Tag: legion of boom

What is next for former Texas safety Earl Thomas?

Former Longhorns safety Earl Thomas could be on his way out of Balitmore. Could he finally find his way to the Dallas Cowboys?

Former Texas Longhorns safety Earl Thomas was back in the news on Saturday. This time after an altercation with teammate Chuck Clark. Thomas was sent home from practice on Friday and the news now surrounds the fact that he could be on his way out of town.

Our colleagues at the Ravens Wire pondered the idea of four possible trade landing spots for Thomas. Given the contract situation, it might be difficult to pull off a trade or even release him without getting creative. A trade seems difficult due to the money owed to Thomas, but what if he was outright released? Which team could be interested?

Obviously one team that many fans will ask about is the Dallas Cowboys. No shock seeing as how he grew up as a Cowboys fan and for the better part of the last two seasons, the rumors were flying that he could land with America’s Team. In the aforementioned trade article on Ravens Wire, the Cowboys were mentioned as one of the four.

The Cowboys have been interested in every top safety over the last two years and a deal for Thomas would make a ton of sense for both sides.

Dallas was in the running for Thomas’ services last year but didn’t want to pay the price Baltimore ultimately did for him, according to David Moore of The Dallas Morning News. But with a potential trade, Thomas’ contract would be far more manageable with only $10 million guaranteed this year. On top of that, Thomas is from Texas and a return to his home state would probably make him happy as well.

The Cowboys would get a top safety for relatively cheap and the Ravens would get some cap savings. It’s rare deals work out this well in situations like this.

The idea of Thomas to Dallas all started when Earl Thomas approached then head coach Jason Garrett and said “come get me”. The Cowboys flirted with the idea of trading for him in the 2019 NFL Draft but decided instead to draft another former Longhorn, Connor Williams. When Earl Thomas became a free agent, the ideas swirled again before he signed with the Ravens.

With the perception of him on his way out of Baltimore could Dallas have that internal conversation again? The team lost their best cornerback in Byron Jones. The secondary is relatively young and Thomas has the experience to help. One thing that the Cowboys struggle with is creating turnovers.

Despite the fact that Thomas is 31 years old, he can still have some impact on the field. He created six turnovers over the last two seasons. Which is a lot more than any Cowboy has done. It might be worth kicking the tires on. Plus the Cowboys just created some cap space with a restructure of Tyron Smith’s contract.

Jamal Adams seeks to establish own identity apart from Legion of Boom

The 2020 Seahawks secondary may not be the “Legion of Boom 2.0” – and that’s alright with Jamal Adams, who wants to write his own story.

Jamal Adams understands what the Legion of Boom means to the Seattle Seahawks faithful – after all, he was a big fan of them himself.

During his time at LSU, Adams recalled in Thursday’s video press conference, he used to tune in every Sunday to watch Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and Richard Sherman tear offenses apart. “I used to be inspired by the energy and love and passion that they played with,” told reporters. “These guys, they play so hard, and that’s what it’s about in this building. They’re all about winning, and you can’t ask for nothing better, man.”

These days, the Seahawks secondary looks completely different, with players such as Shaquill Griffin, Quandre Diggs, and Quinton Dunbar/Tre Flowers patrolling the defensive backfield for Seattle. The addition of Adams to that group has inspired murmurs across the internet of a “Legion of Boom 2.0,” a notion which Adams himself immediately dismissed.

“Their chapter is over with,” he stated definitively. “As a defensive group, as a defensive back group, we have to create our own legacy.”

That legacy begins with overcoming the Seahawks’ disappointing 2019 defensive campaign, which ranked near the bottom of the league in both passing and rushing yards allowed. Adams’ versatility will be a major part of that first step. “Whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do,” he said. “I can do a little bit of everything.”

Adams does plan on reaching out to the former members of the Legion of Boom. “All of those guys have my respect. I take my hat off for them,” he emphasized. “I have nothing but respect for those guys.”

The pressure to live up to that group’s impact on Seattle sports history is enormous, but Adams isn’t worried – the unit he’s concerned with is the one suiting up in the blue and green in 2020.

“All we can do is control what we can control and write our own story,” he said. “I can’t wait to get out there in front of the 12s.”

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Touchdown Wire ranks Earl Thomas III as one of the ten best safeties

USA TODAY’s Touchdown Wire released their top 11 safety list. Former Longhorn Earl Thomas III cracked the top ten.

Our colleagues at the Touchdown Wire are as starved for football as the rest of us. As the NFL season gets closer they have started examining the best players at each position. One of those players is former Longhorn safety Earl Thomas. He started his career with the Seahawks helping lead them to their first Super Bowl Championship, now a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

Earl Thomas III has been a mainstay of lists such as these since his days with the Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom,” and with good reason. Thomas is perhaps the prototype at free safety, with sideline-to-sideline ability and the eye skills to match. His first season with the Ravens after a decade in the NFC West did see his play slip a bit, but when you start at such an elite level any slippage still sees you check in as one of the game’s best.

His coverage skills remain elite. Thomas was targeted in the passing game just 14 times last season, allowing just six receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown, to go with his pair of interceptions. He allowed an NFL passer rating of just 47.9, which was the lowest mark surrendered by him since the 2016 season in Seattle. His ability to read the eyes of a quarterback remains elite, as he displayed on this interception of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

It is no surprise to see Thomas near the top at his position, as he has been viewed as one of the best since he joined the league. Over his career Thomas has accumulated 30 career interceptions, 12 forced fumbles to go along with 713 career tackles in his 10 years in the league.

 

Seahawks Russell Wilson ranks No. 2 among Madden NFL 21 quarterbacks

The Madden NFL 21 quarterback ratings were released and Seattle Seahawk Russell Wilson ranked second place behind Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.

 

The NFL quarterback ratings for the video game Madden NFL 21 were released on Monday and Seattle Seahawks signal-caller Russell Wilson was ranked the second-highest in the league, behind only Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wilson was given a rating of 97, second to Mahomes’ 99, and ranking ahead of Lamar Jackson, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady among others. He is widely considered to be the second-best quarterback in the league behind Mahomes entering the 2020 season.

Throughout his career, Wilson has received recognition as one of the most efficient passers in NFL history as well as a threat in the rushing game when he breaks free, but perhaps only recently as one of the best in the game. Still, he has yet to receive a single vote for the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Being ranked behind a transcendent talent like Mahomes is certainly nothing to complain about, and it must be gratifying among 12s to see Wilson get his due.

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Should the Seahawks trade for Jets safety Jamal Adams?

Jamal Adams would be a considerable upgrade for a leaky secondary, should the Seattle Seahawks trade for the Jets safety?

One of the NFL’s premier defenders could be on the move sooner than later. Star New York Jets safety Jamal Adams officially requested a trade on Thursday.

Adams has frequently been at odds with the Jets during his tenure in New York, often leading to speculation about his overall happiness in the Big Apple. Trade rumors were floated throughout the 2019 season, and now it seems they have come to fruition.

Of course, this begs the question, should Seahawks general manager John Schneider get on the phone with the Jets about acquiring Adams?

For the past two seasons, and especially in 2019, Seattle’s secondary has been a considerable liability. Once the backbone of the defense, the secondary has turned into an Achilles Heel. Quarterbacks routinely exposed the secondary, which ultimately proved to be fatal for Seattle last year.

Even quarterbacks like Andy Dalton and Matt Schaub both had over 400 yards passing when they played the Seahawks.

Adding Adams to the mix would go a long way to helping shore up a leaky secondary. Since entering the league in 2017, Adams has become one of the best at the position and is a game-changing talent.

Seattle does have decent safety depth with Quandre Diggs, Bradley McDougald, Ugo Amadi and Marquise Blair. However, McDougald is on the final year of his contract, while Amadi and Blair are still fighting for meaningful snaps. Pairing Adams with Diggs would be a considerable upgrade and be a suffocating duo.

Adams would likely come at a steep price, but if the Seahawks still see themselves as championship contenders then they need a secondary that will actually be a challenge for opponents in 2020.

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2 Seahawks make Touchdown Wire’s best cornerbacks in man coverage

Seattle Seahawks defensive backs Quinton Dunbar and Tre Flowers have landed on Touchdown Wire’s list of top NFL cornerbacks in man coverage.

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar recently took a look around the league at the best NFL cornerbacks in man coverage and two Seattle Seahawks have landed on the list – Quinton Dunbar and Tre Flowers. Here’s what Farrar has to say about each player.

“It’s unknown what will happen to Dunbar as a result of his legal issues at this time, but when the Seahawks traded a 2020 fifth-round pick to the Redskins for his services in March, it sure looked like a great deal,” Farrar writes. “Last season, Dunbar allowed the ninth-best opposing quarterback rating in the NFL at 56.9, and that excellence worked in his ability to play man coverage, as well. In those instances (the Redskins played man coverage on 34% of their snaps), Dunbar allowed 14 catches on 29 targets for 222 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and an opponent QBR of 46.1 — eighth-best in the league. If Dunbar is able to play in the 2020 season, the Seahawks might want to consider playing man coverage at a higher rate than their 19% last season (31st in the NFL), because they have two starting cornerbacks on this list.”

As for Flowers, here’s a look at how he stacks up.

“And then, there’s Tre Flowers, selected in the fifth round of the 2018 draft out of Oklahoma State,” Farrar starts. “While he’s still getting the hang of a lot of the things (quick routes and quick receivers) that tend to bedevil cornerbacks of his size (6’3″, 203 pounds), Flowers has proven to be an outstanding man cornerback in that he uses his big body to landmark receivers and take them through the route. Last season in man coverage, Flowers allowed 14 catches on 25 targets for 138 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, and an opposing QBR of 38.4. Only the three cornerbacks who finished above him on this list allowed lower QBR totals. As we said in the Quinton Dunbar section, it might be time for the Seahawks to play more man coverage.”

You find the complete list of Farrar’s best cornerbacks in man coverage here.

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Seahawks’ defense a lowly No. 22 in Touchdown Wire’s rankings

The Seattle Seahawks’ defense has landed at a lowly No. 22 in Touchdown Wire’s rankings of the worst to first defenses in the NFL.

It’s rare to see the Seattle Seahawks defensive rankings near the bottom of the pile after seasons of dominating on that side of the ball.

Touchdown Wire editor Doug Farrar recently took a look at all the defenses around the league and ranked each squad from worst to first. Seattle landed at just No. 22 on his list.

“The Seahawks’ Legion of Boom defenses of the early and mid-2010s are now a distant memory,” Farrar writes. “Seattle’s defenses that finished first overall in Football Outsiders’ Defensive DVOA metrics in 2013 and 2014 have finished fourth, fifth, fifth, 13th, 14th, and 18th since. Coaching changes and middling draft results over the last few years have made a formerly formidable unit league-average, and things don’t look to swing up in 2020.”

“There’s a noticeable lack of pass rush with the re-signing of Jadeveon Clowney looking unlikely, and while the mid-season trade for safety Quandre Diggs probably saved Seattle’s season, there aren’t the alphas there used to be,” Farrar continues. “Linebacker Bobby Wagner is still one of the best in the business, but he was drafted in 2012, and it’s tough to name a player from that defense of whom this could be said who joined the roster in recent years.”

For a look at how Touchdown Wire ranked the Seahawks’ offense – click here.

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Should the Seahawks Legion of Boom have their own ‘Last Dance?’

Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports lists nine NFL teams, including the Seattle Seahawks, who deserve their own “Last Dance” treatment.

ESPN’s incredibly popular series “The Last Dance” wrapped up Sunday night and left sports fans everywhere hungry for more. Although the show centered around Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls, there are a number of equally intriguing stories surrounding NFL players and teams.

USA TODAY’s Nate Davis took a look at nine NFL teams throughout history that deserve “The Last Dance” treatment and the 2017 Seattle Seahawks landed at No. 3 on his list.

“The final time CB Richard Sherman, S Kam Chancellor and DL Michael Bennett would play for Seattle, it was effectively the ‘Legion of Boom’s’ swan song,” Davis writes. “And there are stories to be told, from the transition of a team that had been reliant on its defense to one that depended on QB Russell Wilson . . .  not to mention latent feelings from the Seahawks’ infamous Super Bowl XLIX loss to New England, one that aborted any dynastic aspirations in the Pacific Northwest.

“Sherman always teems with unvarnished honesty, but this truly becomes must-see TV if RB Marshawn Lynch opts to opine in any meaningful manner.”

Davis noted that the Seahawks “Legion of Boom” story sits atop his own personal list, finally giving Seattle fans something they agree with.

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Seahawks finish with 11 players on PFF’s top-101 of the decade

Legion of Boom members Richard Sherman (4) and Earl Thomas (20) give the Seattle seahawks 11 players on PFF’s top-101 of the last decade.

Pro Football Focus completed their list of the top-101 players from the last decade, and the Seattle Seahawks had 11 players represented.

The top-25 were released on Thursday and two key pieces of the Legion of Boom; Richard Sherman (No. 4) and Earl Thomas (No. 20) rounded out Seattle’s representatives.

Sherman joined the Seahawks in 2011, and immediately went to work cementing himself as the best zone cornerback in the game. He is a five-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro, and made perhaps the most famous play in franchise history to send the Seahawks to the Super Bowl in the 2013 NFC Championship game.

Sherman gets recognized behind just Tom Brady, Aaron Donald and Drew Brees in the last decade – not bad for the 154th pick of the 2011 NFL draft.

Thomas was the quietest of the Legion of Boom, but he was the engine that made the machine work. Roaming the cover-3 high safety role, Thomas was an absolute menace to opposing quarterbacks. A seven time Pro Bowler, ET is among the best safeties to ever play the game, and while his departure from the Seahawks was a bitter one, he will forever be one of the best in franchise history.

Here are all the Seahawks who made the list:

4 – Sherman

20 – Thomas

29 – Marshawn Lynch

33 – Russell Wilson

39 – Bobby Wagner

55 – Kam Chancellor

58 – Duane Brown

61 – Brandon Marshall

74 – Michael Bennett

77 – Doug Baldwin

81 – Greg Olsen

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3 more Seahawks named to PFF’s top-101 players of the decade

Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner and Marshawn Lynch join Pro Football Focus’ top-101 players of the decade list.

Pro Football Focus has now revealed rankings 25-101 of their top-101 players from the last decade, and nine total Seattle Seahawks have appeared on the list.

Greg Olsen, Doug Baldwin, Brandon Marshall, Michael Bennett, Duane Brown and Kam Chancellor all appeared outside of the top-50, and now they have been joined by three more just outside the top-25: quarterback Russell Wilson, linebacker Bobby Wagner and running back Marshawn Lynch.

Lynch, the man they call Beast Mode, is perhaps the most recognizable running back of the last decade. After beginning his career in Buffalo, Lynch came to the Seahawks and helped lead them to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. He has left the game twice now, but returned once again last season to rush for four touchdowns in three games for the Seahawks. Coach Pete Carroll has not ruled out a return for the veteran rusher, but even if this is it for Beast Mode, he’s had a heck of a career and can commit full-time to acting if he wants.

Wilson comes in at No. 33 overall, having missed the first few years of the decade but dominating ever since he joined Seattle as a third round pick in 2012. Despite never receiving an MVP vote, Wilson has been among the best quarterbacks in the entire NFL since 2012, and easily deserves this spot on the list – and one could argue he deserves to be higher.

Wilson’s fellow rookie in 2012, linebacker Bobby Wagner, comes in at No. 39 overall on this list. Wagner cemented himself as the best middle linebacker in the league over the past few seasons, and he helped anchor the infamous Legion of Boom defense during the team’s back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. The six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro is not done yet, and could easily find himself in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when all is said and done.

With nine Seahawks already on the list, Seattle should get into double digits when the rest of the list is revealed on Thursday.

Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman are near guarantees to be featured in the top-25, which will give Seattle 11 players among the top-101 from what is without a doubt the most successful decade in the franchise’s history.

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