Category: Scouting Report (Page 31 of 38)

I can’t remember the last Rutgers game I had access to, but I think Tom Savage was the quarterback. He’s since transferred twice, from Rutgers to Arizona to Pittsburgh. Either way its been a while. This weekend I read Tony Pauline’s latest piece for SI.com where he singles out CFB’s week seven ‘risers and sliders’. Rutgers wide receiver Brandon Coleman was listed among the ‘risers’:

“Coleman is in the midst of a breakout season and the big-play threat is making scouts take notice of his talents. He’s a big bodied wide out (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) who is becoming more consistent. Coleman turned in his most productive game of the year during the victory over Syracuse, with six catches for 104 yards (17.3 average). In six games this season Coleman has averaged 15.4 yards on 18 receptions, five of which resulted in scores. He possesses the physical skills to line up as a No. 1 wide out in the NFL and his game comes with great upside potential.”

I’d not come across Coleman before – a redshirt sophomore listed at 6-5 by Pauline but also touted at 6-6 and 220lbs by ESPN. There’s a lot of depth in the receiver class for 2013, but no stand-out player you feel like you just have to have. Coleman could fill that hole. JMPasq has supplied some tape (see below) and it’s obvious there’s a lot to like about this guy, he has tremendous upside. Of course, he may not declare for next years draft as a second year starter. It’s hard to turn down the chance to be a top-15 pick, though. If he gets that kind of reassurance from the draft committee in the new year, he may be tempted to turn pro.

Coleman had a bit of a slow start to the season, one of the reasons he’s probably still floating under the radar. Against Tulane, Howard and South Florida he registered just six catches for 118 yards – although he did score three touchdowns. In his next three games – against Arkansas, Connecticut and Syracuse – he has 18 catches for 264 yards and a further two touchdowns. It’s not the kind of prolific stat-line that tempted other redshirt sophomore’s to declare (eg, Michael Crabtree, Earl Thomas) but Coleman’s strength is not in statistics – it’s in physical upside and limitless potential.

You’re unlikely to find another 6-6 receiver that can run as well as this. Usually receivers this tall are thick set or skinny, there’s rarely an in-between. Coleman has the ideal frame in that he’s well proportioned and not heavy or skinny, allowing him to remain agile in breaks/routes or when running in the open-field. He’s a match-up terror against pretty much any cornerback due to his height and reach, but he can also get downfield and create separation. Most big wide-outs get tagged as possession receivers, but Coleman averaged 33 yards per reception (!!!) last season and is working at 16 yards per catch this year.

If you want a good example of just how athletic this guy is, check the touchdown reception at 0:42 in the Arkansas video. It’s a simple receiver screen to the right and he simply runs past the cornerback and away from the defense for a big touchdown. Check the same video at 1:42 and you’ll find a touchdown against Iowa State where he exploits his height and reach in single coverage to grab a deep ball and sprint into the end zone for near enough a 90 yard score. If dominating single coverage isn’t good enough for you, go to 0:37 against Connecticut and check out the big play made in tight double coverage.

Still not convinced? Fast forward to 1:53 in the UConn tape and watch him take a 93 yard catch and run to the house. He finds space at the second level, runs through three defensive backs and out-sprints all of them for a touchdown. Watch it again. And again.

Apart from the obvious physical advantages, the thing I really like about this guy is he’s a natural hands catcher. Nothing is coming into his chest, he’s reaching out and plucking the ball from the air. There are a couple of muffed catches in the videos below and certainly he can work on his concentration in certain situations to make sure he completes the reception, but overall he flashes the ability to use soft hands or snare a fast ball. Check 1:16 against UConn to see evidence of strong mitts to grab a difficult catch under pressure.

He runs inside, he can go deep, he can be an effective red zone target. He gets open, he can play physical when required and he’s got enough deep speed to make big plays down the field. This is the most exciting NFL Draft prospect I’ve seen since scouting Jarvis Jones last year. This is the kind of prospect where you start to consider an Atlanta Falcons-Julio Jones type move up the board. If he declares for 2013 – and that’s a big if – this is the kind of player the Seahawks need to be aggressive in targeting. You can teach him to be an effective blocker at that size, but you also provide Russell Wilson with a big-time weapon and playmaker on the outside. He has Calvin Johnson-like potential – seriously – because he has such a incredible combination of size/speed.

Brandon Coleman could be the most exciting offensive player in college football. He could be a future NFL star. And if he declares for 2013, the Seahawks should be ready to make their move. This guy is unreal.

Let’s be clear straight away – this is not a serious attempt to try and project how things will play out next April. In previous years I’ve waited until November/December to publish what constitutes as a first ‘go’ at projecting the draft. There are two reasons why I’ve decided to put this on the blog this early:

1 – Despite a lot of internet snobbery over mock drafts or the fact people are even talking about the draft one week into the NFL season, the subject is more popular today than it’s ever been. Fans of teams that aren’t guaranteed contenders want hope. The draft provides hope. This isn’t a real attempt to guess who’s going to be a first round pick, it’s an attempt to highlight a group of individuals who could be. And if this offers any kind of use to anyone during the CFB season, then it serves a purpose.

2 – I had a bigger database for saving games last year, meaning I could stockpile tape and go back and watch it over the summer. When prospects have been highlighted by other writers or bloggers, I’ve been able to go back and take a look for myself. For example, I had a lot of North Carolina games saved as we were looking at guys like Quinton Coples, Zach Brown and Dwight Jones last season. I’ve since been able to review a number of other UNC prospects, highlighted in today’s piece.

It’s unlikely I will re-start the weekly mock updates until later in the year, but I wanted to start the ball rolling. In a week or two, we’ll be able to return to this list and see who has boosted or damaged their stock. For example – I have the Seahawks taking a raw JUCO transfer who is two games into his SEC career. So far so good, but can he maintain his early production and put himself in position to become a high pick?

Another thing worth noting – there are prospects out there I haven’t had the chance to look at yet. Some of the guys below I’ve seen 10-20 times, others I’ve seen two or three times. It’s far too early in the process to make an accurate judgement and if a player is low or not included on the list, it may just be that I haven’t been able to devote enough time to watching their tape.

I’ve used the NFL.com Power Rankings for week one (written by Elliot Harrison) to determine draft order. I’ve tweaked a few things based upon my own views – such as Cleveland picking 2nd overall instead of Indianapolis (the Browns play in a much tougher division and will probably lose more games as a consequence). I’ve also listed a few players who just missed the cut at the bottom.

	#1 Matt Barkley (QB, USC) In this scenario I’d guess Miami trades the pick to the highest bidder. It’s unlikely they’ll get a RGIII-type deal, but Barkley is special.

	#2 Jarvis Jones (DE, Georgia) He’s the best pass rusher in college football. A great athlete who just keeps making plays.

	#3 Jonathan Jenkins (DT, Georgia) Elite talent, a fantastic nose tackle prospect. He’s 350lbs+ but moves well. Teams will love this guy. Immovable object.

	#4 Logan Thomas (QB, Virginia Tech) I’m not convinced he’ll turn pro in 2013, but he might be tempted with a good year. Big, strong and makes good decisions.

	#5 Brennan Williams (T, North Carolina) May be the best left tackle in a class without that clear franchise LT prospect. Has NFL bloodlines – his father played in Seattle.

	#6 Bjoern Werner (DE, Florida State) He could be better than J.J. Watt – he’s that type of player. Already has five sacks in 2012.

	#7 Dee Milliner (CB, Alabama) Physical in run support and can cover better than Dre Kirkpatrick. All-round skill set makes him the clear #1 cornerback prospect.

	#8 Star Lotulelei (DT, Utah) Very raw talent, but needs to be more consistent. Highest ceiling in the draft, but gets blown up too often in the run game.

	#9 Sylvester Williams (DT, North Carolina) Excellent three-technique prospect. Knifes through, plays strong at the line. More consistent than Lotulelei.

	#10 Jonathan Cooper (G, North Carolina) Too early for a guard? This guy will start in week one as a rookie and not look back. Superb prospect. Pass-pro specialist.

	#11 Barkevious Mingo (DE, LSU) The 3-4 teams will be interested in Mingo’s speed off the edge. He’ll be so important for LSU this year.

	#12 Cordarrelle Patterson (WR, Tennessee) Raw, former JUCO transfer. 6-3, 205lbs playmaker with great speed and could be the most explosive receiver in the SEC.

	#13 Oday Aboushi (T, Virginia) Virginia has two excellent tackles this year. Aboushi is the money pick as a potential blind-side blocker.

	#14 Arthur Brown (LB, Kansas State) Just a great footballer. Doesn’t have elite size, but he plays with such intensity and is always around the ball.

	#15 Jonathan Banks (CB, Mississippi State) Tall, physical cornerback who will make plays. He had a great game against Auburn, picking off two passes.

	#16 Chaz Green (T, Florida) Very athletic tackle prospect. Has the kind of skill-set that teams will fall for.

	#17 Dion Jordan (DE, Oregon) He’s 6-7 and 245lbs. Scouts and GM’s will salivate over his freak-of-nature potential. But he’s not a technician yet.

	#18 C.J. Mosley (LB, Alabama) Playmaking linebacker off the production line at Alabama. Above average in coverage and plays like a ‘Bama defender.

	#19 Robert Woods (WR, USC) Production machine with rare skills. Problem will be size and perhaps a so-so performance at the combine. Will be a value pick next April.

	#20 Jake Matthews (T, Texas A&M) Tough tackle who projects to the right hand side at the next level. No-nonsense type and part of a great line at A&M.

	#21 Keenan Allen (WR, California) He doesn’t have a great QB situation at Cal – so Allen’s stock will likely be determined by how well he tests at the combine.

	#22 Corey Lemonier (DE, Auburn) Orthodox speed-rusher who’s having a good start to 2012. Slightly undersized but gets to the quarterback.

	#23 Manti Te’o (LB, Notre Dame) Not the tackle-machine type like Luke Kuechly, but he makes more impact plays. Leads by example.

	#24 Tyler Wilson (QB, Arkansas) Jerry Jones loves Arkansas! Wilson’s concussion issues are a concern. He’s a gun-slinger, but there are some technical/release issues.

	#25 Terry Hawthorne (CB, Illinois) Another cornerback with good size. Didn’t have a great game against Arizona State but has a chance to bounce back.

	#26 Marcus Lattimore (RB, South Carolina) Isn’t quite back to 100% after injury. Undoubted quality, but teams will probably wonder if they can rely on that knee.

	#27 Jonathan Franklin (RB, UCLA) He looks like a different player this year. Explosive. Can he keep this up for the rest of the year?

	#28 Chance Warmack (G, Alabama) He’s incredibly strong and dominates against the run. He could be a top-20 pick like Jonathan Cooper.

	#29 Geno Smith (QB, West Virginia) No, Baltimore won’t take a QB in round one. But Smith has the skills to get into this range, forcing someone to trade up.

	#30 Justin Hunter (WR, Tennessee) Like Marcus Lattimore, he’s talented but returning from a serious knee injury. It’s a concern until he proves he’s 100% recovered.

	#31 John Simon (DE, Ohio State) Another great football player. This guy will bring it every single down.

	#32 Sam Montgomery (DE, LSU) Needs to have a big year. Great athleticism and speed off the edge but can be man-handled sometimes.

Just missed the cut
Jonathan Hankins (DT, Ohio State), Akeem Spence (DT, Illinois), Jackson Jeffcoat (DE, Texas), Morgan Moses (T, Virginia), Barrett Jones (C, Alabama), William Gholston (DE, Michigan State), TJ McDonald (S, USC), Kawann Short (DT, Purdue), Alex Ogletree (LB, Georgia), Xavier Rhodes (CB, Florida State), Eric Reid (S, LSU)

Next quarterback on the list?
After two weeks of college football I’d probably go with Tyler Bray (QB, Tennessee). He can get the ball downfield, he’ll put up big numbers if he can stay healthy. He’s also erratic and needs to find a level of consistency, while cutting out the occasional head-scratching decision. But teams will like his throwing ability and he has enough playmakers at Tennessee to build momentum. The game against Florida is a big one for Bray because he struggled against the Gators last year. He’s also got a ways to go to become a trusted, mature leader off the field. His raw skill set is impressive though, more so than Landry Jones’ at Oklahoma. Both could be second round picks next year, although I wouldn’t take either in that range personally. Not on the evidence we’ve seen so far.

If anyone wants to know just how good Russell Wilson is, just look at tonight’s Wisconsin-Oregon State game. Last year the Badgers would’ve been in the National Championship but for two freak hail mary plays against Michigan State and Ohio State. This year, they were held scoreless against the Beavers until late in the fourth quarter and lost 10-7. The ineffective play of Montee Ball is a concern. A potential first round pick last year, Ball is suffering in the post-Wilson era due to a reduced threat in the passing game. He had 15 carries for 60 yards and no touchdowns today, with a further 18 yards receiving. His decision to return already looks like a professional error.

One man who certainly won’t be regretting his decision to return is Matt Barkley. He had no chance of supplanting Andrew Luck as the #1 pick in 2012, but he’s almost certainly destined to be the top pick in 2013. I think the Miami Dolphins will ‘earn’ the #1 pick in 2013 and they’ll either trade the pick and stick by Ryan Tannehill or draft Barkley. Even on a relatively unspectacular day against Syracuse he had six touchdowns.

Robert Woods remains an intriguing prospect at receiver. In many ways he looks like a future playmaker in the NFL. Today he caught ten passes for 93 yards, scoring two touchdowns. The first (click here to see it) was down to a precise double-move down the right hand side, a perfect pass from Barkley and perfect execution. For the second (click here) he did well to compete over the middle to grab a four-yard score. He was permanently involved and avoided mistakes, adding a brilliant 76-yard run on an end-around (click here) in the fourth quarter to set up the game ending score. During the run he made two sharp cuts to break away, drawing flashbacks to his freshman year with the Trojans.

On the one hand, Woods is such a difficult player to cover. He runs good routes and creates separation. He is capable of making circus catches and he’ll lay himself out to make a difficult completion. He has YAC potential and he’s probably at his most effective getting the ball in space quickly and using his athleticism. Then there are some issues – he’s not overly physical and may struggle in press coverage. He’s not a great blocker by any stretch, lacks ideal size (6-1, 195lbs) and you’re not going to be throwing many fades or jump balls to the guy. Seattle needs a reliable red zone receiver but Woods doesn’t look like the answer. He is liable to lose concentration at times and have a few drops, although we didn’t see that this week.

I think his final grade could be comparable to A.J. Jenkins – drafted 31^st overall in April by San Francisco. At the same time he’s a much higher profile player than Jenkins and a better playmaker with superior production, so he should go a bit earlier – perhaps into the range Kendall Wright was taken (20^th overall). Is he the type of receiver Seattle is looking for? This is the question I’m battling with right now. Is he too much of a Doug Baldwin-type and not enough like the big, physical receiver they’ve coveted for a while (Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson, Sidney Rice etc)? Can he fill the need for a true downfield passing threat? I’m going to do a piece on Da’Rick Rogers this week, a player who fits the bill in terms of size and downfield speed but has serious off-field concerns and recently transferred from Tennessee to Tennessee Tech.

Back to Barkley… He went about his business despite a clumsy game by Lane Kiffin. There wasn’t much fluidity or variety to the play calling – of Barkley’s 23 completed passes, 21 went to Woods or Marqise Lee. His six scores were all perfectly executed even if he didn’t put up the big yardage (186 yards). He did have one disappointing error for his first turnovers of the year – a pass thrown behind Woods that was easily picked off. It was a minor problem compared to the touchdowns and he looks on cue for a real tilt at the Heisman.

Some other notes from this game – USC center Khaled Holmes, a legit pro-prospect, went down with a bad looking injury in the fourth quarter after getting caught in a crowd of bodies. It appeared to be an ankle problem. He could be take in the first three rounds next year. Syracuse quarter Ryan Nassib did little to boost his stock. He was a hot-tip among scouts this week after a good performance against Northwestern. However, he had two turnovers (click here to see the first) and a very poor first half. His footwork is poor and needs serious work, and he was off-target on too many passes. Technically he has some positives but he’s not a stand-out athlete – he’s almost like a much less spectacular version of Barkley. I would guess he’s at best a mid-round pick next April.

Jarvis Jones was superb against Missouri. In fact, superb isn’t a strong enough word to describe how well he played. He should be given week 2 and week 3 player of the week for his stunning performance. It shouldn’t be a surprise by now – Jones is clearly the best overall defensive prospect who is eligible for the 2013 draft. He provided consistent pressure off the edge and Missouri just couldn’t block the guy. He had multiple sacks, two key forced fumbles in the second quarter, a third in the final quarter and multiples pressures. He’s not the biggest guy and he doesn’t appear to have long arms – that’s why it’s all the more impressive to see how he avoids blockers – they struggle to get hold of him because he’s too quick with great hands. Jones can round the edge with such burst, he’ll also fight inside. He’s a relentless pass rusher and there’s very little he can’t do. He essentially sealed the game for Georgia with a big interception in the 4th quarter, dropping into coverage. We won’t see a defensive player match this performance in 2012. If the Seahawks get a chance to draft this guy, they should take it. They’ll have to be 4-12 bad for that to happen.

Nose tackle John Jenkins was also very impressive – he’s one I’ll do a feature on down the line.

Star Lotulelei isn’t showing much improvement from last year. He had a sack/forced fumble during Utah’s 27-20 loss to Utah State on Friday, but he’s still very inconsistent. As a pure physical specimen he’s an elite talent – he moves so well for a big man. The way he sprints from the LOS to the sideline is reminiscent of Phil Taylor during his time at Baylor, who was vastly underrated as a college prospect. At times he’ll shoot a gap and penetrate better than any other tackle you’ll watch this year. He has a good initial burst, good hand placement and he’ll finish. But on the next play, there’s every chance he’ll be blown up.

I’ve seen numerous occasions where Loutlelei has been a liability in run defense. He’s too easily moved out of position when he needs to hold. It’s ugly too – he’ll lose balance and get driven backwards. Lotulelei has about as much potential as anyone eligible for 2013 and for that reason he’s almost a shoe-in to be a top-15 pick – look at Dontari Poe. But he can’t be satisfied with just being an early pick. To make the most of his potential at the next level, he needs to do a lot of work on his technique and consistency to become a rounded prospect that can feature every down and not just on pass rushing calls. He has a way to go and the gushing praise he receives nationally needs to be checked slightly.

A more consistent defensive tackle with less overall potential – Sylvester Williams at UNC – continued his good start to the season with another sack in a 28-27 defeat to Wake Forest. Williams has three sacks in the opening two weeks of the season. You can see his sheer power and athleticism on today’s sack, driving two blockers into the quarterback to make the play. Williams is an exciting player to watch and could be a high pick in April.

Jonathan Banks – the kind of cornerback Seattle has drafted under Pete Carroll and John Schneider at 6-2 and 185lbs– had two interceptions for Mississippi State against Auburn (interception one, two). He also had two passes deflected. We’ll have tape of Banks’ performance on the blog soon.

Keenan Allen had five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown as California beat Southern Utah 50-31. He’s never going to put up big yards because of the quarterback situation at Cal. Allen needs to keep things ticking over and then impress at the combine. Allen also had a 69-yard punt return for a score today, which he initially fumbled.

DeAndre Hopkins had another big game for Clemson against Ball State. Last week he set a school record for receptions in a game, and today he had six more catches for 105 yards and three touchdowns including this 34-yarder. He’s emerging as a reliable target for Tajh Boyd. Running back Andre Ellington was less spectacular this week. He punched in two touchdowns but only managed 41 yards from 13 carries.

A lot of people expected Washington State to put up big numbers with Mike Leach in town, but it’s not happening so far. In particular receiver Marquess Wilson is off to a slow start. He had four catches for 61 yards against BYU last week and had only four catches for 47 yards against Eastern Washington today. He has zero touchdowns so far.

Justin Hunter had a better weekend. Teammate Cordarrelle Patterson won the headlines last week against NC State, but Hunter put up the big numbers against Georgia State. He recorded eight catches for 146 yards and three touchdowns (touchdown one, two, three). Patterson had three catches for 71 yards (including a long of 45 – click here) while adding 18 rushing yards. Tyler Bray looked sharp completing 18/20 for 310 yards and four touchdowns. Bray could be this year’s answer to Brock Osweiler. Patterson’s YAC ability and downfield threat will make him one of the most talked about receivers in the SEC. He’s raw, but has huge upside.

Tyler Wilson started poorly for Arkansas against L-A Monroe, throwing a pick and missing on a few throws. He responded to make 11/20 for 196 yards and two scores before leaving the game at half time with a concussion. It proved costly – Arkansas (ranked #8) were stunningly defeated in over time. They led 21-7 before Wilson’s exit. Landry Jones also started slowly for Oklahoma against Florida A&M by throwing a pick. Jones left the game in the second half with the Sooners comfortably leading having thrown two touchdowns for 252 yards. There was a bit of a trend for bad starts among quarterbacks this week (Barkley, Nassib, Wilson, Jones, Aaron Murray).

It’s impossible to determine Seattle’s needs before the season even starts. However, this is a draft blog and it’s worth highlighting some of the prospects to monitor as the college season progresses. We can add names to this list, we can strike others off.  The main reason for a piece like this is really so we can look back in April and see how accurate/inaccurate it really was. I’ve tried to cover all bases and some of the picks below are a bit obvious, others not so much. I’ve also put together an updated top-50 watch-list after the initial top-40 list a few months ago.

What if… the Seahawks need a receiver?

Right now most people would list receiver as the teams top priority. Sidney Rice needs to prove he can stay healthy, Doug Baldwin has to show he’s not a one-year wonder. Apart from that there’s not a great deal to be positive about. Adding a talented receiver would bring another dimension to the Seahawks offense and would help quarterback Russell Wilson if he proves worthy of long-term consideration as the teams starting quarterback.

Da’Rick Rogers (WR, Tennessee Tech)
I’ve started with Rogers because I want to go against conventional wisdom. If we’ve learnt anything from Pete Carroll and John Schneider, it’s to think outside of the box. Rogers was kicked off the team at Tennessee after multiple violations of the schools substance abuse policy. He’s since joined Tennessee Tech in the hope of having a big year against weaker opposition, before entering the 2013 draft. It’s a similar situation to Janoris Jenkins a year ago – and despite all of Jenkins’ problems he was still the 39th overall pick. Rogers is 6-3 and 215lbs and will need to convince teams he’s a changed man to max-out his stock. Even so, Carroll and Schneider don’t appear to be afraid of a challenge and Rogers could be the most physically gifted receiver in next years draft. It’s just a shame he won’t be able to show what he can do in the SEC.

Cordarrelle Patterson (WR, Tennessee)
Rogers’ loss is Patterson’s gain and the JUCO transfer exploded onto the scene against NC State this week. Tyler Bray has a lot of technical issues with his release, but nobody can deny his arm strength and Patterson will benefit big-time if he continues to grow into the offense. Here are some highlights from his time in the JUCO ranks:

Cordarrelle Patterson JUCO Highlights from Kipp Adams on Vimeo.

The raw talent is there for all to see. He may prove to be a little too raw for NFL teams looking for an immediate fix, but he’s certainly one to watch going forward. We already know that Carroll & Schneider are willing to consider talented JUCO transfers (see: Bruce Irvin). He’s listed at 6-3 and 205lbs so he matches the size traditionally associated with #1 receivers in the league.

Robert Woods (WR, USC)
Of course… the Seahawks don’t follow the pack. And my last sentence in the Cordarrelle Patterson write-up goes against what we’ve learnt about Carroll and Schneider. The group-think machine that judges Russell Wilson to be ‘one of the worst picks in the third round’ also says a #1 receiver has to be above 6-2 in height and carry the size capable of matching up to the most physical defensive backs in the league. Tight ends are more involved in the passing game these days purely due to the size and athleticism of  guys like Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Seattle’s priority next year was to find their own version of the Gronk. But it also wouldn’t surprise me if they continued to think outside of the box. Carroll recruited Woods – who’s listed at 6-1 and around 190lbs. When he burst onto the scene as a freshman, college football crowned Woods the next big thing. Only the emergence of Marqise Lee has changed that. Most people forget how good and how productive Woods was before Lee’s explosive arrival. It’s worth remembering that A.J. Jenkins (6-0, 190lbs) was taken 30th overall by San Francisco last year. I can imagine the Seahawks making a similar move for Woods in round one next April. In fact, if I was doing a ridiculously early mock draft today I would pair Woods with the Seahawks.

Other alternatives: Keenan Allen (California), Justin Hunter (Tennessee), Marquess Wilson (Washington State)

What if… the Seahawks need a defensive lineman?

Seattle likes what it has at defensive end and probably isn’t likely to spend a first round pick on the position after re-signing Chris Clemons and drafting Bruce Irvin. Red Bryant is also tied-up long term. There’s talent inside too with Brandon Mebane and the underrated Alan Branch. I’m a big fan of Jaye Howard and will be interested to see if he becomes the teams latest mid-round steal over the course of the next couple of seasons. There’s other complimentary pieces too and good overall depth on the DL. But as with good cornerbacks, you can never have enough good lineman.

Sylvester Williams (DT, UNC)
Another JUCO transfer, this time at North Carolina. Williams got off to a fast start this weekend with two sacks in an opening-day beat-down against Elon. Williams looked the part last year and after further tape study of the North Carolina defense, he looks like a player we should keep an eye on for Seattle. He’s listed by ESPN at 305lbs and 6-3 but I think he’s a little heavier than that, or at least has the potential to gain weight. Some teams will look to try and move him to the nose, but I think he’s better off playing at his current weight and acting as a more orthodox tackle. He’s powerful enough to hold his position against the run but shows enough speed and explosion off the snap to act as a pass rushing force. Getting someone who consistently warrants an extra blocker inside will max-out Seattle’s speed off the edge. Williams is a very interesting prospect.

Star Lotulelei (DT, Utah)
I’m not as excited about Loutlelei as some others – I’ve seen him appear at #1 on some big boards which I think is in part inspired by opinions within the league that he could’ve been a high pick this year. The potential is unquestioned, I just think he has many things to learn. He made the correct decision to return to Utah and play another season in the PAC-12 . There were times last year when he just got blown out of plays and while he is a pass rushing threat with incredible athleticism for his size, I feel like he’d be a liability in the league based on current tape. If he polishes up his technique and learns to become consistently difficult to handle (rather than explosive one play, awful the next) then he could be a top-15 pick. I suspect he’ll be a guy the league salivates over in terms of potential but there will be an element of risk involved.

Barekvious Mingo (DE, LSU)
I do not expect the Seahawks to go this route, but let’s consider this a ‘what if?’ moment. Bruce Irvin has been tagged as the ideal LEO, but at West Virginia he was always more effective as a specialist. What if that proves to be the case in Seattle too? Chris Clemons signed a deserved new contract but isn’t getting any younger – and the team has been ruthless in cutting ties when the time is right. Mingo won’t fit everyone’s scheme, but he fits Seattle’s as a speed rusher off the edge who does most damage lined up at the LOS. The thought of using a rotation of Irvin and Mingo is pretty enticing if a little close to over-kill. But Mingo has talent. And the Seahawks could be in a position to take the best player available next year. It’ll be difficult to keep a lid on his potential competing in the SEC.

Other alternatives: Akeem Spence (Illinois), Jonathan Jenkins (Georgia), Bjoern Werner (Florida State)

What if… the Seahawks need a linebacker?

This is going to be a position of real strength in the 2013 draft. The Seahawks may find it hard to resist completing the set at linebacker having already drafted KJ Wright and Bobby Wagner to start. Leroy Hill keeps hanging on every year, but eventually they’re going to find someone to fill that spot. There are multiple first round options destined for next years draft even at this early stage. I haven’t included Jarvis Jones in this section because a.) I feel he’s likely to be a top pick and out of reach for Seattle and b.) I want to cover some other options.

Arthur Brown (LB, Kansas State)
When you go back and watch the tape from 2011, it’s a surprise Brown didn’t declare for the 2011 draft. The guy is a great football player. Period. He’s the kind of prospect who tilts a defense just through his sheer presence on the field. He’ll not make a ton of huge game-changing plays, but he’ll push everyone around him to play with his level of intensity. He’s a three-down linebacker who moves well from sideline-to-sideline, is strong taking on the run and is no slouch in coverage especially against big tight ends. He isn’t going to offer much pass rushing threat but the rest of his game makes up for it. He’s not got ideal size at 6-1 and around 230lbs but he’ll make a NFL team better next year.

Hayes Pullard (LB, USC)
A brilliant athlete who started the season with a pick-six against Hawaii. I’m not convinced he’ll declare as a redshirt sophomore but if he keeps making plays and USC have the kind of year people expect, he could be tempted. He’s not a big guy at 6-1, 235lbs but he can move. He’s not going to be a great force against the run but he can cover better than most linebackers I’ve watched in recent years. He’s mobile enough to get around the field and he plays with the intensity the position requires at the next level. I think he’s an ideal pick for a team looking to upgrade the WILL linebacker role – something the Seahawks may consider next April.

Manti Te’o (LB, Notre Dame)
The kind of solid MLB who crops up every year and seems to go in the first two rounds. If Luke Kuechly is a success in Carolina, expect Te’o to potentially go as early as the top-15 picks because overall I preferred Te’o on tape. He had an interception against Navy on Saturday and will continue to make plays – and that’s the thing that separated the two for me. Kuechly was a tackling machine beyond the LOS but he wasn’t an impact player. He was a safety net, a last line of defense that often was needed as Boston College. Te’o didn’t have the enormous tackle numbers last year, but he had five sacks. The Seahawks could easily move Wagner to the WILL and put Te’o inside if they wanted to go early at linebacker next April.

Other alternatives: Kevin Reddick (UNC), Devon Kennard (USC), Alec Ogletree (Georgia), C.J. Mosley (Alabama)

What if… the Seahawks need an offensive lineman?

There are two high quality guard prospects slated for 2013 plus a handful of tackles and centers that could find their way into round one. Jonathan Cooper is as good a guard prospect as you’ll see entering the league while Chance Warmack started well for Alabama on Saturday. Keep a check on Barrett Jones who’s played tackle, guard and now center at Alabama. Khaled Holmes at USC is another good center although the Seahawks are unlikely to look at that position. Chaz Green at Florida, Brennan Williams at UNC, Jake Matthews at Texas A&M and Oday Aboushi at Virginia are the tackles I’m focusing on.

Jonathan Cooper (G, UNC)
For a period of time Cooper featured in my first round mock draft for 2012, but he decided to return to North Carolina. He would’ve been a first round pick last year, but with a bit more attention he’s almost certainly destined to go in the top-32 next April. He’s a big guy at 320lbs but displays almost tackle-like athleticism and he’s dominant in the run-game. He can be explosive with unmatched footwork, but he’s also a student of the game and you see him picking up stunts and blitzes pretty easily. His best attribute is probably in pass protection. Again the footwork comes in to play, but he’s powerful and shows great technique keeping the pass rusher in front and at arms length. He could be a top-15 pick. He’s better than guys like DeCastro.

Chance Warmack (G, Alabama)
Versatile lineman who lacks the technique and athleticism of Cooper but is just a typical road-grader who dominates in ‘Bama’s run-centric system. He has a wide frame and he’s difficult to beat inside in pass protection, but he’ll be drafted mostly as a run blocker. Against Michigan on Saturday he was consistently driving his man into the backfield and creating huge running lanes. Time and time again it looked like a NFL lineman had crept onto the field to deal with middling college recruits. Warmack’s value will be slightly limited compared to Cooper’s, but any team looking for a no-thrills guard will consider Warmack in the first two rounds.

Brennan Williams (OT, UNC)
Cooper’s partner in crime. The reason I wanted to highlight Williams instead of several other talented offensive lineman is due to one reason – his father, Brent, is a former Seahawk. I see Williams as a more of a right tackle and depending on James Carpenter’s recovery and/or potential move to guard, this could be a position Seattle reviews next off-season. He’s a big guy at 6-6 and 320lbs and unlike Cooper, he’s better against the run than in pass protection. He’s tough and he’s shown a willingness to get to the second level and look for linebackers in the run game. When looking at Cooper over the summer this guy flashed up more than once and he could be a riser over the course of the year.

Other alternatives: Chaz Green (OT, Florida), Oday Aboushi (OT, Virginia), (G/C/OT Barrett Jones, Alabama)

What if… the Seahawks need a cornerback?

It’s considered a position of strength for the Seahawks but you can’t ignore a quality cornerback. I still think it was a mistake to pass on Jimmy Smith in 2011 – a player definitely worth a top-10 grade but fell due to off-field concerns. He’s now part of a growing Baltimore secondary and given James Carpenter’s struggles and ill-health, I can’t help but think of a secondary including Browner, Sherman and Smith at corner. Moving forward I think the Seahawks will look to keep topping up the position, but they’ve had so much success outside of the 1st-3rd rounds they maybe feel confident enough to keep looking for diamonds in the rough.

Dee Milliner (CB, Alabama)
A player nobody was really talking about this summer until the Michigan game on Saturday. You watch the game, you go back and look at the 2011 tape. Then you realise this is a top-15 pick in the making. He’s got the kind of size teams are looking for (6-1, 190lbs), he’s incredibly competitive in run support. But more than anything else he can cover and he has that playmaking instinct teams look for. He’s the kind of cornerback Seattle likes. They may need to be picking early to get a shot at this guy, he’s the real deal and another first round corner from the Nick Saban production line.

Jonathan Banks (CB, Mississippi State)
He’s not the fastest and he looks a bit stiff sometimes, but he’s 6-2 and 190lbs and again looks like a Seattle cornerback. His greatest strength is run support and he can be a ferocious tackler. He’s also a bit of a ball hawk when tackling – he’ll go for the strip more often than not and he’s produced some good results. The big question is whether he can show to be a more agile corner going forward. He doesn’t change direction well and recovery speed is questionable. He’s also a second slow to react at times and too often allows 4-5 yards on a quick pass. But in what looks like a pretty poor year for cornerbacks he might be the next best after Milliner.

Other alternatives: Terry Hawthorne (CB, Illinois), Tyrann Mathieu (unattached, may turn pro)

What if… the Seahawks need a quarterback?

We cannot get away from this question… not yet anyway. Russell Wilson has a chance to ensure we don’t have to talk about quarterbacks anymore, but until the season starts it’d be ignorant on our behalf to not look at the position. The Seahawks greatest need will remain at quarterback until someone nails the starting gig – not just for 2012, but for the foreseeable future. The biggest fear for Seattle’s front office will be a distinctly average performance from Wilson. If he plays badly, at least you know the search continues. If he plays at anything above average – there’s cause for optimism. But if he’s below average, you’re in a difficult situation. Do you give him time? Do you attack the draft? It’s questions like this that keep us coming back to QB… for now.

Matt Barkley (QB, USC)
Watching Barkley against Hawaii just reminds you why this guy should be the #1 pick next year. On a technical level he’s off the charts – he doesn’t have the natural physical gifts of Andrew Luck, but on a technical level they are extremely close and Barkley may be superior. His footwork, mechanics, poise and accuracy are on a different level to any college QB I’ve seen before. He looks like a better athlete this year in terms of build and arm strength and without doubt he should be the top pick. Pete Carroll loves the guy, Matt Barkley would welcome the chance to play in Seattle given his ties to the city. It’s a perfect match but is unlikely to happen without a RGIII type trade. Carroll has said in the past he would pay for the right guy.

Logan Thomas (QB, Virginia Tech)
Thomas’ best football is ahead of him. While he’ll never be Drew Bress, Eli/Payton Manning or Tom Brady, his ceiling is Ben Roethlisberger and his floor is probably only Joe Flacco. He’ll make plays at the next level, whether it’s throwing downfield or doing enough with his legs to move the chains. He’ll be at his best on a physical team that highlights the running game and plays good defense – like the Seahawks. He’s a smart player who takes what he’s given and doesn’t tend to force things. Virginia Tech should be right up there competing for the ACC title and Thomas has a chance to send his stock skyward. However, he didn’t attend the Manning passing academy this year which suggests he fully intends to stay for his senior season at VT in 2013.

Other alternatives: Tyler Wilson (QB, Arkansas), Geno Smith (QB, West Virginia)

UPDATED 2013 WATCH-LIST TOP 50

#1 Matt Barkley (QB, USC)
#2 Logan Thomas (QB, Virginia Tech)
#3 Star Lotulelei (DT, Utah)
#4 Jarvis Jones (LB, Georgia)
#5 Barkevious Mingo (DE, LSU)
#6 Dee Milliner (CB, Alabama)
#7 Bjoern Werner (DE, Florida State)
#8 Jonathan Cooper (G, North Carolina)
#9 Tyler Wilson (QB, Arkansas)
#10 Sylvester Williams (DT, North Carolina)
#11 Chance Wormack (G, Alabama)
#11 Arthur Brown (LB, Kansas State)
#12 Oday Aboushi (OT, Virginia)
#13 Keenan Allen (WR, California)
#13 Sam Montgomery (DE/LB, LSU)
#14 Chaz Green (OT, Florida)
#15 Robert Woods (WR, USC)
#16 Jonathan Banks (CB, Mississippi State)
#17 Geno Smith (QB, West Virginia)
#18 Akeem Spence (DT, Illinois)
#19 Cordarrelle Patterson (WR, Tennessee)
#20 Manti Te’o (LB, Notre Dame)
#21 C.J. Mosley (LB, Alabama)
#22 Marcus Lattimore (RB, South Carolina)
#23 Montee Ball (RB, Wisconsin)
#24 Brennan Williams (OT, North Carolina)
#25 Da’Rick Rogers (WR, Tennessee Tech)
#26 Jake Matthews (OT, Texas A&M)
#27 Justin Hunter (WR, Tennessee)
#28 Kevin Reddick (LB, North Carolina)
#29 Jackson Jeffcoat (DE, Texas)
#30 Hayes Pullard (LB, USC)
#31 Knile Davis (RB, Arkansas)
#32 Terry Hawthorne (CB, Illinois)
#33 Dion Jordan (DE, Oregon)
#34 John Simon (DE, Ohio State)
#35 Barrett Jones (C, Alabama)
#36 Marquess Wilson (WR, Washington State)
#37 William Gholston (DE, Michigan State)
#38 Andre Ellington (RB, Clemson)
#39 TJ McDonald (S, USC)
#40 Tyler Eifert (TE, Notre Dame)
#41 Khaled Holmes (C, USC)
#42 DeAndre Hopkins (WR, Clemson)
#43 Devon Kennard (LB, USC)
#44 Levine Toilolo (TE, Stanford)
#45 Tavon Austin (WR, West Virginia)
#46 Alec Ogletree (LB, Georgia)
#47 Terrance Williams (WR, Baylor)
#48 Kawann Short (DT, Purdue)
#49 Jordan Matthews (WR, Vanderbilt)
#50 Kenny Stills (WR, Oklahoma)