Seahawks Have Fans Wondering Erickson Would Like To Land ‘Best Athlete’ In Draft Saturday
Maybe this is a sign of progress. Maybe this should be considered good news for the Seattle Seahawks.
Remember the old days when former coach Chuck Knox uttered the predictable strategy of taking the “best athlete available” in the NFL Draft? You’re starting to hear those words echoing from second-year coach Dennis Erickson.
During the 1990s, Seahawks drafts were as predictable as the Vertical Stretch offense of coach Tom Flores. For six consecutive drafts, the Seahawks drafted for specific needs instead of taking the best athlete on the board.
The mystery in the Seahawks’ draft vanished after they traded up for defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy in 1990. The next year, the Seahawks spent a week trying to decide which quarterback to take, Dan McGwire, Browning Nagle or Brett Favre. In 1992, it was between offensive linemen Ray Roberts, Leon Searcy or Eugene Chung.
In 1993 and 1994, the Seahawks limited their views to quarterback and defensive tackle. They chose Rick Mirer after the England Patriots took Drew Bledsoe in 1993. Sam Adams was the defensive tackle choice in ‘94 after the San Francisco 49ers traded ahead of them to steal defensive tackle Bryant Young.
Last year, Erickson wanted a receiver. Joey Galloway was his top choice over Michael Westbrook and J.J. Stokes. The Washington Redskins took Westbrook so the Seahawks predictably took Galloway, one of the most exciting receivers to enter the NFL in years.
This season, Erickson has people guessing.
“It’s different,” Erickson said. “You get more flexibility. Last year we focused on three guys, which worked out great. This year if a great player falls to 14, we would be foolish not to take him.”
The Seahawks, who have the 14th choice in the first round Saturday, might not be able to accommodate certain “best athletes available,” putting them in the strange spot of taking an offensive lineman - either Pete Kendall from Boston College or Jermane Mayberry of Texas A&M-Kingsville.
For example, the Seahawks can’t afford to select a great halfback such as Eddie George, the Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State. They have Pro Bowler Chris Warren and talented backups Lamar Smith and Steve Broussard. Ohio State tight end Rickey Dudley might be tempting, but the Seahawks have two talented young players at that position, Carlester Crumpler and Christian Fauria, who was last season’s second-round choice.
“We’re looking for players on our offensive front, the defensive front and at cornerback depending on who is available …,” Erickson said.
Less than a week before the draft, the prospect of taking an offensive lineman is gaining momentum. Ideally, the Seahawks would love to take Willie Anderson of Auburn, a 6-5, 324-pounder, who has the potential to be a prototype left tackle. Unfortunately, the Cincinnati Bengals, who select five choices before the Seahawks, have been looking for a left tackle since Anthony Munoz left them.
From his review of tapes, Erickson likes Kendall, a smart 292-pound guard, and Mayberry, a dominating Division II blocker. Both players have the versatility to play guard or tackle and compete for a starting spot.
Other teams, however, rate Penn State guard Jeff Hartings and tackle Andre Johnson ahead of Kendall and Mayberry.
Should the Seahawks take an offensive lineman in the first round, Erickson will have to play down ghosts of past Tom Flores drafts. In 1989 with Andy Heck and 1992, with Roberts, the Seahawks invested first-round choices at the left tackle position.
Heck was supposed to be the left tackle for the Seahawks for 10 seasons, and they weren’t wrong with their evaluation. Last season, Heck played at a Pro Bowl level for the Chicago Bears. He didn’t allow a sack in 16 regular-season games.
Flores began to put the franchise in trouble in 1992. He focused exclusively on the tackle position and decided it was a better value selecting Roberts ahead of Searcy and Chung. His thinking was that Roberts, who was considered purely a left tackle, would be a better value than Searcy, a right tackle, and Chung, who could play guard or tackle.
While Roberts was a promising left tackle who played well in 1993 and 1994, he’s gone. The Seahawks didn’t want to pay him $1.6 million, so they let him go to the Detroit Lions without a fight. Searcy developed into one of the game’s top right tackles for the AFC West champion Pittsburgh Steelers and recently received a $5-million signing bonus to join the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Chung, a bust, has been with three teams in the past year and hopes to make it as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers.
Erickson doesn’t consider Kendall or Mayberry a reach. Versatility escalates their ratings to him.
Cornerback Alex Molden of Oregon is a consideration, but the comeback of Nate Odomes could devalue him. Odomes, who missed two seasons with torn anterior cruciate ligaments, is running well in the Seahawks’ off-season program. And the Seahawks have three talented young cornerbacks - Carlton Gray, Corey Harris and Selwyn Jones.
A pass-rushing defensive end would be a nice fit, but unfortunately most of the candidates available at the 14th pick are undersized. Regan Upshaw and Duane Clemons of California and Tony Brackens of Texas weigh between 249 and 261 pounds. Cedric Jones, a 277-pounder from Oklahoma, is expected to be among the top 11 choices.
“To me, it’s a deep draft through about three rounds,” Erickson said. “But we’ve got to get two guys who can come in and make a difference on our team.”