Kentavius, would you give Jarran Reed a chip designation (red) with how he has been performing as an NT this season? I'm not sure if he's actually been amazing but I do think he's playing above many of our expectations.
If I’m a really good Seahawk that is or has been injured, and that means I’m not worthy of a colour for past play, then I’m perturbed. Colourless Seahawks as a concept I struggle with.
You mentioned Mr Top Billin. I used to watch his content and found him quite amusing until he totally went sideways on Rob Staton in a most immature, mean, name-calling, and insulting way. Haven’t watched another of his videos since, and won’t. I have zero time for that. If you can’t adhere to basic professional principles then you’ll get zero support from me. I called him out on it in a very respectful way, and he berated me in a similar way. Done.
Sad Day !!!! A great PLAYER !!! Butkus was A GREAT Football Player!!! Was fortunate to be fly on the wall Back in Circa 81-82 at A Hawks O-lineman's house when D Butkas showed up and being there Was in the presence, ( realized)of an actual Good Guy! But he stated -" On the field , I was as ugly as I could be &
He was definitely blue chip and is a 1st ballot HOF but I think now given his coverage speed has dropped off, he’s no longer competitive with the Fred Warners of the world. But a massive player and has def upgraded the Hawks defense.
I think the picture is a bit prettier than what you paint.
From Aaron Schatz:
Kenneth Walker is 12th in both rushing DYAR (57) and DVOA (10.3%) (min. 30 carries), a far cry from his -35 DYAR, -12.3% DVOA rushing performance in his 2022 sophomore season. DK Metcalf ranks ninth among receivers (min. 20 targets) with a 109 receiving DYAR and fourth with a 44.5% DVOA. Noah Fant (67.2%, first) and Colby Parkinson (16.0%, ninth) are among the league's most efficient tight ends with at least 10 targets.
In other words, Metcalf is the 4th most efficient wide receiver in the NFL and the ninth most productive. If that's not blue chip, I really don't know what it would take.
Fant is the most efficient receiver at tight end, Parkinson is 9th. But volume will make metrics make more sense later in the season.
Interesting to consider what I thought of DVOA 12 years ago when I started writing about it and what I think of it today. But even still, 12th wouldn't be a blue chip RB. I think Walker is much better than 12th, actually, so not sure if that's a prettier picture.
Yep for both DK and Lockett (and JSN for that matter) you have to look at how well Geno is playing... Geno's start to 2023 looks more like a continuation of the second half of last season than the first half of 2022, unfortunately.
Expect Spoon's energy will spark across all efforts, especially on Defense.I like KJ's advice to Jamal, saying he needs to govern his intensity to know when to take his "kill shots". Now we hear Marshawn advising the whole Team not to try to BE a new version of LOB, more than focus on riding an unknown wave into something fresh. Barring injuries, we have talent across the board that can incite the Blue Chip qualities every pro player brings, just by being the best of the best from colleges. Watching teams express a passionate genuine unity has been key to picking who wins this week over who loses.
Witherspoon is quickly going to be someone that opposing OC's will have to "account for" in game planning. With Riq, Witherspoon, and Tre (if all are healthy) where is the ball going to go?
Better coverage will lead to more coverage sacks, more FFs and INTs.
I suspect Waldron is keeping both he and Bobo in his back pocket for now. Contract stat demands don't appear to be in play, as yet. Better to make opposing OCs theorize than give them film? Maybe not, as JSN has run his routes already. Better yet, convince them he'll go left and instead go right. Touchdown Seahawks!
The silver lining to needing to change the offense, and how we use JSN/Bobo and multiple TEs because of losing both tackles, is that there's not much film out on what our newest weapons are capable of.
Absolutely. Nobody knows what their moves are when playing live. We can expect Pete will focus a whole game on them, say when we play the Niners. Just wait as they learn where Geno will look when he scrambles. Fast and furious will work. The whole Team has it in spades.
I fear we may be attributing more McVayness to Waldron than he’s capable of. Let’s see the Hawks first be able to run a simple screen play, then we can bring out the more exotic hidden playbook out of our back pocket
Great analysis Joe. I’m still interested in more of Bobo though. He looks great and hasn’t really erred in any way that I’ve seen. Eventual replacement for Locket?
Doesn’t blue chip require a couple of years at least to establish? Am thinking of a stud like Jeffery Simmons, I think by his third year people were ready to put him in the same conversations as Chris Jones and Fletcher Cox
I kind of define blue chip for CBs as whether or not QBs stop throwing his way. It happened quickly with Sherman and I think it will happen just as quickly with Witherspoon.
The term is malleable, for sure. At the beginning of 2011, no one had heard of Richard Sherman. At the end of 2012, he was an AP1 and consensus choice as one of the two best CBs in the league.*
* Patrick Peterson, who is still active, being the other.
Whatever people say about CK’s skills, he could take over a game. I went to the 2013 NFC Championship. As tough a fourth quarter as Kaepernick had, he was the only Niner offensive player you feared. By the end, the LOB had squeezed off every option he had, and he still came close.
Can't really argue with the list, and it's nice to see the Seahawks with potential blue-chip talent (or at least Pro Bowl-potential) at so many positions. Big turnaround from just a couple years ago, even bigger if 5-6 of these players are in that rarified air by season's end because as you pointed out, there's a lot of potential but also a lot yet to prove.
As for Diggs, he has me worried. They downplayed Diggs' hamstring injury before the Panthers game but it seems like he is far from 100%. He also seemed to be less than 100% for most of 2022. He just doesn't seem to be in the game most of the time. A good offense is going to exploit the shit out of that if it doesn't improve.
I wonder if Jamal can stay healthy if they'd put Love/Coby in at FS some. I feel like both those guys are more suited to playing center field rather than up close to the LOS. When Diggs is 100%, he's great. But 100% is harder to attain once you hit the magical age 30.
Hoping that by December, we'll have Dickson, DK, Walker, Cross, Lucas as blue-chippers. On D, Spoon and Woolen, Mafe, Reed. Jamal has the potential too!
Jarran Reed has been ballin out. He is a red w/ shades of blue--purple chip?
Metcalf is a blue-chip player in my book. To me, it’s not how he stacks up against other receivers as much as how he performs against top defenses and defensive. Also--and I admit that this is unmeasurable--his presence makes his teammates better.
Sorry just to add one addl point on blue chippers. Arguably the winners have spent their blue chip cap space on actual blue chippers. Vs “blue-chipping” a Daniel Jones or (gulp) a Jamal Adams
Think one of your strengths is dispassionate analysis. Agree with every one of your assessments and also with the thesis that the best teams have multiple “blues”. Maybe circumstancial but sure seems to be the case
Kentavius, would you give Jarran Reed a chip designation (red) with how he has been performing as an NT this season? I'm not sure if he's actually been amazing but I do think he's playing above many of our expectations.
If I’m a really good Seahawk that is or has been injured, and that means I’m not worthy of a colour for past play, then I’m perturbed. Colourless Seahawks as a concept I struggle with.
You mentioned Mr Top Billin. I used to watch his content and found him quite amusing until he totally went sideways on Rob Staton in a most immature, mean, name-calling, and insulting way. Haven’t watched another of his videos since, and won’t. I have zero time for that. If you can’t adhere to basic professional principles then you’ll get zero support from me. I called him out on it in a very respectful way, and he berated me in a similar way. Done.
The encouraging thing is that we can have reasonable hopes for a significant chunk these players becoming blue chip:
Zach Charbonnet
Charles Cross
Noah Fant
Derrick Hall
Dre Jones
Abe Lucas
Boye Mafe
DK Metcalf
Uchenna Nwosu
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Ken Walker III
Devon Witherspoon
Riq Woolen
While all won’t achieve that level, if eight or nine do, we’re looking at a formidable team for the next 3-5 years. If the QB is good enough.
The future is bright!
https://youtu.be/lqkxd32dbwM?si=hZr9ufnoY9fu75ez
That's actually exactly what I was thinking of, haha!
Sad Day !!!! A great PLAYER !!! Butkus was A GREAT Football Player!!! Was fortunate to be fly on the wall Back in Circa 81-82 at A Hawks O-lineman's house when D Butkas showed up and being there Was in the presence, ( realized)of an actual Good Guy! But he stated -" On the field , I was as ugly as I could be &
allowed!
If B Wags isn't Blue chip, who is?
He was definitely blue chip and is a 1st ballot HOF but I think now given his coverage speed has dropped off, he’s no longer competitive with the Fred Warners of the world. But a massive player and has def upgraded the Hawks defense.
FWIW, Paul Moyer says that Wagner is playing at Pro Bowl level. Less than a year ago, Moyer thought Bobby should retire.
Yeah you may have a point on Wagz, he’s made a real difference out there including freeing up Brooks to “not think, just do”
I think the picture is a bit prettier than what you paint.
From Aaron Schatz:
Kenneth Walker is 12th in both rushing DYAR (57) and DVOA (10.3%) (min. 30 carries), a far cry from his -35 DYAR, -12.3% DVOA rushing performance in his 2022 sophomore season. DK Metcalf ranks ninth among receivers (min. 20 targets) with a 109 receiving DYAR and fourth with a 44.5% DVOA. Noah Fant (67.2%, first) and Colby Parkinson (16.0%, ninth) are among the league's most efficient tight ends with at least 10 targets.
In other words, Metcalf is the 4th most efficient wide receiver in the NFL and the ninth most productive. If that's not blue chip, I really don't know what it would take.
Fant is the most efficient receiver at tight end, Parkinson is 9th. But volume will make metrics make more sense later in the season.
Interesting to consider what I thought of DVOA 12 years ago when I started writing about it and what I think of it today. But even still, 12th wouldn't be a blue chip RB. I think Walker is much better than 12th, actually, so not sure if that's a prettier picture.
In pro football, DVOA is an amalgam of a chimera and a flashing red light.
I saw something that K9 as top 5 in most running back stats, he’s blue chip in MHO.
Yep for both DK and Lockett (and JSN for that matter) you have to look at how well Geno is playing... Geno's start to 2023 looks more like a continuation of the second half of last season than the first half of 2022, unfortunately.
Expect Spoon's energy will spark across all efforts, especially on Defense.I like KJ's advice to Jamal, saying he needs to govern his intensity to know when to take his "kill shots". Now we hear Marshawn advising the whole Team not to try to BE a new version of LOB, more than focus on riding an unknown wave into something fresh. Barring injuries, we have talent across the board that can incite the Blue Chip qualities every pro player brings, just by being the best of the best from colleges. Watching teams express a passionate genuine unity has been key to picking who wins this week over who loses.
Witherspoon is quickly going to be someone that opposing OC's will have to "account for" in game planning. With Riq, Witherspoon, and Tre (if all are healthy) where is the ball going to go?
Better coverage will lead to more coverage sacks, more FFs and INTs.
I suspect Waldron is keeping both he and Bobo in his back pocket for now. Contract stat demands don't appear to be in play, as yet. Better to make opposing OCs theorize than give them film? Maybe not, as JSN has run his routes already. Better yet, convince them he'll go left and instead go right. Touchdown Seahawks!
The silver lining to needing to change the offense, and how we use JSN/Bobo and multiple TEs because of losing both tackles, is that there's not much film out on what our newest weapons are capable of.
Absolutely. Nobody knows what their moves are when playing live. We can expect Pete will focus a whole game on them, say when we play the Niners. Just wait as they learn where Geno will look when he scrambles. Fast and furious will work. The whole Team has it in spades.
I fear we may be attributing more McVayness to Waldron than he’s capable of. Let’s see the Hawks first be able to run a simple screen play, then we can bring out the more exotic hidden playbook out of our back pocket
Great analysis Joe. I’m still interested in more of Bobo though. He looks great and hasn’t really erred in any way that I’ve seen. Eventual replacement for Locket?
I will be absolutely shocked if Witherspoon isn’t the bluest of blue chips by end of the season.
Doesn’t blue chip require a couple of years at least to establish? Am thinking of a stud like Jeffery Simmons, I think by his third year people were ready to put him in the same conversations as Chris Jones and Fletcher Cox
I kind of define blue chip for CBs as whether or not QBs stop throwing his way. It happened quickly with Sherman and I think it will happen just as quickly with Witherspoon.
The term is malleable, for sure. At the beginning of 2011, no one had heard of Richard Sherman. At the end of 2012, he was an AP1 and consensus choice as one of the two best CBs in the league.*
* Patrick Peterson, who is still active, being the other.
Yep and both of them trying to wrest the “island” title from Darelle Revis. Those were great days and great debates!
Also the Luck vs Wilson debates, those were awesome too!!
Kaepernick was in the mix, too.
Whatever people say about CK’s skills, he could take over a game. I went to the 2013 NFC Championship. As tough a fourth quarter as Kaepernick had, he was the only Niner offensive player you feared. By the end, the LOB had squeezed off every option he had, and he still came close.
He was always a difficult out but I think Russ and Luck 4-5 yrs in were in a different league.
But yeah Kaepernick def a better QB than people give him credit for
Can't really argue with the list, and it's nice to see the Seahawks with potential blue-chip talent (or at least Pro Bowl-potential) at so many positions. Big turnaround from just a couple years ago, even bigger if 5-6 of these players are in that rarified air by season's end because as you pointed out, there's a lot of potential but also a lot yet to prove.
As for Diggs, he has me worried. They downplayed Diggs' hamstring injury before the Panthers game but it seems like he is far from 100%. He also seemed to be less than 100% for most of 2022. He just doesn't seem to be in the game most of the time. A good offense is going to exploit the shit out of that if it doesn't improve.
I wonder if Jamal can stay healthy if they'd put Love/Coby in at FS some. I feel like both those guys are more suited to playing center field rather than up close to the LOS. When Diggs is 100%, he's great. But 100% is harder to attain once you hit the magical age 30.
Hoping that by December, we'll have Dickson, DK, Walker, Cross, Lucas as blue-chippers. On D, Spoon and Woolen, Mafe, Reed. Jamal has the potential too!
Jarran Reed has been ballin out. He is a red w/ shades of blue--purple chip?
Thanks for the usual great content, however, I have to ask; What the heck is “Club 33 at Disneyland”?
Metcalf is a blue-chip player in my book. To me, it’s not how he stacks up against other receivers as much as how he performs against top defenses and defensive. Also--and I admit that this is unmeasurable--his presence makes his teammates better.
“…and defensive backs.”
DK has REALLY improved his catch rate, and YAC. If he keeps it up, 2023 will be a "blue chip" type season for him for sure.
Sorry just to add one addl point on blue chippers. Arguably the winners have spent their blue chip cap space on actual blue chippers. Vs “blue-chipping” a Daniel Jones or (gulp) a Jamal Adams
For context, Burrow is playing with a strained calf that has him limping at times. His availability is day-to-day.
Think one of your strengths is dispassionate analysis. Agree with every one of your assessments and also with the thesis that the best teams have multiple “blues”. Maybe circumstancial but sure seems to be the case