Seahawks draft heart. Chiefs pick mentioned.

chief2000 · 05-04-2006, 12:46 PM

I think the Chiefs now are doing this. Got to feel good the superbowl team likes our player.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/footba...ml?source=mypi

NFL Draft: Seahawks' top picks relentless on field
Seattle drafts character with Jennings, Tapp

By CLARE FARNSWORTH
P-I REPORTER

KIRKLAND -- It can come down to one defining, debate-deciding play.

Not with the first two players the Seahawks selected over the weekend in the NFL draft. With Kelly Jennings and Darryl Tapp, it was the way they play -- play after play.

The Seahawks considered Miami's Jennings, who should end up starting on the left side, the most consistent cornerback in the draft.

Steadier than Clemson's Tye Hill, Florida State's Antonio Cromartie and South Carolina's Johnathan Joseph, the corners selected before Jennings. More solid than Virginia Tech's Jimmy Williams, Fresno State's Richard Marshall and Ohio State's Ashton Youboty, the other highly rated corners also available to the Seahawks in the first round.

Whenever defensive line coach Dwaine Board watched video of Virginia Tech, or other prospects that happened to be playing against the Hokies, the player he ended up focusing on was Tapp.

An undersized defensive end, and the Seahawks' second-round pick, Tapp never took a play off. Board -- and others -- couldn't say the same about North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, the first pick overall.

That's how need meshed with the Seahawks' preferred BPA (best player available) philosophy when they made the 31st and 63rd selections Saturday.

"We addressed most of our needs in the draft," club president Tim Ruskell said Sunday. "I think I can say I feel like we're an even better team than the one that lost the Super Bowl."

The additions of Jennings and Tapp were significant, providing defensive coordinator John Marshall with two more pieces for his still-improving unit.

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"I can't wait to work with these guys," Marshall said. "They're almost untouchable in terms of doing things the right way."

With Jennings and Tapp, that right-way-is-the-only-way approach was across the board: On the field, in the classroom, in their personal lives.

"Which leads to consistency of play," Marshall said. "When you put on a film of these guys, you see the same guy every game. Every game."

Jennings and Tapp are far from perfect, of course. That's why they were available with the next-to-last picks in the first and second rounds.

The knock on Jennings is his weight. He's only 178 pounds. The rap with Tapp is his size. He's not quite 6 feet 2 and his weight got as low as 252 pounds at the NFL scouting combine in February.

Sound familiar? Last year, the Seahawks signed a squatty defensive tackle (Chuck Darby) and an undersized defensive end (Bryce Fisher) in free agency and then drafted a too-small, too-slow middle linebacker (Lofa Tatupu) and a compact-sized outside linebacker (Leroy Hill) in the second and third rounds.

They not only started last season, Darby, Fisher, Tatupu and Hill were leaders on a defense that improved its ranking from 26th in 2004 to 16th during the Seahawks' run to the Super Bowl.

This year, the Seahawks also have added Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson and quick, explosive defensive tackle Russell Davis in free agency.

"We have more speed on the field," Marshall said. "We have more guys that play the entire game. They sell out for the entire game."

It's a list that now includes a fast cover corner to start opposite Marcus Trufant and another relentless end to work in a rotation with Fisher and Grant Wistrom.

Asked about Jennings' weight, Ruskell sized him up this way: "Of all the corners, and I mean every one in the draft, he was the most consistent game to game."

The Seahawks would have considered either Penn State's Tamba Hali or North Carolina State's Manny Lawson with the 31st pick to satisfy their need for a pass rusher, but they went to the Kansas City Chiefs (at No. 20) and San Francisco 49ers (No. 22).

The Seahawks, however, didn't consider waiting until the second round as settling for Tapp.

"We did not think he would be there, honestly," Ruskell said.

If Jennings had not been available at 31, the Seahawks would have considered trading down to the upper portion of the second round, with Tapp the target pick.

"So it was an easy selection once we saw him there," Ruskell said.

When the subject of Tapp's height came up, Board offered, "I don't buy into the size thing. I buy into how big the guy's heart is."

Especially when those big-hearted players display it every play, play after play. Like Jennings and Tapp.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 05-04-2006, 01:31 PM

This confirms for me that we could've traded down in the round and still gotten Hali.

chief2000 · 05-04-2006, 01:35 PM

StcChief · 05-04-2006, 01:41 PM

water under the bridge....

2006 Draft is over hind sight is still 20/20

Let's get Hali ready to start at DE.

Halfcan · 05-04-2006, 01:44 PM

damm Seahags

BigChiefFan · 05-04-2006, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

This confirms for me that we could've traded down in the round and still gotten Hali.

I seriously doubt that. Ernie Acorsi of the Giants was rumored to have said they wanted Hali, but when we took him, they traded down with Pitt. I also heard the Bucs really liked Hali and would have taken him at 23. Hali is considered and everydown DE-the 2nd everydown DE taken in the draft, behind only Mario Williams.

htismaqe · 05-04-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

I seriously doubt that. Ernie Acorsi of the Giants was rumored to have said they wanted Hali, but when we took him, they traded down with Pitt. I also heard the Bucs really liked Hali and would have taken him at 23. Hali is considered and everydown DE-the 2nd everydown DE taken in the draft, behind only Mario Williams.

Yep.

Joe Seahawk · 05-04-2006, 04:32 PM

I feel like we were able to draft the best player available in each round and it just happened to fill our needs..

I love it when a plan comes together!..

BigChiefFan · 05-04-2006, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Seahawk

I feel like we were able to draft the best player available in each round and it just happened to fill our needs..

I love it when a plan comes together!..

I was really hoping Kelly Jennings would fall to us in the 2nd round, but looks like htis nailed the pick for you all.

htismaqe · 05-04-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

I was really hoping Kelly Jennings would fall to us in the 2nd round, but looks like htis nailed the pick for you all.

Did Bobby Carpenter go the Cowboys?

BigOlChiefsfan · 05-04-2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Seahawk

I feel like we were able to draft the best player available in each round and it just happened to fill our needs..

I love it when a plan comes together!..

Maybe so, but if King County could have demanded 2 or 3 recounts it might be a different story.

05-04-2006, 12:46 PM
chief2000 Starter Join Date: Apr 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	Seahawks draft heart. Chiefs pick mentioned. I think the Chiefs now are doing this. Got to feel good the superbowl team likes our player. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/footba...ml?source=mypi NFL Draft: Seahawks' top picks relentless on field Seattle drafts character with Jennings, Tapp By CLARE FARNSWORTH P-I REPORTER KIRKLAND -- It can come down to one defining, debate-deciding play. Not with the first two players the Seahawks selected over the weekend in the NFL draft. With Kelly Jennings and Darryl Tapp, it was the way they play -- play after play. The Seahawks considered Miami's Jennings, who should end up starting on the left side, the most consistent cornerback in the draft. Steadier than Clemson's Tye Hill, Florida State's Antonio Cromartie and South Carolina's Johnathan Joseph, the corners selected before Jennings. More solid than Virginia Tech's Jimmy Williams, Fresno State's Richard Marshall and Ohio State's Ashton Youboty, the other highly rated corners also available to the Seahawks in the first round. Whenever defensive line coach Dwaine Board watched video of Virginia Tech, or other prospects that happened to be playing against the Hokies, the player he ended up focusing on was Tapp. An undersized defensive end, and the Seahawks' second-round pick, Tapp never took a play off. Board -- and others -- couldn't say the same about North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, the first pick overall. That's how need meshed with the Seahawks' preferred BPA (best player available) philosophy when they made the 31st and 63rd selections Saturday. "We addressed most of our needs in the draft," club president Tim Ruskell said Sunday. "I think I can say I feel like we're an even better team than the one that lost the Super Bowl." The additions of Jennings and Tapp were significant, providing defensive coordinator John Marshall with two more pieces for his still-improving unit. advertising "I can't wait to work with these guys," Marshall said. "They're almost untouchable in terms of doing things the right way." With Jennings and Tapp, that right-way-is-the-only-way approach was across the board: On the field, in the classroom, in their personal lives. "Which leads to consistency of play," Marshall said. "When you put on a film of these guys, you see the same guy every game. Every game." Jennings and Tapp are far from perfect, of course. That's why they were available with the next-to-last picks in the first and second rounds. The knock on Jennings is his weight. He's only 178 pounds. The rap with Tapp is his size. He's not quite 6 feet 2 and his weight got as low as 252 pounds at the NFL scouting combine in February. Sound familiar? Last year, the Seahawks signed a squatty defensive tackle (Chuck Darby) and an undersized defensive end (Bryce Fisher) in free agency and then drafted a too-small, too-slow middle linebacker (Lofa Tatupu) and a compact-sized outside linebacker (Leroy Hill) in the second and third rounds. They not only started last season, Darby, Fisher, Tatupu and Hill were leaders on a defense that improved its ranking from 26th in 2004 to 16th during the Seahawks' run to the Super Bowl. This year, the Seahawks also have added Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson and quick, explosive defensive tackle Russell Davis in free agency. "We have more speed on the field," Marshall said. "We have more guys that play the entire game. They sell out for the entire game." It's a list that now includes a fast cover corner to start opposite Marcus Trufant and another relentless end to work in a rotation with Fisher and Grant Wistrom. Asked about Jennings' weight, Ruskell sized him up this way: "Of all the corners, and I mean every one in the draft, he was the most consistent game to game." The Seahawks would have considered either Penn State's Tamba Hali or North Carolina State's Manny Lawson with the 31st pick to satisfy their need for a pass rusher, but they went to the Kansas City Chiefs (at No. 20) and San Francisco 49ers (No. 22). The Seahawks, however, didn't consider waiting until the second round as settling for Tapp. "We did not think he would be there, honestly," Ruskell said. If Jennings had not been available at 31, the Seahawks would have considered trading down to the upper portion of the second round, with Tapp the target pick. "So it was an easy selection once we saw him there," Ruskell said. When the subject of Tapp's height came up, Board offered, "I don't buy into the size thing. I buy into how big the guy's heart is." Especially when those big-hearted players display it every play, play after play. Like Jennings and Tapp.
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05-04-2006, 01:35 PM	#3
chief2000 Starter Join Date: Apr 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	lol
Posts: 628

05-04-2006, 01:41 PM	#4
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	water under the bridge.... 2006 Draft is over hind sight is still 20/20 Let's get Hali ready to start at DE. __________________ sig test for this screwy schema
Posts: 25,901

05-04-2006, 01:44 PM	#5
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	damm Seahags
Posts: 43,200

05-04-2006, 04:32 PM	#8
Joe Seahawk This place entertains.. Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Seattle Casino cash: $6804435	I feel like we were able to draft the best player available in each round and it just happened to fill our needs.. I love it when a plan comes together!..
Posts: 5,503