GUEST BLOGGER: Cameron Kammers

I asked a young man, Cameron Kammers, who plays offensive center for his varsity high school football team [Marysville  Pilchuck Tomahawks] to write some of his thoughts on the Seattle Seahawks off-season and preparation for the upcoming NFL draft.  I think he did a great job and I invite you to read his column and chime in below if you have any comments, thank you Brad Hobbs

 

SEAHAWKS: Good acquisitions in free agency… 

Who’s next in the draft?

From(L-R): Cliff Avril, Tony McDaniel, Michael Bennett, Percy Harvin

Guest Editorial: by Cameron Kammers

    Before the acquisition of standout WR Percy Harvin from a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, the Seattle Seahawks had the 25th overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft before trading it for Harvin. The Seahawks haven’t been known for striking big deals for big players like this in the past, but this year GM John Schneider and HC Pete Carroll had different motives and traded for and signed Harvin to a 6 Year, $67 million contract ($14.5 million guaranteed). It would be hard to say by most that trading for Harvin is not better than what we could get in the first round. Now Seattle has the 56th pick in the draft. Can Schneider and Carroll get what the team needs with a late pick this year? Well, sure they can. Standout rookie quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner were both drafted after the first round last year, (Wagner in the 2nd round 47th overall and Wilson the 3rd round 75th overall ).  What are Carroll and Schneider going to pull out of their sleeve this year?

The acquisitions of defensive lineman Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, and Tony McDaniel have made an already good defense, dangerous. Acquiring these three free agent defensive lineman will help the pass rush the Seahawks were lacking the second half of last season. With Chris Clemons and Red Bryant at 100% also, it will make the Hawks D-line a force to be reckoned with.

Before any free agent acquisitions this year the Seattle Seahawks lacked a deep threat receiver (√check), Pass rush on the defensive line (√check), and a nickel cornerback to play alongside the team’s dangerous secondary. Another position the Hawks could upgrade in is an offensive lineman on the right side. While right guard Paul McQuistan is mediocre and right tackle Breno Giacomini is a liability in pass protection. Are Carroll and Schneider looking for the next big lineman in the draft? Or are they going to keep the depth chart as is? Well, there is an under the radar lineman from Arkansas-Pine Bluff the Hawks can maybe get their hands on with the 56th pick in the draft. Meet 6’5, 306 lbs.  OT: Terron Armstead.  Armstead is a very athletic tackle that will leave offensive line coaches drooling. He ran a 4.71 40 yard dash and and repped 225 lbs on the bench press 31 times at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis . He also had a broad jump of 9'.04" and vertical jump of 34 1/2" . Armstead also shined in this year's East-West Shrine game and the Senior Bowl. The Seahawks would be lucky to get a hold of a versatile player such as him.

Now, who will the Hawks add to complement their already dangerous secondary? The nickel cornerback is beginning to be an essential position in the NFL nowadays with the dangerous slot receivers that play the game today. This position is what the Seahawks could upgrade in the draft.  Some experts and analysts think the Seahawks could take a chance on former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, “The Honey Badger.” Mathieu was a standout player and arguably one of the best players in college football in 2011, being a Heisman finalist. Mathieu didn’t play last season due to being kicked off of the squad at LSU for marijuana possession. I personally think “The Honey Badger” would not be a good pick for the Seahawks in the draft for a couple reasons. 1.) He has off the field problems. 2.) He is too small at 5’9, 175 lbs. I have another option at nickel corner I think that Carroll and Schneider will want badly. His name is Blidi Wreh-Wilson out of Connecticut. Wreh-Wilson would be the perfect match at corner for the Seahawks , being 6’2 and 195 lbs. He has the qualifications as a big and physical corner( like Sherman and Browner). Which the team has had success with, under Pete Carroll and staff. 

Only draft day will tell what the Seahawks will do with their second round pick in the 2013 draft. Maybe Carroll and Schneider have their eyes set on a certain someone they want to trade up for? They are known for making bold and strategic decisions on draft day. Who will be the next piece to this team who is Super Bowl XLVIII Bound?

Written by: Cameron Kammers