Welcome back to Football Friday at Wetland Sports. Its siesta time considering the Huskies completed their Spring Game and the NFL draft is over. Not much to look forward to until August (NFL preseason) because no one cares about mini camps or fall practices. If you really care, I’m guessing that you are either single, or about to become single.
My mock draft from last week deserves a failing grade (do they give out F minuses), thanks in large part to the village idiot also known as Al Davis. Who in their right mind drafts Heyward-Bay #7? Davis passed over two time Biletnikoff winner Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin for a project receiver from Maryland who has never caught more that 5 TD’s in a season. This was a colossal reach for a player in a lackluster conference facing second tier talent. I’m assuming Tom Cable wanted to stab his eyes out with a butter knife. With Davis at the helm, the poor Raiders can look forward to drafting in the top 7 every year.
The Hawks fared much better with an above average draft. I would give Ruskell and the Hawks brass a B-. They could have gotten cute in the first round and traded down or taken the pretty boy (Sanchez) #4, but they chose correctly selecting Curry who can contribute right away. The defense needed serious help in the back 7 and Curry will solidify a defense that ranked near the bottom in 2008. He is a big, physical, fast LB that can cover in the flat and tackle with the best of them. Some pundits think Curry can’t put his hand on the ground on third down and rush the passer since he wasn’t asked to do so at Wake. I think that’s foolish. With his combination of strength and speed, he could take over Julian Peterson’s role and average double digit sacks per season. Curry is that good.
In round 2, Ruskell’s brilliance was on display. He exchanged a second round pick for Denver’s first rounder in 2010. Denver is on the decline and I fully expect the Hawks to draft in the top ten with that pick. With two first round picks next year, the Hawks can get their franchise QB to replace the ailing Matt Hasselback and a top notch RB. I would love to see Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy and Jonathan Dwyer in a Hawks jersey. I’m salivating just thinking about it.
Yet Ruskell and the Hawks weren’t finished on day 1. They traded back into the second round to select C Max Unger. On the surface this is a bit of a head scratcher considering Ruskell drafted C Chris Spencer #26 overall in 2005. I like this selection for several reasons. Chris Spencer has dealt with a slew of injuries over his 4 year career. When healthy his play has been shoddy at best. I doubt he will ever live up to expectations. Max brings versatility to the O-Line. He can play Center or either Guard position. If Spencer fizzles, Mad Max can step in right away. If Spencer takes a huge step toward realizing his potential, Max can take over for the aging Mike Wahle. Wahle is 32 and entering his 12th NFL season. He was cut outright by the Panthers in 2007 for a reason. He just doesn’t have it anymore. Mora will love Unger’s versatility.
In round 3 Ruskell traded up and drafted WR Deon Butler. The Hawks receiving corps have lacked speed for years. Without a deep threat to stretch the field, opposing DB’s have jumped the short routes knowing they can recover in time to defend the double move. Not anymore, Butler has the ability to take it to the house. Like most college receivers, he may need a year or two to get acclimated to the pro game but I expect him catch 30 to 50 balls in 2010. In the least, I’m betting he will get a look this year on Special Teams as a kick returner.
I’m not going to waste time analyzing players selected in rounds 4-7. 99% of these draft picks are either cut by the end of Pre-Season or make the team as a wedge buster or gunner on Special teams.
*Check back next week on Football Friday as I may turn my attention to the Huskies on Montlake.
Showing posts with label Max Unger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Max Unger. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday Morning Musing, April 27
Happy Monday and welcome to the latest installment of Monday Morning Musings, where we rip and riff on Seattle sports and all things related.
-Lucky, interesting and productive draft for the Seahawks.
Lucky in that stud LB Aaron Curry, perhaps the best player int the draft fell to them at number 4.
Interesting in that it allowed the team to remove the franchise tag from the disgruntled and oft-injured LB Leroy Hill. Hill still might re-sign with the team, but if he doesn't, it frees up $8.3 million to go after a free agent, like a safety who can actually tackle (Yes, I'm talking to you Brian Russell) or cover somebody (Mr. Grant, you're old and slow and your days are numbered).
Productive in that we picked up speed at receiver in Deon Butler, a versatile center in Max Unger to push Chris Spencer (or replace his underachieving ass altogether), a tough, athletic and smart QB prospect in Mike Teel (he willed Rutgers to a bowl game this year after a 1-5 start). Plus, they picked up an additional 1st round pick next year.
Well done, Ruskell. How many days till training camp?
-By the way, Max Unger will also be the name of the new death metal band I'm starting with Nirvana's Krist Novaselic, the old guitarist for Soundgarden, Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie and the two bald dudes who played two-stringed guitars from the Presidents of the United States of America.
-That's the old Washedupburn we've been missing all season. Good to have you back and keeping our expectations low.
-Great pro hoops yesterday, starting with an absolute thriller of a double-OT game between Celtics and Bulls (Ray Allen = clutch; Paul Pierce = half-clutch, for every time he come up big, he blows it) and then ending with a tough loss for my Blazers in Houston, bringing B-Roy and Nate to the brink of elimination.
-I'm trying to be a Sounders fan. Really, I'm trying. Why is this so hard! They won again on Saturday and Kasey Keller is dominating betweent he pipes at the age of 57. Not sure if this reflects well on Keller and the Sounders or badly on the state of talent in the MLS. (This week, Wetland promises to investigate the Sounders blogosphere and get all the inside goo on our city's newest pro franchise. We'll publish our findings on Saturday.)
-Despite the wishy-Washy performance last night, I believe the M's can win the division if Felix and Bedard stay healthy and productive all season, mostly because the rest of our division sucks. But also because Griffey has reinvented himself at 39 as the team's dirty old uncle, keeping the team loose and well-stocked with porn and cheap beer for the rest of the season.
-Lucky, interesting and productive draft for the Seahawks.
Lucky in that stud LB Aaron Curry, perhaps the best player int the draft fell to them at number 4.
Interesting in that it allowed the team to remove the franchise tag from the disgruntled and oft-injured LB Leroy Hill. Hill still might re-sign with the team, but if he doesn't, it frees up $8.3 million to go after a free agent, like a safety who can actually tackle (Yes, I'm talking to you Brian Russell) or cover somebody (Mr. Grant, you're old and slow and your days are numbered).
Productive in that we picked up speed at receiver in Deon Butler, a versatile center in Max Unger to push Chris Spencer (or replace his underachieving ass altogether), a tough, athletic and smart QB prospect in Mike Teel (he willed Rutgers to a bowl game this year after a 1-5 start). Plus, they picked up an additional 1st round pick next year.
Well done, Ruskell. How many days till training camp?
-By the way, Max Unger will also be the name of the new death metal band I'm starting with Nirvana's Krist Novaselic, the old guitarist for Soundgarden, Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie and the two bald dudes who played two-stringed guitars from the Presidents of the United States of America.
-That's the old Washedupburn we've been missing all season. Good to have you back and keeping our expectations low.
-Great pro hoops yesterday, starting with an absolute thriller of a double-OT game between Celtics and Bulls (Ray Allen = clutch; Paul Pierce = half-clutch, for every time he come up big, he blows it) and then ending with a tough loss for my Blazers in Houston, bringing B-Roy and Nate to the brink of elimination.
-I'm trying to be a Sounders fan. Really, I'm trying. Why is this so hard! They won again on Saturday and Kasey Keller is dominating betweent he pipes at the age of 57. Not sure if this reflects well on Keller and the Sounders or badly on the state of talent in the MLS. (This week, Wetland promises to investigate the Sounders blogosphere and get all the inside goo on our city's newest pro franchise. We'll publish our findings on Saturday.)
-Despite the wishy-Washy performance last night, I believe the M's can win the division if Felix and Bedard stay healthy and productive all season, mostly because the rest of our division sucks. But also because Griffey has reinvented himself at 39 as the team's dirty old uncle, keeping the team loose and well-stocked with porn and cheap beer for the rest of the season.
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