This has been BAMF week on the blog. I’m not going to keep going over the same subject but I do think this is a warranted discussion based on what we’ve seen after three games. The Seahawks have failed to impose their will on any of their opponents so far and they’ve essentially had a harrowing loss to the Saints and two narrow wins against a pair of teams with a combined 0-6 record.

They will always have the potential of an explosive, playmaking offense with Russell Wilson under center. What they’re missing is a compliment. As noted yesterday, the Rams pair a highly efficient offense with the game-wrecking ability of Aaron Donald. The Patriots have Tom Brady on offense and the greatest defensive schemer for a Head Coach.

Teams used to fear playing the Seahawks. Since the start of the 2017 season they’re only 11-7 at Century Link Field. That’s astonishing. It would’ve been unthinkable a few years ago.

They’re just not that scary any more.

They aren’t the bully. Not since Marshawn Lynch and Kam Chancellor, plus several others, departed. They need to get that back.

It’s still early in the season and things can change. Marquise Blair will, hopefully, deliver a fear factor to the secondary when he eventually comes into the team. He was drafted to provide hits. That’s badly needed right now.

Chris Carson hasn’t become a bad player overnight. He’s still a terrific, explosive and powerful runner. As long as he sorts this fumbling issue out he can deliver the running game required to help knit everything together. He also needs help from the O-line which has so far been more talk than results.

If things don’t change, however, the Seahawks will face an off-season where they have a haul of picks (enhanced further with the Nick Vannett-to-Pittsburgh trade for a fifth rounder) and an estimated $75-80m to spend in cap space.

Back in 2011 they needed free agency to give things a jolt. They spent big on Sidney Rice, Zach Miller and Robert Gallery. The results were mixed but it was an act of aggression to add talent following the lockout. The Seahawks have enough money to similarly be pro-active in 2020 if that ends up being necessary.

I don’t want to jump too far ahead and understandably you might respond to this article by saying it’s too soon to have this conversation. A big win against Arizona on Sunday will right the ship and the mood in Seattle will flip completely if they’re 3-1 and preparing to host the Rams.

That said — I think a conversation like this after a game like the Saints loss can be a good thing. Who wants to linger on that game anyway?

I also wrote before the season started that the reset wasn’t complete. It felt like they needed another off-season to take a further step forwards. This could well be the step they need to take.

(If you missed it yesterday here’s my first 2020 mock draft of the season)

I spent last night trying to find safety’s in this draft who make big plays or deliver big hits and the options are severely limited. The best overall player in the 2020 class might be a safety (Grant Delpit) but after that it’s slim pickings. There are cornerbacks with major talent, ball-skills and physicality (Trevon Diggs, Jeffrey Okudah, Kristian Fulton) but they all might be high picks — and this is a position the Seahawks have traditionally avoided until later on.

If they want to enhance their physicality in the draft in the early rounds the best options might be on the O-line and D-line. There are a cluster of aggressive, large offensive linemen such as Isaiah Wilson, Tyler Biadasz, Prince Tega Wanogho, Lucas Niang, Tristan Wirfs and Trey Adams. There are also big, physical defensive linemen such as Derrick Brown, Raekwon Davis and Javon Kinlaw.

In terms of free agency and the trade market, I’ve been trying to find some options.

The Seahawks need playmakers and tone-setters in the secondary. Jamal Adams increasingly appears dissatisfied in New York. He was strangely benched after a misplay against Cleveland and there seems to be a growing disconnect between the staff and player.

A trade this season is a stretch but the Jets have a new GM/coach combo. They didn’t draft Adams and safety is one of the few positions where the Jets have some depth. They need to build around Sam Darnold and might be prepared to sacrifice a good player at the end of the year to get more stock — especially with a good looking draft class at receiver and offensive line.

Given Seattle’s need and the distinct lack of safety talent eligible for 2020, this wouldn’t be a bad consideration. It’d be costly — at least a first round pick — but Adams only turns 24 in October. He would offer the physicality and leadership they require and he was a significant playmaker at LSU.

The only issue is Adams is not a rangy free safety and is more suited to the strong safety role presumably saved for Marquise Blair. A combo of Adams and Blair is an intriguing thought though if they can be interchangeable. They’d certainly pack a punch.

If a trade for Jamal Adams isn’t possible, Oakland’s Karl Joseph is a free agent in 2020. I can’t recall seeing a bigger hitter in college in the 11 years I’ve been writing this blog. He was an absolute sledgehammer and a playmaker. He could also cover, lined up 1v1 against Sterling Shepard at Oklahoma and it wasn’t a surprise he ended up being a top-15 pick in 2016.

After a tough start to his pro-career he’s settled in with the Raiders. They drafted Johnathan Abram this year and it’s possible Joseph will move on. If that’s the case, the Seahawks could take a look. They need a bit of this…

The Seahawks need some dogs too. They need guys who are a little unhinged. Marcus Peters made a lot of headlines in Kansas City. He’s been a lot quieter with the Rams. He’s also a free agent in the off-season. He could be retained by LA — but would you be willing to roll the dice on his talent to get a player you know is a very capable playmaker at cornerback who brings the heat every week?

Everson Griffen will likely be a cap casualty in the off-season. He’s ageing but still effective and could provide a veteran presence if they don’t keep Jadeveon Clowney and/or Ziggy Ansah. Vic Beasley and Yannick Ngakoue are also free agents. They might be costly but could provide some complimentary quickness to the rush that is currently lacking.

If they’re going to keep any of their own free agents — the best bet remains Jarran Reed. They’re missing what he brings in terms of toughness and physicality. He might end up being an even more important player to keep based on what we’ve seen from the team so far.

The absolutely best possible move would be for the Jaguars to cut Calais Campbell in order to create $15m in cap space and for the Seahawks to finally fulfil their destiny and have Campbell anchor their D-line next to Reed, rotating in with Poona Ford.

Again, let’s hope Chris Carson gets back on track. He has the talent and running style to lead this team for years. Thomas Rawls was the future once, however. So it’s important Carson moves on from this difficult start.

The fact they spent a first round pick on Rashaad Penny also factors in. Does he get an opportunity to take Carson’s job if he doesn’t rekindle his best form? And can Penny stay healthy?

If — and I accept it’s a big if — they want to try and repeat the Marshawn Lynch trade, there are a couple of options.

It hasn’t worked for Leonard Fournette in Jacksonville. It seems he’s faced some of the same issues as Jalen Ramsey and a parting appeared likely at one point a year ago. Now he’s stuck in an offense that wiped away the running game in Minnesota in 2018.

Fournette was a incredible prospect at LSU and that’s why he went in the top five. In the right environment I still think he could thrive. Lynch’s face didn’t fit in Buffalo but he became a legend in Seattle. Could the same happen for Fournette?

It’ll also be interesting to see what happens with Melvin Gordon in Los Angeles. He’s not quite the physical force Fournette is but he’s had a lot more success in the league. A divorce with the Chargers seems unavoidable. It’s just a question of whether he walks as a free agent, via a tag-and-trade scenario or if he’s dealt before the trade deadline.

Hopefully neither move is necessary but it’s something to consider given the importance Carroll places on the running game and the struggles at the start of this season.

If they want to look outside for an offensive tackle, Jack Conklin is a free agent in 2020. He’s not lived up to expectations at Tennessee as a former #8 overall pick and the Titans declined his fifth year option.

Here’s how a NFC North scout described him pre-draft:

“That is a dude, right there. He was busting up Ohio State in the fourth quarter of that game not because he was more talented than those guys but because he just wanted it more. He’s tougher than old beef jerky. He fits in our division.”

If they move on from Germain Ifedi and/or George Fant and don’t draft a replacement, we’ve seen them take on reclamation projects in the past. Conklin could be an option.

The issue with all of the suggestions above is they’re all big names or former high draft picks. That’s not how the Seahawks built their Super Bowl team. They signed players who’d been disrespected or ignored. Players falling into the mid-to-late rounds of the draft, players left unsigned in free agency. The only real splurge they had was the post-lockout spend on Sidney Rice, Zach Miller and co.

I can write out names like this but the reality is they probably need to find some of the missing grit, determination and passion to prove people wrong. That might be as important as the need for physicality. Have some of their recent draft picks truly arrived on a mission to make it? They might be good players but were they pissed off for greatness, as we used to say about Richard Sherman and others?

The Seahawks have really good players. They have an exceptional quarterback. Whether they have the ‘edge’ to be great — that’s the big question.

If you have any further suggestions, let me know in the comments section.

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