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When Jimmy Johnson moved to the NFL in 1989, he brought some unique insight to Valley Ranch that would accelerate the development of the Cowboys into a playoff contender.
Johnson came from the University of Miami, so he knew the college game and its players. He recruited, coached and played against so many of the blue-chippers who would turn up on the Dallas draft board in his first few seasons with the Cowboys.
Johnson loaded up on his former players (Russell Maryland, Jimmie Jones), players he recruited (Emmitt Smith) and players he coached against (Mark Stepnoski, Robert Jones).
Now Pete Carroll has that same edge. Carroll spent the last nine seasons at Southern Cal before becoming coach of the Seahawks in 2010. He recruited, coached and played against many of the top players he'll find on Seattle draft boards in coming Aprils.
In his last few seasons at USC, Carroll's Trojans played traditional NFL talent suppliers Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Nebraska, Arkansas, Virginia, Boston College and, of course, Notre Dame. That knowledge will help him stack his draft board.
Carroll also knows better than anyone the players he coached at Southern Cal - and played against in the Pac-10. So it was telling when he opted to pass on his own All-American safety Taylor Mays last April and take another safety in the first round - Earl Thomas of Texas.
Carroll inherited a Seattle roster that included one Southern Cal All-American (linebacker Lofa Tatupu) and seven other players from the Pac-10. He added 10 more Pac-10ers.
Pete Carroll's Pac-10 alums:
INHERITED
Justin Forsett RB Cal Mike Gibson G Cal Brandon Mebane DT Cal Cameron Morrah TE Cal Roy Lewis CB Washington Lofa Tatupu MLB Southern Cal Marcus Trufant CB Wash. State Max Unger G Oregon (inj. res.) DRAFTED
Walter Thurmond, CB, Oregon, 4th-round draft pick. Four-year starter, five career touchdowns, 12 tackles vs. Southern Cal in 2007.
Anthony McCoy, TE, Southern Cal, 6th-round pick. Two-year starter, 46 career catches.
Dexter Davis, DE, Arizona State, 7th-round pick. Four-year starter, All-Pac 10, 31 career sacks.
TRADE (BUFFALO)
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal. Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 2006. Seventeen 100-yard rushing games.
WAIVERS (MIAMI)
Nate Ness, S, Arizona. Junior college transfer with five interceptions for Arizona as a junior in 2007 and a team-runner-up 75 tackles in 2008.
STREET FREE AGENTS
Mike Williams, WR, Southern Cal. The 10th overall pick of the 2005 draft by the Detroit Lions. Washed out and was out of football in 2008-2009. All-American for Carroll with 176 career catches and 30 touchdowns at USC.
Junior Siavii, DT, Oregon. Signed with Seahawks after his summer release by Cowboys. Former second-round pick who's a wide-body run stuffer.
Slade Norris, DE, Oregon State (practice squad). Among NCAA leaders with 10 sacks and 18 1/2 tackles for loss as a senior in 2008.
Isaiah Stanback, WR, Washington (injured reserve). MVP of 2006 Huskies as a quarterback with 794 career rushing yards.
Josh Pinkard, CB, Southern Cal (injured reserve). Three-year starter for Carroll and second-team All Pac-10 as senior.
