Author: Rob Staton (Page 372 of 422)

The future?

It was revealed today that Tyler Wilson won’t be entering the 2012 draft and will return to Arkansas. Barring any last minute shocks, we know what’s out there for the Seahawks. Amid all the talk of improving the front seven and especially the team’s pass rush, one need sticks out so much it’ll trip you up. The Seahawks need a quarterback. I started this blog in 2008, and we’ve talked about this subject virtually every week since. Back then it was a case of fixing the roof while the sun was shining – drafting a successor for Matt Hasselbeck before he departed. It started raining, and the house flooded.

The prospect of spending another year talking about quarterbacks is about as tantalising as watching Jim Harbaugh win a Super Bowl. Yet without some bold, ambitious, zany move up the board – that’s exactly what we’re faced with. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will be drafted early and the Seahawks will have to pull out all the stops to get one of the ‘big two’.

After that, well there’s always the possibility players will rise up the board considering the vital nature of the position and how it translates to NFL success. The new rookie wage scale makes drafting a quarterback in round one much less of a gamble, with damaged reputation and pride rather than cap space the main issue. A team can decide to fire a GM for making a bad pick at the position, but they’re going to be able to clean up the mess quite swiftly. We saw last year that team’s are prepared to chance their arm now – there’s no other way to justify a prospect like Christian Ponder going #12 overall.

In my latest mock I included Ryan Tannehill as an early pick after reading Tony Pauline’s report that he’s currently expected to go in the top-15. Like Jake Locker last year, someone could easily take the gamble under the new cap rules. I much preferred Locker if we’re talking comparisons, but many graded the former Washington QB outside of the first round. In the end Tennessee drafted him at #8 – considered a shocking turn of events at the time – and there’s every chance Tannehill will also go in that range whether you agree with that decision or not.

The Washington Redskins pick #6 overall and while they may be better served going in another direction, this is Mike Shanahan’s third draft with the team. In year one he gushed about Sam Bradford, but the #4 pick in 2010 wasn’t high enough to get his man. Last April I fully expected Shanahan to draft Locker at #10 before the Titans stepped in. This year, they might take the hit to get that elusive quarterback. Tannehill shouldn’t go as early as #6 overall, but are you going to risk a third strike and face another year with potentially John Beck or Rex Grossman as your starter? They could take Tennessee’s lead and still add a veteran option to tutor Tannehill and give him time and I maintain Peyton Manning playing in the capital seems like a logical option. If Shanahan doesn’t sort out the position this off season, he’s going to be on the hot-seat.

So with three quarterbacks off the board already, the Seahawks could be left with the scraps at #11 or #12. One option is to just take the situation on the chin, because this is still a team in rebuild with other needs. However, if the goal is sustained improvement it’s unlikely a franchise quarterback is going to one day magically land on a plate. Any quarterback with a modicum of talent is going to go earlier now that team’s essentially have a financial carte blanche to roll the dice on a franchise quarterback. Is it wrong to believe that if things keep progressing in Seattle, the front office faces an inevitable decision on either a.) reaching for a player or b.) trading up?

Of course, so far this regime has found gem after gem in the later rounds of the draft and free agency. They have the midas touch at the moment and the way they’ve turned around an ageing team going absolutely nowhere fast deserves greater credit on a national scale. However, their record so far at quarterback is poor. Tarvaris Jackson was a convenient choice last off season, but he lurched from good to mediocre to bad in 2011. The Charlie Whitehurst trade is a busted deal, simple as that. The only other fairly significant move was to sign Josh Portis and essentially red-shirt him for a year. Nobody truly knows what he’s capable of, but expecting to find the next UDFA sensation is like expecting to win big on the lottery – not impossible, but excruciatingly difficult.

There are options in this draft beyond round one. Chandler Harnish (Northern Illinois), Ryan Lindley (San Diego State), Austin Davis (Southern Miss) and BJ Coleman (Chattanooga) all carry a degree of intrigue. There are bigger names out there too, such as Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State). Realistically though are any of these guys going to start next year? Perhaps of greater importance, is it really that much easier to find a starting quarterback in rounds 2-7 if the top players are going to go earlier than ever before?

The Seahawks may have to take a chance. This isn’t a draft full of top end first round talent and the prospective options at #11 or #12 are hardly making the fans in Seattle rub their hands in delight. It’s particularly weak on the defensive line – the other real need area that has been highlighted. Do you take a chance? Have Pete Carroll and John Schneider earned the opportunity to get a first round pick at quarterback wrong and live to tell the tale? Are they prepared to take a chance on a quarterback who might not quite be the second coming of Aaron Rodgers, but has enough talent to upgrade the position beyond Tarvaris Jackson? Enough talent to pull together an offense that blocks better, has some talent at receiver and a running back who, if he re-signs, will be hoping to build on a 2011 season that firmly put him among the league’s best.

Let me take you back to 2008.

A quarterback named Joe Flacco was preparing for the NFL Draft. He’d left Pittsburgh after struggling for starts behind Tyler Palko and moved to Delaware, where he made 22 regular season starts and led a FCS playoff run in 2006. He went to the Senior Bowl and impressed enough to earn a grade in the back-end of round two. Momentum continued to build, other quarterbacks failed to emerge. It was understood the Baltimore Ravens had interest in drafting Matt Ryan with the #8 pick, but when he left the board at #3 they traded all the way down to #26. They then moved back up to #18 to secure their man.

Flacco was raw and his footwork needed major work. Most people said he needed time but when injury and illness ruled out Kyle Boller and Troy Smith respectively, Flacco was in. Baltimore boasted an elite defense, a sound running game and offensive line and the rookie quarterback was able to make some plays, helping his team to the AFC Championship game. He got a lot of help as mentioned, his performances were hit and miss – but he did enough. Flacco’s big arm kept other team’s honest, and he did enough to win Rookie of the Year.

Since then Baltimore have returned to the post season each annually. Flacco hasn’t had it easy, including some heavy criticism as people reflect on his status after four seasons of pro-football. The thing is, he’s never going to be Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers. In Baltimore though, he only has to be Joe Flacco. Denver, New England and Houston are the three teams standing in the way of a first Super Bowl – and the Ravens have home field advantage. Flacco is far from perfect, he can be rattled at times and he’s not been helped by some bizarre playcalling (see: Seattle, week 10). Yet he does enough consistently to keep getting wins. Sure, he won’t be perfect every game – far from it in fact. But he’s not bad enough to stop Baltimore making the playoffs every year and competing. He doesn’t spoil a good supporting cast.

And this is when we come to Seattle.

Everyone is chasing the next Manning, Brady, Brees or Rodgers. Everyone is also chasing the next tier of Matt Stafford, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger (or whoever else you want to include here). The Seahawks don’t necessarily need to keep chasing the holy grail. They may only need their version of Joe Flacco.

Some people will cringe at that because let’s be honest – nobody truly aspires to have Flacco as ‘the guy’. We all dream of the elite passers in the league, the miracle workers. But here’s the reality – Alex Smith was quarterback for not just the NFC West Champions this year, but also the #2 seed in the NFC. He did enough in certain games to get a few W’s – the kind that went begging for the Seahawks under Jackson. The Niners have a lot of talent, but they’re not the elite Ravens on defense. This is Seattle’s primary competition for now.

Carroll and Schneider are building a defense that is starting to look very promising. Potentially, it’s a three-technique and another pass rusher away from being – dare we say it – a force to be reckoned with and feared by the rest of the NFC. The running game has come along nicely as 2011 developed. Doesn’t it all just sound familiar?

The Seahawks are lacking that facilitator, someone who can make enough big plays in a game to get the job done. Maybe it is just 145 yards and a score one week? As long as you win the game, what does it matter? That touchdown could be the game winning drive? Unfortunately, ‘game winning drive’ are not words you can associate with Tarvaris Jackson.

Seattle’s Joe Flacco could be Brock Osweiler. The physical similarities are there – height (6-6 vs 6-8), weight (240lbs vs 240lbs), arm strength and raw potential with room for development. Like Flacco, Osweiler has a grade in that round 2-3 range right now. Flacco actually only started six more regular season games at Delaware than Osweiler has at Arizona State, but there’s a steep difference in opposition quality between the FCS and the PAC-12.

Nobody will ever count Osweiler as the ideal. Nobody will argue he’s the finished article or flawless. Yet anyone who watches the Utah tape from yesterday’s blog article will see there is some legitimate pro-potential. Fran Duffy, associate producer for philadelphiaeagles.com and a former video coordinator at Temple University describes Osweiler as, “(someone) who is going to be a stud in this league. I’m sold. This kid has a howitzer. Osweiler can stick the ball anywhere he wants, and he tries to. (He) puts the ball in tight quarters, sometimes good, some bad. But I like that.”

I tend to agree with this assessment and while there’s plenty to work on, there’s also plenty to work with. The one great difference between Flacco and Osweiler is mobility – extending plays, breaking off runs. Osweiler is a natural athlete with surprising agility that helps him improvise on plays the way Flacco simply can’t. In many ways, Osweiler is the kind of quarterback Seattle has been looking for – ability to run bootlegs, downfield passer with an arm to make all the throws and is able to extend plays. Ultimately though, Seattle’s roster is being set up to accomodate a less than perfect quarterback, simply a good one instead.

A lot of people are going to hate this idea, but I’m putting it out there. The Seahawks could trade down, just like Baltimore in 2008, enabling them to add an extra pick or two later on and then draft Osweiler in the #18-25 range just like the Ravens planned with Flacco. It’d be taking a bit of a risk, but this is the situation while ever Seattle’s not picking in the top five to get at the Andrew Luck’s and Matt Barkley’s. Some will say, “why not wait until round two?” My answer is simple – quarterbacks are going to go earlier and earlier these days. Waiting, hoping and praying will not get it done. Osweiler may never reach elite status as a NFL passer, but if he can be Seattle’s Joe Flacco and do enough to make the Seahawks competitive – isn’t that just the ticket?

Brock Osweiler’s performance against Utah (see above) flashed first round talent. Simple as that. His decision to turn pro was greeted with a mixture of surprise, confusion and criticism – yet when you watch a performance like that, you start to appreciate why he made the decision. He was facing the prospect of working with yet another different offensive coordinator and another playbook – and he decided he might as well be learning NFL plays instead. Maybe this was the right choice after all? I’ve documented several key highlights below alongside the time they appear in the tape. The reason I singled out the following plays is simple – they’re all evidence of what you expect to see on a Sunday.

1:23 – An impossibly accurate throw for a touchdown, fitting the ball into the tightest of windows. Overall he has a split second to make that read, set and release to dissect the two defensive backs and complete the pass. An exceptional touchdown made even better considering he had two defensive lineman right in his face as he delivered the pass – his height probably played a big advantage here to see the receiver in the end zone. Just a fantastic play.

4:08– Perfect fade pass into the back of the end zone and a pro-quality delivery that should’ve been caught. Bad execution on the catch from the receiver and should’ve been a score.

4:19 – Bootlegs right to allow for a developing route before delivering a strike to the receiver right on target. The kind of route and execution he’ll need if he’s going to play in Seattle or Washington.

4:27– Osweiler throws a frozen rope down the left sideline that should’ve been caught. I’m tempted to say there was a little too much velocity on the pass, but to a degree that was needed to fit the ball into a tight window. NFL wide receivers should make that play.

4:48 – Flashes unnatural mobility and agility for a 6-8 quarterback by scrambling on 3rd and 7 and coming within inches of a first down. He makes it on a quarterback sneak with the next snap. Great improvisation skills to keep the drive moving and appears to know when to run, he doesn’t seem to bail on passes too early.

5:20 – Further evidence of good decision making on fourth down showing the composure to read the field, decide to run and making the first down with ease.

5:57 – Nice ball placement on a throw deep to the right across the field from the left hash. Put the football in an area for his receiver to make a play in single coverage. Perfect spiral on the football.

6:27– Osweiler adjusts his throwing angle and chucks a sidearm pass to his receiver for a touchdown. Superb improvisation under pressure. Quarterbacks need to make plays on their own in difficult circumstances when things don’t go according to plan, it may be the most underrated aspect of any prospective NFL quarterback.

6:48 – Brilliant scramble for big yardage, again flashing unique running ability despite his size. This is an absolutely sensational run for a guy listed at 6-8 and around 240lbs.

7:13– Osweiler dissects two receivers to make a perfect throw standing in the pocket.

7:36 – Here he makes one read to the left then clearly snaps his head back to go to the secondary target for a first down with another very accurate pass. This. Is. What. We. Want. To. See.

8:10– Possibly the most exciting throw on the tape – a back shoulder pass to the left corner of the end zone perfectly executed for a score. Osweiler gave the cornerback zero chance to make a play and that’s another NFL throw.

There were a few bad decisions as well early in the tape, but mainly on lazy dump offs to the left hand side where he isn’t making a proper read. As soon as you get beyond the 4:08 mark you’re looking at a player on first viewing that looks like a sure-fire first round pick. He’s a completely unique quarterback prospect and you know what? That’s kind of exciting. If you’re taking snaps at 6-8 you expect a real lack of mobility but Osweiler is surprisingly nimble and borderline ‘athletic’. He’s more than capable of avoiding pressure and extending plays. If he needs to get a few yards, he’ll get them on the ground if he doesn’t like the read.

Osweiler also has elite arm strength and can be a tremendously accurate quarterback. There are several throws in that Utah tape that are as good as anything you will see leading into this draft. With Arizona State trialing, Osweiler takes over the game in the second half and wins it. Yes, quarterbacks are capable of doing that. When you see evidence like this, it’s difficult not to get excited about his potential.

And….then you see this…

There’s really no point in breaking down the Boise State tape because we can sum it up in one word – horrific. It’s like watching two completely different players. Which is the real Brock Osweiler? Is it the one picking apart Utah with big plays and extending long drives, or is it the one that gift wrapped a nice gentle Bowl victory for Kellen Moore in his college finale? In fairness, you could argue circumstance played a part. This was a game that ultimately meant more to Boise State and their quarterback, while Arizona State were limping towards the off-season having endured yet another dose of drama behind the scenes. ASU ended the year abysmally and it was well known that changes were afoot long before the end of the season.

Osweiler clearly was contemplating his next move and perhaps this was a game too far against elite opposition? You can make those excuses, but it doesn’t much help in terms of an evaluation. If the going gets tough, will Brock Osweiler fold like a pack of cards? Will he stand up and be counted in a big game? If he was thinking of turning pro, couldn’t he motivate himself for one last blast against a good team to boost his stock?

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle – he’s not quite as prolific as the Utah tape suggests, but not nearly as bad as the Boise State evidence argues. He’s a player with incredible physical potential, but do you take the gamble early to have the chance to work potential into NFL production? And how will teams approach the level of unknown here, considering a quarterback like Osweiler has never graced the game before?

It’s worth noting that Osweiler and ASU were one of only two teams (alongside Andrew Luck and Stanford) to beat USC in 2011. I’ve included the tape of that game below (all three videos were supplied by JMPasq). He’s a player I’m still trying to work out, but there’s perhaps a little more to his game than I originally thought. He’s one to monitor going forward in this process.

Michael Brockers declares for the draft

Last week we included Michael Brockers for the first time in our mock drafts and we put him in the top ten. It made sense that a highly rated defensive tackle prospect like that would take advantage of a rank bad class at the position. Today, LSU’s Brockers announced he will enter the NFL Draft. Despite only being a redshirt sophomore who is still growing into the game, Brockers will be the first player drafted at his position and should be on Seattle’s radar. His arrival should help the Seahawks in one of two ways – either they have a shot at a talented interior lineman who can play the much needed three-technique role, or he’ll be taken in the top ten forcing another potential target down the board. It’d make a lot of sense if Carolina drafted him at #8 or #9 but don’t rule out a fall to the Seahawks. His lack of experience and raw ability may put off some teams and I don’t have to remind anyone that certain GM’s (eg Tim Ruskell) prefer to avoid underclassmen with limited experience. The Seahawks got a steal when they drafted another redshirt sophomore – Earl Thomas – with the #14 pick in 2010. Maybe lightning will strike twice?

Tyler Wilson coming close to a decision?

ESPN’s Joe Schad is reporting that Tyler Wilson is still mulling over a decision on whether to enter the NFL Draft this year. This is a player who most assumed would return to college after just one season as the starter having taken over from Ryan Mallett. However, some fine performances in the SEC are seemingly giving Wilson food for thought. There’s a gap in the market to be the third best quarterback in this class and Wilson could easily be a high pick given the number of teams needing a QB. He’s got a decent arm even if it’s not at Mallett’s elite standards, he’s mobile in the pocket and well coached coming out of Bobby Petrino’s offense. He’ll have a head start on terminology and he’s used to facing complex defenses. The Seahawks really need this quarterback class to keep growing to aid their chances of solving the team’s greatest dilemma.

Robert Griffin III, Heisman winner and productive quarterback from Baylor, will today reveal his decision to turn pro. Consensus opinion is that teams will have to move into the top three to draft him, although I remain somewhat sceptical. Nevertheless, if the Seahawks want to get into this party they’ll definitely have to move up, at least in front of the Dolphins. In many ways Griffin represents what the Seahawks have been looking for at the position. He makes very few mistakes, he’s capable of extending plays with his athleticism and running all of the bootlegs, developing routes and play-action’s in the playbook. Griffin’s got the arm to make difficult throws, but crucially he’s savvy enough to make the right calls and be that ‘point guard’ type that Pete Carroll has talked about.

Carroll has also talked quite openly about his desire to add speed to the team’s defensive front while improving the pass rush. All of this flies in the face of the concept of a move up the board to draft a quarterback. The Seahawks currently own six picks, a stark contrast to the nine they spent in both the 2010 and 2011 draft. Trading up would be expensive and given the good work done in the later rounds so far, I suspect they’d like to keep adding depth in key areas. Then you consider the lack of obvious options in round one at defensive tackle, defensive end and the WILL linebacker spot and you come back to a quarterback like Griffin. Maybe this is the year?

That’s a debate that will continue long into April, but today I wanted to consider a situation where RG3 isn’t an option. In that case, they should be looking to target more than one quarterback in this draft. Without doubt the most logical way to find a franchise quarterback is to draft one in the first round. If that isn’t possible for whatever reason, they need to attack the middle and later rounds. Finding a starter beyond round one is like trying to win money on a scratch card. Essentially, you’re very unlikely to win. However – the more cards you buy, the more likely you are to get a return. The only problem is there’s a chance you won’t get anything and then you’ve wasted money chasing something that could’ve been used more wisely. So when it’s all done, is it worth the gamble? That’s where the analogy ends, because it probably isn’t worth it with the scratch cards – but it almost certainly is in the NFL.

Yesterday we identified Chandler Harnish (QB, Northern Illinois) as a player to keep an eye on. In the video at the top of this piece, you can see further tape from his performance against Ball State (courtesy of JMPasq). We’ll be publishing more game-tape on Harnish soon, but my first impression watching him perform against Arkansas State, Toledo and Army was incredibly positive. He has a shot at the next level, no question about it. I’ve also spent considerable time talking up Austin Davis (QB, Southern Miss). Below, I’ve included a video highlighting Chattanooga quarterback BJ Coleman (tape courtesy of Aaron Alosysius) – a toolsy quarterback who lacks a lot of technical quality, but has some of the physical qualities the Seahawks are looking for.

By drafting multiple quarterbacks (for example, Harnish and Davies) the two rookies can compete with Josh Portis with the intent to discover if any have the potential to succeed Tarvaris Jackson and become the team’s long term starter. Beyond pre-season you could carry two of the players on the roster, with a third likely to make the practise squad. It’s not like the Seahawks felt obliged to stay loyal to their draft picks – they cut fourth round pick E.J. Wilson during his rookie season. Potentially losing a pick trying to open up a productive quarterback competition seems to be a perfectly acceptable situation.

Of course, you’re not going to completely force the issue. John Schneider and Carroll have done an excellent job identifying starters with their mid-to-late round picks. Are you going to pass on the next prospective Kam Chancellor or Richard Sherman just for the sake of opening up a token QB competition? At the same time, if you’re looking to spend two picks between rounds 3-7 on quarterbacks, you’ve also had the chance to spend your first two picks improving other areas of the team. Considering the blossoming depth on Seattle’s roster, perhaps they can afford to spend stock on the one position that has so far raised the most question marks for this front office?

This plan may prolong the starting career of Tarvaris Jackson for another season, but it’s also, in my mind, a better way of approaching things than throwing money at a ‘flavor of the month’ free agent like Matt Flynn. Let’s not forget that Flynn himself is the product of a similar plan in Green Bay. Despite having Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, the Packers spent a second round pick on Brian Brohm in 2008 before adding Flynn in round seven. No stone was left unturned in planning for the future beyond Favre and in the end it was the later round pick that became a productive back-up for Rodgers.

Rather than tapping into somebody elses work, the Seahawks should do their own. They may not have a future Hall of Fame quarterback and a first round pick already in the stable, but that’s not to say this can’t help identify an eventual starter. If the project fails and they’re essentially left with two busted mid or late round picks – was it not worth the effort?

This isn’t an ideal situation and I do think the Seahawks should explore every opportunity to move up in the draft. In two drafts so far, this front office hasn’t used a single draft pick on a rookie quarterback. They did spend a third rounder on Charlie Whitehurst, alongside a significant drop in round two. Trying other people’s back-ups failed in that particular case, it’s time to take a different approach. If this team isn’t going to make that bold move up the board, they need to look at alternatives. Finding the answer this way might be akin to winning on a scratch card, but if you don’t buy a card in the first place you’ll never be winner.

B.J. Coleman (QB, Chattanooga) vs Nebraska

Thoughts on last night’s BCS Championship

Alabama controlled LSU for four quarters in an anti-climactic finale to the college football season. Both teams have a lot of pro-talent and you have to give credit to the Crimson Tide defensive line, led by nose tackle Josh Chapman, for thoroughly dominating performance. Chapman would be a solid depth pick for the Seahawks to spell the big trio up front. Courtney Upshaw had his usual combative game at defensive. He’s stocky and short and lacks the natural length and edge speed that fits what the Seahawks are looking for, but he’s a warrior. He understands leverage and uses his height as an advantage to get underneath lineman. He’ll become the heart of a defense, he will keep fighting for four quarters. Yet if he’s not going to play permanently in a front four, how does he fit in Seattle? Can he translate to the WILL linebacker position? He’s not a naturally mobile player and will struggle in coverage, so it’s not an obvious fit.

Dre Kirkpatrick again took a lot of plaudits as people gushed over his tackling ability in run support. Nobody will deny that Kirkpatrick is a physical corner who will hit you in the mouth and make great stops in the run game. However, his coverage skills are average at best – John Brantley at Florida targeted him earlier in the season and he struggled. I have some concern that the Seahawks – despite being relatively solid at corner – will consider Kirkpatrick for legitimate depth under the mantra of ‘you can never have too many good cornerbacks’. The big issue I have is I don’t think Kirkpatrick will ever be a good cover corner. The saving grace could be that while he’s a very good open field tackler, he’s quite poor at taking on receivers at the point of attack and struggles to knock them out of rhythm. Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman are adept at this, so it could put the Seahawks off Kirkpatrick.

I suspect this front office will one day draft a linebacker like Dont’a Hightower, I’m just not sure it’ll be this year. He’s big (6-4, 260lbs), physical and will further help to create the identity that this defense is looking for. Hightower has some limitations – the knock on to his size is a lack of sideline-to-sideline quicks and an inability to shed blocks and get around. Yet he’s superb in run defense and with greater speed in other areas of the front seven that kind of player could be productive in Seattle.

LSU’s defense started brightly but tired (unsurprisingly given they spent most of the game on the field). Michael Brockers (DT, LSU) was a great example of this, getting off to a productive start including a blocked field goal before tiring as his team’s offense lurched from one three-and-out to another. He remains the best available three-technique prospect should he choose to declare and would be a top-12 pick if he turns pro.

Ryan Tannehill injury news

Tony Pauline is today reporting that Ryan Tannehill has picked up “a significant foot injury” in training and will miss the Senior Bowl. This is a blow for a player who needed to use the work-outs to make up for a disappointing senior season. Last year Christian Ponder had a largely mediocre season at Florida State but a decent Senior Bowl launched a positive hype that eventually led to becoming the 12th overall pick. We’ll have to wait and see how serious this injury is and how it could impact Tannehill in the draft. Pauline is also reporting that Ryan Lindley (QB, SDSU) will replace him at the Senior Bowl.

Before Christmas, Kip highlighted quarterback Chandler Harnish as a possible option for the Seahawks in April’s draft. I hadn’t had any access to Northern Illinois game tape, but having read Kip’s review I made sure to watch last night’s GoDaddy.Com Bowl between the Huskies and Arkansas State. It was an impressive performance from the quarterback and left me wanting to learn more. I’ve included game tape above which highlights every snap he took in a victory over Toledo, while I also referred to this video against Army.

There’s an awful lot to like here. Even at the collegiate level his drops backs are crisp and sharp – an underrated feature. It’s not so much the footwork either, which is good, but rather the way he scans the field while stepping back. There were several instances against Arkansas State, Toledo and Army where you can see Harnish looking downfield as he sets, switching from one option to another and making a completion. Although he’s a long way off the kind of technical qualities we see from Matt Barkley, he’s certainly a cut above the majority of college QB’s I’ve watched this year. Take a look at the touchdown pass at 0:50 in the video above. He looks initially to his left but doesn’t like the read, so comes back across to the middle. He rejects that secondary option and comes back to the left, scrambles to extend the play and then draws the defensive back before dumping a perfect pass into the end zone. That’s textbook quarterback play in several ways.

One of the other things that really impresses me about Harnish is the way he hangs in the pocket to the last possible second to deliver a throw. He’s not flustered by pressure at all. Look at 2:19 because it happened three times in the Arkansas State game too. Harnish will know the defensive end is approaching, but he doesn’t bail on the play call. He’s athletic, so he could’ve scrambled and lost the passing window. There’s perhaps an even better example at 4:23 where he takes a huge hit but still finds his receiver in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. It’s a difficult throw into a tight window – a NFL throw. This is almost an unteachable skill for quarterbacks.

His accuracy overall was very good – in the two full games I’ve watched in the last 24 hours I barely saw one throw he’d like to have back. Ball placement is excellent. Unlike a prospect like Ryan Lindley – who has a lot of similar qualities – there weren’t any plays where the quarterback has risked a bad turnover or just failed to execute. He has a low number of turnovers for his career (only five interceptions in the 2011 regular season) and the one pick he had against Arkansas State was all on the receiver who allowed the ball to be taken out of his hands. Look at the play at 5:20 where he steps up into the pocket, has a little pump and hits a receiver despite excellent coverage and three defensive backs in the zone. Again, it’s a NFL throw. The pass to win the game at 6:39 is equally impressive.

Harnish is a fluid and effective runner with the football. He looks a real threat on run-option and while that won’t be a big part of his game at the next level, he has above average running ability for the position and will be able to make first downs and break off gains. Not surprisingly it also translates to an ability to extend plays, run bootlegs and throw effectively on the run on developing routes – all key within the Seahawks offense. A good example of his running ability comes at 4:09 but there are a number of examples in the video above.

He understands touch and knows when to take pace off the throw. Harnish has a decent arm but he doesn’t pass at one speed or rely on arm strength to make difficult throws. You can see at 0:35 his poise on fourth down to take the snap, set and deliver a nice controlled pass for the first down completion. Technically it’s an easy pass, but the circumstances cloud things slightly and he kept his cool in the pocket to deliver the correct throw. I also like the way he throws to the touchline and particularly his work on the inside slant. The play at 1:45 is a good example – nice pop on the pass, good delivery and allows the receiver to make a play.

On the downside, his height concerns me and he’s listed at – and looks – 6-1.5. He currently takes the snap almost in the crouching position and in some of the All-22 replays he’s clearly shorter than the lineman making it difficult to scan the field. Against Arkansas State I saw on more than one occassion a pass that was a little flat where he just didn’t have the angle to throw over the linebacker and one instance almost led to a turnover. At the same time, I haven’t seen a lot of tipped passes and his release point is high rather than a slingy action. But the height is a shame, because it’s really the only major knock and otherwise he’d have legitimate early round potential. This could put teams off, but it’s not a deal breaker.

Although he has decent arm strength, it could be even better if he learns to transfer the weight onto his front foot throwing downfield. You can see at 2:07 how he leans back and delivers the ball off the back-foot and although he makes the completion, he won’t have that kind of window in the NFL. Of course, the receiver was so open he may just have been ‘playing it safe’. At the next level he needs to force that play a little more and step into the throw, getting it out in front of the receiver and giving him a chance to get the ball in stride.

There are also some concerns about the level of competition he’s faced in the MAC because he had a marginal impact against Wisconsin in a 49-7 defeat (14-24 passing, 164 yards and no scores). The tape above highlights his best performance of the season and really to make a proper judgement you’d have to compare it to the Wisconsin game to make a proper judgement. Based on the evidence I’ve seen so far though, he’s a definite sleeper for the Seahawks and could go earlier than a lot of people expect.

Pete Carroll says he wants to improve the team’s pass rush, but the first round isn’t filled with a lot of top-end defensive line options. North Carolina’s Quinton Coples entered the season with a lot of hype but didn’t live up to expectations. He started slowly with just two sacks against James Madison in his first four games and he was a non-factor in the team’s first defeat to Georgia Tech. Coples was subbed in and out regularly, spelling with Donte Paige-Moss and interestingly was kept out of crucial early down’s. Thing’s picked up late in the year and he finished with five sacks in his last seven games. However, it may be too late to save his dwindling draft stock.

Tony Pauline at Draft Insider.net reported, “The news has not been positive for defensive lineman Quinton Coples. Considered by just about all, including yours truly, as the top rated senior entering the 2011 campaign. Coples watched his play and production slide.  Its obvious on film Coples did not play with a sense of urgency last season nor really went after plays not in his immediate vicinity. While Coples turned it on late in the year scouts were given the word from those inside the North Carolina program that Coples was “playing not to get injured” for much of the year and was preparing for the draft rather than playing for the season.”

You don’t keep spelling future NFL lineman unless there’s something seriously wrong. Coples was not hurt, he was not tired – that was a coaches decision. Pauline’s report makes absolute sense to anyone who watched North Carolina earlier in the season. Coples looks every bit a pro-prospect physically and when he wants to, he shows off a certain degree of talent. However, how early are you prepared to take the risk that the light stays on once he gets paid? Let’s not forget, this is a player who seemingly risked his eligibility in 2011 after attending a draft part for former Tar Heels Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin (who themselves had already missed the 2010 season). The NCAA investigated after pictures (click here) emerged of Coples at the party, apparently also attended by an alleged runner. He was eventually cleared and it was judged no violation took place. Considering North Carolina’s recent issues, it may have been wise to stay at home.

So here we are, preparing for the 2012 NFL Draft. Having failed to dominate at the defensive end position, some pundits are wondering whether he could have a future inside at tackle. Due to Marvin Austin’s suspension in 2010, North Carolina moved Coples to defensive tackle out of sheer necessity. Rob Rang at CBS Sportsline and NFL Draft Scout recently mocked Coples to Seattle with the idea he could play the three-technique position. So is it an option? In my opinion, no – especially not in Seattle.

Take a look at the tape below (courtesy of Aaron Aloysius) which highlights Coples playing at tackle:

The Seahawks have built a system which is quite niche. We all know by now they use three big lineman (Alan Branch, Brandon Mebane and Red Bryant) with a LEO pass rusher in space attacking the edge. The WILL linebacker is expected to create pressure on the opposite side to Chris Clemons on obvious passing situations and third downs. So far it’s had mixed results, helping to solidify the run for the first half of the 2010 and 2011 season’s, emphasising Clemons’ talents as an edge rusher but generally not creating enough pressure. Seattle ranked 19th for sacks with 33 – eleven of which were from Clemons. Carroll says he wants more speed among his front seven and it’s easy to see why.

However, how does Coples fit into this scheme? You can see in the video above how completely ineffective he is in run defense. He’ll be a consistent liability playing in the middle in the NFL and it makes almost no sense to have an undersized three technique playing alongside Brandon Mebane if you’re going to play Red Bryant at end. If Coples lined up next to Clemons in the three-technique, where would you run the ball? Against Mebane and Bryant, or Coples and 254lbs Chris Clemons? It would negate all of the benefits Seattle has looked for with this system defending the run.

Of course, you could use Coples as a spot-duty pass rusher inside on long distance downs and passing situations – but are you really going to spend the #11 or #12 pick for that? Of course not. I don’t even think Coples is that effective as a pass rusher at three-technique to warrant consideration for a permanent move inside. After all, North Carolina quickly moved him back to the edge for the start of this season. You could ask Coples to add weight (he’s currently at around 280-285lbs) but will you negate what speed he has if you’re asking him to add 10lbs?

His frame and build look ideal to play the orthodox five-technique position in the 3-4, or potentially power end in the 4-3. If the questions weren’t there already about his heart and desire after a sloppy senior season, are you really going to take a gamble on a not-obvious scheme fit who may need to adapt physically to play inside? Is Quinton Coples really what the Seahawks defense has been missing?

There’s no doubt they need to find a three-technique who has the size to play any down but can offer greater interior pressure. Michael Brockers (DT, LSU) still looks like the best first round option if he chooses to declare, but alternatives are limited apart from that. Devon Still (DT, Penn State) had a strong senior campaign, but may be a better fit at five-technique. I don’t think Coples is the answer though and it would be a surprise if the Seahawks drafted him.

Bruce Irvin really intrigued me coming into the 2011 season. He’s a JUCO transfer who played spot-duty on third downs last year, but recorded 14 sacks and flashed elite potential as a pass rusher. He had the speed, the repertoire and the balance to be a legitimate pro-prospect. Taking on a new expanded role as a senior, expectations were high that Irvin could develop into an every down player.

For some reason, West Virginia’s coaches tried to fit him into a three man front – putting blockers in his way and not making the most of Irvin’s speed. He recorded one sack in his first five games, before going back to limited snaps and being mainly used on third down. He ended the season strongly with six sacks in the last five games.

Irvin is probably always going to be a specialist. He needs to play in space off the edge, he’s going to need lineman who take blocks so he can exploit 1-vs-1 match-ups outside. He’s going to struggle against the run playing at 245lbs so he’s often not going to be able to play in a four-man front on early downs. However, for a team like Seattle that’s looking for more pass rush and greater speed in its front seven – he could help. Even if Irvin only plays obvious passing downs, he will create problems off the edge. At the moment the Seahawks play three big bodied lineman alongside Chris Clemons and spell in Raheem Brock. Irvin could play the Brock-role while offering a greater impact with his fluid pass-rushing ability.

If Seattle is prepared to consider more 3-4 looks on defense, they could try and coach in some coverage skills to get the maximum out of Irvin and turn him into more of a regular feature. However, he’s the kind of player who’s always at his best without responsibility. You really want to say, “go get the quarterback.” Nothing more, nothing less. People will cringe at spending a high pick on a player who doesn’t feature in most of the defensive snaps every week, but if it helps the Seahawks get off the field on third down – would you really be averse to drafting the guy in round two or three? At the end of a season, ten sacks is ten sacks – right?

Game tape supplied to Seahawks Draft Blog by JMPasq

Brock Osweiler will be part of the 2012 draft. He's tall.

Pete Carroll spoke openly about his desire to improve the team’s pass rush this week, while also adding more speed to the front seven. He didn’t speak with quite as much urgency about the quarterback position. That’s not to say the Seahawks will ignore it (let’s hope not) but Carroll has been open and honest about his draft plans in the past and I’m not expecting anything different this time round. The big issue appears to be simply a lack of options. Matt Barkley has returned to USC, leaving just Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III as the two likely options early in round one. A lot of people have touted Ryan Tannehill as an option, but I just can’t grade him that early. Landry Jones, who has decided to return to Oklahoma, would almost certainly not have been an option for the Seahawks (or anyone else in the first round). 

Kip looked at some potential later round QB’s last month (here and here), while I highlighted Ryan Lindley and Brandon Weeden game tape. Today I’m going to feature tape from five different quarterbacks, one of which currently plays in the NFL. 

Tyler Wilson (QB, Arkansas) 

Wilson is reported to be researching his options and has requested feedback from the draft committee. It’s not surprising that he’s testing the water, given the lack of top end quarterback options in round one. While he’s a mobile and accurate passer with a lot of the technical qualities you expect from a player working underneath Bobby Petrino, he’s not a physically brilliant quarterback who will wow scouts in work-outs. He’s more developed than a lot of college quarterbacks in terms of needing to make reads, going through progressions and attempting a range of different passes. He’s not quite as sharp as Ryan Mallett from the pre-snap standpoint, but quarterbacks working under Petrino will always have a slight edge with the terminology and expectations of the next level. Seattle’s front office wants a point guard who can control the clock and make the most of their playmakers – and Wilson could easily fill that void. Is he special enough to warrant the #11 or #12 pick though if he declares? 

Tape vs Auburn (2010) – JMPasq 

Ryan Tannehill (QB, Texas A&M) 

I’ve written a lot on this blog about Tannehill and I just do not see a first round level talent. Yes – he has a lot of the athletic qualities you want for a potential franchise quarterback. He’s at his most comfortable getting out of the pocket and throwing on the run, similar to Jake Locker. However, Locker had better mechanics and a great knack for making plays. It’s also important to remember Tannehill was sacked less than any other quarterback in the NCAA this season except notoriously untroubled Kellen Moore. Taking that into consideration, there’s very little excuse for some of the mistakes he made during the season. His side-arm throwing motion led to a lot of tipped passes, he made several bad decisions and he just doesn’t look like a natural for the position. His awareness in the pocket is weak and he’ll regularly linger on a target, before panicking and forcing a throw to another receiver. He’s had interceptions this season where he’s been staring right at a target and knows full well the defensive back has leverage, only to throw the pass anyway. I don’t accept a lack of playing time as an excuse, because this is all we have to work with. You don’t take gambles on players making giant steps forward on a technical level, because the risk is too severe. 

Tape vs Northwestern (2012) – JMPasq 

Matt Flynn (QB, Green Bay) 

Here’s the most recent ‘flavor of the month’ at quarterback. Flynn set records for his display against Detroit in week 17, helping the Packers to a shoot-out victory over the Lions. The entire NFL fraternity now assumes he’ll get a major contract in free agency and be immediately snapped up Washington, Cleveland, Miami or Seattle. When I watch the tape from last week, I see the same player that warranted a 7th round pick in the 2008 draft despite leading LSU to the BCS Championship. Flynn was always a neat and tidy football player, who put the ball in the right areas but lacked any kind of physical quality. He hasn’t got a strong arm, he struggles to move around in the pocket and extend plays. In order to throw the ball downfield, he needs to exert so much back-lift and almost jumps into the throw. Green Bay’s offense is a well oiled machine, with or without Greg Jennings. Flynn deserves credit for getting to grips with it and providing solid cover for the NFL’s best quarterback. Yet as Pete Carroll referred to him this week, he’s “the backup”. It’s an unpopular opinion to have at the moment, but I don’t expect a scramble of activity to sign Flynn in free agency. It is quite possible to just be a good back-up. In fact, when all is said and done I think there’s a pretty good chance he re-signs with Green Bay on a modest deal to continue as Aaron Rodgers’ understudy. 

Tape vs Detroit (2012) – Aaron Aloysius 

Brock Osweiler (QB, Arizona State) 

Osweiler today revealed his intentions to declare for the 2012 draft. He’s a lean quarterback who’s been measured in the 6-7/6-8 range. The 240lbs weight listed appears ambitious and he could do with adding some bulk before attempting a career in the NFL. However, he moves well for a big guy and has no trouble extending plays or running for first downs. Osweiler’s greatest strength is his arm and he’s quite capable of elite velocity on long and medium range throws. The coaching staff at ASU may actually have downplayed his talents by not using the deep ball more in 2011. He has a side-arm throwing motion which is less of an issue given his height, but it’s still not ideal given the release angle on some throws. Like Tyler Wilson, he only has one year’s experience as a starter and that will concern teams in an age where Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley and Robert Griffin III have all had multiple seasons in the same offense. Osweiler has some potential though and don’t be surprised if he makes a late surge up the boards. He has the arm and the mobility that teams are looking for these days and he could go higher than you expect. 

Tape vs USC (2011) – JMPasq 

Geno Smith (QB, West Virginia) 

Dana Holgorsen knows how to create a pulsating passing offense and 2011 was no different in his first year at West Virginia. Geno Smith passed for 4379 yards – a significant improvement on the 2763 he managed the previous season. A 401-yard, six-touchdown performance in the Mountaineers 70-33 Orange Bowl victory was a fitting end to the year for a quarterback who took major strides forward. However, Smith is far from the finished article. His deep ball is inconsistent and he needs to improve his arm strength. He made probably my favorite pass of the season against LSU, flashing perfect accuracy and touch. This was mixed in with a lot of mental mistakes too and games where he struggled (for example, in defeat to Syracuse). Smith has potential if he continues to develop and another year at West Virginia would be just the tonic. Yet with so few exciting quarterback options, he may feel this is a good time to declare and ‘strike while the iron’s hot’. He’s unlikely to be a first round prospect in 2012, but he could easily find a home in rounds 2-3 if a team buys into the potential. There’s nothing to say he will declare, but with nine days to go until the deadline – anything can happen. 

Tape vs LSU (2011) – JMPasq 

Michael Brockers (#90) and Sam Montgomery (#99) could be options for Seattle

LSU pair should be on Seattle’s radar   

Twenty-four hours after I projected Sam Montgomery (DE, LSU) and Michael Brockers (DT, LSU) as potential top-12 picks, ESPN’s Todd McShay included them on his big board for the first time. This isn’t unexpected – a mediocre number of top-end players always makes you wonder if the best underclassmen will capitalise. Here’s McShay’s evaluation:   

On Montgomery: “A fast-rising third-year sophomore, Montgomery is somewhat undersized for a traditional end but he’s a productive pass-rusher with strong physical tools.”   

On Brockers: “Another standout third-year sophomore for the Tigers, Brockers moves well for his size and has the strength to control the interior of the line of scrimmage.”   

I’ve received a lukewarm response to my Montgomery-to-Seattle projection, with people concerned about his ability to shed blocks, deal with tight-ends (he should be beating them easily) and inconsistent fire off the snap. I have similar concerns, but Montgomery is far from the finished product. This is his first full season of college football and he’s leading a talented LSU defense with nine sacks. Despite playing at around 250lbs at the line of scrimmage, he’s been solid against the run and combative against the pass. Most players couldn’t play at the LOS with that size. He does have burst and real athleticism, and I’ve seen enough balance to believe he can attack the edge. Put him in space and I think you’ll see a much more productive player. We’re only scratching the surface with his potential and let’s not forget that not many people predicted Clay Matthews to be the eventual dominating pass rusher he’s become. Montgomery’s best days will come in the NFL.   

Brockers, however, may be the X-Factor here. Seattle needs a better interior rush, someone who can feature in any play call and create inside pressure. Brockers is the player that’s lacking in this class so far. He’ll penetrate, he’ll get into the backfield. Not only is he solid against the run, he’d offer the Seahawks are severely lacking three-technique to create pressure. If he declares, there’s every chance he could be off the board by #11 or #12 because of the high value of the position and the lack of alternatives. Having said that, teams sometimes are cautious to draft redshirt freshman – we only have to look back to Tim Ruskell who fed his draft boards with experienced seniors. Earl Thomas dropped to #14 and past teams who desperately needed a boost at safety – one of the reasons may have been his limited experience.   

Both players should be on your radar when LSU takes on Alabama in the BCS Championship game next week.   

Landry Jones will return to Oklahoma  

No surprises here. I’ve been down on Jones throughout the season while others continued to promote his talents as a top-ten pick. I’ve not included him in a single first-round mock draft. He has a laundry list of issues which may or may not be solved with another year at Oklahoma. The thing is, he might as well stick around and play for another Big-12 title. He’s simply not good enough to warrant any long-term pro-ambitions without a significant, perhaps unachievable level of improvement.  

History in Seattle’s favor   

If you’re wondering what the success rate is for players taken with the #11 and#12 picks, there’s good news. Seattle will toss a coin with Kansas City to decide who picks first and in the past some of the NFL’s elite players have been available in that range. Below I’ve listed every player drafted 11th or 12th overall since the turn of the century and a selection of players who were still on the board at the time.   

2011
11th pick: JJ Watt (DE, drafted by Houston)
12th pick: Christian Ponder (QB, drafted by Minnesota)
On the board: Nick Fairley, Robert Quinn, Mike Pouncey, Ryan Kerrigan, Corey Liuget and Nate Solder   

2010
11th pick: Anthony Davis (OT, drafted by San Francisco)
12th pick:  Ryan Mathews (RB, drafted by San Diego)
On the board: Earl Thomas, Jean Pierre-Paul, Maurkice Pouncey, Dez Bryant and Rob Gronkowski   

2009
11th pick: Aaron Maybin (LB, drafted by Buffalo)
12th pick: Knowshon Moreno (RB, drafted by Denver)
On the board: Brian Orakpo, Brian Cushing, Josh Freeman, Alex Mack, Percy Harvin and Clay Matthews   

2008
11th pick: Leodis McKelvin (CB, drafted by Buffalo)
12th pick: Ryan Clady (OT, drafted by Denver)
On the board: Jonathan Stewart, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Chris Johnson, Joe Flacco and Rashard Mendenhall   

2007
11th pick: Patrick Willis (LB, drafted by San Francisco)
12th pick: Marshawn Lynch (RB, drafted by Buffalo
On the board: Darrelle Revis, Dwayne Bowe, Joe Staley and Leon Hall   

2006
11th pick: Jay Cutler (QB, drafted by Denver)
12th pick: Haloti Ngata (NT, drafted by Baltimore)
On the board: Antonio Cromartie, Tamba Hali, Jonathan Joseph, Santonio Holmes, DeAngelo Williams and Nick Mangold   

2005
11th pick: DeMarcus Ware (OLB, drafted by Dallas)
12th pick: Shawne Merriman (OLB, drafted by San Diego)
On the board: Jammal Brown, Derrick Johnson, Aaron Rodgers, Roddy White and Logan Mankins   

2004
11th pick: Ben Roethlisberger (QB, drafted by Pittsburgh)
12th pick: Jonathan Vilma (LB, drafted by New York Jets)
On the board: Tommie Harris, Vince Wilfork, Steven Jackson and Jason Babin   

2003
11th pick: Marcus Trufant (CB, drafted by Seattle)
12th pick: Jimmy Kennedy (DT, drafted by Minnesota)
On the board: Troy Polamalu, Willis McGahee, Dallas Clark, Larry Johnson and Nnamdi Asomugha   

2002
11th pick: Dwight Freeney (DE, drafted by Indianapolis)
12th pick: Wendell Bryant (DT, drafted by Arizona)
On the board: Jeremy Shockey, Albert Haynesworth and Ed Reed   

2001
11th pick: Dan Morgan (LB, drafted by Carolina)
12th pick: Damione Lewis (DT, drafted by St. Louis)
On the board: Steve Hutchinson, Reggie Wayne, Drew Brees, Alge Crumpler, Chad Johnson and Kyle Vanden Bosch   

2000
11th pick: Ron Dayne (RB, drafted by New York Giants)
12th pick: Shaun Ellis (DE, drafted by New York Jets)
On the board: John Abraham, Julian Peterson and Shaun Alexander   

The Seahawks have owned the #11 pick twice. In 1997 they traded it alongside a 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounder to Atlanta for the 3rd overall pick and a third rounder. The pick was spent on Shawn Springs (CB, Ohio St), while Atlanta drafted Michael Booker. That same year, the Seahawks also had the #12 pick andtraded it to Tampa Bay along with the extra third acquired from Atlanta for the #6 overall pick – spent on Walter Jones (OT, Florida St). Tampa Bay drafted Warrick Dunn. Cue a lot of ammunition to those arguing a bold trade into the top-ten could be the right move.   

The only other time Seattle owned either the #11 or #12 is when they drafted Marcus Trufant in 2003 out of Washington State. Since the turn of the century, Seattle has only picked higher than #11 three times: 2001 (Koren Robinson, WR), 2009 (Aaron Curry, LB) and 2010 (Russell Okung, OT).   

Osweiler the outsider?   

There’s talk that Brock Osweiler (QB, Arizona State) could be considering turning pro. It’d be a surprise to some degree, given his disappointing end to the 2011 season and his one-year’s experience as a starter. At the same time, he’s facing yet another offensive coordinator change and he’s already graduated. He’s tall and lean and needs to add a bit more weight to a skinny-looking frame, but he moves well in the pocket. He’s got a big arm, but it wasn’t used as much as it perhaps should’ve been in 2011 as ASU used a heavy screen game. Osweiler’s stock is hard to judge right now, but remember – not many people expected Blaine Gabbert to be a first rounder this time last year and he went 10th overall. The Sun Devils’ best win came against USC where Osweiler threw three touchdowns. You can see the game tape below courtesy of JMPasq: 

**EDIT** – Reports suggest Osweiler will announce he’s turning pro tomorrow. 

Geno Smith makes a statement   

Speaking of quarterbacks, keep an eye on West Virginia’s Geno Smith. He’s had a hit-and-miss year overall, but was superb in the Orange Bowl against Clemson – throwing six touchdowns in a 70-point haul. He made the ‘pass of the season’ against LSU with an impossibly accurate lob from his own red zone and at times he’s looked every bit the pro-prospect. On other occasions, his deep throwing has been inconsistent and he’s made some bad mistakes. He’s got potential and another year in WVU’s prolific system could make for a high grade. However, coming off a national performance yesterday and perhaps sensing he’s achieved all he can with the Mountaineers prior to their move to the Big 12, you can never be sure what could happen. I suspect we’ll see a latecomer capitalise on Matt Barkley’s decision to return to USC and Landry Jones’ struggles at Oklahoma. It could be Smith or Osweiler, both have momentum.   

Stephen Hill to declare   

Back in September I highlighted Stephen Hill (WR, Georgia Tech) as a player to watch. He’s the latest in a long line of physically talented receivers from Georgia Tech, with the ability to flash the spectacular catch and make plays downfield. Today it was revealed he’s declaring for the 2012 draft and he’s another player to monitor during work-outs and the combine. As with many receivers in the triple-option, he’s used to doing a lot of blocking and not a lot of catching. He only had 28 catches in 2011, but notched 820 yards and five touchdowns. His best football will come at the next level when he’s properly used in a pro-stle offense. Hill could provide a solid split-end option for Seattle beyond the first round. I’ve added tape below from his performance against North Carolina: