Month: December 2018 (Page 2 of 2)

Instant reaction: The Seahawks play weird football games

There’s just something about the Pete Carroll Seahawks.

They play in bizarre, weird games.

This was a new one.

Seattle dominated the first half. They had 12 first downs compared to Minnesota’s five. They ran 15 more plays, gained 114 more yards, ran for 139. It was a dominating opening two quarters.

And they let the Vikings off the hook with mistakes.

A flag on Jordan Simmons and an uncharacteristic, befuddling interception by Russell Wilson meant a 3-0 half-time lead instead of a handsome advantage.

A game in control… transformed into a war of attrition.

Still the weirdness continued. A bad pass interference call on Xavier Rhodes set up a first down at Minnesota’s 10-yard line. Again, they settle for a field goal.

You’re waiting for Kirk Cousins and Minnesota to take advantage. They had to, surely? They’d been kept alive for so long.

A 48-yard completion to Stefon Diggs. This is the moment. Here come the Vikings.

Nope. Stopped on fourth down in the red zone.

But Seattle give them the ball back with great field position. Is this the moment Seattle would surrender their lead?

Again, nope. The defense stands tall. Bobby Wagner blocks a field goal with an illegal, uncalled leap over the LOS.

The Seahawks are desperate on offense at this stage. The run has stalled. The passing game is non-existent. What can they do?

Well of course. A 40-yard scramble by the quarterback — sprinting away from a lunging Linval Joseph the nose tackle. How else would the Seahawks break open the game on a night when Wilson threw for a career-low number of passing yards?

It all finishes with a Jacob Martin forced fumble and a Justin Coleman scoop-and-score. After all the nervous energy, the anxiety, the wondering whether the Seahawks were going to let this one slip. They get the handsome scoreline after all.

The Pete Carroll Seahawks. After all these years, still finding different ways to do it.

Following a weekend where the rest of the NFC was a mix of bad, worse and downright ugly — they’ll take the win. The rebuilding, re-setting Seahawks are on the brink of the playoffs. They need one more NFC win. They’ll want three wins to take into the wildcard weekend.

Amid all the chaos there were some big positives here:

— The Vikings do a good job defending the run. Seattle ran for 216 yards. They also did it without D.J. Fluker. They truly are the #1 rushing team in the league. They showed that today.

— Minnesota took away Seattle’s explosive passing plays. The Seahawks executed poorly too — Wilson and the receivers can share the blame there. But again — they still found a way to win in that environment.

— Seattle’s defense was fantastic. After some recent struggles, the entire group stepped up to a new level. The DB’s played the ball and limited the big plays, the D-line created pressure and Bobby Wagner was his usual all-pro self. They deserved a shut-out and will be disappointed they didn’t get it. Still, this was an excellent display.

— They’re finding ways to win. The late drama against Green Bay and Carolina, now this. They’re battled tested. And only three teams have a better record than the Seahawks in the NFC (even after a disappointing 0-2 start).

It’s the type of night that would’ve been bitterly disappointing had they thrown it away and lost. Instead? It’s another fun moment in an increasingly enjoyable 2018 season that is going far better than most people imagined.

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Updated 2019 draft class tier list: 9th December

Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray is the best draft eligible quarterback

I’m going to keep updating the tier list. It’ll change if players decide not to declare. It’ll change if I study a player and decide they need to be included. That happened this week with a pair of Oklahoma prospects.

Tier 1 — the top of the class

Nick Bosa (DE, Ohio State)

There’s still no challenge to Bosa for #1 overall and he deserves a tier to himself. He’s the complete defensive end — with the quickness and rare agility to be a dominant speed rusher, the power to manhandle offensive linemen and the size/toughness to work against the run. In a year without a top quarterback prospect or offensive tackle, Bosa goes #1.

Tier 2 — likely top-10 picks

Quinnen Williams (DT, Alabama)
Clelin Ferrell (DE, Clemson)
Ed Oliver (DT, Houston)
Rashan Gary (DE, Michigan)
Dexter Lawrence (DT, Clemson)
Christian Wilkins (DT, Clemson)
Raekwon Davis (DT, Alabama)

Quinnen Williams has been a dominant force for Alabama but there will be some mild concerns about his age (19) and the fact he’s a one-year wonder. Clelin Ferrell has ideal size and length and would be a top-five pick in any class. Ed Oliver is extremely dynamic but there will be some questions asked about his fit at the next level due to his lack of length and size. Rashan Gary and Dexter Lawrence wowed High School recruiters and were the #1 and #2 top prospects in the country. One scout for Rivals called them the best defensive tackle duo he’d ever seen in one single class. They’ve long been destined for the pro’s and NFL scouts will love this pair. They will go early. Christian Wilkins is a phenomenal player with fantastic athleticism, prototype three-tech size, excellent character and technique. Ignore the critics. Raekwon Davis is a monster built like Calais Campbell.

Tier 3 — possible top-15 picks

Devin White (LB, LSU)
Jachai Polite (EDGE, Florida)
Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)
Kyler Murray (QB, Oklahoma)

I’ve added Kyler Murray to this tier. As I noted on Wednesday, I think he’s the best eligible quarterback prospect and a possible first round pick. At least one NFL GM agrees. He’s accurate, exceptionally athletic and simply a fantastic playmaker. If I needed a quarterback in this draft, I’m going to take Murray and roll the dice. Devin White was once considered the next Leonard Fournette. He was projected as a running back in High School, then he added a lot of bulk and lost some speed. Recruiters started to project him to full back, believe it or not. Then he slimmed down at LSU and became an elite college linebacker. Jachai Polite’s motor never stops. His effort is incredible. He lacks length and size but he’s extremely quick and aggressive as a pass rusher and has been productive despite facing a number of double teams in 2018. Derrick Brown is a complete defensive tackle. He controls the LOS, shows excellent discipline in the run game and makes an impact as a pass rusher too.

Tier 4 — possible top-20 picks

Zach Allen (DE, Boston College)
Josh Allen (EDGE, Kentucky)
David Edwards (T, Wisconsin)

Zach Allen has been a force all season. He’s big and looks like an interior rusher but still wins with get-off, speed and his hand use and technique is on-point. The combine will be big for him but he has a legitimate chance to secure a place in the top-20. Josh Allen has been a consistently effective pass rusher all season. He’s probably best suited to playing as a pure 3-4 OLB in a scheme like Pittsburgh’s. Georgia had success running right at him and Vanderbilt’s tight end also handled him. Even so, he gets to the QB and makes plays. David Edwards is a pure right tackle but teams will like his attitude, consistency and toughness.

Tier 5 — Top-40 talent

D’Andre Walker (LB, Georgia)
Byron Murphy (CB, Washington)
Jerry Tillery (DT, Notre Dame)
Damien Harris (RB, Alabama)
Brian Burns (EDGE, Florida State)
Rodney Anderson (RB, Oklahoma)

We’ve been saying all season that D’Andre Walker is underrated and it took a big performance against Alabama to finally gain some recognition. Walker is very strong against the run despite his linebacker size. He’s capable of rushing the passer as a defensive end, dropping into space and he always plays with a high intensity. Byron Murphy flies to the ball-carrier and looks like a naturally gifted defensive back. He plays cornerback for Washington but I’d love to see him tried at free safety. Jerry Tillery was recruited as a left tackle before switching to defense. He’s as big as Raekwon Davis and provides an alternative later in the top-40. Damien Harris is highly explosive and the complete running back. Brian Burns had a terrific year and could be listed higher but there are legitimate concerns about his weight (is he really playing in the 220’s?). Rodney Anderson will not go early due to injury concerns but in terms of pure talent — he’s right up there. Explosive, great size, tough. An excellent prospect who just needs to stay healthy.

Tier 6 — best of the rest

Marquise Brown (WR, Oklahoma)
Kaden Smith (TE, Stanford)
Drew Lock (QB, Missouri)
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (CB/S, Florida)
Jaylor Ferguson (EDGE, Louisiana Tech)
Austin Bryant (EDGE, Clemson)
Taylor Rapp (S, Washington)

Marquise Brown is sudden and a fantastic playmaker. He was a little inconsistent against Texas in the Big-12 Championship game and then got hurt. He’s Antonio Brown’s cousin. Kaden Smith is the most rounded draft-eligible tight end. Drew Lock could easily be the first quarterback taken and could’ve been a first rounder this year. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson switched to nickel corner from safety in 2018. He’s extremely physical and plays with personality and attitude. He can be boom-or-bust. Jaylon Ferguson had major production in 2018 but plays with raw technique. With a good combine, some teams will believe he’s worth selecting early to develop. Austin Bryant is a pure pass rusher who will make plays in a rotation. Taylor Rapp is athletic with the ability to leave an impression and could be the first safety off the board.

Still intriguing

Gerald Willis II (DT, Miami)
Johnathan Abram (S, Mississippi State)
Christian Miller (LB, Alabama)
Steven Montez (QB, Colorado)

Gerald Willis will need to explain to teams a bizarre college career that started at Florida, appeared to be going way off the tracks and then ended with a fantastic year of production in Miami. He’s undersized and might be a specialist rusher but he plays with supreme agility and will test well in the short shuttle. Johnathan Abram is a playmaking safety but there are concerns about his athletic upside. A big combine performance could push him into the top-40. Christian Miller will test well and has developed into a more complete player in 2018. Steven Montez isn’t expected to declare for the draft but if he changes his mind could still provide an intriguing alternative to the big name quarterbacks.

Overrated players (or players who might go earlier than they should)

Greedy Williams (CB, LSU)
Dre’Mont Jones (DT, Ohio State)
Jonah Williams (G, Alabama)
Greg Little (T, Ole Miss)
Deionte Thompson (S, Alabama)
Deandre Baker (CB, Georgia)
Montez Sweat (EDGE, Mississippi State)
A.J. Brown (WR, Ole Miss)
N’Keal Harry (WR, Arizona State)
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (WR, Stanford)
D.K. Metcalf (WR, Ole Miss)
Dwayne Haskins (QB, Ohio State)

Greedy Williams will likely be the first cornerback off the board, possibly in the top-15. However, he still needs a lot of work and shares some of the same issues as Deandre Baker when tracking the ball in the air. Williams has the size and looks the part but might underwhelm at the next level. I think he’s overrated and generally projected too early. Dre’Mont Jones looks great at times as an interior pass rusher. He’s quick and fluid and gets into the backfield to make plays. He also disappears from games (an issue stretching back to High School) and is a liability against the run. Jonah Williams plays left tackle at Alabama but is a pure guard, lacking the length and foot-speed to play outside. He’s best blocking head-on 1v1 and has limitations. I wouldn’t consider him a round one prospect, especially at tackle. Greg Little similarly looks a bit stiff handling the edge and might need to kick inside to guard.

Deionte Thompson is a long, lean safety. He isn’t rangy or particularly fast. He might run in the late 4.5’s or 4.6’s. He’s physical but I don’t understand the first round hype. The Seahawks could look at him as a day-three corner convert based on his frame. Deandre Baker lacks size, struggles to track the ball and might not test particularly well at the combine. There are character flags lingering over Montez Sweat according to Tony Pauline and while he’s a capable college pass rusher, he’s very lean and his success might not translate to the next level. A.J. Brown competes for the ball in the air but how athletic is he? Is he just another Laquon Treadwell? N’Keal Harry wins plenty of contested catches and has YAC ability but struggles to separate. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is merely a useful redzone target and jump-ball specialist. He might be a day-three pick. D.K. Metcalf has a ton of potential. However, he has a serious neck injury. He’s declared to set the wheels in motion for a pro-career, rather than spend 2019 sitting out at Ole Miss. His long-term future is still a question mark. He likely just wants to get into the league. I doubt he’s expecting to be drafted early. Dwayne Haskins has talent and production. There were also too many ‘off’ throws. Personally, I think he’s a mid-rounder with some potential to work with over time.

Players I’m still unsure about

Jeffrey Simmons (DT, Mississppi State)
Daniel Jones (QB, Duke)
Cody Ford (T, Oklahoma)
Devin Bush (LB, Michigan)

Jeffrey Simmons is a good player. He was also filmed beating up a defenceless woman. Many teams won’t have him on their board. I’ve listed him here simply to avoid having to answer questions in the comments section about where he fits. Someone will draft him. I can live without it being the Seahawks. Daniel Jones has shown flashes of quality at Duke and could slip into the 20’s. I need to do more study before confirming that thought. I’ve not studied Cody Ford enough to pass judgement but Tony Pauline believes he could rise into the first frame. Devin Bush is not bad player at all. However, there are some concerns and I don’t see a first round prospect. Bush was asked to be very aggressive by Michigan. He had two key roles — attack the LOS to try and make plays in the backfield and cover passes to the flat. That’s not his fault but it makes for a difficult evaluation. There wasn’t too much in the way of read-and-react, discipline vs the run and zone coverage. In one game I saw him attack the LOS leaving a simple outside cut for the running back to break off a big gain. He needed to be less aggressive and simply force the runner back inside. He has energy and speed but it’s hard to get a sense for how his game translates to the next level watching Michigan play.

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Oklahoma’s Rodney Anderson is a fit (with injury issues)

Oklahoma’s Rodney Anderson suffered an ACL injury in September

The Seahawks just drafted a running back in round one. Chris Carson is under contract for two more years. This isn’t a need — especially if they bring back Mike Davis in 2019 (which seems possible and probably sensible).

That said, this is clearly a team determined to run the ball. It’s also a team that has experienced injury issues at the running back position for years. If they don’t keep Davis — or if they keep their options open until after the draft — I want to talk about a possible mid-round addition to replenish their depth.

Oklahoma’s Rodney Anderson started the year being touted as a possible first round pick. He had 1161 rushing yards in 2017 and 18 total touchdowns. He’s 6-1 and 220lbs — a perfect frame for a NFL running back.

On September 8th in a game against UCLA he tore his ACL. Season over. He’s since declared for the draft. It’s not his first serious injury. He suffered a broken leg in 2015 and a fractured vertebrae in 2016. He didn’t play until 2017.

At the combine, teams will want to check the progress of his recovery and look at some of the other previous injuries. It’s likely, whatever they find, he’s going to be a mid-round pick at best. He might even last a little longer.

Even so, he’ll be worth a shot. He’s a highly explosive, physical runner. The cost will be reduced as a consequence of the injuries and it’s a shot to nothing really. In Seattle, he’d also be working in a time-share. It’s succeeding this year and Pete Carroll often collected prize running backs at USC.

He’s doing the same in Seattle…

2010 draft — traded for Leon Washington
2010 season — traded for Marshawn Lynch
2012 draft — drafted Robert Turbin (R4)
2013 draft — drafted Christine Michael (R2) & Spencer Ware (R6)
2015 draft — signed Thomas Rawls as an UDFA
2016 draft — drafted C.J. Prosise (R3) & Zac Brooks (R7)
2017 draft — drafted Chris Carson (R7)
2018 draft — drafted Rashaad Penny (R1)

(Note — I included Rawls in the list above because Carroll admitted after the draft that was his guy — just as Carson was in 2017)

Under Carroll, the Seahawks have consistently added running backs. Even when they had Marshawn Lynch in his prime, they spent a fourth rounder on Robert Turbin and used their first pick in the 2013 draft on Christine Michael.

For that reason, I have to believe they’d continue to keep adding if the right opportunity emerges.

Anderson might be too risky. Clearly they’ve had to endure enough injury issues. Are they willing to take a chance? With only four picks currently in the 2019 draft, can they afford a move like this?

Or do they have to max-out their picks, with Anderson providing an opportunity to get big value potentially early in day three?

For some years now we’ve been able to identify what a Seahawks running back looks like. Here’s a note from a piece written after the 2018 combine:

The Seahawks have targeted running backs with explosive athleticism and size during the Pete Carroll era. They’ve consistently taken runners who excelled in the vertical and broad jumps. Christine Michael (220lbs), C.J. Prosise (220lbs), Robert Turbin (222lbs), Alex Collins (217lbs) and Spencer Ware (228lbs) all had similar size, height and athletic profiles.

Clearly this is a meaningful trend. The Seahawks appear to have a ‘type’. Using this information, we highlighted the following players in the previous two drafts as potential targets:

2016:

C.J. Prosise — 6-0, 220lbs, 35.5 inch vert, 10-1 broad
Kenneth Dixon — 5-10, 215lbs, 37.5 inch vert, 10-8 broad

2017:

Christopher Carson — 6-0, 218lbs, 37 inch vert, 10-10 broad
Brian Hill — 6-0, 219lbs, 34 inch vert, 10-5 broad
Alvin Kamara — 5-10, 214lbs, 39.5 inch vert, 10-11 broad
Joe Williams — 5-11, 210lbs, 35 inch vert, 10-5 broad

They eventually drafted Prosise and Carson.

Considering how many running backs were available in 2016 & 2017, to narrow it down to six names and hit on two players they actually drafted is not insignificant.

This trend continued in the 2018 class. We were able to identify the following group as ‘definite’ fits in terms of their physical profile:

Saquon Barkley — 6-0, 233lbs, 41 inch vert DNP broad
Kerryon Johnson — 5-11, 213lbs 40 inch vert, 10-6 broad
Bo Scarborough — 6-0, 228lbs, 40 inch vert, 10-9 broad
Nick Chubb — 5-11, 227lbs, 38.5 inch vert, 10-8 broad
John Kelly — 5-10, 216lbs, 35 inch vert, 10-0 broad

And described the following group as borderline fits:

Lavon Coleman — 5-10, 223lbs, 33 inch vert, 10-0 broad
Rashaad Penny — 5-11, 220lbs, 32.5 inch vert, 10-0 broad
Royce Freeman — 5-11, 229lbs, 34 inch vert, 9-10 broad

They took Penny with their first pick. He was considered ‘borderline’ rather than a definite fit purely because his explosive testing wasn’t quite at the level of their previous selections. Even so — in terms of size he matched. His speed (4.46 forty) clearly intrigued them enough to concede a little in the explosive testing. That’s something to consider going forward — but their ‘type’ remains clear.

Again, being able to narrow down a loaded 2018 class of runners to eight names isn’t insignificant. They ended up carrying Lavon Coleman on their practise squad too, plus Pete Carroll admitted interest in Royce Freeman during his mid-week press conference before the Denver game.

Anderson at 6-1 and 220lbs fits in terms of size. His SPARQ testing also shows he’s a highly explosive athlete. He jumped a 37-inch vertical. The broad jump isn’t part of SPARQ but he also ran a 3.97 short-shuttle which is impressive for a big running back. In comparison, Bryce Love ran a 4.21 at SPARQ despite being much lighter.

Here’s a further example of his explosive athleticism:

I spent a bit of time watching his tape after studying Kyler Murray this week. Despite carrying 220lbs he accelerates away from defenders to act as a home-run hitter and his ability to change direction and cut back into space is highly impressive.

Here’s an example:

If you need him to fight through contact, he’ll do it:

Can he make plays in the passing game? Absolutely:

Anderson is an early round talent that will last due to the injury history. It’s possible he’ll continue to miss time at the next level and never truly realise his potential. That said, whoever takes him will get a player with a lot more potential than the other players drafted in the same round.

If the Seahawks want to continue to collect runners for their run-heavy offense, Anderson could be an option if he lasts into the third or fourth round.

If you missed yesterday’s piece on Kyler Murray and SPARQ testing, click here.

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Wednesday notes: Kyler Murray & SPARQ numbers

Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray has already signed a deal with the Oakland A’s

Kyler Murray is the best draft eligible quarterback

It’s not a great quarterback class. There’s not an obvious top-10 talent.

We could see Drew Lock go very early. Or Dwayne Haskins. It seems somewhat likely they’ll be the first two quarterbacks taken (assuming Haskins declares and Oregon’s Justin Hebert doesn’t).

That said, I’d take my chances on Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray.

He says he’s still planning to return to baseball. Murray was the #9 overall pick in the last MLB draft, picked by the Oakland A’s. He agreed a deal that contained a $4.66m signing bonus. Murray’s baseball agent says he’s committed to Oakland.

It could come down to money. Josh Rosen, the #10 pick in the NFL draft this year, received a $10.87m signing bonus from the Cardinals with $17.5m guaranteed overall. If teams are willing to draft Murray in the top-15 he has a decision to make.

Lamar Jackson, the #32 overall pick, received a signing bonus worth $4.9m. It’s similar to Murray’s MLB deal. In that scenario, it might still be a decision worth contemplating. As a late first round or early second round pick, Murray would expect to start sooner rather than later (Jackson is now a rookie starter in Baltimore). If he’s drafted in the third round, he’s getting less money and there’s no guarantee he’ll ever truly compete to start (and might even be drafted by a team looking for a backup).

It’s a tough call for NFL teams too. If Murray opts for the NFL — will he be making the move knowing he can always turn to baseball in the future? Will he be constantly weighing up the two sports? Or will he simply move on with the occasional flirt (see: Russell Wilson)?

They’d also have to consider that there isn’t anyone like Murray in the league. Wilson was short but sturdy and played in a distinctly pro-style offense at Wisconsin. Murray is listed at 5-10 and 195lbs. That’s 10lbs lighter than Wilson at the 2012 combine. Can Murray get over 200lbs to allay some of those fears?

Either way, I promised never to write a player off due to height after the Wilson experience. So I’m not going to do that with Murray. And for me, he’s the most exciting QB eligible for this class. He’s an accurate passer with great feel and understanding in the pocket. He can improvise and extend plays when required. He has a terrific arm and can make the big plays downfield. He’s even more impressive when he throws with touch — and watching multiple games in the last couple of days there were clear examples where Murray delivered a beautiful touch pass. One in particular stood out — the tight end ran to the sideline on a scramble drill and Murray looped a pass over the head of one defensive back but kept the ball away from the safety. It was inch perfect.

He’s also a tremendous athlete capable of breaking contain and making big gains with his legs. He throws well on the run — whether that’s downfield or finding a check-down. There’s a lot to like.

Teams like the Giants, Dolphins, Jaguars and Redskins — they need a long term answer at quarterback. And if I’m thinking of going in that direction in 2019 — I’m getting the message out to Murray’s people that we’re interested. He’d be the most unorthodox NFL quarterback at his size. It could easily be that it doesn’t work out, that he struggles like other QB’s missing the ideal height and frame. I think you have to keep your options open though. Especially if you’re in the market for a quarterback.

Murray has something about him. A special quality. He’d be the player I’d be showing most interest in if this was a blog focusing on a team with a QB need. I think he’s worthy of first round consideration.

It’s also worth mentioning that John Schneider attended the Oklahoma vs West Virginia game recently. Murray would be an ideal project for Seattle. Wilson is now 30. It wouldn’t be the worst time to draft a highly talented quarterback. Clearly Wilson is in his prime and having a tremendous year. He’s worthy of the contract extension he’ll likely receive within the next 18 months. But it’d be ideal to have an option when he reaches age 34. At that point, are you thinking about a fourth contract? You’d at least welcome an alternative that is trained in your offense.

New England drafted Jimmy Garoppolo in round two in 2014. He was a possible replacement for Tom Brady. In the end, the Pats traded Garoppolo for an early pick and stuck with Brady. They had that choice.

It might be time for the Seahawks to give themselves a similar option a few years down the line. Murray would fit the bill. There are two problems though — is he even willing to sit and wait for his chance with a $4.66m signing bonus to play in the MLB? And can the Seahawks justify a move like this when they currently only have four picks in the 2019 draft and clear defensive needs?

SPARQ scores for the 2019 class

Most of the top players take part in the Nike SPARQ events during recruitment. It’s a chance to show off their physical potential. It also gives us an early insight into how certain players might test at the NFL combine.

It has to be noted that the players have since grown, developed, been on proper diets and spent more time in the weight room. Some players might be slower because they’re bigger — others might’ve developed significantly since High School. This is nothing more than a gauge. Generally though, the top athletes are the top athletes. Josh Sweat for example had an unreal SPARQ score in High School and then blew up the NFL combine this year.

Some of the best players didn’t take part in SPARQ (Nick Bosa, Clelin Ferrell and Christian Wilkins for example) while others such as Kyler Murray seemed to attend but not test. I’ve listed the players high-to-low based on their scores. It’s also worth mentioning — size matters. The heavier players aren’t going to score as well.

Terry McLaurin (WR, Ohio State)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 184
Forty: 4.41
Short shuttle: 4.13
Vertical: 42
SPARQ: 141.96

K.J. Hill (WR, Ohio State)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 192
Forty: 4.65
Short shuttle: 3.88
Vertical: 40
SPARQ: 133.95

Porter Gustin (LB, USC)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 238
Forty: 4.63
Short shuttle: 4.13
Vertical: 34
SPARQ: 130.44

Bryce Love (RB, Stanford)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180
Forty: 4.47
Short shuttle: 3.90
Vertical: 37
SPARQ: 129.75

Damien Harris (RB, Alabama)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 208
Forty: 4.48
Short shuttle: 4.00
Vertical: 38
SPARQ: 126.93

Marvell Tell (S, USC)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 184
Forty: 4.55
Short shuttle: 4.19
Vertical: 39
SPARQ: 125.16

Christian Miller (EDGE, Alabama)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 212
Forty: 4.74
Short shuttle: 4.18
Vertical: 39
SPARQ: 124.17

Devin White (LB, LSU)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 260
Forty: 4.57
Short shuttle: 4.36
Vertical: 34
SPARQ: 122.19

Austin Bryant (EDGE, Clemson)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 249
Forty: 4.99
Short shuttle: 4.31
Vertical: 32
SPARQ: 109.80

Rodney Anderson (RB, Oklahoma)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 205
Forty: 4.63
Short shuttle: 3.97
Vertical: 37
SPARQ: 109.29

Rashan Gary (DE, Michigan)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 287
Forty: 4.74
Short shuttle: 4.38
Vertical: 32
SPARQ: 109.17

Taylor Rapp (S, Washington)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 199
Forty: 4.74
Short shuttle: 4.09
Vertical: 32
SPARQ: 108.3

Deionte Thompson (S, Alabama)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
Forty: 4.77
Short shuttle: 3.98
Vertical: 36
SPARQ: 107.40

Ed Oliver (DT, Houston)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 289
Forty: 4.87
Short shuttle: 4.52
Vertical: 30
SPARQ: 105.63

Trayvon Mullen (CB, Clemson)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 170
Forty: 4.52
Short shuttle: 4.24
Vertical: 35
SPARQ: 101.49

Jerry Tillery (DT, Notre Dame)
Height: 6-6
Weight: 317
Forty: 5.17
Short shuttle: 4.53
Vertical: 28
SPARQ: 100.14

Cameron Smith (LB, USC)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 236
Forty: 4.82
Short shuttle: 4.28
Vertical: 32
SPARQ: 96.45

Raekwon Davis (DT, Alabama)
Height: 6-8
Weight: 318
Forty: 5.49
Short shuttle: 4.84
Vertical: 26
SPARQ: 93.63

Brian Burns (EDGE, Florida State)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 213
Forty: 4.76
Short shuttle: 4.50
Vertical: 34
SPARQ: 92.04

Jonathan Ledbetter (DE, Georgia)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 276
Forty: 5.04
Short shuttle: 4.69
Vertical: 28
SPARQ: 91.47

Jordan Fuller (S, Ohio State)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205
Forty: 4.51
Short shuttle: 4.40
Vertical: 33
SPARQ: 90.96

Quinnen Williams (DT, Alabama)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 260
Forty: 5.24
Short shuttle: 4.72
Vertical: 29
SPARQ: 90.3

D’Andre Walker (EDGE, Georgia)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 213
Forty: 4.63
Short shuttle: 4.16
Vertical: 33
SPARQ: 89.91

Dexter Lawrence (DT, Clemson)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 335
Forty: 5.03
Short shuttle: 4.61
Vertical: 23
SPARQ: 88.98

Drew Lock (QB, Missouri)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 204
Forty: 4.84
Short shuttle: 4.35
Vertical: 31
SPARQ: 88.38

Jaquan Johnson (S, Miami)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 182
Forty: 4.75
Short shuttle: 4.28
Vertical: 33
SPARQ: 87.78

Greg Little (T, Ole Miss)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 213
Forty: 5.75
Short shuttle: 4.70
Vertical: 26
SPARQ: 86.1

Jeffrey Simmons (DT, Mississippi State)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 262
Forty: 4.96
Short shuttle: 4.61
Vertical: 25
SPARQ: 83.79

Jonah Williams (G, Alabama)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 280
Forty: 5.14
Short shuttle: 4.66
Vertical: 27
SPARQ: 82.35

Joe Jackson (DE, Miami)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 237
Forty: 4.83
Short shuttle: 4.93
Vertical: 32
SPARQ: 80.31

Cody Ford (T, Oklahoma)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 314
Forty: 5.53
Short shuttle: 4.79
Vertical: 23
SPARQ: 76.71

Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 322
Forty: 5.28
Short shuttle: 4.82
Vertical: 23
SPARQ: 64.38

What stands out…

The top two players listed here are Ohio State wide receivers. I’m a big fan of Terry McLaurin based on what I’ve seen in 2018. Dynamic, able to separate and get downfield. His best football could come at the next level.

Rashan Gary’s short shuttle of 4.38 at 287lbs is eye-catching. He was recruited as a defensive tackle prospect (Rivals viewed Gary and Dexter Lawrence as the best defensive tackle duo they’d ever seen within the same class). It’s a quicker time than Bradley Chubb ran this year at 269lbs. Rasheem Green ran a 4.39 at 275lbs. That’s the type of potential Green has — even if we haven’t seen much from him as a rookie in Seattle.

Jerry Tillery’s short shuttle of 4.53 at 317lbs and Dexter Lawrence’s 4.61 at 335lbs are also worth noting. Taven Bryan ran a 4.50 at 290lbs and landed in round one this year. Lawrence ran the same time as Jeffrey Simmons despite a 73lb weight difference. Brian Burns ran a 4.50. Again, that puts the times of Tillery and Lawrence into perspective.

Austin Bryant also performed well in the short shuttle, running a 4.31. That’s a similar time to Josh Sweat (4.28) at almost identical weights. Sweat only fell in the draft this year due to injury concerns.

USC’s Porter Gustin won’t be an early pick but he’s someone to keep in the back of your mind. Before picking up an injury this year he had 10 TFL’s and seven sacks in just six games. Production + athleticism.

I’ve been saying for a while I don’t really understand the hype around Alabama safety Deionte Thompson. He’s not a bad player but where’s the evidence of a first round talent? At SPARQ testing he ran a 4.77 at 175lbs. Rashan Gary ran a quicker time (4.74) at 287lbs. Thompson might be faster now but he’s not going to run a 4.4 or 4.5. He did test very well in the short shuttle with a sub-4.00 time of 3.98. I think he’s a cornerback in a system like Seattle’s. Long arms, lean frame, quick feet, physical. I’d be projecting him at corner as a mid-round pick.

D’Andre Walker’s short shuttle of 4.13 is quicker than Leighton Vander Esch’s 4.15 at the NFL combine. Walker’s added 30lbs since he tested at SPARQ. If he produces a similar short shuttle in March with the extra muscle, get ready. People have been underrating him all year.

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Instant reaction: Seahawks handle Niners, move to 7-5

A comfortable win was the order of the day. The Seahawks need to take care of business in their remaining NFC games. This was always going to be the easiest on the slate. It’s unlikely Minnesota or even Arizona will be quite as accommodating as the Niners.

This was Seattle’s 10th straight win against San Francisco. Imagine anticipating that immediately after the 2013 NFC Championship. A rivalry that had developed into the NFL’s best didn’t last long.

There’s not a great deal to take out of the victory other than the win. The offense was efficient, Russell Wilson and the running game on point. The offense makes this team extremely competitive. Losing D.J. Fluker to a ‘pretty significant‘ hamstring strain is a blow.

The defense has some lingering issues. The pass rush still looks light and they give up too many easy big plays.

The Niners had 452 total yards on offense, including 386 passing yards.

San Francisco doesn’t have the worst O-line in the league (at least on paper). Yet this felt like a day where the Seahawks could crank things up (especially with an early and growing lead). It took until the final meaningful play of the game for someone to beat a lineman straight up (Jarran Reed, getting the third and final sack). The previous two both came on a blitz (the first from Bobby Wagner, the second shared between Justin Coleman and Quinton Jefferson).

It felt like a missed opportunity — or at least a further indication of the biggest off-season need.

The linebackers played very well — Wagner and Austin Calitro. Both ended with a pair of TFL’s and Wagner also had a 97-yard pick and a forced fumble plus recovery. It was a superstar performance and should be credited as such, regardless of the opponent.

The unit as a whole concedes too many big plays. Dante Pettis’ 75-yard score is the kind of play this defense is designed to avoid. Limit explosive plays — that’s the aim. It’s not happening at the moment.

The Niners didn’t have the punching power to punish Seattle. At times, however, it was all too easy for them. They could’ve easily scored more than 16 points. I’m not sure whether the defense deserves credit for the fact they didn’t or was it simply a fortunate day against a meek opponent?

The circle isn’t entirely complete and it’s not because of the running game any more.

In the post-season, it could be costly. And it remains, without doubt, the big priority for the off-season. One way or another they have to force more pressure next season. It’ll likely take a draft pick and a free agent addition or two. Extra competition across the board is necessary too. Work is required on the defense.

That’s the key to future improvement. For now, the Seahawks progress to 7-5. After a disjointed 0-2 start, they’ve gone 7-3 losing only to the Rams (twice) and the Chargers. All three losses could’ve ended differently.

Once again, Pete Carroll deserves credit for the way this season has developed into a legit post-season challenge.

Next week is huge. Minnesota at home on Monday Night Football. We saw what Kirk Cousins is capable of, leading a Redskins team to a win in Seattle last year.

It’s a playoff game in all but name.

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