If a simple draft pick doesn't convince you that a team is locked in on that player, then a reaction filled with enthusiastic buzz like the one given by Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider certainly should.
The Seahawks wouldn't have drafted TCU's Bud Clark or Arkansas' Julian Neal had they not carried a significant level of belief in them, because teams don't operate that way. The way Schneider spoke of his two new defensive backs, however, is a display of some of the most excitement you'll see from an NFL GM after a late second-round draft pick.
The fun part about Schneider's reaction was that his comments weren't all about Clark or Neal as football players or what they'll bring to their positions. It was Schneider's take on their personalities and who they are as individuals. If Seahawks fans are cautious with their team's two second-round picks, maybe they can catch the buzz that has Schneider on his feet.
Seattle Seahawks' John Schneider and Mike Macdonald love what Bud Clark and Julian Neal bring to the table
It's not just Schneider who is speaking so highly of Clark and Neal joining the Seahawks, but head coach Mike Macdonald as well. Macdonald referenced each player's swag and confidence, while Schneider focused on how they got here today, especially regarding Neal, but he pointed out that he loves what they bring to the table as far as how "fun" they'll be to have in the locker room.
Of course, the skill sets and talent Clark and Neal both bring are vital, but when you hear a higher-up member speak this highly of their players while focusing on who they are and what they bring in the same breath, it says a lot.
"[Julian Neal is] a really confident athlete," Schneider said. "And he's been through a lot. The young hipper scouts, they have a saying for leveling up and this guy's done it. He went to Fresno and enrolled at Stanford for a minute and then wanted to challenge himself in the SEC and he did it, performed at a high level. They're both really confident guys. Bud's going to be fun too. He's a blast. Mike and I were talking about the personalities throughout the process. Man, if we put Bud and Spoon (Devon Witherspoon) in the same room, what's going to happen? Nick in his second year."
Macdonald also weighed in on his newest defenders, and his tone matched Schneider's, which is always a good sign to see between a coach and his general manager.
"They've got swag, they've got confidence, but they have humility," Macdonald said. "They play an exciting brand of football, which we feel like we're excited to work with. So I think that's the common denominator."
Macdonald would also speak to the best way to use Clark, hinting at the very real possibility of accessing his versatile nature as a football player and not pinning him down to one position, but that intentionality is key in that type of decision-making.
Schneider has no reason not to trust how Macdonald chooses to use either Neal or Clark once the season begins. Macdonald has done a masterful job of putting his players in the right positions to succeed, and many of them are only in their second or third years.
Schneider described Clark and Neal as ‘Seahawks through and through,’ and pointed to their toughness as athletes and competitors. That is what the Seahawks are all about, though, aren't they? Hard-nosed football, physical to the end, and they don't let up. We saw this from their defense last year, and by the way Schnedier speaks about Clark and Neal, it sounds like they'll fit right in.
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