We're still picking through the combine...hooray. Expect to hear the phrase "value added" a lot. And talk about player's "hips". I'm sure this is very cool to attend, but I'll be happy when it's over and we can assess its effect on draft boards. I'll update this with a quick recap later on.

I know people love Mock Drafts, so I'll post my own in about an hour. It will be periodically updated as we wend our way to draft day.

Briefly, as I'm not going to fill up a bunch of nothing with words.

Tights Ends

Martellus Bennett was the only top level prospect who excelled. 4.68 40, 34" Vert. He's likely solidified his spot as the number one TE off the board. Unless one of those late teens teams with a need think he's that good, Bennett will still likely fall into the second round. As will Fred Davis and John Carlson. Unfortunately, no one in the second class really established themselves. Brad Kotter ran a 4.55 40, but that doesn't make him any taller. The 6'8", 271 pound Brad Cottam probably helped himself the most, but not likely into the first day. Looks like Seattle will have to use a second round pick, maybe even trade up to grab Carlson. As is, I could see it.

Offensive Linemen

The Sam Baker Express keeps chugging down the boards. It will be interesting to see how far he's fallen when the dust clears. All in all, the combine has not shed much light on offensive linemen. Jake Long was and is the #1 tackle off the boards. As I mentioned earlier, Jeremy Zuttah probably did the most to help himself but his numbers were by no means eye-popping. Robert Felton didn't stand out--or, at least, I didn't see him and he didn't register on any leader boards. After reading about his problems with false starts, I highly doubt he'd get the Holmgren seal of approval. Roy Schuening displayed the good technique you'd expect from an ultra-polished guard, but suffered the always fun injury while running. As is, I don't see any offensive linemen who really stand out to me as Hawks. Maybe Baker.

Just an FYI for anyone who doesn't know, you can find the NFL combine here. Look, guys running! Wow. I'll update when something interesting happens. It might be a while.

U We can now know for sure, if Jake Long ever has to throw off a DB, while on his back, over and over again, he'll be able to.

Wow, Cherilus, too high, go figure.

Zuttah has gone from "who cares?" to will but probably shouldn't be drafted.

Schuenning looked good then hurt himself. Yep.

Nothing says O Line like "spindly legs".

U Mike Solari is coaching up the line prospects. Very good to see. There is hope!

I never know if I'm going to be chasing a stubborn monkey, either.

Apparently, the combine is "everything".

U Baker and Clady are both out. Sam Baker's stock should be falling, falling, falling.

U In case anyone was wondering, Seattle's picks breakdown like this: 1: 1 2: 1 3: 1 4: 1 5: 1 6: 0 7: 1 - I'm assuming Seattle's pick from Tennessee will be a 7th rounder.

U Guys jumping!

Obama gets the Teamsters. As a Teamster, I can tell you, that's completely meaningless. Half the guys I work with a Hawk Conservatives. There's no group think.

U Okay, I can't find anything interesting about this. I'll run an update later when the totals are in.

I know a lot of people want to discuss this, so here's a post to do it in. I'm totally against Seattle signing Alge Crumpler who's well past his prime and experienced an across the board drop in production last season. That, a foot injury and symbolic support of Michael Vick make me think it's very unlikely Crumpler is headed to Seattle. Let Algernon's abilities dwindle away in another lab.

I was happy to get home and read this:

Morgan, who cares? But Wahle would be a perfect fit for Seattle. Wahle is a veteran who could (would) take over starting left guard duties, moving Sims back to his more natural position at right. Wahle is consistently healthy, has the exact skill set Holmgren covets in a guard and shouldn't be terribly expensive. Guards last into their mid-thirties, so we're not talking about a washed up retread with little left to produce. Tim Ruskell should be familiar with Wahle from his days in Atlanta, a short stop that has colored many of his recent moves. A reasonable contract for Wahle shouldn't cost more than 3 million against the cap, a wholly justifiable hit for a player that would improve the Seahawks above and beyond his own contributions. With Wahle starting, the Hawks would be improving both guard positions, right guard drastically. Could count on one of the best, if not the best pass blocking offensive lines in all of football, and have a starting guard skilled at pulling - one of Sims' worst weaknesses. Further, this frees up flexibility in the draft, and makes an immediate, 2008 season impact that no available guard draftee could. Seriously, no buts, get this shit done.

The New York Giants are NFL Champions. The New England Patriots are not. Eli Manning is Super Bowl MVP.

Screw the writer's strike. That's comedy.

Congratulations to the Giants and Big Blue View.

Seriously. This shit's crazy. Discuss here.

Update [2008-2-5 14:8:13 by Shrug]: After (way too) much reflection, I've decided the Jets' win in Super Bowl III was more of an upset than this was. In 1969 the NFL was an indomitable force in American sports while the AFL was run out of a strip mall Hank Stram owned in Kansas City. It was right next to the Popeye's. Anyway, so we changed the headline.

The Hawks stay at 10th, though their VOA ranks 5th overall and 1st in the NFC. No time to add any commentary or list the notables as I'm consumed finishing a paper. Feel free to use this thread to discuss the Hawks DVOA and the individual data as it's posted.

The Hawks have a 79.2% chance of winning the division and an 83.8% chance of making the playoffs in some fashion or another, but only a 19.2% chance of earning the all important bye.

None of the individual stats are updated. For the most part, with the Hawks not playing this last weekend, they should be unchanged. But because of the constantly evolving nature of opponent adjustment, DVOA and DPAR may shift slightly. Shaun Alexander, for instance, will be negatively affected by the Bengals allowing 160 yards of net rushing and 9 rushing first downs to the Steelers.

Seattle improves slightly, now ranked 10th overall and 4th in the NFC. The Hawks' special teams continues to excel, ranked number one overall. Hmmm...I remember reading some detractors in the preseason, but I was pretty certain our special teams unit would be among the league's best. Disregard my remarks on Tapp, who has more than earned a starting spot. Seattle has a chance to improve markedly returning from the bye, with Hackett and Branch returning and hopefully more touches for Morris and Weaver. Did I tell you this team's a contender? Did I sell ya wrong?

Anyway, on to the notables:

Matt Hasselbeck: 16.6% DVOA (16th), 32.2 DPAR (9)

Shaun Alexander: -0.8 DPAR (43), -14.5% DVOA (41); Receiving -2.3 DPAR, -35.0% DVOA

Leonard Weaver: 1.0 DPAR, 2.7% DVOA; 5.7 DPAR, 63.4% DVOA (1)

Maurice Morris: 0.4 DPAR, -10.0% DVOA; 1.9 DPAR, 77.5% DVOA

Bobby Engram: 14.4 DPAR (14), 27.4% DVOA (12)

Deion Branch: 8.8 DPAR (27), 22.3% DVOA (18)

Nate Burleson: -4.6 DPAR (70), -30.9% DVOA (67)

Ben OhNoIdroppedIt: -1.8 DPAR, -29.6 DVOA, 30% reception percentage.

Time Machine didn't play, but he's 6th in DVOA.

The front seven gets big love shooting up to 7th overall defending the run, and 3rd rushing the passer.

Jennings and Tru are 12th and 6th respectively covering #2 and #1 receivers.