Drive Time - Know the Enemy - Seattle Seahawks

of the No the Enemy series. As we get closer and closer to training camp, we'll take a look at the Dolphins Week four opponent in the Seattle Seahawks, home to one of the more consistent outfits over the NFL the last decade. We'll discuss Pete Carroll's defense, Russell Wilson's greatness and how those two work in tandem, among a variety of Seahawks topics. All of that and more on this Monday, July the twenty edition of the Dry Time Podcast.

And first up today, it's moving week for the Wingfields. We are gonna scale back on the podcast this week just a little bit, as I didn't really realize how

much goes into a cross country move. So we are in the throes of it right Now I'm gonna try to get another podcast out later this week, but by the end of the week, I'll be a South Florida resident and we'll be coming to you live from South Florida from here forward, and on this edition of the Drive Time one of my final podcast here in the Pacific Northwest, we are going to continue our Know the Enemy series with our seventh of thirteen teams on the

Dolphins schedule, and do that with a team here in the Northwest, with the Seattle Seahawks. We've previewed the Patriots, Bills, Jags, Niners, Broncos. We did the Raiders earlier as well, and we are now moving on to the Seattle Seahawks. And Dolphins play Seattle at home week number four on October the fourth. It's a one o'clock Eastern kickoff to host the Seattle Seahawks. Now, my whole life, I've been asked, why aren't you a

Seahawks fan? Because I've never lived outside of Washington State until this week actually, and I'm a die hard Mariners fan. Go M's a big time Washington State Cougar supporter. Go Cougs, and I was a SuperSonics fan. Bring him back but I defected my NFL fandom at a very early age

to South Florida and the Miami Dolphins. Perhaps it was that one trip we took to the Kingdome where we didn't go to watch King Jr. And the nineties Mariners, but rather a bad Seahawks team in lose to the Bengals and what was a very ugly football game from what I can remember, on the turf there at the Kingdom.

And maybe it was that. Basically what the Seahawks were was that type of team up until Mike Holmgren got there, and I believe two thousand maybe the two thousand one season, and by that time I had already had the Aqua and Orange coursing through my veins, and they never really were a second team for me, like some folks will have with their local team. And I think that actually

happens a lot in football. Like you you guys, tell me did that happen with you where you were an out of state Dolphins fan and you grew up with a little bit of disdain for your local team. I was actually a really big Joey Galloway and Sewn Springs and Ricky Waters fan that era of Seahawks football. I

always thought Matt Hasselbeck was really underrated. Was a big Darryl Jackson fan, the wide receiver, but being here local after that two thousand five Super Bowl loss, the famed Steelers game, that was brutal, but it definitely got a lot worse when the Seahawks hit their stride in two thousand twelve that resulted in that Super Bowl championship win

in two thousand thirteen. Seahawks fans were in my ear every single day, it seemed like at that point, and the common thread for that team from two thousand twelve through two thousand twenty has been Pete Carroll and of course quarterback Russell Wilson. And I think one of the more intriguing stylistic approaches to the game today is how the Seahawks are so committed to the ground game despite

so Wilson's presence there on the roster. And it does make sense in the sense that if you keep the game close for us, he's probably gonna find a way to win it at the very end. Hell, he broke my heart at Centurilling Field on opening Day two thousand and sixteen, as I'm sure he did to all you guys out there, all you Dolphins fans out there in

Dolphins Nation. When I thought we were gonna walk out of there with a big, big upset victory on opening day, but Russ hits a pair of fourth downs on that final drive and made that walk from our seats in the stadium to the car a very long one. But

it's a hot debate among Seahawks fans. Should they open it up and give who I believe is the second best quarterback in football behind Patrick Mahomes some more opportunities or should they stay with the philosophy that has led to so many wins, winning seasons, division titles, playoff wins, and simply one of the three or four most successful

franchises of the last decade or so. It's intriguing. And to help us out with that and the rest of this Seahawks team, let's welcome men from the Seattle Times. Bob Condota and writing Shotgun Now on the Drive Time podcast is Bob Condota. He covers the Seahawks and other sports for the Seattle Times. Bob welcome in. Hey, Yeah, thanks, vivis how you doing. I'm good, It's good. It's good to see you. On here a fellow Pacific Northwestern like myself.

I'm actually moving out to South Florida this week, so be departing the mountains and going down for the flat

lands of South Florida down there. And I want to start here and put this pressing question to you that I have here off the top and something I actually led into before I welcomed you on the show here today, and the great question about Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson and the Seahawks their commitment to running the football and it's a formula that has really bred a bunch of victories over the last you know, decade or so, but you also have one of the truly elite quarterbacks in

the NFL. Is there a balance they can achieve between those two existences or is it one of those things where if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Well, yeah, I mean I think they think they have achieved that balance,

and other people obviously disagree with that. You're right, you know that that's the big that's been going on for a long time, but it sort of repeated up even more maybe in last year with the with the season and the Russell had um as you know, it's This is Pete Carroll's philosophy, the way he's always coach football.

And he's going to be sixty nine in September. So I don't know that he's suddenly gonna just decide everything I've ever thought about football is wrong when he's you know, he's won national championships in college and in the NFL and and the most successful coach in Seahawks history and all that. So I think, you know, I don't think he's going to change a whole lot. Um. Now, there are some you know, you can go back and look

and they did. You know, there have been times in peace career where he's where he's throwing it a lot, and I think he feels like the times when there's been that better balances, when he's been more successful. I also think they still feel like that suits Russell's game

a little bit more. Um. Obviously, there have been times like that, a memorable win against Houston in two thousand and seventeen where they only rest I think for twenty one yards and Russell had one of his best games ever and they beat Deshaun Watson and Houston and what was this incredible shootout? And you know there's times are willing to do that and open it up and do that. But Pete, but I think they. I think Pete still feels like the passing game is best and in a

little smaller dose. I also still think they I think they think that fits Russell a little bit better. Um, you know, he is, he is a little bit of an eat quarterback. He's obviously shown the ability to do everything. But I still I'm still not sure they feel like, you know, if you put him in a system where he throws seventy percent of the time, and this is what I think they think that that's the that he's you know that the more passing is necessarily better passing.

You know, like like a lot of things in life, something can be great up to a point there is more of it even better or is more of it gonna make it worse? So, um, you know the other thing about it, And they haven't some of their attempts to really make the receiving cor leae haven't gone quite

the way they'd hoped. Um. You know, they have spent a lot of resources trying to do things with the receiving corps, going all the way back to you know, his second year when they signed Sydney Rice and the trade for Percy Harmon and some of these things they've done and maybe didn't quite work out the way they hope.

Some of the draft picks they've made, Um, you know, they spent a lot of draft capital on receivers really if you go back and look, um, and not all of them have really turned out the way they hope. You know, this year now they now they have Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and they and they when one of the most significant offseasons moves was to get Greg Olsen a tight end who um, you know, if he can be

the Greg Olson of a few years ago and stay healthy. Um, you know, even last year he was EFFECTI when it was healthy, but I just been doing it for a full season. If he can, if he can do that for a full year, then I think they feel like they've got a really elite guy. If they have better overall receiving weapons, I think I think they'll throw it a little bit more. Um, you know, I think they've they've always played a little bit to their talent and

things like that. And and like I said, you know, last year they went into the year they didn't have Doug Babbin. They didn't know for sure what they were going to have out at DK metcast. I think they went into this it was another season where they're like, we've got Chris Carson and a shot Penny and and some things like that, and we're gonna start off thinking

that that's more of our approach to go um. And you know they also, I mean again they do they do hoping it up um more so when they need to. And I know that's what frustrates people as well. If you just did that from the first player of the game, maybe you don't fall into those holes. Um. Maybe someday people do that and we'll see I think somewhat overstated at times. I think you go back and look through

some of the games. You know, they've had games I think where they came out throwing a little bit more than people think. There's always such an emphasis on playoff games because that's what everybody's sort of lasting impression and games that get the most viewing and stuff like that.

And obviously each of the last two years they had playoff games where I think people were questioning their play calling because in each you know, they sort of fell behind and then came right and then came ro and back and and um, you know, I had a chance to win at the end. And you know, so I think I think each you know, the Dallas game two years ago, in the Green Bay game last year, where people like, well if you just if you just let Russell throw more earlier, maybe you wouldn't have been in

that situation. You have to come from behind. But UM, my short answer I guess after after the long winded one is I don't expect any significant change. But I do think because the fact that with Lockett having coming off a thousand yard receiving season, with DK Metcalf proving beyond a doubt you can be a really good NFL receiver. Adding Gray Wilson, they have some other receivers that are a little bit um you know they drafted Um uh, I'm sorry they expected it will dislie back. There there

other tight end. If you go back and look was really it in the first five weeks last season. If they get him back, you know, that's four really really top quality receivers right there. Um targets so you can throw to, which is probably a better receiving corps than they had going into last year. At this time, so I think I think they may go into it with a little more of a thought of throwing a little

bit more because they'll have that capability. Yeah, you're mentioned about how why don't they just do that all the time. Reminds me of every time a team has success in the two minute drill, the hurry up offense, Everyone's like, well, wow, they just run that the entire game, where it's probably not sustainable for sixty minutes, where you're gonna gash yourself and and get yourself in a position where the defense can make adjustments accordingly and and see something that's new

to them and then adjust from there. So it's it's kind of a double edged sword. And and you talk about that Houston game. I'll never forget the twenty I think it was Houston game when Russell did his thing and brought the Seahawks back from down a couple of touchdowns. I think Richard Sherman had to pick six in that game. So that was two thousand. They won the Super Bowl down at Houston when they had Yeah, I think they

were down twenty three and came back to win. I had a whole diet try before I brought you on Bob about how I'm a Pacific Northwest native, but I grew up a Dolphins fan and now I worked for the team, and those games were always like we rooted against the Seahawks, me and my friends because we were all fans of other teams, and the Seahawks found these ways to win games. Were like, how do they keep doing this? But they did it. That's what they do.

That's how they've been under Pete Carroll for a long time now. And we mentioned that core philosophy of the Seahawks in the way they you know, I like to make comparisons on these crossover podcasts where we compare these teams were playing against and how they've built their team

to what the Miami Dolphins have done recently. And one of the things that the Dolphins have done the Seahawks have have done for years now is accumulate draft capital, and they do that by basically having their own board and sticking to it, trading back over and over again every single year. And we saw them kind of go of that philosophy route with the running back position by taking Rashad Penny, like you mentioned a couple of years ago.

They have Chris Carson in the fold who has been the guy and one of the top five backs last year in Pro Football Focus is forced miss tackle statistics Carlos Hyde there. Now, how does this backfield shake out in twenty Is it's still Chris Carson's backfield or is there going to be someone else that comes up and take some carries away? Well, I think it's Chris Carson's. But the reason they went and got Carlos yet is because of the injuries they had at the end of

last season. A Shot Penny suffered an a c L injury in a game on December eight that Los Angeles. Um it sounds like he's on track with his recovery.

He keeps posting on Instagram and stuff like that, very optimistic looking things, but still a c L injuries take nine to ten months, and the team has already basically came out and said to expect him to start the year on the publist so that they have that option to put him on the publist when the regular season begins, and potentially that he's he would be out for six

games at that point before he could return. And then Chris Carson has had a couple of significant injuries in his time as a Seahawk, including the the hip injury he suffered last year. And and it was you know, losing both Carson and Penny um in December last year,

which really derailed him going into the playoffs. They had to bring back Marshawn Lynch, which was a great story but not really the ideal circumstances they wanted to bring Marshawn Lynch back, and um, you know, had to go into the playoffs with Marshawn Lynch and Travis Homer rookie who had basically not played at all as a tailback going into the playoffs, and um, you know, so that that they want to try to avoid that this year for a team that is always going to be pretty

pretty rundependent. Um, so they brought Carlos Hyde into the mix too. So you've got three. You've got two you know, thousand yard running backs in Carlos Hyde and Chris Carson, and then another guy and Shot Penny, who was really he's kind of been this this huge, this big play guy for them. Um, you know, had the key touchdown running at the help win the game at Pittsburgh last year and some other you know, he hasn't necessarily put a huge overall season numbers, but it's had some really

key plays. That's some as key times the big running had against Philadelphia as well in the ralow season run there last year. Uh when there last year. So you know, I think they think there's a way if all three guys get healthy and mid season or whatever, that they can still find ways to use them. And you know, both both all those guys have shown the ability to

catch them off pretty well. So uh, you know they could play on third down, so you know, one of them plays on first a second down in a series, the other comes in on third down. Then your rotate guys a little bit um. You know. Again, they they've had they've had a couple of times under Pete of basically having sort of their best team uh in the playoffs because of injuries they suffered at the running back spot.

And I think that's what he really wants to do, is like we get through the regular season and we get into the playoffs and we know for sure we have you know, at least maybe two of these guys healthy ready to go, um, and that that that we can bash team into submission to in the playoffs. And you mentioned Travis Homer, so not to not to leave off d J. Dallas another minami hurricane there in the fold Man. That guy runs hard, he runs physical. He's

a fun back to watch. I think he really fits in with what you mentioned the Seahawks want to be able to bash people at the Lion scremation win that way. Now, I had a question for you here, Bob, about the depth beyond DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but you kind of mentioned that already, so I want to just go to this other portion of the question I had for you. What are the expectations going into year two for DK Metcalf, Because this is a guy that blew up at the combine,

really had his starshine the brightest there. He falls in the draft a little bit and has the emotional video that I think everybody loved where he's on the phone with Pete Carroll talking about why did you guys draft me earlier? It's just one of my favorite moments. That year in the draft comes about, comes out his rookie year, has a big time year. Now you've got him and Tyler Lockett. You talk about Russell Wilson maybe not having the most weapons throughout the course of his career. But

these two guys, man, they are big time weapons. Is the expectation for both of these guys to kind of get even better and expand upon their production last year? Yeah, definitely. I mean the question is how much more can you

do that? But you know, the Seahawks have only had two receivers break the thousand yard mark in a seat in the same season once in their history, and Metcalf came close last year and Lockett did, so I think they feel, like, you know, it's a question of people are asking, is this another year where they could do that and both these guys to go over the thousand

yard mark. Um, I answered no to that question. And the thing I did recently on the idea that if you've got Olsen and Disley, you're going to have more guys to maybe spread the ball out too, and maybe you don't have to have to depend quite as much on the receivers. But um, you know, so so sort of storing up the idea that you'll have you know, your third and fourth receivers maybe doing a lot more, assuming those guys you know from day one are healthy

and out there, ready go. But I think that the expres say since for metcalf are are you know, off the charts. The only thing he really didn't do last year was he had a couple of a couple of games he was a little bit taken out of UM and then he had a couple of you know, drops slash fumbles, um. You know, he had a couple of things like that to just sort of clean up in his game. UM that we're sort of you know, kind of just felt like rookie first year mistake kind of

stuff that that happens. And you know, if he can if he can do that, just be a little more consistent, not you know, catch everything that comes his way, which is everybody's always gonna have some drops, and not that he had an absurd amount, but he had, but he just had a couple that, you know, maybe changed things a little bit for him and his stats. I think he could definitely do it and you know, lock it.

Like I said, going into last year, but one of the things we were all right and about was can he become as consistent and productive as Doug Baldwin had been.

Baldwin had been the heart and soul the Receiving Corps for so long and then he he retires going into the year, and so Locket sort of moves up into that spot and and he proved he could, um, and it's easy to forget maybe you know, he he suffered a pretty pretty significant injury and there win at San Francisco in November, and so his numbers dipped a little

bit um as he was coming back from that. And you know, so again if he can stay healthy through the whole year as well, um, you know, those numbers can go. But that's another reason why the Seahawks wanted to try to buff it up the receiving corps a little bit this year. And part of the thinking for going and getting a guy like Greg Olsen is so that you know you're not just relying on two guys

and then if something does. Only injuries happen in football, and so if one of those guys go out, you know, then you're not You still got guys to throw to you. So you know, that's always something they're gonna want to do, is have as many as many guys around. But yeah, I mean Lockett Metcalf, you know, as as a receiving duo is is as good as the Seahawks the path for quite a while. You posed, what I think is a great trivia question there. At the beginning of that answer,

I'm going to submit my answer to you. Was it Bobby Ingram and Darryl Jackson? It was not. It was not. It's a somewhat more obscure one simply because of the era in which it was. It was Joey Galloway and Brian Blades. Brian Blazes a guy with Miami connections, which is that the mid nineties are a period Seahawks fans I think most of them don't even remember. I actually went to I actually covered a lot of games during that era when Dennis Harrison was coaching and Ericson could

throw the ball. Joey Galloway was um really forgotten receiver kind of because only played here four years, left pretty acrimoniously. I don't even know joe Galloway ever likes to acknowledge actually played for the Seahawks, but but sort of joking there. But just the way his career ended here, I think it's part of why, you know, people sort of forget he ever played here. But if you can go back look at his numbers, they were really good and that

brandly it was still a really effective receiver. Then as well. I grew up in the in the nineties in Washington State, and I had a Joey Galloway jersey might have been my first one. Actually had a Joey Galloway and Sewn Springs jersey, so that was kind of my era. The first game I ever went to was nine against the Bengals in the Kingdom. Rick Meyer took a safety. It's all I can remember about the game other than the fact it was ugly in the Seahawks loss to the

Bengals at home. And one of the things the Seahawks did have for a long time was a beefy offensive line during those Mike Holmgren Sean Alexander years. Now, this current Seahawks offensive line has some big bodies as well. Up front, You've got Mike a Party and Dwayne Brown has really given Seas some stability there at left tackle. But then we have some camp battles to ensue. I'm

sure this coming training camp. Damian Lewis third round draft pick, Ethan Postage a high pick recently, Brandon Shell coming in maybe to replace a Fetty or George Fan. What is this offensive line gonna look like in your estimation come opening Day? Yeah, it's it's really interesting because you know,

they had a pretty good offensive line. I guess that's debatable have been on what you think, but I think in their eyes they at least had an offensive line they felt like was was a little more stable and consistent than they'd had for a few years. And Pete Pete Carroll said at the end of last season, Um, you know, we'd like to keep as minch of it

together as we could. And then they really didn't, you know, they let a few guys go, like a Fetty and um and George Fan who signed with the Jets, and and d J. Flucker as well, they cut him, and then Justin Britt, who was the starting center going into

the year. So you basically could have of what we're sort of your top six linemen for most of the year if you include the way Fan was used, you know, as as sort of that sixth lineman, and got really regular you used for those guys are gone now and so you've got, as you mentioned, Way Brown and Mike Potty.

But then the entire basically from center to the right side of the line could all be could all be completely new, And yeah, they're really counting on Lewis to to start step right into the starting lineup they guard, which is why they cut Flucker Um, Brandon Shell. I think I think they're going into it thinking he's going to be the starting right tackle. And then a guy named b J. Finney who played for the Steelers the

last few years and was sort of a spot starter. Um. But you know, I think they're sort of going into it with the idea that he could start a center. But they do have, like you mentioned, Ethan Postic and some other guys that have been around for a while, and a couple of other free agents that they signed, like Cedrica boy Um. And there's one other free agent I think I'm blanking on. Oh and Chance Warmack. Chance Warmack who they signed as well. Uh, some guys to compete.

So I think they you know, that was one of the things we're all writing about. They I think they had twenty offensive linemen on their roster at one point. They made some moves since then and so they don't have quite that many. But you know how many offensive lineman they had, how are they going to work them all in? I think they just want to throw a lot of these guys under the competition and see and see what happens. But this is such a weird year

with everything that's going on. Obviously, when they when they sort of put that plan in place in Mark's they were hoping they had May and June to have all those on field workouts that begins begin sorting that out and do exactly is going to be weare and they haven't had that, So you know, if when they get on the field and training camp that will that would be one of the primary storylines is seeing seeing who's the first team you know, who's playing first team center

and first team right tackle and all that kind of stuff and seeing how those competitions evolved. That's gonna be a welcome report for fans to see coming up here on training camp soon hopefully. And I like talking about all those parallels that I like to compare with Dolphins and teams we talked about here on this podcast. Is the number of transactions of Seahawks make you talk about

twenty offensive lineman. And I remember when they first hired Pete Carolin, John Schneider, they were a transaction machine, kind of like the Dolphins have been the last couple of years, and the area they have had continuity on up from the last couple of years at least is on the

defensive line on the other side of the football. But I don't think the casual fan is aware, Bob, of how good some of these space eaters the Seahawks have upfront, who are the main actions on this defensive line and sea should Seahawks fans feel good about going into the

year with the group they have up there? Well, I don't know that they do right now, simply because they Jadavian Clowney is still out there and unsigned, and that was sort of the hope when the season ended, was that you'd resigned Dadavan Clowney and that would bring a real level of stability to it, and then you work some of the young guys around there. Um, it's interesting you say that because I don't I don't know. I don't know how how much that the perception is shared

necessarily that the defensive line has been. I mean, there's is a lot of conflicting opinions on how good the defensive line has been the last few years. But people tend obviously to focus so much on sacks, and the Seahawks only had twenty eight sacks last year. Um, I think it was the second lowest total in the NFL, and um, you know, so that that was something they really talked about needing to improve was their past bus

this year. And and that's why people a lot of people sort of just thought it was a no brainer and that Clowney would be back, like there's no way they wouldn't just you know, um offer him the moon to make sure he returned. But but they sort of stuck to the way they've always done things, which is the assess of value to a player, and they don't necessarily want to get bidding wars, and they didn't with Clowney. And now he's still out there. I don't rule out

that he could still come back. I think there's still a chance he could, as as as as it comes down to, you know, the first first right before camp, and maybe he decides to finally take an offer that they have on the table for him. But uh, you know, otherwise you got you got Jared Reid and poon Afford as your tackles. Um. Pot Afford probably one of the more underrated Seahawks, not to hard course Seawks fans ain't

all about him. But yeah, from a national standpoint, I don't know if people know how good of a player he is, and jarn read Uh a great year two years ago, was suspended the first six games of last year and didn't put up the same kind of numbers, but they resigned him to a two year deal. UM one of the more significant offseason moves they made, and they they really like him. It's the ends that are really the question. And what are you going to get

out of all those guys? You know, they signed Bruce Servant and Benson Mayoa, each former Seahawks who were part of the Super Bowl team in two thousand thirteen, UM hoping they really approved the pass rush. With them, They've got like young guys Machine Green and l J. Collier who was the first round big last year and barely played. Only played about a hundred and fifty snaps all year year,

I think. But they're really counting on Green to be much better in year three and Collary to be much better in year two and solve a lot of issues there. And you know, then they've got a few other guys the kind of throw into that mix. But I think most people are still expecting them to add somebody out of you know, pass Clowney if it's an Everson Griffin, or there's some there's some better in defensive tackle types

that are still out there as well. I think people will be really surprised if they don't add something at some point early in camp or before the season, which is something they've done a lot. Last year. They made some pretty significant defensive line moves last year. They last year training for Clowney, two years ago, three years ago, training for Sheldon Richardson. They signed like Tony McDaniel during training you know, I think mid August one year, and

he suddenly was was a starter again after he came back. So, um, you know there, that's that's sort of a precedent. They've said that they could do something to the defensive line and plug a guy right in there and having to be an immediate contributor. So I don't think they're done with the defensive line. Yeah, Tony McDaniel had some significant years here in Miami. He's a rotational piece of good player up front. It's funny you mentioned Clowney and Richardson.

I was gonna say that it's it's unique the way the Seahawks have. You know, they're in this position in the NFL where a few teams are and it's a luxury to be able to go attack your needs right up against training camp and in the front of the season. And they did in the last couple of years with Sheldon Richardson, like you mentioned Jadeveon Clowney, But then they don't go out and resign those guys. We'll see what happens with Clowney. Definitely an interesting topic to keep an

eye on. Now. One area that I love talking about the Seahawks team with because it gives me a chance to talk about one of my favorite players in all of football. And I'll just go ahead and let you kind of take the floor on this and talk about how good Bobby Wagner is for someone that gets to see him go to work every single day. But I also want to hear about the linebacker corps beyond him, Like, what's the plan beyond Wagner? Is is Jordan Brooks there

to eventually take over for kJ right? That did they discuss at all the decision to take Brooks over? Patrick Queen? Just talk about these linebackers for a bit, if you can, Bob, Yeah, yeah, First on Bobby Wagner, you're right, and I still don't know if he's I think he's a guy who the appreciation for him is just going to grow and grow

and grow. What's you know, whenever his career ends and and people will realize what a great career he has had, and you know, the number of big plays he's made, um, you know, just his his awareness is anticipation of plays, is intelligence to figure out where the ball is going to be, and then the physical ability to get there. Just the sideline to sideline speed, which was I think the thing that not that he you know, he got taken the second round, so it's not like he really fell,

but still like you know, obviously look at him. If you'd redrafted now, he'd be a top five pick in that draft or whatever. And that was maybe the one part of the game that people underrated in him, was just that ability to know the sideline to sideline speed that he has and to sort of the anticipation to get there and then just you know, he's really become the leader of that defense, you know, of the of

what was the great defense in two thousand thirteen. You mentioned kJ right, but Bobby and kJ writer are really sort of the last guy standing had been with the team the entire time of all those guys, and and uh, you know, as some of those guys like Chritid Sherman and Earl Thomas and Cam Chancellor and Michael Bennett had moved on, body has become an even bigger sort of vocal leader in locker room presence to keep everybody together.

And he signed a contract sense and before last year, and you know, they sort of made that clear at the time, like you know, Russell's the quarterback of the offense. Bobby's Bobby is the quarterback and the leader in the heart and the soul of the defense, and and uh, you know, so his value to the team I think is only is only even greater and greater. You know, last year, and I know that if you really follow

PF stats as um, you know, he struggled. He had a few struggles in some past protection things because they were doing some different things, they were putting him in some different roles and all that. So I think maybe there was a little bit of perception from people who watched that that he didn't have quite the year last

year that he's had him previous years. I know he disputes that and would say that, you know, just sort of being in some different roles maybe had him given up some numbers at times that that that we're a little different than he had in the past. But you know, I don't I don't think he really has shown any signs of fall off yet. I still think he's he's, you know, as a lead of a middle linebacker as

there is in the NFL. K J. Wright you mentioned, you know, he's maybe the most underrated guy throughout this whole run that he's been there. You know, he came in two thousand eleven, really allowed them to slidify. You know, in thirteen, him and Bobby playing together, the played consistently together as those two inside linebackers since two thousand and thirteen, and UM probably will go down as the best linebacking

duo and team history UM in the inside linebacker spots. Yeah, Jordan Brooks, the pick up him did sort of raise some eyebrows. Your question about Patrick Queen, I I've got to admit I can't remember if we asked specifically about Brooks Queen. What I do know is that it was the fact that they thought those guys that was why they didn't end up wanting to trade down as much, because they wanted to make sure they got one of

those guys. They thought that they thought if they thought the Ravens were gonna take Brooks, and so it was I basically just had Brooks rated higher than Queen, but they thought the Ravens were gonna take Brooks and if they let it get past that, they weren't gonna be able to get him. So they wanted to take him where they did um and they definitely do. I mean, he plays kJ rights positions. So kJ Right has one

year left on his contract. There's been some speculation even he's got a pretty big cap number for this year, they could save some money if he if they were to release him. So I think they're gonna throw Jordan Brooks right into competition at weeks side linebacker, and if he's really good, I think I think he's got a chance to start from day one. And they've talked about they could move kJ right to the strong side linebacker spot.

But that's interesting too because you've got crew servant there do They resigned and said they're going to play primarily strong side linebacker. And then Cody Barton, who was a fairly high picked last year and ended up starting. I think the last four games of the year after Michael Kendricks is hurt, and so they've got some options there.

So the linebacking position is really gonna be interesting to watch, and it really is the first time in a long time that you go into it not knowing for sure who it is that's gonna line up next to Bobby Wagger, especially when you have pretty much you know for the most part, most defenses will have two linebackers to play significant reps and everyone else is more of a rotational

player or a role player in the defense. And I love the Seahawks on draft night talking about Jordan Brooks, Patrick Queen, that whole thing, because a lot of my friends out here are Seahawks fans, and they always say, well, we can pretty much take Night one off because we're going to trade out, and this year they didn't and did as they always do and take players that they feel fit their scheme or fit their program as best

as they can, and you can't argue with the results. Finally, we get to the secondary and the post legion of boom Era has had some ups and downs, but I think they've really uncovered some nice parts back there. You've got Shaquille Griffin, who was rock solid. Trey Flowers, I'm a big fan of the way he plays, Quandree Digs a big boon of an in season acquisition last year. How does this secondary shakeout? Who are the five or six guys that we're going to see the most this

year on the football field. Well, it's funny because it looked like that was totally set when they made the trade for Quentin Dunbar, and then you mentioned everybody else there, and it looked like, yeah, we've got a top five of our secondary, which is different than the last couple of years. And then and really I think it pretty obvious starting four that you're gonna have a Griffin and Dumbar's your corners, Quandre Diggs, who they acquired it midseason

from Detroit last year as your free safety. Bradley McDougal plays some strong safety and stops having to move back and forth based on who else they had a safety. So I think they felt like that was gonna be much better. And Pete Carroll talked at the combine about, you know, when everybody talked about their lack of sacks

and just slowly like you gotta get pass wrestors. He was like, you know, the coverage has something to do with that too, obviously, and you gets covered sacks and I don't think they felt like they got as much of that last year UM as they needed at times.

And so you know, they made making the trade for Digs in mid season was sort of an admission that, you know, obviously that they needed some help UM, and then trading for Dumbar, you know, was sort of another little admission that, yeah, we could use a little health to corner. And so we'll see with Dumbar situation. Hopefully they'll beat some clarity to that. I'm sure the team would like to know. I guess if he's gonna if the if the NFL was going to suspend him at all, um,

you know, earlier rather than later. But the NFL might be waiting for the process to play out to UM and the legal process could take quite a while. I guess the good news is they only have them for one year on his contract. I think there's been you know, some thought maybe he would they'd resign him to an extension, but they gets pushed back to after the season. It might not be the Seahawks issue to deal with. You know, they just he would just play while this is getting

sorted out and and all that. But um, they do. You know, they also have Google Amadi and Marquis Blair as guys who can fit into that somewhere, and it will be really interesting to see how that all, how that all does unfold. Both those guys have been talked about. Amadi ended last year their nickel. Blair sort of played in some sub packages last year, mostly in They're Dying, but Carroll talked about he could be used in their nickel packages this year too. So they do have a

lot of interesting pieces like that, you know. And then they've been another team that's been rumored interested in Jamal Adams and you know, so who knows if the Jets are really going to feel compelled to trade Jamal Adams. I still think that's you know, the bigger question here is the Jets even gonna want to do that. They've they've got, you know, they can they can play hardball with them and sort of force them they have to

play and all that. But if they do get to that point, which I don't think would, I think it'd be like a clowney thing where it wouldn't be till right before the season. Probably there's really no reason for the Jets to have to have to do that more quickly than they than they want to. But but you never know, you know, you never rule the Seahawks out of anything, and I do know they'd be interested in

jamal atoms if you really did become available. Well, hey, if they want to take them out of the a f C East and put them in the NFC, I'm more than happy to hear about that, because that dude can flat out play. Last question I have for you here, Bob, and we've done this with every guest here on the uh No the Enemy series on the Drivetime podcast is to ask, if the Seahawks do this, they'll make the playoffs, or if the Seahawks the Seahawks will make the playoffs

if blank occurs. But I think the real question here is because they've made the playoffs every year except for one since Russell Wilson got there, the real question should be the Seahawks will when the NFC West If blank, I mean, I guess I'd say Russell stays healthy, but that's just such an obvious when he's so important to this team and and all that. So but I guess, but I guess from a strictly playing thing that has to happen is what what we spent some time here

talking about. The pass rust has to get better. They just have to. They have to get better playing past defense as a whole. In general. You saw, um, you know, just Green Bay Aaron Rodgers when he really needed to in that playoff game last year, he was able to both get time and find open receivers. Um. They had a few too many games like that at times last year. I mean, they want eleven and five, but um so

they weren't. They weren't losing a whole lot. But I think that's the number one thing that has to happen. They had twenty eight sacks last year. I think they've got to get that into the mid high thirties and just be a team that gets after the quarterback more than they did last year. Yeah. I think one of the most copetitive divisions and all the NFL, if not the most competitive this year, NFC West and the Seahawks are right at the top of that pecking order. He

is Bob Condota Seattle Times. You can find him on Twitter at b Condota. Bob. Thank you so much for your time today. I really appreciate it. Yeah, thank you very much. And the way he goes a really in depth coverage there of the Seattle Seahawks, and Bob has been a Pacific Northwest lifeer covered the Washington Huskies for a long time as well, So a little bit of bad blood between he and either a husky and a cougar on this drive time podcast bring it to you

here in South Florida. Ask for today's podcast. That is gonna be my time. I'll let you guys know on Twitter what the podcast schedules looking like for the next couple of weeks as we gear up for training camp and ramp up for the start of the NFL season moving down to South Florida, so I could have a couple of days off here. We'll see what that looks like. But in the meantime, you all please be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple, podcast, Spotify, tuned in,

wherever you get your podcast from. Go ahead and subscribe, rate and view. The show helps us out tremendously. Give me a follow on Twitter. It's at Wingfield, NFL. The team is at Miami Dolphins. Check out the fish tank and the audible podcast, and of course Miami dolphins dot com for all the written coverage of your Miami Dolphins until next time finds up