A lot of people think Jake Locker is going to be the first overall pick in 2011. It’s a legitimate poser. In 10 of the last 15 NFL Draft’s, a quarterback has been taken with the first overall pick. The team’s picking first overall generally have questions marks at the position, making a large investment in a ‘franchise’ quarterback all the more likely. Also, when you look at the class of seniors and underclassmen legible for the 2011 draft, there isn’t the top end offensive lineman who could go #1. There are however candidates at the QB position and many believe Locker to be the best as we approach the new college season. Unless a team like St. Louis or Detroit are picking first overall again (having drafted young and expensive QB’s already) it’s a safe prediction to suggest we’ll see the best quarterback go first overall next year.
Aside from Locker, people are also talking about Stanford’s Andrew Luck. ESPN’s Todd McShay posted Luck as the #1 pick in his early 2011 projection this off-season. I don’t expect Luck to leave early for the NFL unless he has a spectacular year in 2010. He benefited a lot from touchdown machine Toby Gerhart last year and actually posted mediocre numbers in his first year as a starter (13 TD’s, 2575 yards). This isn’t a slur on Luck because clearly in year one there’s a learning curve. However, it does emphasise to me that Luck has time on his side and doesn’t need to declare as a red-shirt sophomore – particularly if a rookie pay-scale is implemented next year. Without Gerhart and a not-so-stand-out arsenal at Stanford, I wonder if Luck will indeed have the year he needs to tempt him into the pro’s. Continue reading
Can Rodney Hudson put himself into first round contention?
by Rob Staton This is one to watch for Seahawks fans in 2010. The focal point of Florida State’s offensive line, Hudson is the prototype interior lineman for Alex Gibbs’ zone blocking scheme. He’s had starting experience as a center, tackle and guard but would project best as a left guard partner for Russell Okung in Seattle. He’s a first team All-American (2009) and two-time All-ACC lineman (2008, 2009). NFL Draft Scout’s Chris Steuber told me before the 2010 draft that Hudson could’ve been a first round pick this year, but he opted to complete his senior campaign with the Seminoles. Mel Kiper recently paired the Seahawks with Hudson in his ‘Next April’s pick now’ segment. In 2010, the 21-year-old will be charged with protecting quarterback Christian Ponder – himself a potential candidate to be a first round pick next year.
The Opposition: North Carolina’s defense is one of the highest rated going into the 2010 season and it was already performing at a high level last year. Hudson had to deal with massive interior presence Marvin Austin and potential top-10 pick DE Robert Quinn off the edge. Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant are two of the better linebackers in college football. Deunta Williams is the other big name on the UNC defense – he’s a ball hawking safety but slightly over rated because he benefits more from his teammates than they do from his influence. Aside from power-houses like Florida and Alabama, this was as tough as it comes for Hudson and the Seminoles.
Athletic ability: Hudson is light at 285lbs and allows him to use above average athletic qualities for an interior lineman. Bends knees well enough to initiate leverage and won a lot of individual battles. Short and long range quickness is very good, allowing him to explode off the line in short yardage situations and equally pull and run. His mobility to get to the second level is excellent and he did a good job in this game locating a secondary block and executing. Florida State used a lot of screen passes, with Hudson pulling from the line and used as the lead blocker. Has excellent footwork, again in no part down to his compact size.
Run blocking: Has surprising strength at the point of attack for a smaller lineman. Actually does as good a job as someone twenty-pounds heavier. The vast majority of run plays were called to the left, with Hudson often capable of creating some pretty big holes. On a QB sneak in the third quarter, Christian Ponder tucked in behind Hudson to get a key first down. Second level blocking is excellent and athletic qualities were clearly evident when he pulled wide. A willing cut-blocker but technique could use refining.
Pass blocking: In the third quarter he was able to block off and support the left tackle (who’d been beaten by a defensive end on the edge). Hudson recognised the situation and before the DE could get to Ponder, he levelled him almost sending him to the turf. Understands when he needs to switch blockers and often did a great job in pass protection helping the left tackle. Initial power at the point of attack allows him to punch back and then switch. Mobility and footwork could actually be good enough for Hudson to play tackle but size negates likelihood of that happening.
Intelligence: Pure football smarts and understands his role completely. Hudson has some experience at center and in this game flashed his ability to diagnose defensive reads. Reports confirm Hudson’s intelligence and he should have less trouble than most picking up the zone blocking scheme if drafted by the Seahawks. Blitz pick-up was excellent.
Motor: Showed a nasty nature and appears to enjoy blocking. Played with a high-tempo throughout the game and never relented. Willingness to get to the next level again and again shows that he doesn’t settle and rarely has a play off.
Physical attributes: Teams using a man-blocking scheme will be concerned with Hudson’s lack of size. He’s not tall, so the 285lbs frame hasn’t got that much room to grow. If he added the 15lbs minimum that some teams would like to see, that might jeopardise his quickness and mobility. Hudson is, however, a perfect fit for the zone blocking scheme which would make good use of his ability to diagnose situations quickly, speed, footwork and surprising power.
Summary: Offensive lineman can be over rated sometimes. The premium nature of the tackle position has, undoubtedly, led to some examples of over-drafting in recent years. Such is the demand for blind side blockers. Interior lineman also get over rated because in reality so few go in round one and people are always looking for the next Steve Hutchinson. The 2009 draft was the exception, with an undoubted top-20 talent like Alex Mack available and Eric Wood also going in the first round. Duke Robinson (over rated by many leading up to the 09′ draft) dropped to a more realistic 5th round grade. Hudson, for me, warrants any hype thrown his way. Whilst some teams will not consider drafting him due to a lack of size, teams using zone blocking elements will watch Hudson’s 2010 campaign with interest. He has the potential to go in round one and as we prepare for the new college season and he deserves a first/second round grade at this early stage.
Jake Locker is projected by many to go first overall
When the blog relaunched this week I posted a 2011 mock draft. You can view it by clicking here or simply selecting ‘Mock Draft’ in the navigation bar underneath the headline logo. Firstly, trying to project the NFL Draft this year is premature at best and impossible at worst. None of the projections I’ve made here can seriously be considered because we have no idea how prospects will perform, if they’ll stay healthy or draft order. The point of such an early projection is merely to consider the pre-season ‘hype’ for want of a better word. Who are the prospects being talked about going into the 2010 college season? Who will live up to expectations and who will fall? Continue reading
Okung took part in his first practise this afternoon
Russell Okung, the last remaining rookie to agree terms this off season, has completed a 6-year deal with the Seahawks. It’s worth a reported $58m with around $30m in guarantees. It represents a significant increase (up $9m from $21m) in guaranteed money that Andre Smith (OT, Bengals) received as the 6th overall pick last year. Okung missed six total days of training camp. The rapidity with which the other first round picks agreed terms put Okung on an island, but he actually missed 16 days less than Chris McIntosh (OT, drafted 2000) and two days less than Marcus Tubbs (DT, 2004) and Aaron Curry (LB, 2009) when they were drafted by Seattle. Nevertheless, it’s crucial that Okung makes up for lost time now. When Seahawks Draft Blog’s resident scout Kyle Rota looked at the tape last year, he voiced several concerns with Okung’s technique:
“I actually have huge concerns about Okung’s ability to play left tackle in the NFL. He lacks the anchor to consistently hold up against stronger DEs (and I really worry about what a 3-4 DE could do to him), and often gets pushed backwards. He also really struggled to stay in front of the more athletic defenders I saw him against, allowing even mediocre NFL talent like Nick Reed to turn the corner against him a couple of times. To me, he’s good at sliding his feet and has long arms, but when facing a good athlete who is able to keep those arms off of him (like Brian Orakpo, Nick Reed, or Greg Hardy) Okung really struggles – he doesn’t have the athleticism to fall back on when his arms don’t land, and he doesn’t get his hands into his man’s pads regularly enough when he plays good competition.” – Kyle Rota
Okung finds himself on a team owning one of the best offensive line coaches in the business – Alex Gibbs. That is a huge benefit for his long term career ambitions. It’s also a short term nightmare because the Gibbs zone blocking scheme is one of the most demanding and difficult to pick up. It’s tough both physically and mentally. As things stand, Okung is almost a week behind. As the already-anointed day one starter, he needs to learn and improve whilst also showing a level of performance. That’s the pressure that comes when you have $30m in your back pocket.
On a side note, the Seattle Seahawks now have at least $72m tied up in a linebacker, an offensive tackle and a safety. Aaron Curry ($34m), Russell Okung ($30m) and Earl Thomas ($12m) are all earning premium money as Seattle’s expensive trio of top-15 draft picks the last two years. All three will have to play important roles in the team’s rebuild. However, you can’t help but contemplate whether their success will depend on other people. Will we ever truly see the benefit of having a talented young linebacker and safety if the defensive line are incapable of putting sufficient pressure on the opposition quarterback? Will Okung have a hard time fending off heavy blitz packages if nobody fears Seattle’s potency at quarterback or the skill positions? The Seahawks may have to invest even more on other areas of the team to feel the maximum benefit of their $72m bounty for Curry, Okung and Thomas.
The college football season kicks off on September 2nd so with less than a month to go it’s time to start concentrating on the prospects we’ll be talking about leading up to next April’s 2011 NFL Draft. I’ve listed some of the more familiar names worth keeping an eye on from a Seahawks perspective. This preview doesn’t take into account potential draft position, but it does consider the kind of physical or schematic fits the new regime may target.
Robert Quinn (DE, North Carolina)
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 265 lbs
Projected stock: Top 10
Athletic, speed rusher who could thrive as Seattle’s ‘LEO’ or ‘Elephant’. Defensive end remains a position of severe need for the Seahawks.
Jake Locker (QB, Washington) Height: 6’3″
Weight: 225 lbs
Projected stock: Top 10
Local product who has shown promise as a mobile quarterback in a pro-style offense. The Seahawks need to know their long-term direction at the position.
Rodney Hudson (OG, Florida State) Height: 6’2″
Weight: 292 lbs
Projected stock: Rounds 1-2
The prototypical interior lineman for the zone blocking system. Ultra-talented, deserves serious consideration in the first round.
Jonathan Baldwin (WR, Pittsburgh)
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 225 lbs
Projected stock: Top 25
Tall receiver with good size who can get downfield and make electrifying plays.
Prince Amukamara (CB, Nebraska)
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 200 lbs
Projected stock: Top 15
A converted running back who excelled as a junior, he has the coverage skills to work in a cover-2.
Mark Ingram (RB, Alabama) Height: 5’10”
Weight: 215 lbs
Projected stock: Top 25
Power, speed and fluid change of direction skills. Ingram is a stud running back who would produce in the NFL today.
Jerrell Casey (DT, USC)
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 295 lbs
Projected stock: 1st Round
A disruptive three-technique who’s always in the backfield, not dissimilar to Brian Price.
Christian Ponder (QB, Florida State) Height: 6’3″
Weight: 220 lbs
Projected stock: Rounds 1-2
Mobile quarterback with nice touch and good with his feet. Intelligent and hard working off the field, his stock could soar.
Ryan Williams (RB, Virginia Tech) Height: 5’10”
Weight: 206 lbs
Projected stock: 1st Round
Production machine in 2009, Williams is an outside candidate for the Heisman this year.
Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame) Height: 6’3″
Weight: 220 lbs
Projected stock: Rounds 1-2
A big playmaker with excellent body control and sure hands. He needs to prove injuries are behind him.
By Rob Staton
One of the things I like to do during training camp is study up on fantasy football and try a few ‘mock drafts’. It’s not the conventional subject matter (namely NCAA scouting and the Seahawks/NFL draft) but we need something to pass the time until the big kick off. I took part in my first mock draft today and wanted to share it with you including some thoughts. Feel free to offer your own opinions on what I (or any of the other participants) did or alternatively put down any ‘sleepers’ or tips you might have in the comments section. We’ll dip into fantasy football over the next couple of weeks until things really build up towards the new college and NFL seasons. It’s just for fun but let me know what you think. Continue reading
By Rob Staton
Golden Tate has been lighting it up during training camp, earning rave reviews from all quarters. The rookie receiver is quite prominent on twitter (@showtimetate) and he’s now started a blog called Play Maker Tate. His first entry asks how he can ‘engage’ the 12th man and gives us an insight into what his life since the April draft (including donut-gate). It’s worth a read and offers a unique connection to one of the Seahawks’ best young prospects.
By Rob Staton
Ahead of the 2010 NFL and NCAA kick off Seahawks Draft Blog has made significant changes to it’s appearance and application. I want to explain some of the changes and what you can expect to see on the blog going forward.
There is now a navigation bar underneath the main logo. The blog will continue to be updated regularly and you will find the latest posts on the homepage or by clicking ‘Home’ on the navigation bar.
I have published an updated ‘top 15’ mock draft for 2011 which can be viewed by clicking ‘Mock Draft’. Scouting reports throughout the year will be published on the blog homepage but will automatically be organised into the ‘Scouting Reports’ section making for easier location later in the year.
Underneath the navigation bar is a welcome note. Breaking news and significant publications will be listed here. You may have also noticed the ‘Twitter’ logo – Seahawks Draft Blog will use twitter regularly throughout the year to communicate with followers so why not add us to your follow list? (@robstaton)
So what can you expect and what will be different? We’ll continue to publish regular scouting reports on prospects, opinions and information via the form of links and guest material. These will be greater in detail with better use of video.
A regular podcast feature will be available soon to download. I have made plans attend the Senior Bowl work outs for 2011 in Mobile and this will provide a further unique ability to speak with prospects and get an insight into how the draft is shaping up.
My goal for this website going forward is to try and provide the best ‘team’ draft blog on the Internet for Seahawks fans. The investment I have made in this site is the next step forward. Seahawks Draft Blog will continue to remain independent and no adverts will be seen anywhere on the blog.
I am not trying to compete with the heavyweight national blogs or corporations, I just want to provide a service that fans can enjoy. Since Seahawks Draft Blog began in 2008 I’ve been overwhelmed by the interaction and positive feedback received. I hope everyone will continue to contribute in the comments section and create the great discussion we enjoyed in the blog’s previous format. The blog will only ever be as good as the people who visit it and so far – we’ve had one of the best.
I’m delighted to reveal the new look for Seahawks Draft Blog. What do you think? I’ll explain a lot of the forthcoming changes soon, but this is an exciting change that I hope you’ll enjoy.
