Month: April 2017 (Page 4 of 4)

Despite signing some veteran linebackers in free agency, Pete Carroll still stated his desire to draft for the position when speaking to John Clayton last week.

Recently we highlighted how important the short shuttle times appear to be for Seattle. Now it’s time to look a how significant the 10-yard splits are.

Here are the times for Seattle’s draftees since 2010:

Kevin Pierre-Louis — 1.53
Mike Morgan (UDFA) — 1.54
Bruce Irvin — 1.55
Bobby Wagner — 1.57
Brock Coyle (UDFA) — 1.60
Malcolm Smith — 1.61
Korey Toomer — 1.61
K.J. Wright — 1.66

K.J. Wright is an exception but everyone else has ran a really good split. Anything faster than a 1.60 is considered elite.

For example, here are the ten yard splits for some of the top DB’s in the 2017 draft:

Jamal Adams — 1.60
Budda Baker — 1.56
Jabrill Peppers — 1.54
Josh Jones — 1.58
Marcus Maye — 1.56
Marcus Williams — 1.61
Gareon Conley — 1.56
Chidobe Awuzie — 1.64
Cordrea Tankersley — 1.56

Seattle’s linebackers ran similar times to some of the DB’s in this loaded draft. Get-off, explosion and short-area quickness appears to be just as important as agility.

There weren’t many fantastic forty times among the linebackers at the combine. However, there were some impressive short shuttle times and the 10-yard splits are also better than expected.

Here are all the linebackers in the 2017 class who ran faster than a 1.65 split either at the combine or at their pro-day:

Dylan Cole — 1.54
Jarrad Davis — 1.54
Duke Riley — 1.56
Anthony Walker — 1.57
Zach Cunningham — 1.58
Alex Anzalone — 1.59
Tyus Boswer — 1.59
Jayon Brown — 1.59
Jordan Evans — 1.59
Haason Reddick — 1.59
T.J. Watt — 1.59
Elijah Lee — 1.60
Blair Brown — 1.61
Brooks Ellis — 1.61
Raekwon McMillan — 1.61
Marquel Lee — 1.62
Paul Magloire — 1.62
Hardy Nickerson — 1.62
Tanner Vallejo — 1.62
Vince Biegel — 1.64
Pita Taumepenu — 1.64

As you can see, there’s a long list of really quick linebackers.

Jarrad Davis stands out at the top. His closing speed shows up time and time again on tape and it’s validated here. Considering his size, quickness, athleticism, tenacity and character it’s impossible to imagine him not going in the first round. He could go in the top-20.

Would the Seahawks consider him? I think they’d have to. And while there might be an alternative defensive back or offensive lineman that wins the day due to need — you at least have to make Davis part of the conversation. He’s that good.

He also managed a 4.29 short shuttle at his pro-day so there’s another positive mark. Bobby Wagner ran a 4.28 at his pro-day.

Of the list of names above, here are the prospects who ran a sub-4.30 short shuttle and a sub-1.65 10-yard split:

Dylan Cole — 4.08 & 1.54
Jarrad Davis — 4.29 & 1.54
Duke Riley — 4.21 & 1.56
Zach Cunningham — 4.29 & 1.58
Alex Anzalone — 4.25 & 1.59
Tyus Boswer — DNP & 1.59
T.J. Watt — 4.13 & 1.59
Blair Brown — 4.18 & 1.61
Brooks Ellis — 4.25 & 1.61
Paul Magloire — 4.28 & 1.62
Vince Biegel — 4.16 & 1.64

That’s not to say the Seahawks wouldn’t draft a linebacker with a +4.30 short shuttle time — but the players they have added since 2010 ran the following times:

Korey Toomer — 4.00
Kevin Pierre-Louis — 4.02
Bruce Irvin — 4.03
Bobby Wagner — 4.28
K.J. Wright — 4.35
Malcolm Smith — 4.54

Smith was a seventh round pick and compensated with a 1.61 split, a 4.44 forty and a 39 inch vertical (he also had knowledge of Pete Carroll’s system at the start of the new regime).

There may not be any 4.44 runners in the 2017 class of linebackers but there’s enough burst and quickness to imagine the Seahawks will come across some attractive options.

And if they want to draft Obi Melifonwu to act as a big nickel or safety/linebacker hybrid — he ran a 1.51 split and a 4.09 short shuttle at 6-4 and 225lbs.

Earlier today Field Gulls published a piece I wrote for them looking at possible options at #26. It’s written in a ‘big board’ style. Check it out and let me know what you think, either in the comments section here or on the FG site.

You might also want to check out Tony Pauline’s new three-round mock draft. He has the Seahawks taking Chidobe Awuzie at #26:

“The Seahawks like to play five defensive backs and the versatile Awuzie can play corner, nickel and/or safety. The fact he scored a 35 on his wonderlic at the combine makes him that much more appealing.”

Awuzie is gritty, athletic and had a better combine that a lot of people expected. When we talk about players in this draft who could go anywhere from the teens to the early 40’s, Awuzie is that type of player.

He is undersized — but if the Seahawks are looking for a slot corner that might not be so much of an issue. We don’t have the data to sufficiently judge such a pick. It seems a bit rich though to consider the possibility of Seattle drafting Budda Baker to play as a third safety/nickel and not consider the likes of Awuzie or Adoree’ Jackson.

Personally I think Jackson, who was available in Pauline’s mock, could be more attractive to the Seahawks if they are looking for a slot specialist. His special teams value, freaky athleticism and ability to score every time he touches the ball screams ‘Pete Carroll favourite’.

That said, Awuzie plays with great toughness for his size and he made several big plays in the backfield in 2016. He’d be a creative blitz option and not just a coverage specialist. He has high character and fits the mentality of Seattle’s defense perfectly. He could be a serious option.

Here’s a video if you’re unfamiliar with Awuzie’s playing style:

Pete Carroll admitted last week the Seahawks are considering adding another pass rusher and he saw a few attractive options in the draft.

So what type of player have they looked at in the past and how does it help us identify possible targets in this class?

Since 2010, the Seahawks have drafted the following EDGE/DE types:

Bruce Irvin
Frank Clark
Cassius Marsh
Obum Gwachum

— All of the players ran a sub-4.30 short shuttle. Irvin and Clark both ran sensational times (4.03 and 4.05 respectively).

— Irvin and Clark also ran elite 1.5 10-yard splits. Marsh ran a 1.70 and Gwachum a 1.66. So an elite time doesn’t appear to be critical even if it’s appealing.

— It’s a mixed bag in terms of explosive traits. Irvin (10-3, 33.5), Clark (9-10, 38.5), Marsh (9-6, 32), Gwachum (10-1, 36) all have different results in the broad and vertical.

— The TEF results also vary. Irvin (3.41), Clark (3.25) and Gwachum (3.38) all performed well but Marsh (2.84) was much less explosive. If you’re unfamiliar with TEF or don’t understand why we use it on defensive linemen, there’s an explanation here.

— All of the group had +33 inch arms.

— Three of the four ran a 7.08 or faster in the three cone, with Obum Gwachum running a 7.28.

There are bits of pieces of info here but nothing strikingly consistent apart from arm length.

Now let’s look at the 2017 class…

— No D-line prospects ran a short shuttle anywhere near as good as Irvin or Clark. Carl Lawson had the fastest time at 4.19. Trey Hendrickson (4.20), Solomon Thomas (4.28) and Jordan Willis (4.28) were the only other sub 4.30 runners.

— In terms of 10-yard splits, Jordan Willis (1.57), Haason Reddick (1.59) and Trey Hendrickson (1.59) all ran in the elite 1.5’s. Terrell Basham, Carl Lawson, Takk McKinley and Derek Rivers all ran a 1.60.

— Myles Garrett (4.21), Haason Reddick (3.93), Solomon Thomas (3.83), Jordan Willis (3.70), Ife Odenigbo (3.61), Derek Rivers (3.57), Carl Lawson (3.54) all performed very well in TEF.

— There are over 30 players that topped a 3.00. Here are the prospects who scored a +3.00 with +33 inch arms:

Josh Carraway — 34 1/4
Taco Charlton — 34 1/4
Daeshon Hall — 35 5/8
Tanoh Kpassagnon — 35 5/8
Jeremiah Ledbetter — 34 1/4
Takk McKinley — 34 3/4
Carroll Phillips — 33 3/4
Dawuane Smoot — 33 1/4
Jordan Willis — 33 1/2
Deatrich Wise — 35 5/8

If we isolate this group for now, let’s see how they tested in the short shuttle and 10-yard split:

Josh Carraway — 4.44, 1.72
Taco Charlton — 4.39, 1.70
Daeshon Hall — 4.38, 1.67
Tanoh Kpassagnon — 4.62, 1.69
Jeremiah Ledbetter — 4.56, 1.72
Takk McKinley — 4.62, 1.61
Carroll Phillips — 4.37, 1.64
Dawuane Smoot — 4.39, 1.68
Jordan Willis — 4.28, 1.57
Deatrich Wise — 4.36, 1.70

Considering they haven’t drafted any player with a +4.30 short shuttle, the times by Takk McKinley and Tanoh Kpassagnon (4.62) stand out negatively. Jordan Willis obviously looks like a fit (not a surprise considering he had one of the best combines regardless of position). The times run by Taco Charlton, Daeshon Hall, Carroll Phillips, Dawuane Smoot and Deatrich Wise aren’t particularly troubling even if they’re reasonably below Obum Gwachum’s 4.28.

Can we learn any more using the three cone?

The following players from the list above (33 inch arms, explosive traits) all ran comparatively well to Seattle’s previous draft picks:

Jordan Willis — 6.85
Daeshon Hall — 7.03
Carroll Phillips — 7.06
Deatrich Wise — 7.06
Taco Charlton — 7.17
Dawuane Smoot — 7.18
Josh Carroway — 7.20

The following ran much slower than Seattle’s picks:

Tanoh Kpassagnon — 7.46
Takk McKinley — 7.48
Jeremiah Ledbetter — 7.55

A pattern is more or less forming here. The likes of Jordan Willis, Daeshon Hall, Taco Charlton, Carroll Phillips and Deatrich Wise could be safely on their radar.

That said, there’s not a stand-out piece of data here. Not in the way they’ve consistently taken cornerbacks with size and 32 inch arms. Not in the way they’ve looked at the short shuttle marks at linebacker. Not in the way they’ve highlighted explosive traits on the O-line.

With so many explosive defensive linemen in the class, they might be willing to take one even if their short-area quickness isn’t as good as the likes of Irvin, Clark or Marsh.

The 33 inch arms is a trend but would they really rule out Alabama’s Tim Williams for having 32 3/4 inch arms? Or Derek Rivers? Or Tarell Basham?

And are they willing to look the other way if a prospect runs a really good 10-yard split, such as Trey Hendrickson, Terrell Basham, Carl Lawson, Takk McKinley and Derek Rivers?

These are questions we’ll be able to answer with greater confidence after the 2017 draft (assuming they do add a pass rusher).

It’s also worth considering the rush linebackers. We’ve already highlighted how T.J. Watt and Tyus Bowser compare physically to Khalil Mack. So how do they compare to the D-line class?

— Both have +33 inch arms

— T.J. Watt ran a 4.13 short shuttle, faster than any defensive lineman at the combine (Bowser didn’t run a short shuttle at the combine)

— Bowser (6.75) and Watt (6.79) ran faster three-cone times than any of the defensive linemen

— They both ran elite 1.59 10-yard splits

— Watt (3.64) and Bowser (3.61) both excel in TEF

Essentially Watt and Bowser would fit right in with Seattle’s previous pass rush picks. Sadly, both could go in the top-45.

That’s probably the case for Jordan Willis too. So if adding a pass rusher in rounds 2-3 is a target for the Seahawks — Daeshon Hall, Carroll Phillips and Deatrich Wise are perhaps more likely to land in Seattle.

They could, of course, repeat what they did last year. Move down in round one and then trade up in round two.

By this point you’re also probably wondering about interior rushers. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find them in this draft class.

There are some markers to focus on. The three interior rushers they’ve drafted previously all ran quick short shuttle times for their size:

Jordan Hill — 4.51
Jaye Howard — 4.47
Quinton Jefferson — 4.37

Jordan Hill, the highest interior rusher drafted in the Carroll/Schneider era as a former third round pick, scored a 3.09 in TEF. Jaye Howard only scored a 2.62 and Quinton Jefferson didn’t perform a broad jump.

In the 2017 class, Eddie Vanderdoes ran a 4.39, Ryan Glasgow a 4.50, Jonathan Allen a 4.50 and Malik McDowell a 4.53. These are the quickest short shuttle times among interior defensive linemen.

Only Vanderdoes from the four names above scored a +3.00 in TEF (3.04).

So while a lot of fans are clamouring for another interior pass rusher to be added, it’ll be tough finding one in this class.

It’s also worth keeping an eye on confirmed VMAC visitors, especially any prospects not invited to the combine. It’s a good way to identify potential targets and highly athletic prospects we haven’t discussed here.

Pete Carroll spoke to John Clayton at the owner’s meeting this week. You can hear the piece here and it’s worth a listen.

Here are some of the higlights:

— With Deshawn Shead currently injured, Jeremy Lane is ‘next man up’ at outside cornerback

— The Seahawks still intend to fill Mike Morgan’s spot on the roster and Morgan, a free agent, remains an option

— Cornerback and linebacker are the two positions of focus on defense

— Carroll stated they’re also ‘always looking to upgrade the pass rush’ adding it’s ‘a good draft for some guys who could help us’

I think the most intriguing thing, however, is the increasing focus on this position:

That’s an image we first looked at in February when discussing the role of a ‘big nickel’ or ‘Buffalo‘.

Seattle ran a 4-2-5 for a large part of 2016 with Jeremy Lane playing 71% of the defensive snaps as an orthodox nickel corner.

John Schneider’s comments on the SAM linebacker position this week suggest they’ll continue to start an extra defensive back:

“When you look at the SAM linebacker position, it’s really hard to say you’re going to take a huge risk on somebody or step out on a limb for somebody because the reps are… it’s 15 to 17… or something like that, is the average. So that’s why you see that position in our defense, it’s just a nickel league now.”

Carroll further emboldened the suggestion they’ll use a big nickel when discussing Bradley McDougald’s role in Seattle:

“Maybe we can do some things with our packaging so we play three safety’s at the same time. We’ve looked at that over the years and done that at times.”

So considering they’ve already signed McDougald, what can we take from all of this?

— With Lane moving outside, at least to begin with, it creates a hole in the slot somebody is going to need to fill

— McDougald might play a high percentage of snaps as a big nickel or he might compete with a rookie

— McDougald might win the nickel job outright or he might spell it with someone else depending on the match-up (eg a dynamic slot corner)

— They might have McDougald try to win that job (similar to Brandon Browner a year ago) and if it doesn’t work, start a more traditional slot corner (as they did with Lane in 2016)

The talk of an extra safety being on the field and the lukewarm discussion of the SAM position highlights why Pete Carroll and John Schneider appeared to look so excited after watching Obi Melifonwu at the combine:

Watch Pete Carroll turn to Kris Richard after watching Obi Melifonwu run a 4.40 #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/eA4JGHuJaZ

— Rob Staton (@robstaton) March 6, 2017

Melifonwu is a unique player. There really isn’t anyone else like him in the league. Linebacker size, 4.40 speed, highly explosive, supreme agility and short area quickness.

For this specific role he could be the new standard. And a virtually unmatchable standard at that — considering how rare his physical profile is.

And that’s why, despite everything we’ve talked about recently with Adoree’ Jackson, he could be a highly coveted prospect for Seattle.

Jackson could be an option for very different reasons. He’d be the compliment to McDougald. A player who might take 90-100% of the snaps one-week and 20-30% the next depending on the match-up. If he wasn’t playing much on defense you’d still be getting his extreme special teams value. So it still makes sense.

However, if Melifonwu is there at #26 he might be their guy. The question could be — will another team beat Seattle to the punch. Will another team acknowledge the way this league is going and consider taking the ultimate Buffalo?

And if he’s not there that might be when you consider the alternatives — slot corner (Jackson, Baker, Awuzie), outside corner (Tankersley, King, Conley) or another safety (Evans).

An alternative would be to draft someone like Shalom Luani later on.

As for Carroll’s mention of the pass rush, it’s an interesting note. With five picks in the first three rounds the Seahawks should be able to find someone they like. It could be, for example, someone like Daeshon Hall. It could be a T.J. Watt, Vince Biegel, Jordan Willis or Tyus Bowser. So while it seems very likely Seattle will go DB with their first pick, the EDGE class is deep enough to consider the options in rounds 2-3.