Time for some good old speculative blogging.

Seahawks GM John Schneider spoke with the media yesterday and was asked about the Percy Harvin trade. This is what he had to say:

“You’re talking about a person’s livelihood. We have to do what’s best for the organization, first and foremost. We had the support of our owner, which was huge. We had discussed it for a long time with our owner. For one reason or another, it didn’t work out so we had to be able to move forward. So, the Jets got real interested. It was the Thursday night game. I was actually at the University of Missouri, and we were just able to move forward. We played the Rams that weekend.”

Harvin was traded to the Jets on October 17th. The night before New York lost a heart-breaker to the Patriots 27-25. The Seahawks played the Rams in St. Louis on the 19th.

There’s nothing untoward about Schneider visiting Mizzou. Why not? Make the trip, head over to the game on the Sunday. It’s an ideal trip. The thing is, Missouri played on the road that weekend — at Florida on Saturday the 18th. So he wasn’t attending a game. This was a different kind of visit.

There are many reasons why a GM would make that kind of trip. I won’t pretend I know them all — I don’t. For all we know it could be something as trivial as meeting a former colleague. Or it could be background checks and research. There are several Missouri players of interest entering the draft. Shane Ray is tipped to go in the top-15. Markus Golden had a good 2014 season. Lucas Vincent is an intriguing later round possibility. Even if you’re not going after a top prospect like Ray, a little background info isn’t a bad thing for future planning. You could even be asking about players likely to enter the 2016 draft — like Harold Brantley.

And then there’s Dorial Green-Beckham.

For those not familiar with the back-story (most are so I’ll be brief) — DGB was dismissed by Missouri after a string of incidents. He opted to move to Oklahoma and ultimately sit out the 2014 season instead of joining a smaller school and playing immediately. Without taking a snap for the Sooners, he chose to declare for the NFL draft earlier this month.

Every NFL team is going to need to do substantial homework on DGB. It’s not just a case of checking in with the Oklahoma staff to see how he dealt with the situation. You need to go back to Missouri and get their take on it all. Was he kicked off the team as a wake-up call? An act of tough love? Or was it more serious than that? And what does the team know about the key final charge that eventually led to his departure?

We’ve gone through the Green-Beckham debate several times. Here’s the piece we did when he declared. Was Schneider doing the rounds, or working specifically to collect information on a particular prospect?

I think this is the best way to judge the DGB situation. If the Seahawks are willing to take him at #31 or #32, I suspect someone else will draft him earlier. He’s that talented. If he makes it all the way to the end of round one, it’s probably with good reason. After the Harvin mess the last thing the Seahawks need is another troubled receiver. With Russell Wilson set to become a $100m quarterback, you’d expect any receiver coming in would have to be ready to work with zero distractions. The anti-Harvin.

And yet if there’s one thing that makes this even vaguely possible — it’s Seattle’s need for a receiver with DGB’s rare skill set and size. But again — they’re not the only team with that kind of need. He’s a unique player in this class — he has the talent to go top-15 and the red flags to go at any point in the three draft days.

A lot of the media talk will be about stopping Marshawn Lynch, but for me this game is about Russell Wilson. Let’s go back to the last time the two teams met. Lynch ran 15 times for 41 yards. Robert Turbin was Seattle’s most efficient runner with 27 yards on five carries (5.4 YPC). The Pats were facing a rookie quarterback and set out to take away the run, putting the game on Wilson. He willed the Seahawks to victory with a 310 total-yard, three touchdown performance with zero interceptions.

That was then and this is now — but the Pats first and foremost know they have to deal with Lynch and the running game all over again. They’ll study the games where Seattle struggled offensively. Green Bay at home in the NFC Championship game. The Dallas game in week six. Last year against the Cardinals. It was the same plan on each occasion — sell out to stop the run, commit extra bodies to attack the line of scrimmage and dare Wilson to beat you. It’s a risky strategy because the quarterback in a situation like this should be able to find a hot read or exploit 1v1 coverage at the second level. In the Green Bay game Wilson and the receivers struggled early, they turned the ball over and the Packers took the early initiative. New England will almost certainly set out to do the same.

Wilson isn’t at his best firing quick throws from the pocket against the blitz. Not yet, anyway. It’s year three and it’s taking him a little longer to excel in this area. It probably doesn’t help that his natural tendency — and Seattle’s coaches encourage this — is to get out of the pocket to initiate the scramble drill. When you’ve got so many bodies attacking the line, if you break contain it pretty much opens up the whole field. You’ve got the run/pass option going for the quarterback. Arizona (2013), Dallas and Green Bay (2014) all managed to contain Wilson in the pocket with their pressures. Keeping a lid on him could be the key to the game for New England. They need to force him to beat them with his arm, in the pocket under pressure. He can do it. It’ll just be much harder. Especially if the Pats successfully shut down Lynch as they did in 2012.

The Seahawks need early success in the passing game to force the Pats into heavier coverage. They consistently rushed three or four defenders against Green Bay — fearing Rodgers’ arm. He picked them apart. And sure, it’s Aaron Rodgers. But he had an insane amount of time in the pocket — and Wilson, like most competent starters, will be able to exploit that. He won’t get a chance if he doesn’t take away the stacked boxes and lack of respect for the passing game by making a few early throws or runs to force the Patriots to be a little more conservative.

One thing that might work against New England is their general lack of exposure to a quarterback like Wilson. In 2014 the most mobile quarterback they faced was Ryan Tannehill (twice). For all his mobility and running skill as a former receiver, Tannehill isn’t a scrambler. He ran six times in the two games against New England. In a week one victory (33-20) he had three carries for -2 yards.

Here are the other quarterbacks New England faced in 2014:

Matt Cassel (Minnesota), Derek Carr (Oakland), Alex Smith (Kansas City), Andy Dalton (Cincinnati), Kyle Orton (Buffalo — twice), Geno Smith (New York Jets — twice), Jay Cutler (Chicago), Peyton Manning (Denver), Andrew Luck (Indianapolis), Matt Stafford (Detroit), Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay), San Diego (Phillip Rivers).

Now obviously Luck and Rodgers are mobile — they’re certainly more elusive in the pocket than Tannehill. But neither is the same kind of runner (Tannehill reportedly ran a 4.58 at his pro-day) and they don’t run the read option much if at all. You have to go back to 2013 for the last time New England faced a true read-option scheme — when they lost to the Panthers and Cam Newton. It was a controversial defeat in the end, but Newton was effective running the ball (seven carries for 62 yards).

Again — New England did a good job bottling up the running game in general. Mike Tolbert had six carries for 17 yards, DeAngelo williams had six carries for 14 yards and Jonathan Stewart had four carries for ten yards. They had a plan for the running backs. But they couldn’t contain Newton — who moved around not only for his rushing yards — but for 209 passing yards and three touchdowns too. He didn’t turn the ball over.

The focus is on Lynch or Seattle’s receivers winning against Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. The greatest threat to New England is probably Wilson — as a scrambler, a runner and a pure playmaker.

Jamie Collins might be challenged with keeping an eye on Wilson, which could also work in Seattle’s favor. Collins has developed into a terrific, creative linebacker. He’ll line up inside and rush the interior. He can cover as well as any linebacker in the game. And he rushes the edge well enough to collect the odd sack. They might ask him to watch the read option or to fake the edge rush, essentially forcing Wilson to sit. That’s fine — but a containing role just seems like a waste of resource for such a fine player. So the responsibility might go to a Chandler Jones or one of the other edge rushers — and that’s a match-up Seattle might be able to exploit.

Dont’a Hightower spied Andrew Luck in the AFC Championship game and it seemed to put enough doubt in Luck’s mind to stay in the pocket. But there were a few opportunities to break into the second level and pick up yardage on the ground. I was a fan of Hightower at Alabama — but a 1v1 match-up in space vs Wilson probably isn’t going to end well. I’m not sure using the spy is necessarily a great idea here — pressure is the key, and containment off the edge.

How much the Seahawks use the read-option — and how the Patriots try to defend it — will be one of the more interesting factors in this game.

On the other side of the ball — and without wishing to state the obvious — this is where the big challenge lies for Seattle. We could key in on the masterful accuracy and poise of Tom Brady or the sheer brilliance of Rob Gronkowski. The simple fact is the mystery around New England’s game-plan is probably their greatest weapon. Are they going to focus on the run? What wrinkles are they going to throw at you? Are we going to see more of this ineligible receiver stuff to confuse and throw off an attack-minded secondary?

Last year Denver didn’t offer any surprises. They essentially ran the Peyton Manning offense. Pete Carroll had a free week to come up with an effective game plan for a scheme that was prolific yet predictable. New England are a totally different proposition. And it’s probably going to take a half for the Seahawks to get a proper grip on what they’re facing. Belichick is a master tactician and he’ll have a very detailed and effective plan to take on a Seahawks defense that is banged up and pretty predictable (yet no less prolific) itself.

I suspect the Seahawks need to keep things tight until half time. I think if they can get in at the break within a touchdown of the Pats (or better), they’ll feel good about that position. They’re a great second half team — combining key second half adjustments with the ability to physically impose their will on an opponent. Look at Clay Matthews last week — off the field for key downs in the fourth quarter because he was exhausted. And this on an off-day for the Seahawks offense. He was drained — even with the Super Bowl on the line.

Unlike that game, the Seahawks will be punished if they make mistakes. This is a Patriots team that had blow out wins in nine regular season games. They have the formula to beat Seattle — a ground game that can keep the offense off the field. They can ‘pull a San Diego’ by throwing short underneath and getting the tight end involved. They have the screen game that the Chargers used to great effect. It’d almost be a surprise if the Patriots didn’t just rip-off the game plan that is tailor made to slow down Seattle’s pass rush, get the secondary moving and then hit the big target with a few shots.

In a flash Seattle could find themselves in a hole. And they don’t want to do too much chasing. Not again. They key is to get to half time in a close game, make the usual adjustments and finish strong.

First quarter

The opening drive led to a touchdown for the South offense. The offensive line just flat out dominated — La’el Collins (LT, LSU), Arie Kouandjio (LG, Alabama) and Tre Jackson (RG, Florida State) just handled the North D-line, including Danny Shelton and Carl Davis. The South ran right up the middle with great success using Cameron Artis-Payne. Collins on a couple of occasions just man-handled the edge, with Kouandjio and Jackson pushing the pile up the middle. On one zone blocking look, Collins exploded into the second level after a good initial jolt at the LOS. Running back David Johnson ended the drive with a score. Shelton did well to move laterally to his left and had a chance to make the play but over-pursued the back and failed to get a finger on him. It was also an eventful start for Sammie Coates. A late throw in his direction almost led to a pick, he made a nice catch on an inside slant (ball thrown behind the receiver) and then he had a blatant OPI downfield, shoving the corner. It was probably a smart play — the DB was just about to make the pick.

The North responded with two big plays to set up a field goal. Ameer Abdullah (RB, Nebraska) showed a nice burst to get to the second level for a big gain. Charles Davis on the broadcast pointed out Abdullah had 24 fumbles in college — 17 lost. Delaware tight end Nick Boyle did a great Maxx Williams impression hurdling a defender for a first down reception. The drive stalled with Lorenzo Mauldin (DE, Louisville) dropping an easy interception of Bryce Petty. The field goal was good — 7-3.

Clive Walford (TE, Miami) had a mixed series to follow. He’s playing with a toe injury according to Mike Mayock. He made a big time catch for a first down over the middle — he knew he was going to get hit hard but completed the catch, secured the ball and fought for yardage. But on 3rd and 7 he dropped an easy catch to keep the driving going on a short route to the right side. He was open. On the punt Jamison Crowder (WR, Duke) fumbled a punt, recovered by Dezmin Lewis (WR, Central Arkansas). On review the play was called back on a dubious fair catch interference.

Kevin White (CB, TCU) is one of the better corners in this years class. With the North starting deep in their own territory, White read a slightly overthrown pass by Petty and made a smart pick. The refs called him down at the 40 — but should’ve allowed him to run it back for a touchdown considering we’re playing NFL rules (these are Big-10 refs).

Hau’Oli Kikaha (DE, Washington) just made back-to-back plays. First, he drove Ty Sambrailo (T, Colorado State) into the backfield to force quarterback Garrett Grayson out of the pocket (he ran out of bounds for a loss of two). On 3rd and 12 he burst round the edge to get into the backfield, forcing an inaccurate throw (incomplete). It’ll be tough to balance out his active hands, relentless motor and spirit compared to short arms and a lack of natural athleticism. The North take over with under two minutes left in the first quarter (still 7-3 to the South).

Owamagbe Odighizuwa (DE, UCLA) so far has struggled to get off blocks, driving the tackle backwards but failing to disengage. Markus Golden (DE, Missouri) is also struggling to make an impact rushing from the left end position.

At the end of each quarter they’re having a two-minute warning and a change of possession. It enables each quarterback to run a two-minute offense.

Nebraska’s Abdullah had a terrific first quarter. In the two-minute drill for the North he was finding space underneath and just sprinting for big yardage. He’s compact, physical and has speed to burn. Mayock keeps referencing the fumble problems — a genuine concern. The North miss a field goal to end the first quarter. Still 7-3.

Second quarter

Because the South received the ball to begin the game — despite ending the first quarter with a miss field goal, the North get the ball again to start the second quarter. Confused? You will be.

Delaware tight end Nick Boyle is blocking well to go with his earlier catch-and-hurdle. Another tight end — Notre Dame’s Ben Koyack — ran a nice route to the left side for a touchdown. The quarerback saw a mismatch with Lynden Trail and exploited it. 10-7 to the North.

Odighizuwa continues to have difficulty working the edge. I’d like to see him move inside for a series. Golden is showing a decent arc but the short arms are troublesome — he can’t use them to take advantage of initial leverage off the edge. He needs to be able to jolt the tackle and convert speed to power. He can’t and it means he’s getting run out of plays.

Blake Sims (QB, Alabama) gets a big cheer from the home crowd as he takes the field for the South. His first snap? A false start. His second leads to a nice route and catch by Tyler Lockett (WR, Kansas State) — who just looks really smooth out there.

La’el Collins is having a game — showing how to regain position when he’s in trouble and keep everything in front of him. Collins is back on the line with Kouandjio and Jackson and they continue to push people around. Danny Shelton can’t get a push against this O-line and already looks tired. He was just tossed to the ground. A busted play almost let in Henry Anderson (DE, Stanford) on the left edge. Sims avoids the pressure and gets a nice lead block by Collins for a decent gain on the ground. Nice reaction again from Collins.

Sims takes a shot downfield to Lockett, who beats USC’s Josh Shaw drawing a clear PI. It’s a 41-yard penalty. Lockett continues to look fluid with his routes — very sudden and crisp. Sims underthrew the pass badly. A good throw equals an easy touchdown. Shaw looked stiff.

The South had to settle for a field goal from close in after a Sims pass for Sammie Coates was reeled in but Coates only got one foot down. It was decent catching technique — Coates high points the ball above the defender. He just needs to learn that at the next level — it’s two feet or a knee. The field goal was missed, keeping it at 10-7 to the North.

Sean Mannion (QB, Oregon State) comes out chucking it downfield with no success. They go back to the run and Minnesota’s David Cobb breaks off a big first down run. On tape Cobb looks like a JAG part of the time and an effective cut-back runner the rest of the way. He lurches between distinctly average and pretty good. He’s having a nice game in Mobile.

T.J. Clemmings is starting at right tackle for the North, not the left. A solid review of his week at the Senior Bowl. Rather than confirm he has the tools to be a really effective left tackle — he looks resigned to being classified as a right side blocker for now. That has to impact his stock. Can he start as a rookie?

The North are forced to punt. Sammie Coates just had a potential downfield catch ripped away by Josh Shaw — a better play from the USC DB after the earlier big PI call.

Blake Sims is doing a great impression of Russell Wilson — scrambling around and trying to make plays. On this occasion he can’t and it leads to a quick three and out. Jamison Crowder — who was lucky not to give up a fumble on a punt return early — drops another punt but recovers and runs for a short gain. Kansas State’s Lockett — already impressing as a receiver — made the special teams tackle. He’s making a big impression today.

So is Nebraska’s Abdullah — who breaks off another big gain with a lovely jinking run to get us to the two minute warning.

Nick Boyle just made his first bad play of the day — dropping a superb throw by Mannion that should’ve been caught for a big gain. Excellent placement on the pass, right over the shoulder. Spilled. Mannion doesn’t hold a grudge and goes right back to Boyle on the next two snaps — one caught, one dropped. Boyle showing some inconsistency here.

Vince Mayle (WR, Washington State) shows strong hands to grab a key third down conversion on a short route to the right side. After another good run by Abdullah, Preston Smith (DE, Mississippi State) demolishes T.J. Clemmings to sack Mannion and force a fumble (recovered by the offense). Clemmings’ technique is all over the place — he’s too high, he’s not using his hands. It’s too easy for Smith who uses an inside move. Mannion also takes far too long to get the ball out. Mayock points out Clemmings’ lack of experience.

On third down with 13 seconds left in the half, Mannion takes a shot to the corner of the left end zone to Devin Smith. The ball is underthrown but Gunter the Miami corner doesn’t turn his head round. It’s PI and the ball’s at the one. A throw to Abdullah from Mannion is caught short of the line and with the North out of time outs, it’s half time and 10-7.

During the break, the NFL Network showed some ‘mic’d up’ footage. Gus Bradley is a fun guy. I think he took a shine to Sammie Coates who was also having fun out there. You can’t help but root for the Jags turning it around in 2015.

Third quarter

The South begin the second half with the ball. Tyler Lockett — perhaps the most impressive player so far — makes another eye-catching play. Quinted Rollins (CB, Miami, OH) should get an interception here, but he loses concentration and tips the ball kindly towards Lockett — who taps his toes to make a big first down. Ty Sambrailo is playing left tackle but screams guard. Danny Shelton looks gassed and makes way early for Carl Davis, who so far is penetrating into the backfield consistently. On tape he struggled to do this (Mayock makes this point on the broadcast) but he’s taken his game to another level in Mobile. The big question is — why wasn’t he doing this more often in college?

Nate Orchard missed a tackle to make a sack on what became a field goal drive for the South to tie it at 10-10. Orchard stayed home on a play action, read the play but failed to tackle the quarterback. UCF receiver Rannell Hall made an excellent downfield grab — leaping over a defender using body control and ball skills. Catch of the day so far.

Mayock reveals a list of potential first rounders playing at the Senior Bowl. Miami wide out Phillip Dorsett is listed. Interesting. We’ve not seen any Dorsett in this game so far.

The North take over and Gabe Wright (DT, Auburn) begins the drive with a fantastic play — knifing through the interior line and stuffing the running back for a loss.

The quarterbacks are having a really rough time of it today. A real lack of talent out there in this game. Markus Golden has his first play of note — jumping offside on first down.

Max Garcia (G, Florida) had a great week of practice and just had a tremendous block to spring a run for Cobb. On the next play Antwan Goodley (WR, Baylor) makes a nice grab on the sideline. He looks awkward but that’s his second good catch in the game.

Markus Golden is officially struggling. He just got easily blocked out of a play by Yale running back Tyler Varga. The North drive stalls but they kick a field goal to re-take the lead 13-10.

After a bit of research, it appears Phillip Dorsett isn’t playing today with a knee injury.

Devin Smith just hammered Rannell Hall on a kick return. Urban Meyer praised Smith’s gunning abilities and we saw it there. Excellent clean hit that had the Titans coaches on the sideline whooping and cheering. Hall recovered to make a really nice low sideline grab for a first down (Brian Bennett is now the quarterback). Mayock and Davis praise Hall for his week in practice — and we see a number of highlight reel grabs from the week. He’s worth another look after today.

Bennett just threw a terrible interception to Quandre Diggs (CB, Texas). It’s a nice play by Diggs, reading the QB’s eyes from the nickel spot. But it’s so basic from the quarterback — staring down the receiver all the way. David Cobb turns it into six points for the north, with Tyler Varga acting as a lead blocker on the play. It’s 20-10 to the North. Interestingly, T.J. Clemmings lined up at left tackle on that play.

The South take over again but Bennett throws another pick. Quinten Rollins, who muffed a pick earlier, makes a great play on the ball on a downfield shot. Fantastic play. Mayock raves about him afterwards. He’s 6-0 and 205lbs. Mayock: “He has the skills, if he runs fast enough, to be a very special corner.” He adds long speed is a concern, but if he’s in the 4.5 range he could go in the second round — otherwise a move to safety is imminent. He played point guard in Basketball before switching to football.

The end of the quarter beats the North team despite the pick. They’ll receive the ball to start the fourth after a kick-off.

Fourth quarter

Tony Lippett — who’s had a quiet game — tries a pass on a trick play. Over throw to Ty Montgomery, who’s also been anonymous. Varga, who looks like he could be a mobile pass-option full back if not a running back, makes a play underneath to get the North’s drive rolling. Clemmings continues to play left tackle. Bryce Petty is back in the game and finds Vince Mayle for another nice play for 27 yards. Mayle’s having a good game. Varga finishes the drive with an untouched scoring run. Jamil Douglas (G, Arizona State) and Clemmings with the key blocks. 27-10 to the North.

Garrett Grayson back in at quarterback for the South. He starts with a nice timing pass to Lockett who again, has probably been the most impressive player in this game. On the next catch Dezmin Lewis makes a nice catch and run in traffic. The broadcasting crew credit Mayle for the catch — even though he’s playing for the North team.

Oregon State corner Stephen Nelson is quietly having a nice game. He’s playing in the slot — 5-10 corner. Grayson goes for it on 4th and 6 and Lewis of Central Arkansas makes another fantastic catch to the near sideline. Gets up above Josh Shaw who is in a bad position. Lewis impressing here. Interesting prospect with size. The drive stalls after that and the South kick a field goal for 27-13.

Mayock briefly discusses Ty Sambrailo — a player Seattle has interest in according to Tony Pauline. Mayock says he needs to get stronger. Pauline also claims the Seahawks like San Diego State’s Terry Poole.

Sammie Coates is done for the night with a groin injury.

The North take over again with Sean Mannion back on the field. Markus Golden gets his first pressure of the night, but Mannion still makes a short completion to Justin Hardy. Golden then makes a TFL getting the running back down in the backfield. Still, not a night to remember for Golden, but he’s not alone. Very few defensive linemen have impressed in this game.

Mayock is signing the Yale fight song with two minutes to go, as Tyler Varga takes another carry. Off the back of the two minute warning, he scores another touchdown — so we get a second rendition. Charles Davis joins in. 34-13 North.

Blake Sims closed out the game and Dezmin Lewis made another low catch. He’s had a good day — nice size, body control and hands. Damarious Randall (CB, Arizona State) drops a pick that hits him right in the chest. What a miserable night for quarterbacks. The game ends 34-13 in favor of the North.

Closing thoughts

Even with the usual withdrawals, there’s at least four or five obvious first rounders at the Senior Bowl. Not this year. The game was a bit of a damp squib. It was poor. The running backs stood out thanks to some decent offensive line play — but it was mostly a disappointing night for the D-linemen.

I’m still struggling to grasp the media love affair with Danny Shelton. I get his qualities (fantastic strength at the point, lower body power) but Mike Mayock can’t mention Shelton’s name without stating “top ten pick”. He didn’t play that way today and tired quickly (as he did in practice). Carl Davis flashed a few times, but his tape is average compared to he way he competed in Mobile. How good is he, really?

Owamagbe Odighizuwa struggled to rush the edge and never had an opportunity inside. Hau’Oli Kikaha was quiet. Nate Orchard made a couple of plays in pursuit but didn’t stand out as an edge rusher. Markus Golden didn’t have an impact.

La’el Collins on the other hand was impressive at left tackle. It’s hard to imagine he’ll get out of the top-20, even if he has to move to guard. The most impressive player in the game outside of the running backs (Varga, Abdullah, Cobb, Johnson) was Kansas State receiver Tyler Lockett. He looked smooth, crisp and made several impressive grabs. Dezmin Lewis also had a decent performance. Quentin Rollins impressed at cornerback and will be one to watch at the combine. T.J. Clemmings has all the physical tools you look for, but he struggled with technique again here. He’s very raw. Is he too raw for the first round?

Ameer Abdullah was named game MVP.

One thing you learn about the Senior Bowl every year — there are so many different opinions floating around. In the past 24 hours I’ve seen glowing reviews and negative remarks about the same prospects. For example:

Devin Smith had a lot of trouble working off the press during drill work and 1 on 1s. Made a few nice adjust grabs but not a well rounded WR

— Alex Brown (@OS_AlexBrown) January 22, 2015

WR Devin Smith was one of @TonyPauline's 8 stars from Wednesday's #Senior Bowl practices: http://t.co/gYsmBuXmfF pic.twitter.com/1p10Z2KG2u

— Eagles Insider (@EaglesInsider) January 22, 2015

Several observes have noted that Devin Smith has been hit and miss catching the ball. Optimum Scouting’s Alex Brown suggests he struggled getting off press coverage and hasn’t shown he’s a well rounded receiver. Tony Pauline, on the other hand, called him one of the star performers of the week:

“Smith, who thrived as a vertical receiver during his time at Ohio State, effectively ran underneath patterns during the second day of Senior Bowl practice. He ran crisp routes and quickly came back to the ball exiting breaks, then extended to pluck the pass from the air. Smith, 6-0, 190, made a number of impressive catches in the short field when battling defenders to come away with the ball.”

Devin Smith plucks this one. https://t.co/v2jeGtxXLv

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) January 22, 2015

We’ve seen similar opposing views on other prospects too. While the media has been caught up in Danny Shelton mania — with a lot of talk of the top ten — there’s been quite a different take from other observers. According to this piece on NFL.com, an unnamed NFC Scout is quoted as saying, “I don’t think Danny Shelton is a top-10 pick” with the report going on to add:

Despite the glowing reports media pundits have put on Shelton, there are some NFL executives worried about his impact potential at the next level as a nose tackle. While the scout is impressed with Shelton’s ability to control the point of attack as a classic nose tackle, he doesn’t see the position flexibility or pass-rush skills that would make the Washington star a dynamic playmaker as a pro. He compares Shelton to former Pro Bowl NT Casey Hampton — a spectacular run-stopper but not a guy that you envision being a dominant pass rusher in the middle of the line. Given the premium evaluators place on players capable of impacting the passing game, Shelton’s value could dip a bit as the draft nears.

I wrote a piece a few weeks ago arguing Shelton was one of the more overrated players in the draft. Not because I think he’s a bad player or will be a total flop at the next level. It’s just the top-10 talk I can’t buy into. He visibly tires in games and had his biggest impact as a pass rusher against Hawaii, Eatern Washington and Georgia State. There’s no doubting his strong lower base, disruptive upper body power, ability to gain leverage and hold his point against the run. But there’s also a lot of ineffective tape. Conditioning will always be a slight concern with a classic nose tackle — but Shelton has a flabby midriff, especially in comparison to Jordan Phillips who carries his weight superbly.

Casey Hampton is a reasonable comparison. He went in the first (#19 overall) in 2001. I think if Shelton can get anywhere near Hampton’s playing weight of 325lbs he’d be better for it. That’s some challenge though given he rocked up in Mobile at 343lbs and celebrated that fact at the weigh-in. If he’s pleased to be at 343lbs and wearing down during practice for the Senior Bowl, it’s pretty telling. No matter how much potential he has, teams have to feel confident that he’s going to work to stay in shape and will be able to play more than a handful of snaps before needing a long rest. He’ll have his snaps managed as a nose tackle (early downs, short yardage), but the team will want to dictate that. They won’t want to be told he can’t stay on the field for 3rd and 1 because he’s gassed.

I still believe Jordan Phillips offers more athleticism and spark, has a better control over his weight and conditioning and has more of that Dontari Poe feel to him. He’s also a better pass rusher. The one big concern is a history of back injuries. I’m willing to be proven wrong, but for me Phillips is more likely to come off the board first and the top-10 talk on Shelton is premature.

While Shelton has received mixed reviews, another big defensive lineman continues to be raved about:

North offensive line has resorted to double teaming Carl Davis/DL/Iowa.

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 22, 2015

It’s also good news for another blog favorite:

After Carl Davis no defender has helped themselves this week more than Owamagbe Odighizuwa/UCLA. Should be in 1st round conversation.

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 22, 2015

We’ve said it a few times, but Odighizuwa is a terrific prospect. If the hip checks out — watch out. He has a frame to die for — genuine Ziggy Ansah style potential. He’s not a natural edge rusher but he shows so much power dipping inside. If he’s cleared medically, he could be a top-25 pick.

The buzz on Miami receiver Phillip Dorsett continues to grow — and it makes you wonder how early he could go in the draft. A NFC personnel director is quoted as saying about Dorsett: “I really liked what I saw. Some guys can run fast, but they have to work hard to do it, which limits what they can do out of their breaks. Dorsett is more natural with his speed and movement.”

He came into the Senior Bowl one of the more underrated players in this years class. When you look at his size it can put you off — 5-9 and a half, 183lbs. He has nine inch hands and a wingspan of 74 inches. But on tape he is such a fluid, technically gifted receiver. He’s savvy. He sets defenders up to get open, he seems to catch everything. He’s a decent bet to record the fastest forty yard dash at the combine (competing with Devin Smith) but really the fantastic athleticism is just a bonus. He’s a really polished wide out who could make a quick impact.

For me he’s firmly a second round pick. Possibly early second round. It all depends on whether a team feels he can be another T.Y. Hilton or Antonio Brown instead of just another short pass-catcher who struggles to find a role at the next level. He’s received universal praise for his performances so far in Mobile.

Miami WR Phillip Dorsett absolutely flies!

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) January 21, 2015

It never occurred to me before, but I like the comparison an unnamed AFC offensive line coach made between Maurkice Pouncey and La’el Collins. It’s obvious now it’s been pointed out. And like Pouncey, Collins has a chance to jump straight into the interior O-line of a team and dominate from day one. Here’s more analysis from the same NFL.com piece:

“Collins played left tackle at LSU but projects to right tackle or inside to guard in the NFL. He was listed at 321 pounds at LSU but weighed in Tuesday morning at an athletic 308 pounds. Collins is known for his physicality and aggressiveness, and it was on display at the South practice throughout the day. While he had some hits and misses during his one-on-one sessions, the consensus was generally very positive about his performance with the idea that he very well could end up inside at guard.”

I’ve seen Collins touted as a second rounder by Daniel Jeremiah and a much higher pick by others. I still think he’d be a great fit for a team like New Orleans who put particular value into their guards. Considering the Saints are in cap hell going into the off-season, they have to find a way to make cutbacks. The two expensive guards they currently have could be sacrificed, opening room for a cheaper player like Collins. I’m not a big advocate of Seattle taking a guard in the first and there’s still every chance James Carpenter is re-signed. But if he isn’t and Collins is there, I’d consider running to the podium. He’s just too good.

Bengals draft analyst Joe Goodberry is a recommended follow on Twitter. You’ll have noticed I’ve dropped a few of his Vine’s onto the blog in the last couple of days. He seems to be a fan of Washington pass rusher Hau’oli Kikaha:

This is textbook hand placement and footwork on the spin move. Kikaha's quickness makes it even deadlier. https://t.co/N5byqqdXfz

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) January 22, 2015

Kikaha vs a pulling OG. https://t.co/GQej4uq04D

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) January 22, 2015

Kikaha’s a tough one to work out. He’s a real warrior who takes on linemen, finds a way to get off a block and the production he had in 2013 and 2014 is fantastic. Yet he lacks the necessary length or size to play D-end in a 4-3 and you wonder how fast (or slow) he’ll run at the combine. How much faith do you have he can take the next step and continue to make plays with sheer technique and effort?

Speaking of effort — few players can match up to Missouri’s Markus Golden. But if you want to know why long arms matter — here’s a good example:

Markus Golden with his 31" arms… https://t.co/zeZibcwhTB

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) January 22, 2015

People have been asking where you can watch the Senior Bowl with footage limited on the NFL Network and not much access elsewhere. PhiladelphiaEagles.com do an outstanding job with their coverage — including employing Tony Pauline as an analyst throughout the week. If you want to watch some of the drills with his commentary included, here you go:

Senior Bowl: North 11-on-11 Action http://t.co/rC2aAOJj88 via @Eagles

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 22, 2015

Senior Bowl: South 9-on-7 Action http://t.co/YTuNUP6drs via @Eagles

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 22, 2015

Finally a quick note on Auburn receiver Sammie Coates — who continues to play with a frustrating level of inconsistency:

Sammie Coates is at different level than the DBs from size, speed, strength aspect. Tripped himself on one slant route but won consistently

— Alex Brown (@OS_AlexBrown) January 22, 2015

Coates then proceeds to drop a simple cross pattern target… Right on cue

— Alex Brown (@OS_AlexBrown) January 22, 2015

It makes you wonder what round he could be available. It’s going to be a hard sell to take such a poor hands-catcher early in the draft just because he’s a spectacular athlete. Eventually though, you just have to back yourself to coach him up. It wouldn’t be a total shock if he lasts until the third round or beyond.

Let’s start with a recap of day one. You can see a ten minute clip (North OL vs DL) above. Tony Pauline gave a breakdown to PhiladelphiaEagles.com that’s worth a viewing. He says La’el Collins (T, LSU) and T.J. Clemmings (T, Pittsburgh) were both disappointing. Collins was reportedly pushed back into the pocket on several occasions, while Clemmings looked raw and struggled with hand placement and technique. Both players have undoubted physical talent but have seemingly endured a rough start here.

Clemmings day summed up. https://t.co/WcqaK7B1t3

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) January 21, 2015

It’s a surprise to hear Collins struggled, although I’ve seen other reviews praising his day one performance. In an interview with New Orleans media last night he seemed disappointed — referencing his need to improve on day two. We didn’t see him pushed around at LSU — in fact one of his big positives was upper body power and leverage. He’s top heavy.

It’s been a great start for Carl Davis (DT, Iowa) and Owamagbe Odighizuwa (DE, UCLA) according to Pauline. Davis has turned up to play this week. In the video above he was dipping and swimming inside, complimenting flair and power to break into the backfield. He’s a massive human being and potentially a late first round pick if this continues. On tape he doesn’t seem to ‘wow’ that much, but he’s shown technical refinement and hand use to go with length and upper body strength. He’s hard to move off the ball.

Nice move by the Iowa DT Carl Davis in team drills. https://t.co/cJE9o2Nih3

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) January 21, 2015

Odighizuwa is becoming increasingly interesting as this process goes along. Built like a Greek God, he received a glowing report from Pauline. He was one of the players giving La’el Collins a hard time. While he doesn’t always win with speed off the edge, he’s adept at dipping inside and driving to the quarterback. He’s explosive off the snap, he can shove blockers into the backfield with a real jolt. We put him in round one in last weeks mock draft and that’s where he’s heading at this rate. The only concern will be previous injury history (hip). If he checks out medically, he’s an exciting talent who could be another Ziggy Ansah.

So, on to today…

TJ Clemmings did not do anything today to make us more confident besides just looking beastly-Plays too high, gets overextended, kinda stiff

— RosterWatch (@RosterWatch) January 21, 2015

I'm surprised how stiff TJ Clemmings looks. Can't adjust. Just beaten badly by Nate Orchard.

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 21, 2015

It sounded like T.J. Clemmings was enduring another rough day, before perhaps repairing things later on…

TJ Clemmings/OL/Pitt rebounding well in full scrimmage.

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 21, 2015

See the lack of refinement to TJ Clemmings game in one on ones. Shows hands too early or late, exposing his midsection to rushers. #Pitt

— Alex Brown (@OS_AlexBrown) January 21, 2015

Usually the big, athletic tackles go to Mobile to put themselves in the top ten. For Clemmings, this is perhaps the best review of where he’s at. He only started playing offense at the back end of his college career. Physically he looks the part — a true prototype for a left tackle. But he needs time and refinement. Greg Robinson was one of the best physical talents to enter the NFL in recent years when he went #2 overall last year. He struggled early on. Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson also needed time. While it’s easy to fall into the ‘safe pick’ rhetoric when it comes to offensive linemen — that isn’t the case anymore. Teams are taking a punt because the top athletes in college are nearly all playing defense these days. You need guys who can match up.

It won’t be a shock if Clemmings goes in the top-15 despite his early struggles at the Senior Bowl. Such is the premium on the position. If you can coach him up he has a shot to be great. But this is a nice reality check. He just might not be ready to start immediately as a rookie.

Most of the buzz yesterday centered around Danny Shelton (DT, Washington). Yet when you watch the video above, it was clear in one drill he was gassed after two snaps. Granted, in the two early snaps he shows a great blend of power, quick feet and mobility. Conditioning is obviously an issue for any player with Shelton’s size, but it’s something teams have to look into. How prepared will he be to control his weight? He was too flabby in 2014. If you can manage this situation, great. If not, it’s something to consider. Looking at his midriff I think you’d need to do more checks here compared to Jordan Phillips.

Shelton continues to be talked about as a top ten prospect (I don’t agree, I think that’s too high). Maybe today offered some perspective?

Danny Shelton/Washington struggling this morning. Looks like he's wearing down and gassed.

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 21, 2015

Love the power, explosion and nastiness of Danny Shelton but he does not use his hands well. Coaches getting on him for it.

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 21, 2015

Ali Marpet/Hobart handling Danny Shelton/Washington in full scrimmage.

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 21, 2015

Danny Shelton in team drills. https://t.co/5YIF8UqkIH

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) January 21, 2015

Mixed reviews for some other prospects too…

Nate Orchard/Utah taking part in linebacker drills this morning and looking good. Deon Barnes/Penn St struggling AT LB.

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 21, 2015

Nate Orchard also following up strong Day 1 with better Day 2. First off snap, mixing in variety of pass rush moves with power and leverage.

— Jene Bramel (@JeneBramel) January 21, 2015

Thought #Iowa DT Carl Davis locked out blockers and showed anchor strength, but too slow to find break point and disengage. Shade nose type

— Alex Brown (@OS_AlexBrown) January 21, 2015

Ball has bounced off Justin Hardy's hands a few times today.

— Dan Kadar (@MockingTheDraft) January 21, 2015

#Baylor WR Antwan Goodley continues to not do himself any favors. Has dropped more balls in drills vs. air than he's caught so far.

— RosterWatch (@RosterWatch) January 21, 2015

No time to celebrate for @Seahawks GM John Schneider. He's at @seniorbowl scouting college prospects @NFLonFOX

— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 20, 2015

For a full list of measurements for both the North and South squads click here.

— Nate Orchard (DE, Utah) is one of the day’s winners so far. He measured at 6-3, 251lbs and has 33 inch arms — with a wingspan just shy of 80 inches. That’s some nice length — even if he’s shorter than Utah’s listed 6-4. Compare that to another productive PAC-12 pass rusher. Hau’oli Kikaha (DE, Washington) is just over 6-2, 246lbs and has 31 and a half inch arms. To compare, Bruce Irvin has 33 and a half inch arms. It’s hard to imagine the Seahawks going after Kikaha early. Orchard? Maybe he is a candidate. He needs to run a good 10-yard split at the combine but could have a Marcus Smith style rise over the next few weeks.

— Owamagbe Odigihizuwa (DE, UCLA) looks superb as expected. He has the physique of a top-ten pick. He’s 6-3 and a half, 266lbs, has enormous 11 inch hands and 33 inch arms. He has a wingspan that nearly reaches 82 inches. He’s one of the more interesting prospects at the Senior Bowl and could be a big riser if teams trust he can stay healthy. He’s adept at dipping inside and powering through the interior. He needs to prove he can also be an effective edge rusher.

— Sammie Coates (WR, Auburn) has some nice length. At 6-1 and 6/8th’s he has 33 and a half inch arms. That’s pretty special. His wingspan is 78 and a half inches. He has nine and a half inch hands. We already knew he’s a tremendous athlete and he weighs a solid 213lbs. He needs to prove he can be more consistent, but physically he’s an exciting talent. If he had even a decent level of consistency, he could develop into a real threat.

— Markus Golden (DE, Missouri) might be off the radar after today’s not totally surprising measurements. He’ll make a team happy, it just probably won’t be Seattle. He has 31 inch arms and Seattle loves length. It’s kind of strange that he has short arms and nearly 11 inch hands. His wingspan is just under 77 inches and he’s just over 6-2. Despite a lack of length, reports say he dominated the South practice with a fantastic display.

— La’el Collins (T/G, LSU) looks like a stud. 6-4 and a half inches, 308lbs, over 33 inch arms and a wingspan at around 82 inches. The arm length will intrigue teams still planning on using him at tackle. You look at the size and the combination of upper body power and footwork and you can’t rule it out. For me he’d still make a terrific guard and should go easily in the top-20 wherever you want to line him up.

— T.J. Clemmings (T, Pittsburgh) is as advertised. He’s 6-4 and 5/8th’s, 307lbs and has the second best wingspan on the north squad (85 and a quarter inches). That kind of length and size is attractive. The big question is whether he can show enough polish after making a late switch to offense during his college career. Tony Pauline says he struggled a bit during practice today.

— Preston Smith (DT, Mississippi State) confirmed his size could be a difference maker in terms of where he lands. He’s just under 6-5, 270lbs with 34 inch arms and a wingspan at just over 82 inches. Datone Jones went in the first round with just under 33 inch arms at 283lbs. The challenge for Smith is to prove he’s as athletic as Jones.

— Danny Shelton (DT, Washington) will dominate this week because the north’s interior O-line talent is badly lacking. He’s 6-1 and 6/8th’s, 343lbs with arms listed at 31 and 6/8th’s. He has a wingspan of 77 and 6/8th’s. The arm length isn’t such a big deal for a power guy like Shelton. Dontari Poe’s arms are only 32 inches long.

— Ty Sambrailo (T, Colorado State) is 6-5 and 6/8th’s not the listed 6-7. Ty Montgomery (WR Stanford) came in at 5-11 and 6/8th’s despite being listed by Stanford at 6-2. Happens every year, still not sure why.

— Devin Smith (WR, Ohio State) is 6-0, 190lbs with nine inch hands and 31 inch arms. He has a wingspan of 73 and 3/4 inches. In comparison, Paul Richardson was 175lbs at last years combine, had just under nine inch hands and 32 inch arms. Physically they are similar. Smith is a dynamic athlete with genuine suddenness (an aspect Seattle loves), the ability to compete for the ball and special teams value. Keep your eyes on this guy.

— Phillip Dorsett (WR, Miami) is 5-9 and a half, 183lbs, has nine inch hands and a 74 inch wingspan (31 inch arms). He’s another dynamic athlete although at his size, he might have to be worked into a gameplan. He’s more polished than you’d expect when you watch the Miami tape.

— Bryce Petty (QB, Baylor) is the best quarterback in Mobile — and he has ten inch hands which is a major plus point. Let’s see how he performs in drills. In a weak class for QB’s, there’s a battle to be had for the #3 spot behind Mariota and Winston.

— Carl Davis (DT, Iowa) is massive and warrants a good look over the next couple of weeks. He’s also 6-4 and 5/8th’s, 321lbs, with an 84 and a half inch wingspan. He has eleven inch hands and 34 and a half inch arms. They just don’t make many dudes like this.

— Vince Mayle (WR, Washington State) is 6-2 and 219lbs but only has nine inch hands and under 32 inch arms.

NFL.com has put 10 minutes of OL vs DL practice up for viewing. Danny Shelton starts well but gets gassed very quickly. The last couple of rushes he had were the complete opposite of the first two where he dominated. Conditioning could be an issue here. Carl Davis impressed in this segment.

By the way, if you want to celebrate Seattle becoming NFC Champions by buying ‘stuff’, use the banner below or the sidebar on the blog.

Today players are checking in for the Senior Bowl, with practices, weigh-ins and measurements taking place tomorrow. Here’s some of the other players I’ll be keeping an eye on this week:

South team

Sammie Coates (WR, Auburn)
There’s no doubting his athletic potential, deep speed and chunk play ability. The main issue is consistency and technique. This is a big opportunity for Coates to impress. Auburn’s run-focused scheme isn’t conducive to big production. He’s competing with a good group of receivers in the South squad. Can he show he’s more than a dynamic athlete playing football? Route running, hands and catching technique are the keys to impress.

Phillip Dorsett (WR, Miami)
The more I watch Dorsett, the more I like. He’s not a big guy at 5-10 and 195lbs. Yet on film he looks quite polished and it compliments the speed and suddenness you want to see. He can take the top off a defense and get downfield, he’s a threat with YAC on short passes, he appears to run good routes. He’s a track and field star to go with his football skills. He’s also competitive and doesn’t show any obvious flaws. I like him.

La’el Collins (G, LSU)
Collins’ task is to prove he has a future at tackle. For me he’s best suited to moving inside at guard where his frame, upper body power and run blocking qualities will be best served. Teams will love his attitude and approach. He’s a tough guy on the field — physically brilliant. Can he kick slide with ease, can he mirror? Is he athletic enough to handle the speed rush? He’ll be battling Markus Golden, Owamagbe Odighizuwa and Preston Smith during practice. Even if he ends up resigned to a future at guard, he should still be a top-25 pick for me.

Ty Sambrailo (T, Colorado State)
I wasn’t blown away with Sambrailo’s tape. He’s long and looks the part of a tackle. But he’s quite stiff. Can he show some mobility here and mirror with the talented pass rushers he’s going to face? Is he resigned to a future at right tackle? He comes from a family of athletes and might surprise a few people here. But I think he’s overrated as a potential first rounder. I’m willing to be proven wrong if his footwork and speed is better than expected.

Daryl Williams (T, Oklahoma)
A hulking offensive tackle who appears to have long arms. More of a run blocker than a pass protector. Bit of a waist bender and ultimately could be set for a move inside. People will make comparisons to a guy like James Carpenter — but it’s easy to forget how excellent Carpenter was at left tackle for Alabama before he turned pro. He plays with an edge lacking in his Oklahoma team mate Tyrus Thompson. As a potential O-line depth pick for Seattle, this guy could be in play.

Markus Golden (DE, Missouri)
Measurement’s are key here. He looks quite squatty on tape. How tall is he? Does he have long enough arms? At Missouri he flat out dominated at times with a combination of power and speed. Can he match that level of intensity in Mobile? Pass rushers, like O-liners, always have a chance to flash here. The 1v1 practices are well suited to matching up the trench players. Golden has a real chance to impress.

Owamagbe Odighizuwa (DE, UCLA)
Love this guys effort. When he loops inside and attacks the interior he’s relentless and often effective. Can he show more of an edge rush here and flash some speed to round the arc and get to the QB without needing to work through traffic? He has ideal size — the physique of a high first round pick. Injuries haven’t helped. A good week here and he could be one of the biggest risers at the Senior Bowl.

Preston Smith (DE, Mississippi State)
He showed a great motor in 2014, he can line up inside or out and he can play in the 4-3 or 3-4. Has a little Datone Jones to his game, but is he the same kind of athlete? You can see why some people consider him a late first or early second rounder. For me he’s more like a second or third — but a good week here could leave an impression. Teams love a guy with length and size like this who gets after the QB. Had a great season.

North team

Devin Smith (WR, Ohio State)
Sudden athlete who can break downfield and competes better than any other receiver you’ll see here. He gets knocked for his role at Ohio State — and yet all he did was make endless plays. 21 receptions of +40 yards in his career is more than anyone else in college football. He high points the ball, he understands positioning and how to create openings for the quarterback. He’s not Odell Beckham Jr but you see similar traits. There’s some DeSean Jackson in there too. This is his opportunity to show he’s more than just a deep runner.

T.J. Clemmings (T, Pittsburgh)
A fascinating case and a candidate to be the big winner here. After converting from defense Clemmings oozes potential. He’s quick, strong and loves to get to the second level. He could easily push himself towards the top-15 with a good performance here. Alternatively his lack of experience at the position and rawness could offer some perspective on what he’s capable of. Does he need time to establish a true position at the next level? Is he a tackle (right or left) or guard? Can he dominate this Senior Bowl?

Danny Shelton (DT, Washington)
I’ve been critical of Shelton not because I think he’s a bad player, I just think he’s a little overrated as a suggested top-10 or 15 pick. He’s going to be practicing against a really average group of offensive linemen so this is a fantastic chance to show the kind of form we saw early in 2014. He dominated weaker opponents to really launch his stock — and while he didn’t always translate that kind of form into the PAC-12 — he could easily recreate those blistering displays in Mobile.

Hau’oli Kikaha (DE, Washington)
Is there a tougher player to work out in this draft? He’s been incredibly productive for two straight seasons. When you watch the tape he frequently just finds a way to get off a block, work his way to the QB. He’s instinctive, prepared — just a really intelligent football player who’s shown he has good hand technique and effort. The thing is, he looks like a marginal athlete and he isn’t big. Will he still be productive at the next level? It’s really hard to say. It’ll be good to see him in this type of environment.

Nate Orchard (DE, Utah)
Speaking of productive pass rushers. Orchard is undersized but plays with a competitive streak. He gets swallowed up too often to believe he could be anything like an every down edge rusher in the 4-3. He looks like a pass rush specialist. Measurements are key again. Can he show a really explosive burst in drills? He gets a chance to work alongside some other impressive DL’s. Has a surprising amount of power for his size when he gets into the chest of an O-liner.

Vince Mayle (WR, Washington State)
I’ve seen two games and was left thoroughly underwhelmed each time. There’s no doubting Mayle’s physical presence but I just feel like there are better players out there (Issac Blakeney, Darren Waller) who could be available in the same range. I’m willing to be converted, however, so let’s see a good week here.

Tony Lippett (WR, Michigan State)
He’s really skinny on tape and that’s a concern. He also had a knack for making plays at MSU. He’s a realiable playmaker — and provided he can add good weight to his frame, he’s worth considering. Has he been able to bulk up a bit for the Senior Bowl? If so, will it impact his play? Can he flash legit 4.45 speed at 6-3? He’s a very intriguing talent.

Michael Bennett (DT, Ohio State)
I’ve never been that impressed with Bennett — but maybe it’s just because your eyes get constantly drawn to the play of Joey Bosa. Bennett underwhelms more often than he stands out. Yet this is a perfect setting for him. It looks like a thoroughly average group of O-liners on the North squad, especially inside. For a player who kind of took a back seat in Ohio State’s improbable title run, this is his chance to show what he’s all about.

Michael Bennett is awesome

Russell Wilson threw his fourth interception of the day with five minutes to go. Seattle trailed by twelve. Morgan Burnett could’ve had a long return, but sank to the turf believing this was the deciding moment in the game.

Forget running it back or trying to score. This was over.

Except it wasn’t.

Never will we see a greater challenge to one of Pete Carroll’s favorite mantra’s.

“It’s not how you start it’s how you finish”.

For three long hours it appeared a nightmarish start would cost Seattle a return ticket to the Super Bowl. Wilson chucked three interceptions in the first half and Doug Baldwin fumbled on a kick return. The defense couldn’t get to Aaron Rodgers or stop Eddie Lacy. Field position, time of possession — all one-sided in favor of the Pack.

Green Bay’s defensive game plan worked from the opening kick. They matched up 1v1 in the secondary and went after Seattle’s two playmakers — Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. This was an all-out assault on the offensive line, leaving Wilson a lot of favorable looks. The Seahawks anticipated it and threw early — and were simply outplayed. Under pressure, Wilson couldn’t exploit the kind of coverage Peyton Manning used to eat for dinner.

You could argue — why not run the ball or go to the read-option? Imagine a goalkeeper preparing to face a penalty kick. He’s standing to the extreme right side of the goal. Where are you going to shoot? To the empty space surely? There’s still a chance you’ll miss, but the odds are good. Seattle did what they had to and failed. Two drives stalled because they couldn’t exploit the coverage and force Green Bay to adapt. Mix in the turnovers, and the offense couldn’t stay on the field.

If the Seahawks establish the passing game early and force a re-think, this could’ve been a comfortable victory. You saw the way a more conservative Packers defense performed late in the game. Seattle’s approach was understandable, they just didn’t get it done.

On defense it didn’t get much better. Aaron Rodgers had all the time in the world as he built a 16-0 advantage. Seattle panicked. Wilson threw into triple coverage for his second pick. His third was another forced throw into the end zone with Kearse failing to box off the defender, losing position and ending up playing defense.

The inevitable second half rally came — but even a John Ryan touchdown to Gary Gilliam couldn’t provide the ultimate spark. At 19-7 with minutes remaining, this felt over. Just ask Morgan Burnett.

And then it happened. A moment to eclipse even ‘the tip’. A set of events so perfectly embodying Pete Carroll’s Seahawks.

Mission #1 — get a stop
Green Bay, predictably, went conservative on offense and handed the ball off to Eddie Lacy. They were in clock-eating mode. Seattle were never really challenged — even with a first down effectively ending the game. They wisely used two timeouts and got the ball back with around three minutes to go.

Mission #2 — get a touchdown
Wilson, four interceptions in the bag and seemingly facing an off-season of doubters, rallied the troops. Marshawn Lynch got things going before a jinking Wilson scamper got it back to 19-14. Game on? Maybe so…

Mission #3 — recover an onside kick
Green Bay set it up perfectly. They put Jordy Nelson on the left side behind a wall of blockers. The idea was to create enough room for their best receiver to go and get the football. Brandon Bostick’s job was to block for Nelson. The rest of the unit executed perfectly — except Bostick. For some reason at the decisive moment, he went for glory. Instead of blocking his guy, he leaps for the ball — blocking Nelson’s route to the ball A titanic sized error. It hits him in the facemask and deflects straight to Chris Matthews.

Mission #4 — score again and get the two point conversion
Green Bay are on the ropes. The momentum’s with Seattle as Lynch romps into the end zone untouched. It’s 20-19. Seattle leads after the craziest two minutes of the season. But there’s Aaron Rodgers waiting on the sideline. League MVP to be. They need the two point conversion to stand any chance of winning. Wilson takes the snap, he’s struggling. He’s under pressure. With more than a hint of ‘Hail Mary’ he lofts one hopefully into the end zone. And ‘good’ Luke Willson goes up and makes a play as important as any in this game. 22-19.

With the three point cushion, Seattle could afford to play a conservative game knowing overtime was a worst case scenario. Mason Crosby’s pressure kick to make it 22-22 felt like a mere delaying tactic. This was going one way.

Seattle won the overtime toss. As soon as they took the field, it felt right for the first time. The Seahawks were going to win.

Wilson, knowing better than anyone this was the worst day of his pro-career, made amends. Four throws to Kearse had been intercepted. A fifth pass to the same target sent Seattle back to the Super Bowl. Wilson broke into tears. Kearse broke into tears. And Michael Bennett found a bicycle.

The media will focus on the choking Packers — not unfairly. Imagine losing a game in this fashion? Last night I was killing time on Youtube and watched back the Music City Miracle. I thought about the look on Wade Phillips’ face as his Buffalo team discovered their fate. Losers. This defeat is even more agonizing for Packers fans, players and coaches. It’s not just one freaky play or a blown assignment. It’s a series of avoidable events. Burnett pulling up after the fourth pick. The onside kick. The inability to stop Seattle on three scoring drives. It’s a wound that will never heal in the history of a fantastic franchise.

The Seahawks must get credit, however, for another performance rich in character. They were fighting for their lives. Not accepting defeat. Playing like winners. In some cases (Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas) playing with one arm. For all the opportunities afforded to the Seahawks, they still had to finish. They still had to have three scoring drives. They still had to score 21 points in a matter of minutes with the season on the line.

And there’s Carroll’s mantra again.

“It’s not how you start it’s how you finish”.

They did it the hard way, but the Seahawks are going back to the Super Bowl.