Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Friday

Thank god it's TGIF!!

Cosell Talks: What’s at a Premium : NFL Films Blog
During a recent Twitter binge I was asked a great question, and it’s one that directly relates to the NFL draft: If I were building an NFL team from scratch, what three positions would I make my top priorities? The question speaks to the much broader issue of team building, a complex and multifaceted subject that demands continuous discussion by all NFL front offices.

TonySoftli.com: Top 5 Interior Linemen in 2012 NFL Draft
When it comes to offensive linemen, the edge players receive most of the attention. These offensive tackles, who protect the blind side and front side of the quarterbacks, tend to get more notoriety and larger salaries then interior linemen (centers & guards). Make no mistake about it, this group of men must achieve continuity and playing well together is the common goal, along with protecting the quarterback in passing situations up the middle and dominating the inside running game.

Zach Brown and the Pete Carroll modus operandi " Seahawks Draft Blog
Sometimes it takes an example for an idea to become clear. Last summer, many Seahawks fans (including myself) were hearing the term "point guard quarterback" for the first time. This led to a period of confusion and misunderstanding about the meaning of the term and therefore, Pete Carroll’s intentions at quarterback. Then, as luck would have it, the starting quarterback for my college football team (Keith Price) provided the perfect example of what a point guard quarterback looks like, and it gave me a much better idea of the kind of quarterback Pete Carroll is looking for.

Does your GM run an efficient scouting department? | National Football Post
Many NFL scouts are quietly frustrated by the way their data is used, or not used.

NFL.com news: How NFL teams utilize mock drafts, other outside influences
In my time with the Washington Redskins and Houston Texans, I never paid any attention to mock drafts ... until a week before the NFL draft. This is when I found them to be the most reliable. Consequently, this is when I would begin to study them. I used mock drafts to do two things:

NFL.com news: Pass-happy era hitting running backs, linebackers where it hurts
America's Game is changing. The pass-happy era is here to stay. It was reflected in the initial waves of free agency over the past month, and it will be reflected again when the 2012 NFL Draft begins. It's a great time to be a wide receiver or cornerback. And of course, it's always a great time to be a quarterback. Linebacker and running back? Not so much.

Seahawks.com Blog | He’s in on Flynn, too "
"It was a spectacular game against a team that was highly motivated and pretty good," Billick said. "So it wasn’t like it was a throwaway game and a guy throws six touchdowns against a team that was lying down. And he was having to keep up with Matthew Stafford, who had a pretty good game as well (520 yards and five TDs). "The problem is, we’ve been down this road as a league many times. Players who have a limited database – two games. The Cody Carlsons, for those who want to go back. The Rob Johnsons. Now we’ve had some players, whether it be a Matt Hasselbeck, whether it be a (Matt) Schaub, that have gone on and done pretty good. But it’s a roll of the dice because you have a limited amount of data."

Seahawks.com Blog | A few moments with: Russell Wilson "
Already selected in the Major League Baseball draft by the Colorado Rockies, and about to be selected in the NFL Draft. Productive passer in two programs with diverse offensive systems. Led the nation last season with a 191.78 passer rating. Bright, personable and articulate. What’s not to like about Russell Wilson, the quarterback at the University of Wisconsin last season who began his college career at North Carolina State?

Quarterbacks worth coveting
This year's draft class includes some QBs with "unique traits," as Jon Gruden puts it. And those skill sets go beyond Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, who are expected to be the top two picks.

Brian Billick breaks down the NFL Draft's tight ends - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN
When evaluating the final four playoff teams of the 2011 NFL season, one thing is clear, the value of tight ends in the NFL is at an all-time high. Similarly, if you look at the tight ends on display in those championship games, you will see that value has been found in a wide range of rounds in the NFL Draft.

Draft Insider.net
- Underrated tight end Michael Egnew had seven private workouts with teams around the league. In each instance the franchise working out Egnew sent their tight end coach. That’s a large number for a player that attended the combine. - We hear teams like the versatility and potential of Washington guard Senio Kelemete. The senior is presently carrying 305-pounds, versus his playing weight of 285-pounds, and has taken well to his pre-draft weight training regiment. Teams that have shown large interest in Kelemete include the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.

101Sports.com: Tony Softli - Top 5 Interior Linemen in 2012 NFL Draft
When it comes to offensive linemen, the edge players receive most of the attention. These offensive tackles, who protect the blind side and front side of the quarterbacks, tend to get more notoriety and larger salaries then interior linemen (centers & guards). Make no mistake about it, this group of men must achieve continuity and playing well together is the common goal, along with protecting the quarterback in passing situations up the middle and dominating the inside running game.

NFL Draft 2012: Megatalented Richardson stands alone in RB class - NFL - Sporting News
As the countdown to the 2012 NFL Draft continues, Sporting News examines talent depth at every position before the first pick is made. The draft's first round will be April 26, followed by Rounds 2 and 3 on April 27—both in prime time. Rounds 4-7 will be called April 28. Today: running backs.

2012 NFL draft countdown: SN's No. 13 prospect, North Carolina DE Quinton Coples - NFL - Sporting News
Coples is a strong and athletic defensive end whose ability to make plays from a variety of alignments makes him a valuable commodity in the draft. (Vital statistics: 6-6, 284 pounds, 4.74 in 40-yard dash)

Tannehill a top-10 draft pick? Only when the annual madness sets in - NFL, NFLDRAFT - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy
So here we are again, the annual NFL Draft, where smart men suddenly become incredibly dumb. Example No. 7 trillion: Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill is suddenly a first-round pick. If Tannehill moved any faster up the NFL's draft boards, he'd be Deion Sanders. Starships don't travel this quickly. Still trying to figure out why. Was it his 1-5 record against ranked teams? Was it his completion percentage that fell last year? Was it his quarterback rating that was lower than Brock Osweiler's?

Better-Than Team: Huskers' David, Bulldogs' mauler Glenn top list - NFL - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com
Who's that No. 4? I remember watching Nebraska football the past couple of years and I always found myself drawn to the guy in jersey No. 4 playing linebacker for the Cornhuskers, a tackling machine who played with great speed. His name is Lavonte David. Get to know him. He will also be an NFL tackling machine. Think Derrick Brooks. Yes, that's high praise, considering Brooks is a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Projecting the draft: Arizona Cardinals - CBSSports
Having gone 7-2 in their final nine games of the 2011 season, optimism is high in Arizona that the 2012 season could be their year to return to the top of the NFC West division.

Projecting the draft: St. Louis Rams - CBSSports
It's the dawning of a new day at Rams Park, with general manager Les Snead and coach Jeff Fisher in command.

OU's Broyles runs 4.57, solidifies mid-round status - CBSSports
Oklahoma wide receiver Ryan Broyles shouldn't be surprised if he's celebrating April 27 after turning in an effort he's very happy with on Thursday.

NFC Team Needs - Offseason Low Down - Rotoworld.com
The 2012 NFL draft is under two weeks away. Here's a look at the top three need positions for each team in the National Football Conference:

Fresh from ‘QB Camp,’ Jon Gruden rates and relates with the 2012 draft class | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
In the second year of his "QB Camp" on ESPN, former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden sat down with 10 different quarterbacks of the 2012 draft class, reviewed their game tapes, talked about the transition to the NFL, and watched as the quarterbacks threw on a field. Gruden, currently the star of ESPN's "Monday Night Football" coverage, has created quite a cottage industry of quarterback analysis through this vehicle -- the half-hour shows are much like the former coach himself -- entertaining, informative, and full of "THIS GUY" hyperbole.

The Shutdown 50: #34 — Andre Branch, DE/OLB, Clemson | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
We continue this year's series with Clemson DE/OLB Andre Branch. Clemson has fielded some outstanding defensive lines in the past two seasons. Last year, Tigers' Jarvis Jenkins and Da'Quan Bowers were both second-round NFL picks. Branch started on the same line as Jenkins and Bowers in 2010, as did Brandon Thompson, whose scouting report is coming soon here in the Shutdown 50. Watching tape of an outstanding defensive line eating the offensive line whole can be fun, but it can also be challenging: Everyone looks a little better when they are single-blocked, and rattled quarterbacks make sloppy mistakes that can result in easy sacks. In other words, it is hard to isolate the player from his teammates and the system.

Projecting the draft: Arizona Cardinals - CBSSports
Having gone 7-2 in their final nine games of the 2011 season, optimism is high in Arizona that the 2012 season could be their year to return to the top of the NFC West division.

Vince Young 'definitely' still a starter; Texans would be 'dream come true' - CBSSports
After Vince Young's decision to refer to the Eagles as the "dream team" last offseason turned into intense media scrutiny and a season without the playoffs, it wasn't a surprise that he didn't return to Philly for 2012. (His on-field play probably didn't help either.)

10 players to watch during Saturday's spring games | National Football Post
Keep an eye on these key performers this weekend.

NFL Draft: Instant Impact Prospects | National Football Post
Which prospects have the ability to come in and contribute right away?

NFL.com news: Light my fire: Five teams that have fans talking
• (4) Seattle Seahawks: New Nike uniforms aside, the signing of Matt Flynn -- if he pans out -- addresses a glaring hole on the roster. Tarvaris Jackson is a driven, thick-skinned competitor, but a tough sell as your No. 1. The Seahawks have an exciting, young secondary and re-signed Marshawn Lynch in the offseason. One of the more dangerous teams down the stretch in 2011 can't be sure yet what they have in Flynn -- this season will determine that. The fans, however, know this organization isn't afraid to the roll the dice.

Mac's Football Blog: Jacob Hester, Mario Henderson Face Deadlines From Chargers
Should Hester land with the Seahawks, in addition to re-joining former LSU teammate Matt Flynn, he would likely be a No. 3 back behind Marshawn Lynch and Leon Washington who can provide depth behind Pro Bowl fullback Michael Robinson, another player who has learned to play fullback at the NFL level. Also like Robinson, Hester is a contributor on special teams, playing in a career-high 64 percent of those snaps last season. Overall, Hester has made 37 tackles on special teams over the last four seasons.

Uni Watch " Unfinished Business from Last Week
Okay, time to deal with the new Seahawks uniform. Here are my primary thoughts

RGIII's throw vs. Oklahoma? More than impressive | National Football Post
Using video to breakdown Griffin's toss to beat the Sooners.