Welcome to Seahawks Draft Blog, providing daily analysis on the Seattle Seahawks and the NFL Draft.
The blog started in 2008 and is now into its 16th year. I'm available for any radio or podcast invites, just reach out using the 'contact' section.
We have a great community in the comments, we just ask you keep things on topic.
Rob Staton
Hot topics
- Could Jadeveon Clowney help the Seahawks?
- Live stream (2pm PT): Discussing the Giants mess with Jeff Simmons
- Instant reaction: Poor Seahawks deliver a reality check in home loss to Giants
- Curtis Allen’s week five watch-notes (vs NY Giants)
- Video: Further thoughts on two potential trade deadline candidates for the Seahawks
Heavy agree here. He is our Cousins. Keep you out of the SB and in the middle of draft position. Better to pick a lane.
If not Lock, maybe we flip New England a later rounder for Mac Jones. I think there is something there still. Patriots were rotten in his handling.
I thought that for a small second. I just remember his poor performance in the pro bowl games. Russell wilson destroyed him. I dont put a huge stock on hitting targets for points.. but it shows his throwing ability a bit and his play was equally bad the last 2 years..
The best rookie QB is the best option and rolling Lock next season, my opinion..
This fanbase ‘throwing their toys out the pram’?
Never!
I’ve never heard this before but I think I’ll have to use it going forward, just really paints a vivid picture.
spittn the dummy!
Rob were you implying in a comment yesterday you think Cullen will be our DC since he turned down Michigan
I mentioned that three teams had been linked to him — Michigan, Seattle and Washington and the Seahawks were the only ones with a vacancy
Thanks Rob for the unenviable position you’ve created for yourself as stern father figure doling out information that the fanbase rarely wants to hear.
I want ta LIKE button. !!!!
Rob, great stuff as always. I was wondering your opinion on the direction you think the team will take in regards to investing in offense and defense this off-season. IMO it would make a lot of sense to invest heavily in the offense this offseason while you allow MM’s defensive scheme to sink in with players.
My draft strategy would involve:
Round one:
– Trade back & add a second rounder
– Draft OL/QB
Round two:
– Draft OL/QB
Rounds 3-7
– Add WR and defensive pieces
Rob, can I suggest a you tube discussion with Curtis and/or Brady Henderson?
I’m neither Rob nor Curtis but my gut tells me Curtis would rather not do one. PURE speculation on my part though. Like if I were as knowledgeable a Curtis I wouldn’t want to go on cuz I break cameras. Some people are simply better putting their thoughts on paper and maybe cha is that guy?
After watching a few more games of each of the qbs we think could be in range I have a few thoughts.
1. If Seattle is drafting Penix I do NOT want to see Grubb here. I can live with the sort of pitch and catch that Rob has talked about but I hate, hate, hate how many throws are to covered, double covered, and frankly dangerously covered WR’s. Upon further watching I think all of the WR’s are even better than I thought.
I can’t unsee how many shots are taken when a WR is painfully close to be drilled and the what would be’s if the CB’s were nfl level players.
I’m not blaming Penix per se. I just don’t see those two as a winning combo. Penix has a great arm. The WR coach ( at Alabama now I believe) needs a nod of respect.
2. Bo nix snap to snap is unreal boring. However. Bo nix is any well produced highlight video has moved him to the top of my list. Again maybe its scheme preference but I see way more throwing WR’s on the move for YAC. Splitting defenders. And a ton of variety on touch from decent lobs to fireballs.
I said it on the previous thread but there’s something about his foot placement and stance that reminds me of brees.
That’s where I am with Penix and Grubb: not my first choice with either position but could live with them. Just not together. I don’t see that combo working.
Penix needs to develop and progress. He isn’t doing that in an offense that he’s ran for years and years. One that does so much grunt work. He’s got to learn to do more and I don’t see them together. Reminds of a parent with a kid that they do everything for: the kid doesn’t know how to drive and parent has to take them back and forth to work.
That’s a killer way to put it.
Btw I still have Rattler way up the list but I just have a weird feeling that he’s not on John’s list.
This right here. I could be wrong – and my wife would tell you I often am – but I get the feeling that Penix’ rep is built partly on the backs of his receivers. They were fantastic and made the work much easier for him. How would he do without them? Because he probably won’t have receivers that dominant at the pro level.
My spouse likes to say: you may not be wrong but you’re not right either. It’s Zen koan territory…
It’s kinda like what I feel about Penix being drafted by the Seahawks.
My hunch after the press conference is Geno is gone and Lock will be declared the starter pre-draft. If we can somehow get a draft pick for Geno, that would be a bonus. Then we’ll have to draft someone or poach someone.
The geno-stans are now gripping on Rob”s and a few other’s videos that okay he may not actually be as good as we all said he was in an echo chamber….but, but, but, he can coach the new guy and teach the nonexistent offense.
In a different world where it was Pete, Waldron and new qb…sure. Geno has no real advantage over a rookie.
Also. I kind of hope the OC has no say in the qb. There job is to maximize talent and make in game decisions. Every coach has a preference of players. But you can’t be selecting the qb based on what a guy who has never done it in Grubb and Tanner think, nor on coaches who may be gone in 1,2,3 years think.
Well, Darrell Bevell was a huge early supporter of drafting Russel Wilson. He pushed hard for him, went to scout him, and lobbied hard for JS and PC to get him. He was Russ’s early champion.
He helped persuade JS and then PC he could be The Guy. Though he had NFL OC experience before Seattle.
I can’t see JS “letting the OC pick” a QB, but the OC better be heavily involved.
Involved.
Sure. I’d agree with that. Not sure about how heavily. They have no idea who they can even draft. If it was the top pick or two.
I know about Bevell’s connection to Wilson.
If they are a good OC they should be able to plan. All of the “names,” left haven’t even called plays in the pros and in Grubb’s case I’m not sure how much that was him or Deboer calling the plays.
On the flip side we’ve all read that Penny was picked because Shotty apparently did not rate Chubb (?!?) Because he was briefly around him. That’s all I’m getting at.
They should have input and opinions should be taken into consideration, but not much more than that.
Odds are, the quarterback will last longer than the OC, either for good or for bad. You get the player and it is their job to use them.
This seems like one of the first remnants of the Late Stage Pete Era that will fall. So many things like Geno, where Pete declared “good enough” and soldiered on without regard to upgrading or trying to get better – we got our guy. The same can be said for the coaching hires Pete made – particularly the in-house guys – “his guys.” It was lazy and low effort all around. Pete’s pet projects that dot the roster beyond Geno – not to name names, but DJ Dallas, Coffee Cup, Madden Rating, & How Good Is Bobby spring to mind immediately. JS is, I think, going to start weeding Pete’s playground and Geno – “not a weed! not a weed!” – may be one of the first to go. Good.
We don’t have to worry about Chip Norton Jr anymore.
https://twitter.com/On3sports/status/1756030888075317558
You make me laugh as if I’ve had 10 beers – and I’m sober, I swear.
Seems like a strange step to make, going from HC to OC.
Pretty clear he wanted out of UCLA. They are likely to get rolled next year in the Big 10 and he knows it. If he stayed, likely being fired next season and looking for an OC job anyway with the stink of failure fresh on him.
💯
Breathe easy SDB’ers. Chip Kelly is going to Ohio St as the OC.
Interesting move, choosing to go from HC to OC – within the same conference no less.
Thank God
And man does that say a LOT about the state of college football, none of it good.
I think it also says a lot about Chip Kelly
Not a fan of it moving forward.
Just when Corbin Smith had me thinking that Chip Kelly may not have been the worst hire in the world lol.
I know there are people who cite stats saying he was a terrible head coach, and others who cite stats saying he was still a good offensive play caller, particularly rushing offense, even in his one year coaching a terrible 49ers team.
Either way, I would have trusted Schneider and Macdonald if they thought Kelly’s offensive acumen would have been valuable to the team, given that he’d be an OC and not a HC.
The thing that worried me most about him was his Belichickian, hard-ass, negative reinforcement style clashing with the Seahawks’ culture. Although, I’m sure the team was plenty cognizant of that, too.
At this point, I’m assuming Seattle is waiting until after the Super Bowl because they want to talk with Joe Bleymaier or some other coaches from these teams.
It’s actually one thing I like about Corbin quite a bit. Behind the optimism if you watch enough you get some interesting perspective and nuggets.
I credit him with laying bare how bad the team has been at trading down.
Poor Will Howard. Going to a place that runs more pro-style and then getting Chip Kelly….
Maybe he transfers to the draft…..
If he did, he would move ahead of quite a few surprising guys IMO….
Big agree. I had him later when this class plus potentially a few others.
Ugh, Rob and his well reasoned and thought out arguments. How am I supposed to argue with that?? 😋
BAM.
Rob! Nathan!
*Adam!
Wow, solid hire , it’s also just gonna be cool to have a coach with a British accent 😂 Looking forward to some Mic’d Up videos.
Interesting. He’s a Dan Quinn guy.
Don’t know enough about him to have an opinion. Other than I was getting excited about Joe Cullen.
I wonder if he’s going to get groomed for MacDonald’s style. Get someone youngerish and get them up to speed, then pass off play calling to them after a few years.
It’s his specialty so I trust whoever they hire for DC.
The fast food workers of King County have been flagged as safe from Cullen.
Umm….HeS bRiTiSh. HoW cAn He KnOw FoOtBaLl? He’Ll PrObAbLy TeAcH tHeM tHe WrOnG sPoRt.
I know. What a stupid hire. Probably a “casual” coach.
In other news it’s all coming together for Rob to wrap up this site and start his new chapter as a scout for the Seahawks.
Looks like the Cowboys are losing most of their defensive staff.
not meant as a reply…
Cricket.
Chuffing Bear Defense?
Rob: Pretty amazing stuff. You pretty much NAILED it. I think John Schneider is going to try and trade Geno Smith. If JS does trade Geno Smith the Seahawk/NFL world will be SHOCKED. If John Schneider is lucky he will get a 4th round pick for Geno Smith. But I am guessing it would be in the 5-7 round range. There is a lot of talk that one of the strengths in this draft is the OL line. If the Hawks could find a trading partner and come up with a fifth round pick that would be great.
See if John can get a 3rd in 2025. Hopefully a Bertrand deeper draft class
Aden Durde. WOW! That came up out of NOWHERE. Don’t know much about Durde. He was the DL line coach for the Cowboys. During his playing career Durde played Linebacker.
Durde is the 1st British born DC in NFL history. Born in Middlesex England.
*First British National.
Evero was born in England, but is an American National.
Does Middlesex satisfy the Rooney rule?
I don’t know why either we, or the Seahawks, should assume another team will be willing to trade for him at all. Seems safer just to cut the guy.
Looks like there was a reason to interview Dan Quinn after all.
Two things I am less sure about than you seem to be, Rob.
Alex Smith wasn’t bad when he was replaced in KC. Neither were Favre or Rodgers in Green Bay. It was just the plan, they were going younger. So, I think it is entirely possible that Geno could be around another year.
I’m also not entirely certain that leverage only works one way, meaning, if Schneider represents that he could very well keep Geno, the 6 or 10 teams that have worse options at QB, and don’t get a shot at the 6 or 7 possible upgrades in the draft, will be stuck with the dwindling options on a par with Geno. I think that will leave fewer QB options than teams in need. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I feel like JS may get more than a 3rd or 4th pick for Geno or just keep him for a year. Unless he thinks he needs the money.
Not that I gave any particular knowledge or understanding. I just felt you weren’t getting your full ration of pushback. Should I call you a name or question your sanity here?
He was there for 5 years, kept them competitive, and then went 1-4 in the playoffs. Chiefs were lucky Mahomes fell to them. Had he not, the Chiefs would’ve keep going one and done and Reid would probably be out of a job.
That’s why you do what it takes to get a franchise QB. How many decades does it take to luck into a Mahomes?
It seems that the Seahawks were not the only team interested in hiring Aden Durde.
Last month, the Packers, Rams and Falcons all sought permission to interview Durde for their respective defensive coordinator vacancies.
https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2024/02/09/seahawks-hire-dallas-cowboys-assistant-aden-durde-as-defensive-coordinator/
Relax your jaw and breathe.
The desperation of it all. Rough for UCLA but at least the guy was honest he didn’t want to be there.
Wild to step down from a HC to OC in the same conference.
Rob, you need a new hat.
I’m actually pretty invested in this journey
Like Samwise Gamgee across the plains of Gorgoroth on the way to Mount Doom!
I love everything about this.
Just watch out for that goddamn spider.
It had to be done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz-8CSa9xj8
Izzo is good. That’s a great hire for DC.
Agree Coverage team for the Hawks this past season were very good.
Kjr is hilarious today.. theyre fighting over trading guests because the evening show dick and softy want rob on, but puck and Jim are adament Rob is “their guests”.. this hire for d coordinator is gold..
I like the microphone, Rob. It becomes you.
According to ESPN, Ohio State is hiring Chip Kelly as OC. That should make a lot of Seahawk fans happy.
So Grubb is still in play?
One of my friends has access to the husky 247 boards which has been on some stuff says Huff and Grubb to the Seahawks. Huffs the former husky Oline coach.
With a grain of salt but was happy to hear this rumor.
Heard Grubb was a candidate for the UCLA HC job.
It’s from this tweet: https://twitter.com/TakeTheOver1/status/1756075639294337206
No idea if they are a reliable source or not
I am hoping that John and Mike carry on with our personnel plans similar to how the coaching staff has gone – letting many go. Get rid of the guys that are overpayed, poor to below average at thier position and older players(with exceptions for positions that play well later on into careers).
The coaching turnover gives me hope there will be significant roster churn. Even if it means a down year for a season so be – reset things properly, cull out Pete’s bs, fix the cap and get some higher draft picks as well.
Just jumped on with Softy & Dick on KJR to talk about Aden Durde — will post the podcast embed when it’s up
Heck yeah.
Apparently Brits are en vogue.
Nate ‘Wonder Kid’ Shelley possibly in the mix for OC?
With a Brit on coaching staff, now they need a Brit as their draft consultant
Caught most of it live! Very good spot.
I was cracking up- was listening to 710 as they were bringing on Isaiah Stanbeck to talk about Durde. I love that guy! But his main point was- “Look the Cowboys D line was pretty good soooo”- they could had me on for that insight!
So I flipped over to KJR half joking that they’d have brought a certain Brit on talk about Durde. And lo and behold!
NFL.com says that the Seahawks plan to hire Aden Durde as DC (according to Tom Pellisero)
Missed Rob on KJR but caught a few minutes on the way to an appointment before. I came in midway on the conversation but Softy was talking about Grubb as the Seattle OC and why it would be such a smart move for him with all the offensive talent here. I thought it was a done Grubb was going to ‘Bama. Guess he hasn’t signed?
If Grubb’s still in play, I wonder if the fact it hasn’t gotten done already is that there is someone that John wants to interview from the Niners or Chiefs before making a decision.
Meh. Softy only has two settings: Sleep and talk UW. I’m sure half his advocacy for the Hawks pursuing Grubb is just to stick it to DeBoer for leaving the Huskies. There’s nothing to prop up pursuit of an OC that hasn’t even interned on the NFL level.
Well, this is true – Softy needs nothing more than a whisper of a rumor to masturbate to all things Huskies. But it made me wonder if Alabama actually hasn’t locked Grubb up yet. Or Huff.
Anyone listen to Joel Klatt on Brock and Salk yesterday? Salk was asking if JJ McCarthy can make the throws on 3rd down, and Joel was indignant and said to watch the Ohio State game.
He went 2/4 on third down, with a 3 yard pass on 3rd and 2 and a 22 yard TD on 3rd and 10. Plus 1/1 on fourth down. with a 7 yard gain on a 4th and 1.
The 22 yard TD to Roman Wilson was a highlight, but he threaded/underthrew a 22 yard pass that would have been a pick if the defender turned even a little.
The longest pass of the day for Michigan was 34 yards- a trick play by a running back.
The guy threw a 22 yard pass as his highlight, along with a few throws back across his body, and a nice roll out sideline throw on the run. I’m sure there’s better tape out there, but when you get told to watch a game I expect a little something more than that!
Sounds like he’s pointing out that that is all there is: not much.
Nah, he was talking him up. Called 18 of us games so he’s seen him a lot that’s for sure.
But that game was wildly unimpressive to me.
Yeah, I know that Klatt likes him.
There just isn’t any good tape on him. He was very unimpressive. If they even let him do anything.
Pete Carroll to UCLA?