Seahawks Draft Preview: Offense
With the 2008 NFL Draft mere days away, it’s time to start seriously thinking about how the ‘Hawks are going to approach it. Well I guess we’ve been doing that for months now, but it wasn’t in writing. At least not by me. ANYWAY. Here’s a look at how I think the offense will shake down.
Quarterback:
Despite looking and acting like the lovable man-child that he is, Matt Hasselbeck will be 33 before the start of the 2008 season. Time has flown by, hasn’t it? Still, Hass is clearly in his prime. For a QB who thrives on short, accurate passes rather than the deep ball, 33 is not that old. I’d expect Matt to have at least 2 or 3 more solid seasons before we start to see a modest decline.
That said, I don’t expect that Seahawks will select a QB in this draft, unless their scouts really fall in love with an under-the-radar guy who falls to them in the 5th round or later. Seneca Wallace is a capable backup, though speculation suggests he will see more time at WR this year. The oft-forgotten Charlie Frye should provide adequate insurance in the event that a slew of injuries hits Seattle signal callers.
Running back:
Running back is the position that could provide us with some very interesting outcomes. A variety of sources have suggested that Shaun Alexander will be cut as soon as his broken wrist is healed enough to pass a physical with another team, so, for the purposes of this preview, let’s assume that goes down. That would leave them with incumbent Mo Morris, and the 2 newbies T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones. Despite the number of backs on the roster right now, Tim Ruskell stated that he has not ruled out drafting another.
As it stands right now, I have to believe that the only RB Ruskell will draft is Jonathan Stewart (Oregon). He would be a perfect fit and he is a rare talent, and would provide the greatest long term benefit. Despite Stewart’s toe surgery, there is a very good chance he will be taken long before the Seahawks pick at 25. If that is the case, I don’t expect Ruskell to pick another back, unless he swings a draft day trade involving Morris. In that very plausible scenario, look for the ‘Hawks to look at guys like Chris Johnson (East Carolina), Ray Rice (Rutgers), and Matt Forte (Tulane) in the 2nd or 3rd round. I myself am a Forte fan, and I think he could be a great sleeper pick.
Fullback:
The Seahawks are definitely set here with Leonard Weaver and David Kirtman both expected to be on the active roster.
Wide receiver:
Wideout, like running back, is another position that could bring some surprises. With the loss of D.J. Hackett and the injury to Deion Branch (which could cost him half season or more), the Seahawks are left with very unproven options. Nate Burleson has shown flashes of brilliance, but has been largely inconsistent since putting up a 1000 yard season with the Vikings in 2004. Bobby Engram was a great story last year, overcoming a thyroid problem in 2006 to post career highs in receptions (94) and yards (1147). But at the age of 35, can he really be expected to repeat last year as the starting split end? The rest of the WR corps consists of unproven youngsters like Ben Obomanu, Logan Payne, Jordan Kent, and Courtney Taylor. While lauded by idealistic fans for their potential, they have yet to prove anything at the pro level.
If the Seahawks do select a WR, it will more than likely be in the first round. Limas Sweed (Texas) has been a popular pick amongst mock drafters, but there’s a strong chance he’ll be gone at 25. Devin Thomas (Michigan St.) has shot up draft boards recently, and he too will probably be gone. James Hardy (Indiana) has great size and potential, but he doesn’t seem to fit in the typical Ruskell mold. Whatever happens, don’t be surprised by the outcome.
Tight end:
Perhaps the greatest position of need on the roster, a receiving TE is vital to the West Coast Offense. With only Will Heller, Jeb Putzier, and Joe Newton on the roster, expect a TE to be taken in the first 2 rounds, with perhaps another being selected in a later round.
In my view, John Carlson (Notre Dame) is the best all around TE in this draft class. He has good size, decent speed, great hands, and is a serviceable blocker. His stock rose dramatically after his pro day. Still, it doesn’t appear that any TEs in this class are unquestioned first-rounders. Carlson might be seen as a reach at 25, but he definitely will be off the board by the time the Seahawks pick in the 2nd round. If the ‘Hawks trade down, maybe even out of the first round, Tight end would seem to be the most logical selection. Dustin Keller (Purdue) and Fred Davis (USC) are other highly rated options. Keller has great speed and athleticism, but is a poor blocker. Davis is well-rounded, but doesn’t really stand out in any one aspect of the game.
Offensive tackle:
With Big Walter Jones clearly having lost a step at age 34, OT could be a good value pick for the Seahawks in the early rounds. In the later rounds, another tackle or 2 could be taken for depth, of which there is very little. Of first round prospects, there is a lot of variation in grades. Branden Albert (Virginia) has seen his stock explode recently, and is now a consensus top-15 pick. The most likely of the group to fall to the Seahawks is Chris Williams (Vanderbilt), a tackle with good agility and technique. Since it is not an immediate need, I don’t think the Seahawks will select an OT unless a guy they love falls right into their laps.
Offensive guard:
I’m not going to say anything about Steve Hutchinson. Oh crap, I just did! The fact of the matter is that the offensive line has been an utter abomination since his untimely and un-classy departure. The signing of Mike Wahle should provide some stability at LG, but the right side is still sketchy. Rob Sims, inconsistent last year, is the most likely candidate to fill the spot, shifting over from the left. Chris Gray has managed to defy logic and remain with the team, and is still a possible starter. Chris Spencer has struggled at center, and may need to shift over in the long term. Mansfield Wrotto, a nasty road-grader, is believed to have a lot of potential, but he has yet to prove enough to be counted on. It is pretty clear that the Seahawks have a lot of depth, but perhaps not a lot of quality depth. Look for them to treat this like OT, and only select a guard in the first few rounds if a highly-rated player falls into their laps.
Center:
I’ll be honest here. I have absolutely no idea who the backup center is. Do they even have one? I believe Chris Gray can play there, but I’d rather not see that go down. There aren’t really any good center prospects in this draft, but don’t be surprised to see the Seahawks go for one in the middle rounds. Jeremy Zuttah (Rutgers) is a popular sleeper pick at the position. John Sullivan (Notre Dame) is not the best physical specimen, but he could very well fit into the Ruskell mold with his great character and high motor.
Check back in the next few days for the defensive analysis. The draft is upon us!
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