The Fernando Mendoza era starts Sunday as the Raiders welcome the Seahawks to Las Vegas. What should we expect from the Seahawks? Well, I'm glad you asked, because I caught up with Kole Musgrove from USA Today's Seahawks Wire to get the scoop.
1. How much of an issue do you think it will be for the Seahawks to be without Charles Cross and Quenton Nelson? And how much of a dropoff will there be at guard and tackle?
Kole Musgrove: I don’t think it’s that much of a drop off, as great as those players are. With Quenton Nelson out, Grey Zabel moves back to left guard where he’s started every game of his professional career except for the one game they had Quenton Nelson in! Josh Jones is a completely serviceable left tackle. He’s not as good as Cross, but he is a solid backup who will keep the Seahawks’ offensive line from cratering. Honestly with Cross out, he is the only “starter” who is out, because when Nelson came,
the regular right guard starter Anthony Bradford is now back in the lineup.
2. Is Drew Lock really a competent starter or is it more a product of his two wins both coming against the Cardinals?
KM: I think a little bit of column A and a little bit of column B. Yes, he did get his two starts against Arizona, but remember, he played like 99% of the Week 1 game against the Patriots and helped guide Seattle to a comeback victory. Lock is a capable backup-turned-short term starter. Seattle’s OC seems to be oddly more comfortable with him under center, and I wish he would employ some of those simpler, ball-security focused offenses with Sam Darnold instead of forcing him to open up the entire playbook while still clearly injured.
3. That ‘Dark Side’ defense doesn’t look like it has any weaknesses. But if it does, what might that weakness be?
KM: They are allowing touchdowns in the red zone at a far more alarming rate, and I am not sure what the problem is. It’s like, they won’t allow anyone near the red zone for most of the game, but once an opponent does then BOOM they get six. Part of that has been the turnover issue. The Dark Side has been forced to defend shorter field far more often this year and that will be difficult for any defense in the league.
4. Give me one under-the-radar player on each side of the ball for Seattle.
KM: Defense: Rylie Mills. With Leonard Williams out, he is the fill in. You may remember him as the big corn fed boy who sacked Drake Maye through his offensive lineman during the Super Bowl. Offense: feels weird saying “underrated” but tight end AJ Barner. He is well known to the 12's, and it finally seems like OC Brian Fleury is finally remembering he is on the roster these past few weeks.
5. Who wins? Why? Score prediction?
KM: I’m picking Seattle. The Seahawks are more desperate for a win than a Raiders team still rebuilding. I like Vegas’ direction, but they are still a year or two out from meaningful competition. Seattle is still trying to repeat as champions, and a loss will essentially lock them out of the playoff picture entirely. I do think Klint Kubiak and Fernando Mendoza are going to provide a much stiffer challenge than folks assume. No one knows how to attack the Dark Side as well as the former OC who spent nearly every day last year facing off against them in practice. As for Mendoza, he is the wild card, as the Seahawks are not working with any film on him. Still, I think Seattle’s offense with Lock, JSN, and a healthy running back stable will be enough to outgun the Raiders. Mike Macdonald’s defense will confuse Mendoza late, and Seattle escapes with a 24-21 win.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing Raiders Week 10 game with Seahawks Wire
