Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Saturday

The Weekend!

Friday draft thoughts & links « Seahawks Draft Blog
Pat Kirwan has an insightful video on CBS Sportsline considering the drafts ‘risers and sliders’. He makes a fantastic point about Geno Smith and Matt Barkley. Essentially, teams without quarterbacks are not going to wait and see how things pan out and risk missing out. You can win in the NFL with Smith and Barkley. If you’re Arizona and you pass on a quarterback at #7, what happens if 2-3 players leave the board unexpectedly before your second round pick? Are you then trying to force an expensive move up the board for a player you don’t really want? Settling for someone you don’t want at all? Or are you facing another year of John Skelton? There is no way — NO WAY — the Cardinals aren’t proactive with this position.

5 To Know: Broaddus Breaks Down Draft’s Top 5 Wide Receivers
Here are a few wide receivers to keep an eye on as we get ready for the 2013 NFL Draft:

Pre-Combine Notes 5.0
- From the tight end class sources tell me Gavin Escobar of San Diego State is still rough around the edges yet has caught everything in site the past few weeks.

Ross on RBs: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama | FirstRoundGrade.com
Coming off a monster game int he BCS championship against Notre Dame, the time was right for this junior to head to the NFL. Waiting for his turn at Alabama behind former first round picks Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, Lacy was able to prove his worth this season. Running behind one of the best offensive lines in recent history (see: Chance Warmack, D.J. Fluker, and Barrett Jones) Lacy rushed for over 1300 yards and 17 TD’s.

Could the New Orleans Saints draft LSU's Barkevious Mingo? | NOLA.com
"He's going to destroy the combine," Jeremiah said. "That can help your stock and move him right back up. He's not somebody I would say is a consensus top-10 pick. I know numerous teams that don't have him up that high."

The Tape Never Lies: Jonathan Cooper is athletic but needs to bulk up | 100 Yards and Running | Blogs | theScore.com
The value of an offensive guard may never be higher than it is now. With athletic defensive ends sliding inside to the three technique and the reliance on zone blocking schemes that stress mobility, teams must have guards that can anchor and move on their feet.

Picturing Charles Woodson in the Seahawks' secondary - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
"To me, he's a 20-play player anymore. He's going to give you 20 good ones," ESPN's Herm Edwards told "Brock and Salk" on Friday. Edwards, a former NFL defensive back himself, thinks Woodson is best suited at this stage of his career to be a nickelback. He moved from cornerback to safety last season. "I think he's an inside guy. You don't want to put him outside anymore," Edwards said. "You'll want to put him in there and let him play some safety, you blitz him some, he's going to cover the tight end, those are the things he's going to do. He's got great instincts and awareness, and he's got good leadership qualities."

Bears faced with weighty decision on Henry Melton | ProFootballTalk
This is the time of year when football decisions aren’t made in a vacuum, and money can matter more than anything that happens between the lines.

Salary cap spike not expected this year, or any year | ProFootballTalk
When it comes to the salary cap, there’s a widespread belief that, once the NFL unlocks millions in new TV money in 2014, the team-by-team spending limit will spike in 2015. That belief seems to be mistaken.

The predictive value of target data, part II
On Monday, I argued that target data has some predictive value. I wanted to update that post with a few observations.

"If You’re Looking For The Next Russell Wilson…" | The Rookie Scouting Portfolio
WARNING: This is post is about to engage in a severe form of nitpicking of two quality analysts of football – one whom I know and respect greatly. I don’t know the true intention of the two statements below about NFL quarterback prospects. What I do know is that – regardless of the intent – they are dismissive. And it’s the conclusions these statements make that are as dead wrong as Marion Crane opting for the secluded Bates Motel rather than continuing to drive on a rainy night

2013 NFL Draft: Examining the middle linebacker class - CBSSports.com
The NFL Combine begins Wednesday, and as usual the conversation centers around the the quarterback. The signal caller on the other side of the ball, better known as the middle linebacker, is facing a mini crisis at the position.

Market for Freeney could be limited - AFC South Blog - ESPN
Wherever he lands, he’s going to make far less money. Guys his age coming off 12-tackle, five-sack seasons don’t get big money, or lengthy deals. Some will regard him as a bit fragile. He's not going to be a big part of a team's run-stopping effort. But if he’s willing to take an incentive-laden deal, he can do fine. He could offer a new team with younger pass rushers a degree of leadership, but I believe it’d be more in a watch-me style than in an I’ll-teach-you manner.

Tarvaris Jackson re-signs with Bills | National Football Post
New coach Marrone says QB will be open competition.

Bruce Arians' Arizona Cardinals will make NFL playoffs in 2013 - NFL.com
Yes, you read that correctly. The Arizona Cardinals, who lost 11 of their last 12 games in 2012, will make the postseason in 2013. Adam Schein explains his confidence in Daryl Washington and Co.

Titans expected to franchise tag TE Jared Cook - NFL.com
Tennessee Titans free agent Jared Cook may want out of town, but the tight end is valued too much in Nashville and is expected to be given the franchise tag.

Henry Melton likely to get Chicago Bears' franchise tag - NFL.com
Henry Melton is one of the few Chicago Bears impact defenders on the right side of the age-32 barrier. Is he a good bet for the franchise tag this year?

Dwight Freeney, Drew Stanton top list of underrated free agents - NFL.com
By now, you know the names of the wide receiver free agents who put up fantasy stats. But this free-agent class goes so much deeper. Here's a Schein Nine list of free agents who are flying under the radar right now, but could make a big difference for your team in 2013.

Brock and Salk Blue 42 - Podcasts - MyNorthwest.com
Should free-agent defensive back Charles Woodson appeal to the Seahawks? Which quarterbacks have the most to prove at the scouting combine? What should we make of the Eagles' decision to sign former Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon?

What are the chances of Henry Melton in Seattle? " Seahawks Draft Blog
Free agency kicks off on March 12th and truly, anything could happen. The Seahawks were big players the year they added Sidney Rice, Robert Gallery and Zach Miller (they also re-signed Brandon Mebane). In 2010 they wined and dined Brandon Marshall. Last year things were a little quieter apart from the re-signing of Red Bryant and the addition of Matt Flynn.

NFP looks at small school prospect Da'Rick Rogers | National Football Post
A look at the situation facing the former Tennessee WR.

2013 NFL Mock Drafts : NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Mike Glennon to Cardinals
I know the Seahawks are already dealing with one defensive end who has a knee injury (Chris Clemons), but Carradine's raw talent warrants a first-round selection. His timeline to return is not presently clear, but think of Carradine as an investment for the future if he misses time in 2013.

Rams already done with Titus Young : Sports
League sources have confirmed earlier reports out of Detroit that Young will be cut by the Rams — just nine days after being claimed on waivers by St. Louis from the Lions.

Adam Caplan's post on Philadelphia Eagles | Latest updates on Sulia
On Jared Cook: "Vertical athlete. Guy can really move. Jumps out to you on tape. Just have to get through why he has not done better than he has. Not going to wow you inline. Got to move him around to take advantage of what he has. Not sure if he's an every down guy at this point, but you won't find anyone like him in free agency. Draft is where you would have to get speed at TE other than him."

Richard Sherman: I'm proof the draft process is a sham - NFL.com
We're not sure anyone has ever enjoyed being an underdog more than Richard Sherman. The Seattle Seahawks cornerback was the 154th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, a reality that leaves a chip on his shoulder that can probably be seen from outer space. When Sherman spoke with Around The League on Friday morning at NFL Network studios, there was little doubt that perceived slight has played a role in the stellar beginning to his career.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | The Norv Turner All-Stars
Three years ago, we started a series on "coaching all-stars," the best player-seasons in the history of some of the NFL's best and/or most famous coaches. For this latest installment, we're looking at Norv Turner.

Packers to release Charles Woodson | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
The recruitment process has already started as Seattle Seahawks All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman has suggested Woodson join the L.O.B. ("Legion of Boom") defensive backfield.

NO TIME FOR DOWNTIME IN THE SPORT THAT NEVER SLEEPS. FREE - 02.11.13 - SI Vault
Rainy day in Georgia. Rome, Ga., to be exact. April 27, 2011. The game that night between the Asheville Tourists and the Rome Braves of the Class A South Atlantic League would be washed out. That dreary morning Asheville's second baseman awoke at Rome's Holiday Inn and decided to check in on his other life. He left his room on the third floor, walked outside, took a seat on the steps and dialed up Tom O'Brien, his football coach at North Carolina State.