Draft is the Focus
While the 2012 free agency period is just two months away and is sure to bring excitement for organizations, players and their families as well as the fans, because of the unknown on where unrestricted free agents may land.
Scout's Notes: Is Staying in School Smart for Monte Ball? By the Numbers | Articles
So, despite having loads upon loads of scouting/reserach/organizing to do for the draft and for our scouting service, I got lost in stats and research for a little while around the a decision that actually surprised myself quite a bit.
Hawks free agency: Don’t push Carlson out the door yet | Seahawks Insider
With tight end John Carlson in the final year of his contract and the Seattle Seahawks signing Zach Miller to a lucrative deal this season, some figured it a foregone conclusion that the Notre Dame product would not be with the franchise in 2012.
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Word of Muth: Breaking Down the Titans
Tennessee’s season ended this Sunday with a win over the Texans. They finished 9-7, but couldn’t get enough help from other teams to sneak into the playoffs. It’s weird to call a team that went 9-7 disappointing, especially considering low preseason expectations, but I think Tennessee fits that label. They played in a conference where T.J. Yates, Curtis Painter, and Blaine Gabbert all started multiple games. Tennessee lost games to teams starting Luke McCown and Dan Orlovsky. Really, Tennessee probably should have made the playoffs.
2011 PFF Rookie of the Year | ProFootballFocus.com
7. Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle Seahawks Starting the year way down the depth chart we didn’t expect to see much of Sherman. We’ve been fortunate to see the cornerback play so well when thrust into the lineup. Nine penalties may be more than we’d like to see, but the 46.4% completion rate allowed, four interceptions, and nine pass break-ups more than make up for it.
2011 PFF Offensive Player of the Year | ProFootballFocus.com
The 2011 regular season is no more, but it will live on in the history books as we saw a season where records were broken all across the league. Dan Marino and Kellen Winslow’s single-season yardage marks were both shattered this season as a pair of records fell that had stood for a combined 58 years. All four of the players to top those marks feature in our Offensive Player of the Year list, but none of them finished at the top, giving you some idea of the quality of play we saw this season.
2011 PFF Defensive Player of the Year | ProFootballFocus.com
As passing records fell with the regularity of a Tim Tebow incompletion you could speculate that defenders in the 2011 season weren’t up to much. It’s true that some pass rushers struggled to get pressure and certain defensive backs had horrendous problems even getting close to receivers, but at the other end of the scale, things were pretty much as normal. The top end guys, the ones on this list, excelled to the same level as you would normally expect from the best players at their respective positions. So to be absolutely clear these are not default selections in a down year for defense; they are players that would have been at or close to these ranking after any season.
2011 PFF All Pro Team | ProFootballFocus.com
If we pride ourselves on anything at Pro Football Focus it’s that we have at least six eyes watching every single game. Not just watching in passing, but spending hours upon hours breaking down what happened and accumulating the stats that make PFF so unique.
Browns president Mike Holmgren: Team will 'stay the course' - NFL - SI.com
Holmgren praised second-year quarterback Colt McCoy and believes the 25-year-old he will improve. However, Holmgren would not commit to McCoy as Cleveland's franchise quarterback. "He can be, but I'm not ready to say that yet," Holmgren said. "He played young at times. Was I pleased? Yeah, at a lot of the stuff he did. My opinion of Colt has not changed. He has a lot of the intangibles. Ultimately though the quarterback is judged on how well your team did. "I'm not ready to anoint Colt yet. Do I love him? Yes I do. We have three good quarterbacks on our team now."
Drew Brees, Saints look to erase bad taste of last year's playoff defeat - Jim Trotter - SI.com
1. These teams played five weeks ago in New Orleans, with the Saints prevailing 31-17, but the Lions were shorthanded.
The deep ball is coming on Wild Card weekend | National Football Post
Xs and Os breakdown of Calvin Johnson vs. Saints' Cover 2.
What's Plan B? | National Football Post
Mark Sanchez failed to take the next step in his third NFL season. How much time does he have left in New York?
Cosell’s Watching: Cincinnati Offense Not Explosive : NFL Films Blog
As he prepares for the Wild Card Playoffs, NFL Matchup’s Executive Producer shares notes from his study of Week 17 coaching tape of the Ravens defense vs. the Bengals offense.
NFL.com news: Wisconsin's Ball: Projection as third-rounder kept me in school
"I came down to looking in the mirror and telling myself what’s best for myself and my family and just listening to my heart," Ball said at a news conference announcing his decision, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Ball said NFL evaluators told him he'd likely be a third-round pick in April's draft. "I was really disappointed," he said. "I do believe I'm better than (a) third-round (pick)... I'm really looking forward to bettering my stock and preparing even harder in the offseason."