Last week was a debacle in the rain against the Saints. The Seahawks needed a get-right game. This was a routine win and exactly what was required.

The Cardinals are rebuilding with a complete makeover. They’re experimenting with a coach and an offensive philosophy. They have an extremely talented, playmaking quarterback who’s learning on the hoof.

They’re not particularly strong in any facet of the game. Seattle’s defense, running game and special teams were going to get ample opportunity to get back on track.

Job done.

Russell Wilson continued his fast start. The quarterback, like the team, has been a slow starter in the past. This feels like Wilson’s best start to a season. His touch is immaculate, his accuracy on point and he’s playing at a fantastic level.

Will Dissly is a major positive. He was drafted with a reputation for safe hands and quality blocking. He’s proving to be so much more. His ability to find soft-spots in coverage and hurt opponents is a major boost. He’s playing like the complete tight end they hoped Jimmy Graham would turn into. Fingers crossed he stays healthy because he’s doing a fine job as a playmaker and safety net — in many ways making up for the loss of Doug Baldwin.

If they were hoping for another Zach Miller — Dissly is showing the potential to be even better. Fingers crossed he stays healthy. It was even more poignant today given this is the stadium where he suffered his serious knee injury a year ago.

Tyler Lockett remains a top-level receiver and his chemistry with Wilson is a major feature of this offense. D.K. Metcalf has had a good start to his pro-career but he can still make more of his size to box-out smaller receivers. There were a couple of 50-50 situations where he missed out. Julio Jones wins those battles. You don’t mention Julio lightly but that’s the type of physical upside Metcalf has. With Lockett, Dissly and potentially Metcalf if he takes the next step — you’re talking about an incredibly balanced and dynamic passing attack.

The running game has stalled so far but today was always set up for positive gains. Arizona has been struggling to defend the run. It felt like they had a better day than they actually did. 115 yards from 27 carries at 4.3 YPC isn’t anything special. It’s a start though. Chris Carson needed a good day and he finished with 104 yards rushing and 41 receiving. More importantly — he didn’t fumble.

They finished the game with an eight-minute drive.

Defensively it was nice to see a few more plays being made. Rasheem Green had his best game as a pro and hopefully he can gain momentum from this. His sack on Murray in the first half where he stalked him in open space, changed direction and dropped him for a big loss was an amazing display of athleticism. He’s always had that in his locker. Let’s hope he builds on this.

Jadeveon Clowney had an excellent pick-six. Ziggy Ansah finished the game with a sack. Mychal Kendricks, for the first time this year, operated as an effective blitzer and had a couple of sacks. He can do more of that. Shaquille Griffin had a couple of smart break-ups.

Without wanting to tempt fate, Jason Myers deserves a lot of credit for the way he’s played so far.

Overall it was a good, solid win against a team they should beat. There’s only one grumble today…

It’s practically impossible to avoid Twitter during a game. It’s too tempting. Yet it’s also at its absolute worst during a Seahawks game.

The amount of complaining that goes on is unbelievable. A case in point. The Seahawks were leading by 17 points and then, while on offense, were flagged for a penalty. It led to 2nd and 20 in their own half.

They threw to Chris Carson for a five yard gain. A short pass to Will Dissly followed and they were forced to punt.

Immediately there were tweets moaning about ‘playing for the punt’, ‘playing scared’ and ‘not going for the throat’. Those only increased when the Cardinals subsequently scored on a drive that was extended by multiple generous penalty flags including a ridiculous holding call on Tre Flowers.

Apparently it wasn’t enough to have a handsome two-score lead in a divisional contest that was well in control. This needed to be a hammering. The fact they weren’t throwing downfield trying to score on 2nd and 20 with a 17 point lead wasn’t good enough.

What happened, guys?

When did football become a never-ending analysis of what a team should do? Has being right become more important than mere enjoyment of watching your team? Especially during what ended up being a straight-forward victory?

They won 27-10. Yet because in that one scenario — needing 20 yards on 2nd down deep in their own half — people were criticising Pete Carroll and Brian Schottenheimer for not playing aggressively (despite throwing on both downs).

Have a bloody day off and just watch the game.

Other notes…

— Given everything awful that has happened in Arizona’s stadium, it’s quite something that Seattle extended their recent run to 6-0-1 there against the Cardinals.

— The Seahawks and Cardinals weirdly had the same number of pass completions (22), sacks (4), total plays (59), penalties (7) and rushing yards today (115).

— Thursday night, if it’s anything like the two games in 2018, will be a shoot-out. It’ll be interesting to see how the Seahawks play the Rams. New England lined up safety’s at the LOS to deal with the sweeps and misdirection. They also adjusted their coverages before the snap to confuse Jared Goff (who still receives the majority of his coverage reads from Sean McVay). Will the Seahawks mimic some of this? It felt like they were against the Bengals (coached by a McVay disciple) in a ‘practise run’ but they ended up giving up a career yardage day to Andy Dalton. They have more tape on the Rams so might return to it. Or they might just play their way and see if Wilson can outgun Goff.

— The NFC is wide open. We’ve seen so many strange games so far. The Lions, arguably, should be 4-0. They aren’t because they collapsed against this Arizona team to tie. Then they played Kansas City about as well as possible without actually winning. The Eagles lost to the Lions one week then beat the unbeaten Packers on the road the next. Atlanta put themselves in a hole every week by half-time. Drew Brees is injured for the Saints. The Panthers are playing better without Cam Newton. The Bears won today without Chase Daniel at quarterback against a Minnesota team who should be a lot better than they are. The 49ers are unbeaten yet the Rams gave up 54 points in a loss at home to the Buccs (who lost at home to the Giants last week). Dallas are the only team playing consistently well at the moment. Yep, wide open.

— Gardner Minshew. How can you resist the bandwagon? He’s just too much fun.

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Alabama’s DeVonta Smith is exceptionally talented

Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs get all the attention at Alabama. Rightly so too, they’re both terrific players. Jeudy is lean and glides as a runner. He makes contested catches, gets downfield and he has YAC value. Ruggs is reportedly destined to run a 4.2 at the combine and does an excellent job extending to catch the football away from his body.

DeVonta Smith is the third wheel but he too warrants high praise.

Every time I’ve watched Alabama this season he’s stood out. He’s extremely dynamic and sudden and he’s practically unstoppable on slants. He’s an excellent hands-catcher. He has a burst of acceleration to separate and when he has the ball in his hands he can round corners and explode away from potential tacklers.

Against Ole Miss he set school records with eleven catches for 274 yards and FIVE touchdowns. Amari Cooper previously held the single-game yardage mark with 224 set twice (vs Tennessee & Auburn in 2014). The five scores were also a school record on a day Tua Tagovailoa also topped the mark for overall career touchdowns for Alabama.

Smith took a slant 74-yards for a score. He had TD’s on a crossing route with some YAC and a pass into the flat. His fourth touchdown was a deep post. His final score was a great sideline grab running towards the end zone. He basically showed he can score in every way possible in one single game.

At SPARQ he ran a 4.13 short shuttle and jumped a 35-inch vertical. He’s competitive, quick and catches well. If he turns pro after this season, keep an eye on him for the Seahawks. He looks like their type of receiver. Henry Ruggs left the game with a serious looking injury so fingers crossed he’s OK.

On the defensive side of the ball for Alabama, Trevon Diggs is the kind of defensive back the Seahawks could use. He’s tremendously athletic, physical and he tracks the ball well. He’s Stefon Diggs’ brother. He’s also a really good kick returner and had a 36-yard return in the 59-31 hammering of Ole Miss.

Elsewhere…

— On the subject of wide outs, CeeDee Lamb had seven catches for 185 yards and three touchdowns as Oklahoma beat Texas Tech 55-16. Lamb, Jeudy, Ruggs and Smith are just four of a great looking set of receivers for the 2020 draft. The Seahawks seem to have struck gold with D.K. Metcalf and hopefully John Ursua will eventually work his way into a role. Given the talent available at the position in the 2020 class, it’d be a surprise if the Seahawks didn’t tap into the group.

— One other player they could take a long look at is Washington tight end Hunter Bryant. The Huskies are developing a reputation for producing quality tight ends. Very few people talked about Will Dissly and Drew Sample during their final seasons at Washington but both significantly boosted their stock during the off-season and went in the fourth and second round respectively. The Seahawks will certainly need to add at least one tight end for next season. Bryant had a fantastic run and catch for yet another explosive play against USC. He finished with 49 yards on four receptions. He did have a fumble on a botched pitch. He’d be an excellent compliment to Dissly as a move-tight end capable of attacking the seam and creating mismatches. He catches the ball extremely well with strong hands and he’s very athletic. It’d be a surprise if the Seahawks didn’t have their eye on him.

— Jonathan Taylor had 119 yards on 26 carries plus a touchdown as Wisconsin beat Northwestern 24-15. He also had three catches for 15 yards. He can be a featured back and although he lacks top-level explosive athleticism or acceleration — he’s decently good at everything. He can cut, he can run with authority to get the hard yards, he’s not a slouch in the open-field. He has a very good chance to go in the top-50. It’s surprising that Wisconsin don’t feature tight end Jake Ferguson more in the passing game. He had a really good SPARQ score and is a terrific athlete capable of being more than a mere blocker. Some thought he could boost his stock into the early rounds this year.

— Clemson had a real battle against an energised North Carolina team today (and won by a point). Trevor Lawrence was rattled. He still managed to find Tee Higgins for a vital fourth quarter touchdown. Higgins finished with 129 yards on six receptions and a score. Add Higgins’ name to the long list of excellent receiver prospects. Isaiah Simmons had a big sack for a loss of 11-yards. He blitzed from the second level and blew up the attempted block by the running back for the sack. He also had multiple TFL’s. Is he a safety or a linebacker? He might be better at linebacker. Travis Etienne ran for 67 yards on 14 carries.

— I’ve never understood the first round talk surrounding Iowa pass rusher A.J. Epenesa. Where did it come from? He was spelled constantly last year and even in his better games there wasn’t that much to get excited about. This year he has one sack in four games. He had two tackles and a deflected pass only in a 48-3 win over Middle Tennessee today.

— Jeffery Okudah (CB, Ohio State) is showing why he’s the top cornerback in this class. He has great size, outstanding athleticism (he was a top SPARQ prospect) and he does everything. Against Nebraska he’s making jarring open-field tackles and jumped a route to make an interception. His second pick came after he slipped to the turf and showed great reflexes to catch a tipped pass while lying on his back. The Seahawks would surely love to have a player like Okudah. It’s a shame he’ll go in the top-10. Shaun Wade is another talented Ohio State cornerback. He’s a former five-star recruit and can play nickel or outside corner. Like Okudah he has size and is a willing tackler. He’s eligible for the 2020 draft but might stick around as a redshirt sophomore.

I’ll update this post with the later games shortly.

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Jamal Adams might be more strong safety than free but he brings the heat

This has been BAMF week on the blog. I’m not going to keep going over the same subject but I do think this is a warranted discussion based on what we’ve seen after three games. The Seahawks have failed to impose their will on any of their opponents so far and they’ve essentially had a harrowing loss to the Saints and two narrow wins against a pair of teams with a combined 0-6 record.

They will always have the potential of an explosive, playmaking offense with Russell Wilson under center. What they’re missing is a compliment. As noted yesterday, the Rams pair a highly efficient offense with the game-wrecking ability of Aaron Donald. The Patriots have Tom Brady on offense and the greatest defensive schemer for a Head Coach.

Teams used to fear playing the Seahawks. Since the start of the 2017 season they’re only 11-7 at Century Link Field. That’s astonishing. It would’ve been unthinkable a few years ago.

They’re just not that scary any more.

They aren’t the bully. Not since Marshawn Lynch and Kam Chancellor, plus several others, departed. They need to get that back.

It’s still early in the season and things can change. Marquise Blair will, hopefully, deliver a fear factor to the secondary when he eventually comes into the team. He was drafted to provide hits. That’s badly needed right now.

Chris Carson hasn’t become a bad player overnight. He’s still a terrific, explosive and powerful runner. As long as he sorts this fumbling issue out he can deliver the running game required to help knit everything together. He also needs help from the O-line which has so far been more talk than results.

If things don’t change, however, the Seahawks will face an off-season where they have a haul of picks (enhanced further with the Nick Vannett-to-Pittsburgh trade for a fifth rounder) and an estimated $75-80m to spend in cap space.

Back in 2011 they needed free agency to give things a jolt. They spent big on Sidney Rice, Zach Miller and Robert Gallery. The results were mixed but it was an act of aggression to add talent following the lockout. The Seahawks have enough money to similarly be pro-active in 2020 if that ends up being necessary.

I don’t want to jump too far ahead and understandably you might respond to this article by saying it’s too soon to have this conversation. A big win against Arizona on Sunday will right the ship and the mood in Seattle will flip completely if they’re 3-1 and preparing to host the Rams.

That said — I think a conversation like this after a game like the Saints loss can be a good thing. Who wants to linger on that game anyway?

I also wrote before the season started that the reset wasn’t complete. It felt like they needed another off-season to take a further step forwards. This could well be the step they need to take.

(If you missed it yesterday here’s my first 2020 mock draft of the season)

I spent last night trying to find safety’s in this draft who make big plays or deliver big hits and the options are severely limited. The best overall player in the 2020 class might be a safety (Grant Delpit) but after that it’s slim pickings. There are cornerbacks with major talent, ball-skills and physicality (Trevon Diggs, Jeffrey Okudah, Kristian Fulton) but they all might be high picks — and this is a position the Seahawks have traditionally avoided until later on.

If they want to enhance their physicality in the draft in the early rounds the best options might be on the O-line and D-line. There are a cluster of aggressive, large offensive linemen such as Isaiah Wilson, Tyler Biadasz, Prince Tega Wanogho, Lucas Niang, Tristan Wirfs and Trey Adams. There are also big, physical defensive linemen such as Derrick Brown, Raekwon Davis and Javon Kinlaw.

In terms of free agency and the trade market, I’ve been trying to find some options.

The Seahawks need playmakers and tone-setters in the secondary. Jamal Adams increasingly appears dissatisfied in New York. He was strangely benched after a misplay against Cleveland and there seems to be a growing disconnect between the staff and player.

A trade this season is a stretch but the Jets have a new GM/coach combo. They didn’t draft Adams and safety is one of the few positions where the Jets have some depth. They need to build around Sam Darnold and might be prepared to sacrifice a good player at the end of the year to get more stock — especially with a good looking draft class at receiver and offensive line.

Given Seattle’s need and the distinct lack of safety talent eligible for 2020, this wouldn’t be a bad consideration. It’d be costly — at least a first round pick — but Adams only turns 24 in October. He would offer the physicality and leadership they require and he was a significant playmaker at LSU.

The only issue is Adams is not a rangy free safety and is more suited to the strong safety role presumably saved for Marquise Blair. A combo of Adams and Blair is an intriguing thought though if they can be interchangeable. They’d certainly pack a punch.

If a trade for Jamal Adams isn’t possible, Oakland’s Karl Joseph is a free agent in 2020. I can’t recall seeing a bigger hitter in college in the 11 years I’ve been writing this blog. He was an absolute sledgehammer and a playmaker. He could also cover, lined up 1v1 against Sterling Shepard at Oklahoma and it wasn’t a surprise he ended up being a top-15 pick in 2016.

After a tough start to his pro-career he’s settled in with the Raiders. They drafted Johnathan Abram this year and it’s possible Joseph will move on. If that’s the case, the Seahawks could take a look. They need a bit of this…

The Seahawks need some dogs too. They need guys who are a little unhinged. Marcus Peters made a lot of headlines in Kansas City. He’s been a lot quieter with the Rams. He’s also a free agent in the off-season. He could be retained by LA — but would you be willing to roll the dice on his talent to get a player you know is a very capable playmaker at cornerback who brings the heat every week?

Everson Griffen will likely be a cap casualty in the off-season. He’s ageing but still effective and could provide a veteran presence if they don’t keep Jadeveon Clowney and/or Ziggy Ansah. Vic Beasley and Yannick Ngakoue are also free agents. They might be costly but could provide some complimentary quickness to the rush that is currently lacking.

If they’re going to keep any of their own free agents — the best bet remains Jarran Reed. They’re missing what he brings in terms of toughness and physicality. He might end up being an even more important player to keep based on what we’ve seen from the team so far.

The absolutely best possible move would be for the Jaguars to cut Calais Campbell in order to create $15m in cap space and for the Seahawks to finally fulfil their destiny and have Campbell anchor their D-line next to Reed, rotating in with Poona Ford.

Again, let’s hope Chris Carson gets back on track. He has the talent and running style to lead this team for years. Thomas Rawls was the future once, however. So it’s important Carson moves on from this difficult start.

The fact they spent a first round pick on Rashaad Penny also factors in. Does he get an opportunity to take Carson’s job if he doesn’t rekindle his best form? And can Penny stay healthy?

If — and I accept it’s a big if — they want to try and repeat the Marshawn Lynch trade, there are a couple of options.

It hasn’t worked for Leonard Fournette in Jacksonville. It seems he’s faced some of the same issues as Jalen Ramsey and a parting appeared likely at one point a year ago. Now he’s stuck in an offense that wiped away the running game in Minnesota in 2018.

Fournette was a incredible prospect at LSU and that’s why he went in the top five. In the right environment I still think he could thrive. Lynch’s face didn’t fit in Buffalo but he became a legend in Seattle. Could the same happen for Fournette?

It’ll also be interesting to see what happens with Melvin Gordon in Los Angeles. He’s not quite the physical force Fournette is but he’s had a lot more success in the league. A divorce with the Chargers seems unavoidable. It’s just a question of whether he walks as a free agent, via a tag-and-trade scenario or if he’s dealt before the trade deadline.

Hopefully neither move is necessary but it’s something to consider given the importance Carroll places on the running game and the struggles at the start of this season.

If they want to look outside for an offensive tackle, Jack Conklin is a free agent in 2020. He’s not lived up to expectations at Tennessee as a former #8 overall pick and the Titans declined his fifth year option.

Here’s how a NFC North scout described him pre-draft:

“That is a dude, right there. He was busting up Ohio State in the fourth quarter of that game not because he was more talented than those guys but because he just wanted it more. He’s tougher than old beef jerky. He fits in our division.”

If they move on from Germain Ifedi and/or George Fant and don’t draft a replacement, we’ve seen them take on reclamation projects in the past. Conklin could be an option.

The issue with all of the suggestions above is they’re all big names or former high draft picks. That’s not how the Seahawks built their Super Bowl team. They signed players who’d been disrespected or ignored. Players falling into the mid-to-late rounds of the draft, players left unsigned in free agency. The only real splurge they had was the post-lockout spend on Sidney Rice, Zach Miller and co.

I can write out names like this but the reality is they probably need to find some of the missing grit, determination and passion to prove people wrong. That might be as important as the need for physicality. Have some of their recent draft picks truly arrived on a mission to make it? They might be good players but were they pissed off for greatness, as we used to say about Richard Sherman and others?

The Seahawks have really good players. They have an exceptional quarterback. Whether they have the ‘edge’ to be great — that’s the big question.

If you have any further suggestions, let me know in the comments section.

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Georgia’s Isaiah Wilson is 6-7 and about 340lbs

We’re only three games into the season and it’s still a little early to determine what the Seahawks key needs will be in the off-season.

However, three areas stand out at the moment:

1. Playmaking and physicality in the secondary

2. Replacing prospective free agents on the defensive line

3. Replacing prospective free agents on the offensive line

More importantly though, as discussed already this week, something is seriously missing in the BAMF department.

Teams used to hate coming to Seattle. They had to face Marshawn Lynch and Kam Chancellor. How often did an opponent play the Seahawks and nearly always lose the following week? Remember when we used to talk about that? Seattle beat other teams up. They were the toughest team in the league.

Everything played off the attitude, intensity and fear factor of that duo. Granted they were supported well by other players who were a mix of supremely talented and gritty. The addition of Russell Wilson at quarterback was the final piece of the puzzle.

I do think you need more than one factor though, beyond just the quarterback, to succeed. That’s perhaps where the Seahawks currently suffer. Wilson has developed into a fantastic quarterback and the focal point of the team. Is he supported well enough though?

Sean McVay’s offense is electric. Yet teams are absolutely scared to death at the prospect of facing Aaron Donald. Take away Donald and the Rams are nowhere near the same force. The dynamic offense plus Donald is a winning combo.

New England has Tom Brady. They also have Bill Belichick who game plans on defense better than anyone. Look what he did to stymie the Rams in the Super Bowl. He’s a master tactician and the two have enjoyed unrivalled success as a consequence.

The Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes and based on what we’ve seen so far, he could turn into the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. I suspect, however, he won’t convert that to Championship’s until he’s complimented in some way. The Chiefs are trying to build up their defense. If they trade for Jalen Ramsey to go with Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu — would you bet against them winning it all this year? Without a great defense, are they going to face the same fate against New England in the playoffs that they suffered last season?

Wilson’s in the same boat. He can’t do it alone, no matter how talented he is. He helped the Seahawks to win a Super Bowl alongside the intensity brought by Lynch and Chancellor. Given Pete Carroll’s chosen philosophy and style of play, they need that back. They don’t have it. No turnovers, no big hits, no real imposing of will.

We’ve only had three games so there’s still time for players to emerge, grow and develop into long term pieces on this (still) re-setting team. It’d be wrong for me or anyone else to make final judgements on this roster so early in the season. Yet I feel somewhat confident this is a need we’ll be talking about for most of the year.

Identifying the players to help fill this need won’t be easy. Who could’ve realistically projected fifth round safety Kam Chancellor would be so integral months before he was drafted? How many of us thought it’d be possible to acquire Marshawn Lynch for a fourth round pick and a bag of football’s?

The Seahawks had a knack of finding the right guys in the early years under Carroll and Schneider. Chris Clemons, Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner. The way they found a role for Red Bryant because he added so much in terms of personality and toughness. Breno Giacomini at right tackle. They didn’t become the toughest team in the league with first round picks. They found these players in so many different ways.

Now they have to repeat that, some how.

They don’t need a team of physical tone-setters either. Lynch connected the offense and defense practically single-handed. Chancellor was the godfather of the defense. If it was the right player, it might only take one addition to bring back some of that brutality and connect everything again.

Let’s go back to the specific positional needs as we assess the situation today.

1. Playmaking and physicality in the secondary

Last season the Seahawks didn’t have enough turnovers in the secondary. Earl Thomas and Justin Coleman combined for four interceptions and have since departed. Bradley McDougald had three picks. Shaquill Griffin had two (both in the same game against Chicago) and Tedric Thompson caught a Hail Mary.

In three games so far, the Seahawks have had only one interception — Bradley McDougald’s on a botched attempt at a catch by Donte Moncrief.

They need help from the pass rush for sure. It’s also difficult to force mistakes when you spot an opponent 20 points like the Seahawks did on Sunday. Yet something is still missing in the secondary. It’s unrealistic to expect the second coming of the LOB. They need to be better than this, though.

There’s no hitting, no playmaking and nobody helping to set a tone. Marquise Blair was drafted to provide some of this and hopefully sooner rather than later he’ll be ready to play. It might even be worth him taking some lumps over the coming weeks to learn on the fly — just to get the hits he provides. There needs to be some fear factor for opponents.

Even if Blair becomes a starter, they’ll still need more. At cornerback and safety.

According to Mike Garafolo, a big trade for Jalen Ramsey is unlikely:

The Seahawks don’t appear to be in the running for Jalen Ramsey, per @MikeGarafolo!

— 950 KJR (@SportsRadioKJR) September 24, 2019

This seems like a good draft class for cornerbacks. There are several that could go in the top-45. The Seahawks haven’t entertained the possibility of a high pick at corner though. The scheme is supposed to make the position interchangeable. Plug-in-and-play. Yet without a top safety, the cornerbacks are more exposed.

The safety class at the moment doesn’t look as strong. LSU’s Grant Delpit will go in the top five or six picks. Isaiah Simmons will also likely go in round one but he’s a bigger strong safety and surely they have that role earmarked for Marquise Blair. After that, there aren’t currently any obvious first or second round alternatives.

It’ll be interesting to see how they approach this but we need to closely monitor the defensive backs in college football this season — especially those making big plays and playing with physicality. This is an area that must be addressed one way or another in the off-season barring a big turnaround in the coming weeks. They’ve tried to draft and develop cheaper players to replace the LOB and it just hasn’t happened.

2. Replacing prospective free agents on the defensive line

Jarran Reed is yet to sign a new contract while Jadeveon Clowney and Ziggy Ansah are both on short term deals. It’s too early to say whether any or all will be kept. Clowney has had a quiet start with only a few flashes. It’d be unfair to judge Ansah on his limited performance against New Orleans but he’s already missed two games and he doesn’t have time to settle into top form if he’s going to earn a longer deal. Reed is suspended and will be a difficult re-sign given the potential cost of keeping him after 2018’s 10.5 sack season.

They’ll hope L.J. Collier and Rasheem Green continue to develop. It’s still hard to imagine Green turning into a dynamic force for this team based on what he’s shown so far. He’s making slow progress and they’ll need to see a jump eventually. It’s too soon to judge Collier but having invested a first round pick in him they’ll want him to turn into a starter. Quinton Jefferson has had a good start to the 2019 season.

It’s a massive shame they couldn’t sign Calais Campbell when he left Arizona to go to Jacksonville.

The Seahawks have a projected $75-80m in cap space for 2020 so they’ll have room to make additions. Yannick Ngakoue and Leonard Williams are big name free agents but will likely cost mega money. Von Miller and Everson Griffen are possible cap casualties. It feels like they need some proven experience.

Hopefully Clowney can take a step forward and warrant consideration for a long term deal. He’s at a great age and he has everything physically. He needs to start impacting games though.

3. Replacing prospective free agents on the offensive line

Germain Ifedi, George Fant and Mike Iupati are all free agents in 2020. We’ll see what the Seahawks decide to do there. Fant could be retained modestly given his limited starting experience. Phil Haynes could be the long term successor for Iupati. They’ve opted to go for veteran experience on short term deals recently so that’ll likely be reviewed again. However, with some decent right tackle options eligible for the 2020 draft they could invest a high pick at the position if Ifedi moves on.

Onto the mock draft. Don’t pay too much attention to team needs at this point.

#1 Miami — Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama)
Some teams think conventionally. Tua is the favourite to go #1 overall but rightly or wrongly some teams won’t want a 5-11, left handed quarterback.

#2 New York Jets — Andrew Thomas (T, Georgia)
Supremely balanced and consistent — Thomas looks the part of a NFL left tackle. His footwork is superb and he anchors brilliantly.

#3 Cincinnati — Justin Herbert (QB, Oregon)
Tall, mobile and with a strong arm. Herbert has all the qualities teams look for — he just needs refinement and the right scheme to flourish.

#4 Miami (via Pittsburgh) — Grant Delpit (S, LSU)
Arguably the top draft eligible player for 2020. Delpit has the range and tenacity to play safety and the ball-skills, recovery speed and athleticism to play corner.

#5 Denver — Jeffrey Okudah (CB, Ohio State)
He will destroy the combine and was a 142.56 athlete at SPARQ. Sticky in coverage but packs a punch as an open-field tackler.

#6 Washington — Jerry Jeudy (WR, Alabama)
Lean, sudden and can beat you in a number of ways. Jeudy is capable of getting downfield to make the big explosive play but he’s equally adept on WR screens.

#7 Arizona — Tristan Wirfs (T, Iowa)
If you can lift 450lbs in the hang clean, breaking the Iowa record by Brandon Scherff, NFL teams will take notice. He also jumps a 35-inch vertical and a 9-5 broad.

#8 Cleveland — Chase Young (DE, Ohio State)
Super-quick edge rusher who’s flashed for a couple of years. Will need to test well to max-out his stock and measurable’s will be important.

#9 Jacksonville — Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)
Physical, tone-setting defensive lineman with the size, stoutness, quickness and ability to penetrate with speed or power. He can play any down/distance.

#10 Oakland — Dylan Moses (LB, Alabama)
Talent-wise he’s a sure-fire top-10 pick but there is some doubt after he suffered an ACL injury. He’s in the Devin White and Roquan Smith mould.

#11 LA Chargers — Jordan Love (QB, Utah State)
Capable of making all sorts of throws on the run and has the arm/mobility that will appeal to teams looking for the next Mahomes or Murray.

#12 Tennessee — Trevon Diggs (CB, Alabama)
Incredibly competitive cornerback who does an excellent job tracking the ball and breaking up passes. Highly athletic but with an injury history. Stefon Diggs’ brother.

#13 Atlanta — Raekwon Davis (DT, Alabama)
Playing under the pressure of expectation at Alabama but the fact is he’s a mean, highly athletic 6-7 and 305lbs defender whose best football is still to come.

#14 New York Giants — Tee Higgins (WR, Clemson)
Incredibly smooth, quick and reliable. Clemson receivers are always well coached and Higgins looks the part of a productive NFL receiver.

#15 Tampa Bay — Javon Kinlaw (DT, South Carolina)
He’s +300lbs but carries minimal body fat. His ability to convert speed-to-power is incredible and he dominated Alabama’s O-line at times last week.

#16 Carolina — Walker Little (T, Stanford)
Has suffered a season-ending injury. Ran a 4.40 short shuttle at SPARQ and scored an overall 107.25 (the top score by an offensive lineman in 2016).

#17 Philadelphia — D’Andre Swift (RB, Georgia)
A big play threat with the power to get the hard yards. He looks like Dalvin Cook but with more explosive power and quicker acceleration.

#18 Oakland (via Chicago) — Isaiah Simmons (S, Clemson)
Will be valued for his leadership and ability to make plays dropping in coverage or operating at or near the LOS. A tone setter.

#19 Seattle — Isaiah Wilson (T, Georgia)
He’s 6-7 and 340lbs but carries it very well. Great length and power at the point of attack and capable of driving big running lanes.

#20 Minnesota — Prince Tega Wanogho (T, Auburn)
Very much a right tackle prospect who lacks the foot-speed and drop to be a great pass blocker but he delivers a great punch and has value as a run blocker.

#21 Indianapolis — Travis Etienne (RB, Clemson)
Highly explosive running back with a similar running style to C.J. Spiller minus the elite track speed. Can be a X-factor at the position.

#22 Baltimore — Tyler Biadasz (C, Wisconsin)
Blocking form is inconsistent. He leans too much and defenders often jump back so he loses balance. When he locks on he can control linemen.

#23 New Orleans — Laviska Shenault Jr (WR, Colorado)
Has been slow to get going this season but at his best he’s a swiss-army knife in the Percy Harvin mould. Imagine him in the Saints’ offense.

#24 Detroit — Kristian Fulton (CB, LSU)
Big, physical cornerback who tracks the ball almost as well as Trevon Diggs. Despite his size Fulton does a job kicking inside to cover the slot.

#25 Miami (via Houston) — Lucas Niang (T, TCU)
Too upright and his footwork is poor leading to off-balance sets. However, he flashes athleticism and he recovers well. Not often beaten but technique needs refining.

#26 New England — Henry Ruggs (WR, Alabama)
Catches the ball well with outstretched arms and has a surprising catch-radius. Expected to run in the 4.2’s at the combine. Big-time playmaker.

#27 San Franciso — Jonathan Taylor (RB, Wisconsin)
Some of his cuts have to be seen to be believed and when he finds a crease he’s capable of going through the gears to turn a big play into a scoring play.

#28 Dallas — Jabari Zuniga (DE, Florida)
Typical Florida defensive end with a great combination of size and speed. Got off to a good start this season but left the game against Kentucky with an ankle injury.

#29 Buffalo — CeeDee Lamb (WR, Oklahoma)
Not quite at the level of some of the other receivers in this class but still very talented and capable of getting downfield to take the top off a defense.

#30 Green Bay — Najee Harris (RB, Alabama)
A dynamic athlete capable of running through arm-tackles and hurdling defenders. Has a burst of speed. Scored a spectacular touchdown against South Carolina.

#31 LA Rams — C.J. Henderson (CB, Florida)
Could be a dynamic nickel at the next level. His tackling is inconsistent but he’s a 4.3 runner in coverage. At SPARQ he ran a sensational 3.92 short shuttle.

#32 Kansas City — J.K. Dobbins (RB, Ohio State)
A SPARQ god who led the nation in 2016 with his 146.76 score. Has ideal size and athleticism and can get the tough yards and be a home-run hitter.

Thoughts on Seattle’s pick

Isaiah Wilson looks like their type of player for many reasons. He has incredible strength, length and power. He’s a good run-blocking tackle who drives defenders off the line and creates big running lanes. In pass-protection some of his drops are a little deep and he can improve by playing more inside-out. However, he’s extremely talented and if Germain Ifedi moves on they’ll need to look at their options. They’ll need those two second round picks to help produce talent in the secondary.

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For instant reaction thoughts after the New Orleans loss click here.

The Seahawks aren’t a finesse team. They might be a ‘wannabe’ though. Their desire is to be the bully. The reality is somewhat different.

In November 2014 I wrote the following:

Replacing (Marshawn) Lynch will be the toughest thing this franchise has to do in the post-Super Bowl era. You could argue running backs are easy to plug into an offense. How else can you describe 29-year-old Justin Forsett posting 5.4 yards-per-carry in Baltimore as the fourth most productive runner in the NFL? I think for most teams it’s a valid point. But not for Seattle. Not with Lynch.

He is so integral to this teams’ identity. He is a phenom, a truly unique runner that deserves to be remembered as fondly as any other running back since the turn of the century. His physical style, ability to break tackles, his attitude on the field. These are not easily replaced by just plugging in another player. The moment Seattle loses ‘Beast Mode’ the team will also lose a part of its identity. There’s no getting away from that.

Lynch is long gone in Seattle but his absence is still felt. They’re not just missing Marshawn’s exceptional running ability and talent. They miss the way he set the tone for everything and connected the offense to the defense.

It’s easy to forget how good Lynch was. Go back and watch the videos from 2011 onward. On a Mount Rushmore of Seahawks stars, he’d be a lock alongside Walter Jones.

He’s not the only one they miss. Kam Chancellor provided a similar dynamic on defense. Everything was geared around being bigger, faster, stronger and tougher than the opponent. Teams feared Marshawn and set up their defensive gameplan to stop him. Opponents feared Kam. Crossing routes? No thanks.

They were surrounded by an angry, pissed off, undermined group of misfits. Richard Sherman slighted by lasting to round five. Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril — failing to receive respect in free agency as they remained on the market in 2013.

The cumulative sum was a team so determined to prove a point both on the field and off. The Seahawks were the toughest team in the league. They were also the loudest — but they backed it up. The bark and the bite were equally strong.

Something is missing with the current team. There’s no doubt they’re talent rich. Russell Wilson is an exceptional quarterback. Bobby Wagner is the best linebacker in football. Tyler Lockett is incredible.

They also have a couple of extremely physical players such as K.J. Wright and Duane Brown plus some emerging young talent.

They’re not bullies though. They’re not scary. They’re not intimidating anyone. They’re not imposing their will.

Where’s the attitude? The fear factor? The intimidation?

The Seahawks have gone from the LOB to a much more welcoming environment in the secondary. The cornerbacks are no longer challenging routes and beating up receivers. Where are the turnovers and the hits? In the last 19 regular season games, Bradley McDougald consistently looks like the only one capable of making a pick or a big play.

This isn’t what you expect from a Carroll secondary. Clearly they need more talent and that will likely be a big emphasis in the off-season. They also need some dogs, too.

The reassuring thing is they clearly know it. They drafted Marquise Blair in the second round for this very reason. He’s a hitter. They know the secondary needs an edge. The quicker he gets up to speed and into the starting line-up the better.

It’s not just the secondary though. The front seven aren’t creating much pressure or challenging opponents. The secondary needs help.

On offense they want to run the ball but they can’t convert at home in the rain on 3rd & 1 or 4th & 1 from midfield. Chris Carson — who is capable of being a tone-setter and a dynamic physical presence — has fumbled three times in as many weeks. The big hulking offensive line that was so praised during the summer has been more hype than results after three games.

The Seahawks aren’t playing clean football this season. That can be tidied up. They’ve never been the fastest of starters.

The bigger concern for the long term, however, is how the physical edge is currently lacking. They simply don’t have enough BAMF’s.

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Having started the season with two unnecessarily narrow victories, the Seahawks needed to clean things up to continue their unbeaten start.

Today, the opposite happened. Things got worse. A lot worse.

Let’s run through the list of horrors:

— Giving up a punt return touchdown for the first time in four years
— Chris Carson fumbling again and seeing it returned for a touchdown
— Failing to convert on 3rd & 1 and 4th & 1, followed by a Saints scoring drive
— An illegal formation turning a missed field goal into an extended scoring drive
— Recover a fumble, give up 15 yards because someone on the sideline ran onto the field

These are just the highlights. I know there are more.

You can’t make this number of mistakes, give up this many cheap points, fail to execute this badly and expect to beat anyone.

Seattle saw a New Orleans Saints’ team minus Drew Brees and brought their own equaliser to the game — a truly wretched performance.

This will be a long week for Seahawks fans. You’ll hear a lot of people questioning this team. People will question Pete Carroll and his philosophy.

Criticism of the staff and the players is fair. Whether it was poor preparation, execution, decision making or play-calling — this was a terrible performance.

Yet this was also, in a perverse kind of way, a classic illustration of Carroll’s message. The Seahawks out-gained the Saints by 250 yards. Teddy Bridgewater threw for 177 yards. The best player on the field was a running back (Alvin Kamara). The Saints didn’t win by throwing it all over the yard. They won because they played three phases of football well and the Seahawks didn’t.

And how often has Carroll highlighted the importance of that?

Little things like being superior on special teams and winning the turnover battle matter sometimes. Especially when it leads to cheap points.

It might be a good thing for some fans to endure this loss. Re-adjusting expectations after a 2-0 start could provide some benefit down the line. They were lucky to be 2-0 and based on what they’ve shown through three weeks, had no right to be unbeaten.

They’ve lost a lot of experience and quality over the last two years. They still have an extremely good quarterback and some other big name players. This isn’t a complete roster though — far from it. There are band-aids and young players everywhere.

And there’s perhaps a greater problem I want to come back to later.

This team will provide some exhilarating wins, just as they did in 2018. They’ll provide some extremely frustrating losses too (again, just as they did in 2018).

This probably won’t be the only game where you’re cursing at the TV or yelling from the stands.

A 2-1 start would’ve been approved by most fans before the regular season. This loss will feel jarring because it was Bridgewater not Brees and the Seahawks were awful. Yet this wasn’t a playoff game and they get to play again next week.

The Carroll Seahawks have always been frustrating early in the season and liable to lose a game or two they shouldn’t. They also improve. They need to improve now.

That doesn’t mean Carroll avoids criticism. Playing this poorly so early in a game will always lead to a finger being pointed at preparation and the attitude of a team. Did a 2-0 start and the knowledge of Brees sat at home in Louisiana go to their heads? If there was any complacency the staff bear responsibility — especially when the weekly message is a determination to focus on going 1-0.

A coach has to have his team ready to play. The Seahawks bumbled their way through the first half and dug themselves a hole too great to climb out of.

That happens sometimes though. So I want to come to the issue I said I’d come back to earlier. For a team so determined to set the tone and be physical, have they remotely achieved that through three games? The running game is nowhere near what we saw in 2018 so far. Statement moments like running in short-yardage situations — the Seahawks didn’t win those battles today.

They’ve gone with a big, hulking offensive line for a reason. Yet their two wins so far haven’t been delivered off the back of a strong running attack.

It’s not just about their running game though. Does the team have enough attitude? Seattle’s Super Bowl team was dripping with intensity. They were loaded with alpha’s who punished opponents physically. This current team seems to have a distinct lack of BAMF’s. They have very talented players. They have players who can be physically excellent. Where are the tone-setters though? Players like Kam Chancellor and Marshawn Lynch? Even a Brandon Browner or a Breno Giacomini?

Are they nasty enough? Are they capable of consistently imposing their will on opponents? Where are the hits, the pressures, the turnovers? Where’s the fear factor, the thing that opponents have to be wary of?

This isn’t to say they’re a soft, finesse team either. Nobody would dare make that suggestion about Duane Brown, Bobby Wagner and others. Three games in though — where’s the physical edge?

Other notes…

— The Seahawks are in a tough spot with Chris Carson. He’s fumbled three times in three games and that doesn’t include the botched hand-off last week. In the first half you’d be forgiven for thinking he was playing in rollerblades the way he slipping around. He’s so important at his best so you can’t bench him but he can’t keep fumbling either.

— Is there a problem with the turf? It was wet today but players were slipping against the Bengals and throughout the pre-season in drier weather.

— Tyler Lockett had 154 yards and a touchdown, Will Dissly continues to make plays as does D.K. Metcalf. Shaquill Griffin played well on the first viewing. Jason Myers is consistent. That’s about as much positivity as I could glean.

— They have only five sacks in three games and only one interception. They’re not forcing errors or creating much pressure. Where are the hits? Why is the tackling so poor? Is there a player currently starting in the secondary you could realistically view as locked-in for the long term?

— This was a weird week in the NFC. Dallas allowed Miami to last longer than they should. The Eagles were poor in a loss at home to Detroit. The Falcons mixed between sublime and ridiculous to lose against the Colts. The Giants, starting their rookie QB, went into Tampa Bay and stunned the Buccs. The 49ers turned the ball over several times but an impotent Steelers’ redzone offense couldn’t capitalise.

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This game felt a lot like watching the Seahawks in 2013-14.

Georgia, determined to run the ball and utilise a point guard quarterback, started slowly. They gave up some cheap points on a fumbled punt and had to right-the-ship with a 10-minute scoring drive.

As the game progressed they took control, built their lead and appeared set to pull away from Notre Dame. Then they gave up a touchdown and things became unnecessarily close at the end — but they held on.

Overall though it wasn’t a particularly fun game to watch. In fact for long stretches it was dull. Frustrating penalties, injuries, six fumbles and a lack of big names making plays.

D’Andre Swift just about did enough to impress. He drove for the hard yards, had the burst to turn the corner and looked sharp for 98 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. In the second half Jake Fromm found some rhythm and succeeded with a series of fades and back-shoulder throws to move the ball. He’s not a dynamic, big armed gun-slinger but he can manage games well enough — while making just enough plays — to be an effective quarterback at this level.

Aside from that there’s not much to say. I was really keen to watch Isaiah Wilson the Georgia right tackle and he didn’t start due to a lingering injury but came into the game after half time. He didn’t look 100% but, along with Andrew Thomas, kept Notre Dame’s edge rushers quiet. The overall performance of the Georgia offense improved in the second half. Julian Okwara was anonymous, adding to my scepticism that he’s worth a high pick.

Notes from elsewhere…

— Alabama has started with the usual milquetoast schedule. In their latest easy win (against Southern Miss), Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs showed off their speed and YAC ability. Ruggs had 148 yards on four catches and two touchdowns. Jeudy also had a pair of scores to go with 96 yards on six catches. Najee Harris had another 110 yards while Tua Tagovailoa threw for five touchdowns. Trevon Diggs — a genuine top-15 talent — tracked the ball brilliantly yet again to make an interception. Alabama faces Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Arkansas before their first real test against LSU.

— Joe Burrow scored six touchdowns for LSU against Vanderbilt and continues to build his profile as a legit NFL prospect. He’s looked incredibly on point so far this year. He needs to keep it rolling for a LSU team who are a similar to Georgia in terms of talent and make-up. If he extends his early-season form into a SEC run he could easily be on the NFL radar by the new year.

— Speaking of milquetoast starts to a season, here’s Ohio State and their latest blowout against Miami Ohio. Jeffrey Okudah had an interception as he builds towards going in the top-15. J.K. Dobbins was rested a bit today and only had 52 yards on eight carries and a touchdown. Dobbins is elusive, gets to the edge quickly, accelerates through space and breaks tackles. He’s tough to bring down and a special athlete. K.J. Hill had two catches for 78 yards and a big touchdown. Binjimen Victor had three catches for 42 yards and a touchdown. Chase Young had two more sacks taking his total to seven in four games.

— Of all the top teams, Clemson might have the weakest schedule this year. The took apart Charlotte with the big names receiving a lot of rest time. Tee Higgins had one touchdown catch for 58 yards and that was his day done. Travis Etienne had 11 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown.

— What’s happened to Jim Harbaugh? In the early San Francisco years you could make a case for him being the best coach in football at the time. Then a collapse for the Niners and now five years into his spell at Michigan, things just aren’t working. They were torn apart by Wisconsin. Jonathan Taylor — a legit top-45 prospect — ran for 203 yards on 23 carries (adding two touchdowns). Taylor is typically physical and robust but has a sneaky turn of speed when he finds an opening. Tight end Jake Ferguson — a terrific athlete and possibly high-ish pick — had three catches for 28 yards.

— I think I’ve seen enough of Kenny Willekes now to judge he isn’t a top draft prospect. His production is great at Michigan State with a ton of TFL’s and sacks. Yet on tape there’s just nothing especially great about his athletic profile. Very little burst, struggles to change direction in space. He gives a full-on effort every week but he’s not a high draft pick. He’s not twitchy enough for Seattle. I watched the game against Northwestern and he only had a couple of quarterback hurries.

— Javon Kinlaw had another sack for South Carolina against Missouri. That’s four in four games. He’s really boosting his draft stock this year and should be one of the first defensive tackles taken in the draft.

— Steven Montez continued his switch between fantastic and frustrating. He led Colorado to a significant win against Arizona State, completing 23/30 passing for 337 yards and three touchdowns. He was practically flawless in the game. He did it all despite Laviska Shenault having yet another quiet game. His only impact was one catch for 23 yards. Apparently he left the game with a concussion. Arizona State’s Eno Benjamin ran for 83 yards on 20 carries and had two touchdowns.

— I’ve not seen the Washington game against BYU but I noticed tight end Hunter Bryant had four catches for 49 yards including a 22-yarder. He continues to keep making explosive plays.

— I have Auburn vs Texas A&M on record to watch later but top draft prospect Derrick Brown had two sacks and three TFL’s in the game. He also deflected two passes. He’s a stud.

— In quarterback watch, Justin Herbert completed 19/24 for 259 yards and three touchdowns in a win against Stanford. The Oregon O-line struggled in the game. Jordan Love helped Utah State defeat San Diego State, completing 30/47 for 293 yards and no touchdowns.

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I didn’t think Notre Dame deserved to in the final four a year ago. Georgia were the superior team and an Alabama vs Georgia rematch felt like a proper ‘semi-final’.

Notre Dame were selected due to their unbeaten record and were subsequently pummelled 30-3 by Clemson. Their best wins in the regular season were against a 10-3 Michigan, a 9-4 Stanford and a 10-3 Syracuse.

Georgia weren’t unbeaten but their two losses were against LSU and a classic against Alabama. I think an eye-test and strength of schedule consideration is required for the playoffs. At the moment there’s a clear power-four in college football — Clemson, Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma. Everyone else is trying to keep up. Notre Dame weren’t close and they still aren’t.

Saturday’s game is being billed as a titanic encounter but I’d expect a fairly comfortable Georgia win. They have the better players. We’ll see if I’m right. I’m always happy to admit when I’ve got something wrong.

Julian Okwara (DE, Notre Dame) is often touted as a sure-fire first round prospect. I’m just not seeing it. He has a lean upper-body and is listed at 248lbs. You don’t see any real power generated with his hands and he doesn’t control his side of the line with any gusto. Equally though, I’m not sure he’s a dynamic enough athlete to consider a great speed-rusher.

I went back-and-forth with Brian Burns a year ago — initially listing him as a top-10 talent before second-guessing how the league considered his size. Yet the one thing you couldn’t deny with Burns was his explosive power and quickness. He jumped a 34-inch vertical at 213lbs at SPARQ and on the field you could see cat-like agility to work around blocks and win against overmatched college linemen. He’s had a good start to his NFL career in Carolina and we’ll see how he progresses. I still wonder whether he has the size to be more than a specialist rusher but he’s started well.

With Okwara I’m not seeing the same kind of athleticism. He ran a 5.14 forty at Nike SPARQ and only a 4.63 short shuttle. His overall score was a fairly abysmal 52.23. Players develop in college and improve as athletes. I’d never expect Okwara to run a 5.14 at a pro-combine. Yet I’d equally be shocked if he matches Burns’ 4.53. On tape you see the occasional flash where he stunts inside and beats a block or works a lineman off the edge. There’s very little that wows you though and he had games (eg Vanderbilt, 2018) where you struggle to notice him.

This will be a good test for him against Georgia. Andrew Thomas (LT, Georgia) is one of the top players eligible for next years draft along with the likes of Grant Delpit, Jerry Jeudy and Tua Tagovailoa. He’s so incredibly balanced and in control. He has excellent size, mobility and power. Thomas has the potential to be a day-one starter at left tackle and a long term fixture in the NFL.

I’ve also been impressed with Isaiah Wilson (RT, Georgia). I watched him for the first time this week and he’s a gigantic monster of a lineman. He’s 6-7 and 340lbs but carries the size superbly. He’s not carrying much bad weight and cuts an intimidating presence on the right side.

When he locks his arms into position he’s extremely difficult to disengage from. There’s evidence of effective combo-blocks (you always love to see that) and he’ll drive defenders back in the running game. There are occasions where he gets his drop wrong and loses balance and leverage. He drops too deep against speed and gives faster rushers an opportunity to attack from within the pocket, eliminating much space and freedom for the quarterback. He needs to play more inside-out against speed and allow his massive frame to act as a blockade. If he can’t win with a kick-slide then use your tools to your advantage.

This is a coachable issue though. What he does well is appealing and if Thomas is a high first round pick, it won’t be a surprise if Wilson ends up going later in round one as a hulking, powerful right tackle capable of excelling in the run game. And yes, he’s one to watch for the Seahawks if they move on from Germain Ifedi. If you want to focus on anyone in this game — make it Wilson. Interestingly they usually leave him on an island without tight end support. He has first round potential for sure.

How Okwara plays in this game will play a big factor in his draft stock. Many believe he’s a mid-first round talent. He won’t have a better opponent to prove it. Whether he attacks the left or right side, he’s going to face a NFL opponent. I’m not convinced he warrants the hype but I’ll happily be proven wrong.

Khalid Kareem (DE, Notre Dame) plays across from Okwara. He’s a bigger, stouter defender. Georgia has been creating enormous running lanes and plenty of space for D’Andre Swift (RB, Georgia) this season. Kareem needs to be able to push-back against this to max-out his stock. I actually hope it’s a competitive battle in the trenches (although my suspicion is Georgia will win this battle comfortably). Let’s see Swift get some hard yards and face some tough snaps. So far it’s looked so easy for him. He’s a first round talent in his own right. Let’s see a challenge where he has to create some yardage rather than exploiting the opportunities presented to him.

It’s also a key game for Jake Fromm (QB, Georgia). He lacks some of the physical skills of the other quarterbacks in this class but he’s been very effective for two and a bit years now. He’s not flashy but he’s generally accurate and makes good decisions. He rarely gets flustered and he benefits from good blocking, a great running game and speed/talent at receiver. He doesn’t have to declare for 2020 and he might stick it out if Georgia misses out on a National Championship again. This is the type of game where you him want to prove he belongs in the early rounds.

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I'm told Jalen Ramsey is fine playing TNF tonight, but a source just told me he doesn't anticipate being a member of the #Jags next Sun. Teams like KC, BAL, MIN, OAK, PHI, SEA hv all made substantive inquiries, but my understanding is almost every team has at least placed a call.

— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 19, 2019

Granted this isn’t exactly narrowing things down. Josina Anderson lists six teams specifically before suggesting the entire league has contacted the Jaguars about Jalen Ramsey.

Is there any chance the Seahawks would make this trade?

I still think it’s unlikely but there’s a few things to consider and note.

For starters, the Jaguars are reportedly asking for two first round picks. All things considered, they’re well within their rights to expect at least that. The Houston Texans traded two first round picks, a second round pick and two players to acquire Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills and a fourth rounder.

You could argue Tunsil plays a position where there’s a dearth of talent. College football is not producing many good offensive linemen. The Texans are in win-now mode and were desperate. That all contributed to the haul they gave up for Tunsil.

Yet Ramsey is also a superior player. He’s achieved more in the NFL so far (they were both part of the 2016 draft) and he’s legitimately one of the top players in the league at any position. The Tunsil move and the Frank Clark trade (including a first and second round pick) set a high bar for big name deals.

Even so, it feels like the Jaguars are backing themselves into a hole. All of the talk is about a forthcoming trade. The best way to max-out their asset is to at least keep up the pretence that they intend to keep Ramsey. Even with the heated dispute between the player and Doug Marrone last week, is this really a situation that can’t be resolved? Ramsey is, after all, set to play against the Titans tonight. If he was that much of a problem and a distraction he wouldn’t be playing.

The Jags seem to be saying ‘we need Ramsey to beat the Titans’ and in the same breath they’re suggesting, ‘we can win without him the rest of the year’. That’s an odd place to be. They sit uncomfortably as a team determined to compete and unwilling to accept their 0-2 start is the beginning of the end yet they’re also about to trade their best player.

Considering the minor mess that happened a year ago with Leonard Fournette, a trend seems to be emerging here between the powers that be and the best players on the roster.

It feels like Tom Coughlin is trying to assert his control. Which is fine to an extent. Even if you acquire two first round picks, you dream of acquiring a talent like Ramsey. The chances are they won’t add a player of his quality with the picks they get back. So why trade him? Again — if it’s a clash that is sending shockwaves through the franchise he wouldn’t be playing tonight.

If it is a Coughlin vs Ramsey situation, teams will know about it. If Coughlin is determined to move on, they’ll know about it. Good luck negotiating a fantastic trade in that environment.

At the moment there aren’t any desperate teams either. The clubs most linked to Ramsey — Philadelphia, Seattle, Kansas City — are a combined 5-1. Pittsburgh’s trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick was an attempt to try and be competitive after losing the quarterback. They were mildly desperate. None of the teams reportedly touching base with the Jags have this massive, gaping hole at cornerback. Could the Eagles, Seahawks and Chiefs do with an upgrade at corner? Sure. Every team could use Ramsey. There’s a difference, though, between an upgrade (however substantial) and a back-breaking need.

If Jacksonville’s weak bargaining position allows the price to come down to say a first and third round pick — you can imagine a team like the Seahawks being interested in a deal like that. I’m not sure the price will drop that low though — simply because Ramsey is that good.

So what’s the argument for the Seahawks making this happen?

Quite aside from the fact he’s an exceptional talent — it’s also about how this team is shaping up. At the moment it’s easy to look at three question marks for the long term. What happens at the end of the season to the pass rush (with Reed, Clowney & Ansah all free agents)? What happens at right tackle (with Ifedi & Fant free agents)? How do they add more talent in the secondary?

Tre Flowers and Shaquille Griffin have started the season quite well. Neither has been a liability. The Seahawks have always preferred to draft and develop cornerbacks instead of splurging. That said — next season they definitely need more depth, competition and talent across the secondary.

Ramsey would provide an immediate injection of talent. It’d no longer be a need — at least not at corner. You’d have a star and improved depth.

This tweet from Ian Rapoport also poses an interesting question…

The potential Jalen Ramsey trade brings up an interesting situation for GMs: Would you trade two late 1s to ensure you get a young All-Pro in his prime? Look at each team’s last two first-rounders and think, would you trade them for Ramsey? It’s a good exercise.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 19, 2019

There aren’t many teams (this isn’t just a Seattle thing) where you can easily make a case that Ramsey is superior to the last two players drafted in round one. The Seahawks haven’t had a pick in the top-15 for seven years. They want to compete for Super Bowls. They’re unlikely to be able to draft a player of Ramsey’s supreme caliber in the first round if they remain a playoff team.

For those reasons, of course a trade is appealing. It doesn’t mean you pull the trigger. You can make a case for it though and the Seahawks are right to be ‘in the mix’ for this trade even if it’s one of the many deals they’re involved in that doesn’t come off.

If they gave up their 2020 and 2021 first round picks, they’d still have two second rounders next year. If they win a Super Bowl in the next couple of seasons and Ramsey contributes towards that, nobody will complain. You could even argue Ramsey is talented enough that it’s not even that much of a roll of the dice — whether the end result is Championship’s or not.

The last player of Ramsey’s quality to be traded was Khalil Mack. He cost two first round picks. Is anyone in Chicago complaining about that deal 12 months on? Of course not. Oakland used Chicago’s pick at #24 on Josh Jacobs.

Who would you rather have?

One report suggested Ramsey wasn’t interested in featuring in a zone scheme and wanted to match-up in man 1v1. Some have argued this rules him out in Seattle. There’s a very important thing to remember here — Ramsey will go to any competitive team that’s willing to pay him a huge extension. He’s not going to complain about his role if a team provides him with Super Bowl opportunities and a record-breaking contract for a cornerback.

Financially can they make it happen? Sure. They have an estimated $75-80m in cap space for 2020. They have some starters reaching free agency but even if Ramsey was given a deal worth $18m a season — there’s still plenty of money to try and keep Reed, Clowney, Ansah, Ifedi, Fant and/or others if they wished. They’d also still have two second round picks to fill some holes.

I personally don’t think a trade to Seattle will happen. They’ll hide in the tall grass waiting to pounce if the opportunity is right. I think the team who trades for Ramsey will be the aggressor. I think the Seahawks wait for a possible deal to come to them, just as they did with Jadeveon Clowney. On this occasion, however, another team will make it happen and the deal will be too rich for Seattle.

It’d be foolish to completely rule it out, however. It’s not often a player like this becomes available. And let’s not forget this is still a front office that traded for Percy Harvin, Jimmy Graham, Sheldon Richardson and Duane Brown.

They have the picks and money to make it happen. Whether they want to pay a high price in both instances and outbid other teams is the question mark.

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Looking at some of the college stats

I had a quick browse of the college football stats after three weeks to see if anything stood out. A couple of things did.

Firstly it’s the company Hunter Bryant (TE, Washington) is keeping when it comes to explosive plays. Bryant is a highly athletic player and has been talked up by Brock Huard on 710 ESPN. In an interview during the summer he noted how he’d been working to become a more complete tight end.

Will Dissly and Drew Sample both heavily improved their stock during the draft process. Could Bryant make it a hat-trick?

It’s possible if he keeps making plays like this:

Here’s a list of some of the big name receivers in college football and the number of +10-yard plays they’ve made so far this season:

Jerry Jeudy — 15
Hunter Bryant — 11
Rondale Moore — 11
Tee Higgins — 10
Binjimen Victor — 10
CeeDee Lamb — 7

Jerry Jeudy is very likely to be a top-10 pick. Tee Higgins could go in the top-20. CeeDee Lamb could be a first rounder. Binjimen Victor is underrated and in 2021, Rondale Moore could easily end up being a high pick.

It’s impressive for a tight end to match their production so far.

What about +20-yard plays?

Rondale Moore — 7
CeeDee Lamb — 6
Tee Higgins — 5
Jerry Jeudy — 5
Binjimen Victor — 5
Hunter Bryant — 3

He’s not quite in check with the top names here but three +20-yard plays is still decent for a tight end.

The final group shows plays of +30 yards:

Rondale Moore — 4
Tee Higgings — 3
Hunter Bryant — 2
Binjimen Victor — 2
Jerry Jeudy — 1

If Bryant continues to make big plays for the Huskies and if he can convince teams he’s a capable blocker — he could significantly boost his draft stock.

The other figure I had a look at was TFL’s. The 2020 draft has a handful of really good, eligible defensive linemen but there’s nowhere near the depth we saw in 2019. With Jadeveon Clowney and Ziggy Ansah both free agents at the end of the year, it’s possible this could be a key need for Seattle.

The big names haven’t been that productive so far. Here’s four that are near the top of the list for TFL’s after three weeks:

Kenny Willekes — 7.5
Chase Young — 5.5
Jabari Zuniga — 4.5
Yetur Gross-Matos — 3.5

Willekes has done incredibly well to return from a major knee injury and pick up where he left off a year ago. He had 20.5 TFL’s in 2018 and 8.5 sacks. Whether he has the athletic profile Seattle craves remains to be seen (he was not a highly touted recruit). His production, however, is fantastic at Michigan State.

Chase Young is off to a fast start (everyone is at Ohio State). He could land in the top-15 very easily next year. Jabari Zuniga at Florida has also been productive but he left Saturday’s game against Kentucky with an ice-pack on his ankle.

Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos has 3.5 TFL’s but he was virtually anonymous against Pittsburgh. He was frequently spelled and had virtually no impact in the game. It was a disappointing performance from a player capable of going in the top-45.

Thoughts on the practise squad

The Seahawks signed Jachai Polite and Cardale Jones to their practise squad at the start of the season and both were eye-catching additions.

Polite was a third round pick this year but was cut by the Jets after one training camp. It was a major fall from grace for a player once considered a likely top-20 pick. He has the talent and quickness to be a lethal pass rusher but for whatever reason the last few months have been a disaster — from his weight gain to his shambles of a combine and so on.

Jones burst onto the scene when, as a backup, he guided Ohio State to the National Championship. He didn’t follow it up with a great final season in college and eventually fell to the fourth round in 2016 (drafted by Buffalo). He was then traded to the Chargers for a conditional pick, lasted a couple of years and ended up on Seattle’s practise squad. Jones played well in pre-season for LA.

Physically he has it all. Great arm, surprising mobility. So far he hasn’t made full use of his extreme talent. He has the tools to be a starter in the NFL.

With Seattle’s strong history of development under Pete Carroll, both players were eye-catching additions to what looks like a strong practise squad overall:

Jazz Ferguson WR
Kyle Fuller G
Jacob Hollister TE
Cardale Jones QB
Kahlil McKenzie G
Ryan Neal S
Parry Nickerson CB
Jachai Polite OLB
Jordan Roos G
Terry Wright WR

There are several players with real promise on that list.

When they signed Polite and Jones we noted that, while there was hope for both, it was possible they were merely receiving extended try-outs with Seattle. If they lasted more than a couple of weeks it’d be promising.

Today they cut Jones to make room for Elijah Nkansah (a likely hedge against some of their O-line injuries). Evidently his extended try-out didn’t last long.

It’s encouraging for Polite that he’s stuck around. As we’ve seen with Jones’ departure — the practise squad gives you an opportunity to check players out. For now at least they are persevering with Polite.

Has the light switched on? Could the Seahawks potentially end up with a first round talent on the cheap? If he’s showing promise could they stash him to further his development on the 53-man roster?

With the strongest looking practise squad in a number of years, this is a list worth tracking. Several could easily make the jump to the full roster depending on injuries and potential.

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