Month: February 2014 (Page 3 of 4)

Why I’m not worried about Seattle’s offensive line

Injuries to Russell Okung and co is the main problem, not a lack of talent

A lot of people see the offensive line as Seattle’s biggest draft need.

The game at St. Louis in week eight really was the tipping point. The Seahawks couldn’t block a thing. Russell Wilson was getting half a second to make a decision, and really they should’ve lost that night.

A terrific defensive stand saved the day, but they won in spite of the offense.

It wasn’t the only game where they struggled as a consequence of bad line play. The Houston win was torrid at times — with a lot of Wilson magic and a Richard Sherman pick-six being the antidote this time.

Across the board the stats weren’t good. The pundits looked at the stats and made their judgement.

Major changes are needed.”

Unfortunately there’s no column on the stat sheet for ‘devastating injuries‘.

Make no mistake — a lack of health was the big problem with Seattle’s offensive line in 2013.

Not a lack of talent.

Very few teams can survive losing a Pro Bowl left tackle and center. Even fewer teams can survive losing your left tackle, center, right tackle and then having to move your left guard to man the blindside.

They also had a 7th round rookie starting at right tackle for a large chunk of the season.

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but this is not a good thing.

That Seattle had only the second worst offensive line in the NFL should be a major surprise. One team actually had it worse than this?

What on earth were they doing in Miami?

(Well, actually, we know what they were doing in Miami. They were texting each other about hookers and drugs. And then falling out.)

You simply cannot field a starting offensive line of McQuistan, Carpenter, Jeanpierre, Sweezy and Bowie and expect results.

It aint happening.

Not against some of the best pass rushers in the league.

Throw in Pete Carroll’s desire to be the #1 scrambling team in the NFL and you’re going to see some sacks. Whether they’re fielding the greatest offensive line in the league or one of the worst, it’s unavoidable.

A case in point — against New Orleans in the playoffs Wilson was sacked three times. On two of those occasions, the ‘sack’ was a -1 yard rushing attempt by the quarterback.

Peyton Manning doesn’t get many of those.

Speaking of Manning, the reason he was barely hit all year had nothing to do with his offensive line. It’s the style of offense — which is designed to limit the pass rush with a quickfire short passing game.

If Wilson and Seattle used this approach, they too would see a major reduction in sacks.

It’ll never happen of course, because Manning and Wilson are polar opposite players in terms of skill set and size.

Sometimes you just have to accept this is the team the Seahawks are. They’re going to keep scrambling, they’re going to pick up sacks.

And they’re also going to make a ton of big plays with Wilson moving out of the pocket.

This isn’t just about the passing game either — the Seahawks had trouble establishing the run in certain games too.

In 2013 they averaged 4.3 yards a carry and 136.8 yards per game — down from 4.8 YPC and 161.2 YPG.

It’s also indicative of the number of teams who set out to stop Marshawn Lynch and the running game. Many dared Wilson to beat them with his arm.

To be fair, any drop off in the rushing attack is mostly picked up by the passing game. In 2012 they managed 189.4 YPG, and it increased to 202.2 a year later.

The cumulative loss is 12 YPG for the season. Hardly back breaking stuff.

As Wilson develops as a passer (and let’s remember, he’s only two seasons into a long career), I suspect he’ll be become even more productive if teams continue to challenge him by selling out against the run.

We had a taste of that against the Saints in week 13.

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Let’s take a closer look at Seattle’s schedule last year, because this also played a part in Seattle’s perceived struggles up front.

The Rams are fielding two of the best pass rushers in the league right now, including (for me) the absolute #1 in Robert Quinn. According to DVOA, Arizona had the #2 defense in the NFL behind Seattle. Everybody knows how good San Francisco’s front seven is, and the Seahawks were unfortunate to dodge Aldon Smith’s prolonged absence.

That’s six games against rock solid opponents right off the bat, three of which they faced without their preferred starting o-line — including their left tackle.

Here are some other pass rushers they met in 2013 — J.J. Watt, Jared Allen and Robert Mathis. They also tackled three of the better overall units according to DVOA — New York (#6), Tampa Bay (#8) and New Orleans (#10).

This was a tougher than usual schedule for the Seahawks’ o-line. Doing it with three of your starters missing a combined 18 games is a challenge some teams couldn’t overcome.

Even in Seattle’s poorest display of the season — the defeat against Arizona in week 16 — they were missing J.R. Sweezy.

Having missed the injury bug in 2012, it was back with a vengeance in 2013.

I’ll say it again — a lack of health hurt this group. Not a lack of talent.

Avoiding injuries can be a cause for concern itself, but I think the talent level is sufficient that you almost have to invest an element of faith.

I genuinely believe Seattle has a competent offensive line when everyone is good to go.

Russell Okung is one of the better tackles in the NFL — and was described as such after playing 17 games in 2012. He’s got an injury history but they can’t afford to give up on him at this stage in his career. He’s worth persevering with.

Max Unger had a difficult 2013 but never looked truly 100% either. A fresh start and a clean bill of health could get him back to his best.

Breno Giacomini is one of the more underrated players on the roster — and for me deserves to be re-signed on a 2-3 year deal if possible.

J.R. Sweezy gets a bad press at times, but 2013 was only his second year as an offensive lineman and his first as the unquestioned starter. He’s still learning and growing — and there’s no reason to question Tom Cable’s judgement on this one.

Then we have the revolving door at left guard — the area most people see as the problem. James Carpenter has been hit and miss and could even be a cap casualty this off-season. Yet he’s also had big games — most notably when combating Justin Smith.

I’m not sure I’ve seen a guard play as well against Smith over the last couple of seasons. That in itself has some value.

Michael Bowie played well in his only start at left guard, he deputised well for Sweezy on the right side in week 16 and could take on a more prominent role in year two.

Alvin Bailey had a terrific pre-season at left tackle but has the size and movement skills to grow into a top-class guard. It’ll be interesting to see if that’s where he ends up going forward.

This isn’t a bad group — and the 2013 depth of Paul McQuistan, Lemuel Jeanpierre and Caylin Hauptmann also did their job, with McQuistan seeing his fair share of time on the field at guard and tackle.

Despite what the stats say, I challenge anyone to tell me this is one of the worst lines in the NFL based on personnel.

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Really it comes down to this — competing in the NFC West aint easy.

There isn’t an offensive line in the league that can block the four NFC West defenses out of a game.

You’re going to give up some plays against this bunch. I think we can all agree on that.

A lot of people regard San Francisco’s offense line as one of the very best. And yet they couldn’t stop Seattle forcing two forced fumbles in the NFC Championship game, shutting down the run completely and forcing two interceptions.

This is how it’s going to be.

Even if you get Okung, Unger, Sweezy and Giacomini for 16 games next year — and spend a first round pick on a guard — I’m telling you, they aren’t going to shut down Robert Quinn, Calais Campbell, Aldon Smith and co.

The Rams could spend two high first round picks on their offensive line in May. Guess what? They’ll also struggle to stop the other three NFC West teams.

This is a division where elite defensive line play is rife.

Whoever you put out there, it’s not going to be pretty.

Some people will argue — not unfairly — that if you play in such a tough division, upgrading the offensive line where possible is a necessity.

I wouldn’t disagree with that. In fact if this was an excellent guard class, I think you would consider making an early pick if you felt you could really make an upgrade.

I’m not arguing the line is perfect. Far from it. And Seattle sets up its draft board to try and identify where they can make the biggest improvements.

The problem is, it’s a really poor guard class. Borderline horrible.

Players like Cyril Richardson and Gabe Jackson are wildly overrated and will struggle to crack day two of the draft. Richardson is a particularly bad fit for the zone blocking scheme.

David Yankey is this years ‘guard who everyone loves mid-season’. It happens every year. The internet finds a guard, dubs them the next Steve Hutchinson and then the reality check comes around in December/January.

Yankey isn’t terrible, but he is a technician. He looks extremely accomplished in Stanford’s scheme — frequently pulling right and putting his excellent coaching into action.

At the next level however, there’s so much more to it. Physically I’d be concerned he’s going to get seriously overmatched.

Out of all the guards in this class, Xavier Su’a-Filo is really the only one I’d consider in round one — and that’s mainly based on upside. He combines rare athleticism with a nice power base and he could develop into a very accomplished guard.

He also needs to improve his technique and while I think he could go in the first round, many others see him as no more than a late second rounder at best.

Looking at what’s on offer, you’d be reaching for a guard in round one. Maybe even in round two as well depending on who’s left.

I suspect they’ll look for depth and further competition. Let Cable go back to work in the later rounds. That plan has worked so far to an extent. It hasn’t provided a genuine star, but Sweezy, Bailey and Bowie are all young, talented players with the opportunity to keep developing.

They could do with a lineman to replace the (likely) departing McQuistan. I’d also consider signing a veteran left tackle to backup Okung, if the price is right.

And they may concentrate on two other areas early in the draft — continuing to add weapons to the offense (another way to alleviate pressure is to surround Wilson with as much talent as possible) and making sure Seattle’s defensive line is well stocked.

Is there more to be gained by putting a big receiver outside for Wilson to throw to (jump ball/red zone specialist) and having Bailey/Bowie/Carpenter at guard, than there is having a starting offensive line that includes Okung-rookie-Unger-Sweezy-Giacomini and a lesser quality big wide out?

Quite possibly.

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I haven’t covered a year on this blog without people highlighting the offensive line as a need.

I guess when you’ve enjoyed Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson in the past, it comes with the territory.

It’s also worth remembering how rare those two players were. Trying to recreate those days will be nearly impossible.

While that duo (and a trio of journeyman in the other three spots) carried the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl… the current group finished the job.

And they did it without conceding a single sack.

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Updated mock draft with trades: 12th February

Jadeveon Clowney -- trade target for the Buccs?

I don’t want to pump out the same mock draft every week.

So here’s my first projection for the year that including trades.

There were six in-play trades during the 2013 draft. In this mock, I’ve also included six (detailed below).

I’ve also tried to mix up a few of the projections. I’ve dropped some personal favourites from the first round and moved some guys up. The draft is never predictable so even if some of these picks are a little ‘out there’, that’s kind of what I was going for.

Now the trades…

Cleveland trades the #4 & #35 picks to Houston for the #1 overall pick
Amid all the chaos in Cleveland, you just get the feeling they’re not finished making headlines. They’re in exactly the same position as 2012. Two first round picks, they own the #4 selection. That time they allowed another team (Washington) to take the initiative and get RGIII. Anyone else get the feeling they won’t let lightning strike twice?

This would be a good deal for Houston too. Despite a small move down, they still get a quarterback at #4 and can look forward to kicking off day two with the first and third picks in the second round.

Tampa Bay trades the #7 & #38 picks to St. Louis for the #2 overall pick
Back to back trades to start the draft? Yeah it might be unlikely. But Houston and St. Louis have aggressively signalled their desire to move down. The Buccs could use a brilliant pass rusher to kick start Lovie Smith’s defense and this just makes so much sense — for both teams. If the Rams are targeting a tackle in the top ten, they’ll still get a good one at #7.

Carolina trades the #28 pick and a 2015 first rounder to Minnesota for the #8 overall pick
The Panthers suddenly are contenders. They have a great defense. They have some nice pieces on offense. What they lack is a top-tier big receiver. They’re coming up against Julio Jones, Vincent Jackson and Jimmy Graham twice a year. Why not get their own version? Mike Evans is a scrambling quarterbacks best friend — and he could provide Cam Newton with a fantastic alternative to Steve Smith. It’s a big price, but it worked for Atlanta when they dealt for Jones.

In this scenario the Vikings have seen the top three quarterbacks go off the board quickly. They luck out here, grabbing another first round pick and targeting the next best quarterback later on.

Miami trades the #19 pick & a third rounder to St. Louis for the #13 overall pick
The Dolphins’ #1 need without a doubt is left tackle. They made a big move to get Dion Jordan last year, but a similar jump into the top ten will be expensive. Instead they’re likely to see how the draft develops. If a guy like Jake Matthews or Taylor Lewan drops, they’ll be ready to make their move.

The Rams continue to accumulate picks in this mock. By the end of day one they’ve drafted Taylor Lewan and Brent Urban, while adding an extra second and third rounder.

The New York Jets trade the #18 & a late rounder to Chicago for the #14 overall pick
Rex Ryan needs to build an offense. Geno Smith didn’t have a great rookie season, but look what he had to throw to. Eric Ebron and Marqise Lee are both still on the board, and this deal isn’t expensive. The Bears were looking to move down in this projection, knowing their targets would be available in four picks time.

San Francisco trades the #30 pick and a fourth rounder to Philadelphia for the #22 overall pick
The 49ers have a whole host of picks again this year. In 2013 they moved from #31 to #18 to get Eric Reid. That deal cost them a third rounder. This is less of a jump, so they only surrender a fourth. If there’s a player San Francisco can’t imagine leaving the draft without, they have the ammunition to be aggressive.

The Eagles on the other hand need to do a lot of work on that defense, so any extra picks will be gratefully received.

Here’s the complete mock, including trades…

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CLE (#4) TRADES WITH HOU (#1)
#1 Johnny Manziel (QB, Texas A&M)
The way the Browns are being run these days, would a big move like this shock you?
TB (#7) TRADES WITH STL (#2)
#2 Jadeveon Clowney (DE, South Carolina) TRADE
The Buccs need an edge rusher and Lovie Smith doesn’t waste any time going up to get his man.
#3 Teddy Bridgewater (QB, Louisville)
I bet they would’ve loved a shot at Clowney, but they know they can get a quarterback for the long term here.
#4 Blake Bortles (QB, UCF)
They move down to #4 and still get the guy their coach probably wants.
#5 Sammy Watkins (WR, Clemson)
With the quarterbacks off the board, they take the best player remaining.
#6 Greg Robinson (T, Auburn)
This would be a gift for Atlanta. A genuine steal. There’s so much to like about Robinson.
#7 Taylor Lewan (T, Michigan)
I just get a feeling that a lot of teams picking in the top ten will prefer Lewan’s run blocking over Jake Matthews overall skill set.
CAR (#28) TRADES WITH MIN (#8)
#8 Mike Evans (WR, Texas A&M) TRADE
Carolina, sensing a window of opportunity, make a big splash jumping up 20 spots to target a game changing wide out.
#9 Kelvin Benjamin (WR, Florida State)
Buffalo reunites E.J. Manuel with another former Seminole. He has immense upside.
#10 Khalil Mack (DE, Buffalo)
Could play end or even 4-3 linebacker in Detroit. Don’t they have enough weapons on offense?
#11 Anthony Barr (OLB, UCLA)
I’m still not overly convinced by Barr. Ray Horton’s arrival as defensive coordinator means they need a 3-4 OLB.
#12 Aaron Donald (DT, Pittsburgh)
Forget the lack of size. He’s an absolute terror and should be taken very seriously as a prospective top-20 pick.
MIA (#19) TRADES WITH STL (#13)
#13 Jake Matthews (T, Texas A&M)
After a bit of a fall, Miami grasps the opportunity to move up and get the left tackle they need. St. Louis is happy to move down again.
NYJ (#18) TRADES WITH CHI (#14)
#14 Eric Ebron (TE, North Carolina)
NYJ leapfrogs Pittsburgh to get a safety net and playmaker for the offense.
#15 Cyrus Kouandjio (T, Alabama)
No Ebron? No worries. The Steelers take the next guy on their board and get a left tackle with major upside.
#16 Morgan Moses (T, Virginia)
Whether they re-sign Eugene Monroe or not, this has to be an option.
#17 Marqise Lee (WR, USC)
Of course the Cowboys need a defensive lineman. But Jerry Jones does what he wants. And in this mock, he wants Marqise Lee.
#18 Calvin Pryor (S, Louisville)
After moving down a few spots, the Bears add a safety to their defense.
#19 Brent Urban (DT, Virginia)
Adding to an already fearsome defensive line, Urban could be J.J. Watt-lite.
#20 Antonio Richardson (T, Tennessee)
A monster of a left tackle with a nasty edge. They’ll need a guy like this in the NFC West.
#21 C.J. Mosley (LB, Alabama)
Green Bay needs to keep adding toughness to that defense. It’s way too soft at the moment.
SF (#30) TRADES WITH PHI (#22)
#22 Brandin Cooks (WR, Oregon State)
If he runs in the 4.3/4.4 range, teams are going to show a ton of interest. San Francisco has the ammunition to move up.
#23 Jace Amaro (TE, Texas Tech)
Big, third down converting tight end. Would have an instant impact in this offense.
#24 Darqueze Dennard (CB, Michigan State)
It’s not a great class for cornerbacks, but Dennard looks like the best available.
#25 Xavier Su’a-Filo (G, UCLA)
The best guard in the class, with amazing athletic potential.
#26 Odell Beckham Jr (WR, LSU)
Could provide a dynamic double threat with Josh Gordon.
#27 Zack Martin (T/G, Notre Dame)
If he falls into the 20’s, he’s going to make someone very happy. Can play tackle or guard
#28 Derek Carr (QB, Fresno State)
They made a big move down after the top three QB’s left the board. In today’s mock they target Carr with this pick.
#29 Louis Nix (DT, Notre Dame)
Big interior presence who didn’t have a great 2013. The heir apparent to Vince Wilfork.
#30 Ha Ha Clinton Dix (S, Alabama)
The entire secondary needs to be upgraded. After trading back, this looks like a good match.
#31 Justin Gilbert (CB, Oklahoma State)
The Broncos really need to add some quality and youth to that secondary.
#32 Ra-Shede Hageman (DT, Minnesota)
Has the size and raw athleticism this team goes for in a defensive tackle.

Oh…

And watch this…

(especially the part at 4:52)

Early first round board for the Seahawks

This is a Seahawks-centric draft board.

Teams don’t often have a long list of players they’d be prepared to take in round one.

They narrow it down, remove players for whatever reason and really zone in on the prospects they want to target.

These are the guys, as of today, I’d put in that first round bracket who I’d be willing to draft at #32.

Some of them obviously won’t be available. But that’s OK. If there’s only one still on the board at the end of the first round, that’s possibly who I’m taking.

It’s also still very early in the process and the combine is going to change so much by the end of the month.

So basically, I reserve the right to completely change my opinion in a month. In fact I’d be surprised if that didn’t happen.

We’re still waiting to find out so much about these players. There’s nothing final about this stage of the year.

And unlike the teams, we only have limited access to information and tape.

Here’s the list. I’ll have a new mock out tomorrow.

#1 Jadeveon Clowney (DE, South Carolina)
We can only dream what it’d be like to have a player like Clowney in Seattle’s defensive rotation. Imagine that. They might be unstoppable.

#2 Greg Robinson (T, Auburn)
If you knew you had a shot at Robinson, you wouldn’t re-sign Breno Giacomini. Aside from his sensational athletic upside, Auburn’s star player from 2013 is already a terrific run blocker.

#3 Sammy Watkins (WR, Clemson)
He’s not the big receiver this team lacks, but how can you not put him here? Just an incredible player with a big future.

#4 Mike Evans (WR, Texas A&M)
Watch him work back to Johnny Manziel and win endless jump balls to see this is a scrambling quarterbacks dream receiver.

#5 Taylor Lewan (T, Michigan)
The Seahawks want to run the ball. Aside from Robinson at #2, there isn’t another tackle in the draft who plays the run like Lewan.

#6 Aaron Donald (DT, Pittsburgh)
I don’t care about the size. The fact is he lives in the backfield and he’s an absolute nightmare to block. Geno Atkins-style potential.

#7 Kelvin Benjamin (WR, Florida State)
The drops frustrate the heck out of you, but there’s no denying he could be brilliant at the next level. Ideal size for a classic #1 receiver.

#8 Cyrus Kouandjio (T, Alabama)
He’s being knocked for two bad games against Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. I still really like his potential.

#9 Eric Ebron (TE, North Carolina)
Ebron could be the next big-time tight end. Needs to be coached up, and it might take a year. Long term upside is through the roof. Let’s hope he runs well in Indy.

#10 Brent Urban (DT, Virginia)
If he wants to be great, he could be great. Get him in the weight room and try to turn him into J.J. Watt-lite.

#11 Morgan Moses (T, Virginia)
The Seahawks like length, long arms and size. Moses has the lot and could end up being a fast riser over the next few weeks.

#12 Ra’Shede Hageman (DT, Minnesota)
Think about what a player can become, not what he is now. In a rotation with pro-coaching, Hageman could be superb. 6-6, 318lbs — he has the size Seattle loves.

#13 Anthony Barr (DE, UCLA)
Excellent length and the hope is he runs well at the combine. But he has so much work to do on his technique. Could crash and burn in the NFL.

#14 Marqise Lee (WR, USC)
Not the big receiver Seattle needs, but he’s a former Pete Carroll recruit with such an infectious spark to his game. A warrior.

#15 Brandon Coleman (WR, Rutgers)
Coleman has the size and athletic potential to be big time. But he’s not the finished product and needs to convince teams he has the desire to max out his talent.

#16 Antonio Richardson (T, Tennessee)
Massive tackle prospect who could play guard or right tackle. Long arms, 6-6 and 330lbs. Has a nasty streak, a bit like Anthony Davis.

#17 Dee Ford (DE, Auburn)
LEO pas rusher looks like a long term succession process in Seattle. If Ford runs a 4.4 at the combine he’ll be interesting.

#18 Zack Martin (T/G, Notre Dame)
Just a superb technician, but he’s also a better athlete than he gets credit for. Short arms, might be better at guard.

#19 Allen Robinson (WR, Penn State)
Not a burner by any means and that could be costly. But he’s a YAC specialist not to mention a terrific competitor with excellent character.

#20 Davante Adams (WR, Fresno State)
Not huge (6-2, 212lbs) but maybe big enough. Fantastic character. Is he special? I’m trying to work that out.

#21 Xavier Su’a-Filo (G, UCLA)
The only alternative to Zack Martin I’d consider in round one. He’s a really good athlete whose best football lies ahead.

Big name players not on the list:

Any quarterback — they aren’t replacing Russell Wilson, are they?

Jake Matthews — just not sure he’s what this team looks for in a tackle.

Khalil Mack — he’ll probably run a 4.6 at the combine and where does he fit in this defense?

Timmy Jernigan — never been that impressed with his play. Looked dead on his feet at the end of the BCS Championship game.

C.J. Mosley — love the guy, but Seattle doesn’t need a linebacker like this.

Kony Ealy — a player I will do more study on, but I don’t get the hype based on what I’ve seen so far.

Smaller receivers (eg Odell Beckham, Brandin Cooks) — does the team need another sub-6-0 receiver?

Jace Amaro — I want to see him run at the combine. I fear another Gavin Escobar-esque time.

Safety’s/corners — wait until later in the draft

And finally…

Never underestimate the value of a good owner.

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Monday draft notes: Bashaud Breeland & Morgan Moses

Clemson's Bashaud Breeland is a former 4-star corner recruit

Clemson’s Breeland one to watch?

Walter Thurmond is a free agent this year, and Brandon Browner’s time in Seattle appears to be up.

Byron Maxwell has one year left on his contract and could be a leading free agent in 2015 if he continues to start and play well.

If all three players eventually move on, it’ll leave Richard Sherman (assuming he’s re-signed), Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon.

Unless the likes of Thurmond are kept on, we should expect another corner to be drafted at some point.

The Seahawks have consistently gone after cornerbacks in the later rounds and so far they’ve been able to find some real gems.

But as Super Bowl Champions, they have to expect other teams are going to start trying to copy their style.

Some of the players who previously would’ve been available in the middle or later rounds might go earlier as a consequence.

That doesn’t mean the Seahawks are going to start reaching for this position. I think they see themselves as ‘cornerback city’, capable of consistently taking players off the production line and developing them into starters.

It’s not just about finding any corner with length and plugging him in. Pete Carroll is a secondary guru with decades of experience, while Rocky Seto is one of the great unsung heroes in Seattle.

Other teams can try and mimic the Seahawks, but they’ll need the same level of coaching to make it work.

The combine will uncover some potential mid-to-late round targets and it’s an area we’ll look into at the end of the month.

Clemson’s Bashaud Breeland is one player to monitor.

He’s a former four star recruit who played safety and quarterback before switching to corner in college. I’ve seen him listed anywhere between 6-0 and 6-3, but on his recruitment page on Scout.com he’s down as 6-2.

Here’s the blurb on his evaluation:

Breeland is a long defensive back that is a good cover guy. At a combine, he would get behind a little off the line, but his closing speed may be his best trait. He really closes on the ball well and after being behind the receiver. He has long arms, a rangy body, great closing speed, has good instincts, and he really plays under control.

Long corners who cover well seem to interest the Seahawks.

Here’s some tape against NC State from 2013:

It’s difficult to judge cornerbacks without all-22 tape. Most of the time they’re off screen. It’s often difficult to see whether a quarterback goes away from the read because of the coverage.

I’ve tried to break down certain plays but yeah, it’s tough.

At 0:27 he gets beat down the right DEF sideline. I think the receiver runs a good route and he’s forced to try and recover. A bad throw bails him out.

At 1:27 we see what looks like the kind of play that’ll interest Seattle. He’s physical at the top of the route and basically takes the receiver out of the game. No flag, so I guess you’d call it perfect coverage.

He could’ve had an interception at 4:21 with nice downfield shadowing. The quarterback underthrows the ball and Breeland is in position to make the play. He should probably get that one.

Kudos to the ref for a great pick play at 4:36.

He flashes nice tight coverage at 5:13 and ends the game with a Hail Mary pick at the end.

Right now Breeland’s being touted as a second or third rounder. It’s not a great class for corners, so a good work out in Indianapolis could propel him up draft boards.

Are the Seahawks going to draft Breeland? Not if he goes in that range. I’m not sure he’s good enough to warrant that level of investment, and they’ve shown they can find players from all kinds of backgrounds later on.

Even if Thurmond departs, I’m intrigued by the potential of Tharold Simon if he can stay healthy and get a full camp under his belt.

As teams set about trying to copy Seattle, I think Breeland ends up getting overdrafted. If he slips a little, then he could be someone they look at.

Senior rankings, Moses impressive

I’ve spent a bit of time this week going over some of the videos of the Senior class, namely those who appeared at the Senior Bowl.

For me it’s pretty clear who the top players are who appeared in Mobile:

#1 Aaron Donald (DT, Pittsburgh)
#2 Zack Martin (T, Notre Dame)
#3 Morgan Moses (T, Virginia)
#4 Brent Urban (DT, Virginia)
#5 Ra’Shede Hageman (DT, Minnesota)
#6 Dee Ford (DE, Auburn)

I know Dee Ford had a great Senior Bowl game, but I’m still trying to work out where he fits. He didn’t do any linebacker drills in Mobile and consistently lined up in the widest wide-9 I think I’ve ever seen.

There’s talk he could run a 4.4 at the Combine and he’s someone to watch closely, without doubt. But on tape he’s hit and miss and I want to see just how much of an athlete he really is.

The one who surprised me the most was Moses at #3.

I’d read reports last October suggesting he’d endured a slow start  to the season and his stock was falling. I actually put on the tape mostly to see how Jeremiah Attaochu faired against him when Virginia played Georgia Tech.

This was a one-sided domination, in favour of Moses.

He flashed superb footwork and movement for his size (6-6, 320lbs). He smothered Attaochu whenever he engaged and wasn’t beaten once for speed off the edge.

Take a look for yourself…

Moses looked like a genuine left tackle prospect in the game, and further tape study backed that up.

Whether he’ll look quite as comfortable against NFL lineman remains to be seen and he could end up at right tackle — the position most people have him tagged at.

For me, if I was a team picking later on (Miami at #19, Arizona at #20 or New Orleans at #27) I’d happily take him with a view to putting him at left tackle.

Aside from the list above one other player caught my eye (although I’ve only watched one game so far). Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward is an unlikely target for the Seahawks, but I’m intrigued to see more. Good cover safety.

And I’m loathe not to mention the guy at the top of the list — Aaron Donald.

Man, how did I get it so wrong with this guy with my first take?

With every fresh game I watch, the more I like him. The guy is insanely good. I really hope it works out for him at the next level — whether he’s in Seattle or not, I want to see this type of defensive tackle make it in the NFL.

Relentless, consistently in the backfield, stout and powerful with a wonderful swim move.

He has to be Geno Atkins. Has to be. If he isn’t, let’s forget about finding another Atkins. We’ll leave it to chance in future.

As much as the Seahawks want size up front (and they need it to match up with the likes of San Francisco), it’s hard not to imagine how good the defense could be with a guy like Donald rushing inside.

If a lack of size keeps him on the board (and for me he’s easily a top-20 pick, but you never know), then they have to pull the trigger. Even with a similar type of player (Jordan Hill) already on the roster.

Donald is just too good.

Futures deals

Free agent tight end Travis Beckum posted on his Instagram today that he was now a member of the Seahawks.

Linebacker Mike Taylor was also added.

Both players featured for Wisconsin in college.

Beckum was a third round pick in 2009 and had four largely unsuccessful seasons with the New York Giants. Taylor struggled with a sports hernia during his rookie year and spent time on Seattle’s practise squad last season.

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Debate: Should Seattle make defense a draft priority?

Would it make sense to keep building up the NFL's #1 defense with a guy like Brent Urban?

I really like this years receiver class.

Who wouldn’t?

The need for a big wide out kind of goes hand-in-hand with what’s available. Mike Evans, Brandon Coleman, Kelvin Benjamin. It’s a good year to want a pure #1 receiver.

Yet there’s another thought I can’t get out of my head.

Wouldn’t it make sense to continue to add to this defense, with the intention of making it even better?

The performance against Denver will go down as one of the best in Super Bowl history, mainly due to the way Seattle shut down such a prolific offense.

But I get the feeling this defense hasn’t even peaked yet.

And with one or two further additions they could get even better.

Why not?

Here’s the argument for going defense in round one this year.

1. The defense is the identity

It feels like the Legion of Boom isn’t just about four guys any more, or even just the secondary unit.

It’s the whole team.

They hit Peyton Manning, they hit the receivers and running backs. They all laid the boom in the Super Bowl.

In 10-15 years time there’s every chance people will still be talking about Seattle’s ‘L.O.B.’. Even if they don’t win another title, they left a mark last Sunday.

Keeping the defense at the forefront of what Seattle is about could keep this franchise right at the top.

2. The current pass rush isn’t tied up

There’s actually a fair amount of short termism about the defensive line.

Michael Bennett is a free agent this year. So is Tony McDaniel and Clinton McDonald.

Cliff Avril’s contract only runs through 2014. Red Bryant and Brandon Mebane won’t be around forever, while Chris Clemons could be a cap casualty this off-season.

The entire pass rush could look totally different in two seasons time.

Throwing a cheap, late first round talent into the mix who’s guaranteed to be here for at least four years might not be such a bad idea.

In fact it could be an absolute necessity.

3. The offense is already pretty good

Amid all the media noise of ‘mediocrity’, it’s easy to forget Seattle’s offense ranked #7 in DVOA in 2013.

Owning a top-ten unit with this defense basically means Championship football.

If they re-sign Golden Tate and tender Doug Baldwin, they’ll essentially be keeping the same group of receivers that won a Super Bowl.

The running game isn’t going anywhere, even if we’re looking at maybe only another year or two out of Marshawn Lynch at his very best.

They’ve already started to make contingency plans there by drafting Christine Michael and he might see more time with Robert Turbin next season.

Russell Wilson is only going to keep getting better.

It’s not like Seattle has to desperately upgrade the offense this off-season.

4. Percy time

There’s no guarantee Percy Harvin will be fully healthy in 2014, but this team made a significant investment in him a year ago.

Clearly they believe over the long term he can take this offense to another level.

And he can, if he’s on the field.

Harvin’s presence alone will be significant. He’s a big-time X-Factor and one of the game’s truly elite players when he’s out there.

The fact he didn’t feature much at all in 2013 almost makes him a new addition for next season.

Harvin, Tate, Baldwin, Kearse and Lockette.

Looks good to me, however much I’d like to add an Evans, Coleman or Benjamin to the group.

5. Is LEO a need?

Avril has one more year. Clemons could be a goner. Benson Mayowa is still a bit of an unknown.

Bruce Irvin, once touted as the “ideal LEO” by Pete Carroll, has now made a permanent switch to linebacker.

This could be a long term need for the Seahawks.

Aside from that, you can never have too many pass rushers.

This might be a good time to add another edge player. They wouldn’t be under too much pressure to have an instant impact.

And Seattle needs to save some money somewhere, because it might be difficult to re-sign Avril in a year.

6. The NFC West aint going anywhere

This division really is scary when it comes to defense.

The Rams have their two fierce edge rushers in Chris Long and Robert Quinn.

The Cardinals had the second best unit in the league according to DVOA and leaned on their defense to win in Seattle.

The 49ers have a loaded front seven and enough picks in the upcoming draft to improve their secondary.

At the same time all three teams have some issues on offense.

St. Louis is still hoping Sam Bradford can be the answer.

Arizona is going to be starting Carson Palmer again next season, in is 35th year after throwing 22 interceptions in 2013.

And the Niners have to be hoping Colin Kaepernick continues to develop as a passer, to go with his electrifying athletic qualities.

It’s basically a division where defense is king.

As much as we want to believe adding another receiver or offensive lineman to Seattle’s roster will help, I’m not sure you’ll ever have it easy against these teams.

It’s a war of attrition in the west, based around great defense.

Keeping the Legion of Boom at the top of the pack could be vital going forward.

Of course, there are counters to this debate as well. The obvious one being the only way to combat these great defenses is to keep giving more weapons to Russell Wilson or improving the offensive line.

Despite my preference to mock a receiver to Seattle in recent weeks, I firmly believe continuing to stockpile defensive lineman would also be a good idea.

If the Seahawks pass on a big receiver at #32 or even with their first two picks — I wouldn’t bat an eye lid.

Especially if they continue to pump up the defense.

At the combine we should be looking at tall defensive lineman with length and long arms. Speed helps, but probably isn’t vital if we’re talking interior guys.

I wouldn’t rule out a player like Aaron Donald either, who really jump off the tape even if he lacks ideal size.

With the LEO prospects speed matters much more, but length is also important. Hand-use is also a crucial and underrated aspect — just look at the way Avril turned on the bull rush in the post season to great effect.

Aside from the players I’ve already spent considerable time on (Brent Urban, Ra-Shede Hageman) I intend to take a closer look at Jeremiah Attaochu, Kony Ealy, Stephon Tuitt (who’s never really impressed me so far) and a few others before the combine.

It’s not a great class for defensive lineman by any means, but there are some interesting options for Seattle. I’m particularly high on Virginia’s Urban and I like the upside of Hageman.

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Focus on what a player can become, not what he is right now

Brandon Coleman isn't the finished product, but he could be great

Do we talk enough about development?

Are we obsessed with looking for the finished article, or as close to the finished article as possible?

When I say ‘we’, I mean everybody who follows the draft. Pundits, experts, fans and writers.

If following this teams’ road to glory has taught us anything, it’s probably that we should expand our horizons.

We should be looking at what a prospect can become, not what he is right now.

Has a player got the potential to be great?

Will he embrace the need to work on his flaws in order to max out his talent?

If the answer to both is yes, get the cigars out.

Essentially it comes down to this. Good coaches can always work on technical flaws, strength and conditioning, bad habits or even a lack of experience.

What you can’t teach is physical brilliance.

We need to avoid lingering too much on things that can be fixed. We shouldn’t ignore certain issues, but we also shouldn’t be consumed by them.

As long as the player is keen to work on improving, we should embrace a guy who doesn’t do everything right in college. Especially if he has a high enough ceiling to be really good.

I think this is something the Seahawks do better than most teams. It certainly seems that way.

So many clubs write players off because they don’t fit the prototype, or they concentrate on the flaws.

Seattle didn’t do that when they drafted 5-10 Russell Wilson. Seattle didn’t do that with most of the players they’ve drafted to be fair.

They selected guys with grit, the upside to be great and they worked them into their system.

And yet I think we’re seeing a lot of draft talk again this year that flies against that.

We’re a pretty ‘safe’ bunch, those of us who follow the draft religiously.

Let’s be more daring.

I’ll kick us off.

I’m not sure why anyone would draft Teddy Bridgewater ahead of Johnny Manziel.

Bridgewater is a technically gifted player. He’s pretty good.

I’d consider spending a first round pick on him if I needed a quarterback, but I’m not overly excited by his tape. He does a lot of things well, but what does he do that is ‘great’?

Manziel on the other hand is the ultimate playmaker. He doesn’t fit any prototype. He lacks ideal height and he goes partying in college.

He doesn’t always say and do the right things. He takes chances on and off the field.

But what a challenge. Why wouldn’t you want to take that on?

Imagine if you made it work. Wouldn’t that be something?

Wouldn’t you back yourself as a Head Coach to develop Manziel into something akin to what we’ve seen with Russell Wilson in Seattle? In Houston — with all the weapons they already have on offense plus a running game, could you not turn him into a quality point guard capable of explosive plays?

Sure, he needs to do a better job looking after the football. He can read the field better. He can improve his core strength.

But what about all the things he does well?

For me Houston are in a privileged position with the #1 pick. They should be grabbing Manziel or coming up with a contingency at quarterback so they can draft another player with unlimited upside — Jadeveon Clowney.

So why do I get a bad feeling they’re going to fudge this and take Blake Bortles or Teddy Bridgewater?

They’d justify a move like that as minimising risk. I’d call it betting against yourself to develop a rare talent.

Embrace what is different.

Embrace coaching and development.

I’d love to know why so many pundits put Manziel in the top five of their mock drafts, but only in the 20-30 range on their big boards. Or lower.

What are they scared of?

You see things like, “someone is going to fall for Manziel” like it’s a bad thing.

I’m happy to admit I wouldn’t have always written these words, but Seattle’s rampant success has really opened my eyes to the idea of development being king, along with upside + work ethic.

That means looking at what a player can become, not what he is now.

And this is why I really like Brandon Coleman and Kelvin Benjamin for Seattle.

Neither is the finished product. Both had their issues in college.

Coleman struggled in a lousy passing offense at Rutgers, but also didn’t do enough to elevate his team. He can certainly do a better job high pointing the football.

Benjamin had too many mental errors at Florida State, including some horrific drops.

And yet look at them. Coleman is 6-6 and 220lbs and runs like a train. Benjamin is 6-5 and around 230lbs and couldn’t look any better in uniform.

Imagine what they could become. Think about it. With this coaching staff working with them.

Really the only thing to be wary of is bad information in terms of their work rate. I’ve not seen any negative reports online, but we don’t get anywhere near the same info the teams get so it’s hard to judge.

Assuming that’s not an issue — I say go for the home run.

It’s not just about two receivers either. Another player who comes to mind is Brent Urban.

He has an injury history, his stats don’t register at all. He plays three technique at 6-7 and 298lbs.

Urban is different.

But he has rare size and speed, an ability to push the pocket and work against the run. He can grow as a pass rusher and could be one of the steals of the draft.

There’s also Ra’shede Hageman — a guy with some character issues and a ton of inconsistent tape.

Coach him up, put him on an already talented defensive line and let him rush the passer. If he has the desire to be the best, he’ll go a long way in Seattle.

If we’re willing to think about what is possible, there are players out there who can help keep this team at the top.

This draft class excites me.

Not because it’s jam packed with players ready to trot off the production line and contribute.

It’s because there are a handful of players other teams are going to overlook and the Seahawks are going to capitalise.

Just like they have for the last four years.

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This is worth watching too…

Can the Seahawks chase Jared Allen? Plus a new mock draft

Get this man in Seattle

Could it happen?

I’m fascinated by the idea of Seattle adding Jared Allen in free agency.

Pete Carroll says this team doesn’t have a big need outside of the current group. It’s more about inner improvement and keeping this Championship roster together.

But we know Carroll well enough by now to still expect a few fireworks along the way.

I remember going into the 2013 off-season expecting a quiet free agency. They needed to save cap money to roll over for future re-signings.

Surely they wouldn’t make a big splash. Could they afford it?

Then they go and trade for Percy Harvin and find a way to bring in the top two pass rushers on the market — Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril.

We’re unlikely to see that level of headline making again, but when has this team ever drifted quietly through free agency?

Whether it’s the public courting of Brandon Marshall, the big-money additions of Sidney Rice and Zach Miller, the Matt Flynn signing or the business twelve months ago — they’ve always been active.

Maybe the big story this year will be about just keeping the likes of Bennett, Golden Tate and Breno Giacomini, while penning Earl Thomas and maybe Richard Sherman to extensions?

Or perhaps there will be another gem or two along the way as the Seahawks look to get even better in 2014.

Out of all the free agents hitting the market this year, Allen is the most intriguing to me (possibly alongside Oakland’s Lamar Houston).

He turns 32 in April but still managed 11.5 sacks on a bad Vikings team this season. He’s only two years removed from a 22-sack campaign, he has 128.5 career sacks and whether he wins a title or not — there’s every chance he’s destined for the Hall of Fame.

Allen signed a 6-year, $73m deal in Minnesota (now expired). While he may still be motivated by financial gain, you wonder how much of a priority that is as he approaches the twighlight of a ring-less career.

And what better way to try and win a Championship than joining the team that just dominated the Super Bowl?

He still has plenty of tread on the tires, at least for another year or two. He seems to have the kind of personality that fits well with the Seahawks locker room and he’s played here the last two years — so he knows about the homefield advantage.

Previous interest in Allen was reported by Adam Schefter on the day of the trade deadline.

It also wouldn’t hurt to have a few extra hungry players on the roster amid a team of reigning Champions.

And yeah, he bumped into Darrell Bevell at a Taylor Swift concert. And divulged that information. So they must be tight…

Doesn’t it just seem like the perfect storm?

So how viable is it for the Seahawks to go after a guy like Allen?

Looking at the current cap situation, not viable at all. They’re right up against the budget with some big deals to be done over the next couple of years (Thomas, Sherman, Wilson…).

In order to keep their own key free agents, they’re going to need to create some room. Let alone to go after any other big names.

Yet I wouldn’t say it’s impossible to sign Allen, either.

Essentially it comes down to two things.

1. A series of cuts to the existing roster (contradicting Carroll’s penchant to keep the band together) in order to free up significant funds

2. Relying on a player being willing to accept a smaller contract in order to join the trendy Seahawks

Let’s start with #1.

Cutting Sidney Rice, Zach Miller and Chris Clemons will save approximately $20m.

Rice didn’t contribute much in 2013, so it won’t be too painful to depart with his near $10m salary. Miller and Clemons on the other hand are key veterans.

The issue with Miller’s deal is he’s being grossly overpaid. He earned $11m in 2013 and gets another $7m in 2014.

That’s considerably more than a healthy and productive Rob Gronkowski would earn, even with his big new contract.

Jimmy Graham will struggle to top $11m for a single season when he signs a new deal in New Orleans.

Nobody wants to lose Miller, but it’s about priorities. Can you replace him for considerably less money, and can you re-invest his salary in keeping a player like Michael Bennett?

Yes.

Nobody wants to lose Clemons either, but he’s seen better days. It’d be a painful cut, but perhaps a necessary one. Especially if we’re trying to come up with a way to go after Jared Allen.

These three cuts save you $19.6m. That should be enough to re-sign Bennett, Tate and Giacomini at least — while also tendering Doug Baldwin as a RFA.

It probably wouldn’t be enough, however, to also sign Allen plus other players such as Steven Hauschka, Clinton McDonald and Tony McDaniel.

Where can you make other savings?

Red Bryant and Brandon Mebane could be asked to restructure their deals. They’re both arguably earning too much ($8.5m & $5m) in 2014 and because the dead money involved is so small, you can maybe force their hand a little.

Russell Okung’s cap hit is $11m in 2014 and only $7.28m the following year — so there’s maybe a way to even that out.

Breno Giacomini — who earned over $4m this season — could be re-signed for less.

Any new contract for Earl Thomas could be structured so that the cap hit in 2014 is similar to (or even lower than) the $5.5m he’s already due on his current deal.

You might be able to conjure up another $7m or so. That’d give you a shot at Allen, but not the other free agents you’d ideally keep. That brings us onto point #2…

Relying on a player being willing to accept a smaller contract in order to join the Seahawks.

Seattle has never been more fashionable within the NFL. Suddenly, they have some serious chops in the open market.

Players enjoy playing here and the outsiders know it.

When you couple all the success with the enjoyment factor — that’s a winning combo.

I wonder how many prospective free agents watched that parade on the NFL Network yesterday and pined to be part of this franchise.

Then you throw in the other factors — the 12th man, the VMAC facilities and Pete Carroll’s user-friendly coaching style.

Players might be willing to take a financial discount to be part of this thing.

Some will, some won’t.

Those approaching the back end of their careers like Allen, might be willing to consider it more than others.

He earned $17m in 2013. His first year in Minnesota cost $3.3m, but after that he never took less than $11m.

Presuming you’re only signing him to a one or two year deal, he’d have to take a massive pay cut.

He also has to consider what’s realistic at this stage of his career.

32-year-old Osi Umenyiora signed a 2-year deal with Atlanta that paid him $3.75m in 2013 and brings in $4.75m in 2014.

However, he struggled to generate any early free agency interest and ended up settling on this deal.

Not only is Allen a better player, there’s every chance he won’t go through the slow dance Umenyiora faced.

The Seahawks would need to hope his market starts relatively cold (as we saw with Bennett and Avril) and then they’d need to hope he really wanted to play in Seattle.

If that’s the case, maybe he works for $4-5m over a year or two? To get that elusive ring?

That would still give you the necessary room to sign up your rookie class and make a few choice signings — perhaps keeping Hauschka and one of the defensive tackles.

It’s probably a long shot, but it’s interesting to consider nonetheless.

Of course you’d have to replace the departing players. Allen is your like-for-like switch for Clemons. With it being a strong draft for receivers you could replace Sidney Rice in round one (Brandon Coleman? Kelvin Benjamin?) and possibly target a tight end in round two to replace Miller (Austin Seferian-Jenkins? Troy Niklas?).

It’s food for thought at a time when everyone’s wondering ‘what’s next?’.

***UPDATE***

This also helps…

An extra $4m in cap room would be well received.

And while we dwell on what could happen over the next few weeks, here’s a new mock draft…

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#1 Johnny Manziel (QB, Texas A&M)

The best playmaker in the draft. If they’re going quarterback here, take Manziel.

#2 Greg Robinson (T, Auburn)

Robinson is already a dominating run blocker. He has the limitless upside to develop into a great pass protector too.

#3 Jadeveon Clowney (DE, South Carolina)

This is a no brainer if he lasts to #3.

#4 Blake Bortles (QB, UCF)

I’m becoming less and less convinced by all the ‘Cleveland loves Johnny’ talk. It could be a smokescreen.

#5 Sammy Watkins (WR, Clemson)

You can build around this guy. Do they emulate Cincinnati in 2011 by going WR-round one, QB-round two?

#6 Taylor Lewan (T, Michigan)

Some teams will rate Lewan much higher than others. Atlanta needs to get tougher in the trenches.

#7 Jake Matthews (T, Texas A&M)

He might end up at right tackle for the long term.

#8 Teddy Bridgewater (QB, Louisville)

He’s not a prototype passer for Norv Turner’s offense, but they need a quarterback badly.

#9 Mike Evans (WR, Texas A&M)

The more I watch Evans, the more convinced I am he’s a top ten pick and a true #1 receiver.

#10 Marqise Lee (WR, USC)

Just a really good, competitive football player. Would look great alongside Megatron.

#11 Anthony Barr (OLB, UCLA)

I’m still not overly convinced by Barr. Ray Horton’s arrival as defensive coordinator means they need a 3-4 OLB.

#12 Khalil Mack (DE, Buffalo)

Might be set for a Bruce Irvin-style switch to linebacker. Make the defense this teams identity.

#13 Zack Martin (T, Notre Dame)

He’d be a guard in St. Louis. Doubling up on the O-line isn’t a terrible idea. A Robinson-Martin left side would be a huge asset for this offense.

#14 Calvin Pryor (S, Louisville)

Every team in the league is looking for a rangy safety. The Bears need one badly.

#15 Eric Ebron (TE, North Carolina)

Terrific athlete with the potential to be the next big time tight end.

#16 Cyrus Kouandjio (T, Alabama)

I really like Kouandjio’s potential. He’s too good to fall deep into round one.

#17 Aaron Donald (DT, Pittsburgh)

I’m now a believer. Donald’s worthy of a grade in this range for me, despite a lack of pure size.

#18 Allen Robinson (WR, Penn State)

Intelligent, grounded receiver with YAC value. Surprisingly not an elite speed guy though, so won’t WOW at the combine.

#19 Antonio Richardson (T, Tennessee)

Massive tackle prospect who could easily go higher than this. Miami desperately needs a left tackle.

#20 Derek Carr (QB, Fresno State)

With 10-wins and an elite defense, they might feel comfortable investing in the future. Carson Palmer in 2015 will be due $12m aged 36.

#21 C.J. Mosley (LB, Alabama)

Green Bay needs to keep adding toughness to that defense. It’s way too soft at the moment and holding them back.

#22 Brent Urban (DE, Virginia)

Chip Kelly likes defenders with length and speed. Underrated prospect who will look great at the combine.

#23 Jace Amaro (TE, Texas Tech)

Big, third down converting tight end. Would have an instant impact in this offense.

#24 Darqueze Dennard (CB, Michigan State)

It’s not a great class for cornerbacks, but Dennard looks like the best available.

#25 Justin Gilbert (CB, Oklahoma State)

Had a productive season and turned a few heads in 2013.

#26 Odell Beckham Jr (WR, LSU)

Could provide a dynamic double threat with Josh Gordon. Definite first round talent for me. Playmaker and a safety net.

#27 Morgan Moses (T, Virginia)

Charles Brown is a free agent, and they had too much insecurity at left tackle in 2013.

#28 Kelvin Benjamin (WR, Florida State)

Imagine this offense with a difference-making big target to aim at. Put him alongside Steve Smith and enjoy.

#29 Xavier Su’a-Filo (G, UCLA)

Major upside interior lineman. Big-time athlete whose best football lies ahead.

#30 Louis Nix (DT, Notre Dame)

Don’t be too surprised if he suffers a fall. 2013 was a big let down for Nix.

#31 Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (S, Alabama)

The Broncos really need to add a safety to that secondary.

#32 Brandon Coleman (WR, Rutgers)

I think you take a shot on a guy with this frame (6-6, 220lbs) and potentially 4-4/4-5 speed. Major upside.

Pete Carroll’s final press conference reviewed

Pete Carroll spoke to the media follow today's Super Bowl parade

For the first time in four years, Pete Carroll didn’t talk about specific team needs in his final press conference of the season.

“(We) don’t see anything we need to add. We just have to get better.”

“It’s not going to be something from outside of us. We have what we need.”

He’s always been candid and honest in these end-of-season post mortems. Whether it was a determination to improve the running game, get more speed in the front seven or enhance the pass rush — he always laid it out on the table.

I guess when you win the Super Bowl 43-8 against one of the supposed elite teams, you can afford a degree of comfort with your roster.

Or maybe it was a nod to something else.

Perhaps, as of today, he simply doesn’t know what his greatest needs are?

He made reference to keeping the group together as best they can. Yet he also knows how difficult that’ll be. When speaking to Brock and Danny yesterday, he noted this would be a challenging off-season for that very reason.

Think about the potential scenarios:

Lose Michael Bennett and he’ll need to be replaced as a major priority.

Lose Golden Tate and cut Sidney Rice as a cost saving measure and you”ll need to make receiver a big time need.

Lose Breno Giacomini and you have to consider adding to the offensive line again.

“We don’t need anything” might be more like “we don’t need anything… yet”.

Carroll wasn’t the only one to speak after today’s sensational parade in downtown Seattle. Funnily enough Bennett and Tate were also interviewed, but not to say goodbye.

– Bennett insisted he wanted to end his career in Seattle and wasn’t planning on leaving

– He added that no firm negotiations had taken place yet and wouldn’t occur until around combine time

– Tate admitted he had a cap number in mind that he would like to negotiate with the Seahawks

– He stated he would be willing to take a “little” discount to stay in Seattle

– Carroll announced Sidney Rice’s rehab from a knee injury was going extremely well, suggesting his rate of recovery was “unheard of”.

The Seahawks showed in Super Bowl 48 they don’t have any glaring holes in the roster. They have the #7 offense according to DVOA, they have the #1 defense and the #5 special teams.

Add that up and you get the #1 overall team. And it wasn’t all that close.

That doesn’t mean they don’t need any new additions — they do — but for the first time since I started writing this blog there aren’t the backbreaking needs to prevent this team winning a Championship.

They’re already Champions.

It’s really just about keeping the band together as best you can.

And while you might be prepared to change the occasional member — you’ve just got to make sure Glenn Frey and Don Henley are sticking around.

***RANDOM PICTURE INTERMISSION***

Of course part of the issue is having to cut players or ask them to restructure their contracts. The media are already latching onto this:

Rice would be an easy cut at $7m but if he’s progressing well from his knee injury, they might be able to restructure his deal. He is a very good player on his day — he’s just suffered endless injury problems throughout his career.

It would’ve been interesting to see this receiver group with a healthy Rice and Harvin also contributing. Having said that, both Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse really stepped up to the plate in their absence, and deserve even bigger roles next season.

There’s no way Rice survives with his current cap hit of $9.7m. He’d have to strike a new deal.

The problem is, there’s probably not a happy medium if you ask him to restructure. The saving is too good for an outright cut, Rice will get offers as a free agent and there’s no need to accept a drastically low salary for any other reason than a desire to stay in Seattle.

Providing even greater clarity here is a jam packed receiver class in this years draft.

Seattle can save a further $5m by cutting Zach Miller’s contract. I’ve written in the past about him being a potential cost-cutting victim. The best tight ends in the NFL are not paid like Miller.

While he’s been very useful to this team, his salary is just too big. At a time when other players need to be re-signed, he cannot expect to survive on a $7m cap hit having earned a borderline ridiculous $11m in 2013.

He’s only 28 so they might be able to restructure the deal, adding years (he’s a free agent in 2016) or simply reducing his salary.

He’s a nice blocking tight end with some pass-catching qualities but he’s not an elite difference maker. And with guys like Breno Giacomini needing to be re-signed as well as your Bennett’s and Tate’s, Miller surely has to be willing to compromise if he wants to stay.

It’s a little surprising Chris Clemons’ name isn’t mentioned by Rapoport. He’s been a real warrior for the Seahawks, but he’s due $9.7m in 2014 — the year he turns 33. There’s a $7m saving to be had by cutting him.

The likes of Red Bryant and Brandon Mebane may also end up in contract negotiations. Bryant’s cap hit is $8.5m in 2014 and while I highly doubt he leaves the team, I think there’s maybe a reduction to be had there for the greater good of the roster.

Mebane earns $5.7m over the next two seasons — but the ease in which he can be cut (he has almost no dead money on his contract) makes a re-negotiation very possible.

These are the decisions facing John Schneider and Carroll. But they’ve acknowledged they have some tough calls to make.

Now we just sit and wait to see how the best team in football tries to stay right at the top of the mountain.

In today’s press conference Carroll also listed a series of improvements he wants to see next year:

– He believes Russell Wilson will continue to develop because of his great work ethic, and also called his post-season form “exquisite”

– Carroll spoke with some passion about cleaning up the teams league-leading penalty problems

– A healthy Percy Harvin can help take the offense to another level, with Carroll stating they were only “scratching the surface” on his potential during the Super Bowl

– Carroll says they didn’t get the pass rush rolling until mid-season, and it’s something they can continue to develop

– He said kick-off returns are another area with major room for improvement — obviously Harvin being on the field helps here

The players and coaches will now take a break, with the next big event the combine in Indianapolis — starting on February 22nd.

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Finally here’s some more tape to get into as we roll into draft season. This is courtesy of JMPasq, and it’s Aaron Donald (DT, Pittsburgh) and Eric Ebron (TE, North Carolina):

Nine potential Seahawks for the #32 pick

Brent Urban is very much 'one to watch' for Seattle

These are some of the early names I reckon could be on the radar with pick #32.

Remember, we’re talking about the final pick in round one here. You’re unlikely to find a flawless talent in this range, not unless you get lucky.

I’m searching for guys who fill a positional need with major athletic upside and the potential to be great down the line.

Brent Urban (DT, Virginia)
Modern three technique with length and size (6-7, 298lbs). Very good athlete with the strength to drive blockers back into the pocket. J.J.Watt-like ability to tip passes at the LOS. If the Seahawks lose Tony McDaniel in free agency, Urban could be an option to replace him in the draft. He’s not being talked about much due to his lack of ‘stats’ but watch any tape you can get your hands on. He has an impact. There aren’t many players with his insane upside in this draft class. The guy is a monster who could be special.

Why he could be available at #32
A lack of production in terms of hard stats. Teams running orthodox schemes (unlike Seattle) will question where he fits. He has some injury history (ACL).

Why he fits in Seattle
Tony McDaniel will need to be replaced if he moves on in free agency. This team loves length at tackle. He’d be a great compliment to the pass rushers on the roster — consistently collapses the pocket, even if he’s not the one recording the sack. Make no mistake — Brent Urban could be one of the steals of the 2014 draft. Put this player on your radar.

Jeremiah Attaochu (LB, Georgia Tech)
He had 12.5 sacks in 2013. I started to watch some of Attaochu’s tape last week and wondered whether he could be one to monitor. He’s 6-3 and 252lbs with a little Cliff Avril to his game. He’s one to develop rather than expect instant results, but I’m going to keep watching his games to finalise my opinion. The combine is going to be big — is he going to run a 4.51 like Avril with a 1.50 split? That’s going to be telling. It’ll be really interesting to see how he performs in Indianapolis.

Why he could be available at #32
It’s the age old debate about whether he’s best suited to a 3-4 scheme at OLB and that could put some teams off. Despite his production this season, I still think he’s a developmental guy who needs time. He’s best used in year one as a rotational, impact pass rusher.

Why he fits in Seattle
The Seahawks might find some cap relief in reluctantly moving on from Chris Clemons — a real warrior for the Seahawks over the years. It might be tough to re-sign Cliff Avril after 2014, while Bruce Irvin has switched to linebacker full time. They need to plan ahead with these pass rushers — which is why they redshirted Benson Mayowa.

Brandon Coleman (WR, Rutgers)
People love to judge players based on what they’ve been, not what they can become. Coleman isn’t the finished article — far from it. But the offense at Rutgers wasn’t exactly conducive to big production at the receiver position. There simply aren’t many guys with his athleticism at 6-6 and 220lbs. He is a freak of nature with the potential to be another Josh Gordon a year or two down the line. I’d be surprised if drafting a big receiver wasn’t a huge priority for this team.

Why he could be available at #32
He’s performed in fits and starts. Coleman is capable of remarkable, game changing plays. In college he also had spells where he wouldn’t do anything for weeks. For me he’s one of those players you’d worry about taking in the top-20, but based on his upside I’m taking a swing at the end of round one.

Why he fits in Seattle
They need a big receiver. Mike Sando wrote a great piece this week about Carroll’s vision on offense, including his desire to acquire “a power running back, a risk-averse quarterback and a big, physical receiver.” Only one of that trio is missing.

Kelvin Benjamin (WR, Florida State)
Like Coleman, he’s a big receiver and would fill the teams greatest need (as things stand). On a good day Benjamin looks like a top-15 pick. He has ideal size and speed for the position and flashes so much talent. But then there are the things he needs to improve — avoiding ridiculous drops, running sharper routes and not giving up on plays. With a bit more polish he could become a top NFL receiver.

Why he could be available at #32
At the end of the day, however good you are physically, you need to be a reliable catcher. Benjamin has been guilty of some shocking plays this year, belittling his incredible talent. With a deep class of receivers available this year, there may just be more reliable players out there.

Why he fits in Seattle
If the Seahawks expect to get a brilliant physical talent who catches well every time, they better start considering a move up the board. For all of Benjamin’s flaws, he has elite potential and could be a fantastic game changer if he eliminates the errors. He’s worth gambling on at #32 — if he makes it that far.

Odell Beckham Jr (WR, LSU)
I hate the idea of replacing proven veterans with rookies, just because you can’t afford to keep the vet. Yet this is the situation that might be forced on Seattle going forward. Golden Tate is a free agent, but can they keep him? If Beckham Jr is there at #32, he could easily be the best player available. He’s a fantastic receiver who high points the football, has an X-factor as a playmaker and plays with real grit. You can’t justify drafting him unless Tate departs. But what a player.

Why he could be available at #32
He’s just shy of 6-0 and around 190lbs. Teams are often reluctant to draft receivers with that lack of size unless they’re really explosive. Beckham is great, but he wasn’t Percy Harvin or Tavon Austin in college.

Why he fits in Seattle
Huge hands despite his lack of overall size, plays with grit and determination, high points the football. He plays with the same edge as Tate or Doug Baldwin. You’d rather just keep those two and not have to draft a replacement. But if Tate walks, you’d have to fight against putting Beckham Jr on your target board.

Aaron Donald (DT, Pittsburgh)
When I went back to watch Donald’s 2013 tape, I was blown away. We’re talking about a relentless pass rusher who lives in the backfield. He’s not the biggest defensive tackle at 6-0 and 285lbs, but he plays with fantastic leverage and you can’t help but wonder if he’s the next Geno Atkins. If this guy can’t make it at his size, we might as well stop trying to find another Atkins and just accept he’s a freak. Donald followed up a great year by blowing up the Senior Bowl work outs.

Why he could be available at #32
Purely down to size. He has the production and the great tape. Medieval conventional wisdom about his size is the only thing that could be a problem. I fully expect he’ll go in the top-25.

Why he fits in Seattle
Clinton McDonald had a major impact this year with several key sacks. He’ll be a big loss if he departs in free agency. Donald plays with the type of attitude this team likes, and they drafted an undersized defensive tackle in Jordan Hill last year.

Dee Ford (DE, Auburn)
His tape from the Senior Bowl game looked great and reports have suggested he’ll run a 4.4 at the combine. He doesn’t have the length or size (6-2, 240lbs) Seattle has looked for in a pass rusher, but they also love speed off the edge. He seems to have it in abundance. The only concern is whether he’s a little one-dimensional. Cliff Avril’s ability to bull rush has been huge in both the NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl. Can Ford mix it up, or is he totally reliant on speed and featuring in a wide-9 role?

Why he could be available at #32
Size is the main issue and he didn’t always dominate in the SEC. He failed to register much impact against Alabama — that’s a game scouts will gravitate towards when they put on the tape. He didn’t spend any time working as a 3-4 OLB at the Senior Bowl and he might be too small to work as a 4-3 end at the next level.

Why he fits in Seattle
Again it comes down to long term planning at the LEO. Ford doesn’t necessarily look like a LEO in terms of length, but he has the speed this team values plus a character they will love.

Ra’shede Hageman (DT, Minnesota)
He’s something of an enigma. At times his tape is flat out crazy — he looks like a terror at defensive tackle. He can be unstoppable. But he’s simply too inconsistent. Everyone expected him to dominate at the Senior Bowl against a weak offensive line group, but he was completely overshadowed by guys like Aaron Donald. Anyone hoping Hageman would fall to Seattle should be pleased about that, but I guess you can also ask — how good is he really?

Why he could be available at #32
Production isn’t great and he’s too inconsistent. He’s lived a difficult life, that can be a positive or a negative. Has a few character issues in college that need checking out.

Why he fits in Seattle
Simply put he’s a fantastic athlete and if you can coach him up and get him into your system, he will have an impact. It’s pretty hard not to get excited about a more rounded and consistent Hageman featuring in this defense. He’s 6-6 and 318lbs. Length, size, athleticism = Seahawks. But how badly does he want to be great?

Xavier Su’a-Filo (G, UCLA)
The only interior line prospect I’d personally want to consider in round one. He has some experience at tackle but looks like a pure guard at the next level. He’s a fantastic athlete with excellent core strength. He’s not the big, dominating player many want at left guard — and I’m not totally sold he’s a Tom Cable-guy. But he’s a decent fit in the ZBS with a lot of upside going forward. If they want athletes, Su’a-Filo fits the bill.

Why he could be available at #32
He’s not Jonathan Cooper or Chance Warmack. Guards generally don’t go early and he’s going to be a late first or second rounder at best.

Why he fits in Seattle
I don’t think the Seahawks will take a guard in round one. For the purpose of this piece, here’s why they would. They haven’t really settled on one guy for the left spot and who knows whether they believe James Carpenter, Michael Bowie or Alvin Bailey can grab it long term. I think a long term starter emerges from that group in 2014.

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