Seattle, WA

Why Seattle Seahawks Should Start Drew Lock Over Geno Smith

Published

2 years ago

August 20, 2022

Why Seattle Seahawks Should Start Drew Lock Over Geno Smith

There needs to be no query that the Seattle Seahawks ought to begin Drew Lock over Geno Smith this … [+] season. (Picture by Justin Berl/Getty Photos)

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Merely put, the Seattle Seahawks ought to begin Drew Lock over Geno Smith coming into the 2022 season.

Regardless of lacking the Seahawks’ second preseason sport versus the Chicago Bears — a sport through which Lock was because of begin earlier than testing optimistic for COVID-19 — Lock’s inventory rose within the quarterback competitors because of Smith’s abysmal efficiency.

In Seattle’s ugly 27-11 loss to Chicago, Smith led zero scoring drives — Jason Myers missed a 47-yard discipline purpose — and went 10-of-18 for 112 yards and no touchdowns.

Sure, it’s true that it was one preseason sport. Nevertheless it additionally adopted the preseason opener through which Lock outperformed Smith simply after the previous had outplayed the latter in a mock scrimmage sport.

It’s clear that head coach Pete Carroll is giving Lock each alternative to win the beginning job. Sadly, Smith hasn’t completed something horrible to really lose his maintain on the job. It’s a stranglehold on the job that Smith at present holds because of his seniority on the roster, having joined the Seahawks again in 2019.

The underside line is that this — Lock is extra dynamic and might really transfer the ball down the sector along with his arm. Smith is healthier at caring for the soccer, however he gained’t win any video games for you when compelled to attain. There’s a cause he hasn’t served as a full-time starter for the reason that 2014 season.

Fox Sports activities draft analyst Rob Rang explains that’s the very cause why Smith nonetheless has the within monitor on the beginning QB job regardless of Lock outperforming him within the preseason.

“With Geno, you realize what you are going to get, so it is simpler to sport plan,” Rang mentioned. “It is simpler to anticipate what the rating goes to be, so you’ll be able to higher put together your self for what your opponent would possibly do. Geno Smith and his expertise generally is a little little bit of a safety blanket for Pete Carroll.”

No matter who the Seahawks decide to go together with as their beginning quarterback, they’ll be one of many worst groups within the league. Seattle is clearly setting itself as much as choose excessive within the 2023 NFL draft, the place the quarterback class might be deep with elite prospects similar to Alabama’s Bryce Younger and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.

However you would possibly as properly see what it’s possible you’ll probably have in Lock whilst you have the possibility to. In Smith, you already know what you could have — a profession backup who is barely in competition to begin because of his expertise within the system. The 31-year-old Smith went 1-2 because the Seahawks’ beginning quarterback final season because the offense averaged simply 20.3 factors per sport in his begins. By comparability, Seattle averaged 23.8 factors per sport in Russell Wilson’s begins.

In spite of everything, Lock’s potential was an enormous cause why the Seahawks had him included within the Wilson commerce.

“When Drew got here out of school — we made our assessments and evaluated him [for] the draft — we noticed him as an enormous, strong-armed, cellular, aggressive, athletic quarterback,” Carroll mentioned again in March. “He had thrown a ton of footballs. He had a really aggressive program the place you bought to see him do all the things … and we actually preferred what we noticed. We are able to nonetheless see that. We see that proper now once we watch the movie.”

Nevertheless, Carroll harassed that Lock wants to chop down on his turnovers.

“Sadly for him, his play has come about the place there’s quite a lot of turnovers in his sport,” Carroll mentioned. “That simply doesn’t match with us. We simply have to repair that. We have now to vary the mentality and do the issues that we will do to assist him be his finest.”

Lock did have a pricey turnover on the finish of the preseason opener versus the Pittsburgh Steelers that finally led to the Steelers’ game-winning landing. Nevertheless, outdoors of that fumble, Lock had a near-perfect efficiency, going 11-for-15 for 102 yards, two touchdowns and a 131.1 quarterback score.

“I feel that Geno Smith wins the job, however I nonetheless consider that Drew Lock is the extra gifted quarterback,” Rang mentioned. “The crucial error that led to the sack [in Pittburgh] — shedding the ball and shedding the sport — that is the form of stuff that we have seen with Drew Lock in Denver.

Lock is clearly the extra gifted quarterback. However his present bout with COVID-19 might set him again in his quest to win the beginning job earlier than the season opener.

The Seahawks will probably go together with outdated dependable — Smith — for the season opener versus the Broncos. However the offense will clearly be stagnant with Smith working the present and Seattle will flip to Lock quickly sufficient.

In Lock, there’s potential. In Smith, there’s mediocrity.

It’s not a tough determination to make, Seattle.

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Seattle, WA

MLB insider reports on Mariners' trade pursuits

Published

5 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

MLB insider reports on Mariners' trade pursuits

With a struggling lineup and a bullpen that’s been hampered by injuries, the first-place Seattle Mariners certainly have some clear needs to address ahead of the July 30 MLB trade deadline.

Big Game Hunting: Two splashy potential Mariners trade targets

According to one MLB insider, that process is already underway.

“The Mariners already have begun talking with teams about possible trades, with the deadline exactly one month away,” MLB Network’s Jon Morosi posted Sunday morning on social media. “For now, Seattle’s focus is an everyday bat and bullpen help.”

The Mariners already have begun talking with teams about possible trades, with the deadline exactly one month away. For now, Seattle’s focus is an everyday bat and bullpen help. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) June 30, 2024

The Mariners currently sit atop the American League West at 47-38, holding a 4.5-game lead over the second-place Houston Astros and a nine-game lead over the Texas Rangers. Seattle has built that lead with its elite starting rotation, which leads the majors with 50 quality starts and ranks fourth with a starting pitching ERA of 3.41.

However, the Mariners’ exceptional starting pitching has been contrasted by an offense that sits at or near the bottom of the majors in nearly every major statistical category. Seattle ranks 27th in runs per game (3.87), dead-last in batting average (.218), 25th in on-base percentage (.298), 26th in slugging percentage (.366) and 26th in OPS (.664). The Mariners also have the highest strikeout rate at 27.9%, which is 1.6% higher than the the next-closest team.

Bats aren’t Seattle’s only need, though. The Mariners’ injury-depleted bullpen could also use some help. Over the first month of the season, Seattle’s bullpen led the majors in WHIP (1.04) and ranked third in ERA (2.56). But since May 1, the Mariners’ bullpen ranks 23rd in ERA (4.59) and 15th in WHIP (1.25).

The Mariners have been without two of their top three relievers this season, with Matt Brash out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery and Gregory Santos missing the first half of the season with a lat strain. Gabe Speier also is on the 15-day injured list with a rotator cuff strain, Tayler Saucedo missed three weeks with a hyperextended knee and closer Andrés Muñoz recently missed a few days earlier this month after aggravating a lower-back issue.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Rowland-Smith: What stands out about Mariners pitchers’ recent hiccups
• Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez putting in extra work to solve struggles
• Mariners Injury Update: Latest on Bryan Woo, Gabe Speier and more
• Mariners reliever Gregory Santos to begin rehab assignment
• Rost: The two things about first-place Seattle Mariners’ season that are baffling

Follow @CameronVanTil

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Seattle, WA

Byron Buxton helps Twins send Seattle Mariners to 5-1 loss

Published

13 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

Byron Buxton helps Twins send Seattle Mariners to 5-1 loss

SEATTLE (AP) — Byron Buxton extended Minnesota’s home run streak to 18 straight games with a three-run shot in the sixth inning, Pablo López allowed one run over six innings, and the Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 5-1 on Saturday night.

Minnesota Twins 5, Seattle Mariners 1: Box Score

Minnesota improved to 5-3 on its current nine-game road trip and got the 5,000th win in franchise history since the Twins moved from Washington prior to the 1961 season.

Buxton homered for the second time in three games, this time breaking the game open with a shot off Seattle reliever Trent Thornton with two outs in the sixth inning. Thornton was on the verge of escaping trouble after the first two batters of the inning reached, but he left a 2-2 fastball in the middle of the plate and Buxton didn’t miss for his eighth homer of the season.

“He’s finding ways to just have good at-bats, put himself in good counts. But the swing, I’ve said a couple of times before, looks very synched up. It looks very tight and it’s very impactful. He’s finding the barrel and the ball just really takes off when he’s putting good swings on the ball,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said.

Minnesota’s 18-game streak of long balls is tied for the franchise record set last season between April 18 and May 6, 2023. It’s the second-longest streak in the majors this season behind Baltimore’s 22-game stretch earlier this month, and the Twins have hit 29 homers during the span.

Buxton also had a two-out RBI double in the fourth inning off Seattle starter Bryce Miller that barely eluded the diving attempt of Luke Raley in left field. The four RBIs were a season high for Buxton and the most since July 21, 2023, against the White Sox.

Buxton is hitting .478 with four homers and four doubles on the current road trip.

“Once you figure out what you don’t have to search for the whole time going into the cage, not spending 40 minutes on that one little piece you’re trying to figure out it kind of simplifies the game a little bit more,” Buxton said. “When I say, ‘see ball, hit ball,’ it’s more just about simplifying it to just go out there and have a quality at-bat.”

Coming off a 14-strikeout performance in his last start, López (8-6) scattered four hits and struck out nine. He’s allowed six hits and one earned run in his last 14 innings, and retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced.

Seattle’s only run off López came via Mitch Haniger’s solo homer in the third inning. It was Haniger’s seventh homer of the season but his first since May 14.

Miller (6-7) was lifted after five innings and only allowing two runs. But he had to work to get through those five innings throwing 87 pitches and with the heart of the Twins order coming up in the sixth.

Miller allowed five hits and struck out six.

“He did have to throw a lot of offspeed pitches tonight, probably the most he’s thrown all year, but he was able to work through it,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “It wasn’t easy. … He had to grind through it.”

UP NEXT

Twins: RHP Joe Ryan (5-5, 3.31) has pitched at least six innings in his last four starts. He allowed four runs over six innings in his last outing against Arizona.

Mariners: RHP Luis Castillo (6-9, 3.79) will throw on normal rest rather than giving him two extra days off and having him start Tuesday’s series opener against Baltimore. Castillo has lost three of his last four starts.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Big Game Hunting: Two splashy potential Mariners trade targets
• Rost: The two things about first-place Mariners’ season that are baffling
• Rowland-Smith: What stands out about Mariners pitchers’ recent hiccups
• Mariners Injury Update: Latest on Bryan Woo, Gabe Speier and more
• Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez putting in extra work to solve struggles

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Seattle, WA

2024 NHL Draft Recap: Every pick the Seattle Kraken made

Published

19 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

2024 NHL Draft Recap: Every pick the Seattle Kraken made

The 2024 NHL Draft continued starting with the second round Saturday, and the Seattle Kraken kicked off the day in a similar fashion to Friday’s first round by tapping into an in-state Western Hockey League squad.

Morosi: Why Dan Bylsma is ‘best possible’ coach for Seattle Kraken

Rounds 2 through 7 took place on the draft’s second and final day. Here’s a look at the seven players Seattle picked on Saturday, plus Friday’s first-round pick.

Round 1

Eighth overall: Berkly Catton, C

The Kraken kicked off their fourth draft as a franchise by taking a talented offensive prospect in Catton from the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. The 18-year-old center racked up 54 goals and 62 assists with the Chiefs last season. Catton, a 5 foot 10, 170-pounder, was the WHL Rookie of the Year in 2022-23 with 23 goals and 22 assists.

🎥BERKLY CATTON – HIGHLIGHT REEL🎥
The purrfect highlight reel doesn’t exi—@spokanechiefs | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/EMoIJ3MfkP
— The WHL (@TheWHL) June 28, 2024

The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native is a left-handed shot and the eighth-ranked North American skater in the draft, according to NHL Central Scouting.

Round 2

40th overall: Julius Miettinen, C

Seattle’s second pick came from one of Spokane’s cross-state division rivals in the WHL. Miettinen, a 6 foot 3, 203-pounder, netted 31 goals and added 36 assists for the Everett Silvertips last season.

Hey @SeattleKraken.
You’re gonna LOVE Julius Miettinen.#SeaKraken | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/6SiKXEBKq7
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) June 29, 2024

The Helsinki, Finland, native is another left-handed-shooting centerman, but much larger in stature than Catton. Miettinen was a late riser on draft boards, moving from 49th to 18th in NHL Central Scouting’s final international skater rankings.

63rd overall: Nathan Villeneuve, C

The Kraken continued their early run on centers by taking Villeneuve from the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves with their second second-round pick. Villeneuve, an Ottawa, Ontario, native, amassed 23 goals and 27 assists in 56 games with the Wolves last season.

2024 #NHLDraft prospect Nathan Villeneuve capped the @Sudbury_Wolves‘ comeback Friday night with the OT winner! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/80ZoZy4B9C
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) February 24, 2024

The 5-foot-11, 192-pounder made it three for three in terms of left-handed shooters taken early by Seattle. Villeneuve, 18, is the 60th-ranked North American skater.

Round 3

73rd overall: Alexis Bernier, D

Bernier, 18, had four goals and 27 assists in 67 games for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League last season. Bernier, a 6-foot-1, 189-pound right-handed shot, is the 62nd-ranked North American skater.

88th overall: Kim Saarinen, G

Saarinen, 17, is a big-bodied goaltender who played across multiple levels in Finland this past season. The 6-foot-4, 176-pounder from Finland is the third-ranked international goalie.

Round 4

105th overall: Oliver Josephson, C

Josephson, 17, was the third left-handed WHL centerman taken by the Kraken. He totaled 12 goals and 35 assists for the Red Deer Rebels last season. Josephson, who measures in at 6-foot, 178 pounds, is the 40th-ranked North American skater.

It’s a shortie for Ollie Josephson!@Rebelshockey | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/dPIfYJeeGH
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 6, 2023
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Round 5

141st overall: Clarke Caswell, LW

Caswell, 18, scored 26 goals and dished out 51 assists for the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos last season. The 5 foot 11, 170-pounder is the 77th-ranked North American skater.

Round 7

202nd overall: Jakub Fibigr, D

Fibigr, 17, netted seven goals and had 36 assists in 61 games for the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League last season. The 6-foot, 171-pounder is a left-handed shot and the 67th-ranked North American skater.

Potential Sonics return may have played role in Kraken coach change

Follow @ZacHereth

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