SB Nation Seattle: All Posts by Daniel Hill

NFL Supplemental Draft 2012: Josh Gordon Scouting Report

2012-07-12T05:23:48Z

In 2010, Josh Gordon was only a true sophomore, but he already had the body of an NFL wide receiver. In Baylor's spring game in April of that year, Josh burned one of the Bears' starting cornerbacks, hauled in a deep pass and left the defense behind him as he raced for the end zone. After the game, I was talking amongst some teammates and told them that in the fall we'll see plenty more of that from Josh Gordon.

Gordon is an absolute physical specimen. I knew just from watching him on the field in practice and during workouts that he was someone who undoubtedly possessed next-level talent. As only a true sophomore, he was built similarly to Terrell Owens. He has long arms with a wingspan of 82" inches. His hands are huge. At Baylor, the largest receiver gloves available were XXL. Gordon's hands were so big he never strapped up his gloves so he could have better hand and wrist mobility. His hands were very smooth and natural when catching the football and at his pro day workout on Tuesday this was evident -- he did not drop a pass.

Just the measurables alone, (6'3" and 224) make Gordon an intriguing NFL prospect. On top of the large physique, he also has speed. I know at his pro day he was clocked at a 4.52 forty-yard-dash but he also hurt his quad during that run. I know for a fact that at Baylor he timed in the low 4.4's and was on the verge of breaking into the high 4.3 range. Physically, he is a rare breed and this is what makes him such a tantalizing prospect for many NFL teams - former NFL scout Russ Lande wrote today that "based purely on film evaluation, Gordon is a better prospect than Brian Quick (St. Louis Rams) and Stephen Hill (New York Jets), both of whom were second-round picks in April."

Much has been made of Gordon's "character issues". In my opinion, and as a former teammate of Gordon's, I have to say that I think these character issues are overblown. Josh is a shy person and is very quiet. I will admit that I didn't get to know him very well when he was at Baylor, but he was always kind to me in any interaction I ever had with him. He was a good teammate and always worked hard at practice. He also showed a sincere willingness to want to get better at his craft. One thing I remember Josh struggling with was route-running because our receivers coach at the time, Dino Babers, wanted precise, perfect routes from Gordon. Also, In my opinion, I don't think he gave it everything he had in the weight room. Maybe my opinion of him in the weight room is unfair, but that's my two cents.

I can assure you that Gordon is not the type of person to get into trouble with the law, it's just not his personality. He's not violent or aggressive off of the field. Yes, he did struggle with marijuana at Baylor but it seems as if he has moved on from that and learned his lesson. Also, I'd just like to state that the coaching staff at Baylor wanted to give Gordon another chance, but the university demanded that he be released from the program. In the grand scheme of things, it's not a crazy revelation that a football player smoked some marijuana.

During the 2010 season, Gordon had 42 catches for 714 yards and 7 touchdowns. Against the 2011 TCU Rose Bowl winning team (which had a great defense), Gordon hauled in a 53-yard touchdown. Against Rice he had a 46-yard touchdown. His best game was against Kansas when he had 4 catches, 161 yards, and 2 touchdowns - including a 94-yard touchdown on a screen pass where he easily outran the entire secondary. Another notable game was when he had 7 catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas State.

Even though he only did it for one year, the production in 2010 as a true sophomore was excellent. A popular opinion among many people associated with Baylor football was that Josh Gordon had more talent and ability than 2012 first round draft pick Kendall Wright. Unfortunately for Baylor fans, they really only got to see one season of Gordon's talent. Imagine what Gordon might have been able to do with another year of catching passes from RG3? Gordon's sophomore production likely would have led to an even better 2011 season and his draft stock would have soared in Baylor's high-octane offense.

Because of the sky-high potential, Gordon adds some intrigue to the 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft, taking place today. At his pro day workout on Tuesday, several teams were represented, including the Seahawks.

NFL Best Case:

Gordon is someone who could eventually be a Pro Bowl player. I compare his game to Terrell Owens. He is deceptively fast and has the ability to hit the home run. He is also extremely talented with the ball in his hands and creating yards after the catch. He is tough to bring down and it usually requires multiple hits and defenders to tackle him. He uses his body well to block the defender and has the ability to get up and snag the ball at its highest point. Not in the immediate future, but eventually I think Gordon can be a #1 receiver. Had he stayed at Baylor, I think he would have been their #1 receiver this past year, even ahead of Kendall Wright. In today's NFL, I think he could develop to be a player similar to Brandon Marshall.

NFL Worst Case:

I can't see Gordon being a complete bust. I think he'll remain in the league for at least a while because of his physical ability and high potential. But even in a worst case scenario, I think the worst he could do is be a member of a team's 53 man roster and be a backup. I can't foresee his perceived "character issues" being a reason he would be out of the NFL. Maybe I'm naive, but I sincerely believe he is a good guy and his days of trouble are in the past.

What I Think Will Actually Happen:

I think Gordon will be a contributing receiver for any NFL team. I see him as being someone like Laurent Robinson. A guy who plays in the league for a few years and has up and down years as far as production goes. I think it's safe to predict he'll have highlight moments in the NFL but he also might have moments where you forget he's on the field.

Seahawks Outlook on Gordon:

With the Seahawks identity being a physical, run-first offense, I can't see the Hawks really going aggressively after Josh Gordon. I think the Seahawks will end up placing a very conservative 5th round bid for him, just in case he falls and maybe the Hawks can get lucky and land someone with his caliber of talent at a premium discount rate.

In the Seahawks offense, I think Gordon would be able to contribute on the outside. If the Hawks got Gordon, then I think big Mike Williams could immediately kiss his time as a Seahawk goodbye. Gordon would, in my opinion, quickly take Mike's spot opposite of Sidney Rice. He is far more athletic than Williams and has the edge in speed, elusiveness, hands, and of course, youth.

By now I should have learned my lesson to not even try to predict what the Pete Carroll regime will do. After all, nobody had the Hawks taking Bruce Irvin with the 15th overall pick. All the things that Irvin has, Gordon also has: speed, upside, potential and "character issues". I'd be shocked if the Hawks bid aggressively for Gordon, but then again maybe I should never be shocked at what Pete Carroll might do, after Seattle's last few drafts.

LeBron James: The Stratospheres of Stardom

2012-06-22T20:36:39Z

The Chosen One. That's what LeBron James has been called since his high school days. When he first came out of high school and was drafted by his home state Cleveland Cavaliers, I can still remember watching his debut game in the NBA at age 18. I was instantly captivated by his skill set and intriguing athleticism.

So many lofty expectations were thrown onto this 18-year-old basketball player, that it just seemed absurd that he could ever live up to the hype. But after tonight, it seems as if LeBron is only at the bottom rung of what he can accomplish in the future.

LeBron impacted every facet of Game 5. Not only did James have a triple-double with 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds, as he so often does, he utilized his size and penetrated into the paint to collapse the OKC defense. Once the defense drew in on him, he found the passing lane to give Miami's shooters open looks.

It seems like in every series, an unheralded role player can tip the scale in a team's favor. Besides the dominance of LeBron, it was the Heat's role players that really made the difference in the 2012 NBA Finals.

Shane Battier was the breakout role player in Game 2 with 17 points. Game 4 saw Mario Chalmers score an unpredictable 25 points. In the clinching Game 5, basketball fans witnessed a shooting clinic from Mike Miller who delivered 23 points on 7 of 8 shooting from behind the arc.

Ever since Michael Jordan stopped lacing them up, the basketball world has always been clamoring and searching for "The Next Michael Jordan". I'm not sure if there will ever be another Michael Jordan, maybe Kobe is currently closest to finding that Holy Grail, but LeBron leapt up to a certain higher stratosphere tonight.

It seemed as if every Heat bucket came as a direct result of LeBron's scoring, his passing, his effort, or the attention he commands from the defense.

LeBron James asserted himself and showed the composure and drive that is worthy of winning a champion. The Finals MVP displayed his effervescent abilities not only by scoring, but by dismantling the Thunder defense by moving the ball to open teammates. LeBron racked up the assists with the electric shooting of Miller.

LeBron has been portrayed in such an unfair light by the media and it seems like he has handled the spotlight admirably. Despite all the grilling he received for "The Decision" and the premature strobe-light celebration with the uniting of "The Big Three", LeBron has never fired back at the media or had an "I told you so" moment towards the public.

He just seems like a normal guy who thoroughly enjoys playing the game of basketball. I know the NBA season just ended, but I'm already looking forward to seeing more of LeBron James' bright future.

Mariners At A Pivotal Point In The Season

2012-06-12T15:59:13Z

After the Mariners incredibly unlikely no-hitter at Safeco Field on Friday night, many Seattle baseball enthusiasts optimistically hoped that the Mariners could build upon that momentum and spark a winning surge. Instead, the Mariners derailed and finished the weekend with a resounding thud.

The M's are at a pivotal point in the season. After 62 games, they have won 27 of them, and are on pace to win only 70 or 71 games this season. With the overwhelming youth of the team, they were not expected to win this season, but it just seems like the Mariners are only halfway committed to the process. They don't seem to be going anywhere new. There are many questions that need to be answered about this team.

How long will Blake Beavan hold the M's hostage with his spot in the rotation? - Especially when young guns Erasmo Ramirez and Danny Hultzen are showing that they are ready for the big leagues in Tacoma and Jackson.

With the return of Franklin Gutierrez on the horizon, what will happen to Michael Saunders and Mike Carp? Saunders has been on a hot streak lately and is hitting .272, so he undoubtedly deserves to stay as an every day player. Carp on the other hand, hitting .157, has a batting average even worse than Brendan Ryan (.159). Carp showed promise last season, but this season Carp has struggled mightily. I'm guessing that when Gutierrez is out of a Rainiers uniform, and back in a Mariners uniform, that Mike Carp will be heading to the bench, possibly even AAA eventually.

Does Brendan Ryan's spectacular defense actually offset his sputtering offensive effort? Ryan has been hailed as the best defensive shortstop in all of baseball, but hitting a meager .159 is a disappointing number and is increasingly more difficult to overlook given the M's struggles offensively as a whole.

Will Nintendo's corporate ownership, Hiroshi Yamauchi, ultimately re-sign Ichiro? If he is re-signed, then how can the M's possibly move forward and continue to develop with an aging right-fielder? The bottom line is that Ichiro blocks the development of the team. With him having full command of the right field at Safeco, how can the M's truly commit to developing players with Ichiro serving primarily as a road block for younger talent?

I don't know what kind of handcuffs ownership is placing on M's General Manager Jack Zduriencik, but I think it is safe to say that Ichiro is nearly untouchable.

The M's are approaching the pivotal moments of their season. Important decisions linger and the direction of the team needs to be concretely settled. If the Mariners are honestly in "rebuilding mode" then why aren't more young guys coming up to the show?

Stopgap players like Brendan Ryan, Miguel Olivo, and even the future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suziki simply have no place on this team anymore. These players were supposed to provide veteran leadership and instead they have done nothing but delay the inevitable- the actual development of young players.

For updates and perspective on the Seattle Mariners, head on over to Lookout Landing.

More Takeaways From the Win Forever Workshop

2012-06-11T14:38:41Z

Editor's note: Last Thursday night, Daniel was able to represent Field Gulls and SBN Seattle (along with Davis and Scott) at the Nike WinForever Workshop, which took place at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Here's what he took away from the experience.

After Pete Carroll was fired from the head coaching position of the New England Patriots, he knew he had to step back and look at his career from every possible angle. That's when Pete found his philosophy. The "Win Forever, Always Compete" mantra was born.

Pete created the college football dynasty of the 2000's at USC. I'll be honest, when he left USC and was hired by the Seahawks, my initial thoughts were filled with skepticism and doubt. Sure, Pete won at USC, but this is the NFL. Plenty of premier college coaches have flopped at the NFL level and I was expecting Pete to be another Nick Saban flop.

I'm not just being a homer here, but the more I've learned about Pete and the more I've had a chance to see the results of his philosophy and effort, the more I've bought into what Pete is selling. Not only have fans bought into what Pete preaches, but his players also seem to have a genuine belief in the philosophy and concepts that Pete is applying to the team.

Competition breeds success. But success can also be attained by the simple things. Confidence, trust, and focus are all parts of the Win Forever philosophy.

Another aspect of the WinForever campaign is the conscience reminder of the influence and impact of your words. During the WinForever seminar on Thursday night, Pete was adamant that the impact of words and the use of those words, can have a monumental impact on the results you hope to achieve and the accomplishments you will achieve. I was fortunate to have a chance to actually interview Pete and I asked him specifically how he deviates his words and the delivery of them in different moments.

"Well, hopefully through the process, the message is really consistent and the message encompasses all of the situations," he replied. "Meaning, that you know we are going to go out and play like we are capable of playing. If we go out and we win and we play like that, then the message is okay - that's exactly what we tried to get done. If we lose and play like we are capable of playing, then the message is we did everything we could, but they were better on this day. We can live with that. The message is really consistent.

"I may shock them that I'm not affected by the situation (a loss) like they would think. I may be, because I stay so tight to the message. That's where philosophy is so powerful. They think "okay, alright, he does believe what he's saying. He does believe what he's all about. He does continue to emphasize the things he emphasizes when it was easy in the meeting room and it's happening here in the locker room at half-time." So there is a staging all the way through the process of thoughts that encompass the situation no matter what they are.

"Hopefully, I've done a good job, then I just remind them - "This is how we act now. This is what we expect now." If you are responding to the moment and trying to figure it out, then you are going to screw it up. I've done that plenty of times."

What to take from this answer?

Consistency. The consistency of the message is what's important. If you believe and stand for certain principles and always maintain and uphold your philosophy, then the team will buy into the message.

Another thing I asked Pete about was confidence. How does he build a player that might be struggling or having a difficult time's confidence? How does he keep other players from becoming overconfident or too cocky?

"It's so important for us, to figure each guy out - to find out where they are, who they are, so we have a sense," said Carroll. "It's about learning who they are, figuring out who the players are so that we have a sense to gauge that.

"Take Donny (Lisowski), for instance (an undrafted free agent who earned a contract with Seattle). He may not be very confident (Pete was being hypothetical), but he plays like he is. He's a hell of a kid out there - and Doug Baldwin, he just screams confidence. He's got a chip on his shoulder, and that's huge, you know. He isn't backing down from anyone or anybody and so those guys you just gotta stay out of their way a little bit. Other guys you have to build up. You can just sense by their body language, the way they speak, the way they take their opportunities and stuff, they need to be bolstered you know. That's the guy you put your arms around and show them why you need to believe in yourself. It's just a process that comes from interchanging analysis to figure them out. Once you figure them out, hopefully you can scope the message to them that helps them."

Instilling confidence in a player is absolutely crucial. An athlete cannot perform at their maximum level without confidence in themselves. The belief of the coaching staff and teammates can also have a positive impact on performance. Take Richard Sherman, for example. He was so confident last year that he was talking trash to other players that were first round draft picks, the famous example being Cincinnati's A.J. Green. Pete believed in Sherman enough to put him in the starting lineup as a rookie, and Sherman excelled and rewarded Pete's trust.

A question Pete posed to the audience (many of which were current coaches) was, 'how have coaches had an effect on you?' 'Have you had coaches that have had a negative or positive impact on you?' Pete always tries to give off a positive presence and he tries to create a competitive, yet positive atmosphere where his players can compete to their utmost potential.

Pete clearly has established his own identity as a coach and he has found a permanent philosophy to always apply to the team. He has a consistent message and that message of "Win Forever. Always Compete" has had a positive impact on the entire Seattle Seahawks program.

- This article can also be found over at SBN Seattle, and make sure you go back and check out Davis Hsu's take on the Win Forever workshop as well.

The Pete Carroll Philosophy: Win Forever. Always Compete.

2012-06-11T14:27:28Z

Competition breeds success. But success can also be attained by the simple things. Confidence, trust, and focus are all parts of the Win Forever philosophy.

What to take from this answer?

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Mariners Continue Rebuild; Which Players Are Part of the Future?

2012-05-25T15:52:09Z

Anytime a professional baseball team is "rebuilding", a collective sigh of apathy rumbles from within a fan base. The Mariners rebuilding process might be moving slower than molasses, but at least they seem to be heading in the right direction, overall. Despite being a team of mostly young players, many of whom are struggling to adapt to the big leagues, several questions can still be asked. Which young Mariners will actually become franchise players and stick with the team? Conversely, which M's simply do not have the skill to succeed at the MLB level? These questions bring to mind two players for me, Justin Smoak and Dustin Ackley.

Simply put, Justin Smoak is a player that needs to produce soon, or he might be out of the big leagues before you know it. Meanwhile, despite his struggles this year, Dustin Ackley is a Mariners mainstay player and appears to be a future star.

As much as I want to root for Justin Smoak, I'm starting to believe he simply is not a big league player. He is 25-years-old and he is approaching 1,000 career at-bats (933). To put it delicately, Smoak is running out of time. Even though M's General Manager Jack Zduriencik insists that every player takes their own time to develop, Smoak is certainly up against the clock.

Smoak's swing is long and his hands are slow. He does flash glimpes when he uncorks on a fastball, but he also looks hopelessly fooled against off-speed pitches. Batting against curve balls, Smoak is hitting an atrocious .119 left-handed and .115 right-handed. Simply put, if you want to get Justin Smoak out, just give him a heavy dose of off-speed pitches. Being a career .224 hitter is unacceptable for someone who is supposed to be a franchise first basemen. At this point in his MLB career, Smoak has to produce results.

On to Ackley. Most Mariners fans, myself included, think that Dustin Ackley will be a mainstay in the lineup for years to come. Still, like many Mariners, Ackley has started slowly this season. He simply has not been the same hitter this year as he was in his rookie campaign, where he hit .273 for 90 games. Even though it is a smaller sample size, after 45 games in 2012, he is struggling at .247. Nonetheless, perhaps more than any other young Mariner, Ackley has shown keen awareness and talent in the batters box.

With his quick hands and surprising power for a second basemen, Ackley could become the type of player that develops into an all-star. He has been getting the job done defensively at second base and he has shown the ability to be a threat at the plate. While he is going through a slight sophomore slump, I'm betting Ackley will get it together for the remaining 75% of the season.

Ackley and Smoak are just two pieces of the M's woeful offensive output puzzle, and overall the team lacks discipline at the plate. Seattle's terrifyingly pedestrian at-bats can make ordinary, decent pitchers look like un-hittable legends- cue Philip Humber of the White Sox (who threw a perfect game against the M's). On Thursday night, the Mariners struck out 14 times to Angels pitcher Dan Haren- which was a career high in strikeouts for Haren. It's bigger than just these two young, possibly core players.

Now, obviously, I'm no professional hitting coach, but in my observance of the Mariners' season so far, I have a couple of theories on why these two young players could be struggling. Take them for what you will.

With Smoak, I'm not sure if he has a love-affair with the specific style of baseball bat that he uses, but he swings a long bat with a thin handle. Nearly all of the weight in Smoak's bat is concentrated at the top of the barrel. When a bat is top-heavy, this means it takes more time and power to throw the barrel forward and initiate the swing. Perhaps if Smoak experimented with a more evenly weighted bat, with a heavier, thicker handle, then he might discover a quicker swing that is not as painfully slow (think of the bat Albert Pujols or Adrain Beltre use).

My impression is that Ackley does seem to have one major fundamental, yet correctable flaw in his swing. When Ackley is in his stance, he stands with his feet close together in an open stance. Then as he starts his swing his feet spread drastically as he strides and his head drops down. This mid-swing change in eye level can significantly decrease the accuracy of a batters hand-eye coordination.

The drop in Ackley's eye level can cause him to consistently "top" the ball and hit grounders. It's not necessarily bad to be a ground ball hitter, but if Ackley widened his stance, which would cause his stride to shorten, and his head to stay at a constant level; then he might be able to make more consistent and square contact with the ball (to picture a batter swinging at the same eye-level throughout the entire swing picture Ken Griffey Jr.).

Ackley might just be going through a minor sophomore slump or maybe he is slightly burned out from starting the spring training and the regular season as a full-time bona fide big leaguer, but keeping a consistent eye-level throughout his swing could help Ackley find more success at the plate. Still, I think most fans here see a future star in Ackley, despite his recent struggles, and believe he'll be a staple for the team for years to come.

Yes, the Mariners are a young team with plenty of areas that need improvement, but despite the fact that both Dustin Ackley and Justin Smoak are struggling this year, they could be two players who might be heading separate directions.

O'Dea's Donny Lisowski Gets Shot At Seahawks' Roster

2012-05-18T14:36:17Z

It's always nice to see a local kid achieve their dream. That's exactly what happened when former O'Dea star, Donny Lisowski, was invited to Seahawks mini-camp last weekend. Lisowski impressed so much so that he signed a three-year contract with the Hawks.

Out of O'Dea, Lisowski went to Missoula to play football at the University of Montana. While there, Lisowski excelled on special teams. The Grizzlies defensive backfield was stocked with talent, including St. Louis Rams second-round pick, Trumaine Johnson.

It goes without saying, but Lisowski is an exceptional athlete. While at O'Dea, he was a standout performer in football, wrestling, and track. In football, he was named one of the state's top 100 recruits by the Seattle Times and participated in the Washington's East-West All-Star Game.

I happen to know Donny personally, and we have actually trained together at the gym a couple of times. I can say firsthand, that he has a tenacious work ethic. He spends countless hours working on footwork drills and trying to perfect his technique. All of his hard work certainly paid off when he wowed at his pro day by running a 4.38 second forty-yard dash. Along with other local athletes, he was invited to workout for the Seahawks on April 5 at the VMAC. Lisowski raised eyebrows at the workout and ended up earning an invite to the Seahawks rookie mini-camp.

Coach Carroll praised Lisowski's efforts at the mini-camp and noted that he is looking forward to seeing what else Lisowski can bring to the table. Considering that he has experience playing quarterback, defensive back, and special teams, Lisowski has versatility because he is fast and physical. He can bring a broad skill-set to the Seahawks.

His special teams play at Montana speaks for itself. Donny was a gunner on the punt team and was on the kickoff team. With his superb speed and instinct, he was typically the first person to get to the returner and he is an aggressive, sure-tackler.

I would not be shocked if Lisowski earned a spot on the roster solely for special teams contributions - the Seahawks have kept a few specialists solely for this reason over the last couple years, most notably Kennard Cox and Heath Farwell. The special teams unit is extremely important to this coaching staff so Lisowski has a shot at the 53, if only for that unit. Yes, he might be an underdog and he might be undersized, but he has speed and instincts. Just as important as any intangible, is the will to succeed and the hunger to be successful.

Sometimes the most important traits a player can bring to a team are hunger and desire. Donny has completely dedicated himself to football and he deserves the chance to be a Seahawk.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Seahawks Rookie Mini-Camp Gives the Staff a Chance To Evaluate Draft Class

2012-05-11T16:16:36Z

The Seahawks are known to shock in the NFL draft and they did not disappoint with their completely unforeseen selection of Bruce Irvin. While the Seahawks first rounds are wildly unpredictable, they have made a habit out of finding talented contributors in the later rounds and with undrafted free agents. With the Seahawks rookies starting mini camp Friday, who are some of the Seahawks newcomers that can contribute this season?

Bruce Irvin ought to be an immediate contributor. Being selected number 15 overall leads to the expectation that he will be a difference-maker from day one. He has immense pressure to perform, and if he does not deliver in his rookie season then many Seahawks fans will be reminded of the former first round disappointment, Aaron Curry. I think it's safe to say, that if Irvin does not have a double-digit sack season, many fans will regard him as a failure.

Bobby Wagner might not have similar pressure to perform like Irvin, but the second round linebacker from Utah State is expected to compete for the starting middle linebacker job. Wagner has superb speed and can do something that Seahawks linebackers have not been able to do in the past: cover receivers. With his quickness, he has shown the ability to remove opposing tight ends from the passing game and he can hold his own in zone coverage.

Third round pick and former Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson will be an unlikely candidate to receive playing time as a rookie. While he does have intriguing physical skills, Wilson will have an immense learning curve in the NFL and with the Seahawks already having an experienced Tarvaris Jackson and a young, unproven talent in Matt Flynn, Wilson most likely will do nothing more than hold a clipboard this season- barring serious injury to the other Seahawks QB's. Will they cut Tarvaris Jackson or third-string QB Josh Portis to keep Wilson around?

Along with Wagner, Robert Turbin is another Utah State product that is expected to see playing time in 2012. Turbin is projected to compliment Marshawn Lynch's powerful, physical running style and he should be a valuable addition to the Seahawks backfield.

A Seahawks selection that intrigues me is defensive tackle Jaye Howard from Florida. Maybe I'm biased to the fact that he is a defensive player from a SEC school, but Howard's physical intangibles illustrate his potential. He has the kind of size that would get Pete Carroll "jacked up" and he has quickness to provide versatility. I'm guessing the Seahawks would like to plug Howard in to relieve Red Bryant from time to time. He can play on the interior and he can also play just outside the tackle in the five-technique (where Red Bryant plays). Howard could turn out to be key addition to the Seahawks defensive line.

With their fifth-round pick the Hawks selected an athletic freak in outside linebacker Korey Toomer from Idaho. Toomer posted a 42-inch vertical jump at his pro day and blazed through a forty-yard dash in 4.53 seconds. He can help supplement the pass rush and he seems to be someone that can make a difference for the Hawks this season. His sheer athleticism alone should land him on some special teams. If he proves that he can be a smart player, Toomer should see time on defense this year.

With the Seahawks possessing one of the best secondaries in the NFL, it will be more than difficult for any rookie to see playing time at defensive back. In the fifth-round, the Hawks selected cornerback Jeremy Lane from Northwestern State. He is 5'11" so he fits the mold of Seattle's taller cornerbacks. Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman, Marcus Trufant and Walter Thurmond provide depth at cornerback and Lane might simply be a special teams addition.

Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman are both Seahawks defensive backs with long dreadlocks. In an effort to continue the hairstyle tradition, the Hawks selected physical safety Winston Guy from Kentucky. Guy is a prototype Pete Carroll safety. Although he does not have the monster frame of Kam Chancellor, he is still a 6'1", 218-pound physical presence at safety. Guy was selected in the sixth round and will mostly contribute as a special teams player this season, but he might develop into a reliable backup for Chancellor.

In the seventh round, the Seahawks selected two defensive ends with J.R. Sweezy (6'5", 298) from North Carolina State and Greg Scruggs (6'3", 285) from Louisville. Interestingly enough, Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach Tom Cable is actually going to convert Sweezy to offensive guard. Sweezy is just slightly undersized for a guard, but he has fantastic movement and quickness for an offensive linemen. Cable is hoping that Sweezy can adjust to playing on the other side of the line.

As far as potential goes, Greg Scruggs might have more potential than any other seventh round pick. He is a monstrous defensive end at 285 pounds and he can rush the passer. He has length and he is rangy. He could mature into a productive member of the defense. Even though he was a seventh round selection and there are flaws in his game, his physicality and intangibles make Scruggs a rookie to keep an eye on.

Last season, the Seahawks found gold in undrafted free agency by snagging receiver Doug Baldwin from Stanford. Baldwin ended up leading the Seahawks in receptions and yards. It's rare for an undrafted free agent to have such a standout rookie year, but there are a few Seahawks UFA's who have a chance.

Of the ten UFA's the Seahawks signed, I think two of them have a legitimate chance to contribute. The first of which, guard Rishaw Johnson, is a former Ole Miss player who had to leave Ole Miss for Cal (PA) because of off-the-field issues. He was thought to be mid-to-late round draft pick by many experts, but character issues caused him to go undrafted. The Seahawks have proven that they don't mind gambling on a player with baggage and maybe Johnson can pull it together to contribute for the Seahawks.

Wide receiver Levasier Tuinei (6'5", 213) from Oregon is a UFA that I think has endless potential. He utilizes his height by catching the ball at the highest point and he has top-end speed (4.53 forty-yard dash) to force mismatches and put pressure on the defense. While at Oregon, Tuinei exploded onto the scene as a senior while showing a knack for making the clutch catch and the big play. He can play in the slot or outside and he could present matchup challenges to any defense because of his rare combination of size and speed. The Seahawks did sign hometown Husky product Jermaine Kearse, but ultimately I think he lacks the size, speed, and consistency to be a NFL receiver.