Watercooler Roundup: Seahawks draft
This weekend was the NFL draft. For NFL geeks, this is like Christmas. (Wait. No, NFL kick-off is like Christmas. This is like Halloween — the next best thing leading up to Christmas. The pre-season is like Thanksgiving — sandwiched between the draft and the regular season; lots of stuff available to fill your NFL appetite; but ultimately, it’s sort of lackluster and not exciting; and just like out-of-town family, at least you get to watch players that you only see once a year.)
However, for those of you who want to stay hip to the local sports scene, here are talking points for your watercooler press conference:
- Seattle’s first pick (#28 towards the end of round 1) was Lawrence Jackson, a defensive end out of USC. FYI, you only need to memorize the full name of pick #1. Everyone else is last name only.
- You can spin this in one of two ways, either pro or con. Doesn’t matter which you go with, but it is important that you pick an opinion.
- Opinion PRO: Seattle’s two biggest needs were wide receiver (WR) and tight end (TE). By prudently waiting to pickup a tight end, Seattle was able to get the TE of their choice in round 2, and able to get one of the best defense ends (DE) at the end of round 1.
- Opinion CON: Seattle’s most pressing need was a wide receiver; they should have used the #1 pick on a WR. Also, some think that Jackson was a second-rounder at best, lacking pass rushing speed.
- Seattle’s second round pick was TE Carlson, from Notre Dame. Doesn’t excel in any single area, but an all around good TE with good blocking. Seattle wasn’t looking for a TE with WR agilities– they wanted a big, thick kid, and that’s what they got in Carlson. Seattle really liked this kid — they gave up a 3rd round pick to move up a round and take him in round 2.
- Knowledge chic bonus points: Mention how you think Carlson had better seasons when ex-Notre Dame QB (and now Cleveland Browns bench warmer) Brady Quinn was throwing the ball to him. Add that his drop in production during his senior season doesn’t worry you.
- In round 5, Seattle selected a fullback, Schmitt. Physical kid. Has an outside chance to challenge Leonard Weaver for blocking duties for newly acquired (via free agency) veteran RB Julius Jones.
- Seattle’s last pick was a kicker, Coutu. (Name not important. He’s just a kicker.) Perhaps best kicker in the draft with a strong leg–Seattle risked a pick on him so no other team could sign him in free agency. He will challenge Olindo Mare (Seattle’s current kicker) to fill the void left by Josh “Heckuva job” Brown.
