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MONDAY!
Draft Spotlight: David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech " Seahawks Draft Blog
Rundown: David Wilson is a junior running back from Virginia Tech. In 2011- his first and only year as the team’s featured back- he posted 1,709 rushing yards, a school record. He was named ACC player of the year last season.
Are the Seahawks looking for Aldon Smith or Von Miller? " Seahawks Draft Blog
When I wrote a piece exploring how Courtney Upshaw or Melvin Ingram could be used as a hybrid DE/OLB ‘elephant’, it received a mixed response. Some agreed, others not so much. I still believe the Seahawks intend to draft a pass rusher in the first round, and that they’ll want that player to have an impact immediately. I wanted to look at two successful first round picks from last year to try and determine what it is exactly Seattle is looking for.
Brockers, Coples, Kuechly among first round's wild cards - CBSSports
As April 26 nears and columnists all over the country begin to shift their attention to the 2012 NFL draft, enthusiasts are bound to see mock drafts popping up with more frequency than spring flowers. Three players -- LSU's Michael Brockers, North Carolina's Quinton Coples and Boston College's Luke Kuechly -- will be apart of all of them. Just where they'll wind up among the draft's top 32 picks, however, makes them three of the 2012 draft's biggest wild cards.
Before offensive tackles fly off draft boards, consider supply and demand - NFL - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com
The reality of the draft is that supply and demand play into talent selection. In plain English, if 15 teams are looking to fill the same position and all 32 draft boards say only 10 players are projected as eventual starters at that spot, you will see these 10 guys all gone earlier than predicted.
LaMichael James 2012 NFL Draft scouting report - Mocking The Draft
Acceleration/burst: James has very good foot quickness and agility which allows him to accelerate quickly to top speed. He is a natural instinctive runner with vision to find the hole quickly and burst thru very fast. He uses his quick feet to change directions very fast and it helps him to make sharp cuts quickly to get thru the hole. He is very dangerous in the open field and on the perimeter because of his superb burst and great acceleration.
Draft 2012: The Quarterbacks - NFL Draft Preview - Rotoworld.com
What a difference a year makes. Last draft season, many observers were convinced that Andrew Luck's return to college deprived the 2011 draft class of its only elite quarterback prospect. Fast forward one Cam Newton Rookie of the Year award and 12 months later, and a large chunk of informed analysts believe Luck should be challenged for the top quarterback ranking by the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner.
Draft positional series: Wide receivers - NFL, NFLDRAFT - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com
In the NFL aerial circus that lights up scoreboards and bloats statistics, the wide receivers are the showmen who perform the astonishing high-wire act that is so intricate it often needs instant replay to verify what really happened. They must -- often all at once -- run with world-class speed, fend off some defensive bully, keep both tiptoes inside the sideline chalk, cleanly snatch a football traveling at the rate of 60 miles per hour and make sure it doesn't move ever so slightly in their hands or graze the turf. And if they are tumbling out of bounds after all that, they must maintain firm possession until they stop moving, even if they wind up in the third row of seats.
The Shutdown 50: #41 — Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
We continue this year's series with North Carolina linebacker Zach Brown. According to Brown's high school coach, the Maryland three-sport superstar would be on a field this August, even if he chose some sport other than football. "If things didn't work out for Zach in football," Doug Duvall told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "he could have been a decathlete."
The Shutdown 50: #40 — Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
We continue this year's series with Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu. With the increase in three- and four-receiver sets at the NFL level, and the need for coverage-busting speed in the slot (think DeSean Jackson and Victor Cruz), it's the bigger, slower receiver with other tools that sometimes goes unheralded. Sanu is that kind of player -- you're going to hear a lot about the lack of pure speed that will probably keep him out of the first round, and that's a legit concern. However, as I learned when watching his Rutgers tape and by writing the pool report of his scouting combine drills, Sanu is a player well-versed in the finer points that make surprise receivers into 10-year stars and occasional Pro Bowlers.
The Shutdown 50: #39 — Doug Martin, RB, Boise State | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
We continue this year's series with Boise State running back Doug Martin. While most of the talk about Boise State centers around quarterback Kellen Moore, the Broncos' excellent defense, and various BCS snubs or non-snubs (depending on which side of THAT debate you're on), Martin was the team's best player in each of the last two seasons. He is a tremendously versatile player -- a total yardage monster in a limited passing offense that has opposing defenses cheating up most of the time. Having never played football before when he enrolled at Saint Mary's High in Stockton, California, Martin developed quickly enough to run for 1,950 yards and 18 touchdowns in his junior year.
Small schooler Greenwood attracts plenty of pre-draft interest | ProFootballTalk
Albion College in Michigan hasn’t had a prospect drafted into the NFL since 1967, when the New Orleans Saints selected someone named Barry Siler in the eighth round. The 44-year drought may end this year.
Broncos could be eyeballing Osweiler as Peyton successor | ProFootballTalk
Mentioned in Saturday’s one-liners but also mentioned in sufficient emails received on Sunday that perhaps it wasn’t noticed on Saturday, it probably makes sense to do a separate post on the subject.
NFL Draft: a quick look at LaMichael James | National Football Post
Using video to highlight the RB's speed, cutback ability.
Inside the NFL Draft: Cardinals team needs | National Football Post
Arizona could upgrade the O-Line at No.13.
NFP Sunday Blitz | National Football Post
*West Virginia’s Bruce Irvin may be heating up in the draft to the point he could creep into the first round. He is scheduled to take 12 visits to NFL teams. He is appealing both the 3-4 teams as an outside linebacker and 4-3 teams as a defensive end. Among the teams he is visiting are the Bears, Browns, Chiefs, Dolphins, Forty Niners, Jets, Panthers, Patriots, Texans and Titans. Part of the reason so many want to see him is coaches want to put him on the board and watch tape with him, and have a chance to see what makes him tick.
NFL Draft: Ryan Tannehill and the 'read option' | National Football Post
Using video to talk some quick Xs and Os.
NFL.com news: Okoye, Buccaneers reportedly agree to one-year deal
Free-agent defensive tackle Amobi Okoye has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN Chicago on Saturday night.
NFL.com Blogs " Blog Archive Tollefson, Raiders agree to two-year deal "
Former New York Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson has agreed to terms on a two-year deal with a maximum of $3 million with the Oakland Raiders, according to a league source.
Picking 12th and trading back both have appeal - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
The Seahawks used the 25th pick in last year's draft on tackle James Carpenter after they couldn't find a good enough deal to move back, something general manager John Schneider made it clear he was looking to do.
Seahawks sign 3 for added depth | Seattle Seahawks - The News Tribune
The Seattle Seahawks signed three players to add depth to the team’s roster for the upcoming season. The Seahawks announced Friday that defensive back Roy Lewis, linebacker Barrett Ruud and offensive lineman Deuce Lutui agreed to one-year deals.
On Seattle's deals with Lutui, Ruud, Lewis - NFC West Blog - ESPN
A few thoughts on the Seattle Seahawks' recently announced contract agreements with guard Deuce Lutui, linebacker Barrett Ruud and cornerback Roy Lewis:
Big-picture look at 2012 NFC West rosters - NFC West Blog - ESPN
A flurry of recent activity has pumped up roster counts around the NFC West. The Seattle Seahawks added guard Deuce Lutui, linebacker Barrett Ruud and cornerback Roy Lewis. The Arizona Cardinals added safety James Sanders. The St. Louis Rams signed defensive end William Hayes. The San Francisco 49ers welcomed back receiver Brett Swain while announcing an earlier agreement with running back Brandon Jacobs.