Seahawks Draft Review

After all the prognostications about whether the Seahawks would pick a tight end, wide receiver or defensive tackle in the first round, Seattle did the smart thing by bucking those predictions and going with a defensive end instead.

Seahawks General Manager Tim Ruskell was adamant before the draft in saying that he would not allow perceived “needs” to dictate his picks, and by sticking to that proclamation he was able to add seven players to the roster that all have a very good chance of being around when next season begins.

Many people believed Seattle would select North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwaan Balmer, Texas wide receiver Limas Sweed or Purdue tight end Dustin Keller in the first round but Ruskell avoided those three players, instead picking USC defensive end Lawrence Jackson after trading down from the 25th spot to the 28th.

Jackson is big (6′4, 271lbs) and fast (4.82 40yd dash), and while ESPN claims that he struggles when double-teamed, that is not something he’ll have to worry about much considering the players around him. He was a second team All-American last season, a third team All-American his sophomore year, and was named to the Pac-10 All-Conference first team both times. Jackson should step right in to the Seahawks’ d-end rotation with Patrick Kerney and Darryl Tapp, and he may get more playing time than you think. Tapp did not prove that he is ready to be an every-down DE last season, and Jackson could compete for a starting job if he does well in training camp.

Taking Jackson in round one gave Seattle a third DE, something integral in the NFL these days, but it also allowed them to address needs with their next two picks without needlessly reaching for the players they wanted. In the second round the ‘Hawks traded up with Baltimore, sending the 55th and 86th overall choices to the Ravens in exchange for the 38th pick, then used it to select Notre Dame TE John Carlson.

While some people saw Carlson as a reach at this spot, Ruskell stated in the Seahawks press conference today that they had inside information indicating Carlson would be picked after 38 but before 55, and since he was the TE the team had pegged as the best in the draft, Ruskell didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.

Carlson did not put up eye-popping numbers in his senior year (40 catches, 372 Yds, 3 TDs), but it must be mentioned that the Fighting Irish offense was absolutely horrendous. In fact, even with those paltry numbers Carlson led the team in receptions and receiving yards. His lack of production was obviously not due to any lacking skills. Stats aside, Carlson does look like a very good TE prospect. He has size (6′6, 251lbs), solid hands and is reportedly a good blocker. Jackson, who played against Carlson a couple of times in college, heaped compliments on him saying Carlson, “Wouldn’t go away,” as a blocker and praising him for his all-around ability. Mike Homlgren compared Carlson’s game to that of 49ers great Brent Jones, which should be considered very high praise.

Because of the trade that allowed them to select Carlson, Seattle did not have a third round pick, but they unearthed what could be a monstrous gem in the fourth round with Red Bryant, a defensive tackle out of Texas A&M. At 6′5 and nearly 330lbs, Bryant will head in to training camp as the ‘Hawks biggest defensive player and as his measureables forecast, he is a run stuffer. And a very, very good run stuffer at that. Here’s an example: Bryant played in only 8 of 12 games in his junior season due to an ACL tear. In the 8 games Bryant played, the Aggies allowed just 75 rushing yards per game but in the 4 games Bryant sat out, they allowed almost 230 ground yards per game. That right there, folks, is a difference maker.

The video evidence shows that Bryant is a handful on the field, and adding him to a rotation that already includes Marcus Tubbs (if he’s healthy), Rocky Bernard (if he’s not kicked off the team), Brandon Mebane and Craig Terrill is almost unfair. Bryant also provides insurance on Tubbs and Bernard. If one or both of them don’t see much or any action next season, he will plant his solid girth in the vacancy left. How he was the ninth DT selected is an absolute mystery to me, but I won’t complain and neither will the ‘Hawks.

The fifth round saw Seattle select West Virginia FB Owen Schmitt, a physical blocker who should definitely make the team as the second FB behind Leonard Weaver. Schmitt has been the lead blocker for the Mountaineers since he arrived there as a sophmore, and he led Pat White and Steve Slaton to 1,000 yard seasons in both 2006 and 2007. Schmitt became a legend at West Virginia, reportedly breaking 10 facemasks in his career (insert “sticking his nose into things” joke here).

Schmitt has been called “Mr. January,” because of his penchant for stepping up in bowl games. There was the Fiesta Bowl this year against Oklahoma, where he busted off a 57 yard TD run, giving WVU a 13-3 lead from which the Sooners never recovered. There was the 2006 Gator Bowl against Georgia Tech, a 38-35 victory in which Schmitt ran for 109 yards and two TD’s, including one that pulled the Mountaineers within 11 points as they mounted their late-game comeback, and the 2005 Sugar Bowl against Georgia where he rushed 9 times for 82 yards, including a 57 yard scamper that set up a field goal in WVU’s 38-35 victory. For a fifth round pick, those are some impressive credentials and Schmmitt sounds like the kind of guy who will be an instant fan-favorite in Seattle.

The ‘Hawks had three more picks in rounds six and seven, and used them wisely. With the 189th pick they got Tyler Schmitt, a long snapping specialist from San Diego State. While it is possible that Schmitt would have been available as a free agent after the draft, Seattle needed a long snapper and he was by far the best one available, having reportedly never had a bad snap on a punt, field goal or extra point in four years with the Aztecs. The Seahawks then took RB Justin Forsett out of California with the 233rd pick. While he lacks ideal size (5′8, 190lbs), Forsett was very productive at Cal, finishing his senior season with over 1500 rushing yards and 15 TD’s. He could develop in to a very good change-of-pace back, and while he may not make the team this year he is the type of player who could be stashed on the practice squad and given a year or two of seasoning. However, if Forsett performs well in camp the ‘Hawks may have a tough decision to make about whether they should carry four RB’s or perhaps consider (as much as it hurts to say) cutting Maurice Morris. Their final pick of the day, 235th overall, was kicker Brandon Coutu out of Georgia, who was called the best in the draft by many a prognosticator. He’ll compete with Olindo Mare for the PK job.

Top to bottom, I would call this a great draft for the Seahawks. No, they did not draft a wide receiver like everybody said they should, but I don’t think they needed to. In Deion Branch (once he’s healthy), Nate Burleson and Bobby Engram the ‘Hawks have a very good top 3, and with Ben Obamanu, Logan Payne and Courtney Taylor all improving, the team does not have the huge need at receiver that many “experts” claim they do. I’ll say it again, this was a very successful draft for Seattle. Maybe I’m drinking the Ruskell Kool-Aid, but damn it tastes good!

Technorati Tags: John Carlson, Lawrence Jackson, NFL, NFL Draft, Owen Schmitt, Red Bryant, Seahawks, Tim Ruskell