The 2025 Draft has concluded, and I think the Seahawks had a very solid draft. They addressed positions of need, and I think this team will be very competitive this season. I'm going to go over each draft pick, my brief thoughts, and give a letter grade, and finish with some final thoughts. I am going to be a bit on the harsher side with my grading, so be forewarned.
Afterwards, I'll predict a rough idea of the 54-man roster. Likely going to be very wrong in some spots, but I'll do my best.
Round 1 Pick 18: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
Very solid pick. It's not particularly exciting nor flashy, but it's what we needed. We can only hope he adjuts to the NFL and doesn't rack up a ton of penalties. We need to run the ball more, and Grey will help with that. I think Grey was projected more as a late first-rounder, so we could've maybe traded down and gotten something from it.
Grade: B-
Round 2 Pick 35: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
My favorite pick of the draft. He was often mocked as a late first-rounder, so this was a steal. Smart of John to trade up to snag him here while he was still available. I can't wait to see the backside defense of Love and Emmanwori.
Grade: A
Round 2 Pick 50: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
The first real headscratcher for me. We already have two very solid tight ends in Fant and Barner. Perhaps Fant will be a cap casualty in training camp since he is paid over $10 million a season. I didn't think we particularly needed tight end help, but we'll see. I've heard decent things, but we already have an emerging stud in Barner. Perhaps we can have what the Patriots had in the early 2010s with Gronk and Hernandez.
Grade: C
Round 3 Pick 92: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
It will remain to be seen how good this pick is. I think it would be foolish of us to think Jalen will match what Russ did in his career, our last QB drafted this high. Let's hope he can grow and learn from the sidelines and not get pressed into action too early. I think that's why we got Lock as well. I'm ok with this pick, but I think the odds are more likely that Jalen doesn't have success with the Hawks than he does.
Grade: C-
Round 5 Pick 142: Rylie Mills, DT, Notre Dame
Don't know too much about him, but I know we always need nose tackle depth. We'll be hoping Byron Murphy takes a big step in his second year, but Mills is good insurance.
Grade: C+
Round 5 Pick 166: Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State
One of the two WRs of this draft is going to be a hit and shine in training camp, and I bet it'll be Horton. WR was definitely a position of need, at least where we needed depth.
Grade: B
Round 5 Pick 175: Robbie Ouzts, FB/TE, Alabama
Are we going back to old school I formation football? Perhaps for some plays. If so, I'm down. He could also play special teams, so this is a very solid pick. But the thing is, we already had Brady Russell, who is switching to FB as well. I think only one can make the roster.
Grade: B-
Round 6 Pick 192: Bryce Cabeldue, G, Kansas
Yes! More midwestern O-Linemen! Hey, he might be a steal. Likely won't outplay Grey, but imagine if they both end up starting. I will never hate an O-Line pick unless we have too many of them, which will never happen.
Grade: B+
Round 7 Pick 223: Damien Martinez, RB, Miami
This reminds me of another late-round running back, ALSO out of the University of Miami. That being Travis Homer. He was a very good special-teams player for a while. But I think Martinez will be more of a third-string/third-down back. We'll see. Can't hate a late running back selection.
Grade: B
Round 7 Pick 234: Mason Richman, OL, Iowa
Our THIRD midwestern offensive lineman! Love it. Odds are only one of Cabledue or Richman make the team, unless they maybe push Bradford out (honestly, kinda hope they do).
Grade: B
Round 7 Pick 238: Ricky White III, WR, UNLV
Like I mentioned with Horton, one of these guys is going to make a splash in training camp, I bet. It might not be Ricky White, but you never know.
Grade: B+
Overall Grade/GPA: 2.81 (B- average)
Overall, very solid draft for John Schneider and company. I didn't hate a single pick. In all likelihood, maybe 7 or so (out of 11) of them make the team this season, with perhaps 3 or 4 playing multiple significant seasons with the team. But it's how significant those seasons end up being that will determine how successful this draft truly is.
Just for funsies, I'll also predict the 54-man roster and possible practice squad:
QB (3): Darnold, Lock, Milroe
RB/FB (6): Walker, Charbonnet, Martinez, McIntosh, Holani, Ouzts
TE (3): Barner, Arroyo, Saubert
WR (5): Kupp, Smith-Njigba, Valdez-Scantling, Horton, Bobo
OL (10): Oluwatimi, Sundell, Cabledue, Richman, Haynes, Laumea, Zabel, Cross, Lucas, Jerrell
26
DL (7): Lawrence, Mills, Williams, Murphy, Reed, Morris, Pili
LB/Edge (7): Hall, Jones, Knight, Mafe, Nwosu, Smith, Sheriff
CB (5): Witherspoon, Woolen, Pritchett, Jobe, Jean-Charles
S (5): Bryant, Love, Emmanwori, Reed, Finley/Bell
24
ST (3): Myers, Dickson, Stoll
Notable cuts: Noah Fant, Dareke Young, Anthony Bradford
Practice Squad candidates:
Ricky White, WR
Cody White, WR
Hall, CB
Bohanna, DT
Aumavae-Laulu, G
O'Connell, LB
Thomas, LB
I'm probably way off with the numbers regarding positions, but it should be fun for me to see how close I get! Training camp is still three months away... sigh. But it should be hear before we know it! :D
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
My Thoughts and Grades on the Seahawks 2025 Draft Class and 54-Man Roster Prediction
Monday, March 10, 2025
My Thoughts Regarding the Turnover of the Seahawks Offense
In what has been a busy offseason for Seahawks GM John Schneider, the Seahawks have already started completely revamping their offense. Gone are Tyler Lockett, Geno Smith, and DK Metcalf. In is Sam Darnold, and likely a receiver from the draft or free agency (ended up being Cooper Kupp!). I'm going to make some bullet point overriding thoughts I have about these moves for each player, go into further detail, and then talk about the outlook for the Seahawks this coming season, despite the rest of free agency and the draft needing to happen.
- We knew Tyler Lockett was going to be cut
Unfortunately, the NFL is a business, and Lockett was making too much for the production he was providing. It was inevitable. There is still a small chance they bring him back on a team-friendly deal, especially since Tyler's real estate business is centered here. His veteran presence will be missed, but perhaps the Seahawks will bring a cheaper veteran in to training camp. - Geno's gone because he overvalued himself
Sounds like the two sides were far apart in negotiations. Sure, you can try to find a middle, but it seemed like neither side wanted to compromise that much. Geno's TD/Int ratio was only 1.4 last season. That's below league average for a starting quarterback these days. I wonder if there was any chance of waiting until after next season was over. But, the rumor is because they couldn't reach a deal, Geno wanted a deal with someone else, then. I think we had seen Geno's ceiling, which was a winning QB, but not a QB with success in the playoffs. Might as well try something new. - DK Metcalf is a great talent, but has his flaws
Fortunately for the Steelers and Mike Tomlin, DK's problems are primarily mental. He sometimes lets his emotions get the best of him. DK also doesn't have great ball security and occasionally will drop a pass. That stuff can be fixed. The Steelers will either make or break the rest of DK's career. I wish we could've gotten a first for him, but a 2nd will have to do. Hopefully, we can get a good player from it--more of a Bobby Wagner than a Marquise Blair (Both 2nd round picks by the Hawks). I'll miss DK's freakish athleticism, but I won't miss his immature attitude. - Sam Darnold, the next Matt Flynn?
Interesting how history sometimes repeats itself. The Seahawks signed Matt Flynn in 2012 after he had one good game after being mostly a backup. The Seahawks signed Sam Darnold after he had one good season after being a backup for the last few years. Perhaps we will take a QB in the 3rd or 4th round of the draft who may be our next Russell Wilson. I'll certainly be watching out for that. But Darnold likely is the starter at first, regardless of who we take in April's draft. But we also thought that about Flynn after we signed him. I think Darnold will do okay, but the key will be protecting him and establishing the run. So our next focus has to be offensive line.
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
What the Seahawks should do at the QB Position
The Seahawks are coming to a crossroads regarding their starting quarterback, Geno Smith. He's about to enter the final year of his contract, and the team is going to have to make a tough decision regarding his future. They have to, first and foremost, look out for the team's best interests. I'm going to go over the possible scenarios and rank them from 1 to 5, with 1 being the best and 5 being the worst.
1. The Seahawks don't extend Geno, but find a different option to learn under him and possibly take over for him.
This is what I hope the Hawks will do. First off, as the team's starting quarterback and leader, he shouldn't hold out if they decide not to extend him. Even if he decides to hold out, the Hawks should try to find someone out there who can take over, worst-case scenario. They have Sam Howell, but they need to bring someone else in to compete with Howell, at least for the backup spot. It could be through the draft, or it could be a QB in free agency like Justin Fields or Daniel Jones. Clearly, it would depend on who they hire to be the new offensive coordinator, and who that OC likes.
2. The Hawks pull a Pittsburgh Steelers and bring in two new QB's
Last offseason, the Steelers jettisoned both Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph and got Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Imagine if the Hawks did something like that. Who knows who the two QBs would be, but it would certainly inspire hope that the Hawks are trying to find the next franchise QB.
3. The Seahawks trade Geno Smith and have a QB competition with Howell and another QB brought in.
We have likely seen Geno's ceiling. He's not getting any younger, and his TD/INT ratio took a huge hit in 2024. Perhaps Macdonald and the new OC will want to start with someone new and build them up. Sure, there's Sam Howell, but he would need some competition for the starting job after trading Geno. It could be another trade like the Hawks did with Russell Wilson, where they got Drew Lock in return, among other players and picks. Possible teams the Hawks could look to trade Geno to: Raiders, Browns, Titans, or Giants.
4. The Seahawks stay with the same two QB's, possibly extending Geno
This wouldn't inspire much confidence in wanting to improve at the QB position. Could Geno win with a Super Bowl roster like the Hawks had in 2013-2014? Sure. But so could a lot of QBs. Also, extending him ties up our cap space a lot to our QB position. When you do that, unless you have a worldly talent like Mahomes, Allen, or Jackson, you're not winning too much. I mostly want some kind of change. But not any kind of change, as you'll see below.
5. The Hawks draft a QB at #18, regardless of who is currently on the roster
After Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, there's a bit of a drop-off, so I'd be surprised if the #18 pick was a QB, especially if Geno is still here. The next best options are Quinn Ewers and Jalen Milroe. The Seahawks haven't taken a QB in the first round since 1993 with Rick Mirer. I don't think that will change after the 2025 draft.
It'll be interesting to see what they do this off-season. I'll try to update here once it seems settled. My dad, for one, is tired of Geno Smith as the Seahawks quarterback. I can't say I blame him too much. Sure, Geno can help the Hawks to winning seasons, but it does not appear he will be able to lead them to a Super Bowl. It's time to start rebuilding at the position so the Hawks can hopefully, someday, have another star QB.
Wow, color me surprised. They went with option #2 (bolded, above). I definitely am on board with the decisions made. Sam Darnold had a much better 2024 than Geno and is younger. We also brought back Drew Lock, who not only is familiar with the Hawks, but he's familiar with Sam Darnold. Who knew? And not only that, but we drafted an electric fast-moving QB in Jalen Milroe. I'm excited to see him in the pre-season, for sure. I am not upset at all about moving on from Geno--we saw his ceiling. Teams had started to adjust to him, and I guarantee he will not have as good of a season with the Raiders as he did in 2022 with us. He's a bridge QB for the Raiders at best, just like he was with us.
Monday, November 4, 2024
What's Wrong with the Seahawks?
The Seahawks are 4-5, which isn't too bad, but when you consider they started 3-0 and have lost 5 of 6, and four straight at home, you realize there are some problems with the team. Clearly, they were buoyed by their easy start, which involved facing: A rookie QB in his first game, a rebuilding Patriots team they barely beat, and a Dolphins team on their 3rd string QB. Most competent teams would go 3-0 in that stretch, just as the Seahawks did. But when they finally started facing teams built to win now, they started losing. They even lost to a Giants team at home that still only has one other win, over the struggling Browns.
So, what's the issue? On offense, it's pretty clear the offensive line is one of the worst in the NFL. Geno Smith has one of the highest pressure rates and total number of pressures in the NFL, and it's not because he's always holding onto the ball too long, although I will admit he does that on occasion. But I think the bigger issue is not being able to establish a running game. To establish a running game, you need four things: A good running back, an offensive line that can create holes, a run-blocking scheme and coaching that will allow this to happen, and an offensive coordinator who will not abandon the run too quickly. The Seahawks have the first one. But they are largely missing the other three. The offensive line has been unable to open holes in the A or B gaps. Most of Kenneth Walker's big runs have been outside the tackles, where he has used his speed to get around the edge. The run-blocking scheme also seems to be largely not there. The Seahawks recently faced a 4th and 1 in Overtime against the Rams and could not get one yard. And lastly, I'm not sure Ryan Grubb is the right fit for an offense that needs to be balanced in today's NFL. He does seem to abandon the run after it doesn't work in game.
But that's just the offense. The defense is actually not performing too poorly. They've certainly shown to be dominant at times. But they are inconsistent and lacking a bit of discipline. I think, with time, they can develop into a dominant unit more consistently. Perhaps not "Legion of Boom" dominant, but maybe close to it. The pass rush could be improved, but the run defense seems better. The pass defense is inconsistent, seemingly dependent on the aerial attack they face. The defense has some above-average players in Leonard Williams, Devon Witherspoon, Julian Love, and Ernest Jones, but that's about it. They could use a bit more talent.
I must also talk about starting quarterback Geno Smith. Geno has a lot of people calling him to be benched. I can see where they're coming from, but our other option is Sam Howell, who led the league in interceptions last season. Sure, a change at quarterback can spark an offense, but it can also cause division. Geno has a lot of close friends on the team, namely receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, and his benching would certainly upset them, especially if it's somewhat unwarranted. We'd also be asking a second-year quarterback to be successful when the Seahawks, as I stated above, have one of the worst pressure rates allowed in the NFL. It's very likely the people who are calling for Geno to be benched would then be calling for him to come back. I do not believe Geno will be our quarterback for too much longer, as his age will likely lead to us looking for a younger option soon. Just not this season.
Safe to say, coach Mike Macdonald has his work cut out for him. I hate that I'm hearing people calling him to be fired already. Like, come on, people. This was not a team ready to make a Super Bowl run when he took over. Pete was let go because there were struggles with the team that, unfortunately, still exist today. Therefore, I think the issues with this team are largely due to the construction of the roster by General Manager John Schneider. I could do an entirely separate post about him, but the point I want to make here is that he's likely been overvalued as a GM and should, therefore, be held accountable for the team's struggles. He's not been a good GM with trades, he's only had two or three good drafts out of 14, and he overvalues some positions (wide receiver) while undervaluing others (interior OL).
If the Seahawks really want to make a run at a Super Bowl in a few years, two things need to happen. One, they need to find the next franchise quarterback. Geno is a good holdover quarterback, but he will likely start declining soon (if he hasn't already), and the Hawks will need to find a younger option. The second thing the Hawks will need to do is either replace John Schneider, or he has to change his philosophy on roster construction. I don't see the latter happening, as people that high on teams don't tend to be malleable and are set in their ways. Yes, he put together a team that won us a Super Bowl in 2014. However, the NFL has changed in the last ten years, and I think he's failed to realize this. I still like Schneider as a team-builder more than Jerry Dipoto on the Mariners, but it's starting to get close. Like Dipoto, I feel a championship might not be possible under his reign.
The thing Seahawks fans most have to understand is this is a team in transition. We aren't going to make a Super Bowl run this year or even next. Some legitimate holes on this team still need to be filled, and Macdonald still has to install his system and way of doing things. This team still feels like it has remnants of Carroll's philosophy, so that needs to change. Nothing against Carroll, but he's not the coach anymore. This is Macdonald's team now, whether fans like it or not. Let's all be patient.
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Top Seven Heartbreaking Sports Defeats for Me
Ah, Sports. You experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. In this, I am going to go over my top six heartbreaking sports moments and the top ten happiest sports moments. Why seven? Because only seven have been painful enough to be worthy of being on this list, thankfully. Some of these left me angry, some left me sad, and some left me depressed. Let's get to it!
7. Gonzaga gets upset by UCLA in the Sweet 16 - 2006
I remember this game. I was so upset. I wanted to cry like Adam Morrison. Gonzaga should have won. I had just become a fan of their basketball program. The way the game ended was just the worst. Turnovers, poor decisions, and poor defense led to Gonzaga's demise. Fortunately, they got their revenge 15 years later. But it was too late to heal the pain.
6. Seahawks lose divisional round game to the Packers - 2020
Jimmy Graham was short. I'll stick by that to this day. Had he been marked short, the Packers would have faced a fourth down, likely resulting in a punt. Or perhaps a fourth down stop. The completion to Davante Adams moments before was another dagger to the Hawks chances. Neither should have happened. The Hawks were the better team, and I whole-heartedly believe they would have beaten the 49ers in the NFC Championship game the following week, or at least put up a better effort than the Packers did. I will forever point to this game as the end of the Russell Wilson run, so to speak. This was, I believe, the last playoff game Wilson played for us. We didn't make the playoffs the following season, and after that season, Wilson was traded to Denver.
5. Mariners lose Game 3 of the ALDS to the Astros - 2022
The 18-inning marathon did not have the ghost runner rule, so that's why it went so long. Of course, the Mariners had plenty of chances and had a superb start by George Kirby. This was the first home playoff game for the Mariners since 2001, and their most recent playoff game as of the time of this post. The Mariners were already down two games to zero, and would have to have won the next two games to have won the series, which is why it's only #5. But the Mariners had their chances, and we knew Jeremy Pena's home run in the Top of the 18th was the nail in our coffin. So to this day, the Mariners still have not scored a run in a home playoff game since 2001.
4. Mariners lose in the ALCS to the Yankees - 2001
I was only 12 years old, so this moment isn't too vivid. But the Mariners were supposed to finally get to the World Series. They won 116 games. Not getting to the World Series after that kind of regular season is one of the biggest disappointments in MLB history. And the Mariners have not returned to the ALCS since this series, and it took 21 years just to get back to the playoffs. I couldn't single out just one game, because none of them stick out to me individually. Just knowing we should've gone on to the World Series is pain enough. I think the team was worn out, and I also think they put too much effort into the regular season and matching the Cubs record of 116 wins.
3. Mariners lose Game 1 of the ALDS to the Astros - 2022
Yep, two from this series are on the list. It stung. We had the lead going into the bottom of the 9th. We were on a roll and about to win our third playoff game in a row. No one was expecting us to win this series, and we were three outs away from taking a 1-0 series lead on our division rivals. Then, with runners aboard, Scott Servais brings in Robbie Ray to face Yordan Alvarez, who hits a walk-off home run to win it. Just brutal for all Mariners fans. Servais will likely be long remembered for this decision. Like Carroll's decision to run the ball (see below), it was the turning point of the organization. And not in a good way. Who knows how the series would have gone if someone like Swanson was brought in instead, and we managed to hold onto the lead in game one. That 2022 Mariners team was a team of destiny, until they weren't.
2. Seahawks lose Super Bowl XLIX - 2015
You might be surprised that this is not #1. To me, it helps that the Hawks won the Super Bowl the previous year. It sucks not being able to repeat, no doubt. But the thing that bothers me most is that Jermaine Kearse's insane catch which put the Seahawks inside the 10-yard line doesn't have as much impact as it could have. Kearse's catch, if it or a subsequent play resulted in a game-winning touchdown, would have made that catch one of the greatest of all time. Greater than David Tyree's helmet catch. I so wish Kearse could have reacted quicker and gotten in the end zone. Or, that the Hawks had just given it to Marshawn at the one-yard line, or that Marshawn's final run would've gotten into the end zone. Also, who knows how the Seahawks do in subsequent years if they win this game. Maybe they win three in a row or three in four years. We'll never know.
1. Seahawks lose Super Bowl XL - 2006
I still have not been more upset after a loss than the Seahawks losing Super Bowl XL. I still hold much disdain for the Steelers, even though it was the referees who largely should be blamed. I hate that our first Super Bowl was the most poorly officiated one. I hate that the Super Bowl was played within driving distance of Pittsburgh and the crowd was almost all Steelers fans. And the #1 seeded Hawks were playing a #6 seeded wild-card Steelers team which was not that good--they relied upon a lot of luck to win their playoff games. They also had second-year QB Ben Roethlisberger, who had one of the worst statistical games by a starting quarterback in a Super Bowl. Yet, the Steelers still won. I remember breaking all of my Steelers toy helmets after the game (those little toy helmets you'd get from the quarter machines) because I was so upset.
Well, let's hope I don't have to add to this list anytime soon. But sports, like the rest of life, have both good and bad moments. You go through the bad so you can appreciate the good so much more. So that leads me to want to do a reverse of this--best sports victories or moments compilation. So look out for that soon!
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
The future of the Mariners
In April, I discussed how I could have been more excited for the Mariners' upcoming season, their slow-ish start, and who's to blame for the lack of success. How little I knew then. Sure, this team went on a hot streak from May into June to get a 10-game lead in the division, but then we all know what happened. They currently sit five games out, a difference of 15 games over roughly two months. And the biggest culprit to the Mariners' lack of success is well documented--the hitting or lack thereof. They currently have an MLB-low .215 team batting average for the year and lead the majors in strikeouts. The team's hitting approach is easily the worst in the majors. There is no reason this team should not be hitting at least 25th in the majors and not be #1 in strikeouts with this roster.
This team has been moving backward for the last three seasons. They have gone from the playoffs in 2022 to barely missing them in 2023 to likely missing them by a bit more here in 2024. That is the very definition of trending downward. We've seen coaches or managers canned after one off year many times. Sure, Servais has built a reputation and system here, but whatever he's done is clearly not working. They were supposed to take steps forward after 2022, but instead have only gone backward. Good coaching takes teams heading in the right direction, not steering them the other way.
But as I've said, it's not entirely Servais's or the coaching staff's fault. I guarantee if you could read his mind, you'd hear his grumblings with the lack of talent on the hitting side of things. Too often he's had to put less than ideal players hitting third or cleanup. Too often he hasn't had a capable guy to be the bridge from the starter to Munoz.
So should he go? I think he has to. We see coaches and managers let go all the time when it's not entirely their fault. Or even mostly. But the Mariners would be smart to emulate what the Seahawks did and bring in an entirely new coaching staff. Maybe try holding onto pitching coach Pete Woodworth, if possible.
My biggest gripe with Servais is his lack of emotion. I grew up with fiery Lou Piniella, so I almost expect it. Servais, even in the worst of losses, is too robotic and lacks energy. He does on occasion go out and fight for his players against the umpires, but it's not often enough. Sure, he's good at making sure this team doesn't get too high or too low, but I really think he lacks in the motivation department.
I fully expect the Mariners to finish around .500, missing the playoffs by a decent amount of games, and questions begin swirling about the team's future. I'm going to one game this year (as I've already bought the tickets), but that's it. I've paid less attention to them this year than any other year in my entire adult life. How much I invest in them next season depends on how much they change going into 2025. Will they have a new manager? Will they finally invest in some quality bats? Will they possibly even make a change at president or GM? The more that changes for the better, the more I'll invest. However, if they merely try to "stay the course", I assure you, they won't be getting much from me next season at all. Of course, if they make so many changes that it becomes a rebuild, that will not do it for me. All this disappointment has taken a toll on me, and I'm sick of it.
Update: Servais was fired on Aug. 22, and the Mariners have done okay since his firing. Maybe slightly better. Do I agree with it? Yes. He and Bud Black were the only two managers in MLB to have managed for as long as they had without any divisional playoff wins or division titles. Yes, Bud Black needs to go as well. I like Dan Wilson, I think he's more relatable for the players. Servais seemed to have this "my door's always open but not" type energy. Like, he would come off as affable but you'd realize he wasn't as much.
The team also announced Jerry Dipoto would be retained, and I'm honestly okay with that. I know a lot of Mariners fans aren't. But here's what Jerry has done: Built one of the best pitching rotations in baseball. Built a farm system that has been ranked near the top often in the last 5 years. And he's kept us at least as a competitive team, avoiding terrible seasons. Jack Zduriencik and Bill Bavasi couldn't say that. Dipoto is at least better than them, and I'd rather not let him go and risk getting another Zduriencik or Bavasi.
It's hard to say how much of my time and money I'll invest into the Mariners in 2025. Likely similar to 2024. I may go to one game. I'm not paying for cable or Fubo TV to watch them. I likely won't buy any merchandise. I'd love to be more invested, but I've got to see some actual championship-type moves made first.
Monday, August 19, 2024
Condensed 2024 NFL Predictions!
I will, at the very least, keep up my tradition of predicting the NFL season, even though I'm always wrong about many things. But hey, it's fun. I'm going to get straight to it, the predicted records, the playoff predictions, and then, a short bit about the Seahawks, my favorite team. A heads up, I'm going to try to predict a few surprises, so some of these records may surprise you. After all, we always see several surprisingly good and bad teams each season.
* = Wild Card
AFC EAST
1. Miami Dolphins 11-6
2. Buffalo Bills 10-7*
3. New England Patriots 8-9
4. New York Jets 6-11
Comment: The Dolphins win a mediocre at best division as the Bills have a few setbacks. The Patriots and Drake Maye surprise some people. Aaron Rodgers either struggles or gets hurt and the Jets are, well, the Jets.
AFC NORTH
1. Cincinnati Bengals 12-5
2. Baltimore Ravens 11-6*
3. Cleveland Browns 8-9
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 7-10
Comment: The Bengals are back on top and Burrow plays all season. The Ravens regress slightly, most notably on defense after losing Mike Macdonald. The Browns are okay, but Watson proves to not stay healthy or consistent. The Steelers regress without a solid QB as both Wilson and Fields struggle against the tough defenses of the AFC North.
AFC SOUTH
1. Indianapolis Colts 11-6
2. Houston Texans 10-7*
3. Tennessee Titans 9-8
4. Jacksonville Jaguars 6-11
Comment: Yep, you heard it here. The Colts surge with a healthy Anthony Richardson. The Texans are still decent, but slightly lose their grasp on the division. The Titans surprise people with their underrated D and Will Levis competing his butt off. The Jaguars again struggle to find consistency.
AFC WEST
1. Kansas City Chiefs 10-7
2. Los Angeles Chargers 9-8
3. Denver Broncos 7-10
4. Las Vegas Raiders 4-13
Comment: The Chiefs win the worst division in the AFC despite a bit of a Super Bowl hangover. The Chargers show flashes under new coach Jim Harbaugh, but look like they'll take a year to make a big stride. The Broncos are competitive, and Bo Nix establishes himself as the starter. The Raiders struggle mightily, even under Minshew.
NFC EAST
1. Dallas Cowboys 10-7
2. Philadelphia Eagles 8-9
3. Washington Commanders 8-9
4. New York Giants 7-10
Comment: In a very mediocre division, Dallas remains on top. The Eagles struggle and continue their slide from last season. The Commanders show some flashes but it's not enough. The Giants aren't terrible, but are missing a star QB.
NFC NORTH
1. Detroit Lions 12-5
2. Chicago Bears 9-8*
3. Green Bay Packers 7-10
4. Minnesota Vikings 5-12
Comment: The Lions win the division two years in a row thanks to the best roster in the division. The Bears surprise people and Caleb Williams looks like the real deal. Jordan Love shows a bit that last year was a bit of an abberration. The Vikings struggle without JJ McCarthy and having to go with Darnold.
NFC SOUTH
1. Atlanta Falcons 10-7
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-10
3. New Orleans Saints 6-11
4. Carolina Panthers 6-11
Comment: The Falcons win a very winnable division thanks to the addition of Cousins. The Bucs struggle in year 2 under Mayfield. The Saints and Panthers have different stories: The Saints suffer massive disappointment while the Panthers remain optimistic under new head coach Dave Canales.
NFC WEST
1. San Francisco 49ers 13-4
2. Seattle Seahawks 10-7*
3. Los Angeles Rams 10-7*
4. Arizona Cardinals 6-11
Comment: The 49ers remain very tough and win a formidable division. My Seahawks surprise people and win 10 games, largely thanks to an improved defense. The Rams also win ten games, but more on the back of their offense. The Cardinals aren't awful, but struggle to beat any somewhat decent teams.
Before I get to the playoffs, here are the coaches in this scenario I'd expect to get fired:
Robert Saleh, Jets
Doug Pederson, Jaguars
Antonio Pierce, Raiders
Nick Sirianni, Eagles
Todd Bowles, Buccaneers
Dennis Allen, Saints
With Mike Tomlin as an outside possibility (possibly steps down instead of getting fired).
Now onto the NFL Playoffs! Who is my prediction for Super Bowl LIX?
AFC WILD CARD
(7) Texans at (2) Dolphins: Dolphins win
(6) Bills at (3) Colts: Bills win
(5) Ravens at (4) Chiefs: Chiefs win
NFC WILD CARD
(7) Bears at (2) Lions: Lions win
(6) Rams at (3) Cowboys: Rams win
(5) Seahawks at (4) Falcons: Seahawks win
AFC DIVISIONAL
(6) Bills at (1) Bengals: Bengals win
(4) Chiefs at (2) Dolphins: Chiefs win
NFC DIVISIONAL
(6) Rams at (1) 49ers: 49ers win
(5) Seahawks at (2) Lions: Lions win
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
AFC: Chiefs at Bengals: Bengals
NFC: Lions at 49ers: 49ers
SUPER BOWL LIX
Bengals vs 49ers: 49ers win, 23-17
Yup, I hate to admit it, but the 49ers finally win another Super Bowl. Turns out, third time is the charm for Kyle Shanahan, at least as a head coach.
And now, my Seahawks. I don't want to predict each game, because I'll be wrong about some wins and I'll be wrong about some losses. I'll just go over three aspects of the team:
Offense: Slow start, but shows more explosiveness than last season. There's not a ton of consistency with the offense. Some games they may score 30+, others less than 20. Geno has a bit of a bounce back season. The lack of quality tight end depth hurts. The run game could still be improved and show more consistency, as K9 breaks a few home run type runs but struggles to gain consistent yardage.
Defense: The defense is improved without the secondary of Diggs and Adams dragging them down. The loss of Wagner's leadership is felt, but a few young players emerge, such as Derick Hall and of course, Byron Murphy. The D-Line proves to be a Top 10 D-Line in the NFL. The linebackers have their ups and downs, while the secondary is mostly decent.
Coaching: I expect the growing pains that usually come with a rookie head coach/new coaching staff, but I do expect a new energy in this team. I think they'll be in the middle of the league in terms of penalties (perhaps still bottom half) but I expect the Time of Possession to improve, largely due to the defense getting off the field, rather than the offense sustaining drives. All in all, I expect a solid first season with a bright future in front of us.
Well, that does it for my 2024 NFL Predictions. I'll take the Hawks having a good first year under Mike Macdonald, even if it means a 49ers Super Bowl... I guess. But it should be a fun season. Go Hawks!
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Who's to Fault for the Mariners
I decided against doing an MLB predictions post. It's kind of my way of protesting the crap uniforms this season. But mostly, I forgot. I went into the 2024 season with less excitement than ever for the Mariners and baseball in general. It's the first MLB season of my life that I won't be able to watch the Mariners on cable, after ditching it late last year. So far, I've resorted to other methods (Ahoy, mateys!) to watch Mariner games, but I've also enjoyed simply listening on the Seattle sports app on occasion.
Anyway, the Mariners have gotten off to another slow start, starting as bad as 6-10 but they won their last couple and now sit at 8-10. But still, not the ideal start. Just like the last couple of years, this team has gotten off to a slow start, and we may be looking back at this slow start just like we did last year as to why this team maybe barely misses the playoffs again.
Fortunately, the entire AL West has gotten off to a slow start. The Astros started even slower than the Mariners, and the defending WS champ Rangers lead the division with a .500 record. The Mariners only sit one game back. But we all know someone is bound to go on a run in the middle of the season. We can only hope it'll be the Mariners, but it'll more likely be the Rangers or Astros.
So who is to blame for all of this? I got bad news. It's everyone. Ownership. Front office. Coaching. Players. Every single department is to blame. But as most sports fans know, it starts with ownership.
The Mariners made a few cost-cutting moves this off-season, such as trading Eugenio Suarez and Robbie Ray. This to me screams that ownership told the Front Office (Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander) that they could only spend up to a certain amount. That's not the way to successfully run a team. The ownership group, headed by John Stanton, handcuffed the Front Office and made their jobs tougher.
However, the Front Office could have made better decisions, despite being handcuffed. Was it wise to trade all we did for Jorge Polanco? The Mariners have an influx of pitching but didn't use any as trade chips, either. But honestly, I can't fault them too much. They did what they thought was the best move they could do at the time. Again, given free rein and virtually unlimited spending, this Mariners team would look better this season. Think about if the Mariners could spend like the Dodgers. Ah, if only.
I do also think coaching factors in as well. I think preaching the same message over and over has gotten old with some players. I wish I could read the minds of JP Crawford, Cal Raleigh, and Julio Rodriguez, and see if they'd rather have a different manager. I think they would. Now, Scott Servais isn't a terrible manager, but he does very little to elevate the team. No one will ever call him one of the game's best. Pete Carroll was considered one of football's best. And he was just let go. So why should the Mariners hold on to Servais if the team struggles more? I know, different sport and different circumstances, but Servais has been given an incredibly long leash. And I personally feel (along with many Mariners fans) that the Mariners success that they've had has been in spite of Servais, not because of him.
But all of this does trickle down to the players. This still is a team that, if they all play to their capabilities, can win a lot of games. That's the problem, though. They don't, at least not early in the season. So, what gives?
It does all start at the top with ownership, and what gets them panicking and willing to change things is a loss of sales and money. So that's why I urge Mariners fans to sail the fine seas with me in order to watch games. Cut ties with cable. Do not upgrade to be able to watch Mariners games. Do not subscribe to Fubo TV. And for the love of God, do not purchase those awful Fanatics jerseys. And don't go to a game unless it's a special occasion.
We really should only reward the team when they succeed. For now, I'm withholding my money from any Mariners-related purchase until they start really winning. I urge others to do the same. If enough of us do it, ownership will get the message. They are the main ones to blame.
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Ranking the remaining Seahawks head coaching possibilities
The Seahawks head coach search is winding down, and we should be hearing an announcement in the next few days. As I'm writing this on Tuesday the 30th, I wouldn't be surprised if I heard an announcement made before I finish this post. But I thought I'd rank the head coaching options from my most desired to the least desired, and talk about each. I am only considering actual possibilities, so anyone that's been ruled out (Ben Johnson... sadface) or is just a virtual impossibility (Bill Belichick) will not be considered.
1. Mike Macdonald (Ravens DC)
He's been called the "defensive Sean McVay", so getting him would be huge, since McVay is in our division. With Johnson bowing out, Macdonald becomes the hot commodity between the Hawks and Commanders. Unfortunately for us, he's got East Coast roots, so I think he's more likely to be the Commander's head coach. But, you never know. I've seen players/coaches choose teams that were further away from their roots because it suited them better.
Edit: We got our guy! I'm stoked. Glad to see he was okay with relocating to the west coast. If anyone is going to figure out how to stop McVay and Shanahan's offenses, it's him. His defenses beat both of their teams this year, and I wonder if that factored into the decision to hire him. Good job JS! Look out for my further thoughts in my other post where I grade the head coach hires.
2. Mike Vrabel (Former Titans HC)
The more I think about it, the more I like Vrabel. But... we haven't apparently interviewed him yet. Would we if we lose out on Macdonald? Possibly. JS has to explore all options. Vrabel won in Tennessee, and I would really fault an aging core and lack of talent as to why the last couple years didn't go well for them. He's a player's coach, being a former long time player himself. Hope JS gives him a shot if we miss out on McDonald.
3. Ejiro Evero (Panthers DC)
I guess? He's got a good defensive mind and his Panther's defense kept them in a lot of games this year. Their offense just stunk. The Seahawks haven't had a black head coach, so I would applaud that aspect of it. I know if he became our head coach I'd call him EE. I looked him up and all I see are other teams that want to hire him--as their DC. Not head coach. So he might not be it.
4. Mike Kafka (Giants OC)
I remember when he was a backup QB in the NFL. He was not particularly good. Why is he being considered? I have no idea. His Giants' offenses weren't particularly great. But I would love to have a younger offensive mind. If he wins the job, it must be because he has the right plan and will do things the right way. I worry about his leadership skills, but we wouldn't know until we saw it.
5. Patrick Graham (Raiders DC)
This is who I have felt for over a week now who the Seahawks will hire. Just a gut feeling. Again, would applaud the hire of a black head coach. I just wouldn't be over the moon about this, and it would be a very ho-hum kind of hire. But I'd be willing to give him a shot.
6. Dan Quinn (Cowboys DC)
Yes, he was our DC as well, but here's what I don't like: His only real success with the Falcons came when Kyle Shanahan was his OC, and he blew a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl. What I do like is that he may be able to get some of his Cowboys players to come over, either after they become free agents or getting JS to trade for them.
7. Anyone else
Depends, obviously. The above (outside of Vrabel) are the only ones who have been reported to have had an interview. You think about the best units in the NFL, and a lot of them are headed by a failed head coach. If I had to pick one not on this list I'd love to see get a shot, I'd say Frank Smith, Dolphins OC. Or if I had to go on the defensive side of the ball, I'd say Jeff Ulbrich, Jets DC, who used to be an assistant coach under Pete Carroll. He'd be a lot like Vrabel, but unproven. Unfortunately, he wasn't granted any interviews, which is puzzling.
I'm excited to see how this pans out, and I trust in JS. I'll give whoever he chooses a fair shot (and not be calling for his firing too soon, lol). I might even update this with my thoughts if the guy we choose is someone I talked about on here.
Friday, January 12, 2024
My Thoughts on the Seahawks moving on from Pete Carroll
When the Seahawks announced on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, that they were moving off of Pete Carroll as their head coach, I was, to say the least, surprised. I knew Pete had built something in this organization that had never been seen before: A culture that kept players like Sherm, Kam, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Marshawn Lynch, and others coming back and visiting and lending their expertise to the current Hawks. Therefore, I really felt that when it was time, Pete would leave on his own terms. Instead, he was essentially removed as head coach. Yes, it came across as more mutual, but I'd be willing to bet that had Pete not accepted it, they would have been forced to fire him, and he would not have left on as good of terms. Instead, he will stay on in an advisory role. (Supposedly)
I understand why it was done. I think the main sticking point, the main reason it happened was due to Pete not being able to keep up with the modern game and compete against the younger coaches in the league. If you listen to his press conferences or interviews, you hear that he wanted so badly for the team to do better in certain areas (like stopping the run), but they couldn't. And it was not due to lack of talent. They weren't picking guys off the street or relying upon undrafted free agents. Also, Pete continued to struggle to come out on top against Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay's teams. He had way more experience and was twice their age, but more often than not, the Hawks would come off looking worse in the divisional matchups with their teams.
The next hire could not be more important. The Hawks have a lot of young pieces and could easily make a Super Bowl run next season under the right leadership. Alternatively, the wrong hire could lead to disastrous results where we could see this team head to a larger rebuild, a possible sale of the team, and a very uncertain future. The wrong hire could set off a chain of events that spell doom for this organization. But it could also continue the winning culture set forth not only by Pete Carroll but one of his predecessors, Mike Holmgren. We cannot forget the impact coach Holmgren had, taking a perpetually mediocre team and elevating them to occasional contenders.
Whoever they hire has to be able to enter and immediately command the locker room and garner respect. I don't think he can be too different from Pete Carroll, but he can't be too similar, either. If he's too similar, the players will simply think this guy is trying to be the next Pete Carroll and won't respond as well. However, a coach who is too different will be a bit of a culture shock to players like Geno, Tyler, DK, and Bobby (if he's here) and they won't respond well in that regard, either.
I don't want to get into the specific candidates out there. That's either for another post or maybe I'll evaluate each coaching hire once they are all done.
Honestly, I'm excited. The Hawks haven't had to actually search for a coach really in my NFL-viewing life. Jim Mora Jr. was the heir apparent to Mike Holmgren, and Pete Carroll was hired to replace Mora after he became available. There was never a real thorough process of bringing in multiple coaching candidates for interviews at that time. I'll be excited to hear who flies in for an interview. I'm sure some I'll be wishing they don't get the job and some I'll be wishing they do get the job, and some I'll be in-between on.
Time will tell. I'll definitely detail my thoughts once the hire is made. Whoever it is, the 12s will give their full support and hopefully he can keep the Seahawks as consistent contenders. GO HAWKS.
Monday, December 4, 2023
Mariners Off-Season Outlook after Two Payroll-Shedding Trades
First off, there is no salary cap in MLB like there is in the NFL. Owners are free to let their GMs spend as much as they want. They'll just have to foot the bill for any salaries/bonuses they hand out. It seems in the Mariners case that ownership has restricted the front office of Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander, who definitely would like to spend on a few big bats, but may have needed to shed some payroll first in order to be under a certain budget. This isn't what fans of a team want to hear. You should want your owner to allow your GM to spend as much as they need to in order to field the best team possible. Limiting them only limits their chances of building a successful team.
But let's look at the good. We haven't lost a ton. Eugenio Suarez regressed in 2023 after a very solid 2022. His OPS was down from .791 to .714, and his league-leading strikeout totals rose further. He did play gold glove-caliber defense, but his offensive numbers still dropped, especially his power. Jerry Dipoto made the comment that they wanted to be a more contact-focused offense, but my question is this: Why acquire high strikeout guys in the first place? Jerry chose to trade for Suarez and Teoscar Hernandez, known high-strikeout guys. Perhaps his focus has changed, but that's not altogether encouraging.
And of the three players we sent to the Braves, none were really huge impact players. Yes, Kelenic still has a bit of potential, but he had two and a half seasons to realize it with us and just couldn't. He had one hot stretch in early 2023, but that's it. He's been largely a bust offensively. He also strikes out a lot, like Suarez. Marco was a back-of-the-rotation starter, who was hurt a huge chunk of 2023. He was the longest-tenured Mariner, but he had reached his ceiling, and his ceiling quite frankly wasn't good enough for our rotation anymore. And Evan White battled injuries and offensive inconsistency and lost his job to Ty France. He wasn't going to regain his spot.
So, we shed some dead weight, honestly. Suarez and Hernandez (who left in Free Agency) were occasional good middle-of-the-order hitters, but just struck out too much. That led to too many times where all we needed was a ball put in play and they struck out. Marco was a lot of money for little return, and Evan White and Kelenic could never fully figure out hitting with us.
But now let's look at the bad. There are a ton of holes on this team. Both corner outfield spots, DH, third base, and second base all need to be addressed. There's also the fact we could use another starter with Robbie Ray hurt (*cough cough* Blake Snell! *cough*). We should not be going into 2024 with our middle-of-the-lineup players being France and Raleigh. This team, as it stands now, would certainly regress in 2024 if no major additions were made.
So we can only hope and pray as Mariners fans that Jerry and Justin have a plan. I'm hoping that they were given the luxury of increasing payroll at least a bit. Perhaps they did the math and realized the guys they wanted to sign or extend after a trade would require more financial room than they already had. But just because they have their eyes on a few players, doesn't mean they'll get them. I worry they may have made this room unnecessarily, and they might strike out on acquiring some big names. This off-season, simply saying "We tried" is not good enough.
Our dream, of course, is to see big name after big name acquired by the Mariners. We want to see the social media posts of "Welcome to Seattle, ____!" for a lot of household names. We do not want to see it for players along the likes of Tommy LaStella, Kolten Wong, and AJ Pollock. Of course, not every good player is available in free agency, and some will require a trade to acquire. I just hope we don't mortgage our future in the hopes of getting back to the post-season. That was attempted and failed at too many times from 2002-2021.
The rest of this off-season will be hugely telling for this team and its future. Jerry and Justin have their work cut out for them. I think this is the single most important off-season of their Mariners' careers because a failure this off-season will likely eventually cost them their jobs. I'm sure they're aware of the magnitude of this off-season. Simply put, an abysmal showing this off-season, and they should not be surprised if ticket and merch sales drop. At that point, none of us should spend any extra money on this team. But a good showing will bring this fanbase back around and instill hope for 2024.
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
NFL Teams Ranked--Again
We're midway through the 2023 season, and it sure is an interesting one. I thought I'd rank each of the 32 NFL teams in terms of my personal preference. As a Seahawks fan, a lot of these rankings are self-explanatory, but most are not. I'll try to keep it brief, especially if it's self-explanatory.
FAVORITE
1. Seattle Seahawks - Always my #1, always my ride or die.
I LIKE THESE TEAMS (Not too surprisingly, all AFC teams)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars - Team I've adopted as my #2, or my favorite AFC team. The Seahawks have no reason to hate them. I like their new resurgence with Trevor Lawrence, and I really hope they accomplish some things.
3. Miami Dolphins - I'm high on them for three reasons: 1) My girlfriend's 1st cousin once removed is their kicker, Jason Sanders. He's her dad's cousin. 2) Salvon Ahmed, one of their backup running backs, grew up in Kirkland, WA, just like me. 3) One of their safeties is Jevon Holland, who shares a last name with me, the only Big 4 sports professional athlete I know of who has that distinction.
4. Kansas City Chiefs - I can't help it, they're so easy to root for and fun to watch. Mahomes, Kelce, Andy Reid, what's not to like?
5. Buffalo Bills - I love Josh Allen; he's one of my favorite NFL players. The Bills remind me of my Seahawks in a way: loyal to a fault and will brave the elements.
I'M HAPPY FOR YOU WHEN YOU WIN (Usually, unless you beat my Hawks)
6. Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow is easy to root for, and finally Cincy has a consistent winner.
7. Minnesota Vikings - The Jon Bois/SB Nation documentary vaulted them up a bit, plus how big a fan Marshall on How I Met Your Mother is of them, and he's one of my favorite sitcom characters ever.
8. Cleveland Browns - I don't like how they got Watson, but I love lovable losers. They still deserve to have success someday. One of my favorite YouTubers, KTO, is a big Browns fan.
9. Detroit Lions - They are easy to like and their win over Green Bay last year enabled the Seahawks to get to the playoffs. Thanks again, Detroit!
10. Atlanta Falcons - Again, the Jon Bois/SB Nation documentary. Highly recommend.
NO BIG REASON TO DISLIKE, MAYBE A SMALL REASON TO LIKE
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I still think of those late 90s/early 2000s teams that just dominated on defense. They were fun to watch. They're still fairly likable. Guess I just like Florida NFL teams.
12. Los Angeles Chargers - Never really had a reason to dislike them, except for the fact that as of writing this post, the last time I saw a Seahawks game in person, they lost to the Chargers. But I don't hold that against them too much. We should have done more.
13. Dallas Cowboys - I know, I know. I just find large market teams (Lakers, Yankees, Cowboys) appealing and fun to root for on occasion. But it is also funny to see them lose, too.
14. Houston Texans - They would be higher, but they share a city with a certain MLB team I would rank 30 out of 30, so that drops them a bit. I like their uniforms, stadium, but they haven't always made the best personnel decisions.
YOU'RE OK, SO LONG AS YOU DON'T BEAT MY HAWKS
15. Washington Commanders - First off, I wish they'd change their name again. "Commanders" is so generic and uninspiring. But I like how Dan Snyder is no longer a part of this team. Now they just need a new stadium. But I don't really have a reason to hate them.
16. Las Vegas Raiders - Cool stadium, classic uni's. I'm not a Raider hater. Although, like the Cowboys, it's funny to see them lose.
17. Indianapolis Colts - They were featured on Parks and Rec, so that's cool. The Colts may be the one NFL team I've never felt much emotion towards at all, so it's fitting that they're square in the middle.
18. Arizona Cardinals - What? A division rival? Yep. I don't mind the red birds all that much, so long as we can at least split our season series with them.
19. Chicago Bears - They may be the one NFL team that has never had a legit franchise quarterback in the Super Bowl era, it's crazy. I wish them the best someday in finding that guy. I don't mind the Bears too much, classic franchise and I find their games oddly entertaining, even when they are struggling.
I DON'T HAVE SYMPATHY FOR YOU WHEN YOU LOSE
20. Tennessee Titans - There's the Music City Miracle, at least, one of my favorite NFL plays of all time. I watched that live as an almost 11-year-old. But I just have never found a reason to like the Titans all that much.
21. New York Giants - Another one of my favorite YouTubers, FivePointsVids, is a Giants fan, but that's about it. Their classic uni's are nice.
22. Denver Broncos - This team has probably moved the most in recent years, considering the Russell Wilson trade and all. I'm coming back around on them, and they move back up for me. In the earlier part of this century, I had them as a Top 5 team.
23. New Orleans Saints - Part of me forgot about them, part of me just doesn't care. I find them incredibly overrated as a franchise, considering they were nothing before the Payton/Brees era.
24. Carolina Panthers - They beat my Seahawks in the playoffs once, so there's that. But so have the Cowboys, Dolphins, Falcons, and Bears, all of who are higher on this list. I just haven't forgiven them, I guess.
I ALMOST ALWAYS ROOT AGAINST YOU WHEN I WATCH
25. Philadelphia Eagles - Their fans are just awful. I wish them nothing but misery. I like Jason Kelce, but that's about it. Die, Eagles, Die.
26. New York Jets - Again, not likable fans, and they're just incredibly boring and inept. And I hate their color scheme--green and white? Yuck.
27. Baltimore Ravens - They recently beat my Hawks, but moreover, they used to be the Browns, who were stolen from Cleveland and moved to Baltimore (Thanks, Art Modell). And they've been rewarded with two Super Bowls. It reminds me of how my Sonics were stolen from me.
28. Green Bay Packers - A lot of defeats at the hands of these guys, but they've lost to us, too. I just hate when we lose to them when, because of the refs or a bonehead play by our QB (Thanks Hasselbeck), we lose. I almost always root against the Packers. Their fans are a bit obnoxious, too.
DIE, CHUMPS (I seriously wish nothing but bad things for these teams)
29. Pittsburgh Steelers - Three words: Super Bowl 40 (XL). Yeah. Still not over it. I know, it's been almost 18 years now. I may never get over it. Plus, like the Packers, their fans are obnoxious. But the sting of the Super Bowl certainly hurts less now that we have a ring ourselves.
30. New England Patriots - Another team we lost to in the Super Bowl. Plus, they had so much success with Brady and Belichick, it was sickening. Their struggles right now are so incredibly hilarious.
31. San Francisco 49ers - Our biggest rival. I can't stand their fans on social media--they are the absolute worst. Reminds me of Astros fans. Oddly, this is my girlfriend's favorite team, being from that area, which probably saves them from the final spot. But I can never come around on them, especially now that they are a very tough team to beat.
32. Los Angeles Rams - Too many agonizing defeats to these guys. The blowout at home which was our first big loss at home in years. The phantom holding call on the first game in Sofi. The loss in the playoffs in 2020. And the two games this year. Also, I hate Aaron Donald--he's a dirty player. At least when the Niners struggle, we can beat them. Even when the Rams struggle, we struggle to beat them ourselves. Also, they're yet another franchise that has moved, so screw them.
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Five Biggest Needs for the Mariners for 2024
The Mariners finished 2023 88-74, missing the playoffs by 1 game and the division by 2 games. They failed to follow up their magical 2022 season with a successful step forward. At best, they took a step sideways. General Manager Justin Hollander has even admitted their moves this past off-season were not adequate enough. They acquired Teoscar Hernandez and Kolten Wong in trades, and signed AJ Pollock, Tommy LaStella, and Cooper Hummel. Only one of those players, Hernandez, was on the big league team at season's end. It's safe to say they need to do better this off-season. So I have compiled the five biggest needs for this team, and some possible names who could fill that role. Ranked, in order from least to most important, here are the five biggest needs this Mariners team needs to address this off-season:
5) Rotation depth
Possible candidates: Vince Velasquez, Jordan Montgomery
It'll be hard to say how the back end of the rotation will look come 2024, but I think one thing the Mariners need is depth at the rotation. Someone who would potentially be okay signing a minor league deal with an option to make the big league club. I wouldn't be opposed to either Woo or Miller starting 2024 in the minors, especially if they have a rocky spring. But one thing that hurt the Mariners this past season was the lack of rotation depth. They need to sign someone to bolster the rotation.
Result: No one? I can't think of anyone the Mariners acquired for rotation depth. They briefly had Anthony DeSclafani before shipping him out for Jorge Polanco. Grade: INC.
4) Right-handed/switch-hitting outfielder with range, contact
Possible candidates: Harrison Bader, Jurickson Profar
We absolutely should not be starting Dylan Moore or Sam Haggerty in the outfield while on a playoff run again. They are bench guys. Jerry and Justin tried to address this with Pollock and LaStella last off-season but to no avail. I like Bader, and while he struggled in Cincy, I love his effort on defense. And Profar is a switch-hitter, but hits better historically right-handed, and he would add even more culture to our locker room, being from Curacao.
Result: We got Mitch back... yay? I like Mitch, I just hope he can stay healthy. But he does not have much range or contact. We also got Luke Raley, but he's a lefty and he too does not have much range. Grade: D
3) Infielder that can hit
Possible candidates: Rhys Hoskins, Amed Rosario
Our infield just seemed to be filled with black holes this year, not counting JP. But it seemed someone was always struggling, whether it was Ty, Geno, or whoever was at second base. Rhys Hoskins was out all of 2023, but if we shipped Ty for a prospect or in a package, I'd love to have Hoskins instead. And Rosario still can hit around .250 with solid D. Our infield just needs to improve. We still haven't found our answer at second base since trading Cano.
Result: We got Jorge Polanco, and if you want to count him, Mitch Garver, but he's counted more for #1 (see below). We also got the aforementioned Luke Raley. Our infield should hit better next season. But we did have to give up a lot to get Polanco. Grade: B-
2) Veteran closer/bullpen help
Possible candidates: Will Smith, Craig Kimbrel, Ryne Stanek
With the trade of Sewald and the loss of Penn Murfee to the Mets, our bullpen is in need of help. Brash was overworked, guys like Topa, Campbell, and Thornton were used in higher-leverage situations than they should be, and it showed. I would love it if we could bring in a veteran guy to add a presence and help mentor some younger guys.
Result: We got Gregory Santos, he'd be the closest thing to a "veteran" guy that we acquired. Hopefully he'll fit right in, but he might take a while to do so since he came to us hurt. Lovely. Update: We also signed Ryne Stanek late, a guy who I really like, so I'll raise this a tad. Grade: B+
1) Full-time legit Designated Hitter
Possible candidates: Shohei Ohtani, Jorge Soler, JD Martinez
The last good full-time DH the Mariners had was Nelson Cruz, in 2018. Before that, it was Edgar. This team absolutely should not go into the season with guys like LaStella, Hummel, or Haggerty DH'ing. Obviously, Shohei would be the ideal choice, with him joining the rotation in 2025 due to injury. Soler would be a nice substitute if his player option falls through. And I wanted us to acquire JD Martinez last off-season, but of course, he goes to LA. I doubt he'd come here, but you never know. We just need SOMEONE at DH we can count on, someone we can put at 3 or 4 in the order and never have to worry about.
Result: We got Mitch Garver, our one lone significant free agent signing. Would it be too much to ask for another Nelson Cruz type hitter? I guess so. We'll have to see what Mitch does. I'm more excited for his bat than Polanco's or Raley's, for what it's worth. Grade: B
Well, that is my list of the top 5 needs the Mariners have this coming off-season. Let's hope they address most, if not all, of these. I feel like if they address most of these adequately, a return to the playoffs in 2024 will be in the cards. I'm going to come back, perhaps around spring training time, and comment on what they did to address these needs, and if it was good enough.
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
2023 NFL Predictions
Hard to believe, but another NFL season is almost upon us. I might be doing this a tad early, but I'd rather do it now when I have time. Anyway, I will go division by division, predicting win/loss records and then the playoffs for each conference. Normally, I'd go further in detail to my Seahawks, but I don't think I will this time. I don't know what it is; I'm not particularly excited about this upcoming season. I feel like we outperformed last year, so I'm expecting some regression this year. Also, I'm going to make some very surprising picks, because I feel we get surprised by the NFL every year, and there are always a few teams that are almost the complete opposite of what we expect. Anyway, here are my predicted NFL standings! Wild cards will have asterisks.
AFC East
1. Buffalo Bills: 11-6
2. Miami Dolphins: 10-7*
3. New York Jets: 9-8
4. New England Patriots: 7-10
The Bills still have the most talented roster in the AFC East, but it's tightening fast. I wouldn't be surprised if they had to fight for a wild card, but I still put them as division winners because Miami and the Jets are still missing a few pieces. The Patriots remain competitive under Belichick, but remain mediocre at best.
AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens: 10-7
2. Cincinnati Bengals: 10-7*
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-9
4. Cleveland Browns: 6-11
Call this the battered and blue division because these teams are going to beat each other up this season. I don't see any team losing or winning more than 4 in-division games. And I hate predicting injuries, but I have a bad feeling about Joe Burrow. His pre-season calf injury worries me and makes me think that might linger or he might suffer a different minor injury that knocks him out for a few games and costs the Bengals the division. The Steelers and Browns remain competitive, but it's hard to do much better in a very tough AFC. And yes, I have Mike Tomlin suffer his first losing season as head coach.
AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts: 9-8
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-9
3. Tennessee Titans: 8-9
4. Houston Texans: 5-12
Here's one of my surprising predictions: The Colts winning the AFC South. Anthony Richardson has a solid/borderline rookie of the year campaign and leads the Colts to the playoffs. The Jags return back to Earth a bit and realize they've still got a few holes. The Titans are just... there. The Texans still have a ways to go, but surprise some people. Ha! Try all of us. What I thought would be the Colts ended up being the Texans.
AFC West
1. Kansas City Chiefs: 12-5
2. Denver Broncos: 11-6*
3. Los Angeles Chargers: 7-10
4. Las Vegas Raiders: 2-15
The Chiefs are good, as expected, and retain the AFC's #1 seed. It's only with a record of 12-5, though, due to the competitiveness of the AFC. The Broncos are another of my surprise teams, and they claim the top wild-card spot. Russell Wilson mostly returns to form thanks to the help of new head coach Sean Payton. The Chargers get outcoached in many games and Brandon Staley likely loses his job at the end of the season. The Raiders stink with Jimmy G (who likely gets hurt, again) and Josh Jacobs shows his displeasure. If they can afford it, they fire McDaniels.
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles: 11-6
2. New York Giants: 10-7*
3. Washington Commanders: 9-8
4. Dallas Cowboys: 6-11
Hard to believe that we haven't had a repeat NFC East champion in almost 20 years. I think that ends here. The Eagles are too talented. The Giants will make it close, however. The Commanders, no longer having the worst owner in professional sports, play inspired football and almost make the postseason. The Cowboys have a down year, due to not having much depth behind skill players Ceedee Lamb and Tony Pollard.
NFC North
1. Minnesota Vikings: 13-4
2. Detroit Lions: 10-7*
3. Chicago Bears: 8-9
4. Green Bay Packers: 6-11
The Vikings with the best record in the NFL? You heard it here first. Kirk Cousins is now the best QB in his division (although Goff is close). The Vikings will put together a 7 or 8 game win streak, and go 6-4 or 5-4 in their other 10 or 9 games. The Lions don't win the division, but they do snag a wild-card playoff spot. The Bears are slightly improved, but Fields can only do so much. The Packers regress heavily after losing Aaron Rodgers, and Jordan Love leads the Packers' front office to quickly try to find the next heir apparent.
NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints: 10-7
2. Carolina Panthers: 7-10
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-11
4. Atlanta Falcons: 5-12
Derek Carr and the Saints claim the division title, thanks to Carr easily being the best QB in the division. The Panthers surprise a bit, and Bryce Young does enough to win rookie of the year. The Bucco's switch to Kyle Trask after Mayfield struggles. The Falcons are just there.
NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers: 12-5
2. Los Angeles Rams: 11-6*
3. Seattle Seahawks: 8-9
4. Arizona Cardinals: 3-14
The Niners repeat as division champs, likely with multiple QB's starting games for them. The Rams bounce back and claim the top wild card spot thanks to Matthew Stafford's resurgence. My Seahawks do okay for most of the year, but they lose too many close games, due to either the defense allowing a late score or Geno Smith not being able to engineer a game-winning drive. The Cardinals are expected to not be very good, and they won't be.
Here are the playoff seedings:
AFC
1. Kansas City (12-5)
2. Buffalo (11-6)
3. Baltimore (10-7)
4. Indianapolis (9-8)
5. Denver (11-6)
6. Cincinnati (10-7)
7. Miami (10-7)
NFC
1. Minnesota (13-4)
2. San Francisco (12-5)
3. Philadelphia (11-6)
4. New Orleans (10-7)
5. Los Angeles Rams (11-6)
6. New York Giants (10-7)
7. Detroit (10-7)
Here's how I think the playoffs would go:
AFC Wild Card
(7) Dolphins at (2) Bills: Dolphins win
In a rematch of last year's wild card, the Dolphins get the upper hand this time.
(6) Bengals at (3) Ravens: Bengals win
Another rematch, this time with the Ravens as the higher seed, but it still doesn't matter.
(5) Broncos at (4) Colts: Broncos win
The Broncos' leadership (Payton/Wilson) has plenty of playoff experience, and it proves valuable.
NFC Wild Card
(7) Lions at (2) 49ers: 49ers win
I'd be rooting for the Lions like crazy, but it would just be too tough for them, just like it was for my Seahawks last season.
(6) Giants at (3) Eagles: Eagles win
Divisional showdown! Eagles come out on top easily.
(5) Rams at (4) Saints: Rams win
The Rams prove too much for Carr and the Saints.
AFC Divisional Round:
(7) Dolphins at (1) Chiefs: Chiefs win
Tyreke Hill returns to Kansas City! But he loses, due to the KC pressure being too much for Tua.
(6) Bengals at (5) Broncos: Bengals win
The Bengals have a more well-rounded roster in terms of talent and experience, which proves to be the difference.
NFC Divisional Round:
(5) Rams at (1) Vikings: Vikings win
The home field advantage proves too much for the Rams, who also cannot figure out a way to shutdown Justin Jefferson.
(3) Eagles at (2) 49ers: 49ers win
In a rematch of last year's NFC Championship game, the 49ers get the upper hand due to home field advantage, but also having a healthy quarterback this time.
Conference Championships:
(6) Bengals at (1) Chiefs: Bengals win
For the third year in a row, this is the AFC Championship game matchup. And it goes back to Cincy. The Bengals have an up and down season, but they catch fire at the end of the season, which is all that matters.
(2) 49ers at (1) Vikings: Vikings win
Whoever is under center for the 49ers is going to struggle under the lights and noise, and the Vikings win a close, hard-fought game.
Super Bowl LVIII: Vikings vs. Bengals: Bengals win
The Bengals enter as very slight underdogs but emerge victorious. In a matchup of two teams, each who has yet to win a Super Bowl, the Bengals come out on top. It's an electrifying Super Bowl, filled with plenty of lead changes. Joe Burrow wins Super Bowl MVP.
There you have it. The Cincinnati Bengals are my Super Bowl pick. Yikes! Couldn't have done worse, lol. However, my conference championship losers ended up being the Super Bowl, so there's that. Despite me thinking they'll have a down regular season, I think they'll do well late and in the playoffs. They were so close last year to returning to the Super Bowl, and this year I think they do and win it. Before I go, here are the coaches who I think get fired or leave by season's end:
Bill Belichick, Patriots (retires) Didn't retire, but he's done anyway
Mike Vrabel, Titans Yep
Brandon Staley, Chargers Yep
Josh McDaniels, Raiders Yep
Todd Bowles, Buccaneers Nope
Other possibilities: Jonathan Gannon (Cardinals), Arthur Smith (Falcons) Yep, Matt LaFleur (Packers), Pete Carroll (Seahawks, retire?) Yep, Ron Rivera, Commanders (retire?) Yep
The firing I did not consider: Frank Reich (first year!)
Friday, July 28, 2023
The Mariners have already reached their peak, at least with this front office and ownership
Hey, this is Brian from Oct. 2023, the regular text is what I wrote towards the end of July. It was right before the Mariners went on their amazing run in August. Unfortunately, they followed it up with a stinker of a month in September. I thought I'd go through and make any additional comments to what I previously said. I'll save them for after the paragraph (if I have a comment), so I'm not interrupting too often.
I haven't done a mid-season review of the Mariners, but I think it's obvious why I haven't. This year's team, the 2023 team, is painfully mediocre. They capitalized last year on a lot of players finding success, and most of those same players have not been able to replicate last year's success, for the most part. I believe last year was their peak, and they will not reach any higher heights with this front office and ownership. I think this season is more of a regression to the mean. I think the average amount of wins you will get with these kinds of teams is 80-90. They're slightly better than average, on average. This year, they're just average.
The Mariners finished with 88 wins, right where I said. 90 wins is about their ceiling. They may get lucky and get 92, 93, 94 wins, but a division title is unlikely given the competition from Texas and Houston.
One reason why this team will never eclipse 90 or so wins or win the division or even get to the ALCS is because ownership has restricted spending. Take a look at the last couple of big contracts they dished out: Robinson Cano and Robbie Ray. It's safe to say that so far they have not been worth the money spent. Cano did have a couple great years, but he was unable to help us get to the playoffs. I think ownership and John Stanton are extremely hesitant to give Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander the green light on doling out a contract worth $100m or more, mainly because the last few haven't quite panned out. They aren't the cheapest ownership group in sports, but they're cheaper than the average ownership group.
Another reason why this team will never reach a higher peak is because hitting just cannot be developed in a consistent manner. How many hitters have come through the Mariners' minor league system and had a successful career with them? Not many. Kyle Seager is basically the only one in the last 20 years. Julio and Cal Raleigh can perhaps join that list, but both have had down years after great first full years in 2022. For whatever reason, this team and organization can develop pitchers as well as anyone, but they cannot develop hitters. The most baffling thing to me is how they preach "Control the Zone", yet the Mariners are consistently near the top of the league in strikeouts.
Julio's massive August really boons his season, and I think it's safe to say he's a rare success story coming out of the minors. Cal is borderline. But Julio had so much upside it was hard for him not to pan out. Also, the Mariners finished 2nd in the AL in strikeouts, behind only Minnesota. But Minnesota was 4th in the AL in OPS, while the Mariners were barely above league average.
The one thing I can fault the front office for most is the construction of the roster, namely the position players. A team built on pitching doesn't need to be complemented by power hitters who strike out a lot. They need consistent on-base guys that have speed, get around the bases, and play small ball to support the pitching. It is a lot easier to play small ball and manufacture runs than it is to rely upon the home run ball. Relying upon the home run ball is just asking for spurts of bad offense, which will ultimately result in losses. Acquiring guys like Eugenio Suarez and Teoscar Hernandez were not the smartest moves, because this team already had high strikeout guys in Julio, Kelenic, and Raleigh coming up through the system. It's like having a football team with a great defense, but an offense that cannot run the ball nor has a short passing game.
One thing I am always quick to point the finger at during losses is coaching, namely manager Scott Servais. But Servais is not an awful manager. However, I do not believe he is the type of manager that can elevate a team with average talent. He's great at motivating young guys, and would probably have a surprising amount of success on a team like Oakland, Pittsburgh, and Colorado. And he'd probably do ok managing elite talent-level teams, like the Dodgers and Astros (which is true of most managers). His in-game management and decisions leave a lot to be desired, such as his reliance on having a left/right advantage with the opposition. Often, he will remove a better hitter for a worse hitter just to get that advantage. He doesn't seem to have a good game feel, relying on colder bats in clutch moments than hot ones. I don't think he's the biggest reason for this team's inability to do better than 2022, but he's certainly a contributing factor. I think Servais, once he leaves the Mariners, will likely be mostly remembered for his decision to put in Robbie Ray against Yordan Alvarez in Game 1 of the ALDS. If he goes with Swanson or someone else, the Mariners likely win the game, and who knows how that series turns out.
I will always root for the Mariners, but it is extremely disheartening being as confident as I am that this team will never eclipse 2022 with its current front office, management, and likely, ownership. In fact, I am willing to bet on it. If the Mariners win the World Series under Dipoto/Hollander/Servais, I will get a tattoo of the Mariners logo and the words "____ World Series Champions", with the year they won it at the beginning. I don't like the idea of permanently scarring my body with tattoos, but that just shows how confident I am that this team will not do any better than last season. I could say I'd get a tattoo if they reach the ALCS or the World Series, but a tattoo saying "2024 ALCS representative" sounds pretty lame to me. If they get to the ALCS or World Series under this regime, I will spend the combination of wins and team batting average on Mariners merchandise. So if they win 95 games and have a team batting average of .250, I will buy $345 dollars worth of Mariners merchandise.
I'm sticking to this. So long as Jerry, Justin, and Scott are with the Mariners, if the Mariners win a World Series, I will get that tattoo. And I'll stand by what I said about spending money on merch, too. I am that confident that this team will not do better than a borderline wild card/ALDS loser. Last year, 2022, was their peak.
I hope I am wrong about all of this and the team surprises me. But I have watched enough baseball, specifically Mariners baseball, to know that this team is still shackled by its ownership, front office, management, and roster construction. They will have plenty of great moments and may once again sneak into the playoffs, but I will be beyond shocked if this team plays like one of the league's absolute best for any significant amount of time under this regime. In my opinion, there are too many things that would need to change about this team and organization in order to consistently become one of MLB's best. Simply firing Servais wouldn't do it. Acquiring a contact bat: same thing. But I can still enjoy their good moments when they come, despite the fact that I will be wishing they were more frequent.
Update, 2024: Well, the Mariners fired Servais, so I'm taking the tattoo offer off the table. I'll still spend money on the Mariners if they at least make the ALCS under Dipoto. But I knew Servais wasn't the guy to take us to the World Series. But perhaps Wilson or someone else is.
Monday, April 3, 2023
My Preferred 2023 Seahawks Draft (And review of the actual draft)
In BOLD, I say where the player listed ended up getting drafted. Some of these I was quite far off on. Oops.
Round 1, Pick 5: Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
I think the Cardinals take Will Anderson to help their pass rush (or someone trades up to get him). I also think Jalen Carter falls a bit in this draft, and I actually believe we pass on him. Tyree Wilson is a bit of a reach at 5, but that's nothing new to the Hawks. Charles Cross was a slight reach at 9 as well last year. Let's just hope whoever we take here does better than the last defensive player we took at least this high, Aaron Curry in 2009.
Tyree ended up going #7 to the Raiders. We ended up taking Devon Witherspoon. It'll be interesting to see who has the better career. I'll say this: Witherspoon is going to the better organization than Wilson.
Round 1, Pick 20: Siaki Ika, NT, Baylor
The Seahawks pass on Jalen Carter, hoping he maybe falls to 20, but he does not. So instead, they take Siaki Ika from Baylor. He's heavier than the DT's they usually draft, but he's about the same size as other DT's the Hawks have had over the years, like Bryan Mone and Al Woods. The Hawks definitely need a nose tackle to replace Al Woods, who was cut, so they likely spend one of their earlier picks on one.
Oh boy. I was off. Siaki ended up going pick 98 in round 3 to the Browns. I saw he could've been first round talent, and we know the Hawks have reached in the past. The Hawks ended up taking Jaxson Smith-Njigba, who I'll definitely look forward to all the misspellings of his names by Seahawks fans on Reddit, Facebook, etc. I prefer the Hawk's actual pick (actually), and I think JSN will have a better career than Ika.
Round 2, Pick 37: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
Yes, even with the signing of Evan Brown, the Seahawks could use another center. And I expect them to take one with one of their 2nd round picks, if not their 20th overall pick. Better to not wait, so I have them spending the first of their two second-round picks on the highest-graded center, John Michael Schmitz from Minnesota. Carroll and Schneider still long for the days of Max Unger, so they know they need a good stalwart at center. They badly missed out on Creed Humphrey, selecting D'Wayne Eskridge instead (Ouch). They won't make the same mistake (I hope).
The Hawks instead took Derick Hall, defensive end. I wish we had taken JMS, who ended up going to the Giants at pick 57. If he becomes an all-pro like Creed Humphrey, I might lose it. I'm not particularly excited about Hall, seeing as we've yet to really develop an edge rusher... ever. Ok, Frank Clark is one, but there's an exception to every rule.
Round 2, Pick 52: Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State
This is where I could see the Hawks trading down, especially if they've addressed their immediate needs (DL, interior OL/C). I know Carroll loves his speedy linebackers, and why not take a local kid in Daiyan Henley from WSU? I know we signed Devin Bush and Bobby Wagner, but I guarantee Bush will have competition. We'll need depth there, anyway, with Bush's injury history and with Brooks missing the start of the season.
The Hawks instead took Zach Charbonnet, running back. I wish we had grabbed the local kid in Henley. The Hawks in fact did not take any pure linebacker in the draft (if you don't count Hall or Morris as one). Henley went #85 to the Chargers. So we could've had him, just like Schmitz.
Round 3, Pick 83: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
Hmmmm... drafting a bigger wide receiver from Ole Miss on Day 2? Well, it worked out for the Seahawks once before with DK Metcalf, so why not try again? I'm sure DK would love to work with Mingo and mentor him. The Hawks have been looking for a legit #3 for years, and I think they'll try to find it in the draft.
We did draft a receiver (JSN), but all the way up at #20. The Hawks traded down to 108 and took Anthony Bradford, guard. Mingo went #39 to the Panthers, so we wouldn't have had a shot to get him, at least not here.
Round 4, Pick 123: J.L. Skinner, S, Boise State
Maybe PC/JS are trying to rebuild the Legion of Boom. They already have their Richard Sherman clone in Woolen. What about a Kam Chancellor clone? Granted, Skinner is a bit on the skinny side, but he could bulk up, I bet. I just bet Carroll would love his 6'4" frame. We do have Adams and Love, but Adams is injury prone. And Love is a newcomer, so it's yet to be seen how he'll fit in. If they are able to get Skinner to bulk up enough, he could move to linebacker.
Instead the Hawks drafted Cameron Young, defensive tackle. I felt like they should've taken one sooner, but what do I know? Skinner went all the way at 183 to the Broncos. So I was off again.
Round 5, Pick 151: Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas
Roschon's vertical isn't particularly ideal, but I think PC/JS might take a running back mid-late in the draft who is larger and can withstand some hits. Roschon is 6'0" 219 lbs, so he'd be a nice contrast to the smaller Kenneth Walker.
Roschon went at 115 to the Bears, so earlier than I thought. Instead of us drafting a mid-round RB, we drafted an early one (#52, Charbonnet) and a late one (#237, McIntosh). Here we drafted Mike Morris, defensive end.
Round 5, Pick 154: Yaya Diaby, Edge, Louisville
You think PC/JS would be happy with just Tyree Wilson? Maybe... but I could also see them taking someone else as a project, such as Yaya Diaby. One, I like his name. And two, he seems to have all the measurables. He also just seems like a PC/JS kind of guy based on his name and personality.
Unfortunately, we didn't get Diaby, who I would've love saying the name of. He went #82 to the Buccaneers, so I was way off. Instead, we drafted Olusegun Oluwatimi, whose name I'm going to have to learn how to spell correctly without looking up... someday. I'm totally fine with that change. Rumor is that the Hawks were thinking about taking Diaby at #83, but the Bucs sniped him away from us, so the Hawks traded down.
Round 6, Pick 198: Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati
The Hawks may draft two receivers (almost a guarantee to draft at least one), and I could see Tre Tucker coming to us. He's got decent speed, so he could compete with Dee Eskridge for a spot on the roster. The Hawks could use an underneath speedy guy to emerge.
We did not draft a second WR, but we did draft a safety like I thought. Just a bit later than I thought. Tucker ended up going #100 to the Raiders, so again I was way off. The Hawks went with Jerrick Reed, safety, instead. I'm okay with that.
Round 7, Pick 237: Cameron Mitchell, CB, Northwestern
The Hawks may take a corner to see if they can one day be our nickel. Mitchell has the speed and measurables that line up. This could be any position here, but I decided to go with something the Hawks hadn't taken yet.
Funny how the Browns and Raiders took a combined four players that I liked. Mitchell went at 142 to the Browns, so again just so far off. We took Kenny McIntosh, who I love and I think has a good chance of making the roster.
I didn't get any players that the Hawks ended up taking (damn). But I'll say this: I think I prefer the Seahawks draft over the one I had them take. It's close. I would've loved John Michael Schmitz, but if Oluwatimi ends up being as good (or better) than JMS, this draft was an absolute win.
Well, there you have it! I'd be stoked with this draft. Here's what a 53-man roster would look like with this draft:
QB (2) - Geno Smith, Drew Lock
RB (5) - Kenneth Walker III, Deejay Dallas, Roschon Johnson, FA (Undrafted?), Nick Bellore
WR (6) - Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, Jonathan Mingo, Dareke Young, 2 of the 3 of D'Wayne Eskridge/Cade Johnson/Tre Tucker
TE (3) - Noah Fant, Will Dissly, Colby Parkinson
OL (9) - Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas, Jake Curhan, Stone Forsythe, Phil Haynes, Damien Lewis, Evan Brown, John Michael Schmitz, Joey Hunt
DL (5) - Dre'Mont Jones, Bryan Mone, Siaki Ika, Jarran Reed, Myles Adams
Edge (4) - Tyree Wilson, Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor/Yaya Diaby
LB (6) - Bobby Wagner, Devin Bush, Daiyan Henley, Alton Robinson, Tyreke Smith, Vi Jones
CB (5) - Tariq Woolen, Mike Jackson, Coby Bryant, Tre Brown, Cameron Mitchell/Artie Burns
S (5) - Quandre Diggs, Jamal Adams, Julian Love, J.L. Skinner, Joey Blount
ST (3): Jason Myers (K), Michael Dickson (P), Ott/Tinker (LS)
And unlike last year, I'm going to give a quick comment on each position and how they shape up.
QB: Two QB's under contract. Might bring in someone for pre-season, but they likely get cut.
RB: Hawks almost guaranteed to draft one, they'll need someone to replace Penny/Homer. Might have a surprise UFA make the team here.
WR: A draft pick, possibly two make the team.
OL: Starting five would be Cross, Lewis, Schmitz, Haynes, and Lucas.
DL: Ika and Mone are the more traditional nose tackles/run stuffers. The rest are used in pass situations.
Edge: Three of four likely are first or second round picks (this year or in year's past), plus a big FA last year in Nwosu.
LB: Brooks will be on the shelf early on, so I expect the starting 'backers to be a combo of Bush, Wagner, and a draft pick (Henley?).
CB: Honestly, they'll probably draft a CB higher than what I said, but it is what it is.
S: With Neal seemingly on his way out, we will need a safety, especially if we adopt 3 safety sets like it is rumored.
ST: Same as last year.
So, there you have it! It'll be interesting to see if we end up taking any of the guys above. I'll come back after the draft and mention who we took instead and who ended up taking the guy I wanted.