Seahawks Draft

Now, every time one of the Sportsline authors posts one of these "draft needs" columns, it is followed by about 50 threads saying how they don't know what they're talking about, how trained monkeys could do better, how they should be fired if not immediately executed, etc.

But Judge did a good job with Seattle.  We fans differ on whether the primary need is still a guard due to the Wahle signing, but there is a general consensus that the needs are Guard, Wide Receiver, Defensive Tackle, and Tight End.  Take your pick which you'd rather see first, but I have to give Judge credit for recognizing the need areas.

Of course, maybe he's just been reading the Seahawk board?

In free agency the hawks made moves to improve some of there major weeknesses from last year.  The Wahle signing helps to improve the O-line.  The Jones signing gives us a slightly younger runningback who can at least help out for a couple seasons if the Hawks don't find a franchise back in the draft.  Duckett gives us a big power back to help out in short yardages situations where the Hawks were terrible last year.  Putzier is a slight help at the TE spot, at least he is an upgrade from Pollard last year.  You have to think the front office has a lot of faith in Bernard and Mebane as the starting DT's and Terrill is a very good pass rushing DT.  I think they are going to give Tubbs one more year to prove that he can play and stay healthy.  They lost some ground at the WR spot with the loss of Hackett in FA and the off season surgery for Branch. 

So these FA moves they have made do not completely solve there needs, but they do help and it gives them the opportunity to take the best RB, WR, DT, TE, or OL available with their early draft picks.

jesse, you definitely have me confused with someone else.  The only references I've ever made about wide receivers and tight ends is that I wouldn't spend a 1st round pick on a WR and there are no 1st round quality tight ends in this draft, but the Seahawks need to look for one.

Unlike you, I see receiver as a need area.  There are plenty of bodies available, but when Wrong Way Ben Obamanu is one them, you're really scraping the bottom of the barrell.  The next time that cat runs the right route on timing will be the first time.  The only two NFL quality receivers on the roster right now are Engram and the injured Branch.  You want ONE of those Taylor and Kent types, projects who may develop - you don't want your entire contingent built on them.

The Seahawks have upgraded all the way to average at guard with the signing of Wahle, who looks to be a one-year rent-a-player.  Maybe he'll stick around for line depth in 2009, but now is the time to draft a player to build the line around.  Its the same story at DT - average players who still don't stand in against the run well.  A run-stopper is needed or we'll continue to see games like the Green Bay playoff game despite the excellence of the linebackers.

Fair enough.  I just imagine that a guy who spent an entire year on the practice squad would know the difference between a 12 yard out and a skinny post pattern.  It seems like every time he's on the field there's a defender with his hands on the ball and Hasselbeck is seen explaining the game of football to him.   Once in awhile is completely understandable, but Obamanu played more Hasselbeck would have laryngitis from talking to him.

Maybe some people do neglect the 8th overall in receiving stat.  I don't, because it doesn't mean much.  1) I forgot to list Burleson and he had a nice year 2) the yards a product of the system 3) the team doesn't run well and passes frequently 4) Hasselbeck is willing to take the 5 yard dump to the uncovered guy instead of forcing the ball to the primary receiver who can't get open.

The University of Houston and University of Hawaii have had renowned passing attacks and piled up "receiving".  Rarely have any of their receivers been particularly good, which is why they don't make it at the next level.  When all you do is pass, your receivers are bound to get some yards.  Imagine what the offense could do with GOOD receivers.....

It'll be interesting to see how many years Wahle starts and how many of those five contract years he spends on the team.  At 31, I hope he's not in the middle of his career.  Not for his sake and not for the team's.  He's already had 8 years in the league and while he is a "solid, proven veteran" in your eyes, in mine he's another athlete who can still get the job done, but I consider him a guy starting his ninth O-line year and starting to slip.  He had a nice year in 2006 and is immensely likeable, but fans act (not you) like he's a savior for a crappy running game.  He works hard, but he doesn't have that kind of talent to make a significant change.

Ruskell has stated that the signing of the recent free agents has "freed them up" so to speak, as far as the draft. This will allow them to take the best player available for their needs at the time of their pick.

I don't really agree that we need a guard in the first round, however. I think that he is still hung up on the loss of Hutch and the "pundit thinking" sometimes does not go beyond that unless they have been doing their homework, which I don't think that Judge has done.

On his last "Mock draft" that I read, he had Seattle picking a QB in the first round, which shows how little he really knows about this time - one of the more ridiculous mocks I have read.

On the O-Line, I would think that they would go for a Tackle before guard, but still lead towards them getting a decent young running back in the first and a Tight End in the second. If not, then likely a Defensive Tackle in the first and Tight End in the second.

With the Wahle signing, that will cover our Left Guard and free up Simms to compete with Gray (should retire) Womack (injury prone) and Willis for the Right Guard spot. No, I think that Guard is ok for now, but Tackle is a possiblity