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OPPOSITION TERRITORY: Seattle Seahawks · The Philadelphia Sports Table | Philly Sports News & Views

• 0:23
  Speaker 1: Welcome to opposition territory. Here at the Philadelphia Sports Table
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: podcast show, the longest running weekly Philly sports podcast show
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: in the world. We are commemorating twelve years here at
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  Speaker 1: the PST podcast show, hence now being on video here
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  Speaker 1: on YouTube. If you're listening to audio, you can also
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  Speaker 1: Table and subscribe to us. There you can see our
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: mugs with us this week to get into the Seattle
• 0:51
  Speaker 1: Seahawks off season. We love having him on to talk
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: about the Seahawks whenever there is news about this team
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: and where this team is going to be going in
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: the future. We love having them on. From field Goals
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: dot Com. From ESB Nation, We've got the one and
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: only Mooky Alexander. How you doing, buddy, Thanks for joining us.
• 1:11
  Speaker 2: I'm doing great. Jeff, Happy twelfth anniversary. Thank you still
• 1:15
  Speaker 2: going strong. I've been on your podcast like five years
• 1:18
  Speaker 2: in a row or so.
• 1:19
  Speaker 1: Yeah, it's right around there, and love having you on
• 1:22
  Speaker 1: each and every time. It's fantastic talking to you about
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: the Seahawks. They're an organization and a team that I
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: consistently follow year after year because I find the moves
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: they make in the off season to always be interesting,
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: and I'm always finding myself saying the Seattle Seahawks are
• 1:39
  Speaker 1: going to be relevant this year. Part of me believes
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  Speaker 1: that as we are, you know, moving into this twenty
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  Speaker 1: twenty five year, We've got the draft right around the
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  Speaker 1: corner here. Some folks are going to be listening to
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  Speaker 1: this after the draft here. But when we look at
• 1:53
  Speaker 1: this Seahawks off season, I mean, it's been pretty busy.
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: I mean they signed some talent free agency that's gonna
• 1:58
  Speaker 1: help them on both sides of the ball, Mookie talent
• 2:01
  Speaker 1: like Cooper Cup as you know, DeMarcus Lawrence, just to
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: name a couple. I'm wondering what are your thoughts about
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: how the Seahawks front office really handled free agency and
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: the offseason thus far? In general? What grade would you
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: give them?
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  Speaker 2: And why I'm a little more lukewarm than others as
• 2:18
  Speaker 2: far as the way this offseason is gone in terms
• 2:21
  Speaker 2: of the additions. I like the Sam Donald contracts and
• 2:23
  Speaker 2: the fact that it is not, you know, prohibitively expensive,
• 2:27
  Speaker 2: and I think in a way Donald might have cost
• 2:30
  Speaker 2: himself some millions of dollars with his last couple of
• 2:33
  Speaker 2: weeks of the season, but you know, we'll get to
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  Speaker 2: that a little later on. So it's it's it's a
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  Speaker 2: reasonable contract, and I've upgraded from being a Donald hater
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  Speaker 2: so to speak to Donald neutral. I think it can
• 2:43
  Speaker 2: work with it, and obviously we've got a proof of
• 2:46
  Speaker 2: concepts with the way the Viking season. It's way above
• 2:49
  Speaker 2: and beyond what we thought it would. The Cooper Cup
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  Speaker 2: contracts three years, forty five million. Initially I thought, man,
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  Speaker 2: that's too much for Cooper Cup on the other side
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  Speaker 2: of thirty. But I've been in this business for far
• 3:00
  Speaker 2: too long to know up to forty five million means
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: you gotta look at the guarantees. You've got to go
• 3:04
  Speaker 2: over the cap and see what are the real contract
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  Speaker 2: details on a per year basis. So again it's more
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  Speaker 2: a sensible deal. And then same with DeMarcus Lawrence, another
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  Speaker 2: guy who's been around the block with the Dallas Cowboys
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  Speaker 2: all those years, unable to win many playoff games. It
• 3:19
  Speaker 2: ain't his fault. I mean, he's been one of the
• 3:22
  Speaker 2: focal points of Dallas' defensive line and if he still
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: has something left in the tank, he can help the
• 3:27
  Speaker 2: Seahawks for sure. And his contract is again not as
• 3:30
  Speaker 2: expensive as it looks. I think my favorite offseason move
• 3:34
  Speaker 2: actually is less about who they signed and more who
• 3:38
  Speaker 2: they kept, meaning Ernest Jones, their starting middle linebacker. I mean,
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: when you give up a fourth round pick for Ernest
• 3:45
  Speaker 2: Jones in the middle of last season, to trading that
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  Speaker 2: fourth round at the Tennessee Times and sending Jerome Baker over,
• 3:52
  Speaker 2: I mean, you've got to at least try to extend Jones,
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  Speaker 2: and Jones was a revelation Seattle's defense had a significant
• 3:57
  Speaker 2: turnaround upon his arrival. So the fact that they kept Jones,
• 4:01
  Speaker 2: I would say below market value is a huge plus.
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  Speaker 2: And that's where I think John Schneiders tends to be
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  Speaker 2: at his best is negotiating those types of team friendly
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  Speaker 2: deals where they're not breaking the bank. You know, sometimes
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  Speaker 2: it's an annoyance when they don't try and set the
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  Speaker 2: market early. I mean, basically the opposite of Howie Roseman.
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  Speaker 2: But yeah, keeping Ernest I think was a top priority,
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  Speaker 2: and they managed to keep him basically without any issue.
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  Speaker 2: So keeping Ernest Jones, Keeping Jaron Reid, who proved me
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  Speaker 2: wrong by looking like he's turned back to clock over
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  Speaker 2: the past couple of seasons. Upon his return to Seattle.
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  Speaker 2: So again, another pretty inexpensive contract, so you keep two
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  Speaker 2: key pieces on your defense. Where I am not pleased
• 4:42
  Speaker 2: is the fact that the offensive line is going to
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  Speaker 2: have to be punted to the draft again. And it
• 4:48
  Speaker 2: wasn't for lack of trying. They tried to get the
• 4:49
  Speaker 2: Indianapolis Colt Scarred Will Fries or it's either Freezer Fries,
• 4:53
  Speaker 2: but I prefer Fries because they had a guy named
• 4:54
  Speaker 2: French on the team. I like it. I like it. Yeah,
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  Speaker 2: it's clear, let's go with it. Yes, but the five
• 5:01
  Speaker 2: year contracts for eighty eight million is what the Vikings
• 5:03
  Speaker 2: gave him. Seattle reportedly wanted to give him similar money
• 5:07
  Speaker 2: but on a three year deal, but they also wanted
• 5:08
  Speaker 2: to bring him in for a physical because he had
• 5:10
  Speaker 2: a serious leg injury last year. Yeah, so it's more
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  Speaker 2: than reasonable to want to conduct a physical before handing
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  Speaker 2: over a fourfload of money to a talented player. But
• 5:20
  Speaker 2: unfortunately he ended up going elsewhere, so Seattle didn't get
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  Speaker 2: a guard like fans wanted, and they didn't get really
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  Speaker 2: any offensive line help other than a career reserve, part
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  Speaker 2: time starter in Josh Jones, who was with Arizona and
• 5:33
  Speaker 2: then has been a backup in Baltimore and Houston, so
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  Speaker 2: it wasn't for lack of trying as far as the
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  Speaker 2: offensive line, but they also looked at Tevin Jenkins, who
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: looked at Dylan Raiduns and a couple other second and
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  Speaker 2: third tier guys on the market, and they didn't sign
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  Speaker 2: any of them. Lucas Patrick went to the Bengals. I
• 5:49
  Speaker 2: believe these are all very, very cheap contracts, so they
• 5:52
  Speaker 2: were deemed by John Schnyder not to be fits for
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: the organization, keeping in mind that they've got a new
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  Speaker 2: offensive line coach and a new blocking scheme, et cetera,
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  Speaker 2: et cetera. The optimist in me says, if Donald can
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  Speaker 2: work out, just you know, prove that this is not
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  Speaker 2: just a one year fluke, then that's going to elevate
• 6:10
  Speaker 2: this ree agency class significantly. If it doesn't work out,
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  Speaker 2: then there might be a cascading effect because if Donald
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  Speaker 2: doesn't work out, there's a good chance Cup might not
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  Speaker 2: work out either. And then Donald, Cup and Lawrence do
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  Speaker 2: have their recent injury histories, and Cup's case, he's got
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  Speaker 2: a lengthy injury history. He's missed time in each of
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  Speaker 2: the last three seasons, with some injury and then he
• 6:28
  Speaker 2: had the torn ACL back in twenty eighteen, and the
• 6:31
  Speaker 2: fact that he's on the other side of thirty. I mean,
• 6:33
  Speaker 2: that's a common age for wide receivers at his level
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  Speaker 2: to start to drop off. So even though it's not
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  Speaker 2: a case of man it's going to be hard to
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  Speaker 2: get out of these deals if if they don't work out,
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  Speaker 2: it's also kind of a case where if they don't
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  Speaker 2: work out, then Seattle's probably not going to be a
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  Speaker 2: good team next year. So these are not risky signings,
• 6:52
  Speaker 2: but they do come with the kind of the caveat
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  Speaker 2: that Lawrence and cup in particular are in age where
• 7:00
  Speaker 2: they could experience drop off. And then the other free
• 7:02
  Speaker 2: agent signings. I'm not too crazy about the Marcus Valves
• 7:06
  Speaker 2: Scantling signing. I don't think he's really anything good except
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: for deep passes, and then there's no guarantee you'll actually
• 7:12
  Speaker 2: catch them. He's got a significant drop history. But a
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  Speaker 2: typical John Schneider offseason is normally these one year two
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: year inexpensive signings and then they move on from so
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  Speaker 2: many of those guys. Last year they had a pretty
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  Speaker 2: poor free agent class and didn't resign any of them.
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  Speaker 2: So this year they made, by their standards, splash nineties.
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  Speaker 2: Donald's their most expensive free agent signing ever under John Schneider,
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  Speaker 2: just by default because they normally don't go for quarterbacks
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  Speaker 2: in free agency. They did with Matt Flynn, but three
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  Speaker 2: years twenty four million, even in twenty twelve dollars a
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  Speaker 2: big difference from three years up to one hundred and
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  Speaker 2: zero point five million, so there is a slight difference
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  Speaker 2: in how they're spending this year. They got cheaper through
• 7:53
  Speaker 2: their moves of trading away DK, cutting Tyler Lockett, moving
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  Speaker 2: on from a couple other bets like Draymond Jones and
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: Rayshawn Jenkins, and then the Geno Smith trade has also
• 8:04
  Speaker 2: got to be a factor there. But they didn't necessarily
• 8:07
  Speaker 2: get younger because of Lawrence and Cup and Valdas scampling.
• 8:10
  Speaker 2: So the one year deals that they did make, like
• 8:13
  Speaker 2: Chamar Jean, Charles and and de Anthony, but those are
• 8:16
  Speaker 2: like you know, fringe signings. It's no big deal. There's
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  Speaker 2: no point in getting worked up over those contracts. So
• 8:24
  Speaker 2: really you measure a free agency classy by the big
• 8:26
  Speaker 2: signings up at the top, and you can see where
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  Speaker 2: it could work out for them. You know, Donald Pross
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  Speaker 2: isn't a fluke, and Cup and Lawrence can can stay
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  Speaker 2: healthy and be as productive or close to their their
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  Speaker 2: best productivity levels. But you can also see how can
• 8:40
  Speaker 2: easily fall apart as far as their injuries and their
• 8:44
  Speaker 2: potential age related declients. And then in the case of Donald,
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  Speaker 2: it's was this just one year in an exceptional system
• 8:50
  Speaker 2: with exceptional coaching and great talent around him. So it's
• 8:54
  Speaker 2: a wait and see. For me, I'm more intrigued by
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  Speaker 2: what they do with the draft as opposed this particul
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  Speaker 2: of a free agent class.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, because that's where teams are really built in
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  Speaker 1: the draft. I mean, free agency are kind of plugging
• 9:05
  Speaker 1: holes here there. I think conventional thinking with a lot
• 9:08
  Speaker 1: of us that follow the NFL knows that you build
• 9:11
  Speaker 1: future teams through the draft with that young talent. I'm
• 9:15
  Speaker 1: not sure if you gave the grade right there for
• 9:18
  Speaker 1: the front office. What do you think in terms of
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  Speaker 1: the grade there?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm going with a B minus and this is
• 9:24
  Speaker 2: encompassing everything, And to me, what tips the skiales towards
• 9:28
  Speaker 2: the positive for me is the Ernest Jones resigning because
• 9:31
  Speaker 2: I mean Seattle has had an issue with just finding
• 9:34
  Speaker 2: consistent linebacker play and then moving on from Jordan Brooksmith.
• 9:38
  Speaker 2: They started two new linebackers and got rid of both
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  Speaker 2: of them midseason, So you've got some stability at this
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  Speaker 2: position just with Ernest Jones, and he has the potential
• 9:46
  Speaker 2: to be a Pro bowler or even an all Pro
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: level linebacker, and that's huge for this defense, considering like
• 9:52
  Speaker 2: McDonald wims with the Baltimore Ravens, his defense started to
• 9:54
  Speaker 2: turn around after the roquand Smith rate.
• 9:57
  Speaker 1: Absolutely yes, And you know, I want to move on
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: to Sam Donald. You know, you did mention him in
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: terms of his contract and what this quarterback position is
• 10:08
  Speaker 1: really going to look like moving forward here for the
• 10:10
  Speaker 1: Seattle Seahawks. Sam Donald brought in after that fantastic twenty
• 10:14
  Speaker 1: twenty four regular season, as you mentioned, didn't have the
• 10:16
  Speaker 1: greatest postseason, but I mean he's slated to be under center,
• 10:21
  Speaker 1: and it, like you mentioned too, it's a contract that
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: the Seahawks can get out from under if things do
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: not work. But I'm wondering as we're heading into this season,
• 10:31
  Speaker 1: you know, as we get even past the draft, training
• 10:34
  Speaker 1: camp is happening, I'm wondering here, and it's kind of
• 10:37
  Speaker 1: a two part question for you here, Mookie. I'm wondering
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: what the differences that we are going to see from
• 10:42
  Speaker 1: Gino Smith to Sam Donald and then also how the
• 10:47
  Speaker 1: organization is looking at this quarterback position long term here
• 10:52
  Speaker 1: at this point, what are your thoughts here?
• 10:54
  Speaker 2: So the part one side with Donald and Gino and
• 10:58
  Speaker 2: the comparisons. I Menald could have his own Geno swith
• 11:01
  Speaker 2: story where he goes from team to team. He looks
• 11:04
  Speaker 2: like he's a draft bus and he would be an
• 11:05
  Speaker 2: even higher profile draft bus. Is again drafted by the Jets,
• 11:09
  Speaker 2: but he was also a top five pick, but the
• 11:12
  Speaker 2: Vikings brought him on and who knows what would have
• 11:15
  Speaker 2: happened if JJ McCarthy had stayed healthy, But I think
• 11:18
  Speaker 2: Donald would have started anyway. It's just that I don't
• 11:21
  Speaker 2: think anybody expected Donald to be this good, and you know,
• 11:24
  Speaker 2: some of it I think was simulated. It helps to
• 11:27
  Speaker 2: have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison on your team. Those
• 11:30
  Speaker 2: are two outsiding players, and Jefferson is as QB friendly
• 11:33
  Speaker 2: as receiver as you can get in this league. But
• 11:35
  Speaker 2: he also got to consider they didn't have a great
• 11:36
  Speaker 2: running game and then they lost their best offensive lineman
• 11:40
  Speaker 2: Christian darrisaw in the middle of the season, and TJ.
• 11:42
  Speaker 2: Hockkinson was also for much of the year. Now, I'm
• 11:45
  Speaker 2: a pretty big fan of Kevin O'Connell's offense. Again, not perfect,
• 11:49
  Speaker 2: but nobody's perfect. But I think they've worked to donald strengths. See,
• 11:52
  Speaker 2: he does selec to air it out. He can be
• 11:54
  Speaker 2: a bit of a gunslinger sometimes and much in the
• 11:56
  Speaker 2: way that that Gino can, and it gets them into
• 11:59
  Speaker 2: trouble and it bears out in some of the interceptions
• 12:01
  Speaker 2: they make. But the one area where I'd say Gina
• 12:05
  Speaker 2: would be better than Donald, I think Geno processes the
• 12:07
  Speaker 2: game better. But in terms of like physical traits, I
• 12:11
  Speaker 2: think that Donald just being younger, He's pretty much as
• 12:15
  Speaker 2: mobile as Gino. It's just that he doesn't scramble as much.
• 12:19
  Speaker 2: I'd like his pocket mobility when he's not seeing ghosts.
• 12:21
  Speaker 2: I mean, he took some bad sacks last year, especially
• 12:24
  Speaker 2: in the playoff game. I think what people may not
• 12:27
  Speaker 2: realize is he had a higher sack rate than Gino
• 12:29
  Speaker 2: Smith did last season, and Gina was under siege behind
• 12:32
  Speaker 2: that offensive line. But it all comes down to situation.
• 12:35
  Speaker 2: I think that Gino in a different offense would have
• 12:38
  Speaker 2: given Seattle a very very productive He's in a lot
• 12:41
  Speaker 2: better touchdown interception ratio. I think that Donald benefited in
• 12:47
  Speaker 2: part from being in an offense where O'Connell knows how
• 12:50
  Speaker 2: to scheme open just these wide open looks, and Donald
• 12:53
  Speaker 2: could execute the offense very well. In other words, it
• 12:55
  Speaker 2: wasn't just it wasn't reinventing the wheel. It's just getting
• 12:59
  Speaker 2: the ball out on time, finding the open target. But
• 13:01
  Speaker 2: don't get me wrong with Donald made some outstanding throws
• 13:04
  Speaker 2: throughout the year. Any sense is confidence growing. So I
• 13:07
  Speaker 2: think that's what we have seen from Donald is that
• 13:11
  Speaker 2: you can run a functional and indeed an above average
• 13:16
  Speaker 2: NFL offense with him at quarterback. So that's the optimistic
• 13:20
  Speaker 2: side for me regarding Donald. I would have been fine
• 13:24
  Speaker 2: if Seattle kept Gino, but I also realized that in
• 13:27
  Speaker 2: his mid thirties, the odds of him maintaining this level
• 13:31
  Speaker 2: of play over four or five seasons versus Donald having
• 13:35
  Speaker 2: decent years or even very good years four or five seasons,
• 13:38
  Speaker 2: big difference there. Gino could be retired out of the
• 13:40
  Speaker 2: league in four years. Donald should still be in his
• 13:43
  Speaker 2: early thirties and theoretically in the prime of his career,
• 13:46
  Speaker 2: so I can see that side of wanting to acquire Donald,
• 13:50
  Speaker 2: even though I think that Gino at his best can
• 13:52
  Speaker 2: be as good in facts to me, based on his
• 13:55
  Speaker 2: track record, his recent track record in Seattle, to be
• 13:57
  Speaker 2: a better quarterback than Donald. And then as far as
• 14:00
  Speaker 2: the quarterback room, now, things have gotten interesting lately because
• 14:03
  Speaker 2: there's no doubt Darnolds is starting this year barring injury,
• 14:06
  Speaker 2: is some other catastrophic thing happening. He's QB one, but
• 14:10
  Speaker 2: Samhowe was slated to be quarterback two. And then suddenly
• 14:15
  Speaker 2: Drew Locke came back into the fold, and Locke was
• 14:18
  Speaker 2: part of the Russell Wilson trade three years ago, and
• 14:21
  Speaker 2: it kind of gets forgotten that Drew was on the
• 14:23
  Speaker 2: team and kind of expected to be the starting quarterback
• 14:26
  Speaker 2: because Gino hadn't resigned as a free agent. And then
• 14:28
  Speaker 2: when Gino did resign, the competition was on and then Gino,
• 14:33
  Speaker 2: I guess, despite reports that Drew was making a push,
• 14:37
  Speaker 2: Drew got covid in the middle of preseason, and Gino
• 14:41
  Speaker 2: grabbed that job and never let go. So Drew ended
• 14:44
  Speaker 2: up going to the New York Giants last year. He
• 14:47
  Speaker 2: thought he would get a chance to start, and technically
• 14:49
  Speaker 2: he did and it didn't go well other than the
• 14:52
  Speaker 2: Colts game that got the Colts defensive coordinator fired and
• 14:56
  Speaker 2: cost the Giants and number one pick. But now he's back,
• 14:58
  Speaker 2: so he would think on a two year contract that
• 15:01
  Speaker 2: Drew Locke will be the new backup quarterback. So what's new,
• 15:04
  Speaker 2: what's old is new. So he's back in the fray
• 15:07
  Speaker 2: as a backup quarterback. So what does that mean for
• 15:09
  Speaker 2: Sam Howe? Well, John Schneider said that they are receiving
• 15:13
  Speaker 2: inquiries as far as a possible trade for Howl. So
• 15:16
  Speaker 2: if you trade Howl, then I think that still creates
• 15:20
  Speaker 2: the opportunity for the Seaxtor drafted quarterback this year. They
• 15:23
  Speaker 2: have not drafted a quarterback since twenty eighteen. It was
• 15:25
  Speaker 2: Alex McGoo in two thousand, seventh round pick, so that's
• 15:30
  Speaker 2: unless you're brock Party and he is an outlier. Then
• 15:35
  Speaker 2: seventh round picks are typically not pushing for starter jobs.
• 15:37
  Speaker 2: And the fact the way that brock Purty even got
• 15:39
  Speaker 2: the starting job in the first place is unusual, meaning
• 15:42
  Speaker 2: both starting the starting quarterback and the backup Plants and
• 15:45
  Speaker 2: Garoppolo both got hurt. So I think what we see
• 15:48
  Speaker 2: here is that if they deal Howel, which I believe
• 15:51
  Speaker 2: is more likely than not, the door is open for
• 15:53
  Speaker 2: them to take a quarterback. But what I believe won't
• 15:57
  Speaker 2: happen is them taking a quarterback in the first or
• 15:59
  Speaker 2: second round. I think if they take a quarterback, it
• 16:01
  Speaker 2: would probably be third round at the absolute earliest, and
• 16:05
  Speaker 2: then like a project quarterback in the sixth or seventh
• 16:07
  Speaker 2: round at the latest. I mean the other quarterback on
• 16:10
  Speaker 2: the rosters, Jaron Hall, who was with the Minnesota Vikings
• 16:13
  Speaker 2: and then had a limited playing time got cut. Excuse me,
• 16:16
  Speaker 2: was on Seattle's practice squad for a bit. But to me,
• 16:19
  Speaker 2: the hierarchy is clear Donald first, locked second, and then
• 16:23
  Speaker 2: to be determined at three because there's kind of no
• 16:25
  Speaker 2: point in keeping Howell if if he's going to be
• 16:28
  Speaker 2: a third string quarterback. To me, the interesting thing is
• 16:31
  Speaker 2: whether not Seattle actually rosters three quarterbacks next season, because
• 16:34
  Speaker 2: it's something they rarely have done with Schneider. Yeah, so
• 16:37
  Speaker 2: if they roster three quarterbacks, I think that increases the
• 16:39
  Speaker 2: chance of a rookie being that third quarterback option than
• 16:42
  Speaker 2: anything else, because Howell to go from us to go
• 16:45
  Speaker 2: from your third string quarterback as a rookie to starting
• 16:49
  Speaker 2: full time for the Washington Commanders the next season, to
• 16:52
  Speaker 2: back up to genus with the third season, and then
• 16:54
  Speaker 2: you're back to third string quarterback and your fourth I
• 16:56
  Speaker 2: think another fresh start might be best for Sam, So
• 16:59
  Speaker 2: it's probably time to move on. And uh yeah, all
• 17:02
  Speaker 2: eyes I think will be on Seattle whether they take
• 17:04
  Speaker 2: a quarterback and in which round at who it will be,
• 17:06
  Speaker 2: because we know there's a wide variety outcomes. It's an
• 17:09
  Speaker 2: interesting yeah, arter potential.
• 17:11
  Speaker 1: Absolutely, it's an interesting storyline that I know so many
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: NFL fans are going to be continuing to keep their
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: eyes on what is going to be happening with this
• 17:20
  Speaker 1: Seahawks quarterback situation. Again, folks, we're talking to Moki Alexander
• 17:23
  Speaker 1: from field Goals dot Com over at SB Nation and Mookie,
• 17:28
  Speaker 1: can you tell everybody where they can find you on
• 17:30
  Speaker 1: the interwebs out there if you want some folks to
• 17:32
  Speaker 1: give you a follow anywhere social media, anywhere else on
• 17:36
  Speaker 1: the interwebs.
• 17:38
  Speaker 2: Yeah, on on Twitter. You know, I'm not gonna I'm
• 17:41
  Speaker 2: not gonna call it the twenty fourth letter. At the off,
• 17:45
  Speaker 2: I'm on Twitter at Hooky Alexander. And then I also
• 17:47
  Speaker 2: run the field Goals account, which is at field Goals
• 17:49
  Speaker 2: and then I'm on blue Sky Hooky Alexander dot b
• 17:53
  Speaker 2: Sky dot Social. They make it so complicated exactly the
• 17:58
  Speaker 2: field Goals is the same way, so you can find
• 17:59
  Speaker 2: me over there, and then some of my work gets
• 18:01
  Speaker 2: on mainspdation dot com. I'll have something up later this
• 18:05
  Speaker 2: week regarding what the last ten reigning Super Bowl champions
• 18:08
  Speaker 2: have done with their first round pick cool the draft.
• 18:11
  Speaker 2: So that will include what the Eagles did the last
• 18:13
  Speaker 2: time they won the Super Bowl. Yes, I mean the
• 18:15
  Speaker 2: twenty seventeen season and what they did the following year,
• 18:18
  Speaker 2: and it maybe lost a history that their pick is
• 18:22
  Speaker 2: what landed the ravens Lamar Jackson. Absolutely, it's also what
• 18:26
  Speaker 2: landed the Eagles Dallas Goddard after one more trade up
• 18:29
  Speaker 2: in the second round, so that was beneficial. But spoiler alert,
• 18:32
  Speaker 2: a lot of the reigning Super Bowl champions have a
• 18:34
  Speaker 2: hard time finding that really good draft class after they
• 18:39
  Speaker 2: win it all.
• 18:39
  Speaker 1: Absolutely, it's that's going to be an interesting piece, Buddy.
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: I cannot wait to read that from you, and folks,
• 18:47
  Speaker 1: if you are following us on various social media sites,
• 18:50
  Speaker 1: we appreciate it. If you are not, and you're on
• 18:52
  Speaker 1: YouTube right on your screen right now. Our social media sites,
• 18:55
  Speaker 1: we are on Instagram, Twitter, slash x. I am over
• 18:59
  Speaker 1: at ten talk at mister Jeff Warren. You can like
• 19:02
  Speaker 1: our Facebook page. We're over on threads as well, and
• 19:05
  Speaker 1: blue Sky. You can search me out on Blue Sky
• 19:08
  Speaker 1: Jeff Warren and just search out the Philadelphia Sports Table
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: on various social media sites. Follow us. You can follow
• 19:14
  Speaker 1: my co host Lenn and actually no, you can't follow Lenny.
• 19:17
  Speaker 1: He's not on social anymore. He's like, forget this, I'm
• 19:20
  Speaker 1: done with it. But you can follow Eric and myself
• 19:24
  Speaker 1: as well. As we are moving along with the conversation
• 19:27
  Speaker 1: here talking about this NFL draft Mookie and what may
• 19:30
  Speaker 1: happen for the Seahawks here. You know, some folks who
• 19:34
  Speaker 1: are watching and listening to this podcast after the draft
• 19:38
  Speaker 1: is all said and done, you know, might come back
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: to us and say, hey, you know what we're you
• 19:42
  Speaker 1: talking about here, But Seattle is number eighteen overall. They
• 19:47
  Speaker 1: got the number eighteenth overall pick. And I've been seeing
• 19:50
  Speaker 1: a lot of mock drafts and reading articles where folks
• 19:53
  Speaker 1: are feeling that they may actually trade back to get
• 19:56
  Speaker 1: some more assets. Again if you're listening to this or
• 19:59
  Speaker 1: watching this after the draft, it'll be interesting to see
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: what happened. Some believe the Seahawks are looking to build
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: in the trenches, either picking an offensive lineman or maybe
• 20:08
  Speaker 1: a defensive lineman. Where do you think the Seahawks should
• 20:11
  Speaker 1: go with their first pick, whether it's number eighteen overall,
• 20:14
  Speaker 1: or if you think they're going to trade back, what
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: are your thoughts.
• 20:18
  Speaker 2: It's interesting because they have been willing to trade back,
• 20:22
  Speaker 2: at least in the first half of John Schneider's tenure.
• 20:25
  Speaker 2: They traded back in twenty twelve. They traded out of
• 20:28
  Speaker 2: the first round twenty thirteen with a Percy Harvin deal.
• 20:30
  Speaker 2: They traded out of the first round in twenty fifteen
• 20:34
  Speaker 2: with the Jimmy Graham trade. They traded down in twenty sixteen,
• 20:37
  Speaker 2: traded seventh, down at seventeen and eighteen, and with one
• 20:41
  Speaker 2: of their first round picks, traded down in twenty nineteen,
• 20:43
  Speaker 2: and then they stopped. They have decided to stick and
• 20:46
  Speaker 2: pick for five consecutive seasons. Now, when you have five
• 20:49
  Speaker 2: picks in the top one hundred, do you think a
• 20:51
  Speaker 2: trade is inevitable, especially when your two second round picks
• 20:53
  Speaker 2: are fifty to fifty two. But at the same time,
• 20:56
  Speaker 2: in the twenty twenty two draft when they traded away Wilson,
• 21:00
  Speaker 2: they have picks at consecutive in consecutive order in the
• 21:05
  Speaker 2: second round I think it was forty and forty one,
• 21:08
  Speaker 2: and they decided not to do any trading or they
• 21:10
  Speaker 2: couldn't find a suitable trade partner. So I can see
• 21:13
  Speaker 2: Seattle trading down this year and trying to hold as
• 21:16
  Speaker 2: many mid round picks, meaning second or third round, because
• 21:19
  Speaker 2: based on what I have studied and based on what
• 21:23
  Speaker 2: I've had, based on the conversations I've had with people
• 21:26
  Speaker 2: are much much smarter than me as far as this
• 21:29
  Speaker 2: year's NFL draft, is that the bulk of the talent
• 21:32
  Speaker 2: and the floor raises and the depth that you can
• 21:34
  Speaker 2: find it's really in Day two. In other words, this
• 21:37
  Speaker 2: is not a draft just filled with with a bunch
• 21:40
  Speaker 2: of franchise changers in the first round, but the second
• 21:42
  Speaker 2: and third round that's where you can really really get
• 21:47
  Speaker 2: some good value picks. So I could see Seattle trying
• 21:49
  Speaker 2: to do something there, But to me, it depends on
• 21:52
  Speaker 2: how the board falls as far as as whether or
• 21:54
  Speaker 2: not they trade down. I think that they're going to
• 21:56
  Speaker 2: stay at eighteen, but that any trades they make will
• 22:01
  Speaker 2: involve their Day two picks. So basically they're going to
• 22:04
  Speaker 2: be making trades on Friday and then be busy again
• 22:07
  Speaker 2: with the remaining picks on Saturday. As far as what
• 22:10
  Speaker 2: as far as which areas they should target, I think
• 22:12
  Speaker 2: they got to target the trenches, and it's the offensive line.
• 22:16
  Speaker 2: It would be the number one priority. But this is
• 22:20
  Speaker 2: not a deep offensive line draft for what they need,
• 22:22
  Speaker 2: and what I mean by that is the interior offensive line,
• 22:25
  Speaker 2: because they've got their left tackle on Charles Cross and
• 22:28
  Speaker 2: got their right back on Abe Lucas, who's dealt with
• 22:30
  Speaker 2: some injuries, but he went the distance pretty much every
• 22:33
  Speaker 2: game that he that he played upon return, and then
• 22:35
  Speaker 2: he got hurt with a minor thing in the regular
• 22:37
  Speaker 2: season before the regular season finale and it was, you know,
• 22:40
  Speaker 2: meaningless game in terms of playoffs or draft positioning, so
• 22:43
  Speaker 2: he sat it out, but you got your tackles. The
• 22:46
  Speaker 2: guard play was ruinous for Seattle last season and just
• 22:49
  Speaker 2: churning through different lineups and right guard and then Lake
• 22:52
  Speaker 2: and Tomlinson really was not great in his one year
• 22:56
  Speaker 2: with Seattle. I mean, he was durable, he didn't miss
• 22:59
  Speaker 2: any to injury, but he's gone. He went to the
• 23:02
  Speaker 2: Houston Texans, So you're going to need a new starting
• 23:05
  Speaker 2: left guard and then center. That's been an adventure they
• 23:08
  Speaker 2: have had. This year is going to be their sixth
• 23:11
  Speaker 2: consecutive seasons starting a different week one center, so there's
• 23:16
  Speaker 2: just been no stability at the position whatsoever. And and
• 23:20
  Speaker 2: in fact, one, two, three, four, five, six, sorry, their
• 23:22
  Speaker 2: seventh consecutive year starting a different center, because I got
• 23:25
  Speaker 2: to add that justin Britt's final year and then after
• 23:27
  Speaker 2: he left. It's just been a revolving door. They haven't
• 23:30
  Speaker 2: been able to keep anybody. So they could look at
• 23:33
  Speaker 2: the center market in the draft, albeit one that's not
• 23:36
  Speaker 2: particularly strong outside of Jared Wilson or the possibility that
• 23:39
  Speaker 2: Gray's able in North Dakota State becomes a center. So
• 23:42
  Speaker 2: offensive line, I think is an area where they're going
• 23:44
  Speaker 2: to try and attack. If they trade down, I think
• 23:48
  Speaker 2: they would trade down for an offensive lineman whom they
• 23:50
  Speaker 2: believe would be off the board by the time they
• 23:53
  Speaker 2: pick at fifty. So for example, go from eighteen down
• 23:56
  Speaker 2: to say twenty five or twenty six. And even if
• 23:59
  Speaker 2: it's a quote overdrafts, like hey, this guy could be
• 24:01
  Speaker 2: available in the early second round. While You'll tell you what,
• 24:03
  Speaker 2: we don't have a pick at thirty five or thirty six,
• 24:06
  Speaker 2: so we can take him at twenty six and we
• 24:08
  Speaker 2: would have that fifth year option on him. Defensive line,
• 24:12
  Speaker 2: I know Kenneth Grant has been a player that's been
• 24:15
  Speaker 2: marked to Seattle a few times, the defensive tackle from Michigan.
• 24:18
  Speaker 2: I don't know about taking a defensive tackle for the
• 24:20
  Speaker 2: second year in a row after Bira Murphy last season,
• 24:23
  Speaker 2: but I could see them investing an edge rusher. And
• 24:25
  Speaker 2: even then, they have taken an edge rusher in the
• 24:27
  Speaker 2: second round in the twenty twenty two and tony twenty
• 24:30
  Speaker 2: three drafts and boy Mafia and Derek Hall, So how
• 24:32
  Speaker 2: much more do you want to invest in? But you know,
• 24:36
  Speaker 2: with twenty twenty five Donovane Zuraku of Boston College, he's
• 24:40
  Speaker 2: coming off I think a sixteen and a half SAX season,
• 24:42
  Speaker 2: albeit you know it's not a strong conference to the
• 24:45
  Speaker 2: where Boston College is in the ACC. But I mean
• 24:47
  Speaker 2: that's great productivity. Sixteen and a half SAX in college
• 24:50
  Speaker 2: at a major school. That's really hard to do. Yeah,
• 24:54
  Speaker 2: I can see Seattle looking at edge as a possible
• 24:56
  Speaker 2: need where they could have, you know, somebody with a
• 24:58
  Speaker 2: higher ceiling than Mafair Hall or somebody who could be
• 25:01
  Speaker 2: like a contingency in case they don't resign Mafe after
• 25:04
  Speaker 2: he becomes a free agent this year. So an area
• 25:06
  Speaker 2: where I think Seattle could be sneak if they don't
• 25:08
  Speaker 2: invest in the trenches, and where I would support them
• 25:11
  Speaker 2: taking somebody outside the trenches would be wide receiver, a
• 25:14
  Speaker 2: tight end. Now, with everything I just said about Cooper Cup,
• 25:17
  Speaker 2: I mean they only have two receivers under contract in
• 25:19
  Speaker 2: twenty twenty six and Cups one of them, and Jackson
• 25:21
  Speaker 2: Smith and JIB was the other. So in the long
• 25:24
  Speaker 2: term they need wide receiver help and this is a
• 25:27
  Speaker 2: good if. It might not be the same deep receiver
• 25:29
  Speaker 2: class as it was in years past, but I still
• 25:31
  Speaker 2: think there are a lot of talented players which we'll
• 25:33
  Speaker 2: get to eventually. And then tight end. If Colston Loveland
• 25:36
  Speaker 2: is available at number eighteen, the Michigan tight end. I
• 25:39
  Speaker 2: know that there's a lot of debate over tight end
• 25:41
  Speaker 2: value and taking them in the first round on how
• 25:44
  Speaker 2: they haven't really panned out, but he looks like he
• 25:48
  Speaker 2: could be a different type of prospect much in the
• 25:50
  Speaker 2: way that Titler Warren to Penn State could could be
• 25:53
  Speaker 2: an absolute franchise changer, but I expect Tyler Warren to
• 25:55
  Speaker 2: be off the board by eighteen, so probably take Colston
• 25:58
  Speaker 2: Loveland would be like taking a giant a wide receiver
• 26:00
  Speaker 2: in a way, but one who can also be a
• 26:03
  Speaker 2: very good blocker and traditional tight end as well as
• 26:06
  Speaker 2: just being that that flex operan who could be split
• 26:08
  Speaker 2: out wide or split out you know, put in the slots.
• 26:10
  Speaker 2: So to me, this is a draft where Seattle really
• 26:14
  Speaker 2: needs to invest in its offense more, and not at
• 26:17
  Speaker 2: running back in the first or second round because they've
• 26:18
  Speaker 2: done that five thousand times and I'm tired of but
• 26:22
  Speaker 2: win in the trenches and win with pass catchers, So
• 26:25
  Speaker 2: that means investing in the offensive line and investing in
• 26:27
  Speaker 2: pass catchers. Those to me are the best value plays
• 26:30
  Speaker 2: for Seattle, and I would like them to go toward
• 26:33
  Speaker 2: the offense more in this year's draft at the top
• 26:35
  Speaker 2: of the order than then than the defensive side of
• 26:37
  Speaker 2: the ball, where I have my reservations about certain areas
• 26:41
  Speaker 2: of depth on the on defense, but I also trust
• 26:45
  Speaker 2: that Mike McDonald can improve the defense anyway.
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: All right, Very good well, we are going to take
• 26:51
  Speaker 1: a very quick break here, and when we come back,
• 26:53
  Speaker 1: we're going to be discussing Day two and day three
• 26:56
  Speaker 1: of the draft what that's going to look like for
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: the Seattle Seahawks. We'll be back in just a bit.
• 27:01
  Speaker 1: All right, we are back again talking to Mooki Alexander
• 27:04
  Speaker 1: from field Goals dot com, great SB Nation site. And
• 27:09
  Speaker 1: as we're talking about this NFL Draft what the Seahawks
• 27:12
  Speaker 1: may be doing here on our Opposition Territory Pod this week. Here,
• 27:16
  Speaker 1: there are some players I know that you've been keeping
• 27:18
  Speaker 1: your eyes on perhaps Day two, day three, that you
• 27:20
  Speaker 1: really like, Mookie. Who are some of those players and
• 27:24
  Speaker 1: do you think Seattle might be able to get them?
• 27:26
  Speaker 2: Yeah, day two or day three, this is going to
• 27:29
  Speaker 2: be borderline because Donovan Jackson from Ohio State, he was
• 27:33
  Speaker 2: a guard and then Ohio State's left tackle Josh Simmons
• 27:37
  Speaker 2: got hurt, so that meant that Jackson had to move
• 27:39
  Speaker 2: out to tackle and on their way towards the National Championship.
• 27:43
  Speaker 2: I mean, Jackson was outstanding as a tackle, but to me,
• 27:45
  Speaker 2: his future is a guard in the NFL, and I
• 27:48
  Speaker 2: think he fits the scheme that the excuse me, the
• 27:51
  Speaker 2: outside zone scheme that's Clint Kubiak and the offensive line
• 27:55
  Speaker 2: coach John Benton want to run. I think that he
• 27:58
  Speaker 2: would be plug and play, meaning he's a Day one
• 28:00
  Speaker 2: starter left guard, and to me, they need a left
• 28:02
  Speaker 2: guard more than a right guard. So I don't know
• 28:05
  Speaker 2: Jackson will go late first, but I think it's more
• 28:08
  Speaker 2: likely than not he would be a Day two player,
• 28:10
  Speaker 2: and I would love for Seattle to take him. In fact,
• 28:12
  Speaker 2: if he's available in the second round, they've already used
• 28:15
  Speaker 2: their first round pick. I wouldn't hesitate to trade up
• 28:17
  Speaker 2: to get him, like package both picks or do something
• 28:20
  Speaker 2: to get him, and just get your your offensive lineman,
• 28:24
  Speaker 2: your your guard to to compliments your your your standout
• 28:28
  Speaker 2: left tackle or rising left tackle. Charles Cross hasn't been
• 28:30
  Speaker 2: elites or anything, but he's been their best offensive lineman.
• 28:33
  Speaker 2: So just having the left side of your line solidified there,
• 28:36
  Speaker 2: I think would be so huge for the Seahawks. And
• 28:39
  Speaker 2: then another offensive lineman option. To me, I mean Georgia.
• 28:44
  Speaker 2: The Georgia Bulldogs have just they recruit in the trenches
• 28:47
  Speaker 2: better than anybody, it seems. But most of the time
• 28:49
  Speaker 2: we look at their defensive line, well, their offensive line
• 28:52
  Speaker 2: they got, we got they got Dylan Fairchild no relation
• 28:55
  Speaker 2: to Morgan to my knowledge, and then they also got Tate,
• 28:58
  Speaker 2: rat Ledge and Wilson. Now Dylan Wilson's center. He could
• 29:02
  Speaker 2: be a center option for the Seahawks if they're not
• 29:05
  Speaker 2: confidence in Olawa Timmy as their their starter. Fairchild would
• 29:09
  Speaker 2: probably be somebody taken in day three. But rat Ledge
• 29:13
  Speaker 2: if they want to say, put Christian Haynes out at
• 29:17
  Speaker 2: left guard instead of having him at right guard where
• 29:20
  Speaker 2: he's more comfortable. I mean, rat Ledge is pretty much
• 29:23
  Speaker 2: a career right guard at Georgia. He's had like four
• 29:26
  Speaker 2: or five snaps that left guard. I think that rat
• 29:28
  Speaker 2: Ledge is that sort of a tough, physical offensive lineman
• 29:31
  Speaker 2: that the Seahawks could use. And again focusing on the
• 29:33
  Speaker 2: interior because that's where they have had trouble over the
• 29:36
  Speaker 2: last several years, especially when they're not reciting guys like
• 29:39
  Speaker 2: Damian Lewis, who they were good enough to at least
• 29:42
  Speaker 2: be a part of their their their plans to have
• 29:44
  Speaker 2: some stability on that offensive line. And then wide receiver,
• 29:48
  Speaker 2: there are a couple of guys from Iowa State, Jaden Higgins,
• 29:50
  Speaker 2: who's the bigger option, and then there's Jalen Nowell, who
• 29:53
  Speaker 2: could be sort of that Tyler Lockett replacement because you
• 29:56
  Speaker 2: can return kicks like lock a day earlier in his career.
• 29:59
  Speaker 2: But he's also you know, at five foot ten or
• 30:01
  Speaker 2: five five to eleven and one ninety four. He's got
• 30:04
  Speaker 2: some good speed to his game, he's got great hands,
• 30:06
  Speaker 2: and he's a very good route runner, So he could
• 30:08
  Speaker 2: be that that Lockett replacement of sorts. You know, I'm
• 30:11
  Speaker 2: actually leaning towards Seattle if they were to be interested
• 30:14
  Speaker 2: in either one of them taking the well over Higgins,
• 30:16
  Speaker 2: because they do have, you know, not small targets I
• 30:20
  Speaker 2: mean sorry, not huge targets like Smith and Jig, but
• 30:22
  Speaker 2: six we talk Cup is six too, that's a good frame.
• 30:24
  Speaker 2: Valdis Scantling is six foot four. And then Jake Bobo
• 30:28
  Speaker 2: is another taller targets and a big body target as
• 30:31
  Speaker 2: a fourth receiver option. So if they want that that
• 30:34
  Speaker 2: speedy yards have to catch option who's not the biggest
• 30:37
  Speaker 2: dude in the world but can move the sticks, run routes,
• 30:40
  Speaker 2: crisp Lee and be just be a downfield threat, then
• 30:44
  Speaker 2: Noel could be that option in day two. Also, like
• 30:47
  Speaker 2: Elijah Royal as a vertical threat as a tight end
• 30:50
  Speaker 2: for the University of Miami and then Mason Taylor. I
• 30:52
  Speaker 2: think it's just been all around, very good tight end
• 30:55
  Speaker 2: and he was very outstanding at LSU. And we know
• 30:58
  Speaker 2: his history. His dad is the Pro Football Hall of
• 31:00
  Speaker 2: Famer Jason Taylor. So yeah, there are a lot of
• 31:04
  Speaker 2: options on the offensive side of the ball for the
• 31:06
  Speaker 2: Seahawks to me, and I'm really focusing there. One sneaky
• 31:10
  Speaker 2: pick on Day three, in Day three rather is Zoff
• 31:13
  Speaker 2: Frazier from Texas San Antonio. He's a cornerback, but he
• 31:18
  Speaker 2: might be like another Greek Woolan in that he's what
• 31:21
  Speaker 2: six' three and a former basketball, PLAYER i, think and
• 31:24
  Speaker 2: he's got great ball. Skills he's got a similar. Frame
• 31:27
  Speaker 2: he's just not as fast as. Woman But wollan ran
• 31:29
  Speaker 2: in the four twos in the forty yard. DASH i
• 31:31
  Speaker 2: Think fraser is somewhere in the lower four to. Three
• 31:33
  Speaker 2: so that's that's fast enough to meet and just that
• 31:36
  Speaker 2: that long arm corner who can track the ball. Well
• 31:40
  Speaker 2: and he seems to be a willing, tackler which has
• 31:43
  Speaker 2: been a thing that has Dinged woolen at. Times he
• 31:46
  Speaker 2: could be sort of that that's you, know late flyer
• 31:49
  Speaker 2: cornerback doctor for The, seahawks because they don't have a
• 31:52
  Speaker 2: lot of great cornerback depth right now outside of their
• 31:55
  Speaker 2: starters Meeting Greek wooland And Devin, witherspoon and THEN i
• 31:58
  Speaker 2: Guess Josh jobs is not another. Starter so just having
• 32:02
  Speaker 2: more cornerback, depth to, me would be great for The,
• 32:05
  Speaker 2: seahawks given given the fact that you Know wolne's going
• 32:09
  Speaker 2: to be a free agent at the end of the.
• 32:10
  Speaker 2: Season so when you make draft, picks you're never drafting
• 32:15
  Speaker 2: just for this. Year you're always thinking at least three
• 32:18
  Speaker 2: four season because that's the length of your TYPICAL looki,
• 32:20
  Speaker 2: contract whether through a draftick or an undrafted free. Agent
• 32:23
  Speaker 2: so that that's thinking eight nine years ahead, silly you
• 32:27
  Speaker 2: might be out of a. JOB i bet thinking three
• 32:29
  Speaker 2: four years ahead is always logical to.
• 32:32
  Speaker 1: Me that's some great scouting information, there. Folks and after
• 32:35
  Speaker 1: you get done listening to mookies in my discussion, here
• 32:39
  Speaker 1: head back into the podcast feed or head back onto
• 32:43
  Speaker 1: our YouTube channel where you can check out my discussion
• 32:45
  Speaker 1: With Matt waldman from The Rookie Scouting. Portfolio he gave
• 32:48
  Speaker 1: a lot of great scouting information as. Well highly recommend
• 32:52
  Speaker 1: folks listen to that after you get done listening To
• 32:55
  Speaker 1: mookie AND i here talking about The Seattle seahawks As
• 32:59
  Speaker 1: but as we're moving a along with the conversation, Here,
• 33:01
  Speaker 1: mookie you, know even after the, draft you know some
• 33:04
  Speaker 1: players are going to be starters out of the, gate
• 33:07
  Speaker 1: some and the majority are not going to be starters
• 33:10
  Speaker 1: out of the. Gate so with that, said two part
• 33:13
  Speaker 1: question for you about this team heading into the, summer
• 33:16
  Speaker 1: this upcoming offseason as. Well i'm wondering what are the
• 33:19
  Speaker 1: biggest strengths that you are seeing on This seahawks team
• 33:23
  Speaker 1: really heading into this twenty twenty five. Season again knowing
• 33:26
  Speaker 1: that the draft hasn't taken place yet as of us
• 33:29
  Speaker 1: talking right now at this, moment but what do you
• 33:31
  Speaker 1: see as their biggest?
• 33:32
  Speaker 2: Strength biggest strength right? NOW i would say on the
• 33:37
  Speaker 2: defensive side of the. Ball their defensive line has been
• 33:40
  Speaker 2: remade in such a positive, way And i'm talking about the,
• 33:42
  Speaker 2: interior so they could use Another they could use a
• 33:45
  Speaker 2: pure nose, tackle AND i think they'll get one in the,
• 33:47
  Speaker 2: draft and that's not a high priority to take. Early
• 33:50
  Speaker 2: like you can get a space, eater so to, speak
• 33:54
  Speaker 2: you can get somebody who is there to envelop in clog,
• 33:56
  Speaker 2: lanes you, know in the fourth or fourth round of.
• 34:00
  Speaker 2: Later but when you Have Byron, murphy WHO i think
• 34:03
  Speaker 2: will emerge more and have better stats in a second.
• 34:05
  Speaker 2: Season and then you Have Leonard williams coming off a
• 34:07
  Speaker 2: double DIGIT sax, season Something seahawks haven't had in seven
• 34:10
  Speaker 2: years when When Frank clark was. Around and then you
• 34:13
  Speaker 2: Have Jaron reid who is providing you interior rush and
• 34:16
  Speaker 2: he he's still good against the. Run so those three right,
• 34:18
  Speaker 2: there that's a formidable. Trio and you can certainly Move
• 34:21
  Speaker 2: williams And murphy And read all along the defensive line
• 34:25
  Speaker 2: And williams And murphy more, specifically so you have that
• 34:28
  Speaker 2: little bit of versatility, there WHICH i Think mike McDonald
• 34:31
  Speaker 2: McDonald values. Greatly and then you, know outside linebacker to
• 34:34
  Speaker 2: me is functionally still the trenches because, yeah they're going
• 34:37
  Speaker 2: to be dropping in, coverage but they're going to be
• 34:39
  Speaker 2: rushing the pass for more often than. Yeah And Derek
• 34:41
  Speaker 2: hall And boy And mafe both had good seasons last,
• 34:45
  Speaker 2: year weren't consistent all the, way BUT i feel like
• 34:48
  Speaker 2: the best is yet to come for both of. Them
• 34:50
  Speaker 2: so you've got two good pass. Rushers maybe not you,
• 34:53
  Speaker 2: know they're Not Miles garrett, level but to who really
• 34:56
  Speaker 2: is other Than Miles, garrett but they had that potential
• 35:00
  Speaker 2: to be very very good pass. Rushers and Then Shannon,
• 35:04
  Speaker 2: owos who he's been dealing with so many injuries that
• 35:08
  Speaker 2: he had to basically restruct for his contract to stay
• 35:11
  Speaker 2: on the. Team so he's kind of that complementary two
• 35:14
  Speaker 2: way run, stopper slash ed. Rusher and Then DeMarcus. Sorensey
• 35:18
  Speaker 2: you add him to the mix and you've got a
• 35:20
  Speaker 2: pretty potent frontline for The seahawks And mike McDonald's. Defense
• 35:26
  Speaker 2: but on, offense i'd say they're their biggest strength right.
• 35:29
  Speaker 2: NOW i think their wide receiver room took a hit
• 35:33
  Speaker 2: by moving on From metcalf And, lockett but you, Know
• 35:36
  Speaker 2: lockett might be on the down side of his. Career
• 35:38
  Speaker 2: and then did you want to Pay metcalf that? MONEY
• 35:40
  Speaker 2: i was fine with Keeping, metcalf but maybe not necessarily
• 35:43
  Speaker 2: at that cost that That pittsburgh gave, him and it
• 35:46
  Speaker 2: seemed like it was time for him to move. On
• 35:48
  Speaker 2: but it's tough because the offensive side of the, wall
• 35:52
  Speaker 2: i'd say the running back, position if there were holes
• 35:54
  Speaker 2: created would be a strength because if you Gave Kenneth
• 35:58
  Speaker 2: walker And Zach charbonnet And kenny And tosh actual, holes you,
• 36:02
  Speaker 2: know instead of having them have to dance in the
• 36:04
  Speaker 2: backfield for two yard games and one yard losses to
• 36:07
  Speaker 2: prevent six. Yards they're they're good running, backs the good running.
• 36:10
  Speaker 2: BACKS i am curious to see if they trade one
• 36:13
  Speaker 2: of those backs, though as a means of moving around
• 36:17
  Speaker 2: in the draft and then looking into investing in this
• 36:19
  Speaker 2: year's draft, class because this is a loaded class for running,
• 36:22
  Speaker 2: backs such that you could have gent And hampton and
• 36:25
  Speaker 2: Maybe Traveon henderson all go in the first. Round, yeah
• 36:27
  Speaker 2: and we've had years where running backs have had at
• 36:30
  Speaker 2: best one go in the first but you've got talent
• 36:33
  Speaker 2: from the first round all the way through the seventh
• 36:35
  Speaker 2: and Like Donovan edwards From, michigan, like this is a,
• 36:37
  Speaker 2: deep deep running back, class And seattle might invest. There
• 36:41
  Speaker 2: but if the offensive line can be fixed to something
• 36:43
  Speaker 2: at least closer to mediocre instead of outright, atrocious then
• 36:47
  Speaker 2: between that and the blocking schemes and What koubiak And
• 36:50
  Speaker 2: John benton can do thinking the best of, them then
• 36:53
  Speaker 2: this running game could be pretty potent and if you
• 36:55
  Speaker 2: Give Kenneth walker, space he's hard to he's hard to
• 36:58
  Speaker 2: keep up. With and Then zach's and they made significant improvements.
• 37:01
  Speaker 2: There so as far as weaknesses heading into the, Season, yeah.
• 37:05
  Speaker 1: Let's talk about the. Weaknesses let's do the one.
• 37:07
  Speaker 2: Here, yes the weakness is linebacker. Death i'm worried about
• 37:12
  Speaker 2: with The, seahawks AND i mean off ball linebacker. Depth
• 37:14
  Speaker 2: SO i sung the praises Of Ernest jones and Then
• 37:17
  Speaker 2: Tyree sknight had had a good rookie season after being
• 37:19
  Speaker 2: thrust into the starting line up once the Jettison Jerome
• 37:22
  Speaker 2: baker And Tyrol. Dotson but after those two they have
• 37:25
  Speaker 2: virtually nobody else on the depth chart who's even played
• 37:27
  Speaker 2: a regular season staff of, CONSEQUENCE i think it's basically
• 37:30
  Speaker 2: Just Drake thomas and he's. Played he mostly played in
• 37:34
  Speaker 2: The dolphins game and they were up comfortably throughout the
• 37:36
  Speaker 2: day and that's. It, YEAH i, mean everybody else doesn't
• 37:40
  Speaker 2: have a snap to their name on. Defense they're mostly
• 37:42
  Speaker 2: playing special. Team SO i would like for them to
• 37:44
  Speaker 2: add a linebacker or two in this draft. Class and
• 37:47
  Speaker 2: it's not a great class for, linebackers, unfortunately it's you,
• 37:49
  Speaker 2: Know Jihad, campbell might be the only guy who's a
• 37:53
  Speaker 2: lot to go in the first, round and he's coming
• 37:54
  Speaker 2: off a torn laboram, surgery so his availability for his
• 37:58
  Speaker 2: rookie year is going to be a little bit. Diffy
• 38:00
  Speaker 2: and then after Like Carson sweeshn during the second, ROUND
• 38:02
  Speaker 2: i Think Demetrius night From tough canline has a huge drop.
• 38:05
  Speaker 2: Off so That's day three. Value So i'm worried about
• 38:07
  Speaker 2: the middle lineback of depth and just inside lineback of,
• 38:10
  Speaker 2: depth and then the offensive line until proven, otherwise is
• 38:13
  Speaker 2: a weakness for this. Team all, Right lucas are, good but,
• 38:16
  Speaker 2: man the interior line has got to be. Fixed and
• 38:19
  Speaker 2: that's whether through the draft or're improving the guys you
• 38:21
  Speaker 2: already have, Now So sundell Or Jalen, Sundell Olu, Olawa
• 38:25
  Speaker 2: timmy the, center Or Christian haines at, guard So Tola
• 38:27
  Speaker 2: lamey another. Guard, like if you can improve those guys
• 38:30
  Speaker 2: and maybe they'll cease to be, weakness but until proven,
• 38:32
  Speaker 2: otherwise it's still a weak spot that needs to be.
• 38:34
  Speaker 1: ADDRESSED i think we're going to see some offensive linemen
• 38:38
  Speaker 1: drafted by The Seattle seahawks for sure in this upcoming.
• 38:41
  Speaker 1: Draft just my gut. Feeling but mookis we're closing out
• 38:45
  Speaker 1: our discussion. Here we're certainly in this new era Of seahawks,
• 38:50
  Speaker 1: football The mike McDonald, era as you have, mentioned his
• 38:54
  Speaker 1: first year is now in the. Books there were some
• 38:57
  Speaker 1: positives and of course there were some negatives back in
• 39:00
  Speaker 1: twenty twenty four as he started off his head coaching
• 39:03
  Speaker 1: tenure In. Seattle what do you think McDonald and the
• 39:07
  Speaker 1: coaching staff need to do differently this year to get
• 39:10
  Speaker 1: to that next.
• 39:11
  Speaker 2: LEVEL i think one of the big storylines for The
• 39:16
  Speaker 2: seahawks this year is how they handle play action on
• 39:18
  Speaker 2: both sides of the, ball because what Got ryan grubbfire
• 39:21
  Speaker 2: the offensive, coordinator was a distinct lack of play, action
• 39:24
  Speaker 2: and then when they did do, it it was way too,
• 39:26
  Speaker 2: telegraphed meaning if you're going to run to the weak,
• 39:30
  Speaker 2: side then you at least have to fake to the
• 39:32
  Speaker 2: weak side. Sometimes basically they were giving tells to too.
• 39:36
  Speaker 2: Often that's even total amateurs like me could spot using
• 39:39
  Speaker 2: MY nfl protown on The all twenty. Two so they
• 39:42
  Speaker 2: have to be better at. That they were an abnormally
• 39:45
  Speaker 2: unusually bad play action team last, year when in previous
• 39:48
  Speaker 2: years they were a great play action team And Gino
• 39:50
  Speaker 2: smith could thrive in play. Action that was a disappointing
• 39:53
  Speaker 2: part of last season WHERE i Think gino would have
• 39:56
  Speaker 2: had better numbers if he could basically have a more
• 39:59
  Speaker 2: normal structured offense than that What grub was. Providing AND
• 40:02
  Speaker 2: i Think Sam donald will of course speak great in play,
• 40:05
  Speaker 2: action so just having that bit improve, defensively very, quietly
• 40:09
  Speaker 2: they were a terrible play action team that they were
• 40:11
  Speaker 2: near the bottom or at the, bottom and even after
• 40:13
  Speaker 2: they brought In Ernest jones at defending play action pats
• 40:16
  Speaker 2: according to advanced metrics from excuse, me FROM nfl Next Gen,
• 40:20
  Speaker 2: stats so it's an area they have to. Improve SO
• 40:24
  Speaker 2: i think that's the coaching staff really has to hammer
• 40:29
  Speaker 2: that point home that play action is the cheat code
• 40:32
  Speaker 2: in THE nfl and improve there on offense and improved
• 40:35
  Speaker 2: significantly on, defense AND i think that'll help the team.
• 40:39
  Speaker 2: Greatly and special, teams boy if that was a mess last.
• 40:43
  Speaker 2: Year outside Of Michael dixon being a great punt turners
• 40:45
  Speaker 2: and one of the strengths of this team And Jason
• 40:47
  Speaker 2: myers having a generally very good, season the kick return
• 40:51
  Speaker 2: and punt return game was so bad that they cut
• 40:53
  Speaker 2: both returners in the same week after The jets game
• 40:55
  Speaker 2: because The Dee williams almost, Yeah i'll fumbled twice in
• 41:01
  Speaker 2: the game and De williams fumble And williams fumble like four.
• 41:03
  Speaker 2: Times it was. Enough so they have to be. Serious
• 41:06
  Speaker 2: Jay harbaugh and that. Group they have to be serious
• 41:09
  Speaker 2: with their special, teams especially with the kickoff rules being
• 41:12
  Speaker 2: amended to encourage. RETURNS i would really prefer to not
• 41:16
  Speaker 2: have liabilities out there with the return game. Increasing so so,
• 41:21
  Speaker 2: far so good with. McDonald i think he's showcasing good leadership,
• 41:26
  Speaker 2: abilities at least from what we see, publicly but, OFFENSIVELY
• 41:30
  Speaker 2: i would also like to see them be more. Disciplined
• 41:32
  Speaker 2: too many, penalties especially on the offensive. LINE i Mean Anthony,
• 41:35
  Speaker 2: bradford their starting right guard BEFORE i got. HURT i
• 41:38
  Speaker 2: think he had a penalty for like each of the
• 41:40
  Speaker 2: first six, weeks and then it slowed down and then
• 41:42
  Speaker 2: he got. Hurt but still they were costing themselves games
• 41:45
  Speaker 2: in valuable field position and all that with just undisciplined
• 41:50
  Speaker 2: penalty especially at. HOME i mean the number of false
• 41:52
  Speaker 2: starts and legal. Formations so maybe just getting back to
• 41:55
  Speaker 2: the basics and being a less complicated offense and a
• 41:57
  Speaker 2: more experienced coordinator In Klint kubiak by virtue of being
• 42:01
  Speaker 2: in THE, nfl Whereas Ryan rubb never. WAS i think
• 42:05
  Speaker 2: that's an area where where The seahawks can look to.
• 42:07
  Speaker 2: Improve you always find ways to improve even your. Strengths
• 42:10
  Speaker 2: but there are a few weaknesses that were huge as
• 42:13
  Speaker 2: far as The seahawks missing out even with a ten
• 42:15
  Speaker 2: and seven. Records so, yeah get better at play, action
• 42:19
  Speaker 2: stop you curtail the. PENALTIES i can deal with effort,
• 42:22
  Speaker 2: penalties BUT i can't deal with just bad discipline. Penalties
• 42:25
  Speaker 2: and then of course better on special, teams like pay
• 42:28
  Speaker 2: attention to the return game a lot more than you
• 42:31
  Speaker 2: did last. Season the return game is.
• 42:33
  Speaker 1: Important we've been talking about on this podcast platform for
• 42:35
  Speaker 1: quite some time as it pertains to The Philadelphia. Eagles
• 42:38
  Speaker 1: but gonna let you go. Folks he Is Mooki alexander
• 42:42
  Speaker 1: From Field goals Dot, com a, great great site to
• 42:46
  Speaker 1: Get Seattle seahawks news, information tons of content over. There
• 42:51
  Speaker 1: you and your colleagues do a fantastic, Job, mookie and
• 42:55
  Speaker 1: again Follow mooki over On Blue. Sky he's also on
• 42:59
  Speaker 1: The twitter slash x as.
• 43:00
  Speaker 2: Well.
• 43:02
  Speaker 1: Buddy it was, great, great great having you on the.
• 43:05
  Speaker 1: SHOW i always love having you. On you're a plethora
• 43:08
  Speaker 1: of awesome. Information come back join us down the. Road
• 43:12
  Speaker 1: i'd love to have, you my. Friend.
• 43:14
  Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely And Field goals will be live at THE
• 43:16
  Speaker 2: Nfl draft this. YEAR i Mean i'm not because OTHERWISE
• 43:18
  Speaker 2: i should be on a flight right. Now Right But Ted,
• 43:21
  Speaker 2: zahn who is one of our staff, fighters lives In
• 43:22
  Speaker 2: wisconsin and we'll be going to the draft himself as
• 43:26
  Speaker 2: a credential media. Member so that's going to be close
• 43:28
  Speaker 2: this second time we've done the last few. Years John,
• 43:30
  Speaker 2: gilbert my deputy, editor was at the draft In Kansas,
• 43:33
  Speaker 2: city so we'll have some on site content hopefully to
• 43:37
  Speaker 2: provide to our, readers and hopefully the next Time i'm
• 43:40
  Speaker 2: talking to, you we have an offensive line as good as.
• 43:42
  Speaker 2: Yours they're looking at The philadelphia how do they do?
• 43:46
  Speaker 2: It how do they just find these? Guys and we've
• 43:48
  Speaker 2: been looking for twenty years for a replacement left guard
• 43:51
  Speaker 2: For Steve. Hutchinson, yes we must figure out What philadelphia
• 43:55
  Speaker 2: is doing and find a way to successfully.
• 43:57
  Speaker 1: Imitate maybe if The Sea hawks are willing to Pay Jeff,
• 44:01
  Speaker 1: stotland the offensive line, coach perhaps eight hundred thousand. DOLLARS
• 44:06
  Speaker 1: i don't, Know maybe maybe it could work out for.
• 44:08
  Speaker 1: You but, yeah as we know around, here it's Called
• 44:10
  Speaker 1: Stoutland university and that that's that's how the offensive lines
• 44:14
  Speaker 1: have been. Built you, know a former rugby, player seventh
• 44:18
  Speaker 1: round pick In Jordan mylotta becoming AN nfl, player not
• 44:21
  Speaker 1: having played an ounce of football in his life and
• 44:24
  Speaker 1: becoming a pro bowler and one of the best left
• 44:26
  Speaker 1: tackles in the. League it's a it's a pretty astonishing,
• 44:29
  Speaker 1: story and a lot of that is because Of Jeff.
• 44:31
  Speaker 1: Stoutland so we'll give him up for about eight hundred
• 44:34
  Speaker 1: or eight hundred. Million that's What i'll, say eight hundred.
• 44:36
  Speaker 1: Million how about?
• 44:37
  Speaker 2: That, yes that's gonna say eight hundred. Thousand i'm pretty
• 44:39
  Speaker 2: sure that that's Exactly balling is such a such a fantastic.
• 44:43
  Speaker 2: Coach exactly hundred. Million i'm sure you. Know i'm sure
• 44:46
  Speaker 2: that that money is lying around. SOMEWHERE i, mean we
• 44:48
  Speaker 2: got a pretty advanced tech industry right out of The Pacific,
• 44:52
  Speaker 2: northwest so we could just scup that all. Together.
• 44:55
  Speaker 1: Folks that's gonna do it for us here on opposition.
• 44:58
  Speaker 1: TERRITORY i hope you've been in joined the content here
• 45:01
  Speaker 1: at THE Psd Podcast, show especially on video over here on.
• 45:04
  Speaker 1: YouTube you can also subscribe to us On Apple, Podcasts,
• 45:08
  Speaker 1: spotify all major podcasting, platforms and, again you can follow
• 45:12
  Speaker 1: us on various social media. Sites, twitter you Could, twitter slash,
• 45:17
  Speaker 1: AX i should, SAY i am over on TikTok at
• 45:19
  Speaker 1: Mister Jeff.
• 45:20
  Speaker 2: Warren you can follow the.
• 45:21
  Speaker 1: Show just search us out On, Instagram facebook, threads And
• 45:25
  Speaker 1: i'm over On Blue. Sky just search Out Jeff warren
• 45:29
  Speaker 1: and you'll see me. There that's gonna do it for, us.
• 45:31
  Speaker 1: Folks we will catch you next. Time