18. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-7)
LAST SEASON: Pete Carroll was in unfamiliar situation of being stuck at home for playoffs. Seattle missed postseason for just second time during Carroll's tenure as rash of key injuries and lack of depth caught up with Seahawks DeForest Buckner Jersey , leading to major changes. Gone are Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman, and potentially Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril, plus coaches Darrell Bevell, Tom Cable and Kris Richard. Seattle seems committed to re-establishing run game that was nonexistent last season under new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Seahawks ranked 23rd in league running ball, putting too much offensive emphasis on QB Russell Wilson. Defensively, LB Bobby Wagner remained one of elite linebackers in NFL, but injuries exposed Seattle's defense as no longer elite.
THEY NEED: DE, S Keanu Neal Jersey , DT, CB, RB, WR, QB.
THEY DON'T NEED: LB, K.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama; DE Harold Landry, Boston College; DE Marcus Davenport, UTSA; CB Josh Jackson Craig Mager Jersey , Iowa; S Derwin James, Florida State.
OUTLOOK: All offseason general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have called Seattle's overhaul retooling and not full rebuild. So Seahawks must hit in this draft. Belief is with Wilson and Wagner still in prime, Seattle still has chance to contend soon. But there can't be drafts with more misses than hits. Seattle currently doesn't have second-day pick, very unlike Seahawks, raising likelihood of trading out of No. 18 spot. Expect Seahawks to be very aggressive in remedies for lack of second-day picks.
— Ravens coach John Harbaugh is reaping some health benefits with the return of Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda.
“Seeing him out there doing individual drills was good for my blood pressure,” Harbaugh said.
Yanda participated in individual drills during the team’s two-day, joint practices with the Los Angeles Rams. Yanda won’t play in the Ravens-Ravens preseason game Thursday night, saying it will likely take three weeks to get into game shape. He could be held out of the three preseason games as a precaution, but said he plans to be ready for Baltimore’s opener against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 9.
When he does return Chris Wormley Jersey , the Ravens will rely heavily on Yanda to anchor the offensive line after he missed the final 14 games last season with a fractured ankle. He also sat out the early part of training camp following shoulder surgery.
“It’s exciting being back out there,” Yanda said Wednesday shortly after the teams concluded their final practice. “I definitely missed it last year. I’m just taking it one day at a time. But I am feeling great and am definitely on schedule.”
One of the goals for the Ravens this offseason has been to solidify the offensive line. Quarterback Joe Flacco needs more time in pocket to be effective and he should benefit with Yanda back in the starting lineup, according to Harbaugh. Flacco was sacked 27 times last season and the Ravens had the 29th-ranked passing attack in the league.
James Hurst had been filling in at right guard while Yanda has been sidelined.
“Marshal makes a big difference in our offensive line,” Harbaugh said. “What’s the exponential number? What’s the percentage better? A lot. . I’m happy to see it, and I just want to keep seeing him get better.”
While Yanda has been durable throughout his career, he knew the ankle injury against Cleveland in Week 2 was going to have a long-term impact. He then injured his shoulder lifting weights in the offseason.
“It was tough last year because I couldn’t fight through that one,” said Yanda, who is entering his 12th NFL season. “It was kind of a bang-bang injury and I was done for the year. Injuries are part of football. I’m excited to get back this year and I’m ready to roll.”
Yanda, 33 Marshal Yanda Jersey , has played in 146 games, including 135 starts, which ranks as the second-most games played among offensive linemen in Ravens history behind Hall-of-Famer Jonathan Ogden (177). Yanda was named the league’s top offensive lineman in the league in 2016 by Pro Football Focus when he didn’t allow a sack or quarterback hit that entire season.
Despite the recent spate of injuries, Yanda is confident he can still make a big impact with the team.
“I definitely have a lot left in the tank and that fire is still there and burns,” Yanda said. “I want to get back out there and play. That desire to play definitely kept me rolling. I am definitely excited to play this fall.”
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