I’m going to try and watch through a few games tonight and tomorrow (depending on availability in this wonderfully limiting British broadcasting landscape in 2023). However, I wanted to share a few quick notes today on the offensive lineman I’ve been watching.

Offensive tackle isn’t a position you’d necessarily expect the Seahawks to be attacking early in 2024 but there are some nice options eligible for 2024. I sat down to properly study Joe Alt from Notre Dame this week and he has, as many mocks are projecting, legit first round potential. Alt’s size stands out, he’s in control of his blocks, his footwork is good enough to seal-off edges and he has ample power. He looks like a very polished, capable player with a next level future.

Duke’s Graham Barton lacks Alt’s enormous size but shares his consistency, fundamental qualities and ability to excel in pass-pro plus in the run game. Barton plays with an edge — he’s very active, moves with plus agility and he likes to get after opponents. He can shoot his hands inside and finish. I’ve watched three Riley Leonard games and re-watched all of them to focus on Barton and he’s one of my favourites so far for the 2024 class. A very viable first round option.

Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu gets a lot of media love but I still see some of the same technical issues from last year. Fashanu clearly has great athletic qualities and upside but he lacks the control and structure of Alt and Barton. His upside might be higher but there are times where he fails to lock-on to blocks and when he has to move his feet get tied up. He passes the eye test in terms of physical tools but he might require a bit more technique work than the other two tackles mentioned so far.

I really like Wisconsin’s Jack Nelson. People are talking about him switching to right tackle in the NFL but I think his tape is great on the left side. He gets the job done. He can drop and set to wall-off against speed. He has a strong grip and locks-on to blockers when engaging. As a run blocker he can drive off the ball and gain push. I didn’t see anything to make me think, that’s a serious limitation. He’s underrated.

Alabama’s JC Latham is a former elite 5-star recruit and you can see why. He’s a great athlete for his size. He plays right tackle for Alabama and I half expected to see some challenges against speed given his blocky frame but he actually coped mostly well. He engages and finishes. He can get push vs the run. I think he might be dominant kicking inside to guard (and more tackles should be open to that possibility — there’s money to be made here) but he’s the type of high-upside talent that is often taken early.

I think all five of these players should be discussed as potential top-45 prospects.

At center, blog favourite from a year ago Sedrick Van Pran will turn pro in 2024. However, I’ve also been impressed with LSU’s Charles Turner. He has good size and length for a center. His frame is stocky yet his mobility is good, giving him the ability to latch-on and stun at the POA — plus when he needs to re-set his feet and adjust he can do it. The length also helps here to keep his frame clean. He has the athleticism to progress to the second level and play in attack mode. Turner plays with an edge and I sense that he’s someone with a lot of potential who might play his best football at the next level.

Arizona’s Jordan Morgan is getting a lot of love online and it’s fair to an extent. He’s athletic, talented and if it wasn’t for injury a year ago he could’ve been a high-ish pick this year. I think he’ll kick inside to guard rather than remain at tackle, which will limit his stock. He’s getting first-round love in plenty of places but I think he’s more of a solid day-two projection.

Cooper Beebe is a stud. He would’ve been a high pick this year but he opted not to declare. He does everything well at guard and will be a plug-in player at the next level. He possesses a ‘heart and soul’ attitude for the K-State O-line. He man-handles people at the POA, frequently creates running lanes and he’s a very able pass-protector. He’s a legit top-45 talent.

I’ve also been impressed with TCU’s Brandon Coleman, Jacob Monk at Duke, Troy Fautanu at Washington and Christian Haynes at Connecticut. From watching tape of last year, Yale’s Kiran Amegadjie also possesses a lot of high-upside potential.

This is shaping up to be a good, strong offensive line group.

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A thought dawned on me as I was putting this piece together on Sunday. The 2024 draft appears to have a top-10 pick problem.

This could be the second year in a row where teams aren’t getting value for money at the top of the draft. I’ve watched a fair few of the players being tipped to go very early in mock drafts and I have to say, there’s not been a lot to get excited about.

Caleb Williams will almost certainly be the #1 pick and Marvin Harrison Jr will be a worthy #2. After that though, it’s slim pickings. Just as it was this year with a limited pool of blue-chip players. I think we might see teams forced to consider profile, suitability and fit rather than simply running to the podium to draft the next ‘can’t miss’ talent. I suspect that’s what the Seahawks did this year but we’re already seeing people second-guessing the pick.

We’re only two weeks into the season and the online discussion is filled with Devon Witherspoon vs Jalen Carter chatter. This is my plea to the media and to Seahawks fans everywhere. Let’s not do this.

I’ve not seen Carter play for Philadelphia yet but I’ve no doubt he’s doing well. Talent was never an issue here. When he flashed at Georgia, he showed he can be a fantastic defensive lineman. He was the most naturally gifted player in the draft.

Yet he lasted until #9 for a reason and according to ESPN, even the Eagles were making a last-day decision on whether to consider him.

It will be revisionist history bordering on ignorance to brush off the extreme character flags surrounding Carter. These were not minor issues. We are talking about serious and multi-faceted concerns.

The Seahawks weren’t the only team that said no to Carter. The Eagles nearly did themselves. Philly were in a unique position within the league. They had a number of his former team mates on their roster and they were a Super Bowl team with a top-10 pick courtesy of an ill-advised New Orleans Saints trade. The GM Howie Roseman had money in the bank and could afford to roll the dice in a way other GM’s couldn’t.

Philadelphia was the best place for Carter. If he has great success with the Eagles, it doesn’t mean the same thing would’ve happened in Houston, Seattle, Detroit, Las Vegas, Atlanta or any of the other team who didn’t (or wouldn’t) have drafted him.

Let’s just embrace that and move on. The Seahawks weren’t staring at two cards on draft day, weighing up Witherspoon or Carter and making a call that would link the players forever. The truth is, Carter might not have even been on their draft board. My guess is he wasn’t on their board. We’ll probably never know for sure — but I think that is more likely than people realise.

It might annoy Seahawks fans who don’t have the information teams and league sources do on Carter — yet it was a totally justified position for the team to take. It’s why I spent three months getting dogs abuse for insisting Seattle wouldn’t take him. It was never going to happen, so there’s no point making this into a Witherspoon vs Carter comparison.

You might as well start comparing Witherspoon to Bijan Robinson, Lukas Van Ness or Will McDonald — all were probably more likely to land in Seattle after a trade down than Carter ever was.

Onto my draft notes from this week…

Early thoughts on the draft eligible defensive tackles

The best defensive tackle I’ve watched so far this year is McKinley Jackson at Texas A&M. He’s a shade under 6-2 and weighs 320lbs with great length (just under 34-inch arms). On tape he’s very capable of stacking and holding the POA to shut-down the interior run. His motor is relentless and he’ll often pursue away from the LOS to work down the line. Against Miami he showed he’s able to penetrate with quickness and explode into the backfield to create pressure.

Jackson looks like a beast on the field and Jim Nagy from the Senior Bowl noted after week two, “A&M coaches say nobody messes with Jackson & NFL scouts will love how he’s wired.” This is what the Seahawks are lacking a bit up front currently. Someone other than Jarran Reed with more beef who can still get around a football field and play with a mean streak. He’s someone to keep an eye on.

I’ve also been impressed with Texas’ T’Vondre Sweat. Supposedly he was a player not really making the most of his talent at Texas but now the light’s switched on and you see what he’s capable of. He’s huge (listed at 362lbs by the team) and he carries some sloppy weight which could/should come down. You also see inconsistent effort at times. However, so far he’s been unusually active for a man his size — creating pressure, disrupting, bursting into the backfield and being a force as much against the pass as he is against the run. His athletic talent could be harnessed even more by slimming down. He’s an impact player at the moment for the Longhorns.

His team-mate Byron Murphy has also stood out. I thought he was sensational against Alabama. He is smaller than Sweat (6-1, 308lbs) but he was often anchoring the line. Murphy consistently shoved blockers backwards and made splash plays to impact the quarterback. Alabama resorted to sticking two blockers on him and he was just so scrappy and combative throughout the game. Ranked at #18 on Bruce Feldman’s freaks list — Murphy has the major physical upside to back-up the tape. He showed that off by scoring a touchdown pass in the redzone against Wyoming on Saturday.

I have McKinley, Murphy and Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr. currently down for very solid day-two grades. I think they’ve been the most active and intriguing of the players I’ve watched so far. I’ve been left wanting a bit more from Kris Jenkins at Michigan. He is getting early first round love but I haven’t seen anything to back that up so far.

Jer’Zhan Newton is active and look athletic for his size yet it’s hard to get a great read on him because Illinois use him a lot at defensive end. His flashes are good but I’d like to see him used in a more orthodox role. Mekhi Wingo at LSU plays with good effort, he’ll take any opportunity given to him to shoot a gap and his lack of size works well for leverage. I’m not sure he’s a high-upside type worthy of an early draft grade though. Team mate Maason Smith made his long awaited return to LSU at the weekend and he tipped a pass that was picked off and showed a useful swim move. There were also quite a few mediocre snaps too as he feels his way back into things. It’s a difficult game to judge because Mississippi State looked like a bunch of High Schoolers playing LSU — small and overmatched. The scoreline was no fluke.

This is certainly a deeper defensive tackle group than previous years. I’m not sure it’s necessarily loaded with first round talent, though. It might be a position where you can get good options in the round 2-4 range, without necessarily being a target area in round one. It’s still early, though.

Quarterback notes

Will Howard vs Missouri

This was my first proper look at Howard and I have to say, I was very impressed. He’s not a flawless player destined for the top-five but there’s plenty to work with here. I need to watch more but as a first viewing, this was a ‘sit up in my chair’ moment and I only typically have a handful of those every year.

The thing that stood out most to me is the way he was able to surgically thread passes into tight coverage over the middle. Missouri has a good defense and they cover well at the second level. He faced a lot of coverage situations that felt NFL-esque and the way he sneaked passes into very small areas with accuracy and velocity was extremely impressive — certainly enough to outweigh the bad moments in this game.

Howard also gets the ball out quickly, he can side-step and shift away from pressure to extend plays in the pocket while retaining a strong base and keeping his eyes downfield, he generally hits receivers in stride with good ball placement and he sees the field. He’s also a good athlete and a strong runner (he scored the opening touchdown on a read option, bouncing it to the outside, and had another TD run called back on a penalty).

It wasn’t all good of course. He threw an ugly interception on 3rd and 10 in the first quarter, throwing off his back-foot with pressure in his face. It’s a bad, avoidable mistake. He needs to learn in that situation you can’t throw essentially blind when someone is in your grill — or you need to realise the blitz pre-snap and check-down.
He almost had a second pick on an attempted bubble-screen that was never on. One of his touchdown passes also came on a lucky tip into the air.

Nevertheless, Howard is a toolsy quarterback who is well sized and already completing what I’d call NFL level throws. It’s quite easy to imagine him starting at the next level. The 2024 quarterback class was already deep and here’s another name to throw into the mix. I am desperate to see more because this was a very intriguing first impression.

Incidentally, the Kansas State left guard Cooper Beebe is destined to be a very solid pro at the next level and should be a top-50 lock. There’s also a tight end called Ben Sinnott who just blocks his head off and has a ton of intensity and grit to his game.

Spencer Rattler vs Georgia

Rattler’s arm strength has always been high-end but he’s now playing in a controlled fashion to make the most of it. On a 2nd and 5 early in the game he ripped off an absolute rocket for 25 yards to the left sideline. The receiver was well covered but the ball is perfectly placed to allow him to go and make a play. It ignited a scoring drive on the opening series.

Rattler consistently took what he was offered by Georgia, showing a newfound patience and competence. Yet he also made those 25-yard outs look easy. He dealt with pressure well, stay composed and was able to stand tall in the pocket and deliver.

He had a huge play with 2:37 left in the first half. He’s sliding to his left so balance isn’t ideal. Without a proper reset he launches the ball 45-yards downfield into a perfect spot for the receiver to make a 1v1 catch. he showed special physical tools plus anticipation. It led to another touchdown.

Rattler was effective as a scrambler when needed and he’s no slouch as a runner. He did a very good all-round job against a loaded opponent.

There was a lot more pressure in the second half and it knocked South Carolina out of rhythm. His offensive line was again problematic and there’s a clear talent difference compared to Georgia (unsurprisingly).

The conditions also deteriorated leading to a number of drops and a generally ugly half. He still moved around in the pocket well to extend plays, converting a 3rd and 15 at one point with a subtle step-up and drive.

In the final four minutes he threw two interceptions but it’s not too concerning to me. One was a hail-mary attempt downfield on 3rd and 20 with 4:02 remaining, trailing by 10. The second came with 19 seconds remaining, again trailing by 10, where the corner undercuts a route to the sideline.

Overall I think Rattler showed enough against the top ranked college opponent to retain momentum and belief that his talent and maturity are now at a level to make him a fascinating pro-prospect.

Drake Maye vs Minnesota

Maye’s first touchdown showed he can manipulate the pocket, exit to create time and throw on the run. However, the pass was under-thrown and he got lucky that the receiver tracked the ball brilliantly to make a great play for the score.

He dodges pressure well initially but there’s evidence his eyes will drop when he does buy time. He will sack himself as a consequence.

Maye threw an absolute bullet to the left sideline on 1st and 15 on one play, squeezing the pass in between a triangle of defenders. He showed excellent accuracy, placement and timing.

On the negative side though, he had two ugly interceptions before half-time. One when he was throwing on the run, he doesn’t see a linebacker and throws it right to him. The second, he is getting sacked and for some reason in his desperation to get the ball out he just throws it right to a defender. There is no UNC receiver anywhere near the ball. It’s a horrible, massively avoidable error and it’s not obvious what he was thinking.

He rebounded with a 45-yard dart down the middle of the field, then a pump-fake uncovered a tight end on a wheel route for a touchdown.

In the third quarter he showed he can excel with play-action, putting his foot in the ground and driving the ball deep down the middle. He couldn’t finish that drive as three inaccurate throws failed to find the mark which was unfortunate.

Maye is clearly talented with good size, a decent arm, the ability to make throws around the field, the mobility to escape and he can improvise. He’s also a bit error prone though, does drop his eyes when he moves around and he has inaccurate patches. He’s a good player but the ‘top-five-lock’ talk has always been premature and, for me, a bit off.

There’s a lot to like but I think Duke’s Riley Leonard is a similar player competing at a more consistent level currently. There’s still a lot of football to be played though.

I liked Leonard’s performance again at the weekend and I actually thought Michael Penix Jr’s performance wasn’t as good as the stats suggest. Michigan State were an abomination, offering easy throws galore. They also offered zero pass-rush, allowing Penix Jr the time to pick his shots downfield. Even then, he was aided by some spectacular catches by his receivers on not-ideally thrown deep passes. One of his touchdowns should’ve been intercepted but was somehow tipped up into the air with Ja’Lynn Polk collecting it and running it in.

The environment is perfectly set up for Penix Jr to succeed — he’s never sacked, he has NFL receivers dominating every corner they face and the offensive scheme is blisteringly effective. Very little of this is translatable. Plus there’s an injury history. However, he has such a fantastic arm. It’s a heaven-sent arm. The league will be intrigued by the upside of his throwing potential, 100%.

A final note from the weekend — Quinn Ewers reverted back to the Rice game and struggled against Wyoming for large stretches. It’s bizarre how he plays so well against Alabama and can’t do it against lesser teams.

As I’ve said a few times now — increasingly I’m starting to buy-into this QB class. It might not be loaded with obvious top-five types but this is a very good year to invest in a quarterback — for the future or the here-and-now. The Seahawks have four picks in the first three rounds next year and based on how this is shaping up — one of those picks should go on a quarterback investment. It’s overdue and it’s time.

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We’re two weeks into the season and I have no idea what to think of this team.

Last week they had a half of offensive production that equated to three meaningful yards. Today, they go into a red-hot environment against an opponent fresh from a win against Patrick Mahomes in his own back-yard and they put on a masterful offensive performance — schemed brilliantly — to deliver a win.

They also showed tremendous character — starting the second half forcing a key turnover (and turning it into a touchdown). They dealt with the setback of coughing up a late 10-point lead with a dominant offensive drive to clinch the game. They went toe-to-toe against a team that many were tipping to be a serious NFC contender.

Equally, the defense continues to show a lot of the same problems. The pass-rush is a non-event for the most part and they can’t defend much at all over the middle. The two starting safeties are playing concerning football and Bobby Wagner doesn’t look like he did a year ago.

You do have to note, though, that the Tre Brown pick-six was a vital play in the game — as was the turnover to start the third quarter. Devon Witherspoon also forced a turnover-on-downs on debut. A few key plays were enough to help seal a great win — which has been an issue at times over the years.

I’m sure many will say the mixed start is merely par for the course with early-season football. I think that’s a bit reductive. I think we’re seeing a team that is a bit ‘Jekyll and Hyde’. The key to maxing out the season is going to be their ability to amplify the good and improve the bad.

If the Seahawks can be consistent with their passing game there’s no reason why this can’t end up being an offensive juggernaut. They’re clearly still working out how to best utilise Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Zach Charbonnet yet they already have enough talent to get results as those ideas develops. Getting a Sean McVay level of consistency from McVay disciple Shane Waldron feels critical to the season.

On the other hand, the defense is going through a dance we’ve done too often. This was another +400 yard game for an opponent early in the season and another +30 point day. The Seahawks remain too easy to play against on defense and they’re relying on opponent errors and flash moments. They are not formidable, physical or challenging as a pass-rush unit. I fear that this is going to be another year where they muddle along — never really sorting out the problems well enough to be the kind of rounded contender they hope to be.

This was an excellent win though. Big praise goes to the peerless Tyler Lockett — a picture of consistency and brilliance throughout his career. Two more key touchdowns today including a spectacularly difficult first. Lockett is a Seahawks’ great and deserves a Championship ring as much as any player I can think of for a career that has been selfless and spectacular.

The two offensive tackles were well supported by a good game-plan and when Stone Forsythe and Jake Curhan were challenged, they were up to the task. They deserve a ton of praise.

Geno Smith had one of the worst sacks you’ll ever see and it could’ve cost Seattle the game. Coming back to lead that clinching overtime drive was a great way to answer.

There’s a winnable game next week against Carolina. The Seahawks have to start winning games at home more regularly. This is an ideal opportunity to build on today against a rookie QB and a team who will travel on a short week.

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This is a guest article by Curtis Allen…

It is “déjà vu all over again.”

Last year, the Seahawks traveled to Detroit to play the Lions in Week Four.  After three weeks, the Seahawks didn’t know what kind of team they were going to be — with a breathtaking win over the Broncos, an absolute hammering at the hands of the Niners and a tough loss to the inferior Falcons putting fans through an early-season roller coaster.

This year, they started the season with the hammering.  Last week’s loss to the Rams was easily one of the worst games of the Pete Carroll era.  Following that, promises of harder work, better focus and renewed defensive strategizing have rung forth out of the VMAC.  Once again, the team travels to Detroit to test their resolve.

What can we expect from this matchup?  Many of the points we emphasized last year are still extremely valid.  I suspect they will be in 2024 too, when the Seahawks play in Detroit again.

Here are the Cliff’s notes version of my writeup:

*** ***

They really need something tangible they can point to on defense and say they are making progress.  Right now, they are near the league bottom in several crucial categories and they need something to build on.

The Lions have found something that works with Jared Goff’s limited abilities.  Hand it off to your explosive runners and let them move the ball downfield.  Run some play action with designed pass plays that are one-look and throw and let them gain yards after the catch with their athleticism.

Watching him play this year, it is remarkable how much he telegraphs his intentions by not even looking at anyone but his primary target.  He practically must throw to his first read for the play to be successful.

If that is the case, the strategy is obvious.  Get the corners up on their men.  Press them, take away the easy catch and run and make Goff hold onto the ball and think.  Safeties and coverage linebackers, read his eyes.  I would be comfortable gambling by instructing the defenders to break on his first read and make him pay for his lack of vision.

Make Jared Goff beat you.

Win In the Running Game

The Lions have been only slightly better in run defense than the Seahawks this year.  Where is their defense the weakest?  They have been absolutely gashed between the tackles in the run game. 

**** *** ***

Several of those points proved prescient as the Seahawks won a wild one 48-45, the NFL’s top-scoring game of the year. 

The Seahawks had a great game running the ball, Riq Woolen read Goff’s eyes and stepped in front of a pass for a pick-six and the defense otherwise struggled to contain an undermanned Lions offense.

This season, the Lions have all their offensive weapons healthy but are banged up in the trenches.  Left tackle Tyler Decker will likely not suit up and defensive end Josh Pascal appears to be out for the game.

The Seahawks have loaded up on personnel on both sides but questions linger about coaching and execution after such a poor performance Sunday.  Injuries to both of their starting tackles will pose a challenge to the staff to prepare an effective offense that keeps rising star Aidan Hutchinson from wrecking the offense’s rhythm.

Let’s look at some keys to the game…

Commit To the Run and Do Not Waver

The Seahawks defense needs sorting out and the offense needs rhythm and to protect their inexperienced tackles.  They have two talented running backs primed to fire off.

The Lions were the #29 rushing defense last year and the only major piece they added to improve their front seven was linebacker Jack Campbell in the draft.  Blog favorite Alim McNeill is coming along nicely but this defensive line is still one of the NFL’s softer units.

Jake Curhan at Right Tackle might be a sizable step down from Abe Lucas overall but he has played in some of Seattle’s best rushing games in recent years — including the 213-yard effort against the Chargers last year — and he started every game of Rashaad Penny’s explosion to close the 2021 season.

In 2022, the Seahawks had their best game of the year rushing the ball against the Lions, gaining 235 yards on a whopping 7.83 yards per carry average.  In 2021, the Seahawks had the best game of that year running the ball against Lions, with 265 yards on a 6.46 yards per carry average.  Detroit safeties have become very familiar with Seahawks running backs.

These are indisputable facts that all point to Seattle featuring the running game Sunday.

True, the Lions held the Chiefs to only 90 yards in Week One — but Kansas City just gave a token effort in the run game that amounted to ‘try and keep the defense honest’ with only 17 carries plus six more from Patrick Mahomes.

Detroit styles themselves as a tough blue-collar type of team.  The Seahawks need to establish the tone of the game by running the ball up the gut and not shying away from it, even if they only get 2-3 yards per carry in the early going.

A secret ingredient to a good running game against the Lions:  Quarterback runs.  Mahomes ran six times for 45 yards last week, half of Kansas City’s yards on the ground.  In their last two games against the Lions, Russell Wilson and Geno Smith have a combined 13 carries for 73 yards and seven first downs.  Both were just enough to exploit Detroit’s poor coverage and run defense and keep the offense moving forward.  Geno needs to be instructed if he drops back to pass and sees a good lane develop, go for it.

Like this:

Touchdown Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. Seattle leads Detroit 14-6 after one quarter. pic.twitter.com/1JqBSgnHtx

— Jack Hall (@JackHall600) October 2, 2022

 

Another facet to a good offense against the Lions…

Feature the Tight Ends Heavily

This seems obvious, as when you are starting both of your backup offensive tackles, it makes sense to bring in a Twelve Personnel package, with one running back, two wide receivers and two tight ends.  It helps the tackles with pass protection, becomes a safety outlet for the quarterback to turn to when under pressure and can assist the running game in overpowering the opposition.

There is another reason this package will be specifically advantageous this weekend:  Detroit is poor in covering tight ends.  Last year, the only team to give up more tight end touchdowns than the Lions was the Arizona Cardinals.  Indeed, Geno Smith’s two passing touchdowns in Week Four were to Noah Fant and Will Dissly.

Detroit is just not strong in safeties and linebackers that can cover.  Safety Kerby Joseph was responsible for conceding six touchdowns in only forty targets last year.  Watch Geno Smith take advantage of Joseph not getting his head around and Will Dissly easily winning by using his reach and nearly 70-pound advantage:

Geno Smith & Will Dissly open the scoring in Detroit! #Seahawks

📺: #SEAvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/CvE1Ql7jkg pic.twitter.com/YiLZbeB9BW

— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2022

Watch Joseph get completely twisted out of his cleats by a sneaky Tyler Lockett rub and leave Noah Fant unguarded:

.@GenoSmith3 is 12/14 for 170 yards with 3 total touchdowns! 🔥

📺: #SEAvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/CvE1Ql7jkg pic.twitter.com/Rzqxzw6XPQ

— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2022

Games like this are why the Seahawks invested so much in tight end play.  They need to get their three heavily involved this week.  They could open up the run game and generate opportunities for the wide receivers to have man coverage.

One more way they could provide value:  chipping Hutchinson or picking up blitzers.

Geno Smith was not terrific last year when blitzed.  His completion percentage dropped from 71 to 65, his QB rating dropped from 105 to 85, and his sack rate went up exponentially.

Last year, the Lions only blitzed eight times and got no sacks and only three pressures and three hits on Geno.  The result?  He had a scorching 132 QB rating on a 76% completion rate, scoring two passing touchdowns.  That game was his true coming-out party as a real NFL passer.

If the Seahawks can adequately protect him, he should be able to make his reads and throws very effectively.

Some Defensive Notes

Last week against the Rams, the in-breaking routes were the death of this defense.  Neither the pass rush nor the coverage was working when they employed these routes.  The corners were too loose and the linebackers and safeties too late to help with coverage.  The Seahawks tried every defensive formation imaginable against the Rams and nothing was successful.  Perhaps slimming down their playbook and committing to less diversity and more attention to execution is the key.

They better solve it quickly.  Guess who is very, very good at throwing in-breaking routes?

Jared Goff completed 13 of 16 passes targeting in-breaking routes for 168 yards and a TD in the Lions' Week 1 victory over the Chiefs.

Goff was the only QB to earn a max-99 NGS passing score on in-breaking routes in 2022.

Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/JlxFmlkWgQ

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 8, 2023

Last year, Goff papercut the defense to death — getting eighteen first downs through the air.

As always, he had a very quick passing approach that relied on yards after catch.  It is very in-rhythm.  The Seahawks need to keep working to break that rhythm and give the pass rushers time to work.  Goff is not a good off-schedule quarterback.  If you force him into making reads, your chances of success grow exponentially.

But of course, if he is supported by a deadly run attack, he can be very effective.

The Lions are going to roll out their version of thunder (David Montgomery, one of the NFL’s leading tackle-breakers) and lightning (Jahmyr Gibbs, he of the 4.36 40 time).  Tackling was a big problem for this team against the Lions last year.  If they made proper, routine tackles, that game would have been much more comfortable for Seattle.

The defensive coaches for the Seahawks kept talking this week about how successful they were holding the Rams to 2.3 yards per carry in 40 attempts.  It is fair to say they are clinging onto a small victory.

The defense must bottle-up this dynamite running game in order to force the pressure onto Goff.

Something that bears watching:  Is it time to put Riq Woolen on an island and roll coverage to the other side, like the Rams did for years with Jalen Ramsey?

Last week, the Rams targeted Woolen a grand total of two times.  Tre Brown?  Six times.  Julian Love?  Ten times.  Michael Jackson?  Two times in very limited snaps.

Just as we saw down the stretch last year, after an explosive start to the season, the league took notice and started avoided targeting Woolen in their passing game.

The Seahawks need to use that to their advantage and get creative.  Roll coverage to the other side and put Woolen on an island in the first half.  Then when the coaches make their adjustments at halftime, go back to your standard packages.  That sort of thing.

How about a blitzing package that isolates Woolen and floods coverage to the other side, while putting pressure on Goff?

The Seahawks have an all-world talent at corner.  One of the few true players who can contribute more than just covering a receiver.  He can make the defense seem like they have an extra player on the field.  Surely it is worth exploring.

1. The defense has been really bad for a number of years

Groundhog Day. A new NFL season begins and the Seahawks are no good on defense. Yards galore. Huge, long, back-breaking drives by the opponent. Third down issues. Either they can’t defend the run or they can’t defend the pass.

They are just too easy to play against.

Every off-season there’s something new to be fixed or prioritised. By the time a season begins, there’s something else to address.

Eventually you get to a point where you think ‘enough is enough’. We simply can’t go through this same dance year after year.

Furthermore, look at what has been spent on the defense:

— A top-five pick (Devon Witherspoon)

— A first round pick (Jordyn Brooks)

— Three second round picks (Mafe, Hall, Taylor)

— Two firsts and a third on the Jamal Adams trade

— Big money spent on Dre’Mont Jones

— Free agent returns for Bobby Wagner & Jarran Reed

— Substantial extensions given to Adams, Uchenna Nwosu & Quandre Diggs

This is a massive resource spend just to see a bad defense every year. The coaches have a responsibility to do so much more with this group and it’s understandable why fans have lost patience.

2. Has the game changed?

Look at the list of recent Super Bowl opponents and who they’re coached by:

Chiefs vs Eagles — two offensive-minded Head Coaches

Rams vs Bengals — two offensive-minded Head Coaches

Buccaneers vs Chiefs — two offensive-minded Head Coaches

Chiefs vs 49ers — two offensive-minded Head Coaches

Patriots vs Rams — one defensive-minded, one offensive-minded coach

The only non-offensive whiz in the Super Bowl in the last five years was Bill Belichick — the greatest coach in NFL history.

Since Carroll won Seattle’s Super Bowl in 2013, Belichick is the only defensive coach to win a Championship. Since then, we’ve seen Gary Kubiak, Doug Pederson, Andy Reid, Bruce Arians and Sean McVay win titles.

Even when defensive coaches reach the big game, they’re often supported by the offense. Dan Quinn’s Atlanta team was successful mostly due to Kyle Shanahan producing a MVP season out of Matt Ryan. Belichick had Tom Brady. Ron Rivera’s Super Bowl run came during Cam Newton’s incredible MVP year.

In the modern NFL, it’s often argued that the game is heavily weighted towards offense. Quarterbacks are more protected. Defensive penalties are difficult to avoid. You can’t hit like you used to.

College football churns out players who are used to playing in spread systems.

There are some long-time, revered coaches in the league such as Carroll, Belichick and Mike Tomlin. At the moment, none of the trio appear close to leading a serious contender. Granted, all three coaches have used their talent and experience to avoid their teams collapsing when many predicted they would. Yet the maximum all three seem able to muster at the moment is self-preservation by avoiding becoming terrible.

Look at the way Carroll has struggled against Sean McVay over the years. It does feel like a new generation has the upper hand — with an offensive-minded approach ably supported by an experienced defensive coordinator in control of his side of the ball.

You can’t fail to be impressed by McVay and Kyle Shanahan. Nick Sirriani can’t hold a media room like Carroll but it took him just two years to get to a Super Bowl despite inheriting a 4-11-1 team. Look at what Andy Reid has achieved in Kansas City — not just with Patrick Mahomes but also with Alex Smith. Mike McDaniel is a breath of fresh air in Miami, Zac Taylor has taken the Bengals of all teams to the Super Bowl, Doug Pederson — a winner in Philly — is now making the Jaguars relevant and Matt LaFleur is 47-19 in Green Bay.

Nobody thinks results are guaranteed if you just appoint any offensive coach. Surely, though, it’s easy to understand why fans might wonder whether the game has gone a certain way and it might be time to join the party?

3. Seattle’s playoff record is poor

Pete Carroll and John Schneider are quick to reference that the team has been consistently competitive during their tenure but the reality is they’ve been also-rans since their last Super Bowl appearance nearly a decade ago.

Since 2015 they’ve won three playoff games. This includes the Blair Walsh missed-kick game, a victory over the Lions at home and a win against the Eagles where 40-year-old Josh McCown played most of the game as an emergency backup quarterback.

Three playoff wins in eight seasons.

Since the initial reset in 2018, five years ago, they’ve won just one playoff game.

Now let’s look at the other teams in the NFC West.

Since Seattle’s last Super Bowl run (the period where they’ve since only won three playoff games) — the Rams have won seven playoff games. That includes two Super Bowl appearances, winning one Championship.

The 49ers have won six playoff games. This includes reaching one Super Bowl and two other NFC Championship appearances.

The Cardinals, one of the worst-run franchises in football, have won only one playoff game in this period but it was enough to see them reach the NFC Championship game in 2015.

The rest of the division have combined for 14 playoff wins, six NFC Championship game appearances, three Super Bowl appearances and one title since the Seahawks were last a serious threat in the playoffs.

You can forgive some fans for looking at this and thinking three mostly uninspiring playoff wins since 2015 isn’t cutting the mustard.

Also, since Seattle’s last visit to the NFC Championship game, 10 of the other 15 teams in the conference have reached the contest. Only the Seahawks, Commanders, Cowboys, Giants, Bears and Lions have failed to make the NFC final since 2015.

The Seahawks have averaged 9.7 wins a season since 2015. They’ve consistently avoided being a horrible team but it’s hard to argue they’ve ever been a great team in this period. They’ve not been a serious contender and their playoff record proves that. It feels like they’re stuck in the majority middle section of the league. They’re never terrible but they’ve not been a Heavyweight contender since 2014 — unlike the Rams and 49ers.

(Edit — It was a poor choice of words to say the Seahawks have been in the ‘majority middle’. They haven’t been a top contender but they’ve not been a middling team. I should’ve found a better way to describe being outside the top echelon of teams)

4. They can’t recapture their chosen identity

How long have the Seahawks been chasing the classic formula that formed the foundation of their Super Bowl win? They talk about being a punishing team full of highly competitive individuals. They want to be the bully.

After the game on Sunday, key players like Geno Smith took to the podium. They looked the media members in attendance in the eye and declared:

‘The Rams wanted it more than us‘

What??

The Seahawks have tailor-made their last two drafts to be all about character and competitiveness. Since the Russell Wilson trade, they’ve doubled down on the type of team they want to be. Yet in the opening game of the season, against a division rival no less, the leaders on the team are talking about the other side being more competitive and having more desire to get a win.

This is a really poor reflection on the team and a reminder of how long it’s been since the Seahawks truly kicked anyone’s arse. I’ll never forget watching Tampa Bay’s offensive line begging their sideline to ‘let them eat’ a year ago. They knew they could run all over Seattle. They were the enforcers.

They’ve tried and tried and simply seem incapable of recapturing the attitude they once had and are desperate to regain.

Is it time to try something else?

5. The Seahawks are a bad home team

Between 2021-23, Seattle’s record at Lumen Field is 8-10. Prior to the 2020 Covid season, where no fans were permitted to attend games, they were 4-4 at home in 2019.

How can it be that the Seahawks now win more games on the road than they do at home?

People talk about the dynamics changing in the stadium, with more ’12 since 12′ types attending, plus fan-tourists. Has the place lost its edge? I’ve noticed that like everyone else. The first game I ever attended in 2006 was an ear-splitting experience. That simply isn’t the case these days unless it’s a headline game.

Even so, there are plenty of other teams who’ve never had a terrifying home-field advantage and still boast a better record on their turf than the Seahawks.

The gradual decline of the home record plays into the feeling that a malaise has taken over and something different is required to get things going again.

Let me be clear — I appreciate everything Pete Carroll has brought to Seattle. You’d have to be a complete moron to not appreciate him. They should build a statue of Carroll outside the stadium the moment he departs, whenever that is. His legacy in Seattle is secure and he will forever be a Seahawks hero.

That doesn’t mean, however, we shouldn’t talk about the things listed above, question whether — after 13 years — it’s time for change and wonder if the team should be moving in a different direction to achieve what we all want — to reach the pinnacle of the NFL again.

You can only see the same problems repeating for so long before you embrace the kind of conversation you’d rather not have. That’s where I’m at. It’s where I’ll be even if they upset the Lions on Sunday. If all of this is proven to be wrong come January, I’ll happily eat my crow.

The manner of the Rams defeat has made this the only topic in town this week for me. I don’t enjoy talking about it but I’ve wanted to try and explain why I am.

For more, here’s a video I posted on my YouTube channel earlier:

Note: This is a long post, starting with some thoughts on the Seahawks. If you want to skip to the quarterback scouting notes, there’s a bold title (‘This was an impressive weekend of QB play’) where the review begins.

When I sat down to watch multiple college football games this weekend (thank you, YouTube) I did so anticipating a good start to the season for the Seahawks.

As I’m putting these notes together today, on Tuesday, I feel very differently. I’m inclined now to face a stark reality that the current regime might be able to make the current roster more competent than we saw against the Rams. However, I have no belief that they’ll be able to guide this franchise back to a deep playoff run. We’re seeing too many of the same problems repeat over the last few years.

Further to that, the manner of the performance — ragged, tactically inept, incapable of adjustment, shambolic in the second half — has torched any feeling that this can be anything more than a streaky team who may well win a collection of games this year and raise spirits but they’ll collapse as soon as they face a meaningful opponent in a meaningful contest.

Geno Smith wasn’t to blame on Sunday but he did show, sadly, that he isn’t going to be able to drag his team out of a hole when the going gets tough. We’ve seen this type of offensive performance before. Whether that’s on the quarterback or the staff, the Seahawks have had halves where they’ve not been able to do anything. Even in last year’s opener against Denver — a game that was celebrated like a Championship win by many — the Seahawks did absolutely nothing offensively in the second half.

Sunday left me feeling like the idea of paying Smith anywhere between $31.2m and $41.2m next year would be hard to justify given the financial state of the team. Now, I appreciate it’s one game and in the coming weeks it’s almost certain Smith will perform far better than we saw against the Rams. Yet the Seahawks, since the Germany trip last year, are 3-7 in their last 10 games. Within that stretch, Smith has not played well.

As I go into this extensive, thorough review of what I saw from the quarterbacks in college football at the weekend — I couldn’t help but think of two things.

Firstly, the Seahawks need to draft a QB next year. They currently have a projected available cap of $975,664 for 2024. Less than a million dollars. They saved money this year by re-working Jamal Adams’ contract. They have approximately $9m to spend. This wasn’t to go and target a Chris Jones type via trade. It was to have the capability to go and bring in someone like Jason Peters, if needed. Now they have the money to do that. Whether it’ll be a waste of money on a 41-year-old (!!!) tackle when you can just start Stone Forsythe instead remains to be seen. Every penny they spend on Peters, though, comes out of the amount they can roll into next year.

Their best lever to create cap space in 2024 is going to be moving on from Geno Smith. If he can’t lead an offense — with all of the talent on the roster we see — to more than three meaningful yards in an entire half of football — then they need to think about saving money.

Secondly, I don’t want Pete Carroll overseeing a fresh start at the position. He has consistently had his defense unprepared to start the season for too many consecutive years. This is supposed to be his calling card. We can’t keep doing the same thing every season. Carroll’s motivational skills are obvious and nobody is saying he’s a bad coach or doesn’t deserve flowers galore for all he’s achieved in Seattle. It’s time, though, after 13 years, to embrace that nothing lasts forever.

I want to see a good, quality offensive mind brought in to lead a new era. I appreciate that is easier said than done. I look at Sean McVay with the Rams and Kyle Shanahan with the 49ers and think, that’s what I want. Think Nick Sirriani and what he’s done for Jalen Hurts. Heck, I’ll take a Matt LaFleur.

Perhaps the opponents on Sunday, Detroit, possess the man of the moment in offensive coordinator Ben Johnson? Maybe the new McVay, Shanahan or Sirriani isn’t an obvious candidate we can easily name at this juncture?

I detest the ‘careful what you wish for’ scaredy-cat approach so many resort to in response to this topic. As noted yesterday, the Seahawks themselves have benefitted from being prepared to take chances.

I also subscribe to the theory presented by Mike Florio that it is best to pair a new quarterback with an offensive minded Head Coach. That way, if the team succeeds, said coach will not be poached by another team. If you appoint a defensive-minded Head Coach and their offensive coordinator succeeds with the QB, it’s almost certain you’ll eventually have to replace the coordinator.

Dan Quinn knows this all too well. He went to the Super Bowl and Matt Ryan was named NFL MVP when he had Kyle Shanahan as offensive coordinator. As soon as Shanahan bolted for Santa Clara, the wheels fell off in Atlanta. I have a minor concern that when Carroll does eventually move on, whenever that will be, Quinn will replace him. I’m not totally against the idea because Quinn has repaired his reputation post-Atlanta with an excellent stint in Dallas. However, he also gets to work with Micah Parsons and any offensive success could stall — as it did in Atlanta — if the offensive coordinator is ripe for picking down the line.

Whether this is realistic or not, I think the Seahawks’ long-term vision should be to pair a young, talented quarterback with an excellent offensive-minded Head Coach. People will try and shut-down this kind of talk as premature and reactionary to one defeat. It isn’t that at all. We’re seeing the same problems go unaddressed year after year. They speak of being competitive annually, yet they haven’t been a proper playoff force for nearly a decade. They haven’t been able to recreate the bullying, formidable roster they crave and they struggle to be a fine-tuned, tactical powerhouse either. It feels like one season blends into the next. Players and coaches come and go but ultimately, they never feel any closer to the top teams in the league.

Sunday was a flash-point because it was so bad. Everything we’ve come to expect from this team in a negative sense under Carroll was exposed for all to see. Complaints and a desire for change are not new calls off the back of one game.

Apologies if this has felt like a rambling, unnecessary introduction into what is essentially a long-read on quarterback scouting. I feel this kind of conversation is necessary though. It’s unacceptable to see the defense so ill-prepared to start a football season yet again. It’s unacceptable to see the team out-thought and out-coached by an opponent who, according to the players, ‘wanted it more’.

The Seahawks under Carroll are never likely to be so bad that a parting becomes inevitable. Yet I don’t think, nearly a decade after their last meaningful playoff run, they’re ever going to return to those days under this Head Coach. I think it’s time for a fresh start. New ideas, a new approach. And that means, probably, a new young quarterback too.

Luckily, the 2024 class is showing a lot of potential.

This was an impressive weekend of QB play

Over the summer I spent considerable time scouting the 2024 quarterbacks and came away with the impression that it’s a very deep, loaded class. However, I wasn’t convinced there’d be three quarterbacks taken in the top-five like this year.

I’m still generally of that mindset. I think it could change, though, because outside of Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr I’m really struggling to find players who warrant a top-five projection. It looks like a very thin draft class again for high picks. That could mean a number of QB’s are promoted way up the board.

The thing is, so many of the QB’s I’ve watched at the start of this college football season are playing great football. They are impressing me more than I expected. I’ve started compiling notes for my horizontal board and I’ve already got 11 quarterbacks earmarked for a potential placing in the first three rounds. I haven’t even watched everyone yet. More names could be added to the list.

2024 is shaping up to be an ideal year to invest in a quarterback.

Quinn Ewers (Texas) vs Alabama

This was easily the best I’ve seen Ewers play. It is worth noting before we start that Alabama were dreadful. They look mediocre in a way I can’t recall under Nick Saban. There were no clear defensive difference makers, no dynamic running backs and the quarterback only offered a handful of splashy plays and a lot of maddening nonsense. Alabama look like they could easily drop a few games this year and be an afterthought come the winter. It’s a long time since we’ve been able to say that.

It’s also worth noting that Texas played Alabama well a year ago and would’ve beaten them but for Bryce Young’s magic. Steve Sarkisian seems to have an angle on how to play his old team close. That said, you have to credit Texas. Ewers was excellent and made every key play he needed to make. Their offence answered every time Alabama put points on the board. I also think Texas’ D-line shone in a big way. Byron Murphy was superb and T’Vondre Sweat anchored nicely as a nose tackle with plus athleticism — his second strong performance in as many weeks.

It was interesting to hear that Ewers has dropped weight to get to 195lbs. He can’t stay at that weight in the NFL so it’d be interesting to see how the league views that.

Time and time again he stayed poised in the pocket, allowed plays to develop and diagnosed what throw he needed to make. Texas were 9/21 on third and fourth down and Ewers consistently made good decisions to convert.

We saw a lot of the Sarkisian staple offense here — passes into the flat, swing-passes and easy outs. Sark’s offense does have a lot of high-percentage stuff and it didn’t translate well to the NFL when he became an OC at the next level. It’s worth noting. However, Ewers still impressed mightily here.

He converted his first third down with his legs, showing good awareness and athleticism.

On his first score, he converted a crucial 3rd and 8 with tremendous patience in the pocket, his footwork is good to just stay on course and navigate the pressure, he keeps his eyes downfield and delivers a good throw when his receiver uncovers running towards the left sideline. It’s excellent QB management of the play. Then, he lofts a perfectly thrown deep-ball for a big touchdown.

The deep-ball has been a point of contention for Ewers. He was awful throwing deep against Rice last week and it’s certainly an area where there are question marks. Having dropped down to 195lbs he does look small and he lacks the big tools of a 6-4, 225lbs passer. That has to be a little bit of a concern. However, this was as good a deep ball as we saw last weekend — perfect loft and height on the pass, good arm strength and incredible accuracy.

He had a terrific 3rd and 4 conversion with 9:08 remaining in the first half. He hitches (perhaps unnecessarily) and that allows a pass rusher to hit him as he cocks to throw. Even so, he stands tall, absorbs contact and delivers a huge strike down the middle of the field to convert. He needed eight yards, he got 20. The receiver is wide open to be fair (Alabama were tragically bad) but he still did well under pressure.

There were times were his accuracy was still a little bit patchy, especially towards the end of the first half and start of the second. He had some misses.

With 7:49 left in the third quarter he threw a lovely fade down the left sideline. He was stuck on his own goal line but stayed poised, saw the 1v1 to the outside and gave his receiver a chance to make a big play.

He had a nice scoring drive to start the fourth quarter. The Alabama coverage was suspect but the touchdown throw was expertly executed. He had to wait for the receiver to clear the safety, who was reading the QB. He anticipated the right time to throw and nailed the pass. Ideal timing and placement. This is the kind of field IQ and feel you want to see from a pro-prospect — not just executing high-percentage throws or bombs to open NFL receivers. He was using his brain as much as the scheme and the physical tools to make this play.

I really liked a 2nd and 15 conversion with 10:36 remaining in the game. It’s a well read play, executed to perfection over the middle. Ewers was comfortable attacking soft spots in coverage over the middle.

Alabama, even in this form, are a difficult opponent to play on the road. There were various times were the crowd got into it or the hosts had momentum. Every time, Ewers and the Texas offense answered when they needed a drive. He finished 24/38 passing for 349 yard and three touchdowns. This was by far his best game in college. If he keeps this up he will have serious draft momentum to match his natural talent and whip-like release.

Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) vs Nebraska

In this game Sanders again showed he is a next level operator with the necessary arm strength, creativity, field IQ and natural ability. You get the feeling he was born to play the position. I’m starting to think he won’t declare this year, he’ll stick it out with his Dad for 2024 and he’ll start next year as the expected #1 pick for 2025.

Sanders showed he can nail a difficult out-route where he has to move off the spot, re-set his feet and deliver when the defensive back has threatening positional leverage. He has the arm strength to throw across the field into tight windows.

On another throw, he delivered a strike from the left hash right across to the right sideline — showing off his ability to throw with punch and timing.

He had some misses in the first half and a settling down period was required. He didn’t seem to be on the same page as his receivers sometimes and you could argue he tried too hard to extend plays. He admitted some early errors after the game but once things clicked, this was an impressive display.

One minute into the second half, Sanders has time in the pocket but feels late pressure. He avoids the defender and scrambles to his right. On the run, he then throws a perfect 45-yard pass downfield hitting his receiver right in the hands. It’s a wonderful throw — as pretty as it was effective. This completion came on 3rd and 15. This is how a top-level playmaker operates.

He threw an excellent pass with 6:51 left in the third quarter. Moments earlier he’d seen a touchdown pass dropped. He stormed back by shifting to his left, reading what the defense was showing and when his running back uncovered in the end zone, he threw into a perfect area between three defensive players for the score.

In other schemes you see so many manufactured throws that are high percentage. Time and time again Sanders is reading the field, diagnosing and consistently throwing over the middle with poise and accuracy.

He had a two-point conversion where he scrambled around like Caleb Williams, shedding a tackle and extending the play, before improbably throwing an accurate pass across his body that was away from a diving defender and gave his receiver a chance. The wide-out couldn’t complete the pass but it was pure magic from Sanders.

He did take some avoidable sacks in the game and he needs to work on that. Overall though, his stock continues to blossom and he’s an exciting talent.

Tyler Van Dyke (Miami) vs Texas A&M

TVD (as I will call him in this piece) burst onto the scene in 2021 and warranted first round projections going into 2022. However, there was always a fear that the wretched Mario Cristobal system would bring him back down to earth. So it proved a year ago. His 2022 season was a mess.

It was pleasing to see him play so aggressively in this game against a reasonable opponent. This was more like the 2021 version of TVD — showing off a big arm, skill as a passer and the ability to take over a game.

On his first drive on a key third down, he settles down in the pocket and throws a dart with impressive anticipation. He steps into the throw and delivers before the receiver gets into his break to come back to the QB. The throw is right on time and is on the receiver’s grill but he drops the pass. Nevertheless, this was next-level anticipation from the quarterback.

He had a wonderful throw right down the right hash with 4:30 left in the first quarter on his third series. TVD shows good base, he splits the defence with a perfect in-stride throw allowing major YAC and a huge gain. It’s a tremendous play.

When he’s given time and is in attack-mode, TVD can be deadly. With 11:13 left in the second quarter he threw downfield from his own 40-yard-line from the right hash to the left sideline, completing a perfect pass on the 15 yard line. The touch and placement on the pass is ideal and allows the receiver to make the completion and run-in for a score.

He led a good drive right before half-time to take the lead, with another textbook throw to the left sideline placed into an area where only his receiver can make the catch. Then he finished things off with seconds to spare nailing a pass on the run into the end zone.

As with Shedeur Sanders, he has no problem throwing an out to the left. The arm strength and anticipation is there.

There’s evidence of him coming off receivers when he doesn’t like the read, hitching, re-setting and then firing a strike over the middle.

He iced the game with a beautiful 3rd and 8 throw downfield to the right sideline, hitting his receiver in stride for a big gain and thanks to some awful A&M tackling, the receiver managed to break into the open-field and score.

This is the TVD we came to really rate the season before last. He looks confident and poised. He’s attacking opponents and working over the defense. For a big guy he can move around a little to create. He looked like a legit NFL prospect in this game where he finished 21/30 passing for 374 yards and five touchdowns. He would’ve had six touchdowns but for a drop in the end zone by a receiver on a ball lofted in-behind the coverage to the back of the central end zone area.

Michael Penix Jr (Washington) vs Tulsa

Tulsa put up very little resistance but you can only beat what’s in front of you and Penix Jr showed easy arm strength as usual. I’m smitten with his arm and it’s one of the best you will ever see. He also has fantastic weapons and knows how to get the ball to them — so it’s an explosive and fun offense to watch.

Penix did throw a poor interception with 13:57 left in the first half. He’s moving around too much in the pocket and then he just lazily overthrows the ball into the end zone. I’m not sure the receiver properly tracks it in the air (the broadcasters wondered whether he was interfered with) but it just screamed ‘trusting his arm too much’. He’s clearly got one of the best arms in America but you can’t lose concentration and just trust that everything’s going to come off. It’s a poor pick. I said last week he needs to get the interception numbers down from eight this year, playing in this scheme. This was careless. He also had some overthrown deep-ball’s early last week too so it’d be nice to see him clean things up in the coming weeks.

I love the way he can throw from different angles and still generate obscene arm strength throwing off his back-foot. I’m curious how surgical he can be — and not just trust his arm — when he needs to play in a far less comfortable scheme in the NFL. This is a very open, limited read system where he’s throwing to NFL receivers against substandard college DB’s. Yet the arm talent is as good as anyone in the game — NFL or college. That’s how special his arm is. The question mark for me is purely about being able to mix in a proper pro-game-plan to complement the obvious big-play ability he’s going to possess.

He seemed to hurt his non-throwing right hand making a tackle after a fumble by Jalen McMillan. Hopefully this isn’t anything too serious.

Penix throws comfortably over the middle and isn’t a check-down machine. It was one thing that was so impressive about this group of QB’s last weekend — their willingness and skill to throw over the middle.

A great example of his unreal arm talent was a side-arm throw from his own 12-yard line, placed between two defenders with great velocity and accuracy, for a significant gain on a first and 10 to ignite a drive. Then he was able to launch from his own 35-yard-line to the opponents 20 with perfect touch and timing — again between two defenders.

Physical traits matter in the NFL and Penix Jr’s sensational arm talent will have the attention of a lot of people in the NFL.

Drake Maye (North Carolina) vs Appalachian State

I watched this game mixed in with Washington/Tulsa. UNC played quite poorly and relied on Maye to bail them out. He was far from perfect but he produced in big, key moments to drive his team to victory. This included an improvised chest-pass to convert a third down and numerous creative situations where he extended plays. He showed off a great arm to lead several drives in the second-half and deserved a game-winning moment when he put-together a last-gasp drive (only for the kicker to miss the field goal, sending it to OT — although UNC still won).

I remain unconvinced that he’s the top-five lock many believe but this was a first-round QB performance, dragging his team over the line when they could’ve easily dropped this one. He clearly has physical tools, creative qualities and natural talent. It just feels like he needs to clean a few things up. This was basically an example of Maye vs Appalachian State though — and it’s good to see he can lead his team in that kind of situation.

Riley Leonard (Duke) vs Lafayette

He just looks completely legit. Great size and arm. Yes he played a weaker opponent than Clemson this week but he throws a pretty ball and I think he just needs more game experience to settle down in the pocket.

He did have a generous PI flag go his way. It was an under thrown deep-ball that caught out the defender and as he tried to adjust to the ball, the contact was made and the flag was thrown. How often do you see this in the modern NFL — QB’s bailed out by PI on underthrown passes? Either way, he did little else wrong on an easy afternoon.

He sprayed passes to all levels and showed off arm strength and talent. He didn’t have any crazy touchdown runs this week but he still made a defender miss before half-time. He led a really nice drive to get a field goal before the break (it was missed). Leonard, as with the other QB’s, is very comfortable throwing over the middle.

The conditions deteriorated in the second half and Leonard didn’t play much with the game secured. There’s no doubt in my mind though that he has first round potential. He’s a tremendous athlete with a good arm and he’s off to a good start this year.

Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) vs Furman

South Carolina let Furman linger for a half but right before half-time, Rattler dragged him team into a comfortable position. One downfield score gave the Gamecocks the lead and then with 23 seconds remaining he scrambled to his right and threw downfield on the run from his own 18-yard line. The ball travelled 58-yards through the air and was caught by the receiver for a huge gain. This was a wonderful example of Rattler’s easy arm strength, immense playmaking ability and next level talent. He finished the drive by throwing a touchdown to the left pylon with three seconds remaining.

With 10:05 left in the third quarter, Rattler threw from his own four-yard line with perfect loft, trajectory, placement and velocity to a receiver who caught the ball on the opponents’ 45-yard-line. It’s a wonderful 51-yard pass. Rattler’s arm is a sight to behold. It’s a first round arm.

Shortly after, he faced pressure on 3rd and 8 and threw downfield from his own 48-yard line. The ball sails perfectly to the goal-line for a huge 1v1 catch to the receiver who makes the grab for a touchdown. This was a masterclass in deep-ball throwing from Rattler. Where would South Carolina be without him?

On this showing he has a chance to go in round one. The talent is now matched-up to a good attitude, work-rate and understanding of his role on the team. He is in control and he’s turning into a top, top player.

Bo Nix (Oregon) vs Texas Tech

I’ve watched a chunk of Nix’s throws from this game but not every throw. There’s no doubt he has a good arm, plus athleticism and he’s managing the Oregon offense in a way he was never able to at Auburn.

That said, the offense feels very safe. There are a lot of check-downs and dump-offs. There are a lot of easy completions. I’ve no idea why the refs took an interception that appeared clear and obvious off the board late in the game, when Nix tried too hard to make a play and threw an ill-advised pass into the end zone when already in field goal range.

I struggle to muster that much excitement for Nix. There’s no reason to have him graded lower than the third round range. Yet I don’t think there’s anything, currently, that makes you want to crave him as the future franchise QB. Not with other options available that feel more appealing without the prior SEC/Auburn performance baggage.

He is a good athlete with a decent arm and he is managing things well for Oregon. They click because he is leading the offense nicely. Yet there are several QB’s I would say I prefer in this class.

Jordan Travis (Florida State) vs Southern Miss

This was another strong showing from Travis. He was creative, scrambling to make opportunities. He throws over the middle well and clearly can jump through progressions. He wasn’t helped by a series of dropped catches early in the game but generally he was accurate, athletic and poised. He lacks the big, physical tools of others in this class but he is giving off solid third-round vibes with the way he has started this season and he has the upside to shift into round two.

This article involved the watching of many college football games over two days, followed by tape review on Monday, compiling of notes and proof-reading. If you enjoy the blog and want to support content like this — why not contribute to running costs via Patreon — (click here)

I drove home at 2am. I made a cup of tea. And I watched the game.

In the immediate aftermath of the Seahawks’ opening day embarrassment at the hands of the Rams, it felt almost a blessing that I’d barely seen any of the thrashing.

I needed to sit through it before going to bed.

That performance was a shambles. It was indicative of a team totally unprepared to start the season.

How can they look that bad on opening day? I know other teams also looked terrible. That’s no justification or excuse, though, for what the Seahawks churned out.

No pass rush. No ability to adapt and change the game from the sidelines when things went south. An offense that is loaded with weapons and yet stalled to a complete stop in the second half — producing three meaningful yards in two quarters of football.

To say Pete Carroll was out-coached by Sean McVay doesn’t even come close to truly encapsulating what happened.

How many years are we going to put up with this? Year after year the defense is a total mess to start the season. It’s become so obvious we’ve been able to say, annually, ‘we’ll be here next year saying the same things’. Here we go again.

12-18 on third and fourth down. 426 yards, easily gobbled up. No sacks. Not even any consistent pressure at any point in the game. Unable to get off the field to the point the Rams had 40 minutes in time of possession. The Seahawks are consistently so easy to play against on defense and it’s been going on for too long.

They seem to have added a bunch of 3-4 personnel over the last two off-seasons with the intention of shifting schemes. Yet they’ve not addressed the interior D-line sufficiently to actually execute the 3-4 properly, so they’ve gone back to four man fronts and the end result is a mess.

Everything looks small, hesitant, soft, obvious and it’s not good enough. It’s indicative of a team not really knowing what it’s doing, with a distinct lack of difference makers to make up for any semblance of schematic brilliance.

They’ve pumped too much resource into this unit for it to look this utterly clueless, lost and ineffective.

It speaks to a Head Coach who, sadly, appears to have lost the plot at this point. His schemes became dated and predictable years ago and he’s been desperately trying to figure out a pivot for a few seasons now. None have been forthcoming and we’re left with annual talk of ‘needing to fix things’ on the fly. The Seahawks are hopeless on defense. Whether it’s running or throwing, you can get after this group. Nothing is changing in that regard. The Seahawks are a repeat offender as a bad defensive football team.

Carroll should’ve handed the keys to a proven coach who can sort things out years ago. Instead, he’s appointed two defensive coordinators from within his sphere. There was never a serious justification for appointing Ken Norton Jr and there’s even less justification for promoting Clint Hurtt.

At least Norton Jr could argue he had little to work with, as the Seahawks relied on Benson Mayowa and Bruce Irvin for a pass rush and consistently failed to address a key area of the team. Hurtt has no such excuse. Yet really, this is Carroll’s issue. He is in charge, he hasn’t been willing to make an appointment to get this right, he continues to struggle to piece together a functioning defense and the results are an unmitigated disaster. Hurtt and Norton Jr simply don’t have the authority, the capability or the prowess to cook up tactical masterplans to cover warts. Thus, we get what we’ve seen for years. Bad defense.

Then there’s the offense. It’s loaded with talent, we don’t need to pretend otherwise. For it to only achieve three meaningful yards in an entire half of football yesterday is staggering. It’s impossible to overestimate how bad that is.

It’s not unusual for the Seahawks to completely grind to a halt in a second half. Heck, we saw it in week one last year — the Broncos simply couldn’t capitalise. It shouldn’t happen as often as it does. Not with the personnel on offense. Again, it speaks to a coaching and execution failure.

What we saw yesterday isn’t acceptable in any way, shape or form. Yes, the Rams have Aaron Donald. Yes, Seattle’s two offensive tackles got hurt. The Rams, if we’re being honest, also have virtually 10 other no-name defenders on their defensive roster and play without highly drafted, coveted offensive tackles themselves. They still put up 426 yards.

It’s one thing for the defense to start horrendously (again). It’s quite another for the offense to do the same.

Then we can go into the embarrassing, childish nonsense we saw from some of the players when things escalated, or the fact that the players resorted to saying ‘the Rams wanted it more’ and ‘played harder’ in post-game press gatherings. Really? You can’t get up fully for an opening day battle with a divisional foe?

This was a multi-faceted shambles and Carroll, as the man at the top, is responsibe.

I’ve long believed he has become bigger than the franchise. He has an almost untouchable power brought about by an ownership situation that remains very much in a holding pattern, combined with a sympathetic and loyal fan base.

I think Jody Allen will sell the team within the next 18 months, mainly because that was always Paul Allen’s intention. One of her first acts in charge was to extend Carroll’s contract to a timeframe that matches when a sale could realistically occur. The team cannot be sold until May 2024 and Carroll’s contract runs through 2025.

Thus, major franchise change was never likely on the cards behind the scenes. I can’t say for certain but it’s always been my hunch that Carroll and John Schneider were positioned to run football operations. I’m not convinced there’s much accountability because the ownership structure currently exists to get the team into a position where it will be sold. That can’t happen for another nine months at the absolute earliest and in reality, it’s probably 18-24 months away. I don’t think there’s much jeopardy behind the scenes for the men running the show. At least not until a sale is completed.

Within Seattle’s fan-base, many have only ever known life with Carroll. The idea of moving on is terrifying to some. Whenever the prospect of change is brought up you’ll often hear people reference how things could go badly wrong. It’s the classic ‘careful what you wish for’ approach to avoiding any kind of change.

Forget the Eagles, who fired Doug Pederson shortly after things collapsed after winning a Super Bowl, only to come roaring back in double-quick time to return to the top of the NFC. The ‘careful what you wish for’ attitude instead only focuses on a worst case scenario, such as a repeat of Jim Mora replacing Mike Holmgren.

The reality is that Holmgren’s race was run and Mora was simply an ill-judged replacement. They put it right with Carroll. With hindsight, it was right to move on from Holmgren and arguably the Mora experience was worth living through to get to Carroll. Fearing change in 2008 would’ve never brought Carroll to Seattle. We’d never have the LOB, the Super Bowl, the glory days.

Imagine that.

You can’t be scared of the next era of Seahawks football. Carroll isn’t the Seahawks. He’s just a coach. A very successful and much-loved coach, admittedly. Yet like Holmgren, increasingly it feels like the time is coming to try something new.

We can’t keep seeing the defense play like this. We can’t cling to the LOB years, which are now a decade ago, or the way Seattle could rely on Russell Wilson to get +10 wins when the LOB era ended.

Neither can we over-egg what last year was. They started hot, fuelled by the Wilson saga and an exciting week one win against the Broncos. They started 6-3 and have gone 3-7 since, starting with a beat-down in Germany against Tampa Bay and continuing into yesterday.

Their nine wins a year ago came against a hapless Denver, two almost losses to a broken Rams (minus Aaron Donald), two against a mess of a Cardinals outfit, they beat Detroit when they were still bad and beat-up, they beat a rotten Jets team. Their two quality wins were against the Giants and Chargers — two clubs that were inconsistent and hardly powerhouses.

They were the benefactors of a hot start and a bad schedule. Now, it appears they’ll get neither and reality will bite.

Teams who make a serious playoff push don’t lose in the way Seattle did on Sunday. There’s ample time for the Seahawks to right a few wrongs and put some wins on the board. I’ve no doubt they will do. Even at their most shallow in terms of depth and quality, the Seahawks won seven games in 2010. When they collapsed in 2021, they still ended strongly enough to get to 7-10. I don’t think they’ll win fewer than six or seven games this year, even after witnessing the horror show yesterday.

To me though, I think that will just prolong the agony. I no longer believe Pete Carroll is capable of coaching this team to glory. I don’t think he has the schematic ideas for the defense, I don’t think he’ll take a proper back-seat and appoint star coordinators to allow them to instil their ideas without interference. I don’t think, after 13 years, the Seahawks can get back to the top under his leadership. There’s still energy within the franchise because that’ll never go away under Carroll. Yet beneath the surface, things feel stale.

This isn’t an overreaction to one game. I’ve voiced these concerns for some time. This felt like an apt moment to return to the subject, given the Rams’ embarrassment was a stark reminder of the issues this team has faced in recent years.

Neither am I accusing Carroll of being useless. I have immense respect for Carroll. Most people do. I think they should build a statue of him at Lumen Field the minute he moves on. Yet I don’t think blind faith or avoiding uncomfortable conversations does anyone any benefit. It’s possible to appreciate everything Carroll has achieved in Seattle while also feeling, after 13 years, perhaps it’s time for something different.

When you have a whole off-season to prepare and deliver that performance in week one, in all facets of the game, at home, against a division rival in the state the Rams are currently in, you can’t shirk discussing whether this era of Seahawks football has run its course.

My fear is they’ll win enough games — seven, for example — to be a bad team that isn’t quite bad enough to initiate change. They’ll keep things ticking along for another year with an accommodating media and fanbase terrified to contemplate something different.

That performance on Sunday was unacceptable. It highlighted what has been wrong for a long time and if/when the good times roll this season, these same issues won’t ever be that far away. The minute the Seahawks play meaningful football games, they’ll be found out.

I want more than this. I want to believe this team can get back to the top again, not bask in the glow of potential playoff qualification and ‘competing’ when in reality, they’re a mile away from the NFL’s best, haven’t touched a NFC Championship game for nearly a decade and don’t — on this evidence — appear to be getting any closer.

At the moment, Carroll’s better at comical social media videos based around his throwing motion, talking about philosophy on podcasts and pumping up the hype. That all feels fun and positive, right up until the point his team shows to be badly coached, badly organised, ill-disciplined and, frankly, an embarrassment.

If you missed our post-game live stream, check it out here:

This is a guest article by Curtis Allen…

NFL football is finally here.

The Seahawks have had an extraordinarily busy offseason. They re-signed Geno Smith, rebuilt their defensive line, added another great draft class and brought a Seahawks legend back into the fold.

Time to put it all together.

The team kicks off the regular season the same way they ended it last year — against a Los Angeles Rams team that is still suffering from a Super Bowl hangover and is no longer chocked to the brim with star talent.

Gone from last year’s team are Allen Robinson, Leonard Floyd, Jalen Ramsey and Bobby Wagner. They’ve not had a first-round draft pick in years to restock the roster. This year’s team is loaded with unknown and untested players in starting positions.

Cooper Kupp will miss the game on Injured Reserve. Matt Stafford is playing for the first time since November last year.

Their offensive line is once again being shuffled around. The defense can best be described as ‘Aaron Donald and a bunch of other guys.’

The Seahawks swept the Rams in 2022 and come into this game featuring what should be one of the NFL’s top offenses.

It could be the equivalent of a scrimmage game. You could argue the Seahawks couldn’t ask for a softer start to the season.

But you and I know better.

Seattle has always struggled with the Sean McVay-led Rams. Last year, despite playing a very depleted team, they needed a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter in Week 13 to beat them with John Wolford at quarterback. In Week 18, the Baker Mayfield-led Rams – who had nothing to play for but pride – took them to overtime and nearly stole the game. That would have knocked the Seahawks out of a playoff spot.

It is clear this game should not be taken lightly. The Rams have demonstrated they can give the Seahawks a game no matter what their roster looks like.

Two years ago, we cracked the code of how to put up a tough fight against this team. While all those principles stand – starting well, committing to the run, winning the time of possession – the Seahawks finally have a serious talent advantage over the Rams. This game could and should be a clear demonstration of that fact.

How can they do that?

Use the Offense to Control the Game Script

This right here has been the Seahawks’ Achilles heel against the Rams. They have tried to play the game the Rams’ way for years — playing from behind, not running the ball very much and calling for deep passes that allow LA pass rushers to cause havoc.

No more. It is the Seahawks’ turn to control the game. It starts with the offense.

The Seahawks have to overwhelm the Rams defense with their talent by efficient use.

Let us start with the lowest-hanging fruit. Their defensive backfield is a bit of a mess, to put it lightly.

Starting on one side is old friend Ahkello Witherspoon, who had a decent 2021 but followed it up with an awful 2022, between his play and a hamstring injury that kept him out the bulk of the season. He is thrust into the starting lineup due to their lack of depth at the position. How bad is it?

The corner spot is a tossup between Derion Kendrick – he of the 43.7 PFF grade last year and who infamously ran a 4.87 40-time in predraft testing – and rookie sixth-round pick Tre Tomlinson, who is obviously green but has better deep speed and showed some preseason ability.

A small bright spot is nickel corner Cobie Durant, who had three interceptions and only allowed 59% of passes to be completed from his spot in about 280 snaps last year for a nice 73.3 PFF grade.

At Safety, it is not much better. Jordan Fuller (60.5 PFF) and Russ Yeast (57.4) are set to start after playing only sparingly last year. The Rams brought John Johnson back after Cleveland cut him and signed him to a veteran minimum contract with no guaranteed salary.

This poor group gets to start their season against Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo — plus the three tight ends. Geno Smith should have options all day long. This matchup alone could define the game for the Seahawks. As much as we relished the constant battles with Jalen Ramsey — Metcalf could have a big, easy day in this one.

This does not necessarily mean ‘bombs away’ the entire game (although that would be fun). It just means that the Seahawks should be able to deploy the offense to control the game and put the Rams in a bind. LA with their limited defense would love nothing better than to employ their offense to plod the ball down the field and control the clock, which – let’s face it – they can do against the Seahawks. Do not let them. Putting points on the board pressures their offense and introduces instability to their plan.

That does not mean the Seahawks should ignore the running game. On the contrary, they have consistently run well against the Rams. A good mix of the run and pass is essential to control the game.

Aaron Donald and to a lesser extend Michael Hoecht are the threats the Seahawks have to contend with to establish the run. While Donald is still an All-World talent, he has very little support. Bobby Wagner is gone and now Earnest Jones is in the lead at linebacker. That’s it. He is the only inside linebacker on their roster who was drafted. Jake Hummel and Christian Rozeman have seven snaps of NFL experience between them.

The Seahawks’ interior of Damien Lewis, Evan Brown or Olu Oluwatimi and Phil Haynes should be able to keep the Seahawks ground game moving. This matchup with Donald is the one the Seahawks would need to be concerned about most. Battling Donald to a draw would make this an extremely comfortable game for the offense.

The Seahawks have Ken Walker and Zach Charbonnet ready to take advantage. They have Will Dissly to act as an extra blocker and Noah Fant and Colby Parkinson to find all the pockets left open by the wide receivers drawing coverage help.

What we are saying is this side of the ball could determine whether the Seahawks coast to an easy win or struggle once again to get past a tough and determined division rival.

It is certainly more pleasant than talking about the tough challenge awaiting them on the other side of the ball.

Contain the Rams’ Running Game

Death. Taxes. The Rams running well against the Seahawks. These are three certainties in life.

Few teams have had as much success running on the Seahawks as the Rams under Sean McVay have. In fact, they have only run for under 100 yards against Seattle once in the McVay era. They ran for 82 yards in a 2019 game they lost due to Greg Zuerlein missing a 44-yard field goal try as time expired (that was the Tyler Lockett miracle toe-tap catch game).

Another illustration of how effective they have been? In the McVay era, they have averaged 141 rushing yards per game against Seattle. The rest of the NFL in that same time frame? 114 yards. The Rams are running 23% better than the average offense against the Seahawks.

That is a problem. It kept the Rams quarterbacks from having to do too much and kept the Seahawks defense on the field.

Cam Akers topped an excellent run to finish the season with 104 yards on 21 carries, including a 32-yard run. Tutu Atwell and Brandon Powell had big runs on gadget package plays.

This needs to be contained better. While the impulse is to say that this is the critical area the brand-new interior line needs to really show what they have, in truth, the Rams attack all parts of the defense in their run game.

Last year, you could see the Rams constantly exploiting the defense’s inability to set the edge with players like Darrell Taylor and Bruce Irvin. Assignments were abandoned, bad angles were taken and defenders were muscled out of position and the yards just came too easily.

It does appear from preseason games and the practices I attended this year that the edges have been coached well to hold their spot and not abandon it at the first sign of misdirection. Players like Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu and Tyreke Smith played with discipline and stayed home when they needed to.

For certain Bobby Wagner will have shared some detail and strategy on defending this Rams running game and will be a better support than the linebacker group the Seahawks rolled out last season.

One Rams strength over the years has been adapting to what offensive line personnel they have available. They will need every bit of that skill this year as they are starting rookie Steve Atwell at left guard and it appears that $40million man Joe Noteboom has lost his left tackle job to Alaric Jackson and will move to right guard where he has virtually no NFL experience. There may be an opportunity for the defensive line to disrupt what the Rams want to do.

This game will be a big test for the Seahawks’ front seven. If they can at least limit the running game that will enable the Seahawks to further control the flow and dictate the tempo. It would allow the Seahawks to unleash their newfound pass-rush depth and let players like Dre Jones, Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu and Darrell Taylor give the Rams a taste of what they have been dishing out to other teams.

Matthew Stafford will have to rely on throwing to an average group of wide receivers and with a short window of time, players like Riq Woolen, Quandre Diggs and Coby Bryant will have opportunities to make plays.

Win the Unknowns

Week One in the NFL always brings surprises. The Seahawks have to come out ahead in this category.

For all their faults, they have done very well in this area, particularly in the last three seasons. They have opened with impressive wins on the road in Atlanta, Indianapolis and of course the big win against Denver last year. They have been able to prepare well, throw wrinkles at the opposition that gave them an advantage and put them in a strong spot to win.

The Rams are badly depleted. They are starting players who would not start on most other NFL teams. Yet Sean McVay has a way of coaching these guys into competitiveness. The Seahawks can’t overlook them. Chances are they will not.

Join us after the game tonight for our ‘instant reaction live stream’