Good morning, 12s. We've made it to the last day of 2020. Here's a look at what's out there on this New Year's Eve — Thursday, December 31 — about your Seattle Seahawks.
710 ESPN's Danny O'Neil On Why Jamal Adams Trade "Unequivocally" Worth The Risk
The Seahawks made waves around the NFL when they traded for safety Jamal Adams in July. While Adams' talent was — and is — undeniable, some wondered whether the Seahawks might’ve given up too much in the trade, sending Bradley McDougald, a third-round draft pick, and two first-round picks to New York in exchange for the All-Pro safety.
Any apprehension about the trade seems to have been put to bed by now. Adams has been outstanding, setting a record for sacks in a season by a defensive back with 9.5 in just 11 games. He's also made several clutch, potentially game-saving plays, like the third-and-goal stop of Cam Newton in Week 2 and the incredible chase-down tackle of Rams RB Darrell Henderson last week that prevented a touchdown for the Rams on the drive.
On Wednesday, 710 ESPN’s Danny O’Neil wrote about the initial risk involved in the trade for Adams, and what he has brought to a defense that struggled a bit to start the season but has come on quite strong in recent weeks.
"Jamal Adams has been worth it," O'Neil writes. "Unequivocally. That might sound rash. We don't even know how high the first-round picks that Seattle will end up sending to the Jets are going to be. But at this point, that doesn't really matter because we've seen both the caliber of player that Adams is and what this defense has become with him wreaking havoc the closer he gets to the line of scrimmage."
O'Neil noted that other instances of teams trading multiple first-round picks to land a star player haven't always worked out, but says he doesn't think that will be the case in Seattle. "The Seahawks have a quarterback in his prime, a wide receiver that is on the brink of setting a single-season franchise record and a defense that has improved so dramatically that it's impossible not to take the Seahawks seriously," he said.
NFL.com Breaks Down Russell Wilson's Improved Downfield Passing This Season
Russell Wilson started the 2020 season at a blistering pace, throwing for 26 touchdown passes over the year's first seven games with a heavy dose of downfield shots. The numbers would level off, but appear to be back on the uptick as the Seahawks get ready for the playoffs.
In their “Next Gen Edge” video, NFL.com uses its Next Gen Stats to tell the story of Wilson’s season throwing the ball down the field. Over weeks 1-6, Wilson had a passer rating of 127.6 on throws that traveled 10+ yards in the air.
That number dipped to 66.2 as the Seahawks went 1-3 during weeks 7-10, but over the last six games — with the Hawks throwing fewer deep passes — Wilson's rating on downfield throws has jumped to 125.8 as the Hawks have gone 5-1. Click here to watch the video breakdown.
Will Dissly Partnering With Cooper Helfet's 'The Nature Project' Non-Profit
Former Seahawks tight end and Super Bowl XLVIII champ Cooper Helfet co-founded The Nature Project in 2017, a non-profit whose mission is to “empower young adults to cultivate intentional, healthy, and connected lives through impactful outdoor experiences with professional athlete mentors.” The project aims to identify and mentor underserved youth who may not otherwise have opportunities to cultivate meaningful relationships with nature.
This season, tight end Will Dissly has partnered with The Nature Project through NATUREPASS. Through the partnership, for every pass Dissly catches in 2020, a wilderness experience is donated for local youth. Dissly currently has 23 catches on the season.
Earlier this year, Dissly joined Helfet and 49ers tight end George Kittle on the Hidden Pearls Podcast, which touched on the program.
Seahawks Continue To Encourage Fans To Mask Up
While vaccines have begun to roll out, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on in America and across the world. Pete Carroll, Shaquill Griffin, Michael Dickson, and the rest of the Seahawks continue to urge fans everywhere to wear their masks and keep social distancing as we work together to defeat this virus.
Social Post Of The Day
Jamal Adams was pumped up about proving the doubters wrong as the Seahawks clinched the NFC West last Sunday:
More From Around The Web
At Seahawks.com, reporter John Boyle with news and notes from Pete Carroll’s Wednesday press conference.
Also at Seahawks.com, Boyle on the signings of TE Luke Willson and LB Ray-Ray Armstrong to the practice squad.
At the Seattle Times, Bob Condotta on the 49ers’ regret about letting the Seahawks claim D.J. Reed on waivers during the offseason.
ESPN's Brady Henderson on the Seahawks’ backfield being at full strength heading into January.
710 ESPN's Brent Stecker examines the changes in Ken Norton Jr.’s defense over the season.
