Month: December 2020 (Page 2 of 3)

A broader look into Jamal Adams’ new sack record

Jamal Adams recorded sack number 8.5 against the Jets

A lot of the talk after the Jets game was about Jamal Adams claiming the record for sacks by a defensive back. Pete Carroll said they broke from tradition to deliver Adams a game ball. The player himself talked passionately about the record and clearly takes a lot of pride in his achievement.

As we’ve been discussing recently though, along with all the high praise for Adams (who is clearly a very accomplished blitzer) there also needs to be some context.

Going into the Jets game, Adams had blitzed 77 times in eight games. He’s averaging 9.6 blitzes a game, which is by far the most of any player in the league.

The only other defensive back in the top-20 for blitzing is Budda Baker. He blitzes 5.3 times a game — nearly half as much as Adams. Keanu Neal blitzes 1.6 times a game.

When Carroll was asked on 710 ESPN this morning if Adams is a “unicorn” (meaning is he the only person capable of doing this) — he rejected the premise and stated:

“He’s getting a lot of opportunities you know, we’re giving him some shots. I heard somebody say he averages up close to 10 rushes a game. That’s a lot of rushes for a DB.”

The media is stuck on ‘wow wow wow wow’ (said in the Screen Rant pitch-meeting style — check it out on YouTube) when actually, we need to look closely at how the sacks are being achieved.

For his 10 rushes per game Adams had 7.5 sacks and 21 pressures before week 14. On average he creates a sack and 2.5 pressures.

The Seahawks have manufactured production for Adams in a way I don’t think anyone has ever done in the NFL before. Not at defensive back.

The result is he has earned a new record.

For example — last year in New York (when he was playing for the blitz-happy Gregg Williams), he only averaged 6.4 blitzes per game. It’s quite something that the Seahawks are blitzing him more than Williams did.

Of course, it’s their duty to get the most out of a player who cost so much via trade. You could also argue the Seahawks badly needed to manufacture sack production given how poor the pass rush was early in the season.

Blitzing comes with a consequence, however.

Take this play yesterday:

Sam Darnold snaps the ball on 3rd and 4 with 18 seconds remaining in the first half. The Jets were at their own 37-yard line and well out of field goal range.

The Seahawks have a defensive lineman drop into coverage and they blitz Adams and a linebacker.

The dropping D-liner covers the space also occupied by Bobby Wagner and for some reason Ugo Amadi. There are basically three players in close proximity with nobody covering Braxton Berrios on a crossing route.

It’s a total bust.

Firstly, there was absolutely no need to call this blitz. Perhaps the Seahawks felt they could be especially aggressive against an 0-12 Jets team with a 20-point lead? Even so, the call should’ve ended up costing them points (and would’ve done if Sergio Castillo didn’t miss his third field goal in one half).

Secondly, the defensive call is so badly executed.

Right before the snap Wagner is yelling and pointing at Amadi, seemingly instructing him to get over to the right hand side. He is pointing directly at Berrios and seems to identify the looming problem.

However, this only occurs with six seconds left on the play clock. The Jets didn’t snap the ball quickly to catch Seattle off guard, so it’s unclear why they were disorganised.

When Amadi doesn’t switch positions, Wagner turns his back on the line of scrimmage and looks to Quandre Diggs to identify Berrios as needing to be covered. In his desperate attempt to avert the danger, Wagner isn’t even facing the football when the ball is snapped. It’s a complete coverage bust — and the Seahawks (or at least Wagner) could see what was coming.

The play went for about 35-yards.

Carroll’s defense has always been known for its relative simplicity. The focus is on execution and having players who can tilt the field, doing their jobs well.

I suspect the heavy blitzing is causing plays like the one above. Instead of being able to sit in a fairly basic coverage, with everyone properly lined up and ready and knowing their jobs, they are rushing and dropping from different angles and too many players are making basic errors.

I’ve only produced one example. I suspect, given the way the defense played for large stretches of this season with many explosive plays conceded, it’ll be easy to find others. The problems might also extend to the running game.

So while blitzing a lot is helping Adams tally up the sacks — it might also be causing blown coverages like this.

This is why I think ‘Adams sack-fest 2020′ needs to be discussed in more detail. Getting a sack and 2.5 pressures per game from 10 blitzes is a decent return. What’s happening on the other nine plays a game though if he doesn’t get home? Because you can still get burned on a pressure.

How often are plays like the one above occurring because the Seahawks are doing something that even established veterans like Wagner aren’t used to?

A defense that was always built on rushing with four to allow everyone else to play fast and loose now appears to be a tricky, aggressive and more complex system.

None of this is Jamal Adams’ fault. If the Seahawks dial up a blitz, he’s going to blitz. He is very good at it. He’s always been good at it.

Seattle traded for him, at great expense, and while they’re quite happy to wax lyrical about his sack record now — don’t you have to wonder if they’re creating problems for themselves too?

You have to blitz Adams a lot to make the most of him and the investment made. That’ll be even more the case if/when he signs a massive contract extension.

Does it suit the Seahawks though? Is a sack a game worth it if you’re also confusing players and contradicting a well worn philosophy?

The 3-4 teams are arguably better equipped to deal with creative blitzing. The use of four linebackers, with the two outside guys traditionally adept at dropping into coverage, means it’s easier to be creative. You have three big bodies up front and you can send one or two rushers, with other players filling in behind.

A 4-3 front, even a 4-3 under, simply has a different mentality. Much more of the focus is on the defensive line to create pressure. There’s still blitzing, of course, but not as much.

The top six blitzing teams in the NFL before week 14 were all 3-4 teams.

You might argue the Seahawks should switch to a 3-4 formation. That’s easier said than done. Just ask Mike Nolan and the 2020 Dallas Cowboys. Furthermore, do you really want to completely change your scheme and philosophy for one player? Even if you’ve paid a fortune for him?

The thing is, they’ve already kind of done that. The Seahawks’ defense is totally unrecognisable since this trade.

Seahawks blitz percentage 2018: 18.4%
Seahawks blitz percentage 2020: 35.4%

Seahawks sack percentage 2018: 7.3%
Seahawks sack percentage 2020: 6%

Those are the key stats, for me. When the Seahawks had Frank Clark’s 13.5 sack season and could rely a bit more on a four-man rush, they blitzed half as much as they currently are but still had a superior sack percentage. Now that they’ve doubled their blitzing, they’re still not getting home as often — even with Adams blitzing 10 times a game.

It’s absolutely right that he receives praise for his new record — this isn’t about him as an individual or a player. It’s about the Seahawks. It’s about what they want to be on defense. It’s about discussing the consequences that come with blitzing your safety 10 times a game.

I’m not aware of any website that charts blitz efficiency (please pass on the details if you do). Without that information, however, any discussion about the effectiveness of all this blitzing feels incomplete.

Certainly it makes a victory lap about the trade and the sacks a bit premature.

Because let’s be right here — if you send your safety on an (often unblocked) blitz time and time again — he will produce sacks. If you throw to the same receiver 10-15 times a game, they have a chance to produce. If you give your running back 30-40 carries a game, they have an opportunity to produce.

As Carroll noted on the radio this morning, he’s getting an unusual number of opportunities. Blitzing a safety 10-times a game is unheard of.

The key for the Seahawks is to determine whether they can possibly lower this number a bit and still retain his sack numbers? In time, will Adams settle into a slightly more orthodox role and is that the best way to use him?

Is this challenge all going to be worth about $18m a year, on top of what you’ve already paid in picks? Will the pressure to feature him because of the investment become a bit of a lead weight for the franchise if they can’t find a way to complement their typical scheme while doubling their blitzing?

Those are questions that’ll need to be addressed in the off-season. For now, Adams will be relied upon to continue blitzing — especially if Carlos Dunlap’s foot injury prevents him from playing.

They’ll certainly need the blitzing and the sacks (minus the coverage busts) against the Rams in week 16.

A tale of two quotes…

Shaquill Griffin on 10th December:

“We came in taking the team lightly, just being totally honest. In this league, you can lose to anybody if you don’t play right. I feel like we took that game lightly.”

Jamal Adams on 13th December:

“We don’t take opponents lightly. Each week is the same.”

If you missed our Jets instant reaction podcast, check it out below:

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

Instant reaction: Seahawks beat hopeless Jets

There’s not a great deal to say about this game.

The Seahawks achieved their first blowout victory in what feels like forever. It was a glorious sight to see Geno Smith trotting onto the field, knowing there wouldn’t be any fourth quarter stresses and strains this week.

This was a game that needed to be won handsomely and it was. No messing about. No unnecessarily close scoreline. Just a hammering.

That said, the New York Jets were an utter shambles.

They appear destined to go 0-16 and frankly don’t deserve to be rewarded with Trevor Lawrence.

Aside from a few functioning drives and one fantastic interception from Marcus Maye, they were hopeless.

They missed three field goals before half-time to suck any energy out of their team and came out in the second half like they were all preoccupied by which movie they’d watch on the plane-ride home.

They extended drives for the Seahawks with stupid penalties and ill-discipline, appeared to have no answers on either side of the ball and they just lack talent.

They are a mess. I feel sorry for Clemson’s superstar QB if they’re going to pin all their hopes on him salvaging anything from this.

Seattle’s best moments included D.K. Metcalf’s superb route on his touchdown and some impressive running from Chris Carson. They ran the ball well overall and produced big numbers.

Yet they also dropped three easy interceptions, Russell Wilson still doesn’t feel like he’s returning to top form and there were some other sloppy moments.

Ultimately the game felt flat for all concerned. The Jets want to keep losing for Lawrence. Seattle just wants to roll on to the next three games where their season will be decided.

It felt like a bye week for the fans. No need for the booze or ibuprofen this week (whichever you turn to). There wasn’t much to worry about, or any real excitement. I’m not sure even a 40-3 cleanses the disappointment of last weeks loss, especially after Arizona hammered the Giants in New York earlier today.

Washington’s fearsome defensive line will be a completely different challenge next week. Seattle will need to win that game though because guess who the Rams are playing next week?

The New York Jets.

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

Updated two-round NFL mock draft: 12th December

Haskell Garrett is a highly talented defensive tackle with major pro-potential

Before getting into this latest mock draft, stop what you’re doing and read this article by John Morgan. It is superb.

First round

#1 New York Jets — Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson)
#2 Jacksonville — Justin Fields (QB, Ohio State)
#3 Cincinnati — Penei Sewell (T, Oregon)
#4 Dallas — Shaun Wade (CB, Ohio State)
#5 LA Chargers — Ja’Marr Chase (WR, LSU)
#6 Philadelphia — Micah Parsons (LB, Penn State)
#7 Carolina — Zach Wilson (QB, BYU)
#8 Atlanta — Patrick Surtain II (CB, Alabama)
#9 Miami (v/HOU) — Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB, Notre Dame)
#10 Denver — Trey Lance (QB, North Dakota State)
#11 Washington — Kyle Pitts (TE, Florida)
#12 Detroit — DeVonta Smith (WR, Alabama)
#13 Chicago — Rondale Moore (WR, Purdue)
#14 San Francisco — Dayo Odeyingbo (DE, Vanderbilt)
#15 New England — Davis Mills (QB, Stanford)
#16 Arizona — Wyatt Davis (G, Ohio State)
#17 Baltimore — Gregory Rousseau (DE, Miami)
#18 Las Vegas — Patrick Jones (DE, Pittsburgh)
#19 Minnesota — Walker Little (T, Stanford)
#20 Tampa Bay — Kwity Paye (DE, Michigan)
#21 New York Giants — Jaycee Horn (CB, South Carolina)
#22 Miami — Travis Etienne (RB, Clemson)
#23 Indianapolis — Alex Leatherwood (T, Alabama)
#24 Tennessee — Caleb Farley (CB, Virginia Tech)
#25 New York Jets (v/SEA) — Jaylen Waddle (WR, Alabama)
#26 Jacksonville (v/LAR) — Pat Freiermuth (TE, Penn State)
#27 Cleveland — Azeez Ojulari (DE, Georgia)
#28 Buffalo — Josh Myers (C, Ohio State)
#29 Green Bay — Baron Browning (LB, Ohio State)
#30 Kansas City — Ronnie Perkins (DE, Oklahoma)
#31 New Orleans — Dylan Moses (LB, Alabama)
#32 Pittsburgh — Rasheed Walker (T, Penn State)

Second round

#33 New York Jets — Najee Harris (RB, Alabama)
#34 Jacksonville — Christian Darrisaw (T, Virginia Tech)
#35 Cincinnati — Rashawn Slater (G, Northwestern)
#36 LA Chargers — Elijah Molden (CB, Washington)
#37 Dallas — Andre Cisco (S, Syracuse)
#38 Philadelphia — Carlos Basham (DE, Wake Forest)
#39 Atlanta — Jevon Holland (S, Oregon)
#40 Miami — Rashod Bateman (WR, Minnesota)
#41 Denver — Zaven Collins (LB, Tulsa)
#42 Carolina — Obinna Eze (T, Memphis)
#43 Detroit — Alim McNeill (DT, NC State)
#44 Chicago — Mac Jones (QB, Alabama)
#45 San Francisco — Aaron Banks (G, Notre Dame)
#46 Washington — Ambry Thomas (CB, Michigan)
#47 New England — Monty Rice (LB, Georgia)
#48 Arizona — Jaelen Phillips (DE, Miami)
#49 Las Vegas — Jaylen Twyman (DT, Pittsburgh)
#50 Baltimore — Tylan Wallace (WR, Oklahoma State)
#51 Jacksonville (v/MIN) — Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia)
#52 Tampa Bay — Paris Ford (S, Pittsburgh)
#53 New York Giants — Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, USC)
#54 Indianapolis — Jake Ferguson (TE, Wisconsin)
#55 Tennessee — Chris Olave (WR, Ohio State)
#56 Miami — Tutu Atwell (WR, Louisville)
#57 Seattle — Haskell Garrett (DT, Ohio State)
#58 LA Rams — Nick Bolton (LB, Missouri)
#59 Buffalo — Jalen Mayfield (T, Michigan)
#60 Cleveland — Jay Tufele (DT, USC)
#61 Green Bay — Terrace Marshall Jr (WR, LSU)
#62 Kansas City — Javian Hawkins (RB, Louisville)
#63 New Orleans — Nico Collins (WR, Michigan)
#64 Pittsburgh — Kellen Mond (QB, Texas A&M)

Notes

— Stanford quarterback Davis Mills is simply terrific. I wouldn’t take any mock draft seriously right now that didn’t include him in the first round conversation. He has a fantastic skill set that will appeal to teams, he’s accurate and a natural passer.

— I spent some time watching Wyatt Davis this week and he is legit. I’ve moved him up considerably and he has a chance to be an interior offensive lineman who goes very early in the draft.

— One other thing I did this week was go back and watch a whole host of footage from the SPARQ and recruiting events from a few years ago. You learn a lot about players watching them in this environment — how they handle 1v1’s, their personalities, how other players respond to them. Here’s what I learnt this week. Alex Leatherwood is a bad dude with an incredible nasty edge. Walker Little is naturally gifted, athletic and talented. He will go earlier than people think. Marvin Wilson (not included in this mock) just had so many incredible reps on the D-line and his athletic qualities for his size are rare. Micah Parsons played linebacker at Penn State but he could play anywhere. Defensive end, running back, receiver. He is one of the most gifted players to come along in a long time.

Thoughts on the Seahawks pick

I noted recently that with such limited draft stock in 2021, the Seahawks are probably going to have to make a big-upside pick in round two. They need to try and find a hidden gem in the range where they’ve previously selected Frank Clark and D.K. Metcalf.

As with Clark and Metcalf though, there also needs to be a reason for that player to last.

Haskell Garrett was shot in the face a few weeks ago. Somehow, he not only survived but made a miraculous return to the football field where he’s played lights out in Ohio State’s limited season. In their last game against Michigan State, he tipped a pass at the LOS and caught the rebound for a pick-six:

Garrett ran a 4.41 short shuttle at SPARQ at 298lbs which is an outstanding time and he added a 5.13 forty.

He has ideal size (6-2, 300lbs) for leverage and he can control blocks at the POA, disengage and explode into the backfield. He plays with reasonable gap discipline and is rarely moved in the running game. He has the quickness and agility you need to see from interior linemen to factor as a pass rusher at the next level.

In all honesty there’s a reasonable chance he will move up boards during the pre-draft process and out of range for Seattle. If he attends the Senior Bowl, he could be one of the stars in Mobile. However, if he’s available in the late second he offers a chance to add talent and upside to the D-line.

It’s also worth noting that Jarran Reed is due $13.5m next year. Reed is a perfectly decent starting defensive tackle but nobody can argue he’s worth $13.5m. Either the Seahawks need to extend his deal to lower the cap hit or they should consider moving on.

Money is going to be tight. You have to make sure you’re investing in the right people.

He could also be a trade candidate. You won’t get much in the deal but it could, at least, enable the Seahawks to add to the three or four picks they are scheduled to have.

Even if they retain Reed, he’ll be a free agent in 2022 and so will Poona Ford. Planning ahead at the position would be wise, especially if they can acquire a player as talented as Garrett.

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

Two very disappointing Seahawks quotes

Shaquill ‘sometimes we take opponents lightly’ Griffin

“We came in taking the team lightly, just being totally honest. In this league, you can lose to anybody if you don’t play right. I feel like we took that game lightly, and our focus point now is just refocusing – treating every team the same, like a championship game that we preach about. We’ve just got to live by it.”

Shaquill Griffin, speaking on Thursday

So much for ‘always compete’.

Perhaps Shaquill Griffin was trying to avoid a clichéd, nondescript answer? It wouldn’t be the first time an athlete tried a little too hard to take responsibility for an embarrassing loss.

Even so, that answer above was difficult to digest and it seriously calls into question the mentality of the team.

Pete Carroll’s whole philosophy is based on competition. When a player comes out after a crushing, unexpected defeat and says they ‘took their opponents lightly’ — that is the opposite of a competitors mindset.

It’s even worse when you consider what was at stake.

With five games to go and with the NFC West and #1 seed in the NFC still very much in their sights, Griffin claims the Seahawks weren’t particularly prepared for the Giants.

It’ll be fine — it’s just Colt McCoy.

They’re 4-7.

They play in the NFC Least.

And guess what? The Giants came into Seattle and punched the Seahawks in the mouth. They were the superior team — even without their quarterback or Saquon Barkley. They had a game-plan that made sense, they executed better and they were more physical.

They wanted it more.

Now the #1 seed looks like a pipe dream. The Seahawks are relegated to second place in the NFC West. They’ve wasted a 5-0 start by going 3-4 in the following seven games. Unless they avoid dropping to 1-6 against the Rams in week 16, they’ll be staring at a record of one NFC West title in six years. Six years.

The worst thing is — Griffin’s words match what we saw on the field.

After the 24-0 loss to Pittsburgh in 2011, Carroll vowed never to let a team bully the Seahawks again. They set about creating a team in the mould of the Steelers and Ravens. Physicality, punishing hits and a combination of great running and a brilliant defense were to be the catalyst for a change in Seattle’s fortunes.

They emphatically achieved it.

Yet by the end of the 2015 season, John Schneider was speaking of the need to re-create the bully. They wanted to be the tone-setter once more, after a year in which they failed to intimidate opponents.

Five years on, they’re still not the bully. Not even close.

They don’t punch anyone in the mouth. They don’t seem to leave any opponent reeling. Rebuilding teams such as the Giants come to Seattle and get after them.

And now we have a supposed key starter explaining away a hugely disappointing loss as ‘taking a team lightly’ when the season was on the line.

If ever there was a statement to undermine everything Carroll strives for — this is it.

Sure, the occasional tough run by Chris Carson or a D.K. Metcalf stiff-arm might make you think this is still a tough team. But they aren’t. They are finesse. Now we know they can, occasionally, look beyond an opponent too.

10 years into the Carroll era and three-years into the reset, isn’t this just the most disappointing quote you’ve seen in a long time?

And what exactly does it say about the future direction of this team?

They aren’t going to prove anything against the Jets. No amount of flexing will make a win against the NFL’s worst team feel like a comeback.

The Seahawks have three games — Washington, LA and San Francisco — to prove themselves. I think they have to now. Otherwise they deserve the criticism that will follow.

It wasn’t the only maddening quote this week.

Brian Schottenheimer also confessed he wishes the Seahawks had adjusted more quickly against the Giants and taken more of what they were given underneath.

These thoughts were more or less echoed by Carroll and Russell Wilson.

Are we living in bizarro world?

The offense scored three points in the first half. Three.

You don’t need years of coaching experience or a lengthy playing career to see what they were doing on offense wasn’t working.

Yet they kept going — again and again. They constantly looked for the big shot downfield. Wilson kept holding onto the ball and subsequently getting hit. The Giants mastered their coverage with two deep safety’s (something that has been an issue for multiple weeks already) and the end result was a shambles.

The absolute minimum they needed to do was adjust. They shouldn’t be speaking about adjusting quicker. Making the wrong adjustment? Anyone can live with that.

Not adjusting quickly enough — or at all? That’s unacceptable.

Championship caliber teams don’t fail to adjust and they don’t take opponents lightly.

It’s as simple as that.

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

Guest post by Curtis Allen: The Seahawks must take stock of their organization right now

This is a guest post written by Curtis Allen for the blog. Curtis is well known within the community as ‘Cha’ in the comments section. We’ve all enjoyed his quarter report cards and game specific watch-points. Many thanks to him for putting this together.

There’s no disputing 2020 has been a turbulent year for the Seahawks.

The stunning amount of highs and lows witnessed this season would make for a fascinating case study if they weren’t so stressful for their passionate fan base.

Many of the challenges they’ve faced this year have been of their own making.

The Seahawks have once again not been able to connect their end of season roster, their offseason moves and their game planning and execution with a consistent, targeted vision.

Putting a team on the field that can play in a way that delivers sustainable success has been a monumental struggle for years now, one that has left fans unfulfilled.

This season, Pete Carroll has taken to using the word “uncharacteristic” to describe his team’s play so often people are wondering if he understands the meaning of the word.

The last calendar year has been well documented on the blog and in the comments section. The Seahawks ended 2019 with Russell Wilson, short on weapons, dragging a battered and bruised team into the playoffs. Their top three running backs were injured. They had a porous defense undermined by an anaemic pass rush.

The end result was predictable.

To their credit, the front office noticed this. They went into the offseason with clear needs and were armed with a handsome amount of cap room and a full complement of draft picks.

They came back with… a team that relies far too much on its quarterback, with three running backs that are injured and a porous defense undermined by an anaemic pass rush.

— Through 12 games Russell Wilson has been responsible for a staggering 84.3% of the team’s total yards of offense. That dwarfs his 74.3% number of 2019.

— The Seahawks spent about 18% of their available cap room on tight ends. Yet through 12 games the group has produced only 5.45 catches and 3.81 first downs per game and three total TD’s. For comparison, Will Dissly had four touchdowns in 5 games last year.

— Chris Carson, Carlos Hyde and Travis Homer have missed 13 games this year due to injury and have had severely reduced workloads in several others. Carson has yet to log 100 carries this season.

— Through eight games, the Seahawks defense was on pace to shatter the all-time yards conceded mark and had recorded only 19 sacks on an astounding 366 pass attempts, or 45.75 attempts per game.

All of this has placed considerable pressure on Russell Wilson and the offense — and it shows. To the point where now, just as the defense is finally showing some signs of being even a marginally competent unit, the offense is behaving like a rubber band that has been stretched so many times it has lost its elasticity and cannot take its original shape.

It should not be a surprise to anyone that this team has returned very similar results again this year. Similar process returns similar results. The old Henry Ford quote seems appropriate here:

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”

Russell Wilson looks tentative and unsure of himself.

Pete Carroll is trying to will this team to success by cramming ‘believe’ into as many sentences as possible.

The running backs are being revered for their toughness one week and the next are being limited in their reps in the name of caution.

Raves by the coaching staff about Carlos Dunlap’s play and how the team ‘finally has a pass rusher that can get to the quarterback’ and ‘what a relief it is to get pass rush in non-blitzing situations’ has betrayed their early-season protestations that cheap part time players can fill the massive void in their pass rush.

Put another way, they’re reaping what they’ve sown. Yet again.

How can they break the cycle?  How can they restore that singular vision that focuses their efforts and leads to sustainable success?

The 2021 offseason starts right now

The Seahawks need to look very closely at their team philosophy, their current roster makeup and the individual and unit results in the next four games (and hopefully the playoffs). They have a minimum of four games to get a real-world look at the results of the way this team was built in 2020, the players that are newly acquired and/or have been injured and are now coming online, what the coaching staff has done to point their players in the way of success and examine the very structure and identity of both the offense and defense.

Why such urgency?

This offseason is going to ​present clear challenges. They have minimal draft picks and are projecting to have very little usable cap space to augment the current roster that is under contract for 2021.

Major decisions need to be made about new acquisitions Jamal Adams and Carlos Dunlap.  The long-term future of expensive veterans like Bobby Wagner need to be examined. And owing to their past couple of offseasons, they have precious few immediately available resources to draw from.

Every team in the NFL is preparing for the 2021 offseason in some way, shape or form at the moment — but this team is unique.

The Seattle Seahawks may present the biggest paradox in the NFL — they enjoy consistent relative success, yet they regularly have numerous and serious fundamental question marks that need addressing.

Thankfully, there is good news in all of this.

They have a franchise quarterback in his prime years and locked down for three more seasons.

Pete Carroll has the security of a five-year contract extension.

They have a large amount of salary cap room in 2022.

They have a soft local press and general fan base, thanks to an enormous amount of goodwill built up and star players that are extremely likeable and rooted in the community.

They have an ownership group that will likely sell the franchise in that five-year window and who may have a very enticing incentive for success. How much more value would the franchise gain if they pick up a second Lombardi trophy shortly before going to market?

The Seahawks are king in Seattle but my goodness — imagine what a second championship would do? You think the Hawks run the town now? They’d solidify their stranglehold on the town’s heart in a way never before seen — and that’s practically a license to print money.

Annually competing for a Super Bowl is within their grasp. They have both the means and the imperative to reach that goal. However, road mapping that achievement needs to start as soon as possible.

Why? Because it is going to take three fairly extraordinary things to achieve it:

1. An acknowledgement that what they’ve been doing isn’t getting them closer to a championship

The first step toward solving any problem is acknowledging it exists. And boy oh boy does it exist:

No division titles since 2016.

No byes earned since 2014.

A 3-4 playoff record the last five seasons.

Being out coached in games, outmaneuvered in the offseason market and plain outclassed by division foes with lesser talent.

A stubborn insistence on running a defensive scheme that depends on QB pressure with the front four, coupled with a resistance to acquiring the proper pieces to make it function.

A baffling inability to support one of the best quarterbacks in the game with complementary football.

In-game decisions that don’t demonstrate a clear perception of team strengths and the massive power of momentum that is available to tap.

Add them all up and you have a team that is consistently on the fringe of the Super Bowl conversation but never truly within striking distance.

We all know Pete Carroll burns to win. Yet the moves the team recently have made under his direction give the appearance of a leadership group uncertain of their charting, desperate to simply remain competitive and willing to be backed into a corner by time, circumstance and opportunistic teams and free agents rather than control their own destiny.

None of which is aided by Pete’s media presentation. Serious questions about the construction of the team and choices made under his leadership are often met with terse, almost dismissive answers that barely register as even acknowledging the premise of the question. Questions about COVID protocols, social justice and a fun locker room however, are answered with cheery brightness and clear, steely determination.

Coming to terms with the reality that they have faltered under Pete Carroll’s leadership will not be easy but on the whole, the body of proof is damning and crying out for a clear, honest appraisal.

2. The need for humility to examine every single team process objectively and courage to change those processes in order to get closer to a championship

They’re so fond of having “tell the truth Monday” in-season. They might need a whole week to examine their team-building missteps this year. How did they get here? Can they better target their aggression this offseason?

What is the core identity of this team? And why isn’t every decision and process geared toward retaining and bolstering that identity?

How can it possibly be that they spent $50 million and massive draft capital in 2020 and yet still put possibly the most inconsistent product on the field in Pete’s Seattle career? Why have they allowed their young players to have their development blocked by ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ veterans that don’t provide tangible on-field results? How do they continually struggle to make good use of their timeouts and constantly make head-scratching decisions during games? When was the last time a coordinator put together a game plan that was both consistent and creative?

Do they need to consider a different approach to the draft?

How about their organizational philosophy towards the salary cap?

For years they’ve been judicious about their cap room, gaining praise for being able to roll cap into the next season and being ‘fiscally responsible’ in order to extend key players. All the while, their competitors have freely added major pieces with far less appearance of cap room, while simultaneously avoiding the dreaded “cap jail” that seems to inhibit the Seahawks from making bold decisions to add that just-one-more weapon to an already solid group to put this team over the top.

They have a real opportunity to improve this team in a major way this offseason but it will ​require some boldness and cap creativity that has so far been unseen from this front office.

Do the Seahawks as an organization have the humility to look at yet another 10-6 or 11-5 season followed by a quick playoff exit and say ‘that is simply not good enough’? Do they have the courage to reevaluate their operational procedures and admit that changes need to be made?

The core desire is there but it will take an enormous effort to deviate from the pattern they have put in place.

3. A challenging and engaged ownership group that will finance the moves they deem necessary

Being bold takes ownership confidence and financial backing. That is not something every team enjoys.

Paul Allen famously had deep pockets and was willing to go get players and staff who were deemed necessary to success. Does the group under the leadership of Jodi Allen have a similar mentality? It will take those same deep pockets to both acquire talent and to pay talent who no longer fit the teams’ vision of success to go away.

************

With all that in mind, what do the Seahawks need to look at in these final four games?

1. Are they truly putting their biggest player asset in the best position to succeed?

Buried in the offseason narrative about letting Russ throw more is the fact that supporting your quarterback comes in many different forms:

— Having a smothering defense to give you the ball with fantastic field position

— A run game that burns the clock and protects Russ from taking a physical toll

— Tight ends providing matchup nightmares and easy first downs

Have the Seahawks done enough to maximize the talent of their best player?

The Seahawks spent over $10 million and two draft picks on the tight end position. At one point in the offseason, there were more TE’s than Defensive Ends on the Seahawks’ roster. They clearly prioritized the position. Then the season started and that big investment became an afterthought week after week.

Have they phased TE’s out of the offense? Or relegated them to a blocking role? Or is Russ the reason they’re not getting many touches?

They will return Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson to the roster next year and Stephen Sullivan will likely return from the practice squad. Would a simple solid blocking TE addition suffice to fill the depth? Or do they need to re-commit to making the TE’s an important part of their attack?

What of the Running Backs? Can Rashaad Penny give enough glimpses this year to give the team confidence he can take on a major role in 2021? Do Deejay Dallas and Travis Homer have the ability to improve beyond third string and special teams players?

And Chris Carson. The Seahawks have an extremely tough decision to make there. He cannot stay healthy yet is a heart and soul player that sets the tone for the offense. The team is clearly not the same when he is not on the field. An honest and thoughtful evaluation of his skills, impact on the team and market value is crucial.

2. Can this defense consistently perform as constructed? Is Jamal Adams worth a giant extension?

A bad side effect of all the injuries they’ve sustained is they haven’t gotten to truly see what they talent they have assembled can do as a unit. They have four games to evaluate what they’ve got.

Jamal Adams, the biggest of the Seahawks’ offseason acquisitions, has produced some equally spectacular and troublesome results:

— He leads the Seahawks with 7.5 sacks and has provided pressure to get quarterbacks thinking about an audible to the opposite side

— He has missed four games with injury and not been 100% for other games. He is conceding a 113 QB rating in coverage and there is a cost to the scheme in having a strong safety blitz so much

Can the defense thrive with this output from the strong safety spot? Is it worth a massive extension that will force the Seahawks to cut back in other areas?

There’s been a persistent narrative that the arrival of Carlos Dunlap will balance the defense and reduce the dependence on blitzing Jamal so much. Yet in the 5 games since acquiring Dunlap, the team has blitzed Jamal just as much as before. Will that continue in the final four games and the playoffs? Will the results be different?

Adams’ acquisition and use challenges Pete Carroll’s defensive principles. Recently, when Pete was gushing about Adams’ performance, he said something of note. That Adams is a ‘risk-taker’ and that ‘he loves that about him.’

Carroll admitted that ‘sometimes the risks will get him but he’s a big part of our defense.’

Has Pete ever described risk-taking as a positive trait in his defenders? Maybe early in rookie Earl Thomas’ career? Maybe?

And how has Adams’ use impacted Quandre Diggs? Is he a good safety match for Adams? Has the scheme limited Diggs’ playmaking ability? And if so, is that an acceptable result?

3. What of the other defensive pieces?

The Seahawks cannot possibly be thinking of moving on from Bobby Wagner, can they? He is $17m against the cap next year. Is the cost/benefit leaning in the wrong direction? Or has part of Bobby’s play been the result of the front office utterly ignoring the interior DL this offseason? Would a recommitment to a stouter interior raise his play back to 2018 levels? We talk about supporting the QB. How about supporting the QB of the defense?

Can Shaquille Griffin rebound next year? Will the 2021 depressed market and his awful performance this year allow them to retain him and buy low on a possible Pro Bowl season?

KJ Wright has demonstrated time and again this year why he is such a good player. Will he price himself out of Seattle? Can Jordyn Brooks take over his role?

************

The Seahawks have a huge amount of homework to do and it’s not all of the simpler ‘paperwork pushing’ variety. Serious questions need to be asked. Core principles re-evaluated. Sights need to be reset on returning to the championship discussion.

The last couple of offseasons, the team has appeared more reactionary than following a cohesive, well-design plan of attack. It’s been starkly laid bare by the product they’ve put on the field. They’ve lurched from one circumstance to another and not been able to follow their stated goals to fill crucial, potentially devastating needs.

The sooner they can outline a clear, defined plan of action, the better prepared they will be to react to what an unprecedented 2021 offseason will throw at them and succeed.

If the Seahawks are serious about contending they will know in their heart of hearts the process doesn’t start at the combine, the first day of the league year, or the draft.

It starts now.

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

The blame game lies with four individuals in Seattle

The 2017 Seahawks were 8-4 after twelve games.

They ended the season 9-7 and missed the playoffs for the only time in Russell Wilson’s career.

I’m not convinced the 2020 version will finish quite as poorly as that. However, it’s starting to feel like history might be repeating.

The Seahawks are 3-4 in their last seven games and they’ve suffered three of the worst losses in the Pete Carroll era.

There’s losing and there’s being embarrassed. Against the Bills, Rams and now the New York Giants, the Seahawks were humiliated.

Yet unlike previous years, they don’t have even one victory of note to dilute these highly disappointing moments.

In 2017, after all, they beat the eventual Super Bowl Champions Philadelphia in week 13. In 2018 they defeated Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs and Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. A year ago they had the heroic performance in Santa Clara.

Who have they beaten this year?

For all the investment, all the resource, all the talk of MVP’s for Russell Wilson and letting him ‘cook’ and all the hope and aspiration to reach the Super Bowl — the stark reality is this team doesn’t look good enough.

There’s still time for this to change, of course, with games remaining. Yet there’s never any reason to avoid having a difficult conversation.

The finger of blame has to be pointed at the four most important people in the franchise.

Pete Carroll

His job is to have the Seahawks prepared to play on a Sunday. Yet far too often they are untidy, play down to their opponents and are out-coached.

Nearly three years after the reset, the team lacks any kind of identity. What are they? A prolific passing team shaped in the mould of their quarterback? A run-the-ball-and-play-defense group? They lurch between all sorts and nothing sticks.

If you don’t know who you are, then you’ve got big problems.

The coaches Carroll appointed to run his offense and defense aren’t getting the job done. Nobody should excuse Brian Schottenheimer or Ken Norton Jr. Ultimately though, Pete Carroll is responsible for this team as a whole. So far this year, we’ve witnessed a stretch of games where the defense was historically bad and a stretch of games where the offense has been diabolical.

Carroll also takes responsibility for the entire football operations. As we’ve discussed a lot this year, the off-season was a mess. The way they handled their self-confessed priority of fixing the pass rush was a shambles. They squandered cap space and picks and made desperation moves — all to produce this team.

The Seahawks are in real danger of winning the NFC West just once in six years, despite having a serious quarterback advantage.

Furthermore, two other coaches in the NFC West have taken Jared Goff and Jimmy Gaoppolo to the Super Bowl in the last couple of seasons.

Being in the same division as Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan is merely shining a light on Seattle’s underwhelming run in recent years.

Russell Wilson

He talks about being the best ever. Recently, he’s discussed his aim to create the most prolific QB/WR duo in league history with D.K. Metcalf. He has MVP ambitions and reportedly, during the off-season, he gave something akin to an ultimatum to the Seahawks to ‘let him cook’.

He has to play better than this. He looks more like Carson Wentz at the moment than Mahomes or Rodgers. Wilson has combined the best spell of his career in the first few weeks of the season with arguably the worst. It’s not good enough and he has to play better.

Don’t make excuses for him. This isn’t because of an absent right tackle, a new perfume, a podcast, a celebrity wife or a play caller. Wilson earns $35m a year. He has shown he is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.

He simply has to perform at a higher level.

John Schneider

He helped build, with Carroll, one of the greatest rosters the NFL has ever seen. That should always be remembered and never diluted.

However, the decision making since the reset leaves so much to be desired and questions needs to be asked.

The Seahawks have not made the most of their high draft picks. They’ve indulged in questionable, high-profile trades. They’ve squandered money.

Every now and again the old magic returns — the D.K. Metcalf pick and the Carlos Dunlap trade are good examples. Yet the list of gaffes is starting to dwarf the list of smart moves. Their record in the first round of the draft, their inability to address self-confessed priorities, their decision making when it comes to being thrifty at certain positions and splurging at others. These are legitimate concerns.

Worst of all there’s an air of desperation about their moves this year.

Having failed to adequately address the pass rush in free agency, they traded up to make sure they got Darrell Taylor — a player carrying a serious injury. He’d been unable to practise at the Senior Bowl or attend the combine. Some draft insiders suggested, due to the inability to conduct thorough medical checks due to Covid-19, that he could go undrafted. That’s how serious the injury was.

In a typical year with the usual medical examinations taking place, it might’ve been determined that Taylor wouldn’t pass a medical.

Seattle spent a second and third round pick to acquire him. He hasn’t even been cleared to practise yet. You could be forgiven for wondering if he’ll ever play — as he heads for the dreaded ‘second opinion’ on his recovery which has now taken a year.

Then there’s the Jamal Adams trade, executed right before the start of training camp. We’ve clearly seen in eight games that Adams is an effective blitzer. His 7.5 sacks is testament to that.

It’s also worth noting that he averages 10.3 blitzes per game, which is by far the most in the NFL by any player. After just six games, he’d more than tripled the number of times Bradley McDougald blitzed in 15 games last season.

So the numbers are good and Adams deserves credit for his sacks. It has to be acknowledged though that there’s a degree of manufacture with these numbers. If McDougald was able to blitz 10.3 times a game instead of the 1.4 times a game he blitzed in 2019, would he also be capable of producing good sack numbers?

After all, you’re the extra rusher. This isn’t a 1v1 battle, winning off the edge like Myles Garrett and allowing you to play with extra coverage defenders. Blitzing comes at a cost. Before the Giants game, Seattle was blitzing 35% of the time. In 2018, they blitzed just 18.4% of the time.

The Seahawks spent a fortune on Adams in terms of picks, making it incredibly difficult for them over the next couple of years in the draft. The biggest, most pressing problem however is how much they pay him to keep him. As we’ve discussed already, by not having an oven-ready contract ready to go, the Seahawks have ceded all leverage in negotiations.

They simply cannot afford to be paying Bobby Wagner and Jamal Adams around $18m a year each. Not in the current financial climate.

The Adams trade never felt like a calculated, finishing touch. It always seemed like an acknowledgement that the only significant move made this off-season was to remove Jadeveon Clowney from the roster and not add a proper replacement. They needed an injection of talent badly and Adams happened to be available. The cost of the deal was eye-watering.

Now they face an off-season with limited cap space and only three draft picks. They’re right back to square one. As with 2018 and 2019, they’re back to working with severely limited resources. Yet the team they’ve put together isn’t good enough — not on the evidence so far.

So what does Schneider do? Is he willing to be honest about the situation, eat some humble pie and initiate what needs to probably be a second reshaping in a short space of time? Because the 2020 Seahawks are not better than the 2018 Seahawks currently. For all the money and picks ploughed into this roster, they are not good enough. Some difficult decisions need to be made.

Jodi Allen

The final finger of blame should be pointed at ownership. I have sympathy with Allen because she merely inherited a football team. I doubt she ever had any real ambition to be an owner and this isn’t some kind of natural succession plan.

It’s expected that within the next five years someone else will purchase the franchise.

You can’t blame Allen for putting her trust in Carroll and Schneider to run the football operations, seemingly unchallenged. They are experienced and established. They are respected. They have delivered a Super Bowl title.

Yet it’s also the responsibility of ownership, regardless of the situation, to do what is right. You have to make difficult decisions. You still have to hold people to account.

It was the easy decision to extend Pete Carroll and start another ‘five year plan’. Was it the right call to make, however? Are the Seahawks experiencing their own Mike McCarthy moment? Two years ago the Packers dispensed of McCarthy despite his own successful spell in Green Bay because things, sadly, just started to go stale.

Matt LaFleur, his replacement, is 22-6 in the regular season since taking over. It hasn’t always been plain sailing. The Packers were hammered in the NFC Championship game a few months ago. Yet the fact is he’s revitalised a franchise and somehow managed to negotiate the awkwardness of Green Bay drafting Aaron Rodgers’ replacement instead of investing in his supporting cast.

That’s not to say you’re going to easily fall into a great replacement if you make a change. Yet fear of change is never a good enough reason not to pick up the baton. Paul Allen made a mistake with Jim Mora and then rectified it abruptly and spectacularly. That’s real ownership.

I don’t even believe, necessarily, that change is required. I want to believe that Carroll can lead this team back to the top. I also want the owner to be asking serious questions about the recent run of results, the personnel decisions, the performance of the staff (especially the coordinators), the performance of the quarterback and the overall direction of this team.

There needs to be accountability from the top.

Offering a new long-term contract that was almost apologetically leaked to the media, weeks after it was agreed, is not accountability. That felt like the easy option. I fear, rather than being challenged, Carroll and co are simply being left to get on with it.

The owner, the Head Coach, the GM and the quarterback. The most important people in your franchise have to deliver.

There’s a danger of the Seahawks drifting. This season feels so familiar. Whether it ends in a similar way to 2017 or whether they make the playoffs and subsequently make a swift exit again, the years are rolling by and nothing seems to change.

There are many fans who want to reflect on the possibility of another winning season as a cause for celebration. This is a franchise that experienced precious little success prior to Mike Holmgren’s arrival. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with ‘enjoying the ride’. More power to you.

I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with high expectations. This team, this Head Coach, this GM, this quarterback — they have created lofty expectations. This is no longer a cellar dwelling franchise, grateful for the odd great player to pop along once every ten or twenty years. This is a team that has set the highest of bars.

Are they capable of living up to their set standard? Rather than regress — slowly and gradually — is there any evidence of a team that is good enough to achieve merely what McVay & Goff and Shanahan & Garoppolo both achieved in the last two years?

There should be some pressure on those who can still prove the doubters wrong. There are still four games to go.

Trust me, I want to write a 2000-word end-of-season review on how Carroll and Wilson turned things around and shocked the NFL. I will gladly write the words ‘I was wrong’ if that happens.

Unfortunately I suspect that what I’ll be actually be writing is an article that has become all too familiar over the last six seasons.

So this is the challenge now. You’ve got four games and a potential post-season.

Do the heroes of this franchise want to be remembered for glory? Or for the way things petered out into a disappointing conclusion filled with missed opportunities and tarnished legacies?

Over to you, Pete and Russ. You’re the only two of this particular quartet who can influence the next few weeks.

If you missed our instant reaction podcast last night, check it out here:

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

Instant reaction: Hopeless Seahawks embarrassed by Giants

Pathetic.

The Seahawks were out-coached, out-thought and eventually out-played by a 4-7 Giants team starting Colt McCoy at quarterback.

The offense had no creativity. No tempo. No ideas. No execution.

Credit to New York and their coach Joe Judge who looks like the real deal. Yet the Seahawks contributed mightily to this latest disaster, to go along with the Buffalo and LA horror shows.

It’s one thing to lose. It’s quite another to lose in the way Seattle has this season.

Russell Wilson is having an absolute nightmare. At times he looks completely lost, almost broken.

What exactly is Brian Schottenheimer trying to achieve? Fourth and inches and you try a tricky bootleg instead of a run or a sneak? Where’s the spark? Why isn’t he able to create rhythm or deliver a running game to support the struggling quarterback?

Jason Garrett managed to deliver a plan to support his backup quarterback.

Worst of all there’s zero identity. What are the Seahawks even trying to be? Wilson isn’t cooking. They’re unwilling to run the ball, even when Chris Carson has success.

What exactly is the plan here?

The Giants are probably going to laugh their way home to New York. How could it be this easy to stop this offense?

On defense a strong performance was expected against a backup QB. Yet by the second half, the Giants simply ran the ball down Seattle’s throat. A three-play, 80-yard touchdown drive — all with runs. A smashing, decisive follow-up.

The same old lack of communication, poor tackling and poor discipline.

The Giants kicked Seattle’s arse on the two touchdown drives. There was no resistance. No physical edge. That was being provided by the opponent.

Even so — the offense put the defense under tremendous, unnecessary pressure by failing to score more than three points until deep into the fourth quarter.

And when the defense gave the offense and Wilson one last chance to save the day — they couldn’t deliver. They reached midfield and collapsed. The franchise quarterback, the man who wanted to be MVP, couldn’t come close to delivering a scoring drive with 1:48 remaining and with two timeouts in his pocket.

This was a thoroughly embarrassing loss to make a total mockery of this team being anything remotely close to a contender.

Why is this team, with the experienced players that it has, so incapable of playing a clean game? Why do they constantly play down to their opponent? Why, year after year, do they set out to be the bullies and often find themselves being punched in the mouth?

When’s the last time they had a really convincing home win? Why are they so often their own worst enemy? Why are they occasionally the recipient of a coaching masterclass by the opponent yet rarely coach out a classic themselves?

Why are they still scrambling around trying to establish an identity? The reset was nearly three years ago. What are you?

And when is there going to be some accountability for this? Will it come if they fail to win the NFC West again this year, for the fifth time in six years? Will it come if the season ends the same way it always seems to these days?

Here’s the stark reality of the situation. The Seahawks are now 3-4 since the bye.

So you tell me, what exactly is this team?

They haven’t beaten anyone of note. They’ve had four absolutely galling losses and possess a losing record over the last few weeks.

This team is not heading in the right direction, either this season or for the long term.

The thought of the Seahawks winning three playoff games to reach the Super Bowl is beyond fanciful.

The off-season presents a situation where the entire league will face a salary crunch, the Seahawks have three or four draft picks and they have starters who need to be retained or replaced. Major coaching changes are required but is Pete Carroll willing to look outside his own bubble?

And all this after squandering an off-season where they spent so much to produce this.

I predicted more of the same at the start of the season.

In reality, this is worse. This is getting worse.

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

16 freaky athletes to monitor for the Seahawks in 2021

Ohio State’s Baron Browing is a fantastic athlete

Traits aren’t everything but they do matter.

The concept of ‘just picking good players’ is a rhetoric that doesn’t befit a sport that emphasises physicality and speed perhaps more than any other.

Furthermore, the techniques and nuances for college football are far away from what you can expect at the next level. A ‘good’ player in college doesn’t necessarily translate to a ‘good’ player in the NFL. Even if they can be coached and developed, limitations will nearly always be exposed.

With limited draft stock in 2021 and no pick until the late second round (as things stand) the Seahawks will need to be on the ball to deliver impact from this class.

I’ve mentioned this before but I think the objective has to be to shoot for high upside in order to acquire someone with the potential to be great.

Any player available in the late second round with an amazing physical profile is going to have some question marks. Yet there’s an opportunity within that range to make a half-court shot.

D.K. Metcalf is the prime example. He fell not so much for the well-publicised three-cone time but probably more for the fact he nearly had to retire during the 2018 season due to a serious neck injury. Either way he was there and in a re-draft, he’s probably the third overall pick not the #64 pick.

The Seahawks equally had great success drafting Frank Clark in the late second round. He fell for very different reasons but had a top-10 physical profile and played to that level once he developed into a starter.

There have been misses too and that’s simply part of the draft. Christine Michael is the most explosive and agile running back to enter the NFL in a generation. He had star traits but couldn’t ever put it together.

Here’s the thing though — you can live with occasional Christine Michael if the upside is you end up with players such as Metcalf and Clark.

Seeking players with outstanding physical traits has worked well for the Seahawks in the second and third round. Bobby Wagner, Golden Tate, Russell Wilson, Tyler Lockett, Justin Britt and Damien Lewis are other examples. All tested very well.

The Kansas City Chiefs built their Super Bowl roster off the back of amazing upside. Not every pick, signing or trade has worked for them — but look at their recent early round draft picks. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Willie Gay Jr, Mecole Hardman, Juan Thornhill, Breeland Speaks, Patrick Mahomes, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Chris Jones. It’s a who’s who of every star tester, high-upside talent or five-star recruit.

They traded for Frank Clark, another incredible athlete, signed Sammy Watkins (at great expense) and signed big new deals for Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce.

They are basically the fastest, most explosive team in the league. Yes — they reached the pinnacle because of Mahomes. He too was loaded with traits and he’s surrounded by athletic stars.

With that in mind I wanted to note down some possible targets for the 2021 draft who possess high-upside and major physical potential.

The combine will reveal a lot of information, as always. For now we have to work with what little info is available. I’ve not included obvious first round picks. These are players being projected in a region where they might be available to the Seahawks (although it’s still early days) either in round two or perhaps even later.

Haskell Garrett (DT, Ohio State)
I only watched Garrett this week but was incredibly impressed with his quickness, hand-use and power. It was even more impressive given he was shot in the face a few weeks ago and made a miraculous return to the football field. He ran a 4.41 short shuttle at SPARQ at 298lbs which is an outstanding time and he added a 5.13 forty. His stock is difficult to project, especially after the shooting, but he’s highly talented and definitely a player to monitor.

Ambry Thomas (CB, Michigan)
Thomas opted out of the 2020 college season and Michican are missing him badly. He has reasonable size (6-0, 185lbs) but his athletic profile is sensational. He ran a 4.43 at SPARQ, a 3.90 short shuttle and jumped a 36 inch vertical. He had three interceptions last season and plays with great instinct and toughness. Thomas is immensely talented and with a strong combine, could vault up many boards.

Tutu Atwell (WR, Louisville)
Atwell is tiny (listed at just 5-9, 165lbs) and that is a concern. So too will be his limited catching radius. However, he has tremendous production (21 career TD’s) and his physical profile is incredible. He’s reportedly achieved a 4.26 forty, a 3.90 short shuttle and he can squat around 600lbs. Paul Richardson was only 175lbs at the combine in 2014 and the Seahawks took him in round two. Atwell could be the kind of dynamic speedster this offense craves.

Baron Browning (LB, Ohio State)
It will be stunning if the Seahawks spend another high pick on a linebacker but I had to include Browning on this list. At SPARQ he ran a fantastic 4.18 short shuttle. The Seahawks historically put a high value on that drill for the linebacker position. He also jumped a 37.5 inch vertical, ran a 4.56 forty and managed a total score of 131.91 — the most by any player at his position in 2017. He’s a freakish athlete with the tape to match. Don’t be shocked if he works into the first round.

Andre Cisco (S, Syracuse)
Unless the Seahawks make a big move (such as trading Jamal Adams) they’re unlikely to be in the market for a safety either. However, Cisco is a fantastic playmaker with a terrific physical profile. He has nine interceptions at Syracuse. He’s been timed in the 4.3 range for the forty, the 4.1 range in the short shuttle and he jumped a 36 inch vertical at SPARQ. He suffered a lower leg injury this season which could impact his stock.

Alim McNeil (DT, NC State)
When it comes to freskish physical profiles, McNeil has to be near the top of the list. At SPARQ he ran a 4.27 short shuttle — a time most defensive backs would be satisfied with — at over 270lbs. He’s since grown to 320lbs and yet he’s carrying minimal bad weight. He also ran a 4.94 forty and jumped a 34 inch vertical. Explosive, quick and agile — McNeil can also control blocks as a nose tackle and made headlines for a remarkable ‘big man’ pick-six earlier this season.

Jaelen Phillips (DE, Miami)
Phillips was once a storied recruit chased by every big team in college football. He opted to stay in California and picked UCLA. His time with the Bruins was dogged by concussion issues and at one point retirement seemed possible. However, instead he transferred to Miami and he’s having an outstanding season with five sacks in eight games and 10.5 TFL’s. He recorded an 111.18 score via SPARQ and has flashed five-star recruiting talent for Miami this year.

Xavier Thomas (DE, Clemson)
It’s been a bit of an underwhelming season for Thomas so far with only three sacks. Tipped by many to be the next big-name Clemson D-line prospect, he hasn’t really elevated his name into one of the stars of college football. Even so, his physical talent is undeniable. He ran a 4.30 short shuttle at 270lbs at SPARQ and added a 4.58 forty and a 33 inch vertical. He was the top defensive lineman who tested. There’s a lot of untapped potential here although I wonder about his length and ability to stay clean when taking on blocks.

Walker Little (T, Stanford)
It’s hard to gauge Little’s stock. A knee injury ended his 2019 season prematurely. He opted not to declare for the 2020 draft but then did opt out of the 2020 college football season. Where is he at physically? He has amazing size (6-7, +300lbs) and he was the top SPARQ tester on the O-line in 2017 with a remarkable short shuttle of 4.40. The injury and absence could force him down boards (although teams are always willing to take a chance on a good left tackle).

Tyson Campbell (CB, Georgia)
He’s tall (6-3), long and has the frame of a Seahawks cornerback. He also ran a 4.47 at SPARQ and jumped a 33-inch vertical. His short shuttle of 4.51, however, is very disappointing and he’d need to test better in that drill. Campbell doesn’t play aggressively enough in coverage and he gives up too many easy passes. Yet the physical potential and upside is there — especially if he improves in the agility testing.

Marvin Wilson (DT, Florida State)
Another former five-star recruit who had an amazing SPARQ session. At 6-4 and 330lbs he ran a 5.17 forty and a 4.56 short shuttle. That is frankly unbelievable agility for a man of that size. At Florida State he’s flashed talent, an ability to play inside and at the five technique and he was in better shape this year before an injury ended his season. However, conditioning will be a concern for teams.

Jake Ferguson (TE, Wisconsin)
Ferguson has always been a good blocker and a typical Wisconsin tight end. However — this season he’s also become their top target in the passing game, with 181 receiving yards and four touchdowns in three games. A former four-star recruit, Ferguson ran a blistering 4.15 short shuttle and jumped a 34.5 inch vertical at SPARQ. Virtually all of the top TE’s in the league did well in the agility testing.

Javian Hawkins (RB, Louisville)
I don’t think he runs in a ‘Seahawks style’. He’s not a tone-setter who gets the hard yards. He’s also out of their size bracket at 5-9 and 200lbs. However, I wanted to include him here due to his testing and production. He has 822 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns in eight games this season with a 6.2 YPC average. He ran a 4.36 forty at SPARQ, a 3.95 short shuttle and jumped a 41 inch vertical. He is extremely fast, explosive and talented. He’s just undersized.

Aaron Banks (G, Notre Dame)
This one is more about what I’ve seen on tape. He’s 6-6 and 330lbs and he absolutely dominates at the LOS. Power, strength and control. Based on his SPARQ testing I wouldn’t expect an amazing combine performance. However, to me he looks like the ideal candidate to play left guard for Seattle. Since Mike Solari came in they’ve preferred hulking monsters to play on the left side. Banks fits the bill perfectly.

Aidan Hutchinson (DE, Michigan)
He’s just suffered a fractured leg that could keep him out of action until April. He might be able to fit in a pre-draft workout if he opts to declare. He could also return to Michigan. However, there’s enough on tape already to think Hutchinson could be a star with the right kind of support. He’s brilliantly put together and can play inside/out with ease. He wins with quickness and power. He’s around 6-6 tall with great length and he ran a 4.47 short shuttle at SPARQ. If he goes pro and the injury limits his stock, he could be a steal for someone.

Kyler Gordon (CB, Washington)
I watched Gordon earlier this week and I think if he stays at Washington for next year, he could be a first round lock in 2022. He is incredible. However, who knows how players will feel about turning pro after this unpredictable year? He’s capable of a 42.5 inch vertical and a 6.52 three cone. Gordon, as with Elijah Molden, has unbelievable potential but he’s young and needs time to develop. They could both be NFL stars and possess the perfect blend of talent, instinct and physical upside.

I would’ve loved to have included Penn State running back Journey Brown on this list. He’s incredibly talented, capable of running in the 4.3’s, he’s explosive and he finishes runs. Unfortunately he recently had to retire from football due to a heart condition.

If you missed our new podcast previewing the Giants game, check it out here:

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2024 Seahawks Draft Blog

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑