Seahawks 'Unique Weapon' Jake Bobo Motivating DK Metcalf, Teammates
RENTON, Wash. - Nervously awaiting to learn whether or not his efforts had landed him a spot with the Seattle Seahawks last Tuesday morning, Jake Bobo needed something - anything - to help keep his wandering mind at ease.
Hoping and praying not to see his phone ring with a Seattle 206 area code, or even ring at all for that matter on the most nerve-racking day of his life, Bobo did the only thing a 25-year old NFL hopeful could. Chatting it up with his mother, he opted to turn to mindless comedy before noon to avoid dwelling on the rapidly approaching cut down deadline by watching the Seth Rogan classic "This Is The End."
Thankfully for Bobo, the title of the 2013 comedy/fantasy didn't turn out to be a prophecy and his phone never rang. After impressing throughout OTAs to training camp to the preseason, the undrafted rookie out of UCLA had earned a much-deserved spot on the Seahawks 53-man roster.
"I didn't get a call. I was hoping I wouldn't," a relieved Bobo said from his locker prior to Wednesday's practice as Seattle continues preparation for a Week 1 home tilt against the Los Angeles Rams. "So I guess I'll show up on Wednesday. Am I supposed to be here? That was a long day for sure."
As Bobo told reporters following a strong outing in Seattle's preseason finale in Green Bay on August 26, the Massachusetts native was already walking on egg shells concerned about his standing on the team heading towards cut down day. An expert at self-depreciating humor, he hasn't shied away from the fact he ran a slow 4.99 40-yard dash at his pro day workout and almost seems to take pride in roasting himself about his lack of speed and athleticism.
But while Bobo may have been sweating bullets from his long blonde locks worrying if he had done enough to make the team, based on his on-field performance in practice and exhibition games coupled with glowing reviews from coaches and teammates alike, his status with the Seahawks never seemed in doubt heading towards the regular season.
Becoming a fan favorite in exhibition play, Jake Bobo scored a pair of touchdowns for the Seahawks, but he had already made a statement on the practice field before then.
Inspiring the #MoreBobo movement on the practice field with his innate ability to snag passes, Bobo quickly captured the attention of coach Pete Carroll, quarterback Geno Smith, and others during Seattle's offseason program, drawing plenty of praise in May and June. Behind the scenes, even veterans who didn't attend the practices took notice from afar, as fellow receiver DK Metcalf's eyes couldn't stop gravitating to No. 19 while watching him excel in drill work during OTAs.
Marveled by this "white kid getting open every play" despite not having even average speed for a receiver, Metcalf called up teammate Tyler Lockett inquiring about Bobo. Once he reported to camp in late July, he continued to be impressed by the rookie's attention to detail and blue collar work ethic, eventually starting to pick Bobo's brain about releases and reading defenses coverage-wise to help his own game.
"He's more detailed than I ever will be," Metcalf said of Bobo on Wednesday. "And I use that as motivation to make sure I practice harder and make sure I hone in on more details because he's doing all the little things right and he's reaping the benefits of it because he's very consistent. Every time he lines up on the field, you have to know where 19 is."
Though flattered by the comments made by Metcalf, who called him a "unique weapon ready to make noise," Bobo scoffed at the notion that the former All-Pro receiver turns to him for advice on how to run routes or play football in general. Blessed for the opportunity to compete in such a decorated receiver room, he has tried to learn as much as he can from watching Metcalf and Lockett go to work on the field and in the film room.
"He's lying like a rug! He doesn't need anything from me," Bobo laughed. "But it's cool to be in a room with both those guys and just soaking in all the information you get from both of those guys has been really big in my development."
Specifically, Bobo loves Metcalf's physicality and at 6-4 himself, that trait is one that he wants to make a bigger part of his own repertoire whether working off press coverage or attempting to make a block in the run game. He also has taken note of Lockett's elite talents "manipulating DBs" with space and leverage, watching him like a hawk hoping to adopt some of those skills to his route running tool box.
As for Metcalf's compliments about his attention to detail, effort, and executing the small things? Bobo once again poked fun at his underwhelming wheels, acknowledging he had to practice and prepare that way to survive. Lacking the burst or explosiveness to take a top off a defense or separate athletically, it's a crucial ingredient to the success he has had since arriving in the Pacific Northwest.
"S---, for him? You don't have to be as detailed as some of us slow guys," Bobo smiled. "Are you kidding me? I appreciate him saying that, but I'm not gonna run by anybody, so you gotta be detail oriented."
Though cool and light-hearted off the field, Bobo's meticulous habits have served him well over over the past four months as he evolved from a long shot undrafted free agent into a potential unexpected contributor for Seattle's high-powered offense.
Masterful with his route running and boasting an outstanding football IQ with an understanding of how to get open against different coverages, Bobo emerged as one of the biggest stars of the preseason for any team. Along with leading the Seahawks with 125 receiving yards in three exhibition contests, he also reeled in a pair of touchdowns, including an 18-yard score from backup Drew Lock at Lambeau Field that all but sealed his place on the roster if it wasn't cemented already.
And yet, Bobo still didn't feel safe even after finding the end zone a second time. Such is the life and mindset of an undrafted rookie trying to scratch and claw his way onto an NFL roster with only 53 spots available.
Fortunately for him, after white knuckling it last Tuesday morning wondering if he'd stick around or not and praying his phone wouldn't ring, Bobo can now breathe easy knowing this isn't the end and it's only the beginning of his NFL journey, putting his best foot forward with the goal of carving out a role on offense and special teams to make an impact for the Seahawks on Sundays.
"It's interesting to transition from what can I do to make the team to now what can I do to help this team. Ones a more selfish attitude and outlook on some of these things. But now it's what can I do to be a cog in this machine and get these guys to where they want to go, where I want to go, where this organization wants to go? So what can I do, whether it's doing stuff on special teams, whether it's going in for one or two reps when guys get tired and are tapping out. I'm just looking to find my position, my role on this team."
