Seahawks’ top two draft picks poised to be big factors in 2015

Suddenness.

That’s the word Pete Carroll used to describe Frank Clark’s first step at the line of scrimmage. And yes, suddenness is an actual word – a noun, more precisely, for the quality of happening without warning.

“He really, really has great suddenness to him,” Carroll said.

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Actually, that’s a word that applies to Tyler Lockett, too, and if this preseason accomplished one thing, it was to serve notice that Seattle’s first two picks are going to factor prominently into Seattle’s season.

That’s a change for a team whose past two draft classes have had to wait their turn. In many cases, such as that of Christine Michael, they’re still waiting.

That is a change for Seattle, which for three years frequently found itself starting rookies. Left tackle Russell Okung and Earl Thomas were starters from the beginning. Richard Sherman became a starter as a rookie. So did Russell Wilson. And Bobby Wagner.

That’s hasn’t been the case over the past couple of years, though. Luke Willson – a fifth-round pick in 2013 – started four games as a rookie when the team began in a formation with two tight ends. Justin Britt was the starting right tackle from the start to the finish of his rookie year.

But those were the exceptions. Some of that is because Seattle is now a significantly deeper team. Playing time is harder to come by.

But some of it is because Seattle hasn’t had as many draft picks force their way onto the field.

Michael was the first player Seattle drafted in 2013, a second-round pick chosen just after the Packers picked Eddie Lacy. Lacy has become a top-tier back in the league while Michael has yet to become more than an afterthought in Seattle’s offense.

Defensive tackle Jordan Hill proved last season he can be an impactful pass rusher and receiver Paul Richardson was making contributions last season up until a December knee injury ended his rookie season.

The Seahawks are going to see results from this draft class a whole lot sooner. At least that’s what it looked like in this preseason.

Clark is a force along the defensive line, a player whose weight ranges from 278 pounds to 282 and possesses the strength to play some defensive tackle as well.

“You think of him as a fast, lean guy,” Carroll said, “and he’s got a lot of power to him and it shows up. We’re really, really excited about what he’s done so far.”

Actually, that doesn’t quite capture what Carroll said. It was more like, “We’re reeeeaalllly, reeeeaaalllllly excited.”

They should be. He was the Seahawks’ single most impressive player this month, whether it was with his ability to shoot into the backfield and chase down a running play or come off the edge for a strip sack like he did in the second quarter, resulting in a touchdown when Hill recovered the fumble in the end zone.

Lockett’s impact was even more immediate. He had 17 touches in the four preseason games, catching six passes, returning four punts and seven kickoffs.

He scored three touchdowns out of those opportunities. All of those scoring plays covered more than 60 yards, and after the past two years in which Seattle has had to wait to see returns from its draft, this year’s group of incoming players is showing suddenness when it comes to making an impact.

“We’ve had very high hopes for them,” Carroll said. “There’s been no information that didn’t support that they were going to be able to help us and do stuff for us. Everything we have seen has been that way.”

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