The Seatle Seahawks remind me of a rainstorm that came down hard but now has been turned into a few gusts of wind and drizzle that we can all laugh at. I don’t think there’s any question that the Seahawks are done. Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Cliff Avril, and Jimmy Graham are all gone. Seattle has also failed to address their anemic offensive line and Russell Wilson will have to run around for his life once again. With San Francisco and Los Angeles clearly better, Seattle realistically is fighting for third. More importantly, Pete Carroll is fighting for his job with just one-year left on his deal. What storylines should we keep an eye on during training camp in 2018?
3 Position Battles To Watch:
1. Right Guard: D.J. Fluker, Rees Odhiambo
There’s no better place to start then this horrible offensive line. D.J. Fluker comes to town as a free agent signing from the Giants. Fluker has been largely a bust as a former high draft pick from the Chargers simply because he lacks movement skills. Fluker has been better since moving to guard but he is no world beater by any means. I would expect him to win the job but Rees Odhiambo is in the running. He’s not good either, trust me.
2. Right Tackle: Germain Ifedi, George Fant
Staying with the offensive line, Duane Brown at least adds some legitimacy to the left side. George Fant actually played well last year as a former basketball player but his season was cut short due to injury. We’ll see if he actually comes back healthy. Germain Ifedi was a former first-round pick but he failed miserably at guard. Now he moves to tackle where he played at Texas A&M. Both players are very raw and have some upside but also could be massive trainwrecks.
3. Tight End: Nick Vannett, Ed Dickson, Will Dissly
Russell Wilson needs weapons. Right now it’s Doug Baldwin and a bunch of parts. Even Paul Richardson is gone and he might have been there second best receiver. Jimmy Graham was never a good fit but at least he did damage in the red zone. Right now it’s looking like an ugly group. Nick Vannett will have to step up as a former 4th round pick. He’s never caught more than 12 passes in a season. Ed Dickson was the second tight end in Carolina behind Greg Olsen. Now he probably has to start. He’s even now even entering his 30’s and really hasn’t been super productive even in his role. Will Dissly is nothing more than a 6th offensive lineman and that may be their best strategy considering the woes of their offensive line.
Ready To Breakout: Shaquill Griffin
Shaquill Griffin went from nickel cornerback to superstar. It wasn’t hard to see this coming after Griffin tore up the combine a year ago. Griffin showed quickness and blazing speed along with big-time production right off the bat. Now we’re going to see what Griffin is made of because now he’s the number one guy with Richard Sherman out of town.
Rookie To Watch: Shaquem Griffin
K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner are fantastic linebackers. They both can really tackle and have great range. The problem is the third linebacker spot is kind of a weak point. Shaquem Griffin may just have to be that guy who plays the Leo position. Bruce Irvin used to have that role and really is the last person to thrive in it for Seattle. Shaquem Griffin will get to do what he does best and that’s rush the passer and go chase guys in coverage. I think Griffin is an outstanding player and I think the fit in Seattle suits him well.
The Lead Word – NFL PreDraft Special And NBA Finals – 4.25.18
Fantasy Sleeper: Rashaad Penny
Look, I didn’t love the reach for Rashaad Penny in the first round but they are going to run the ball. This offense is changing but they took Penny in the first round for a reason… The safe bet is that he is the bell cow with Chris Carson backing him up. Penny also adds some value in the passing game as well.
