Seahawks Final Report Card: Recapping Surprising Season for Tariq Woolen, Other CBs
With the 2022 season officially in the books, the Seattle Seahawks will head into the offseason with plenty of momentum after a surprising 9-8 season that resulted in an unexpected return to the playoffs.
Despite undergoing another substantial offseason of turnover, including drafting two players and adding a pair of veterans in free agency, Seattle made major strides defending the pass in part due to a better than anticipated play from its cornerback group. Reflecting on a stellar season headlined by Tariq Woolen's rapid ascent to stardom, how did the corners perform in 2022?
What Went Right
At the center of a youth movement in the secondary, after starring during the team's offseason program and training camp, the Seahawks opted to throw Woolen into the fire as a Week 1 starter at right cornerback. The fifth-round pick out of UTSA wasted little time taking advantage of his rare blend of size, speed, and ball skills, intercepting four passes in the first six games, including returning a pick six in a Week 4 road win over Jared Goff and the Lions.
He also blocked a field goal and recovered a pair of fumbles during that span, quickly surfacing as a shocking Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate. He finished his rookie campaign tied for the NFL lead in interceptions and produced nine total turnovers, becoming the first rookie to register six interceptions and three fumble recoveries since 2000.
Justifying Seattle's decision to name him a starter, Jackson put up solid numbers across the board at left cornerback in 2022.
Across from Woolen, Seattle had another surprising starter emerge in Mike Jackson, who beat out veteran Sidney Jones to win the left cornerback job. Following three seasons bouncing around the league on multiple practice squads, the former Miami standout finally found a home, starting all 17 games while amassing 75 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and an interception. He also registered three tackles for loss, recovered two fumbles, and returned Woolen's blocked field goal for a touchdown in a Week 2 loss to San Francisco, turning in a quality first season as a starter and setting himself up to potentially be a long-term answer at the position.
In the slot, fourth-round pick Coby Bryant usurped veteran Justin Coleman after the Seahawks beat the Broncos in their season opener and turned in an impressive rookie season of his own. Despite not recording any interceptions in his first extensive action playing inside at any level, he forced four fumbles, broke up four passes in coverage, and produced a pair of sacks on nickel blitzes, showcasing a versatile skill set that should suit him well at the position in the future.
What Went Wrong
When Seattle reported for OTAs in May, the team expected to have a seasoned secondary after re-signing Jones and bringing fellow veteran Artie Burns on board to reunite with associate head coach Sean Desai, who coached him in Chicago. Coleman returned for a second stint as well and expected to resume duties as the team's main slot cornerback.
But due to injuries and the ascendance of youngsters such as Woolen and Bryant, none of those three players saw more than 60 defensive snaps in 2022, as Jones was cut before the trade deadline, Burns only dressed for three games, and Coleman played nine defensive snaps from Week 2 onward.
Tariq Woolen missed 14 tackles as a rookie, second-most on the Seahawks behind only Jordyn Brooks.
© Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
As well as Woolen and Bryant performed in their first NFL seasons respectively, missed tackles and blown coverages were a major problem at times for both players that they will have to improve upon. Experiencing typical bumps in the road as rookies, they combined to whiff on 26 tackles and per Pro Football Focus, each posted an unsatisfactory missed tackle percentage north of 15 percent. Bryant allowed a long touchdown in the season opener on a botched coverage, while Woolen blew his Cover 3 assignment to allow a long touchdown reception to 49ers tight end George Kittle in Week 15.
Coming back from a severe patellar tendon injury in his knee, second-year cornerback Tre Brown successfully made it back onto the roster shortly after the trade deadline. Unfortunately, after impressing as a rookie in five games, he wasn't able to push Jackson for playing time and only logged 21 defensive and 21 special teams snaps in six games, finishing with four tackles in what amounted to a lost sophomore campaign.
Final Grade: B
Back in August, if fans would have known Jones, Burns, and Coleman would not exceed 100 combined defensive snaps in 2022, they likely would have thought the season would be disastrous at cornerback. But that wasn't the case at all with Woolen being far more than the long-term project most perceived him to be entering last year's draft, Jackson proving to be a capable starter in his own right, and Bryant growing up quickly in the slot. After finishing a dismal 31st in passing defense one year earlier, the Seahawks improved to 13th this season thanks to their contributions in the secondary.
Moving towards 2023, Woolen and Bryant should be cemented as starters at their respective positions, with the former poised to blossom into one of the NFL's brightest young stars at any position as he continues to grow into a position he still has only played for three seasons.
As for Jackson, he should be back as an exclusive rights free agent to battle to retain his starting role, but after a full offseason without rehab, Brown will aim to bounce back and wrestle the job away from him. It's also possible Seattle could further add to the competition by drafting another corner in April, bolstering a position that should be a strength in the present and future.
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