We didn’t waste too much time talking about the Jets or Giants games. We got into some bigger topics. Check out the latest podcast below…

The 2017 Seahawks were 8-4 after twelve games.

They ended the season 9-7 and missed the playoffs for the only time in Russell Wilson’s career.

I’m not convinced the 2020 version will finish quite as poorly as that. However, it’s starting to feel like history might be repeating.

The Seahawks are 3-4 in their last seven games and they’ve suffered three of the worst losses in the Pete Carroll era.

There’s losing and there’s being embarrassed. Against the Bills, Rams and now the New York Giants, the Seahawks were humiliated.

Yet unlike previous years, they don’t have even one victory of note to dilute these highly disappointing moments.

In 2017, after all, they beat the eventual Super Bowl Champions Philadelphia in week 13. In 2018 they defeated Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs and Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. A year ago they had the heroic performance in Santa Clara.

Who have they beaten this year?

For all the investment, all the resource, all the talk of MVP’s for Russell Wilson and letting him ‘cook’ and all the hope and aspiration to reach the Super Bowl — the stark reality is this team doesn’t look good enough.

There’s still time for this to change, of course, with games remaining. Yet there’s never any reason to avoid having a difficult conversation.

The finger of blame has to be pointed at the four most important people in the franchise.

Pete Carroll

His job is to have the Seahawks prepared to play on a Sunday. Yet far too often they are untidy, play down to their opponents and are out-coached.

Nearly three years after the reset, the team lacks any kind of identity. What are they? A prolific passing team shaped in the mould of their quarterback? A run-the-ball-and-play-defense group? They lurch between all sorts and nothing sticks.

If you don’t know who you are, then you’ve got big problems.

The coaches Carroll appointed to run his offense and defense aren’t getting the job done. Nobody should excuse Brian Schottenheimer or Ken Norton Jr. Ultimately though, Pete Carroll is responsible for this team as a whole. So far this year, we’ve witnessed a stretch of games where the defense was historically bad and a stretch of games where the offense has been diabolical.

Carroll also takes responsibility for the entire football operations. As we’ve discussed a lot this year, the off-season was a mess. The way they handled their self-confessed priority of fixing the pass rush was a shambles. They squandered cap space and picks and made desperation moves — all to produce this team.

The Seahawks are in real danger of winning the NFC West just once in six years, despite having a serious quarterback advantage.

Furthermore, two other coaches in the NFC West have taken Jared Goff and Jimmy Gaoppolo to the Super Bowl in the last couple of seasons.

Being in the same division as Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan is merely shining a light on Seattle’s underwhelming run in recent years.

Russell Wilson

He talks about being the best ever. Recently, he’s discussed his aim to create the most prolific QB/WR duo in league history with D.K. Metcalf. He has MVP ambitions and reportedly, during the off-season, he gave something akin to an ultimatum to the Seahawks to ‘let him cook’.

He has to play better than this. He looks more like Carson Wentz at the moment than Mahomes or Rodgers. Wilson has combined the best spell of his career in the first few weeks of the season with arguably the worst. It’s not good enough and he has to play better.

Don’t make excuses for him. This isn’t because of an absent right tackle, a new perfume, a podcast, a celebrity wife or a play caller. Wilson earns $35m a year. He has shown he is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.

He simply has to perform at a higher level.

John Schneider

He helped build, with Carroll, one of the greatest rosters the NFL has ever seen. That should always be remembered and never diluted.

However, the decision making since the reset leaves so much to be desired and questions needs to be asked.

The Seahawks have not made the most of their high draft picks. They’ve indulged in questionable, high-profile trades. They’ve squandered money.

Every now and again the old magic returns — the D.K. Metcalf pick and the Carlos Dunlap trade are good examples. Yet the list of gaffes is starting to dwarf the list of smart moves. Their record in the first round of the draft, their inability to address self-confessed priorities, their decision making when it comes to being thrifty at certain positions and splurging at others. These are legitimate concerns.

Worst of all there’s an air of desperation about their moves this year.

Having failed to adequately address the pass rush in free agency, they traded up to make sure they got Darrell Taylor — a player carrying a serious injury. He’d been unable to practise at the Senior Bowl or attend the combine. Some draft insiders suggested, due to the inability to conduct thorough medical checks due to Covid-19, that he could go undrafted. That’s how serious the injury was.

In a typical year with the usual medical examinations taking place, it might’ve been determined that Taylor wouldn’t pass a medical.

Seattle spent a second and third round pick to acquire him. He hasn’t even been cleared to practise yet. You could be forgiven for wondering if he’ll ever play — as he heads for the dreaded ‘second opinion’ on his recovery which has now taken a year.

Then there’s the Jamal Adams trade, executed right before the start of training camp. We’ve clearly seen in eight games that Adams is an effective blitzer. His 7.5 sacks is testament to that.

It’s also worth noting that he averages 10.3 blitzes per game, which is by far the most in the NFL by any player. After just six games, he’d more than tripled the number of times Bradley McDougald blitzed in 15 games last season.

So the numbers are good and Adams deserves credit for his sacks. It has to be acknowledged though that there’s a degree of manufacture with these numbers. If McDougald was able to blitz 10.3 times a game instead of the 1.4 times a game he blitzed in 2019, would he also be capable of producing good sack numbers?

After all, you’re the extra rusher. This isn’t a 1v1 battle, winning off the edge like Myles Garrett and allowing you to play with extra coverage defenders. Blitzing comes at a cost. Before the Giants game, Seattle was blitzing 35% of the time. In 2018, they blitzed just 18.4% of the time.

The Seahawks spent a fortune on Adams in terms of picks, making it incredibly difficult for them over the next couple of years in the draft. The biggest, most pressing problem however is how much they pay him to keep him. As we’ve discussed already, by not having an oven-ready contract ready to go, the Seahawks have ceded all leverage in negotiations.

They simply cannot afford to be paying Bobby Wagner and Jamal Adams around $18m a year each. Not in the current financial climate.

The Adams trade never felt like a calculated, finishing touch. It always seemed like an acknowledgement that the only significant move made this off-season was to remove Jadeveon Clowney from the roster and not add a proper replacement. They needed an injection of talent badly and Adams happened to be available. The cost of the deal was eye-watering.

Now they face an off-season with limited cap space and only three draft picks. They’re right back to square one. As with 2018 and 2019, they’re back to working with severely limited resources. Yet the team they’ve put together isn’t good enough — not on the evidence so far.

So what does Schneider do? Is he willing to be honest about the situation, eat some humble pie and initiate what needs to probably be a second reshaping in a short space of time? Because the 2020 Seahawks are not better than the 2018 Seahawks currently. For all the money and picks ploughed into this roster, they are not good enough. Some difficult decisions need to be made.

Jodi Allen

The final finger of blame should be pointed at ownership. I have sympathy with Allen because she merely inherited a football team. I doubt she ever had any real ambition to be an owner and this isn’t some kind of natural succession plan.

It’s expected that within the next five years someone else will purchase the franchise.

You can’t blame Allen for putting her trust in Carroll and Schneider to run the football operations, seemingly unchallenged. They are experienced and established. They are respected. They have delivered a Super Bowl title.

Yet it’s also the responsibility of ownership, regardless of the situation, to do what is right. You have to make difficult decisions. You still have to hold people to account.

It was the easy decision to extend Pete Carroll and start another ‘five year plan’. Was it the right call to make, however? Are the Seahawks experiencing their own Mike McCarthy moment? Two years ago the Packers dispensed of McCarthy despite his own successful spell in Green Bay because things, sadly, just started to go stale.

Matt LaFleur, his replacement, is 22-6 in the regular season since taking over. It hasn’t always been plain sailing. The Packers were hammered in the NFC Championship game a few months ago. Yet the fact is he’s revitalised a franchise and somehow managed to negotiate the awkwardness of Green Bay drafting Aaron Rodgers’ replacement instead of investing in his supporting cast.

That’s not to say you’re going to easily fall into a great replacement if you make a change. Yet fear of change is never a good enough reason not to pick up the baton. Paul Allen made a mistake with Jim Mora and then rectified it abruptly and spectacularly. That’s real ownership.

I don’t even believe, necessarily, that change is required. I want to believe that Carroll can lead this team back to the top. I also want the owner to be asking serious questions about the recent run of results, the personnel decisions, the performance of the staff (especially the coordinators), the performance of the quarterback and the overall direction of this team.

There needs to be accountability from the top.

Offering a new long-term contract that was almost apologetically leaked to the media, weeks after it was agreed, is not accountability. That felt like the easy option. I fear, rather than being challenged, Carroll and co are simply being left to get on with it.

The owner, the Head Coach, the GM and the quarterback. The most important people in your franchise have to deliver.

There’s a danger of the Seahawks drifting. This season feels so familiar. Whether it ends in a similar way to 2017 or whether they make the playoffs and subsequently make a swift exit again, the years are rolling by and nothing seems to change.

There are many fans who want to reflect on the possibility of another winning season as a cause for celebration. This is a franchise that experienced precious little success prior to Mike Holmgren’s arrival. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with ‘enjoying the ride’. More power to you.

I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with high expectations. This team, this Head Coach, this GM, this quarterback — they have created lofty expectations. This is no longer a cellar dwelling franchise, grateful for the odd great player to pop along once every ten or twenty years. This is a team that has set the highest of bars.

Are they capable of living up to their set standard? Rather than regress — slowly and gradually — is there any evidence of a team that is good enough to achieve merely what McVay & Goff and Shanahan & Garoppolo both achieved in the last two years?

There should be some pressure on those who can still prove the doubters wrong. There are still four games to go.

Trust me, I want to write a 2000-word end-of-season review on how Carroll and Wilson turned things around and shocked the NFL. I will gladly write the words ‘I was wrong’ if that happens.

Unfortunately I suspect that what I’ll be actually be writing is an article that has become all too familiar over the last six seasons.

So this is the challenge now. You’ve got four games and a potential post-season.

Do the heroes of this franchise want to be remembered for glory? Or for the way things petered out into a disappointing conclusion filled with missed opportunities and tarnished legacies?

Over to you, Pete and Russ. You’re the only two of this particular quartet who can influence the next few weeks.

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Pathetic.

The Seahawks were out-coached, out-thought and eventually out-played by a 4-7 Giants team starting Colt McCoy at quarterback.

The offense had no creativity. No tempo. No ideas. No execution.

Credit to New York and their coach Joe Judge who looks like the real deal. Yet the Seahawks contributed mightily to this latest disaster, to go along with the Buffalo and LA horror shows.

It’s one thing to lose. It’s quite another to lose in the way Seattle has this season.

Russell Wilson is having an absolute nightmare. At times he looks completely lost, almost broken.

What exactly is Brian Schottenheimer trying to achieve? Fourth and inches and you try a tricky bootleg instead of a run or a sneak? Where’s the spark? Why isn’t he able to create rhythm or deliver a running game to support the struggling quarterback?

Jason Garrett managed to deliver a plan to support his backup quarterback.

Worst of all there’s zero identity. What are the Seahawks even trying to be? Wilson isn’t cooking. They’re unwilling to run the ball, even when Chris Carson has success.

What exactly is the plan here?

The Giants are probably going to laugh their way home to New York. How could it be this easy to stop this offense?

On defense a strong performance was expected against a backup QB. Yet by the second half, the Giants simply ran the ball down Seattle’s throat. A three-play, 80-yard touchdown drive — all with runs. A smashing, decisive follow-up.

The same old lack of communication, poor tackling and poor discipline.

The Giants kicked Seattle’s arse on the two touchdown drives. There was no resistance. No physical edge. That was being provided by the opponent.

Even so — the offense put the defense under tremendous, unnecessary pressure by failing to score more than three points until deep into the fourth quarter.

And when the defense gave the offense and Wilson one last chance to save the day — they couldn’t deliver. They reached midfield and collapsed. The franchise quarterback, the man who wanted to be MVP, couldn’t come close to delivering a scoring drive with 1:48 remaining and with two timeouts in his pocket.

This was a thoroughly embarrassing loss to make a total mockery of this team being anything remotely close to a contender.

Why is this team, with the experienced players that it has, so incapable of playing a clean game? Why do they constantly play down to their opponent? Why, year after year, do they set out to be the bullies and often find themselves being punched in the mouth?

When’s the last time they had a really convincing home win? Why are they so often their own worst enemy? Why are they occasionally the recipient of a coaching masterclass by the opponent yet rarely coach out a classic themselves?

Why are they still scrambling around trying to establish an identity? The reset was nearly three years ago. What are you?

And when is there going to be some accountability for this? Will it come if they fail to win the NFC West again this year, for the fifth time in six years? Will it come if the season ends the same way it always seems to these days?

Here’s the stark reality of the situation. The Seahawks are now 3-4 since the bye.

So you tell me, what exactly is this team?

They haven’t beaten anyone of note. They’ve had four absolutely galling losses and possess a losing record over the last few weeks.

This team is not heading in the right direction, either this season or for the long term.

The thought of the Seahawks winning three playoff games to reach the Super Bowl is beyond fanciful.

The off-season presents a situation where the entire league will face a salary crunch, the Seahawks have three or four draft picks and they have starters who need to be retained or replaced. Major coaching changes are required but is Pete Carroll willing to look outside his own bubble?

And all this after squandering an off-season where they spent so much to produce this.

I predicted more of the same at the start of the season.

In reality, this is worse. This is getting worse.

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Traits aren’t everything but they do matter.

The concept of ‘just picking good players’ is a rhetoric that doesn’t befit a sport that emphasises physicality and speed perhaps more than any other.

Furthermore, the techniques and nuances for college football are far away from what you can expect at the next level. A ‘good’ player in college doesn’t necessarily translate to a ‘good’ player in the NFL. Even if they can be coached and developed, limitations will nearly always be exposed.

With limited draft stock in 2021 and no pick until the late second round (as things stand) the Seahawks will need to be on the ball to deliver impact from this class.

I’ve mentioned this before but I think the objective has to be to shoot for high upside in order to acquire someone with the potential to be great.

Any player available in the late second round with an amazing physical profile is going to have some question marks. Yet there’s an opportunity within that range to make a half-court shot.

D.K. Metcalf is the prime example. He fell not so much for the well-publicised three-cone time but probably more for the fact he nearly had to retire during the 2018 season due to a serious neck injury. Either way he was there and in a re-draft, he’s probably the third overall pick not the #64 pick.

The Seahawks equally had great success drafting Frank Clark in the late second round. He fell for very different reasons but had a top-10 physical profile and played to that level once he developed into a starter.

There have been misses too and that’s simply part of the draft. Christine Michael is the most explosive and agile running back to enter the NFL in a generation. He had star traits but couldn’t ever put it together.

Here’s the thing though — you can live with occasional Christine Michael if the upside is you end up with players such as Metcalf and Clark.

Seeking players with outstanding physical traits has worked well for the Seahawks in the second and third round. Bobby Wagner, Golden Tate, Russell Wilson, Tyler Lockett, Justin Britt and Damien Lewis are other examples. All tested very well.

The Kansas City Chiefs built their Super Bowl roster off the back of amazing upside. Not every pick, signing or trade has worked for them — but look at their recent early round draft picks. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Willie Gay Jr, Mecole Hardman, Juan Thornhill, Breeland Speaks, Patrick Mahomes, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Chris Jones. It’s a who’s who of every star tester, high-upside talent or five-star recruit.

They traded for Frank Clark, another incredible athlete, signed Sammy Watkins (at great expense) and signed big new deals for Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce.

They are basically the fastest, most explosive team in the league. Yes — they reached the pinnacle because of Mahomes. He too was loaded with traits and he’s surrounded by athletic stars.

With that in mind I wanted to note down some possible targets for the 2021 draft who possess high-upside and major physical potential.

The combine will reveal a lot of information, as always. For now we have to work with what little info is available. I’ve not included obvious first round picks. These are players being projected in a region where they might be available to the Seahawks (although it’s still early days) either in round two or perhaps even later.

Haskell Garrett (DT, Ohio State)
I only watched Garrett this week but was incredibly impressed with his quickness, hand-use and power. It was even more impressive given he was shot in the face a few weeks ago and made a miraculous return to the football field. He ran a 4.41 short shuttle at SPARQ at 298lbs which is an outstanding time and he added a 5.13 forty. His stock is difficult to project, especially after the shooting, but he’s highly talented and definitely a player to monitor.

Ambry Thomas (CB, Michigan)
Thomas opted out of the 2020 college season and Michican are missing him badly. He has reasonable size (6-0, 185lbs) but his athletic profile is sensational. He ran a 4.43 at SPARQ, a 3.90 short shuttle and jumped a 36 inch vertical. He had three interceptions last season and plays with great instinct and toughness. Thomas is immensely talented and with a strong combine, could vault up many boards.

Tutu Atwell (WR, Louisville)
Atwell is tiny (listed at just 5-9, 165lbs) and that is a concern. So too will be his limited catching radius. However, he has tremendous production (21 career TD’s) and his physical profile is incredible. He’s reportedly achieved a 4.26 forty, a 3.90 short shuttle and he can squat around 600lbs. Paul Richardson was only 175lbs at the combine in 2014 and the Seahawks took him in round two. Atwell could be the kind of dynamic speedster this offense craves.

Baron Browning (LB, Ohio State)
It will be stunning if the Seahawks spend another high pick on a linebacker but I had to include Browning on this list. At SPARQ he ran a fantastic 4.18 short shuttle. The Seahawks historically put a high value on that drill for the linebacker position. He also jumped a 37.5 inch vertical, ran a 4.56 forty and managed a total score of 131.91 — the most by any player at his position in 2017. He’s a freakish athlete with the tape to match. Don’t be shocked if he works into the first round.

Andre Cisco (S, Syracuse)
Unless the Seahawks make a big move (such as trading Jamal Adams) they’re unlikely to be in the market for a safety either. However, Cisco is a fantastic playmaker with a terrific physical profile. He has nine interceptions at Syracuse. He’s been timed in the 4.3 range for the forty, the 4.1 range in the short shuttle and he jumped a 36 inch vertical at SPARQ. He suffered a lower leg injury this season which could impact his stock.

Alim McNeil (DT, NC State)
When it comes to freskish physical profiles, McNeil has to be near the top of the list. 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 can also control blocks as a nose tackle and made headlines for a remarkable ‘big man’ pick-six earlier this season.

Jaelen Phillips (DE, Miami)
Phillips was once a storied recruit chased by every big team in college football. He opted to stay in California and picked UCLA. His time with the Bruins was dogged by concussion issues and at one point retirement seemed possible. However, instead he transferred to Miami and he’s having an outstanding season with five sacks in eight games and 10.5 TFL’s. He recorded an 111.18 score via SPARQ and has flashed five-star recruiting talent for Miami this year.

Xavier Thomas (DE, Clemson)
It’s been a bit of an underwhelming season for Thomas so far with only three sacks. Tipped by many to be the next big-name Clemson D-line prospect, he hasn’t really elevated his name into one of the stars of college football. Even so, his physical talent is undeniable. He ran a 4.30 short shuttle at 270lbs at SPARQ and added a 4.58 forty and a 33 inch vertical. He was the top defensive lineman who tested. There’s a lot of untapped potential here although I wonder about his length and ability to stay clean when taking on blocks.

Walker Little (T, Stanford)
It’s hard to gauge Little’s stock. A knee injury ended his 2019 season prematurely. He opted not to declare for the 2020 draft but then did opt out of the 2020 college football season. Where is he at physically? He has amazing size (6-7, +300lbs) and he was the top SPARQ tester on the O-line in 2017 with a remarkable short shuttle of 4.40. The injury and absence could force him down boards (although teams are always willing to take a chance on a good left tackle).

Tyson Campbell (CB, Georgia)
He’s tall (6-3), long and has the frame of a Seahawks cornerback. He also ran a 4.47 at SPARQ and jumped a 33-inch vertical. His short shuttle of 4.51, however, is very disappointing and he’d need to test better in that drill. Campbell doesn’t play aggressively enough in coverage and he gives up too many easy passes. Yet the physical potential and upside is there — especially if he improves in the agility testing.

Marvin Wilson (DT, Florida State)
Another former five-star recruit who had an amazing SPARQ session. At 6-4 and 330lbs he ran a 5.17 forty and a 4.56 short shuttle. That is frankly unbelievable agility for a man of that size. At Florida State he’s flashed talent, an ability to play inside and at the five technique and he was in better shape this year before an injury ended his season. However, conditioning will be a concern for teams.

Jake Ferguson (TE, Wisconsin)
Ferguson has always been a good blocker and a typical Wisconsin tight end. However — this season he’s also become their top target in the passing game, with 181 receiving yards and four touchdowns in three games. A former four-star recruit, Ferguson ran a blistering 4.15 short shuttle and jumped a 34.5 inch vertical at SPARQ. Virtually all of the top TE’s in the league did well in the agility testing.

Javian Hawkins (RB, Louisville)
I don’t think he runs in a ‘Seahawks style’. He’s not a tone-setter who gets the hard yards. He’s also out of their size bracket at 5-9 and 200lbs. However, I wanted to include him here due to his testing and production. He has 822 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns in eight games this season with a 6.2 YPC average. He ran a 4.36 forty at SPARQ, a 3.95 short shuttle and jumped a 41 inch vertical. He is extremely fast, explosive and talented. He’s just undersized.

Aaron Banks (G, Notre Dame)
This one is more about what I’ve seen on tape. He’s 6-6 and 330lbs and he absolutely dominates at the LOS. Power, strength and control. Based on his SPARQ testing I wouldn’t expect an amazing combine performance. However, to me he looks like the ideal candidate to play left guard for Seattle. Since Mike Solari came in they’ve preferred hulking monsters to play on the left side. Banks fits the bill perfectly.

Aidan Hutchinson (DE, Michigan)
He’s just suffered a fractured leg that could keep him out of action until April. He might be able to fit in a pre-draft workout if he opts to declare. He could also return to Michigan. However, there’s enough on tape already to think Hutchinson could be a star with the right kind of support. He’s brilliantly put together and can play inside/out with ease. He wins with quickness and power. He’s around 6-6 tall with great length and he ran a 4.47 short shuttle at SPARQ. If he goes pro and the injury limits his stock, he could be a steal for someone.

Kyler Gordon (CB, Washington)
I watched Gordon earlier this week and I think if he stays at Washington for next year, he could be a first round lock in 2022. He is incredible. However, who knows how players will feel about turning pro after this unpredictable year? He’s capable of a 42.5 inch vertical and a 6.52 three cone. Gordon, as with Elijah Molden, has unbelievable potential but he’s young and needs time to develop. They could both be NFL stars and possess the perfect blend of talent, instinct and physical upside.

I would’ve loved to have included Penn State running back Journey Brown on this list. He’s incredibly talented, capable of running in the 4.3’s, he’s explosive and he finishes runs. Unfortunately he recently had to retire from football due to a heart condition.

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Scoopage: NFL reinstating Josh Gordon from suspension, eligible to return for last 2 games @@NFLONFOX

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 3, 2020

This basically means Gordon has served a year-long suspension. The NFL’s thought-process has been unclear on this issue. At least there appears to be some clarity at last, with the news that he will soon return.

He was originally suspended on December 16th last year. If he’s able to return on the same date this year, that would be four days before the Washington game. Presumably the need to go through Covid testing is why Jay Glazer is reporting he will return for the last two games only — because four days won’t be enough to gain clearance.

The NFL has since released a statement discussing a set of events for Gordon’s return. Although they note he can go through Covid testing tomorrow — basically everything is set up for him to safely commence practising after the Washington game on the 21st December.

The dates might be a coincidence but I doubt it.

It’s pretty clear the Seahawks could really benefit from a third dynamic receiving option. D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are both performing at a high level and the other receivers have been able to chip-in. However — the ability to line up a third weapon that a defense really has to plan for is a tantalising prospect. It makes life even more difficult for an opponent.

With Gordon slated to return for the Rams game — it’ll also make it harder for LA to put Jalen Ramsey on D.K. Metcalf and then just match-up everyone else. If they have to account for Lockett and Gordon too — that’s a big challenge.

The Seahawks have also struggled to convert third downs this year. Gordon had a positive impact in that regard last season, especially in the dramatic win against San Francisco.

You need a lot of weapons in the modern NFL. Kansas City are proving that. It’s why I’ve said a few times it’s regrettable that the Seahawks didn’t take full advantage of two fantastic receiver drafts in 2019 and 2020. Yes they landed Metcalf, a genuine NFL star, but look at some of the other names who were also available (and players we talked about a lot as viable targets). They had a chance to acquire cheap, brilliant skill players for Russell Wilson for the key years of his prime.

Nevertheless, Gordon now has a chance to fill the void for the two most important remaining games of the season and a playoff run. It’s a big test for him to come in and contribute from the cold. He also needs to make sure he remains available.

This is great opportunity for him and a big boost for the Seahawks.

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Robbie and I look ahead to this weekends game. Please like the video on YouTube if you get a chance and help spread the word.

I’m not sure how often I’ll keep updating these. I wanted to do a new one this week because I’ve had a chance to spend some time looking at new players.

From the Seahawks perspective it’s practically impossible to make a convincing case for anyone at the end of round two. We won’t have a firm grasp of possible options until probably the combine.

They’ll be picking in the late 50’s or early 60’s and with only three picks — will probably trade down.

That said, I do think we can somewhat project how the Seahawks might approach this situation. You can’t wait until the late second or early third round to address a key need. Their first pick in the draft, provided they don’t acquire earlier stock between now and April, is probably going to be spent on a player with upside.

They’ll want to come out of this class with someone with at least first round traits. We’ve seen it in the past. They didn’t have a first round pick in 2013 or 2015 either. When they finally picked, they took Christine Michael and Frank Clark.

Neither player filled a vital need but both had extreme athletic qualities. It’s not an exaggeration to say they’re two of the best combine testers in the last 10 years at any position.

The Seahawks have sought high upside in this range a few times. Golden Tate, Bobby Wagner, Justin Britt, Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and Darrell Taylor all had a physical profile that created a high ceiling.

We don’t have enough information to consider who could be a similar candidate in 2021 and we won’t have any details for months other than the SPARQ testing numbers.

Until then, I’m probably going to continue to project high-upside prospects to Seattle at a variety of positions. I think a lot of their key needs are going to have to be solved in what will likely be the most unpredictable free agency period in NFL history. Thus, the draft could end up being an opportunity to take a half-court shot on someone with a high ceiling.

Players who last into the late second with great physical profiles always have some kind of issue that concerns teams. In the first mock I gave Seattle incredible five-star recruit Jaelen Phillips (who has a history of concussions) and this week I’m giving them a Florida State defender who has battled injuries and inconsistent play.

First round

#1 New York Jets — Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson)
#2 Jacksonville — Justin Fields (QB, Ohio State)
#3 Cincinnati — Penei Sewell (T, Oregon)
#4 Dallas — Shaun Wade (CB, Ohio State)
#5 LA Chargers — Ja’Marr Chase (WR, LSU)
#6 Philadelphia — Micah Parsons (LB, Penn State)
#7 Carolina — Zach Wilson (QB, BYU)
#8 Washington — Kyle Pitts (TE, Florida)
#9 Detroit — Dayo Odeyingbo (DE, Vanderbilt)
#10 Atlanta — Gregory Rousseau (DE, Miami)
#11 Miami (v/HOU) — Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB, Notre Dame)
#12 Denver — Trey Lance (QB, North Dakota State)
#13 Minnesota — Patrick Surtain II (CB, Alabama)
#14 Chicago — DeVonta Smith (WR, Alabama)
#15 New England — Rondale Moore (WR, Purdue)
#16 San Francisco — Elijah Molden (CB, Washington)
#17 Las Vegas — Patrick Jones (DE, Pittsburgh)
#18 Baltimore — Josh Myers (C, Ohio State)
#19 New York Giants — Rasheed Walker (T, Penn State)
#20 Arizona — Jaycee Horn (CB, South Carolina)
#21 Tampa Bay — Walker Little (T, Stanford)
#22 Miami — Travis Etienne (RB, Clemson)
#23 Indianapolis — Kwity Paye (DE, Michigan)
#24 Cleveland — Azeez Ojulari (DE, Georgia)
#25 Jacksonville (v/LAR) — Jaylen Waddle (WR, Alabama)
#26 New York Jets (v/SEA) — Alex Leatherwood (T, Alabama)
#27 Tennessee — Caleb Farley (CB, Virginia Tech)
#28 Buffalo — Pat Freiermuth (TE, Penn State)
#29 Green Bay — Baron Browning (LB, Ohio State)
#30 Kansas City — Ronnie Perkins (DE, Oklahoma)
#31 New Orleans — Dylan Moses (LB, Alabama)
#32 Pittsburgh — Zaven Collins (LB, Tulsa)

Second round

#33 New York Jets — Najee Harris (RB, Alabama)
#34 Jacksonville — Christian Darrisaw (T, Virginia Tech)
#35 Cincinnati — Rashawn Slater (G, Northwestern)
#36 LA Chargers — Wyatt Davis (G, Ohio State)
#37 Dallas — Andre Cisco (S, Syracuse)
#38 Philadelphia — Carlos Basham (DE, Wake Forest)
#39 Carolina — Obinna Eze (T, Memphis)
#40 Detroit — Rashod Bateman (WR, Minnesota)
#41 Atlanta — Jevon Holland (S, Oregon)
#42 Miami — Tylan Wallace (WR, Oklahoma State)
#43 Denver — Monty Rice (LB, Georgia)
#44 Washington — Ambry Thomas (CB, Michigan)
#45 Chicago — Alim McNeill (DT, NC State)
#46 New England — Davis Mills (QB, Stanford)
#47 San Francisco — Aaron Banks (G, Notre Dame)
#48 Jacksonville (v/MIN) — Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia)
#49 Las Vegas — Jaylen Twyman (DT, Pittsburgh)
#50 Baltimore — Terrace Marshall Jr (WR, LSU)
#51 New York Giants — Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, USC)
#52 Arizona — Jake Ferguson (TE, Wisconsin)
#53 Tampa Bay — Paris Ford (S, Pittsburgh)
#54 Indianapolis — Jaelen Phillips (DE, Miami)
#55 Miami — Jalen Mayfield (T, Michigan)
#56 Cleveland — Jay Tufele (DT, USC)
#57 LA Rams — Nick Bolton (LB, Missouri)
#58 Seattle — Marvin Wilson (DT, Florida State)
#59 Buffalo — Joseph Ossai (LB, Texas)
#60 Tennessee — Chris Olave (WR, Ohio State)
#61 Green Bay — Tyson Campbell (CB, Georgia)
#62 Kansas City — Tutu Atwell (WR, Louisville)
#63 New Orleans — Nico Collins (WR, Michigan)
#64 Pittsburgh — Javian Hawkins (RB, Louisville)

Thoughts on Seattle’s pick

Marvin Wilson is often talked up by the draft media — mainly because he’s been highly touted for so long and you see a lot of group think with certain names. The reality is he hasn’t played well enough to warrant some of the lofty projections on the internet and it won’t be a surprise if he lasts into the middle rounds.

However — there are also reasons why a team like Seattle might take a chance on him.

He’s a former five-star recruit (#4 overall in 2017 per ESPN) with a fascinating physical profile. At SPARQ he was listed at 6-4 and 332lbs (in High School!) and yet he ran an incredible 4.56 short shuttle and a 5.17 forty.

That kind of agility at his size is rare. He has a profile that is heaven sent in terms of physical talent.

Wilson is also known as a vocal leader and was voted a captain at Florida State. He’s already accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl and he’ll have a chance during 1v1’s to create an impression and elevate his stock.

It would make sense for the Seahawks to consider the future at defensive tackle. Jarran Reed is a free agent after the 2021 season and Poona Ford will play as a restricted free agent next year before also reaching the market (unless either receives an extension).

Drafting someone in April would enable them to get ahead of the game and provide options for the future.

The second round could be a good range for defensive tackles too. In my mock I’ve got the sensational athlete Alim McNeil, dynamic three-technique Jaylen Twyman, nose tackle Jordan Davis and USC’s powerful Jay Tufele listed.

I wrote about Wilson back in May in one of my draft preview pieces. Here are some of the negatives from the tape:

For starters he’s tall (6-5). When you’re playing exclusively inside at that size you’ve got to master leverage. Too often he plays upright and his pad level means he cedes leverage. He doesn’t control double teams in the way Raekwon Davis did at Alabama. He can get jolted backwards and the very least you expect from a player with this build is to be stout at the POA.

His gap discipline isn’t always great either. That can be blamed on scheme and coaching. You have to commit to it. At Alabama they do (as they do in Seattle). Other teams are happy to play free and fancy — to attack and try to find gaps rather than handling your business. Still, this isn’t something you can assume will be better at the next level.

And here are the positives:

There are great flashes. Despite missing the final month of last season he still managed 8.5 TFL’s and five sacks at defensive tackle. His 2019 pass rush win percentage was 16.8%. Only Javon Kinlaw and Jordan Elliott scored higher marks. He also broke up four passes, forced a fumble and added a couple of hurries too.

He’s so quick and when he times his get-off he explodes into the backfield. He’s not just a straight-line runner either. He can shake off blockers and he’s incredibly agile with quick feet for his size.

Wilson isn’t a slouch when it comes to power either. You see evidence of heavy hands and an impressive jolt when he connects. He can create room to work with initial contact and once he separates from a blocker he has the quickness and agility to work into the backfield.

I’ve not seen any problems with his motor which was something I looked for given the way Florida State’s last couple of seasons went. He’s smart enough to jump and tip a pass if his initial rush stalls.

One other thing I noticed from his 2020 tape was how often Miami lined him up at the five technique. He’s down to 311lbs and there’s a relatively decent chance he’s even quicker than he was during SPARQ testing. He does a better than expected job handling those duties and it really shows off his athletic potential.

He moves around the field well and works to try and get into the backfield. He wastes too much time hand-fighting from the interior which is a concern and it might be one of the reasons why FSU moved him to the 5T. Is he simply better attacking gaps from an advantageous starting position? Or can he play stout from the interior, handle two blockers, one-gap and still rip/swim or control?

These are all questions he can help answer at the Senior Bowl.

If you missed yesterday’s piece on why I think Richard Sherman should be brought home to Seattle, click here.

Here’s the link to yesterday’s instant reaction piece.

And here’s our instant reaction podcast:

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Approaching a four-game run against the NFC East and the lowly Jets — only two things mattered. Winning and staying as healthy as possible.

This was far from a memorable performance but it doesn’t matter. At this point, the victory is enough.

The two main highlights are clear.

The defense, after weeks of toil, have a formula now to force sacks. Carlos Dunlap has elevated the performance of the pass rush tremendously and you can see other players answering the call. So many people were active up front — the defensive tackles and Rasheem Green in particular.

The blitz is now a complement rather than a desperation policy to create ‘any’ pressure. The whole defense looks better as a consequence.

It’s reaching the minimal level they needed to find. There are still a few too many third down conversions and missed tackles. The Hail Mary at the end was mildly irritating and very ‘Seahawks’. There’s still a lot of work to do.

The unit wasn’t at all an embarrassment though, like it was earlier in the season.

That’s progress.

The opponent was rancid too. They are a three-win team after all. It shouldn’t get any trickier against Colt McCoy next week. Building momentum is important for this unit though. They need belief. They need to feel and experience success. They need to connect. We’ve seen some of that recently.

I also think as a consequence the two old war horses are looking so much better. Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright are looking superb again. That’s the beauty of a better D-line too.

The other great positive was D.K. Metcalf. The Seahawks fed him the ball and he flashed the kind of qualities — against a really good cornerback in Darius Slay — that legitimately place him among the NFL’s best.

His ability to get downfield at his size is remarkable. Yes — he will have some drops. The one in the end zone tonight was pretty frustrating. However, you can live with it on a 177-yard night. He now leads the NFL in receiving yards and it feels like there’s more to come.

Praise is long overdue in an instant reaction post for the kicker Jason Myers — who again nailed all of his kicks. He is having a terrific season, as is the entire special teams unit.

The game was unnecessarily close thanks to a cluster of errors.

The playcalling on the two early fourthdown’s was suspect. A tricky play to a clearly not 100% David Moore and a play that relied on a pick to open up the only target on the design was a disappointing selection.

Overall the offense seemed a bit off aside from Metcalf. Everything felt ordinary and predictable today — Wilson, the running game. Thank goodness for big #14.

Metcalf had the drop that could’ve finished things earlier but a great Carlos Hyde touchdown was also called back on an unnecessary hold by Cedric Ogbuehi.

Third downs continue to be a problem. The Seahawks were just 2-10 on offense and gave up 8-17 on defense.

Thankfully the opponent took a full half to get going and towards the end, when it made perfect sense to kick a field goal to make it a one-score game, the Eagles sent out Carson Wentz to throw a horrendous interception.

The Seahawks will have to play a lot better than this in the tougher games ahead but it’s worth saying again — the key in this game and the next three is to win and survive injuries to set up the NFC West double header to end the regular season.

If you missed my article on Richard Sherman earlier, you can read it here.

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Maybe the relationship is permanently broken?

Perhaps this article is a total waste of time?

Certainly when Richard Sherman departed Seattle, it felt right for both parties.

The sideline blowup when Darrell Bevell chose to throw at the one-yard line. The articles littered with critical anonymous sources, talking of dysfunction. Threatening to ‘ruin’ a journalist’s career for asking a fair question.

By the end, Sherman seemed angry and disillusioned. Perhaps justifiably so? The Seahawks had a legendary team and failed to capitalise with titles. The crushing defeat to New England was always going to leave scars.

Yet at the same time, s**t happens. The Seahawks shouldn’t have let that one horrible moment define them. Instead of being a great motivating factor, it appeared to split the team. They still battled and fought and tried to reach the pinnacle once more. Yet whenever things started to go wrong, the old wounds reopened.

The reset at the end of 2017 was necessary. The Seahawks needed a fresh start with new personnel. Players like Sherman also, arguably, needed a fresh start too. A move to a division rival was right up his street. Just as the presence of Jim Harbaugh was beautiful motivation early in his career, now an opportunity to sock it to Seattle was equally appealing.

The move paid off and he came close to another Super Bowl ring.

Ultimately though, I wonder if that defeat to Kansas City was an epiphany moment. You can plan and prepare and execute. You can put yourself in a position to win. Sometimes, you just don’t.

The images that more or less defined Kansas City’s comeback were of Sherman getting beat by Sammy Watkins or face-planting as Damien Williams clinched a go-ahead score.

Anyone can make mistakes. Sherman wasn’t to blame for that loss, just as Bevell or Russell Wilson or Pete Carroll didn’t deserve total blame for one heartbreaking moment in a game where Seattle carried a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter and were the walking wounded by the end.

I don’t know if the Super Bowl earlier this year delivered an epiphany. Maybe it could be the catalyst for a come-together moment in the future?

Here’s what I think I do know, however…

One, Sherman is still a hell of a player. He returned from injury against the Rams and the 49ers defense immediately felt different. He was tight in coverage throughout. He made plays against the run. It was classic Sherman and he gained a PFF grade of 80.4 as the Niners upset LA.

Secondly — Sherman will always be synonymous with Seattle. This spell in Santa Clara is a mere footnote in a long, detailed tome. A statue of ‘the tip’ should still be built. When he enters the Hall of Fame, it’ll be a moment celebrated by the entire Pacific Northwest and he will do so as a Seahawks legend.

I think it’s clear he still has affection for the city. This is Richard’s team. We all know it really.

Many relationships are still firmly in tact. Look at this embrace between Sherman and Bobby Wagner on the night Seattle beat the Niners:

Here’s Russell Wilson with Sherman after the same game:

Here’s Sherman working out with several Seahawks during the off-season:

Here’s some more photos of DK Metcalf, Richard Sherman, Josh Gordon and Bobby Wagner all training together pic.twitter.com/4ZnkPA8h6b

— Vountee🐢🇲🇽 (@vountee) May 21, 2020

The one relationship that matters the most though, is Sherman and Pete Carroll. I think it’s clear that Carroll felt hurt by the way it ended with Sherman. I think it was sadness rather than anguish though. This is very different to the Earl Thomas situation.

I also wonder if Sherman will ever forgive Carroll for cutting him and moving on — especially as he was injured at the time. It might’ve been right for the Head Coach but that doesn’t mean it was necessarily right in the eyes of Richard. When trust is broken, it’s hard to get it back.

This image suggests, to me, it’s not an irreparable situation:

Sherman or Carroll might think the past is the past and it’s time to move on. I hope, however, that the pair can see the mutual benefit of a reunion.

The Seahawks are facing a bleak situation at cornerback in 2021. Shaquill Griffin, who hasn’t played especially well this year, is a free agent. The Seahawks should be prepared for him to depart if the price is too high. Quinton Dunbar feels like a one-and-done. The only other cornerbacks on the roster are Tre Flowers and D.J. Reed.

They only have three draft picks. Signing outsiders for this system simply hasn’t worked over the years and the well has run dry in terms of development.

The Seahawks need a proven, experienced, quality cornerback. There is simply no one better than Sherman for that role.

It’s a clear solution to a huge looming problem. It would also be a moment to cherish for the team, the player and the fans.

He would provide expert cover skills, knowledge, leadership, guidance and perhaps most importantly — toughness and turnovers.

You might point to his injury record (he’s missed most of this season). It is what it is. Players get hurt. Dunbar and Griffin are a good example this year. The simple fact is you’re not going to find anyone better to come in and produce immediately at the cornerback position for this defense.

What’s in it for Sherman? The chance to come home. The opportunity to address, as Marshawn Lynch put it, ‘unfinished business’.

Beast Mode came back. It’s time for the man who delivered the most iconic moment in Seattle sports to do the same. Be the hero again. Rekindle the legend.

There’s every chance San Francisco will work to re-sign him. I’d be surprised if they didn’t. They’re in a similar situation at the cornerback position.

I’m not one for encouraging illegal acts but maybe, just maybe, it’d pay off to somehow get the message through the back channels to Sherman that Seattle seriously wants him back. Place the possibility of a homecoming in his mind. It might just get him onto the open market where you can talk.

If both parties needed a fresh start in 2018, now they arguably need each other again. Like a warring couple who, deep down, really love each other — it’s time to have a date night to sort things out.

The perfect finale to a storybook career. The ideal person to fill a glaring need. A moment to excite fans. A chance to get another Championship, together.

Bring Sherm home in 2021.

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I spent a bit of time watching Elijah Molden a few days ago and last night I was able to focus on him during a live game for the first time.

In terms of pure talent, instinct and athletic ability — he’s a first rounder with rare skills.

Some players just have an innate ability to be around the ball. They are playmakers. Tyrann Mathieu had that at LSU. He wasn’t the biggest, the fastest or the strongest. Yet time and time again, he’d be making the play.

Molden has that same quality and offers a complete, rounded game with the versatility to fit into numerous roles at the second level.

Operating as a nickel corner he has the short area quickness teams crave. He ran a sensational 3.93 short shuttle at SPARQ and you see it in the tape. He has gliding, twitchy movement. There are no wasted steps and his body position and fluidity is elite. You see him turn and transition with ease.

Look at his interception against Utah. The quarterback holds onto the ball for four seconds before making his throw. That is a long time to cover across the middle. Yet there’s Molden — perfectly positioned to undercut the route and make the play. He made it look easy. I couldn’t help but imagine him running that coverage for the Seahawks against the Rams. Imagine him taking away all the crossers LA use?

He fights and battles in man coverage and he contests so many throws to the intermediate level. He has the valuable ability to take away quick options for the quarterback. He’s also adept at reading the play and has the suddenness to react.

You just don’t see many players with this X-factor quality.

He’s well sized with dynamite explosion in the lower body. You see it when he delivers jarring hits. You see it with the movement he makes to play the ball. He jumped a 37 inch vertical at SPARQ and he isn’t just a smaller, agile defensive back. He comes up to the line and plays well in run support. He hammers ball carriers.

His instinct and football intelligence is exceptional. Look at the interception he had against Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl. He reads the long-developing screen and has the speed and smarts to make the play. I can’t recall seeing this level of processing and physical quality.

He has great hands to play the ball and the ability to fight and compete when the ball’s in the air. He had 13 PBU’s in 2019 alone. He has five interceptions in 2019 and the three games of 2020. He has three forced fumbles and 5.5 TFL’s.

Molden is the definition of the modern day defensive back. He can be an exceptional nickel or he can be the next Mathieu or Budda Baker.

He was listed at 5-11 at SPARQ but at Washington he’s listed at 5-10 and 190lbs. To me it doesn’t matter. He’s not an outside cornerback anyway. He’s the ultimate playmaker at the second and third level — capable of playing either safety spot or nickel.

He can be a permanent snap taker on the defense, you never have to take him off the field. His tackling and run support is a major strong point. He seems to relish taking on blocks, shedding and working to the ball carrier. His physicality, to go with the skill and agility, is what makes Molden such an exciting prospect.

The icing on the cake is his maturity. He’s extremely well spoken and grounded in interviews. He appears determined and focused. Teams are going to love his tape and his personality.

Frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up being a top-20 pick. Molden is a special talent and it won’t be a surprise if he quickly develops into a NFL star.

Other notes

Regulars to the blog will know how highly I rate Vanderbilt’s Dayo Odeyingbo. Playing on a useless Vanderbilt team isn’t doing him any favours in terms of media coverage but the fact is he’s a great talent.

He had two sacks in Vandy’s latest blowout loss to Missouri. On the second he fought through a double team off the right edge and made it look easy, before throwing down the QB.

For me he warrants top-15 consideration. He’s a terror off the edge with an outstanding combination of length, power and athleticism. He converts speed to power with ease, knows how to win in numerous ways and at 6-6 and 276lbs he looks like a NFL stud.

He has 5.5 sacks for the season on a hopeless team. If he tests well at the combine, his stock will go through the roof.

Florida’s Kyle Pitts is an absolute lock to go very early. He was practically unstoppable against Kentucky — recording 99 yards on five catches with three touchdowns.

Pitts is the ultimate mismatch weapon. He’d be ideal for a young, blossoming quarterback (eg Justin Herbert) as a safety net, red zone target and chunk-play specialist. College football teams have no idea how to contain him. His ability to work openings at the second level is incredible. He’s a very natural athlete for his size. He either gets open or you can throw it to him and he’ll make it happen anyway. He has superb hands and can pluck the ball out of the air on difficult, contested catches — as he showed in this latest game on one of his TD’s.

Hopefully he lands on a team that appreciates what he is. It’d be a waste of time trying to convert Pitts into a traditional, all-round tight end. He’s basically a big slot receiver and mismatch weapon. In the right offense, he could be one of the leading receivers at the next level.

Blog regulars will know we’ve talked about Colorado linebacker Nate Landman for three years. He’s been consistently excellent. Against San Diego State he tallied 11 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and three sacks. Landman isn’t the fastest player but he had a 37.5 inch vertical at SPARQ.

He’s an absolute hammer hitter who brings toughness and physicality to the MIKE position. As you might expect from a three sack performance, he’s a useful blitzer. He might not go early in the draft but I wouldn’t bet against him making an impact in the NFL.

Finally, while Pittsburgh might’ve felt the full force of the return of ‘Big Trev’ for Clemson, Patrick Jones continues to have an exceptional season. He had a sack and two TFL’s. Jones now has nine sacks for the season — second most in the NCAA behind only Patrick Johnson of Tulane (10). Jones is a classic LEO/EDGE.

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