The 2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft is underway, with each SB Nation blogger making selections for their respective teams. John Morgan, lead blogger at SB Nation's Seattle Seahawks blog, Field Gulls, checks in again to make the No. 14 overall selection in this year's mock. Take it away, sir!
2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 14
With the No. 14 overall pick in the 2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, the Seattle Seahawks have selected C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson.
John Morgan says: Seattle invested quite a bit in a quarterback that struggles perceiving pressure and protecting the football. Charlie Whitehurst is 27, but the Seahawks organization considers him part of their draft class. Whitehurst must first beat out Matt Hasselbeck to start, and if he does not, and does not see significant snaps filling in for an injured Hasselbeck, he will have a one year window to beat out whatever rookie Seattle brings in.
Despite the short schedule, Seattle wants either or both Hasselbeck and Whitehurst to succeed. They want to win now, and need to win now with one of those two quarterbacks. Hasselbeck has a below average arm that can become a liability when he is injured. He isn’t broken, but his margin of injury is very thin. When he is banged up, the underneath pass becomes his primary weapon. As Whitehurst attempts to overcome his crippling pocket presence, an underneath threat could help him learn to outlet out of pressure.
C.J. Spiller would be as much receiver as running back in Seattle’s offense. He would be worked in like Ray Rice, but with lower ceiling for carries. Spiller would get about 200 touches his rookie year, playing lightning in a tempest in a teapot thunder and lightning attack. Justin Forsett would receive about 250 carries, split more towards running the ball. An additional back would be added for short yardage and to grind out leads in the fourth.
Spiller would also add value as a return man. In my eyes, he doesn’t have true three-down potential, but Pete Carroll believes in a running back committee and I respect him for it. Forsett is an able rusher, but would likely be beaten down and reduced by a full-time gig. Seattle adds Spiller, dramatically improves their return game, adds another low-difficulty/high-value outlet receiver for a pair of quarterbacks in need, and improves and protects their running game.
Mocking Dan reacts: If Seattle wants to win now, taking a running back is the position to go after. A running back can jump into the mix immediately and be a factor. Spiller, in particular, can be a difference maker. He would allow Seattle to offer tricky formations by splitting him out wide while Forsett is lined up in the backfield.
And Spiller’s ability as a return man shouldn’t be brushed aside. He is the kind of player that can always give his team good field position and be a threat to score a touchdown.
Offensive tackle may be as pressing of a need as running back for Seattle. But don’t be shocked when new offensive line coach Alex Gibbs waits until later in the draft to address it.
Mocking the Draft's Top 5 remaining prospects: 1 - Derrick Morgan/DE/Georgia Tech, 2 - Dez Bryant/WR/Oklahoma State, 3 - Everson Griffen/DE/USC, 4 - Jermaine Gresham/TE/Oklahoma 5 - Anthony Davis/OT/Rutgers
Sound off, SB Nation! What say you of the Spiller-to-Seattle pick? Please be sure to check out Field Gulls for all of your Seahawks needs.
See More:
