Three Seahawks that need to play a lot better in preseason game 2

Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen

Tariq Woolen is going to make the roster, of course. The Seahawks were lucky to be able to draft him in the fifth round. His raw physical skills are ridiculous. But in training camp, he looked excellent while playing against his own team. Due to injuries to Sidney Jones and Artie Burns, Woolen actually got to start against the Steelers in the first preseason game and let’s just say he didn’t look ready to get many NFL snaps. Yet.

Woolen does need to play better against the Bears in preseason game 2 for several reasons, however. One, it’s going to help his confidence a great deal if he can prove to himself, even with raw technique, that he can be good against NFL receivers. Woolen will probably play at least a little this year and if he knows he can do it, great. If he questions himself just a little, that’s bad for him and the team.

A second reason is that there certainly are no corners on the Seahawks roster that are sure-thing first-team players. Woolen could, if he plays incredibly over the next two preseason games, certainly garner a look at being an early-season starter.

A third reason is that Woolen was basically seen as a bit of a project. Yes, he has immense skill but raw technique. If he can show he is much further along than anyone hoped with technique, he will get playing time early which will help his growth. He could be a starter one day, but if he plays well against the Bears he will earn even more reps in real games and therefore speed up his ability to truly help the team in 2022.