My story today focuses on the critics of the Seattle Seahawks draft class.
I had an opportunity to talk with Rob Rang, senior draft analyst for NFLDraftScout.com. Rang, who gave Seattle’s draft efforts a C grade, explained why some draft analysts have a lukewarm opinion of the Seahawks’ draft class.
Rang: “They selected players with very unique traits that are very intriguing,” Rang said. “But at the same time, they’re definitely raw. So they’re going to have to coach these guys up, and Pete’s good at that. They’re going to have to turn these guys into something that they haven’t demonstrated in the past.
“There’s some roll of the dice, so to speak. It’s just going to be interesting to see if these players can take advantage of it.”
ESPN’s Mike Sando offers his first impressions of the Seahawks’ draft. Sando: “Seattle used a league-high seven choices for defense. One of the three offensive players selected, seventh-round guard J.R. Sweezy, was a defensive lineman in college. Another offensive pick, quarterback Russell Wilson, projects as a backup for at least this season. Fourth-round running back Robert Turbin has a chance to help as the backup to Marshawn Lynch. But it's unrealistic to think this draft will provide immediate help where the Seahawks needed it the most, on offense. This team is banking on improved quarterback play, a healthy Sidney Riceand better luck with injuries on the offensive line." Len Pasquarelli of The Sports Xchange provides more evidence Seattle did not reach on defensive end Bruce Irvin according to league scouts evaluating where he would go in the draft. Pasquarelli: “In conversations over the past two days, The Sports Xchange has confirmed that several other franchises, including the one picking directly after Seattle, had the former West Virginia University standout rated as a solid first-round candidate and likely would have chosen the hybrid pass-rusher had he been available to them.”
Pasquarelli goes on to say a Jets’ official called the Seahawks’ war room minutes after they made the pick and good-naturedly cursed the Seahawks for taking their player.
Dan Pompei of the National Football Post echoes Pasquarelli’s sentiments, and adds the Irvin personally wrote a letter to all 32 teams not edited by his handlers outlining his mistakes, saying he had learned from them asking the NFL to give him a chance.
Art Thiel of SportspressNW.com details Bruce Irvin’s struggles at Mt. San Antonio Junior College, including sharing a one-room rental apartment with eight or nine good-natured Samoans on the football team that were gracious enough to take him in.
Steve Kelly of The New Tribune writes that perhaps the Seahawks have forgotten this is a passing league, selecting eight defensive players in this year’s draft. Seattle addressed most of the team’s needs offensively in free agency.
John McGrath of The News Tribune writes that NFL Teams will rue the day they passed on Washington running back Chris Polk.
Peter King of Sports Illustrated writes that one of the reasons Miami passed on Matt Flynn in free agency is the team believes that Ryan Tannehill is a franchise quarterback. King also talked to Seattle GM John Schneider, who had this to says about the team’s quarterback group: “We don’t exactly have our quarterback position set in stone for the long run.”
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