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.