You seldom say much about Riley Mills. If you look at his amazing Super Bowl sack and his Notre Dame highlights it’s hard not to conclude he will be a huge add to the defense this year. Your thoughts? I figure he could be an 8-10 sack guy with enough snaps.
Here’s the argument for not necessarily drafting a pass rusher this year:
* The Hawks are legit SB contenders
* The Hawks have only four draft picks. The emphasis for every one of them should be on finding a player who can contribute immediately
* Rookie pass rushers drafted at the back end of the first round rarely have much of an impact
* BTW, Seattle has twelve picks next year
As much as I believe that EDGE is always a need, given the circumstances I can see passing on an EDGE in this year’s draft and signing a veteran FA EDGE (e.g., Von Miller or Jadaveon Clowney) to a short duration deal.
I agree with most of that. I think JS will do what he can with this draft, and will try to get as much equity in the 2027 draft as possible. That's when he'll restock the cupboard. I don't think he needs to draft players who can contribute immediately, although that's ideal. Just get talented football players, and let the coaches and vets work with them for a year or two, so they're ready to roll when some guys leave or retire.
Mike Macdonald does seem to have some non-negotiables for each position on the field, and for Edge that seems to be setting the edge and stopping the run. If you can't do those things, you won't see much of the field, no matter how well you can rush the passer.
We don't blitz much because our DL can get to rhe QB. I find that teams that have to blitz also give up the most big plays.
On a lighter note, I had to laugh when I read that the Jets new GM and HC said that Geno will undoubtedly be their starting QB next season. Football fans in the NYC area were seen jumping from tall buildings in record numbers !!
Mental processing...speed and overall planning. Some call it reactions but it's how fast can you sense what's happening and come with a plan to counter that and how fast can you do that processing. Bonito is excellent at this. Mafe is not. Just watch players in the draft and see which ones seem to play faster than their listed measurables, this is because they are wired differently. We want those guys! I'll make a list of players that far out produced their athleticism...it'll take time.
You just explained DLaw. And frankly by end of year I saw that in Hall. I pointed out from my seat during game. Hall was rushing, saw the quick dump, while he didn’t get the pick did, Spoon got it and everyone made great noise, in my opinion Spoons INT was because of Hall adjusting his rush, getting in the passing lane, messing with the receiver. Mental processing. And DLaw and those couple of plays, especially vs Colts, that was mental processing to the Nth degree. One reason would like to see Cam Jordan come in for depth.
There will be no D Taylor pick in this year’s draft. I think it’s unlikely they take an edge under 250lbs despite how quick and bendy he is. MM will live in nickel and be in dime in passing situations. The front 4 need to be run stoppers. Zion Young coming in for a 30 visit proves the point. (6’6” 265lbs) The front 4 will also need to bring pass pressure as well because MM wants to blitz less often rather than more often given the risk that comes with a blitz if it’s picked up well by the blocking scheme. I’m leaning more towards the possibility that even if we draft an edge in the first two rounds, Von Miller we come to the Hawks to chase one more ring this year. As for picking an edge at 32 or 64, there’s no clear standout winner- as you say. I think they will draft someone with high athletic traits AND size. Young would clearly be a pick at 32, (although the PATS often take him at 31 in mocks) and my personal favorite at 64 is Dani Dennis-Sutton. He has size with athleticism, but lacks pass rush techniques. That’s where the Seahawks coaches and vets like D-Law, Big Cat and perhaps Von Miller come in.
I am certain the Seahawks have stick and pick players at 32. I have no idea if any of them will be there when they get on the clock. I heard Joel Klatt say today that he wasn’t sure Jermond McCoy would be a sure 1st round pick due to injuries. He didn’t participate in the Combine and his pro day is coming up. If he doesn’t run at his pro day he could slip to 32. Normally the Hawks don’t take risk with high draft picks, but if they get to 32 and can’t find a trade back partner, McCoy, if fully healthy, would be a steal. Will they take the risk?
Agree. The variety of tools and versatility of MM's D attack on QB's seem to lessen Edge priority a smidgen. Our pocket crushing 'front four' rotation seemed to create a plethora of opportunities for our edges and DB's. As Jarren and Leonard are getting long in the tooth, and being a big fan of overkill, I'd prefer another big dawg up front (a Byron clone would be nice) over a speedy yet undersized Edge.
I can’t wait for next season already. A four man front with Spoon on one side and E-Man on the other side. Not knowing who was going to blitz, or if no one would come at all, or maybe both come. Trying to call out blocking assignments for the O-line, TEs and RB would be a mess.
Exactly. They talk about his speed and athleticism. So crucial in a wide zone scheme which he fits perfectly. I remember one screen play to K9 that went for 35 yards to about the 5 yard line. Two players were running and blocking all the way downfield with K9. Zabel and Sundell. If you watch the all 22, you see Bradford there when K9 catches the ball, but he never makes it more than 10 yards downfield. He’s barely jogging while Zabel, Sundell and even Cross are making the effort. You can’t pay 5 all-pros on the Oline. You need a guy like Sundell who can give you quality at a reasonable cost. Maybe they can get him signed on a three year team friendly deal after this season.
Yes, luck! We are sooo lucky that we have JS! He is sooo good at spotting those pearls. It's never 100%, too many variables, but he is pretty damn good at it.
You seldom say much about Riley Mills. If you look at his amazing Super Bowl sack and his Notre Dame highlights it’s hard not to conclude he will be a huge add to the defense this year. Your thoughts? I figure he could be an 8-10 sack guy with enough snaps.
Here’s the argument for not necessarily drafting a pass rusher this year:
* The Hawks are legit SB contenders
* The Hawks have only four draft picks. The emphasis for every one of them should be on finding a player who can contribute immediately
* Rookie pass rushers drafted at the back end of the first round rarely have much of an impact
* BTW, Seattle has twelve picks next year
As much as I believe that EDGE is always a need, given the circumstances I can see passing on an EDGE in this year’s draft and signing a veteran FA EDGE (e.g., Von Miller or Jadaveon Clowney) to a short duration deal.
I agree with most of that. I think JS will do what he can with this draft, and will try to get as much equity in the 2027 draft as possible. That's when he'll restock the cupboard. I don't think he needs to draft players who can contribute immediately, although that's ideal. Just get talented football players, and let the coaches and vets work with them for a year or two, so they're ready to roll when some guys leave or retire.
Mike Macdonald does seem to have some non-negotiables for each position on the field, and for Edge that seems to be setting the edge and stopping the run. If you can't do those things, you won't see much of the field, no matter how well you can rush the passer.
We don't blitz much because our DL can get to rhe QB. I find that teams that have to blitz also give up the most big plays.
On a lighter note, I had to laugh when I read that the Jets new GM and HC said that Geno will undoubtedly be their starting QB next season. Football fans in the NYC area were seen jumping from tall buildings in record numbers !!
Mental processing...speed and overall planning. Some call it reactions but it's how fast can you sense what's happening and come with a plan to counter that and how fast can you do that processing. Bonito is excellent at this. Mafe is not. Just watch players in the draft and see which ones seem to play faster than their listed measurables, this is because they are wired differently. We want those guys! I'll make a list of players that far out produced their athleticism...it'll take time.
You just explained DLaw. And frankly by end of year I saw that in Hall. I pointed out from my seat during game. Hall was rushing, saw the quick dump, while he didn’t get the pick did, Spoon got it and everyone made great noise, in my opinion Spoons INT was because of Hall adjusting his rush, getting in the passing lane, messing with the receiver. Mental processing. And DLaw and those couple of plays, especially vs Colts, that was mental processing to the Nth degree. One reason would like to see Cam Jordan come in for depth.
I had a crush on Bonito.
OUR HAWKS WILL BE A ROOKIE'S DREAM TEAM: YOUNG, IMAGINATIVE, energetic. Super Bowl contenders with solid paths to DPOY and OPOY.
WORD!
KenJoe : "That is a percentage that I kind of made up, but also kind of didn’t."
Telling It Like It Is.
There will be no D Taylor pick in this year’s draft. I think it’s unlikely they take an edge under 250lbs despite how quick and bendy he is. MM will live in nickel and be in dime in passing situations. The front 4 need to be run stoppers. Zion Young coming in for a 30 visit proves the point. (6’6” 265lbs) The front 4 will also need to bring pass pressure as well because MM wants to blitz less often rather than more often given the risk that comes with a blitz if it’s picked up well by the blocking scheme. I’m leaning more towards the possibility that even if we draft an edge in the first two rounds, Von Miller we come to the Hawks to chase one more ring this year. As for picking an edge at 32 or 64, there’s no clear standout winner- as you say. I think they will draft someone with high athletic traits AND size. Young would clearly be a pick at 32, (although the PATS often take him at 31 in mocks) and my personal favorite at 64 is Dani Dennis-Sutton. He has size with athleticism, but lacks pass rush techniques. That’s where the Seahawks coaches and vets like D-Law, Big Cat and perhaps Von Miller come in.
If Edge is the first Hawk pick then the second will be a DB. The question is there a low 1st rounder the Hawks have their eye on?
I am certain the Seahawks have stick and pick players at 32. I have no idea if any of them will be there when they get on the clock. I heard Joel Klatt say today that he wasn’t sure Jermond McCoy would be a sure 1st round pick due to injuries. He didn’t participate in the Combine and his pro day is coming up. If he doesn’t run at his pro day he could slip to 32. Normally the Hawks don’t take risk with high draft picks, but if they get to 32 and can’t find a trade back partner, McCoy, if fully healthy, would be a steal. Will they take the risk?
Being a drummer, I'll be doing a drum roll that even Marie Antoinette would enjoy before pick #32.
Agree. The variety of tools and versatility of MM's D attack on QB's seem to lessen Edge priority a smidgen. Our pocket crushing 'front four' rotation seemed to create a plethora of opportunities for our edges and DB's. As Jarren and Leonard are getting long in the tooth, and being a big fan of overkill, I'd prefer another big dawg up front (a Byron clone would be nice) over a speedy yet undersized Edge.
I can’t wait for next season already. A four man front with Spoon on one side and E-Man on the other side. Not knowing who was going to blitz, or if no one would come at all, or maybe both come. Trying to call out blocking assignments for the O-line, TEs and RB would be a mess.
The OLine Committee does an in depth interview with Jalen Sundell. Worth a watch.
https://youtu.be/fl60wFhFXlA?si=a0mEjIsugyAalVTk
This is a fun listen. Sounds like we Really don't have to worry about Center now.
Exactly. They talk about his speed and athleticism. So crucial in a wide zone scheme which he fits perfectly. I remember one screen play to K9 that went for 35 yards to about the 5 yard line. Two players were running and blocking all the way downfield with K9. Zabel and Sundell. If you watch the all 22, you see Bradford there when K9 catches the ball, but he never makes it more than 10 yards downfield. He’s barely jogging while Zabel, Sundell and even Cross are making the effort. You can’t pay 5 all-pros on the Oline. You need a guy like Sundell who can give you quality at a reasonable cost. Maybe they can get him signed on a three year team friendly deal after this season.
Some of it is just better scouting or luck. Michael Bennett was a Fe or low pick.
I believe the best Edge pick in the draft is someone like Michael Bennett after the draft on a two year deal with incentives.
Yes, luck! We are sooo lucky that we have JS! He is sooo good at spotting those pearls. It's never 100%, too many variables, but he is pretty damn good at it.