Two new prospects to monitor — Lynch & Hill

Paxton Lynch (QB, Memphis)
A player who has really grown into a productive passer. Excelled in a recent televised game against Cincinnati. Lynch is listed at 6-7 but is nearer 6-5 and a sturdy 230-240lbs. He’s incredibly mobile despite his size and runs the read option. He’s making difficult throws all over the field and passing with touch and venom equally. He’s yet to turn the ball over in 2015 (although he’s had a couple of close calls). In a down year for quarterbacks teams are going to be looking at the options and working out who is the best projection. In 2013 the Bills decided it was E.J. Manuel. In 2014 the Jags plucked for Blake Bortles. Any team needing a quarterback is going to look at the collection and Lynch might be the guy who ends up going a lot earlier than people realise today. It could easily be between Lynch and Jared Goff. Connor Cook is distinctly average, Cardale Jones shouldn’t even be thinking about the NFL and Christian Hackenburg needs to go to a team where he can sit and develop. Lynch will also need time — but he’s a prospect teams will be excited by. He has incredible upside and very few limitations.

Demetrius Hill (DE, USF)
6-2, 270lbs end or tackle — Hill mysteriously disappeared from spring training and it’s still not clear what happened (he mentions a family issue). After a solid first season after transferring from the JUCO ranks — a pro-career seemed a million miles away. Thankfully he returned and while teams will do their homework on his mindset — Hill’s on-field performance has been impressive. He’s mobile enough to work the edge and win with athleticism but he’s also got the size to dip inside and work at tackle. He’s even been dropping into coverage and acting as a spy for mobile quarterbacks. He’s notching TFL’s and has a knack for collecting fumbles. Don’t expect him to reach the early rounds but there’s plenty to work with here and he’ll provide a nice rotational cog for a pro-team with the added versatility of being able to play multiple positions.

36 Comments

  1. Volume12

    Nice heads up on Demetrius Hill there Rob. His body type seems very ‘Seahawky’ as does his versatiliy and athleticism. I’ll have to try and hunt down some tape. Always like the ‘sleepers’ or ‘under the radar’ cats.

    • Volume12

      One guy who is killing it right now is E. Kentucky’s DE/OLB Noah Spence-6’3, 260 lbs. Former Ohio St Buckeye, troubled young guy, but dude has a ton of talent and can really play in space.

      For whatever reason, Seattle does like their pass-rushers that have had ‘red flags’ brought up or character concerns.

      • Rob Staton

        I watched one of his 2015 games on draft breakdown tonight and saw a lot of same issues on tape at Ohio State. He has the occasional splash but at that level was expecting so much more.

  2. AlaskaHawk

    I’m looking at who is available if the Seahawks to pick up a couple early round offensive linemen.
    Here is a draft projection for first two rounds of offensive linemen from a popular website:
    2. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
    4. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
    12. Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
    18. Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
    21. Vadal Alexander, G, LSU
    24. Germain Ifedi, OT/G, Texas A&M
    28. Max Tuerk, C, USC
    33. Dan Voltz, C, Wisconsin
    34. Tyler Johnstone, OT, Oregon
    40. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
    46. Spencer Drango, OT, Baylor
    49. Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State
    51. Greg Pyke, G, Georgia
    53. Jack Allen, C, Michigan State
    58. Kyle Murphy, OT, Stanford

    No real suprise that offensive tackles go early. We should probably go for a RT in the first round and a center in the second. If this is how the draft shakes out, and assuming Seahawks are picking at 24 or above: I would pick with Ifedi and Jack Allen. Who would you pick in the first two rounds if it is offensive linemen?

    • Rob Staton

      The last thing Seattle needs is more rookies, especially rookies drafted in the later picks of each round. They might have to go with a draft pick to replace Okung — but just putting more inexperience and question marks on the line is not a solution IMO.

      This will not be about simply using all the draft stock on days 1-2 on the line. They have to add some veterans. Evan Mathis will be a free agent again. Alex Boone is a free agent. They could do with finding a veteran right tackle. If they replace Okung with a cheap first round rookie then they possibly have the money to add a veteran guard and right tackle.

      As for the list, I’d be surprised if Vadal Alexander went in round one especially if it’s with the idea to move him inside. Ditto Max Tuerk. I don’t mind Voltz but not as the #33 player in the class no way. Howard is way too early at #40. Stanley too early at #4. No Shon Coleman which is bizarre.

      • Trevor

        Ron when I watch Shon Coleman play he looks like a sure fire 1st round talent but very few national writers even mention him at all. I know he had a cancer scare but is there something else?

        • Rob Staton

          Not to me. Excellent player.

        • Volume12

          He’s raw and has half a year of tape.

      • AlaskaHawk

        Should be able to get veterans for 4 million or so. About a week ago I asked what you thought about investing 25 million per year into the offensive line. Any thoughts on that?

      • CharlietheUnicorn

        I agree, more or less. Why invest in drafting OL high in the draft, when they do not fit your scheme. I would much rather see Seattle take a shot on a guy like Miles Jack, than another OL project in the 1st 2 rounds of the 2016 draft.

        • bigDhawk

          I’m to the point where passing on otherwise obviously talented players like Joel Bitonio and Gabe Jackson (who I was quite high on in 2014) because they are “not a fit for our scheme” has me questioning the veracity of our scheme. If we can’t use highly talented players that the rest of the league has no difficulty using then it’s time to question our offensive line personnel philosophy.

      • CHawk Talker Eric

        Depends on the prospect. How many of us wish they’d taken Bitonio instead of PRich? How many of us think they might have been able to get both?

        I totally agree with the idea that SEA can’t draft its way to a better OL. At least not within the current championship window. But when it comes to Day 1-2 picks, shouldn’t it come down to the prospect?

        • Rob Staton

          Bitonio for me was a diamond — the true exception to the rule in that for me he was a top-20 guy available in the early second. A rarity.

        • David M2

          CHawk,

          Seattle had the 32nd pick in that draft. They had given up their 3rd rounder in the Harvin deal the year before, so they were seeking draft capital wanting to replenish from their personnel losses following the Super Bowl . When it was their turn they traded down to #40 which was about where Bitonio was projected to go. Soon after, Cleveland who held the #35 pick selected Bitonio.

          I think the Hawks were targeting him in this range, but Cleveland got our guy. At that point they traded down to #45 and selected Richardson and then Britt with #64 after 5 other OL had gone off the board in the 2nd round. Of the picks that followed Britt in the 3rd round, who are starting for the teams that drafted them are #76 Travis Swanson, C Detroit Lions, #89 Chris Watt, C, SD Chargers, #66 Morgan Moses, T, Washington Redskins, #81 Gabe Jackson, G, Oakland Raiders, #70 Marcus Martin, C, SF 49ers, #92 Trai Turner, G, Carolina Panthers, and #93 Brandon Linder, G, Jacksonville Jaguars.

          The Hawks were looking to replace the RT position and the only real candidate out of all these players was Morgan Moses who was widely viewed as a developmental project. His rookie season he only went on to start one game.

          Moses had Britt beat in regards to measureables, but recorded the slowest 10 yd split of all linemen at the combine and also had a paltry 21″ vert. His 40 was 0.2 seconds slower than Britt’s and he only tested slightly faster in the 3 cone.

          The Seahawks like to draft athletes, and in this case they most likely saw Britt as the superior athlete with a bigger upside and more unique athletic traits.

          Zach Whitman over at Fieldgulls tweeted this after his selection:

          @zjwhitman

          Justin Britt — elite SPARQ tackle with 33-1/2″ arms.

          6:33 PM – 9 May 2014

          and this article: (Click to read)

          by Tad Hensinger over at Legion Of 12 points out how John Schneider applies extra emphasis to an OL’s 10 yd split. Justin Britt had a 1.75 split vs. Moses’s 1.94.

          There were 4 OL selected the 4th round. #111Russel Bodine and #105 Bryan Stork who both play C. They were both rookie starters for their teams. Stork is currently on IR as is #140 Cameron Flemming who was selected as a G and the only other player selected in round 4 was #137 Dakota Dozier a developmental prospect from a small school who had similar measureables to Britt, but an inferior SPARQ rating.

          The Hawks went on to draft Garrett Scott in the 6th who was a SPARQ monster, but unfortunately health issues have kept him away from the game.

          The other picks for the Hawks coming from their trades in the draft were #108 Cassius Marsh, #123 Kevin Norwood, and #227 Kiero Small. Marsh was needed for DL rotational depth, Small was picked up before he could make to the PS and Norwood didn’t pan out, but has survived on the Carolina roster.

          All in all, the Seahawks go after superior athletes, it’s what they do and determines how they compose their draft board.

          At the time they were probably not thinking about replacing Max Unger, but injury issues may have played into their willingness to let him go. They gambled at the time thinking Bitonio would still be there at #40 the teams selecting before them weren’t projected to select OL talent in that range. Quite a few draft pundits projected Cleveland to select a receiver in that range maybe looking for a replacement for Josh Gordon in a draft that was riddled with WR talent.

          Not selecting Bitonio was a huge miss and considering his 1.68 10 yd split and his superior SPARQ rating. Hindsight being 20/20 it’s surprising they didn’t have him ranked as a first round talent.

      • smitty1547

        we didn’t get Mathis when he was available this year, what makes u think we will get him next year?

    • Volume12

      I’d put Wazzu OL Joe Dahl ob that list.

      Don’t think Seattle will go heavy on the O-line either. One early, a 3rd-5th rounder, and a starter in FA. Alex Boone is appealing.

  3. CHawk Talker Eric

    First time this season watching UW last night. What a defense. There are several intriguing prospects.

    But who is Gaskin? There’s a lot of speed on the Trojans’ defense, and he made them look stupid slow.

    • Volume12

      Myles Gaskin. He could be a stud. 24 starters are FR/SO on Udub’s team. They could be scary good the next couple years. Really like LB Travis Feeney-6’3,225 and fantastic length.

      • CHawk Talker Eric

        Feeney looked fantastic. I also like DBs Kevin King & Budda Baker, ILB Azeem Victor (what a BS call). NT Elijah Qualls also flashed.

        • Volume12

          They got a loaded defense that’s for sure.

          I don’t tend to focus on FR and SO. I mean don’t get me wrong. I’ll take note of them and know who they are, but I look at the JR and SR class more.

          Kevin King, Budda Baker, Qualls, and Victor are definetly some guys to monitor in the coming years though.

          • AlaskaHawk

            I liked all three. I noticed Budda Baker when he blitzed the QB one play, and broke up a long pass the next. He has a lot of speed and good timing.

            I would just warn people that the Washington players are a little undersized and make up for it with speed.

  4. AlaskaHawk

    Congratulations to Matt Hasselback for throwing for 18/29 and 213 yards in a win for the Colts.

    Matt Hasselbeck and Andre Johnson showed that sometimes old guys can shine in what is certainly a young man’s league.

    Johnson, 34, caught two touchdown passes from Hasselbeck, 40, including a 2-yard score in the fourth quarter, to help the Indianapolis Colts beat the Houston Texans 27-20.

    “You get over the age of 30, they kind of count you out,” Johnson said. “But we proved to people that we could still play.”

    Released by Houston in March after 12 seasons with the team, Johnson had six catches for 77 yards.

    Pretty good play for the “old men”

    • cha

      Hasselbeck had plenty of time to throw. How could a garbage OL contain Watt so well? Is he nursing an injury that hasn’t been reported?

      • AlaskaHawk

        They used two tight ends to help the tackles double team the defensive ends on both sides of the line. Did you watch the game Cable/Bevel?

        • cha

          Won’t be much help if your interior OL’s are the problem.

      • CHawk Talker Eric

        Hasselbeck didn’t necessarily have any more time to throw than Luck usually does. The difference is Hasselbeck got the ball out quickly on every pass.

        This is a great example of the value of experience. It can be more important than talent alone.

      • Rob Staton

        I think part of the reason is — a line isn’t always based on talent. I don’t think we’ll ever see a 70’s style O-line that just destroys a defense and runs all over them. Scheme, timing, consistency, execution. All more important these days and all linked the game plan in a bigger way. The Colts executed a plan that was well orchestrated for Hasselbeck and Gore to succeed.

        In Seattle though, the line is just executing so poorly it doesn’t really matter what the plan is. The tape against Detroit is really ugly. Whiffs galore. Even the best laid plans can’t account for those errors.

        • CHawk Talker Eric

          And this is what I find so distressing about Britt. He doesn’t just look lost. His mechanics look bad.

          • Volume12

            Is Britt hurt? I’ve noticed on some gifs that he’s wearing a sleeve and others he isn’t. PC also taled about correcting Britt’s lean.

  5. Volume12

    Really liking this DT from Miami Ufomba Kamalu-6’6,295. From Nigeria’ speech impediment, plays with a mean streak. Not an early gu by any means, but a Tony McD comp.

    And Florida St’s DL Giorgio Newberry too. 6’6, 295 again, played OL, TE, and now back at DT. Has freakish length, plays fast, pursues everything. Exciting guy. Good interior pass rusher.

    Both late day 3 guys, both could fill McDaniel’s role.

    • CHawk Talker Eric

      UK DT Cory Johnson.

    • AlaskaHawk

      I am looking forward to watching Florida vs Florida St. Pretty sure it will play on national networks so I can watch it in Alaska. Saturday night!!!

      • Volume12

        You mean Miami vs Florida St? It’s on ABC at 5 so you’ll get it my man. Looking forward to it myself.

        For one, it’s a great rivalry, secondly it’s one of the games Seattle is scouting, and lastly, there’s some very exciting/intriguing defenders on both teams.

  6. Volume12

    Rob, I think we’re all in agreement here that DT is a need heading into next year. And I know it’s hard to say right now,but do you think they go DT early, mid-late rounds, perhaps both?

    • Rob Staton

      Mid-rounds. I think they believe that’s where the value lies. It’s where they’ve gone for their DT’s so far. Either that or low level FA’s. But it depends where some of the big names go. Malcom Brown lasted until #32 this year which is incredible.

  7. bigDhawk

    I would like to see us draft a developmental QB this year. Interesting info on this Lynch kid. I’ll look forward to watching his progress.

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