Daily Dan Sports Blog

Pete Carroll and John Schneider – You have my attention!

This team didn’t do a heck of a lot in the off-season leading in to the draft other than disperse with players that didn’t fit this organization anymore (Rob Sims, Deion Grant, Daryl Tapp), trade for a backup QB that nobody heard of,  and lose their best playmaker (Nate Burleson). The last 3 days have changed everything.

DRAFT:

- Picked up the Left Tackle of the future to replace Walter Jones. Russell Okung is exactly what the doctor, and Matt Hasselbeck ordered.

- Drafted a new starting safety from Texas who will be a playmaker in the defensive backfield. Earl Thomas is an excellent pickup for the defense.

- Replaced Burleson with Notre Dame’s Golden Tate. This is a guy who can make plays after catching the ball, and be a special teams stud.

- Drafted a cornerback, defensive end, safety, and tight end to add competition and depth.

TRADE

- Traded for RB LenDale White from Tennessee. This reunites White with his USC coach, Carroll. White was a decent back in the league before Chris Johnson exploded on the scene. This is potentially a huge pickup and worth the risk for mid-round picks.

- Picked up an exciting playmaker in Leon Washington. Yes, he’s recovering from a injury, but the potential again is huge. You give up very little for the chance that this guy could be the same player he was for the Jets.

- Traded for DE Kevin Vickerson. I know nothing of him, but we do need D-Line help.

You may have seen the end of Julius Jones behind #8, especially if Washington can return. Justin Forsett won’t have to carry all the load which is a good thing for him.

Let’s be crazy for just a second.  Close your eyes and imagine a healthy Hasselbeck; a revamped and improved O-Line due to Okung and Alex Gibbs’s coaching; a RB corp featuring White, Washington, and Forsett; a WR corp with Housh, an improved Deion Branch (remember we’re being crazy here); an improved Deion Butler, and Golden Tate; and even a slightly better defense…

The NFC West is up for grabs. I’m not talking Super Bowl. I’m talking NFC West. With health and luck, well you never know!

© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

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Well, I’m glad I amended my picks right before the draft. The Hawks did very well picking up “Big Daddy” Russell Okung from Oklahoma State, and safety, Earl Thomas from Texas. Two big needs and two stud players. Now they need to get signed, into camp on time, and be coached up.

Before that though, the Hawks brass has more work. This is just the start. Great teams are built in the draft and getting diamonds in every round is what needs to happen now. The success of this season and the coming ones will hinge not on the truly no-brainer picks they made on Thursday, bit on the tougher ones they make from here on in.

© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

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I love the NFL Draft. I remember being a teenager in the mid-1980′s and getting up at 5:00 am on a Tuesday morning to turn on ESPN to watch the draft live. Chris Berman, Tom Jackson, and even Mel Kiper Jr. were all there. Now, it’s on Prime Time. Unfortunately for me, I can’t watch it live due to a school board meeting. It fgure the year the Hawks have two picks in the first 14, I’m stuck discussing budget in a middle school library. My daughter will be texting me (I raised her right).

‘m not going to pretend I know more than Todd McShay and the aforementioned Mel Kiper on who goes where. However, I do have my druthers on who the Seahawks pick. Here is my "Big Bard" for them (just in case Pete Carroll is reading my Tweets):

1 – Russell Okung OT – The best of the left tackles. He can step in immediately and fill Walter Jones’s shoes (ot at least break them in). If he’s gone…

2 – Trent Williams OT – The next best tackle, but still worthy of this high a pick. Another guy who ca fill a tremendous need. #8 will be happy with either. If they are both gone…

3 – Eric Berry S – This guy sounds like Kenny Easley reincarnated. Everyone I hear talk about him says he can’t miss playmaker on defense. We only have two safeties, so also a huge need.

With the 6th pick, I can’t imagine all three are gone. If they are, someone has fallen and probably a great pick at this spot.

As far as the #14 selection, here are a few names I would love to see if available. If Berry is selected, it must be the next level of tackles. If a tackle went, then one of the others…

- CJ Spiller RB, Derek Morgan DE, Anthony Davis OT, Bryan Bulaga OT, Dez White WR

If two of these names surface by around 6:30 this evening and include taking care of the o-line, I’m a happy guy. And of course, that’s all that matters right?

My best guess goes like this – #6 Eric Berry and #14 Anthony Johnson. Why? Because I think the top 2 tackles will be off the board; Kansas City will take one of them leaving Eric Berry available.

What do you think?

© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

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I listened to Ndamukong Suh on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike yesterday. This dude is probably the best player in the draft and maybe the sharpest. He graduated from Nebraska with an engineering degree and now announced that he is donating $2.6M back to Nebraska for scholarships for engineering students and athletes. He is well spoken, bright, and well-rounded.

Just the kind of guy any team would want on their team. Too bad he won’t be around by the 6th pick for the Hawks…

© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

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Today’s news that Brandon Marshall was traded to the Miami Dolphins is a good one for Seattle. We have too many holes to fill and the draft is the only way to go. Goal #1 should be to keep Matt Hasselbeck upright. Goal #2 should be to open some holes for running backs. Goal #3 is pressure on the opposing QB. We have three picks in the first 60. Pick your poison.

Here are a few thoughts:

• I remember when the NFL draft was on a Tuesday morning at 5:00 am Pacific. I actually used to get up and watch it. Nearly 30 years later, Chris Berman and Mel Kiper Jr. are still there, but it will be on Prime Time Thursday night. How times have changed…
• Patrick Kerney retired today. Repeat after me – no more old defensive ends! Please…
• Do we really think the Hawks would consider Tennessee’s Eric Berry at safety with the first pick? I hope not – it’s got to be a big, athletic offensive tackle.

© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

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