Month: October 2022 (Page 2 of 4)

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I’m continuing to plough through games to fill out my horizontal board which already has 116 names on it. Considering I haven’t previously started a board until well after the college football season — I hope this provides some scope on the work I’m trying to put in this year, ahead of a huge draft for the Seahawks in 2023.

I wanted to write a few notes down on some players who’ve caught my eye. I appreciate I’m putting a lot of names out at the moment — I’d recommend running through recent articles you might’ve missed for other thoughts on different players.

I’ll share this though. This is what I’ve compiled for the first round:

Legit first round grades

Bijan Robinson (RB, Texas)
Will Anderson (DE, Alabama)
Will Levis (QB, Kentucky)
C.J. Stroud (QB, Ohio State)
Bryce Young (QB, Alabama)
Anthony Richardson (QB, Florida)
Mazi Smith (DT, Michigan)
Michael Mayer (TE, Notre Dame)
Jahmyr Gibbs (RB, Alabama)

Fringe first round grades

Jalin Hyatt (WR, Tennessee)
Darnell Wright (T, Tennessee)
K.J. Henry (DE, Clemson)
Bryan Bresee (DT, Clemson)
Kelee Ringo (CB, Georgia)
Jalen Carter (DT, Georgia)

I also have a bunch of second and third rounders — but I want to do more work and publish the board in 2-4 weeks time with some information/detail left unsaid for now. However — I do have six centers in this range (many of which I’ve written about recently). Ten receivers (including Zay Flowers — very impressive, Jonathan Mingo — big and only scratching the surface and Bryce Ford-Wheaton — if he declares, a very interesting talent). Luke Musgrave the Oregon State tight end is in this range, as is Georgia safety Christopher Smith and UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet.

Jalin Hyatt (WR, Tennessee)
A lot of people will be turned on to Hyatt after the Alabama game and I went back to review five Tennessee games. Speed kills in the NFL and there isn’t anyone like Hyatt in this class who can get into his route efficiently then accelerate through the stem and create separation. He’s not just a blazer off the line who leaves defenders in his wake. Hyatt does something that’s arguably even more useful. It’s that late change through the gears that often shocks cornerbacks. It’s devastating. And you see it on the deep shots and basic slants where he creates the key separation as the ball enters his eye-line. He also presents his hands to the ball and generally does a good job catching. He’s going to be tremendously difficult to cover at the next level and he carries himself with a confidence you expect to see from a future star receiver. He has a great chance to go in the top-45 if he continues to excel.

Byron Young (DE/DT, Alabama)
Young isn’t a game-wrecker and nobody is going to be ‘wowed’ by his tape. Yet I noticed a couple of things watching Alabama’s D-line. Firstly, he’s very good at attacking his gap. While it doesn’t translate to a lot of pressures or sacks — it frequently forces a running back to think on his feet and it’s an easy way to disrupt rhythm in the passing game. There are plays where even though he’s not creating a pressure — his ability to shoot a gap or shove someone backwards creates disruption. On top of that, he’s stout at the POA and difficult to move. I couldn’t help but think he’d be a nice option for the Seahawks if they retain the scheme they’re rolling with. I’m not sure how he’ll test but I see him as a second-day-er who can be solid and useful — if unspectacular — at the next level.

Matthew Bergeron (T, Syracuse)
A Canadian-born blocker — I thought he looked extremely accomplished on tape. He was rarely out of position. He can set with fluidity to block-off the route to the quarterback. I like his kick-slide although it can be a little choppy at times. He can smooth that out. I’ve seen some sniffy reviews about how he finishes vs the run but I didn’t see any problems there. He plays with an edge and there were a couple of snaps where he dumped opponents to the turf against NC State. He doesn’t look quite like a prototype left tackle — he lacks obvious length in the torso — and I’m intrigued to see how he weighs and measures. He’s got ample lower body bulk though and I think at the very least he’ll find a home at guard, with the potential to be a useful starter. Testing numbers are always big at tackle and if he performs well, there’s no reason why he can’t be at least a day-two pick.

B.J. Ojulari (DE, LSU)
If Ojulari can put it all together, he can be a real threat at the next level. He has great quickness off the snap to put the tackle on skates — plus the length and bend to get around the arc and straighten to the quarterback. He has a variety of moves — he just needs to refine them all. There’s a euro-step, a spin move, a rip/swim, he’ll stunt inside. He does everything and when he’s honed his technique — combined with his explosive power and speed — he could be a terror off the edge. Ojulari also drops quite a lot into coverage and plays the role of a traditional 3-4 OLB. He does it well — he’s a fluid mover who can cover ground and fly to the ball when needed. He also has an edge and an intensity to his play. At LSU they have a tradition of awarding the #18 jersey to a player who shows the following aspects and traits: attention to detail, laser focus, attitude, smarts, grit. I liked his brother Azeez Ojulari when he was at Georgia and B.J shares some of his qualities. He’s a good player with the potential to have his best years in the NFL. Before testing, I’ll give him a day two grade.

Sedrick Van Pran (C, Georgia)
Blocking in a phone booth — he is very accomplished. He can latch on and control 1v1. There’s evidence on tape of how useful this can be. A lot of Georgia’s successful runs come from the interior, running into gaps created by the 1v1 blocking at guard and center. There’s evidence of him pulling and latching on successfully, moving to his right. He does have a tendency sometimes to over-extend and it’s surprising nobody has tried bat his arms down and use his own forward momentum against him. It’s an odd technical niggle given he shows so well planting the anchor with a good, strong back — there’s little need for him to reach as much as he does. Even so, he does keep his frame clean regularly. Van Pran’s second-level skills are a mixed bag. Sometimes he seems a bit lost when he progresses — but then there’s also evidence of some nasty, vicious blocking against smaller linebackers. Depending on how he tests, he could have day-two potential. I’ve found six centers I like in this range so far.

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If the season ended today the Seahawks would own the #7 and #14 overall picks in round one and #38 and #45 in round two.

I want to look at some (admittedly premature) scenarios for the options they might have with those picks.

Firstly, I want to repeat the reality of Seattle’s 2023 off-season. They have $32m in effective cap space with only 33 players contracted for next season — including zero quarterbacks.

Only the Chiefs and Raiders have fewer contracted players for 2023 currently.

So basically, there’s a lot of work to do and not a lot of money to play with.

I really think they budgeted to have a rookie quarterback next year. I think they spent accordingly, expecting to draft a QB in 2023 and be making a big saving at the position, allowing them to spend elsewhere.

For all the talk of re-signing Geno Smith, even if he was given a $15m contract next year — which would be incredibly modest based on his performances so far — that would be half your available cap space gone with only 34 signed players.

People are legitimately saying give him a three-year deal worth $20-30m. The only way to do this would be to severely back-load the deal. It would mean the final year of the contract would essentially be meaningless short of Geno playing at an elite level. The team would need an easy ‘out’ with limited dead money. His willingness to accept such an agreement would depend on what interest other teams show in him.

This would allow you to potentially keep the 2023 cap hit down, with something like a $45m cap hit in 2025. You can see, now, why you’d need a way out.

I do think the Seahawks will consider this. You have to be adaptable and the truth is Smith has over-performed everyone’s expectations (including Seattle’s — otherwise they would’ve signed him to more than they did for only one season).

Of course it’s possible he won’t have much of a market. He is, after all, a journeyman quarterback who is suddenly playing well. It’s one of the reasons you have to wait this out really and let the market come to you. Geno and the team need to find out what the rest of the league is saying he’s worth.

Adjusting spending plans at quarterback would mean making sacrifices elsewhere and thus creating new holes.

Based on what we’ve seen so far, there’s no way they can justify Quandre Diggs’ $18m cap hit in 2023. Cutting him post-June 1st will split the dead cap hit between 2023 and 2024 and you’ll save $14m. That could be enough to retain Geno Smith but would create a hole at free safety — a hole that can be filled in the draft (more on that in a moment).

Gabe Jackson will also surely be cut to save $6.5m — but how the Seahawks worked out a way to be stuck with $4.7m in dead money in year three of his contract is mind-blowing. They have not handled their cap well over recent years.

I think we’ve possibly seen the last of their big investments on the O-line. The Rams’ blocking scheme, which they are mimicking, has been very productive over the years by introducing ‘types’ of players at a cost-effective price. They love to convert college tackles into guards and like the Austin Blythe/Brian Allen types at center. If the Seahawks replace Jackson it could be someone like Jake Curhan or Stone Forsyth already on the roster — or it could be a later round pick.

I’m not against more high picks on the O-line — especially with a good looking center class — I’m just suggesting what could be more likely.

Onto the draft picks…

Let’s start with their top choice which, courtesy of Denver, is currently #7 overall.

I think it’s increasingly likely Will Levis will be the #1 overall pick. He’s an easy projection for teams because everything about him is transferable. The traits, the arm, the size, the pro-style offense.

We all love to have our opinions and people argue endlessly on the internet about players and prospects. A GM picking first overall needs a hit. He needs to look at the owner and say, ‘this player is going to be the guy’ and then provide evidence to back up the argument in basic terms.

Levis provides the easiest set of answers at the most important position. It also helps you can play this clip in the meeting room:

If you’re into Will Levis just had a friend send me this from the Northern Illinois game. Whew. pic.twitter.com/HLAdx74BBK

— Landon Oliver (@Landon3MR) October 7, 2022

I would predict the top three players will, at this early stage, be:

Will Levis (QB)
Will Anderson (DE)
C.J. Stroud (QB)

After that, we could see Bryce Young (QB) come off the board quickly depending on how teams picking in the top-10 view his size.

Then, things get tricky.

Bijan Robinson (RB) will be the highest graded player on a lot of boards but positionally, it’s always a debate as to how high a running back should be taken. In this draft, I think he’ll go high because the alternatives just aren’t there.

Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) could find himself in the same situation.

The other name I would mention is Anthony Richardson (QB). I know he’s had a very up-and-down season for Florida. However, this is all about projection. Richardson has everything required to be special. He is a physical phenomena. He is a player who, on Saturday, had an 81-yard rushing touchdown and a 51-yard touchdown pass in the same game. If he is developed and fine-tuned, he could be a superstar.

His bad games have been very, very bad this year. His good moments have been eye-catching. In fairness, it was a similar story for Josh Allen at Wyoming. He was awful in college and took two years in the NFL to become the player we see today. Allen was a meme in the early days of his Buffalo career.

Richardson could take a similar path. With time, he has everything to be special. If he declares — with so few options in the top-10 — I promise someone will roll the dice.

I don’t think it’s too unrealistic that a top-six could include, therefore:

Will Levis (QB)
Will Anderson (DE)
C.J. Stroud (QB)
Bryce Young (QB)
Bijan Robinson (RB)
Anthony Richardson (QB)

Again, Bryce Young might be the biggest question mark as teams consider whether a 5-10, 185lbs quarterback is a wise investment. Yet his talent, competitive nature and playmaking quality could tempt someone to look beyond those size limitations.

So the first question is — are the Seahawks better off staying put at #7 or moving up?

Having a quarterback who can learn and develop behind Geno Smith would be a wise move. A Smith/Richardson combo, for example, could create Seattle’s answer to Alex Smith/Patrick Mahomes (although Richardson is far less experienced than Mahomes was at Texas Tech).

Levis and Young would be better prepared to start early if you needed to replace Geno. Stroud, I think, would need time to adjust to the pro-system he’d be entering.

I don’t see Will Anderson as a game-wrecking Bosa brother or Myles Garrett/Von Miller type. He’s a very good pass rusher but you only have to see the way Darnell Wright handled him on Saturday to realise he’s perhaps not going to be an unstoppable force — rather a very useful starter. Still — the Seahawks might be prepared to take a chance on him being special and to be fair, his 2021 season was one for the ages — even if he has underwhelmed at times in 2022.

I wouldn’t be against trading #7 and #14 in this draft to move up if you truly believe in one of the top players. The options in the teens, so far, are not looking great.

If they stay at #7 though — and the six names above are gone — my suggestion right now (and it’s too early to make a firm prediction) would be to pivot to Mazi Smith (DT). He’s an incredible athlete with insane agility, quickness, power and explosive traits. His 0.5 sacks for the season totally bely the consistent pressure he’s provided despite his nose tackle size.

3rd & 10
Obvious 4.
It's just a 4 man rush but Mazi Smith is able to push the LG away with 1 arm and get to Petras for a reall good, hard pressure. pic.twitter.com/CtQKQWkHBS

— Due# (@JDue51) October 2, 2022

There aren’t many 6-3 325lbs defensive linemen with his physical profile. A 33 inch vertical, a 9-5 broad, a 4.41 short shuttle, a 6.95 three cone. Incredible.

Smith gives you a chance to draft an impact defensive lineman with special upside. For me, he is the clear #2 D-liner in this class after Will Anderson and will likely go in the top-12.

At #14 — you could make a case for Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) or Michael Mayer (TE) based on talent — but neither position will be coveted by Seahawks fans. Perhaps if a Brian Bresee (DT) is available you roll the dice on his massive physical upside but it hasn’t led to great results on the field at Clemson. I think Jalen Carter (DT) is a bit overrated as a top-10 pick and could also be available.

If you wanted the freakiest cornerback pairing in football, Kelee Ringo (CB) playing across from Tariq Woolen would be interesting. He’s 6-2 and 215lbs and supposedly runs a 4.3. I have to admit — that would be something to witness. Yet Ringo hasn’t played that well this year — not even against Vanderbilt at the weekend in a blow-out. So there’s some projection with him (but I guess there was with Woolen too).

If the Seahawks needed a tackle I would mention Darnell Wright (RT) here. However, they have nailed that position down.

You can talk yourself into players but there’s a lot of potential and not a lot of college production among some of the names being touted as early picks.

Given the way the defense has played it would be very appealing to add high-upside talent to try and create a better unit. I do worry, however, about a team leaning on 32-year-old Geno Smith at quarterback and ending up being another Washington-type with some good defenders but an offense that’s constantly looking for ‘the guy’. Geno’s play has been a nice surprise but I hope it’s simply creating a more attractive bridge rather than being seen as a long-term answer.

That said — I do like investment in the trenches and at premium positions. For me Seattle’s biggest needs are clear — a long term answer at quarterback and creating a defensive line capable of doing more to impact games. They should set an aim of creating a terrifying defensive front.

There are some quarterbacks you could target later on but I would urge some caution for fans thinking there are loads of options beyond the top-10. I think the middle rounds are a fair range for players like Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Hendon Hooker if you want to take a punt there. Some teams will like Tanner McKee (I think he gives off Mike Glennon vibes) and I’m not sure there’s a lot to get excited about after that. BYU’s Jaren Hall has really fallen off recently, for example.

At picks #38 and #45 — this would be a good spot to consider adding someone like Christopher Smith (S). His range and playmaking quality would be a welcome replacement for Quandre Diggs.

I’m very intrigued by Clemson’s K.J. Henry (DE) and Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah (DE) also has a lot of appealing tape. I have both players with fringe first round grades.

I’d love to think the four centers would be an option — John Michael Schmitz, Joe Tippman, Ricky Stromberg and Olusegun Oluwatimi. I suspect they’re more likely to retain Austin Blythe or find someone similar.

Although taking another running back early will upset certain sections of Seattle’s fan base — I wouldn’t be upset at all if they were able to land a Zach Charbonnet or Chris Rodriguez in round three. Charbonnet’s quick feet, size and speed could push him into round two. Rodriguez is Marshawn-like in his ability to hammer defenders and create yards after contact.

Kentucky RB Chris Rodriguez was a beast against Mississippi State. Felt like he broke at least one tackle every time he touched the ball on his way to running for 197 yards on 31 carries and 2 TDs—including this game sealer. Tashawn Manning was also very impressive. pic.twitter.com/Hx2RjqTzmA

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) October 17, 2022

As I’ve said quite a lot already — it’s early days. There’s still so much that will shape this class — the rest of the college football season, the Senior Bowl, the combine. I’m watching anywhere between 8-12 games a week at the moment and still only scratching the surface of what this class is.

But I do think I’ve got a good feel for the first frame. There are good options in the first few picks. Then there’s a sheer drop.

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There are good centers in this draft

I don’t necessarily expect the Seahawks to draft one, mind. The Rams have a ‘type’ for their blocking scheme. It was Austin Blythe and now it’s Brian Allen. Smaller frame, wrestling background etc. It’s no surprise Seattle recently brought back Joey Hunt who also fits the bill.

The ‘plus’ version of Blythe and Allen was Tyler Linderbaum in the 2022 draft and the Ravens took him before Seattle had a chance to seriously consider him.

The centers in the 2023 class are bigger, more powerful blockers. I’ve not studied the Rams blocking scheme to any great extent so I can’t say why they favour this type of center. It could be adaptable. They might think the position is fungible.

I guess what I’m saying is I wouldn’t rule anything out — but my advice would be don’t get your hopes up too much as I/we spend some time talking about good centers in this class. My guess is they’re more likely to find ‘their guy’ later on who fits a profile — or simply retain Blythe. People won’t like that but they haven’t particularly shown any great desire to invest in a center.

As I’m starting to build my 2023 board, I’ve got four players with tentative second round grades.

Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz is an incredibly powerful, often brutal interior blocker who drives people off the line of scrimmage. He’s 6-4 and 320lbs but moves surprisingly well laterally. His hand placement appears to be extremely effective and he can drop the anchor when needed in pass protection. Watching him is a lot of fun and while he might have testing limitations and a lack of positional flexibility (he has played center exclusively in college) — he looks like a clear plug-in-and-play type. One note — he will be a 24-year-old rookie.

Wisconsin’s Joe Tippmann has similar size at 6-6 and 323lbs but he’s expected to test extremely well and that could easily promote him into the first round mix. Reportedly he runs a 1.65 10-yard split and a 4.31 short shuttle. He’s also incredibly strong — recording a 455lbs bench press and a 635lbs back-squat. Tippmann is another powerful, impressive blocker who locks onto his target and finishes. He’s not just a great athlete — his power is impressive and you’d expect an explosive testing performance. The only downside is his height and it means he loses the occasional leverage battle. But I like the way he initiates contact and then benches to extend and win blocks.

Arkansas’ Ricky Stromberg is another massive center with impressive athletic skills. He’s 6-4 and 320lbs but ran a 4.46 short shuttle at SPARQ at the same weight. His overall SPARQ score was a 103.86 which is remarkable for a man of his size. Funnily enough despite that great agility testing I think his footwork lets him down at times. He can be a bit flat-footed when engaged but in the running game he has some highly impressive reps. I like his hand placement and I think you can get him on the move to be creative to spring gaps.

Michigan’s Olusegun Oluwatimi might actually be the player I’ve enjoyed watching the most. He possibly lacks the top-level athleticism of the players above and therefore some of the same upside — yet his tape is the most consistent. It’s extremely hard to find bad reps. While he doesn’t necessarily wow you with explosive power or quick feet — he gets the job done. If you need him to pull and get on the outside, then lock on to someone in space — he’ll do it. If you need a couple of yards in the running game, he’ll smash his guy at the LOS and get you your two yards. Michigan has some creative run concepts and sometimes Oluwatimi has to snap then run to the edge and block the defensive end being giving a free run to the backfield.

He does everything well.

He’s 6-3 and 310lbs. In the NFL physical traits do matter and we need to see how he tests. Athletic limitations do get exposed at the next level when you’re not playing for the defending BIG-10 Champions against overmatched opponents, while being coached by a NFL Head Coach who has been to a Super Bowl. Yet everything I’ve watched from Oluwatimi makes me want him. I’m sure he’ll do a great job when one of the AFC North teams take him instead.

I’ve also got Ohio State’s Luke Wypler currently marked in round three, with Notre Dame’s Jarrett Patterson and Alex Forsyth of Oregon in round four. I still have more players to watch, too.

Again — I’m not sure the Seahawks are going to be in the center market in 2023. But the players are there.

Darnell Wright is the real deal

I’ve not really needed to talk about Tennessee’s right tackle so far because let’s be right — the Seahawks are not going to be in the market for one next year. However, Wright is such a fantastic player and is down as a fringe first rounder on my board.

He handled Will Anderson against Alabama. I don’t mean he did well against him. He dominated 1v1. There were multiple reps where he locked-on to Anderson, completely controlled him and took him out of the play.

On one snap he dumped Jah-Marien Latham on his backside. He passed defenders off with ease despite all of the stunts Alabama throw at opponents. He’d clearly done his homework and had an answer for everything. His feet are good for his size, he moves to get into position well, his hand-placement is very good and he finishes.

He’s a very different body type to Abraham Lucas who, by all accounts, had a left tackle body just with exclusive right tackle experience. They are different players but there’s an excitement level with Wright that deserves more attention. For me, he is far better than Paris Johnson Jr and Peter Skoronski — the two offensive tackles often mocked early in round one. I have Johnson Jr in round two and Skoronski as a guard convert.

I think it’d almost be a waste to take such a talented tackle and shift him to right guard but I’m also not saying I wouldn’t consider it for the Seahawks if they want to keep bolstering their O-line. He has the size and skills to make that an easy transition. Although I do think he’ll end up being a first round pick and I’m not sure that’d be the best use of resources — especially when this is a scheme that has been able to plug in later round tackle converts in LA.

TCU safety impresses again

The Seahawks made some big calls last off-season — trading Russell Wilson and cutting Bobby Wagner.

They need to do the same in the up-coming off-season.

Quandre Diggs is not playing anywhere near well enough to justify an $18.1m cap hit in 2023. So many people in the media and the fan base keep saying the Seahawks have loads to spend next year. They don’t. They’ve spent most of it already on players like Diggs. They have $32m in effective cap space and have only 33 contracted players next year — including zero quarterbacks.

They need to be spending their money in the right areas.

Designating Diggs as a post-June 1st cut will allow the Seahawks to spread the dead money out, paying $4.1m in 2023 and $4.1m in 2024. It’s a waste, obviously, but such is the ham-fisted way they’ve botched their cap situation over the last few years.

Nevertheless, they need that $14m to go elsewhere. Maybe even to Geno Smith.

They should then focus on drafting young, fast, dynamic players for the safety position. It’s just a shame they’re handcuffed to Jamal Adams for another year. Cutting him after June 1st would save you $11m in 2023 but would cost you $14m in 2024.

It’s not a blistering safety class but there’s some nice depth types later on (John Torchio, Larry Brooks, Hunter Reynolds) and there are two players I would circle to be drafted a bit earlier.

The first is Georgia’s Christopher Smith. He wears #29 — a nod to a certain somebody, no doubt — and he has the range, hitting and playmaking qualities Seattle needs in a young free safety. I think he’s a second round pick.

I’d then target Abraham Camara of TCU if he declares.

I love the way he plays the game. He’s not the biggest player or a traditional strong safety. He lines up a lot in the nickel, he lines up deep, he has some snaps outside or covering the slot. He’s a very versatile weapon.

However, the guy packs a tremendous punch. He is a big-time hitter. He leaves a mark and does provide a fear-factor.

He again flashed in the win against Oklahoma State. Camara had a touchdown saving tackle on the first defensive drive of the game. He had an absolute sledgehammer hit on the second drive which had the fans in the stadium gasping. There was another huge hit with 3:47 left in the third quarter. There was also one play where he had a brilliant read in coverage, flew to the ball-carrier and delivered a textbook tackle.

Camara is also a bundle of energy and emotion. He’s animated, he’s passionate. I think he’s a tone-setter. His grading in coverage is superb this season and he led the Big-12 in QBR when targeted in the first month of the season.

He gets around the field, makes plays and he can hit.

Ventrel Miller warrants attention

I’ve watched all of Florida’s games this season and every week he has stood out. When he missed a game through injury, it left a gaping hole in UF’s run defense.

Miller isn’t a brilliant athlete and given Seattle’s preference for great athletes at linebacker, it might put them off. However — I’ve seen enough from the linebackers this year to think maybe having someone who just gets the job done and can lead at a young age is something to desire.

In the loss to LSU he had a brilliant TFL — knifing into the backfield to hammer the running back. He showed speed and anticipation to read the opportunity and go for it.

Laterally he is going to have some issues. He is not a flying linebacker who’ll race sideline-to-sideline and string out plays. You don’t want him in coverage and you do want him playing downfield.

Yet there’s such an intensity to his play and he has been impactful this year with five TFL’s and five QB hurries.

He doesn’t get much support either. Florida’s defense is bad. After a difficult start to the third quarter, Miller stood up on the bench and was shown on the TV copy giving a passionate speech to the rest of the defense. According to the sideline reporter, it was such an emotive speech the crowd behind the bench gave Miller a standing ovation.

Just run a good short shuttle, Ventrel. I want to love you.

Mazi Smith is the best defensive tackle eligible for 2023

I’ve watched all of the big names now and Smith is the best. Week after week he is producing pressure, even if the sack numbers (0.5 in seven games) aren’t there. He is just so impressive.

He’s 6-3 and 326lbs and yet his movement and agility is top-notch. He swims away from blockers to penetrate, he can dart through gaps and create immediate pressure. When you need him to absorb double-teams he can to plug holes vs the run. Not every snap is a roaring success but it never is. Smith is a terrific player.

Given he is also reportedly capable of a 4.41 short shuttle, a 9-5 broad jump, a 6.95 three cone and he’ll do a ton of reps on the bench — he has everything required to be a top-15 (if not a top-10) pick. Especially in this class when the alternatives are so thin.

Is Smith going to be a game-wrecker? No. Is he the next Quinnen Williams? No. Can he pretty much fit into every scheme and provide rare athleticism, quickness and size at defensive tackle? Yes.

He should be the first defensive tackle drafted, based on what we’ve seen so far.

A quick word on Quinton Johnson

The TCU receiver has finally broken out after a slow start to the season. He looks terrific again — combining outstanding size, speed and general athleticism to impact games. Reportedly he can run a 4.4 and jump a 42-inch vertical.

The thing I want to note about him though — his body type reminds me so much of Richard Sherman. A slightly quicker version. But that’s what his frame looks like. He’s also a very good player who will go no later than the second round and could easily go in the first frame.

Alabama vs Tennessee

This was very much a contest between two big name quarterbacks but I want to start by talking about defense. In particular, Alabama’s inability to do anything well.

I can’t remember the last time a ‘Bama unit looked this inept. Especially in the secondary. They looked slow, pedestrian and incapable of impacting the game. They were consistently beaten on short and long range routes in the secondary and the pass rush was ineffective.

It was another disappointing showing from Will Anderson. He only had half a TFL in this game but that barely tells the story. As noted above — he consistently lost to right tackle Darnell Wright.

Let me be clear — Anderson is a very good player with a bright future. He is a lock to go in the top five, possibly the top three. His 2022 season probably warranted the Heisman — it’s a shame that award so often goes to the most productive quarterback. He could and should come into the NFL and provide an immediate presence off the edge.

Is he a game-wrecker though? That’s where I have my doubts. In a game like this you want to see him make an impact. Alabama’s secondary was struggling, they needed someone up front to step up and make a key play.

Like I said, Anderson will be a good player. Alabama’s struggles weren’t on him. But if he’s going to be a Bosa brother at the NFL level, or Myles Garrett, or Von Miller — you want to see him do more in a big game like this.

Onto the quarterbacks and Hendon Hooker will get most of the headlines because Tennessee won. I’ll talk about him in a moment but generally, I thought this was more of the same from Hooker. A continuation of what we’ve seen all year. Some good, some bad. But you have to credit the way he leads Tennessee.

I thought Bryce Young, though, was sensational.

This was Young at his creative best. Alabama trailed 21-7 after the first quarter and there was a feeling they had to keep up or this was going to get ugly. Young kept them alive and dragged them kicking and screaming into a three-point game.

Yes it helped having the brilliant Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield. He looks, incredibly, like an even better version of former Alabama and Tennessee runner Alvin Kamara. Yet Young himself threw for 455 yards, completed 35/52 passing and scored a couple of touchdowns.

His processing was practically perfect in this game. He consistently made the right decision — when to leave the pocket, when to let plays develop, when to try and create. There were no limitations despite his recent should injury as he threw with plenty of juice. He had a classic Russell Wilson-esque play on one snap — avoiding two tackles to evade pressure, keeping things alive for what felt like an age, then throwing to the end zone to draw a questionable DPI penalty to extend a drive on third down.

He had to work hard for his touchdowns, unlike Hooker who benefitted from some nice lay-up opportunities.

There’s just something naturally brilliant about Young. His feel, his instinct, his athletic qualities. His manner on the sideline is competitive yet measured. He looks like a player people will gravitate towards. He looks like the kind of player you want on your side when the game is on the line, or when you need someone to keep you in a contest after a bad start.

I do wish, however, we could just accept the fact that he is uniquely sized at about 5-10 and 185lbs and there’s nothing wrong with teams (or bloggers) having reservations about that. I can well imagine we’re going to have a lot of chest-beating comments on twitter about the ‘ridiculous’ NFL focusing on his size.

It’s very easy to feel that way when you’re merely commenting on the internet and not putting your job, reputation and an owner’s money on the line.

We’ve never seen anyone like Young before. For that reason, it’s easy to imagine him succeeding with his natural talent and ability. It’s also easy to imagine him struggling to handle the physical demands of the NFL or playing far less successfully without the benefits that come with being the Alabama quarterback.

Someone will take the chance on him working out. He could be a top-three pick. He could last well into the first. He has quite a broad range in terms of stock. And that’s OK. I like him and would be comfortable drafting him. I also embrace the risk factor of selecting a 5-10, 185lbs quarterback. But this game showed he has a magical quality to his game and this was a top performance.

Hooker deserves immense credit for the way he has played this year too. Tennessee has been a clown-show for years and they’ve finally returned to credibility. Hooker is a big part of that.

However, my thought that he’s probably a third or fourth round type with plus-backup potential hasn’t changed after watching this game.

Josh Heupel might look and sound like adult Bobby Hill is running a college football team but there’s no doubt he’s very good at his job. He has created an offense that is dynamic, well executed, attacks opponents and is capable of out-scoring anyone.

Hooker benefits from that but he also makes things tick with his skill-set. He is very good at throwing downfield which helps create those big shot-plays. He can execute when the play is there. The scheme doesn’t demand he run through progressions, read the defense at the LOS and adjust. When things are clicking and on-time — he’s adept at getting the job done.

However — he has almost a perfectly balanced ratio of great plays and ‘urgh’ plays. Even in this game.

For example, his first long touchdown was a beautifully placed pass in behind two flat-footed defenders. It’s not an overly challenging play to make — it was a quick play-action from the gun, one-read and throw downfield. Yet the velocity and timing was perfect. It was a very pretty touchdown. He’s had a fair few of those this year.

Off-setting this is the streaky nature of his intermediate throws and the massive inconsistency in his accuracy. He started off very well throwing over the middle with plenty of poise but things became muddled as the game went on.

He threw high on a short pass over the middle which was tipped into the air and nearly picked off. He had a wide open receiver with 12:44 left in third quarter after the defender fell over. Hooker somehow still overthrew him despite the ‘shooting fish in a barrel’ nature of the play. It should’ve been six.

He felt pressure with 3:15 left in the third quarter and threw a high, inaccurate pass that was intercepted. He was very fortunate not to throw what could’ve been a game-losing interception with just over three minutes to go. He delivered an underthrown pass, it was tipped and picked off then ran-back deep into Tennessee territory. Hooker was bailed out by a DPI in the end zone and the Vols scored on the next play.

Underthrown passes and throws that are just ‘off’ creep into his game too much. The gaudy numbers don’t indicate this but sadly, the tape does.

He also had a botched exchange leading to a fumble recovered for a touchdown.

Yet, again, you have to give him credit for the plays he did make and he had an incredible big-time throw at the end to set up the game-winning field goal.

I suspect teams will like him especially because he has good athleticism and the ability to move around, throw downfield and he is elevating his team with his play. Although my expectation is he won’t ultimately be a consistent NFL starter — it won’t be a shock either if someone falls for him, takes him early and it might even work out.

My guess is his pro-play might end up fluctuating just on a grander scale. In the NFL I could imagine a player capable of great quality but also highly frustrating moments. If I sound more negative than positive — let me stress I admire what he’s achieving and have enjoyed watching Tennessee this year. But I do want to be honest about his draft stock — which for me should be marked lower than the likes of Will Levis, C.J. Stroud and Young. And I don’t think he has the upside of Anthony Richardson — even though he is suffering plenty of growing pains at Florida.

Hooker benefitted from an incredible performance by receiver Jalen Hyatt. He had six receptions for 207 yards and five touchdowns. I’m looking forward to studying him closer but Alabama’s secondary was a hot mess.

Tyler Van Dyke is getting there

He still needs to transfer at the end of the season and go to Kentucky (or somewhere similar). But he had a good performance against Virginia Tech until Mario Cristobal started getting in the way again.

Miami came out and attacked the Hokies with their passing game. TVD took a wonderful downfield shot, he scored some pretty touchdowns and he was the focal point. It felt a lot like watching 2021 Van Dyke.

Yet having accumulated a handsome lead, Cristobal then reverted to type. Out came the ultra-conservative stuff again. They took their foot right off the gas and allowed Virginia Tech back into the game. They almost nicked it at the end.

TVD was forced to convert two huge 3rd and 8 players to seal the win — one with his arm and another as a runner. He flashed first round potential in this win.

I’m sorry though — Cristobal is awful. He seems obsessed with creating a certain type of team he simply doesn’t possess with Miami in year one. ‘We want to be physical’. ‘We want to run the ball’. “Let’s make every pass an extended hand-off’. Just put the ball in TVD’s hands and play up-tempo. The offense stinks when they don’t.

Van Dyke finished 29/46 passing for 351 yards and two scores with no turnovers. It’ll be interesting to see what he does at the end of the season.

Tanner McKee is…

Mike Glennon. That’s who he reminds me of. A lot of teams liked Glennon because he flashed a great arm to go with a slightly awkward, taller frame. McKee is very similar.

I thought he played well against Notre Dame and he continues to feature in an offense that doesn’t suit him. I think, like Glennon, he will have his admirers. I think he’ll go in the third round like Glennon did. And I think they’ll probably end up having similar careers.

Anthony Richardson makes magic happen

I know he’s inconsistent. I know sometimes he throws a 100mph fastball when touch is required. I know his touchdown/interception ratio sucks.

I also know there aren’t many quarterbacks capable of an 81-yard touchdown run and a 51-yard touchdown throw in the same game.

Richardson has superstar potential. He just needs time and development. It might never work out for him. He might always be a rough diamond. But what if it does work out? And wouldn’t you love to be the team who drafted him if it did?

Don’t be surprised if he does actually declare for the 2023 draft after all and goes a lot earlier than people think.

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This wasn’t exactly what you’d call a clean game from either team. But it was a game the Seahawks thoroughly deserved to win.

There were some really positive moments. Kenneth Walker showed he’s perfectly suited to take over the lead role in the backfield. The two rookie cornerbacks combined to force a turnover. Tariq Woolen also had an interception for the fourth straight game — the first time that’s happened since you-know-who. It’s so immeasurably joyful to see a Seattle cornerback producing picks again, especially a young stud like this. The defense created pressure for the first time in a while (recording six sacks) and generally had a better showing.

It was also a bit of a stumbling and bumbling game by both teams.

I’m a bit worried about Kyler Murray. Not Kyler the player, Kyler the person. He looks miserable. After Arizona’s first drive, the sideline reporter noted he was being consoled by Zach Ertz. This is not the player I remember at Oklahoma. He looks a shadow of his former self on the field in terms of play and demeanour and I hope he has people in that organisation making sure he’s OK. Sometimes it’s not all about money, as we saw with Andrew Luck.

Murray was able to make some big plays with his legs but as a passer he looked really bad. Each of Arizona’s fourth down attempts were lame, unconvincing and sloppy. Murray just looked lost, on each occasion.

Not that he’s given any help by Kliff Kingsbury. It’s astonishing, really, that he received a handsome contract extension. His scheming appears basic and inadequate. Without Nuk Hopkins to provide a cure-all, the basic route combinations are being exposed. This isn’t the Big-12.

Geno Smith also struggled a fair bit more than he has recently. Arizona’s defense is tricky because they bring so much pressure. The O-line struggled to handle such a creative front and that didn’t help Smith. In fairness to Geno, he still did enough to deserve to be on the winning side.

You could argue it could’ve been a blowout with a cleaner game from Seattle. Yet at the same time, Arizona had the three fourth-down SNAFU’s in scoring position. They also had the Murray fumble deep in Seattle territory. But this was all somewhat countered by Michael Dickson’s strange decision (the second in as many weeks) to hold onto a punt and give away a special teams touchdown.

Overall a bit of a slop-fest with a few highlights — good ones — from Seattle.

I want to believe the defense has turned a corner but the Cardinals and Murray struggled so much, I’m remaining sceptical for now.

What it does show, however, is the Seahawks are going to be very capable of grinding out games like this against poor opponents. And that there are also worse teams than Seattle that will fill out the high picks in the 2023 draft.

I don’t expect the Broncos to be so bad that they end up picking unexpectedly high, leaving both teams with a similar final record and potentially giving the Seahawks two picks in the teens.

I’m going to spend a bit of time digesting that thought over the next few days and what it means for the future. I still think the long-term process is the more interesting conversation than any potential achievements in 2022.

Given 2023 is shaping up to be a top-heavy draft, I do wonder what it means. The top young QB’s are drifting further away. The defensive playmakers many crave aren’t readily available. It’ll make for an interesting discussion, although I’m not sure the conclusions will be particularly appealing.

This is a guest article by Curtis Allen. After the game today tune into the instant reaction live stream which will be available on here and on our YouTube channel

The Cardinals playing the Seahawks always invokes a strange kind of apprehension in me.  

This series is kind of a Bizarro World adventure, with the road team coming out ahead more often than not.

In the last seven seasons, the Cardinals are 5-2 in Seattle.  Conversely, the Seahawks are 5-1-1 in Glendale.  So, nothing is as it seems, and it really feels strange knowing the Seahawks can beat the Cardinals but not in front of their home crowd.

Even knowing the Hawks play well in Glendale is cold comfort.  The myriad of tragic lows experienced in that stadium, from catastrophic injuries to beloved players, a franchise-shattering play in the Super Bowl, to watching what we were fairly certain was Russell Wilson’s last game in a Seahawks uniform, all add up to very strong ‘won the battle but lost the war’ feelings.

As always, the Cardinals’ timing is impeccable.  The Seahawks followed up a dazzling offense/poor defense win with a dazzling offense/poor defense loss and we are all perplexed about the future of this team. 

Losing games gets the Seahawks closer to the top of the draft in 2023 but losing this way is unacceptable.  We are forced into big-picture thinking by this defense and asking questions about how they could possibly be this bad?  A sideline spat between Quandre Diggs and Jordyn Brooks might be the first sign of life that somebody on the team has noticed how poorly they are playing. 

Looking forward to the next great quarterback coming to Seattle in 2023 is exciting but the quarterback they have right now is one of the best NFL comeback stories in ages and we are all thrilled to be witnessing it.

Here come the Cardinals, with their good defense, their Mighty Mouse-Hollywood Brown duo and their own set of internal dramas going.  

They have failed to rocket out of the gate this year like the typical Kliff Kingsbury teams have in the past.  Last week they had a bizarre fourth-quarter sequence that culminated in a missed field goal as time expired to lose to the Eagles.  

Their offense has a strong air of stale predictability to it.  This after an offseason where the three principals (Murray, Kingsbury and GM Steve Keim) all signed very healthy extensions.

Both teams are 2-3 and at this point in the season have far more questions than answers.

So really, that is the biggest watch point.  Who is going to control their drama most effectively on Sunday?

It will take an effort from the Seahawks equal to their Week One game against Denver – a level we have not seen since – to come away with a win this week.

I am deviating from my standard practice for watch points a little this week.  Instead of narrowly specific points to watch, with how loosely both teams are playing it is hard to really build much of a narrative to follow.  This week’s points will be more of a collection of stream-of-consciousness thoughts that will likely factor into the game, if all these oddball x-factor things like questionable penalties, broken-tackle busted plays and odd coaching decisions do not get in the way.

Some Notes on the Offense vs Arizona’s Defense

The Cardinals come into this game with a very middling defense statistically so far this season.  However – since the 44-point drubbing they suffered at the hands of the Chiefs in Week One, they have been effective.

They are only allowing 19.75 points per game and 310 yards per game in their last four games – both are good figures considering they have played the Raiders, Rams, Panthers and Eagles.

With the way the Seahawks’ defense is playing, 20 points from the offense is not going to win this game.  They will have to find a way to score more than those four teams.

The good news is this offense matches up very nicely with the Cardinal defense.  There are several areas the Seahawks should be able to make some hay in this game.

The first advantage comes in the opening quarter.  Seattle is the #2 offense in the NFL in first quarter scoring, coming out hot with 8.2 points over the first five games.  Arizona’s defense?  The very last-place team in the NFL in the first quarter, allowing 7.6 points.  Not unlike last week, the Seahawks need to come out of the gate and take control of the scoreboard early on.  That can only help their defense.

One way they can do that is to keep using their tight ends liberally.  Why?  It is another Cardinal weak spot on defense the team is well-placed to exploit.  They are second-worst in the NFL in defending tight ends (who is the worst?  Don’t ask…ugh).  Every week so far this season they have given up an average of 6.4 catches for 78 yards and .4 touchdowns.  

The Seahawks?  Their tight ends on offense are averaging 6.6-71.4-1.  An average day for this offense should be easily achievable.  Do not be surprised if they surpass it easily, and we are talking about the trio’s excellent day as a nice game recap point.

One interesting battle to watch will be how Geno Smith and Shane Waldron handle Arizona’s blitzing.  Once again mad scientist Vance Joseph is sending extra rushers as often as anyone in the NFL, sending blitzers on an incredible 41.7% of plays.

Are they getting home?  No.  They only have recorded six sacks, good for the last place in the NFL.

But you need to look at pressure not just sacks right?  Sure.  They are middling at best, only getting pressure 23% of the time, good for 16^th in the NFL.

Geno might be licking his chops.  When he has been blitzed this year, he is returning a 118 passer rating, 31% of his passes gain first downs and he has only been sacked twice.  Nor has he thrown an interception.

It should be noted that he has yet to face a team that is blitzing that heavily.  His numbers may not quite be that good Sunday, particularly with Joseph cooking up all kinds of exotic pre-snap looks and sending corners and safeties from all over the place.

Some Notes on the Defense vs the Arizona Offense

As usual, this is where the real challenge lies for this team.  Is there a chance this defense could stop mimicking pre-2022 Geno Smith and start mimicking 2022 Geno Smith?  Yes, sure.  But just like with Smith, we will need to see it – and see it for stretches – for us to believe it is really happening.

Here are some things Arizona does on offense that the Seahawks could work with on defense…

They are the worst first quarter scoring team in the NFL.  They have zero first quarter points in five games.  Zero.  No touchdowns, no field goals.  So, while the Seahawk offense is one of the best, the Cardinals take a whole quarter to get on track.  Here is hoping that continues this week.  A professionally embarrassed defense should come out of the gate raring to prove their competence and build some momentum, and opportunities to do that do not come any more gift-wrapped than this sputtering first quarter group.

I mentioned how they are predictable on offense.  In the past, they have started the season very well, taking teams by storm.  Yet, when the league starts to figure out what they are doing, they adjust and the Cardinals do not or cannot and the wheels start to fall off in the second half of the season.

This season so far though, they are 2-3 and have not played very well on offense.  Why not?  One of the reasons can be found in the patterns they have locked themselves into.

Let me illustrate with a quick chart on their pre-snap play setup and their post-snap choices.  You will clearly see that they have taken the variation out of their offense:

 

There are a few things going on here we need to work through.

First off, it is amazing how they have taken any of the guesswork out of their post-snap action this year, as you can see from the bottom portion of the chart.  They are only making token attempts to deceive the defense before revealing their true intentions.  By not needing to discern what is going on, defenders (particularly linebackers) are free to pin their ears back and straight up handle their assignments.

The top part of the chart is very interesting to me as well.  The Cardinals have always needed to work in shotgun a ton.  That is simply a function of Murray being short and needing the depth to read the field and work his scramble magic with his feet.  They have a small package of plays for when he lines up under center.

This year they have squeezed the margin even narrower though.  Murray sets up under center a miniscule 11% of the time, but when he does, 72% of the time the play is a run.  They are telegraphing their intentions more than they ever have.

The interior defensive line can take a key from that and know they do not need to penetrate way up field and rush the passer, but to clog the middle.  Kyler loves to take the snap in shotgun and just hand it to his running back and let him find a gap.  That is one downside of the shotgun.  The runner does not get a head of steam.  He must get the ball flat-footed and read the gaps.  If there is not a clear gap to run at, he has no momentum to just lower his head and push the pile forward for a yard or two.

The other element is their play choices.  Watching their first five games on offense, I cannot tell you how many times I witnessed these five offensive plays over and over and over again:

• The running back screen
• A seam route by Zach Ertz with a ‘sit down in the zone’ option
• A one-on-one hitch or go-ball route counting on the WR to win his matchup
• A wide receiver screen because the corner has come off the WR and the defense is protecting the deep pass with a two-high look
• The Kyler Murray scramble to give his receivers time

True, those are five very different plays that attack different areas of the field.

However, it feels like the predictability of those plays can be used to your advantage if you have a plan in place, the personnel to make it work and a fired-up belief that you can have success.

First off – defending screen plays successfully is pure desire.  The first defender to the screen must know if he can knife through and get the runner, great.  But most of the time, his job is to occupy the lead blocker and shuttle the runner back to the middle of the field where help is coming from.  Secondly, the linebackers and defensive backs are important but the defensive linemen are critical in defending the screen.  They need to recognize the signs of a screen quickly (the OL releasing them for a free shot at the quarterback), read the flow and run down those backside lanes the runner will get to.

Watching the Eagles defend the screen against the Cardinals was a thing of beauty.  Fletcher Cox came steaming in and hit the runner with a lick more than once.  Poona Ford and Bryan Mone have both demonstrated downfield hustle in recent seasons.  They will be badly needed to accomplish that Sunday against the Cardinals, who have traditionally been one of the most screen-heavy teams in the NFL.

What else?  Kyler also has shown me something this year — if he has ‘his guy’ (usually Hollywood) one on one with the corner tight on him in a single-high safety deployed, he will frequently abandon the set pass play with its needed progressions and target him.  Conversely, if the corner is off his man, Kyler will just dump it to the receiver and let him get some YAC.  

Particularly if the receiver is lined up on his favorite side – the left side.

I think the Seahawks have two ways to successfully defend this:

— The Seahawks can occasionally dictate to Kyler what they want him to do with their presnap look.  Show him one look and then quickly adjust before the snap.  At worst you disrupt his processing.  At best he throws for a loss or an interception.

— Tariq Woolen can have a whale of a game Sunday.  He will get Hollywood Brown or A.J. Green a lot.  With his length and toughness, he can disrupt the receiver at the line of scrimmage and get a hand on the ball when Kyler throws it his way.  He may even be able to bait Kyler into throwing at him and pick another pass off.

Zach Ertz is a problem.  As you have probably figured out, the Seahawks are the worst team in the NFL in defending tight ends.  They will have to find a way to disrupt him.  Altering his routes is a real task, and that will likely fall on Ryan Neal or Josh Jones.  If they can re-route him though, Kyler’s safety valve will have a difficult day and that will force the offense out to the edges of the field where the sideline is an ally.

Kyler Murray’s in-pocket game is becoming increasingly based on rhythm.  His average pocket time so far this year before a throw or a scramble is 2.2 seconds, easily the lowest of his career.  The average depth of his throws is four yards, again easily the lowest of his career.

He is relying so much more on his screen game and his singularly talented receivers to win battles for him.  Gone are the days where he is either running the ball himself or scrambling around in the backfield playing schoolyard ball on 40-50% of plays.

If the Seahawks can play with him a bit, jam and otherwise re-route his receivers, they can force him to think on his feet and make some very poor decisions.

Here’s what I’m watching this week in college football:

Alabama vs Tennessee
Miami vs Virginia Tech
Arkansas vs BYU
Oklahoma State vs TCU
LSU vs Florida
Stanford vs Notre Dame
Clemson vs Florida State

British TV isn’t showing as many games this week so I’m relying on ESPN Player but will try and get through all of these by Monday.

It’s believed Will Levis and Bryce Young will both return this weekend.

Rather than do a full quarterback breakdown this week — I want to recommend watching a player on TCU’s defense.

I’m really enamoured by junior safety Abraham Camara.

He wears #14 and you’ll notice him for his hitting. He is an outstanding hitter when he connects. He plays with great anticipation, he’s extremely quick and he flies to the ball. He is a toner-setter who is very passionate on the field — you see him react to big plays and he packs a real punch with a good size/speed combo.

When Camara has to drop in coverage he shows off a great back-pedal. His range is good for a hitting safety. I watched TCU vs Kansas and he had a brilliant PBU on a fourth down.

In the first month of the season he was second in the Big-12 for forced incompletion percentage:

1. Malik Dunlap (TTU), 35%
2. Abraham Camara (TCU), 29%
3. D’Shawn Jamison (UT), 27%
T-4. Korie Black (OKST), 25%
T-4. Ekow Boye-Doe (KSU), 25%

And he led the conference in QBR when throwing his way:

1. Abraham Camara (TCU), 18.8
2. D’Shawn Jamison (UT), 35.1
T-3. Josh Hayes (KSU), 39.6
T-3. Tayvonn Kyle (ISU), 39.6
5. Kalon Gervin (KU), 55.1

There is a big negative. He doesn’t wrap-up his tackles well enough. There are moments where he dives head or shoulder first and doesn’t connect. I’ve seen a couple of bad whiffs. But the hits are so bone-crunching and his athletic traits so appealing — I’d roll the dice to work on the finer details of his tackling.

If you get a chance to watch TCU today check him out.

I’m also particularly interested to watch K.J. Henry at Clemson again — a pass rusher who deserves far more attention. I want to watch Tennessee receiver Cedric Tillman against Alabama. He gashed them for a 70-yard run last season so I want to see if he can have another impact today. (Edit — Tillman is out injured). I’m looking forward to watching Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller again.

Plus, of course, I’ll be watching all of the big name quarterbacks as usual.

This is a guest article by Curtis Allen…

Record: 2-3

Thoughts

What a rollercoaster. There has been some dazzling, unexpected successes and some equally infuriating difficulties. It is too easy to focus on one to the exclusion of the other. Let’s try to strike a bit of a balance with an objective look at what the first quarter has shown us.

MVP

1. Geno Smith

Easiest choice on the whole report card. Geno has been a revelation so far and far exceeded expectations with his play.

A 75% completion rate, a 9/2 TD/Int ratio, only nine sacks and a QB rating of 113.2 only hint at the breakout we have witnessed from him so far.

It is the decisiveness. The use of the tight ends. The movement in the pocket to buy time and then running when out of time. The fact that he is not afraid to throw downfield and give his wide receivers a chance to make a play on the ball.

All these things are propelling the offense in the way it has been designed to do.

A large chunk of this play I personally only saw the slightest of glimpses and hints of when I attended three training camp days and the mock game. I thought in a fair competition, that Drew Lock had more potential to elevate the offense. Geno has proved that wrong on every level and I am thrilled to say that I was wrong.

2.Tyler Lockett

Imagine if I told you the day after Russell Wilson was traded that Tyler Lockett would explode out of the gate and be on track for career highs in targets (136), catches (108), yards (1380) and first downs (61) after the first five games?

That is exactly what he is doing.

Lockett has found another level to ascend to — it doesn’t matter who is throwing, if the quarterback can get him the ball, he will make plays. The legendary Wilson-Lockett mind meld connection that was severed with the trade this spring has not affected Lockett’s production one little bit.

When you look at the Seahawks’ roster up and down from a salary cap perspective, you see many players that are not earning their salary. Lockett is one of the highest paid Seahawks in the locker room and is earning every penny and then some so far.

He had a fumble on a punt return but that is so infrequent and out of character for him it is hard to hold that against him (unlike Metcalf, who is still having ball security issues). And in a way, when he makes a mistake, it so jarring it highlights how efficient and safe he is as a player.

3.Tariq Woolen

This is not a sentimental choice, giving him extra consideration as a fifth-round rookie with a dazzling skillset that somehow made the team and has started all five games.

No one player on the defensive side of the ball has done more from his area of responsibility to change the outcome of games than Woolen (with all due respect to Al Woods).

Let us count the ways…

Three interceptions. None of them are of the cheap variety. One of them he returned for a touchdown.

Four passes defensed. Allowing a very low completion percentage when targeted.

A fumble recovery. Blocking a field goal that got returned for a touchdown by Michael Jackson.

The Seahawks have struck gold here.

Honorable Mention: Will Dissly

14 catches in 15 targets, three touchdowns (he needs just one more to tie his career high), five first downs, great run blocking and a 71.6 PFF score. This is the Will Dissly the Seahawks have so sorely needed the last three seasons.

Rookie of the Quarter

1a.Tariq Woolen

See above. His impact has been definite and immediate for the Seahawks. Nobody – including Pete Carroll – could have seen this coming. He was already a steal in the fifth round for his measurables alone.

He has demonstrated that he is so much more than a scouting profile though – he has ‘put all the tools in the box’ by translating those measurables into fantastic play the field. That blinding 4.26 speed has shown up in game situations, whether it be closing the gap on receivers to make plays on the ball or chasing down breakaway runners. He has also demonstrated a fantastic under-the-radar quality — he is hard-nosed and physical with receivers and backs in the running game.

The crucible of the offseason camps and constantly lining up across varied skillsets at the wide receiver position has revealed a whole new depth to his game. He is poised, has above average technique (in the Saints game he executed a jam on the receiver so perfect the referees flagged him for holding) and thanks to his work in practice against behemoths like D.K. Metcalf and speedy mighty mites like Marquise Goodwin, he has a strong well of experience against different types of receivers to draw from.

1b.Abe Lucas

Outline for me the absolute best-case scenario you could envision for Lucas this spring. Now tell me he has not done everything you could have possibly imagined.

Thanks to the early identification by Rob, we have all had a chance to track his progress since last fall.

He looked great at the Senior Bowl, then blew the combine up with a performance that got puzzlingly little response from the scouting community. He slipped in the draft while the Seahawks addressed other gaping needs. The Seahawks then ran the card to the podium in the third round, while all SDB popped champagne corks.

He had a great camp and won the starting right tackle job. He mauled people in the run game and was technically proficient in the passing game in preseason.

And when the lights came on, they were not too bright for him. He has taken on all comers and not only put up a performance that stands with the best rookies in the NFL but the best right tackles in the NFL period.

One of the biggest signs of respect came in Week Two. The Niners defense was not getting much push from Nick Bosa lined up over Lucas, so they moved him inside to work in the interior and Bosa immediately caused trouble there.

One game and change into Lucas’ first NFL season.

At this pace a Pro Bowl selection is not too far out of his reach.

3.Boye Mafe

Mafe had a couple dazzling plays in the preseason. In comparison to the two rookies above him, he has not had a massive impact in the regular season so far.

That does not mean his performance so far should not be acknowledged. On a team with incredible challenges on defense he has a sack, 11 solo tackles and a 62.1 PFF rating in only 37% of the snaps so far this season.

He has been name-checked by Pete Carroll several times as a candidate for more snaps as other players have been banged up. More snaps are not always proportionate to more production as a player but Mafe has earned every chance to show us whether that is true for him or not.

Honorable Mentions-Charles Cross, Coby Bryant, Ken Walker

First off, Isn’t it great we have so many rookies playing, and playing well, that we have to have three honorable mentions?

Cross has stepped into the starting Left Tackle spot and has not given anyone pause to think that was a mistake. He has adapted to the NFL well in both the passing and run game. His technique challenges are evident and he has taken a couple of badly timed penalties to kill key offensive plays. The foundation is there though.

Bryant has not surprisingly struggled to adapt to being a nickel corner. His ball-skills are evident however with two forced fumbles. Along with Woolen, the Seahawks now have corners who can create turnovers, something sorely lacking in recent years.

Walker had two runs this quarter that gave fans just a taste of what he is capable of. With Penny’s injury, he is no longer a supplemental weapon. He is the main attraction now. How he handles being the focus will be very intriguing to watch.

Successes

1.Explosive Plays on Offense

The offensive fireworks have not been limited to just a few players. Everyone is contributing. Besides the star players, Travis Homer, Colby Parkinson, Deejay Dallas, and Noah Fant have explosive plays. Even Geno Smith has three explosive runs for crying out loud.

The only key offensive player who does not have an explosive play yet is Dee Eskridge and we know that is just a matter of time.

In fact, the long gainers have come so frequently, the defense is having trouble catching their breath before going back out on the field. This offense is not plodding along in any way.

2.Beating Denver

That home opener against the Broncos was a game set by the football gods. Everyone knew what was at stake and the flood of emotions that would surround that game. ESPN even moved off their traditional double-header Monday Night Football season opener in order to feature this particular game.

It was a buildup of years of pent-up emotions on all sides. This game had polarized everyone and was appointment watching.

The crowd was rocking. The defense had two key takeaways. Geno Smith came to play and managed to do enough to win.

Russell Wilson found out that for one game, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence.

It was a pure expression of what Seattle Seahawks football has been like in the past decade. Exhilarating, infuriating and incredible.

3.The Rookies

Where would the Seahawks be right now if they did not have this rookie class?

The foundation for this team is materializing right in front of our eyes. Players are getting critical snaps and opportunities, whereas in the past rookies were either injured badly or held back for seemingly ages while do-nothing veteran players occupied their precious development snaps.

Tariq Woolen, Abe Lucas, Ken Walker, Boye Mafe and Charles Cross look like foundation stones that will get second contracts with the Seahawks. Maybe a third.

Coby Bryant has undeniable skills. It will be fascinating to see if the Seahawks intend to keep him at nickel or move him back to his natural spot at outside corner.

The Seahawks knocked this draft out of the park. How sweet it will be watching this class grow up together.

Honorable Mention: Uchenna Nwosu, the Tight Ends

In a sea of defensive confusion and chaos, Nwosu has proven to be an excellent free agent signing by the Seahawks. He seems to have taken to a very critical role in the 3-4 defense extremely nicely. He has two sacks, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble, seven quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and that all adds up to a 73.8 PFF rating.

The only concern is he is playing 80% of the snaps. The Seahawks will need to walk that back in order to keep him fresh for 17 games.

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

Last year the tight ends had 99 targets, 39 first downs and five touchdowns.

This year they are on pace for 132 targets, 55 first downs and 14 touchdowns.

The cost/benefit for the group is finally swinging out of the red and into the green. Hallelujah.

Struggles

1.Defense: Discipline

For every explosive play the offense gains, the defense gives one up.

For every sustained drive the offense gets, the defense gets flagged while stopping a team on third down and the drive is extended.

Tackling is a trip to the zoo. Gaps are wide open.

Veterans are not carrying the newer and younger players. Quite the opposite.

It has gotten to the point where the teams are running plays the Seahawks have seen several times and they still cannot stop them.

Every fundamental area on the defense has been lacking. Lining up correctly. Knowing where the gaps are and who is responsible for them. Making sure key offensive weapons are accounted for.

The worst thing might be, we don’t know if anybody cares.

Quandre Diggs has openly spoken about their issues but backed up his words with listless, unmotivated play in recent games. Al Woods has earned the freeness of speech to be forthright with the press but nobody in the locker room seems to be responding.

Pete Carroll and Clint Hurtt have yet to give us a concrete answer about the challenges they are having, other than to stick to bland generalities about ‘working hard’ and ‘it will happen’. Or put another way, the same things we have heard in previous seasons about defensive problems. When you hear flat excuses for three seasons running, they just ring hollow.

This is unacceptable effort and execution for even high school football. For a professional football franchise led by a head coach with a lifetime of defensive experience, it is inexcusable.

2.Defense: Too Many Key Players Not Making Key Plays

Even for all the scheme, coaching and mistakes challenges everyone is having, you would think at least one player of this group would occasionally just have a singular play where their talent and instincts overcome it all.

Jamal Adams lasted 15 snaps before getting hurt. He did manage to take another throw off his facemask when the Seahawks desperately needed a turnover.

Quandre Diggs has yet to make a game-changing play this season. An interception, a guided-missile type hit that fires the defense up or a pass breakup that only he can make.

Darrell Taylor – his 6.5 sacks last year felt like a huge redemption after a lost rookie season. The light came on and fans finally breathed a sigh of relief that they might have a young pass rusher to build around. This year? He appears to have been swallowed up by a new scheme, more snaps and more assignments in the run game. In the first quarter last year, he was literally saving the Seahawks points on defense with key sacks. This year you have to squint your eyes at the television to find his #52 on the field.

Jordyn Brooks has yet to record a single tackle for loss this season and unbelievably has gotten worse in pass coverage (conceding a whopping 15 yards per target, a touchdown and a 139 QB rating).

Shelby Harris has no sacks and only 1 tackle for a loss.

There are millions of cap dollars and several high draft picks invested in this group. The Seahawks are getting almost nothing in return.

3.Defense: The Totality of this Group

They are the second-worst scoring defense in the NFL. Detroit is last by an eyelash.

They are currently the worst run defense in the NFL.

There are currently only 3 teams with less sacks than the eight they have logged so far. Two of those eight sacks have come from blitzers (Cody Barton and Coby Bryant).

Last spring, when Pete Carroll told the press “We have been arrogant on defense”, fired Ken Norton Jr and released the underachieving Bobby Wagner. We all breathed a big sigh of relief.

Finally, the moves to right this ship were being made.

If we only knew.

The defensive collapse has been just a big a shock as the offensive surge.

Next Quarter Games

Arizona
@LA Chargers
NY Giants
@ Arizona

Goals

1.Fix The Defense

Something. Anything. Give us something to believe in.

With the way the offense is playing, we do not need the defense to be a top-10 unit. Just middle of the pack.

Start slowly and build.

Have the guys knowing their assignments one week. Minimize the penalties the second. Work on creating some pass rush the third. And so on.

2.Keep the Running Game Afloat

Rashaad Penny is out. It’s Ken Walker’s gig now.

A critical ingredient of keeping offensive balance has been affected. It is a huge step in the right direction that Walker came into the game in relief of Penny and busted off a 69-yard run. Teams have that on tape. And now they know they cannot afford to ignore the running game with Penny out.

That does not mean ‘business as usual,’ running out the exact same package of plays for Walker that you otherwise would have for Penny.

You do not need to ram him up the middle so much. Back off that a little and get Walker in space. Let him stretch his legs a little and fire up some of that electricity to get defenders wary of him. And then hit them with some of those inside zone runs.

Spread the load out. Get Deejay Dallas some plays. Design some package plays for Dee Eskridge.

Maybe even Dareke Young should get in on the action a little. Word was he could become a scout-team Deebo Samuel type player. Why not work a little of that into the offense?

The team is in a very precarious position at this moment. With the defense so poor, the offense cannot afford to falter even a little, lest the game get totally out of hand.

This might be like tuning a Formula One racing car. Slowly make a small tweak and see how it performs. Then make another. And another.

Shane Waldron and the staff will need to keep progressing in their game planning and calls.

3.Keep Incorporating the Young Talent

Justin Coleman is close to coming back. What does that mean for Coby Bryant? Can they try him out at the outside cornerback spot?

Phil Haynes has started to take snaps from Gabe Jackson. Let’s see that continue.

Alton Robinson and Tre Brown should be back off Injured Reserve this quarter.

They badly need Robinson to work into the rotation. They have Mafe, Taylor, Nwosu and whatever veteran who they can get off the street playing those two spots.

Dee Eskridge must get more involved in this offense. It is easy to look at the top two wide receivers and the tight end group flourishing and shrug at Eskridge. He should be the x-factor, the ingredient teams just cannot account for because Lockett and Metcalf have the defensive backs occupied and the tight ends have the linebackers spoken for.

On top of my usual quarterback scouting, I’ve been pouring over tape looking for any draft-eligible non-quarterbacks who catch the eye. Today I wanted to highlight a few names before going into my QB notes.

It is really, really hard to find legit first round prospects for 2023 but I do think there are players likely to be available on day two or three who can develop into key contributors at the next level.

I’ll produce a horizontal board soon, listing where I think certain players deserve to be graded. It’s very early, so things can still change.

Christopher Smith (S, Georgia)
A productive senior with five interceptions since the start of last season, Smith is an impressive player with starting potential at the next level. He absolutely flies to the ball with superb closing burst and a downfield, attacking mentality. You see him shift from deep coverage to the LOS in no time, shooting to the ball-carrier. He has terrific range on the back-end and can cover ground quickly to reach the sideline to support a cornerback or break on the ball. He has that ‘eraser’ style where he can give the quarterback a look where he feels confident he was a 1v1 on the outside — then he has the speed to react, run and play the ball. He’s generally in the right spot when he needs to be and his play recognition is top-notch. His stock will depend on how well he tests but he’s a very interesting free safety prospect who appears destined to be a starter in the NFL. Right now a second day grade appears reasonable.

Drew Sanders (LB, Arkansas)
This was a fun tape to watch. Sanders is basically a poor-man’s Micah Parsons. He carries a classic linebacker mentality and has punishing hits on tape, has shown he can work through traffic and flow to the ball-carrier and he looks fast and at ease in the Arkansas defense. He splits his time between traditional middle linebacker and edge rusher. Despite not having typical length for the role, you see plenty of quickness and agility. He can bend off the edge, straighten to the QB and he’s very effective as a situational rusher. Sanders also has a great get-off and that works off the edge. He also does a reasonable job to blitz the A-gap. That’s why I think there’s a bit of Parsons to his game. He can be a combo-linebacker who acts as a plus-rusher in certain situations. Parsons was a freakish athlete and Sanders won’t test anywhere near his level — but there’s still plenty to work with. So far in 2022 he has 6.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL’s four QB hurries, two forced fumbles and two PBU’s. So the production is incredible. He ran a 4.65 forty at SPARQ, jumped a 35 inch vertical and ran a 4.31 short shuttle. Sanders also diagnoses plays expertly. There’s clear evidence of him noticing a quick throw to the outside and then right off the snap, rushing straight to the ball-carrier. He’s rarely in the wrong position and does a good job competing along the front seven. He appears to have an old-school mentality with a modern-day profile. I do worry, however, if you try to make him a traditional linebacker whether he’ll be wasted. The team drafting him has to be creative. He transferred from Alabama and has a year of eligibility remaining so he might not declare. Depending on testing, he could be a top-50 type.

Nick Figueroa (DE, USC)
I was really surprised by Figueroa. He won’t be a high pick but he plays with an athleticism and intensity — combined with his size — that would make me want to take a shot at the next level. He’s big and physical, playing with a great motor. He has shown the ability to bend off the edge and straighten to the QB which is impressive given his frame. He has NFL size and he’s just a very active rusher — always moving, always churning the legs. Tackles never get a breather when he’s lining up against them. He plays to the whistle too. Figueroa has powerful hands and can jolt blockers backwards. He’s also a very capable bull-rusher and can drive his blocker inside to create stunt opportunities off the edge. He needs to finish better to get those sack numbers up but for me he’s a player who could be an intriguing project who plays his best football in the NFL.

Tuli Tuipulotu (DE, USC)
Sticking with USC, one of the hardest projections I’ve come across this year is Tuipulotu. Hailed by everyone as the heart and soul of the Trojans’ defense, there’s no denying he’s effective. In a down year for pass rushing in college football he leads the nation with seven sacks. He also has 12.5 TFL’s. I just can’t work out what he is. Tuipulotu is listed at 6-4 and 290lbs but he looks squatty to me — like he’s probably a little bit shorter and maybe doesn’t have great length. That would limit his ability to play defensive end in a 3-4 and he might have to kick inside. It’s not always easy to tell though — bring on the off-season measurements. His tape is a mix of highs and lows. There are plenty of plays where he gets flushed out and even pushed around a bit. Then there are plays where he wins through sheer effort to work to the quarterback and he’s shown an ability to make tackles miss with agility and quickness to bend the arc. His effort is good and I just wonder if he’s someone who could come in and provide a better fit in Seattle’s new scheme at DE and while he might be a bit hit and miss, he’ll flash enough to make an impact.

K.J. Henry (DE, Clemson)
Of all Clemson’s big name defenders, Henry is the one who has impressed me the most this year. He’s an electric edge rusher — so quick and sudden. He can bend brilliantly to round tackles. His initial burst and quickness puts blockers on the back-foot immediately. As an outside linebacker prospect, he has shown the ability to drop in coverage. Henry has always had massive potential as a former five-star recruit but it’s taken a long time for it to shine through. His stat line (one sack, 4.5 TFL’s) isn’t impressive either — yet on tape he just shows up time and time again. He’s more impressive than Myles Murphy for me. According to people in the know, he’s also the emotional leader of Clemson’s defensive unit. He’s more potential than proven production and his NFL future will require some projection. That said, for me he’s firmly in the second round conversation and if he can get those production numbers up and have a great Senior Bowl, he could even sneak into round one.

Mazi Smith (DT, Michigan)
It’s not often you get a fun-factor from watching a 326lbs nose tackle but Smith is quite the watch. You wouldn’t be able to guess his size watching tape because he has a quickness to his game that is unnatural. He also has a terrific swim move and he can create consistent penetration into the backfield even if the sack numbers (only half a sack so far) aren’t there. He also absorbs plenty of double-teams and while he can get pushed back at times (and certainly isn’t the great wall that Jarran Reed was at Alabama) he also has the ability to plant an anchor. He’s a very active player — not a game-wrecker but potentially a plus starter. He was top of Bruce Feldman’s ‘freaks list’ for 2022 and can reportedly jump a 33 inch vertical and a 9-5 broad jump. He’s been clocked running a 4.41 short shuttle and a 6.95 three cone. If he repeats those times at the combine, he will likely be a first round pick.

Jake Bobo (WR, UCLA)
Bobo is likely to be a day three pick depending on how he tests but my advice would be to find a way to get him. He’s 6-5, 215lbs and just such a fluid route runner. He is so precise with his movement, his subtle change-of-direction deceives cornerbacks and he understands how and where to settle down in zone to provide an outlet. Bobo consistently catches the ball away from his body with great technique. He’s an ideal safety valve who can be a third down conversion machine. He also has the size to be a red zone dynamo. He’s shown evidence of quickness and the ability to make people miss — even if his movements are a little bit rigid and certainly I wouldn’t expect amazing agility testing. Another thing he has are long vines for arms that help him high-point the ball to win 1v1’s. Is he quick enough for Seattle, given their need for speed? I don’t care. I think he’ll be a player who is consistent and productive as a third option. UCLA’s triplets of Bobo, Zach Charbonnet and Dorian Thompson-Robinson are all going to provide great value in the draft.

Zay Flowers (WR, Boston College)
Now this was an exciting watch. Flowers’ change of direction is absolutely incredible. It’s like watching a formula one car darting in and out of a chicane. He’s just so sudden and flashes electrifying cuts and the ability to break and create easy separation. With the ball in his hands he’s also creative and very capable of making multiple defenders miss. He’s a joy to watch. He’s also competitive with the ball in the air despite his diminutive size (5-10, 172lbs). He has special qualities. His ability to go through the gears and change direction is unique, I can’t recall seeing anything like this before. He should secure a day two grade with the potential to go higher.

Jaelyn Duncan (T/G, Maryland)
He’s playing left tackle for the Terrapins but he bends at the waist, doesn’t have natural knee flexion to drop and sit and he looks like a player who would benefit from kicking inside. Against Purdue at the weekend he was beat badly off the edge by an impressive sophomore pass rusher. You do see snaps where the feet and hands don’t work together. However, when he gets into position well — he’s athletic enough to stick once he locks-on. His kick-slide is very good and with his size he’s difficult to manoeuvre. Put him at left guard and let him come off the ball and drive at people. Use his athleticism to pull at guard and get up into space at the second level, rather than asking him to mirror elite speed off the edge. I’m not sure we’ll see Seattle’s O-line at its best until they have converted tackles at guard like the Rams use. For me Duncan looks like a day two option.

Ventrell Miller (LB, Florida)
Miller has really impressed me so far this season. I’m not sure he’s going to blow anyone away with his testing (he was a former three-star recruit) but his play has been consistent, effective and he holds Florida’s defense together. He’s also a warrior. He broke his foot against Kentucky and missed the USF game — a contest where Florida’s defense was consistently gashed in the running game (giving up 286 rushing yards). He’s taken pain-killing injections ever since, padded up and things have improved greatly. The Seahawks have repeatedly sought great athletes at linebacker and have focused on speed, agility testing and explosive traits as a priority. Miller isn’t going to run particularly fast or jump high. He might not have the athleticism to be effective at the next level. But what he does is fill gaps, run to ball carriers, play his heart out, do his job and the Seahawks need a lot more of that on defense.

Quarterback notes

Let’s be realistic about Hendon Hooker

He got a lot of publicity over the weekend after a win against a transitioning, bad LSU. His performance was a mixed bag and some issues (inconsistent accuracy, propensity to miss easy throws while also providing highlight moments) showed up again.

He started the game feeling his way into things with some WR screens. With LSU playing a sloppy first quarter, the Vols didn’t have to exert too much energy to race to a 13-0 lead.

Then with 14:45 left in the first half, he threw a wonderful pass for a long touchdown. It was a beautiful throw, one of the prettiest of the season so far, to the left corner of the end zone. He lobbed it from the 50-yard line with precision and ideal touch and velocity to get in behind two LSU defensive backs and allow the receiver to run right under it. It was a fantastic play and a strong indication of what he’s capable of.

But then there were the issues that haven’t really been discussed this week amid all of the hype.

He didn’t recognise a blitz with 9:51 remaining in the first half, was absolutely hammered sitting in the pocket and fumbled. Tennessee were fortunate a running back reacted quickest to retrieve the ball.

On his next series Hooker then threw two wayward, inaccurate WR screens for incompletions that should be bread and butter throws. He then missed over the middle on 3rd and 10.

In the next series he missed again on another throw down the seam, forcing Tennessee to resort to the WR screens again to try and re-establish some rhythm. Yet the struggles continued. He had a wide open receiver by the left sideline, double-clutched, then threw late and high and missed his target badly. On 2nd and 10 with 15 seconds in the first half remaining, his receiver settled down at the marker needed to get a field goal. I paused the screen and the nearest defender is 10 yards away. All Hooker has to do is throw softly in the general area of his wide open target. Instead he throws badly behind and it’s incomplete. It’s a horrendous throw.

He made amends on his next pass and they got their field goal —- but you can see where I’m coming from with these inaccurate passes.

Hooker started the second half with a nice QB draw for a big gain, then followed up with a touchdown pass on a slant after the covering LSU defender fell over.

He then had an awful fumble deep in his own half on another QB draw where he was loose with the football. Again, the Vols were tremendously lucky that one of their players recovered it. On 3rd and 11, he threw into thick coverage and was fortunate the pass was knocked away rather than picked off.

Overall nothing about this performance changed by opinion of Hooker. LSU were disgustingly poor and he made some good plays, one great play and also had some ugly moments. I still think he’s a player to be drafted in the third or fourth round range to develop and possibly use as a plus backup, rather than someone I’d expect to start in the NFL. He faces Alabama next which should be interesting.

Same old, same old from C.J. Stroud

Statistically people will think Stroud had a major performance against Michigan State. He finished 21/26 for 361 yards and six touchdowns (plus one interception). Yet the same positives and negatives showed up yet again against MSU and their horror show of a defense.

On the positive side — he had a sensational third and long throw downfield, launching off his back-foot and off-platform with no balance, dropping it beautifully into a bucket for an inch-perfect, incredible throw that leaves your jaw dropped. It’s just sensational touch and accuracy.

He also had a couple of really well executed back-shoulder throws for touchdowns to the front corner of the end zone. He seems to like those.

On the negative side — you continue to see the intermediate accuracy issues. He had a horrible miscommunication on his second series leading to a pick-six. Most of the touchdowns were easy against a useless defense.

It’s impossible to deny Stroud’s talent and potential. He can make magic happen. There’s also so much he has to learn and he has to complement the spectacular with the basics. He needs to do the little things well and learn how to properly read coverages, manage an offense, make adjustments and execute with greater consistency — all without the supporting cast he has at Ohio State.

He will go early because of the talent but he’s far harder to project than Will Levis and for that reason, probably ends up being the second quarterback taken.

Anthony Richardson shows off his potential again

Florida’s quarterback again flashed insane physical talent in the win against Missouri. He had a huge run on 4th and 2 to set up a crucial touchdown. He also had an outstanding thrown on the run for a touchdown.

That said, he also stuttered in the first half and had another interception later on (although I think it was a little bit unlucky this time).

I just can’t get out of my head that if Richardson gets time and is developed properly, he could be a superstar. I don’t know if he’ll declare this year but he might be Seattle’s best bet for someone they can realistically get to — then redshirt — and feel good about the long-term investment and upside.

If Levis is destined to be the top pick and if Stroud joins him in the top-three — you’re going to find it hard to move up. Re-signing Geno Smith and selecting Richardson wouldn’t be a bad plan and could set the team up for the long term at the most important position.

BYU’s Jaren Hall sees slump continue

He started the Notre Dame game with an interception on the first snap. Hall feels the pressure and for some reason the ball just comes out fluttering. A total duck and an easy interception.

With 13:04 left in the first half he stared down his receiver to the right hand side, throws an inaccurate pass behind the intended target and it’s a dropped interception that would’ve been a pick six. Awful.

He then takes a horrendous safety in his own end zone. He needed to get rid of the ball and do something other than just stand there waiting to get hit.

Hall finished the first half with eight passing yards.

His first two touchdowns were easy — a red zone conversion to a wide open receiver and a blown coverage.

He had a cice throw to Kody Epps late in the game over the middle — showing good anticipation and placement. He also suffered from a couple of drops that should’ve had DPI flags before each receiver was given a chance to fail to make the catch.

Generally speaking though he was just off for most of the night. Even on a wide open pass in the third quarter, he somehow managed to throw behind his target. In the last two outings Hall has looked nothing like the player who started the season so well. Next he faces Arkansas. He needs a big game there because his stock is slipping.

Tyler Van Dyke has a bounce-back game

Watching the Miami vs North Carolina game made me quite angry. What Mario Cristobal has done to TVD — even in a productive performance — is staggering. He is a shadow of the player we saw at the end of last season.

I say that even after he went 42/57 for 496 yards and three touchdowns. He started really jittery — as we’ve seen a few times. His timing and accuracy was off, he looked nervous. Last season he looked like the man — he came out throwing, dominated opponents and exuded confidence. Cristobal has made him a quivering wreck.

Thankfully he snapped out of it just enough for some of the old magic to return. Some of the typical seam throws and mid-range passes he’s so good at started to connect with accuracy and touch.

He had an amazing touchdown under pressure right before half-time. With a defensive tackle draped all over him, clinging to his leg, he had the strength and wherewithal to somehow get a throw off and find a receiver in the end zone. A magical, creative play.

TVD was virtually flawless on third downs all night and his third touchdown was nicely thrown with lots of flight. He drove the ball into tight windows and he looked a bit more like the 2021 version.

That said — to me it would still be best for him to transfer at the end of the season and go somewhere better in 2023. My shout is still Kentucky to replace Will Levis. Van Dyke has the talent and the ability — but he’s playing in a horrible, conservative offense for a coach who is developing a reputation for making good QB’s underperform.

They’ve also lost three games in a row.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson delivers again

For all the talk about Hendon Hooker and Michael Penix Jr — DTR doesn’t get anywhere near the same attention. Why?

He is playing brilliantly and leading UCLA to an undefeated run stretching into last season.

This was another top performance against Utah. He looks in complete control of the offense. He’s throwing accurately and on time. His arm strength is good and allows him to make plays around the field. When he needs to make a play with his legs he can. He’s showing to be a fantastic point guard.

The only blotch on his copy-book was a late pick-six which was poorly thrown. I have no idea why they were throwing anyway — there were seconds left and the game was won. Run the ball, run down the clock. What were they doing?

Even so — he finished 18/23 for 299 yards and four touchdowns with a QBR of 94.9. He also ran a touchdown in from short range. I also liked his fire on the sideline in this game. He’s leading this team superbly.

I think he’s brilliant and well worth considering in the middle rounds.

I don’t have a problem with drafting a couple of quarterbacks in 2023 — a high pick and a later pick. I’d even be open to adding Taulia Tagovailoa as an UDFA too. It’s a deep class and you might as well take a few shots to find the eventual successor to Geno Smith.

Speaking of Smith, if you missed this earlier, check it out…

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