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| Curiosity is killing Seahawks fans with just eight days before the 2013 NFL Draft |
Seattle Seahawks Prepare For Draft
Seattle Seahawks have big questions to answer as the NFL draft approaches, now just nine days away.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider has made an indelible mark on the Seattle franchise taking just three years to turn a disintegrating roster back into a team poised to battle for another division title and now great expectations to do much more.
Since head coach Pete Carroll and John Schneider took the helm in 2010, guiding the Seahawks franchise back to the glory years of yesteryear, they have made over 300 player transactions removing the overpaid, aging veterans and replacing them with fast, athletic, physical, and above all, versatile players. One of the main focuses that coach Carroll brought with him to Seattle was a clear, specific ideology of how to assemble and develop a collection of men with a common goal of winning and being willing to do the big and small things that losing football teams aren't. His plan was not simply stocking the roster with the best athletes available. Instead, his aim was to find special athletes with unique skill sets that he could work with and to develop, building a team of athletes that fit into his brand of the game. More importantly; coach Carroll and like-minded GM Schneider, have dedicated themselves to seek out young men who can fully buy into a philosophy of always competing and a way of thinking positively and following a specific plan of action that will always lead to success in not only the game of football, but in life.
One of the players that literally caused Carroll and Schneider's philosophy to swerve, was the opportunity to sign one of the most game changing, dynamic and versatile players in football today. Percy Harvin became an unrestricted free-agent this year, and the Seahawks made sure that it wasn't for long. John Schneider cut his teeth under the mentorship of long time Packers general manager Ted Thompson. Thompson believed that you build a championship football team, not by signing several high-priced, high profile superstars, but by targeting special players in the college draft that fit within a narrow scope of desired characteristics and abilities that's fit a certain construct for your football team. Thompson wanted to compile, through the draft, a team built with young, dynamic players that, (with a high level of certainty), will become special in some way and (like Schneider) not necessarily measurable talent of the more objective, tangible tests like; 40 yard time, vertical jump, broad jump, shuttle time and benchpress. For Carroll and Schneider, Percy Harvin was that exception to the rule. That exception cost the Seahawks this year's 1st and 7th round picks and their 2014 3rd roundpick. In addition to the draft selections, training for and signing Harvin will cost Paul Allen $67 million over six years. There are certain incentives in the totality of that contract, but the way that Harvin plays it wouldn't be surprising if he didn't earn every penny of it. The Seahawks only guaranteed $32 million of the contract, but that is still a huge chunk of money and a lot affecting Seattle's salary-cap limit. The point I'm trying to illustrate, is that with a coach and general manager that don't believe in spending your way to a championship, they must have believed that Percy Harvin is one special, dynamic and versatile football player that could very well catapult Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense to a lethal level higher than the Seahawks have ever achieved before. Yesterday, the website "Bleacher Report" created a list of the top rated wide receivers in the NFL for 2013. The only wide receiver right higher than Percy Harvin was the $140 million man, Calvin Johnson, widely believed to be the best pure athlete in the game. Number two on that list is the Seattle Seahawks newest receiver, 26-year-old Percy Harvin. If you only go by this very unscientific list of talented, dangerous, dominant, game changing wide receivers in the NFL, Harvin isn't overpaid.
The Seahawks front office duo weren't through surprising the football world with bold moves in acquiring free-agent talent. Just a few days after shocking most everyone with the Harvin trade, the Seahawks made another aggressive move in signing the highest rated defensive free-agent available, pass rushing defensive end Cliff Avril. Then, one day later Michael Bennett, another pass rushing defensive end, highly regarded for defensive teams looking for a strong D lineman was snatched up by the Seahawks. But, the free-agent stingy Seahawks still weren't through. A few days later another free-agent defensive end, Tony McDaniel, was signed to a contract with the Hawks. At this point, it was expected that Seattle would sit and quietly wait for the college draft, just two weeks away. NOT! Schneider and Carroll decided to make it a "Fab 5" by going after and out negotiating the Patriots, 49ers, Redskins, Lions and even the Minnesota Vikings for the services of, Antoine Winfield, the best slot corner in the game today. Winfield played the last nine seasons in Minnesota, who badly wanted him back, but were forced to release him due to his $7.25 million salary he was expected to make in the final year of his contract. The Vikings offered him more guaranteed money than the Seahawks or any of the teams trying to sign Winfield, but he chose Seattle, moving himself and his family to the Pacific Northwest and the chance to play with the most complete football team in the NFL and an opportunity to challenge for an NFL championship.
I could go on and on, tossing up all sorts of statistical prowess for each of the new Seahawks acquisitions, but trust me… The Seahawks have made some of the best moves for a football team that I have seen in a very long time. Not only have PC & JS negotiated to bring some of the best players in the NFL to come to Seattle, they've done it in a manner that won't hamstring the franchise for years to come like you see from so many other teams that go after a prize regardless of the cost or how the future will be affected. Percy Harvin notwithstanding, Seattle's signings have been done in a very economical manner, inking Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Tony McDaniel and Antoine Winfield to short, very team friendly contract. This is a football team that recognizes its nucleus of talent and has planned in earnest to avoid as much lost a free agency as is humanly possible in today's game where money is kingpin and team loyalty is a vanishing phenomenon. Even the Percy Harvin signing was a controlled risk. The Seahawks have seen the effects of Harvin being overused and under protected and they plan to eliminate those scenarios that caused him to sacrifice his body in the name of gaining every inch possible. Some of the instincts of Harvin may be impossible to train out of him, but it is possible to utilize him in a manner that gives him more open field to run and less risk of putting him in the countless unprotected receiving lanes that he was subject to so many times while in Minnesota. Harvin hasn't been seriously injured before, just sustaining a high ankle sprain last year while he was in Seattle traveling with his team then, the Vikings. He has also had a history of debilitating migraine headaches, keeping him off the field for nonfootball related reasons. Harvin has reportedly been treated by a physician for his migraines and has gone two seasons without suffering any of these chronic and acute headaches. There have been scattered reports also that Harvin was a malcontent in Minnesota, having sideline arguments with other players and Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier. He is a fierce competitor and was unhappy with, not only the play of quarterback Christian Ponder, but also the erratic and unstructured play calling of Minnesota's offensive coordinator, Bill Musgrave and head coach, Frazier. The complicated dynamics that were present in Minnesota, while Harvin was there, just aren't a problem in Seattle with the Seahawks. I would be much more concerned if he were going to a team with an inexperienced and ineffective quarterbacks with poor leadership skills and the complication of a combined separation of philosophy between head coach and offensive coordinator However, Harvin playing for Pete Carroll who has a history of simply removing players that don't fit his philosophy of football and with an up-and-coming quarterback like Russell Wilson who is a tireless worker, a meticulously prepared and fiercely competitive quarterback who is never outdone by anyone on the field or in the film room, I don't worry about Harvin's competitiveness outdoing anyone on this football team. Minnesota is a team without an identity right now. They have a fantastic running back in Adrian Peterson, but he is more of a player who leads by example, not one to take a player aside and bring him back into the team fold with one common goal of winning football games. One of many leaders on the Seahawks team is capable of straightening out Percy Harvin if the need was ever presented. Max Unger, John Moffitt, Michael Robinson, Bobby Wagner, KJ Wright or any of Seattle's for defensive backs are completely confident and carry the weight of an impact leader that can put any player in his place immediately on or off the football field. Seattle has a clear and definite leadership nucleus and Russell Wilson is at the head of the class, naturally. Seattle presents an accomplished head coach who carries an air of authority and a clear philosophy. They have a clear leader and performer at quarterback and a team with a clear identity and common goal of excellence and the expectation of success against every team in the NFL, home or away. Seattle also has three familiar characters for Harvin, Sydney Rice, Antoine Winfield and Darrell Bevell, the offense of coordinator in Minnesota when Harvin was still with the Vikings. Bevell understands Harvin and knows how to use his tremendous ability and versatility to create mismatches with every single team that Seattle will face this season. This gives you a sense of security for the draft picks lost and the $67 million potentially spent bringing Harvin to Seattle. On any other team, I think I would feel more nervous about bringing a player who has had issues with his former team.
So, where do the Seahawks go from here and what are their needs in terms of personnel to fill any potential weaknesses or lack of depth in their lineup? This is the burning question that coach Carroll and GM Schneider will be evaluating as the college football draft approaches on April 25. Again, Seattle won't have their natural draft selection in the first round (25th overall), so they will turn their focus to their second round pick (56th overall). The Seahawks aren't completely without need. Like every other team in the NFL, the Seahawks would like to improve in some areas and replaced players they have lost through free agency or players that just weren't able to get the job done for one reason or another. The first thing for PC and JS would be to evaluate every position on the team and determine whether or not it is prudent to fortify starting positions with existing roster players, or if they need to address each situation aggressively through the draft or with veteran free-agents after the draft has concluded.
Linebacker is the position that stands out most as the position Seattle needs to address before the regular-season begins. Leroy Hill is probably not going to be offered a contract after so many off the field problems and the fact that he is now 30 years old and has very little tread left on his tires, so to speak. KJ Wright has engraved his name on the left outside linebacker (Sam), while the inside linebacker (Mike) is in good hands with Bobby Wagner having such a sensational rookie year at that position. That leaves the (Will) or left weak side linebacking spot open for competition. Down the stretch and in the playoffs, Malcolm Smith gained more playing time on the field and did an admirable job against the run, but his coverage skills needed to be improved. Mike Morgan also had increased backup play, but proved to be more of a backup and special teams player. So, it seems that Ken Norton Jr., the Seahawks linebacking coach, would like another bookend linebacker the quality of Wright and Wagner to finish the set. There are many good outside linebackers in this year's draft and I think that is where the Seattle Seahawks will choose first when the 56th pick comes along. The Seahawks have 10 selections in the draft, but very few places on the roster where a rookie could fit in to the 53 man group at the end of training camp. Therefore, I think it's highly probable that the Seahawks will make an attempt to trade up in the draft and get a player may feel that could help them get over the hump this year, if they haven't already. Jumping back into the first round is costly, but I could see Schneider pulling off some tricks to get closer to the front of the second round. There are a few linebackers I believe Seattle has in their crosshairs and most of them are expected to be picked in the early second round. Players like; Arthur Brown from Kansas State, Khaseem Greene from Rutgers, Cornelius Washington from Georgia and Jamie Collins from Southern Mississippi. It is possible that Seattle could still pick in all offensive lineman if the right players there or more likely, a speedy wide receiver who can play flanker and a receiver outside the numbers. Seattle lacks a real legitimate downfield threat that can take the top off the defense, creating open lanes in the intermediate portion of the field where Percy Harvin, Golden Tate, Sidney Rice and Doug Baldwin and tight end Zach Miller excel the most. The Seahawks are likely to draft (not necessarily in this order) linebacker×2, defensive end×2, wide receiver×2, offensive tackle, cornerback, safety and quarterback.
In my experience, I've learned that it is futile to try to figure out what John Schneider and Pete Carroll are going to do with their draft selections. As I mentioned earlier, they warned the press and fans that they would likely not be very aggressive in the free-agent market this year, only to have them outdo everyone in the NFL in terms of success, and only second in numbers to the Miami Dolphins. One thing I think is safe to say, Seattle got better after their acquisitions of; Percy Harvin, Cliff Avril, Antoine Winfield, Michael Bennett, Tony McDaniel and a couple of other players picked up along the way, WR Brett Swain, DB Will Blackmon and former basketball player signed to play tight end, Dan Fells. The Seahawks roster was already considered a Super Bowl contender before bringing a single free-agent to the roster. John Schneider made some great additions and he did it in a manner that doesn't drown the franchise in huge contracts for years to come.
Seattle has a lot to do on the field, and most of us already know that, now it's time for them to go through a long training camp and season, then we can start thinking about what will happen in postseason. Right now, the Seahawks goal is to win the NFC West and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. One of those things is required for Super Bowl and the latter? Well, that just makes things a lot more homey for our Seattle Seahawks to take us all to the next level. The 49ers look like a very good team again this year, and I wish the media would already attempt to put Seattle in the Super Bowl before the ever get a chance to finish the regular season. Everyone remembers the so-called "Dream Team" in Philadelphia. After Vince Young declared them the greatest, they proceeded to go 8-8 with no trip to the playoffs at all. I don't want to see that happen to the Seattle Seahawks, but something tells me that the leaders on this football team and coaching staff will avoid those pitfalls. Vince Young didn't know it at the time, I imagine, but he sent out a warning to every team in the NFL that you don't count your chickens before they've hatched.
I don't do predictions for the Seahawks winning or losing, or exactly who they will pick in the draft or whether or not they will win the Super Bowl. I will however give one prediction…
Pete Carroll and John Schneider are somewhere in the world rubbing a crystal ball, shaking a magic eight ball, laying down taro cards and laying hands on the Ouija board. How else could they be this accurate picking players in the draft after the first round? This is all too sophisticated for a rabbits foot or crossing fingers, besides… Everyone knows those things don't work, right?
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