On The Clock: No. 4 Seattle Seahawks

Record: 4-12, 3rd In the NFC North
General Manager: Tim Ruskell, Head Coach: Jim Mora (1st Year/2nd Year With Seattle), Offensive Coordinator: Greg Knapp (1st Year), Defensive Coordinator: Casey Bradley (1st Year)

Offense Rankings: No. 28 Overall, No. 25 Scoring, No. 29 Passing, No. 19 Rushing
Defense Rankings: No. 30 Overall, No. 25 Scoring, No. 32 Passing, No. 18 Rushing

Last Five Years: 21-59; Last Playoff Appearance: 2007; Last Playoff Victory: 2007 (35-14 Over the Washington Redskins)

2008 Draft: (1-28) DE Lawrence Jackson, (2-38) TE John Carlson, (4-121) DT Red Bryant, (5-163) FB Owen Schmitt, (6-189) LB Tyler Schmitt, (7-233) RB Justin Forsett, (7-235) K Brandon Coutu

Top Picks Last Five Years:
2008 – (1-28) DE Lawrence Jackson, USC
2007 – (2-55) CB Josh Wilson, Maryland
2006 – (1-31) CB Kelly Jennings, Miami
2005 – (1-26) C Chris Spencer, Ole Miss
2004 – (1-23) DT Marcus Tubbs, Texas

Booms: Lofa Tatupu (2nd Round) Leroy Hill (3rd Round 2005), Brandon Mebane (3rd Round 2007), John Carlson (2nd Round 2008),

Busts: Marcus Tubbs (1st Round 2004), Michael Boulware (2nd Round 2004), Chris Spencer (1st Round 2005), David Greene (3rd Round 2005), Kelly Jennings (1st Round 2006)

Additions:
DT Colin Cole (Free Agent)
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Free Agent)
TE John Owens (Free Agent)

Subtractions:
DT Rocky Bernard (FA-New York/NFC)
RB Maurice Morris (FA-Detroit)

Keepers:
LB Leroy Hill (Franchised)
OT Ray Willis

2009 Picks:
Round 1, Selection 4
Round 2, Selection 5
Round 3, Selection 4
Round 4, Selection 5
Round 6, Selection 5
Round 7, Selection 4

Team Needs – Players of Interest (Day One):
1. Free Safety: Luis Delmus, Western Michigan
2. Offensive Tackle: Jason Smith, Baylor; Eugene Monroe, Virginia; Eben Britton, Arizona; William Beatty, UConn
3. Cornerback: Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State; Jairus Byrd, Oregon; D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt; Darius Butler, UConn; Sean Smith, Utah
4. Quarterback: Matthew Stafford, Georgia; Mark Sanchez, USC; Josh Freeman, Kansas St.
5. Running Back: Andre Brown, North Carolina St.; Shonn Greene, Iowa
6. Defensive Tackle: B.J. Raji, Boston College; Ron Brace, Boston College; Jarron Gilbert, San Jose St.; Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn
7. Wide Receiver: Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech; Darrius Hayward-Bey, Maryland; Kenny Britt, Rutgers; Brian Robiskie, Ohio St.; Hakeem Nicks, UNC

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Baylor, Notre Dame)

CFI: THE POST GAME REPORT

WEEK 13 - PART I

OHIO ST. VERSUS WEST VIRGINA

Yes, that could be your National Championship game. With Arizona St. and LSU going down and Missouri playing Kansas later today, the Buckeyes and Mountaineers figure to be two and three in the upcoming BCS Rankings. The number one team (either Kansas or Missouri) will likely play the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship game next week, which means the Youngstown (Ohio) boy could put the Ohio St. Buckeyes in the Championship game for a second straight season. To complete the circle, OSU headman Jim Tressel coached at Youngstown St. before taking the job in Columbus.

RUN DARREN, RUN

Darren McFadden made a final statement on his Heisman campaign with his 206 yards and three touchdowns against the No. 1 team in the country. The junior tailback lined up as the Razorbacks’ quarterback for much of the day and was 3-of-6 passing for 34 yards and another touchdown, as he connected with his fullback Peyton Hillis from 24 yards out with less than six minutes remaining in the game to give the Hogs a 28-21 lead. McFadden finishes the season with 1,725 yards and 15 touchdowns…not too shabby. He is deserving of winning the Heisman as well as becoming the top overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft should he decide to declare.

MR. JACKSON IS NOT SORRY

"They came to hit tonight," Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter said after USC’s beating of Arizona St. "I think tonight, we were overmatched."

Ya think Carpenter had senior defensive end Lawrence Jackson (8 tackles, 5.5 TFLs) in mind when he made that statement?

Just as he did last season, Jackson is making a late push. His four sacks give him 9.5 on the season. When he recorded 10 sacks in his redshirt sophomore season, the assumption was that Jackson would have an All-American junior season and declare for NFL Draft. He turned in just four sacks last season, all four in two November games, so he returned for his senior season and until Thursday night, Jackson was having an underwhelming season, a microcosm for the Men of Troy.

Also joining the sack party were fellow senior Sedrick Ellis and true freshman Everson Griffen. Ellis now has 52 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks, tremendous numbers for an interior lineman. Ellis’ production has never been questioned. Griffen is the heir apparent at defensive end, a five-star recruit who will be on many preseason All-American lists next season. The Arizona native has 5.5 sacks on the season. As a schoolboy in 2006, Griffen rumbled for 1,251 yards and 20 touchdowns as a running back…and he’s 6’3”, 265 pounds. I want to meet the kid that tackled him!

ROSE BOWL BOUND?

With their win in Tempe, the Men of Toy could find themselves on their way to Pasadena. What do they need? A win next week against cross-town rival UCLA in the Coliseum, and an Oregon loss to either UCLA or Oregon St. The Bruins are not ones to help the Trojans, but they are capable of beating the Dennis Dixon-less Ducks at home, as are the Beavers in the “Civil War”. Ironically, UCLA and Oregon St. are the two teams that spoiled USC’s Championship run last season.

LET THEM PLAY

Anyone who has followed CFI’s Top 25 this season knows we are not the champions of the WAC and we would have loved to have seen Hawaii play some tougher competition this season (they came into the week with 119th strength of schedule out of 119). But, if they finish the season undefeated they deserve to play in a BCS Bowl. Why not? It is not as if they are lobbying to play in the Championship game and is it is, it appears the BCS conferences will struggle to fill the ten slots.

* Check Back on Monday for Part II

Photo Credit: WVU Sports Communication

CFI’S CONFERENCE PREVIEW PART V:

THE PAC-10 CONFERENCE
BY DANIEL MOGOLLON
CFI CO-FOUNDER

Conference Champ: Southern Cal vs. UCLA: The Bruins beat the Trojans last season and should be even better this year, as they return ten starters on both sides of the ball. Bruce Davis recorded 12.5 sacks as a junior and returns to lead a stellar defense, putting the ball in the offense’s court. If UCLA is to fulfill their potential, quarterback Ben Olsen will have to reach his. Their biggest problem? The Trojans will be better as well, as USC returns 18 starters from last year’s team. The defense is unquestionably the best in the land. This may sound ridiculous, but the defense could have eight or nine future day one picks, with one of the best linebacker corps I have ever seen. The schedule is tough, so John David Booty will have to be on his game week in and week out.

The Sleeper: Arizona St.: Coach Dennis Erickson is in town and he knows how to win. The Sun Devils underachieved last season and are due to bounce back. With a more consistent Rudy Carpenter and nine starters returning on offense, ASU has the potential to be explosive. The defense is underrated as well and if some of the talented youngsters such as Dexter Davis (6 sacks as a freshman) gel with transfers such as Luis Vasquez (31 sacks in two seasons of JC ball), they could have a Cinderella season in Coach Erickson’s first year back in the Pac-10. They play USC, California, Oregon St. and the rival Wildcats of Arizona all at home.

Offensive Player of the Year: John David Booty (USC) vs. Jonathan Stewart (OU): With predecessors Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart winning the Heisman Trophy before departing Southern California, you would think winning Offensive Player of the Year should be a cinch for Booty. He will need receivers to emerge after losing Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith, a duo that played a big role in Booty’s successful season. If any player can step up and put up the type of numbers that could outshine the Hollywood boy, it is the highly touted Stewart. Built like a NFL back (5’11”/230), with the moves and speed to match, he was among the most acclaimed prospects coming out of high school. Stewart is a workout warrior, a combine star in waiting. Now he must translate that talent to the field on a consistent basis.

Defensive Player of the Year: Lawrence Jackson (USC) vs. Ray Maualuga (USC): Jackson was supposed to win this honor last season on his way to the NFL, but things did not quite work out as planned. Due partly to a groin injury, the defensive end went sackless for the first eight games of the season. Now healthy, the expectation is that Jackson will dominate the line of scrimmage, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks. Playing behind him is the very productive MIKE backer Maualuga, who as a sophomore supplanted a senior starter and become the leader of the Trojans defense. He covers sideline-to-sideline and no one makes a more memorable introduction when they arrive. He was a first team All-Pac 10 performer last season, as was OLB Keith Rivers, with Brian Cushing (OLB) joining Jackson on the second team, two more SC candidates.

Breakout Seasons: Patrick Turner (USC), Reggie Carter (UCLA), Willie Tuitama (ASU): Turner only made 29 grabs as a sophomore and somehow he averaged less than ten yards per reception as USC’s number three receiver. At 6’5”/230 with explosive speed, Turner has more physical ability than the record setting Dwayne Jarrett did. With Jarrett and Steve Smith gone, Turner steps up to the number one spot, which will reflect on his numbers. Carter started at the WILL position last season as a freshman for the Bruins. He was solid and showed some flashes, using his speed to chase down ball carriers and he was more physical than his size would indicate (218 pounds). With a full season under his belt, Carter will flourish as a sophomore, joining Bruce Davis to lead the Bruins defense. Tuitama was ticketed to break out last season, but injuries (concussions) that caused him to miss significant playing time, also contributed to his inconsistency. This season, new coordinator Sonny Dykes brings the spread offense to Tucson from Texas Tech. The wide-open quick strike attack should bring out Tuitama’s talent, as well as help keep him upright.

Best Pro Prospect: Taylor Mays (USC): So many choices, just on USC’s defense alone with Lawrence Jackson, Ray Maualuga, Keith Rivers and the overlooked Brian Cushing…so why go with a sophomore safety? Because he is that good. As a freshman last season, Mays stepped into the starting lineup and excelled, making three interceptions and laying the wood on anyone who dared to lurk near his territory. The former track star has speed with the ideal size (6’4”/220) to flourish in the league where they play for pay.

College Football Insiders Picks:

Conference Champion: Southern Cal Trojans: You didn’t think I was going anywhere else with this pick…did you? Hands-down the most talented team in the land, the Trojans look to win their first National Title since 2004.

Offensive Player of the Year: DeSean Jackson (Cal): Going with an upset here. Jackson is so good he may live up to Ted Ginn’s hype. The Cal receiver is a threat to score on every play, maybe the most feared man with ball in hand.

Defensive Player of the Year: Ray Maualuga (USC): The 6’3”/250 MIKE for USC plays with intensity and uses all of his ability. He may not run the fastest 40-time, but don’t tell that to the players he is chasing.

Check back tomorrow for Part VI: The SEC