Why is everyone sleeping on Jordan Hill?

[bigcc]

Between the guys on 950/710 and some of the posts regarding the DL, you'd think Howard/Williams were guys taken in the 3rd and Hill taken in the 4th/5th. Was he hurt during OTA's or something? I think I heard more about guys like Willson and Bowie more than I did Hill which just seems really odd.

 

[Sarlacc83]

Higher expectations to perform versus the 'underdog'. Lower round draft picks doing well makes a better story than a high mid rounder doing the same or living up to his billing.

 

[SmokinHawk]

I think it's because at present, Hill is buried on the depth chart. Think of him as more the spiritual successor to Jason Jones, rather than Alan Branch. He will see the field this year on third down, but I would not expect him to make much of a contribution on first and second down. Jesse Williams is looking to be the first and second down guy due to his strength and ability to anchor the line, so Jordan Hill is sitting in his shadow to some degree. You could consider him a sleeper candidate, though I don't think he will see the field enough to really press the issue this season.

 

[Blitzer88]

I don't necessarily think people are sleeping on him, but rather just the others players around him stand out a little more like Williams, Simeon and Michael. Plus, you did not hear much about him in reports out of rookie camp, had you heard more I sure more people would be talking about him now. Either way, I am really pumped to see what he can provide for us in terms of interior pass rush.

 

[FlyingGreg]

Definitely not sleeping on him, we just don't have much to go on yet.

Everyone looks "great" in OTA's and camp, or without pads, real-game speed and full contact. I'm excited to see some of these guys on the field in real game situations.

 

[Happypuppy]

For me its easy. I never saw him play in college and when I did never really keyed on his game. He may be great I hope to see a lot of him in camp and the preseason.

 

[Attyla the Hawk]

Wait till the pads go on. Williams is just more physically and visually imposing. And he's a more unique prospect being from Australia. Hill was nationally kind of seen as a reach. Played kind of anonymously at Penn State.

I think Hill is going to look really good once the padded practices start. I don't think it's sleeping on him, so much as he's not a human interest story. And thus far, that is about as much as we can generally see.

 

[ivotuk]

I think Jordan Hill is going to bring some goods pressure up the middle this year. People won't be sleeping on him for long

 

[kobebryant]

I don't think he is being slept on, it is just hard for any lineman to make his mark until the pads come on.

 

[Hawks46]

Definitely not sleeping on him, we just don't have much to go on yet.

Everyone looks "great" in OTA's and camp, or without pads, real-game speed and full contact. I'm excited to see some of these guys on the field in real game situations.

I think this is pretty much it. Williams does look more physically imposing, plus he's a bit more versatile as he can swing out and fill in for Red Bryant. Plus, he was looked at as a draft steal, while Hill was more of a "reach", if those terms are even applied to our drafts anymore.

I think Hill's game will show up when the pads are on and people are actually trying to make tackles and block other guys. I honestly think, from what I've read, that Hill will make more of an impact initially than Williams will.

 

[kearly]

For me, it's because Hill was a nifty college player that just barely got by. He's was a good hustle player, but he was far from a physically dominating one. Sometimes these types of players turn into over-achievers and do much better in the NFL than people expected (Lofa Tatupu, etc). But more typically, they become solid, forgettable contributors that most of the casual fanbase doesn't even notice. I really liked Hill before the 2013 draft- he's similar to ivotuk's favorite- Joe Vellano. They can't get much push and they can be moved in the run game, but they give 110% on every snap and every now and then, they'll slip through the cracks and make a play in the backfield.

Or to put it another way, Hill is a Tim Ruskell type pick. Nice guy, tries hard, low-risk. Though I liked Hill and mentioned him in the same breath as the top DTs back in February at SDB, I was really surprised that it was Seattle who drafted him, especially with some very athletic 3-techs still on the board. But hey, Max Unger was a Tim Ruskell pick, and he's worked out great in the new regime. Brandon Mebane. Earl Thomas had a Tim Ruskell profile. PC/JS have found success even when they acquire players Tim Ruskell would have liked, so I wouldn't hold that against Hill. I'm interested to see how he does. I just think he will, most likely, continue to be a scrapper rather than a massive difference maker.

 

[sutz]

For me, it's because Hill was a nifty college player that just barely got by. He's was a good hustle player, but he was far from a physically dominating one. Sometimes these types of players turn into over-achievers and do much better in the NFL than people expected (Lofa Tatupu, etc). But more typically, they become solid, forgettable contributors that most of the casual fanbase doesn't even notice. I really liked Hill before the 2013 draft- he's similar to ivotuk's favorite- Joe Vellano. They can't get much push and they can be moved in the run game, but they give 110% on every snap and every now and then, they'll slip through the cracks and make a play in the backfield.

Or to put it another way, Hill is a Tim Ruskell type pick. Nice guy, tries hard, low-risk. Though I liked Hill and mentioned him in the same breath as the top DTs back in February at SDB, I was really surprised that it was Seattle who drafted him, especially with some very athletic 3-techs still on the board. But hey, Max Unger was a Tim Ruskell pick, and he's worked out great in the new regime. Brandon Mebane. Earl Thomas had a Tim Ruskell profile. PC/JS have found success even when they acquire players Tim Ruskell would have liked, so I wouldn't hold that against Hill. I'm interested to see how he does. I just think he will, most likely, continue to be a scrapper rather than a massive difference maker.

So, you're saying he's the next Craig Terrill?
.
.
.
(Sorry, had to go there. )

 

[Seafan]

Is he an upgrade over McDonald and can he play more than one position. Those are the questions that can't be answered until TC and preseason. The DL pile is big and that's not a bad thing. If acquiring dominant players at every position was easy Tim Ruskell would still be employed by the Hawks. There's a quality to the PC/JS players that's often overlooked compared to Hawk rosters of the past. These guys don't quit.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

I for one am not sleeping on Jordan Hill. I also do think the team is either. I think they expect big things from both Hill and Williams.

The thing I like most about Hill is that he reminds me a lot of Brandon Mebane. His run defense is underrated because he played at 290 in college and doesn't possess that big bottom and thick base you'd want from NT. His pass defense is underrated because he was asked to anchor the run defense more often than not.

But what I liked about Hill the most is he's always fighting, he has long arms and big hands, and he knows how to use them well. Plus, he's very agile and slippery and hard to contain in the pocket and is smart tracking the ball to make a tackle when the play isn't near him.

From the tape that I remember I notices teams would stay clear of the middle when running to neutralize Hill.

In the NFL,he's likely not a player you'd build a defense around but he's definitely a type of defender that will make a good defense better in a variety of ways.

Seahawks gave Hill a 2nd round grade. I think they have a plan for him.

 

[Fuzzman55]

For me, it's because Hill was a nifty college player that just barely got by. He's was a good hustle player, but he was far from a physically dominating one. Sometimes these types of players turn into over-achievers and do much better in the NFL than people expected (Lofa Tatupu, etc). But more typically, they become solid, forgettable contributors that most of the casual fanbase doesn't even notice. I really liked Hill before the 2013 draft- he's similar to ivotuk's favorite- Joe Vellano. They can't get much push and they can be moved in the run game, but they give 110% on every snap and every now and then, they'll slip through the cracks and make a play in the backfield.

Or to put it another way, Hill is a Tim Ruskell type pick. Nice guy, tries hard, low-risk. Though I liked Hill and mentioned him in the same breath as the top DTs back in February at SDB, I was really surprised that it was Seattle who drafted him, especially with some very athletic 3-techs still on the board. But hey, Max Unger was a Tim Ruskell pick, and he's worked out great in the new regime. Brandon Mebane. Earl Thomas had a Tim Ruskell profile. PC/JS have found success even when they acquire players Tim Ruskell would have liked, so I wouldn't hold that against Hill. I'm interested to see how he does. I just think he will, most likely, continue to be a scrapper rather than a massive difference maker.

I disagree a little bit. Most all of us have seen the Wisconsin game where he clearly dominated a very good o-line. You might be selling him a little short by calling him a 'barely get there player.' I will say this, I think Hill is exceptional in a few areas - get off, refinement of pass rush moves, backside play chasing - but he could be a liability in others. The anchor is just something we are going to have to wait and see with him. He was fine in college, but NFL olineman are obviously at a whole different level.

I think his absolute floor is interior pass rush specialist, which is valuable in its own right. But eventually he could be a lot like Rocky Bernard - not physically imposing but disruptive and tough to block, especially one on one. I guarantee that when Hill is singled up this year there are going to be plays where we stand up and cheer as he makes opposing guards look silly.

 

[theENGLISHseahawk]

Jesse Williams is Australian, played for Alabama and has tattoo's. While I am desperate for him to do well and appreciate what he brings having watched him closely many times, he has a whole bunch of bloggers and pundits slobbering over him unjustifiably for a 5th round pick with serious injury question marks.

Jordan Hill is a fantastic player. The type that sticks out like a sore thumb on tape, then you go and look at his physical characteristics and they're bang average. Not huge, not supremely fast, not tall. A team player with very little back story. And he gets lost in the wash. Then you put the tape on and he takes over a game.

I'm glad he's flying under the radar. It'll be a nice surprise for the rest of the NFL.

 

[kearly]

So, you're saying he's the next Craig Terrill?
.
.
.
(Sorry, had to go there. )

Craig Terrill with average run defense is pretty close. (Craig Terrill was a terrible run defender, but an under-rated pass rusher).

 

[Jville]

Jesse Williams is Australian, played for Alabama and has tattoo's. While I am desperate for him to do well and appreciate what he brings having watched him closely many times, he has a whole bunch of bloggers and pundits slobbering over him unjustifiably for a 5th round pick with serious injury question marks.

Jordan Hill is a fantastic player. The type that sticks out like a sore thumb on tape, then you go and look at his physical characteristics and they're bang average. Not huge, not supremely fast, not tall. A team player with very little back story. And he gets lost in the wash. Then you put the tape on and he takes over a game.

I'm glad he's flying under the radar. It'll be a nice surprise for the rest of the NFL.

Kind of like Brandon Mebane was ..... as a 3rd round pick.

 

[kearly]

I disagree a little bit. Most all of us have seen the Wisconsin game where he clearly dominated a very good o-line. You might be selling him a little short by calling him a 'barely get there player.' I will say this, I think Hill is exceptional in a few areas - get off, refinement of pass rush moves, backside play chasing - but he could be a liability in others. The anchor is just something we are going to have to wait and see with him. He was fine in college, but NFL olineman are obviously at a whole different level.

I think his absolute floor is interior pass rush specialist, which is valuable in its own right. But eventually he could be a lot like Rocky Bernard - not physically imposing but disruptive and tough to block, especially one on one. I guarantee that when Hill is singled up this year there are going to be plays where we stand up and cheer as he makes opposing guards look silly.

Hill's best talent is his hustle, in fact I'd probably rank him #1 out of all the 2013 DTs in terms of his pursuit ability. He never gave up on plays and made tackles a lot of other DTs wouldn't. Chasing down RBs who ran outside was his specialty. He took very smart angles too, and when he arrived, he'd always punctuate the effort with a big hit.

I feel like I am being a bit generous calling him an average run defender though- he got pushed back by single blocks in every game I watched.

He'd have a big game from time to time and I will admit- he's a classic example of a player who is more than the sum of his parts. I thought he did pretty well at the Senior Bowl but hardly anyone noticed him.

Hill can't create push and isn't a rock in the running game; overall I'd consider him to be a slightly below average physical talent. He's the kind of player that makes up for that with a peerless effort level, smarts, tenacity, and quickness. Typically these kinds of players become contributors but not stars. Every now and then you'll get an exception. My expectation of Hill is that he'll be a nice player for us, but I would be surprised if he fixes our interior pass rush problem.

I don't really see him being like Bernard- Hill is more of a well rounded type and Bernard was more weighted towards being a pass rusher. Bernard wasn't huge or anything, but he had the ability to push guards into the pocket with brute force a few times a game, something that Hill couldn't even do in college. Hill is more of a finesse type that wins with effort, timing, hustle, and smarts. Bernard was effective through spurts of domination, Hill is not that- he's more of an opportunity-seizer. When guards screw up, he's all over it. Kawann Short was very similar, and he had the most college sacks of the 2013 DT class. It will be interesting to see how much of that style will translate for both of them. Usually the best NFL DTs are one's who displayed physical dominance in college, whereas the more finesse pass rushers tend to just blend in at the NFL level.

 

[kearly]

Kind of like Brandon Mebane was ..... as a 3rd round pick.

I hear this all the time and I couldn't disagree more. I had a 1st round grade on Mebane that year. The guy was dominating at CAL, the kind of player that embarrassed opponents week in, week out. I can't even tell you how pissed I was when we passed on him for a corner I had never heard of, and how giddy I was when we got him a round later. I was hardly alone, a ton of people on this very board were geeked on Mebane before that draft, too.

Really the only thing they have in common is that they flew under the radar and both went in the late 3rd round. But Mebane, he really flew under the radar- I guess because back then, teams were scared of 6'1" DTs and tweeners. How dumb is that?

Almost as dumb as letting Russell Wilson reach the 75th pick.

Hill will be a nice player, but he'll be pretty different from Mebane. If they were superheroes, Mebane would be Hulk, Hill would be Captain America.