By Rob Staton
Scout.com's Chris Steuber recently told me that Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen and Rutgers offensive tackle were two prospects the Seahawks were particularly interested in. Having spent time at the combine this week, I put the question to Steuber again - had he heard anything in Indianapolis with regards to Seattle?
"I know that the Seahawks are interested in drafting a quarterback in the first round and the guy they're targeting is Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen. Pete Carroll is very familiar with Clausen and they have a very good relationship." - Chris Steuber
19 comments:
Which makes it all the more important to know which way the Rams and Redskins are leaning.
I see your latest mock has Bradford going to the Rams. Do you have any evidence that the Redskins are leaning toward a tackle rather than QB?
Very interesting. It would make sense the Pete Carrol would want to court "the one that got away" and really the timing couldn't be more perfect with a very early 1st round pick and a QB that at most has 2 or 3 years left in his tank. I'd be behind it, but I have heard people are worried about his down field accuracy and distance.
-Neil
http://ChristianLenses.com
Mr Fish - no hard evidence on any of the picks, we're all working on projections. The Redskins will choose between quarterback and tackle. Call this a hunch, but I don't think Shanahan will draft Clausen and Bradford will be gone. Make no mistake, Despite Snyder's presence for this draft at least Shanahan will be having a huge input. I think they'll instead look at OT - and put a high tender on Campbell. They'll run Campbell for a year, draft a tackle at four and re-access the QB position next year. Campbell's age and lack of injuries make an immediate addition at QB isn't completely necessary. I think long term they'll want an upgrade, but they can win with Campbell and he suits the Shanahan passing game. I like Davis at #4 because of his upside. Remember, Andre Smith disappointed in work outs last year and people questioned his attitude/work ethic. Same questions with Davis. But the Rutgers prospect is better than Smith and has bigger upside. I think Shanahan will enjoy coaching him up. He reminds me of Ryan Clady - a Shanahan pick.
Neil - I have voiced concerns with Clausen myself. Am I convinced? Not at all. But my mock isn't about my own personal opinion of a guy, it's what I think the Seahawks will do. As much as I am concerned with Clausen's passing range, arm strength and ability to get the ball down field with the required touch and accuracy, I also accept he's got a lot of positives - there'll be a short learning curve in the pro's, I actually like his personality (it doesn't bother me, I like guys who wind up the other team), he toughs it out when his team needs him, his short/medium range accuracy is very good, he can put zip on the ball when throws off his front foot and he doesn't make a lot of bad decisions - which is why he only threw four picks last year compared to 28 TD's.
If we choose Jimmy then so be it. If this is what they want then it's all good. I just wrote this on Addicts. I go by Farmer Paul on there. I need to do the same here. Just haven't done it yet. I don't no why I told all of you this. I guess I fell it was necessary, lol. Go Seahawks!
Welcome to the blog (Farmer) Paul!
I really hope this isn't just positioning. Take Clausen and Brown and you have the two most important pieces to start a good nucleus on offense. I know not everyone is not high on him, but I think he has the tools and ethic to be a very good QB. And any doubts I had about his attitude are basically non-existent after the interviews I've seen.
Davis I don't get at all. With all the question marks about his work ethic and his bad showing at the combine... do not want. Then again, if Gibbs can get him straightened out, he probably has the highest ceiling at LT in this draft.
If Clausen is indeed the pick here, then will that lower the chances that we will pick CJ Spiller with our 14th pick if he's still available? A QB is more of a long term thinking so would that significantly lower the chances that we pick a RB that would have tremendous instant impact but has a shorter NFL life span?
Personally, I love CJ Spiller's game and I really want to watch a playmaker that we are lacking, but it just seems unlikely that we'll spend our 1st two picks on a QB and RB because our 2nd pick might be used on an OT/DE/CB/S
I wouldn't be against Clausen. I just find it hard to believe that Carroll will take a franchise QB with his first pick in his first draft. Him and his job will be tied to Clausen's success or failure. I am, however, excited to see how it works out. April 22nd can't get here soon enough!
The tough thing about researching and studying these prospects is that I become disenchanted with even the players I like. Every player has flaws and sometimes in our initial excitement we miss those things. I've reached the point now where I wouldn't feel especially excited about any player at #6, other than Suh/McCoy. I'm very neutral on Clausen right now, but to me, Bradford/Clausen is probably the only realistic pick at #6 that I would make and feel good about just because of how rare the opportunity to draft a potential franchise QB can be. If both DTs and both QBs are gone by 6, I'd badly want to trade down, even at a bargain rate.
Anyway, you certainly can't blame the Seahawks if they take Clausen at #6, at least not if both of the top 2 DTs are gone, which they almost certainly will be.
Please, I hope the teams infront of us choose Bradford and Clausen. Clausen dosen't deserve the 12th man and Bradford injury prone. I really dont understand why? With these so called expert analyst.. I wanna say they never played the game. The hawks can have all the weapons if they dont have a wall the weapons are useless!!!!!!
I would also counter though DUWORKSON - if you haven't got weapons and a gun slinger, teams won't respect your wall. Even the best offensive lineman can't block two guys off the edge, which is what he'll be faced with if Seattle cant find some production on offense. They need to find a left tackle, but they equally need to get better at WR and RB, whilst finding a long term option at QB.
If I was in Vegas right now I would find someplace that would take draft trade bets. This sounds to me like the Seahawks setting themselves up to trade the 6th pick. It appears that at least one of the QBs will be gone by our pick and thats most likely Bradford. Now you let people know that we like Clausen and you are ready to trade out. It makes way more sense that they want to trade back than they really like him. If they did, they would be trading up to the 3rd pick, not just saying we like Clausen.
So, if anyone is keeping track, if Clausen makes it past Washington, we will be actively trying to give away the pick.
Mike, I respectfully disagree with your logic. If Buffalo likes Clausen enough that they are willing to trade up for him, they'll be talking to KC at 5 to move ahead of us if we have convinced everyone that we are serious about taking Clausen at 6. I think it's likely Bradford goes #1 to Rams, then the two DT's, and skins should go OT. KC is a wildcard, but probably OT. That leaves us plenty of good options at 6, and I hope we do try to trade down, but it won't be because someone wants Clausen, it will be because someone wants Berry, Bulaga, Haden, Morgan or JPP. If we're willing to trade down, then by default we really weren't int'd in him at #6. It would be illogical for us to say we're int'd in him at 6 and then be willing to trade down so someone else can take him.
I keep going over the first 5 picks and it truly doesn't seem that far fetched to see McCoy dropping to us. We truly need to only get by three teams-St. Louis, Detroit, and Tampa Bay. Washington invested a lot in Haynesworth and won't put more into the position. Likewise, Kansas City has Dorsey which it notoriously picked at #5 a couple of years ago. If St. Louis takes Bradford, as reported, then we only need either the Lions or Bucs to select an OT or a DE. To me Okung's great combine does nothing but help us. DT typically fall on Draft day (looke at Dorsey a couple of years ago) because of positional value. Honestly I can see Bradford at 1 and Okung at 2... which means McCoy is there at 6. I am not saying it is likely but it could conceivably happen. However, I have yet to see a mock or an analyst even discuss the possibility. Thoughts?
BTW-that last post was my first here. I don't know why I haven't found this site in years past but I am extremely glad I finally have. Great insight and coverage. Keep it up!
-Brando
This is very exciting. If we do not come away from the 2010 NFL Draft with a new franchise QB, you can lock it up that we'll be drafting high in 2011. This would be my miracle dream scenario: Seahawks trade the 40th pick and Branch/Butler to Denver for Brandon Marshall. Then Clausen falls to us at the 6th pick (which I honestly think is unlikely, Shanahan will want a franchise QB), and then we get the best LT on our board with the 14th pick, be that Charles Brown, Bruce Campbell, Bulaga, etc.
More likely though, Seattle won't trade for Brandon Marshall, and then we could just trade the 6th pick and the 40th pick to get Clausen from the Redskins at #4, and again get the best LT on our board at #14. I think this is the best thing the 'Hawks could do, and would give Carroll a good, young nucleus on offense for years to come.
(Sorry for the long comment, just had to get that out.)
Brando - thanks for visiting and welcome aboard. I think at this stage it's unlikely McCoy drops past #3. However, as you say - we've seen DT's drop before. Tampa Bay could easily pull a wild card like Kansas City did at #3 last year and draft someone nobody expects. Dez Bryant maybe? They've often talked about getting a wideout for Freeman. If McCoy does get past #3, it's very likely he's there at #6.
Cannon - The Seahawks have to insert some long term planning into the offense. Hasselbeck, Jones, Houshmandzadeh, Jones - there are all short term measures right now. There's very little youth and quality on that offense. Drafting a guy like Clausen now enables you to best prepare. Getting a left tackle can help right away - possibly - whilst also grow with the QB and the new coaches. However, they'd still have to get better playmakers. For those reasons, despite needs on the defensive line, it wouldn't be a total shock to me if the first three picks all went on offense. It could happen - even if it seems unlikely now.
Puuuuuuulease say no to Clausen..
Just tank for one more season and wait for Locker.
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