Ugo Amadi – Page 6 – Syndication Server

Pete Carroll wishes Seahawks played Ugo Amadi at nickel sooner

Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive back Ugo Amadi has taken to the nickel spot quickly, making Pete Carroll regret not playing him sooner.

All training camp, Seattle Seahawks rookie Ugo Amadi battled to be the team’s starting nickelback.

It was a battle he did not win, as the team opted to run their base 4-3 defense at a league-leading rate instead, and when they did go nickel, they opted for veteran Jamar Taylor. However, Taylor struggled mightily all season long, before finally getting released after Week 10.

That should have marked the beginning of the Amadi era, but because of matchup concerns the Seahawks started Akeem King in that role for the next few weeks.

Finally, after not seeing a single defensive snap between Week 3 and Week 14, it was Amadi’s time to shine against the Panthers in Week 15 – and he quickly reminded everyone why he should have started in the first place.

Amadi has already shown tremendous growth in just four short weeks with regular playing time, and his recent performance has coach Pete Carroll wishing he had turned to him sooner.

“He’s doing a good job,” Carroll said on Wednesday. “I’m really glad we made the commitment a few weeks back to get him in there to allow him to grow. I wish we would’ve done it a little bit earlier. We would’ve seen him develop faster because he’s really kind of blossoming. He understands the position well. He understands the disguises of it. There’s a lot of intricacies in the nickel spot. He’s a really bright kid and he’s handling it really well. He’s in a good place to make plays.”

Amadi was drafted in the fourth round out of Oregon thanks to his versatility as a cornerback, safety, special teams contributor and even potentially as a return man.

However, it was always expected he would settle in at the nickel spot, replacing dynamic playmaker Justin Coleman.

While it look a little longer into his rookie year than expected, Amadi is finally finding himself at a crucial time for this Seahawks squad, as they look to advance past the divisional round for the first time since 2014.

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3 things to watch: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks take on the Arizona Cardinals at home in the second-to-last regular season game of the 2019 season.

The Seattle Seahawks may have already clinched a playoff spot in the NFC, and their Week 17 battle with the San Francisco 49ers will determine who wins the NFC West, but that doesn’t mean the team will look over Sunday’s bout with the Arizona Cardinals.

A loss against the Cardinals could impact Seattle’s seeding in the NFC if they also lose next week, so no doubt this team will hope to take care of business on Sunday to give them added insurance in case things go south in Week 17.

However, Seattle is also doing their best to keep some of their key performers rested so they are ready for the finale, which could mean the team could face Arizona without as many as five key defensive players and one, Duane Brown, on offense.

That should make for some intense battles between Arizona’s vets and Seattle’s young players who are hungry to prove themselves.

Here are three matchups and questions for fans to keep an eye on during this division battle.

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3 things to watch: Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams

The Seattle Seahawks could clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football.

The Seattle Seahawks have an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football.

With an extremely tight race in the crowded NFC, every game will be crucial for Seattle to win if they want to secure a top-two seed and avoid having to play in the wildcard game on the road for the second year in a row.

That alone makes this game must-watch TV for Seahawks, and football, fans. everywhere.

In addition to those factors, and the recent rivalry between Seattle and Los Angeles, there are plenty of key things for fans to watch for in this game.

Here are three things, one on offense, one on defense, and one on the special teams, for Seahawks fans to be watching for on Sunday night.

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Cody Barton, Ugo Amadi both benefit if Mychal Kendricks is out

If the Seattle Seahawks are without Mychal Kendricks on Sunday night, expect to see rookies Cody Barton and Ugo Amadi a lot more.

The Seattle Seahawks listed SAM linebacker Mychal Kendricks as doubtful for their Week 14 matchup with the Rams in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Seattle’s reliance on the 4-3 base defense is in part thanks to their faith in Kendricks’ ability in pass coverage and as a blitzer. If they are without him, coach Pete Carroll admitted the team will probably rely more on their nickel package.

While he would not say which player would be employed in that role, it’s expected that rookie Ugo Amadi will get a chance against LA’s speedy slot receiver, Cooper Kupp.

However, the Seahawks will still run a hefty amount of their base defense, meaning rookie Cody Barton could get a big opportunity to show what he is capable of in Kendricks’ absence.

“Cody’s a good player and we’re anxious to see him contribute,” Carroll said on Friday. “He played quite a bit last week, more than he has been. He’s ready to go.”

Barton was a third round pick out of Utah in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was a middle linebacker in college, but has worked hard to learn all three linebacker spots in Seattle, so that he can serve as a valuable backup at any spot when called upon.

“Cody is a particularly diligent worker,” Carroll continued. “Smart kid. Plays all three spots. He’s as well versed a guy coming in as you can hope for, for a young guy. We really don’t have any hesitation in trusting that he can play.”

So while the Seahawks will likely rely on the nickel package, fans will still get a healthy dose of Barton on Sunday night – assuming Kendricks gets the night off.

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Week 14 position battle: Akeem King or Ugo Amadi at nickel?

Will the Rams extensive use of slot receiver Cooper Kupp force the Seattle Seahawks to turn to rookie Ugo Amadi in the nickelback role?

When the Seattle Seahawks let nickel cornerback Justin Coleman sign a four-year, $36 million dollar contract with the Detroit Lions this offseason, it signaled an immediate shift in their defensive philosophy.

Instead of relying heavily on their nickel package, which replaces a third linebacker with an extra defensive back, the team decided to lean more on their 4-3 base defense.

That decision came in part because Seattle had three strong linebackers to keep on the field – Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, and Mychal Kendricks.

So far in 2019, the Seahawks have stayed in their base 4-3 defense about two-thirds of the time, one of the highest rates in the league.

The recent release of veteran Jamar Taylor was thought by many to signal a change in Seattle’s defensive scheme, as it freed up dynamic rookie Ugo Amadi to start contributing on defense instead of just on special teams.

However, not only has Seattle stuck with their base at similar rates the past two games, Amadi has yet to see the field on defense – with the team opting to use the bigger, more physical Akeem King at nickel instead.

“I’m very happy with how he stepped up and played,” defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said on Wednesday about King. “He’s been kind of in the background the entire year. His opportunity came back up. The most important thing is when your opportunity is up to be ready. He stepped up. I think the plays that he made should really build his confidence and our confidence in having him out there.”

King’s usage likely coincided with both Philadelphia and Minnesota’s extensive use of two tight end sets. King’s physical nature allows him to match up better with opposing tight ends, where Amadi’s skill set is expected to be on the speedier slot receivers.

That could make Amadi the preferred option on Sunday night against the Rams, whose passing offense relies much more on their outside receivers and slot receiver Cooper Kupp – who already has a career-high 945 receiving yards this season.

While Norton said he wasn’t going to discuss game plans, it does seem like Week 14 could be Amadi’s first chance to prove what he’s worth on Seattle’s rapidly improving defensive unit.

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3 things to watch: Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Seattle Seahawks will take over sole possession of first place in the NFC West with a win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.

The Seattle Seahawks have an absolutely critical game lined up against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.

If Seattle wins, they will not only move to 10-2 on the season – but they will hold possession of first place in the NFC West and a potential bye week in the playoffs.

Should they lose, they would fall all the way to sixth place in the NFC, barely clinging to a playoff spot with just four games remaining.

So you don’t need me to tell you how important this game is for the rest of Seattle’s – and Minnesota’s – season.

However, outside of the actual implications of a win/loss, there are a handful of other key storylines for fans – and fantasy football owners – to pay attention to on Monday night.

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Pete Carroll confident Jadeveon Clowney, Jarran Reed will play Monday

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is confident that Jadeveon Clowney, Jarran Reed and Al Woods will all suit up on Monday night.

The Seattle Seahawks listed five players as questionable ahead of their Monday night matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, but coach Pete Carroll is optimistic many – if not all – of them will play.

Jadeveon Clowney, Jarran Reed, Mychal Kendricks, Al Woods and Luke Willson – all starters or important contributors – were listed as questionable ahead of Saturday afternoon’s practice.

Clowney is the most notable, having sat out last week against the Eagles with a core injury that will not require surgery, but will force him to play through pain for the rest of the year.

“We practiced him very lightly today but he did well yesterday,” Carroll said on Saturday. “He should be ready to go.”

Clowney is expected to be joined on the defensive line by both Reed and Woods. Reed suffered an ankle injury against the Eagles, but after being limited at practice this week he is expected to be recovered in time to play against Minnesota.

Woods is also dealing with an ankle injury, although it sounds like his situation is more veteran rest than anything else.

“He had a sore foot, we just made sure to give him some rest on it,” Carroll said. “He practiced today and looked fine. This is the time of the year where those guys, they ain’t gonna be perfect but they all feel like they can play.”

While Carroll was optimistic about his three defensive linemen, he was less confident about Kendricks and Willson – who are both dealing with hamstring injuries.

“He had a little tightness in his hammy yesterday so we thought we’d rest him today and get him a couple days here to cool him down,” Carroll said about Kendricks. “He takes a lot of reps in practices and so we thought it would be best to just rest him. We’ll see what happens. We’ll need to check him on game day though.”

Kendricks is the team’s SAM linebacker and has played a lot this year with the team sticking primarily in their base 4-3 defense. If he is unable to go, expect to see a lot of Cody Barton, and potentially more of either Akeem King or Ugo Amadi in the nickel role.

Willson missed last Sunday’s game against Philadelphia with a hamstring injury, but Carroll has continued to be pleased with how rapidly he has worked to recover and get back on the field.

“He made really good progress, he was flying up and down the field,” Carroll said. “We just gotta be careful, we just don’t want it to linger. We’ll wait to make a decision on this one.”

Willson is a big part of Seattle’s offense, but the recent play of Jacob Hollister and the promotion of Tyrone Swoopes from the practice squad allows the team to give Willson some extra recovery time, if needed.

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3 things to watch: Seahawks at Eagles

The Seattle Seahawks will look to earn their ninth win of the season on Sunday morning against the Eagles in Philadelphia.

The Seattle Seahawks are coming off the bye week with another tough 10:00 a.m. road game, this time in Philadelphia against a 5-5 Eagles squad.

Seattle (8-2) will have their work cut out for them in this one, the start of a brutal stretch of games they’ll need to win nearly all of if they want to have any chance of securing an NFC West title and/or a bye in the playoffs.

At this point every game matters a great deal, and this one will have plenty of exciting storylines for fans to pay attention to.

Click through to see three of the most compelling as we get set for Week 12 action.

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Seahawks activate tight end Ed Dickson, waive cornerback Jamar Taylor

The Seattle Seahawks activated tight end Ed Dickson off the injured reserve, waiving veteran cornerback Jamar Taylor to make room.

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The Seattle Seahawks made a long-awaited move on Wednesday, activating veteran tight end Ed Dickson off the injured reserve, a mere hours before the deadline that would have prevented him from playing all season.

In order to make room on the roster, the team waived nickel cornerback Jamar Taylor.

After clearing the 53-man roster, Dickson began the season on the injured reserve with a knee injury for the second year in a row. He returned last year and hauled in 12 receptions (on 13 targets) for 143 yards and three touchdowns – serving primarily as a run-blocker.

The Seahawks will certainly hope for more of the same from the veteran, who will be counted on in a big role following the season-ending injury to Will Dissly and the current hamstring injury that Luke Willson is battling.

Taylor struggled in Seattle’s last game against San Francisco out of the nickel position, and the recent performance of rookie Ugo Amadi may have prompted his release.

“He’s one of those guys that have been with us long enough, it’s time for him to get some more opportunities,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said regarding Amadi on Monday. “Still a great competitor for us on a number of positions for us for playtime. Coming off the break we have a chance to revisit some of that stuff so, if it fits with different positions, and guys, and individuals, we’re looking to take advantage of that.”

Taylor signed with Seattle this offseason, got cut, and signed back with the team after Week 1. He’s played in nine games this year, recording 20 combined tackles and three passes defended, but has struggled in pass coverage.

The Seahawks also added linebacker Pita Taumoepenu to the practice squad, taking the spot vacated by Adrian Colbert’s departure to Miami.

Taumoepenu was a sixth-round pick by the 49ers back in 2017. He spent training camp with the Cardinals but was waived/injured during roster cuts and eventually waived off the injured reserve in September.

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Is it time for Seahawks rookie Ugo Amadi to get more opportunities?

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed rookie defensive back Ugo Amadi will get more opportunity on defense this season.

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll likes to have his rookies develop on the special teams early in their first season before he gradually works them in on either offense or defense as they get more accustomed to the speed of the NFL game.

DK Metcalf emerged right away as an impact piece on Seattle’s offense, and safety Marquise Blair was starting at free safety for a few weeks, but most of the rest of the rookie class has settled into roles on special teams – with an eye on making that jump in the coming weeks.

Next on the list appears to be defensive back Ugo Amadi, a 2019 fourth round pick who has excelled on the special teams this season after impressing throughout training camp and the preseason.

“He’s doing really well,” coach Pete Carroll said on Monday. “He has been a playmaker on special teams throughout. His opportunities will continue to come about because he has been so consistent in everything he is doing. He hasn’t done anything that isn’t good. His effort is great. His playmaking, his decision making, the savvy, the situations that he’s been in; he’s just been really good. So, I’m anxious for him to contribute more. He’s one of those guys that have been with us long enough, it’s time for him to get some more opportunities so we’re looking for that.”

Carroll also confirmed that Amadi is working primarily at the nickel cornerback position, although he’s still an option at safety as well.

Veteran Jamar Taylor has been the team’s starting nickel all season, but he’s had a rough year and that was never more apparent than last Monday against the 49ers, when he was burned repeatedly early in the game.

“He’s been up and down, and he had a couple plays last week that got away,” Carroll said. “He’s in a competitive situation, and he’s got to keep doing well to hold his spot just like everybody else.”

It sounds like Amadi is right on Taylor’s tail for playing time at the nickel spot, and Sunday’s game against the Eagles could be a chance for Amadi to take the job going forward.

“Coming off the break we have a chance to revisit some of that stuff,” Carroll continued. “If it fits with different positions, and guys, and individuals, we’re looking to take advantage of that.”

The 8-2 Seahawks will take on Philadelphia on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. PT.

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