With the blockbuster NFL trade between the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks to swap Jimmy Graham for Max Unger and a 3rd round pick, Pete Carroll has to be wondering who he will put in to replace his Duck alumni at center. While it does appear that the ‘Hawks are likely to sign a veteran center to step in, there is a very promising young center in this draft from the same university as Unger, who projects to be a quality NFL center. I am of course referring to fellow Duck Hroniss Grasu, because when it comes down to it, who better to replace a Duck than another Duck.
Could Hroniis Grasu take Max Unger’s spot with Seattle?
Grasu is considered undersized by NFL standards, much like many Oregon lineman, but yet somehow is still a superb run and pass blocker. He isn’t afraid of anybody, as we could well see all through his career at Oregon, and is a dedicated hard worker who loves the game. Grasu has the athletic ability to consistently get to the second level and take out linebackers in the run game and knows how to use proper technique in pass protection.
Pete Carroll understands the importance of having a good center.
Now you may well be thinking, that’s all well and good but why would Seattle take him. Well, despite the obvious Duck-for-a-Duck thinking, Grasu is a premier zone blocking center. This makes him a perfect fit for Seattle’s offense, which, under Darrel Bevell and Tom Cable, revolves heavily around a zone blocked run game and a play action passing game.
Grasu is a man who plays with so much heart and technique that even with only above average physical skills he could be one of the premier centers in the NFL in a couple of years. With a price tag of a 2nd- or even 3rd-round pick, the Seahawks would be nuts to pass on drafting Grasu, because when it comes down to it, there really isn’t much of a difference between a Duck and Seahawk.
Top Photo by Kevin Cline
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Noah is an undergraduate student from just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana. Noah is currently pursuing a communications degree with the goal of becoming a sports journalist. Noah is a die hard Duck fan, mainly because of his obsession with football’s X’s and O’s. In his free time he enjoys watching both pro and college football games,playing and listening to music, and drawing up his own playbooks.