The good news about this draft

[AgentDib]

It's fun to compare your projections with what the Seahawks actually did. It's stupid to get upset about it when they don't match, unless you honestly think you are more knowledgeable about the prospects then the professional scouts who get paid for their opinions instead of posting them on the internet for free.

 

[HawkGA]

Idiots and blowhards assign grades immediately after a draft.

Mayock had McDowell and Pocic in his top five by position. I don't think anybody knows where the Seahawks will play Pocic.

I'm not sure being the 5th best center is a ringing endorsement.

 

[Hyak]

Idiots and blowhards assign grades immediately after a draft.

Mayock had McDowell and Pocic in his top five by position. I don't think anybody knows where the Seahawks will play Pocic.

I'm not sure being the 5th best center is a ringing endorsement.

That was a ranking of interior OL - C and G together FWIW

 

[MontanaHawk05]

So why are we on a forum discussing the draft?

Should we all just line up and clap our hands no matter what is picked? Isn't the purpose of this place to discuss our thoughts - positive and negatives - and then see the outcome. And no matter what we come back next year and the year after that and do it all again....

There's a difference between discussing and dismissing. Saying the draft was "garbage" shows ignorance of the Hawk FO's board and priorities. It's great to discuss, but some posts are so negative, it's hard to have a discussion when everything has been dismissed from the start. Defending any pick seen as "garbage" is now an uphill battle. It quickly takes the joy out of the discussion.

But that's some people's M.O., it appears.

I'm curious how you view the draft? With the caveat that nothing is set.

 

[sdog1981]

I have seen a lot of talking head love of this draft.

 

[Ad Hawk]

I'm curious how you view the draft? With the caveat that nothing is set.

Of course with that caveat...

The off-season moves for the O-line didn't seem to answer the needs enough, so like many people here, I was hoping to see an early and high pick there. But once McDowell was selected, and I read some commentary on him, it made perfect sense. This team is built around a stifling Defense. That costs, and our resources go there, but the line needed more. McDowell has sooooo much potential... if he comes even close to reaching it, he'll be an all-pro.

We will always have an offense that is opportunistic with explosive plays interspersed between tough running. But our O-line will probably always be average, at best, in pass-protection. The Pocic selection fulfills the typical "versatile" lineman Cable craves, but may give less than I wished for. Our recent track record with linemen isn't good, but if Ifedi and Glow have improved (and have continued to do so in this offseason) and Pocic and Joeckel can add toughness to the line, I'll be thrilled if we hit low-average this year and cut 1/4-1/3 of the sacks off RW's total hits. It also cannot hurt to have another qualified center when the ZBS seems to create opportunities for rolled ankles and other lower-extremity injuries.

Will Griffen and the other DBs give the LOB a shot in the arm? I hope so. But considering how much better our D-line could be, it may be hard to differentiate between which has truly improved--the line or the secondary. All the selections are hard-hitters and fairly sure tacklers. I love the physicality of the whole draft.

Overall, I'm hopeful, but there are always the unknowns. Injuries always take their toll, some players don't live up to hopes, and some will excel from UDFA. And those stories are always great, too.

I wish I had more expert analysis to give, but I'm not a draft-expert at all. In fact, I know little about the college players. I prefer to play the patience game. Mostly, I just love the Hawks, and while I always want to see them win, I enjoy even more seeing them play and improve and reach their own personal ceiling. Having played in many sports through the years, it's not about what the other guys are doing or not doing, it's about what I can do and contribute.

Winning is everything to some people here. I'm old enough that it's seriously overrated in my personal life and for my expectations for teams I follow. Maybe that's why I don't get worked up over picks that don't match my expectations, or even losses on the stat sheet. I care more about players working through their own issues, and becoming all they can be.

Sorry for the philosophical rambling at the end. It's too late for me to still be typing.

 

[chris98251]

I'm curious how you view the draft? With the caveat that nothing is set.

Of course with that caveat...

The off-season moves for the O-line didn't seem to answer the needs enough, so like many people here, I was hoping to see an early and high pick there. But once McDowell was selected, and I read some commentary on him, it made perfect sense. This team is built around a stifling Defense. That costs, and our resources go there, but the line needed more. McDowell has sooooo much potential... if he comes even close to reaching it, he'll be an all-pro.

We will always have an offense that is opportunistic with explosive plays interspersed between tough running. But our O-line will probably always be average, at best, in pass-protection. The Pocic selection fulfills the typical "versatile" lineman Cable craves, but may give less than I wished for. Our recent track record with linemen isn't good, but if Ifedi and Glow have improved (and have continued to do so in this offseason) and Pocic and Joeckel can add toughness to the line, I'll be thrilled if we hit low-average this year and cut 1/4-1/3 of the sacks off RW's total hits. It also cannot hurt to have another qualified center when the ZBS seems to create opportunities for rolled ankles and other lower-extremity injuries.

Will Griffen and the other DBs give the LOB a shot in the arm? I hope so. But considering how much better our D-line could be, it may be hard to differentiate between which has truly improved--the line or the secondary. All the selections are hard-hitters and fairly sure tacklers. I love the physicality of the whole draft.

Overall, I'm hopeful, but there are always the unknowns. Injuries always take their toll, some players don't live up to hopes, and some will excel from UDFA. And those stories are always great, too.

I wish I had more expert analysis to give, but I'm not a draft-expert at all. In fact, I know little about the college players. I prefer to play the patience game. Mostly, I just love the Hawks, and while I always want to see them win, I enjoy even more seeing them play and improve and reach their own personal ceiling. Having played in many sports through the years, it's not about what the other guys are doing or not doing, it's about what I can do and contribute.

Winning is everything to some people here. I'm old enough that it's seriously overrated in my personal life and for my expectations for teams I follow. Maybe that's why I don't get worked up over picks that don't match my expectations, or even losses on the stat sheet. I care more about players working through their own issues, and becoming all they can be.

Sorry for the philosophical rambling at the end. It's too late for me to still be typing.

Well the D Line and Secondary are a hand shake, stop the run force the pass then pressure the QB to make mistakes, when you get pressure the secondary can play more man to man and jam and play down hill and the ball. With no pressure and time any NFL receiver can get open, that's is also a reason to play off and a zone, keep everything in front and play the yard markers hoping to tackle and strip on the catch. Big difference in the mind set then, you really are playing hoping for a mistake rather then making them make mistakes.

 

[johnnyfever]

At first I was with the negativity on Pocic, but after thinking about it, I'm now on board. Here's why:

Remember when Britt went down for that short stretch how unbelievably horrible an already bad OL got? I do, and having a guy who will eventually know are game to be able to plug in will be a necessity.

Secondly, he isn't just a center as has been talked about. He will most likely go in as a guard and play that as a primary starting position, but also be either our backup center or a cap saver when Britt wants big money.

I think it was a good pickup.

 

[Ad Hawk]

At first I was with the negativity on Pocic, but after thinking about it, I'm now on board. Here's why:

Remember when Britt went down for that short stretch how unbelievably horrible an already bad OL got? I do, and having a guy who will eventually know are game to be able to plug in will be a necessity.

Secondly, he isn't just a center as has been talked about. He will most likely go in as a guard and play that as a primary starting position, but also be either our backup center or a cap saver when Britt wants big money.

I think it was a good pickup.

I agree with this.

It just makes him sound like more of a back-up; I think most of those criticizing the pick wanted a high-tier starter beside Britt, or on the outsides, especially LT. But would Lamp or Robinson or anyone else for that matter have given us such upside in this draft? I can't see it.

I think the FO is willing to roll with Glow, Britt and Ifedi, and the addition of Joeckel. Hopefully Odhiambo and Pocic and also push the starters.

 

[Ozzy]

It actually seems like most pundits give us around a B for this draft and the well respected ones, who aren't the typical talking heads but are more serious scouts have us graded fairly well.

 

[WindCityHawk]

I'm surprised at how many people are clamoring for "need" when conventional wisdom states that "Best Player Available" is often the smarter approach.

No, we didn't get Lamp, but we got a monster for the interior D-line, and probably a new starting CB. That's all great news.

And even then, we still did get a new O-linemen!

I think some people have just convinced themselves that only a few select players would have made this draft worthwhile and everyone else sucked, despite the fact that this was almost unanimously lauded as one of the deepest drafts in years.

Cheer up, people! We reaped a bounty of good players. I'm excited to see them in August.

 

[MagnificentSeven]

If I got a chance to ask John Schneider one question, it would be this:

"Since nearly half the roster is composed of undrafted free agents, what does that say about your scouting department's ability to evaluate draftable talent?"

While history shows the draft is largely a number's game, meaning the more picks you have, the better chance you have of some of those players panning out, this team has chosen to play that game at the expense of draft positioning.

We've had one Pro Bowler from the last four draft classes, Tyler Lockett, and he went in as a Kick Return Specialist. Justin Britt was named an alternate this past year, but let's not kid ourselves, Britt was a offseason position-conversion experiment that miraculously panned out. He was a 5th round talent that Seattle reached for in the late 2nd. He failed miserably at Tackle, and failed miserably at Guard. His success doesn't reflect well on the Scouting department at all.

So some 40 draft picks over 4 years, and one kick return specialist as a Pro Bowler. That's what this front office has to show for constantly trading out of the 1st, passing up quality talent left and right, in order to add picks in rounds where the success rate is even less.

Now, I like Frank Clark, and think he is solid. Jared Reed is another solid pick. Tyler Locket, obviously. But I look at the rest of the roster, and I see few bright spots from the last four draft classes. And so, while I think we are still a contender this year, I really start worrying about the future of this franchise 2-4 years out as our success rate for drafting impact stars has been on par with teams like, oh, the Cleveland Browns.

 

[Hawkfan77]

Yeah lets judge before they even get to camp. I mean what team could compete with a majority of late round picks and UDFA players. I am sure this class will wash out and probably never even play a down in a regular season game. Thanks to all your vision I have no need to watch next season.

What grade would you give the first 3 rounds? Honestly, on paper the draft looks awful. Hopefully some of the players do pan out.

How does it look terrible? All you've done is complain but not give any examples on why the draft was such a disaster.

 

[mikeak]

So why are we on a forum discussing the draft?

Should we all just line up and clap our hands no matter what is picked? Isn't the purpose of this place to discuss our thoughts - positive and negatives - and then see the outcome. And no matter what we come back next year and the year after that and do it all again....

There's a difference between discussing and dismissing. Saying the draft was "garbage" shows ignorance of the Hawk FO's board and priorities. It's great to discuss, but some posts are so negative, it's hard to have a discussion when everything has been dismissed from the start. Defending any pick seen as "garbage" is now an uphill battle. It quickly takes the joy out of the discussion.

But that's some people's M.O., it appears.

I get that to much negativity can be a "downer" but the fact is that just a little bit can get jumped on here. On the flip side you can't be negative because this regime has won a superbowl and had good drafts in 2012. It is hard for some people to get a counter argument in because it keeps coming back to they won a superbowl over and over again

I wanted a pass rusher so I am really happy with our first pick and just hopes he pans out. I don't know anything about him compared to others so just hope they picked the right guy but like the position. I am still critical at the risk they took if that is really the guy they wanted but it worked out (we think) or it didn't because they wanted Taco / King and they just claim that this is the guy - we will never know.

I believe we lost our second superbowl when Avril went out. If we had better backups then we would have won that game. Our season last year was lost on lack of turnovers and causing pressure for the opponent so hopefully we now have this fixed. Everyone does focus on the O-line and I hope like the FO that the rookies from last year will be greatly improved this year. We will see. Still find it odd that they went with a Center

 

[nash72]

Yeah lets judge before they even get to camp. I mean what team could compete with a majority of late round picks and UDFA players. I am sure this class will wash out and probably never even play a down in a regular season game. Thanks to all your vision I have no need to watch next season.

What grade would you give the first 3 rounds? Honestly, on paper the draft looks awful. Hopefully some of the players do pan out.

How does it look terrible? All you've done is complain but not give any examples on why the draft was such a disaster.

Passed and didnt take a chance on any kind of left tackle for Russ. Passed on many superior DB's than the ones we got regardless if they claim they got who they wanted or not. Picked 5th or 6th round talent to early in Pocic (will never understand that pick). People on here thinking that McDowell is the next Cortez Kennedy or Warren Sapp is kind of over the top. The guy has a questionable work ethic and only had 1.5 sacks last season and he's going to be our messiah and fix our interior pass rush issues? Players should be able to get 1.5 sacks by accident.

Not saying some of these guys wont turn out to be decent, but I question the unconventional draft process that passes over the higher regarded players. The drafts in the past 4 years havent done much at all (Lockett did make the pro bowl for ST's I guess), but everybodys convinced JS is a genius when it was Scot McCloughan that did the heavy lifting. In my opinion Schneider has something to prove and this draft is questionable at best.

 

[Siouxhawk]

Regarded by who? Mel Kiper or Adam Schein? This is the problem. People complaining glam onto a mock draft that they like and when our FO deviates from it, they consider it outlandish and whine about it.

 

[Seahwkgal]

Passed on many superior DB's than the ones we got regardless if they claim they got who they wanted or not. Picked 5th or 6th round talent to early in Pocic (will never understand that pick). People on here thinking that McDowell is the next Cortez Kennedy or Warren Sapp is kind of over the top. The guy has a questionable work ethic and only had 1.5 sacks last season and he's going to be our messiah and fix our interior pass rush issues? Players should be able to get 1.5 sacks by accident.

Yeah, we all know right now how this draft is going to turn out. :roll: Oh wait, except you of course. I am in the 'wait and see' camp and hope for the best. Of course, I did have the luxury of watching all the Big10 picks play the last couple of seasons so I really am a bit biased where they are concerned. FWIW, McDowell was double and triple teamed all the time while playing with an ankle injury for most of the season. I am not going to be gloom and doom all the time until I see how theses kids turn out and even then, I understand that they will need time to learn the system.

 

[Siouxhawk]

And let me add that we had 12 Pro Bowlers who were either voted in or wound up getting the nod as an alternate last season. So to use that as a measuring stick as to what someone perceives as incompetence in our last 4 drafts is faulty logic. Our veterans are thriving right now and have locked down those positions. That's why we are perennial Super Bowl contenders and are enjoying the best era ever in Seahawks football. Yes, those veterans will eventually have to be replaced and a draft like we just had is a step in that direction. Guys like McDowell, Griffin and Thompson could very well be our Pro Bowlers 4 years down the road.

 

[Skansi82]

I understand some of the negativity/head scratching over many of the picks, but don't understand why people aren't pumped about Malik McDowell? Tons of talent with some great film. Knocks on him are mostly having to do with lack of effort. Two things: he won't play all 4 downs with the Hawks, and should be fresh; and when was the last time the Hawks drafted somebody that had issues with effort once they got here? I think he'll be the steal of the draft, and with Clark, Reed and Jefferson the future is bright for the DL.

 

[nash72]

Passed on many superior DB's than the ones we got regardless if they claim they got who they wanted or not. Picked 5th or 6th round talent to early in Pocic (will never understand that pick). People on here thinking that McDowell is the next Cortez Kennedy or Warren Sapp is kind of over the top. The guy has a questionable work ethic and only had 1.5 sacks last season and he's going to be our messiah and fix our interior pass rush issues? Players should be able to get 1.5 sacks by accident.

Yeah, we all know right now how this draft is going to turn out. :roll: Oh wait, except you of course. I am in the 'wait and see' camp and hope for the best. Of course, I did have the luxury of watching all the Big10 picks play the last couple of seasons so I really am a bit biased where they are concerned. FWIW, McDowell was double and triple teamed all the time while playing with an ankle injury for most of the season. I am not going to be gloom and doom all the time until I see how theses kids turn out and even then, I understand that they will need time to learn the system.

I'm not saying it as fact. I was asked about my opinion and I explained why I feel like I do. There are some aspects of the draft I like. I think Darboh is intriguing and i'm anxious to see him get some reps. Thought Carson was a steal and might surprise some people. Hoping McDowell is close to being as good as many have boasted. Other than that though,,,,,,,