Bold Seattle Seahawks Training Camp Predictions Part 1: Offense

Bold Seattle Seahawks Training Camp Predictions Part 1: Offense

Believe It or Not Seahawks training camp is just around the corner 12 days away what can we expect to see on the offensive side of the football it’s bold prediction time here on Blue Friday on locked on Seahawks you are locked on Seahawks your daily Seattle Seahawks podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day greetings 12 this is Corbin Smith the host of the locked on Seahawks podcast your daily Seahawks podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day glad to be joined here on our blue Friday episode by my Coast Nick Lee and a special thanks to all the twelves who were tuning in whether you’re listening in nearby Bramton Washington or in gley Colorado we greatly appreciate each and every one of you for making lock on Seahawks your first listen five days a week we are 12 days away from Train Camp Nick it it is almost here and I know there’s some people saying oh this is too early this year but if you’re somebody like me and even for you the baseball guy that you are there’s excitement when the when training camp starts a couple days earlier than scheduled we get into the NFL season and with that we’re going to be talking tight ends today we’ve got our 90 man countdown sneaking into the teams we’re getting into the nitty-gritty with some of the key impact players for the Seattle Seahawks and this episode is brought your way by Game Time download the game time app create an account and use the code locked in NFL for $20 off your first purchase terms apply now for your lead story here otter blue Friday edition of locked on Seahawks as I just mentioned and I’m going to keep saying this over and over again because I’m just getting giddy we’re 12 days away from the started training camp and Nick this has become an annual thing for us a week or two before Camp opens we like to start our bold predictions and we’re just looking at training camp in particular this has nothing to do with week one it has nothing to do with week 13 regular season we’re not getting there yet this is just predictions for what we are going to see unfold during training camp and we may sneak a few preseason references in there as well but what we expect to see end of July into August and we’re going to do it on the offensive side of the football and sir I’m going to give you the mic first and give you the opportunity to drop your first maybe it’s not the most bold prediction but prediction for what we’re going to see on offense for the Seahawks in training camp well there’s that old Trope you know best shape of his life and I was if I was going if I were going to uh you know think of candidates for that Trope this year I’m gonna go Charles cross um and and he’s gonna come in and excite people um you know just how he looks maybe slightly slightly different physique maybe or just you know Rejuvenation or whatever it is he’s going to excite people about a possible Pro Bowl level leap in year three um just with you know I know it’s really hard to tell that in training camp but just there there there could be these like oh Charles cross looks different this year whether that be in this technique and his and his game what or his physique whatever um and you know just looking at his numbers he he’s it’s been a slow burn obviously the last the F the first two years but last year was a little better than his rookie year and I think that maybe even this new coaching staff we’ve we’ve vaunted this new coaching staff especially in the offensive line and um and the offensive coaching staff so um I’m gonna I’m going to go ahead and say that Charles cross comes into camp and looks like he could make that leap like a top 10 pick like we expect my first buold take wouldn’t even have been on my list if Pete Carroll and Shane Waldren and all those coaches were still employed because last year Jake Bobo was the darling of Seahawks training camp the more Bobo movement and if the same coaching staff was here you would think that he’d be in pretty darn good shape but this is an all brand new coaching staff and we’re talking about a guy who isn’t a burner by any sense of the word he’s not a great athlete for the receiver position and you’re going into year two with a bunch of really talented receivers ahead of you and so I can speak for other beat reporters that I’ve talked to that have been some of them have been borderline skeptical that Jake Bobo was gonna make this football team and I’m just gonna say this right now not only is he gonna make this football team my prediction is he’s going to be the darling of training camp again I watch this kid get too touch touchdowns in mandatory mini camp he’s got arguably the best hands on this entire football team and that’s including Jackson Smith and jig and Tyler Lockett like this guy catches everything that’s thrown his Direction when the pads come on he’s gonna endear himself more to this coaching staff with his blocking his willingness to do the Dirty Work special teams and so I think Jake Bobo in year two he’s gonna have to replicate this effort but I think he’s already got a foot in the door here because he was really impressive in OTAs and mini camp he was getting a ton of reps with the starting offense Gino Smith has the utmost trust in him and throws the football to him a lot so yeah he’s receiver number four but I think he is going to solidify that roster spot for any doubters out there I think he’s going to do it early in Camp and I think he’s gonna have a very strong camp in Ryan Grub’s offense and kind of going the opposite side of the spectrum talk about going from a guy who made waves last year who made an impact who was on the field and made plays Kenny McIntosh was fairly Anonymous and you know it’s not his fault with the injury I’m going to go with he’s going to take a strangle hold yeah that’s the word I’m going to use there a strangle hold on the third down third string running back immediately he’s going to put those to bed he’s going to be healthy he’s going to look great um some of that is is the gap between MacIntosh and guys like George helani Kobe Lewis Ricky pson that there’s I think there’s a there’s a spec there’s a defined line there at Kenny McIntosh just after him for you know talent and you know just skill set and I think he fits the mold he fits the mold that you’d like in the third down back and he he didn’t quite get the full opportunity last year think he’s gonna come in hungry and maybe a little ticked off about how last year went and I think he’s going to put those discussions to bed fairly early and Kenny McIntosh will make this team and make an impact my second prediction is one that if we were doing this two or three weeks ago there’s no way I would have went down this rabbit hole but what we now know about Abraham Lucas we continue to see very encouraging video seeing him moving around lifting without a brace I’ve had some conversations with some well-informed people on Abraham lucas’ status and this is my prediction I think he is on the field by the third training camp practice so maybe he starts in the pup list but he ain’t going to be there very long that’s my bold prediction is that he’s going to be back on the field by the third practice and there won’t be setbacks I think the Seahawks have played this the right way they haven’t rushed him back for o TA or mini camp they’ve made sure that he was ready to go they’re going to wean him back in he isn’t just going to get thrown into the fire getting all the snaps the first team but I am much more optimistic about Abraham Lucas and this would be huge for the Seahawks offensive line and just their offense in general if you can have a healthy explosive that was the biggest issue last year when Lucas played he did not have the explosiveness of the line to knock people back if you have a 100% healthy Abraham Lucas that is a game Cher for this offense so not only do I think that he is going to avoid having a lengthy stay at all in the pup list I expect no setbacks with this I think he when he returns they’re going to wean it back in and he’s gonna be ready to go which would be a huge win for the Seahawks offense segue segue into what our second segment will be I’m excited about AJ Barner I just I just like his makeup I like his attitude everything I’ve read about him quotes about him quotes from him I just like what I see I think he’s going to excit in so we’ll go to the preseason game part of this for me he’s not going to catch one but two touchdowns in preseason games and excite people about the playmaking ability that you really didn’t see at Michigan but it wasn’t really his fault it’s just kind of how it you know it broke with the offense there and I think that maybe remind people of an a will disley 2.0 where a guy who really didn’t get to put on his full display his pass catching ability is athleticism because he was primarily a Blocker in college and still while qual blocker will surprise people with his hands and his athleticism and he’ll get he’ll get to put that on full display in a preseason game or two and make and make an impact there I’m gonna stay on the offensive line for my final prediction and I was having a good time with Greg Bell yesterday on the show and and we were laughing about the Right Guard situation it almost feels like an Abbott and Castello skit who’s at Right Guard you know and we’ve got a three-way competition that I expect early on is going to be a three-way comp competition but this is my prediction at that spot Nick Christian Haynes is going to secure the Right Guard job before the preseason opener I think he’s gonna get his opportunity to get his first first team reps remember he was only with the second team during the offseason program I think he’s gonna get that first opportunity in the first few training camp practices and once the pads come out I think that’s where everything is going to lean towards the rookie this is a player that if you watch his Yukon tape he gets after it he mauls people he’s got pass protection ability he’s a physical player those are things you can’t quantify during OTAs in mini camp because there are no pads they’re not hitting guys so I think when the pads come on he is going to separate himself from the other two and I’m even going to go as far as saying mclenon Curtis is the one that gives him the most competition not Anthony Bradford and I think that’ll surprise some people but I think Christian Haynes is gonna lock this down it’s going to be similar to what a Lucas did at right tackle a few years ago to Jake keran where by that first preseason game it was his position to lose I think Christian Haynes is going to do that at the Right Guard spot entering his rookie season up next is Nick already mentioned we’re going to be talking some tight ends here going to a new look position a lot of new faces in Ryan Grub’s offense we’re going to be breaking that position group down in our latest training camp preview that is up next here on our blue Friday edition of lockon Seahawks this episode of lockon Seahawks brought your your way by eBay Motors passion drive and patience it’s what brings home the winning Trophy and it also keeps alive eBay Motors that every maintain your vehicle and level it up to Peak Performance whether it’s superchargers roof racks LED headlights steering wheel covers windshield windshield wiper fluid whatever you’re looking for whether you’re into speed power or style eBay Motors has got you covered with over 122 million parts for your number one ride or die you always find exactly what you’re looking for and with eBay’s guaranteed fit your part is guaranteed to fit your ride every time or your money back because with eBay Motors you’re going to be burning rubber not cash with all the parts you need at all the prices you want it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win keep your ride or die alive at ebaymotors.com eligible items only exclusions apply eBay guaranteed fit only available to us customers welcome back to the blue Friday edition of locked on Seahawks this is your host Corbin Smith glad to be joined here on Today’s Show by my co-host Nick Lee and a special thanks to all the twelves who are listening in thank you as always for making locked on Seahawks your first listen five days a week we greatly appreciate it are you tired of the screaming on Fox Sports or ESPN well give locked on sports today an opportunity to get your Insight your breaking news the top stories of the day in all the major sports without the screaming you can listen to Locked on sports today on YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcast just make sure to subscribe part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day continuing our training camp preview I’m going to keep mentioning this we’re 12 days away from the start of training camp and so let’s talk tight ends now as we continue our position by position preview and this is a group that is much different looking than last year no more will dley he’s now with the Chargers no more Kobe Parkinson he’s with the Rams Seahawks will see him twice this upcoming season in NFC West battles Noah Fant being the only significant contributor that’s returning and the Seahawks gave him a pretty good contract with the expectation Nick that he’s going to be a bigger piece of the puzzle in this offense and I have some optimism on that front just because I’ve seen what Ryan grub did the last two years with his tight ends at Washington they might not have been the focal points but they certainly did their damage when they need to in the passing game and they were involved more than I think a lot of conventional fans maybe understand the tight ends were a bigger part of that passing game than the common narrative suggests so Noah Fant is going to get maybe that opportunity to be more productive at the same time though it’s going to boil down to you got one football is that going to be a situation that still prevents Seattle with all the receiving Talent they have from really maximizing his talent yeah I don’t think Noah Fant comes back unless there’s an understanding that he’s going to be a bigger part of this offense you know two straight years of less than 500 yards inexplicably was left out of the inzone last year he the Gap in talent and tools or at least the tools maybe not talent’s not fair but in in the tools and experience between Noah fan and the rest of the tight end room is fairly large at this point um he’s got over four times the career receiving yards is the next closest tight end in this room um so he he’s he’s pretty much the whole package of tight end what you want then no Farah Brown of course is he was the top 12 run blocking tight end in football last year for the Patriots I like what he brings is you know change of pace it’s not necessarily going to be he’s not going to blow you away with the receiver numbers but he’s he can be that you know two tight end set run blocking kind of tight end so Noah Fant is your pass catching athletic you know toolsy type of no of tight end Farah Brown more of the Run blocking side he can he can hold us on the receiver end too but um guy that I’ve already talked about AJ Barner the rookie limited role as a pass catcher at Michigan should but you know with his blocking ability what he was asked to do at Michigan I can see him being two three tight end sets goal line maybe some exciting you know plays there 82nd percentile for height 93rd for wingspan he’s a big guy but got some athleticism so um I would imagine those are the top three as far as tight ends go and and kind of going down the list it feels like Tyler Ma has been part of the team since the Obama Administration I mean just um I don’t know why that feels that way but it does um and I think it’s a CO related thing I mean those guys who were undrafted rookies that came in in 20 with the co rules I mean we know how long and how stressful That season was even for those of us in the media like not being able to go to games like you could have but what was the point you weren’t going to get to interview players or anything like it was just a really odd season in NFL history and I think that does rub off some of the guys that came in then that felt like they were there for three years and it was one so yeah 2020 felt like three years three times um yeah so just going down the list but obviously you know no offense the Alpha in the room phell Brown will be your blocking AJ barner’s a bit more of a wild card just with his his he’s he’s a very unknown quantity at this point which could be in the Seahawks favor I think that he could break you know maybe a bit of a will disley 2.0 where he didn’t get to Showcase his full skill set in college and then he’ll surprise people early on in the season yeah and barner’s got more athletic tools than what will dley did coming into the NFL I I think stats you a lot of times have to look for context especially with College because you know it’s so you know when you have so many teams you’re talking 130 teams that are at the FBS level and there’s you know there’s some stuff that teams do down there that doesn’t work in the NFL and Personnel is used differently and so Barner is really I don’t even know if I want to use the term wild card because I feel like he’s gonna have to play some snaps for this offense with the tight end defections they had in this room I expect he’s going to play a lot of snaps in special teams he was a really good special team player but when you watch the film of him catching passes he was pretty fluid catching the ball and breaking tackles and getting some yards after the catch he just didn’t get many opportunities because Michigan they typically just turned around and handed it off to their running backs and why not it worked extremely well for the national champions last year but Barner was a big part of that too with his blocking he is a player that I’m very intrigued by going into this process and as you mentioned Tyler mabery it does I’ve made this remark before and I’m going to say again just because I’m a huge Van Wilder fan to me he is the Van Wilder of the Seahawks practice squad like he has been on their practice squad as you said since the Obama Administration and you know maybe he does that again because now there’s not rules limiting as far as how much experience a guy can have and it’s not like he’s played in a lot of regular season games anyway but I wonder if Brady Russell might be the one that has the edge there because maybery has played some special teams Brady Russell actually suited up for 15 games for the Seahawks last though they’ve got to have some guys step up with Nick balour no longer being here Cody Barton left a couple years ago I mean there’s some big defections as far as special teams leaders Brady Russell could be one of those guys and so that might be his Pathway to Leap Frog over Tyler mayy and maybe be in the hunt for a fourth tight end spot because he’s a core special teams player so I would keep a really close eye on him and he’s a guy that can catch the ball a little bit we didn’t get a chance to see that last year but maybe in preseason he shows that off really The X Factor though in this group is Jack Westover and and we’ve talked about him quite a bit on this podcast not just because I coached him briefly at Mount sa side but this kid his progression from walk-on to being maybe the most clutch receiving weapon on Washington’s offense I’m not kidding with that I mean how many times in big situations did Jack West over come up with huge catches for the Huskies the last two years and he has that major feather in his cap that he has played in Ryan grubs offense the last couple of years he’s got people like Gino Smith in his ear trying to get all the Insight of this offense I I just feel like Jack West over is still that guy I don’t know if he makes this team or not but he is the player here that I’m looking at thinking there’s a lot of advantages that work in his favor and oh by the way he’s a pretty darn good football player too yeah I like what you said about feather in the cap because yeah he he’s definitely got a few things working for him last year he was 18th in all FBS among tight ends in first downs um and think about all the uh you know all the weapons and all the targets that ubb had um at receiver and he was still getting enough targets to be 18th in FBS among tight ends in first downs so he yeah like you said clutch I think is a good way to put it so um Brady Russell I think if you can cut your teeth in in special teams and and play that kind of role there’s always a place for a guy like that on the roster so this is a very intriguing group as a whole because you have so many newcomers so many you know yeah I don’t want to throw the term wild card too much but just unknown quantities in like you know AJ Barner what do you get there phell Brown you know maybe he hasn’t shown his full skill set yet we don’t we don’t quite know um but he’s going to be more the the blocking you know first tight end and Jack Westover I think is is gonna be really fun to watch He’s another guy that I’m gonna be watching you know him and AJ Barner in the preseason talk about preseason games and maybe making some plays there um that could be a really fun you know mini battle so to speak between those two just in just that I know that they’re they’re not maybe going to fight for one you know roster spot or anything just the ability and you know the impact they had in college in different ways going to preseason so this is going to be and it’s also a fun position to watch because in the preseason you don’t need to rely on you know the Pro Football Focus grades coming out you can see on the field they’re catching passes they’re getting yards they’re getting touchdowns you know that that that end of itself will be will be a fun watch as the preseason progresses yeah and I also think it’s really interesting and and I asked AJ Barner about this at rookie mini camp a few months ago you know he and West over were the two tight ends starting in the national championship game and they have much different builds much different skill sets and yet there is some carryover between the two of them I mean West over will get after as a blocker he’s not an inline guy necessarily but HB get M the slot he gets after it he’s got that mentality both these guys can catch the football I think West over is a little more of a threat in terms of what he can do with the ball in his hand but again Barner didn’t get a lot of chances to show that so it’d be really cool to see both those guys stick in Seattle after they competed against each other in the national title game and and Barner said they are really close they became really good friends during the pre-draft process so hey continue that friendship and now you’ve got some building blocks in that tight end room behind Noah Fant here in Seattle and I just think it’s going to be it’ll be an interesting group maybe it’s not the most captivating position group on Seattle’s roster going into camp but I think that there are going to be some fascinating things to watch there with a number of newcomers coming in trying to battle for roster spots up next we’re going to continue our n man countdown we’re going to be going into the teens we got numbers 21 through 19 don’t go away you’re listening to the blue Friday edition of locked on Seahawks welcome back to the blue Friday edition of locked on Seahawks this your host Corbin Smith glad to be joined for today’s show by my Coast Nick Lee and a special thanks to all the TW who are tuning in and as always thank you for making locked on Seahawks your first listen five days a week we greatly appreciate it let’s get to our 90-man countdown and ni we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty now we’re going to be going into the teens today we’re getting to the key contributors among the key contributors here for the Seattle Seahawks and some of these guys might be players who are established veterans longtime veterans some might be players that we expect are going to start for the first time and that’s where we’re going to lead this conversation today at the center position Olu olua Timmy last year only started one game and yet we got to see him play over a 100 snaps at the center position over the course of the Season he had a really nice block that sprung Ken Walker for a touchdown in Detroit filling in for Evan Brown in the middle of that game the Cardinals game that he started didn’t give up a single pressure we know he was the Remington Award winner at Michigan before Seattle drafted him not a guy that has the guard flexibility not the most athletic player at Center position but he just got the job done in college and I know you’ve been really excited about him since Seattle drafted him now he is finally going to get that opportunity and I believe that he very much is the starting center right now maybe Nick Harris gets a chance to semi compete but this feels like a position where ol Timmy it’s his job to lose and be that starter for the Seahawks this year yeah I think if anyone other than ol Timmy starting week one is something’s gone terribly wrong um yeah like you mentioned Remington award that Outland trophy consensus allamerican Joe Moore award offensive line for Michigan it really isn’t possible for a center to come in more with more accolades and accomplishments than what ola timy did at Michigan so um that coming in and last year bit of the pseudo red shirt year with a few you know cups of coffee so to speak um you know the past blocking grades like you mentioned are fairly fa favorable in a small sample size he is the assume starting center I mean and I’ve been pounding the table for a steady you know solid Center for years now and maybe Olo is the guy we don’t know but I’m excited to at least find out and this year we get to find out what oloa timi is is he the starting center is he is he GNA be a franchise Cornerstone Center or at least you know a solid contributor maybe he doesn’t maybe he’s not a Jason Kelce you know that that wouldn’t be fair but at least you know some sort of you know steady Presence at Center that really the Seahawks have lacked you know over a year-to-year period for a long time pretty much since Justin Britt left town um so I’m really excited to see where he goes with his development and so that’s if he can solidify the center position man a lot of things fall into place because the interior offensive line in of itself I think is maybe the biggest question mark and you know some people have line I have linebacker as a biggest question mark we’ll we’ll get into that in a second um but interior line is right up there too with as far as question marks and ol Timmy can do a lot to answer those questions and maybe this Jo just shows you how low the bar really is right now the Seahawks have started nine different centers over the last nine years I mean they have just been playing musical chairs at that position they have not been able to find I mean Justin Brit started a handful of years after Max anger was traded but then ever since then it’s not like BR I mean he was a solid starter but nothing special it’s not like the Seahawks have you know been able to find anybody that they can count on that can start I mean they’ve had four starters in five years they’ve had other guys that have played the position in that time so really this is the low bar we’re at can you be a starter who can start for us two or three years in a row so we don’t have to keep playing this musical chairs game at center now I think he can be better than that I I believe very much that he can be a really solid starter if not a pro bowl caliber starter I think he’s got that kind of a ability he’s with a coach that I think is going to mesh with him well because Scott Huff is a technique and fundamentals oriented coach and I just feel like that’s a big part of Ola Tim’s game so I think those two are going to connect really well I’ve got high expectations for him Nick Harris has played for Scott Huff previously at Washington so maybe there ends up being more of a competition there than I’m believing there’s going to be but I really think this is what the Seahawks want they want oloa Timmy to win this job and so he’s be the number one guy out of the gate and it’s up to him to make sure that he holds on to that and continues to improve and that’s what the Seahawks are going to be hoping for now you mentioned the linebacker position and it it’s really interesting because some of the guests that we’ve had here on the show I mean we had Loa tatupu on here a week and a half ago and he was raving about Jerome Baker and so I went back and watched some tape on Jerome Baker not that I hadn’t seen him play before I watched him play at Ohio State he was a guy who thought Seattle might draft uh back in 20 2018 because he did a lot of things that the Seahawks valued at linebacker he was athletic sideline to sideline had blitzing ability could drop back in coverage had a hard-nosed playing style but I guess in the NFL I didn’t realize just how hard-nosed that is this guy will take on blocks and he plays much bigger than what he is so I have some excitement about seeing a healthy Jerome Baker on the field at middle linebacker and bringing stability to that position especially because and this is not a knock on Bobby Wagner but at this stage of his career Bobby Wagner is not the athlete he wants was drone Baker can fly this guy can move all over the field sideline to sideline that’s why he’s got 22 and a half sacks too he’s really difficult for lineman to get hands on when he flies from his linebacker spot on the blitzy times it well he really checks off so many boxes in this defense but of course uh the the real issue here is the health because with him being 62 or 63 225 and I’ve made this joke a few times this week but he’s a couple big Maxs away maybe from being 230 I mean he is not a big linebacker but I think that that physical style at his size you’re starting to see him wear down a little bit there’s been some injuries the last couple years he was on injured reserve end of last year he’s missed all the offseason program so the durability and availability factor is really the big question mark for me when it comes to Jerome Baker if he’s healthy I very much believe that he’s going to be a solid starter for the Seahawks because he was for six years for the Miami Dolphins it’s all about staying healthy though with him yeah any reservations I have about the linebacker room especially circling Jerome Baker is his availability is his health his ability is is unquestioned I think he’s a really really good linebacker he’s athletic like you mentioned you you kind of went through the tools and the skill set there plays downhill he’s he’s played 16 plus games three different seasons all three times 100 plus tackles problem is he’s also missed some time in the other seasons and he has been able to stay healthy but um you know he’s he’s got that the yeah the pass rushing ability he’s that dual threat you know linebacker he can get in coverage he can rush the passer he’s good in and he’s pretty much your allaround linebacker that you’d like in this day and age he had 31 pressures in 2021 when he was able to play you know Fuller season there and um I think he had like five and a half or six sacks as well and 11 pressures last year you know in a more limited you know sense with sample size with health um so he he’s got really all the trade you want a linebacker it’s just about health with him and and I’m higher on him than I am tr Johnson um just with he’s got that proven track record it’s just Kenny if if he’s healthy week one and he plays the whole season I think the Seahawks are gonna have a pretty darn decent linebacker room with with maybe terce KN and Tyrell dson on the other side but drum Baker if if he’s healthy he definitely won’t be the problem is is what I’m trying to say he won’t be the problem at linebacker um if he’s healthy the last player we’ve got here now that we go into the teens at number 19 is a player the Seahawk fans are very familiar with and what a Rejuvenation season that jiren Reed had last year the second most sacks that he’s had in the season had seven of them for the Seahawks last year he had double digit tackles for loss double digit quarterback hits jiren Reed to me was the most consistent defensive player on Seattle’s roster all of last year I mean Devin Witherspoon had his rookie moments at times as great as he was jiren Reed was just Rock Solid from week one all the way to week 17 I can’t say 18 because he didn’t play in the season finale against the Cardinals but he played in every other game he’s been a very durable player throughout his career no matter where he’s played and just how much he’s matured because because we know about the suspension earlier in his career and there were some questions coming out of Alabama and now he is an Undisputed leader on this football team and he’s especially going to take the Manel even further with Bobby Wagner and quandre Diggs now gone and I think he is another player who the fact that he has moved around so much in his career he’s played a lot of big end he’s played three Tech the guy can play nose tackle at a really high level even though he’s smaller for that position those are the kind of guys that Mike McDonald has thrived with at Michigan and Baltimore those very versatile defensive linemen that have pass rushing ability that have that dog in them jiren Reed is that Junkyard Dog and he’s going to be able to teach Byron Murphy that here right out of the gate now could he end up losing some snaps to Murphy as the season progresses because Murphy’s just a stud and he’s got talent through the roof absolutely but jiren Reed is going to be a crucial piece of this defensive line there’s so much talk about Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy second jiren Reed is a darn good football player and he showed last year that he still got plenty of juice left in the tank I’m excited to see him in this scheme where Mike McDonald can take advantage of that versatility that he brings to the table yeah he he had tied for the second most pressures on the Seahawks last year and he had the most quote stops per Pro Football Focus which is you know a failure of the offense Because of You amongst the defensive linemen he had the most last year and that was the most pressures he had since his double digit sack year in 2018 second most tackles for loss in his career all while kind of yeah sliding a bit more on the interior playing a bit more One tech three Tech certainly one Tech more than than he did before and just showing that versatility and I do like that you know in a weird way he’s kind of been around the block a little bit and you know for better for worse and I think that does kind of give him an edge as a leader because he’s been there he’s been in some dark some dark spots maybe in his college career going up and uh he he kind of had to take a road less travel to the NFL and I think that could be to his benefit as a leader now in in the locker room with and that that defensive line is gonna have some personalities it’s gonna have some dogs talk about junkyard dogs I think that whole defensive line could um you know fit that fit that mole but jiren Reed I I think has just been what a Renaissance in his second you know stint with the Seahawks it’s been really cool to see kind of him Circle back um and just forgive me for the the it’s like you know going back to a place where you were younger and you come and you you see those people again years and years later and like you’re you know you’re changed you’re so different you’re older now you’re grown up that’s kind of how I feel about jiren Reed he’s all grown up now in a great way um and I really hope that he has that continued That season he had last year continues it into next year and this coming fall and especially as a leader and the thing about defensive linemen particularly interior defensive linemen these guys can play a really high level into their mid-30s and we’ve seen the Seahawks throughout the peak Carrol era at least where guys like Tony McDaniel and they they brought in Kevin Williams in 2014 and he was his mid-30s and played at a really high level for them in a rotational role so jiren Reed could have a lot of good football left in him and I I think that this system is really going to maximize the great football that he’s got left so contract year there’s going to be some things at stake is he going to be able to earn himself another contract state in Seattle I think he’s going to be a key piece of this defense especially to get that run defense fixed I thought jiren Reed was fine in that regard last year I’m not blaming the interior defensive line Seattle had some bigger issues that really hurt them defending the run I really like the pieces they have in jiren Reed being one of those key ingredients in the middle that’s going to be a leader for this entire football team as well as always even following on XM threads at Corbin Smith NFL you can follow Nick at nickle 51 make sure to subscribe to locked on Seahawks on YouTube and wherever you get your podcast to make sure you don’t miss a single episode when we come back on Monday we’re gonna have a special guest joining us to take a deep dive into how Ryan Grub’s gonna impact an already good receiving group what’s the ceiling with Ryan grub DK meta and Company we’ll be taking a closer look in Monday’s episode enjoy your weekend and thanks for listening in go Hawks

With training camp less than two weeks away from kicking off at the VMAC, Geno Smith and the Seahawks will soon return to the field aiming to master Ryan Grubb’s new offense. What can be expected on that side of the ball in camp? Hosts Corbin Smith and Nick Lee dish out their annual bold training camp projections on offense, including the possibility of a key starter missing the PUP list completely coming off injury, break down Noah Fant and a new-look tight end group in their latest positional preview, and continue the 90-man countdown with Jerome Baker, Olu Oluwatimi, and Jarran Reed.

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOSeahawks?sid=YouTube

Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNFL

Beat reporter Corbin Smith and NFL Draft guru Rob Rang provide comprehensive analysis and commentary on the Seattle Seahawks with the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast. A former player, high school coach, and standup comedian, Smith shares his wealth of football knowledge and insight on the pulse of the team with a splash of humor, while Rang has thrived as an NFL draft analyst for nearly two decades and has had his work featured on FOX, CBS, and many other outlets.

And follow Corbin Smith on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the Seattle Seahawks and talking with fans.
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/CorbinSmithNFL

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Monopoly GO!
Get in the game and join your friends. Download MONOPOLY GO! now free on The App Store or Google Pay. The mobile hit twist on classic MONOPOLY.

Yahoo Finance
For comprehensive financial news and analysis, visit the brand behind every great investor, YahooFinance.com.

eBay Motors
For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply.

BetterHelp
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month.

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase.
FanDuel
FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARENTEED That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – win or lose! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)