Seahawks In Search Of Speed Erickson Hopes To Draft Prospects Who Can Help Team Out In A Hurry

So many evaluators of football talent dwell on speed.

Mostly, it’s measured by clockings of sprints over 40 yards.

Dennis Erickson is worried about speed, too, but from a different perspective.

His prime concern as coach of the Seattle Seahawks heading into this weekend’s NFL draft is how fast a player will be … in helping the Seahawks win games.

“The biggest thing for us is taking somebody who’s going to come in and play and who is going to help us the most right now,” said Erickson, facing his second draft as Hawks’ head coach. “I’m not big on getting somebody that someday, down the road, is going to be a great player. We need somebody who’s going to play right now.”

The Hawks, coming off an 8-8 season, pick 14th in the first round - barring an 11th-hour trade - and then rotate between 14th and 17th in each round thereafter.

All totaled, the Seahawks have nine picks in the seven rounds that will be spread across Saturday and Sunday.

And if this draft has one theme for the Hawks, it is that they can be flexible.

“I don’t know if that’s good news or bad news because we need help at a lot of positions as opposed to just one dire need (wide receiver) like we had last year,” Erickson said.

Three prime areas of interest that Erickson could pinpoint, though, were cornerback, plus offensive and defensive lines.

“Those are the areas we’re looking at, but if somebody slips down who is a great player at a position where we already have somebody, maybe we relook at taking that person,” Erickson said. “And there’s the possibility we could trade up or trade back or do a lot of different things.”

If the Hawks do much shifting, though, it’s not likely to be in the first round.

“If you get to the second or third round, whatever, and there’s a certain player you want, then there’s the possibility (of trading places),” Erickson said.

The expected return to health of Nate Odomes could lessen the urgency of drafting a cornerback, although top prospects such as Oregon’s Alex Molden and Mississippi State’s Walt Harris should still be on the board when the Hawks pick.

It is possible, too, that only the top two offensive linemen, UCLA’s Jonathan Ogden and Auburn’s Willie Anderson, will be gone before the 14th pick - leaving the likes of Jermane Mayberry of Texas A&M-Kingsville, Jamain Stephens of North Carolina A&T and Pete Kendall of Boston College still available.

The key for linemen, Erickson said, is that they have experience pass blocking in a pro-style offense.

But perhaps the Hawks’ most desperate need is at pass rusher. Last year, only Jacksonville and Tampa Bay had fewer sacks than did Seattle (28).

And the true premier prospects as pass rushers could be gone by 14.

In fact, some mock drafts show as many as six defensive end/outside linebacker types going in the first 14 picks.

Illinois’ Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice should be history, as should California’s Duane Clemons and Regan Upshaw. Oklahoma’s Cedric Jones and Texas’ Tony Brackens, though, are likely possibilities at No. 14.

Despite what could be an early rush on defenders, this draft is “heavy on the offensive side,” said Mike Allman, Seattle’s director of player personnel.

“The quality is at offensive lineman, wide receiver and running back,” Allman said.

Erickson and Allman agree that the Seahawks staff is better prepared for this draft than last year’s, when Erickson and his assistants had just been hired.

“I’m a lot more comfortable this year and feel more prepared,” Erickson said. “We kind of hurried through some of the things last year.”

Of benefit this year, Erickson said, was that he and his staff coached the Senior Bowl, a showcase for many of the players the Hawks are considering.

“There’s a lot of quality in this draft,” Allman said. “We’re going to get a good player at 14 - I’m confident of that.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON TV Draft is on ESPN, 9 a.m., Saturday