The Cowboys will conclude their preseason schedule against the Seahawks on Friday. Despite the fact that the regular season begins in less than two weeks, don’t expect many starters, if any, to play at AT&T Stadium.
However, it is an excellent opportunity for “bubble” players to make their way onto, or even off, the roster. Our staff writers will be keeping a close eye on the following eight players.
QB Geno Smith and his throwing time
Seattle’s head coach, Pete Carroll, revealed earlier this week that Geno Smith will start as quarterback. Surprisingly, Smith’s first start of the 2021 season was also against this team. While the Steelers are unlikely to use strong hitters like T.J. Watt up front, Smith must improve his ability to handle Pittsburgh’s pressure.
Smith was sacked five times in the October encounter and suffered 13 total hits across his 3.25 starts. Password protection only goes so far. Smith must prevent unnecessary sacks and do less floating in the pocket, which was likely his worst position last year.
Drew Lock and his instincts as a quarterback
The Seahawks will go to their backup quarterback after a few series – at most a whole quarter – to see what he can do. Drew Lock is more athletic, younger, and possesses a stronger arm than Smith. His instincts, on the other hand, may use some fine-tuning.
In his 24 career starts, Lock has thrown 20 interceptions. During his tenure in Denver, Lock was prone to settling for check-downs with the rare risky deep shot. Above all, Lock must maintain possession of the ball and demonstrate his ability to successfully assault the middle of the field.
Dareke Young, WR, and his athleticism
This club has plenty of speed and athleticism. The top athletes on the roster heading into the 2022 season are wide receiver DK Metcalf and cornerback Tariq Woolen – more on him later. Dareke Young, a rookie receiver with a great athletic profile, might win the bronze medal (his RAS is 9.93). It will be intriguing to watch how offensive coordinator Shane Waldron uses Young’s abilities.
Kenny Pickett makes his NFL debut
The Seahawks have had multiple opportunities to add another possible starter to the mix since the Russell Wilson deal, including trade alternatives, free agents, and rookie prospects. They eventually turned down all of them, including Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett.
While the quarterback class of 2022 is expected to be underwhelming, Pickett is the most polished and likely to get significant playing time. However, he’s now third on the depth chart behind players like Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph, so we may assume his game is still in its infancy.
Ken Walker, running back, on third down
Seattle’s most exciting player on the field will be rookie running back Ken Walker. While the team was appropriately chastised for selecting another running back so early in the draught, Walker may be the finest rusher in the 2022 class. His collegiate tape demonstrates his ability to run the ball.
Walker will now have to establish himself in other areas, particularly on third down. He didn’t do much receiving at Michigan State, and his pass protection may be what determines his third-down workload. Coach Carroll, for one, is impressed with what he has seen from Walker here.
It’s CB Tariq Woolen’s turn to shine
Tariq Woolen, one of the Seahawks’ two fifth-round draught picks, had the most hype heading into the 2022 preseason. Woolen has recently amazed observers during the mock game, gotten great acclaim from Pete Carroll, and been compared to franchise legend Richard Sherman. Woolen has risen to the top of the depth chart at right cornerback, replacing Artie Burns. Let’s hope he takes advantage of the chance.
In the slot, CB Coby Bryant
Woolen isn’t the only first-year cornerback entering the NFL with high expectations. Coby Bryant did not win the Jim Thorpe Award by accident last season, and he has been making an impression at training camp, with multiple PBUs and forced fumbles.
Bryant has been getting work in both the slot and on the left side over the previous several days. It appears that protecting experienced nickel Justin Coleman and allowing Bryant to show what he can accomplish at that position is a solid option.
Marquise Blair is back at safety.
The depth chart in the slot looks drastically different this season than it did last. In addition to Coleman’s return and Bryant’s elevation, the Seahawks have removed Marquise Blair from the picture. Carroll informed reporters yesterday that Blair is now a full-time safety, a position in which he has much expertise.
Blair is expected to be the No. 2 free safety behind Quandre Diggs. In fact, he’s the team’s sole viable backup option at that position, so FS reps will be crucial for Blair, who has missed the most of the last two seasons due to injury.
Faqs
Who Is Better, The Raiders Or The Seahawks?
The two clubs have faced 55 times (including two playoff games), with the Seattle Seahawks winning 26 and the Las Vegas Raiders winning 29.
How Many Times Have The Raiders Defeated The Seahawks?
In their history, the Raiders and Seahawks have played a total of 55 games. From 1977 to 2001, while they were in the same division, they played each other twice a year. The Raiders have a 29-26 series lead. Furthermore, the two teams have met twice in the playoffs, with a 1-1 tie.
How Do I Watch The Seahawks Game For Free?
You can watch Seahawks vs. Bears in NFL preseason live performance for absolutely free with DirecTV Stream by subscribing free trial or with fuboTV free trial. You can also watch this game and other NFL preseason games live for FREE by signing up for NFL+ (free trial), the league’s new streaming platform.