Seahawks Scouting: Even More on Matt Barkley and Andrew Luck

Assuming Tarvaris Jackson (and/or Charlie Whitehurst) doesn't set the world on fire in 2011 and remains thought of as a bridge quarterback, the Seahawks need a quarterback of the future. Because this QBOTF has been so elusive in the past... well, decade, the thought of whom it might be has garnered some attention among the Seahawks faithful this year (understatement). Because the Seahawks selected no quarterbacks in the 2010 and 2011 Drafts, most people assume that next year will be the year they finally find 'their guy.' The Seahawks will have to play terrible this season to put themselves in a position to have a top-5 pick next season, or else they'll likely have to trade to maneuver to select Matt Barkley of USC, or even, possibly, Andrew Luck of Stanford. This of course assumes they both declare for the Draft, something that is quite up in the air at the moment.

Regardless, I thought the timing of bringing this up again seemed appropriate enough considering the start of the college season is approaching and also because (Field Gulls contributor) Rob Staton has been writing a good amount about Matt Barkley as of late over at his Seahawks Draft Blog, and has compared him to Andrew Luck here and here in the last week. He has wondered to himself whether or not it's insane to believe Barkley could supplant Luck as the number one pick in the Draft next year, and asked:

"What if I suggested Matt Barkley could be the best 2012 eligible player in college football?

Would you assume I'd gone crazy? That may be fair. Would you write this piece off as a token gesture a matter of weeks before the new college football season begins? I haven't got time for that, honest. Or would you consider for a moment that maybe - just maybe - Matt Barkley might be a marginally better quarterback prospect than Andrew Luck? Is that possible?

I've spent a lot of time watching both quarterbacks and have a really difficult time separating them because in my mind they both have elite potential. Universally the media, fans and dare I say scouts have already anointed Luck the 2012 #1 overall pick in waiting."

Very interesting insight from Rob that definitely goes against the grain. It will be fun to watch in 2011 but for now, take a look at their matchup from 2010.

Mocking the Draft has put together easily viewable and accessible game-tape of the USC-Stanford game from last season. It shows us every offensive snap of USC, and then every offensive snap of Stanford. Not highlights here, just a good, clean view of the game free from commercials and superfluous ... other stuff.

So take a look below, and t/c to MTD. Check out their YouTube page for more videos like this.