Firstly, I made an appearance on VSiN to talk Seahawks yesterday, please check out the video below (and like it on YouTube). The more views for these the better!
Here are my quick notes on the Vikings game…
— I’m glad the starters didn’t play. The NFL has become increasingly attritional, even as some of the physicality is taken out of the game. Losing a key player in a meaningless contest would be incredibly frustrating. I’d happily not see any of the main starters in these three games (and I’d rather do away with pre-season altogether frankly).
— Derrick Hall made a really nice first impression. Stunts are a bit overrated for impact and praise but he did them well. He flashed quickness and energy plus some power. He drew a penalty on a hold. This was a great start and suggested he should be able to work into the rotation quickly for some rush impact. Pete Carroll spoke glowingly about him after the game and rightly so. He’s a terrific talent with a great attitude.
— Boye Mafe was also really active off the edge. He missed a key tackle (as did Tre Brown) which led to YAC but other than that he looks quick and busy. You could see the athleticism both Hall and Mafe possess and that’s a good sign.
— Generally I thought the defense was too easy to play against and we saw a repeat of the same issues from last season. Gap discipline was poor. They couldn’t set the edge consistently. They were getting moved up the middle and the linebackers couldn’t key into gaps. For a stretch it felt like the running game was always there for Minnesota. Seattle also gave up the frustrating ‘check down for a first down’ on 3rd and long. I think they’d added talent to their defensive personnel but I continue to have major reservations about the D-line depth and coaching staff.
— Coby Bryant made an impression at safety with a nice big hit, speed across the secondary and he showed he’s able to come up to the LOS and lay a hit to set the edge. Tre Brown, though, still looks rusty. It’s a shame but his serious injury seems to have stalled the really encouraging progress he displayed in year one. He was beat for the Vikings touchdown, mistiming his attempted PBU.
— It was great to see blog favourite Jake Bobo making plays. We said it all throughout last year, the guy just finds ways to get open and get things done. I would protect him on this roster, he just has ‘it’. He scored a nice touchdown, made other key receptions and almost had a brilliant play in kick-coverage on the goal-line. He ended the day as Seattle’s leading receiver. He has a future in the league.
— I liked Seattle’s physicality. There were some solid hits, runners like Zach Charbonnet delivered some punishment on contact and overall this felt like a performance with some juice.
— Levi Bell made some plays on defense and I also thought Tyreke Smith was busy enough. Jordan Ferguson had a nice sack. I still think there’s a glaring issue up the middle on this defense though.
— I find it difficult to assess Drew Lock. We all know he’s mobile and has an arm. However, he gives off a constant erratic vibe like he might make an error at any moment. Maybe he just needs reps? His interception was tipped so there’s not a huge portion of blame there (could his processing be quicker?). His first touchdown throw needed all of his arm to deliver into a tight window (it was well caught by Easop Winston) and he found Bobo for the second score. I’m in the ‘need to see more’ category with Lock and I hope he continues to play most of the next two pre-season games. Holton Ahlers, meanwhile, ran around well but he was incredibly fortunate that his touchdown (a lob and hope) wasn’t picked off.
— On the subject of QB’s I watched some of Houston vs New England and Davis Mills played very well. I still like the look of him and wonder if a smart team can do a deal with the Texans there.
— Really hope Cade Johnson is OK after a reported head/neck injury. A great guy who was a lot of fun to interview after the Senior Bowl and it was good to touch base with him again in Munich last year. Fingers crossed it’s nothing too serious and he makes a quick recovery. Carroll’s post-game report was relatively encouraging, suggesting it was a concussion and nothing more.
— Cam Young has a calf injury. The Seahawks are already thin up front and an injury like this only highlights it further. They are not deep enough on the D-line and it needs rectifying. I just don’t know what they can do at defensive tackle to solve this problem.
— Overall I think the way the team played with toughness and the flashes from several younger players made this a satisfying opening to the pre-season. Concerns about the defensive scheme and ability to defend the run, however, certainly linger.
My main thoughts:
1: News of Mafe’s development seem validated.
2: I don’t think Bradford looked very good; some very quick losses in pass pro and I didn’t think he was exactly moving people in the run game when asked to block 1on1. I understand why he is down on the depth chart.
3: I can see Bobo having a long career in the NFL.
4: That Ahlers to Landers TD was hilarious, props to Landers for making something of it. Even when not pressured though, Ahlers’ release looks so laboured.
5: Devin Bush had some nice plays on D and ST, hopefully he can at lest be an upgrade on Cody Barton.
Did you see the play where Bradford drove Reeder 5 yards down field and drove him onto his back and ran over the top of him?! Best block I’ve seen in years. He walked over the top of him like it was WWF and roared! No flag, it was clean.
Bradfords play may be spotty, but give him time: he’s a stud, he’s over 330 lbs and he’s got a tude. He’s gonna be good!
I did, not sure it was a straight one on one block though. Might be wrong.
Apparently Jake Bobo walked into the Vikings locker room pre game and said “Lace ‘em up, it’s going to be a long F$&@ing game.”
Hell ya! Lol
Guys that’s a Michael Jordan meme. Even though I love the idea of Bobo doing that
First preseason game and all, so bring your Morton’s canister to any comment section.
The pass rush looks much improved, specifically the hand work, new coach Jordan might be as good as advertised.
Scheme questions are very legit – really covered up by how inept Jared Hall was, yikes, I can’t remember who talked him up as QBotF, but check your glasses.
Bryant played well enough to make me feel even better about sending a person away from our very crowded safety room.
Waldron’s vanilla offense looked good, the talent level on offense is tantalizing, my gut says this year’s offensive ceiling will be determined by the development/health of Cross/Lucas.
Lock might be in the running for best QB2 in the league, hard to believe someone talked themselves into Baker Mayfield rather than giving him a shot at starting.
There was a point in the offseason where we had built up some real momentum & every move seemed to be a hit. Then we cut Al Woods & I got the ‘scratched record’ sound in my head. Why cut the only guy on the roster that had the ability to clog the middle? To create a complete void at a razor thin position? I’m excited for the the youth & talent we’ve added & understand that this team wasn’t going to win it all this season. That said it really bothers me when you have an obvious need to begin with, run defense, & proceed to make it a potential achilles heel that will single handedly limit the ceiling of the team this season. Thought it was a bone head cut but hoping to be proven wrong.
The Al Woods one I just don’t get
I heard all the comments at the time about him breaking down etc. I’d rather have an ageing player who might’ve seen better days who can actually do a job vs… a gaping void
Gotta wonder if JS’s comment this offseason about ‘if you can do NT in college, you can do it in the NFL’ is a clue to their thinking and they’re finding out that is in fact not true.
I don’t know how to insert gifs but this would seem appropriate
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iZ1M9Z4kuao
What’s puzzling about the NT comment is that they’ve rarely gone the college route for their ‘beef’. They’ve usually, mostly successfully, found inexpensive veterans for the ‘plugger’ role. To abandon that now & rely on hope at the position seems a questionable strategy.
Ditto on the Jake Bobo comments. Too early to start proclaiming hidden gems, but he has the look of a guy that a lot of NFL teams are going to be kicking themselves over not drafting. He balled out at UCLA with a lot of clutch play and seems to have no problem bringing that to the NFL.
Again, too early to start proclaiming him the second coming of Doug Baldwin, but he’s shown enough already that I doubt he can be snuck through on the practice squad. If he’s still healthy in 3 weeks, he needs to be on the 53. And the ST value he’s shown ought to earn him that.
Question.
With: Lockett, Metcalf, JSN…whom else am I missing as a 53 man roster WR?
I only say this because I agree with your idea about Bobo not on the practice squad. Yet I still read other places fretting about how to “sneak him,” onto the team…..I see a player like you that needs no “sneaking,” looks like he can contribute this year week one.
Dee Eskridge, Dareke Young, and the now-concussed Cade Johnson are all still vying for roster spots. I like Young the best of those three, but would take Bobo over any of them. My hope was that maybe they were going to try and have Eskridge flash some preseason highlights to give him a little trade value to a WR needy team, but with a pending 6-game suspension and yet another return to the blue medical tent, that seems unlikley. If he had been a 4th round draft pick, he would’ve been cut long ago.
Young is the most versatile and orders the most. Health hasn’t been an issue until now. Eskridge is all potential and no production. I’d take Bobo over Eskridge at this point. But I would have a much more difficult time choosing between Young and Bobo. I say keep both. Maybe someone will offer a day 3 pick for Eskridge
Offers*
Bobo, Landers, and Young know how to be receivers. You want people you can put in the game if necessary and have some confidence.
I agree with some of the new, young talent shining through. Really showed up that some guys were just going to win their battles.
Bobo just seems like that guy that is always on the team that is constant year to year, and then makes a play or two that gets you out of your seat. You need those guys.
I need to watch the full game to take away more from the defense, also want to see the running backs each play.
Lock I want to see more of. He’s always been fine in preseason and practice from what I’ve heard in Denver and seen so far. Made some throws that were…VERY nice. I still see the interception as a throw that he should have known better. the sack/fumble looked like a missed blitz pick up. I just want to watch each drop back and the rest of preseason. I am worried that they think that they are more than fine at the position for the coming future, so nothing needs to be done.
Very nice to see some raw talent shine through.
I enjoyed watching Lock play, but I don’t like his throws up the middle into three man coverage.
Loved Bobo and a receiver I hadn’t heard of before named Easop Winston Jr. JSN had a good night.
Fun watching the third string QB Ahlers who went 4 for 4 and has a QBR of 158 ! Crazy considering he made one throw falling down.
First off I was pleased to see a much better preseason effort than the three atrocities they had in 2022.
Seeing much better depth on the skill positions like WR and CB
Is encouraging.
Seeing poor tackling in preseason game is disappointing but expected.
Seeing Dee Eskridge leave the game injured on his first play is almost comical.
I’m pretty disappointed nobody on this board mentioned Olu Olu yet. Perhaps you are still learning to spell it.
It looked like the offense operated well when he was in there. Unlike Joe Tippman last week, you saw that he could recover when getting walked back.
I’m not mentioning Oluwatimi because he is doing what I expect.
I was talking him up pre-draft. A buddy of mine who played center for an elite D1 school role me without hesitation that Olu was the best center in the draft.
Brown also looked/looks really good. It might be the closest camp battle.
JSN just has that “it” factor. One pre-season game and all, but looks like a potential star IMO.
But Jordan Addison looked better. I think the Vikings offense overall is just more polished. Clearly they made great strides last year after watching Peyton Manning’s “Quarterback” series.
I think the final score though shows the Vikings might have pretty poor depth, however. They were up against the cap pretty tight and I’m not sure if Dalvin Cook is coming back. They seem to really like Ty Chandler, even though Mattison is penciled in at #1 on the depth chart.
Did he look better to you? Addison had one catch for 22 yards compared to JSN’s 3 for 25.
I thought both played well, but I paid more attention to JSN and am pleased with what I saw
I think a few were called back due to penalties. That “non” catch was sick and a very bad call.
Addison also had a good block on the first series.
I mean the second series. I think the first was a three and out.
And watching the replay, he wisely let one go through his hands before he was going to get splattered by double coverage. That was the play where Derek Hall got called for roughing the passer.
True that one sideline catch was impressive. Still, not sure he looked better than our guy.
Maybe I am too impressed by style points.
BTW, replay on the NFLN starting at the top of the hour.
Mike Morris wasn’t bad last night. He was in on a lot of action around the Vikings qb. He wears the weight he gained this offseason well.
Jake Sykes wasn’t awful either. He had a handful of good looks. Between him, Charbonnet and Bobo (both of whom looked really good), could be a hat trick of rookie Bruins on the 53
I think Morris will be a good to great player for us – he has the physical attributes and personality to shine. He will need some time to adapt to a new position, so we might see the results next season…but someone who played edge in college for a prestigious coach at that size has the athleticism to thrive. We should be thankful that he was improperly advised to loose weight for the combine, allowing us to get him in the 5th round.
Tyler Mabry had a tackle and a reception if I saw it right. He does just well enough to where we will never get rid of him.
He’s like a nasty STD.
I thought the Sykes/Cooper team inside was stout.
Morris I wasn’t all that impressed. Yet. Seemed like a lot of wasted energy and you can’t get away with that when the games count.
Really hoping Cooper sticks around for depth at Nose after it’s all said and done.
The point on the defensive front struggling in the run game may still be true but I didn’t see it this game.
The Vikings had 72 yards rushing at 3.1 YPC with a long run of 9 yards. They seemed gap discipline with multiple players getting tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage (Mafe was a highlight). I don’t think you can ask for much more.
The dink and dunk stuff killed them until they adjusted at half time then almost completely took it away.
It’s preseason vs 2nd and 3rd stringers but we didn’t have 8 of 11 starters on defense playing.
Well, they had plenty of issues early on (highlighted by Mike B)
But the Minnesota third and fourth stringers didn’t get much later on…
This defense has not earned the benefit of the doubt.
We need to see it – and see it for sustained stretches in regular season play – before we can be convinced.
As irritating as the Bennett/Rob color duo was, they were right. The defense wasn’t organized, on the same page, didn’t communicate well, couldn’t tackle, nothing.
And remember – this is the coaching staff that have completely remade the front seven, assured us this change would be for the better, and have said more than once that they’re sick of hearing about how bad the run defense was last year.
They have to do better.
They just have to.
I cannot stress enough how badly Jaren Hall played. Mad analyzing the 3rd and 4th stringers almost impossible.
Yes, the Hawks looked better, but the Vikings QB play made it so
Is there an advantage of Eskridge getting injured… Suspension vs PUP/IR (and adding Cody Thompson to the 53)?
Hope this question doesn’t turn into a Eskridge bashing exercise… just curious on the potential team options.
You mean, like, incentives? Does a six week suspension change the cap hit for “likely to be earned” incentives?
Yeah. Dee doesn’t have to count against the final 53 man roster now.
It’s the full 53 + reserved/suspended players.
If he was just injured, if they wanted him back in 2023, they’d have to place him on the final 53, then put him on IR and hope the 54th guy they cut loose (and nod-nod wink-wink’d at to bring back) doesn’t get any ideas.
Eskridge wasn’t making much on the cap, so there isn’t some massive cap savings. But roster benefit? Sure.
CREEEEEEEEEEEEEED!
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1690069822074458112
Palatypus needn’t be disappointed anymore.
But seriously, Olu2x showed well.
Watching the replay, looks like Bradford had a couple of good run blocks where he put a real hit on his man, but generally looked a little lost.
The guy looking a little lost but having some replay-worthy moments is the one of the best outcomes you can expect for a 4th round rookie. So that’s great news.
Especially since he’s missed some time in camp/minicamp/otas
Thanks.
Yeah, that’s what I thuoght I saw.
This roster is stacked at WR and DB — excellent starters with quality rotations behind them. I guess ditto for QB.
The OL looks fairly deep too, even if the quality of the rotation is yet to be refined. You could add the RB group to this.
As for LBs, no problems outside. And I thought Devin Bush looked decent, especially in coverage (not liking his jersey non-number though). He and Wagner are a decent starting ILB pair. What’s lacking is any semblance of a quality rotation behind them. Rhattigan and BBK are STers at best. Vi Jones? Maybe but c’mon.
I won’t get into the well trod ground of how thin the IDL is.
Bottom line is this D is thin inside from the LOS to the front edge of the secondary. The starters are good, and they should keep us competitive. But there’s precious little behind them.
I hate to be a wet blanket but just remember we’ve seen flashes from wide receivers in the preseason before e.g. Mann, Kasen Williams. To me Bobo looks the part and I’m excited like others here too. But the other side if the coin is that he was playing against 2s and 3s. The reports of him tearing it up in camp may actually be more encouraging.
I love to be the wet blanket.
You know I love stats even if they don’t show the whole picture:
Bobo….played a game
Eskridge…..annual meeting of board of trustee’s for medical tents.
I really liked Maurice Mann. Not sure why he never caught on. Kasen couldn’t separate.
No no gets separation. He just keeps catching passes, and he keeps getting wide ads open. Him and Winston outplayed anything I’ve seen from Young, Thompson, or Johnson. But he’s got to keep doing it.
Scrubs and backups are one thing: can he get open vs starters? I’m thinking he will…
I’d like to take this opportunity to mention that the Jazz Ferguson Fan Club is having a 50% off sale this week only for all Jazz Ferguson-related knick-knacks and doo-dads. Get yours today!!!
I saw some people cautioning against Jake Bobo and citing Jazz Ferguson and Kasen Williams. I beg disagree.
Jazz Ferguson: He was an LSU recruit (an elite WR program), transferred to then set records at a small school and was projected as high as the 3rd round in the draft, so people who saw his talent weren’t hallucinating. It seems like he had character and work ethic problems and the Seahawks are very sensitive to that kind of thing. I distinctly remember how Pete would avoid praising Ferguson even after he’d post highly impressive preseason performances, it stood out right away and I was pretty sure he’d be gone.
Kasen Williams: He absolutely should have made the team in 2017, I simply chalk this one up to poor judgement by Pete. He tried to sneak Williams through waivers to get to the PS, all so that he could protect the likes of Tanner McEvoy and Amara Darboh. Williams led all WRs in preseason receiving, and was a formerly very high rated HS recruit, so this plan had no chance of success.
Keep in mind that 2017 was kind of the Golden Sombrero year for Pete and bad decision making. Replacing a good kicker with Blair Walsh, paying Luke Joeckel $9 million (for comparison, the OL franchise tag was $14 mil that year), paying good money for Eddie Lacy, and a draft that led off with Malik McDowell and had a lot of other seriously questionable draft decisions. The “gamble” with Williams was just kind of the cherry on top of what was probably PCJS’s dumbest offseason.
However, in 2023, the org is light years improved in terms of decision making. And whereas the fanbase was higher on Ferguson and Williams than the coaches were, with Bobo it appears to be the opposite. They seem to love the guy (as did his previous coaches). I’m biased because I think Bobo is actually a good player, but even if I thought he was over-rated trash, I’d still expect him to make the team.
I’m not going to go crazy about 1 preseason game. 1 thing that didn’t change is Seattle’s ability to run the screen play. They’ve been horrible for years now. One thing that caught my eye was I’m sure we found our new long snapper. I don’t why but I had feeling that someone from Penn St. would be on this team. Chris Stoll rookie long snapper looked good.
I apologize if this has been addressed already, I tend to clock out a bit after the draft, but does anyone know if there were some extenuating circumstances about Bobo’s 4.99 40yd dash? That’s freakishly slow. Regardless I’ve got a nickname for him … “The Big Slow”.
Also, want to give a shout out to the ex-seahawks involved on the broadcast. Young ex-players can be pretty cringeworthy in the professional setting of a broadcast but I thought they all did a good job. Game was pretty entertaining.
There will be. He might not be a 4.4 runner but he aint a 4.99 runner
I believe UCLA pro-day was in a major rainstorm, it was like running on a slip and slide.
I don’t think he is a burner by any means, but that 4.99 is probably a little off, maybe a 4.7 guy.
What was his short shuttle/jingle jangle.
Pete seemed annoyed that Corbin Smith called Bobo slow during the post game presser. He’s got game speed and can obviously get separation
Not sure that was Corbin, was it?
But whoever it was, Pete bristled at that and was not happy
Rattigan is a gruesome liability for any defensive work other than running forward in a straight line. Horrid coverage, worse attack angles, slow change of direction, poor tackling. A less physically talented Aaron Curry. I am baffled how even his above average special teams value outweighs his total inability to produce as a NFL calibre linebacker.
Rattigan is a gruesome liability for any defensive work other than running forward in a straight line. Horrid coverage, worse attack angles, slow change of direction, poor tackling. A less physically talented Aaron Curry. I am baffled how even his above average special teams value outweighs his total inability to produce as a NFL calibre linebacker.
In Couselor Troi voice:
“Tell me how you really feel.”
Love Jake Bobo. I said (not here) that Bobo would be playing on Sundays when I watched him last September. He just has this quality to him of always making plays and keeping a positive disposition. Bobo is to WRs what Will Dissly is to TEs.
Chip Kelly was on the radio this offseason and he raved and raved about Bobo. It’s my understanding that Bobo’s coach at Duke also raved about him. Pete named Bobo as one of two standouts in minicamp. JS named Bobo as one of the UDFA’s he was most excited to get. When a reporter yesterday asked Pete a question about Bobo and mentioned Bobo’s forty time, Pete interrupted the question in mid sentence with a loud scoff. You can tell this team loves Bobo just like the previous teams did.
Bobo is a classic coaches pet kind of player. Sometimes that’s a bad thing (Luke Willson), but usually it’s a good thing. I think it’s his roster spot to lose at this point.
I also think he’s actually a good player. He separates, he’s tall, he can jump, he comes down with the ball. He had very solid college production the last two years. His production per game the past two years would prorate out to 1095 yards and 5-6 TDs in 17 games.
That kind of opportunity in Seattle is very unlikely, but that’s fine. Every good team needs a Robert Horry type on the bench to make the big play when you need it, Bobo can be that guy.
Bobo certainly has a leg up with the suspension and now injury to Eskridge. I’m looking forward to seeing him against 1s.
I love a stat line extrapolation but even if he gets around 450-500yards and 2-3 tds…
But every year, he will be an upgrade over whatever else Seattle has been trotting out for the fourth reciever spot.
I was a little underwhelmed with my first impression of charbonnet. Didn’t see anything special in terms of explosion or cutting ability like seeing walker the first time. He finished his runs hard but feel like you can find power backs later in the draft or vets like dontae foremen that can do that role. Small sample size, I know. Hopefully will impress when the season starts.
What is going on in this Denver AZ game?! Collier playing like a dude, and Russ playing like… idek what to call his play.
I was about to suggest a game, earlier, where we keep track of the fantasy points of L.J. Collier and Cody Barton, just for something silly to bet on.
Big winners in the game were in no particular order….
On defense each of these guys stood out… Devin Bush, Levi Bell with their play and BBK stepping back on the field.
The duo of WRs Jake Bobo and Matt Landers also made some nice plays. They got open and showed nice spatial awareness. Both also showed some nice hands and made contested catches.
The guy that brought juice and got me excited (for a preseason game) and may not make the roster is RB Bryant Koback. He brought a different level of energy to the offense and was tough to bring down. Made several nice rushes and nice catches in the late 3rd and 4th quarter.
OluX2 made Kobach look really good.
Just caught up on the game and I’d say
Positives: Bush, Bobo, Bryant, O-Line, Pass rush
Negatives: Rush D, tackling, Pass D on 3 and long
I am pretty confident in much of this team, but the weaknesses of the D remain. I think we could possibly solve two of those issues fairly quickly: Rush D is a product of personnel and coaching – we could address these fairly quickly but it’s been a problem for ages so I have little confidence in it getting fixed. The Pass D is pure scheme so easier to fix, but we won’t. The tackling is the toughest bit – it’s down to individual technique that you’d think they’d learn in High School- but why do we have so many poor tacklers? Is it really influenced that much by pro coaching?
Saw Mike Morris get a lot of praise for the way he played
I watched back all his snaps yesterday and thought he was fine but nothing particularly stood-out
Looked like a young player feeling his way into things — which is totally understandable and acceptable. But the way he was talked about online I thought I’d really whiffed on first viewing not noticing him. After watching again, I didn’t think he really shone.
DTR looked good again- sigh
Steve Smith talking about visiting Seahawks camp, said Bobo was one of the players that really stood out to him , compared him too Joe Jurevicius lol
https://youtu.be/b13y7_wUsgM
Will Levis alert
Playing for Tenn right now on NFLN
Oof.
Titans just flushing an early 2nd and early 3rd on QBs who shouldn’t see an NFL field as a starter.
Investing in the QB position, seeking a long term answer, when you have an experienced incumbent starter, is not ‘flushing’ picks
Come on
Probably we should wait to pass judgement on Levis beyond a single preseason game.
I think Wil Levis slipped on a coffee peel.
🎵 To everything (churn, churn, churn)
There is a season (churn, churn, churn)… 🎵
Plus the team is deep at nose tackle anyway so no big deal
Oh wait….
Well, that surprises me. But I’m not a scout.
By the way, based on how Hugh Millen talked about Lock I’d almost say he likes him over Geno.
Hate to say it this fast but….we should have picked Richardson. Our biggest hole could have been filled with the best talent.
How? How would we have picked Richardson? He went before us… if we could have, I’m sure we would have. And NO trade up wouldn’t have been possible.
Yeah Hawks were stuck. We may or may not rue Witherspoon but it won’t be from passing on Richardson
It would have easily been possible to outpay Carolina for the first spot. So, please no apologizes here.
A rookie QB was never on the table. Plus we don’t have the balls.
And then there is the Will Levis story. I think he would have been a perfect fit, while Witherspoon will struggle to keep off the stretcher.
You know, when I drink too much, I put an Eskridge in my shorts too.
That’s “pants’ to those of us who are British.
Jets looked strong vs Carolina
The number of hard hits Bryce Young took was concerning.
Even one of the commentators said so
Carolina looked just like my Prom date.
They didn’t show up.
Better than if she shook hands at the end of the date
Better to get the pain of rejection out of the way right off the bat
It was my Mom.
Justin Tucker nails a 60 yard FG to close the half for the Raven like it’s no big thang
When you’re the goat, it isn’t.
I’m so old I’ve been watching football since all the kickers kicked straight on and he is easily the best ever to my eyes.
Byron Young (TENN) with a nice sack for the Rams, who otherwise look awful
Keep an eye on BYU LB Ben Bywater. Has a USC when Pete was HC vibe to him.
USC LB*
General first week overreaction thoughts on rookie QBs:
Young – really worried about the number of hits he took. Panthers may earn the top pick this year.
Stroud – looked like another young OhioSt QB – check back for year 3 I guess.
ARich – yikes!
— others
Levis – disappointing as he played with some poise and Malik Willis doesn’t look like a pro QB.
DTR – Seneca Wallace 2.0 has arrived. (Malik Cunningham gets an honorable mention here)
Stetson Bennett – *ugh* he looked really good.
Nathan O’Rourke – time to bump up his competition. Dude looked like Mahomes against scrubs.
Jaren Hall – my phone hates his first name – not a NFL QB.
Clayton Tune – really suspect, but I’d like the Cards to jettison McCoy for him.
Tanner McKee – be hard for him to pass Marriotta, but he also looked very good.
Saw Duggan as well, looks like a future coach.
Didn’t see everyone though. Hoping to see Jake Haener today.
————-
Other thoughts:
Jalen Carter’s first rep should end the ‘I don’t think he is that good debate’ https://x.com/_ryanfowler_/status/1690505404533407744?s=46&t=QnF6gJmc6OM1fOYBLmUnjg
Brian Branch and Sydney Brown both looked incredible.
Jayden Reed looks like he will be a really good player.
Keanu Benton, Keion White and Zacch Pickens all looked like they should have been first round selections. Also thought Yasir Abdullah and Byron Young (TEN) looked good.
Keaanu Benton, you are dead to me.
* The good news for the Rams, with 36 rookies on their roster, is that Stetson Benett looked like the best player on the field for them.
*The badnews for the Rams, with 36 rookies on their roster, is that Stetson Benett looked like the best player on the field for them.
Not sure anyone ever thought Carter is not good….
It’s a bit more about are you getting that rep more than 35% of a season. Because if you arent…..then there’s a ton a of dudes that flash and don’t matter.
A problem with the Carter debate was that his detractors would often say things like, “he really isn’t that good, he doesn’t pop” which lowers the level of the debate unnecessarily.
Ben Cleveland is a 3rd or 4th year player, and he just got chucked like it was nothing.
There were legit reasons to not take Carter, assume every rep looks like that one, those reasons don’t go away.
Who ever said Carter isn’t any good?
His parole officer?
No one on your level, at least not that I heard or read, but in the comment sections or on Twitter, a common theme amongst some of the ‘No on Carter’ crowd was that he wasn’t impressive, didn’t show that he could dominate, didn’t see splash plays, etc…. They’d usually cite to the Nat. Championship or similar games.
That sort of discourse didn’t help in trying to cut through the noise to say he wasn’t really an option at 5.
He did get stood up on the touchdown run by Steve Avila, who is now a Ram.
The Carter BS is already nauseating. Oh look, an extremely talented rookie who went the the best situation for himself and the deepest roster is doing well…. Shocking….
Look at Marshawn. Worked for us and not Buffalo. Sometimes it starts and stops in the fact.
I freaking hate the idea of seeing Coby Bryant rotting on the bench. If only we could have gotten some freakishly disruptive athlete on the interior. It’s like someone from the league office itself put the scarlet letter on Carter -no brainer move, his highlights are just different, defining phrase ‘man among boys’. If he could only go half the snaps, just take the plus plays and be happy. You can find flaws in anyone, that does not make someone a sage analyst.
Congrats on totally having no grasp of a really serious issue relating to Jalen Carter
Or inured to a lot of political bullshit in sports, which happens even in high school. Don’t tell me this a team too fragile to deal with one “troubled” player.
Issue is weighing cost against upside -Witherspoon being appreciably better than Coby Bryant, to cost us that kind of roll.
Like the anti-Carter crowd would argue Aldon Smith was a bad pick. Risk at any spot. Sports ain’t the venue adjudicating *personal worth*, if that were even possible.
Sorry, but it’s pretty clear you have no grasp on the actual situation with Carter (despite how publicly and often it’s been discussed)
I’d recommend reading up on it