Century Link Field, Seattle WA

Century Link Field, Seattle WA

Friday, September 14, 2012

PREVIEW: Cowboys @ Hawks

 
 
After watching coaches tape of the Arizona game (thank you NFL Rewind!), I'm more encouraged than I was immediately afterwards.  But... isn't that always the case?  If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm an optimist; one who's often torn between the emotional reactions of a lifelong fan, and the football-geek, analytical part of me that wants to find answers.  Typically, emotion rules on gameday but by Monday I'm trying to find silver linings. 
 
The biggest frustration last week for me was the inability, or unwillingness, of the Hawks to work down the field.  Was it Darell Bevell taking it easy on his first-time-starting rookie QB?  Was it the rookie QB fighting nerves? Were our receivers failing to get separation? Or was it just the result of an aggressive, talented Cardinal defense playing well at home?
 
Most likely.... all of the above.
 
Initially I was cursing Bevell for completely ignoring the middle of the field  Of the 40 times Russell Wilson dropped back to throw, only 5 times did he throw the ball between the hashmarks.  But after watching the tape, I can't lay all the blame on the play-caller.  There were receivers open on virtually every play, many of them over the middle. Wilson either didn't see them, or didn't have time to see them.  Let's hope it was more of the latter.  Still, I'd like to see more crossing routes, slants, and use of the TE moving foward. 
 
There's enough evidence that Wilson is willing and able to throw the ball down the seam, so I'm not worried about any reluctance he may have had in Arizona.  It's one of the qualities I look for in young quarterbacks, and one that I think is a real strength of Wilson's game.  No matter how good we all think Wilson can be, the game still needs to slow down for him.  Seahawks play-by-play guy Steve Raible said Wilson watched the game tape twice during the 2.5 hour flight home.  He saw the open receivers.  He will adjust.
 
Last year when Seattle travelled to Dallas they lost 23-13.  Tarvaris Jackson threw 3 INT's, but if you recall...this is where Tom Cable's zone blocking scheme started to jell, and the running game kicked into a new gear.  Marshawn Lynch managed 135 yards on 23 carries, on his way to 941 yards over his last 9 games.  The Seahawks will need to do that to have a chance on Sunday against the Cowboys devastating pass rush.  Dallas racked up 3 sacks, 5 tackles for loss and a couple other pressures against the Giants in their opener.  They will attempt to harass Wilson and force mistakes.  To beat the Cowboys, however, Wilson will have to be efficient but can't afford to be too conservative.  He will need to take some shots down the field.  The Giants averaged 4.3 yards per rush against Dallas.  A similar output by the Hawks would go a long way towards setting up the play-action passing game. 
 
Meanwhile, Demarco Murray rushed for 139 yards against us last year, and the Seahawks rushing defense will have to stand up on Sunday and force Tony Romo and his talented group of receivers into 3rd and long situations.  Murray can be a load.  Long runs must be limited.
 
This is a huge test.  The Cowboys have significantly upgraded their defensive backfield, the most glaring weakness from a year ago.  Their front 7 is as disruptive as any in the league, and the skill position players on offense are unusually healthy.  And when they're healthy.... they are really good.    The Seahawks defense will be tested at every level, and they'll need to limit long drives and come up with a turnover or two to help our young quarterback.  The Cowboys interior offensive line had some struggles in New York, and C Phil Costa has missed practive time this week, that could present an opportunity for our front.  The 12th man needs to be exceptionally loud and make it tough on that Dallas O-line.  If we can get a short field once or twice, we could get this one.
 
If Dallas comes in here and wins, don't panic.  Yes, we are a team with playoff aspirations, but also one with a rookie QB.  This team is being built for the long-run, and will get better as the year moves forward. 
 
But.... if we can stand up and get this one, it would make a huge statement about where the ceiling is for this squad. 
 
Warming up my voice now....


Friday, September 7, 2012

PREVIEW: Hawks at Cardinals

 
That deafening buzz you hear emanating from the Puget Sound region these days is a growing sentiment among Seahawk fans (both loyal and bandwagon-ish) that there's something good on the horizon for the home team.  After enduring over 500 player transactions during the first 3 offseasons of the Pete Carroll/John Schneider regime, the Hawks have amassed one of the more dynamic young talent cores in the NFL, and appears poised to make a run at a playoff spot.

But much of that buzz earned it's momentum via the mercurial performance of diminutive rookie QB Russell Wilson, so it needs to be tempered with a healthy dose of reality.  No matter how gifted they are, rookie quarterbacks will struggle.  Remember John Elway's 7/14 TD/INT ratio as a rookie? How about Peyton Manning throwing 28 picks his first year?

Mark it down.... Wilson will have bad games, and there will certainly be times when a restless fan base desperate for a winner will call out for Matt Flynn to get his shot.  But Carroll has an intense belief in Wilson and his special attributes, primarily his ability to lead in the face of adversity.  He'll let him fail, and give him a chance to respond. 

As I look ahead to this week's opener at Arizona, however, I'm not even thinking about the risks of pitting a rookie QB starting his first regular season game against a defense that should rank among the more troublesome in the league.  Maybe it's because I believe our running game will control the clock and allow Wilson to sustain long drives.  Or maybe I just believe Wilson is that good, and between his mobility and play-action, he'll hit on enough chunk plays to keep the Cardinals on their heels.

But mostly, it's because I see this Sunday as a coronation of sorts; a culmination of a 3 year construction project on defense.  The Cardinals offense is a mess, with both starting tackles on IR and a quarterback that didn't win the QB job as much as he was deemed the lesser of two evils.  Arizona isn't going to be able to run against the Seahawks, and John Skelton is going to struggle trying to make plays downfield with Chris Clemons, Bruce Irvin, Jason Jones, K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner breathing down his neck.  Seattle's big, physical secondary will take rookie Michael Floyd out of the game, and while Larry Fitzgerald will make a play or two, he'll mostly be a non-factor. 

This will be a coming-out party for the Seahawks defense.  They gave us a glimpse of what they could be during the second half of the 2011 season, but Sunday they will send a message to the Cardinals, as well as the 49ers and the rest of the league, that their playoff hopes are much more than a pipe dream. 

Expectations still need to be tempered; the early schedule is daunting.  But we get the Cowboys, Packers and Patriots at home during that stretch, and this defense is going to be good enough to keep us in every game.  Even a 2-4 or 3-3 start shouldn't dampen anyone's enthusiasm, as I believe this team will improve as the year advances.  There are questions on offense, with Wilson's learning curve and the unsettled receiving corps chief among them, but what better way to allow that offense to develop than having a defensive unit that can control a game?

It's been a long time since I felt this confident going into a Seahawks opener.

This is going to be a fun year.

Seahawks 31, Cardinals 13

Friday, March 16, 2012

Did Buffalo Do The Seahawks A Favor By Signing Mario Williams?


Seahawk fans wanted Mario Williams.  He was their Prince Fielder. 

"I don't care how much money it takes! We NEED Mario Williams or we will never win again!"

It gets old, but that's just the typical fan mentality.  So be it. I submit that the Buffalo Bills did us a HUGE favor by signing Williams.

Prior to the move, Buffalo was going to take a DE in the draft.  All the mocks had Quinton Coples, Melvin Ingram or *gasp* Courtney Upshaw going there, all possible targets of the Seahawks who have openly discussed their desire to bolster the pass rush through this year's draft class.  Upshaw...Upshaw...Upshaw...Upshawwwwww.....

Now, who knows where the Bills go in the draft, but they probably won't be taking one of those guys, leaving more options for Seattle at #12.  Upshaw!

(One of the more intriguing options for the Bills now is Ryan Tannehill, but that's another subject for another post...... like the one I just wrote for NFL Mocks at http://nflmocks.com/2012/03/16/seahawks-angling-for-tannehill/)

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The Case For Peyton Manning (aka: I Can't Believe What I'm About To Write)

For months we've been hearing that Peyton Manning could be a free agent this Spring, and for months we've had to endure Seahawk fans clamoring for him to resume his career in the Pacific Northwest. 

I heard the cries, and I tuned them out.  Hell, I HATED the idea.

No way, would Peyton Manning want to come to Seattle.

No way, would Pete Carroll and John Schneider shelve their rebuilding plan to hitch their wagon to a guy who's too old, too expensive, and too much of an injury risk.

No way, did I want him.

But I'm here to tell you I'm coming around. 

Fuck that, I'm all in.

What changed my mind?  First of all, some of the sports writers I respect the most are saying they have knowledge of the Seahawks legitimate interest in Manning.  Secondly..... I'm a lifelong Seahawks fan, and I want to win. 

And.... it's Peyton Freaking Manning!!!!

For those of you who don't know me, or haven't read my stuff, you know that I'm usually a big-picture kind of guy.  Don't sell the farm, don't bet the house, don't eschew long-term sustained success for short-term gain born out of panic or impatience. 

It's now my opinion that signing Manning would NOT be a sign that Carroll and Schneider are doing any of that.  I believe they thought it would take longer to reshape the roster the way they wanted to; younger, bigger, faster, stronger, more physical.  They're ahead of schedule.  So much so, that the stage could be perfectly set for Manning to A) Succeed in Seattle and B) Want to come here.

The defense is young, and well on it's way to being one of the league's best.  The offensive line was reshaped last year and looked like a solid unit the last 8 games of 2011, and together with Marshawn Lynch can provide something Manning has never enjoyed in his storied career, a bruising running game. There are weapons at WR and TE.  But most of all I believe that once Manning has done his research on potential landing spots (and does anyone think for a minute that he hasn't already?) that he'll see a rising, young General Manager who is proving himself to be a premier finder of talent. 

Are you ready for me Seattle?
And that might just be the factor that turned me around on this issue as I tried to wrap my head around the reality of it all.  Would a Peyton Manning contract be seen as a potential albatross by some?  Of course it will, but it shouldn't be.  Franchise QB's cost money, lots of it, but the Seahawks under Schneider have proven they can find talent anywhere; late rounds of the draft, off the streets, Canada.  It would be crucial for any team signing Manning to be sure they also identify and acquire a young QB to groom as a successor should his career end prematurely, but as for the rest of the roster, the Seahawks have depth, balance, and talented youth.  They have an owner willing and capable of spending whatever is needed to win, and they're smart, extremely smart in how they structure contracts and manage their salary structure.  Worst case scenario is Manning comes here, isn't 100%, doesn't take us to a Super Bowl, and we have to move on.  But I am convinced the rest of our roster would still be in great shape even if that were to happen. 

We can talk later about other scenarios; what to do if we sign him and he doesn't pan out, how to back him up if he does, or Plan B if we take a shot at him and he goes elsewhere. 

For today, I'm going to entertain the possibility that Manning to Seattle really could happen, tune out the cynics and the naysayers, and just sit back and watch it all unfold. 

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Mock Draft -- Version 1

No trades, and no lenghty scouting reports.  Just my view on how the first round is going to look. 

Any shockers?  Probably not, but check out my thoughts on what Cleveland might do, and remember..... you heard it here first!
Andrew Luck
1) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS -- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
 I don't care how the Colts choose to handle the Peyton Manning situation, this is the biggest no-brainer since.....1998? Maybe, but even then there were a lot of GM's who thought Ryan Leaf had a bigger upside.  There is some similar buzz around Robert Griffin III right now, but it's not nearly as loud.  Luck is the pick and will start from Day 1.

2) ST. LOUIS RAMS -- Matt Kalil, OT, USC
This pick could be more valuable as a trade chip, but if they stand pat the Rams will finally grab a LT capable of holding down the position for a decade. 

3) MINNESOTA VIKINGS -- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
The Vikings need all they help they can get covering the elite receivers in their division.  Claiborne is an instant upgrade. 

4) CLEVELAND BROWNS -- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
I know I'm in the minority, but I don't think Griffin is the ideal fit here.  Mike Holmgren took a QB with a similar skill set in Seneca Wallace and virtually neutered him in Seattle, conditioning him to stay in the pocket and never use his talented legs.  Ryan Tannehill is more in the mold of Matt Hasselbeck, ran a West Coast offense at Texas A&M, and might make more sense.  I could see the Browns trading down, but because I'm not projecting trades, I'll go with the consensus pick here and probably the guy who would be the target of any other club trading up to #4.

5) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS -- Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
There are needs on defense, but the Bucs have to get Josh Freeman an elite talent at WR. Blackmon fills that need.

6) WASHINGTON REDSKINS -- Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
At some point, Mike Shanahan is going to have to mold a young QB in D.C.  I don't get all the Tannehill detractors.  Looks like a quality starter to me. 

7) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS -- Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
Questions about the consistency of his motor, but no questioning his upside.  Shining at Senior Bowl practices.

8) CAROLINA PANTHERS -- David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
WR is a need but no one projects this high, unless Blackmon slides.  DeCastro will protect Cam Newton and blow holes open for him and his talented backs. 

9) MIAMI DOLPHINS -- Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
I'm projecting Miami to land Matt Flynn, so the QB need is filled.  Richardson is an elite talent, and the perfect compliment to Reggie Bush.  Instantly, the Dolphins take a quantum leap forward on offense.

10) BUFFALO BILLS -- Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
Shorter than ideal for a DE, but intense, versatile, and gets to the passer.

Courtney Upshaw
11) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS -- Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
 Every down LB fills a need for the Hawks rising young defense.   Plays the run well and can  really get after the quarterback.

12)  KANSAS CITY CHIEFS -- Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
The Chiefs go OL again, but this time find a legitimate LT.  Brandon Albert moves to RT or inside.

13)  ARIZONA CARDINALS -- Reily Reiff, OT, Iowa
      
14)  DALLAS COWBOYS -- Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
If anyone is going to be willing to look past Kirkpatricks recent legal issues, it could be Jerry Jones.  Best player on the board and he fills a need.

15)  PHILADELPHIA EAGLES -- Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
Best MLB in the draft fills a gaping hole for the Eagles.

16)  N.Y. JETS -- Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
If the Jets are going to stick with Mark Sanchez, they have to give him some weapons.  Floyd has good size and can separate.

17)  CINCINNATI BENGALS -- Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
Bengals rising defense needs help in their back 7.  The former Florida Gator is showing off his      pure cover skills in Mobile this week.

18)  SAN DIEGO CHARGERS -- Mark Barron, S, Alabama
Bob Sanders had nothing left.  Barron is the best safety in the draft and along with Eric Weddle       will anchor the Bolts back end for years to come. 

19)  CHICAGO BEARS -- Kendal Wright, WR, Baylor
Jay Cutler needs weapons.  Check!

20)  TENNESSEE TITANS -- Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
Young, with tons of upside.  Should develop into a disruptive force.

21)  CINCINNATI BENGALS -- Nick Perry, DE, USC
Marvin Lewis is putting the finishing touches on a dynamic young defense.  Perry can really rush the passer.

22)  ATLANTA FALCONS -- Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama
That's FIVE Crimson Tide players in the Top 22. 

    
23)  DETROIT LIONS -- Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Finally, the Lions address their secondary.

24)  PITTSBURGH STEELERS -- Devon Still, DT, Penn State
Excellent value here, and the Steelers need to get younger up front.

25)  DENVER BRONCOS -- Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
With Decker and Thomas on the outside, Tebow can use a dynamic TE like Fleener to provide a safety valve, but Fleener can stretch the field also.  Gronkowsi-like upside.

Alshon Jeffery
26)  HOUSTON TEXANS -- Alshon Jefferey, WR, South Carolina
A worthy compliment to Andre Johnson.

27)  NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS -- Fletcher Cox, DE, Mississippi State
Here we go, Bill Belichick reshapes the defense, and he gets multiple  picks to get it done.

28)  GREEN BAY PACKERS -- Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
Tough, local, and fills a need.

29)  BALTIMORE RAVENS -- Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina
Great fit in the Ravens 3-4.  Speed to burn from the edge.

30)  SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS -- Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
A bit raw, but immediately upgrades the 49ers receiving corps.

31)  NY GIANTS -- Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
Reunited with his college teammate Prince Amukamara.

32)  NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS -- Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall
      

  

Monday, January 23, 2012

Senior Bowl -- Potential Seahawk Targets

Thanks to the NFL Network, Senior Bowl week has become must-see TV for diehard college football geeks and closet scouts alike.  Every practice is televised and analyzed, and we get to hear the awesome Mike Mayock give us his insights.  Remember when the Hula Bowl and the Shrine Game were just as big as the Senior Bowl? Well no more.  Now, this game stands above them all, primarily because it's the only one that utilizes current NFL coaches to run the teams.  The best part of that?  Getting to see spread-system college QB's taking snaps from under center, dropping back, and having to make NFL reads against quality competition. 

All this week I'll be training my eye on possible targets for the Seahawks.  Not just guys that I think could fit into the first round picture, but anyone who might fit our current needs and schemes. 

Before the players even hit the field, here are a few areas I'm keeping my eye on:



1) The Quarterbacks:  Yep, ALL of them.  It's a shame Ryan Tannehill got hurt, but because he played under center a lot in a system run by former NFL Head Coach Mike Sherman, he probably had the least to prove this week in Mobile.  Nick Foles, Brandon Weeden, Ryan Lindley, Kellen Moore and Russell Wilson are all intriguing guys who played in spread-shotgun systems.  I'm anxious to see who seperates themself from the pack this week.  This is where Christian Ponder started to make his move up draft boards last Winter. 



2)  The pass-rushers:  Courtney Upshaw, Quinton Coples, Nick Perry, Melvin Ingram, Andre Branch, Zach Brown..... It doesn't seem like this year's class is full of elite talent, but the group is varied and intriguing.  Because the Senior Bowl limits blitzing and stunting during the game, it will be interesting to see who among this group stands out going man-up against some of the better offensive linemen in the country. 



3)  Running backs:  With all the focus on Marshawn Lynch's impending free agency, one of the things no one seems to be discussing is the Seahawks glaring need for a quality complimentary back.  Washington and Forsett are both situational backs, and Forsett probably won't be back (his contract is expiring.)  With the Hawks emphasis on a physical running game keying their late-season resurgence, and looking like the blueprint they intend to follow moving forward, a more physical, versatile back is needed to spell and compliment Beastmode.  Finding someone who can run between the tackles, pick up blitzes in the passing game, and catch a ball out of the backfield, has to be a huge priority this offseason.  Two of the most interesting backs in this game are also two of the most local, and I think either Boise State's Doug Martin or UW's Chris Polk could be a solid fit in Seattle.  I'm not as familiar with some of the other backs in the game, so this will be a valuable fact-finding week in that regard. 

There are other needs, obviously.  With their penchant for finding young talent and fostering competition, it will never surprise me which direction Jon Schneider and Pete Carroll choose to go on draft day.  Any CB over 5-11 will be evaluated, as will any game-breaking WR or lineman capable of playing multiple spots.  But I believe the three most glaring needs are the ones listed above.

Friday, January 13, 2012

"Just Say No" to Matt Flynn

It's all the rage these days, you know.

Seemingly, everyone is on the Matt Flynn Bandwagon.

Even before all of this, as far back as August 15th on this very blog I speculated that Matt Flynn could very well be the Seahawks long-term answer at QB. 

As I sit here today, I'm not completely sure that he isn't the answer.  I just know that I don't want him to be.

I've watched the replay of his record-setting start against the Lions in Week #17; watched it a few times.  Pause, play, pause, play..... rewind...... play.

Pause.

Matt Flynn might very well be a fine starting QB in the NFL for a long time, but can he be elite?  I just don't think so.  For that reason, I'm now fully in favor of identifying, drafting and developing our own.

Flynn does a lot of things well.  He's decisive, accurate and gets the ball out quick, spreading it around to all of his available weapons.  But as I watched him against the Lions I couldn't help thinking this was a guy who's been preparing 16 weeks for this one start.  And, everything went his way in that game.  His banged-up offensive line kept him relatively clean, and some balls he put up for grabs ended up as spectacular catches for touchdowns. I'm talking to you Jordy Nelson.  He also threw one VERY bad interception, and had two others dropped that would have looked equally horrific on the highlight tape, and might have changed the very outcome of the game. 

But most of all, the reason I don't endorse bringing in Matt Flynn can best be summed up this way:  The guy taking snaps for the OTHER team that day.

I'm watching Flynn and I'm seeing a guy with a short arm, who shot puts the ball and looks like he has to have everything moving in the right direction to make a strong throw.  Then Matt Stafford comes out and flicks his wrist and the ball is 40 yards down field on a line for a big gain.  I didn't see Flynn throw into any tight windows, while Stafford was living in them.  The reality is, Flynn had a lot of wide open receivers to throw to. 

I can hear the rebuttals already; "But Stafford was the top overall pick!"  I realize that.  But as much as this QB draft at one time looked like it was going to be stocked with ready-to-play blue-chip prospects, now it's looking more and more like the high-ceiling-developmental-guy draft. 

And I think that plays right into the hands of Jon Schneider and Pete Carroll.

They take pride in finding young talent, and they trust their scouting process implicitly.  They will never draft a player because the consensus is he's the best player available, or bow to public pressure.

This draft is now littered with young, intriguing QB's who, provided they're properly nurtured and trained, have much higher ceilings than Matt Flynn.  Chandler Harnish, Brock Osweiler, The Ryans (Tannehill and Lindley) and Nick Foles are all  guys who could be there for the taking.  All are at least a full season away from being game-ready, but each possesses an exciting skill-set.  Some would require using a first round choice, others could be had in the 2nd or later.

At this point, my preferred course of action is to draft a develop our own QB.  It may take a little longer for it to click, and I suspect that's why a lot of fans are in favor of The Flynn Option; they're impatient and hungry for a winner.  I get that, I am too..... but I want to win a LOT, and for a long time.  It has to be done right.

Regardless of how you feel about Tavaris Jackson, he's really the ideal bridge QB, and once the running game got going last year it was clear we can win with him while we wait for our young QB to be ready.  Think Jon Kitna/Carson Palmer.  Draft one of the guys I mentioned, and sit him.  Have him be inactive on game day.  DO NOT play him until he's ready. 

We could all reap the benefits for years to come.

Friday, January 6, 2012

My New Man Crush --- THIS Guy!


It may not garner a lot of national attention, but Arizona State Junior Brock Osweiler is going to announce his intentions today to enter the 2012 NFL Draft.

And I say...... HELL YES!!!!!

Over the last couple of weeks it's been nothing but bad news when it comes to the Seahawks chances of landing that elusive "Next Franchise Quarterback."  Matt Barkley is staying in school, Landry Jones first showed himself to not be worthy of a 1st round pick and then took his name out of the hat altogether, RGIII rocketed to the top of the draft board, and Matt Flynn stepped out of the shadows and vastly increased his potential contract value by blowing up the Lions in week #17. 

We needed some good news, and it came in the form of Osweiler.

No long film breakdown here, just my quick thoughts:

If you don't know who Brock Osweiler is, look him up.  The first thing you'll find is that he's tall.  REALLY tall.  6' 8" tall.  This is where, if you're a lifelong Seahawk fan, you'll stop reading and vow to never come back to my blog EVER again.  We tried drafting a 6' 8" QB once right?  And now we have to be reminded of that every time we see Dan McGwire in one of those Greatest Draft Busts Ever lists.  Well, McGwire was a bad pick, pure and simple.  I remember my first time covering Seahawks training camp and getting to see him throw up close.  He threw like a girl.  Seriously..... you know the way a girl curls her wrist up and then tries to spin a ball out to make it spiral?  That's the way McGwire threw a football.  It was gross.  But just because he failed has absolutely no bearing on the future success of other tall quarterbacks. 

And this is no normal tall quarterback. 

This guy isn't just an athlete, but he was a good enough basketball player that he originally accepted a hoop scholarship to GONZAGA before changing his mind and heading to ASU to commit to football.  Last fall, he even announced that he would be joining Herb Sendek's Sun Devil basketball team after football season was over, but I could find no written or visual evidence that he ever did.

Still, put on the tape and you'll see this guy is a great athlete.  Usually taller QB's struggle with footwork, but Osweiler is outstanding at whipping his feet around and getting in position to throw after a play-action fake.  As you would hope from a guy his size, he has a big arm, and his footwork is so good that he's consistently accurate in the short, intermediate and deep game.  You'll hear about how he changed his delivery last year with the help of ASU O.C. Noel Mazzone, and now it's extremely compact and quick. He appears on tape to survey the entire field and go to his secondary reads quickly and decisively when his primary target is covered.  And best of all, he hangs in the pocket and stands strong even when he knows he's about to get hit, a quality I look for and one that is crucial in a young QB (I'm talking to you Blaine Gabbert.)

 In short, he is the whole package.  I've seen one draft expert already refer to him as the "Most physically gifted QB in the draft not named Andrew Luck." 

So, what's wrong with him and why is he being projected as a 2nd or 3rd round pick at this point?  Call it the Mark Sanchez Factor.  He only has 15 starts under his belt.  He will show in inexperience at times by forcing a ball into coverage. 

So what?

What the Seahawks need to acquire is a young QB with the elusive "upside" you hear so much about.  A kid with a high ceiling.  Want to throw a bunch of money at Matt Flynn?  Fine, but what you see is what you get, and as much as I like Flynn, I'm not sure you're ever going to get anything close to an elite QB with him.  Hitching your wagon to Brock Osweiler might be higher risk, but if you do it right you can have a true elite QB.  And it has a lot more to do with how pretty a spiral you can spin.  Spend some time on YouTube and check this kid out.  Not just his highlights, but his interviews.  He has a way about him.  He's articulate, funny, a little cocky, and definitely carries himself with a dynamic quality that is sure to excite the fanbase and hopefully his teammates in the locker room. 

He's only 22, he's just begun to tap his vast potential  Let him sit behind Jackson and Portis for a year, and hand him the reigns in 2013.  He could be a 10-year answer at the position.

Best of all, he looks a lot like the late Quiet Riot singer Kevin Dubrow, which is pretty damn cool.

So far I've taken a close look at Ryan Tannehill (writeup to come), Austin Davis (likely a middle to late round pick) Griffin and Osweiler.  I still haven't watched the Packers vs. Lions replay from start to finish, nor have I seen enough of Nick Foles to make a judgement, but at this point I prefer Osweiler to all of them.  As a junior, he won't play in the Senior Bowl, but with his skillset he could rocket up draft boards with a good combine and/or personal workouts. 

So at this point I'm suggesting that this kid could be our FIRST round pick.  Certainly a lot can change over the next few months, but whether you agree with my assessment of Osweiler or not, his mere presence in this draft adds another intriguing option to the mix, and bolsters the Seahawks draft position in regards.

This QB thing just got a whole lot more interesting.