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One of the Seahawks stated goals was to upgrade on the defensive front, and the second round pick of Utah State's Bobby Wagner might be the best symbol of that. Wagner is an explosive, versatile linebacker that could very well be suiting up in a uniform far more often than you might expect.
The battle for playing time figures to be between Wagner and the seven year veteran Barrett Ruud. It will be an uphill battle for Ruud who missed seven games in 2011 battling various injuries to his shoulder, groin, and knee injuries. Carroll is said to like his veteran presence on the team, but it will be tough to keep him in if Wagner showcases what made him such a hard nosed competitor at Utah State. In fact, despite missing the combine due to illness, Wagner came out and had a pro day that virtually made everyone forget he was absent the first time around.
2012 NFL draft pro day updates - Tony Pauline - SI.com
Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner erased any skepticism that lingered after missing the combine due to pneumonia, turning in a terrific workout today. Wagner's testing numbers would've matched just about any linebacker who worked out in Indianapolis. He measured just over 6-feet tall and weighed 235 pounds. His early marks included a vertical jump of 39 ½ inches, 11 feet in the broad jump and 24 reps on the bench. Wagner's 40 times were as fast as 4.45 seconds, and he clocked 7.03 seconds in the three cone and 4.2 seconds in the short shuttle. During position drills, Wagner looked incredibly smooth and quick in all his movements. Most importantly, he showed well in coverage drills, as Wagner got depth on pass drops and made several nice plays down the field. He also displayed good hands catching the ball, which impressed scouts, many who branded him as a two-down, run defender. The versatility and completeness shown in his pro day workout will push Wagner into the top half of the second round.
Ruud's health figures to be the biggest question mark going into training camp. If it is an issue that is still ingering, then the job will be most likely be Wagner's to lose.
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