Cross is rated as the best pass protector in the draft

[FrodosFinger]

Dude is going to be one of the best left tackles in the game I hope we snag him at 9 if available. I'm tired of late round uncoordinated guys like Stone Foresythe and Joey Hunt

 

[toffee]

Dude is going to be one of the best left tackles in the game I hope we snag him at 9 if available. I'm tired of late round uncoordinated guys like Stone Foresythe and Joey Hunt

Stone lacks coordination?

 

[RiverDog]

Dude is going to be one of the best left tackles in the game I hope we snag him at 9 if available. I'm tired of late round uncoordinated guys like Stone Foresythe and Joey Hunt

I'm not sure if he'd be my first pick, but so long as we don't spend our #9 overall on a QB, I'd be happy with either Cross, Evan Neal, or one of the top rated DL's should they fall to our spot. I don't want to see us getting cute and reaching for a low first round/2nd round talent as we've done in the past.

 

[Maelstrom787]

Dude is going to be one of the best left tackles in the game I hope we snag him at 9 if available. I'm tired of late round uncoordinated guys like Stone Foresythe and Joey Hunt

He'd better be the best. He's an air raid system tackle going top-16. If he wasn't the best, then that'd be an issue.

That said, I think he can step right in and give you decent pass pro. He'll need a lot of adjustment otherwise.

 

[RiverDog]

He'd better be the best. He's an air raid system tackle going top-16. If he wasn't the best, then that'd be an issue.

That said, I think he can step right in and give you decent pass pro. He'll need a lot of adjustment otherwise.

The problem with drafting linemen out of college is that they don't play with their hand in the dirt as often as they do in the NFL, and having come from Mike Leach's MS State offense, it could weigh against him, and he could easily slip out of the top 20. Add that to Pete's run first philosophy and Cross may not be the tackle we need or select.

 

[Maelstrom787]

The problem with drafting linemen out of college is that they don't play with their hand in the dirt as often as they do in the NFL, and having come from Mike Leach's MS State offense, it could weigh against him, and he could easily slip out of the top 20. Add that to Pete's run first philosophy and Cross may not be the tackle we need or select.

Fully agreed. I don't think he's the type of fit to take top-10. On the surface, LT seems like the obvious need though, and they seem to be letting it go until the draft. Could be a situation where they feel forced into Cross if it comes down to it.

 

[Appyhawk]

Fully agreed. I don't think he's the type of fit to take top-10. On the surface, LT seems like the obvious need though, and they seem to be letting it go until the draft. Could be a situation where they feel forced into Cross if it comes down to it.

When has this FO EVER felt forced into a specific draft pick?

 

[Maelstrom787]

When has this FO EVER felt forced into a specific draft pick?

Well, for one recent example...



To expand on what I mean, I'm just saying that the FO seems to generally know which needs they're going to address first, and has been prone to reaching to address what they've decided they're going to. Collier being the prime example, as they looked like they just watched someone die in front of them in the post draft presser, knowing they had made a reach because they felt there was no one left in the same relative talent tier.

One can generally tell by the need they leave open on the roster... LT being the one currently open, along with CB (which they've never drafted high) and maybe IDL (which... Hmm, Jordan Davis...).

 

[RiverDog]

When has this FO EVER felt forced into a specific draft pick?

I'm not sure if 'forced' is the right word, but they sure like to get cute and try to make people think they're smarter than everyone else by reaching for a pick then high fiving it like they'd won the lottery. Bruce Irvin is a prime example.

I wouldn't be disappointed if we picked Cross, but I would love to see DE Kayvon Thibodeaux or CB Ahmad Gardner fall to us.

 

[Appyhawk]

Yep. That's pretty much exactly what I meant about not being forced into a pick. They seem to pick guys you would never expect. Their idea of BPA seems to be someone no one would ever be able to guess. Then if the guy hits they look incredibly shrewd. If not, which has been too often, "well the draft is a crap shoot".
I've always been a quality over quantity guy. I'd rather have a few nice things than a bunch of junk. Had we not traded our best picks away for more lower picks we might not have so many holes to fill right now.
Having said that, I think the last two draft classes we got have turned out pretty solid.

 

[nanomoz]

Gawwwwwd I hope they sign a hedge or two at OT. Cross just isn't a top-10 pick to me.

 

[Seattle Person]

If you really want Charles Cross then why not wait until you can get Abe Lucas. To me, they are sort of the same players. They both excel as pass-blockers and don't excel in the run game.

Do these profiles really go in the top 10? I think Cross is ok and is going to be in the middle of the pack for LT or RT once he settles in the NFL. Nothing wrong with that. But why not go bigger? So many other players you can get or even trade back.

Many like Cross but Ray Roberts had an article on 710 and he did not endorse Cross. C.C is too finesse. He's not that explosive as of an athlete. Worse of all if he doesn't block the way Pete wants his OL to run block. I'll trust a former NFL lineman to know what he's talking about.

 

[Appyhawk]

I agree O Line has to be a top priority for us in this draft. I prefer guys who have faced the fire of top level competition to those who were outstanding at lower levels. My theory is those from lower levels might not be considered outstanding had they faced better competition. That doesn't always hold true of course, Wagner for example, but as a rule I think you come out ahead going with guys who excelled in top conferences.

 

[Seahawker]

I agree O Line has to be a top priority for us in this draft. I prefer guys who have faced the fire of top level competition to those who were outstanding at lower levels. My theory is those from lower levels might not be considered outstanding had they faced better competition. That doesn't always hold true of course, Wagner for example, but as a rule I think you come out ahead going with guys who excelled in top conferences.

I think making offensive linemen a priority in this draft will not only be optimal for us moving forward, but also an appropriate message to Russ for leaving us in the dust. RW3's salary cap # will not allow that Bronco O-line & defense to stay together for long. We all know Russell's low rookie deal was the catalyst for winning SB XLVlll.

 

[ivotuk]

Cross is 'Meh" A lot of pundits say he has an Andre Dillard "vibe." Dillard, another Mike leach disciple is a mediocre tackle, as Cross will be. But Cross is not a run blocker, so basically useless for the Seahawks. Why draft a pass blocker when we don't have a QB, and MUST run the ball?

 

[Appyhawk]

Agree Ivo, to the extent we need the most skilled OT on the board. And we MUST run the ball to set up our passing game regardless the QB we have playing. Balance is a primary key to success in football.

 

[FrodosFinger]

Ekwonu and Neal will both be off the board at 9. Linderbaum would be nice but 9 is too early for that. Bait a team into trading up for a few early picks if you don't like cross. If all 3 are off the board you could take Sauce if available still. Many options

 

[Shane Falco]

I'm mostly at a point where I don't think about specific players/positions anymore and more just hoping they start hitting on whoever they pick. Solid starters even let alone studs.

 

[RiverDog]

Ekwonu and Neal will both be off the board at 9. Linderbaum would be nice but 9 is too early for that. Bait a team into trading up for a few early picks if you don't like cross. If all 3 are off the board you could take Sauce if available still. Many options

Neal most certainly will be off way before #9, could even be the #1 overall, but top 5 for sure. Ekwonu I'm not so sure about. He's just a tad on the short side for tackles. Some sites even list him as a guard. So unless he has an abnormally long reach for his height, he could drop to #9. But if he is there at #9, I'd take him in a heartbeat.

 

[Ad Hawk]

Some accurate conclusions here.