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While it was only a preseason contest, fans should consider it a legit win all around.
The Seahawks beat the Vikings 24-13 at home last night in their first game of the 2023 season. While it was only a preseason contest that doesn’t count in the standings, fans should consider it a legit win all around, as Seattle can celebrate the performances of several young contributors on their roster.
Here are your studs and duds for Preseason Week 1.
In case you missed it, here are some highlights.
The Seahawks won their first preseason game of the year last night at home against the Vikings.
In case you missed it, here are some highlights.
Week one of the 2023 preseason is officially in the books for the Seattle Seahawks
Week one of the 2023 preseason is officially in the books for the Seattle Seahawks, who treated the 12th Man to a 24-13 victory on Thursday night. For the first time since January, Seahawks football is back, and there is plenty to talk about.
Ultimately, there is not much substance to gleam from a preseason opener. It is typically rough, ungraceful football. But, it is football nonetheless, and there is plenty to talk about.
Below are 4 takeaways from Seattle’s first victory – exhibition or not – of the 2023 season.
t will be interesting to see if Bobo can shake loose and build on the good work he did in last Friday night’s mock game.
The Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings are playing a late preseason game tonight on the west coast, with kickoff at 7:00 p.m. Seattle time and 10:00 p.m. eastern.
Even though we probably won’t see much of the starters for either team, there are still some interesting matchups to follow. The one we’re hoping to see most features two rookies from a storied rivalry from the soon-to-be defunct Pac-12 conference: former UCLA wide receiver Jake Bobo for Seattle vs. former USC cornerback Mekhi Blackmon for Minnesota.
Seahawks: Rookie WR Jake Bobo
Bobo (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) is one of several highly-regarded undrafted free agent wide receivers on Seattle’s roster right now. While he is hilariously unathletic compared to the likes of DK Metcalf and Dareke Young, Bobo nevertheless excels in the fine art of getting open and head coach Pete Carroll has been raving about him nearly every time he speaks with the media during training camp. In college Bobo put in four years at Duke and then transfered to UCLA for his last year. In 13 games with the Bruins he totaled 57 catches, 817 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022.
Vikings: Rookie CB Mekhi Blackmon
Blackmon (6-foot-0, 175 pounds) tested far better athletically than Bobo, but he went through a similar journey as an amateur. He spent the first four years of his college career at Colorado, then he transfered to USC for the 2022 season. In 14 games with the Trojans he posted three interceptions and 12 pass breakups. Blackmon eventually was picked by Minnesota in the third round of the draft at No. 102 overall.
What to watch for: On paper Blackmon has the advantage here in everything but size. However, there’s far more to the game than measurables and pro day scores. It will be interesting to see if Bobo can shake loose and build on the work he did in last Friday night’s mock game (seven catches, 76 yards, one touchdown).
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Seahawks initial 53-man roster projection going into preseason
While it’s unofficial, it’s still illuminating.
The Seattle Seahawks have released their first unofficial depth chart of the 2023 season ahead of Thursday night’s preseason debut against the Minnesota Vikings.
While it’s only an unofficial depth chart, it’s still illuminating regarding their plans. Here are eight things we learned from Seattle’s first depth chart of the year.
40 Seahawks players who should make the initial 53-man roster
Let’s hear what his last coach thinks about him.
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The Seahawks picked another running back in the second round of the draft this year and word on the street is they considered picking UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet even earlier than they did. It’s not hard to see why head coach Pete Carroll is a fan of Charbonnet’s game. Let’s hear what his last coach thinks about him, though.
Here is what former Philadelphia Eagles and current UCLA head coach Chip Kelly had to say about Charbonnet’s practice habits and work ethic on Seattle Sports radio, according to Mike Dugar at the Athletic:
“He’s probably one of the best practice players I’ve ever been around… He may have been our best special teams practice player, and he never took a snap on special teams. But every day his approach to special teams practice was amazing. It’s just the type of kid he is. He knew that maybe he’s going to have to play (special) teams in the NFL, so he practiced his tail off.”
Kelly may not be the most reliable narrator in the sport, but we’ll take his word on this. Consider it more evidence that second-year back Ken Walker is one of the veterans who may see his starting spot get taken by a rookie this year.
Charbonnet isn’t the only player of Kelly’s that the Seahawks have added, either. Wide receiver Jake Bobo is one of the undrafted free agents that we are projecting to make the team’s initial 53-man roster.
The Minnesota Vikings need a wide receiver in the NFL Draft and @TheKevinFielder believes that could by taking a power slot.
The Minnesota Vikings face a predicament on offense that will only be figured out with time.
With just 15 months on the job, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell are attempting to build their brand of offense but the opportunities to do so have been limited.
This free agency has signaled a significant step in that direction, though. After releasing wide receiver Adam Thielen and signing tight end Josh Oliver, it seems like the Vikings will shift to more two tight end sets. This is a far cry from how the offense operated last season.
While such a move should help boost the Vikings’ chances on the ground, significant work has to be done. The Vikings won’t live in 12 personnel (one running back and two tight ends) all game and will have to run the ball out of 11 personnel eventually.
Currently, the Vikings are operating incompletely in this sense, and it seems like they’ll continue to struggle on the ground when they head into 11 personnel.
There is a solution, however, and it involves embracing a shift in football: power slots.
The Rams could express interest in taking Jake Bobo in the later rounds of the 2023 NFL draft.
The Los Angeles Rams are going to look a bit different in 2023 than they did during the 2022 season. At the wide receiver position, Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson appear to be the top two guys on the depth chart, while Allen Robinson could be traded this offseason.
Tutu Atwell flashed some potential this past season, but the Rams are going to have plenty of picks in the 2023 NFL draft to address multiple needs. After getting awarded four compensatory picks and trading Jalen Ramsey, the Rams now have 11 total picks in this year’s draft.
With the Rams possessing plenty of draft capital in the later rounds, Jake Bobo out of UCLA is a wide receiver to keep an eye on.
