FanPost

SI Past, Present, Future

Stephen Brashear

Being an expatriate in Kazakhstan has its advantages and disadvantages. A major adjustment has been language as any might imagine. I began consultant work with a library called the American Corner in partnership with the United States Embassy to Kazakhstan. In this context, it has been challenging to find English materials, besides the web. So, let's get to the Seattle Seahawks...in my musings I discovered various Sports Illustrated issues from several years ago. Curiousity and probably idleness got the better of me, and, interestingly enough I found a number of Hawks coincidentally in other uniforms and contexts that obviously would one day change.

Possibly most interesting was a quote by Antoine Winfield regarding none other than Percy Harvin;

"If he even gets half a step on you, he'll beat any corner in the league."

We've witnessed Winfield's sage assessment come to matter-of-fact by Harvin's added dimension of make-you-miss capabilities. Now with these new additions and more, the Seattle Seahawks are being forecasted as Super Bowl favourites, and rightly so.

The articles were published in 2009, and Winfield had frequented the Pro Bowl, as a more than formidable defensive back. I am convinced that Harvin's signing was more significant than past greats like Reggie White or Deion Sanders. The Hawks offense will be scary good.

In addition to Harvin and Winfield in this particular issue (Aug. 17, 2009), I also read Offensive Coordinator, then with the Vikings, Darrell Bevell mentioned in regards to Harvin's training camp, impact, and excitement for the 22nd overall pick.

It's tremendous that Seattle has reunited the two, along with Sidney Rice, and Winfield on the defensive side.

The SI issue is mostly a college preview one, and again notably Russell Wilson was pictured as a "Player to Watch." Then, as a soph., with N.C. State before transferring. He had already been named All-ACC, the first freshman to do so. He threw for 1,955 yards that season.

Let's refocus on the present and turn our attention to the 2013 Draft, as many already have. Most recognise the wish for a WLB to emerge and claim the starting job. I think Seattle addresses this early on and chooses the likes of Khaseem Greene - Rutgers (2nd round), Sio Moore - UCONN (3rd), or Sean Porter - Texas A&M (5th).

Any of these three, or various other weakside linebackers could really push Malcolm Smith and Korey Toomer for the role. I'm partial, and feel the front office of Seattle may be as well, to Greene, Moore, or Porter because of how well they do in pursuit; and in Porter's case, coverage.

My line of thought is solidifying the 2nd tier, or linebacking corp makes the Hawks defense king. The rotation at the line of scrimmage is already solid, but Seattle may pick a defensive tackle that can compliment all the edge rushers, Red Bryant, Tony McDaniel, and Brandon Mebane.

With that said, possible picks include Kwame Geathers - Georgia (4-5th), and Akeem Spence - Illinois (5-6th), among others. Personally, I think Seattle takes another DE to eventually replace Red, and that may be 6'7" Devin Taylor - South Carolina, Cornelius Washington - Georgia, or Tank Carradine - Florida State, though many NFL scouts have him climbing to the late 1st round due to his speedy recovery from an ACL injury.

On the offensive side, I predict pique interest or picks of Kyle Long - Oregon, Menelik Wilson - FSU, Rodney Smith - FSU, Vance McDonald - Rice, Levine Toilolo - Stanford (possibly overshadowed by Ertz at TE, but great red-zone target at 6'8" should Darren Fells not pan out...though I'm optimistic!), Justin Hunter - Vols, Cobi Hamilton - Arkansas (Had over 300 yards receiving in a game, SEC record), and Denard Robinson - Michigan...though I think the Lions may reach for him as an understudy and compliment to Reggie Bush.

Defensive back Sanders Commings' "Pro comparison" is Brandon Browner so he likely wouldn't look out-of-place in the Boom though he's listed at 6'; nevertheless another ultra physical secondary player should one become a free agent would be advantageous.

Go Hawks

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Who wins a Super Bowl first?

A) Spikes B) Tebow C) Harvin