Charles Cross!

[c_hawkbob]

#1 on my board and in your hearts, our newest Seahawk Charles Cross!!

[Hawk Sista]

NICE!!!!

[obiken]

Okay this is a good pick, but it means that your all in on Drew Lock, and I think that is a tragic, colossal, mistake.

[RiverDog]

#1 on my board and in your hearts, our newest Seahawk Charles Cross!!

Great call!

I'm luke warm to the pick as Cross is out of Mike Leach's offense and may not be a great run blocker. I was hoping that we'd take a DL, like the kid out of Georgia. But at least we didn't take a quarterback. ObS would have tore up his living room had we taken someone like Willis.

[NorthHawk]

Germaine Ifedi 2.0.

[obiken]

I was hoping for Willis, with Pete, no way, no hope of that.

[c_hawkbob]

Germaine Ifedi 2.0.

LOL, so not #1 in your heart?

[c_hawkbob]

NICE!!!!

We drafted FAT! I'd have been happy with just about anyone over 300lbs!

[RiverDog]

I was hoping for Willis, with Pete, no way, no hope of that.

No way did I want to pick any of the QB's in this draft with a #9 overall. Heck, Willis may still be there in the 2nd round.

[Stream Hawk]

Okay this is a good pick, but it means that your all in on Drew Lock, and I think that is a tragic, colossal, mistake.

It doesn’t mean anything. It just means we didn’t want to reach on a QB when clearly there are bigger needs! Starting with our Oline. Let’s go - I like it. Was hoping that Neal would have slipped, but I knew that wouldn’t have happened. Cross could/should be better than all of them. Plus he is apparently the best past protector in the draft. Isn’t it ironic?

[NorthHawk]

LOL, so not #1 in your heart

Nope. Too much of a project for #9. We should have selected an impact player.
Air Raid Offense, limited experience in run blocking, not particularly athletic at the combine.
I wouldn’t think he will be offered a 2nd contract in 4 years unless he really picks it up.

[Aseahawkfan]

Wow. C-bob really hit that one out of the park. Congratulations C-bob. You did it. Might have been a first time calling the 1st round pick right in every fashion. Damn. You must have had ESP this year as no one ever seems to figure out who the Seahawks are going to draft.

[Aseahawkfan]

I'm luke warm to the pick as Cross is out of Mike Leach's offense and may not be a great run blocker. I was hoping that we'd take a DL, like the kid out of Georgia. But at least we didn't take a quarterback. ObS would have tore up his living room had we taken someone like Willis.

Now I'm picturing ObS smashing holes in his wall with a baseball bat and smashing his TV if we had picked a QB at 9.

[RiverDog]

Okay this is a good pick, but it means that your all in on Drew Lock, and I think that is a tragic, colossal, mistake.

It doesn’t mean anything. It just means we didn’t want to reach on a QB when clearly there are bigger needs! Starting with our Oline. Let’s go - I like it. Was hoping that Neal would have slipped, but I knew that wouldn’t of happened. Cross could/should be better than all of them. Plus he is apparently the best past protector in the draft. Isn’t it ironic?

I agree that it doesn't mean that we're all in on Lock. He's no more than an experiment. Our QBOTF is probably a sophomore in college.

However, this is a run first offense that we're asking a player from a predominantly passing offense who rarely put his hand in the dirt that we're asking to adapt to. He could prove us wrong and become an instant pro bowler, but there's no doubt that It's a risky pick.

[Aseahawkfan]

I was hoping for Willis, with Pete, no way, no hope of that.

We got two first round picks next year. Maybe both top 10. Let's hope for a better QB class, though I'm expecting them to select a QB in the 2nd or 3rd round. Some guy Schneider has on is radar no one is expecting.

[RiverDog]

I was hoping for Willis, with Pete, no way, no hope of that.

We got two first round picks next year. Maybe both top 10. Let's hope for a better QB class, though I'm expecting them to select a QB in the 2nd or 3rd round. Some guy Schneider has on is radar no one is expecting.

That's if we don't trade those first rounders for a safety.

If Willis, Corral, or Ridder slip to #40, I fully expect us to pull the trigger on one of them, and I'd be OK with it.

[c_hawkbob]

LOL, so not #1 in your heart

Nope. Too much of a project for #9. We should have selected an impact player.
Air Raid Offense, limited experience in run blocking, not particularly athletic at the combine.
I wouldn’t think he will be offered a 2nd contract in 4 years unless he really picks it up.

Day one starter. Definitely not a project.

[c_hawkbob]

Wow. C-bob really hit that one out of the park. Congratulations C-bob. You did it. Might have been a first time calling the 1st round pick right in every fashion. Damn. You must have had ESP this year as no one ever seems to figure out who the Seahawks are going to draft.

Thanks man, I got lucky just picking the players I wanted us to pick. I've never been able to figure John and Pete out. I was pretty good at figuring out Holmgren, one year I got 5 of our 7 picks under Holmes, but never more than a couple under the current regime.

[RiverDog]

Wow. C-bob really hit that one out of the park. Congratulations C-bob. You did it. Might have been a first time calling the 1st round pick right in every fashion. Damn. You must have had ESP this year as no one ever seems to figure out who the Seahawks are going to draft.

Thanks man, I got lucky just picking the players I wanted us to pick. I've never been able to figure John and Pete out. I was pretty good at figuring out Holmgren, one year I got 5 of our 7 picks under Holmes, but never more than a couple under the current regime.

NO ONE gets more than a couple of picks right under the current regime. I honestly think that Pete and John regard it as some type of badge of honor that no one can guess who it is they're going to select.

[c_hawkbob]

Wow. C-bob really hit that one out of the park. Congratulations C-bob. You did it. Might have been a first time calling the 1st round pick right in every fashion. Damn. You must have had ESP this year as no one ever seems to figure out who the Seahawks are going to draft.

Thanks man, I got lucky just picking the players I wanted us to pick. I've never been able to figure John and Pete out. I was pretty good at figuring out Holmgren, one year I got 5 of our 7 picks under Holmes, but never more than a couple under the current regime.

NO ONE gets more than a couple of picks right under the current regime. I honestly think that Pete and John regard it as some type of badge of honor that no one can guess who it is they're going to select.

Roger that!

[NorthHawk]

Day one starter. Definitely not a project

Name another OT from a Air Raid Offense that’s a starter.
Trick question because there isn’t one. That Offense doesn’t seem to translate OTs to the NFL.

[c_hawkbob]

We'll see on opening day.

[NorthHawk]

We'll see on opening day.

The #9 pick isn’t going to sit on the bench until we run out of QBs.

[RiverDog]

We'll see on opening day.

The #9 pick isn’t going to sit on the bench until we run out of QBs.

That's true. A top 10 pick is going to start no matter what position they play, whether they deserve it or not. Otherwise, the media and fans start asking questions.

[c_hawkbob]

So not a project then.

[RiverDog]

So not a project then.

"Project" wasn't my description, but I don't think that he's NFL ready. If that means that he's a project, then yes, he's a project.

[c_hawkbob]

I didn't say it was your description. And all football players are expected to progress as their careers goes on, that doesn't make one a project. Being a day one starter however definitely makes one not only not a project but by definition "NFL ready".

[Aseahawkfan]

Name another OT from a Air Raid Offense that’s a starter.
Trick question because there isn’t one. That Offense doesn’t seem to translate OTs to the NFL.

What constitutes an Air Raid offense? I don't get that. The guy has all the measurables.

[Hawk Sista]

We drafted FAT! I'd have been happy with just about anyone over 300lbs!

Bob

I honestly didn’t think we had a shot at one of the top 3 biggies. I’m glad we got a tackle with the Denver pick and I hope we get an end with another…one who sacks RW. I think he will be a good player for a long time, but what do I know?.

[obiken]

I think it was a good pick, he has more upside that German the penalty machine, but with Willis still out there I think it was a mistake not to take him. This pick would have way more sense last year.

[Old but Slow]

This is not a terrible pick, but a reach. Jermaine Johnson DE would have been the best pick, but at least they didn't take a QB (sorry obiken) or Penning. No furniture was injured.

[TriCitySam]

#1 on my board and in your hearts, our newest Seahawk Charles Cross!!

IhD him #1 for a while, then changed because I became convinced He’d be gone.

Nice call and a good pick.

[NorthHawk]

What constitutes an Air Raid offense? I don't get that. The guy has all the measurables.

It’s a high volume pass, low volume run offense with quick throws. Pretty much the antithesis of Pete Ball.
In Cross’s case they only ran about 20% of the time. So it’s an odd choice for a team that says they want
to be a tough running team and run longer developing pass plays to get chunk yardage to DK and Lockett.
He might become a good run blocker in time, but the odds aren’t in his favor early in his career.

[tarlhawk]

Being a day one starter however definitely makes one not only not a project but by definition "NFL ready".

Excellent pick for selection location and fills big need. This draft is looking similar to the 2010 draft with much higher selections. Russell Okung selected first in that draft. Left Tackles strong in pass protection always hard to land without top 15 picks in first round. Also our common base O-line will be with Dissly as a strong in-line blocker on the left side with our 2 TE alignment. Your RT is your "strong side" and has heavier expectations for run blocking. Cross shows "plus" athleticism earning the nickname "sweet feet" and with good coaching from Andy Dickerson should steadily improve in run blocking while offering strong pass protection from the QB "blind side".

Couple clippings:

From Clarion Miss. Newspaper:
Despite the smaller sample size, Cross’ PFF run blocking grade (87.2) ranked in the top 30 for FBS players playing at least 138 running snaps. He was also recruited by Joe Moorhead, who sought quality run-blocking tackles.
He’s a quiet but confident guy. He has fielded questions about the run blocking concerns including at the NFL Combine where he kept his response short.

“Watch the film,” Cross said.

Cross is an athletic freak for his size, and with the skills defensive ends own today, teams need players with his ability. He is a good fit in virtually any offense and has potential to go down as the best offensive lineman in MSU history.


From Draftwire:

Cross is one of the most talented pass protectors in this class, with excellent length, bend, and hand usage. 80 percent of snaps for Cross in college were passing snaps, and he excelled in all of them. Cross has a little bit to learn in the run game, but when he did do it, his athleticism shined through. He was rarely beaten or overwhelmed, and should experience the same success in the NFL

[tarlhawk]

PFF Review

PFF Big Board Rank 3

Height 6'5" Weight 307 Age 21

After flashing traits in his first year as a starter in 2020, Cross became a dominant pass-protector in 2021. He allowed 44 pressures on 574 pass-blocking snaps in 2020 before giving up only 16 pressures on 719 pass-blocking snaps in 2021.

Career Highlights

Didn’t allow a pressure on 66 pass-blocking snaps vs. Alabama (2021)
50+ pass-blocking snaps in 10 of 12 games (2021)


Where he wins: Length

Cross has prototypical traits to be a blindside pass protector. His feet, length and core strength are all top notch. He's been in pass protection a ton over the past two seasons.
What's his role: Left Tackle

Cross is a left tackle. There will likely be a learning curve early on but get this guy on the football field.
What can he Improve: Footwork

The most encouraging thing for Cross is that he can still improve a lot of areas within his skill set. He graded very well despite inconsistent footwork.

Shades Of Laremy Tunsil

Pros

Super light on his feet. Upper-echelon mirror ability.
Uses his length really well. Punch timing and placement are pluses.
Progressed year over year and even improved as 2021 season went on.

Cons

Inexperienced in pro-style run blocking concepts. All base zone blocks.
Needs to get more consistent depth in his pass sets.
Unique stance with feet really tight together, leading to massive first steps.

Position Traits

Balance Level 7 of 10

Strength Level 7 of 10

Explosiveness Level 8 of 10

Frame Level 9 of 10

Flexibility Level 7 of 10

[Aseahawkfan]

It’s a high volume pass, low volume run offense with quick throws. Pretty much the antithesis of Pete Ball.
In Cross’s case they only ran about 20% of the time. So it’s an odd choice for a team that says they want
to be a tough running team and run longer developing pass plays to get chunk yardage to DK and Lockett.
He might become a good run blocker in time, but the odds aren’t in his favor early in his career.

Does anyone run that in the NFL or is it a gimmick college offense? His athletic measurables are good. He's got a chance.

[tarlhawk]

Does anyone run that in the NFL or is it a gimmick college offense? His athletic measurables are good. He's got a chance.

I believe the Cardinals head coach ran a similar type offense...5 WR running in scattered pattern relying on a quick release QB.

[mykc14]

Glad we drafted in the trenches, I have to admit I wasn't loving Cross before the draft mainly because he played in a college system that is opposite of what Peteball looks like, but I'm on board now! Hoping he can transition to what we are doing and is our LT for the next decade. I know his PFF run blocking grade is good, but it is easy to look good RN blocking when the D expects you to pass 80% of the time. I was hoping for Johnson if he was available here, we'll see what happens, but here's to Cross becoming the best LT in NFL history!!

[NorthHawk]

Does anyone run that in the NFL or is it a gimmick college offense? His athletic measurables are good. He's got a chance.

Nobody runs it in the NFL. It’s somewhat similar to the old Run ‘n Shoot but the OT’s don’t use the 3 point stance much.
The concern is run blocking and combo blocks which aren’t used much if at all. Considering Cross’s Offense only ran the
ball about 20% of the time he will have a steep learning curve. I hope they assign him a position and actually let him learn
it before moving him around or it will turn out to be another OL debacle and wasted pick.

[Aseahawkfan]

Nobody runs it in the NFL. It’s somewhat similar to the old Run ‘n Shoot but the OT’s don’t use the 3 point stance much.
The concern is run blocking and combo blocks which aren’t used much if at all. Considering Cross’s Offense only ran the
ball about 20% of the time he will have a steep learning curve. I hope they assign him a position and actually let him learn
it before moving him around or it will turn out to be another OL debacle and wasted pick.

I hope he can learn LT too. I don't think musical O-lineman is a great idea. Some guys do ok moving around, but the best guys seem to learn a position and work in tandem with a unit.