Seattle Seahawks news, rumors, links, info, interviews, analysis, and more! Strap in folks. It could happen this week. Maybe. I don't know. Here are some links.
LEO concepts, run defense and Bruce Irvin " Seahawks Draft Blog: Thomas Beekers wrote an interesting piece at Field Gulls today, discussing the LEO position and how it relates to run defense in Seattle’s scheme. It’s a subject I have a lot of time for, because I’ve long stressed the impact on run defense if you’re going to use a floating specialist on the defensive line. It doesn’t really matter who you play on that side, at 250-265lbs you’re giving something up against the run. A lot of potential LEO candidates that were talked about in the 2011 draft class, in my opinion, were never considerations because their run defense was so poor. Trying to find someone who can limit the damage on running downs and provide a spectacular pass rush isn’t easy and it’s why there’s more to the LEO than simply a lack of size and decent speed off the edge.
Supplemental draft might not be in Terrelle Pryor's future - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN: Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor’s journey to the NFL might take longer than expected. Not only has the NFL yet to schedule a supplemental draft for the 2011 season, but Pryor might not qualify if there is one despite having announced plans to enter after leaving Ohio State in early June. "If there are no players eligible for a supplemental draft, there is no supplemental draft," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an email to FOXSports.com on Sunday. "It is for players whose circumstances have changed in an unforeseen way after the regular (college) draft. It is not a mechanism for simply bypassing the regular (draft)."
The best undrafted players — Defense - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports: Cedric Thornton, DT, Southern Arkansas One of the more underrated defenders in this class -- I had a fifth-round grade on Thornton, and I was very surprised to see him slip through the draft. He fits so many defenses; Thornton can work as a five-tech end or three-tech tackle, and he has the strength and athleticism to flash pass-rush ability that may put people in mind of the Jets' Muhammad Wilkerson(notes). He was 16th in the nation in tackles for loss in 2010, and he'll play that way for whoever's smart enough to take him in the NFL.
Nnamdi Asomugha headlines 2011 free-agent class - ESPN: Ray Edwards, DE, Minnesota Vikings: Edwards is a bigger name than Johnson because he has played on a high-profile Minnesota Vikings team, but he hasn't had a double-digit sack season yet. He's had eight and 8½ sacks in the past two seasons. Still, he has 10-sack potential, and for teams with desperate needs for a pass-rusher, Edwards could be the answer.
Matt Hasselbeck - Seattle Seahawks - 2011 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com: NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora is the latest national insider to suggest free agent Matt Hasselbeck will indeed be the "Opening Day starter" for the Titans. Local as well as national scribes have begun lining up to predict that Hasselbeck will leave Seattle for Nashville due in large part to his connections in the Titans' front office. LaCanfora expects the Seahawks to make a "big play" at Tarvaris Jackson while also reuniting Matt Leinart and coach Pete Carroll.
Seattle Seahawks: Free Agency Plan at QB Without Matt Hasselbeck | Bleacher Report: The possibility that Matt Hasselbeck may not be back in Seattle next season is continuing to gain steam per John Clayton’s report on Friday, which begs the question; is the best plan to let Charlie Whitehurst go into 2011 as the unchallenged starting quarterback? Well, in recent days one name has been cited by multiple sources as a legitimate possibility to be the challenger to Whitehurst; Tarvaris Jackson. In fact, include Jackson himself as one who has expressed this opinion, as he did Friday on Minnesota radio;
Top UDFAs 2011: QB Adam Froman, Louisville " The Rookie Scouting Portfolio: Adam Froman 6-4, 219: Froman is a JUCO transfer who really didn’t become a passing quarterback until he went to a junior college in Santa Rosa, California. He devleoped into an efficient JUCO passer and carried over that 60 percent completion rate during his next two seasons at Louisville. There are other numbers that are even more impressive in the spring: 4.55 and 4.08. These times are his 40 and 20-yard shuttle numbers and they are among thebest of any QB in this class loaded with impressive athletes like Newton, Gabbert, Locker and Tyrod Taylor.
2011 NFL lockout -- Owners, players come to deal on all points, sources say - ESPN: The NFL Players Association and the league's owners have reached agreement on the remaining points needed in their 10-year labor deal, sources from both sides said. Despite the fact the new agreement will require a majority vote from the players, that part of the deal between the two sides is considered a formality, according to sources. The NFLPA is making plans for a major press conference Monday. But first the player reps' executive committee is scheduled to fly to Washington, D.C., on Sunday so they can vote Monday.
Source: NFLPA's executive committee to meet Monday, no vote planned - NFL - SI.com: A vote on a settlement to the lockout is what every NFL fan wants. Nobody is sure when that might happen. The players' executive committee will meet Monday in Washington after lawyers have worked through the weekend on issues that are holding up an agreement with the owners. Several people with knowledge of the meeting have told The Associated Press that no vote to recommend a deal is certain Monday.
Antonio Cromartie - New York Jets - 2011 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com: Neither Antonio Cromartie nor Nnamdi Asomugha is in the Lions' free agency plans, according to beat writer Tom Kowalski. This isn't a major surprise. Asomugha is too expensive for the Lions, and Cromartie isn't physical enough for the coaching staff's taste. Kowalski wouldn't rule out interest in Johnathan Joseph, but it seems as if the Lions are aiming lower at the position.
NFL.com news: Owners, players down to details in finalizing labor agreement: The NFL and NFL Players Association are down to the details in finalizing a 10-year labor agreement to end a lockout that has lasted four months. Negotiators started work early Sunday morning after very productive negotiations Saturday. After some of last week's turbulence, the NFLPA put its 13-man executive committee and 32 player representatives on standby for Monday, depending on the progress made over the weekend. Late Saturday night, after the day's progress in talks, the trade association put plans in place for the executive committee to travel to Washington and meet Monday.
Tarvaris Jackson - a fit for Seattle? - Blog - MyNorthwest.com: "My thoughts are this," said Zulgad, "you would get - or Seattle would get - a quarterback who looks very good in practice, has a big-time arm and athletically is gifted." Zulgad reported that the free agent has been working out with Cardinals' WR Larry Fitzgerald this offseason, and even made the trip out to Arizona to continue training.
An Idea Worth Talking About: An NFL Minor League - Big Cat Country: Is this a possibility? A minor league system, to me, would be perfect for the NFL. I don't know the business aspect of this issue, but I think it would be a long-term revenue gainer for the NFL as well as be the help teams have been looking for. Similar to the minor leagues in baseball, players would have the ability to be sent down to the minors to rehab injuries and get back in game shape. Also, players could be called up by their parent team when they are needed. The NFL would appeal to smaller markets that can't support a professional team, but certainly can support a minor league team-all it would take is one city per team. Places like Baton Rouge, Portland, Providence, and various other small market cities would become synonymous with the teams they represent: Baton Rouge-Saints, Portland-Seahawks, Providence-Patriots.
Tarvaris Jackson: Tarvaris Jackson to Seattle looks more likely: ESPN's John Clayton now believes the Seahawks will indeed sign free agent QB Tarvaris Jackson. "The thought of T-Jack as a starting quarterback in Seattle, I kind of relate to the days when Bobby Ayala was a relief pitcher for the Mariners," said Clayton. "I used to do primal screams. I'm starting to get back to the primal screams because I do believe it will happen." A Jackson signing would signal a rebuilding year, the end of the Matt Hasselbeck era, and the goal of drafting a QB of the future in 2012.
Logical post-lockout reporting timetable - NFC West Blog - ESPN: The pending NFL labor agreement calls for player reporting dates Wednesday and Friday. Which teams would report when? Let's do the math. Wednesday lines up with the long-established 15-day period between reporting and when 10 teams begin playing their first exhibition games. Using that 15-day buffer, we can reasonably deduce that teams playing games on Aug. 11 could begin reporting Wednesday. Thursday would make sense for teams opening Aug. 12. Friday would make sense for teams opening Aug. 13. Sunday would make sense for the two teams playing Aug. 15.
NFP Sunday Blitz | National Football Post: Why Asomugha might not be as valuable as you think, great undrafted players and secrets of a quarterback guru.
NFL lockout: Top UDFA tight ends - Mocking The Draft: The undrafted tight ends feature two players who weren't drafted for very different reasons. But if either Weslye Saunders or Zack Pianalto can stay on the field, they could have successful NFL careers.
NFL lockout: Top UDFA wide receivers - Mocking The Draft: Wide receivers typically have a hard time making a difference as undrafted rookies. This year's group, though, has a lot of size and talent. In a couple instances, some of these players even have gifted athleticism.
NFL lockout: Top UDFA offensive linemen - Mocking The Draft: Kristofer O'Dowd | 6'5, 300 pounds | C | Southern California Despite several serious injuries, O'Dowd showed at USC that he's an athletic blocker. He could be really good in a zone scheme where he can move around more.
NFL lockout: Top UDFA defensive linemen - Mocking The Draft: Steven Friday | 6'4, 250 pounds | DE | Virginia Tech Friday is a bit of a mystery as an NFL player. He's too small to play the run in the 4-3, but not athletic enough to be a 3-4 OLB. He may have to carve out a career purely as a 4-3 pass rush specialist.
Now... what does that sound like? More on Friday forthcoming - but he's a guy that if is able to get a little stronger and develop against the run, could be a good LEO candidate in rookie free agency. Aaron Aloysius of Draft Breakdown gave me the skinny. Stay tuned.
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