FanPost

BTSC Community 2010 Mock Draft- Pick #6 by the Seattle Seahawks: Eric Berry, Safety, Tennessee

Many thanks to NYSteelerFan4 for the Seahawks pick at #6. Seattle could definitely stand to add a player of Berry's caliber this draft season. Next up? Our beloved rivals from Lake Erie, the Cleveland Browns at #7. - Michael Bean (Blitz) -

**********

Let's start off with a quick(ish) offseason recap. The Seahawks hired a new head coach and VP of football operations, and wouldn't you know it, they got one guy for both jobs, Pete Carroll. Coach Carroll wasted little time in making everyone aware that this is his team now. He traded back up quarterback Seneca Wallace to Cleveland, shipped DE Darryl Tapp to the Eagles for another DE Chris Clemons, signed several under the radar free agents, including LB Matt McCoy, RB Quinton Ganther, and former Steeler special teams ace Sean Morey. They also acquired former Clemson quarterback Charlie Whitehurst via trade with the San Diego Chargers. Pete Carroll also brought in several new coaches, including The "Godfather of The Zone Blocking Scheme" Alex Gibbs (who's draft history, as far as linemen go, can be found here), his O.C. from USC Jeremy Bates and new defensive coordinator Casey Bradley, With an all-time great, future Hall of Fame left tackle Walter Jones nearing the end of his career, and the release of starting safety Deon Grant, and what seems to be a continuous need for a solid receiving target, as well as a lack of a premier running back. With that kind of change over, in terms of players and coaches, there is plenty of different directions I could go with this pick. So without further ado...

With the sixth overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, The Seattle Seahwaks select:

Eric Berry- Safety- University of Tennessee- 6'0" 211 lbs.

Eric_berry_medium

Reference Links:

NFL.com Draft Payer Profile

University of Tennessee Athletics Bio

SB Nation Draft Bio

Colegiate Awards:

2009 Jim Thorpe Award Winner

2008 All-America NCAA Unanimous (AFCA, Sporting News, AP, FWAA and Walter Camp)
2008 SEC Defensive Player of the Year Coaches and Associated Press
2008 All-SEC Coaches and Associated Press
2008 Jim Thorpe Award Finalist
2008 Draddy Trophy and Bednarik Award Semifinalist
2008 Tennessee Sports Writers Player of the Year
2008 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Male Amateur Athlete of the Year
2008 Jack Tatum Award (Nation's Best Defensive Back by Touchdown Club of Columbus, Ohio)
2008 Vince Dooley Award (Top Defensive Back in Southeast by Touchdown Club of Atlanta)
2008 SEC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 18 and Nov. 22)
2007 Defensive Freshman of the Year Collegefootballnews.com
2007 Freshman All-America FWAA, Rivals.com and Collegefootballnews.com
2007 All-SEC Coaches (2nd) and Associated Press (2nd)
2007 SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year Sporting News
2007 Freshman All-SEC Coaches, Rivals.com, Sporting News
2007 SEC Freshman of the Week (Nov. 10 and 24)
2007 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll

Videos:

Eric Berry- The Incredible One

Eric Berry Tribute- Final

Eric Berry Highlights- 2007

Eric Berry Highlights- 2008

Eric Berry highlights- 2009

Well, there's not much left to say about Eric Berry. He's the most celebrated safety in this draft. His on field play at Tennessee has been nothing short of spectacular since his arrival in 2007. He made the High School All American game as a quarterback, transitioned to cornerback his freshman year, and then moved to safety the year after, all with out missing a beat. His uncanny knack for making the big play, whether it be a bone crushing hit, high flying interception, or big time stop at the line of scrimmage is second to none.

Seattle was targeting Jimmy Claussen until the team traded for Charlie Whitehurst. The fan base wanted Gerald McCoy, but his selection by Kansas City ruined that hope. Tackle is a need, but their offensive line coach has a solid history of selecting linemen later in the draft and making them into players. Running back is also a need, but that hole can be filled later in the draft, with players just as capable of holding onto a part time role. But with the release of Deon Grant, and his subsequent signing with the Giants, the Seahawks have been looking for a playmaker at safety for a few years, at one point going out and signing former Brown Brian Russell. This drafting gives them the playmaker they want and a defensive player Pete Carroll, a former defensive backs coach, can mold a defense around for years to come. And paired with last year's first round pick, Aaron Curry, this defense, and it's combination of playmakers, solid contributors, veterans, and young potential, could be poised for greatness with just a few more additions.

The opinions shared here are not those of the editorial staff of Behind the Steel Curtain or SB Nation. These posts are not approved in any way by the editorial staff of this web site.