It was put to Pete Carroll after the 49ers game whether he’s asked Wilson and Brian Schottenheimer to take more ‘calculated risks’, since a flurry of turnovers at mid-season:
“I don’t want to comment too much about that at this point because everybody’s going to try and figure out how to beat us”
So basically, yes. And it’s clear. They are taking fewer shots. The deep-ball to D.K. Metcalf has virtually disappeared. Wilson scored 28 passing touchdowns in the first half of the season compared to 12 in the second half.
They are much more conservative. Carroll believes winning the turnover battle is going to be critical to the success of the team. He can point to the stats to back that up. In games with multiple turnovers this season, the Seahawks are 0-4. They’ve won every game they’ve played with one turnover or no turnovers.
The problem is, you can’t be conservative if the other team doesn’t allow it to happen. If you get behind against a high-powered offense, as we saw in Green Bay last season, you have to chase the game.
That’s not an environment conducive with protecting the football.
So while the idea makes sense — the Seahawks are now playing a brand of ball where they need a certain type of game to happen. It might be harder to have that type of game against Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees or Tom Brady compared to C.J. Beathard, Jared Goff, Sam Darnold, Dwayne Haskins and Colt McCoy.
I think Carroll has really reigned in Wilson. He was turning the ball over too much. I suspect Carroll associates that with ‘cooking’ and there won’t be a return to the style of play that saw Wilson put up MVP caliber numbers to start the season.
Pete-ball, it seems, is here to stay.
I think Wilson is rolling with it because he’s a pro and they’re in the playoffs now. They’ve won their last four. If Carroll is right and this brand of football delivers a serious Super Bowl push, he will be validated.
If they lose in the wildcard or divisional around again playing this way and suffer a defeat ala Dallas in 2018, I’m not convinced Wilson will be content. I think that could create an issue. Because while it’s certainly true that Wilson needs to play better — I also think his poor play in recent weeks is indicative of a cautious, perhaps even shackled player who does not look comfortable.
And unless they’re winning titles, I don’t see this brand of football chiming with the brand that is Wilson. Eventually there will come a point where the team and the player view things too differently.
It will pain Wilson to see analysis like this, where he is compared to Baker Mayfield rather than the two names at the top of the list. He wants to be talked about in the same breath as Rodgers, Mahomes and Watson. He wants to be a serious MVP candidate. He wants to play with the freedom those players are offered.
If he’s not getting that — winning is the ultimate and only consolation prize.
So I think the playoffs are big — for Wilson, the Seahawks and their future relationship.
And while I pointed out in my previous piece how a trade in 2021 was most unlikely due to cost — we’re also entering a period in NFL history when who the hell knows what’s going on with the cap? The Saints are a projected $99m over the cap for 2021. The Eagles are $71m over and they’re supposedly going to trade Carson Wentz, taking on a dead cap hit worth tens of millions.
It’s almost as if Covid-19 has broken the salary cap and the league is going to have to come up with solutions to avoid the situation becoming a shambles.
If that shambles remains, however, teams might just do what they want. After all — if the Saints can be $99m over the cap, why can’t every other team? What are the consequences for New Orleans?
It feels like we’re entering an off-season like no other — in more ways than one.
I’m also happy to admit to the speculative nature of both this piece and the previous article. I think the other piece highlights why I think it’s a worthy topic of discussion. I don’t intend to make this a weekly feature of the blog but I do think it’s a conversation point nobody else is really talking about.
Linebackers deserve praise
There are a lot of legendary players from this era of Seahawks football. We’ll all remember Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Doug Baldwin, Bobby Wagner, Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Earl Thomas and others.
As mentioned in the podcast yesterday (see below) — I hope K.J. Wright is as fondly remembered as anyone.
He is football perfection. Physical, tough, assignment sound, he makes plays, he leads, he has tremendous character, he’s humble. As a fan he is everything you want in a player.
I can’t imagine a better representation of an organisation. A superior role model.
K.J. Wright has been a fantastic player, a brilliant success story for the Seahawks and he deserves to be remembered as one of the greats.
They might’ve drafted Jordyn Brooks with the intention of potentially replacing Wright next year, given he’s out of contract. I think he needs to be kept. He’s been too good this season. The switch to SAM has been a revelation. He’s achieved a status where he deserves to play for the Seahawks for as long as he wants.
I really hope there’s a deal to be done there. Wright is the third best performer on the defense according to PFF. He’s playing too well to move on.
Equally I think it’s time to acknowledge the progress Jordyn Brooks is making. The typical rookie errors are lessening and the physicality is blossoming — as we saw with his tremendous hit on George Kittle (who was blocking) before making a tackle on Sunday.
Brooks led the team in tackles against the Niners — that’s the second game in a row. He is showing a lot of potential.
I’m still not 100% sure a first round pick on a linebacker of the future was completely the best use of Seattle’s top resource in 2020 — especially with the holes they’re going to need to fill coming up. That shouldn’t reflect on how he is playing though. He’s showing big steps forward and he looks like a player with a bright future.
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With about ten minutes left of game time, I was preparing to write a very different instant reaction.
The Seahawks were absolutely rubbish on offense for three full quarters. They were trailing 16-6 to a 49ers team basically missing a full team of starters.
Then, suddenly and as if from nowhere, the offense caught fire.
Two long drives and a sack/fumble later and the game was won.
I’m tempted to just take the win on face value. It’s always good to beat the Niners, especially when they’re really trying.
The Seahawks finished 12-4 which was beyond my expectations.
It feels like they’re going to have to play a lot better on offense in the post-season though. They won’t be allowed to muddle around for three quarters against the Packers or Saints. Or maybe even the Rams next week. Let’s not forget Seattle’s record against Sean McVay, just because of what happened last week.
Otherwise this season will end the same way the last several have.
The other concern is the injuries. Jamal Adams (who seems to have had a lot of injuries this season) looked dejected after hurting his shoulder. His body language suggested — ‘I’m out for the playoffs’. Jarran Reed also had to leave the game.
This win might’ve come with a cost.
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My initial reaction to this news is — I think this is negotiating through the media again. I think this is a convenient report to accelerate talks over a contract extension for John Schneider in Seattle. That would be my guess.
The Seahawks under Schneider haven’t exactly been shy in using the media in these circumstances before. Pete Carroll has his new contract. I think Schneider is eager to ensure he gets what he wants too.
A report via the NFL’s in-house ‘insider’ that the Lions want to appoint Schneider could be helpful in these circumstances and could spark the Seahawks to act.
However, it’d be naive not to explore what this means — if there’s more to it than a mere negotiating ploy.
This has been a strange last 12 months for the Seahawks. The previous off-season was confusing and filled with questionable decisions. A highly expensive last-gasp trade was made before training camp. On the field the Seahawks have pushed and pulled in different directions, switching between different offensive styles and witnessing major extremes in the way their defense has performed.
It could all end well with a deep playoff run — but it could also end the same way it has for the last few seasons.
With Carroll signing a five-year contract mid-way through the season, Schneider will not have full control of the roster for another half-decade if he stays in Seattle. Per Rapoport’s report, that is part of Detroit’s motivation for making a play for the Seahawks’ GM.
All sorts of question marks emerge from this if, in fact, it’s valid.
Just how much sway does Schneider have in the off-season decision making? He’s often credited by Carroll for the moves he makes — such as the Carlos Dunlap trade or the D.J. Reed signing.
Yet if Schneider had anything close to full control — why would his name be linked to the Detroit Lions in this way? The Detroit Lions. If he’s even willing to consider this — it presumably is something that bothers Schneider.
Look at what is on the horizon for Seattle. A cap crunch that will impact the entire league. Several starters who will need to be retained or replaced, despite limited cap space. Limited flexibility to make improvements. No first round draft picks until 2023.
Not to mention Jamal Adams’ contract extension. He could ask for $20m a year. What leverage do the Seahawks have to negotiate with him, after already trading away so much? We’ve often highlighted how Laremy Tunsil and Jalen Ramsey set contract records after their teams traded multiple first round picks for them, without an oven-ready contract extension.
A lot of people just glibly assume this negotiation will be a doddle. It won’t be. And it’s not going to be as simple as ‘just pay the man’ either. What happens with Adams’ contract could define the upcoming off-season.
This isn’t exactly an ideal environment for a GM to be successful.
Perhaps having full control — including the ability to appoint a Head Coach and staff — would appeal? Even in Detroit?
Then there’s the long term future of the Seahawks. What is it, exactly? We know it’s likely that there will be new owners eventually. What will that mean for the current regime? Will Schneider be a part of their vision? Is he better leveraging his future now, or years down the line? It’s something he has to consider — especially if a move now contains full control and presumably a big new contract.
We can go a step further and speculate on other matters. Is it totally beyond the realms of possibility that Schneider didn’t want to trade multiple picks for Darrell Taylor? Did he want to pay as much as they did for Jamal Adams? It’s entirely possible he was perfectly comfortable with both decisions. He might’ve been the one convincing Carroll to make those deals. It’s also possible he was instructed to make those trades against his wishes.
Draft picks are a GM’s most sacred asset.
At the end of the day, he isn’t going to leave the Seahawks and join a team such as the Lions unless the arrangement he’s been a part of for a decade no longer appeals.
If he did depart, what would it say about the Seahawks?
They would presumably appoint from within. It’s very difficult to appoint a GM from the outside right at the end of a cycle and the beginning of a draft and free agency period.
I don’t think it’d necessarily paint a great picture for the Seahawks though. Losing your GM, while he’s still under contract, to another team. When’s the last time that happened?
Carroll and Schneider have been a partnership. It’s fair to imagine that if Schneider goes, Carroll would suddenly be in an even stronger position.
I’m not sure it’s the best thing to have an individual coming to the end of his career with so much control. It could create extreme short-term thinking, which I guess we’ve already seen in 2020.
Overall, will it hint at some broader issues? Is Carroll too powerful these days? Is the ownership situation a bigger problem than many realise — at least until it’s resolved?
After all, can the Seahawks really claim to be in a healthy position if John Schneider decides the Lions are a more attractive proposition?
This isn’t necessarily the news anyone expected to be discussing today.
It’s another weird story relating to the Seahawks. As noted a few days ago, there’s been consistent media chatter for three years about trading Russell Wilson. Now the GM might be going to the Lions?
This kind of stuff doesn’t seem to happen anywhere else.
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Trey Sermon had a field day against Clemson’s limited defense
Ohio State dominate in the trenches
A lot of the talk following Ohio State’s thumping of Clemson will be about Justin Fields’ heroic performance or Trey Surmon’s running.
Yet the big highlight from the game was the play of both their lines.
Surmon had the freedom of the Superdome. He also flashed power, agility and he finished his runs. It was a terrific performance. Yet the O-line dominated up front, bullying Clemson from start to finish.
It’s not that surprising. Long gone are the days of Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence and Clelin Ferrell. Clemson’s D-line looked small. They had no answer.
Guard Wyatt Davis and center Josh Myers were superb. Davis could easily go in the top-20 and Myers is a possible first rounder too. They pushed Clemson’s overmatched D-line all over the field, creating massive running lanes and keeping an injured Fields relatively clean.
Ohio State recorded 639 total yards including 254 running. When that happens, it’s nearly always because the line dominated and you have the talent to capitalise.
For all the modern day intricacies of football — being able to kick the other teams arse up front still carries a lot of weight.
On the other side of the ball, it was another fantastic performance by Ohio State’s D-line — led by the brilliant defensive tackle pairing of Haskell Garrett and Tommy Togiai.
They play with real intensity up front, can create pressure and absorb blockers. With so much talent at linebacker, Ohio State’s second-level defenders are often free to roam and play clean.
The play of both lines will give the Buckeyes a shot against Alabama.
Sermon makes another statement
The great play of the lines shouldn’t take anything away from Sermon. He’s exploded onto the scene as one of college footballs top skill players.
He was a useful part of their rotation earlier in the season, churning out five or six YPC on around 10-12 carries at the start of the year. A 112-yard performance from just 10 carries against Michigan State seemed to earn him a greater role in the Big-10 Championship game, where he ran for 331 yards against Northwestern.
Here he simply carried on where he left off. Yes — the running lanes were often huge. Sometimes he was six or seven yards downfield before even being confronted by a tacker. Yet he bulldozed his way beyond tackles and has rare, gliding agility for a player who is listed at 6-1 and 215lbs but looks bigger.
He ended the game with 31 carries for 193 yards, adding another 61 as a receiver.
The Seahawks shouldn’t be sheepish about adding at running back every year. The key is to find cheap, serviceable talent at the position and depth. For all the hand-wringing about drafting a runner early, it’s a great way to get cheap club control for four years and a player who can contribute quickly.
Once you start to view draft picks as a mere opportunity to acquire cheap talent for four or five years, rather than a constant search for a decade-long acquisition, the drafting of a running back early simply means a way to get bang for your buck.
The Seahawks have carried four runners all year. Clearly their preferred style comes with a big physical demand. They also struggle when their leading runners are out, as we’ve seen in 2019 and 2020.
With respect to the likes of Travis Homer and Deejay Dallas, they seem to be good guys who can chip in on special teams (and in the case of Homer, pass protect well). They are limited though. When Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde were out earlier this year, they preferred to start Alex Collins and Bo Scarborough off the street than trust Dallas to lead the way.
The Seahawks would be better off filling their depth with players who can actually carry the load if needs be. I suspect they will find a way to retain Carson. Yet as he reaches free agency and with Hyde also out of contract — it would make sense to add a talented runner at some point.
Sermon could be a player to monitor. He had a 35 inch vertical at SPARQ (explosive) and ran a 4.27 short shuttle. There will be questions as to why he never truly delivered at Oklahoma but he’s shown enough this season to warrant a serious look during the draft process. With their lack of picks, the Seahawks will need to look for a rough diamond.
Fields’ performance should make the Dolphins take notice
Trevor Lawrence will go first overall, regardless of what happened on Friday night. The next two quarterbacks — Zach Wilson and Justin Fields — could easily come off the board at #2 and #3.
The Dolphins, who appear set to gain the #3 pick thanks to the Laremy Tunsil trade, should consider adding whoever is left.
Tua Tagovailoa is limited. He always was. At Alabama, he never flashed great physical qualities. He had the luxury of playing behind a hulking O-line, handing off to Najee Harris and throwing to DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy and Jaylen Waddle.
I’m not for a second arguing that he was ‘bad’. He just wasn’t special.
We’re seeing that in the NFL too. He’s done fairly well as a starter. Yet it’s not unfair to suggest he has a physical ceiling. Is he ever going to elevate Miami to a level they increasingly appear capable? If you’re the Miami Dolphins, you at least have to be asking that question — even if you retain some faith in a player you drafted in the top-five just a year ago.
Here’s the thing though. This is presumably the last chance Miami will have to draft in the top-five for a long time. If they grade Wilson or Fields highly, don’t they owe it to themselves to consider drafting either?
It’s not really any different to the Cardinals drafting Kyler Murray a year after selecting Josh Rosen. Taking multiple shots to find a franchise quarterback should be praised, not criticised.
Tua has shown more than Rosen did as a rookie. He’s also been hauled off the field for Ryan Fitzpatrick on more than one occasion.
An open competition between Fields and Tua next year wouldn’t be a negative. Both players would likely retain some value too — so you can trade the guy who loses out.
Three new names stand out
This week I’ve been running through the list of players who declared who I haven’t been able to watch so far and three players really stand out.
I was so impressed with USC safety Talanoa Hufanga. There will be concerns about his pure speed (he only ran a 4.74 at SPARQ). Yet the way he reads the field, reacts decisively and tackles/hits with a belting tenacity is top notch.
He’s incredibly physical and delivers some exciting hits. He can rush and blitz as well as anyone I’ve seen in college football over the last few years to create extra pressure. Hufanga plays with real fluidity and directness — he’s just a joy to watch. Testing will determine how early he goes (and if he runs poorly he’ll likely be limited to the middle rounds). I suspect whoever takes him won’t regret it. He has a big-time pro future.
I spent more time studying North Carolina running back Javonte Williams. He’s a lot more suited to the Seahawks than I initially thought.
He broke so many tackles in 2020, finished runs and provided an X-factor throughout. He plays with the physicality Seattle likes and he fits their size preferences at 5-10 and 220lbs.
He set records at UNC this year with 22 total touchdowns.
Williams worked as part of a one-two punch with Michael Carter to deliver 249 yards per game (10th best in the country). Their 35 combined touchdowns was second only to the backs at run-heavy Army and was level with Alabama.
I’ve seen him projected anywhere from round two to round four. Williams needs to be on our radar going into the combine. If he tests well in the vertical and broad jump — he could be someone they seriously consider.
The third player I watched closely was LA Tech’s Milton Williams. He’s about 6-4 and 280lbs but he plays with fantastic quickness and athleticism. He’s so quick off the snap, compliments his natural speed with decent hand technique and he’s a playmaker on the D-line.
He’s a very exciting player with inside/out capabilities and reports suggest he could be one of the star performers at the combine.
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Russell Wilson’s vision for the offense could be very different to Pete Carroll’s
Warning!
If you are easily triggered by speculative articles relating to your favourite quarterback, you might want to sit this one out.
Right, if you’re still with me, here it goes…
What’s the lay of the land with Russell Wilson and the Seahawks?
Clearly at the moment all thoughts are focused on the post-season. The win against the Rams secured the NFC West for the first time since 2016.
I do wonder, though, whether the next few weeks could have an important impact on the long term relationship between team and quarterback.
Let me explain…
Following the week one victory in Atlanta, Mike Florio appeared on Sunday Night Football and revealed that Wilson had told the Seahawks ‘let me cook or we’re going to have a problem’.
The report from Florio, which has never been denied or contradicted, followed a prolonged off-season monologue by Colin Cowherd who argued throughout the summer that Patrick Mahomes has an offense tailored to him and input in Kansas City’s draft picks.
He made an unflattering comparison to Wilson’s situation in Seattle:
Florio and Cowherd have something in common. A source.
For Florio, it’s Rodgers.
For Cowherd, it’s Wilson. They talk. Wilson has appeared on his FS1 show numerous times.
Whether you like him as a host or not — when he specifically talks about how Wilson feels about a particular situation, you have to acknowledge they are close.
After all, how realistic is it for Cowherd to say some of the things he has about Wilson’s future and his relationship with the Seahawks — only for Wilson to then appear on his show as often as he does? If Cowherd was talking nonsense and making stuff up, that likely wouldn’t happen.
It doesn’t take much dot-connecting to go from Cowherd’s take to Florio’s report. Wilson made the team very aware of his preferred method of offense, possibly in the form of an ultimatum, and it’s likely he craves the kind of status Mahomes has with the Chiefs.
Wilson wanted Seattle to add ‘superstars’. Wilson wanted to cook. The Seahawks let him cook. It worked for a few weeks, until it didn’t any more.
Whoever or whatever was to blame — Wilson, Brian Schottenheimer, Seattle’s opponents, injuries, an inability to adjust — the Seahawks had a prolific start to the season and then a crash.
Wilson turned the ball over more than he’s ever done before and Pete Carroll has clearly decided that, once again, he’s going to do things his way.
In recent games the passing offense has been much more conservative. It’s a far cry from the first few weeks of the season. The Seahawks are back to protecting the football and if anything — the passing game is now trying to complement the defense and the running game, rather than the other way around.
Wilson is back to being a point guard too. In his first nine games of the season, he averaged 310 passing yards a game and scored 28 touchdowns. Since that ninth game, against the Rams, he’s averaged 207 yards per game and thrown only 10 touchdowns — with four coming against the New York Jets.
Carroll is purring about the switch in his press conferences. Rightly so, in fairness. The Seahawks appear to be playing a sustainable brand of football for the first time this season — the type that typically succeeds in the playoffs. This is his brand of football. A complete circle. Everything connecting.
In his eyes, this is how you win. While the Seahawks will no doubt happily ask Wilson to try and rescue them through the air if they get into another playoff hole — it seems inevitable that they will go into the post-season with renewed clarity on what Carroll wants his team to be.
I think he’s had his fill of the ‘Let Russ Cook’ approach. That’s just my hunch. I think he has seen a much more connected team in recent weeks and whether it’s the right decision or not — I think we know by now this is what he wants.
I don’t know how Wilson will feel about that. Clearly if it delivers a Super Bowl in a few weeks time, it’ll be a moot point. If they lose in the Wild Card round playing the way they did against Dallas in 2018, it could be an issue.
For many this is a taboo subject. A lot of people want to imagine that Wilson merely sees it as a privilege to play for the Seahawks. That the consistent winning seasons are enough, that he has no further wants or desires.
I think the near-ultimatum reported by Florio and the purported envious glances towards Mahomes speak to it not being as simple as that.
Wilson only gets one crack at a NFL career. He will have his own ideas on how he wants it to be shaped.
Maybe you’ll disagree with this but Andy Reid’s vision is Mahomes’ vision. Matt LaFleur, as far as I know, isn’t running an offense that isn’t conducive with MVP numbers for Aaron Rodgers. The offense in Baltimore is tailored to Lamar Jackson. Deshaun Watson is about to pick his own coach.
Seattle is different. Wilson fits into Carroll’s vision. It isn’t the other way around.
I’m not trying to imply that the two parties don’t respect each other. I think Carroll loves Wilson and vice versa. I also believe that players and teams, in all kinds of sports, sometimes want a fresh start.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It happens though.
I don’t think it’s completely unlikely that there will come a time where Wilson decides he wants a change. I also think, when that time comes, the Seahawks will be pro-active.
Again, I will stress, that winning solves everything. Super Bowls keep everyone happy. Another playoff disappointment, however, playing a Carroll brand of offense, could create an interesting situation. Not necessarily for 2021 but perhaps beyond that (as I’ll explain later).
Wilson and the Seahawks have had a bit of a weird relationship for some time.
The two contract negotiations he’s had with the team were protracted and difficult.
There’s also been consistent chatter for going on three years that a trade could happen. You have to admit, this is unusual for a franchise quarterback during his peak years.
Prior to the 2019 draft, leading NFL insider Adam Schefter suggested that Wilson could be traded:
In the video above you’ll also notice Jack Del Rio mentioned he had also heard similar whispers doing the rounds. Schefter followed up those remarks on ESPN with this report — adding at the end that the Seahawks would listen to trade offers for Wilson.
This isn’t ‘clickbait’. This isn’t Florio or Cowherd either. It’s Adam Schefter — the definitive breaker of news in the NFL.
A year earlier, it caused a bit of a stir when John Schneider was seen attending all of the pro-days of the leading quarterbacks available in the 2018 draft.
Chris Simms revealed on NBC earlier this year that he had heard from sources he trusted that Seattle talked to Cleveland about acquiring the 2018 first overall pick. Simms claims the Seahawks were willing to trade Wilson for the rights to the #1 selection (and presumably more).
Browns coach at the time, Hue Jackson, later said he hadn’t heard anything of that nature (although it’s worth remembering that he and GM John Dorsey had a frosty relationship).
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Browns contend that the idea was “floated” conceptually, but that the discussion did indeed happen. At the time, the Seahawks were staring at another extension for Wilson, one that would result a year later in a contract with a new-money value of $35 million per year. And the placement of a no-trade clause in the latest contract was indeed influenced by chatter regarding the potential trade to Cleveland, we’re told.
The point on the no-trade clause is important. Whenever anyone brings up the possibility of Wilson being dealt, fans quickly point to the clause as a reason why it can’t happen.
This is a misunderstanding of what a no-trade clause is.
It is not a handcuff for the player and team. It purely prevents the Seahawks from trading Wilson to an undesirable location. Per Florio’s report, the main motivation for including the cause was to avoid him being traded in the future, against his wishes, to a team like the Browns.
However, this clause can easily be waived. If Wilson wanted to be traded to a team or location, all he needs to do is waive the no-trade agreement. By insisting on the clause, he simply has control over his future.
Florio validates Simms’ suggestion that talks between the Seahawks and Browns took place. So while you might dismiss both individuals and their credentials when it comes to legitimate breaking news — it’s a bit of a stretch to think this idea was made up, backed up and never denied. Nobody else, aside from Hue Jackson, has contested these talks took place.
In 2019, Cowherd did a whole segment suggesting that Wilson ‘fancied a trade to the New York Giants’:
“So just remember this, a lot of things add up. Last year of Russell’s contract, his wife would prefer New York, Seattle is not an entertainment Mecca. New York needs, the Giants need, a star quarterback to replace Eli. Also Russell Wilson, good looking guy, classy guy, incredibly marketable and kind of buried in the Pacific North West. And the Giants also have an offensive head coach, not a 66-year-old defensive head coach.”
Wilson himself somewhat added fuel to the fire when, shortly after Cowherd’s take was aired, he appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s TV show. Not exactly a platform for a hotbed sporting discussion, Fallon asked Wilson about contract negotiations and a potential switch to the Giants. Helping out the guest, no doubt.
Personally I think in both instances — with Cowherd and Fallon — it was ‘negotiating through the media’. It happens all the time. The Seahawks dabbled in that tactic too. If anything, it was indicative of how fractious things became. Seeing both parties trying to gain leverage in the media was unpalatable — especially when other teams and other quarterbacks have since been able to get deals done with minimal drama.
I’m not convinced a trade to the Giants was ever realistic or likely. It does show, however, that the prospect of a trade was being used in negotiations.
Whether it was Wilson showing a bit of leg to the Giants or the Seahawks being willing to contemplate moving him to Cleveland the year before — both parties were prepared to use the threat of a trade to get what they wanted.
The prospect of a Wilson trade re-emerged again in May this year, when Florio reported the following:
Some who are close enough to the situation to know what may happen believe that Wilson eventually will be traded. Intriguing potential destinations would include, in our view, the Cowboys, Raiders, and Saints. (Or, as Simms says, any team “that doesn’t try to establish the run for three quarters and then ask him to save them in the fourth.”)
Still only 31 and determined to play until he’s 45, Wilson may not have to wait until his fifth decade (like Tom Brady) to land in a new place. Some think it’s just a matter of time before he’s traded by a team that talked about trading him just two years ago.
It’s impossible to deny that for the last two or three years, there’s been a regular murmur about a possible trade in the media. Many fans will dismiss it because they don’t want to contemplate it. It is simply a fact that, unlike any of his true peers, Wilson has been talked about as a potential trade candidate for some time.
That’s uncomfortable to think about but it’s out there. No smoke without fire.
That’s why, occasionally, I want to write about it. You just don’t see this with other top-level quarterbacks. Not in their prime.
I think it’s intriguing. Even if a trade never materialises — I think we should discuss why this gets talked about as much as it does.
From Wilson’s perspective, he might like the idea of playing in a huge market. A prospective suitor could, potentially, offer him a bigger say in personnel and draft decisions.
Mahomes was consulted on Kansas City’s first round pick this year and he personally recommended Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Meanwhile in Tampa Bay, Tom Brady has basically dictated the signing of Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown — despite neither position being a need for the Buccs. They were simply guys Brady wanted.
A new team would presumably build the roster how Wilson wants. They’d play his brand of football. He would be in control — with no Head Coach dictating the style or identity of the offense.
In return, that team would receive a huge commercial boost.
Can I imagine a scenario where Wilson moves to a new city in a big market, basically becomes king of the franchise and is able to dictate every facet of the way the offense functions? Yes.
Can I also imagine a scenario where the Seahawks decide they can draft a quarterback and make a huge cap saving, acquire a ton of picks to load up the roster and free up money to make some key free agent additions? All the while zoning in on Pete Carroll’s preferred identity for his franchise? Yes.
And I do believe how the rest of this season plays out could potentially steer both parties towards that.
If they win playing Pete-ball, none of this will be relevant. First and foremost Wilson wants to win and if he’s doing that, I doubt anything else will really matter.
If they go into the playoffs and suffer an all too familiar experience of trailing early playing a certain style and needing Wilson to try and save the day (and failing), then things could get interesting.
It’s also important to look at the reasons why this won’t happen any time soon.
The first is obvious — money. In 2021, the Seahawks would absorb a $39m cap charge by trading Wilson ($7m more than his $32m cap number). By 2022, the cap charge falls to $26m, $11m less than the cap charge if he’s still on the team.
So a trade is far more likely after the 2021 season than it is before and there are two seasons to conclude before then, so who knows what’s going to happen?
It would also be a huge gamble. Trading away the best quarterback the franchise has ever had? Trading away an icon?
It would be a stunning move.
If it didn’t work out you’d forever be known as the decision maker (Carroll) and GM (Schneider) who traded away Russell Wilson. You also look like geniuses if it does work. If anyone was going to do it, it’d probably be Carroll and Schneider. They’re bold enough to make a call like that. There’s a big difference, however, between talking about a trade of this magnitude and actually doing it.
You also run the risk of growing pains with a young replacement that could zap Carroll’s final years in Seattle.
Personally, I can see that. Allen was basically the prototype for the position based on Schneider’s checklist of physical attributes.
While Allen has gone on to develop into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, he also experienced two challenging seasons to begin his career. Are the Seahawks willing to endure a similar experience, reducing Carroll’s title timeline to maybe a couple of seasons at best?
It seems unlikely — especially given neither Zach Wilson or Justin Fields are particularly close to the Schneider physical prototype. And while Justin Herbert has looked terrific with the Chargers, he’s very much a unique case rather than the norm.
I also struggle to imagine them adding another veteran quarterback. It’d be a hard sell to the fanbase, trying to pitch a Carson Wentz reclamation project or a last dance for Matt Stafford to replace the best player on the team.
While Wilson might privately desire to play a different brand of football and while the Seahawks might be fully prepared to contemplate life without him (as they seemingly have in the past) — the two parties have also been really good for each other.
Prior to Wilson’s arrival, the Seahawks were 7-9 in both 2010 and 2011. Granted that was with a young, developing team. They’d also probably add a better replacement than Tarvaris Jackson (RIP) if they made a move.
However, there’s a lesson to be learnt there. Without Wilson this was a team left trading significant resources for Charlie Whitehurst, hoping Jackson could provide a solution and then signing Matt Flynn. Returning to those days would be a surefire way to slam shut Seattle’s Championship window.
The bravado of being prepared to trade a franchise quarterback in the midst of a contract negotiation could easily be replaced by panic if they did actually pull the trigger without having a ready made, quality replacement in the pipeline.
For Wilson it’d also be a big risk. He may well prefer to ‘cook’ than point guard his way through Carroll’s preferred vision. He might crave Mahomes’ power and control. Not to mention his contract.
Yet in Seattle he’s only known winning seasons and a top notch culture. You don’t get to take that somewhere else. However appealing the bright lights of a city like New York might be — you can still only play for the Giants or the Jets. They’ll still be the Giants or the Jets if you get to help pick the skill players in the draft or free agency, or throw the ball 50 times a game.
The Seahawks also tried a pass-heavy offense and while it worked for a few weeks, it never felt truly sustainable. Seattle has also recently improved the offensive line and delivered a receiver in D.K. Metcalf who any quarterback would want to play with.
So while I think it’s a thought worth delving into, I also think it’s highly unlikely that Wilson goes anywhere in the near future.
I do think one day though, there will likely be a time when Wilson is playing somewhere else. It happened to Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Tom Brady and others.
Even the legends of the game rarely stay with one team forever. Especially when they play for a long time — as Wilson says he intends to.
A trade in 2021 is unlikely. Beyond that? We’ll see.
I think it’s a topic worth being open minded about. There’s simply been too much media chatter about a possible trade over the years to ignore. There’s nothing wrong with talking about it now, either. Discussing ideas, contemplating scenarios. Wondering what the full consequences of success and failure in the post-season are.
That’s what a place like this should be for.
If you got this far with the article, I suspect you appreciate that.
Happy new year to all.
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I’m not convinced the Seahawks will look to draft a defensive tackle early in 2021.
After all, they didn’t add a defensive tackle to replace Al Woods until Snacks Harrison arrived mid-season.
Forward planning wouldn’t be the worst idea though. Jarran Reed is out of contract after the 2021 season. Poona Ford is a restricted free agent at the end of the current season. Bryan Mone is soon to be an exclusive rights free agent.
So beyond next year, there are question marks at the position.
It’s possible they simply retain all three and roll with what they’ve got.
Ford has been a revelation this season. One of the big unnoticed moments on Sunday was Ford racing downfield to tackle Josh Reynolds after a whiff in coverage then a missed tackle by Shaquill Griffin. Ford tackled Reynolds 26 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. He’s PFF’s 13th highest graded defensive tackle and Seattle’s highest graded defender overall. Ford has developed into a crucial part of the Seahawks defense and should be rewarded with a long term contract.
Mone also warrants serious praise. The only players graded higher on Seattle’s defense are Ford, Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and D.J. Reed.
Jarran Reed is another story. He is graded very poorly by PFF, ranking as the 96th best defensive tackle. With a $13.5m cap hit next season, there’s a question to be asked on whether they can justify his salary. However, there’s a reason why they made a big play to retain Reed in the off-season. They seriously value his leadership and he’s often the one in the middle of the pre-game scrum, rallying the troops. Reed also has 6.5 sacks this season. In his last two ‘full’ seasons, he has 17 sacks. It’s not easy to find defensive tackles who can produce those numbers — even if you wouldn’t necessarily classify Reed as a dynamic pass rusher.
The fact they weren’t even willing to retain Snacks Harrison by simply making him active against the Rams suggests they are comfortable with this trio. Any further depth could be acquired in the form of a cheap UDFA or veteran free agent.
You never know what the future holds though. Can you keep Reed beyond 2021? How easy will it be to retain Ford and Mone?
The early signs are the 2021 draft will be strong at the position. If nothing else, it looks like a class worth tapping into.
It’s not the only area of strength. The interior O-line group has some intriguing options assuming everyone declares. Notre Dame left guard Aaron Banks is terrific. Ohio State duo Wyatt Davis and Josh Myers could both go in the first round. Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater is overrated as a tackle option but could be a decent second round guard. The injury to Alabama’s Landon Dickerson is a real shame, given his major potential at center.
There’s also depth and talent at receiver and tight end plus it’s a better looking EDGE rush group.
With the Seahawks not picking until the end of round two, we need to try and identify the deep positions in the class.
Here’s a look at the defensive tackles who could go in the first three rounds.
Daviyon Nixon (DT, Iowa)
His gap discipline at 6-3 and 305lbs is superb. He knows what his role is, he can control the LOS or split his blocks to force runs back inside. He can afford to be patient because he’s just so nimble and athletic for his size. His frame is big, strong and powerful but he flashes quickness and he’s opportunistic. He can bully opponents and shoot gaps equally well. He has every chance to be a very high pick.
Haskell Garrett (DT, Ohio State)
Incredible talent who combines fantastic quickness and athleticism with an aggressive, physical mentality. He ran a 4.41 short shuttle at SPARQ at 298lbs which is an outstanding time and he added a 5.13 forty. His hand use enables him to create openings and his agility and speed make him a threat as a pass rusher. He was recently shot in the face but remarkably returned very quickly, missing minimal time. Don’t be surprised if he’s a big riser as the draft process develops.
Alim McNeill (DT, NC State)
He is a physical freak. At SPARQ he ran a 4.27 short shuttle — a time most defensive backs would be satisfied with — at over 270lbs. He’s since grown to 320lbs and yet he’s carrying minimal bad weight. He also ran a 4.94 forty and jumped a 34 inch vertical. Explosive, quick and agile — McNeil made headlines for a remarkable ‘big man’ pick-six earlier this season against Virginia. He can play the nose but has the agility and quickness to threaten as a pass rusher.
Jaylen Twyman (DT, Pittsburgh)
He’s listed at 6-2 and 290lbs so he’s a little undersized. He also doesn’t really have much scope to get above 300lbs. However, he had 10.5 sacks in 2019 and 12 TFL’s. There aren’t many defensive tackles putting up those numbers in college. The thing that really stands out is his ability to stay clean and work openings. Twyman has a really good swim move and executes the push/pull to a high standard too. He keeps his feet moving and doesn’t stop working to the quarterback.
Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia)
Big, hulking nose tackle listed at 6-6 and 330lbs. Georgia coach Kirby Smart once said if he had three Jordan Davis’, he’d be “a happy camper”. The expectation is he will have a surprisingly good combine and his draft grade will go through the roof. He’s not a sack specialist or a dynamic pass rusher but he’s the type of player you need to anchor your line and control the line of scrimmage. He’s arguably been Georgia’s best defender this year.
Jay Tufele (DT, USC)
He sat out the 2020 season and has arguably failed to really build draft momentum as a consequence. Tufele had 6.5 TFL’s and 4.5 sacks in 2019. There are real flashes on tape where he uses upper body power and heavy hands to bully interior blockers and work into the backfield. When he’s given 1v1 opportunities he can win with a mix of brute strength and quickness. He ran a 5.04 forty at SPARQ at 297lbs. A good combine could really boost his stock.
Marvin Wilson (DT, Florida State)
An absolute freak show when it comes to physical talent. At SPARQ he ran a 5.17 at 332lbs. He also added a 4.56 short shuttle which is superb for his size (Malik McDowell ran a 4.53 at 295lbs). If you watch the Rivals recruiting tape, he jumps off the screen in the 1v1 reps against some of the best offensive line talent in college football. Despite missing the final month of the 2019 season he still managed 8.5 TFL’s and five sacks at defensive tackle. His pass rush win percentage was 16.8%. However, there are also concerns regarding conditioning and there are plays on tape where ‘slouching’ would be a flattering review of his effort. He’s a five-star physical talent but needs to be in pro-shape.
Tommy Togiai (DT, Ohio State)
Highly impressive team mate of Haskell Garrett. He’s also a former four-star recruit but unlike Garrett we don’t have any SPARQ testing numbers to gauge his athletic potential. On tape he plays with the same effort and intensity. He’s tremendously powerful and can split double teams to barge his way into the backfield. He recorded three sacks and 3.5 TFL’s in six games for the Buckeye’s. Length and testing will be key — he’s listed at 6-2 and 300lbs.
Christian Barmore (DT, Alabama)
Tipped by many ‘draft media’ types to go early in round one, this was always more hype than reality. Barmore started the season slowly as Alabama’s defense struggled. However as things settled down, he started to excel — recording four sacks in three games towards the end of the season. At 6-5 and 310lbs the hope was that he would develop into another Quinnen Williams but so far that hasn’t happened. He has a somewhat limited repertoire and has been forced to play more of a rotational role for ‘Bama — yet he shows off brute strength and he does a good job keeping his frame clean. The talent and upside is there. It’s unclear whether he will declare — Nick Saban does a good job recruiting his players to return.
Levi Onwuzurike (DT, Washington)
Another player who arguably has lost momentum after opting out of the 2020 season (not that the Huskies played a long schedule anyway). There are flashes on tape that are intriguing. He’ll straight arm blockers to push the pocket and there are some moments where he really controls the running game from the inside. He had seven career sacks for Washington and had 6.5 TFL’s in 2019. He’s listed at 6-3 and 293lbs so size and scheme fit need to be considered. Does he standout physically? That’s a question to be answered. Testing will be important.
Tyler Shelvin (DT, LSU)
Shelvin also opted out of the 2020 season. He’s all about massive size and controlling the interior. He’s listed at 6-3 and anywhere between 345-365lbs. He can anchor against double teams and he can punish blockers 1v1. If you want someone who can play early downs to take up space inside and work mostly against the run, Shelvin can do that. He’s a mountain of a man. He isn’t a pass rusher though and that will mean he has a limited ceiling in the draft.
I’m also a huge fan of Vanderbilt’s Dayo Odeyingbo and have been projecting him as a top-20 pick throughout the college football season. He has the size to play inside/out and be a true game wrecker. If he doesn’t go as early as I think, he should be a name to monitor throughout the process.
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This wasn’t a game where you necessarily appreciated the aesthetic performance during the game.
After all, there were some maddening moments in-play.
Yet afterwards, on reflection, this was exactly the type of game we all needed to see.
Seattle’s defense did something it simply hasn’t been able to do since the first meeting with Sean McVay in 2017. They stymied his offense. They limited and restricted them.
They didn’t do it with zany blitzing or anything too creative. They just played their game. That’s the most important thing.
For sure they were helped by further patchy play by Jared Goff and LA’s diminishing list of running backs. Josh Reynolds placing the ball down on the field for a turnover (only to be bailed out by the refs) was a thing to behold.
Yet this is still an offense and a quarterback that has had plenty of success against the Seahawks. Today, they got nowt (as we say in Yorkshire).
The Seahawks couldn’t drop to 1-6 in the last seven against the Rams. They couldn’t go another year without winning the NFC West. Not against a Rams team that might even miss the playoffs and is a loss away from 9-7.
They had to get this one and they did. The defense — the butt of many jokes earlier in the season — is now clearly outperforming the offense.
A few weeks ago they couldn’t even function. Now they can — in a style that suits the defense. That is a big plus.
They also left a mark on the Rams. Goff’s thumb, Rob Havenstein and Darrell Henderson left the game with injuries.
If the Seahawks go to Arizona to play the Niners next week and win — I will happily admit I was wrong with my pre-season regular season prediction. I thought they would finish second in the division behind the 49ers, which is already confirmed as wrong (although the Niners have had quite an experience with injuries this year).
In order to be truly successful in the playoffs though — they will still need the offense to up the ante. They struggled again on third down. This impacted the run/pass balance as I suspect the plan going in wasn’t 32 passes and 20 running back runs. Russell Wilson still doesn’t seem close to his best.
Next week is an important game. It shouldn’t be treated lightly with the NFC West in the bag. Finishing the year properly and establishing some rhythm and explosion on offense would be a huge boost going into the playoffs.
And who knows — the #1 seed could still emerge as a possibility. The Bears will give the Packers a game based on their current form.
They don’t need the week 1-5 offense per se. An improvement feels necessary however. They will likely need to put points on the board against the Packers, for example, if they meet in the post-season.
Even so — this is the formula to succeed now. It’s taken a while but they are slowly but surely finding themselves even if there’s a bit of room for more.
For that, the Seahawks deserve credit.
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Merry Christmas to all. Here is my traditional Christmas Eve mock draft for 2020.
Inspired by Robbie on the podcast yesterday, I have the Jets trading out of the #2 pick after somehow managing to find a way to remove Trevor Lawrence from their future.
I’ll explain the Seahawks pick in greater detail below. I’m sure it’ll create an interesting discussion…
First round
#1 Jacksonville — Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson)
#2 Denver (v/NYJ) — Zach Wilson (QB, BYU)
#3 Cincinnati — Penei Sewell (T, Oregon)
#4 Carolina — Justin Fields (QB, Ohio State)
#5 Atlanta — Micah Parsons (LB, Penn State)
#6 Miami (v/HOU) — Ja’Marr Chase (WR, LSU)
#7 Philadelphia — Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB, Notre Dame)
#8 Dallas — Dayo Odeyingbo (DE, Vanderbilt)
#9 LA Chargers — Kyle Pitts (TE, Florida)
#10 New York Giants — DeVonta Smith (WR, Alabama)
#11 Detroit — Daviyon Nixon (DT, Iowa)
#12 San Francisco — Shaun Wade (CB, Ohio State)
#13 New York Jets (v/DEN) — Patrick Surtain II (CB, Alabama)
#14 Minnesota — Walker Little (T, Stanford)
#15 New England — Rondale Moore (WR, Purdue)
#16 Chicago — Trey Lance (QB, North Dakota State)
#17 Las Vegas — Patrick Jones (DE, Pittsburgh)
#18 Baltimore — Wyatt Davis (G, Ohio State)
#19 Washington — Rasheed Walker (T, Penn State)
#20 Arizona — Jaycee Horn (CB, South Carolina)
#21 Miami — Najee Harris (RB, Alabama)
#22 Tampa Bay — Gregory Rousseau (DE, Miami)
#23 Cleveland — Kwity Paye (DE, Michigan)
#24 Indianapolis — Alex Leatherwood (T, Alabama)
#25 Jacksonville (v/LAR) — Jaylen Waddle (WR, Alabama)
#26 New York Jets (v/SEA) — Travis Etienne (RB, Clemson)
#27 Tennessee — Caleb Farley (CB, Virginia Tech)
#28 Pittsburgh — Davis Mills (QB, Stanford)
#29 Buffalo — Josh Myers (C, Ohio State)
#30 New Orleans — Baron Browning (LB, Ohio State)
#31 Green Bay — Dylan Moses (LB, Alabama)
#32 Kansas City — Ronnie Perkins (DE, Oklahoma)
Second round
#33 New York Jets — Pat Freiermuth (TE, Penn State)
#34 Jacksonville — Christian Darrisaw (T, Virginia Tech)
#35 Cincinnati — Rashawn Slater (G, Northwestern)
#36 Atlanta — Azeez Ojulari (DE, Georgia)
#37 Miami (v/HOU) — Zaven Collins (LB, Tulsa)
#38 Carolina — Elijah Molden (CB, Washington)
#39 Philadelphia — Carlos Basham (DE, Wake Forest)
#40 LA Chargers — Aaron Banks (G, Notre Dame)
#41 New York Giants — Ambry Thomas (CB, Michigan)
#42 Detroit — Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, USC)
#43 San Francisco — Haskell Garrett (DT, Ohio State)
#44 New York Jets (v/DEN) — Rashod Bateman (WR, Minnesota)
#45 Dallas — Andre Cisco (S, Syracuse)
#46 New England — Mac Jones (QB, Alabama)
#47 Jacksonville (v/MIN) — Alim McNeill (DT, NC State)
#48 Las Vegas — Jaylen Twyman (DT, Pittsburgh)
#49 Chicago — Jevon Holland (S, Oregon)
#50 Baltimore — Tylan Wallace (WR, Oklahoma State)
#51 Washington — Paris Ford (S, Pittsburgh)
#52 Arizona — Jaelen Phillips (DE, Miami)
#53 Tampa Bay — Jay Tufele (DT, USC)
#54 Miami — Obinna Eze (T, Memphis)
#55 Indianapolis — Kellen Mond (QB, Texas A&M)
#56 Cleveland — Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia)
#57 LA Rams — Nick Bolton (LB, Missouri)
#58 Tennessee — Chris Olave (WR, Ohio State)
#59 Seattle — Landon Dickerson (C, Alabama)
#60 Pittsburgh — Jake Ferguson (TE, Wisconsin)
#61 Buffalo — Jalen Mayfield (T, Michigan)
#62 New Orleans — Tutu Atwell (WR, Louisville)
#63 Green Bay — Terrace Marshall Jr (WR, LSU)
#64 Kansas City — Creed Humphrey (C, Oklahoma)
Thoughts on the Seahawks pick
In all of my 2021 mock drafts so far, I’ve tried to look at the scenarios where the Seahawks can be opportunistic in the late second round.
I think that’s a possible approach this year. They have hit the jackpot with players who dropped into this range in the past (D.K. Metcalf, Frank Clark). It’s possible they will seek a similar opportunity, considering they don’t have a first round pick.
Therefore, I’ve tried to find talented and/or highly athletic players who might drop a bit. That has included, so far…
— Haskell Garrett (shot in the face earlier this year yet has made a full recovery)
— Marvin Wilson (inconsistent play but a physical phenom)
— Jaelen Phillips (former five-star recruit but suffered concussions at UCLA)
In this projection I’ve gone for an even more extreme projection.
Landon Dickerson is a terrific offensive lineman. I hadn’t fully focused on him until last week. His toughness leaps off the screen. For the 2020 season he was credited with zero sacks and only one quarterback pressure. According to PFF, he was the most valuable O-liner in college football per ‘wins above average’.
I was preparing to pair him with the Seahawks in my next mock. His personality and competitive attitude, plus his size, seemed like a good fit. Ethan Pocic is a free agent in the off-season and while he could easily be re-signed — the Seahawks don’t have limitless resources this off-season. Some players are going to need to be replaced on the cheap. If they can keep him for a modest sum, that’s great. I’m not sure what his market will be though. He could actually receive a lot of interest given he’s only 25 and now has a strong season as a starter on his résumé.
So Dickerson was going to be the guy for Seattle here. Then I watched the SEC Championship game and he suffered a serious knee injury.
I considered changing the pick because the Seahawks have had a bad enough experience with an injured second rounder this year. However, I decided to stick with it. After all, I’m trying to identify players who could fall into range and can play beyond their draft position. Dickerson has the talent to achieve that if he can stay healthy.
Unfortunately staying healthy is the big problem.
In 2016 he tore his ACL. In 2017 he had surgery on his right ankle. In 2018 he missed the whole season due to complications over a high ankle sprain. He then transferred from Florida State to Alabama and suffered this knee injury at the end of the year.
You could say he’s injury prone. You could also argue he’s unlucky. There’s nothing unique about his frame that suggests he’s liable to get injured. It’s also worth noting the injuries are different.
Even so, he has had some problems staying on the field. After the Darrell Taylor experience, the Seahawks quite likely wouldn’t make this pick in round two. He might even last longer than he otherwise would and could be available later.
Nevertheless, he’s a bad ass center who is beloved in Alabama:
What do you think Landon Dickerson’s teammates feel about him? Ultimate sign of respect from his guys. pic.twitter.com/vnKlB9ZzTs
Here was quarterback Mac Jones’ reaction to the injury:
“Landon is one of my best friends, and if Landon is going to stay on the ground then you know something’s wrong. He tried to get up, but I think our trainers were like ‘Stay down, stay down.’
“It just goes to show, that guy will put his whole life on the line for Alabama football and if he could he’d play as soon as he can for us because he just wants to be back, but obviously the injuries are the injuries.”
I just want more guys who play like Dickerson on this team. He straddles the fine line between what’s acceptable and not. He’s what an offensive lineman should be — a bit quirky, a bit crazy and tough as old leather.
Provided you do all the requisite medical checks and don’t find anything that points to all these injuries, he might be worth taking a chance on. Obviously you’d have to see signs of a positive recovery from his latest setback too.
I don’t think it’s particularly likely he’s taken by Seattle here because they only have one pick in the first three rounds. They also have a lot of potential needs, with several players out of contract in the off-season. Drafting a player who is recovering from injury with the only high pick you own could just be too risky.
That said, to me he plays on tape like a future multi-year starter in the NFL.
He’s also athletic — scoring 100.05 in SPARQ which is a great mark for an interior offensive lineman. He was the #64 overall High School recruit per ESPN in 2016.
I’ll clarify one more time that I’m doing these projections for a team picking in the late second round, in a college football season hammered by a global pandemic. It’s not easy to come up with new names but that’s what I want to try and do. I want to present different options.
I also have no issue with the Seahawks trying to hit a home run with their pick in round two — provided that next year, they’re able to do all the full medical checks. That was my issue with the Taylor pick. If ever there was a time to be cautious it was the 2020 draft. Teams simply didn’t have anywhere close to the necessary information to make big calls on injuries. Seattle not only took a gamble — they gave up two high picks to do so.
If Dickerson or anyone else can be tested thoroughly — and who knows whether that’ll be possible in 2021 — then the risk is at least somewhat managed.
Health permitting, he has the talent, potential and attitude to set the tone for your O-line for a decade.
Other quick draft notes
— It’s still early but this is looking like a strong draft for interior linemen on both sides of the ball. There are a number of talented defensive tackles available and there appears to be some strong options at center and guard too.
— The SEC game against Florida sold me on Najee Harris. He is just so classy combining elegance, power and size with an ability to do everything — run inside or out, run good routes and provide a dynamic weapon that can help lead an offense.
— Sadly for the Seahawks, without a late first round pick in 2021, there are a lot of appealing options available in that range. This looks like another draft that will be significantly elevated by underclassmen and there should be some fantastic prospects available in the top-50.
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Here is our preview podcast for the Rams game. Please check it out and if possible, like the video on YouTube to help spread the word…
Meanwhile Curtis Allen has very kindly put together this extensive watch-notes piece ahead of the game in a new guest post…
This is the Game of the Year for the Seahawks
There is so much riding on this game:
– A chance to win the division for the first time since 2016.
– A chance to host a playoff game, rather than going on the road as a wild card. This could vault them out of the ‘one win and done’ cycle they’ve found themselves stuck in.
However, there is also much more to this game than just practical concerns. There are emotional and philosophical victories to be had:
– A real win over Sean McVay at a crucial time would be a huge confidence booster. Particularly since it is possible they will face the Rams again in the playoffs, and they’re not going anywhere in 2021.
– A division title signals progress. After an extremely confusing offseason and a turbulent regular season with some serious in-season adjustments to their roster and game strategy, a win, a division title and a deeper playoff run would be extremely validating. It’s possible that major personnel and coaching changes will be made this offseason. A win or loss in this game could set in motion all kinds of decisions.
So the stakes are high.
But the opponent is tough. Make no mistake; this win will have to be earned and the Seahawks have not had success against this team. It’s worth briefly running through what makes the Rams such a tough out for the Seahawks.
The Rams’ core strategy is molded by Sean McVay in a way that maximizes their output and allows them to play a very high quality of complementary football. They’re built to quickly get a lead offensively and then sustain that lead with a fantastic defensive line. And it’s been a smashing success when they are able to play to plan: The Rams are undefeated under McVay when they have the lead at halftime.
– The offense mixes the run, pass and keeping the QB clean as well as anyone in the NFL. Their strategic concepts on offense allow them to accumulate points early in the game before defenses can adjust.
– Getting a lead early allows the defense to be aggressive.
They play like Tarzan with a lead (73 QB rating allowed, 34 sacks, 10 interceptions). Comparatively, they are like Jane when they’re behind (96 QB rating allowed, 6 sacks, 1 interception).
– With a lead, both sides are allowed to dictate the game tempo. The offense only plays 30% of their snaps while trailing. The defense? Only 21% of their total snaps are played while trailing. So teams are forced to chase them and alter their game plan accordingly.
It’s not hard to see why the Seahawks have struggled so much with the Rams. They’ve never been the fastest starters and that plays right into the Rams’ strategy. They’ve been able to keep the Seahawks off-balance, always trying to adjust and figure out something that works, not being sure of when to take a risk and when to play conservatively and calling increasingly desperate plays that allow the defense to pin their ears back and get aggressive.
I put it this way in my Week 10 Watch Points about playing the Rams:
This game is like a horse race. If you don’t get out of the gate quickly, get out of the jostling herd and build up a head of steam, you’re going to get stuck in the crowd. Breaking free late to win is doable but it is going to be far more difficult because the Rams don’t easily relinquish a lead.
Do the Seahawks have the vision and wisdom to game plan to get the lead early and flip the script? Can they make the Rams chase them for a change?
It’s really a choice – do you want to try and beat them at their game? Or take control and make them play a game they’re far less effective at? The latter has a far greater chance of success. It won’t be easy but appears to be the most direct path to a win.
Thankfully, reinforcements are coming. The players that likely will be available for this game that weren’t in Week 10 are many and should impact the Seahawks’ performance:
– RBs Chris Carson, Carlos Hyde and Rashaad Penny
– C Ethan Pocic
– CB Shaquille Griffin
– DE Benson Mayowa
As you’ll see, all of those positions will play critical roles in this game and getting all that talent back for the rematch could tip the scales in the Seahawks’ favor.
Let’s dig into the Watch Points for this crucial game:
Win the turnover battle
The Seahawks lost the battle 3-1 in the Week 10 loss and 2-1 in the Week 14 loss last year. It is extremely difficult to succeed against a team playing complementary football if you cost yourself offensive momentum and give their offense extra chances. They’ll have to play disciplined, controlled football to win.
Russell Wilson has to get into a better headspace for this one. He clearly has not been himself the last few weeks and the offensive game plan hasn’t been giving him much of a chance to right himself.
Giving him a selection of plays that makes the game come to him will be very helpful to his success. Which is why the Hawks need to…
Gear down on offense early in the game and control the tempo and the clock
The deep pass has been a source of pride and a real strength for the Seahawks this year. But not against the Rams.
Deep passing against this Rams defense has been a disaster for the Seahawks the last two games:
– The Seahawks were 4 for 20 on deep passes
– Two of those deep passes were intercepted
– Russell Wilson was sacked 11 times
Those are incredibly bad numbers and a big contributor to their lack of success.
We’re not saying they need to abandon the deep ball (remember rookie DK splashing onto the scene against these very Rams, getting a high five from Sidney Rice after catching a 40 yard bomb?) but they definitely need to pick their spots better.
Can they learn anything from teams that have had success against the Rams? How about San Francisco, for instance? How do the 49ers seem to match up so well with the Rams? How on earth did they manage to sweep the Rams this year, when the Seahawks struggle against them so much?
Part of the puzzle is the 49ers’ offensive construct.
How many deep passes did they throw in their games against LA? Six. Three of them were caught. San Fran rarely throws past the sticks, that’s just their personnel makeup and they play to it. So they match up very well with the Ram defense because they get the ball out quickly and don’t let their monster defensive line get any time to chase the quarterback down.
That strategy – combined with a solid ground game – greatly helped the Niners handily win the time of possession battle in both games. The first game they won by
nine minutes. The second game by a whopping 15 minutes – they possessed the ball a whole quarter longer than the Rams did. They kept the ball out of the Ram offense’s hands and controlled the clock and flow of the game. They successfully kept the Rams from fully utilizing their coaching and player talent.
The Seahawks have done the polar opposite of the Niners. They threw 20 deep passes to the Niners’ six and it tellingly had the opposite effect:
– 16 of the Seahawks’ 20 deep passes ended with a negative result: Two interceptions and 14 unsuccessful throws that stopped the clock. Further attempts at deep passes were met with 11 sacks.
Those are drive-killing numbers and they furthered the Rams’ game script at the expense of the Seahawks’. Obviously, some adjusting is in order.
The Seahawks must play with controlled aggression. Come out of the gate with a quick passing, run-establishing offense to eat the clock and score some points. There’ll be time for some deep passing when you’ve gotten some momentum built up and the game is better in hand. An insistence on long-developing plays early on will likely allow the pass rush time to get into Russell Wilson’s head. In Week 10 he was ducking blue jerseys that weren’t there and couldn’t find open receivers when under pressure. Fewer deep passes early gives everyone a greater chance at success.
Russell Wilson, you must get back on track.
Think quickly. Find your tight ends. Get your wide receivers the ball on short passes and let them get yards after the catch. Find your running backs in the flat. Take the scramble yards the Rams offer you. Don’t worry about gaudy stats and offseason awards. Manage the game and play with the confidence you’ve recently lacked against this team. Even if you don’t have it. Fake it till you make it, Russell. If you provide the level of play you’re capable of, you can take this team to the Super Bowl. It starts this week.
Defense — play creative, assignment-correct football and impact this offense
In Week 10 the defense sacked Jared Goff three times. All three sacks killed a Rams drive. One of them was a strip sack by Jamal Adams that the Seahawks recovered.
That’s the good news.
The bad news? They blitzed 21 times to get those three sacks. They only recorded eight pressures and forced only four bad throws by Goff. He recovered from the sacks nicely and had a pretty effective game otherwise.
It didn’t help that the Seahawks’ backfield wasn’t supporting the pass rush very well. They had several problems in coverage that left the defense vulnerable and kept the stress off of Jared Goff to play perfect football.
They must unify the defensive line, linebackers and coverage guys by being assignment correct and experience a higher success rate on their blitzes and must get more pressure with their front four in non-blitzing situations.
Going into Week 10 the Rams had been 0-5 when Goff was pressured 10 or more times the last two seasons. The average number of times Goff was blitzed by the defense in a Rams loss was double the times he’d been blitzed in a Rams win.
Defenses lately have been picking up on this – Goff is regularly getting blitzed by smart teams now. He and McVay are adjusting. His YTD passer rating when blitzed is nearly the same as it is in normal rush situations now. So just flooding the pocket with bodies and hoping the chaos will produce good results will not work as effectively as it has in the past. The Seahawks must get more creative and pick their spots better.
Snacks Harrison and Poona Ford will have chances to impact this game. Harrison’s first game in 2020 was against the Rams. It’s likely he has a better footing and sense of what the Seahawks want from him. If they can clog and disrupt the middle and keep their running backs from giving the offense that ‘just enough breathing room’ margin for them to operate, they’ll be able to put Goff in tougher situations and give the defense some chances to force some bad play from him.
Special Teams — continue to be a championship unit
Week 10 against the Rams, this unit was fantastic:
– Michael Dickson averaged 49 yards per punt and had a 57-yard blast
– Jason Myers was 3/3 on field goals including a 61-yard bomb as time expired in the first half
– DJ Reed had a 49-yard kick return to inject some juice into the offense
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