2011 NFL Mock Draft: CB Jimmy Smith Perfect for Seattle Seahawks in First Round

When analyzing the needs for the Seattle Seahawks in the 2011 NFL draft, fans can start with the questions and conversations following the playoff loss in Chicago: 

• What if the receivers had caught those dropped passes?
• What if the LBs had better coverage on the TEs and RBs coming out of the backfield? 
• How did Seattle fail to get a pass rush from the interior of the defensive line all season long? 
• Where is the run blocking? 
• What if Seattle had more consistent coverage from the corners? 
• Now that Matt Hasselbeck has turned in two fantastic playoff games, what will Seattle do at the QB position in 2011?

Obviously, Seattle has a lot of holes to fill.

I let the loss sink in for a few hours and then took to task of looking at the talent that could be available at pick No. 25. I’m not one to parrot player reviews and needs analysis of other writers, so it was a daunting task given the above bullets that dictate Seattle's needs.

A few days later I jumped on Facebook, hit a Seahawk fan page and threw out the following: "Jimmy Smith, CB Colorado....if he lasts that long." I got a few "who?" comments and concerns that pick 25 was too high for Smith.  

Seattle does have a defined need at CB. Walter Thurmond looks like he will fit in well, but Kelly Jennings is a free agent (and would likely be a nickelback if he returns). Marcus Trufant has played well when healthy, but that hasn't been the norm. At the very least, Seattle needs to groom Trufant's replacement and have him ready for 2012.

As the combine approached, Smith's stock obviously rose, and some analysts felt he was the second-best CB in the draft.

Then the dreaded character concerns crept in. His draft positioning faltered at the combine despite a strong physical performance. His 4.46 40 time was on par with Prince Amukamara’s 4.43. His 24 repetitions on the bench press outpaced the other top CBs by far and reinforced his upper-body strength. He was also towards the top of the pack on the 20-yard shuttle, showing quickness and agility on par with Amukamara.

Despite the issues in his past, I am sticking with my initial assessment. The character concerns are an issue, but working with the likes of Lofa Tatupu and Trufant will help the youngster mature.

Smith might be easier to pass on if he wasn’t exactly the kind of CB that Pete Carroll and John Schneider like. He has the size and quickness to disrupt receivers coming off the line of scrimmage and has the speed to maintain coverage into the secondary. He caused opposing quarterbacks to throw away from him, but that wasn’t overly difficult given deficiencies elsewhere in the Colorado secondary.

There are a few holes in Smith’s game. He takes bad lines in run support at times and has a habit of stopping on plays before they are actually over. Expect that to be driven out of him early in Coach Carroll’s camp. The defense won’t call on him to offer run support as much as some, but he will need to work on that part of his game.

Seattle will have a lot of other options if Smith is off the board, and another player could unexpectedly fall to them. Sticking with the CB position, Aaron Williams wouldn’t be a stretch at 25 and should also work well in Carroll’s defense.

Then there is the contingent that believes Seattle "must" draft an offensive lineman in the first round. I don’t anticipate OL to be a high-value proposition at 25, though.

I’ve watched a lot of footage of Nate Solder and Mike Pouncey, and they have not impressed me. The two players I did like were Tyron Smith and Gabe Carimi, whom I placed at nine and 13, respectively, in my March 1 Mock Draft. While I was mocked for those placements, this is looking more and more likely.

Seattle should consider drafting a guard in Round 2 of the 2011 draft and wait until 2012 to determine its need at RT. This will allow Stacy Andrews, Ray Willis and Tyler Polumbus to compete for that position in 2011 (pending free agency).

Another first-round option is for the Seahawks to grab a quarterback. I fully expect Jake Locker to be off the board in the first half of Round 1; his accuracy issues are exaggerated (this is discussed in the provided link). But if he is available, his potential is simply too tempting to pass up.

As a reminder...following the last game he coached against the University of Washington, Carroll said, "That's the best quarterback we've played in nine years here. Jake Locker has ridiculous talent."  

Ryan Mallett likely has a little too much uncertainty to take here...though it would be hard to criticize that selection. If Locker and Smith are both off the board, Mallett could get some consideration. His biggest challenge will be commanding an NFL huddle and gaining the respect of his teammates. I still see Seattle waiting until 2012 to use a high draft pick on a QB.

Seattle also needs to look at DL...Drake Nevis could be an option if he isn't already gone, as could Akeem Ayers and Cameron Heyward. Da’Quan Bowers could possibly fall there, but I don’t see the Seahawks getting too excited over a player that could need microfracture surgery.

Seattle could also look to make a trade or two. Its pick at 25 equals out to the first- and third-round picks of Pittsburgh and Green Bay. A third-round pick might allow them to draft Jurrell Casey.

One thing that Seahawk fans should feel fairly comfortable in is the abilities of Carroll and Schneider to sniff out talent. There will be a strong player on the board at No. 25 that fits their system...and we've already established need at most every position. Look for the two of them to continue to make strong draft-day decisions to build up the team.