Enter Tim Tebow.

The 12th Man Rising facebook page is different from our actual website. Diane (my social media director) manages it and does an excellent job. There’s more memes, pics, and links to things outside of 12thMR than there is here. (You should check it out. Seriously.) This morning, she posted a link to an article about a rumor about Tebow and the Seahawks. The page kind of exploded.

Let me start off by saying this rumor has no legs. Whether you’re pro-Tebow or anti-Tebow, you can ignore the idea.

I had to bold that. Some people skim these articles, and if there’s 1 paragraph you’re going to read, it needs to be that one.

While the headline says the Seahawks have “interest,” there’s nothing in the text of the article other than connecting dots that doesn’t exist. There’s no quote, no source, and no substance. I’ve also been told the site is far from reputable, but I have no prior knowledge of the site, so I am unaware if that is true.

Besides, the Seahawks have signed Josh Portis and are reportedly close with Tyler Thigpen. They’ve also reportedly been in contact with Vince Young, but it doesn’t look like that is going anywhere at this time. There’s also the draft, where the Seahawks have interest in Matt Scott, among others. The backup QB void is already working itself out.

I also surveyed a couple well connected media members just to be sure, and the idea was met with laughter. So there’s that.

So now that we’ve got that out of the way, lets have a little fun with this. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the 600+ comments. All are presented without commentary. Some are funny. Some are awesome. Some are awesomely funny. You decided which is which.

“We have our QB and he wears #3″

“We need a Christian on the team”

“Tebow who?”

“Is there a UN-like button?”

“Safety…anyone? Bueller….Bueller…Tebow…Anyone?”

“Come on Pete, we know you like ‘unique skill sets,’ but SUCKING is not a skill this team needs”

“I’m all for this… But to try Tebow at Tight End ONLY. I think he would be a good TE.”

“I’ll be right back. Going out to the driveway to set my 3 sets of season tickets on fire.”

“Sorry Timmy, but Lassie is not in Seattle, so you will just have to keep looking somewhere else. We wish you the best”

“Are you sure this isn’t The Onion?”

“Tebow is not the circus, the Jets are. Butt fumble, right?”

“I have 100% confidence in coach Carroll and Pete Schneider’s decision making in player acquisition.”

“Do we now have to open two spots on the roster – one for Tebow and one for Jesus?”

“If they sign this talentless … and the endlessly distracting circus sideshow of idiots who follow him around I’m turning in my 12th man credentials because any team who is stupid enough to sign him doesn’t deserve me as a fan.”

“[He's] Dan McGwire with a God complex. You’d do just as well to teach Okung how to play QB.”

And those were all just from the first 100 or so comments. Plus there’s the 50+ comments that looked something like “NNNNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!” that I had to tell Facebook that they weren’t spam.

Good times…

Nov 13, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks fan dressed in a costume during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

I mean, this happens like 3 or 4 times a year, doesn’t it? Someone who’s never been to Seattle for a game openly questions how loud we are. How can 67,000 NFL fans be louder that 100,000 college fans? Or how can an outdoor stadium be louder than a dome?

The problem here is that they never learn. Every time this happens, the player who questioned us walks away from the game with a ringing in their ears that takes weeks to go away. Or they make the even dumber move of going on ESPN or some some other outlet and accuse us of piping in fake noise. Um, sorry, but No. We don’t. Nice try. Thanks for playing.

Well guess what, it happened again. This time it’s Jets QB Tim Tebow who is apparently incapable of learning from the mistakes of others. When asked about the 12th man and crowd noise, Tebow claimed that the SEC stadium he played in for college games “are a lot louder.”

There are 2 things that make that statement absurd. First, Tebow has never once set foot in Seattle, so how could he possibly know. And 2) There have been plenty of former SEC players who’ve played at the Clink, both with the Seahawks and against them, who’ve said that the 12th Man are the loudest fans they’ve ever heard.

So I guess we need to give this kid an education.

Be loud 12th Man. Do your thing.

1) From an outsider’s perspective, the Jets QB situation is an absolute mess. Is it any better as a Jet’s fan? Can Sanchez still be the guy long term?

The situation is a mess, in part because of how it has divided the fan base. Any move that Mark Sanchez makes is scrutinized even more than in the past, if you can believe that. He is scrutinized enough as the starting QB in the biggest media market in the world, now add Tim Tebow as his backup, and it is nuts. You have the Tim Tebow fanbase that thinks everything is going to change if Tebow comes in the game. You have the other side that feels Mark Sanchez can get it done with the right pieces. Personally, I am on the side that Mark Sanchez can be the guy. The front office has done Mark Sanchez no favors in putting this offense together, and it has shown. You can’t argue that Mark Sanchez has not played well, and until he does, the situation will remain messy. Rex Ryan is not making the move to Tebow, so it will remain a crazy situation.

2) What makes this defense tick? Can it possibly stop Marshawn Lynch?

This defense has been about as big of an enigma as I have seen. Sometimes they are world beaters, sometimes they play like pee-wee leaguers. For most of this season, the Jets defense has looked old and slow. They have improved as of late, giving young players a chance such as Quinton Coples and Demario Davis. They played well against Pittsburgh against the run, and played well for most of the Buffalo Bills game. Can they stop Marshawn Lynch? Yes, they can. Will they? I am not so sure.

3) A Lot of Seahawks Fans wanted Quinton Coples last April. What has been your impression of him so far? Is he going to end up being worth the high draft pick?

He didn’t get a lot of reps early in the season, after playing well in the preseason, so it was hard to get a read on him early. Of late, however, the Jets have been giving him more and more reps, and he looks very good. He is quick off of the ball, and makes his presence felt. He appears to be the guy that will be worth the high pick and then some.

4) What do the Seahawks have to do to win this game?

The Jets have been uncharacteristically bad against the run on defense. Rex Ryan defenses are typically at or near the top of the league against the run, and this team is near the bottom. For the Seahawks to win this game, they are going to need a heavy dose of Marshawn Lynch. The Jets have actually been pretty good defending the pass, despite the loss of Revis. If they try to air it out against the Jets, they won’t be successful. The Seahawks offensive line will have to win the battle upfront and dominate the run game.

5) How do you think this game will unfold? Include a prediction for the final score.

I am going to have to hedge a little bit on this. Don’t be offended, I hedge this question every week. This game is going to come down to Marshawn Lynch against the Jets front seven. If Marshawn Lynch runs wild against the Jets defense, the game will get out of hand. We could be looking at a 31-14 type of game in favor of the Seahawks. The Jets will have to throw the ball a lot to get back in the game, and it will get ugly. If the Jets can keep Lynch down to a reasonable number, the Jets will have a chance. One thing Rex Ryan’s teams do is play well against rookie quarterbacks. If the run game doesn’t go off for the Seahawks, the Jets could win a 24-17 type of game.

10) The stupidity that is the bounty scandal

While the bounty scandal probably doesn’t count as an offseason move for any one team, it does count because I said so, and because no list of stupid things that the NFL did this offseason should be without it. I don’t even need to get into any of the specifics here. If you’d heard anything at all about it up to this point, then you know enough to realize just how stupid the whole thing is.

9) Randy Moss to the 49ers

The 49ers needed receivers, so they went out and signed a player who’s last productive season was in 2009. Moss was once one of the greatest receivers in the history of the game, but those days are long past. The 49ers now need Moss to be something he no longer is, a dynamic playmaker. At least they didn’t break the bank to do it.

8) Saints dragging out the negotiations with Drew Brees

I expect this deal to get done, but this never shouldn’t have taken this long. You now have a franchise, and the face of that franchise at odd with each other and extremely unhappy. How is this good for the team exactly?

Granted, Brees will likely soon have 150+mil reasons to get over his unhappiness  with the team, but think about the precedent that’s set here. It was likely pulling teeth to get the team to take care of it’s best player. I just can’t see how this was a good idea.

7) Denver’s huge contract for Peyton Manning

Don’t get me wrong, I wanted Manning in a Seattle uniform. I think he’ll be fully recovered from his neck injuries and ready to go for week 1. But there’s a difference between offering him a big contract to come lead your team, and offering him THAT contract.

The Broncos essentially wrote Manning a blank check, making him one of the highest paid players in the history of the sport. And this is for a player hasn’t played in a year, has legitimate durability issues now, and is old enough that his skills should have begun declining even if he was healthy.

6) Mario Williams getting a truck load of cash from the Bills

Williams is one of the league’s premier players at his position, but taking the extra cash to go from a legitimate Super Bowl contender to a perennial bottom feeder is always a questionable choice.

On top of that, I’ve always got the feeling that Williams was one of those players who’s motivation comes partly from his desire for a bigger paycheck. Now that he’s got that paycheck, there’s reasons to worry that he wont be nearly as productive for his new team.

5) No one signing RB Ryan Grant

I get that Grant isn’t a perfect RB. He does have an injury history, and he’s not a great blocker receiver which means he wont play much on third down, but he’s still one of the best runners in the NFL. He’s got the combination of power, speed, and elusiveness that give him the potential to carry an offense.

With his injury history and age, I can see why no team would be willing to break the bank to sign him, but the fact that he can’t even seem to get a modest 1 year contract is downright crazy.

4) The Dolphins giving away Brandon Marshall for next to nothing

Marshall is one of the best receivers in NFL. There is simply no way to argue that the sentence before this one is a fact. The Dolphins traded him for 2 third round draft picks, a paltry sum for such a good player. It wasn’t too many years ago when the Seahawks traded Joey Galloway, a lesser player compared to Marshall, away for 2 first round picks. When you consider it that way, you’ll see just how little the Dolphins received for Marshall.

3) The Giants releasing Jake Ballard

Jake Ballard had become a solid target for Eli Manning. The TE had improved to the point that he was one of the key contributors on the team’s run to the Championship. Then he suffered a major injury, and he was likely to start the season on PUP list, so the Giants tried to slip him through wavers to open up a roster spot. The Patriot snagged him, leaving the Giants with nothing. It’s like the Giants didn’t think anyone would notice, which is pretty stupid if you think about it.

2) Tampa giving the Seahawks Kellen Winslow for absolutely nothing.

As bad as the Brandon Marshall trade was, this one was even worse. The Seahawks gave up only a 7th round pick for one of the league’s premier receivers at the TE position. Regardless of what you think about Winslow’s attitude off the field, giving up such a talented player for nothing just doesn’t make any sense.

1) Jets trading for Tim Tebow

The entire idea of using a roster spot for a QB who can’t throw the ball is a mind boggling proposition. But to give up draft picks for the right to waste a roster spot on that type of player? really? not to mention the circus he brings with him, and to a team at already has more circus than they can handle, the entire thing just seems like one of the worst ideas in the history of football.

That's right Tebow, trading for you was the worst move by any team this offseason. Well done. Credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE

June 12, 2012; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) and New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) during New York Jets Minicamp at the Atlantic Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE

With the NFC East complete, our tour around the NFL stays in New York for the AFC East contenders, the New York Jets. I’m often very hard on the Jets because I don’t like their talk first, self-hyping, machismo infused way of doing things. But make no mistake, if they can get themselves focussed on football, there’s enough talent there do some damage in the AFC.

Biggest Team Need Heading Into Offseason: Pass Rush, Safety

Key Free Agents Retained: Bryan Thomas, Aaron Maybin(restricted free agent)

Key Player Additions: Yeremiah Bell

Key Players Leaving: Jim Leonhard, Plaxico Burress

Quick Thoughts on Draft: The Jets had a great draft.  The Jets needed a pass rusher and safety help desperately, and they achieved those goals.  I think whoever called the Jets draft a failure doesn’t know what they were watching.

Quick Thoughts on 2012 schedule: The hardest part of the schedule is clearly the first quarter.  If they can get through that, the schedule isn’t that bad.

Most Interesting Roster Battle: Mark Sanchez v Tim Tebow, no other battle is even that interesting

Biggest Strength Heading Into 2012: Increased speed on defense.  They got younger and faster with Quinton Coples, Demario Davis, Josh Bush, and Antonio Allen, and it’s a great sign.

Biggest Weakness Heading Into 2012: The right tackle position.  It still leaves a lot to be desired, and that competition will be very important in camp.

Biggest Question Still To Be Answered: How will the quarterback situation play out?

2012 Prediction: If Mark Sanchez steps up and plays well 11-12 wins is possible, if not, and Tebowmania takes over, 4-12

As I indicated at the top of this article, the success of the Jets will have less to do with their talent and more to do with their ability to get past the distractions. Head Coach Rex Ryan, whome I believe is the source of most of the team’s problems in that regard, promised that the team would avoid the off-field drama this year. Unfortunately, they then traded for drama magnet Tim Tebow, so clearly it was an empty promise.

Ok, it’s not that bad. It just feels like it be because of the fact that we’re force-fed that aspect of the Jets by the national media. The truth is that Rex Ryan, while obnoxious, really knows defense. That knowledge combined with above average talent on the defensive side of the ball, and you have a recipe for a team that can win a lot of games.

It will all depend on the offense. The O-line isn’t as strong as it was a couple seasons ago when they were in the AFC championships game, but it’s not bad either. As Alan said, the success of this team rests on the shoulder of Mark Sanchez. If he can’t show enough improvement to keep Tebow off the field, then this team will once against not live up to it’s talent level.

Dec 24, 2011, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) rushes against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

Please Welcome new 12th Man Rising Staff Writer Jason Rubin. 

Well, it’s settled. The opponents for the 2012 version of the Seattle Seahawks have been set. The times, venues, and dates are now being met with a flurry of examination, and speculation. Whose schedule is toughest? Easiest? Can you project how many wins, or losses your favorite NFL club is going to be faced with? Is it enough for an NFL Playoff berth? And finally, has your head exploded with this assault of the unknown? Well, here’s one fan who won’t succumb to the traps of trendy prognostication. No No. Not so fast. I’m rolling the crystal ball right onto the floor, leaving it in thousands of tiny little shards of false hope . Let’s take a gander at the schedule, and apply what we DO know in the here and now….

DATE                                                 OPPONENT                

September 9^th, 2012              at Arizona Cardinals 

-          Seahawks haven’t been very successful with road openers in recent history. Add the fact they are 1-5 in Arizona’s new Glendale digs and this game could get dicey.           

September 16^th, 2012                        Dallas Cowboys

-          Ok, this is fun. So, the ‘Hawks haven’t had a lot of success playing the Cowboys over the past few seasons. All in the Big D. However, I think we all remember the last time the ‘Boys came calling at the Clink. A nail-biter of a game transpires to a close win when Tony Romo muffs the hold on the fan favorite “Big Play Babs” 19 yard field goal attempt. Plenty of new names on both rosters, but one in particular, one familiar to the 12th man, will definitely feel it from the hostile home gathering. Seattle welcomes you, Mr. Romo.

September 24^th, 2012                        Green Bay Packers

-          Once again, there’s a lovely back story to another Green Bay-Seattle matchup. Can Matt Flynn become relevant as the ‘Hawks QB, and bury his old team on Monday Night Football? Well, that story goes out the window if T-Jax is at the helm, and Flynn is holding a clipboard. But playing the Pack always carries a touch of sentiment for someone within the Seahawks organization. Oh, and it’s on Monday Night. Love it.

September 30^th, 2012                        at St. Louis Rams

-          Straight up. The ‘Hawks own the Rams. 13 of the last 14. While this team, like all of the NFC West, is up and coming (thank you RG3), they are still 1-2 years away.

 October 7^th, 2012                   at Carolina Panthers

-          Let the Cam Newton show begin for the ‘Hawks. Yes he pretty much had one of the best rookie seasons of any QB, ever. And the Panthers are a dangerous opponent. They lost how many games last year by less than 10 points? But this fan likes to think of the Panthers in one light…2005 NFC Championship game. Yep, it was 6 years ago. Yes, most of the Panthers and Seahawks rosters have been purged. But one notable name remains on the Panthers roster. One Steven Smith. I bet he remembers that day in January, not so many years ago…pull out the game tape, and let Bam Bam spy Cam all day. Greatness.

October 14^th, 2012                 New England Patriots

-          Oh boy. Here comes Gisele. New WR’s coach for the Pats. Oh, and the rest of the members of one of the NFL’s most consistent dynasties. Never an easy matchup and this one is going to be a classic. If you haven’t noticed, this schedule is offering an early litmus test for our young Seahawks. Are they ready for the big-time? Or are we still a year away? This game will answer many questions.

October 18^th, 2012                 at San Francisco 49ers

-          One of the most underrated rivalries in the NFL. This is the first game these two will play during the 2012 NFL season, but in no way is it anything but the continuation of the “Merry Christmas” game from last year. This story is still being told, and with the physical, hot-blooded rivalry that this has become, I find myself tensing up just thinking about it.  A must win to take the division back.

October 28^th, 2012                 at Detroit Lions

-          I’ve always liked the Detroit Lions. Don’t ask me why. But I’ve always been enamored. So this is a fun one for me, as I’m sure it is for most NFL fans. Watching the young, emerging Lions face a young, formidable defense in Seattle will make for a great game. Now, can the ‘Hawks offense match the effort? That will be the key to a mid-season road victory.

November 4^th, 2012               Minnesota Vikings

-          So, the Vikings are rebuilding? So what. Any chance to see our D-Line matchup with one of the NFL’s premier RB’s is enough to tune in to this classic battle. I still remember the game years ago when Hershel Walker led a monstrous comeback at the Kingdome. Always soured my liking for the Purple People Eaters. At any rate, Christian Ponder can always put this game on his resume in his bid to be a seasoned NFL starter. “Played road game in Seattle. Couldn’t hear a thing, so just handed the ball off…”

November 11^th, 2012             New York Jets

-          This game is exciting. I mean really exciting. I will be excited to just have this exciting opportunity to be excited. Oh, Tim Tebow. You and your clean press conferences. Lucky for him I’m packing all the excitement, because his will go right out the window when he steps through the tunnel at the Clink. Exciting.

November 18^th, 2012             Bye

-          It’s been some time since we’ve had such a late bye week. But this will be a perfect time, as they always are, for our team to get healthy for the playoff push. What you got for our record so far 12^th Man? That’s right, 10-0! Niiiice.

November 25^th, 2012             at Miami Dolphins

-          Can’t remember many good games from the ‘Hawks when playing in Miami. 1-5 overall, I believe. Even with a rebuilding team, this is always a thorn in the side. Let’s go down to Miami, pound the ball with Marshawn, and get out of town with a solid Defensive win. We’re due Miami.

December 2^nd, 2012               at Chicago Bears

-          In what has seemingly become an annual matchup for the Seahawks, we find ourselves back in Chicago, where we’ve had relative success. The Bears are always ready for a physical game, and this will be nothing less than the sort. An early December game, in Chicago is bound to bring the elements, and a few bruises to boot. Great matchup.

December 9^th, 2012                Arizona Cardinals

-          Home stretch here. 3 of the last 4 are at home, and against NFC West opponents. Getting off to a good start to our finish is essential here. Home, against the Cards in December will create a ravenous state at the Clink, and it will be needed as we split with Arizona last year, both down to the wire. Who says the NFC West is the worst division in the NFL. I think by Week 14, the pundits will be singing a different tune.

December 16^th, 2012              at Buffalo Bills (Toronto)

-          Hello Canada!! The Seahawks find their last road game of the season at The Rogers Centre, formally known as the SkyDome in Toronto. The last two meetings between these teams have been all Buffalo. And this one gets no easier. With a formidable rushing attack and a young defense, this year’s version of the Buffalo Bills is no less potent, if not more so. A tough matchup on the road before heading home for the final 2 home games of the season.

December 23^rd, 2012              San Francisco 49ers

-          Round 2. Not to take anything away from the other two divisional opponents, but special attention has to be paid to the 49ers for 2 reasons in my opinion. The way the two clubs played each other last season, physical, violent. A massive makeover from the early days of the NFC West. And finally, the fact that the 49ers took the division from the Seahawks last year, with a cocky smirk on their proverbial face nonetheless. Why the NFL didn’t put this game on primetime eludes me. Maybe a flex consideration here. Late season matchup between two heated division rivals with possible playoff implications? At the Clink? How does the NFL Primetime saying go? “Come on Maaaan!!”

December 30^th, 2012              St. Louis Rams

-           See Week 4. 13 of last 14 go to the Seahawks. Add that we’re at home, in the season finale, against a division opponent and you would have to lean heavily for the ‘Hawks here. However, a healthy Sam Bradford for a full season, and a renewed confidence with the arrival of Jeff Fisher could catapult the Rams into relevancy. Only time will tell…

So that’s it. 17 weeks of illustrious Seahawk Football right there in front of us 12^th Man. Will tendencies, matchups, and rankings give us the answers we’re looking for? Most definitely not. They may be a great help to the Vegas line makers, but nothing will be officially told until the clock strikes 1:15pm PDT on September the 9^th.   Until then, I’ll settle for water cooler championships, and dreams of a February Parade.

According the guys over at Pro Football Focus, Jackson struggled even more when under pressure. For starters, he was 22nd in the league at avoiding sacks. 22.4% of the time that he was pressured, Jackson was sacked. Best in the league was actually Eli Manning at 11.5%, while the worst in the league was Matt Moore at 27.3%. Jackson was clearly closer to the bottom of the league than the top.

And that doesn’t say anything about how often he held on to the ball to long and helped create that pressure. It’s just saying that once under pressure, Jackson struggled to avoid that sack. Unfortunately, that’s as good as the news gets for Jackson.

Jackson’s completion percentage was even worse. At 39.3%, he ranked 28th. Notable players with worse completion % than Jackson were Tim Tebow at 34.4% and Curtis Painter at 32%. Not exactly good company that Jackson is in there. On the other end of the scale is Drew Brees, who managed to complete an amazing 58.7% pf his passes when he was under pressure.

Jackson takes yet another sack. Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

Jackson’s TD to interception ratio when under pressure was worse yet, ranking 29th in the league at .44 (4 TD to 9 Ints). There were only 5 players who were worse, and they included Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky. The best in that regard was Aaron Rogers, no surprise there. Even rookie Blaine Gabbert, who really struggled all season, finished the season with at 1.0 ratio, more than double Jackson’s.

Back in October I wrote that Jackson had been under pressure a lot, but that there was 10 teams who’s QB were pressured more. He was also fairly accurate when under pressure, ranking 12th in the league in that regard, though all the extra sacks he took instead of throwing the ball away like he should have definitely skewed that statistic.

It seems Jackson actually performed worse under pressure as the season wore on. So while the offensive line and running game were getting better and thus taking pressure off of Jackson, He was wilting even more under the pressure.

I guess this is just one more piece of evidence to demonstrated just how much the Seahawks need a better QB.

12. Coach Carroll put a stash of maple bars in the end zone and Golden Tate only gets them if he scores. Luckily, this same deal does not apply for Mike Williams.

11. Last team to have LenDale White on their roster loses. Seahawks fan toast the win with shots of Patron at the Hawknest. Do they have a drink game-day drink special for that yet?

10. John Schneider picked up 11 love-starved Tim Tebow fans to put on the roster. When the Broncos put in Tim Tebow, nothing will keep these girls from their man, and the result will be horrifying.

9. Elvis has left the building. Elvis Dumervil would have been a nightmare sack-machine doling out punishment on Matt Hasselbeck, but he’s out with a torn pectoral muscle. Advantage Seattle.

8. The Broncos face the injury bug much as the Seahawks did last year. With health care costs rising, the Broncos are teetering on financial collapse.

7. The ghost of Mike Shanahan still haunts the hallways, switching Josh McDaniel’s X’s to O’s and sneaking in more plays for Tim Tebow.

(more…)

Derrick Morgan, 16: Morgan was considered by many to be the best pass-rushing defensive end available in this year’s draft. Unfortunately for Morgan, he is best suited for a four-man front and teams who could have selected him passed for more pressing needs. Morgan is another player whose stock took a late hit; early in the draft process, he was considered a top ten pick and probably would be any other year.

Bryan Bulaga, 23: Bulaga has question marks, but he was definitely worth a top-15 selection. The Green Bay Packers desperately needed to address their offensive line issues and were probably prepared to select the best available lineman at 23rd overall. Fortunately for them, a good one slipped through the cracks and fell right into their hands.

Dez Bryant, 24: No doubt, Bryant is one of the best playmakers in the 2010 class. If he didn’t have character issues, he would have easily been selected in the top ten. Even with concerns, some mock drafts had him going as high as sixth overall to Seattle (I’m sure some were higher). In a few years, there are going to be a handful of teams scratching their heads and wondering why they passed on him – see Randy Moss.

Dan Williams, 26: Many mock drafts had Williams being selected somewhere in the top 15, and most considered him the best defensive tackle after Suh and McCoy. With a big, stout frame, Williams is capable of providing bulk in the trenches and offers very good value near the end of the first round. I think he would fare better in a four-man front, but the Cardinals got a steal after several teams opted for other players.

Kyle Wilson, 29: I thought Wilson had a chance to be the first cornerback selected in the 2010 draft, especially after Joe Haden, the consensus top cornerback entering the offseason, failed to impress during pre-draft workouts. Wilson has excellent natural ability and is a great pick at 29th overall. Michael Smith of ESPN.com said Eric Mangini told him that Wilson was the closest thing to Darrelle Revis in this year’s draft.

Reaches
Joe Haden, 7: Haden was slotted here early and many considered him the best cornerback in this year’s class. After unimpressive pre-draft workouts, however, it is possible the Browns could’ve dropped down a few spots and he would’ve still been available. Finding a trading partner isn’t always possible though, and it looks like the Browns got who they wanted.

Tyson Alualu, 10: I’m not sure what happened here. It almost seems as if the Jaguars were focused entirely on drafting C.J. Spiller and were caught completely off-guard when the Bills selected him. Unfortunately for Jacksonville, they were unable to trade down and were forced to select Alualu, who barely cracked the first round in most mock drafts. This franchise needed to make a big splash that would excite fans, not leave them scratching their heads.

Demaryius Thomas, 22: Not only did Denver unnecessarily jump around and move ahead of Green Bay, they selected Demaryius Thomas ahead of Dez Bryant. Thomas is worthy of a first-round selection, but I’ll bet the Broncos will regret passing on Bryant in a few years. Then again, Thomas is a pretty good player himself.

Tim Tebow, 25: Hate it or love it, Tebow was selected in the first round; everyone seemed to know it was going to happen. Whoever drafted him was going to receive criticism no matter what pick. Tebow might be a good investment, but 25th overall is probably too high for a quarterback whose NFL-skills are highly questionable. The Broncos are taking a huge risk, especially considering both Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy were available.

Surprises
Thomas before Bryant: I thought the Broncos were skillfully maneuvering around the first round of the draft, stockpiling picks and still selecting the player they could’ve easily taken at 11th overall. And then they drafted Demaryius Thomas. Thomas is good, but over Bryant?

Tebow before Clausen: Someone was going to trade up and draft Tebow, we just didn’t know it was going to be in the first round. And we didn’t know Jimmy Clausen would still be available when it happened.

Clausen not selected: At one point, Clausen was considered a top-five talent at quarterback. In fact, some analysts rated him better than Sam Bradford, who was selected first overall by the St. Louis Rams. Now he’ll be an early selection … on the second day of the draft.

Still wondering …
Why did the 49ers move ahead of the Dolphins to select Anthony Davis? Understandable if Davis was high on their board, but wouldn’t he have been available at 13th overall?

After trading down and acquiring additional picks, why did the Broncos feel it was necessary to leapfrog the Packers to select Demaryius Thomas? And why Thomas instead of Dez Bryant?

Is Jimmy Clausen that overrated? Apparently Mike Holmgren was right on with his analysis. Will someone trade up in the second round to select him?

Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Even though I’ll watch the Super Bowl and probably share my thoughts about the game at some point, I’m ready for the offseason to begin. Moving forward, the next steps for the Seattle Seahawks are free agency and the NFL Draft.

The NFL Draft is always fun to discuss; it is an annual opportunity to obtain future playmakers and offers hope to unsuccessful franchises. This year will be especially interesting for Seahawks fans since Seattle holds three selections in the top forty.

After nine wins in two seasons, the Seahawks are obviously in desperate need of help. There are several needs – offensive line, defensive line, safety, and running back, to name a few – and the Seahawks must find ways to address most of them this offseason. In my opinion, the Seahawks are still at least a couple years away from competing, but this offseason offers a great opportunity to add a few missing pieces.

Several fans want Seattle to draft a quarterback of the future; this year’s class headlines players such as Jimmy Clausen, Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, and several other big-name collegiate quarterbacks. With the conclusion of Matt Hasselbeck’s career in Seattle looming, Seattle needs to find a player who can take over in the near future.

Others want the Seahawks to address a glaring need for an offensive playmaker. C.J. Spiller is an electric player – think about a poor man’s Chris Johnson – with blazing speed and playmaking ability who could develop into a star in the National Football League. Seattle would be foolish to pass up on this year’s Percy Harvin, wouldn’t they?

In my opinion, the Seahawks have more pressing needs to address before they acquire a “quarterback of the future” or a sexy offensive player.  I’ve never been a proponent for drafting by need, but the Seahawks have to get better in the trenches. The development of a young quarterback or running back would be delayed without at least a competent offensive line up front.

With quarterbacks, confidence is huge. Despite obvious physical talent, a young signal-caller may never develop into anything more than a marginal starter without a good foundation around him. There are always exceptions to any rule, but I’m not ready to splurge for the next Mark Sanchez or Matt Ryan with our current roster.

Running backs are a luxury in the National Football League. They have a short shelf life; typically, a running back will wear down after excessive carries. Think about the 300-plus-carries rule or how many running backs flop after their 30^th birthday. Youth is wasted on the young, and a lot of running backs in the NFL wear down before they’re even able to get started. And more so than quarterbacks, running backs are a product of the offensive line blocking for them. Even the most talented back will have trouble running where there aren’t any holes to run through.

To summarize everything, my preference would be for Seattle to focus on the offensive and defensive lines before committing millions to a skill position. Of course, if C.J. Spiller becomes the next great running back and we pass on him I’ll be sick to my stomach, but every situation is different. Just like Mark Sanchez, who wouldn’t have been nearly successful if the Seahawks drafted him instead of the New York Jets.

Looking forward, this offseason should be interesting. I’d like to hear everyone’s thoughts on the upcoming draft and free agency; what direction would you like the Seahawks to go?