Seahawks feel cornered heading into NFL draft
'Best available athlete' may not fill need at DB
By CLARE FARNSWORTH
P-I REPORTER
KIRKLAND -- This just in: With the 31st pick in the 2006 NFL draft, the Seahawks will select ... the best available athlete.
The obvious became official -- again -- with this recent declaration by coach Mike Holmgren:
"We're all committed to take the best guy up there (on the draft board)."
This BAA approach delivered promising center Chris Spencer (last year), All-Pro running back Shaun Alexander (2000) and recently departed All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson (2001) when none of those positions was a glaring need for the Seahawks.
Rather than pass on the higher-rated player to fill a roster hole, the Seahawks were guided by the rankings on their draft board.
"It has worked for us, I think," Holmgren said.
It's a philosophy shared by club president Tim Ruskell, who joined the organization just 14 months ago.
But in sticking with their proven and preferred M.O., Ruskell and Holmgren can't lose track of the fact they need to emerge from next weekend with at least two and probably three defensive backs -- each capable of contributing immediately to the defending NFC champions, as well as insuring the Seahawks remain a playoff-caliber team for seasons to the come.
Ruskell's presence will help, because he is as good at evaluating young defensive players as Holmgren is at finding talent with the necessary skills to succeed in his hybrid of the West Coast offense.
Look at last year's draft, when the Seahawks got two starting linebackers -- Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill -- in the second and third rounds. Go back to Ruskell's one draft in Atlanta, when the Falcons selected cornerback DeAngelo Hall in the first round. Examine his tenure in Tampa, especially 1995 when the Buccaneers got defensive tackle Warren Sapp and linebacker Derrick Brooks.
This year's draft matches the Seahawks' needs, regardless of when they address them.
"It's one of the deeper cornerback classes I've ever seen," is the way one scout sized up the position.
With that in mind, here is a look at some cornerbacks in this draft that could interest -- and help -- the Seahawks with their picks in the first two rounds (they surrendered their third-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings as compensation for signing wide receiver Nate Burleson, a restricted free agent):
Ashton Youboty, Ohio State -- The pedigree alone would be difficult to pass on in the first round. Consider the Buckeyes corners who have made the leap to the next level look as easy as jumping over a candlestick: Shawn Springs, Nate Clemens, Antoine Winfield, Ahmed Plummer and Chris Gamble.
Youboty was born in Liberia, moved to Philadelphia with his family when he was 4 and went to high school in Texas. He played behind Gamble in 2003 before moving into the starting lineup the past two seasons.
There's also the character issue that was emphasized even more after Ruskell arrived.
Asked at the scouting combine what he would bring to the NFL, Youboty said, "I think on the field I bring a complete corner.
"Off the field, I don't think you'll see me get in any trouble -- go to practice, go home, get some food, get some sleep, go back to practice."
A pair of Jennings -- There's Kelly, from Miami; and Tim, from Georgia.
Kelly could be a consideration in the first round, if the pass-rushing defensive end the Seahawks have been longing for eludes them once again. Tim could quench the need for a corner in the second round if a pass-rusher like Boston College's Mathias Kiwanuka somehow slides to them in the first round.
Kelly put up impressive numbers (4.39 seconds for 40 yards and a 40-inch vertical jump) at the combine and then showed he can play a physical game in the Senior Bowl. He graduated in December 2004 and was working on a second degree last season.
Tim is short (a shade under 5-8), but one scout compared him to former Seahawks corner Willie Williams -- which is a complement. He has good measurables (4.32 in the 40; 37 1/2-inch vertical), but was suspended for two games in 2003 after being arrested for marijuana possession.
Alan Zemaitis -- The Penn State corner is another possibility in the second round.
He doesn't run (4.51 in the 40) like either Kelly or Tim Jennings, and isn't a lock-down coverage corner. But Zemaitis has size (6-1, 194 pounds) and was a tough, productive competitor for the Nittany Lions despite needing to wear a special helmet to protect facial injuries from a 2003 auto accident.
"I really feel like 40's and all that mean a lot to get you in the door," he said. "But what's inside will really carry you through your career."
DRAFT 2006: DEFENSIVE BACKS
A summary of the position heading into the April 29-30 NFL draft:
Best of the bunch
Pos Player, school Ht Wt Projection
SS Michael Huff, Texas 6-1 198 Possible top 10 pick
FS Jason Allen, Tennessee 6-2 200 Probable top 20 pick
CB Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech 6-2 216 Mid-first round
CB Tye Hill, Clemson 5-9 183 Mid-first round
CB Johnathan Joseph, So. Carolina 5-11 187 Mid-first round
(Rankings by Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com)
THE WORD: This is a good year to be in the market for a defensive back, especially a cornerback. While the '06 class lacks that difference-maker corner who will be a no-brainer top 10 pick, the depth makes up for it. As many as 15 corners could be selected in the first three rounds, with a half-dozen going between the 25th spot in the first round and the middle of the second round. "Whenever you have one position taking up 20 percent of the picks, that's definitely unusual," one scout said. At safety, there is the highly coveted Huff and depth. As many as eight should go in the first three rounds, and eventual starters could be available on the second day.
SLEEPER: Danieal Manning. He's an early entry from a smaller school (Abilene Christian) who's not as polished as a lot of the defensive backs available. But Manning is an intriguing prospect because of his size (almost 5 foot 11 and 202 pounds) and versatility (he returned a kickoff, a punt and an interception for touchdowns last season). He hasn't played against top competition, but Manning stood out at the East-West Shrine game and could develop into a starter while helping on special teams.
WHAT ABOUT: Ko Simpson. One mock draft has the free safety from South Carolina going to the Seahawks with the 31st pick overall. But Simpson has drawn red flags after not interviewing well at the NFL scouting combine in February and because he's still maturing as a person and player -- he decided to leave school after only two seasons. Simpson made a lot of tackles (103 last season) and is an instinctive athlete.
SEAHAWKS NEEDS: Off the chart -- and right at the top of their draft board under the "need" category. The Seahawks must upgrade the quality and depth in their secondary after losing free safety Marquand Manuel in free agency (Packers) and releasing cornerback Andre Dyson (signed with the Jets). They can use a corner or two -- one capable of challenging to be the starter opposite Marcus Trufant. They also need a safety because it's not a given that Ken Hamlin can return from the severe head injuries he received in an altercation outside a Seattle nightclub last October. If one of the rookies is proficient at returning punts and kickoffs, all the better. The club continues to talk with the agents for veteran free agents Ty Law and Lance Schulters, but signing them would not address the long-term situation.
-- Clare Farnsworth
P-I reporter Clare Farnsworth can be reached at 206-448-8016 or clarefarnsworth@seattlepi.com.
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