12th Man Rising
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3 Seahawks I expect to take a leap forward in 2020

By Geoff Shull

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 29: Defensive end Rasheem Green #98 of the Seattle Seahawks battles through the block of offensive lineman Jordan Mills #79 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL football game at State Farm Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 29: Defensive end Rasheem Green #98 of the Seattle Seahawks battles through the block of offensive lineman Jordan Mills #79 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL football game at State Farm Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Marquise Blair – Safety

Marquise Blair was my favorite player coming out of the draft. He fits exactly what Seattle is trying to create in terms of toughness, big hits, speed and football IQ. The guy isn’t one to talk, but he sure says a lot on the field. Blair started only three games as a rookie, however, when he was on the field, it felt like a complete squad. There was a level of toughness and nastiness that the Seahawks possessed.

Seattle wants to get him onto the field. Coach Carroll said he will be battling for both a starting safety spot with Bradley McDougald and for the slot corner spot with Ugo Amadi. Seattle desperately wants to get their bad boy image back and Blair is a player who could help them achieve just that.

His stats from 2019: 32 tackles, 1 pass defended, 2 forced fumbles and an allowed completion percentage of 64%.

In Blairs 3 starts he had a PFF grade of 71.3. This grade would have ranked second in Seattle’s secondary over that span behind only Shaquille Griffin’s 77. His speed, toughness and football IQ were part of the reason that Seattle held the Ravens to only one offensive touchdown in week 7. Keep in mind, this was a Ravens team that had been torching opposing defenses up to this point.

Coach Carroll elected to move to a more veteran unit simply because of familiarity with the scheme. After all, Blair missed the majority of the training camps and preseason with an injury.

Now with a full season under his belt, he should have no problem stepping into the spotlight and battling McDougald for a starting safety spot. It would not surprise me in the least if Blair won out and McDougald was traded in the pre-season this year. A combination of Quandre Diggs, Shaquill Griffin, Quinton Dunbar and Marquise Blair has the potential to be one of the best secondary’s in the NFL in 2020.

Next. NFC West players Seahawks should steal if they could. dark

Projected stats for 2020:

  • Tackles: 65
  • Interceptions: 1
  • Passes Defended: 6
  • Forced Fumbles: 4
  • Sacks: 3.5
  • Allowed Completion Percentage: 58%
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