Saturday, April 23, 2005

With the 13th Pick in the Second Round

Seahawks select, Lofa Tatupu

LINK TO VIDEO CLIP

Also, LINK TO A GREAT STORY about Lofa Tatupu

LINK TO INTERVIEW

After trading with Carolina to move up 9 spots, Seattle selected Middle Linebacker/Strong Safety Lofa Tatupu out of U.S.C.Hieght 5'11" Weight 226 Lofa is the Son of former NFL running back, Mosi Tatupu. Seattle acquired this pick from Carolina for the 54th pick and two fourth-round selections.

If they could measure heart, desire and determination, Tatupu would stand tall among the linebackers in this year's draft … He is an athlete that plays bigger than his size. Tatupu has a great combination of speed, quickness and strength. He is a well-proportioned athlete with above-average sideline-to-sideline agility and range. His quickness and instincts are his best assets … While undersized, he plays big. Tatupu shows a nose for the ball and attacks the offense with good determination. He is a solid run defender who, despite a lack of size, plays strong with good hand usage. But he is even more effective when avoiding and slipping blocks to make plays … You will not see him blocked for long, as he is quick to redirect and is the type that will play until the whistle …

In 2004, Tatupu garnered numerous honors. He was an All-America first-team choice by Sports Illustrated, All-Pac-10 Conference first-team pick, and recipient of USC's co-Most Inspirational Player Award, Co-Lifter Award and Bob Chandler Award. He started every game in the middle and again led the team with 104 tackles (57 solos), including six sacks, 13½ stops for losses, two fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, three interceptions and eight pass deflections.

Tatupu was an all-state and all-league
In two years at Southern California, he started 25 games. Tatupu finished his Trojans career with 202 tackles (111 solos), nine sacks for minus-53 yards, 25 stops for losses of 84 yards, seven interceptions for 164 yards in returns and a touchdown, three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and 18 pass deflections. For his collegiate career, he posted 269 tackles, 12½ sacks, 38 stops behind the line of scrimmage, 10 interceptions, 20 pass deflections, three fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles.

12 comments:

  1. hmmm, mel kiper says on espn that he should have been a 4th or 5th round pick

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  2. You may be right SHO but once again this is a HUGE reach! Two terrible picks, so far we have BY FAR the worst draft day in the entire stinkin' NFL!!! BY FAR!!!
    Worst draft day I can ever remember for us, the very worst!
    I can't believe we traded up for this guy. What the HE11 is going on here???

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  3. My family has a running gag about Lofa's dad Mosi. We used to all play this old Sega football game and one of my younger brothers would always use the Patriots. I can't remember who their starting RB was but I will never forget Mosi, because the starter would always go down with an injury and my brother would be forced to use Mosi. He averaged about 3 yds. per carry and my brother thought it was a gas to pound the ball with him. He'd yell MOSI TATUPU, after Mosi would pick up three yards, he thought it was funny. We all still kid him about it.

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  4. Spencer is a reach, but reasonable pick considering Tolbeck's age and tenure. However we need to do drug testing of the draft room on the Tatupu pick. You must be kidding me!!! Woth all the talent still on the board defensively, to take an undersized, slow MLB with heart is very sad. I can only hope they do better and sober up in round three!

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  5. 2 chances to get Roth...and they failed...2 chances for Blackstock...and they failed

    WE NEED PASS RUSH

    I like Spencer, and the pick is somewhat justified since he wasnt gonna be around in Round 2 anyways...but this guy...he may be competitive and fiery...but hes a REACH

    we could of gotten him in the 3rd...hell, Blackstock has dropped to the 3rd...we need PASS RUSH NOW

    we're so close to a Super Bowl calibur team, but without pass rush its gonna be hard stopping offenses ike Arizona and St. Louis...

    it makes no sense drafting this guy when we could get him in the 3rd, and have a pass rusher like Blackstock or Roth right now...

    what the fuck is going on!??!!?

    he better turn into Michael Boulware's twin brother

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  6. That's a strong statement about Kiper...a more suitable observation is that "in the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king!"

    In other words, when you're the FIRST or the ONLY guy doing what it is that you do, you're the expert by default.

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  7. good point Alba...

    im calmer now that the Sonics won...DESPITE THE REFS...horrible game...i hope we dont go through this throughout the playoffs...

    im sure Tatupu is good...but i wouldnt of passed up Roth...

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  8. Sounds like we got another Rudy, or Kaz. Quick guy who can't tackle. Whoopee

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  9. Great video clip. YOu can tell this kid is sharp and has his head screwed on right. The more I'm reading and hearing about our picks, the more I like them.

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  10. Tatupu...
    Saw him personaly make Auburn (of the four 1st round draft choices) his personal bitch 2 years ago. He may not have combine numbers but he is a player. Nose for the ball, a sure tackler, and has proven that he can play at the highest level.
    f**k Kiper, the hawks done good on this one

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  11. You know, I agree anonymous. Now that I have cooled down over the trading away two fourth round picks to get him, I have been reading up on him. He will be a real PLAYER! I really like this guy alot. Non stop motor, a nose for the ball, a HUGE heart, and an unstoppable will to succeed. This guy willed himself into USC and into the NFL, it's no wonder Ruskell wanted him so badly.

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  12. Tatupu is a great linebacker. big things come in small packages. You can measure height, time speed, weigh weight, but you can't see tatupu's desire to be great. He will be great because of his heart and desire. Tatupu has that fire. 

    Posted by Anonymous

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