Official Seahawks Draft Thread

[Troy McClure]

9 hours of NFL draft day hell and the Hawks take Josh Wilson

[myELFboy]

Another small CB.

[Sweezo]

Sounds like a typical Ruskell pick: Undersized, confident, high character, smart, etc. Alright. But did we need a corner?

I don't knock him for not getting alot of interceptions...sounds like he was more of a shut down guy despite his size. Also appears that he's a return specialist, which we could certainly use (although Burleson did well in that role last year). I'll bet the use him to cover slot recievers, which might be a pretty good fit.

Still...was that a priority? Perhaps they'll address the offensive line later...3rd round looks like a strong round for guards. Meanwhile, there weren't any TEs worth taking in the 2nd round...there's some potential bargains late at that position.

Then again, corners started dropping like flies at the end of last season and we could have used some depth last year...

Still, would've liked to add Kalil since we had a shot at him.

[bennith13]

Ruskell said that Josh was the highest rated player they had at that pick... so I guess take that for what is worth. Still I think we needed a DT, OG, and a TE a lot more. I guess there is still time left.

[vegas_runnin_rebel]

I would have preferred to have gone DT with our second round pick. I've got more faith in Pollard putting together a decent year at TE than I do Tubbs coming back at full strength.

Still, the nice thing about Josh Wilson is that he's got world class speed. I'm really liking the way our secondary is shaping up.

[Sweezo]

Who did you see as an option on the defensive line? I didn't see anyone there that I was crazy about.

[vegas_runnin_rebel]

Who did you see as an option on the defensive line? I didn't see anyone there that I was crazy about.

I wanted McBride. It's just too bad he went one pick before us.

I also like Quinn Pitcock. Everyone is really down on his potential as a pro, but he strikes me as a guy that Ruskell would go after. Definitely would have been a reach to take in the second round though.

[Sweezo]

I wanted McBride. It's just too bad he went one pick before us.

Sounds like he was on Ruskell's short list, along with Wilson.

[Ex-hippie]

Who else is noticing how many players' highlight reels show them torching Washington players?

[NateMustGo]

So any of you guys know anything about the 85th pick a dl i believe?

[Sweezo]

Who else is noticing how many players' highlight reels show them torching Washington players?

Now that I think about it...who's going to get drafted from UW? Anyone? Stanback at a position to be determined later?

[Sweezo]

So any of you guys know anything about the 85th pick a dl i believe?

Sounds like he's a strong run stuffer, and in terms of intangibles he has what you would expect from a Ruskell pick.

Still...waiting for a guard...there's still some decent names available tomorrow, and I think the team would be wise to take a TE from a small college to call the draft good.

[vegas_runnin_rebel]

So any of you guys know anything about the 85th pick a dl i believe?

Brandon Mebane
DT | (6'1", 309, 5.15) | CALIFORNIA

Strengths: Squatty defensive tackle with very good initial burst. Plays low to the ground and stays on his feet. Fires off the ball quickly and with good leverage. Consistently gets good positioning and is at his best working in a one-gap scheme. He displays excellent awareness and finds the ball quickly. Plays with a good motor. Continues to improve his array of pass rush moves and he's relentless when turned loose on the quarterback. A hard worker with good leadership skills and overall intangibles.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal height and will have some trouble versus taller, bigger offensive linemen that are able to neutralize him by engulfing him. He is too small to play a two-gap role. He is quick and agile, but lacks top-end speed and closing burst to the quarterback. Can plug the gap but will struggle to get through the line of scrimmage in the NFL. He will not be a huge threat as a pass rusher at the next level. Does not show ideal athleticism and will not be as much of a playmaker. Marginal score on the Wonderlic Test.

Overall: Mebane played in seven games as a true freshman in 2003 and made three total tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack. In 2004, he played in all 12 games (nine starts) and recorded 25 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Mebane started 10 of 12 games in 2005 (slowed by an ankle injury) and was named to the All-Pac 10 first team after finishing the year with 29 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. In 2006, he appeared in all 13 games, with 12 starts, registering 52 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one safety.

Mebane was a versatile, explosive, high-energy defensive tackle that made lots of big plays throughout his collegiate career. Unfortunately, he does not possess the size, strength or athleticism to translate that production to the NFL game. In fact, Mebane will likely max out as a situational one-gap defensive tackle that contributes in a rotation. He is likely to come off the board late on Day 1.

Not a particularly glowing scouting report, but then again, so was the scouting report on Lofa.

I don't trust Ruskell when it comes to trades, but I think he's a great scout. Hopefully Mebane will be able to contribute right away and shore up our depth at DT while Tubbs is recovering from microfracture surgery.

[Ex-hippie]

-= original quote snipped =-
Sounds like he's a strong run stuffer, and in terms of intangibles he has what you would expect from a Ruskell pick.

How so? Supposedly his Wonderlic score ranks somewhere between Vince Young and Forrest Gump.

Still...waiting for a guard...

Beekman. (That's the one I wanted in the third.]

there's still some decent names available tomorrow, and I think the team would be wise to take a TE from a small college to call the draft good.

A small college such as, I dunno, maybe Whitworth?

[Billy]

I was quite shocked when looking at ESPN's Scout.com rankings that Joe Newton seems nowhere to be found. I know he had an injury... but is that what is turning off the scouts?

[Sweezo]

How so? Supposedly his Wonderlic score ranks somewhere between Vince Young and Forrest Gump.

Undersized, high motor defensive lineman with high character, blah blah blah. Other than possibly being dumb as a post, he has the same traits Ruskell looks for in his defensive linemen.

Then again...is defensive lineman a position where you really need a genius? On defense, I tend to think you need smarts if you're calling out schemes as a LB or a S, but if you're just a bull-rushing run-stopper...does it matter? The Seahawks aren't known to have a complicated defensive scheme for their defensive linemen, so Wonderlich be damned! Perhaps I'm being ignorant...

Yeah, that TE from Whitworth is exactly what I'm thinking. Ben Patrick's also still around, too.

Speaking of local TE products, one option I hadn't really considered at TE is Cody Boyd (6'7, 255) from Wazzu. He's gigantic and has pretty good hands...not the greatest blocker in the world, and he had a hard time staying healthy in college, but he could be a nice red zone threat similar to what Stevens offered. Fairly similar to what they say about Allen now that I think about it...

[NateMustGo]

Thanks guys sounds like a good 3rd round pick,heres to a good draft from here on out. And as much as I dislike Jackson if they trade him for a 4th rounder after giveing up a first for Branch I would be very pissed!

[Ex-hippie]

Beekman and Patrick were both there at #120 and #124. Now we have Mansfield Wrotto -- whom I did like -- and some guy named Atkins.

I still don't understand the DT in the third round. Why take a guy with limited upside there? We have plenty of players there who deserve minutes -- Tubbs, Bernard, Darby, Terrill, Davis. Sure, none of them dominate except perhaps a healthy Tubbs, and that's no sure thing. But Mebane isn't going to dominate either. At best he's going to be on a par with the rest of them, just another body to rotate in. What's the point?

I'm also a little confused as to how the secondary is going to look. When Wilson was drafted, Kiper (or maybe it was Mortensen) repeated the cliche about how you can never have too many good corners. But is that true? There are roster limits, you know. At CB we now have one sure starter (Trufant) and three players (Jennings, Wilson, Herndon) who will fight it out to be the starter, the nickel back and the dime back, none of whom are sure things. I don't know where that leaves Babineaux -- we're pretty full at safety, too -- and forget about Pete Hunter. At safety it looks like Grant, Russell, Green and Boulware, in that order. Could we really carry nine or even ten defensive backs?

I know very little about the first of their fourth round picks, Baraka Atkins. I'm reading that he has an inconsistent motor, which might be okay if he's only going to be a situational player. (You can lose your concentration from time to time, but all we ask is that you keep your head screwed on for the 10-15 plays you're on the field.) I guess there's a roster vacancy with Tafoya gone, so they can squeeze him in somewhere behind Kerney, Fisher and Tapp.

Overall this draft is leaving me confused, as the Seahawks are drafting for depth at a lot of positions where they don't seem to need much more depth.

[Sweezo]

This is basically every Seahawks draft...seeing a player you think is a great fit fall to where the Seahawks pick, and then seeing Ruskell pick someone you've never heard of in a position that doesn't make a lot of sense. And yet, it's tended to work out in the past.

In terms of depth, I think they could use depth at all the positions they're drafting at.

At DT, they're getting older and with Tubbs out last year their players wore down terribly.

At DE, having four guys sounds about right (although they just signed Brandon Green).

At CB, injuries burned us last year and Herndon's trying to come back from a broken ankle (and while I like Babineaux as a playmaker...he's not a great cover corner).

At LB, we have three great starters and not muc h behind them.

And of course OG is a no brainer.

If Patrick slips two spots...please, 'Hawks...

[Sweezo]

...and instead of drafting Patrick in an area of need, they draft another WR. Jordan Kent? Interesting...he'll take some work, but he was a three sport guy and he's pretty damn fast.

This is basically every Seahawks draft...seeing a player you think is a great fit fall to where the Seahawks pick, and then seeing Ruskell pick someone you've never heard of in a position that doesn't make a lot of sense.

Damn right...