Given its placement in the article, at first I honestly thought, "I’m going to start a new weekly series called 'What we learned about football this week'" was a setup to be followed by "Alabama has way too many good players" as the punchline!
As we look at the draft options these questions have emerge for me. If we are running a hybrid 3/4 with 3 line backers (five man front) 2 corners, and 3 safeties who is playing nose/ 1 technique? Also who is our third receiver in 11 personnel?If the Seahawks don’t draft either of these positions in the first then these players are on the Seahawks now, as we have no more money to add quality players in free agency.
Based on my answers to the questions above I think the Seahawks are likely going DT and receiver in the first round.
My belief is that if Pete doesn’t believe in Carter or he is gone at 5, the Seahawks are going receiver at 5. A lot of mock drafts have the Seahawks taking Wilson at 5, but that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me after signing Jones and Reed. I don’t think trading down will be an option because I don’t think anyone is trading up for Levis or Richardson. Further If a team is trading up they are going to trade with Arizona. If the Seahawks wait to the later in the first round to draft a receiver then they are not likely to find a receiver that fits what they need.
For me the two logical choices are Flowers and JSN. Flowers is better version of Eskridge and the type of player the Seahawks clearly want but I cannot see a pure slot receiver at 5. So my bold prediction subject to change is if Anderson and Young are gone and Carter is gone or Pete’s just aren’t willing to take the risk on Carter is that the Seahawks take JSN at 5 and then hope like hell that they can get Bresee at 20. If they go Carter they hope like hell that they can get Flowers at 20 (JSN will not be there) I like all of these players and will certainly be excited by whoever the Seahawks take.
I would like to Hooker, Robinson, but I don’t think the Seahawks will be able to get them with the 36th and 52 pick. So I am hoping for quality linebacker in the mold of Bobby Wagner at 36 a Max Unger at 52, a third down back in the third round and a KJ Wright in the 4th and another Richard Sherman / Woolen in the 5th.
That's actually a really interesting idea! Don't use him as a traditional RB splitting carries with KWIII and instead use him for short/intermediate passes as well as screens (I know, we can't run them OR stop them, haha) and jet sweeps.
You've managed to get me onboard with drafting Robinson in the 1st if the team can find a way to use both guys outside of a platoon role. I still wouldn't want them to use #5 on Bijan but this draft class seems to be kinda "meh" so I wouldn't be upset if they traded down for 1st rounder(s) next year and got him with a low 1st, especially if they guy they want at #5 isn't there.
I agree, Wilson just seems like a bad use of the #5 pick. If it comes to that I wouldn't be upset if they traded down and grabbed a 2024 1st round pick in the haul (preferably with a team that's expected to be bad!).
Main point: the best predictors (correlations) between analyzing a college WR's route tree is not overall volume but NFL-route volume and matching the frequency of common NFL routes.
They found that the positive correlation was not as strong as the negative correlation; this works better for eliminating certain prospects. Unfortunately, the two prospects who ranked in the bottom third for both propositions were Zay Flowers and Josh Downs.
Wish they spent a bit more time talking about more specific players, both in regards to applying the analysis historically and more directly to the draft class. As it reads, they found a small handful of cases it does work for and made an article around that (basically, i want the per-player breakdown/full stats).
Also don't feel this says Flowers & Downs will be bad NFL players, as the article goes at lengths to point out how physical talents & overall skill are a much bigger defining factor to NFL success than College Route Variety.
I'll also take this to say Hooker should be drafted, as if his receivers are running more NFL-style routes, and he is hitting them often for yards and TD's therefore he will hit NFL receivers running the same kinds of routes. (Also why i'd love the full data, to see if QB's are hitting NFL style routes or not)
On Cedric Tillman, the vast majority of those passes were 50/50 balls that wouldn't be thrown in the NFL. Tillman abused some mediocre defenders it seemed. A 4.54 40 or even a 4.6 40 doesn't doom a WR to mediocrity. Getting open is a skill somewhat divorced from 40 speed. The three cone and short shuttle times tell more of the story than 40 times.
And then there is Lockett who has neither straight line speed nor shiftyness really. What Lockett has is intelligence, deception at the precisely perfect moment, and the best ball tracking skill in the NFL. Honestly, Lockett is a master at the WR position. He studies the individual opponents tendencies and designs his strategy to get open according to his film study on individual opponents.
Once again, the interview process is probably paramount because the best skill they have is between the ears.
I would love the hawks to draft Tillman only thing that makes me think they won’t is they really don’t draft any WRs that don’t run in the 4.40s in the 40 yard dash except for late round receivers
Golly gee, Richardson started a total 12 games in college. What a huge sample size! There's a whole lot of film to digest. And here's a top 5 pick? Really?
You mention Arch Manning. The 2025-2026 prospect I'm looking forward to is Sterling Lockett, rising redshirt sophomore at K-State. His brother is a well known poet and real estate agent in Seattle.
I have to disagree although he definitely does make some questionable decisions his tape in 2021 was so much better he’s also got the traits you want in a QB and not to mention I would think Schneider likes the fact he came form the same exact offensive that Waldron uses I mean he would have such a leg up in understanding the offence already
I know that Fluker has limitations in the pass game and that he has trouble finishing a season. But talk about attitude--Aaron Donald doesn’t intimidate him. There’s a place for guys like that.
LOL! For some reason, the opening reminded of something that I heard from Nick Lowe early in a concert: “I’m now going to say those words that no one wants to hear--‘I’m going to play some songs from my new album.”
Confidential to anyone hesitating: Join now. You’ll never be sorry!
Earl... I still remember him as a rookie--the Seahawks had him set up in a booth outside of Pike's Place offering "Free Safety Advice." Nobody knew who he was lol...
On FG they are reporting that the Seahawks have interest in bringing Ford back on a reduced contract and I guess that could happen, but I would love to see at least one elite player taken for the middle of the DL. Taking a Tackle and converting him to Guard makes sense also. Shore up both OL/DL and a successful season is all but guaranteed.
I’m glad to hear Poona might be coming back. We had a downgrade going with Jarran Reed 3.0 replacing Al Woods in my mind and now there’s talk of bringing back him and Ford. I like the idea of having most of a team together before the draft so you can let it come to you rather than passing on better talent because you have a glaring hole.
Wouldn't be surprised if both Ford & Woods came back after the Draft, as it feels they were released more for cost reasons than pure performance. If we can get that cost down (and no other teams are rushing to sign them) then very much worth it, two solid players we could really use to help train up a rookie or two.
Best case for Seahawks is Richardson or Levis is there at 5 for them, second best is any top 4 QB or Anderson and if that’s the case I’m guessing they would take Anderson and if they do I’d love for them to take hooker at 20 not because he’s 20th best prospect but because he could be good one day although I see his absolute best being on Genos level of play
Bold prediction both Levis and Richardson will be there at 5. Even more bold prediction at least one will be there at 20. Boldest prediction Hooker will be drafted ahead of 1 of them. Perhaps late in the second.
I can’t see them taking Levis on Day 1. Too many questions about his judgment, plus--despite the howitzer arm--he underthrows the deep ball, which is the pass Pete Carroll most wants a QB to be good at.
Well, uh, Richardson's pro day showcased him underthrowing almost every pass. His receivers were sometimes coming to a complete stop, but most just slowed down the last two or three steps. I didn't observe many passes caught while in perfect stride. He might have a howitzer, but his sights are off.
TooToo in the 3rd round would be good pick
Given its placement in the article, at first I honestly thought, "I’m going to start a new weekly series called 'What we learned about football this week'" was a setup to be followed by "Alabama has way too many good players" as the punchline!
As we look at the draft options these questions have emerge for me. If we are running a hybrid 3/4 with 3 line backers (five man front) 2 corners, and 3 safeties who is playing nose/ 1 technique? Also who is our third receiver in 11 personnel?If the Seahawks don’t draft either of these positions in the first then these players are on the Seahawks now, as we have no more money to add quality players in free agency.
Based on my answers to the questions above I think the Seahawks are likely going DT and receiver in the first round.
My belief is that if Pete doesn’t believe in Carter or he is gone at 5, the Seahawks are going receiver at 5. A lot of mock drafts have the Seahawks taking Wilson at 5, but that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me after signing Jones and Reed. I don’t think trading down will be an option because I don’t think anyone is trading up for Levis or Richardson. Further If a team is trading up they are going to trade with Arizona. If the Seahawks wait to the later in the first round to draft a receiver then they are not likely to find a receiver that fits what they need.
For me the two logical choices are Flowers and JSN. Flowers is better version of Eskridge and the type of player the Seahawks clearly want but I cannot see a pure slot receiver at 5. So my bold prediction subject to change is if Anderson and Young are gone and Carter is gone or Pete’s just aren’t willing to take the risk on Carter is that the Seahawks take JSN at 5 and then hope like hell that they can get Bresee at 20. If they go Carter they hope like hell that they can get Flowers at 20 (JSN will not be there) I like all of these players and will certainly be excited by whoever the Seahawks take.
I would like to Hooker, Robinson, but I don’t think the Seahawks will be able to get them with the 36th and 52 pick. So I am hoping for quality linebacker in the mold of Bobby Wagner at 36 a Max Unger at 52, a third down back in the third round and a KJ Wright in the 4th and another Richard Sherman / Woolen in the 5th.
I`m hoping for Bijan as the hybrid slot receiver.....
That's actually a really interesting idea! Don't use him as a traditional RB splitting carries with KWIII and instead use him for short/intermediate passes as well as screens (I know, we can't run them OR stop them, haha) and jet sweeps.
You've managed to get me onboard with drafting Robinson in the 1st if the team can find a way to use both guys outside of a platoon role. I still wouldn't want them to use #5 on Bijan but this draft class seems to be kinda "meh" so I wouldn't be upset if they traded down for 1st rounder(s) next year and got him with a low 1st, especially if they guy they want at #5 isn't there.
I agree, Wilson just seems like a bad use of the #5 pick. If it comes to that I wouldn't be upset if they traded down and grabbed a 2024 1st round pick in the haul (preferably with a team that's expected to be bad!).
What I learned this week: https://www.sportsinfosolutions.com/2023/03/07/what-does-a-college-receivers-route-tree-say-about-their-pro-prospects/
Main point: the best predictors (correlations) between analyzing a college WR's route tree is not overall volume but NFL-route volume and matching the frequency of common NFL routes.
They found that the positive correlation was not as strong as the negative correlation; this works better for eliminating certain prospects. Unfortunately, the two prospects who ranked in the bottom third for both propositions were Zay Flowers and Josh Downs.
Wish they spent a bit more time talking about more specific players, both in regards to applying the analysis historically and more directly to the draft class. As it reads, they found a small handful of cases it does work for and made an article around that (basically, i want the per-player breakdown/full stats).
Also don't feel this says Flowers & Downs will be bad NFL players, as the article goes at lengths to point out how physical talents & overall skill are a much bigger defining factor to NFL success than College Route Variety.
I'll also take this to say Hooker should be drafted, as if his receivers are running more NFL-style routes, and he is hitting them often for yards and TD's therefore he will hit NFL receivers running the same kinds of routes. (Also why i'd love the full data, to see if QB's are hitting NFL style routes or not)
On Cedric Tillman, the vast majority of those passes were 50/50 balls that wouldn't be thrown in the NFL. Tillman abused some mediocre defenders it seemed. A 4.54 40 or even a 4.6 40 doesn't doom a WR to mediocrity. Getting open is a skill somewhat divorced from 40 speed. The three cone and short shuttle times tell more of the story than 40 times.
And then there is Lockett who has neither straight line speed nor shiftyness really. What Lockett has is intelligence, deception at the precisely perfect moment, and the best ball tracking skill in the NFL. Honestly, Lockett is a master at the WR position. He studies the individual opponents tendencies and designs his strategy to get open according to his film study on individual opponents.
Once again, the interview process is probably paramount because the best skill they have is between the ears.
I would love the hawks to draft Tillman only thing that makes me think they won’t is they really don’t draft any WRs that don’t run in the 4.40s in the 40 yard dash except for late round receivers
“Getting open is a skill somewhat divorced from 40 speed.” Speed is great. Footwork is all.
Golly gee, Richardson started a total 12 games in college. What a huge sample size! There's a whole lot of film to digest. And here's a top 5 pick? Really?
You mention Arch Manning. The 2025-2026 prospect I'm looking forward to is Sterling Lockett, rising redshirt sophomore at K-State. His brother is a well known poet and real estate agent in Seattle.
Will keep an eye out!
I have to disagree although he definitely does make some questionable decisions his tape in 2021 was so much better he’s also got the traits you want in a QB and not to mention I would think Schneider likes the fact he came form the same exact offensive that Waldron uses I mean he would have such a leg up in understanding the offence already
Who?
I know that Fluker has limitations in the pass game and that he has trouble finishing a season. But talk about attitude--Aaron Donald doesn’t intimidate him. There’s a place for guys like that.
I loved Fluker when he was a Seahawk. Hard worker, great attitude.
The breakdown by school instead of position is nice. Looking at a puzzle through a different lens is a good thing!
Sorry I’m an idiot that was supposed to be a reply to Paul G
We’re all idiots at one time or another!
LOL! For some reason, the opening reminded of something that I heard from Nick Lowe early in a concert: “I’m now going to say those words that no one wants to hear--‘I’m going to play some songs from my new album.”
Confidential to anyone hesitating: Join now. You’ll never be sorry!
Earl... I still remember him as a rookie--the Seahawks had him set up in a booth outside of Pike's Place offering "Free Safety Advice." Nobody knew who he was lol...
On FG they are reporting that the Seahawks have interest in bringing Ford back on a reduced contract and I guess that could happen, but I would love to see at least one elite player taken for the middle of the DL. Taking a Tackle and converting him to Guard makes sense also. Shore up both OL/DL and a successful season is all but guaranteed.
I’m glad to hear Poona might be coming back. We had a downgrade going with Jarran Reed 3.0 replacing Al Woods in my mind and now there’s talk of bringing back him and Ford. I like the idea of having most of a team together before the draft so you can let it come to you rather than passing on better talent because you have a glaring hole.
Wouldn't be surprised if both Ford & Woods came back after the Draft, as it feels they were released more for cost reasons than pure performance. If we can get that cost down (and no other teams are rushing to sign them) then very much worth it, two solid players we could really use to help train up a rookie or two.
Best case for Seahawks is Richardson or Levis is there at 5 for them, second best is any top 4 QB or Anderson and if that’s the case I’m guessing they would take Anderson and if they do I’d love for them to take hooker at 20 not because he’s 20th best prospect but because he could be good one day although I see his absolute best being on Genos level of play
Bold prediction both Levis and Richardson will be there at 5. Even more bold prediction at least one will be there at 20. Boldest prediction Hooker will be drafted ahead of 1 of them. Perhaps late in the second.
I can’t see them taking Levis on Day 1. Too many questions about his judgment, plus--despite the howitzer arm--he underthrows the deep ball, which is the pass Pete Carroll most wants a QB to be good at.
Well, uh, Richardson's pro day showcased him underthrowing almost every pass. His receivers were sometimes coming to a complete stop, but most just slowed down the last two or three steps. I didn't observe many passes caught while in perfect stride. He might have a howitzer, but his sights are off.
Fans get all hung up on “traits” because they are visible. But talk about a small part of the story...