Author: Rob Staton (Page 3 of 440)

Please note — I’m at the mercy of the footage I can access. This includes the NFL Network’s live coverage and whatever is uploaded to YouTube. I don’t see everything — but have watched all of the 1v1’s for the offensive and defensive linemen.

Standouts based on the tape I saw

Gennings Dunker (T, Iowa)
Zion Young (DE, Missouri)
Rayshaun Benny (DT, Michigan)
Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State)
Jake Slaughter (C, Florida)
Demetrius Crownover (T, Texas A&M)
Taylen Green (QB, Arkansas)

National team OL vs DL 1v1 notes

Iowa lineman Gennings Dunker showed a forceful punch to the chest on his first 1v1 rep against Vincent Anthony of Duke. He widened the route to the quarterback, then showed good footwork to seal off the edge.

His second rep came at right guard against Zane Durrant. Wow. His base looks like a truck, his feet are quick and in control and he so easily got into position to intercept Durrant — clamping his hands inside to finish.

He then took on Nadame Tucker and handled the edge against his speed (Tucker is a smaller, quicker EDGE rusher).

I’m sold after one day. In this down-year of a draft, Gennings Dunker should be a high pick. He is a plug-and-play starter at guard and potentially right tackle. There’s absolutely no reason, looking at him today, to think he’s going to be a poor tester. He should go in the top-25 of this draft. Dunker just looks different out there.

Bryson Eason of Tennessee demolished guard Jalen Farmer with a vicious club move. Farmer recovered to regain some position but the damage was done and he was left clinging on around Eason’s neck (it would’ve been flagged for a hold).

Carter Willis of Washington had more success against Eason — anticipating the club move this time and just letting Eason’s momentum take him out of the play.

Kansas State center Sam Hecht took on Lee Hunter for their first rep. Hecht held his ground and Hunter’s attempted disengage was laboured and late. He was too upright and didn’t have any juice on contact. A comfortable win for the O-line. Hecht also had a win against Bryson Eason. He had a good first day I thought.

Hunter’s second rep came against Texas A&M’s Trey Zuhn, who moved inside from tackle. Hunter was again too high, he easily stalled and although he had a late move to disengage and swim to release the rep was already won by Zuhn.

Hunter’s third rep came against Iowa’s Beau Stephens. He tried too hard to make amends for a poor start, worked to keep low and was off-balance and ran straight into Stephens who just cut his arms away and sent Hunter to the turf.

His next rep was a moderate win over Lemieux when he tried to be quicker off the snap and take a wider angle to the QB. He then finally won with leverage on another rep against Beau Stephens. Overall though, an unconvincing set of reps for Hunter who I feel is a bit overrated.

Iowa guard Beau Stephens matched up against Penn State’s Zane Durant for his first 1v1. Stephens overset to his left and left a wide open A-gap. Durant just had to absorb initial contact and sprint through the hole. It was poor technique from Stephens who bit way too had on Durant’s wide alignment.

Texas A&M’s Zuhn was easily beat by Tucker of Western Michigan. The speed rusher sprinted into contact and then swam away from the block with an arm/over to attack the B-gap. It was way too easy.

Demetrius Crownover the right tackle from Texas A&M faced off against Romello Height. There’s a 100lbs difference between the players and Crownover caught Height as he engaged and didn’t let him go. On Crownover’s second rep he featured at left tackle and sealed off the edge against Vincent Anthony. He’ll struggle against pure speed for his size but this was a good start to the week for Crownover.

Minnesota’s Deven Eastern went up against Georgia Tech’s talented guard Keylan Rutledge. The O-liner kept low, got into a strong base quickly, stuck his hands inside and stayed square on his man to finish the block.

Rutledge’s second rep came at center against Penn State’s Durrant. Again, another easy win. He struggled on his third rep though against Durrant, who easily beat him to the outside shoulder then squeezed through the B-gap with better power/quickness.

Jeffrey M’Ba of SMU took on Delby Lemieux from Dartmouth. There’s hope Lemieux might be the next small-school find at the Senior Bowl. He’s practising at center having played tackle previously. He needs to add weight and he’s light in the lower half. The anchor isn’t there. I think just looking at his frame he needs time and work to adjust to this position change. It showed on this rep, M’Ba just barged into the backfield.

M’Ba’s second 1v1 came against Carter Willis. He dominated him with brute strength, walking him backwards into the pocket. He’s someone I’d like to watch more of.

Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton’s first rep came against Boise State’s Kage Casey. It was a total mismatch. DDS extended his arms into Casey’s chest, created separation between the two and then it was a simple disengagement to reach the QB for the sack.

Texas Tech’s Romello Height also had a win later on against Kasey just driving through his chest. It’s a good way to win for an undersized rusher, flashing some power.

Clemson’s TJ Parker (not listed on the National team roster yet competing in this practise) came up against Alan Herron of Maryland at right tackle. Parker attacked the outside shoulder, saw Herron had slightly overset in his stance and then delivered a devastating straight arm to the chest, driving him back into the quarterback. A big win for Parker. The rest of the National team D-liners were jacked, coming over to celebrate with him.

Utah’s Logan Fano took his first rep against Kage Casey. Fano took advantage of Casey leaving the inside move wide open. You can’t play outside-in like that at tackle. An easy win for Fano. On his second rep he reduced inside which doesn’t suit him and the guard Jalen Farmer walled him off and dealt with an ineffective spin-move.

Iowa’s Max Llewelyn had his first rep against Alan Herron. Unsurprisingly he went for the spin-move (he always does this on tape) and it was fairly well contained by Herron.

American team notes OL vs DL 1v1

Missouri’s Zion Young had his first rep came against Austin Barber of Florida. Young got into the tackle’s chest and drove him backwards, with an arm/over to finish the rep. It’s the kind of power move he’s good at. Young also had a win vs Jude Bowry and showed off a dynamic inside move after faking to the outside.

Having won with power earlier, Zion Young then attacked Max Iheanachor with a brilliant inside counter. He also demolished Bowry with speed-to-power and then a brilliant disengage. For me, Young was the no-brainer winner among DE/EDGE types on day one. He certainly looks the part and is playing like he needs to make an impression after his DWI arrest a few weeks ago.

Fernando Carmona of Arkansas took on Missouri’s other D-liner here, Chris McClellan, on the second rep. McClellan tried a variety of moves but Carmona did a reasonable job containing him. He had more success against Boston College’s Logan Taylor, walking him back into the pocket. It flashed McClellan’s great length to extend his arms and power to drive through contact.

Florida’s Jake Slaughter faced Alabama’s Tim Keenan on his first rep. Keenan tried clubbing at him but Slaughter stood his ground, locked in and planted the anchor. A good rep for the center. They matched up again for a rematch. Again, it was a good win for Slaughter who controlled the much bigger Keenan. He just locked him down.

Slaughter vs Oklahoma’s Gracen Halton was a good battle. I’d say it was a score draw. If you’re looking for a day one winner, I would count Florida’s Slaughter among them. A few people are highlighting bad reps when he was moved to guard but that’s clearly not his position. They should keep him at center for the rest of the week.

Back to Keenan, he had a great rep against Fernando Carmona. He took the initial contact, swatted away Carmona’s arm and then just pressed him deep into the backfield. A great combination of power and hand-use. He also bullied James Brockermeyer into the backfield on a later rep.

Auburn’s Jeremiah Wright dominated Florida’s Caleb Banks in their first reps. Banks was way too high and left his chest open as a nice big target. Wright levelled him to strike him off balance and then ran him out of the play. The ref’s threw a flag but I’ve no idea what they were looking at there. Wright won the rep.

Banks had a tough first day. On his second rep he was again easily handled by Logan Taylor. He’s too upright and even though his initial jolt was effective, Taylor simply regained hand position and locked out, stoning Banks in position. He had no counter.

Banks’ best rep came later on in a rematch against Wright. He got initial push into the pocket then threw the guard away to complete the win. Wright ended up on his backside. Sadly though, Banks was then easily handled by James Brockermeyer on his next attempt.

It could be some ring-rust given he barely played for Florida in 2025. It’ll be interesting to see if he bounces back on day two.

Gabe Jacas of Illinois flashed good speed off the edge on his first rep. He took on Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor. The tackle did a good job gaining the initial position to force him wide. Jacas didn’t show a ton of bend, it’s hard to say whether he would’ve got to the QB in time, but his quickness to reach the arc stood out.

Illinois OL JC Davis handled a fairly meek looking inside counter on his first rep. His opponent, from UCF, isn’t listed on the roster sheet. He also had a good win against Alabama’s LT Overton when he kicked inside and offered a fairly laboured straight-line attack.

It was a marked difference compared to Overton’s first rep inside attacking the left guard. He was too quick for Fernando Carmona and targeted the outside shoulder, swam through contact and finished to the quarterback.

On his second rep, however, when he lined up at defensive end, he was easily walled off and kept away from the pocket. He faired a lot better attacking the left edge, scoring an easy win against Florida’s Austin Barber.

Michigan’s Rayshaun Benny drove through Wright of Auburn for a big win. He just bullied him into the QB’s lap with pure power. He showed a scrappy quality on his second rep too, battling through contact against the left guard. He then drove Carmona backwards for another win.

Then Benny easily beat Logan Taylor to his outside shoulder to generate. He caught my eye today — keep an eye on this Wolverine for the rest of the week.

Gracen Halton was easily stoned on his first rep by another unlisted player (an offensive lineman from Ohio State). There was a real lack of initial power from Halton and no counter attack. That was a shame to see.

South Carolina’s Nick Barrett took on Miami’s James Brockermeyer. The undersized Brockermeyer (297lbs) walled him off and handled the rep with relative ease. He looked intriguing on this rep as a center prospect.

Logan Taylor of Boston College, who had a mixed day, lined up at right guard and had a good win against Arkansas’ Cameron Ball. He got his hands inside and then extended to press him out of the play.

Auburn’s Keyron Crawford was bullied by Jude Bowry of Boston College. The right tackle engaged and cut his arms away, sending Crawford to the turf. Bowry is well liked by some and has talent, although he’s expected to be a mid-rounder. His zone-blocking grade was OK last season. In a later rep, Zion Young engaged and ripped through his block to finish. That was a beasting by Young. Bowry was also beaten easily by Crawford at left tackle.

Miami’s Markel Bell took on Michigan’s Derrick Moore. It was an awful rep for Bell, who was bulldozed onto his back. Moore just ran through him. Bell had no anchor, was immediately off-balance and ended up on the turf.

Moore, however, is in danger of winning the one-rep wonder award that Mike Green took last year. Sure, his first rep was great and looks good on social media. But he was easily stoned by Markel Bell later on.

Florida’s Tyreak Sapp certainly looks the part in terms of his frame. His tape is inconsistent, and so is his effort, but he had some moments here — including a win against Boston College’s Taylor.

Other notes

— Malachi Fields (WR, Notre Dame) got a lot of attention from Daniel Jeremiah on the NFL Network and was touted as a possible second round pick. There’s no doubting he looks the part and has a great frame — but nobody seemed to be really focusing on how challenging it is for him to separate. Players like Puka Nacua are rare. Fields does not possess suddenness off the snap, downfield speed or short-area quickness. Can he perform consistently if everything is contested at the next level? I’m not sure. In 1v1’s today he wasn’t separating very easily.

— Quarterback Taylen Green of Arkansas was really letting it rip during the American team practises. There’s something here. He’s 6-6, 225lbs, has 10-inch hands and runs like a gazelle. His arm is legit and while he had some issues with turnovers in 2025 — part of that was the hopeless situation he found himself in at Arkansas. If I’m a team wanting to draft a quarterback — this is the player I’m bringing in to try and work to realise his potential.

— I’m not surprised to see Lance Zierlein pumping up Pittsburgh linebacker/hybrid Kyle Louis. He writes: “In one-on-one drills against running backs, Louis basically ran the option route for the runner and nabbed the quarterback’s pass with his quick hands. He was tight in coverage throughout that portion of the practice, showing why he should be a rising prospect in this draft.” Louis is one of my favourite players in the draft and his commitment to his craft and playing style very much put him in contention to be drafted by the Seahawks.

— Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech) also received positive reviews for his performance. I’m eager to see his reps and also how he tests at the combine.

— I’m afraid to say Davison Igbinosun (CB, Ohio State) just doesn’t look good. His tape was a constant disappointment and he was not tight in coverage during 1v1 drills between the receivers and cornerbacks. He looked like an UDFA today.

— Stanford tight end Sam Roush lacks length and doesn’t have a prototype body for the position. However, he had a good rep against South Carolina’s Jalon Kilgore — showing an ability to create late separation in the route and track the ball well. Kilgore was also flagged for a hold on the play.

— Another tight end, Alabama’s Josh Cuevas, continued his knack from the season of making plays with a great low diving catch on one rep. He could provide some day three value.

— I came into the week a big fan of Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette because of his physical potential. He was far too easily beat by Boston College receiver Lewis Bond in one 1v1 and then in a rematch, he totally lost track of the ball as Bond made an easy catch.

— Malik Muhammad (CB, Texas) was physical during his 1v1 session and tried to rough receivers up. Julian Neal (CB, Arkansas) meanwhile showed reasonable recovery speed and the ability to turn his head around to play the ball — yet he’s just a tad leggy and that could cause problems at the next level.

— Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee) has got a bit too much hype for my taste this week. Vinny Anthony of Wisconsin beat him on one 1v1 rep but then dropped the football. Anthony generally looked quite free and agile running routes, then a little bit hopeless when the ball came towards him (tracking, hands). Hood easily lost a second rep to Tyren Montgomery going back to the football. He did have a good battle down the sideline with Jordan Hudson later on to get the win.

— Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State) is another player I think gets a bit too much love in the media. He didn’t stick in coverage during 1v1’s.

Meanwhile check out my latest conversation with Puck Sports below:

If you missed my Senior Bowl preview, check it out here. And if you can like the video below on YouTube and leave a comment, it’d be much appreciated!

Although Seahawks fans are mostly focussed on a different type of Bowl at the moment, the Senior Bowl is the critical starting point of the draft process. Once again Mobile has attracted the top All-star group, despite the ridiculous modern-day competition it faces from the Shrine Bowl.

There’s already been good news for players like Iowa’s Gennings Dunker, who measured with +34 inch arms. We don’t have a full list of measurements yet.

Some players who were expected to attend from Miami and Indiana are now not slated to compete, including Rueben Bain Jr, Akheem Mesidor, Keionte Scott and Elijah Sarratt.

Here’s a collection of players I would recommend keeping across…

Julian Neal (CB, Arkansas)
Great length and size. Expected him to be leggy at his size but he closes quickly and sticks downfield. Still not top-level speed and high-end speed demons could give him trouble downfield. Competitive when the ball’s in the air. Predominantly used outside but did get snaps in the slot and the box in 2025. Only missed four tackles in his final season for Arkansas. Tremendous run defender — will be a major plus point of his evaluation. Tackles are forceful. Did get away with some early contact in 2025 that could be flagged in the NFL.
Well worth a middle round pick to try and develop.

Daylen Everette (CB, Georgia)
Ideal frame — looks athletic, well sized. Physical corner who seems to like contact and plays with a sparky edge. Former 5-star recruit. Supposedly can run in the 4.3’s. Seems to have long arms that often out-stretch to deflect balls away. Length and physicality used to good effect to disrupt receiver routes. Lots of starting experience for Georgia. Was described as the leader of Georgia’s secondary. Quickness is evident on the way he breaks on the football. Closes ground so quickly. Can deliver a jolting blast to receivers, timing his hits to jar the ball away. Very willing in run support. Speed allows him to be an effective corner blitzer. Plenty of reps where you see him living in the hip-pocket of his receiver. Has a swagger to him that most good cornerbacks have. Doesn’t miss many tackles. Only five interceptions in last three seasons and just one in 2025.

Malik Muhammad (CB, Texas)
Breaks on the ball with quickness. Shows great degree of dynamism to plant and drive to get to receivers in zone. Competitive against Jeremiah Smith — only gave up two catches for 15 yards vs Ohio State. A willing run defender for his size. Showed great anticipation in coverage vs Oklahoma to eye up wayward passed (two picks). Seems to show good awareness in zone and reads the quarterback successfully. Reasonably sized. Played mostly outside in 2025 but took some snaps in the box, slot and free safety. Used to blitz from the slot. Upside TBD but has the qualities needed to start at the next level. A very interesting player.

TJ Parker (EDGE, Clemson)
After a fairly disastrous 2025 season, the former Clemson pass rusher needs to use the Senior Bowl to get things back on track. Once considered a possible first rounder, can he flash those skills in Mobile during 1v1’s?

Zion Young (DE, Missouri)
Lacks speed/twitch. Is not going to win consistently with a bend/straighten. Pass rush repertoire appears limited. High motor player but looks like an early down run-defender as a ceiling. More of a ‘bull in a china shop’ approach to rushing the passer. Would like to see him work inside and attack the outside shoulder of the guard. Tight ends will not be able to match-up to him in the running game. Is most effective creating pressure when he tries to run through, not around, blockers. Was recently arrested on suspicion of DWI/speeding — his coach said it was ‘disappointing’ from a team captain. Feels like a player you can’t draft early but due to motor/power he will have a shot to make it. Just don’t expect any blinding speed rushes at the next level.

Dani Dennis-Sutton (DE, Penn State)
Definitely has something about him and this needs to be a platform to show that despite a mixed final season full of flashes and some quiet tape, that he has the qualities to be a good NFL player. Intrigued to see confirmed measurements.

Tim Keenan (DT, Alabama)
Feels underrated due to the size/playing style (not always the flashiest) but I really liked what I saw on tape and I’m intrigued to see if he stands out during 1v1’s.

Gracen Halton (DT, Oklahoma)
Explosive first step enables him to shoot gaps. Gap discipline flashes consistently and he makes plays within structure. Lines up across the interior. Closing burst to the ball carrier is strong. When he gets his feet moving he’s difficult to slow down once engaged. Slippery through gaps. Undersized — might be less impactful against bigger blockers. Worried he will be a liability vs run at next level, limiting early snap potential. Not the deepest repertoire of moves and he relies on quickness. Could thrive in 1v1’s.

Kyle Louis (LB, Pittsburgh)
Well known for his first-in, last-out approach. Said to be completely committed to his craft. Team captain. Versatile player — used in the box (319 snaps), on the line (105) and slot corner (244). Undersized but electric. Has a knack for big plays in big moments. Explosive blitzer flying to the QB when given a runway. Was really surprised how effective he was starting at the line and creating pressure. 18 pressures in 11 games in 2025 for a player playing all over the field. Despite lack of size, has shown he can play at the line, absorb contact and still make plays. Doesn’t give up on plays, always competing. Downhill ability underrated for his size — willing to fill a gap and make a tackle. Works through traffic with great agility, dodges blocks and shows stop-start qualities. Legit coverage ability when matched up against tight ends. So loose in transition for his size. You see his speed running to the sideline. Could play safety, WILL, SAM, big nickel, maybe MLB. Drake Thomas was 223lbs at his combine and Ernest Jones 230lbs — Seattle can live with his size.

Keylan Rutledge (G, Georgia Tech)
Consistently solid on tape with good zone-blocking grades — 1v1’s will be intriguing for him. Feels like he can really rise and think teams will like him.

Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
Has the talent to go in the top-20. Enormous size and length (6-6, 325lbs, 35-inch arms). There are not many humans who look like him or move this well at his size. Can play across the line in different positions — nose, 1-tech, 3-tech, 5-tech. Barely played in 2025 due to injury issues so this is big for him. Barges his way into the backfield. Can swipe away blockers hands to keep frame clean and skip into backfield. Throws off blockers with disdain at his best. Can bully mediocre interior linemen in the run game. Will shock interior blockers with his quickness. Effective push-pull move on tape. Lateral agility is astonishing on some reps. Tries a slightly laboured spin move at times. Controls blockers with a straight arm that allows him to plot a course to the QB or play the run. Plays with an upright style at times when he gets tired. Can get lazy and is an occasional waist bender. Sneaky quickness so if you don’t get into his frame quickly he will take advantage. Very capable of running around blocks when gaps are created through stunts. Great swim move to penetrate. Has great quickness when he attacks gaps in the running game. Shocks linemen with a jolting punch. A ball of clay ready to be moulded into a disruptive, brutish force. Uniqueness of his frame and profile should ensure interest early in this draft. Injury concerns will require medical checks though.

Gennings Dunker (T/G, Iowa)
Brilliant zone-blocker who we’ve been talking about for two years. Could play tackle with his 34-inch arms but still has top-end skills to be a great right guard. Testing will determine upside but as long as it’s not awful he has legit top-45 potential.

Beau Stephens (G, Iowa)
Good zone blocker. Sinks hips well to anchor. Adept at getting on the move and reaching up to the second level. Has the brawling mentality you expect from an Iowa lineman. Examples on tape of him turning defenders and finishing his blocks to the turf. Has a willingness to combo block but some technical tweaks needed. Can do a better job angling into the block and not letting opponents attack left shoulder. Would prefer to see better initial punch into chest. Can engage with hands on contact in a more consistent manner.

Taylen Green (QB, Arkansas)
Great size. Runs like a gazelle with long strides chewing up yards quickly. Give him a crease to run and he’s difficult to stop. Running style, frame and athleticism reminiscent of Colin Kaepernick. Same athlete as Kaepernick but technically a better passer. Elusive enough to scramble away from heavy pressure to extend plays. Very capable yet inconsistent passer. Ample evidence of him attacking the middle of the field. Poise from the pocket was shown at times. Has shown he can go through progressions and run pro-concepts. Doesn’t show much evidence of throwing late on key passes. Very creative player only scratching the surface of what he could be. Awful season for Arkansas, led by a horrifying defense, made his life difficult. Did have too many really poor interceptions. Had the third highest number of ‘turnover worthy plays’ (tied with Marcel Reed). Only had 11 ‘big time throws’ in 2025. Showed he can sap, set, throw to the right receiver and fit passes into tight windows. For large parts of the season he led college football for QBR and EPA (tailed off at the end). Ended up #9 for QBR — ahead of Brendan Sorsby, Carson Beck & Dante Moore. Finished #16 for EPA. No way is he ready to come in and take the league by storm but there’s something here. Well worth drafting to develop.

Garrett Nussmeier (QB, LSU)
Gunslinger playing style. Made more NFL level throws in 2024 than any other QB I scouted. Pocket footwork, mobility, ability to throw on the run are clear. Excellent technical skills when he’s in top form. Has natural throwing talent. Only having 8 3/4 inch hands is a problem. Has had runs where he consistently throws receivers open. Completes big 3rd down plays. Doesn’t have a super high ceiling but there’s potential here. Execution within structure is impressive. Has ability to throw with anticipation. Clear evidence of comfort going through progressions. Moves his feet well to avoid pressure and create throwing lanes. Surprising elusiveness to extend plays. Did make some ‘wow’ throws in college but also had way too many ‘WTF’ throws and bad turnovers. Felt like he was trying too hard in 2025 to make up for a lousy roster. Had surprisingly bad protection in 2024 and 2025 for a LSU offense. Weapons massively limited in 2025 — again a surprise for LSU. Knee injury an issue throughout 2025 season. Mind became scrambled as 2025 went on and started forcing throws. Decision making on some plays is impossible to fathom. Was seen by some as QB1 before difficult 2025 season.

Mike Washington Jr (RB, Arkansas)
Shows great burst and decisiveness to shoot through openings. Accelerates well for a 220lbs back. Changes direction well and finishes runs. Has a gliding quality to his running style you don’t often see on a physical back like this. Collected yards after contact during best spell of 2025. Impact limited by how often Arkansas had to play from behind. Dodges and weaves through tackles. Doesn’t have game-changing long-speed. Capable of making defenders miss in space. Reminds me of Knile Davis.

Nick Singleton (RB, Penn State)
Outstanding physical talent who collapsed in 2025 and lost reps to his team-mate. Massive potential but needs to recapture his stock and explain what happened in his final college season. Ideal combo of size, speed and explosive traits. Could provide a bargain if he can’t completely repair lost stock.

Vinny Anthony (WR, Wisconsin)
Looks bigger than he is. Has enough speed to go by defenders and runs with aggression. Let down by a terrible QB situation at Wisconsin in 2025. Able to run over the middle attacking soft spots in zone, settling down to provide an open target. Can be used on sweeps, end-arounds. Had a kick-return touchdown against Alabama. Evidence of completing difficult grabs and sound ball-tracking. High-cut but appears to have power in his legs. Did see some crisp routes on tape. Definitely feels like a role as a WR3 is within his capabilities. Evidence of dragging toes (both feet) to make sideline completions. Can make defenders miss with the ball in his hands. Intriguing player.

Harrison Wallace (WR, Ole Miss)
Good size presenting a nice target for the QB. Goes up to get the football and catches away from his body. Capable of high-pointing difficult grabs. Good, consistent hands. Dominated against Georgia in the playoffs (nine catches, 156 yards, touchdown). Only had three drops in 2025. Silky smooth routes challenge receivers. Doesn’t have lightning quickness but his route-running and gliding style get him open. Subtle separation thanks to his stylish work on routes. Doesn’t need to be wide open to make plays — just throw it to him. Hesitation move tricks cornerbacks and he has a clinical stop-start. Makes catches in heavy traffic when throws go into tight windows (this translates). Just looks the part. Upside is to be determined but he’s a player with plenty of talent and a chance to make it. In an era where non-elite speed/size receivers are excelling — why can’t Harrison Wallace?

This is a guest article by Curtis Allen…

Nothing is given.  Everything is earned.

The Seahawks are on the precipice of a fourth trip to the Super Bowl after a remarkably successful season.  In their way stand the Rams, every bit their equal in so many ways.

In a season absent the dominance of traditional NFL superpowers Kansas City and Philadelphia, and with very good second class teams like Baltimore and Detroit taking steps back, Seattle and Los Angeles have put together seasons that are arguably as good as any in recent NFL history. 

This is not an ‘off year’ for the league, with some plucky underdog making a run that will soon become a major motion picture.  Both teams have every right to consider their seasons to this point among the best in franchise history.

And with all due respect to the Broncos and Patriots, this game is as the 2013 NFC Championship Game was:  A battle of the NFL’s two best teams.

Both know the other will not stand aside and let them run their game plans exactly as outlined and waive them into the Super Bowl.  It is going to need to be earned, yard by yard.  Whoever game plans and adjusts the best, and executes and plays with poise the best, will advance.

Since the blockbuster Week Sixteen meeting in Seattle, the Rams have lost in Atlanta in a game controlled mostly by the Falcons, won at home against the Cardinals by pulling away in the fourth quarter and then won both of their playoff games on the road by a field goal each while playing nowhere near their best football.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks went to Carolina and battled to a draw at halftime.  Since then they have been dominant.  They pulled away in the second half to beat the Panthers handily and then whipped their other archrival (San Francisco) in consecutive games.

The Seahawks have the momentum.  They have the workload advantage which is crucial.  And they are playing at home with a crowd hungry for a return to the Super Bowl.

There are any number of statistics you could point to that historically says the Seahawks have the advantage.  Mike Macdonald is perfect in rematches.  It is incredibly hard for any team to win three playoff road games in a row.  Teams from domed stadiums have a terrible record on the road in the conference championship games.  And on and on.

We all know, however, that in a single elimination game with two of the best teams there is no resting on those trends.  You either add to the trend or become the exception.  And it comes down to some critical factors.

Playing With Poise is a Must

If you have read any of my writeups this season, you will know I have been harping on this.  It is too important a factor to not be at the top of the list for this game.

Week 16’s game alone is proof of that.

Cooper Kupp is not stripped in the Red Zone just before halftime and the Seahawks get at least three points (and maybe seven).

Zach Charbonnet does not have the presence of mind to pick up a seemingly dead ball in the end zone on a two-point try and the game is not tied with six minutes to play.

Harrison Mevis does not push a 48-yard Field Goal try wide with two minutes to play and we may or may not have gotten Overtime.

The Rams are so well-coached they not only have poise; they force their opponents to not have it in ways that can bend the outcome of the game in their favor.

The Panthers – perhaps fearing the Rams’ scoring prowess – made the poor decision to go for it on fourth down in the first drive of the game on their side of the field.  They doubled down on that decision by not running the ball with their rugged Running Backs – behind their $100 million duo of guards – but by calling a cute pass play that fails.  Four plays later, the whole sequence becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as the Rams are up 7-0 and the Panthers are playing from behind until the fourth quarter.

The following week, the Bears make a whole litany of mistakes.  Drops by their receivers – who seemed unprepared to play in the cold somehow – constantly kill momentum.  Again, the Bears go for it on fourth down in key spots only to come away with no points.  Caleb Williams threw three interceptions, the third a gaffe that showed zero situational awareness.  Ben Johnson decided not to go for two points late in regulation with every bit of momentum on his side after his Quarterback had completed a touchdown pass that had all the hallmarks of a fait accompli moment that Bears fans would tell their grandkids about a decade later.

Both of the Seahawks’ games against the Rams could have swung the other way with just the flap of a butterfly’s wings.  In both, the loser outgained the winner by over 165 yards!

Let’s talk about that for a moment.

In the two games combined, only one yard of offense and one point separates them.  So, these two games are as physically close to being ties as they can get, right?

Wrong.  The Seahawks had seven turnovers in those two games.  Seven!  The Rams?  One.

A +6 ratio in two games usually leads to two solid wins, if not blowouts.  The fact that the Seahawks turned the ball over that much and were still a hair’s breadth away from winning both games means they fundamentally played better overall football.

But none of that matters if they do not play with poise in this game.

All that said, poise is not some magical ingredient.  You can manufacture it – or even take it completely out of the equation – by your game play.

The best way the Seahawks can do that?

Win the Game in the Trenches

I hate to reduce two fantastic games down to one stat.  We just talked about all the variables in those games.  But there is a truth that cannot be ignored.  It is the elephant in the room.

In Week Eleven, when Stafford had arguably his worst game of the season?  The Seahawks pressured him at a 28.6% pressure rate.

Week Sixteen, when he threw for 457 yards, his highest total of the season?  The Seahawks defense – this incredible, nickname-worthy defense – only recorded a microscopic 9.8% pressure rate.

You get the sense the defense is grateful for another shot at Stafford after that poor showing.  They will need to be far, far better.  Getting their trademark ‘pressure with four’ will be absolutely critical.  Why?

Stafford has never been a high-completion rate guy.  He mixes a bunch of short passes with downfield shots that are deadly.  When he has pressure in his face, he can get out of sorts and make poor decisions.  He also occasionally trusts his world-class arm too much and allows his mechanics to get sloppy under pressure.

In Week Eleven, Stafford was 2-of-8 with no touchdowns on passes longer than ten yards, a meager 25% completion rate.

In Week Sixteen?  10-of-18 for 56% with a touchdown.

The two prior playoff games that were so close?  14-of-44 for 32%, with two touchdowns and an interception.

That is a key factor in why those two games were so close.  Both defenses – not exactly titans of rushing the passer (#31 and #22 overall this year) – were able to make Stafford uncomfortable enough to not be that deadly weapon in the deeper passing game.

The Rams love to creatively get the ball to players like Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams close to the Line of Scrimmage and let them get yards with their feet and their toughness.  It complements the run game well and allows Stafford the room to take deeper shots and not kill the offense if all he can get is 50% of them.

The Seahawks are a sure tackling team though.  When they have guys in their sights, they regularly get them to the ground.  That particular combo of not allowing too many Yards After the Catch on shorties and pressuring Stafford on deeper throws can be extremely effective if timed up right.

How do they accomplish that?  I will let Brian Baldinger explain that.  It is a chess match.  A game of cat and mouse.

And it is a huge reason why the Seahawks hired Mike Macdonald to be their head coach.

On offense, the line must improve in their pass protection.  It will be critical for this game.  Why?

Last week, Sam Darnold’s role was not pivotal.  Special Teams gave them a lead they never relinquished and the running game was working beautifully.  San Francisco had to chase the game and that added some fuel to the fire, with some key turnovers.

The game this week will not likely work that way.  Darnold will have a much bigger role, particularly with Zach Charbonnet out for the season.

And here is a bit of an inconvenient truth:  Last week Darnold was sacked twice and pressured at a rate of 26%.  Seattle’s run blocking was terrific.  The pass blocking was not.

When you consider how banged up San Francisco was — and that the Rams will line up Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, Byron Young and Braden Fiske — you see how critical it will be that line plays much better.

No doubt Klint Kubiak will dial up some creative plays to get the ball out of Sam Darnold’s hands quickly.  There will come a handful of plays where he will need a little bit of time though.  If the Rams decide to stack the box to stop the running game, there will be opportunities to make some deeper throws to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed.

The chess match on this side of the ball should also be very intriguing to watch unfold.

Game Notes

— Special Teams has played a huge part of the two games.  It could once again come down to a punt, a return, or a Field Goal try.  The Rams have been both good and bad in those games.  The Seahawks have been mostly stellar, as they have all season.

— Speaking of the ‘go for it on fourth down’ craze, it should be noted that Mike Macdonald has only gone for it one time in the two games.  It was a fourth and one and they used A.J. Barner to plow forward and get it.  In Week Eleven, regularly making the decision to take the points allowed them to stay in the game despite four Darnold interceptions and they almost won it on an admirable 61-yard try by Myers.

— Macdonald is not ultra-conservative though.  He went for two points in Overtime of Week Sixteen with the game, the division and a potential first round bye on the line.  So, let’s not shove him into back of the refrigerator with the expired yogurt that is the old-school coaching mentality just yet.

— Nick Emmanwori will once again be a key player.  Devon Witherspoon as well.  They allow the Seahawks to play ‘small’ on defense but still be stout against the run as well as Tight End types.  Emmanwori had touchdown-saving tackles at the one-yard line in both games.  In Week Eleven, the Rams scored eventually.  In Week Sixteen, the defense held them to a Field Goal.  Again, it is the little things like that that may decide the game.  Both are extremely effective at showing blitz before the snap but retreating to their assignments with enough speed to keep their positioning.  A bit of ‘who is coming’ misdirection combined with strong games from Jarran Reed, Byron Murphy, Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence could be the difference in the game.

There isn’t a sport I don’t like. I don’t really watch TV apart from live sport. Whenever I travel I always have a look to see if there’s a game going on nearby.

My main two passions though are the Seahawks and the English men’s national football team (I refuse to use the word ‘soccer’).

As sad as this might sound, my life will be complete if I ever see England win anything. It’s hard to describe how important football is over here. I think this video might help explain it. These are scenes after England won a penalty shoot-out against Colombia in 2018 to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup. It meant they were one of eight teams remaining in the competition. They didn’t actually win anything. And that’s how the country collectively celebrated.

In 2024 I basically didn’t sleep for three days, checking online websites for flights to Germany so I could go and watch England play Spain in the final of the European Championships — hoping to see a bit of history and have an unforgettable life experience. Three days before the game, I somehow secured a flight. I went over, alone, and watched them lose. This was four years after watching them lose the same final to Italy.

When they lost to Italy I epically sulked for two weeks. I only snapped out of it when my daughter, aged four at the time, asked why I was sad.

These are actually the glory days of being an England fan. For the first thirty-odd years of my life England were mostly awful and any thought of winning anything was a preposterous dream.

I’m still not sure how I’ll react if they do eventually win something. It will probably be embarrassing for anyone who’s with me.

I bring this up to say that despite four decades of dedication to sporting fandom, I’ve not really had anything back for the investment. Not that I expect anything, of course. But a slight reward every now and again would be nice.

I’m sure Mariners fans can relate to everything I’ve said and share the sentiment.

The only thing that has truly brought me joy as a fan is the Seahawks Super Bowl win from the 2013 season. I could barely believe a team I supported had actually… won something. It was five years after I started writing Seahawks Draft Blog and felt like a truly special time.

Even England getting dumped out of the 2014 World Cup a few months later after just two group games didn’t matter. The Seahawks were Super Bowl Champions. For the first time ever, something to celebrate.

The sporting gods clearly saw that joy and decided after 12 months to exact some revenge.

Perhaps we all enjoyed ourselves too much? Did we push our smile quota beyond the legal limit?

We all had one year to enjoy beating the Broncos before the most crushing, misery-inducing loss imaginable.

I didn’t sleep after the Patriots loss and that interception because it was about 4am and I had work in an hour. One of my tasks was to read a morning sports bulletin every half-an-hour stating the result of the Super Bowl.

I didn’t go to bed until midnight the following day. After two days of stunned disbelief I forced my poor wife to watch the final drive while she listened, sympathetically, to me breaking everything down through tears.

It was like a grieving process. I didn’t snap out of it for probably about two years, truth be told. I wouldn’t wish it on a fan of any rival, in any sport. It was just so incredibly shitty.

We still have the memory of the first Super Bowl win. Yet every time I see highlights of it, inevitably I remember what happened next. It’s not ruined but some of the gloss has come off, at least for me.

I so badly want this team to be able to get to the Super Bowl this year. I want this new group, which is so incredibly likeable and easy to root for, to get a victory for themselves. They deserve it, for an outstanding effort this season.

I also want us as fans to have some joy again. To have some new memories, legends to celebrate and to be able to have a moment that provides a little bit of closure to what happened 11 years ago.

The Seahawks face the toughest possible opponent on Sunday and there’s a very realistic chance the Rams will win. If they do, they’ll have earned it. Three road wins to make the Super Bowl would be a heck of an achievement. They have a great coach, quarterback and one of the top performing players in the NFL in 2025 at receiver.

If the Seahawks are to overcome this final NFC challenge to reach the Super Bowl, it’ll take a supreme effort. Yet they’ve shown through 18 games that they are worthy of being the conference’s representative in the final game of the season.

If you’re a true sports fan, watching your team win a trophy is a bookmark in your life. You’ll never forget that period of your existence. On the tough days it’ll raise you up. Years later you’ll reflect on how significant those moments were. They’re among the best days of your life.

We don’t get many of those moments. I really want the opportunity to have another. It feels like it’s time.

I am absolutely desperate for the Seahawks to win on Sunday.

Go and beat the Rams.

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