Watching impossibly large men performing athletic moves someone half their size would dream of wrapped me up in a sense of awe. Being witness to a 6'10" kid out of high school throw down rim-rattling, baseline dunks from outside the lane over 7 odd foot Goliaths let me believe that men didn't need wings to fly like Angel of the X-Men. Watching Joey Galloway take a simple short route, juke a defender or two and then outrun everyone else to the end zone, or, despite having the defense geared to stop him and the deep ball, beating the corner off the line of scrimmage and then burning the safety deep, had me feeling that man could run like Quicksilver. I remember going to M's games in the 'Dome with my dad. We'd marvel as The Kid hit the ball with Colossus-like strength, launching dingers for, what seemed like, 1,000 ft. For many kids I knew it was always one or the other. You either were a sports nut or you liked comic books, never did they meet. You either proudly rocked a Bone t-shirt or your sheepishly wore a shirt with Wolverine, claws exposed, cutting through the fabric of the shirt. But being part of two distinct and often separate worlds wasn't new to me. Loving both comics and sports seemed perfectly natural, despite the fact that I was the only one I knew who had this disposition.
To this day I get just as excited about seeing the Iron Man movie as I do watching the NBA Finals. Hell, maybe even more. As I've grown and been around sports fanatics and comic geeks alike, I've learned that these, seemingly, disparate groups of people have much more in common than they think. I have a friend who can name notable athletes given just a number. For example I can throw out a number at random, like 24, the names I come up with are pretty easy Champ Bailey and Kobe. This guy would pull out some obscure 4th outfielder for the Oakland A's in the 80's, a running back from the early 90's Houston Oilers, and a one time NBA All-Star who was cut down by injuries. This isn't that much different than my friend who can name what DC comic heroes came from what Pre-Crisis earths. Ultra-Man? Easy, Earth-3. Uncle Sam and The Freedom Fighters? Simple, Earth X. The knowledge level both possess in their respective fields would seem trivial to those on the outside. To the uninformed, these facts that have little relevance in the "real world". But to those who are big fans of comics or football see this knowledge as the ultimate show of commitment to their sport or their comic universe. These are legends whose stories inspired us all at some point during our childhood or even adulthood.
With all that said, I often relate the X-Men's plight of acceptance as one that parallels that of Seattle sports. Underdogs, cast-offs, spectacular performers achievements eclipsed due to the fact they weren't what people considered normal or traditional, these were themes that were ever-present growing up in the sports equivalent of Siberia, as well as the tales of garishly dressed do-gooders. Most recently it has been the Seattle Seahawks attempting to gain mainstream acceptance and meeting heavy resistance along the way. From the 'Hawks years of constantly flirting with greatness but falling short due to some constantly changing flaw, I recalled as the X-Men constantly tried to show the world that mutants were ok only to have a member of The Brotherhood of Evil mutants go and kidnap a senator and fuck their whole shit up.
Then 2005 happened, a perfect storm of a season. The O-Line led by Hutch and Big Walt mowed down opposing defenses, no matter how many were stacked in the box. Matt Hasslebeck overcame his erratic play of the past and was the definition of a West Coast Offense QB. Shaun Alexander used the dominance of his line to make cut back runs and reel off more yards going backside than play-side, zigging and zagging down the field to the red-zone. It was here he went feral and was an unstoppable juggernaut carrying defenders on the way to the end-zone. The Defense led by rookie Lofa Tatupu changed from sieve-like to a rubber band style of bend don't break attitude, and played with a heretofore unseen fire. Much to the national media's surprise the 'Hawks didn't fall to The Mighty Washington Redskins or The Fierce Carolina Panthers, despite being perceived as underdogs in both those play-off match-ups. The Dream of being considered and elite team died in Detroit on Ford Field. Our chance to have all that the team had accomplished over the past years validated with a Super-Bowl win was dashed.
Funny thing was, the events of the 2005 season seemed to be mirrored in an arc written by uber-writer Grant Morrison a few years earlier. The X-Men had done away with the silly, brightly colored costumes of the past and had adopted a more updated biker-style uniform that wouldn't be laughable if worn out in public. The X-Men no longer wanted to hide behind masks and costumes, they wanted the world to accept them as they were, different, but a good kind of different. A different that wished to be accepted by society not just lived in it's own little bubble in society. Eventually the good-will the X-Men have tried to foster is undone when Xorn, one of the teachers at the school, turns out to be arch-enemy Magneto. Magneto then attempts to wipe out all of New York City and create a new mutant utopia in it's place. Needless to say, New Yorkers weren't to pleased with this attempted redesign.
So if the Seahawks are the X-Men, Then Holmgren is Professor Xavier, the mastermind behind the whole team. Without his vision and planning the team would cease to exist. It is under his tutelage that the Seahawks learn to function smoothly as a team.Matt Hasslebeck is a much less grim and stiff Cyclops. If Cyclops were bald and had a penchant for self-deprecating jokes, he would be a dead ringer for Hass, leadership abilities and all. Big Walt would have to be Jean Grey "Phoenix", just as Phoenix is the most powerful of the X-Men so Walt is the most powerful Seahawk. Just as Phoenix provides Cyclops with stability and both physical and emotional security, Walt does the same for Matt. Keeping anyone one with the intention of hurting Matt pancaked into the ground. That means that this new draft class are like The New Mutants, a group of supremely talented individuals looking to make an impact in the majors, provided they live through the experience. So without further ado here are my thoughts on the 2008 New Mutants.
1st rd. #28 Lawrence Jackson. This guy comes pre-packaged with a cool nickname "Lo-Jack". At first I was baffled by this pick. The 'Hawks desperately needed a tight end, as the departure of Jerramy Stevens and acquisition of Marcus Pollard hadn't worked like planned and the #1 rated tight-end was available at this spot. I even thought that the hawks might take DT Kentwaan Ballmer out of UNC with this pick to add depth to out DT rotation but they didn't do that either. Lo-Jack seemed redundant with the semi-emergence of Darryl Tapp and the rejuvenation of Patrick Kerney. But he was the highest ranked player on the Hawks board so they snagged him in hopes of rotating him with the other two defensive ends so they would have fresh legs at the end of the game. And I get this, the 'Hawks saw what a fearsome and fresh line can do in the Super Bowl where New York's line, kept rested with healthy rotation, dominated the New England Patriots. In reality the entire defensive line deserved Super Bowl MVP, not Ellie May, despite his heroics. I think that at 6'4" 271 lbs Lo-Jack can add versatility to an already athletic line. He's big enough that, on passing downs, he could be used as a pass-rushing DT, a la Justin Tuck of the Giants. Plus the fact that he was a 4 year starter at a big time program and was regarded highly on his character, it's almost a no-brainer The 'Hawks took him.
rd.2 #38 The Hawks traded their 3rd pick to move up in the second round and and select Tight End John Carlson of Notre Dame. Same deal goes for Carlson as it does with Jackson, big time program, 4 year starter, high character guy, NFL ready. He was the reason the Hawks skipped on a TE with their first pick. On their Draft Board they had him ranked above all the other tight-ends. His measurables may not stack up compared to come of the other TE's taken in the draft but the fact that he had proven himself on the field made him far more valuable to the Seahawks than some of the other options at Tight End. At 6'5" and 248lbs I think Carlson will come in and provide instant production from a position that is an integral part of what the West Coast Offense tries to do in both blocking, route running, and pass catching which is more than anyone can say for Marcus Pollard.
rd.4 #121 Red Bryantt, DT, Texas A&M. Seems like another DT value pick, akin to last years 4th round selection of Brandon Mebane out of Cal. Standing 6'4" and weighing a hefty 318lbs, Bryantt seems like he could be the nose man the Hawks D-Line has desperately needed especially with the constant injuries to former 1st rounder Marcus Tubbs.
rd.5 #163 Owen Schmitt, FB, West Virginia. Ever since I saw a comic strip about this guy a few years ago in the ESPN the magazine I've been a huge fan. His crushing blocks and bull dozing runs were one of the reasons I came to really like WVU over these past few years. The man only had 4 rushes for a loss during his entire college career, during which time he busted 10 opposing player's face masks. Some have said this tackled-for-loss stat is skewed due to the fact WVU runs a spread-option system whose match-ups make it very difficult to stack the box against. This may be true but if you ever watched him play in person you know that the man is just a beast and even running in a normal system would have been taken down behind the line only a handful of times. I mean the man is 6'2" 247lbs, that's a fucking load! Plus every one who has every followed WVU football has taken the time to post on the Seahawks.net about how much they love this kid and what a nasty streak he brings when he plays, something the 'Hawks O could use. This kind of out-pouring of support isn't something that happens for every player I assure you.
rd.6 #189 Schmitt, again. This time it's Tyler Schmitt long-snapper from San Diego State. Some people questioned the logic of taking a long-snapper in the 6th round when they are normally picked up as un-drafted free-agents after the draft. But anyone who watched the 'Hawks vs. Saints game last year knows just exactly how important a long-snapper can be.
rd.7 233 Justin Forsett, RB, Cal. Being a UW Husky fan I've been privy to some memorable running back performances. Whenever I saw Forsett I liked the toughness with which he ran. He was never the biggest guy on the field, he's 5'8", 194lbs, but he didn't shy away from lowering his shoulder to gain extra yardage. He's not the best example of straight line speed but his quickness in and out of the holes opened by the line is very impressive. He's also a solid blocker and has nice hands for an RB. I'm not sure this is going to be enough to help him make the team given our crowded backfield. But perhaps he'll be a special team performer this year and then step into Mo-Mo's role next year when Mo is a free agent and turns the dreaded 30.
rd.7 235 Brandon Coutu, K, Georgia. It was a given that, at some point in the draft, the 'Hawks were gonna take a kicker. Josh Brown became like a bad plate of Eggs Benedict and turned traitor on us, signing with the Rams. Olindo Mare, his replacement, is older and coming off a leg injury. So it figured we would grab a kicker to challenge Olindo for the starting spot. I just didn't foresee they'd take a kicker with a history of leg issues. The little I have read about this guy scares me. He seems injury prone, especially his legs seems to be a problem. Here's hoping those issues are in the past and he's ready to contribute to this team right away.
So that's this years class of New Mutants. Over training camp and pre-season we will see how prepared each one is ready to step-up and fill a role on our X-Men. Who'll be the next Cannonball, New Mutant standout turned X-Man, turned team leader of X-Force? Who will be the next Cipher? The mutant with the ability to translate any language, who was mercifully killed due to his rather lame power. Only time will tell. Until then, Welcome to The Seahawks, 2008 Draft Class. Hope you survive the experience!
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