Who is this man, and what did he do with the real John Schneider?
You know, the same John Schneider who, as general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, is renown around the NFL for making the type of unpredictable draft moves that leave observers scratching their heads.
The guy who’s constantly trading down to accumulate additional picks.
The guy who used a third-round pick on a quarterback mere weeks after signing a different quarterback to a big-dollar contract.
The guy who’s unafraid to give the pundits all kinds of ammunition for second guessing and assigning disparaging draft grades.
That John Schneider was nowhere to be found this year. In his place was an automaton that, like a fantasy football manager who got caught in traffic and showed up late, had Seattle’s selections set on auto-draft.
There was little controversy to the Seahawks’ picks this year. As far as the critics who were waiting to pounce were concerned, Seattle put the “shun” in convention. The Seahawks were all chalk, no cheese.
Heading into the draft the unanimous opinion was that Seattle had two glaring needs. The biggest of those was on the offensive line, where the Seahawks already had issues, then lost two starters in left tackle Russell Okung and right guard J.R. Sweezy to lucrative free-agent contracts. The second priority was on the defensive line, and specifically in the interior as Seattle needed to replace the venerable Brandon Mebane, who departed for San Diego after nine seasons as a starter.
So what did the Seahawks do with their first two picks? They snapped up Texas A&M right tackle Germain Ifedi in the first round, then traded up to grab Alabama defensive tackle Jarran Reed in the second round. Ifedi may not be the left tackle the Seahawks desperately need, but his presence does allow Garry Gilliam, last season’s starting right tackle, to put all his focus into shifting to the left side. Meanwhile, Reed is described by some as the best run-stopper in the draft, a player most were shocked was still available in the middle of the second round.
Two picks, the top two boxes checked.
So what was next? The Seahawks have two key offensive players coming off season-ending injuries. Running back Thomas Rawls, tabbed to take over for the retired Marshawn Lynch as Seattle’s primary ball carrier, is recovering from a broken ankle and torn ligaments. Tight end Jimmy Graham is coming back from a torn patellar tendon in his knee. The Seahawks say both are making good progress, but there’s no guarantee they’ll be ready to go when the season starts.
So what did the Seahawks do with their first two third-round picks? They took Notre Dame running back C.J. Prosise and Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett. Both provide insurance against the possibility of stalled recoveries by Rawls and Graham. Yet they both have diverse enough skills — Prosise, as a converted receiver, is a candidate to fill a third-down role, while Vannett is more of a blocker than any of Seattle’s current tight ends — that they’ll provide value even if Rawls and Graham are 100 percent come training camp.
Two more picks, two more boxes checked.
Seattle’s needs were so perfectly filled with its first four picks it allowed the Seahawks to go back to the same offensive- and defensive-line wells with their next two picks, taking Boise State guard Rees Odhiambo with their final third-rounder and Maryland defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson with their first fifth-rounder. Seattle addressed both its biggest needs with both quality and quantity.
Where were those zany Seattle selections we’ve become accustomed to since Schneider took over in 2010?
If there was a need the Seahawks didn’t address in the draft, it was the void left at strong-side linebacker when Bruce Irvin bolted in free agency to sign with the Oakland Raiders. However, suggestions have been made that Seattle is considering converting backup defensive ends Frank Clark and Cassius Marsh to linebacker to take Irvin’s place. This week’s draft inaction at linebacker supports that notion.
As a result, Seattle received largely positive grades from the national media for its drafting this year. Sticking to the narrative has a way of pleasing the masses.
It may have been conventional. It may have lacked a “wow” factor. But Schneider’s selections this year were just what the Seahawks needed, something that should make everyone happy.
Except for those who were waiting for yet another chance to question the Seahawks’ choices in the draft.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/seattlesidelines, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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