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Tuesday, April 22, 2003
Seahawks hope to catch break from top 10 teams in NFL draft
Three defensive tackles may be picked among first eight
KIRKLAND -- Jerry Angelo is talking defense in general, and big, run-stuffing tackles in particular.
That is not good news for other teams hoping to land one of the premier defensive tackles Saturday in the first round of the NFL draft -- including the Seahawks, who are sitting at No. 11.
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 | ED REINKE / AP | |
| Seahawks director of college scouting Scot McCloughan calls Kentucky's Dewayne Robertson "a 300-plus-pound John Randle." | ||
As general manager of the Chicago Bears, Angelo controls the fourth pick overall.
Early speculation had the Bears ready to select a quarterback -- especially if Marshall's Byron Leftwich were available -- to stabilize a position that has been manned by an odd array of has-beens and never-weres in the 14 seasons since Jim McMahon left town.
So perhaps Angelo was just getting a jump on smoke-blowing season at the NFL scouting combine in February. But it didn't sound like it.
"I think you have to build inside out," he said. "I think your lines create the standard of play. I don't think you can minimize that.
"I looked at the perennial winners two years ago, and it was the defensive line. Teams with good defensive lines are usually very good football teams," he added. "I don't see teams winning without good defensive lines, as a rule."
Half the teams with a top-10 pick would be tempted to select a quarterback, but only two are considered worthy of that lofty status -- USC's Carson Palmer, who should be the first pick overall by the Cincinnati Bengals; and Leftwich, who could go as high as No. 4 to the Bears or as low as No. 10 to the Baltimore Ravens.
Three of those five teams could opt for a defensive tackle -- the Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 8) and Ravens.
That's why Seahawks general manager Bob Ferguson mockingly pleaded last week with reporters who cover the team to trumpet the merits of this year's quarterback class.
"We think there's about three or four guys that ought to be drafted really high at the quarterback position," Ferguson said, unable to hold back a smile. "Really high. We'd like to get those guys some recognition so they get drafted early."
The best-case scenario for the Seahawks: The Bengals, Bears or Jaguars and Ravens go for quarterbacks, with Cal's Kyle Boller the third option.
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| Kentucky defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson could be selected as high as fourth overall in the NFL draft Saturday by the Chicago Bears. | ||
That would leave the Bears or Jaguars to select either Kentucky's Dewayne Robertson or Penn State's Jimmy Kennedy, and give the Seahawks an opportunity at landing one of the top two defensive tackles available.
The worst-case scenario: The Bears go for Robertson at No. 4, Kennedy is taken by either the Jaguars or Ravens, and the Seahawks are left to decide between Oklahoma State's Kevin Williams and Georgia's Johnathan Sullivan -- or opt for the "best player available," and grab a wide body in the second round.
As undesirable as that might sound for the Seahawks' defense, which surrendered more than 200 rushing yards to five teams and at least 100 yards to 10 running backs last season, the depth at defensive tackle is sufficient enough Seattle could wait until the 42nd pick overall.
"It's extremely deep," said Tom Donahoe, president and GM of the Buffalo Bills. "In the years we've been doing this, this is one of the deeper drafts -- number-wise -- for defensive linemen that we've seen.
"In our preliminary draft meetings, it seemed like we talked about the defensive line for a long time," he added. "It's usually a short list. But this year, there are a lot of names."
Starting with Robertson and Kennedy.
"Right now, I believe I am the best at my position," was Kennedy's appraisal at the combine. "I'm all about winning. I believe I am the best at what I do, and I want to go out there and prove it."
What the 6-foot-4, 322-pound Kennedy does best is stuff the run. That's what makes him so appealing to teams such as the Seahawks, which need a physical presence in the middle of their line.
Robertson is shorter (6-1), but almost as wide and faster. He's an exceptional athlete whose stock has continued to rise since he decided to pass on his senior season.
"I reached the goals I had when I got to college, and I'm ready to move on to another challenge and take advantage of the opportunity I had," Robertson said.
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| Kennedy | ||
Robertson's NFL goals:
"To come in and start on a winning team and help them make it to the Super Bowl, and hopefully make the Pro Bowl as a rookie," Robertson said.
Grandiose? Definitely. Unobtainable? Maybe not.
"You know what he is? He's a 300-plus-pound John Randle," said Seahawks director of college scouting Scot McCloughan, who was on to Robertson long before he challenged and, in some opinions, passed Kennedy. "He's got that kind of quickness, that kind of intensity. Every snap."
Speaking of Randle, the Seahawks are not counting him out for the coming season -- his 14th in the NFL and third in Seattle. They're just counting on him in a different role. If they can obtain a run-stuffing tackle to play next to Chad Eaton on mixed downs, it will allow the 35-year-old Randle to unleash his still-impressive skills in passing situations.
That's why it's imperative the Seahawks emerge from the first two rounds with such a player. If not Kennedy or Robertson at No. 11, perhaps Williams or Sullivan. If not them, then perhaps Ohio State's Kenny Peterson, or Texas A&M's Ty Warren in the second round.
"Right now, the draft is set up where you have to come in and fill some needs and get some spots taken care of," Ferguson said. "It's when, and you have to pick your opportunities."
Which will be greatly enhanced every time a team in the top 10 selects a quarterback.
NFL DRAFT
P-I reporter Clare Farnsworth can be reached at 206-448-8016 or clarefarnsworth@seattlepi.com
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