Good morning, 12s. Here's a look at what's out there today — Thursday, September 22 — about your Seattle Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen has been one of the hot-topics around the team since being selected in April. From Seahawks coach Pete Carroll to Seattle Sports 710AM’s K.J. Wright, Woolen has garnered plenty of fans and supporters over the summer. The former Seahawk linebacker discussed his first impression of Woolen at Seahawks OTAs.
"When I saw this guy in OTAs, I was like, 'Who is this guy making these plays, getting these interceptions?' Tall and fast," said Wright. "Oh my God, he made a phenomenal play in OTAs, and you see him now, he's comfortable, his technique looks really good, he has the speed."
After working out the kinks in preseason with fellow rookie corner Coby Bryant, Woolen showed improvement immediately in the season opener. It's been no easy task, preparing against Seahawks stars DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, and going against Denver's Courtland Sutton in Week 1. But the road doesn't get easier, and Woolen doesn't seem to be fazed by the challenge.
Through his first two official games, Woolen has made some dazzling plays on defense and special teams, and the numbers match up. Woolen has allowed just 3 receptions for 37 yards on 59 coverage snaps per Pro Football Focus.
Thanks to Tariq Woolen's field goal block, Seahawks cornerback Mike Jackson is now in the history books for the fourth-longest blocked field goal returned for a touchdown in NFL history.
But Woolen has plenty of work to do to reach his full potential, of which the skies the limit. The 6-foot-4 corner with blazing speed and exceptional athleticism is working to fix the small things. Coach Carroll discussed what Seattle is doing to prepare the rookie corners better as they prepare for Sunday.
"I'm still concerned about how we had four (penalties on) deep balls called," said Carroll. "We've been all over the deep balls with the corners with Michael and with Woolen. Three of them have been penalties and we can't cover them any tighter. I'm still trying to help them to find their way to the finesse part of it at the end of the play. And there's a case where guys panic in those situations and will grab. They're not doing that. They're in control of what's going on and I know that we will be able to clean that up."
Woolen has taken the challenges in stride, refining himself and showing the potential Seattle saw when they selected him in the fifth round of the 2022 Draft. The show seems to be just beginning, but it's one Seahawks fans are eagerly tuning into.
Social Post Of The Day
Have you got your limited-edition Seahawks Gameday Poster? Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with this piece by Seattle native Marisol Ortega.
More From Around The Web
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times: Seahawks ‘have to be stouter’ on the offensive line to get run game going.
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times on Seahawks working to fix missed tackles.
Michael Bumpus of Seattle Sports 710AM on how the Seahawks can get wideout DK Metcalf involved more.
The Seahawks and the Falcons will meet this Sunday at Lumen Field during Week 3 of the 2022 season. Take a look back at photos from past games between the two teams.