Maybe it’s the commencement of the NFL Combine this past weekend, or maybe I’m just that excited now that the NFL is following suit of the NBA and holding this year’s draft in primetime, but I thought I would weigh-in on the Seahawks options for 2010.
Professional football is not my forte, but I know enough to where I can argue with the rest of them. And since I’m much more compassionate toward college football, the NFL Draft is probably the sole facet of the game I’m most comfortable discussing. So here goes nothing.
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In any event, this year’s draft excites me a little for the Seahawks’ sake, for they receive two first-round picks in the top fifteen. So let’s break down their biggest needs and potential picks coming our way.
Despite all the injury problems this team has faced in the last 2-3 seasons, our biggest problem was the opposition running up the scoreboard. Seattle was 24th in the league in total defense, allowing just over 24 points per game. And remember the game down in Houston where Andre Johnson smoked Marcus Trufant on the first play from scrimmage? Yeah, we were third-to-last (ranked 30th) in pass defense in the league.
So, with the number 6 overall pick of the NFL Draft, your Seattle Seahawks (should) choose … Safety Eric Berry out of the University of Tennessee. Berry has been projected around the top-5 overall, but could easily fall in our laps at no. 6.
Eric Berry is a legit deep-back, coming from the strongest conference in the NCAA, and should have an immediate impact in the NFL. Scouts have been projecting him to have the impact on a team's secondary much like Troy Polamalu has with Pittsburgh (no, Eric Berry is not Polamalu and will most likely not develop to that extent, but still could be quite effective).
The Seahawks’ second first-round pick is a little more controversial, namely because of the direction fans want the team to go. Evidently, Matt Hasselback has shown signs of humility and, dare I say it, futility over the past couple years and many are ready to discover his apparent heir. Scouts and reporters are listing Sam Bradford as this draft’s premier quarterback, but is unlikely that he’ll pull a Brady Quinn and be drafted past the top 10.
Next in line is Jimmy Clausen out of Notre Dame (no it’s not Tim Tebow, and if you think it is: you’re wrong; save it for another argument). This irritates me initially because Clausen is one of the biggest tools I’ve ever seen on the field. Even reporters out of the Combine this weekend are getting frustrated with his arrogance, claiming that he is way too cocky for what little he’s achieved in his career. The kid has 16 overall wins at ND, spanning over three full seasons. One bowl win in his only appearance (The freaking Hawaii Bowl). And I’m just going to say it: he got head coach Charlie Weis fired at end of last season losing the final four games.
Clausen is the last kind of attitude you want on your team … but, I have to give him credit as to how much he improved himself as a Pro quarterback progressively in each of his years in college. He learned how to scramble, and throw on the run, which is a pretty damn good quality in the NFL (just look at Ben Roethlisberger and Brett Favre). And he learned how to throw a ball away instead of taking a sack or throwing a pick-6, which was often the case during his freshman year.
If Pete Carroll is satisfied with the current group of backs we currently have (and it sounds like he is), then don’t be surprised if we draft Clausen with the number 14 pick. Much to our chagrin, I think Clausen could be a decent NFL QB if he gets over himself and stops being such a d*ck.
Otherwise, RB C.J. Spiller out of Clemson is a promising back that shows signs of Chris Johnson. What Spiller lacks in size he gains in explosiveness and versatility, and could very easily become an impact position player like Reggie Bush was for the Saints this season. Most notably, Spiller has gotten nothing but high praises from the Clemson faithful in all of this four years at with the school. He’s a class act, and he would fit right in here in Seattle.
So it’s up in the air right now. Do we risk drafting Hasselback’s successor this year? Or do we put our chips on what may be the next fantasy king of the running game? With the 14th overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks (acquired from the Denver Broncos) select … Rick Mirer. Oh man, that would be awesome.
