Updated Jan 29, 2013 - 3:51 pm
Assessing Bruce Irvin's rookie season with Seahawks
The Seahawks, widely panned for a number of their selections, received a C-minus from Mel Kiper when the ESPN analyst assigned grades to each team following the 2012 draft. No other team received a worse grade.
 Bruce Irvin, the 15th overall pick, showed promise as a pass rusher during his rookie season with the Seahawks. (AP) |
Kiper has since changed his tune – on the Seahawks' draft as a whole, at least. The Seahawks were one of three teams to receive an A when Kiper re-graded the draft last week (his piece is available to ESPN Insiders only).
But he's still unsold on Irvin and the Seahawks' decision to draft him with the 15th pick.
"There's no question Irvin can rush the passer, but that's really all he can do, and I still don't see him as a good value at that spot because he's so one-dimensional," Kiper wrote last week.
Irvin, playing mostly as a situational pass rusher, led all rookies with eight regular-season sacks, only one coming over the final six games. He had one more in Seattle's playoff win over Washington. Irvin was less effective when an injury forced him into Chris Clemons' everydown role as the starting weak-side defensive end the following week against Atlanta. His performance in that game didn't exactly ease concerns about his ability to hold up against the run.
The strength of Irvin's rookie season is worth exploring – less for what it says about the decision to draft him 15th overall and more for assessing his viability as an everydown player.
The Seahawks drafted Irvin to be Clemons' eventual replacement. Clemons' knee injury could accelerate that process if he has to begin next season on the physically unable to perform list and Seahawks determine that Irvin is their best option.
"We shouldn't write off what they think Bruce Irvin's going to become," Mike Sando, who covers the NFC West for ESPN.com, told "Bob and Groz" on Monday. "I think to judge Bruce Irvin as Chris Clemons' replacement in the 'leo' off of the Atlanta game only or a game and a half late in the year of trying to make a total adjustment to the other side under less than ideal circumstance is premature, too.
"Maybe he makes an accelerated move into the lineup on that side and people will question it, but they also questioned it when they drafted him."
The video below includes additional thoughts on Irvin's rookie season from Bob Stelton and Dave Grosby.
You can listen to Tuesday's show here.
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CJinVic10 wrote...Irvin is a C- at DE but could be a A+ Blitz LinebackerJanuary 30, 2013 5:15 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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Mike17Will wrote...WeightJanuary 30, 2013 6:24 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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seahawks_155 wrote...Weight isnt neededJanuary 30, 2013 11:17 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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CJinVic10 wrote...DisagreeJanuary 31, 2013 8:16 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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RWIII wrote...Clemons vs. IrvinFebruary 7, 2013 12:06 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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KadieKulusich wrote...Bruce Irvan came into my work today!!!March 13, 2013 10:59 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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KadieKulusich wrote...ooops!!! :/March 13, 2013 11:02 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Bob Stelton is the co-host of "Bob and Groz". He came to 710 ESPN Seattle from 101 ESPN in St. Louis and had previously worked for Sporting News Radio in Chicago and Santa Monica, Calif. Bob began his radio career in Seattle in 1997 after a failed attempt to become a rock star. 
Dave Grosby is the co-host of "Bob and Groz." The Groz has spent the last 21 years of his 39-year broadcast career as a Seattle sports talk show host. Dave is also the play-by-play announcer for Seattle U basketball on KTTH 770. Before coming to Seattle, Dave worked at KFI in Los Angeles and KFBK in Sacramento. He's been married to his wife Bonnie for 23 years.
After two years as the producer for "Brock and Salk," Colin Paisley now produces "Bob and Groz." Colin also hosts "Seattle Sports at Night" with Tom Wassell and Matt Pitman. Colin came to 710 ESPN Seattle after five years at various FM music stations in Bellingham and Seattle. In addition to his time as producer and host, Colin likes to spend his time embracing his "Slacker Gen-Y" persona by napping and not caring about stuff. Plus he likes tons of bands you've never heard of, and once you hear of them he'll stop liking them.
