Football Friday: Seahawks Draft Preview

The Seahawks come into the 2009 NFL draft in an unfamiliar position. They are drafting in the top 5 for the first time since 1997. Like most 4-12 teams, the Hawks have holes on both sides of the ball. Let’s be honest, they could use depth at every position on the field. Heading into Saturday the Hawks have glaring needs at the following positions:

Running Back:
Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett are horrible. Are we really heading into the season with these two knuckleheads toting the pigskin? The Cowboys couldn’t wait to get rid of Julius and now I know why. He isn’t even the best running back in his immediate family. Thomas Jones holds that title. Plus, he's 30 years old (the dreaded age when NFL RBs hit the wall, with very few exceptions). T.J. Duckett is just a specialist for third and short and goal line situations . We paid him a cool $4 million last year to carry the rock 68 times for 172 yards. Are you kidding me, 59K per carry. Our best back, Mo Mo bailed on us in the off-season.

Safety:
I can’t stand Brian Russell. He lacks size, speed and tackling ability. He blows assignments quicker than a Las Vegas escort. It’s safe to say that we need a change. But who can fill in for him? Jordan “Big Play Babs” Babineaux and ex-Husky C.J. Wallace are the back-ups, but neither are NFL starter quality. This position is screaming for help in the draft.

Corner Back:
Kelly Jennings and Josh Wilson are smurfs. Both defensive backs lack the size to handle the larger receivers in this league and the speed to cover the burners. Jennings, drafted #31 overall in '06, and Wilson, drafted #55 overall in '07, have not lived up to expectations. The Hawks need a corner with size, speed and versatility to cover Fitzgerald and Boldin who the Hawks face twice a year.

Quarterback:
I think Hasselback can still lead this team for the next two years if he can stay healthy, and that’s a big if. It would be wise to think about finding his replacement. Seneca is a decent quarterback, but he will never be more than a .500 player. He can lead the team to an 8-8 record but not to the playoffs.

Now, here is the much anticipated Football Friday dream mock draft (what I think we should do), including my picks for the Hawks in the first three rounds, plus a late-round dark horse selection

Round 1, pick #4:
I would prefer to trade this pick. If a trade is not an option I would go with Virginia OT Eugene Monroe. He is arguably the best tackle in the draft (but most pundits have Jason Smith slightly higher). He could anchor the left side of the line once big Walt calls it quits. It’s not a sexy pick, but it’s a stable one. He may not start in '09 but neither would Sanchez or Crabtree. I would love Wake Forest super LB Curry at #4 but I doubt he lasts past KC which picks third. Draft the big fella and the Hawks will have a great player for the next decade.

Round 2, pick #37:
Darius Heyward–Bey WR (Maryland). He is 6’1’’, 210 lbs, with a 40’’ vertical and a 4.3 forty. He has the speed to get past the defense and the leaping ability to go up and catch the ball in traffic. He is very athletic. Unfortunately, I doubt he will still be on the board, but I can hope right? The more likely choice is Hakim Nicks (WR) out of North Carolina, who's draft stock has dropped him into the second round. He is big (226 lbs) and fast enough with 4.5 speed to make an impact.

Round 3, pick #68:
William Moore SS (Missouri). He is the premier safety in the college game and a first team All Big 12 selection. He is 6’0’’, 221 lbs and runs a 4.51 forty. He is big, tough and can run sideline to sideline. He is a ferocious hitter but also knows when to wrap up and make the tackle. If Moore is no longer on the board, Patrick Chung out of Oregon is a close second at the safety position.

Dark horse: Keep an eye on Graham Harell. Assuming Ruskell stays away from Sanchez, I predict the Hawks select the stat-machine QB out of Texas Tech in the 7th round. Why not grab a guy who threw for 5,111 yards and 45 TD’s last year? His career stats are 15,793 yards, 134 TD’s and only 34 INT’s. It’s hard to ignore that kind of production. I know, I know, he is supposed to be a product of the spread system, but hey, we are talking about the 7th round.

*Check back here at Wetland Sports at the end of every week for Football Friday, where we'll discuss all the important and intriguing football-related issues facing the Seahawks and Huskies.