Author: Rob Staton (Page 10 of 440)

I’m going to run through a bunch of topics in this piece including:

— Why I think you need to draft Iowa offensive linemen
— Why it’d be crazy for any team to draft a QB early in 2026
— The importance of run defense within Seattle’s EDGE defenders
— The brilliance of Ernest Jones’ post-game comments
— My main Seahawks gripe

Just keep drafting Iowa offensive linemen

I watched the Hawkeyes play USC at the weekend and was again struck by just how capable they are at running the ball, despite being very much a one-dimensional offense.

Every year it’s the same at Iowa. It doesn’t matter who they recruit or transfer in at quarterback, they typically struggle to form a coherent passing offense. They always rely on the run and for the most part succeed.

On Saturday they ran for 183 yards against the Trojans at 5.5 YPC. They only lost by five points on the road. Their ability to run the ball, play physically in the trenches and create running opportunities is the heartbeat of the team.

It doesn’t always work. Against Oregon they managed 101 yards but it came at a paltry 2.3 YPC. They didn’t run efficiently and lost by a couple of points as a consequence. Their style of play, though, shortened the game which was to their advantage. The Ducks have a lot more star power on their roster.

Against Penn State they ran for 245 yards at 7.4 YPC and won by a point.

This could be noteworthy for the Seahawks for a few reasons.

Firstly, Iowa runs between three-or-four times more in zone than gap. They also do it very well. Their players consistently grade among the best zone blockers in college football. If you’re looking for linemen who can quickly adapt to your scheme, this is the school to look at. The Seahawks drafted Mason Richman in the seventh round a year ago. The only other draftable Iowa lineman, Connor Colby, was drafted 15 picks later by the 49ers (who run the same style of offense).

In the next draft we’ll see center Logan Jones, right tackle Gennings Dunker and left guard Beau Stephens available. All could be on the table for the Seahawks.

It’s also increasingly clear drafting to develop is going to have to be the way.

There is some slight hope I suppose that the Baltimore Ravens allow Tyler Linderbaum to reach free agency. They’d be absolutely mad to do it — but I’m going to at least acknowledge he’s a pending free agent before somebody mentions his name. It will be stunning if they allow him to leave.

Despite a lot of hand-wringing in the local media, with one person even saying it would be a travesty if they didn’t sign Mekhi Becton or Tevin Jenkins, none of the free agent names people pined for have worked out with the exception of Drew Dalman who is playing well for the Bears.

The veteran options rarely provide solutions because a talent-starved NFL desperately searching for linemen don’t often allow the good ones to enter the market.

The Seahawks will just have to keep adding to their stable and now they have a clear vision for their blocking scheme and offense, not to mention coaches who appear capable of actually developing talent, they should be able to find solutions to create depth and competition.

Dunker is destined to kick inside to right guard, with Jones a clear option to act as a plug-and-play center. I thought both played excellently against USC, despite Dunker leaving the game late on with an injury that isn’t considered serious.

I think you’d have to be crazy to draft a quarterback early in 2026

Ty Simpson has been a pleasure to watch for Alabama this season thanks to his technical quality and playmaking. However, in the last couple of games a few rough edges have emerged. It’s not a surprise — this is his first year as a starter. There’s growing evidence that he’d be best served returning for another season at Alabama and isn’t a likely fit as a high draft pick.

Fernando Mendoza now has a clear path to be the first quarterback taken. Even then, I don’t think he’s any kind of franchise saviour. No team should be looking to begin a major rebuild by plonking Mendoza in as the first building block and the face of the club.

It might still happen. There are plenty of examples of teams not having any idea how to build a roster. Look at the Titans. They clearly badly need talent across the board but when in possession of the #1 pick they reached in a big way on a quarterback who isn’t special and now what do they have? The worst record in the NFL still and Ward — who has struggled in year one — might just end up in the same boat as Will Levis and Malik Willis.

In fact Levis as a rookie had nine total touchdowns and four picks in nine games. Cam Ward has six touchdowns and six interceptions in 10 games so far. This is a franchise not learning from past mistakes. Constantly drafting young quarterbacks who aren’t graded at an extremely high level when your roster stinks shouldn’t be the plan.

Mendoza doesn’t have the big arm, creative ability or special tools to think ‘you’ve got to draft this guy’. He’s also now playing in the environment which might be the best in college football outside of Ohio State for quarterbacks. Curt Cignetti is an unlikely tour de force Head Coach but the man is clearly one of the biggest talents to emerge in coaching in recent history. His systems on offense appear simple yet unstoppable. He isn’t winning with a boat-load of five-star recruits. It’s simply excellent coaching.

Mendoza is an upgrade in terms of upside over Kurtis Rourke but the fact is both benefitted from a system that feels like it can be interchangeable at the position and the good times will likely keep on rolling for Indiana with Cignetti in charge.

I’d be wary of drafting Mendoza and pinning your hopes on him. And if it’s not him, which other quarterback are you taking early?

Something to consider with EDGE rushers in 2026

We’re learning all the time about Mike Macdonald and this year, the turn towards DeMarcus Lawrence is something to note. He is a bigger defensive end who carries an ‘alpha’ energy and plays the run well. Derick Hall shares a lot of the same qualities and seems to be well liked. Uchenna Nwosu is another aggressive run defender off the edge (see: evidence here).

Boya Mafe is not cut from the same cloth. He’s the name Adam Schefter was circulating before the trade deadline, while reporting after it was closed that he was almost dealt to the Chiefs.

It seems increasingly likely Mafe will not be back with the Seahawks next year. He would need to be replaced. I still think there’s a chance they’ll trade their first round pick for a replacement, given how bad the 2026 draft is shaping up to be. Maxx Crosby’s run defense grade is almost identical to Lawrence’s. He feels like the kind of player they love to acquire — and I continue to think he could be a target for Seattle in the off-season.

Alex Wright, former third round pick with the Browns, could be an outside bet to replace Mafe at a cheaper cost. He’s currently the third best run-defending EDGE in the NFL and a future free agent.

It’s also worth noting that Jalen Walker, who they apparently liked in the draft this year, is already among the ten best edge rushers for run defense.

If they have to look to the draft instead, there’s some good news.

Overall I think the EDGE class is overrated. You’ve got players like Rueben Bain getting tons of hype but I think it’s gone overboard. He has 30-inch arms and he’s not a quick-twitch athlete. His sack production is limited. Solid run-defending bigger defensive ends with short arms don’t go early in round one.

Cashius Howell is electric as a pass rusher but he’s another player with sub 31-inch arms. TJ Parker has been a massive let down and I’m not convinced at all that David Bailey or R Mason Thomas are first round talents.

There are some very decent run defense grades among the group though. All of the names below rank in the top-50 for run defense:

Akheem Mesidor — 90.3
Rueben Bain — 86.8
Jaishawn Barham — 86.7
Keldrick Faulk — 85.5
Dani Dennis-Sutton — 85.3
TJ Parker — 80.6
R Mason Thomas — 79.4

Here are some of the other noteworthy names:

David Bailey — 74.6
Derrick Moore — 74.2
Josh Josephs — 72.6
Anthony Smith — 71.5
Cashius Howell — 71.5
Matayo Uiagalelei — 68.3
LT Overton — 68.1
Romello Height — 62.1
Gabe Jacas — 57.5

It’s probably something to keep in mind. I’m not suggesting the Seahawks are going to overlook a dynamic specialist pass rusher purely on their ability to defend the run. Yet the evidence is suggesting that perhaps it does matter in the case of Mafe.

Here’s Seattle’s run defense grades so far this season:

DeMarcus Lawrence — 72.8
Derick Hall — 67.4
Uchenna Nwosu — 65.0
Boye Mafe — 59.0

If they replace Mafe, I suspect it’ll be with someone who’s better vs the run.

Why Ernest Jones’ post-game comments are among the best you’ll hear

If the intention was to take some of the heat off Sam Darnold, mission accomplished. I’ve heard Jones’ comments played on two national programmes already today. They are getting a decent airing — and that’s time that otherwise would’ve been spent talking about the quarterback.

The conversations are still going to happen about Darnold. It’s inevitable. But Jones is getting some of the attention because of his passionate way with words.

It also speaks to the effectiveness of a well-timed F-bomb (or two). Whether we want to accept it or not, the child in most of us can’t help but snigger at the sound of an unexpected swear. That particular word is also very effective in adding emphasis. In a way, the subconscious effect of Jones speaking this way is to tell you he ‘really’ believes in what he’s saying, because he swore.

He played an absolute blinder here — not only to draw attention away from the QB but to put a positive slant on things too. This was about as passionate as he could be publicly. He left no doubt as to what the attitude of the locker-room was to a four-pick performance. They’re standing by their team-mate.

And well done to whoever runs the Seahawks social media for putting out the unedited, unbleeped version online. That elevated the message to an even bigger audience.

Chapeau to Jones — and chapeau to the F-word for being so effective.

There is one final thing though…

In the time since the Rams game, I still can’t get over the thought that the Seahawks in their current form are still seeking a signature win.

They are clearly a very good team and can go toe-to-toe with the best in the NFC.

However, last year they lost to the following:

Detroit Lions
Buffalo Bills
LA Rams
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings

All made the playoffs. They also split with the 49ers, who finished 6-11 after suffering a bunch of injuries.

The only playoff team they beat last season was the Denver Broncos, in Bo Nix’s first ever NFL start in week one. It was a six-point victory. I’m not counting a week-18 win against the Rams backups.

This season, they’ve already lost to these three teams:

San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
LA Rams

They’ve beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars, both currently in the playoff picture, yet it’s not clear if they’ll remain there. They both seem pretty average at best. The Ravens might end up winning the AFC North and the Steelers and Jags will be under threat from the Chiefs for a wildcard berth.

They beat the Texans and their highly impressive defense — but would you call that a signature win? It’s not close for me.

The Seahawks need to start winning some of these big NFC games. We can say they’re capable. We can insist they will do it in the future. It has to start happening though. They can’t keep being unlucky losers in the biggest games.

The Seahawks played an excellent game of football against the Rams. They had 165 more yards, 14 more first downs and they dominated time of possession with over 15 minutes more of the football than LA.

They should’ve won the game and be leading the NFC West tonight.

But they aren’t — because the quarterback threw four interceptions on a day that will have Sam Darnold sceptics reciting their view that this is who he really is.

The Seahawks comfortably lead the league in giveaways and it’s threatening to undermine a lot of progress. They are turning the ball over far too much — a problem that existed before today.

Some of the turnovers have been fluky. Not in LA. This is one to be owned by Darnold. He made bad decisions and it was costly.

The narrative on the Seahawks is now going to be ‘great defense, really good team — but I’m not sure about the quarterback’. Get ready for that. And you have to say, it’s not totally unjustified when you’ve just had a four-pick game. The onus is on Darnold to bounce back, retain the explosive element of Seattle’s passing game and stop turning the ball over. That’s easier said than done.

Anyone who’s been looking for that ‘moment he turns back into a pumpkin’ game has found their ammunition today. Even at USC, where he played well enough to become the third overall pick, he threw 22 interceptions in two seasons as a starter. This is his third such game in his career where he’s had four interceptions and no touchdowns. The other two came with the Jets, including the contest against New England where he was infamously recorded admitting he was seeing ghosts.

Yet Peyton Manning had five games in his career with four interceptions, plus one occasion where he threw six. The key is how you handle it. All eyes will now be on how Darnold responds.

If he deals with it in the right way, there’s nothing to worry about. The defense showed today it’s the real deal. They didn’t rely on sacks from one star player or big turnovers through error. They stymied Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford and limited them as a complete unit, working in unison. It was incredibly impressive and deserved a win at the end.

They needed their offense, or more specifically the quarterback, to finish the job.

I do wonder whether this could negatively impact Seattle’s play-calling and aggression going forward. Being so explosive has been a huge factor. Do they become more conservative now to try and limit the turnovers? I’m not sure that’d be a good idea. Yet the defense is playing well enough that a game-plan akin to Iowa in the BIG-10 might’ve provided a victory today.

The other deflating thing is it feels like we’re still waiting for a signature win. The Seahawks have rolled over some bad teams this season and beaten some average ones. Their three losses have come in their most important contests — the 49ers, Buccs and Rams.

I believe Mike Macdonald’s record against NFC teams with a winning record is 1-7. It’s not something I think anyone needs to overreact to — but clearly they are not winning the games that really matter. That has to change to believe in the true contending status of this team.

An important thing to note is the status of Grey Zabel. If his knee injury is serious it will be a huge blow. Not because he’s playing lights-out football. Far from it. The closer you look at his play you do see typical rookie errors and things to clean up. Yet he was competent and solid. I’m not convinced his replacement will be.

I’ll end on a positive. The Rams’ punter, Ethan Evans, produced the closest thing you’ll ever see to a ‘game-winning punt’ at the end. If that goes for a touchback, it’s nowhere near as difficult for the Seahawks to get into solid field goal range and they ended up having to eat time just to get off their own goal-line to start-off the final drive.

That they went from their own one-yard-line to where they did, giving Jason Myers even a sniff of winning the game, is a credit to the offense and Darnold.

If they’d have won it would’ve been one of the craziest and most satisfying victories in a long time. Instead it’s extremely frustrating, to the point you want to fast-forward straight to the rematch in week 16.

I hope this was just a really bad day at the office for Darnold. The problem is, whether you like it or not, we’re going to be wondering if this’ll happen again when the next big game comes around.

This is a guest article by Curtis Allen…

Week Eleven seems a near-perfect time for the Rams and the Seahawks to meet.

Ten weeks have come and gone.  Enough time has passed for these two teams to establish themselves, make their mark on the NFC landscape by throttling some inferior opponents and get some intel on each other.

What has the crucible revealed?

This game might feature the two most evenly-matched teams in the NFL.  Have a look at the basic game stats:

It is uncanny.  They both have reached their 7-2 record in very similar ways:

• A veteran Quarterback who is reaching new heights and generating legitimate MVP discussion
• An Offensive Line that is performing well despite not being highly esteemed, mostly due to some brilliant innovative coaching
• A Wide Receiver that is somehow always open
• A Defense built on a line that gets pressure with four

They are practically mirror images of each other.  It is appropriate that both teams will wear their Rivalry uniforms when they play each other this season.

And while a playoff spot is not on the line just yet, this game will most certainly have repercussions on the playoff race come January.  Just like the Week Nine game last year that the Rams won in Overtime.  Both teams ended the season 10-7 and the Rams won the division on a tiebreaker.

How can the Seahawks come out ahead in this matchup?

Play with Poise

As alike as the two teams are, they diverge greatly in two areas:  Winning the turnover and penalty battles.

The Rams are among the NFL’s elite teams in turnover ratio, standing #4 overall with a +7 rating.

They have a win and a loss this season you can attribute directly to turnovers:  In Week Four a Daniel Jones interception led to three Rams points, and Adoni Mitchell made a huge blunder by fumbling the ball out of the end zone.  The Rams won by seven points.

In Week Five Kyren Williams fumbled at the the goal line to lose a sure touchdown to clinch the game.

The Seahawks need to be the team toasting their hard work and not the one thinking ‘what if?’ on the plane ride home.

The Rams have recovered eight forced fumbles to lead the NFL.  Linebacker Nathan Landman has forced a fumble in each of the last two games.

On the other side of the ball, Matt Stafford has only thrown two interceptions and has had a mere eight Turnover-Worthy Plays graded by PFF so far this season.  He has not been the passer who regularly throws hits defenders in the chest with passes once or twice a week.

If Stafford does throw a poor pass, the Seahawks must take advantage.  We have seen passes hit Defensive Backs in the hands and fall harmlessly to the ground this year (looking at you, Josh Jobe).  Poise is making the plays you need to make.

Coby Bryant has a knack for being in the right place to make a play on the ball.  Ernest Jones too at times, by drifting underneath the coverage and taking advantage of being out of the Quarterback’s vision.

On offense, we all know how crucial it will be to protect the football.  The Seahawks have an insane eight turnovers in the last three games.  Thankfully, most of them have come in very low leverage situations, when the Seahawks had the game well in hand.

Sam Darnold must play a clean game for the Seahawks to take home a win.

But it is not just Darnold.  Have a look at this play from the Texans game.  What do you see?

A.J. Barner chips his man but does not get out of his route soon enough for Darnold to throw on time.

Charles Cross gets absolutely bull rushed by Will Anderson Jr.

Zach Charbonnet tries a chip on Anderson but whiffs.

Darnold is primarily responsible.  Once he hitched on Barner, he should have just thrown the ball into the stands and let Michael Dickson bail them out.  But any of those three do their job and this play has a different outcome.

It is vital that everyone does their job today.

And penalties.  The Rams are in a remarkable spot:  They have the fewest penalties called on them in the NFL, and the most penalties called on their opponents.

The Seahawks are in the middle of the pack on both.

They should not change anything they are doing.  They should not be any less aggressive for fear of flags being thrown.

But they need to play clean football in key situations.  Particularly against an evenly-matched opponent that has demonstrated so much poise already.

Nick Emmanwori Needs to Have a Big Game

Emmanwori’s skillset is a terrific counter to the looks and formations that Sean McVay cooks up to throw at a defense.  Why?

McVay will invite you to try to match his personnel, and then take advantage of Linebackers that are too slow in the passing game or Defensive Backs that are too light in the running game.

With Emmanwori, the Seahawks do not have to be forced into less-than-ideal packages by McVay.  He can play a standard box safety, a weakside Linebacker or a hybrid nickel Cornerback.  Macdonald can sub in another player as he sees fit and move Emmanwori to another spot.

McVay’s latest machination is using three Tight Ends (aka 13 Personnel), bunching them up at the line of scrimmage like some kind of double Jumbo package and then running wildly different concepts out of the same set.

Emmanwori is strong enough to bust up screen passes (that is 6’2” 225lb Treylon Burks, by the way), has the length and burst to drop back into lanes like a Linebacker and can become a blitzer with his closing speed.

Mike Macdonald’s superpower is getting pressure with his front four, and then adding blitz looks that shift just before or after the snap to keep the Quarterback off balance (we talked about them at length here).

That is how you counter McVay and Stafford’s brilliance.  Trust me, if you show your blitz looks to early or do not properly disguise them, they will make you pay.

Emmanwori allows Macdonald a versatile weapon that can be moved all around the field and deployed in a way that he can get into a Quarterback’s head, feeling pressure that might not be there.

Of course, it all works because the defense has players on the other side who can also blow through two big blockers to destroy a play before it gets started.

But Emmanwori is the key here.  If and when the Rams run out three tight ends he allows the Seahawks to run the defense they want to run, and not the defense McVay wants them to run.

Some Random Game Notes

— One big advantage the Seahawks have is in Special Teams.  They are one of the league’s best units and the Rams have been a bit of a mess, with missed and blocked Field Goal tries and not much of a return game to speak of.  If the Seahawks do not make mistakes there and tilt the field once or twice, that could very well be the difference in the game.

— When the Rams offense comes out in shotgun, chances are they are passing.  McVay is calling a 16/84 run/pass split in shotgun and the run game is only moderately productive for them (there is far less ability to be deceptive).  Also to know: Stafford’s two interceptions came from shotgun formation.

— In that same vein, on Third and 4-9 yards to go, McVay has only called three running plays all year.  That is a meager 8% of plays – the NFL average is over 13%.  A great time to pull some schematic trickery to get after the Quarterback.

— Week Two of the Rashid Shaheed Experience should be very interesting.  He can explode on returns, be a versatile weapon in the run game and make use of the field space that Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp can provide him.

— Tariq Woolen is best as a man corner who can press and recover if the receiver gets past time.  Watching how defenses lined up well off against Puka Nakua and Davante Adams, you can almost hear Defensive Coordinators saying ‘for heaven’s sake, don’t let them beat us deep.’  Problem is, that plays right into McVay’s strategy.  I cannot tell you how many times Stafford just hiked the ball and flung it out to Nakua isolated on one man and let him pick up 8-9 yards.  A well-timed jam at the line might just set them back just enough to malfunction things a bit.

— The Seahawks cannot neglect the running game.  They have not this year – in fact, they are the highest-volume rushing team in the NFL currently.  In Week 6, the absolutely battered Ravens ran very effectively against the Rams.  Derrick Henry was especially effective attacking the middle of the Rams defense.  They had held the Rams to a draw at halftime and controlled the clock.  A turnover caused them to chase the game and Henry only had three touches in the second half.  If the Seahawks can run like they did against the Cardinals in the second half of the game (with Oluwatimi at center), they can narrow McVay’s options on offense and give the defense energy.

— Landman is a liability in coverage.  He has conceded three touchdowns, 178 yards after the catch and has seven missed tackles.  All are worst on the team by far.  I can see A.J.Barner and/or Elijah Arroyo having some key contributions in this game.

By now regular readers of the blog will know what I think about the 2026 draft. It’s not very good. That’s an understatement actually. It’s looking like one of the worst in recent history, perhaps even the worst since I started this blog in 2008.

There’s a distinct lack of top-tier prospects, a poor quarterback group and there’s not much in the way of depth either. I doubt anyone is going to build a foundational class from this draft.

There are going to be a bunch of teams on draft day stuck with picks they barely want to use. Many GM’s will be looking at their board and be selecting in the knowledge they are getting no value. Day two graded players taken in the first, day three players taken in the third. This is what it’s going to be.

Events like the Senior Bowl and combine will impact things. Yet at the moment, this has been one of the most disappointing college football seasons to watch for upcoming talent.

There are four players I currently grade as likely first round picks.

Arvell Reese (LB, Ohio State) — At the moment I think you have to take him first overall if you end up with that pick. He’s too talented. You can play him at linebacker and he’ll make a ton of plays for you. He is one of the few who can elevate to become one of the top players at his position. You can play him off the edge sometimes to see how he handles it. His strength on contact is unreal so I wouldn’t bet against him. He is the #1 prospect.

Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) — He might not be a dynamite, epic difference maker at the next level but he has the ability to wear different hats and be creatively placed across the second level. I think Downs will be a very solid starter as a worst case scenario and again, in this draft that’s a plus. Positional value could hurt him but he’s not competing against top-end premier positional players. Testing will determine his upside, it’s not currently obvious how he’ll get on there. An intelligent football player.

Spencer Fano (T/G, Utah) — On tape he is a highly aggressive, tone-setting right tackle. Fano is a natural born killer who loves to finish his blocks. If you engage with him front-on, the chances are you’ll end up flat on your back. Measurements will determine whether tackle is his likely NFL home or whether he’d need to kick inside. I think he can be a good tackle but perhaps an elite level guard. He carries his weight superbly with minimal bad weight, he’s light on his feet and he can get out on the move. Fano is the kind of player I would draft any year, any time.

Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame) — He’s dynamic, quick and a home run hitter but does he have to work as part of a two-headed monster? If so, how early can you take him? Jahmyr Gibbs’ situation in Detroit hard to emulate. Love’s stop-start ability, acceleration and change of direction make him a difficult player to defend but he isn’t likely to be a work-horse back. You aren’t drafting Jonathan Taylor but perhaps he can be a slightly lesser version of De’Von Achane for an explosive offense?

It says it all — I’ve started this piece talking about a linebacker, a safety, a right tackle or guard and a running back as the top prospects in the class. None of these players feature at premium positions.

The next group of prospects I believe are likely to go in the first round but are not necessarily worthy of a clear first round grade.

Keldrick Faulk (DE, Auburn) and Peter Woods (DT, Clemson) both have flashes on tape that could easily make them high picks. We came into the year expecting a lot from both. Faulk was even being touted as a potential #1 overall talent, with Woods firmly in the top-five conversation.

Both have been really underwhelming this season when you watch complete games. With Woods you’re left wondering where the dynamic potential game-wrecker has gone. He’s looked like a bog-standard run defender at times, offering little or no impact as a pass rusher. He’s had three games this year where he failed to record a single pressure and seven sack-less games too. It’s been six games since Faulk last had a sack and he only has two for the season.

Despite this, I would guess both are still likely to be drafted quite early. It’s that bad a draft class teams are going to end up shrugging their shoulders and saying, “Well, what else are we going to do? We have to draft someone.”

Woods can supposedly run in the 4.8’s at +300lbs while Faulk is an athletic player at 6-6 and 280lbs. Even with bad tape and poor production in 2025, they could both go in the top-10 based purely on offering at least a hint of physical potential to develop.

Francis Mauigoa (T/G, Miami) is playing right tackle but just looking at him makes you think he’ll need to kick inside to guard. He appears to have shorter arms and his brawling style will be better suited inside. We saw last year that teams are comfortable taking interior offensive linemen early when alternatives are not plentiful and I do think there’s a chance Mauigoa will be taken with the view he could play tackle or guard, you can work out which down the line, and one way or another you’ll be left with a competent, aggressive blocker.

Vega Ioane (G, Penn State) is very intriguing to me. I started watching left tackle Drew Shelton but was immediately drawn to the left guard next to him. Ioane is massive but mobile — combining the mauling tools of a bigger blocker with plus agility for his size. He can get on the move, he can reach up if the scheme dictates. He can also manhandle opponents at the point of attack. Ioane is definitely a notch better for a gap scheme but there’s some flexibility here.

Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State) has been a surprisingly enjoyable watch this year. His body control is superb and you can see how much he has developed within the fabled Ohio State receiver production line. He didn’t play last weekend due to an injury which is worth monitoring but if you need someone who is going to run precise routes, be where you need him to be and then make difficult grabs look easy — Tate can do this. He has nine +20 yard catches this year, tied for 11th most among college receivers. He is not a YAC threat. Speed is going to be the concern for his stock and my guess is he won’t run at the combine.

Makai Lemon (WR, USC) is also having a strong year. He can contort his body into some really difficult positions, hang in the air and make plays in coverage. Lemon’s ball-tracking is very good and as with Tate, you see a level of technical quality in the way he plays. He’ll provide return value as a special teamer and even though he doesn’t have great size or blazing speed, he makes things look easy. I’m not comparing him to Jaxon Smith-Njigba because he isn’t at that level — but they share a similar ability to make things happen without flashing elite size or speed.

So far that’s 10 players I’ve talked about and we’re already getting on to prospects I think are day-two types.

What about the quarterbacks? There’s an assumption that at least one will go early, perhaps even first overall. I just think it’s going to be really difficult to justify that in 2026.

The expectation is Oregon’s Dante Moore and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers won’t declare. They shouldn’t turn pro, in particular Sellers. They need time and further development.

LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier was benched last weekend against Alabama as his difficult 2025 continues. He clearly hasn’t been healthy at any point (knee), has looked so far off what we saw last season and his numbers have collapsed. It’s hard to know what’s best. Sit out, get healthy, hope that your fallen stock sends you to a better team on day two or even three? Or try and get back out there to have at least one or two good performances before the end of the year, knowing you could make things even worse? I’m not sure he can salvage anything at this point on this LSU team. He did flash a high number of NFL quality throws last year but the avoidable turnovers weren’t kicked into touch this season. There’s a player here and he’d make sense as an investment for Shanahan/McVay system coaches.

Alabama’s Ty Simpson is QB1 for me. His technical ability, weekly delivering of NFL throws, clear evidence of going through progressions, decent enough arm, athleticism and creativity plus the way he has elevated his team tick a lot of boxes. However, he is inexperienced with only one incomplete season as a starter. In his last couple of outings you’ve seen a few rough edges emerge — a clear sign that he could do with more time on the field. I am not convinced he’ll turn pro. He’s a coaches son, is clearly very mature and patient (he’s waited years to start at Alabama and didn’t transfer) and he might see the benefit of a year two with Kalen DeBoer, just as Michael Penix Jr did.

The one alternative view on this is how bad this draft is. If he continues to play well and Alabama win the SEC and go on a playoff run, he might sense an opportunity to go very early. The 2027 draft could be more competitive (it’ll be hard not to be) so does he strike while the iron is hot? There’s no talk at the moment about his future so it might be undecided. Simpson turns 23 in December.

That brings us on to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who everyone is now smitten with and tipping to be the top pick. This is in part because he led a comeback win against a bad Penn State (3-6) team at the weekend with a game-winning drive.

I am not convinced.

Now, a year ago, I pushed back on Cam Ward being a first round talent throughout the process. For me it was ludicrous that he was taken first overall and I thought he was a day two prospect. He still went higher than I ever projected through sheer desperation. If another team ends up picking very early and are as desperate as the Titans were this year, they may well make a call on who they think is QB1 and if it’s Mendoza, he’ll go as early as Ward.

I think he’s a third round type. I believe you need to have difference making qualities to go very early that he doesn’t possess. He is not technically excellent like Simpson but he doesn’t have a cannon or outstanding improv qualities. He’s extremely competent within a system that is clearly highly effective and user friendly. Remember, Kurtis Rourke looked really good in this system too.

Both against Penn State and Oregon, seen as big wins on the road, I thought there was good and bad tape on Mendoza. You do seem some big throws, delivered to the right area on time enabling his targets to make plays. I do think you also see a ton of high-percentage stuff, a lot of back-shoulder focus and I’m never really wowed watching him.

On top of this, Todd McShay reported last week that Mendoza’s coaches at California were not exactly disappointed he opted to move on to pastures new.

Mendoza is a competent quarterback who fits his scheme well. If he went to a team with a ready-made structure I think it could work. It would be pointless for a team like the Jets to launch a major rebuild by drafting him as the initial building block, just as Ward was a ridiculous fit for a Titans franchise desperate for hope while having no actual concept of proper team building.

Miami’s Carson Beck is simply too turnover-prone to be drafted early (21 interceptions in a season-and-a-half). Penn State’s Drew Allar had an appalling run before injury ended his season, tanking his stock. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik similarly has barely played at a draftable level.

The player who continues to intrigue me at quarterback is Arkansas’ Taylen Green. He’s been dealt a tough hand this year, given how the Razorbacks’ defense has performed. Green has NFL upside and I would much rather take him on day two and see what you’ve got than select someone like Mendoza early. He’s big, athletic, has a good arm and he’s a playmaker. He is not flawless but many of the current top quarterbacks in the NFL weren’t entering the league. There’s something to work with here. I think he has the potential to be a more refined, better passer version of Colin Kaepernick. He’s fifth among college quarterbacks for QBR and fourth for EPA. I would take a shot on him.

The EDGE rushers are completely overrated in my opinion.

Let’s start with Rueben Bain (DE, Miami). For weeks I think SDB was the only place pushing back against the relentless hype. He was being touted to go first overall, to be a top-five lock. I just didn’t see it on tape at all, paired with the knowledge that he only has 30-inch arms. Defensive linemen with that severe lack of length do not go early in round one.

It now appears the narrative is changing. Todd McShay reported today that Bain “is a more polarizing prospect than people think.”

I think he is a very average pass rusher who lacks dynamic speed to bend-and-straighten and doesn’t have the quick-twitch fibres to create easy wins. His bigger body will present a big target for NFL tackles and when engaged, how will he fight off those blocks with such short arms? I also don’t think he plays with that much violence at the point of attack, there isn’t really a lot of ‘bull in a china shop’ tape on offer.

Players like this often get overrated. Look at AJ Epenesa, Boogie Basham and Myles Murphy. All three were way overhyped, all players we talked about in the same way we’re discussing Bain here. Now again, it’s such a poor draft that there’s every chance someone will throw up their hands and take him early anyway. I doubt it’ll be in the top-half of round one though. I have him graded in round three. I think he’ll be a fairly average defensive end and could just end up being another Clelin Ferrell.

I have a whole bunch of players graded in rounds 3/4 who I’m seeing rated higher, such as TJ Parker (Clemson), David Bailey (Texas Tech), R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma), Gabe Jacas (Illinois), Derrick Moore (Michigan) and Josh Josephs (Tennessee).

Clemson’s Parker has been one of the biggest disappointments of the college season. I don’t know whether he took his eye off the ball and was influenced by all of the early mock drafts but his 2025 tape is tough to watch to the point he might need to think about returning to school. He has two sacks all year — one against Troy and one against Syracuse. I’m not convinced Bailey has the dynamic length and testing to be a major threat in the NFL. Mason Thomas equally does not possess typical length or the frame of a NFL pass rusher. Nobody can fault his effort which is great — but I find it hard watching him on tape and imagine a top-class pro-pass rusher.

I’m not a slave to physical ideals either — Nik Bonitto was very much a blog favourite back in the day. I am willing to overlook a lack of tools but the tape needs to show something special.

I think there’s a raw, untapped potential to players like Romello Height and Jaishawn Barham but they are projects. Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) has intrigued me but not on a first round grading level. I will watch more before confirming my thoughts on him.

I don’t have any pure EDGE players graded in the first two rounds. I have Dani Dennis-Sutton (DE, Penn State) graded in round two. I also think power-based defensive ends like Matayo Uiagalelei (Oregon) and LT Overton (Alabama) are a tad overrated and also belong in the day two mix.

Caleb Banks (DT, Florida) has had injury issues but could still end up going early thanks to the bad class, while Domonique Orange (DT, Illinois) is really fun to watch and could provide some stout day-two quality for the interior defensive line, with some added disruptive qualities.

Some of the defensive tackles are a bit overrated. A’Mauri Washington (Oregon) is a fantastic athlete but he gets moved too easily on tape and the flashes are few and far between. I didn’t enjoy his Iowa performance. Christen Miller (Georgia) also hasn’t really taken a bit leap forward in 2025. I think they are both mid-round fliers for upside who might get pushed up boards.

Gracen Halton and Damonic Williams (both Oklahoma) are better options who could provide great value in the middle rounds. Halton in particular is very disruptive as a pass rusher and they have a level of intensity to their play. Tim Keenan (Alabama) is a big-bodied space-eater who’s no slouch and could provide some value.

There’s an interesting collection of running backs that are flying under the radar a bit too much. Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson is a very interesting player — well sized, capable of big plays, shifty and elusive yet packs a punch. He’s a complete player putting up big numbers this season and I think he might end up in round two. He’s one to watch. Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton has struggled at times this season but he’s still ultra talented and could provide mega value. Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr is one of the more underrated players in college football and pre-injury Michigan’s Justice Haynes was flashing a lot.

Raleek Brown (Arizona State) is undersized but loves to finish his runs, flashes explosive traits and can make dynamic cuts to exploit openings. Jadarian Price (Notre Dame) also has a fair amount of talent and has been a great complement to Love. I see Kaytron Allen (Penn State) and Jonah Coleman (Washington) more as day-three prospects but they’ll have a chance to stick in the league.

Chris Brazell II (WR, Tennessee) is a sudden player who causes defenders a lot of problems off his release. He can also make difficult catches look easy although whether he can take over games and be consistent is debatable. Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State) is a skilled player but we’ll need to see testing results to determine his upside. It’s a deep receiver class again and I have several players graded in for rounds 3/4, including Elijah Sarratt, Denzel Boston, Germie Bernard, Chris Bell, Antonio Williams and Ian Strong. They all might get bumped up though because of the class. Testing will influence these grades in a big way down the line.

I need to do more work on KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M) but from what I’ve seen so far he has excellent late separation skills and delivers savvy routes.

Eli Stowers (TE, Vanderbilt) is clearly TE1 for me although he’s more of a pass-catching threat than a savvy blocker. He has X-factor athletic qualities and offers more than the athletic but undersized Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon). You see a lot of mocks placing Sadiq in the top-15 but that’s way too rich for me. He’ll test well but the tape is inconsistent and he’s 6-3 and 245lbs. To me he feels like a more athletic Irv Smith Jr.

I’ve talked a lot about Brian Parker (T/G, Duke) and Gennings Dunker (T/G, Iowa). Both are quality zone blockers and could be options for the Seahawks. Working out how early they go will be tricky but I think they are both top-60 prospects in this class. Austin Siereveld (T/G, Ohio State) is another player I’ve really come to like and the expectation is he will also kick inside from left tackle.

Logan Jones (C, Iowa) as we discussed earlier this week would be another option for the Seahawks — his tape paired with elite testing ability should make him a top-60 talent, even if he doesn’t necessarily go that early due to positional value. Keylan Rutledge (G, Georgia Tech) and Beau Stephens (G, Iowa) could be value picks in the early day three range.

I have Kadyn Proctor (T/G, Alabama) graded on day two. I still think he’s simply too big, too cumbersome to play tackle at the next level and while it’s cool seeing him run and catch the football and flash crazy mobility at his size on tricky plays — he doesn’t have the lateral agility or foot-speed to mirror in pass-pro well enough. I think a switch to guard might be likely for gap-scheme systems. For me, Caleb Lomu (T, Utah) and Isaiah World (T, Oregon) are both mid-round types. You might get more out of Ryan Baer (T, Pittsburgh) and Max Iheanachor (T, Arizona State). I have both graded higher.

I can see why Brandon Cisse (CB, South Carolina) is being talked up at the moment as a potential CB1. He’s very quick and fluid but you do see him getting out-muscled on plays. I think he’s worthy of a day two projection but he could go earlier. Avieon Terrell (CB, Clemson) has had a poor season and might now be viewed predominantly as a day-two slot corner. Overall it doesn’t look like a good cornerback class. Mansoor Delane (LSU) was getting a lot of early attention but I worry about his testing speed.

I really like Earl Little Jr (S, Florida State) the Alabama transfer and think he could be a really good day two pick. Keon Sabb (Alabama) can be hit-and-miss but in the middle rounds he’d be worth a look.

I will soon publish my early horizontal board. There are now 124 players graded but I want to add more and refine grades before publishing.

I think a lot of teams will be scouring the veteran trade market come March, knowing this isn’t going to be a draft class to write home about. The problem is, selling teams will know this too. It’s why the Jets took one of Dallas’ 2027 first round picks for Quinnen Williams, instead of a first-frame pick next year. Everyone is going to be looking ahead to the following draft where the likes of the sensational Dylan Stewart (EDGE, South Carolina), Jeremiah Smith (WR, Ohio State), Ryan Williams (WR, Alabama) and Colin Simmons (EDGE, Texas) will be eligible — not to mention the possibility of a better crop of quarterbacks.

There’s a reason why the Seahawks were comfortable giving up a fourth and fifth rounder in the Rashid Shaheed trade. That fifth rounder could’ve ended up being a player with a priority free agent grade. That’s the state of this class. My guess is they’ll be comfortable only having four picks, including their selections in the first three rounds.

We’ve heard a lot about Sam Darnold’s final two games in Minnesota — crushing defeats to the Lions and then the Rams in the playoffs.

Many pointed at these two games when arguing that replacing Geno Smith with Darnold was ill-advised. The term often used was ‘Darnold is pressure sensitive’.

I’ve always thought this is a ludicrous phrase, given every quarterback is going to be impacted by pressure. Yet I wanted to dig down into the truth about that Rams game in particular, considering they are Seattle’s next opponents.

LA recorded nine sacks against the Vikings and Darnold was under pressure on 27 drop-backs. For comparison, Matthew Stafford and Lamar Jackson were pressured 29 and 28 times respectively in the playoffs. They each played a game more than Darnold. So basically, he had two-games’ worth of pressure.

If you look at the percentage of pressured drop-backs a quarterback was partly responsible for in the playoffs, Darnold’s number was 16% against the Rams. Jalen Hurts’ number was 23.3% as he won the Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes was responsible for 25.6%. Darnold’s tally was only the eighth most among playoff quarterbacks in total — so his 16% was not a high mark of responsibility.

His turnover worthy play percentage in the Rams game was 7.1% — tied with Lamar Jackson’s mark as the seventh highest in the post-season. Mahomes had a 9.8% for TWP’s.

Take PFF grades with a pinch of salt but for the purpose of illustrating the point — Brian O’Neill, Minnesota’s best O-liner last year, had a 42.8 grade in this game. Cam Robinson at left tackle earned a 39.5 grade. They gave up three of the nine sacks — with Robinson also conceding an astonishing 12 pressures and 11 hurries from the blindside alone.

While Darnold clearly didn’t play well or find a way to elevate the offense against this barrage, it feels completely suspect to expect a performance in this environment.

The Vikings thought their offensive line was so bad after this game they spent a lot of money to acquire two new interior linemen (Will Fries and Ryan Kelly) and then used their first round pick on a guard (Donovan Jackson).

Funnily enough a bad O-line was often used as an excuse to cover for many of Geno Smith’s bad moments in Seattle. In the case of Darnold, he got the ‘pressure sensitive’ label.

If you look at the two quarterbacks in the regular season, Darnold was given some responsibility for 10.1% of the pressures he faced, with Smith at 8%. Not a big difference — Darnold ranked 30th and Smith 35th in that category so both suffered last season. Smith faced a league-high 251 pressures on drop-backs last year. Darnold faced 236 — the fourth most.

I think the criticism of Darnold went over the top, in part as people sought to confirm their priors on his NFL status. He’d been written off as a bust and then re-emerged. Typically when that happens, people are waiting for the fall. Darnold’s final two games acted as confirmation for some that he wasn’t actually that good after all. It was just Kevin O’Connell, or Justin Jefferson.

Yet the reality is with the Panthers, Vikings and now Seahawks — Darnold has enjoyed a degree of success. His teams have won games — he was 4-2 with even the lowly Panthers. He needs to win ‘the big games’ — but you could say the same about Lamar Jackson and his poor playoff record.

Darnold hasn’t been flawless and we’re seeing even now, there are throws and mistakes you’d rather he avoid.

It’s pretty clear though that too much was made in particular of his performance against the Rams last season. That was a perfect storm of bad O-line play and a great display by LA’s defensive front.

Now let’s flip it and look at Matthew Stafford’s one game against Mike Macdonald’s defense last year. How did Sean McVay fair with his starters?

The Rams ran for 68 yards on 24 attempts at an average of 2.8 yards-per-carry. Stafford, in the initial four quarters, threw for 215 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He was 22/41 passing (53.6%).

In overtime, he was 3/3 passing for 83 yards including the game-winning score. That immediately followed a hopeless turnover on downs by the Seahawks as they were driving for the win, deflating the team and the stadium. Credit Stafford for finishing it off but those last three throws were like a 7-on-7 drill and a hot knife through butter against a beaten team.

Even with the overtime success, Stafford finished with a QBR of 62.5 and a rating of 83.3. None of this is particularly good.

The Seahawks lost that game because they kept shooting themselves in the foot. The aforementioned snafu in overtime, the Geno Smith +100-yard pick-six.

Darnold ‘playing better’ will be a narrative this weekend. Stafford and the Rams’ running game have a point to prove too against McDonald’s defense.

Please check out my latest appearance on Puck Sports below — and leave a comment and a like on the YouTube page:

Please check out my latest Bump & Stacy appearance below! And as always (I know I nag about this every week) if you can click onto the YouTube page and leave a like and a comment it would be massively appreciated!

We’ve seen what Jalen Sundell has to offer. Now there’s an opportunity for Olu Oluwatimi to start at center.

Will the Seahawks feel like they have their guy by the end of the year?

It’s a position where they could do with some consistency. They’ve changed to a different starter at center in each of the last five seasons.

The NFL is not flush with great centers and I’m not convinced it’s a position where greatness is necessary. Mere competence might be enough. Even so, the Seahawks surely want to end the constant chopping and changing they’ve gone through.

They should know what they’ve got on the roster by the spring. If they wanted to make a commitment to a young starter for the long haul as a sixth new starter in as many years, they’ll have the information to back that decision up.

Iowa’s Logan Jones played very well against Oregon at the weekend. He controlled several reps against slightly overrated defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington and showed a good understanding of the offense combined with physical tools.

He drives defenders off the line and angles opponents to stretch out lanes. His combo-blocking is good and he can reach up to next-level blockers. He can get out on the pull and hit blocking targets in space. There is evidence of finishing blocks on tape. If there’s one thing I would like to see from time-to-time it’s better hand-placement to help control blocks in pass-pro.

Jones is reportedly capable of jumping a near 37-inch vertical, running a 1.53 10-yard split and a 4.09 short shuttle. This is the kind of profile that the NFL’s best possess.

He is college football’s highest graded zone-blocker at center this season, having been the second best zone blocker a year ago. He’s played in 46 games for Iowa in a system that focuses a lot on zone concepts. There’s a good chance he’d fit seamlessly into Seattle’s scheme.

The center position isn’t typically drafted early. Two former blog favourites we talked up a lot who’ve gone on to have very good careers — Erik McCoy and Creed Humphrey — were taken 48th and 63rd overall respectively. Tyler Linderbaum, another former Iowa center, had everything physically and still lasted to the 25th pick and was only the third interior lineman taken after Kenyon Green and Zion Johnson in 2022.

For what it’s worth, Linderbaum is set to be a free agent in the off-season. The home-run move would be to sign him. The Ravens would be crazy to let him walk though — and almost certainly won’t allow him to get away.

Jones could provide a projectable alternative with a similar testing profile.

I’m not sure how early John Schneider would be comfortable taking a center like Jones but we have to remember that the 2026 draft class is, to put it bluntly, crap. It’s why people are desperately trying to inflate Fernando Mendoza leading a game-winning drive against 3-6 Penn State. There’s hardly any top-end quality, especially at quarterback. The talent and depth is badly lacking. Anyone who has a good game these days is getting elevated.

If there was ever a draft to write-off and make some bold veteran trades, this is the one.

The whole league will be aware of that though, lessening the value of 2026 picks. As much as teams might want to trade away their stock, the reality is that from as early as about pick #15 you might be seeing teams forcing themselves to take a player who presents very little value per grading.

We might see players with legit third round grades taken in the 40’s. That’s how bad it’s looking.

In a situation like this, just getting a scheme-fit O-liner with high potential might be an understandable move. It could be Jones or someone like Brian Parker, Gennings Dunker or Austin Siereveld — all tackles expected to kick inside.

It’s up to Oluwatimi to show what he can do and possibly make this a moot point. Or has Sundell already earned enough faith pre-injury? If they need a center for the next few years, keep an eye on Jones. He’s a solid prospect with a lot of upside.

If you missed my stream with Jeff Simmons earlier today, check it out below:

Coming into this game I’ll admit I was a little bit wary.

This is not a typical NFL season. Weird things are happening. Today the Dolphins hammered the Bills. Last week the Panthers won comfortably in Green Bay — yet followed that result up by losing badly at home to the Saints. The Vikings won well in Detroit a week ago against the odds.

The current Super Bowl favourite is a team with a 5-4 record — summing up how unpredictable and bizarre everything is.

Was this going to be a game where the Seahawks suffered their upset?

Nope. With 8:33 left in the first half, they led 35-0. The game was over. There would be no surprise here — only another statement of intent by the Seahawks.

They end Sunday in possession of the NFC’s #1 seed. They’ll take it into next weekend and a visit to the LA Rams if the Packers beat the Eagles on Monday.

This is getting interesting.

I’m sure there’ll be people lingering on what happened after they stormed to a 35-0 lead. I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s incredibly difficult to play-out basically 2.5 quarters of football when the game’s already won.

One turnover came on a botched snap just after a new center entered the game. One came when a pass bounced off somebody’s helmet for the second time this season.

The Cardinals did a good job featuring their unstoppable weapon in Trey McBride.

The reality is this — the Seahawks beat Arizona by 22 points. This same opponent lost to the Packers by four points, the Colts by four points, the 49ers by one point and they beat the Cowboys last week. There might’ve been some untidy moments but they did something today that nobody else has done to Arizona.

Seattle ran the ball well, they scored two touchdowns on defense, their good players played at a high level again. This was an excellent victory.

So how serious are the Seahawks as a contender? They certainly have a very balanced roster at the moment. Their superpower is probably within that balance. They don’t have glaring holes.

Other teams are relying on an exceptional quarterback and don’t have the same rounded depth.

Next week’s game against the Rams will tell us a lot about how good the Seahawks actually are. But if you’re looking for how far a rounded, deep roster can take you — just look at the Eagles a year ago. I seem to recall they did OK.

This is a guest article by Curtis Allen…

Division games are the lifeblood of the NFL.  You get to know your opponent by playing them twice a year, every year.  While there is always a clear favorite, just about anything can happen.

Therefore, while the Seahawks have won nine straight against the Arizona Cardinals — and are clearly the better team going into this matchup — Mike Macdonald will have his team fully focused on this matchup.

He will need it, as the Cardinals are not the same opponent they faced in Week Four.  They have made changes and are playing a better-quality game of football as a result.

Kyler Murray’s season is essentially over and his future in Arizona is less certain than it has ever been.  Jacoby Brissett now runs the offense and the improvement is noticeable.  With Brissett at the helm, Arizona has scored an average of 25 points on over 330 yards of offense in their last three games.

Although they are 1-2 in that stretch, the two losses were to very good teams (Indianapolis and Green Bay) by only four points.  Their win in Dallas in prime time was impressive.

How are they doing it?  Brissett is pushing the ball further down the field.  Murray was throwing short passes at an incredible rate, only throwing 3.8 Intended Air Yards per completion.  Brissett’s number?  Almost double Murray’s at 6.9.

Brissett is also smartly targeting star Tight End Trey McBride far more frequently.  McBride is on a heater with Brissett throwing to him:  in three games he has about eleven targets per game (almost double what Murray gave him) and has 200 receiving yards, eleven first downs and four touchdowns.  He is going to be a problem to defend.

First-round pick Walter Nolen has also finally made his NFL debut and is earning rave reviews for his work in the middle of the Cardinals defensive line.  Between Nolen, the ageless Calais Campbell (he is on pace for his first 10-sack season since 2018 – Nolen was a freshman in high school then!) and Josh Sweat, the Seahawks’ Offensive Line that has performed so well year-to-date will need to keep their progress going.

This Seahawks team is different as well.  They have a fully healthy Devon Witherspoon, DeMarcus Lawrence, Robbie Ouzts and Nick Emmanwori back for this game.  Jaxon Smith-Njigba had his “worst” game of the season against the Cardinals in Week Four (a mere-mortal 4 catches for 79 yards) and will want to improve on that against their depleted secondary.

Can the Seahawks really make it ten straight wins?  Five full season sweeps of the Cardinals?

Here is how.

Win the Ground Game on Both Sides

The Cardinals are running a game plan not unlike the Seahawks on offense:  Close to a 50/50 split on runs and passes.  The run is not so much a strong attack as a balancing tool to keep the defense honest.  The main difference is their passing game is nowhere near as explosive.

In the last three games, the Cardinals are running at 3.71 yards per carry, near the bottom of the NFL.  While they are by no means a major threat on the ground, Emari Demercado was a big, big factor in the Cardinals’ win against the Cowboys, with four runs of ten or more yards.

His best runs came when he attacked the edges of the Cowboys defense.

The Seahawks will need DeMarcus Lawrence, Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu and the linebacking crew to be fast and strong in those areas.  They are currently the top run defense in the NFL, conceding only 3.5 yards per carry, and they will need to play like it.

Why so important?

Brissett is not a Quarterback that can regularly take over games and will his team to victory.  Force him into that position and you have a very good chance of keeping this offense down.

More on that in a minute.

Now for the other side:  The Cardinals defense is also not doing well on the ground.  In the last three games, they are conceding a very healthy 5.17 yards per carry.  Granted, we are talking about against Jonathan Taylor and Josh Jacobs, two of the best out there at the moment.  But in that Cowboys game Javonte Williams also ran very effectively.

Where did they find their greatest success running the ball?  It does not take a genius to see where the Seahawks should focus their efforts:

The left edge of the Cardinals defense has been especially vulnerable on the ground.  The Seahawks should run behind Charles Cross and Grey Zabel, with Robbie Ouzts leading the runner through the holes.

A run like this is something that could truly establish their offense and lead to further success in controlling the game.

I know, I know.  Blah blah blah.

We have been talking about the running game all season long.  But you should know, the Seahawks’ best running performance of the year was in Week Four against this team.  Combine that with the recent stretch of poor play by the Cardinals defenders and you have a recipe for a game that helps the offense be more balanced and put a ton of pressure on the opposing Quarterback.

That is the other key to success.

Keep Jacoby Brissett Uncomfortable

Week talked about Brissett last year in Week Two when the Seahawks faced him in New England.

To briefly recap:  Brissett is an adequate Quarterback whose main attribute is that he rarely throws interceptions and keeps the offense on schedule.  When he has to scan and find his second or third option, his effectiveness plummets.

His 2025 splits when he gets the ball out in under 2.5 seconds and when he does not are wild:

His accuracy and rating plummet and his sacks skyrocket.  He is facing a 34% pressure rate in the three games.  If he can get to his first read, that pressure will not be effective.

He has worked very well with McBride because he can quickly get open and run after the catch.

Mike Macdonald needs to marry the pass rush to effective coverage.  I know this is easier said than done but McBride cannot regularly get a clean release from the line of scrimmage.  If they can move him off his route even a little, it is like a grain of sand getting into a microchip and shorting it out.

Watch what happens when a defender gets in the way of Brissett’s first target.

The route is a bit of a pre-programmed response.  Brissett does not see the defender coming across and “incidentally contacting” the receiver and throwing him off his route.  He takes the snap and throws quickly.  A rare interception and threat neutralized.

Nick Emmanwori, Coby Bryant and Devon Witherspoon will all be valuable weapons here.  Their speed, vision and ability to diagnose will be put on display.