Hawks Net Goines As Catch Of The Day
In his first NFL draft, Dennis Erickson might have resembled the guy who downs a filling dinner but still can’t help ordering an alluring dessert.
After getting the first-day receiving targets he longed for on Saturday - speedy Joey Galloway and tight end Christian Fauria - Erickson and the Seattle Seahawks looked for defensive depth in the second day of the NFL draft.
But when the 32nd pick of the sixth round arrived Sunday and no one had taken North Carolina State wide receiver Eddie Goines, Erickson couldn’t help but put in his order.
“Eddie Goines was actually our fourth-rated receiver in the draft (behind first-rounders Michael Westbrook, Galloway and J.J. Stokes),” Erickson said. “But because of a knee injury, he went down. But we think he was a steal for us.”
The Hawks also took Arizona State linebacker Jason Kyle (fourth round), Florida defensive tackle Henry McMillan (sixth round), and Rutgers defensive end Keif Bryant (seventh round), but it was Goines who offers the most intriguing potential.
Goines didn’t just have an ordinary knee injury, he destroyed both his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments against Maryland in the eighth game last year.
For most athletes, that’s a careerender.
Before the injury, he had become N.C. State’s all-time leading receiver with 147 catches and 17 touchdowns. He was named All- ACC first-team as both a junior and senior. Against Wake Forest, Goines pulled in TDs of 75 and 55 yards.
On top of that, he’s already got his degree in communications and public relations.
“He’s a real bright kid who was very consistent in his performance,” Erickson said.
But about that injury?
“I’m doing fine,” Goines said. “I ran a 4.4 (40) for scouts a couple weeks ago. I should be 100 percent at training camp.”
While coaching the University of Miami, Erickson faced Sunday’s three defensive picks as opponents.
Kyle had the best game against Erickson, making 20 tackles in their contest last year. He also had 18 against Washington State.
“What we thought with Kyle was, when we got there, here he was staring us in the face - a great athlete who can run and play,” Erickson said.
He also can long-snap, making the status of veteran Hawks snapper Trey Junkin a bit shaky.
Kyle was a walk-on at Arizona State, but led the team in tackles (125) last season. At 6-2 1/2 and 240 pounds, Kyle has run the 40 in an impressive 4.57 seconds.
“He’s kind of a guy who came into his own late,” said Phil Neri, Seattle’s director of scouting.
McMillan, at 6-3, 275 pounds, should offer depth at defensive tackle and serve as a good influence in the locker room. At Florida, he received the team’s leadership award as a senior captain.
Asked if he thought he could unseat all-pro Cortez Kennedy, McMillan conceded that Kennedy “has the seniority.”
Bryant will be called upon to provide an outside rush, although he had only two sacks last year for Rutgers.
After a grueling two days, Erickson admitted he “can’t wait to go to sleep.”
The draft “was a real learning process for me,” he said.
The Hawks will attempt to sign 13 to 15 free agents, and the staff will view the troops this week at the first of three mini-camps. xxxx NEWEST SEAHAWKS A look at Sunday’s draft picks:
Jason Kyle LB, 6-2 1/2, 240, Arizona State, from Mesa, Ariz. Three year-letterman, two-year starter. Had team-high 125 tackles last year. Had 20 tackles in game against Miami. Also long snapped for three years. Has degree in marketing. Born May 12, 1972.
Henry McMillan DT, 6-3, 280, Florida, from Folkston, Ga. Three-year letterman, two-year starter. Played both defensive tackle and end. Was given team’s leadership award as a senior. Defensive captain as a senior. Had 44 tackles and 1.5 sacks last year. Nicknamed “Big Mac.” Born Oct. 17, 1971.
Eddie Goines WR, 6-0, 186, North Carolina State, from Lakeland, Fla. School’s all-time leading receiver with 147 catches for 2,352 yards and 17 touchdowns. Led the team in receiving his last three years. Missed final two games senior year because of a knee injury, but was still named first-team All-ACC. Had 207 receiving yards in one game against Wake Forest. Already has degree in communications and public relations. An honor-roll student at Lakeland High. Born Aug. 16, 1972.
Keif Bryant DE, 6-4, 275, Rutgers, from Largo, Fla. A three-year starter at defensive tackle and end. Awarded the school’s trophy for extra effort. Had 82 tackles in 11 games as a senior. Brother Dante is a defensive back at Pittsburgh. Born March 12, 1973.