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Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The fatal flaw Seattle Seahawks must address in training camp
The post The fatal flaw Seattle Seahawks must address in training camp appeared first on ClutchPoints. For a decade, the Seattle Seahawks have been a good team but not a great one. They've made playoff appearances, delivered highlight-reel moments, and remained a tough out in the NFC. However, they haven't broken through to the conference championship since 2014. Now, as they open 2025 training camp, the franchise finds itself at an interesting spot. If Mike Macdonald's squad is going to play well into January, the defense will need to carry the flag. Even a top-10 defense can only do so much, though, if the other side of the ball doesn't hold up its end of the bargain. New Look, New Philosophy It's been a full decade since the Seahawks last made it beyond the divisional round. This offseason, they went all-in on change, starting with the offense. Out went coordinator Ryan Grubb, replaced by Klint Kubiak to usher in a more balanced, run-first identity. Then came the shockwaves. Geno Smith was dealt to the Raiders, and franchise cornerstone DK Metcalf was traded to the Steelers. In their place, Seattle is betting big on two proven names. Sam Darnold arrives fresh off a career year with the Minnesota Vikings. That's where he threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, but also endured a nine-sack playoff meltdown. That underscored how badly he needs protection. To replace Metcalf, the Seahawks landed Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp. His precision and reliability could steady the passing game. On the other side of the ball, there's far less drama. The defense returns almost everyone and gets an added boost from second-round pick Nick Emmanwori at safety. That unit looks ready to contend. The real question: will this rebuilt offense rise to meet the moment or be the reason Seattle falls short yet again? Here we'll try to look at the fatal flaw that the Seattle Seahawks must address in their 2025 NFL training camp. The Fatal Flaw: Offensive Line Let's be clear about something: Seattle's fatal flaw heading into camp is its offensive line. Sure, there's more optimism than there was at this time a year ago. However, question marks still loom everywhere except left tackle. Charles Cross remains a bright spot and anchor, but beyond him, there's little certainty. The Seahawks used a first-round pick on Grey Zabel. They hope he can stabilize the left guard position as a rookie. The rest of the projected starting line, which includes center Olu Oluwatimi, right guard Anthony Bradford, and right tackle Abraham Lucas, struggled in 2024. They collectively posted below-average PFF grades and failed to hold up in both pass and run blocking. Lucas, in particular, is a major concern. He's played in just 13 of 34 possible games over the past two seasons due to injury. The best ability is availability, and so far, Lucas has struggled to provide it. Why This Matters for Darnold Darnold's 2024 success in Minnesota came with a significant caveat. He held on to the ball longer than almost anyone else in the league. According to NFL Pro, he averaged 3.08 seconds per throw, which was third longest. He also attempted 73.2 percent of his passes after 2.5 seconds. That was the highest rate in football. When given time, he shredded defenses. When pressured, his efficiency collapsed. That was shown by the Rams sacking him nine times in the playoffs. If the Seahawks can't protect him, this trade could backfire fast. For Darnold to thrive in Klint Kubiak's offense, Seattle's line must give him a clean pocket. Key Camp Battles to Watch Training camp will be defined by battles in the trenches. Oluwatimi will have to fend off Jalen Sundell for the starting center job. Meanwhile, right guard will be an open competition among Bradford, Christian Haynes, and maybe even sixth-round rookie Bryce Cabeldue. At right tackle, all eyes will be on Lucas's health; if he goes down again, Seattle will be scrambling. In that case, either Michael Jerrell or Amari Kight could step in. On the left side, Zabel's development will be critical. If he adapts quickly, he and Cross could solidify the blind side. If he struggles, the entire offense could unravel before it even gets going. The Path Forward The blueprint for Seattle is straightforward. They need to lean on the defense, play complementary football, and trust that Kubiak's offense can protect Darnold while pounding the ball on the ground. Of course, it all hinges on the line. In a division featuring fearsome pass rushers like Josh Sweat, Braden Fiske, and Nick Bosa, Seattle's ability to keep its quarterback upright may determine whether the Seahawks finally break through. Otherwise, they might endure yet another January disappointment. If the offensive line takes shape in camp, the ceiling for this team rises dramatically. If not, 2025 could be yet another chapter in a frustrating decade. Related: Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba makes somber admission about DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett Related: AJ Barner sends Sam Darnold warning ahead of QB's first Seahawks season
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
5 Jaguars among highest rated players at their positions in Madden 26
Five Jaguars players are among the highest rated at their respective positions in Madden 26. Five Jacksonville Jaguars players are among the highest rated at their respective position groups in Madden 26. With the Madden 26 release nearing, EA Sports has revealed the 10 highest-rated players at each position group. Making an appearance for the Jaguars was Josh Hines-Allen with an overall score of 90, which ranked ninth among defensive ends. At linebacker were Foye Oluokun and Devin Lloyd. Oluokun ranked seventh with a rating of 87, and Lloyd was 10th with a rating of 85. Then on special teams was punter Logan Cooke, who was second among his position group with an overall rating of 83. Long-snapper Ross Matiscik had a rating of 74, which ranked seventh. Hines-Allen's pass rush production last season still ranked among the best at his position group. His 63 quarterback pressures were the 10th-most, while he also ranked 17th in pass rush win rate, according to PFF. Just one-plus year removed from a 90-pressure, 17.5-sack season in 2023, Hines-Allen is chasing a big goal in 2025. "I think all pass rushers should strive for that goal like every team strives to win a Super Bowl," Hines-Allen said via ESPN. "So, I think my goal is to break the record and not really focus on it. Just know that if I handle what I need to handle, stay healthy, know what I'm doing, communicate, anticipate what's happening to me, anticipate pass and kind of be quicker on that, then everything's going to play off the way it's supposed to." Lloyd would finish the 2024 season making 106 of his 111 tackle attempts, and he was among PFF's highest-graded linebackers in the run game. In coverage, he allowed 11.6 yards per catch with one interception and one pass breakup. "We're excited about him," said Liam Coen earlier this offseason. "A guy that we see we can do some things with. We do feel excited about some of his versatility and experience." Oluokun has been very effective around the line of scrimmage, both in the run game and as blitzer. Both he and Lloyd should benefit from playing under Anthony Campanile, whose coaching background is rooted in the linebacker position and within his malleable and multiple defensive scheme. Cooke and Matiscik are both coming off Pro Bowl seasons in 2024, along with each being named a second-team All-Pro. Matiscik was a first-team All-Pro in 2023.
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Key stats shows how dominant and explosive Derrick Henry can be in Ravens rushing attack
According to PFF Derrick Henry was the only RB in the NFL to rank in the top-5 in both yards BEFORE contact and yards AFTER contact per carry in 2024 The Baltimore Ravens are starting training camp with a high-powered offense featuring top players at key positions. The team had a historic 2024 season, becoming the first in NFL history to achieve both 40 passing and 20 rushing touchdowns, along with 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards. Henry played a key role in those rushing yards, nearly eclipsing the 2,000-yard mark. Men lie, but numbers don't, and Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus just revealed an eye-popping stat that demonstrates just how explosive and dominant the future Hall of Fame running back can be. In his first season with the Ravens, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards in 17 regular-season games and scored 16 touchdowns. He also added two scores through the air. Baltimore's success percentage last season, according to Next Gen Stats, was even better when eight or more defenders were near the line of scrimmage (50.9%), compared to a neutral defensive approach (43.4%). Of Henry's 16 rushing touchdowns last season, 14 came against a stacked box.
USA Today
19 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Iowa football star tabbed as potential trade candidate by PFF
With NFL training camps now underway, lots of positional battles will unfold. The results of these battles will leave some players looking for a new home or being moved to a new place. According to PFF, one former Hawkeye could be on the wrong side of a positional battle. PFF released an article talking about 15 players who could be traded after training camp. These players range from young wide receivers to veteran backup quarterbacks, who could use a change of scenery following training camp. And the article mentioned Riley Moss as someone the Denver Broncos could move on from in a few weeks. What did PFF say about Riley Moss? PFF listed Moss as a potential trade candidate for the Broncos following their training camp and had this to say about the former Hawkeye star. The Broncos have spent a significant portion of their offseason assets bolstering one of the NFL's best defenses from a year ago, including drafting cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round. That could leave a player like Moss on the block. In his first season as a starter, Moss produced a 56.0 PFF coverage grade with a 57.8 PFF overall grade. Still, the Iowa product turned heads early in the year, securing three single-game 72.0-plus PFF coverage grades in the first five contests of 2024. How Denver configures its secondary will be telling for Moss' outlook. The Broncos figure to have two good inside options in Barron and Ja'Quan McMillan, but will the Texas rookie also man the outside CB2 spot next to reigning Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II? Denver may retain the 25-year-old Moss as depth, but if his role is constricted, other teams could come calling. - Pro Football Focus As the article mentions, the Broncos drafted Texas standout cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round of this past NFL draft and have the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Pat Surtain, in the room as well. It's not that Moss isn't a capable NFL corner, but the depth of the room may leave Moss on the outside looking in. And a team may make the Broncos an offer they can't refuse. As a Hawkeye, Moss was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten player and won the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year award in 2021. That led to him being drafted by the Broncos in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, where he's been ever since. He's enjoyed a decent career in Denver, being a solid contributor, but never a star. Regardless of whether he's in Denver or somewhere else in the league, Moss will have chances to make plays and stick in the NFL. Hawkeye fans will be rooting for Moss wherever he ends up. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Wisconsin falls on PFF's ranking of college football's 10 toughest schedules
Wisconsin is one of four Big Ten teams on PFF's ranking of the 10 toughest schedules, along with the UCLA Bruins, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and Northwestern Wildcats. The Big Ten has the second-most teams listed, trailing the SEC, which has five teams, by one. Wisconsin fans are well aware of how tough the Badgers' 2025 regular season schedule is. Many media outlets agree, including ProFootballFocus, which ranked Wisconsin's slate as the single toughest in all of the Football Bowl Subdivision for 2025. Wisconsin's difficult schedule makes 2025 an interesting year for the program. The campaign will also be head coach Luke Fickell's third at the helm. Typically, third seasons are the make or break year for coaches who haven't quite met expectations through two seasons. However, Fickell and Wisconsin find themselves in an interesting spot due to the difficulty of their schedule. Winning anywhere from five to seven games would be considered a fairly successful year for the Badgers program, which has been consistently bowl-eligible for many decades, up until last season. 2025 will be a critical year for both Fickell and Wisconsin. Depending on the team's trajectory throughout, it could be a season that determines the future of the program. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
