Running Back Week: Joe McKnight

Hey, I'm not complaining, and please do continue with the college player analysis, but there is an entire blog with three writers already devoted to the subject.

http://seahawksdraft.blogspot.com/

You many want to link to what they've already done along with your analysis.

What we don't have anywhere is any good analysis of available free agents. I know the pickings are slimmer this year, but there are a few significant possibilities. One addict to another.

If this guy is available in the third or fourth round, I want him. Matthews would fit as a complement to Forsett better, but he will likely be gone by the third.

McKnight has the Chris JOhnson-like speed we all crave, with extra size to boot. IF he's there in the fouth, we gotta take him. If he's even in the third, we better trade up and get him. He's worth it.

I'm sorry some people may like the seahawksdraft blog mentioned above, but personally I dont agree with either one of the two picks for the seahawks. Frist off our secondary is TERRIBLE! There is no way in hell, Eric Berry falls all the way to San Fran. I dont think he will get past us. We need secondary help and someone with his talent and skill set wont fall that far. I dont see in any way the seahawks taking a QB this year. I think matt is perfactly fine and if we sure up the OL then he can get back to doing what he has done best in years past. Why pick a QB at 6 if we dont have the line to protect him. I see us taking OL men with both of our 1st round picks before we ever take a QB.

That's just my opinion.

I got to thinking about PC. Being a pac ten guy or from the USC schedule, is there some backs that he got to see that he might be interested in?

HawksovermyMarriage,
The reason to take a QB in this draft is because Hasselbeck is on the last year of his contract and it will not be renewed, Carroll knows we need to find a QB to be groomed for atleast a year on the sideline before putting putting him out on the field and starting the season. It is VERY risky to start rookie QB's for your team as you have a huge chance of ruining them and their confidence by starting them too soon.

Also, how do you know Eric Berry will fall to us at the no. 6 spot? People are touting him as the best player in this draft and I think even the Bucs may take him at #3.

"I'm sorry some people may like the seahawksdraft blog mentioned above, but personally I dont agree with either one of the two picks for the seahawks

Clearly you are not familiar with the Seahawks draft blog. They generally don't get stuck on one particular prediction and explore numerous different possibilities. Soon they will surely post a new mock with no QB pick.

You do seem to be at odds not only with their current mock, but with probably every other single person on earth if you think the Seahawks have any chance at all of drafting two offensive lineman with their first two picks. I partly agree with you that QB is too high risk of a pick with the #6 pick, compared to a DB or DL they could probably get with that pick. But if Bradford, say, fell to #14 and the Seahawks felt strongly that his shoulder would be okay, I could see them taking him. Not likely, I know, but you shouldn't just confine yourself to sources of information that completely agree with you. If you do you will never learn anything more than you know right now. Besides, the mock draft they do there is only a small part of what they do.

Here, for example, is an easily accessed link to info about Joe McKnight, after Staton watched him last season:

http://seahawksdraft.blogspot.com/2009/09/joe-mcknight-makes-statement.html

JohnnyB is right, the Seahawks Draft Blog is an amazing resource. They have broken down countless players (from a Seattle perspective) and provided some interesting scenarios for their mocks. In reference to their mocks, they have had many and each presents a different set of assumptions and avenues that the Hawks could take. It's always a good read, even though you may not agree with each mock. They also keep the reader updated on all the major mocks around the net and who Kiper, McShay, Walter Football, etc. has the Hawks picking. Good stuff.

P.S. I still like hearing from you guys at Seahawks Addicts. The more info and perspectives the better.

The reason to take a QB in this draft is because Hasselbeck is on the last year of his contract and it will not be renewed

What makes you think it won't be renewed? If it is renewed then the Seahawks will be in about the same position the Cardinals were in when they acquired a QB of the same age Hass will be, Kurt Warner. Imagine what the Cardinals would have done in the Superbowl if, instead of a high priced bust QB sucking up cap space and bench space, they had picked up a sack specialist with that high draft pick. They would all be wearing Super Bowl rings.

It is VERY risky to start rookie QB's for your team..

It is also very risky to draft them in the first place with high draft picks, as the Cardinals are discovering. Their entire future now depends upon a bust.

QB's are a risk whenever you draft them. However they are more likely to pan out if taken in the early portions of the draft. That is where the best talent is at. Just because there are a couple 6th rnd QB's out there does not mean that that is a good place to draft them when your need is reaching critical. I love Matt and I too hope he has a few good years left, are the Hawks willing to risk the future on it. If Carroll thinks that Bradford or Clausen have the ability to lead our team and be the QB of the future and the fall to us at 6 we HAVE TO take them. You do not win championships with DE's you win them with good QB's. The Hasslebecks and Brady's of the world (meaning successful late rnd pick QB's) are rare and MOST late rnd QB's are duds or 2nd stringers at best.

I do like Schnieders idea of drafting one every year and trying to develop them and then keep or trade them away if they are successful. However I think the Hawks are in more dire need to ensure that they have the QB of the future on the payroll now. Yes, even if the payroll for that player is very high. You cannot be a super successful team which we all want the Hawks to be without a QB. Look at San Fran for example they have a great team but until they shore up the QB position they will only be mediocre.

As for taking a 2 OL. I would not count on it. Perhaps they will take 1 in the 1st or second (I am hoping for Brown in the 2nd) but Carroll hired Gibbs for reason. Gibbs may feel he has more to work with on that line that we have currently then many of us think. He obviously has a penchant for taking later rnd linemen and making them great. Here is a quote from Gibb's to the best of my knowledge "I can could make a garbage man into a good NFL linemen". I do not know about you but I would think even our linemen our better then the garbage man (in most cases ). I am just saying do not count on them drafting alot of high rnd OL. expect offense and defense skill players early.

sorry i meant to address Hawksovermymarriage. Not johnnyB.

IDK about McKnight, he was supposed to be the next Reggie Bush in college but was very disappointing. I'm far more interested in Stafon Johnson, he seems to be a better all around back and while he may not have as much upside as McKnight has I feel he is less risky and will be better.

Running back week has been great. I don't want it to end! Thanks for some great analysis, keep it up.

I'm with omar little on this one, I'm more interested in Stafon Johnson than McKnight. a "somewhat injury-plagued" RB with blazing speed and a fumbling problem doesn't jazz me up.

I would also prefer Johnson over McKnight. He's definately not as fast as McKnight, which bothers me, but he just has that vision and awareness some players just have and it totally makes up for the speed. Like Largent had. I'd be happy with him in the 5th or 6th.

When you already have two solid but not spectacular running backs on the team, why not shoot the moon and try for the next Barry Sanders? Why draft one more of what you already have?

if that's what you are looking for then McKnight isn't your guys. If that is what you are shooting for then Spiller really is the only choice... in my opinion.

We've had a close relationship with Rob Staton since he launched the draft blog. He does a great job, and adding the two writers has been a boon. Still, we're going to cover the draft over here, too.

Jeit3- I know for the most part that seahawksdraft blog is just trying to get evaluations of the current draft class out there for people to read, I guess I just dont see the point in their "seahawksdraft blogs" mock draft if they aren't going to be somewhat credible.

I guess maybe I'm drinking to much of the "hype" juice cause I'm really hoping we dont pursue a QB with either one of our frist round picks. I would LOVE to have berry as starting safety for our team. I think we could get a really good QB Viva trade during the free agency. Look at Philly, They are sitting on 3 good QBs. Trade for Kolb! I think he would be a great pick up. Look at how he played while subbing for Mcnabb.

Texashawk- I do see the reason's why carroll hired gibbs, but my thinking is that if we draft some young offensive linemen in the first couple picks, they can step in right away and be effective right away. Instead of waiting for a 3rd "if we trade up" or a 4th to develep before he can be throwin into the mix

t if we draft some young offensive linemen in the first couple picks, they can step in right away and be effective right away

I guess you missed what happened in last years draft. The first three offensive lineman picked were god awful trying to play at left tackle. They may come around but so far they look like huge wastes of a pick. The fourth guy picked did okay at right tackle which is a much easier position to play, and he was picked 24th, which is about where you want to pick a right tackle, not at #6 or #14. No NFL team is ever going to be great if they reach down in the draft. Value at picks is the way to go.

Still, we're going to cover the draft over here, too.

No addict ever asks for less drugs. It distresses me a little that you think that is what I was doing! If you reread what I wrote you'll see that like the true Seahawk addict I am, I was only asking for more. I suggested you could provide more info on the picks by adding links to Staton with your write up (no biggie), and what I really wanted was more of this:

What we don't have anywhere is any good analysis of available free agents

Johnny B,

Mike Oher only played right tackle because the Ravens have a stud LT in Jared Gaither. When Gaither went down and Oher moved to the left he shut guys like Jared Allen and James Harrison down.

To say "the guy picked at 24 did okay at RT" is robbing Mike Oher of so much deserving credit. Especially since he was such a force at either tackle posistions. Oher was the true rookie of the year, but of course a lineman will never win such honors.

Oher played a position that is substantially easier than left tackle. You said he was a force at either tackle position, but that is not true. He has not played left tackle in the NFL. His biggest weakness was always feet that were not quick enough to stay with the best pass rushers in the NFL. In the NFL, the best pass rusher are pretty much always up against the left tackle. I doubt he went up against even one of those guys last season. So, he held his own at right tackle. Good for him. But if he would have played left tackle, things would probably been much different. He never has had to face thirty of the best pass rushers in the NFL.

Didn't play left tackle?!

I guess I have to repeat myself... He moved to the left side when Jared Gaither got hurt against the Pats and shut down guys like Harrison, Odom (leading NFL in sacks at the time), Dumervil, Allen and Freeney. Freeney didn't even record a tackle in that game. Once Gaither came back they both switched back and forth to confuse defenses.

If you are going to argue, at least know what you are talking about...

...for the sake of argument that Oher is great. My argument still stands. Drafting offensive lineman in the first round is just as much of a crapshoot as any other position. In fact last season it was the worst of crapshoots. The fourth pick out of four is the only one who showed anything last season so the rational that the Seahawks would be safer or smarter to use their first round picks on an offensive lineman is faulty.

After reading these comments, one thing stands out: almost no one here knows anything about McKnight. Didnt anyone watch him play?!

I did, and injuries aside, I thought he ran with power, abandon, and vision. While he doesnt have the vision of a Barry Sanders, he is damn fast, and again, an absolutely perfect fit in a ZBS. And the way he slammed into DB's along the sideline rather than stepping out warmed the cockles of my heart!

Plus, he is projected in the second or third. If he falls to the third, why not trade up for him? If by some miracle he falls to the fourth, he's ours--there's no way Caroll lets him go that far.

He could be a faster Mo Morris. Whats wrong with that? He offers more value than a guy like Dwyer or Matthews (as Matthews will go way before McKnight).