Positive moves, Quandre Diggs & a three round mock

Sean Desai is joining the Seahawks

There’s a lot to get into today. So here we go…

Seahawks coaching moves feel like a step in the right direction

Having expressed concern about what happened with Ed Donatell on Wednesday, I said I would reassess when appointments were actually announced.

The news today that Sean Desai is joining the Seahawks as ‘Associate Head Coach for Defense’ is extremely welcome.

Yes, the original plan of three Vic Fangio protégé’s working together (Desai, Donatell and Clint Hurtt) was preferred. I do think losing Donatell’s experience is a disappointment. He could’ve acted as a nice bridge between his friend Pete Carroll and the younger members of the staff.

Nevertheless, he received a better offer. There’s not a great deal the Seahawks could’ve done about it.

Desai was highly regarded in Chicago and has coordinator experience. He has no connection to Carroll and isn’t being brought in to make tea and pick the music for training camp.

Presumably this is a sign of Carroll actively seeking out new voices. New talent. Bringing a fresh, outside presence to a staff that had become very familiar to the Head Coach.

It’s a continuation of a year ago when Carroll went outside of his comfort zone to appoint Shane Waldron. And while the jury’s still out on Waldron, it showed a willingness to try something different. The Seahawks were trying to find young and progressive.

I have no idea whether Desai will be a good appointment. I don’t know whether Clint Hurtt will be an adequate defensive coordinator. Karl Scott, who’s also said to be joining — is a relative unknown with only a year of experience in the NFL.

This isn’t really the point though. Short of just going out and landing Fangio himself, this feels like an acceptable alternative. You can buy into the thought process and be prepared to give it a shot. As with Waldron, it creates some intrigue and anticipation.

When they appointed Brian Schottenheimer and Ken Norton Jr in 2018, there was none of that.

Now, I’m fascinated to see how this plays out. I want to discover whether any of this trio can work their way into potential Head Coaching spots in the future. I’m eager to see what kind of defensive plan they put together. I am a little bit concerned that it could be a case of ‘too many cooks’.

Fans just want to feel like their team is making moves they can get behind. I think this is a positive first step this off-season.

The success of Seattle’s defense, though, will be down to the additions they make in free agency and the draft. This is a good start — now they need to deliver in terms of improving their personnel.

There was also news today that Mike Solari has been ‘fired’. This was surprising, given it’s happened weeks after the end of the regular season.

I’m not convinced this is a ‘firing’ as reported. Rather a change of direction.

Solari improved elements of Seattle’s O-line (admittedly it wasn’t starting from a strong position) and the Seahawks didn’t exactly ‘go big’ financially in the trenches during his tenure.

He was asked to make the most of a collection of mostly journeymen and younger players. I don’t think we can describe Solari as having done a bad job, even if the results were mixed.

Promoting run-game coordinator Andy Dickerson to O-line coach feels like a greater commitment to Waldron and his way of doing things.

Dickerson came to Seattle with Waldron. It stands to reason that the offensive coordinator would have a blocking scheme and an O-line coach working to techniques best suited to what he wants to do.

Solari’s approach feels very different to what they do in LA. The Seahawks have added bigger bodies. Hulking linemen.

The Rams have a 6-2, 300lbs center and a 6-4, 307lbs guard. Their tackles are admittedly massive — yet the interior linemen have a different skill-set.

This feels like a further display of passing responsibility on to Waldron. Again, that would suggest Carroll is willing to cede a little bit of power and control, in order to commit to the coach he brought in to run his offense.

Anything that helps the Seahawks get closer to what the Rams do on offense is a positive to me. And with their center Brian Allen — who graded at 80.2 per PFF in 2021 — a free agent this off-season — it might time to steal a little bit more from the NFC Champions.

Quandre Diggs has a lot to say

Diggs spoke to Ben Baller this week and unloaded with some honest criticism of the Seahawks.

Here are the notes of what he said:

— Pete has final say on the defense
— He feels there were too many people involved in the defensive decision making
— They didn’t get calls in on-time during the season
— He suggests the ‘cover-3’ system Carroll uses has gone stale
— Pete knows he needs to do something different (aka — he needs to)
— They don’t have good enough players on defense
— Clint Hurtt is a great coach and has the respect of the defense
— He says ‘everyone’ needs to be on the same page (implying they weren’t)
— ‘We need to let our rushers rush and let our pass defenders handle the pass’
— ‘We were lacking accountability last year’

To be honest, I never expected to hear what he had to say. But this speaks to a team that sounds like a shambles behind the scenes.

And to be fair, that’s what a lot of us have been sensing watching this team.

Schematics, leadership, organisation — it all sounds off. This isn’t a random blogger speaking or some talking head on the TV. This is Quandre Diggs. Calling out the system, a lack of accountability, the way the play-calling operated and the lack of talent on defense.

Firstly — this doesn’t sound like a player who’s going back to Seattle.

Secondly — this should worry any fan. Because the status quo remains. And none of what is said here is indicative of a team on the cusp of challenging.

We have to hope that Diggs said all of this to Carroll — and perhaps other people have done the same — with changes on the cards. As mentioned above, I think the coaching hires are positive. It speaks to a willingness to change.

Yet clearly, they desperately need to change.

They also need to make it clear things are changing. Diggs was just at the Pro Bowl. You better believe he talks to friends in the league (he seems to have many) and will be relaying these concerns — perhaps in even stronger terms.

If the Seahawks intend to try and recruit players to play for them, rather than opening the chequebook — good luck if this is what they’re hearing about Seattle.

It’s also possibly another sign of why Russell Wilson continues to keep his options open. How bad is this thing behind the scenes? The on-field performance has hinted at a mess of a situation for some time. Here’s a respected player basically laying it all out. No holding back.

To me it speaks to why this team should’ve fired Carroll and gone in a completely different direction. Now we just need to hope that change is coming — and that it’ll be effective change.

This was a concerning listen.

And the fact he specifically said there were too many people offering input isn’t a great sign for a defensive staff made up of multiple new voices.

The challenge now is to have a far better off-season than the last few years — with a more organised, structured and effective defensive plan, executed properly, combined with a more aggressive free agency and a good draft.

Three round mock draft

I wrote this before the coaching news and the Diggs interview — so thought I’d publish it anyway in list form with some notes on Seattle’s picks at the end.

Round 1

1. Jacksonville — Aidan Hutchinson (DE, Michigan)
2. Detroit — Kayvon Thibodeaux (DE, Oregon)
3. Houston — Evan Neal (G, Alabama)
4. New York Jets — David Ojabo (DE, Michigan)
5. New York Giants — Derek Stingley Jr (CB, LSU)
6. Carolina — Charles Cross (T, Mississippi State)
7. New York Giants — Trevor Penning (T, Northern Iowa)
8. Atlanta — Kyle Hamilton (S, Notre Dame)
9. Denver — Jermaine Johnson (DE, Florida State)
10. New York Jets — Treylon Burks (WR, Arkansas)
11. Washington — Abraham Lucas (T, Washington State)
12. Minnesota — Sauce Gardner (CB, Cincinnati)
13. Cleveland — Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia)
14. Baltimore — Kyler Gordon (CB, Washington)
15. Philadelphia — Trent McDuffie (CB, Washington)
16. Philadelphia — George Karlaftis (DE, Purdue)
17. LA Chargers — Boye Mafe (DE, Minnesota)
18. New Orleans — Garrett Wilson (WR, Ohio State)
19. Philadelphia — Daxton Hill (S, Michigan)
20. Pittsburgh — Tyler Linderbaum (C, Iowa)
21. New England — Chris Olave (WR, Ohio State)
22. Las Vegas — Devonte Wyatt (DT, Georgia)
23. Arizona — Tariq Woolen (CB, UTSA)
24. Dallas — Bernhard Raimann (T, Central Michigan)
25 Buffalo — Ikem Ekonwu (G, NC State)
26 Tennessee — Trey McBride (TE, Colorado State)
27 Tampa Bay — Arnold Ebiketie (DE, Penn State)
28 Green Bay — Jameson Williams (WR, Alabama)
29 Miami — Quay Walker (LB, Georgia)
30 Kansas City — Drake London (WR, USC)
31 Cincinnati — Jalen Wydermyer (TE, Texas A&M)
32 Detroit — Devin Lloyd (LB, Utah)

Round 2

33 Jacksonville — Greg Dulcich (TE, UCLA)
34 Detroit — John Metchie (WR, Alabama)
35 New York Jets — Jeremy Ruckert (TE, Ohio State)
36 New York Giants — Zion Johnson (G, Boston College)
37 Houston — Myjai Sanders (DE, Cincinnati)
38 New York Jets — Nakobe Dean (LB, Georgia)
39 Chicago — Logan Hall (DT, Houston)
40 Denver — Channing Tindall (LB, Georgia)
41 Seattle — Perrion Winfrey (DT, Oklahoma)
42 Washington — Kenny Pickett (QB, Pittsburgh)
43 Atlanta — Travon Walker (DE, Georgia)
44 Cleveland — Brian Asamoah (LB, Oklahoma)
45 Baltimore — Lewis Cine (S, Georgia)
46 Minnesota — Chad Muma (LB, Wyoming)
47 Indianapolis — Rasheed Walker (T, Penn State)
48 LA Chargers — DeMarvin Leal (DE/DT, Texas A&M)
49 New Orleans — Matt Corral (QB, Ole Miss)
50 Miami — Dameon Pierce (RB, Florida)
51 Philadelphia — Damone Clark (LB, LSU)
52 Pittsburgh — Malik Willis (QB, Liberty)
53 Las Vegas — Jalen Tolbert (WR, South Alabama)
54 New England — Kerby Joseph (S, Illinois)
55 Arizona — Kaiir Elam (CB, Florida)
56 Dallas — Kingsley Enagbare (DE, South Carolina)
57 Buffalo — Travis Jones (DT, Connecticut)
58 Atlanta — David Bell (WR, Purdue)
59 Green Bay — Drake Jackson (DE, USC)
60 Tampa Bay — Kenneth Walker (RB, Michigan State)
61 San Francisco — Andrew Booth (CB, Clemson)
62 Kansas City — Jaquan Brisker (S, Penn State)
63 Cincinnati — Sam Williams (DE, Ole Miss)
64 Denver — Troy Andersen (LB, Montana State)

Round 3

65 Jacksonville — Nicholes Petit-Frere (T, Ohio State)
66 Detroit — Phidarian Mathis (DT, Alabama)
67 New York Giants — Jake Ferguson (TE, Wisconsin)
68 Houston — Cameron Thomas (DE, San Diego State)
69 New York Jets — Jahan Dotson (WR, Penn State)
70 Jacksonville — Roger McCreary (CB, Auburn)
71 Chicago — Sean Rhyan (G, UCLA)
72 Seattle — Montaric Brown (CB, Arkansas)
73 Washington — Christian Harris (LB, Alabama)
74 Atlanta — Brian Robinson (RB, Alabama)
75 Denver — Desmond Ridder (QB, Cincinnati)
76 Baltimore — Kenyon Green (G, Texas A&M)
77 Minnesota — John Ridgeway (DT, Arkansas)
78 Cleveland — Cade Otton (TE, Washington)
79 LA Chargers — Isaiah Likely (TE, Coastal Carolina)
80 Houston — Darrian Beavers (LB, Cincinnati)
81 New York Giants — DeAngelo Malone (LB, Western Kentucky)
82 Indianapolis — Nick Cross (S, Maryland)
83 Philadelphia — Bryan Cook (S, Cincinnati)
84 Pittsburgh — Zach Tom (T, Wake Forest)
85 New England — Cam Taylor-Britt (CB, Nebraska)
86 Las Vegas — Wan’Dale Robinson (WR, Kentucky)
87 Arizona — Tyrion Davis-Price (RB, LSU)
88 Dallas — Haskell Garrett (DT, Ohio State)
89 Buffalo — Akayleb Evans (CB, Missouri)
90 Tennessee — Kyle Phillips (WR, UCLA)
91 Tampa Bay — Cole Strange (C, Chattanooga)
92 Green Bay — Jelani Woods (TE, Virginia)
93 San Francisco — Jalen Pitre (S, Baylor)
94 Kansas City — Max Mitchell (T, Louisiana)
95 Cincinnati — Obbina Eze (T, TCU)
96 Denver — Zach Carter (DE, Florida)
97 Detroit — Tyreke Smith (DE, Ohio State)
98 Cleveland — Sam Howell (QB, North Carolina)
99 Baltimore — Nik Bonitto (LB, Oklahoma)
100 New Orleans — Breece Hall (RB, Iowa State)
101 Miami — Isaiah Spiller (RB, Texas A&M)
102 Kansas City — Calvin Austin (WR, Memphis)
103 LA Rams — David Anenih (DE, Houston)

Notes on Seattle’s two picks

Perrion Winfrey starred at the Senior Bowl and played with an attitude and intensity that won’t have gone unnoticed. The Seahawks have needed an interior pass rusher for a long time and that’s what Winfrey can do. He’s 6-4 and 303lbs with incredible 35.5 inch arms and a wingspan of nearly 86 inches. If he tests well at the combine, he’ll be right up Seattle’s street.

The Seahawks have tended to go for experience on the O-line and youth on defense. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them add a veteran center and right tackle, while retaining Duane Brown, then using the draft to address the pass rush.

Why does Winfrey last to #41? Consistency. His tape is a mix between first rounder and late rounder. He was an ill-fit in Oklahoma — mixing between nose tackle and sideways slasher. He needs to bully the man in front of him and shoot gaps. In the same way Chris Jones lasted to pick #37 due to concerns around his consistency — Winfrey could also last a bit. If he does — he could be Seattle’s top choice. They need someone with his fire on the D-line. I think they should shoot for greatness with their top choice.

Their second pick is a blog favourite — Arkansas cornerback Montaric Brown. He stood out to me on tape and could be an ideal fit for Seattle’s defense. He’s tight in coverage and competitive. He has reasonable size and good length — he’s lean and looks the part. He had five interceptions in 2021 — tied for second most in the nation.

I like the way he tracks the ball in the air, he has good recovery skills, he’s physical and he mirrors well covering routes. I think he’s one of the most underrated players in the class and he could be a good option in the middle rounds.

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164 Comments

  1. cha

    Secondly — this should worry any fan. Because the status quo remains. And none of what is said here is indicative of a team on the cusp of challenging.

    We have to hope that Diggs said all of this to Carroll — and perhaps other people have done the same — with changes on the cards. As mentioned above, I think the coaching hires are positive. It speaks to a willingness to change.

    Yet clearly, they desperately need to change.

    In 2021 the offense ran 954 plays. The least amount of offensive plays in the NFL. Dead last.

    The defense? 1201 plays. The most defensive plays in the NFL. Dead last.

    The defense ran 247 – or roughly four whole games’ worth – more plays than the offense did.

    Blame Russell Wilson. Blame a rotten defensive line. Blame injuries to the running backs.

    Call it whatever you like.

    At the end of the day though, it’s coaching, pure and simple.

    If those two stats aren’t a massive cry for change I don’t know what is.

    • Simo

      These stats are staggering, and not many defenses would be successful being on the field for that many more plays than their offense. This was not a new problem this past year though, but finally it appears they are trying to do something about it.

      The stats also speak to the problems on offense, converting on third down and sustaining drives. But that’s a topic for another discussion.

      We’ll see if the changes made are enough!

      • Peter

        All of cha’s points are connected.

        Wilson needs to be better on third down. The run game needs to exist before december. And the dline needs to stop letting teams convert.

        Hopefuly this is the start to solving part of the equation.

        • pdway

          “Wilson needs to be better on third down. The run game needs to exist before december. And the dline needs to stop letting teams convert.”

          Not sure I could more succinctly put the changes needed to take us from out of the playoffs, to back into the mix in the NFC.

    • Elmer

      I’m not as clear on the Mike Solari firing and replacement. Is it that the OL philosophy and personnel are not a good match for what Waldron wants to do with the offense? Or does it have more to do with pass protection, keeping Wilson happy? It’s asking a lot to have an OL that excels in pass protection and also excels in creating holes for Penney to run through.

    • Nano

      This is the most depressing stat of all time.

  2. rick earp

    love your work rob i think you should be in seattles front office as head of draft and vp of seahawks operations in football

    • Rob Staton

      I’m thinking regional scout for the Caribbean islands

      • Peter

        I keep telling the Front office there’s tons of potential in St. Kitts and the BVI.

        They keep telling me, “what are you talking about,” and “how did you even get into the offices.”

      • Big Mike

        🌴

      • James Z

        Sounds like a great gig. A 6 figure income seems about right. Imagine sailing between scoutings, snorkeling, scuba, lifting weights on the beach, and other nice things on the beach if you have eyes to see, seafood galore, etc. And off-shore banking right at your fingertips!

      • Palatypus

        Short flight to the Senior Bowl from the Caribbean. You could even take a cruise ship into Mobile.

  3. Dominic

    Great to finally have firmly potentially (ha!) good news to analyze from you Rob. Unfortunately losing Quande Diggs seems inevitable.

  4. Ashish

    Rob, the word “Positive” in your headline was very refreshing. We all hope hawks takes positive steps and improve as a team and compete.

  5. Mick

    Very nice read Rob. After Diggs’ interview, we should think whether we draft or sign a safety. I like DT and CB with the first two picks, especially with not so great options left for OL at #41.

    • Peter

      Sign a safety. I like Diggs a ton but he’s going to find at least one team to give him a good chunk of cash.

    • AlaskaHawk

      The Seahawks screwed up when they gave the big money to Adams. Diggs complained about his own pay but had to sit there and take a slap on his face over his abilities. Now they Seahawks have lost two safeties. Good planning Pete.

  6. 805Hawk

    That interview is a great listen. He’s definitely critical, but also praises Russ and calls Ryan Clark’s take on Wilson completely false and ridiculous. He did say how Pete’s energy is amazing for his age and he doesn’t see him slowing down. Highly recommend listening to this one yourself.

    • Roy Batty

      And that is the most damning thing about Diggs interview.

      He is a great locker room presence and a real team player. So, to hear that kind of an athlete speak that freely of the mess this defense is in is just breathtaking. Unless they were to shower him with a truly lucrative contract (and they won’t), he is gone. At 29 yrs old, he knows this is his last big contract and best chance to join a possible winner.

  7. Peter

    Great stuff as usual sir.

    Perrion Winfrey over Travis Jones for seattle? Is it the big school vs. Little school thing or is there something else I am missing?

    Just me but I’m a little hesitant on players that lack consistency. I get Seattle likes a big swing.

    Just listened to Ron Rivera with Mike Florio. Early guess? Washington makes a big swing on Wilson. Mentioned looking at all possibilities and spoke in depth about how good it was for both sides with the stafford trade. Mentioned new culture, winning, and moving on from the recent bad news out there. Plus Wilson will look sharp in the new throwback varsity jackets for the commanders.

    • Rob Staton

      Jones is certainly an option too. Very impressive.

      Until we’ve had the combine it’s impossible to get too deep into the why’s and why not’s

      If Winfrey tests well he probably won’t be there at #41. If Jones tests well and he is, that’s a nice alternative

      • Peter

        I like Winfrey very much btw. Love to see a player like him on the line.

        • Seattle Person

          I think teams are going to view Winfrey more of a 3-down DT and Travis Jones more of a 2-down DT.

          • Peter

            That’s probably fair. My only concern with winfrey is consistency.

  8. HawkfaninMT

    — ‘We need to let our rushers rush and let our pass defenders handle the pass’

    This bullet point seems to be a direct shot at JA and his usage along with the fantastic game plan of dropping pass rushers into coverage. Were these Ken Norton Jr calls, or PC calls? Hopefully the new set of cooks in the kitchen can remedy this.

    While I agree that Diggs most likely moving is unfortunate, it potentially signals a shift in the focus of spending from the safety position to ??? (hopefully the trenches)

    • Sea Mode

      I listened to it and IMO it was purely about the DL dropping into coverage instead of rushing.

      Adams was praised and described by Diggs as one of his dawgs that plays with the same killer mentality as him.

      • UkAlex6674

        Adams and Diggs go waaaaaay back. Diggs would no way take shots at Adams.

        • Sea Mode

          Apparently because of what they gave up to get him and then doubled down by paying him means he is an amazing player and sacred cow that nobody can criticize at all. It might hurt his feelings.

          Sad.

          • AlaskaHawk

            But you can’t just rush the passer as the other quarterbacks know how to throw quick passes for yardage. Look at Joe Burrows getting sacked multiple times, it stopped him for awhile, but ultimately he passed over those rushers and won the game.

  9. Scot04

    Still love Diggs Tweet after the Seahawks let Jaran Reed go.
    “WTF” He then commented on how important it is to get pressure with your front 4.
    Love how outspoken he is, and wish the Adams trade never happened so we could keep him.
    He fits what you want in a Seahawk safety.

    • MychestisBeastmode

      He will be a great DB coach someday. All about respect for others, for the game, and it’s history .

    • Hawk Mock

      Much rather have Reed and Diggs and no Adams than Adams and no Diggs or Reed.

    • Big Mike

      “wish the Adams trade never happened so we could keep him”

      Ditto Scot. The wrong Safety will be a Seahawk in ’22.

      • Rob Staton

        Bloody peacock

        • Palatypus

          Thanks to you I think of that jackass every time I use the Peacock App (NBC) to watch the winter Olympics.

          I’m very sad for my girl Mikaela Shiffrin,, but very happy for Lindsey Jacobellis

      • Ashish

        For some fans its such a huge glaring mistake and for others he is super star.

  10. KennyBadger

    Chequebook. Fantastique.

    I don’t want or think Russell is going anywhere and obviously Pete isn’t. This team needs an impressive offseason for sure, but quandre’s comments are very concerning. Add all the good players you want, but leadership man…

  11. Sea Mode

    I think it’s fairly obvious there is an attempted PR push by Pete to hype up this hire as a big deal and get by him with the way Rapoport has reported it both in his announcement tweet and on air.

    https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1492263854822338561

    He’s young, the great job he did with “good not great talent”, how Pete “made a hard sell” and “tried extremely hard to recruit him” and finally got it done, etc.

    Makes me suspect he’s trying to make it as obvious as possible to Jody. Perhaps she asked for something in that meeting after all. Fix the defense? Cede some control/get some new voices in the room? Start lining up younger possible successors to pass on the torch to when he retires…?

  12. Happy Hawk

    Love Rob’s mocks – puts it out there. Not like any other mock for a reason. Thanks Rob! Just some observations:

    * You have 4 TE’s coming off the board in the first 35 picks – that has to be a record if it happens – very deep TE class!

    * Zero QB’s selected before our pick at #41. That also has to be a record. I wonder if that bodes well for the Hawks and teams will want to jump up to their pick to select their QB of the future. Hope that the Hawks aren’t having to pick a QB there at #41.

    * Q Walker went before the Georgia trio of Dean, Tindall, and T Walker. Wasn’t suspecting that but if they Hawks can possibly get any one of those 4 Georgia Defensive players at #41 – wonderful!

    Thanks again Rob – great work!

    *

    • Seattle Person

      Rob’s mock is based on talent. It’s how the draft should look like based on talent more over needs. I appreciate that because it separates who is overrated and who is underrated.

  13. Peter

    A small bit of this piece jumps out at me after further review.

    Going after Brian Allen. I wonder how much the ex rams coaches would value an aquisition to help with line adjustments and processing their scheme? Seems like it would be a great idea. Anything to shore up pieces before the draft for me.

  14. Timothy Burch

    Encouraging hiring of Desai. Donatell will always remind me of the McNabb to Freddie Mitchell 4th and 26. Also I appreciate Solari and his efforts but was not a fit for Waldron and his offense. These coaching changes have me encouraged. Pete doing some self scouting and making the necessary adjustments. Let your coordinators do their jobs. Be the motivator of men, what goes unsaid as dysfunctional as 2021 was I didn’t see a team ever give up and not play with effort. We can certainly blame Pete for the lack of talent. Hopefully we see more good decisions in free agency and draft picks. Just make the sound choices not the out of left field trying to be smarter than everyone else choices. DIggs kudos for telling it like it is. Going to miss ya. He definitely out the door knows he getting paid elsewhere. As he should.

  15. V

    UTSA CB Tariq Woolen shared with me his meetings with the Bills, Colts, Seahawks, Falcons, and Cowboys have stood out during the pre-draft process.

    One of the most physically gifted athletes in the class, Woolen was a standout at the Senior Bowl.

    https://twitter.com/_RyanFowler_/status/1492252262453895176?s=20&t=-tmkBMTOIU2dcguUx1eLWA

    • Peter

      Reason 1million to have that first round pick. Trade down for a two for one and get Woolen and two good players in the second round.

    • Sea Mode

      He’s gonna light up the Combine too

    • Palatypus

      I wasn’t watching the cornerbacks much but he did catch my eye. Were you there at practice?

  16. BobbyK

    The Diggs interview is telling. We’ve speculated on some things that have been true. You can’t get a more credible source than a starting Pro Bowl FS on your defense saying how it is. The only thing I can think of on the flip side is Diggs being mad that herpes made so much more than him, when he is the better player.

    With some new voices coming in – I think a lot more new faces should be coming in on defense, too. A big change.

    Draft mostly defensive players. Get younger and more hungry.

    If you’re going to draft defense, as Rob said, get your offensive guys in free agency. Get us a real center. My only offensive draft pick would be to get a RB with one of those first 4 picks. No way in hell do I trust Penny (as much as I love his upside). But after that, draft 5 defensive players with at least one on each level.

    It’s time to quit complaining we don’t have a pass rushing DT. That should be pick 41 (or a small trade down).

    Get a corner or free safety in the third.

    Go RB and best available defensive player with those two early fourth round picks. 3-4 of those first 4 picks need to be defense.

    In the mock above, I’d be happy to move down, pick up an extra pick or two, and get Travis Jones.

    • Palatypus

      I agree with about 75% of what BobbyK says. It depends on how the board goes. Getting a “real” center would be ideal, but we might have to take a tackle there. Getting a corner or free safety in the third? Depends on the board.

      My lowest priority would be a running back unless a good one just jumps on top of you. There will be cuts before teams go into training camp to get out of roster bonuses with what many call a “fungible” commodity. We can deal with them on our own terms.

      If you have a cheap guitar, get a good amp. If you have a great amp, get a cheap guitar.

      Work on the line. We can find an Alex Collins 5th round, or a Chris Carson in the 7th – or in free agency.

      • Peter

        Thats the rub right there. Alex collins hasn’t done anything for this team.

        They found carson and that’s it. Marshawn was a first rounder to us by trade. And penny was a first rounder. Rawls, dallas, mckissick, procise, homer, michael, ware, turbin, probably others have done nothing. So other teams seem to find talent wherever but this team is pretty bad at it.

        • AlaskaHawk

          Maybe you are looking in the wrong place. If you don’t prioritize the offensive line and run blocking, why would a running game be successful? I’ve only seen a few running backs that do well behind a line that doesn’t block.

          Collins was successful for one season with the Ravens. In 2017 he had 973 yards and 4.6 yards per carry. That is the year after he left the Seahawks, with the seahawks he had 125 yards, I think he was injured that year??

          • BobbyK

            If they resign Brown and can sign a Center, I don’t see how a rookie OL will help this team. And I don’t know why they’d draft an OL with those first 4 picks if he wouldn’t play.

            The guards are set. Brown is a good LT. I’m higher on Curhan than most. That guy is a masher in the run game. If you want to run the ball, I don’t know why you’d take an already almost dominant run blocker and put him on the bench.

            Where’s the need for OL help instead of finding a stallion to run?

            I’d be all for Trevor Penning if we didn’t have herpes, but I don’t see where we’re going to get a dominant OL at 41. Go get younger on defense and with the one pick you don’t use on defense, get a RB to back up one of the most injury prone RBs on the planet. Seems irresponsible to me to “bank” on Penny.

  17. Big Mike

    Thanks for the good stuff Rob. If you get that gig in the Caribbean, I just want to let you know I’m available to be your assistant. You know, I can organize and type notes, drive you to those games you need to scout etc. I do draw the line at applying sunscreen tho. Sorry man.

    Seriously, this team desperately needs a good RB that stays healthy. Not another DJ Dallas, but a guy that can run like we saw from Penny at the end of this last season but stays healthy for the most part. You have a DT and a CB as your 2nd and 3rd round picks and BobbyK above said RB in the 4th. I get that there are (far too many) holes to fill, but I have doubts about getting a RB that far down the draft that can really have an impact like this team needs. Do you see someone outside of Pearce that can fill that bill in round 4? Free agency?

  18. Rob Staton

    “I’ve been fortunate to be able to play 10 amazing years in Seattle,” Wilson said. “My hope and goal is to be back there and keep winning there. That’s the vision, that’s the goal. That’s always been it, never been anything different.”

    https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/02/11/russell-wilson-hope-and-goal-is-to-be-back-and-keep-winning/

    More ‘keeping options open’ answers to the big question. ‘Hope’. ‘Goal’.

    • Kevin Mullen

      It’s like he’s fortune telling his path: Russ, you’re under contract fuhl! There’s no “hope” or “goal” with Seattle, YOU ARE SEATTLE. And this is why I’m more apt to move on if/when we get a considerable offer, hopefully someone really overpays. This charade of cryptic Facebook quotes from him really bug me: it’s like when my sister is upset but not saying she’s upset on social media. And if he does want out, say so Russ!

      • Mr drucker in hooterville

        What else is he to say?

        • Kevin Mullen

          Tom Brady never did this. Nor Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers, Peyton & Eli Manning, etc. He wants to be compared to these greats but yet, he’s sorta “half in, half out”, don’t want to be the bad guy QB but yet here’s the crux of his “fake persona” that the LOB and everyone else on defensive side hated about Russ. I myself am over it and if he wants to go, let him go. Just my opinion.

          • Mr drucker in hooterville

            They had HC’s and offenses catered to their strengths and rosters built around them and coaching staffs that others desired. . RW doesn’t.

          • Peter

            How about playing for a team where the gm scouts other qbs to replace you?

            Or how about the seahawks broach a trade with him and he tells them sure, make it these four teams and we’ll talk.

            Eli manning literally wouldn’t play for the team that drafted him.

            How about the superbowl teams this year both have spent 2x in first round picks in two years than the hawks have in four years.

            I mean you have a qb where the team spends for some second round wr’s, a whack second round center, and a weak rb, all while dumping four first round picks and four second round picks on defense in the same time period and the defense still sucks. At the same time that Allen who has no ring and burrow who has yet to get a ring apparently get a say in what the offense does. But Russ is supposed to be stoked on this. Minimal help on his side, a wr from 2016, and another guy who has yet to play to his potential that is mistake prone. That’s it.

            Sorry I’d carry more about the LOB had to say if any of them performed as well as Wilson has for as long as he has.

            • Rob Staton

              Sorry I’d carry more about the LOB had to say if any of them performed as well as Wilson has for as long as he has.

              Well said.

              Very easy to be one admittedly great part of an overall elite machine, then snipe from the sidelines.

              Much harder to single handedly carry a team, which is what Wilson has done from 2017-21 (even if a lot of people are revising history)

            • Kevin Mullen

              So we are ok year in, year out that Russ dangles him leaving if he can’t get to the super bowl? Or, what if they do relinquish control to Russ and doesn’t pan out, we still blame JS?

              If there’s an opportunity to flip RW for a massive get like WFT offered, it’d be stupid to not entertain. Otherwise the downside is what will probably happen is RW demanding a trade and we lose leverage with that team, letting him go for peanuts (like the Texans had to do with Clowney, Hopkins).

              Am I in the minority that Russ hit his ceiling? There’s $60mil on the OLine, the best two wideout tandem in the league (before Kupp/OBJ), the best talent we’ve ever had in TE’s in PC era. RB is suspect but none the less, he’s got probably the most talented (on paper) offense he’s ever had and yet, he needs more. RW was also trying to low-key recruit OBJ to us and couldn’t even sell it to OBJ, we weren’t even in his top3 choices. Same with GBernard, ABrown, outside players don’t want to play with him.

              • Rob Staton

                Russell doesn’t ‘dangle’ just because they ‘didn’t make the Super Bowl’ every year

                He does this because he sees, first hand, how badly this team has been run for years

                And he wants change

                Rightly so

                • Kevin Mullen

                  And I’m in complete agreement that as a star QB that you shouldn’t exhaust your leverage, but at the end of the day, two consecutive off seasons of “…I hired a team for exploratory options of where I can play next year…” is a bit tiresome, unhealthy, and shows the uncommitted nature of that player to the fan base. “Hope to stay…” talk is stupid. GTFO Russ.

                  If Sherman were to pull the same exact thing to the Hawks, and since he’s an asshat of sorts, I guarantee the backlash would be 4x worse and complete opposite of what RW is receiving.

                  Take another QB like Kyler, just unfollowed his team, complete radio silence on his stance and just rubs his teammates wrong (Hopkins): their fans are ok to ship him for a boatload of picks/players if it makes sense. Kyler looks unhappy, shows signs of wanting greener pastures and yet their fans aren’t clamoring for him to have “more say” or “we can’t trade him because of franchise qb’s are hard to find…” etc.

                  The hardcore AZ fans are ok to move on if they can net a haul for Kyler, which I’m saying isn’t a bad view for us in the same situation. You can see the frustration of our star WR constantly pist off at Russ for missing throws/windows that only the people on the field understand. Davante Adams doesn’t do that to Rogers, nor Evans to Brady.

                  • Peter

                    Why wouldn’t look at his options? JS literally met and discussed a trade with Chicago. If I had a no trade clause and the gm was looking to shop me I’d look for my best landing place.

                    I love DK. I don’t care if he’s pissed or not. Dude’s a badass. He also has very little room to stand on since he’s not out there world beating like he actually could. But if we’re going to call some players voices into the mix why not all of them? Diggs thinks Russ is great. Lockett unlike DK, quietly goes about his business of tearing it up being one of the most sure handed recievers in the game.

                    Murray. Again you site one example and gloss over the myriad qb’s that it goes the other way for. Murray’s upset because he thinks he should get paid big money. And there’s talk in AZ that kingsbury may not be retained. Why are we talking about forever retaining PC when he isn’t doing better than Kingsbury? I’d love AZ to trade Murray. I’d love for AZ to go back to the level of irrelevance that allowed them to pick Murray so high in the first place.

                  • Rob Staton

                    Yep — it’s tiresome. I’m at the ‘shit or get off the toilet’ point on Wilson’s future.

                    But what I said is also very true.

                    Wilson isn’t doing this because he’s sulking about not playing in Super Bowls.

                    It’s because he has extremely valid concerns about the decision making on this team.

                    And that should be acknowledged.

              • Peter

                Honestly I’m not sure how to respond if you think this is the best offense Wilson has ever had. And if it is the best offense that’s outright damning to the FO for fielding such a crap product.

                First it’s not about relinquishing control but it is about doing some of the things your QB wants to be successful. That’s just smart sports thinking. And what they are doing isn’t working anyway. So they should continue to be wrong in one direction but not change course because it might also not work?

                Btw the hawks duo may or may not be the top, 2nd, or even third combo in the league.

                Bengals: jamar chase, tee higgins. Plus Joe Mixon at RB. Where we are all dazzled by Penny “coming to life,” in the final meaningless quarter of the season, mixon goes ahead and doubles Penny’s yards from scrimmage and gives his team 16 total tds.

                Rams: kupp, obj, higbee, (an injured woods who is great) sony michel (more productive than Penny), and then for laughs their oline is: whitworth, allen, corbett, and havenstein.

                So if I follow the anti-russ crowd. He’s cooked because seattle has never assembled great talent all at one time around him. And since he has “only won,” ( prior to injury) with no more than about two good pieces around him at a time going back to his rookie years but just can’t make the leap with the Ursua’s, Swains, homers, and mckissick’s of the world it’s time to move on? Oh and after his three best seasons we’re going to 86 his coordinator to do it Pete’s way. And though there’s every bit of evidence that QB’s in the league that are accurate can play well into their 30’s he’s reached his ceiling? And his ceiling of 2nd best start stat wise over ten years just isn’t doing it for us anymore. Alright.

                • Kevin Mullen

                  We can go tit for tat and say I’m in the “Anti-Russ” crowd but what about this echo chamber of “Russ No Wrong” crowd that’s suddenly can’t see past what he’s done since the back half of 2020? On top of the fact he laid an egg during the Rams playoff game last year.

                  Russ has been figured out, that’s why DE’s aren’t rushing up field anymore: they’re sitting waiting for him to do his Tarkenton spin move into the open arms of a sack. Dood can’t step up to the pocket. His sacks are more his fault than the OLine. And if this is the last chance we get for top compensation back, we ABSOLUTELY explore it.

                  Who in their right mind Peter, would you say you won’t take Josh Allen over Russ right now? And the work of every good GM should be to look for better talent whenver opportunity arises.

                  • Rob Staton

                    Nobody is saying Russ can’t do wrong

                    We regularly talked about how badly he played at times in 2021, especially after the injury.

                    So spare us this echo chamber nonsense.

                    If you’re going to say ridiculous things like ‘Russ has been figured out’ or that his issues stem from ‘not making the SB every year’ — expect a push back. You don’t get to resort to accusing this place of being a Russ ‘echo chamber’ when that happens.

                    Please take this on board.

                  • Peter

                    The third comment on this post is: russ needs to do better on third down. From me. My take.

                    I’ve commented countless times that if an entirely new FO came in and said it’s time for change ala Detroit I’m down for that.

                    As a fan of this team what I am not into is the same FO who botched almost every pick in five years to trade russ and get a crack again. And I mean nearly every. Single. Pick. Every worthless safety. Trades for clowney. Penny. Mcdowell. Pocic. Brooks (sorta). Collier. All but metcalf has been a bust or a whiff. And maybe Taylor wiill turn into something.

                    Oh. And I wouldn’t take Allen. Not with his contract and that he’s currently not slated to have a better stat line than Wilson amoritized over a 10 year career. I would have taken Allen as a rookie. But none of the brass had the “brass,” to do that.

              • Sanjay Jayachandran

                Are we being serious here? Best talent hes had? The oline is terrible. DK and Tyler are not the best duo by far before cupp/obj/woods. The vikings, Thielen, Jefferson, TBs receivers, KCs receivers are all better and they have far better olines.

          • Big Mike

            Yeah let that Russ hate flow…………

            • JimQ

              “”flip RW for a massive get like WFT offered””

              What? I’ve just got out of the hospital after a major surgery, when was this offer extended and are there any links that detail the terms of the WFT offer? How did I miss this news and why haven’t there been any TV media reports? I need to know the details of this “offer” – as a Seahawk fan. Will somebody please respond here with the details about what compensation the Seahawks will receive with this offer? How in the heck did I miss this news?

              • Kevin Mullen

                There was no offer, just us “connecting the dots” from a recent WFT article by Mike Silver, hightlighted by Rob a few days ago. Three 1’s and Chase Young was the exercise offer.

                • JimQ

                  I’ve been pounding the internet for details and found nothing about this “offer”, so it was really just a “hypothetical proposal” from some media types wanting clicks? Oh well.

                  • Kevin Mullen

                    Mainly driven by WFT bloggers/fans (just like us) open to whatever it takes to get a QB like Russ to their team and what they’d be willing to part with.

  19. Poli

    Now we need Desai to bring Akiem Hicks in

    • swedenhawk

      👍

  20. Rob Staton

    I’d just like to express how utterly pants the defense was in 2021.

    Yeah yeah. Points weren’t bad.

    You’re not getting anywhere if you can’t force pressure, create sacks, turn the ball over and can’t get off the field to the tune of league leading numbers in terms of TOP.

    The whole thing needs to be remade.

    • Peted

      Hoping with the recent additions in the absence of systemwide change there’s an acknowledgement that it hasn’t been working.

      I said it before ,so sorry, but with the draft allocation heavy on defense in recent years i truly think pete knows the defense is the problem.

      I also feel this is why for those hoping for a Wilson haul it’s not happening. There’s no investment in offense. Frankly i think that’s because a guy who averages plus 33 tds and 8 ints over the last three years is at the helm. Two good/great WR’s and just some guy at qb isn’t a plan.

      Take away wilson for some of the names tossed out, the 20 td/15 int guys and no real consistent run game and this team is a 2 to 4 win team with it’s 23rd ranked defense.

    • Peter

      Hopefully he is acknowledging some changes need to be made with these new additions to the staff.

      *just delete my other post. Apologies rob.*

  21. pdway

    Everything in the Diggs interview rings true – and I don’t know there’s a more credible source. Just from his interviews and social media – he seems like a very authentic kind of dude. Share the sentiment of others on here, it’s a real shame if we have to lose him – to me, he was pretty clearly our best defensive player this year.

    All that said – some of the bites from his interview are positive – i.e. Pete knows the D needs to change, and Hurtt having the respect of the defense.

    And a more random note – just had the chance to have lunch w Ed Reed (lots of players are down here for the SB), and we’ve talked football before – when I talked Seahawks – he brought up Clint Hurtt, who was his suitemate at UM back in the day. Said back then Hurtt was known as a fiery guy who got in plenty of fights, including with his own teammate/roommate.

    • Peter

      What an awesome time!! That’s cool that they know each other from way back.

  22. James Z

    I find your remarks on Digg’s offerings to be perceptive, spot-on and alarming when you consider that PC is so full of himself that he will take some interesting hires for ’22 and corral them with his over-exercised power of needing to call the shots just for the sake of his ‘vanity’ project. This will not end well with PC anywhere near the Seahawks facility.

  23. GoHawks5151

    I find the coaching changes very encouraging. I agree that some of the other info hyping up Desai’s hire seems like pandering to the Owner but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. I think there may be a real push for change. Everyone knew Fangio was never coming here but it would seem someone thinks his scheme holds a solution for this defense. I doubt Pete arrived at that by himself. It would seem there is a directive for the future of the defense. On offense too with them seeming to going full Rams after a year of partial commitment. If we spend on some big fish in FA we will know if PC has been pushed from the status quo.

  24. Gross MaToast

    I’m not going to talk about it anymore, but I still cannot for the life of me believe that Pete was brought back. Diggs just doubled down on that. I get the sense that he (Pete) and the organization as a whole are simply going through the motions. I don’t care how much energy he has. It shouldn’t be an issue. I’m not talking about it anymore.

    I’m all about defense, defense, defense in this draft, but Pierce sitting there at 41 is tempting when you have nothing at running back other that Carson. It has to be addressed, but I like what Rob has here and would be very happy to see Seattle follow through.

    Fat chance.

    Todays best ‘What Pete Will Do’ guess:

    41. Smoke Monday, S, Auburn
    72. Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor

    “We’re super pumped about the guys we have at safety and what they allow us to do.”

    • Big Mike

      I would absolutely take Pearce at 41. This team needs a bellcow.

      • Peter

        Not against that pick in the slightest. Carson likely done fr forever and Penny who knows. I guess take how long his contract is and then count down to the final 6 games or so of that and you can predict when he will get going. Even if that’s facetious someone who can run hard when given nothing is still needed.

    • Peter

      The laugh now cry later part is that there are actually very good safeties in this draft. Sadly this team looks like it yet again will need one or maybe even two.

    • BobbyK

      I’m in favor of BPA but I hope the BPA would be DT. It’s time they get someone good there. This DT would need to have pass rush/pressure ability. You can find decent run stuffers on the scrap heap but those guys who can cause pressure in a QBs face on 3rd downs are gold.

  25. BruceN

    Great article Rob. Love your mock. Please apply to join JS’ scouting team and whisper in his ears.

    Love Q-Diggs but doubt we can afford him unfortunately. He’s hitting all the right notes here.
    — He suggests the ‘cover-3’ system Carroll uses has gone stale – Duh…
    — Pete knows he needs to do something different (aka — he needs to). – Duh…
    — They don’t have good enough players on defense – I think we have enough decent people as long as we play to their strengths instead of trying to have Dunlap drop back and cover in space
    — Clint Hurtt is a great coach and has the respect of the defense – i hope he brings the fire to D like Robert Saleh
    — He says ‘everyone’ needs to be on the same page (implying they weren’t) – this was painfully obvious a number of times last year
    — ‘We need to let our rushers rush and let our pass defenders handle the pass’ – Duh…
    — ‘We were lacking accountability last year’ – I wonder if he was talking about his fellow safety

  26. Sea Mode

    “Continued offensive transition”. Huh.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/seahawksPR/status/1492268795464851456

    • Rob Staton

      Think that just means the transition to Waldron

      • cha

        If that’s the case, it means they spent the whole season with their OL and OC coaches misaligned. Good grief.

        But also, that Carroll actually noticed.

        This is starting to feel like the “Russell Wilson is the only person in Seattle who actually is holding PC accountable” and it might, possibly, may be finally working. It’s taken a lot to get this far but there’s still so, so much to be done.

        Keep pressing Russ.

        • Pran

          Hate to see this piece meal approach. Why didn’t they do last season. Are they going to do some more after another failed season.

  27. L80

    The Diggs comments were exactly what the doctor ordered.

    When you have the 2 men at the top (who ARE intelligent people) making decisions with dunce caps on, and everyone and their brother sees it, and they act like “nothing to see here”, it’s refreshing to see one of the best players at their position speak out about it.

    It outs them. It shows exactly what all of us see week in and week out for years now, and I LOVE it, thank YOU Mr. Diggs!!!

    Secondly, My first thought process on the Desai hiring is….They just hired their new head coach. Young, SUPER intelligent and a coach players all like……He will be a perfect candidate. For now, his fresh set of eyes will be a welcome change. That coupled with the other moves and Diggs’ comments could be the prescription for at least some change…

    Quite obviously, they simply M U S T get involved in free agency, and cut bait with some players to have any chance this year. PC’s delusions of a good roster were just shot out of the water by Diggs…Best thing I’ve seen in years.!!!!

  28. Mick

    https://www.nfl.com/news/how-each-nfc-team-can-replace-the-los-angeles-rams-at-super-bowl-lvii

    No surprise at the answer for Seattle, I doubt we got any chance of making it to the Super Bowl in the next 5 years if we trade Wilson.

    • Big Mike

      “….they may as well go as bold as possible in spending, like their division-rival Rams did.”

      Gee, where have I heard this before?

  29. Rob Staton

    Writing a huge article this weekend

    Will be published on Sunday or Monday

    • Bmseattle

      And here i was, worried that Rob would fade away this off season, into Seahawk apathy.

      Thanks for all the time and effort you have been putting in to SDB.
      Your writing and evaluation just keep getting better and better.

    • Rob Staton

      And it’s done.

      +4500 words

      Big piece

      • Kevin Mullen

        Can’t wait to disagree!

        I’m just kidding Rob. Looking forward to it.

      • Turp

        Sunday or Monday? I need to block my calendar!

        • Rob Staton

          Probably tomorrow as long as there’s no big splash report on SB Sunday involving the Seahawks

      • Rob Staton

        OK, I wasn’t done.

        It’s now 6000 words.

        Ooof.

        • Turp

          Cue Seahawks splash story in 3 2 1…

        • AlaskaHawk

          That article is long = but not as long as the Seahawks search for a playoff win.

  30. Kyle

    Excellent excellent article.

    My only minor quibble, and I realize I’m alone on this, is that Schottenheimer was not like KNJ or Tater or Nate Carroll or any of those other dumpster fire personnel decisions. Nobody in the fan world wanted him, he was mocked for having a dad as a coach (one who couldn’t win a playoff game), and he left with most people salivating at the shiny new Sean McVay protege. Yet Russell had his best work under Schottenheimer, who did not have the benefit of Marshawn Lynch like Bevell did. Schottenheimer’s work with Seattle should earn him more than scorn.

    • Peter

      To this day I am never going to understand why the released Schotty. Two good wr’s and not much else yet Wilson was super productive.

      • Kevin Mullen

        Because Schotty had only 30 plays in his playbook. Lockett was on record past offseason saying so, and part of our offense’s ineffectiveness in back half was defenses figuring out how to gameplan without any adjustments on our side. And you can even say Schotty’s work in JAC didn’t help him either.

        • AlaskaHawk

          Agreed, Seahawks need some modern offensive plays such as Buffalo, or KC run. Too bad they can’t get their offensive coordinator. On the flip side, running those plays requires better timing. One player moving during the snap and your screwed.

  31. cha

    Heaps makes some calls and gets scoop on what it took to get Desai on the staff:

    https://sports.mynorthwest.com/category/podcast_player/?a=4530fd2e-e292-4816-8683-ae39013b0158&pr=17e7eb0a-60e0-443c-8cff-a8d4016902e4&pl=69d5f48c-ab4d-4e78-b73e-a8d4016902e9&n=Jake+and+Stacy

    1-autonomy in game planning. PC is head coach sure, but Desai puts the game plan together

    2-personnel will be aggressively added on defense

    3-title

    • Henry Taylor

      This would be absolutely marvellous if true. Combined with the notion that Waldron is getting more autonomy on Offence, this is what many of us have been asking for.

      Pete to become more of a CEO type leader and letting younger, more innovative minds handle the details.

      Just got to wait to see if they actually do aggressively add talent on Defence now.

      • Peter

        Would love this if he really is seeing that he can’t run everything. And frankly no coach can. None of the greats have ever done it functionally.

    • Sea Mode

      Huge step forward if true and if PC actually sticks to it at the first sign of trouble…

      • Turp

        My fear exactly. I hope autonomy is written into Desai’s contract 🙂

    • Kevin Mullen

      That’s baddass. I hope PC sticks to this and not meddle.

    • Gross MaToast

      I’m not sure that I understand the architecture of the defensive staff. What does Hurtt do? Is he DC in title only?

      • Bmseattle

        Your confusion is understandable.

        Here’s how it’ll work.

        Pete will say the right things and pretend to cede some control, all the while looking over Desai’s and Hurts’ shoulders.

        He’ll feel the itch to start getting more involved, and he’ll publicly state how impressed he is that Desai is so willimg to do “what we’ve done in the past” here.

        By mid season, the defense will be back to looking and operating like it has the past 5 years.

        Hope that clears things up.

        • Big Mike

          bingo

          • Big Mike

            Until I see actual proof Pete Carroll is changing his way of doing things, I simply ain’t buying. Prove it by chuting Bobby then Pete instead of paying him an obscene amount of money for meh results.

            • Big Mike

              cutting

              • Gross MaToast

                Chuting him works, as well.

                Diggs’ comments pointed to a disjointed, no-accountability defense with too many voices harping stupid ideas for sub-average players barely capable of lining up and giving their best effort in traditional packages and you’re telling me now that in the NEW defensive setup several voices will be ‘in charge’ of the defense and all of them will share equal amounts of responsibility and that it will be difficult to pin accountability for things like the Chuffing Bear, the inability to do various, basic things like lining up properly for the first couple of months of the season, rotations and getting the right guys playing time, and the failure to get off the field before adding an additional four games worth of playing time to the defensive player’s season, and that the guy who put this plan together in a fit of genius that no one else could ever hope to understand would begin to meddle and disrupt an already chaotic staff? Well…I’m booking my Super Bowl plans now, because this changes everything.

                • Big Mike

                  Soooooooper Bowl bound babeeeeeeee!
                  I’ll make my plans too Gross. Let’s meet up for a $20 watered down lite beer while we’re there.

                  • Gross MaToast

                    I’m buying the first drinks for the entire SDB gang at the 2023 Seahawk/Texan Super Bowl.

                    I’m calling it now: Seahawks 31, Texans 30. (31-0 at the half.)

                • Tomas

                  Nailed it.

  32. cha

    https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdBNLpY9/

    Not sure what is better. Dorky Russ in full effect or the fact he chose the worst possible song to dorky dance to.

  33. Rob Staton

    Abraham Lucas is a Seahawks fan

    Any mock that doesn’t have this guy going top-20, I would ignore

    https://youtu.be/fk5eH9czdHY

    • Henry Taylor

      I like how this implication of this post is that his status as a Seahawk fan improves his grade.

    • Sea Mode

      Teams are gonna eat him up

    • Big Mike

      Jonathon Taylor was a Seahawk fan too. and Seattle could’ve drafted him unlike will be the case with Lucas. But hey we got that MLB from Texas Tech to play out of position for God knows how many years instead. Genius.

  34. Sea Mode

    Bleh. So all the Kyler Murray social media drama is just a stupid publicity/ad stunt.

    https://twitter.com/mikegolicjr/status/1492314499935707136

    • Big Mike

      So what’s worse, this crap or Russ dancing for Alaska Airlines on Tik Tok?

  35. Palatypus

    Looking at your mock Rob, If Kyler Gordon or Trent McDuffie of Washington went before Boye Mafe I would be very surprised. If both did, I would be shocked.

    Boye Mafe is a stone-cold killer.

    • Rob Staton

      I don’t think you should be surprised.

      The NFL is absolutely desperate for cornerbacks. Gordon and McDuffie are good players who are going to blow up the combine.

  36. Gaux Hawks

    Serious question: does Pocic have a future in Waldron’s offense?

    • BobbyK

      He sucks. He’s always sucked. Schneider “sweated” through his shirt waiting for him to be available in the 2nd round. That’s why this team is in the shape it’s in.

      • Seattle Person

        He really hasn’t been that good in his career. That…we can all agree on. He does fit a wide-zone blocking scheme. He has the size and the athleticism. Again, he hasn’t been that good. Some team should give him a chance but I have seen enough of him.

        He should only be back if you sign better and expensive players at other positions and you need to save money at Center. You need a long-term option. Brian Allen seems destined to be poached. The Rams are tight on money. I’m sure they rather have OBJ and Miller back before Allen. Still young and knows the system. Hopefully with Waldron/Dickerson, the line develops its young players. Forsythe, Curhan, Lewis, Haynes all are athletic enough to move and be effective on the move.

        I cannot believe we started a super sucky player in Kyle Fuller over the just sucky Ethan Pocic.

        • Scot04

          I kind of agree here on Pocic.
          Lets say we sign Hicks & Jones along with Moses for RT; I could deal with it. Would I like an upgrade over Pocic? YES
          However, I just want to see resources put into upgrading the trenches period.
          I’d be so shocked if they actually signed 2 or 3 top Free-agents from outside, the last thing I’ll be thinking about is Pocic

    • Ashish

      When you can see on live TV your center is thrown in dust quite often there is serious problem. We have to play twice to Rams please invest in OL also coach wants to run the ball.

      • bmseattle

        I’m blanking on the game, but I remember a QB sneak from late this past season, which somehow was converted, despite Pocic being pushed 2 yards into the backfield.

        He was literally standing behind the Wilson at the end of the play.

        Pocic lacks strength, clearly, but he also frequently loses the leverage battle, so he ends up with some pretty ugly plays if forced to take on guys one on one.

        He does seem to do pretty well when he is free to move and get the angle on guys.

        But other teams know his weaknesses, and I’m afraid it will always something we will have to account for.

        I just want a center who can hold his own at the point of attack and not get blown up 3 or 4 times a game.

  37. Sea Mode

    Adam Schefter
    @AdamSchefter
    ·2h

    Former Broncos’ HC Vic Fangio received, and decided against, multiple offers to become a defensive coordinator for the 2022 season, per league sources. Fangio now is likely to take off this season before returning next year as the most coveted available defensive coordinator.

  38. Robert Las Vegas

    I was thinking maybe Russell is just waiting to see what the Seahawks are going to achieve in free agency. Can Pete recruit veteran players? it’s a fair question isn’t it.

    • UkAlex6674

      But on the flip side, free agents are going to want to know what Russ is going to do. You’d be pissed if you signed up to play with him if you think he gives you the best chance and then he moves on.

    • bmseattle

      It can’t help that a respected player like Diggs is taking…digs… at Pete and the defense.
      Who knows what he told other players at the Pro Bowl last weekend.

  39. Sea Mode

    And. Here. We. Go.

    Ian Rapoport
    @RapSheet
    ·7m

    If Tom Brady’s does, indeed, stay retired, expect the #Bucs to swing big at QB — just like they did when they landed Brady.

    https://www.nfl.com/news/buccaneers-leaving-door-open-for-potential-tom-brady-return-could-explore-trades

  40. swedenhawk

    Prediction: Seahawks will add cornerbacks Artie Burns and Kyle Fuller in free agency.

    • Mick

      I could live with Burns, Fuller, no thanks.

  41. 206

    The Bucs are Reportedly looking into a trade for Russ. No way they have enough stock to make that happen.

    • Rob Staton

      Indeed.

      Because there’s always going to be a team willing to offer more. Washington, Denver for example.

      Strap yourselves in though. Green Bay are making it clear they are going to do whatever it takes to keep Aaron Rodgers. So the focus is going to be on Wilson. And teams are going to go big.

      • bmseattle

        Plus, it’s difficult to imagine Wilson wanting to go to the Bucs to follow on the coattails of Brady.

        • Rob Staton

          That said, he knows they’ll do whatever it takes to win. And they’ve won.

      • Mick

        I wish Seattle went public saying that they’ll do whatever it takes to keep Wilson. It’s not just him being unclear with saying he hopes to stay here, the team must give the right signal too.

        • Rob Staton

          Exactly. The problem is — Seattle won’t do whatever it takes. They’re going to do whatever Carroll thinks is best.

          Therein lies the problem.

          And the defenders of the faith love to point out that Green Bay hasn’t been to the Super Bowl the last three years. Yeah — but they win 13 games a year, they’ve been in two NFC CG.

          Nobody would be complaining about that in Seattle. Instead, it’s one playoff win in five years and we just finished 7-10.

          • bmseattle

            Yes, one can argue that the Packers have underachieved the past few years.
            The implication is that the team has been good enough to win Super Bowls.

            No one thinks that about the Seahawks.

            • Big Mike

              You’re right on both accounts, and therein lies the problem. The Seahawks aren’t anywhere near good enough to sniff the NFCCG

          • Mr drucker in hooterville

            But we beat AZ!

      • Sea Mode

        Cough.

        Ian Rapoport
        @RapSheet
        ·2h

        What would an Aaron Rodgers contract extension look like? Likely two years for more than $45M per year, with voidable years tacked on for cap reasons.

        • MychestisBeastmode

          Efff. Neither here nor there at this moment in time, but should Russell fully bounce back as expected, he’s going to demand $50mil (or 48… point is, more than Rodgers at the very least) on his next contract. Just a number, but a very big number.

          It’s numbers like this that make me feel like a RW trade does not HAVE to mean doom and gloom because that next contract will be significantly cap restrictive and possibly equally as destructive to building a winning roster. Still, overall I do not want to shop RW because even with an abundance of cap space, the only scenario where QB doesn’t eat up a huge chunk of space would mean we’d have to hit big on anither rookie QB which is a total crapshoot and likely to be fruitless leading to years of QB purgatory.

          But that contract. $50mil 😐 (speculation, no source)

  42. Sea Mode

    😲

    Now we know a little more about how far Pete was willing to go when he talks about “the ones that got away…”

    https://twitter.com/ChasingSnyder/status/1492272583932325894

  43. Bill H.

    From an si.com article (ouch):

    “According to Pro Football Focus, the Seahawks were particularly dreadful protecting Wilson and Geno Smith on third down last season. They ranked dead last in the NFL allowing a sack on 15 percent of their third down plays last season. They also ranked last among 32 teams yielding pressure on 49.4 percent of drop backs. Those numbers looked eerily similar in the 14 games Wilson started, with the line allowing a 13.1 percent sack rate and 49.4 percent pressure rate on drop backs.”

    https://www.si.com/nfl/seahawks/news/mike-solari-seahawks-had-little-choice-but-to-part-ways#gid=ci0299af43b000263c&pid=pass-protection-for-russell-wilson-simply-didnt-improve-enough

    • cha

      The number of things the Seahawks ranked last or near bottom of the league last year is appalling.

      • MychestisBeastmode

        I tried to think of something witty, but no. I am simply tired of having a shit O-line.

        Some individuals are decent-to-good, but as a unit they are inconsistent at best and, as you say, “appalling” at worst (or maybe better said – at baseline).

        • Big Mike

          Didn’t help having a shit running game and little to no mid-range passing game and being the worst screen team in the history of football which adds up to a lot of 3rd and longs. Not in any way excusing Pocic, Fuller and the rest of the o-line tho.

  44. Sea Mode

    👀

    Jim Nagy
    @JimNagy_SB
    ·3h

    Quick story from @seniorbowl: Thursday AM @HuskerFBNation DB Cam Taylor-Britt was ruled OUT for rest of week by trainers w/ quad injury. 2 hours later he was at practice in full pads.

    Me: “We doing this?”

    CTB: “Hell yeah, we doing this! Nothing gonna keep me from competing!” 😤

    https://twitter.com/JimNagy_SB/status/1492859692699246596

  45. Rob Staton

    New article posted.

    It’s massive. 6194 words.

    Huge off-season plan.

    Give it a read. Share it. Let me know what you think.

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