The 12th man - "Roll of the Dice—2012 Draft Review"

[SeahawkSal]

This is unequivocally the most thought-out, comprehensive & well written draft review article you will ever read.

If you did not watch one second of the draft, just read this and you will become an instant-expert.

A big shout-out to Will for taking the time to write this for us. I know I am biased here, but I have no idea how he is not doing this sort of thing for a living.

This week's 12th Man: http://seahawksal.com/cms/index.php?itemid=329

New Trivia Quiz, last week's answer, news & much more: http://seahawksal.com

[bigbaldpapahawk]

Great detail in that article. Thanks Will.

[deserthawk]

Nice write up.

Remember - Kiper gave the 'hawks a D+ for the 2011 draft.

[soulfishhawk]

Fuck Kiper or any other "expert", they don't know shit

[Taowulf]

• Maybe it’s petty… okay, there’s no maybe about it, it is petty, but it was fun to hear the news that the Rams had released Josh Brown after drafting his replacement. Congratulations, Josh, you are no longer a “slave to the businessman.”

[seahawkjohnny]

I have always felt if Kiper or any of the other draft "experts" were any good they would be working in the NFL and not in the media

[TRTolar]

Draft Grade:....INCOMPLETE!!!!..........
That's about dead on Will.....can't pass judgement on something that isn't complete yet!!!.........

TR

[Bergdiggler]

Shadow,

I almost started a new thread but you NAILED the draft so well it needs to be under your 12th Man. Months, if not years of comparisons will result from our "passes" this year. In truth, without the undrafted gems Carrol and Schneider have plugged in their drafts have been a "C" to date, something I was not really aware of until I did the three year breakdown.

Okung is awesome, as long as he plays, and really the only early draft pick that has been an "A" is Thomas. The book is still out on last year, and as mentioned in the 12th man, to grade a current draft is...well... guessing.

Mike Williams, Doug Baldwin, Kam Chancellor, KJ Wright, Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman, these are the guys that give us hope with this regime on getting the guys we need. Trades for Clemons and Lynch (and the results) get us pumped.

QB has been the only obvious miss (TJack, Whitehurst, letting Hass go prematurely) but they sure as hell went out and attempted to get that in ComPETE mode this year. I am excited to see Flynn and also if we can debunk the idea that a sub 6'0 QB has no business in the NFL.

In 3 drafts and 2 years one thing is for sure, these aren't your parents Seahawks. These Seahawks will punch you in the mouth on both sides of the ball and if you have the stones to hit back, they have a counter cocked and ready. We have two 7-9 seasons under the belt but we're a QB and a few bounces away from that 12 or 13 win season. You're not a Hawks fan if you're not excited this year.

Random Thoughts Style Reasons to get pumped:

~ In 2005, we needed random rookies Tatupu and HIll to have stellar rookie seasons to ge to the super bowl, after going 13-3 in regular season behind a very skilled offense. In 2012, we need Flynn and Wagner to have stellar first years with the Hawks to have similar success.

~ The best Offense, is a good defense, and vice versa. The gameplan is simple, and against the trend. As the NFL goes pass happy, the Seahawks are going Baltimore and Pittsburgh style - We're going to beat up your offense, take the ball away, and then keep them on the sideline while we beat up your defense. Gone are the days of winning 45 - 28, but guess what? The Steelers and Ravens are constantly playoff teams. (SF and Seattle the next "tough guys"?)

~ Our coaches can TEACH. Our best offensive line games came at the end of the season, when all of our starters were hurt! Lynch began running rampant, behinf GIacomini and McQuistan (who? who are back!) If Cable can continue or even maintain this trend, we can run the ball. Add a QB who CAN throw if need be, and play-action's and throwing against 8 in the box add to the mix, Suddenly, we have an offense, that appears to be overnighted.

~ Our 7 million dollar CB is hopng to make the team. Trufant was cut once, and only due to a slow recovery from Thurmond (and little league interest) is he returning to be our slot, nickel, 5th CB? Who cares, if Trufant is on your team and is NOT needed, that's the definition of depth.

Ok, I'm buzzed, so i hope some of this makes sense, have a wonderful evening, GO HAWKS!

Berg

[AlbuquerqueSeahawque]

Great write-up. When looking at the "experts" who nearly unanimously panned our first-round selection, I am reminded that the vast majority of these same experts were congratulating us on selecting Aaron Curry in 2009, saying he was a sure-fire ten-year starter with unlimited potential.

Irvin is the anti-Curry: No one is saying he's a sure thing. Whereas Curry could (allegedly) do everything but rush the passer (which, we were assured, was simply because the coaches at Wake Forest didn't have him do that very often...a player of his talent would have no problems at all learning how to do that), Irvin is alleged to do nothing well except rush the passer.

Having watched last year's team, the one thing we were missing on defense was an edge rusher to complement Clemons. Brock did well in 2010 with nine sacks, but three sacks from a pass-rush specialist isn't going to cut it. Irvin excelled at the role at WVU - what was it, 23 sacks in two seasons, and only while playing passing downs? That's insane. His 40 time was over three-tenths of a second faster than that of Ingram (who had half his sacks come while lining up inside - not a true edge rusher) and Coples. I knew the instant I saw his tape why we had taken him. Yes, it's a cliche, but you cannot coach speed like that.

Wilson gives us a guy who can step in in case of injury and provide a great deal of leadership - or, if Flynn bombs out, we won't have to look far to find someone to put into the starting lineup. You only have to watch about 60 seconds of interview footage to tell he's an incredibly intelligent guy. The fact he went to Wisconsin and 1) learned a new offense in three weeks, 2) was voted team captain by players he had only recently met, and 2) led them to a Rose Bowl with 33 TDs and 4 INTs, tells me he has the leadership and confidence - the two greatest "intangibles" - required to be a successful quarterback.

The fact he's "too short" doesn't mean a lot to me. If he were three inches taller, he'd probably be a Washington Redskin and we'd have never gotten near him. In terms of his psychology, this probably means he has something to prove and a bit of a chip on his shoulder....he could be a very dangerous man behind center.

[soulfishhawk]

The Height thing is getting real old. Throw on the tape, and look at his numbers, that's the only thing that matters.
Haters can suck it

[SeahawkSal]

The Height thing is getting real old. Throw on the tape, and look at his numbers, that's the only thing that matters.
Haters can suck it

Questioning the lack of a known physical commodity is not hating...its being realistic. I think every fan hopes he can play, but besides Doug Flutie, QB's of his height rarely make it in this league.

Call a spade a spade.

[soulfishhawk]

True, I guess I'm just thinking this guy is different. Or at least hoping