I only have access to NFL Network, but don’t read that in
the sorry way that it may look. Thank Heavens for NFL Network and not just
because it drives me away from Kiper and his inane chatter. No, the network
boasts the anti-Kiper in Mike Mayock. Now, Mayock does have his moments, but on
almost every occasion he’s measured and articulate, attributes that should (but
won’t, sadly) keep Kiper awake at night. And every Seahawks fan should have a
not-so-secret admiration for Mayock anyway after his unforgettable “GET OFF
ME!!!” and “...ARE YOU KIDDING ME???” after Marshawn Lynch’s 67 yard TD run
versus New Orleans on a barmy Wildcard night at Qwest Field in January 2011.
Long has my disdain for Kiper been hard to shake. Shame on
all of those that hang on to his every word and I’m in no doubt he was patting
himself heartily on the back at his “mind boggling” quip aimed squarely at coach
Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider. Well, he would’ve patted himself on the
back if he’d been able to get his arm over that preposterous hair of his.
If there is something laughable about Kiper’s dig (and the
humour in it is difficult to track down), it’s that more than a few misguided
souls actually believe he has more insight into the Seahawks than Carroll and
Schneider. I have nothing but pure faith in the Irvin pick and the only person
I’ve heard speak positively about it is Charles Davis, Mayock’s partner in Draft
crime. He stated the stupidly obvious, but it’s a point that seems to need a
sledgehammer nonetheless; Carroll and Schneider are clearly working to a plan
and if they see Irvin as an integral cog, then give them OTAs and training camp
and at least one season of unleashing
their first round pick on the NFL. Heck, the two of them have established an
enviable working relationship and yet it’s something that most of those that
follow the NFL appear blind to, even seasoned journalists. Davis, I tip my hat
to you.
Most Mock Drafts had the ‘Hawks filling their pass rushing
need in the first round and when this worst kept secret kept the company of
conventional wisdom, we could look forward to Coples, Ingram or Jones donning
Nike’s newest and finest. Should he have been available, my personal choice was
Kuechly, but what do I know?
Conventional wisdom does not always a good Draft make and we
already have an immovable object in Red Bryant at defensive end so was Irvin
truly that shocking a pick? Well, yes, but only in as much as the red flags
he’d generated for himself off the field. I could give you stat upon stat or
misdemeanour after misdemeanour here, but that’d be wasting all of our time. My
Kuechly leanings aside, Irvin is a pure pass rusher and little else. We don’t
need him defending the run, we want him to get to the quarterback...and fast.
And Irvin has a knack for getting to the quarterback...and fast.
Carroll wasn’t coy (naturally) when speaking about Irvin
following the conclusion of the first round and of all the quotes, one stood
out to me and it’s this: “This is the kind of guy that really puts the fear in the
offensive tackles.” Now, how good does that make
you feel as a Seahawk?
All of a sudden, defensive coordinators (I’ll
spare you the thirteen names for this season) are going to be considering the
havoc one man will have the ability to wreak and third down at CenturyLink will
be the place to be in 2012.
Without
going through the entire Seahawks 2012 Draft class, the one other pick that’s
truly enamoured me is running back Robert Turbin in the fourth round.
Smashmouth football on offense and the relentless motors of Irvin, Kam Chancellor
and Bobby Wagner on defense. The anticipation is palpable and, without wishing
precious time away, September really can’t come quickly enough.
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