Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Tuesday

Aloha! Today we will be taking a look at a player that Rob Staton and Kenneth Arthur discussed during their last 3000 NFL Mock Draft Podcast: Tyler Ervin. He's a smaller back, listed at 5'10" and 192 lbs. While he lacks the prototypical size that the Seahawks look for in a RB, he brings many of the other attributes that show up less in drills and more on tape.  Suddenness. Grit. Love of the game. Intelligence. After hearing Rob's evaluation of Ervin, who he referred to as the RB version of Tyler Lockett, I poked around to find some more info. I'll have more info in some of the links below, but here's my brief evaluation on what he could bring to the NFL and how he would fit in with the Seahawks.

Barring a major setback in his healing from a broken ankle, Thomas Rawls will be the feature back in Seattle next year, which he certainly earned with his exciting performances during his shortened rookie campaign. And with his recent resigning, Christine Michael will likely be a primary backup given his familiarity with the system and what appears to be a revamped attitude towards his football career. But the Seahawks still need a 3rd down pass catching back to fill Fred Jackson's cleats. Enter Tyler Ervin, who had 45 catches in 2015, coupled with 1601 rushing yards and 15 total TDs. Ervin may not have the frame the Seahawks covet for an all down back role, but when you watch his tape, he runs hard, like someone with 30 more pounds of weight on him. He shows patience and vision, before really exploding through the hole. His suddenness really can't be overstated, he changes direction like Doug Baldwin, on a dime. If he gets into open space look out, because he goes from 1st to 5th gear within 10 yards. I do worry about his blitz pickup ability given his slight frame, but I think by now we're all kind of used to watching Russ run for his life on any given play. On 3rd and long, I'd rather have him on the field than Will Tukuafu.

Rob compared his combine stats to an ex Seahawk who we all loved for his athleticism but...didn't love...for his everything else: Percy Harvin. And the comparisons are pretty remarkable.

Tyler Ervin: 5'10", 192 lbs, 4.41 40 time, 17 Bench Presses, 10'10" Broad Jump.

Percy Harvin: 5'11", 192 lbs, 4.41 40 time, 19 Bench Presses, 10'1" Broad Jump.

That's about as close as you can get. And unlike Harvin, Ervin is not a head case. Listening to interviews, he is very well spoken, very engaging, is a team first guy, and really loves the game. When he bursts through a hole, you can tell he has a chip on his shoulder over being regarded as a small back. He is, simply put, just so very Seahawky.

While some people will cringe every time Ervin runs between tackles the same way they do when Lockett catches a contested pass in traffic, Ervin has been durable so far in his career, and as a complimentary back could be a real game changer. Plus, if Rawls gets a 2 or 3 game injury, Ervin has proved that he can carry the load for his team, at least in college. I would worry about him having 25 touches a game for an entire NFL season, but certainly not for a few games. In his complimentary role he could be a player who really tilts the field. He could be a great option in round 3 if the Seahawks feel they can get value on interior OL with their second 3rd rounder or beyond.

If you guys and gals want me to focus on any specific players in the weeks leading up to the draft, let me know! As a reminder, I'm very open to feedback about how to make this post a better daily experience. All of it is for you, the readers and commenters. If it wasn't for you, this page would just be a link dump. The community makes it one of the most viewed and commented on posts that Field Gulls offers, every day. I very much value your experience and comments, you all make this my favorite part of my day, every day.

And now...to the links!

Report: Seattle Seahawks show interest in prospect Tyler Ervin
The Seahawks continued to look at options that will add depth to their running back corps this week.

Seahawks' Draft Needs Start Up Front - Today's Pigskin

Like most of the rest of the NFL, the Seattle Seahawks have moved largely out of free agency mode into draft mode -- with the annual selection meeting about a month away.

Looking at the ‘O-line in round three’ scenario | Seahawks Draft Blog

There’s a very good chance the Seahawks will go O-line at #26 and we’ll look at why in a new mock draft this week. However, some people have suggested in the comments section that they could go defense in the first two rounds and actually wait until the third round to address the offensive line.

Seahawks: Early 2016 predictions | Cover32

With an even decent draft that addresses a couple key points, look for the 2016 Seahawks to make a deep run into the playoffs once again this year.

NFL Combine 2016: San Jose St. RB Tyler Ervin fits in Darren Sproles mold | PennLive.com

Tyler Ervin doesn't look like a prototypical NFL running back.

Marshawn Lynch does Marshawn Lynch things | Cover32

Seattle Seahawks superstar running back Marshawn Lynch may be retired from the NFL, but he is far from done being legendary.

RB Tyler Ervin draws crowd, including 49ers Chip Kelly and Tom Rathman | The Sacramento Bee

SAN JOSE -- Scouts and coaches from 25 NFL teams were on hand Wednesday to watch San Jose State running back Tyler Ervin at his pro day, including a large contingent of 49ers that included head coach Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins and running backs coach Tom Rathman.

Patriots worked out San Jose State back Tyler Ervin

Tyler Ervin met with the New England Patriots at the Senior Bowl. And earlier this week, the San Jose running back crossed paths with the organization again.

For tackles, running 40-yard dash is hardly critical to NFL success | ProFootballTalk

So Mississippi tackle Laremy Tunsil won't run the 40-yard dash before the draft. So what? While those obsessed with measurables in a process that ultimately hinges on the unmeasurable, the question of how quickly an offensive tackle can cover 120 feet means little to his success.

Laquon Treadwell Doesn't Need Elite Speed to Succeed in the NFL | Bleacher Report

For most of this year's draft cycle, Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell carried the designation as the top wide receiver prospect. One question loomed throughout the process, though: How fast could he actually run? The correct answer: It doesn't matter.

NFL draft Big Board: 2016’s top 100 prospects | SI.com

Laquon Treadwell, Laremy Tunsil and Ezekiel Elliott all made the top 10 of Chris Burke’s latest Big Board. But in what order?

NFL faces new concussion-related lawsuit

Latest filing cites recent NFL executive's comments on CTE link.

Christian Hackenberg's honesty reveals hypocrisy of NFL draft process - Yahoo Sports

From Yahoo Sports: If teams want to hold it against Christian Hackenberg for telling the truth about his struggles at Penn State, that says more about them than it does the QB.

NFL continues suspension of blackout rule | ProFootballTalk

When the NFL "suspended" the controversial blackout rule in 2015, the unspoken message was that it's never coming back. Officially, it's not coming back in 2016. Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal reports that owners voted last week to extend the suspension by another year.

Jared Cook signs contract with Green Bay Packers - NFL.com

Stop the presses: Green Bay has ventured into the free-agent market. The Packers signed veteran tight end Jared Cook on Monday, the team announced.