Game overview:
This preseason game had an opening week of the regular season ‘feel’ to it. The fans in Seattle were WAY into this contest. The teams were both energized and full on hitting...and late hitting. It was so raucous that the two teams combined for 70 points, and I wouldn’t blame bad defensive play for it. These two teams just got after each other. There was one defensive TD...one punt return TD...four Cleveland passing TDs...the most gritty and electric game of the preseason that I’ve seen so far...and I only have a few more games from this preseason to watch/breakdown this week.
Both teams went with mostly 1st-team players on both sides for a series or two, which only led to a 7-0 Seattle lead after the 1st-quarter. Then it was the battle of the backups and future cut-ees and then the scoring and fireworks really kicked in.
Seattle’s 1st-team pushed around the Browns 1st-team, but the Seahawks had an advantage right away – Jameis Winston at QB for Cleveland. The Seattle defense came out hot...Winston scuffled...the fans were crazy for their Seahawks, but then the Browns bowed up and they fought each other to the final minutes.
Seattle kind of had a talent and energy edge, especially early...but credit the Browns for withstanding it early then taking the momentum back as they played. If this was both team’s full first teams, I think I would give the edge to the Browns (big picture)...but Seattle was no slouch, especially buoyed by the appreciative home crowd.
Scouting Notes from the game:
-- The first takeaway I had from this game: D.K. Metcalf (1-21-1/2) is probably gonna SMASH this season. It’s been a D.K. summer...
A new regime...who talked up getting the ball more to DKM; acknowledging him as their top weapon who needed the ball more.
Every camp note I got from Seattle scrimmages, etc., would show DKM getting heavy targets...almost like no one else mattered.
Then, in this game, the very first play – an on-purpose pass to Metcalf (thrown over his head) and a few plays later, the big 21 yard TD pass where it was just ‘go get it big fella’, and he did.
It’s so simple...just get the ball to D.K! Well...the new regime seems committed to it. WR1 is a legit expectation/hope this FF 2024 season for Metcalf.
-- We got to see the (majority of) Seattle’s 1st-team defense to start this game and they were swarming/looking good on the first drive, but then it kinda fizzled a bit after that initial jolt, and as players rotated out of the game and we got into the 2nd+ team guys...and then they gave up a bunch of points.
The 1st-team defense was promising, but also at home vs. Jameis helped. I’m still at a ‘I don’t fully know’ with this new Mike Macdonald defense. On paper, in practice...it looks good/promising...but I didn’t see enough of the 1st-team guys ‘for real’ to really feel one way or the other.
This matters to me because they are set up to draw Bo Nix then (possibly) Drake Maye off the jump, Weeks 1-2, this season...a great DST setup for FF. I’m confident in them for Week 2, but that Nix matchup...it should be good/fine, at home in a rookie QB debut, but I’m not 100%...but what DST is 100%? Aside from Cincy DST v. NE and Saints DST v. CAR?
If you’d rather go away from SEA, and the Nix matchup, and just take the Week 1 layup...it’s fine. But I think you can challenge Nix in his debut AT Seattle...the AT part matters in this scenario/setup...that particular crowd on an opening day. Tough for a rookie QB...
-- Seattle RB Kenny McIntosh (1-56-1, 1-9-0/1) killed it this preseason...revived his career. He looks healthy, fresh, and much faster than his awful Pro Day in 2023 (that sunk him in the draft). He’s got some skills, and he showed them off this preseason.
He’s gonna be the #3 RB...one who puts a little bit of FF-pressure on ‘out of favor’ Zach Charbonnet. It’s possible that the hurry up passing game work will go to McIntosh some or over Charbonnet right away. Charbonnet is the one at risk here...this preseason has been a disaster for Charbonnet with the new regime.
-- Seahawks WR report...
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2-32-0/2) had a nice 25-yard catch here, leaping up for the nice grab...but watching the replay of it, it’s the same old worry – JSN is completely covered, and it took a perfectly placed pass and a leaping catch by JSN for it to happen. I just do not see ‘it’ with JSN.
They’re still trying to make Laviska Shenault (1-9-0, 2-18-0/3) ‘a thing’...trying for the fifth or so NFL team to try to make him a Deebo-like thing. It’s never gonna work, consistently. He’s just not that talented.
-- Browns RB report...
Jerome Ford (3-11-0) started the first 2 series with the 1st-team, and then when they went out and the 2nd-team started filtering in...in came D’Onta Foreman (1-3-0, 1-1-0/1) for a series. No sign of a forced Ford-Foreman split/mix here. And news today that Nick Chubb is going on the PUP list, so for at least the first 4 games...it’s Ford and Foreman. Pierre Strong may be out early on as well.
-- Browns WR report...
Rookie Jamari Thrash (4-73-1/6) has gotten exponentially better and more involved every single week of the preseason. He’s gone from ‘will he make the team?’ to ‘he’s gonna make the team’ to ‘could he be a starter sometime this season?’
Thrash impressed me big-time at the 2024 Senior Bowl week...I liked him a lot at first...but then I cooled off as I had worried about his hands was noted in my tape scouting. He gets open great, but he makes some sweet catches mixed with a few gaffes. He had a solid Combine but nothing eye-catching. Everything just seemed more in the mediocre range...thus he was a 5th-round pick. But this preseason, he looks like that starter-potential WR I first liked in Mobile. No signs of a problem with his ‘hands’ consistency.
Jaelon Darden (2-49-0/4) is back from the dead...looking good with the Browns in 2024. I was a big fan of his as well when he came into the league in 2022, but he fell down a hole fast and got hurt, got cut, and bounced around the league. I thought his career was over, but it looks like he’s trying to get up off the mat and revive his rookie training camp momentum. Likely cut, but then likely on the practice squad. Still a pulse, at least.
I would be shocked to see Elijah Moore (1-7-0/2) starting Week 1, and not Cedric Tillman (4-52-0/5) starting. It’s quite obvious Tillman is ascending...and Moore is working his way to deep backup/out of the league soon.
-- IDP Notes...
CLE rookie UDFA SAF Chris Edmonds (6 tackles, 1 TFL) has another impressive outing...with more big hits and him flying around the field. I think he may have made this team, and has a future.
SEA rookie EDGE Jamie Sheriff (4 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3 QB hits) ended the preseason with a bang. Probably goes to the practice squad and not the 53-man roster...but good enough to crack the top 300 DRDs come next update. He was in the 400s (rank) prior, but he’s moving on up to the big list now. Just a developing player to keep tabs on...not a future big impact guy, at this stage.
