Seattle, WA
Grading Seattle Seahawks 2022 Draft Class Midway Through Training Camp, Preseason
With two preseason video games and 12 coaching camp practices formally within the books, the Seahawks have gotten their first prolonged have a look at their incoming nine-player draft class.
Whereas a couple of rookies have handled minor accidents alongside the way in which, most of Seattle’s newest class has participated within the majority of camp practices in addition to each exhibition contests towards Pittsburgh and Chicago. This has given coach Pete Carroll and his workers ample time to judge the brand new crop of gamers and a number of other of them have already got vaulted into competition for beginning spots, together with left deal with Charles Cross and cornerback Tariq Woolen.
How have the 9 gamers carried out to this point? Here is a fast progress report with the common season opener now lower than three weeks away:
Charles Cross – Spherical 1, Choose 9
Grade: B
Penalties have been a significant drawback for Cross in his first coaching camp and two preseason video games, because the ex-Mississippi State standout acquired 5 flags in Thursday’s loss to the Bears, together with 4 false begin infractions. However when he hasn’t been drawing yellow from officers, the rookie has appeared the a part of a viable starter at left deal with, excelling in cross safety and performing higher than anticipated within the run recreation to start his NFL profession. Towards the Bears, his most spectacular play got here on the opening drive when he washed star cross rusher Robert Quinn down the road after he tried looping again inside on a stunt, offering a clear pocket for Geno Smith to ship an ideal strike to receiver Freddie Swain, who sadly dropped the cross.
Boye Mafe – Spherical 2, Choose 40
Grade: C+
Seeing in depth snaps on protection and particular groups in his first two preseason video games, when Mafe has flashed, he has tantalized together with his immense bodily instruments and prime flight athleticism. Within the exhibition opener, he adopted up a wonderful effort bringing down a punt returner on particular groups with a strip sack on the very subsequent play, showcasing his upside. Later within the recreation, he chased down Kenny Pickett for a second sack. However the issue has been, as anticipated based mostly on prior feedback by Carroll, that Mafe has been bullied ceaselessly defending the run and setting the sting. He has additionally left a couple of tackles on the sphere as properly, additional illustrating he will not be prepared for greater than a situational cross speeding function at this level.
Ken Walker III – Spherical 2, Choose 41
Grade: B+
After present process a current process for a hernia, Walker’s standing for the common season opener towards Denver stays in query. What is not questionable, nonetheless, is the reigning Doak Walker Award winner’s pace, burst, and suddenness, which he has placed on show all through his first coaching camp. The previous Michigan State star has been certainly one of Seattle’s greatest offensive performers since day one, ripping off a number of lengthy runs whereas flashing underrated catching capacity with 4 receiving touchdowns throughout group drills. Assuming he makes a swift restoration, he and Rashaad Penny ought to function 1A and 1B out of the backfield and each obtain in depth carries within the run recreation.
Abraham Lucas – Spherical 3, Choose 72
Grade: A-
Scroll to Proceed
Like Cross, Lucas got here into the league with relentless questions on his run blocking and professional readiness after starring in Air Raid and Run N’ Shoot offenses at Washington State. However the Everett native has silenced critics in his first two preseason video games, busting out the butter and syrup whereas cooking up 4 pancakes driving defenders into the turf. Most notably, on simply his second snap on Thursday, he bullied a helpless defensive finish seven yards of the ball earlier than ending him to the bottom. He is additionally been regular in cross safety, positioning himself to beat out Jake Curhan and win a direct beginning job at proper deal with.
Coby Bryant – Spherical 4, Choose 109
Grade: B
Whereas Bryant has acquired a grasp class at observe attempting to cowl star receiver Tyler Lockett and surrendered a landing in protection towards the Steelers, he is in any other case loved a terrific first coaching camp with the Seahawks. Constantly getting his palms on the soccer, he is registered quite a few cross breakups within the pink zone, together with denying a landing within the second half of Thursday’s exhibition contest. He is additionally proven off loads of versatility, taking part in completely within the slot in that recreation after lining up at left cornerback in Pittsburgh. At this level, he seems to be primed to play important snaps within the nickel function and could be the starter over Justin Coleman proper off the bat whereas having the upside to start out on the surface down the street.
Tariq Woolen – Spherical 5, Choose 153
Grade: A-
Coming into the league considered as a high-ceiling, but uncooked developmental prospect, Woolen has vastly exceeded expectations. Boasting a uncommon mix of measurement (6-foot-4, 33 1/2-inch arms) and pace (4.26 40-yard sprint), he seems to be like he was engineered in a lab and his one-on-one battles towards DK Metcalf have been should see TV throughout coaching camp, with the rookie profitable a number of of these matchups towards the All-Professional. Responding properly to his first adversity after a blown protection and a number of other missed tackles in his debut, he did not permit a single reception on three targets towards the Bears and did not miss any tackles on Thursday. With every passing day, he seems to be an increasing number of more likely to begin for the Seahawks in Week 1, which few might have foreseen taking place when he was drafted out of UTSA.
Tyreke Smith – Spherical 5, Choose 158
Grade: D+
When Smith has been on the observe discipline, he has made some good issues occur, producing a trio of pressures in two padded periods. Sadly, he is been out for the remainder of camp with hip accidents and has but to go well with up for a preseason recreation. By merely not being out there, he is put himself on the roster bubble at a place with high quality expertise and depth. Getting again on the sphere for the exhibition finale in Dallas could also be crucial for his probabilities of sticking on the 53-man roster.
Bo Melton – Spherical 7, Choose 229
Grade: C-
Boasting sub-4.35 pace, Melton hasn’t had any points creating separation or getting open towards NFL cornerbacks. Nonetheless, because the first day of camp, drops have been a persistent drawback which have plagued him. The previous Rutgers star has improved his probabilities of making the group up to now two weeks, particularly after a robust debut in Pittsburgh, however he might want to do extra together with his alternatives to safe a spot at one of many deepest place teams on the roster.
Dareke Younger – Spherical 7, Choose 233
Grade: B
A little bit of a thriller leaping to the NFL from a Division II college, Younger has been one of many greatest surprises for Seattle’s incoming draft class. Proper off the bat, he developed a robust rapport with Drew Lock, catching 4 passes from him in his second camp observe. The 2 connected in Pittsburgh for a landing and although he did not report a catch towards Chicago, he is been a constant playmaker on the surface and given his attractive athletic traits, he is put himself into a great spot to keep away from the waiver wire and make Seattle’s roster out of the gate.
Seattle, WA
Seattle Weather: Dry with sunshine Monday, late rain and wind return
SEATTLE – Showers this evening will slowly decrease overnight, with mild temperatures overnight. We will see dry skies to start the week, but we will be seeing a lot more rain by the middle of the week.
Showers this evening will slowly decrease overnight, with mild temperatures.
It was a mild evening, with highs today in the low 50s through this evening.
It was a mild evening, with highs today in the low 50s through this evening.
Showers will slowly taper overnight, with lows by Monday morning staying very mild.
Showers will slowly taper overnight, with lows by Monday morning staying very mild. (FOX 13 Seattle)
Skies will be dry for most of Monday with sunshine in the forecast, clouds return by the evening hours.
Skies will be dry for most of Monday with sunshine in the forecast, clouds return by the evening hours.
Temperatures will again be well above average, peaking in the low 50s. Rain returns by 11pm for Western Washington along with more wind.
Temperatures will again be well above average, peaking in the low 50s. Rain returns by 11pm for Western Washington along with more wind.
We will also see increasing wind speeds later Monday with the strongest gusts coming from the east through the Cascade gaps and through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
We will also see increasing wind speeds later Monday with the strongest gusts coming from the east through the Cascade gaps and through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Another around of atmospheric moisture will move into Western Washington Wednesday and Thursday for more rain, wind, and mountain snow. We will see more rain and breezy conditions and pass level snow through next weekend.
Another around of atmospheric moisture will move into Western Washington Wednesday and Thursday for more rain, wind, and mountain snow.
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Seattle, WA
Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson lead surging Vikings past Seahawks 27-24
SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold connected with a well-covered Justin Jefferson with 3:51 left for his third TD pass of the game, and the Minnesota Vikings outlasted Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 on Sunday to keep pace with Detroit for the top spot in the NFC.
After the Seahawks took the lead on Smith’s third TD pass, Darnold led a 30-second drive that was aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty. He stepped up in a collapsing pocket and launched a deep ball that Jefferson hauled in just short of the goal line with two defenders closing in.
Jefferson finished with 10 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns as the Vikings (13-2) won their eighth straight. If they can beat Green Bay and Detroit to close out the season, they will earn the top seed in the conference and a first-round playoff bye.
Darnold threw for multiple touchdowns for the 11th time this season and more than 200 yards for the 10th. He finished 22 of 35 for 246 yards, helping Kevin O’Connell become the first Vikings coach with multiple 13-win seasons.
Not bad for a veteran who was signed to a one-year deal as a placeholder after the Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason.
Smith threw for 314 yards and his 4-yard TD pass to AJ Barner gave the Seahawks a 24-20 lead with 4:41 left, but he couldn’t rally Seattle (8-7) after Jefferson’s TD catch. Jason Myers missed a 60-yard field goal try after the two-minute warning, and Theo Jackson picked off Smith with 49 seconds left to seal it.
The Seahawks have lost two straight after a four-game winning streak and fell one game behind the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West.
Smith also had scoring passes of 25 yards to DK Metcalf and 18 yards to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He was also intercepted twice. Smith-Njigba had eight receptions for 95 yards.
Minnesota improved to 8-1 in one-score games this season.
The Vikings ran a 12-play opening drive, consuming 6:54 on the way to a 7-0 lead on Darnold’s 5-yard pass to Jordan Addison, who was open in the middle of the end zone for his third catch of the series.
Smith found Metcalf in man-to-man coverage with Stefon Gilmore early in the second quarter in the right corner of the end zone. It was Metcalf’s first TD reception since Week 7.
Darnold responded two drives later to make it 14-7 on a 14-yard pass to Jefferson over Tre Brown, who was left in single coverage on the All-Pro’s corner route.
Joshua Metellus pressured Smith on the first play of Seattle’s ensuing drive and Dallas Turner stepped in front of a pass to Noah Fant for an interception that set up Minnesota at the Seattle 31. The Vikings settled for Will Reichard’s 52-yard field goal after Boye Mafe sacked Darnold.
Smith drove the Seahawks 88 yards in 1:05 on five plays to cut the lead to 17-14 with 20 seconds left in the half. He found Smith-Njigba three times on the drive. The first, a 13-yard reception, put the second-year player over 1,000 yards receiving for the first time. The second, for 25 yards to the Vikings 18, drew a biceps flex from Smith-Njigba for the cheering crowd. And the third went for the score.
Receiving milestones
Metcalf shook off a long scoreless streak to catch his 47th career TD with the Seahawks. That helped him pass Hall of Fame receiver Steve Largent and move into sixth on the team’s career touchdown list.
Smith-Njigba became the 10th Seahawks receiver to record a 1,000-yard season.
Injuries
Vikings: S Harrison Smith (foot) was inactive, missing a game for the first time since 2022.
Seahawks: Placed LB Trevis Gipson (ankle) on injured reserve. … RB Kenneth Walker III left the game with an ankle injury.
Up next
Vikings: Host Green Bay next Sunday.
Seahawks: At Chicago on Thursday.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Seattle, WA
Here are the Remaining First Base Options For the Seattle Mariners This Offseason
The Seattle Mariners, in need of some help at first base this offseason, are at risk of being left out in the cold.
The M’s have Luke Raley already at first, but he could stand a right-handed hitting platoon partner. In the last few days, several options have come off the board as Christian Walker signed with the Houston Astros, Paul Goldschmidt signed with the New York Yankees, Josh Naylor was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Carlos Santana signed with the Cleveland Guardians.
The Santana news was especially devastating, as it seemed like a reunion with him was essentially a lay-up earlier in the offseason.
Pete Alonso is still on the market, but the Mariners seem unwilling to meet the asking price for him. Thus, the options are dwindling rapidly, with Jeff Passan of ESPN taking stock of where the market is at right now:
Over the last 24 hours:
Christian Walker to Houston
Paul Goldschmidt to the New York Yankees
Josh Naylor to Arizona
Carlos Santana to Cleveland
1B still available in free agency: Pete Alonso, Anthony Rizzo, Josh Bell, Ty France. In trades: LaMonte Wade Jr. and Nathaniel Lowe.
Rizzo is out because the M’s don’t need a left-hander. Again, Alonso is likely out because of money. France, who was DFA’d by the Mariners in July, could be a possibility on the short side of the platoon with Raley. Justin Turner was omitted from that list, but he also remains a reunion possibility for Seattle.
In 48 games with the Mariners after a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays this past season, he hit .264 with five homers, 24 RBI and a .363 on-base percentage. He helped the M’s get to within one game of the playoffs.
For the season as a whole, he hit .259 with 11 homers.
Turner just finished the 16th year of his career with the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Blue Jays and Mariners. He’s a .285 lifetime hitter who helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 2020. He just turned 40 years old.
As for France, after being acquired by the Mariners during the COVID 2020 season, he was a firm part of the team’s rebuild, earning an All-Star appearance in 2022 and helping the team break the long playoff drought.
However, France slumped to a poor 2023 and also struggled in 2024 before being designated for assignment. He latched on with the Cincinnati Reds for the final 52 games of the season.
Lifetime, France is a .263 hitter. He hit .250 with the Mariners in 2023 but saw his power dissipate, hitting only 12 homers. He had just eight homers in 88 games for Seattle this year. He did hit five in Cincinnati. He’s still only 30 years old.
Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE:
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