Good morning, 12s. It's finally September, which means we're just 12 days away from the Seahawks' opener!
Here's a look at what's happening today – Tuesday, Sept. 1 – for your Seattle Seahawks.
Four Seahawks Listed On ESPN's Top 100 Players Of 2020
After an 11-5 season and a playoff win in 2019, the Seahawks are expected to be among the contenders again in 2020. The Seahawks' depth is part of what makes the team so effective, but there are certain players who stand out above the rest.
In a ranking of the best 100 players for the 2020 season, ESPN listed four Seahawks – Russell Wilson (No. 4), Jamal Adams (No. 19), Bobby Wagner (No. 27) and Tyler Lockett (No. 83). There are plenty of names we could consider snubs, so we won't get into that. Instead, let's discuss the four players who made the cut.
Wilson jumped five spots in ESPN's ranking this year after coming in at No. 9 last season. Russ was his usual dominant self in 2019, finishing with 4,110 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and a career-low five interceptions.
"The Seahawks have the speed at wide receiver to complement what might be their quarterback's biggest strength: throwing the deep ball," ESPN's Brady Henderson wrote. "Seattle added Phillip Dorsett to a group that returns Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and David Moore -- all of whom have 4.40 speed or better. Wilson's durability and his recent MVP-level trajectory, plus the potential for more explosive plays, set him up for a strong 2020 season."
Adams made a massive leap on this year's list, jumping from No. 61 to No. 19. It makes sense, given that he made First-Team All-Pro, scored his first two career touchdowns and had a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2019. He's a welcome addition to an already strong secondary.
"The Seahawks view Adams as a 'chess piece,' in the words of one source," Henderson wrote. "They plan to take advantage of his versatility, including his skills as a blitzer, knowing they need to generate more pressure than they did in 2019."
Wagner is the only one of the four Seahawks to take a dip in the rankings (No. 20 to No. 27). But even as he enters his age-30 season, Wagner isn't slowing down. He led the NFL with 159 total tackles in 2019, including seven tackles for loss.
"You know you've set a high standard when you can have what some considered a down season and still be named First Team All-Pro for the fifth time in six years," Henderson wrote. "Reasons to believe Wagner will get back in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year in 2020: (1) He might not have as much on his plate as he did last season, when the Seahawks ran an abnormal amount of base defense; and (2) he'll have another front-seven playmaker in Jamal Adams for opposing offenses to worry about."
Lastly, Lockett comes in at No. 83 after being No. 93 last year. Like his teammates listed above, 2019 was just another year of consistently great play from the 27-year-old wideout. He had a career-high 82 receptions and 1,057 receiving yards, and also added eight touchdowns.
"Lockett's 72.4% career catch rate ranks fourth among wide receivers since his 2015 rookie season," Henderson wrote. "And of the top 20 on that list, Lockett's 13.9 yards per catch is second best. Lockett is still only 27, he still has Russell Wilson at quarterback, and he has an emerging star across from him in DK Metcalf for opposing defenses to focus on."
Social Post Of The Day
Greg Olsen was (jokingly) very unhappy with a video posted from the official Seahawks account. It was a simple five-yard in route that Olsen, 35, felt showed his age.
More From Around The Web
Seahawks.com reporter John Boyle has more on Jamal Adams’ fears as a Black man and what Pete Carroll’s support meant to him.
Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times wrote about Paul Richardson’s return to Seattle after two years away.
The News Tribune's Gregg Bell described how the door is wide open for Quinton Dunbar to take the starting cornerback job.
ESPN's Brady Henderson analyzed Bruce Irvin’s new perspective during his second stint in Seattle.
Scenes from the second mock game of the 2020 Seahawks Training Camp on Sunday, August 30 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.. Training Camp is presented by Safeway.
