Recent discussions have been focused around possible replacements for Shawn Alexander, if he leaves, and possible improvements to the wide receiver corps due to their perennial habit of using the ground to catch the ball. Combine these needs with the recent scouting combine, and several interesting players that could be available in the draft stand out.
Maurice Clarret has apparently reinvented himself and is committed to being a consumat professional and team player. He arrived at the combine a ripped 234 lbs, and was an imposing physical specimen by all accounts. He then proceeded to be outrun in the 40 yard dash by four people that weighed over 300 lbs. His posting of 4.72 and 4.82 seconds in the 40 may well have added vaseline onto what was already a tenuous grip on a pro career.
The Dr. Jekyl to Clarretts Mr. Hyde, however, was Ronnie Brown (whom I've been touting for some time) who, with decent size, nearly shattered the sound barrier with times of 4.32 and 4.40 seconds in the 40. Browns performance may very well have vaulted him into the #1 back slot, where he will no longer be available for the 'Hawks to take.
Additionally, JJ Arrington, who could likely be available in the second round posted times of 4.41 and 4.49 seconds, and while he is undersized (5' 9" 204 lbs) may be able to make an impact somewhere with his ability to run outside, and his decent pass catching skills. Darren Sproles, another smallish back in the Arrington mold was reportedly so quick of the start line that the scouts couldn't click their stop watches fast enough. Sproles will likely be another 2nd or 3rd round pick who could fit well in a west coast offense.
Also eager to impress after significant time off was one Mike Williams, but Williams, like Clarret, posted rather mediocre times in the forty of 4.59 and 4.61 seconds. This was after claiming he would run sub 4.5, or even 4.45. This is actually very good news for 'Hawks fans, since Williams talent is no doubt good enough to keep him in the first round, but his workout may drop him toward the bottom of the round, where the 'Hawks could make a move for him.
The last player that I admittedly had not ever heard of to boggle some peoples minds was Arkansas QB Matt Jones, who will likely switch to WR in the NFL. Jones would likely be around a 3rd round pick, Len Pasquarelli reports. But get this: Jones is 6'6" tall weighs 242 lbs and ran 40's in 4.40 and 4.37 seconds respectivel. This is a very intriguing player for a team looking to boost their WR corp, but I wonder how solid his hands are and whether or not he will be more of a project than an impact player early on.
So check, can I assume this means that you want to draft for the offense in the first round?
ReplyDeleteWith all our apparent problems with the D?
I like Arrington, Williams, and Brown, but I'm guessing they'll all be gone by the time our pick comes around.
ReplyDeleteI really think we still need to use our first pick get someone that can bolster our pass rush initially, and then try to fill Chad's shoes with some training.
It's interesting to me how much the conversation has changed from getting a defensive player with the first pick to getting a RB or WR. Is that because of the possible departure of SA and Rice? Or is it because there appears to be some depth at DE/LB in the draft? Or is it merely turning over another stone?
Does anyone know where Mark Clayton(WR)is going to go in the draft? If (and I emphasize if) the Hawks go for a WR this guy sounds like the best bet.....Gil Brandt, NFL.com's senior analyst, said this..."The guy that really helped himself in the group(WRs) was Mark Clayton. He ran well, caught the ball well and really gave his stock a boost. In fact, Cheifs scout J. Bonaventura called him, 'The most consistant guy in the drills as far as being near the top.' I think that says it all."
ReplyDeleteIt's not just about size and speed, the guy has to be smart and must be able to run routes and catch the ball. Which is why I'd have to say no to Matt Jones, we need an impact player in the firsat round so therefore 'if' we draft for offense first I say get a guy that can do it all, I'm not too worried about a return guy in the draft, at least not in the early going.
Sho, I'd agree as long as we could get a top three WR.
Bluefoot,
ReplyDeleteI think the reason that the discussion keeps changing is that there are so many obvious area of need on this team when you really get down to it. WR,O Line,DE,LB,HB? Where do you start? Also, no one really knows if we actually need a LB or DE or not, because we don't know the status of Okeafor and we have at least two probowl caliber LBers, when they are healthy. If we should draft a LB and Brown and Simmons stay healthy and play like they are capable of all season, then we have wasted a first round pick. If we resign Okeafor, then it seems a bit redundant to get another DE. On the other hand, we KNOW that our recieving corps sucks, K Rob can't cathc and is a piece of human garbage, D Jack has flashes of brilliance followed by games where everything that hits him on the hands he drops. Also if we were to trade Alexander, then we would somehow have to replace the number 1 HB in all of football last season, so you would naturally be expecting to get someone great. (This is why I think trading SA is stupid, unless we were overwhelmed with a deal), what's the point of trading last years number 1 RB in the NFL?
Aslo the right side of our O line sucks outright. Last year it was like night and day, the disparity between the left and right side of our O line.
So where the "obvious" needs seem to be on defense, the truth is, when you really get down to it, it may not really be that obvious. IF our starting defensive players from last season were to actually stay healthy for a full season, we would have a helluva defense, with Wistrom and Okeafor on the outside, with Tubbs and whoever in the middle, with Simmons and Brown at OLB and Niko in the middle. OUr front seven actually looks pretty darn good if they are all healthy. I think this is why the discussion keeps changing.
I haven't forgotten about him, he was actually set to be a starter this year, if I remember right, then he was injured in preseason. I think he's in a position where he's going to have to earn his spot back in training camp.
ReplyDeleteI also like White--his speed is really something else-- I think he'll be a great backup as well.
Monkey, that's where I kind of thought the conversation was going. We are just adding to the depth of the conversation about upgrading the team, rather than changing minds.
ReplyDeleteWith all this said, I still think the #1 priority is upgrading the defensive front seven, and then the receivers and right side of the OL.
However it comes together, in free agency or the draft, is the question, it appears.
I guess free agent day is Wednesday. PLease, if you guys find any news on signing our FA's before then, post it in a hurry. Wednesday will be a big day, too. Last year the ESPN ticker was all about signings.
I read that Mike "the Rhino" Reinfeldt" flew to Indy to talk over the FA's with Ruskell and Homey. I expect things to happen in a flurry tomorrow.
the only Receiver that interests me is Clayton...im almost positive he will fall to us, unless someone reaches for him early...
ReplyDeleteassuming we got Okeafor back...I say Clayton/LB in the 1st, and a CB in the 2nd or 3rd...
if Okeafor goes, obviously it gets confusing...
bad situation...if Chike leaves, the Seahawks' draft board goes haywire...but if he stays, we can't get Lucas back (I think he is more important then Okeafor BASED on the DEs in the draft)...also, I don't think we can get both and expect to upgrade in free agency, especially considering Porkchop and Tobeck are probably gonna end up back here
im actually quite unsure of the next season, I have no idea where this team is heading until something with Okeafor gets confirmed
the only Receiver that interests me is Clayton...im almost positive he will fall to us, unless someone reaches for him early...
ReplyDeleteassuming we got Okeafor back...I say Clayton/LB in the 1st, and a CB in the 2nd or 3rd...
if Okeafor goes, obviously it gets confusing...
bad situation...if Chike leaves, the Seahawks' draft board goes haywire...but if he stays, we can't get Lucas back (I think he is more important then Okeafor BASED on the DEs in the draft)...also, I don't think we can get both and expect to upgrade in free agency, especially considering Porkchop and Tobeck are probably gonna end up back here
im actually quite unsure of the next season, I have no idea where this team is heading until something with Okeafor gets confirmed
the only Receiver that interests me is Clayton...im almost positive he will fall to us, unless someone reaches for him early...
ReplyDeleteassuming we got Okeafor back...I say Clayton/LB in the 1st, and a CB in the 2nd or 3rd...
if Okeafor goes, obviously it gets confusing...
bad situation...if Chike leaves, the Seahawks' draft board goes haywire...but if he stays, we can't get Lucas back (I think he is more important then Okeafor BASED on the DEs in the draft)...also, I don't think we can get both and expect to upgrade in free agency, especially considering Porkchop and Tobeck are probably gonna end up back here
im actually quite unsure of the next season, I have no idea where this team is heading until something with Okeafor gets confirmed
argh when I clicked 'Publish' it brought up the 'page cannot be displayed' screen...I guess it posted anyway, so I ended up double posting...
ReplyDeletecheck, we have a miscomunication, I'm not trying to start anything, all I was asking was if you thought the offense was in deeper sh*t than the defense.
ReplyDeleteYou're starting to sound like me. I have been fighting the urge to flip-flop on my priority list, perhaps a WR is the way to go, I was just trying to figure out the HB situation, I don't think our biggest problem will be that position.
WR and a pure pass rush specialist are the most important holes on the team at this point in time, and I agree with the opinions on the LBs, many here have been harping on the weakness of the LB position, and I've never understood it, with the depth(quality depth) we have at that position, I think that's our least pressing need.
A top DE to back up Okeafor and Wistrom would be a better pickup, and as has been mentioned we could have our cake and eat it too if we trade S.A. for a upper round draft pick.
It's actually pretty exciting, there are so many options open to the Hawks, options most never thought they had a few weeks ago, it's kinda' funny to go back and read the post by the more panicky folks on these boards.
And sorry blue, but I have to disagree with your' statement on S.A. being the #1 back in football last season. That's a bit of a stretch, if that were tha case he'd have taken the top spot in yardage, he had the chances to blow that # away but his inconsistant running did him in.
Not to mention his fumbles toward the end of the season. He's just not as good as his numbers, and if he's traded I'm betting we'll all see the real S.A. this season.
Where did I say Shaun Alexander was the #1 back in football last season?
ReplyDeleteUmm... Vinny, he WAS the number one back in the NFL last season when you look at all his numbers. There is simply no way to dispute it as hard as you try you will still be wrong. He was one yard short of the NFL lead, (ONE YARD) and had more touchdowns than Martin did. That would make hin #1 by anyones calculations. You simply cannot say otherwise because the numbers PROVE you are wrong. You can argue opinions till you're blue in the face, but opinions are like a$$holes, everyone has one and they usually stink. You can't however, dispute cold hard facts. Fact, Alexander had the best season of any running back in the NFL last year, FACT!
ReplyDeleteSorry blue that would have been monkey. My bad. I was arguing with so many people about S.A. that I forgot who said what. Anyway sorry for teh mistaken identity.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes monkey he was the best Running Back in Football last season, however, I stand by what I've said all along....he's only as good as his O-line and FB, however, lets see how he does elsewhere.
Not to mention that being a great runner isn't all there is to being a great HB, especially in the WCO.
I guess if he's that good he'll still be here next season, huh.
ReplyDeleteI'll give you this Vinny, he's probably not the best HB for the WCO. But then I think the WCO is a very overrated system.
ReplyDelete