January 19, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; West running back Christine Michael of Texas A&M

The Seahawks have finally made their first pick in the 2013 draft. It just took until the final pick of the second round to get here. With that pick, Seattle took Christine (pronounced Chris-TIN) Michael, a running back from Texas A&M. Chances are you’re wondering who the hell that is. Allow me to enlighten you.

According to NFL.com, Michael’s strengths include a “low center of gravity” but with a “thickness throughout his frame to take and give out punishment.” He has more speed than one would think when he is able to break open as well. Overall, Michael is a bruiser that will be a nice compliment to Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin. Both Lynch and Turbin are hard to bring down, and Lynch will occasionally level a tackler, but Michael has the ability to straight damage some defenders. Michael is also a good blocker that is able to lead the ball into the second level.

According to CBS Sports, Michael started 2012 rated by some as the “top senior running back in the country.” Attitude issues, however, took him out of the starting role, and the spotlight, which is probably a big reason he was relatively unknown and is yet another “what the what” pick by Pete Carroll and John Schneider.

Michael has had injury issues and missed the ends of both his sophomore and junior year. He broke his right leg in 2010 and the following season he tore his ACL. However, in 13 games he ran for 1,530 yards and 12 touchdowns. If he can check his attitude issues at the door and stay healthy, Michael should have an opportunity to contribute greatly in Seattle.

If Seattle starts utilizing a running back by committee approach it could be a very different dynamic on offense and make them harder to prepare for and defend. Diversity is a killer.

Another thing that I just thought of is whether or not Seattle might consider lining up Michael at full back and getting all three backs (Lynch, Turbin, and Michael) on the field at the same time. This could also give Seattle more flexibility when it comes to dealing with Michael Robinson’s contract.

This pick could also have fantasy implications as it might limit carries by Lynch.

No matter what, I think we should all get #inpcjswetrust trending because I expect a lot more unexpected picks out of Seattle for the rest of the draft.

January 24, 2013; Honolulu, HI, USA; NFC free safety Earl Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks (29) runs with the ball during practice for the 2013 Pro Bowl at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

With the upcoming draft dominating the NFL news landscape in recent weeks I started thinking over the last few Seahawks draft classes. On Monday I looked at John Schneider’s and Pete Carroll’s preferences and today I will examine the impact their draft picks have had over the last three years. Generally, I consider it too early to judge the quality of these drafts in their entirety. I do think it is fair to look at the production accumulated by unit for the classes under this regime and demonstrate the early impact they have had for the Seahawks. My initial assumption was that the draft classes of 2010-2012 have been very productive for Seattle and that proved to be entirely correct.

Let’s start with the very successful 2012 class:

Offense

In a defense-heavy draft these numbers were accumulated by, with the exception of J.R Sweezy’s playing time, Russell Wilson and Robert Turbin, both of whom were major contributors this year. Given the general success of Wilson’s rookie year, the number that really stands out here is the 843 rushing yards provided by these rookies. Those yards served as quite the compliment to Marshawn Lynch’s 1,590 yards as the feature back. The raw production is very good and probably trending upward for both players in the future.

Defense

Despite the fact the Seahawks drafted seven defensive players in 2012 almost all of the defensive production comes from Bobby Wagner. That being said, the Seahawks’ defensive rookies proved valuable in situational roles. Most notably Bruce Irvin and Greg Scruggs rushing the passer and getting 10 combined sacks. Also of note were performances by rookies asked to move up the depth chart (e.g. Jeremy Lane starting during Brandon Browner’s four game suspension). These numbers are already respectable and figure to improve, especially if Bruce Irvin continues to grow as a player.

In the 2011 draft class, we see a group of players that have contributed a great deal, especially on defense.

Offense

These measures of production don’t really include offensive line play and as a result this draft class looks a great deal worse than it is. Even so, the Seahawks’ top two picks in this draft have only combined for 31 of a possible 64 starts on the offensive line, which is far from ideal. James Carpenter has a chance to have a future as a starter in Seattle for years to come if he can stay healthy. John Moffit seems more likely to only provide depth on the line. The only other offensive player from this class, Kris Durham, has already moved on.

Defense

The 2011 draft class was a gold mine in terms of defensive talent. Headlined by CB Richard Sherman and OLB K.J Wright the 2011 draftees have more than held their own in the NFL thus far. Wright and Sherman are both quality starters and Byron Maxwell and Malcolm Smith are excellent depth players who have made plays when called upon. Nothing to complain about here.

Lastly, let’s examine the production the Seahawks have gotten from Schneider’s and Carroll’s 2010 inaugural draft class.

Offense

Russell Okung and Golden Tate are both excellent picks and they make up most of the numbers seen here. Anthony McCoy has done more than most 6^th round picks and Jameson Konz unfortunately never really delivered on his promise. It says something about the drafting acumen of Seattle’s front office when we actively contemplate 7^th round draft picks that never amount to anything.

Defense

These totals are compiled primarily by the safety duo of Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor with contributions from Walter Thurmond III and Dexter Davis.

In the overall analysis there are a lot of numbers to chew on. Before I go further I’d like to point out the obvious flaws in them.

Firstly, the contributions of offensive lineman are downplayed because their on-field production is not quantified by the statistics I have used. This is especially unfortunate given the Seahawks have spent two of their last four first round picks on offensive linemen. Although their inclusion in terms of games and games started is significant, looking at these production charts does underplay the importance of players like Russell Okung or James Carpenter.

Secondly, although one could argue that in a way the number of games started by each draft class is the best way to measure their contribution to the franchise, it can be problematic because it prizes quantity over quality. Just because a player started or played in a game doesn’t mean they played well. On the other hand, if the player is terrible he is unlikely to play or start so there is some implication of effectiveness just by appearing in games consistently.

Lastly, by looking at draft picks only the contributions of undrafted free agent gems like Doug Baldwin and Brandon Browner are excluded.

Ultimately, I think the main idea to take from this is that Seattle’s front office has done a good job in selecting players that have provided significant, tangible, and quantifiable production for this franchise. The Seahawks roster has been turned over and completely remade during the Pete Carroll era and the primary vehicle for this overhaul has been the draft. In 2010, 7.7% of the starts made by Seahawks players were from draft picks of the current front office. In 2011 that number climbed to 28.4%, and last year is was 42.6%. More than player statistics, those numbers capture the impact of the last three draft classes. If John Schneider and Pete Carroll continue to have excellent drafts that number will continue growing. Give this duo another three years and we will be looking at a truly homegrown squad, and by and large those are the type of teams that win championships.

With the regular-season over, I thought I’d look back at the predictions I made before the regular season started. This was the first time I’d done NFC West predictions and it was more difficult than I thought it would be. Even reading the hometown newspapers and scouting the team’s fan websites, getting the predictions right for a team over an entire season was a lot harder than picking week to week game winners or managing a fantasy team.

 One of the things I wasn’t able to predict was what a powerhouse the NFC West would become throughout the season. From teams like the Cardinals starting off 4 and 0, to the scrappy repuation of the Rams, to the “team that no one wants to play” nickname that got hung on the Seahawks to the flawless defense of the 49ers… The NFC West definitely made a name for itself this year. So let’s look back and see what I predicted!

Number 4- Arizona Cardinals – Even their own fan base is down on the Cards. With a tough schedule at the start including Seattle, Philly and New England, the Card’s iffy QB and lackluster O-Line will be challenged as they come out of the gate. Even the end of the season schedule does them no favors with an away game to Seattle, playing Chicago and Detroit at home and then finishing at San Fran. This team will be truly tested. Expect to see Kalb playing again as Skelton struggles. Even with a few surprise wins during the season, the Cards will be in the bottom of the NFC west this year.

Note: I’ll take this. The cards did have some surprise wins but their schedule and QB injuries were far more than they could handle.

Number 3- St Louis Rams – The Ram’s youth as team remains a question mark for this season even as QB Sam Bradford settles into his job as somewhat of an elder statesman as a two year man. As the youngest team in the NFL, there have been plenty of jokes regarding Fruit Loops and Cartoons at the hotel… But, this team has done a drastic restructure and is prepared to live with the consequences. There are 17 rookies on the St. Louis Rams’ opening day roster, seven more players age 24 or younger and 31 in all on the 53-man roster who were not with the franchise last season. Expect to see flashes of brilliance as well as plenty of penalties in the first part of the season as the team gels. The Rams will finish behind the dual powerhouses of Seattle and San Fran.

Note: I’ll take this one too! The Rams did show flashes of brilliance and despite the strong efforts of Sam Bradford they did finish a good distance behind Seattle and San Fran (Although their gutsy play against San Fran got them the tie this year, which was very impressive!)

Number 2 – San Francisco 49ers – While there are any number of claims that the opening 49er/packer game may be a preview of the NFC playoff, there are those in the club house wondering if things will go as smoothly this year as they did last year. In an effort to keep their NFC west champ status, the 49ers brought in Moss and Manningham to help Smith improve his passing performance that was 29th out of 32 last year. With a top ranked D to fall back on should offense become stagnant, expect the 49ers to be competitive. Their real challenge will be remaining consistent as 4 of their last 6 games are on the road. Their D will keep them in 2nd place behind the Seahawks.

Number 1 – Seattle Seahawks – After the changes made in the off-season, it’s hard to say the Hawks won’t take their division. Unlike other teams wondering which QB to start, Seattle has two excellent options instead of “the lesser of two evils”. Russell Wilson has shown excellent skills and preparation and has a fascinating group of receivers to throw to including free agent Braylon Edwards who was sterling in preseason. Factor that in with the improved O-line (Hello JR Sweezy!), the improved running game (Mr. Turbin) and the strength of the Hawks D, and you have the team most likely to win the west! While their passing D was ranked  11th last year, expect that to be even more improved this year with the addition of Bruce Irvin and his outside speed when he rushes the passer. The Hawks secondary is loaded with pro bowl level talent (Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner and Kam Chancellor – otherwise known as the Legion of Boom) and should give opposing QBs nightmares. Expect the Seahawks to take this division despite closely contested games with the 49ers.

Note: I totally got the order wrong between San Fran and the Seahawks. I knew it would be close but I erred on my estimate regarding how long it would take Russell Wilson to become proficient. I also missed the contribution Bobby Wagner made and I didn’t consider that the 49ers wouldn’t start Smith as QB all season. Even with those miscalculations, I was only off by half a game on the final result.

 It will be very interesting to look at the NFC West prior to the beginning of next year’s regular-season. With the Cardinals replacing their coach, I’m looking for a lot of changes with that team. The Rams should further solidify and I look for them to play their division even tougher than they did this year. The Seattle/ San Fran rivalry should continue to fuel fan bases in both regions. Expect gutsy, hard-hitting, take – no – prisoners games between these two franchises next year.

 If you had to pick a division winner for next year right now, who would you pick?

This week’s injury report is complex as one might expect going into week 16. The combination of end of season stress on athletes and seasonal illness is playing a role in preparing players for this vital Sunday Night Football matchup.

Seahawks Thursday Report:

Richard Sherman – did not practice – not injury related

Robert Turbin – did not practice – illness

Leon Washington – did not practice – illness

Walter Thurmond and Marcus Trufant – did not practice (wed or thurs) – Hamstring

Sidney Rice – did not practice – knee (wed or thurs)

Jeron Johnson – did not practice – groin (thurs)

Alan Branch – moved from did not practice to full practice between wed and thurs – ankle

Marshawn Lynch – moved from limited practice to full practice between wed and thurs – back

49ers Thursday Report:

Clark Haggens and Justin Smith did not practice wed or Thursday, shoulder and elbow respectively

Ahmed Brooks, Tarell Brown, Mario Manningahm, Bruce Miller and Alden Smith – limited practice – shoulder

Tavares Gooden – limited practice – ribs

Will Takuafu – limited practice – concussion

David Akers, Alex Boone, NaVarro Bowmen, Frank Gore, Mike Lupati, Carlos Rogers, Dashon Goldson and Patrick Willis were full practice both weds and thurs.

Team Transactions (last seven days):

• The Seahawks placed DE Jason Jones on injured reserve and signed DT Hebron Fangupo from the practice squad to active roster.
• Signed WR Bryan Walters to the practice squad.
• Signed LB Kyle Knox to Practice Squad.
• Released TE Evan Moore. Signed TE Sean McGrath from practice squad.
• Released WR Lavasier Tuinei from the Practice Squad and signed DE Monte Taylor to the Practice Squad.
• Placed WR Charly Martin on Reserve/Injured list. Signed WR Deon Butler to Active Roster.

Expect DTs Greg Scruggs, Hebron Fangupo and Jaye Howard to play significant roles in Sunday’s matchup at the Clink! and Jaye Howard to play significant roles in Sunday’s matchup at the Clink!

The NFC West -

With the start of the season so close, here’s a closer look at our home division and some end of season predictions.

Number 4- Arizona Cardinals – Even their own fan base is down on the Cards. With a tough schedule at the start including Seattle, Philly and New England, the Card’s iffy QB and lackluster O-Line will be challenged as they come out of the gate. Even the end of the season schedule does them no favors with an away game to Seattle, playing Chicago and Detroit at home and then finishing at San Fran. This team will be truly tested. Expect to see Kalb playing again as Skelton struggles. Even with a few surprise wins during the season, the Cards will be in the bottom of the NFC west this year.

Number 3- St Louis Rams – The Ram’s youth as team remains a question mark for this season even as QB Sam Bradford settles into his job as somewhat of an elder statesman as a two year man. As the youngest team in the NFL, there have been plenty of jokes regarding Fruit Loops and Cartoons at the hotel… But, this team has done a drastic restructure and is prepared to live with the consequences. There are 17 rookies on the St. Louis Rams’ opening day roster, seven more players age 24 or younger and 31 in all on the 53-man roster who were not with the franchise last season. Expect to see flashes of brilliance as well as plenty of penalties in the first part of the season as the team gels. The Rams will finish behind the dual powerhouses of Seattle and San Fran.

Number 2 – San Francisco 49ers – While there are any number of claims that the opening 49er/packer game may be a preview of the NFC playoff, there are those in the club house wondering if things will go as smoothly this year as they did last year. In an effort to keep their NFC west champ status, the 49ers brought in Moss and Manningham to help Smith improve his passing performance that was 29th out of 32 last year. With a top ranked D to fall back on should offense become stagnant, expect the 49ers to be competitive. Their real challenge will be remaining consistent as 4 of their last 6 games are on the road. Their D will keep them in 2nd place behind the Seahawks.

Number 1 – Seattle Seahawks – After the changes made in the off-season, it’s hard to say the Hawks won’t take their division. Unlike other teams wondering which QB to start, Seattle has two excellent options instead of “the lesser of two evils”. Russell Wilson has shown excellent skills and preparation and has a fascinating group of receivers to throw to including free agent Braylon Edwards who was sterling in preseason. Factor that in with the improved O-line (Hello JR Sweezy!), the improved running game (Mr. Turbin) and the strength of the Hawks D, and you have the team most likely to win the west! While their passing D was ranked  11th last year, expect that to be even more improved this year with the addition of Bruce Irvin and his outside speed when he rushes the passer. The Hawks secondary is loaded with pro bowl level talent (Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner and Kam Chancellor – otherwise known as the Legion of Boom) and should give opposing QBs nightmares. Expect the Seahawks to take this division despite closely contested games with the 49ers.

Key Newcomers

Aug 30, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) throws a pass against the Oakland Raiders at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Russell Wilson – The Seahawks third round draft pick in this past draft, Wilson played his way into the QB competition and the ultimately won it. On top of having good accuracy and a great strong arm, Wilson is a dynamic playmaker who can also make plays with his legs.

Robert Turbin – The Seahawks 4th round draft pick is the perfect backup for RB Marshawn Lynch. He has a tremendous combination of both power and speed, and led the entire NFL in yards per rushing attempt this preseason (with at least 25 carries).

Braylon Edwards - Edwards was signed about a week after training camp began, and quickly began putting on a show with one spectacular catch after another. Edwards should take over the roll that was filled by Mike Williams that past 2 years, so expect him to put some some good numbers, especially inside the red zone.

Key Contributors

Sydney Rice – Rice remains the team’s best and most dynamic wide receiver. When he’s healthy he completely changes the way the defenses have to play the Seahawks. The question remains whether or not he can stay healthy.

Dec 12, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin (15) hurdles receiver Ben Obomanu (87) and St. Louis Rams cornerback Rod Hood (26) at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Doug Baldwin - 2011′s leading receiver returns as the Seahawk’s key slot receiver. Look for Baldwin to play a major roll on third down again for the Seahawks.

Marshawn Lynch – Beast Mode returns, and after rushing for over 1200 yards last season, he poised for an even bigger 2012. Look for Lynch to be the focus of the offense, as the Seahawks will once again focus on running the ball and passing via play action. The Seahawks just have to hope that his back problems don’t flair up again this season.

Strengths

The Running Game – A year ago, it took 6 weeks before Lynch and the running game found it’s legs, but once it did the Seahawks had one of the best running attacks in the NFL. This year, with most of the starting linemen back, the Seahawks appear ready to pick up right where they left off. With the addition of Turbin to help Lynch, and with the additional yards that the team will get from Wilson scrambling, the Seahawks running game should be even better.

Concerns

Pass Protection – While the offensive line is expected to be great at run blocking, the pass blocking is still a big question mark. Many of the linemen struggled at pass protection a year ago, and it remains to be seen if they have improved in that regard. As a team with a Rookie QB, the Seahawks really need their pass protection to be at least average so as to take some pressure off the young passer.

Rookie QB growing pains – Wilson looked good in the preseason, but it would be wrong not to expect some growing pains as he adjusts to NFL. The Seahawks must find a way to limit the damage when mistakes happen, and Wilson will have to make sure that any mistakes don’t come when they’ll cost the Seahawks wins.

Reasonable Prediction

The running game should be one of the best in the NFL this season. I’d be quite surprised if it’s not within the top 5 of the league at the end of the season.

The passing game likely wont be nearly as good. A rookie QB and below average pass blocking should limit the Seahawks success through the air this year. I still expect it to be improved over a year ago, but I think somewhere between the 15-20th in the NFL in passing yards is about all we can expect.

Jan. 1, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker (58) Daryl Washington attempts to strip the ball from Seattle Seahawks running back (24) Marshawn Lynch in the first quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Marshawn Lynch is reportedly experiencing back spasms and is not a sure thing to play in the Seahawks’ opener in Arizona this Sunday according to Adam Schefter at ESPN.  This has implications in both the real and fantasy realms of football.

First let’s go over the fantasy football implications.  In most league’s Marshawn Lynch is probably – and if he isn’t, he should be – a low RB1 or high RB2 which means he should be starting.  With Lynch being a concern in regards to playing this Sunday, you may want to consider picking up Robert Turbin to start in Lynch’s place.  My expectations would be for the offensive plan to be nearly identical with Turbin starting and him to get the majority of carries.  I would only recommend this plan of action if your bench is thin on starting running backs and you don’t have another running back playing at the same time or later who is guaranteed a start and is going to get significant rushing attempts.  This would require holding onto both Lynch and Turbin for the week and keeping an eye on game time announcements before plugging in your starter for the week.

Lynch not being able to start has an even greater effect on the outcome of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.  With a rookie starting at quarterback it adds increased value to having a veteran running back that is capable of carrying the team in case of any growing pains or late-game situations.  Starting a rookie at both quarterback and running back could throw the outcome of the game into jeopardy.  With Arizona’s offense in its current state of disarray, Seattle was favored (slightly) to win the game.  If Lynch is out, I’d argue that the game would be an even match since Arizona’s defense is still very strong.  The winner would likely be the team whose defense scores the most points.

Lynch is also a key component to the morale of the Seahawks.  He is the backbone of the offense and not having him for the season opener would leave the offense without any proven personalities that can lift the team up by making the gutsy play if the going gets tough. It doesn’t mean that somebody can’t, or won’t, step up, but it would definitely leave a void where Beast Mode would normally be.

Keep an eye out for developments regarding Lynch’s back throughout the week and prepare for a last minute substitution to your fantasy roster if you are currently planning on starting Lynch this Sunday.

Training camp… you can hear the giddy hearts of loyal football fans across the nation skip a collective beat at thought of their favorite teams coming together to prepare for another season. There’s endless speculation regarding team readiness, who’s getting the reps and which long-shot might actually make the team.

I’m just as excited as the next 12^th man.

Last year was my first year to attend training camp. Although a season ticket holder, I was a training camp rookie with a Nikon who dreamed of seeing my favorite players from a distance.

As a celebration of reuniting fans with players following the strike, Hawks staff were picking fans out of the crowd to come on the field to watch the practice and meet the players. I was skeptical at first… until they lead us onto the field. That practice remains one of the best experiences of my life as football devotee.

Even though I know I won’t get that close to the action this year, I’m excited to return to the VMAC to have the full experience, to commune with my fellow 12^th man, to experience the energy and excitement as the season approaches, to see for myself who really stands out. Last year it was Richard Sherman who caught my eye with his speed.

This year, I’ve got my eyes on Robert Turbin, Ricardo Lockette, and Russell Wilson. Turbin, because he may end up getting a lot of playing time. Ricardo, because I follow him on Twitter and I know how hard he worked in the off season to hone his skills. Wilson, because I hear that he doesn’t do well once the pocket collapses and I want to see for myself.

Stay tuned!

That was from Seahawk RB Robert Turbin’s twitter account last night. I read that and my find, and only, thought was “You got that right.”

This is a great time of year to be a football fan. Every team except 4 or 5 believes that have at least an outside chance of competing for a playoff spot. On a nationwide scale, it just doesn’t get an more positive than it is right now. It can only go downhill from here, right?

Seriously, this offseason can’t end soon enough.

Sep 3, 2011; Auburn, AL, USA; Utah State Aggies running back Robert Turbin (6) gets past Auburn Tigers linebacker Jake Holland (5) during the first half at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-US PRESSWIRE

News broke earlier this week that Marshawn Lynch had been arrested for a DUI, leaving the Seahawks in a difficult place. Given that this is Marshawn’s 3rd criminal offense during his time in the NFL, and he has already be suspended once in the past, it is fair to say that Lynch is virtually a mortal lock to miss Week 1, and probably a number of weeks after that. Often, in the NFL, teams must rely on their depth to succeed. This is usually due to injury rather than criminal incident but the concept remains the same. The Seahawks’ primary contingency plan in the event of the loss of Marshawn Lynch is rookie 4th round pick and former Utah State Aggie Robert Turbin. In most scenarios the idea of losing one of your marquee players and having him replaced by a rookie you drafted in the fourth round is absolutely terrifying, but the running back position is a unique case. In the past few years rookie running backs have found a great deal of success league wide, even ones that were not Adrian Peterson-like stud first round picks. The list of rookie running backs drafted outside the first round who went on to be productive in the last few years include names like Roy Helu, DeMarco Murray, Chris Ivory, Kevin Smith, Steve Slaton, LaGarrette Blount and Matt Forte. The most commonly stated reasoning for this success is that running back is simply not that difficult a position to learn. Rookies can be sheltered from difficult 3rd down blocking assignments and simply be turned loose with the ball in their hands on first and second down. If we accept that there is a precedent for running backs like Turbin to succeed in their first year, a look into his pre-draft scouting reports should give us a fairly good idea of what Turbin brings to the table and what kind of drop of from Lynch’s production we are likely to see early in the year.

To evaluate Turbin’s credentials I looked over a variety of scouting reports that surfaced about him in the lead up to the draft. The reports differ in certain areas and given that I have never seen Turbin play I don’t have any means for supporting one opinion over the other. What I’ve done instead is looked at many scouting reports and only included information that is common to either all of them or at least a solid majority. I’ve structured these pieces of information into the basic categories of “good news” and “bad news”. Most scouting reports use the terms “positives” and “negatives” but that terminology strikes me as dry.

Good News: Robert Turbin has good size and strength

We don’t have to rely on scouting reports to confirm this information. Turbin tips the scales at a solid 222 pounds and put up 28 reps on the bench press, a fantastic number for a running back. Turbin uses this strength to run downhill and break tackles. He has the ability to wear down defenses and create yards after contact in a similar manner to the man he will be stepping in for, albeit in a way that is unlikely to match the aesthetic appeal of “Beast Mode”

Bad News: Robert Turbin is not fast.

Turbin ran a 4.50 at the Combine which is respectable but approximately average. Unfortunately, multiple reports suggest that he doesn’t play up to his timed speed. Turbin lacks a second gear to break away from defenders and has been known to get caught from behind. Turbin is unlikely to turn the corner on outside runs or impress with his lateral movement. The word “plodding” is liberally used in descriptions of Turbin which is generally not a good sign.

Good News: Robert Turbin has good vision

To clarify we aren’t talking about Shaun Alexander in his prime type of vision, but most scouting reports suggest Turbin does a good job of picking the right hole and hitting it. His decisiveness is combined with a solid burst through the hole that creates consistent positive yardage. This bodes for Turbin’s ability to thrive in a zone-blocking system. This is also a factor, along with his aforementioned power, in his knack for finding the end zone. Last year Turbin had 23 total touchdowns (19 rushing, 4 receiving) for Utah State.

Bad News: Robert Turbin won’t contribute much in the passing game

This weakness is not uncommon among running backs coming out of college. Turbin is more of a power back than a receiving option and only put up 171 yards receiving last year. Turbin also can struggle with pass blocking. He tends to whiff on his blocks and gets blown back at times. These problems may well be correctable as he certainly has the requisite strength to be an effective blocker. At this point he is fairly raw in both pass catching and pass blocking and unlikely to see much time on 3rd down.

Overall Turbin has the ability to be an effective fill in for Marshawn Lynch for however long he is needed. When Turbin was first drafted some were confused as he appeared to be more of a backup feature back than a complementary back to Lynch, considering their  skill sets are somewhat similar. It now appears that a backup feature back is exactly what the Seahawks need and the pick of Turbin may well end up being wiser than it initially seemed. Robert Turbin is unlikely to wow Seahawks fans with blazing speed, incredible moves or earthquake inducing runs but he could provide solid, if unspectacular, production. As long as we don’t expect too much out of him, especially in the passing game, he may well be a pleasant surprise. NFL comparisons for Turbin range from Isaac Redman to Marshawn Lynch himself and if Turbin is able to land somewhere in the middle of those two then Seahawks nation will have to be happy.

There seems to be a pretty wide range of actions the NFL has taken regarding DUIs. In 2007 Chief’s DE Jared Allen received a 2 game suspension and lost an additional game check resulting from two DUI arrests. In 2010 Jets receiver Braylon Edwards got off relatively easy with just a $50K fine from the NFL. However, Browns receiver Donte Stallworth sat out the entire 2009 season after his conviction for DUI manslaughter for which he also served 24 days in jail.

The NFL Players Association contends the maximum for a first-time DUI offense is no suspension and two game checks totaling no more than $50K, but the NFL has been pushing for harsher punishments for drug and alcohol related infractions. So, first offense, no suspension – Got it! Just one little problem…or two. Even though this is Lynch’s first DUI arrest, it’s not his first brush with the law. He had two prior arrests as a Buffalo Bills player; one involving illegal firearms and the other a hit and run in which he contended he didn’t know he had hit someone. These two incidents are thought to be the main reason the Bills decided to send Lynch packing, much to the Seahawks benefit. How will these other two arrests figure in Goodell’s decision? That’s the big unknown in this.

Are there any mitigating circumstances? Lynch has enjoyed a career resurgence and a fat new contract in Seattle, largely on the strength of his good behavior and…(drum roll please!) “The Run” v.s. New Orleans in the 2010 playoffs also known in Seattle football lore as the “Beast Quake” due to the earth quake registered at the UW seismology lab by wildly jumping fans. Working in Lynch’s favor is the fact he’s 1. Had relatively good behavior the last three years, 2. This is his first DUI, 3. He was in town supporting a charity at the time of his arrest, 4. He’s become a fan favorite.

Then again, we are talking about Roger Goodell, who surprised everyone with the unexpectedly harsh suspensions he handed out to members of the New Orleans Saints staff and players in the bounty scandal. My guess is Lynch will be fined $50K and given no suspension. The key unknown is how much weight Goodell will put on those previous infractions…and how he feels about a player disregarding his warning. If Goodell wants to send his own “Beast Quake” through the league “Beast Mode” could start the season in “Sit Mode”.

(What a Lynch suspension could mean to the Seahawks, and Lynch’s backup Robert Turbin is explored elsewhere on 12th Man Rising).

Dec 12, 2011, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) looks away from the bench during the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated St. Louis, 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch was arrested today in Oakland, and was taken to Santa Rita Jail. He was cited and released. No other details are available at the time that I’m writing this.

The Seahawks need to be prepared for Lynch to face a suspension for this. This is already Lynch’s 3rd time getting in trouble with the law in his brief NFL career. Lynch was suspended for 3 games after pleading guilty to a weapons charge. He also had his license revoked in 2008 when he struck a pedestrian with his car.

The Seahawks will likely be forced to rely on rookie Robert Turbin to carry the offense for the first few weeks of the season.

But that isn’t necessarily what I think the Seahawks SHOULD do. Turbin has his own strengths (and not just his massive biceps). He’s got good speed, power, etc. So While Lynch is the better player, the Seahawks aren’t forced to rely only on him carry the load.

There’s also a reason why so many teams have a running back by committee approach. It keeps their best players healthy longer, and stops them from wearing down at the end of the season. It also limits the damage to game plan if one of the back should get hurt.

And that leads me to this poll. What do you think the Seahawks should do with Lynch and Turbin, split the caries, or give the ball to the better player?

Tell me what you think?

Turbin will be good, but I wouldn't pick him on a fantasy team this year no matter what ESPN says. Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

I don’t play fantasy football, and thus I try not to comment on it all that much since I don’t really know what what I’m talking about. I leave that guys like Jason and Hanley who know what they are doing. But when the fantasy guys from ESPN released their annual Sleepers and Busts, their inclusion of a few Seahawks just didn’t make any sense and warranted a response.

Marshawn Lynch – Lynch was labelled as a potential bust. The sited his new contract and how they expected him to pull a Shaun Alexander. I just don’t buy it. Lynch is a guy who plays with an edge. He’s a guy who plays hard because it’s who he is, not because he’s only looking for a payday. Plus, the O-line should be much improved this season. I expect big things from Lynch.

Robert Turbin – Turban is labelled as a sleeper, and again, I just don’t see how he will have any value to fantasy owners. Pete Carroll has never been a “running back by committee” coach. Unless Lynch gets hurt, I just don’t see Turbin getting more than 5-7 carries per game. I really like Turbin, and I think that he’ll be a very good back in the league, but I just don’t see him getting many chances as a rookie unless Lynch gets hurt..

Matt Flynn – Flynn is another sleeper. Right now that might be a good call, but it’ll change well before the season starts. Either Flynn will win the job and will be an very good fantasy player, or he wont and then he’ll be a horrible player to have on your fantasy team. I guess the fact that there’s an open competition means that people wont select him at this point which makes him a sleeper pick right now, but if your league waits until later to draft then he wont be.

Seahawks Defense – The Seahawks defense is listed as a bust. Really? Someone explain how that makes any sense, because I simply don’t understand. The Seahawks were a top 10 defense last year, and have added considerable talent in the offseason. The Seahawks’ pass rush should be much improved with the additions of pass rushers like Jason Jones and Bruce Irvin. I just don’t see how you can justify that the Seahawk defense will be a bust.

Is Lynch the best RB in the division? Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

I’m working on my 2012 season preview, and I realized something about the NFC West: This division has an incredible group of running backs. Every team has at least one player who can make a serious difference in every game.

Sure, Beenie Wells is hurt a lot, and Frank Gore and Steven Jackson don’t have much tread left on the tires, but don’t that that fool you. All 3 have the potential to take over games. There’s good backups too, with guys like Leon Washinton and Kendall Hunter (possibly even Brandon Jacobs). Throw in high profile rookies LaMicheal James, Isaiah Pead, and Robert Turbin, and you start to see how deep this group is.

And in all that, I didn’t even mention Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch and Michael Robinson, both of whom were pro-bowlers last season. At this point I think that, from top to bottom, this division has the best group of backs in the entire league.

But within this group, which team has the best? I want to get you opinion: