|
|
|
2009
NFL Draft Needs - Seattle Seahawks
by Gregory Cox
Senior Writer
4/22/09
Picks (10): 4, 37, 68, 105, 137, 178, 214, 245*, 247*, 248*
*-compensatory picks cannot be traded
Offensive Tackle – The new zone blocking scheme engineered by
Greg Knapp will bring changes and the timing is probably good because
turnover was inevitable anyway. All five preseason 2008 projected
starters finished the season on injured reserve. Franchise left tackle
Walter Jones is 35 years old and coming off knee surgery. This is not a
good combination of facts for the most important position. Ray Willis
was retained on a two year deal, but he’s a backup on the right side.
They need a left tackle and would be hard pressed to pass on this need
at #4 overall.
Outside Linebacker – There are two issues here. Julius Peterson
is gone having been traded to Detroit. More complicated is franchise
tagged Leroy Hill moping and skipping workouts. Is he going to be in
the fold long term? There is not much time to figure that out prior to
the draft. Given their current situation it seems extremely like one
player is drafted to push for work at the weak side, and if the team
believes Hill is not going to be on board then insurance on the strong
side could also be added. This uncertainty might lead them to draft
someone early, but the whole point of trading Peterson was to avoid
salary overload because the man in the middle Lofa Tatupu is well paid.
Three highly compensated linebackers on a defense that was #30 in total
yards allowed last season made no sense to management and I can see
why.
Quarterback – Some are calling it a smoke screen that the team
is interested in a quarterback. I really like the attitude and demeanor
of Seneca Wallace. The team was 3-5 when he was primarily in charge.
When Matt Hasselbeck, struggling with a balky back, started they were
1-7. Sometimes these numbers get thrown around, but also consider
Wallace was on the road in 5/8 while Hasselbeck obviously was home for
5/8. Against division foes Wallace was 2-1, Hasselbeck 1-2. Does this
mean that when the receivers are healthy Wallace gives them a better
chance to win? Maybe in short spurts it does. Hasselbeck might never be
right physically again. That’s just the reality of life and the human
body. He has been a great quarterback for this franchise and led them
to their only Super Bowl appearance. However, when he turns 34 the
first month of the season people are going to wonder about the future
at the position. Wallace epitomizes a quality backup to me, which is
intended as a compliment. He can step in and win a few games. He is not
going to weather the storm of a full season and therefore the time to
draft a future replacement is now. The Seahawks are in position to do
so with the #4 overall pick in the draft. Whether they do it or not is
another story.
Offensive Guard – Their running game fell apart and injuries on
the line certainly contributed to that. Chris Gray (retired) and Floyd
Womack (Browns) are gone. Mike Wahle is 32 and oft-injured. They will
be looking for players who fit into the new zone blocking scheme to
fill up the depth chart.
Wide Receiver – It was a good move signing T.J. Houshmandzadeh
(Bengals). Their biggest problem last year was a rash of injuries. He
has only missed 5 games total in the past 6 seasons and never more than
two during that span. Deion Branch is totally unreliable since being
required in a 2006 trade. He has played in just 33 of 48 team games
including missing half of last year. This is not what you want from a
#1 receiver. Nate Burleson is still on the mend and even before
essentially missing the 2008 season had been struggling. Most of his
paycheck has been predicated on his 2004 campaign in Minnesota (1,006
yards). He was decent in 2007 (694 yards) but those two seasons
represent 62% of his production during a six year career. If he returns
healthy does it really matter? As much as I like the Houshmandzadeh
signing for the reliability factor, it is almost a break even deal with
Bobby Engram (Chiefs) gone. The past three seasons while Burleson and
Branch were disappointing Engram averaged 55 receptions for 642 yards.
While I expect Houshmandzadeh to far exceed that production the point
is that he can’t hold down the position by himself and is merely an
upgrade from Engram. The team still needs someone to fill the gaps
where Burleson and Branch fail. Rookie tight end John Carlson led this
team in receptions (55) yards (627) and touchdowns (5) last year. What
does that tell you? It might not be an early addition, but someone to
develop and step in down the line is a good idea.
Running Back – Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp reunites with
new head coach Jim Mora Jr. The pair worked together in Atlanta and
incumbent habitually underachieving T.J. Duckett was part of that mix
with the Falcons. As a fan of fantasy football I always loved Duckett’s
ability to score touchdowns (8 last year on just 62 carries) but loathe
the fact that he never assumes a larger role. The man is over 250
pounds and yet in the past three seasons (with Washington, Detroit and
Seattle) has totaled just 165 carries over 38 games. I’m not sure yet
if he will see an expanded role with longtime Seahawk backup Maurice
Morris (Lions) gone. The lead back is going to be Julius Jones unless
something changes. He fell out of favor with former head coach Mike
Holmgren and after a promising first month of the season really fell
off. In three September starts he had 312 yards rushing on 61 attempts
(5.11 average) and 2 touchdowns but saw his use limited to 97 rushes
for 386 yards (3.98 average) the rest of the way and never scored
again. Still, he has over 1,000 rushes of experience in the NFL and
will be given a chance in the new “one cut” system. I see the team
sniffing around possible additions in the draft. Mike Holmgren
abandoned the run late last year, but I assure you this new regime will
not and the departure of Morris (132 rushes last year) opens up a spot.
Rookie Justin Forsett, a late seventh round pick out of Cal, failed to
make much of an impression in his first year.
Cornerback/Free Safety – There are some players in the draft
who can shuffle between these two spots and it might be what the
Seahawks need in their secondary. At cornerback 2006 first round pick
Kelly Jennings has been a disappointment. Josh Wilson is pretty
average. Both have youth on their side and could develop into better
players. At free safety Brian Russell is what he is and that’s not a
good thing. This is the third stop in his NFL career and he has just 1
interception in two seasons with the Seahawks. It’s hard to believe he
got his hands on 9 interceptions in 2003 with Minnesota, his second
season in the NFL. In his other 92 career games he has a total of 7,
and only one additional season (2005 in Cleveland) has he had more than
one. If they can find someone with ball skills at either cornerback or
free safety expect them to strike.
Fullback – Is this position still around? You would hardly know
it. Last year they drafted hard hitting Owen Schmitt in the fifth
round. He was last seen running through a brick wall head first at West
Virginia. Okay, not really. Veteran Leonard Weaver (Eagles) has moved
on. It is certainly possible to stand pat with Schmitt this season. The
point here is that two members of their backfield have departed in free
agency, running back Maurice Morris being the other. For a team intent
on getting back to running the football this seems like something to
consider. In the case of a fullback perhaps a rookie free agent is in
order, or a veteran.
Michael
Abromowitz's 2009 NFL Mock
Draft - 7 rounds
Gregory Cox's 2009 NFL Mock
Draft - 6 rounds
Jared Donnelly's 2009 NFL Mock Draft
|
|
|
|
