Who the hell is our slot receiver in the opener???

[Donn Beach]

No real actual reason other than body type. Could be old school thinking, but I think of slot I see Baldwin, Welker, Edelman, Beasley....small and quick guys. It is probably an out dated philosophy, and Bobo's quickness, size and hands might make him a tough matchup inside. His body type just screams outside receiver. That said? The Bills drafted a TE that they plan on using in the slot. Kelce plays the slot a ton. So, why not?

Okay, thanks

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Aren't tight ends just big slot receivers when they aren't blocking.? Bobo is essentially a skinny tight end.

[D-train]

When you think about it he checks all of PCs boxes. Even the DEI box because being a whitey he is an extreme minority in the NFL

By Bob Condotta
Seattle Times staff reporter
RENTON — What’s becoming the catchphrase of Seahawks’ training camp is about someone who, well, does a lot of catching.

“We’ve got this thing we say, ‘More Bobo,’’’ running back Kenneth Walker III said after Wednesday’s practice, referring to rookie receiver Jake Bobo of UCLA. “Give him the ball. He’s always going to make a play.’’

Bobo showed that again during Wednesday’s practice, where he took more steps toward giving the Seahawks “More Bobo’’ during the regular season.

Bobo, working consistently with the first-team offense in three-receiver sets alongside DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, made a handful of notable catches during a padded practice, including two that will likely have coaches hitting the replay button again and again.


On one, Bobo used a juke move at the line of scrimmage to break into the open of the middle of the defense and stretched out and made a diving catch on a pass from Geno Smith. A little later he dived to catch a Smith pass over the middle that was tipped by Bobby Wagner for about a 20-yard gain.

“He’s making plays,’’ Walker said. “He’s making plays. Everybody sees it.’’

It displayed how Bobo has consistently used his 6-foot-4, 207-pound frame and headiness to make up for his perceived biggest weakness — a lack of speed. Bobo ran what was listed as a 4.99 40 at UCLA’s Pro Day in March (he ran it on a rainy field, which has led some to question if that might have impacted his time).

Regardless, the “lack of speed’’ tag followed Bobo into the draft and was probably the main reason he went unselected despite a productive senior year at UCLA, leaving him available for the Seahawks to sign as a free agent.

His two plays Wednesday came a day after the Seahawks revealed that rookie receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the 20th overall pick, had surgery this week in Philadelphia to repair a slight fracture in his wrist.

There was no additional word as of Wednesday afternoon on how the surgery unfolded and whether there is any more of a clear timeline for when he might be back other than what coach Pete Carroll had said the day before that the team was optimistic he could return in three or four weeks, while adding the caveat: “We don’t know yet. We’ll see what happens.’’

The potential loss of Smith-Njigba for at least the season opener Sept. 10 against the Rams was the latest blow to a receiving corps that has taken a few hits in camp. Dee Eskridge, who also has been out with a knee injury suffered in the preseason opener, is suspended for the first six games. Dareke Young might need surgery to repair a hip abductor injury, and Cody Thompson is dealing with a shoulder injury (he again sat out practice Wednesday) suffered against Dallas.

Entering camp, Eskridge seemed a lock for a roster spot with the team optimistic that he might have a breakout season in year three after struggling with injuries his first two years. Young also seemed in good shape to make it and Thompson was on he cusp of a job as well.

That Smith-Njigba, Eskridge and Young could all be out Week 1 has Bobo seeming this week like a lock to make the initial 53-man roster when it must be set at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Wednesday showed he could be ticketed for an even larger role than simply filling out the bottom of the depth chart with the way he was used — and how he produced.

The Seahawks had 10 healthy receivers, with Matt Landers returning to action after missing the past week with a quad injury. Cade Johnson, who ended last season filling the third receiver role in the playoff loss to the 49ers because of injuries, is back after suffering a concussion in the preseason opener and had some good catches in an early one-on-one session.

As Carroll noted Tuesday, Bobo has been among the most consistent producers since spring, making plays in practice and in games. His 98 yards receiving in the preseason leads the Seahawks and his five catches is second.

“He hasn’t just done well in the few plays in the game, he’s done well in practice throughout,’’ Carroll said. “… I feel so fortunate that we got him outside of the draft. So we will see how far he can take it, but he’s in the middle of everything right now.”

Indeed, Bobo has been used as a punt returner in practice this week, another spot impacted by the potential loss of Smith-Njigba as he had emerged as the primary returner earlier in camp.

Bobo also has impressed the Seahawks with his play on other aspects of special teams, such as almost downing a punt near the goal line against Minnesota, and with his blocking, an underrated vital attribute that they value in receivers.

Bobo helped open a lane downfield for his former UCLA teammate Zach Charbonnet on a 29-yard run in the first quarter against Dallas. The play came just after Bobo caught a pass from Smith for 26 yards.

“If you want to look up something really cool, look at Zach’s long run in the first quarter, watch Jake, watch what Jake accomplished on that play,’’ Carroll said. “He took care of two guys — fooled one guy and blocked him and blocked another guy. It was a terrific play, really subtle stuff. He’s just a special football player. Hope we can fit him in.”

If they can fit in Bobo is suddenly one of the most heated questions the team faces as cutdown time approaches. Bobo said he’s tried all along not to worry about roster machinations.

“For me it’s just going out every day and seeing if I can do better than the day before,’’ he said. “Whether that’s winning one more route than I did the day before, or just doing something better than I did the day before.’’

As shown by the “More Bobo’’ catchphrase — something Smith has mentioned a few times — what Bobo has also done is develop a large rooting section among his teammates.

Rookie quarterback Holton Ahlers, also an undrafted free agent, noted that the two often worked out together this summer. Bobo was training at Duke and Ahlers at East Carolina, about an hour apart.

“We’d throw for about three times a week, and I just grew close to him,’’ Ahlers said. “You pull for all of those undrafted guys. You’re part of a little crew when you’re all trying to fight for a job and make it. To see guys be successful, it’s happy to see. He deserves it. He works super hard and has got a bright future ahead him.”

Appearing to grow brighter by the day.

[D-train]

Amazing how random events which seemingly have zero impact on anything change someone's entire future. If it doesn't rain before his Pro day, he runs on a dry field and maybe he runs a 4.75 and gets drafted by the Colts in the 6th round or the Cardinals in the 7th round and we would never know the legend of Bobo. lol

[Michael K.]

“If you want to look up something really cool, look at Zach’s long run in the first quarter, watch Jake, watch what Jake accomplished on that play,’’ Carroll said. “He took care of two guys — fooled one guy and blocked him and blocked another guy. It was a terrific play, really subtle stuff. He’s just a special football player. Hope we can fit him in.”

I understand what PC is saying here....he isn't a lock for a roster spot or promised playing time. But sometimes coaches crack me up! It's your call...if you want him on the team? Keep him. If you want him to play? Play him!

One time Nagy was asked after a Bears loss about the pass first approach they took. He says "we really need to run the ball more". Hey, Coach, I don't know if you are aware of this, but you are also the OC. So, calling more run plays would simply be up to you! IIRC? That was a close game. I watched for the only reason I would ever watch...I had David Montgomery in fantasy. It blew me away how productive he was, and how little he got the ball. So, that comment from Nagy has always stuck out to me. It's not that hard, call run plays. Hell, even Mike Holmgren wrote "run the damn ball" on his play sheet. They went from 2 and 2 to 13 and three and won the NFC that year. It's not rocket science. You want to run the ball, run the fucking football. You want Bobo to be a part of the team? Make him a part of the team. Who gives a shit what his forty time was on a wet track, who gives a shit if the other guys you have on the roster that can't stay healthy were drafted higher. I used to say this about Anthony Simmons and Chad Brown when they played LB here. I don't fucking care how good they are when they play, they are always in street clothes!

[D-train]

LOL thought the same about PC "hoping" they can fit him in. Who is he going to try to convince to "fit him in" Jody? The assistant strength coach.

The funny one this week for me was Levi Bell as goal line FB blocking for a TD.

EVERYONE universally said, "Wow, that it so AWESOME! He is literally willing to do ANYTHING to make the team!"

He is a UDFA! They acted like it was some massive sacrifice to play FB for ONE down like they asked him to go diffuse a bomb under enemy fire in Iraq or something. He probably loved it and would have done it in the nude if it got him on the roster...lol

[Michael K.]

He is a UDFA! They acted like it was some massive sacrifice to play FB for ONE down like they asked him to go diffuse a bomb under enemy fire in Iraq or something. He probably loved it and would have done it in the nude if it got him on the roster...lol

Right? I imagine guys drafted would have done that, let alone a guy that was on the street after the draft. The sport is covered so closely, we just catch all this shit now. I imagine Chuck Knox probably said a lot of the shit PC says back in the day. He just said it to the two reporters that showed up from the Times and Post Intelligencer instead of 47,000 media outlets that reported on it. And retweeted it, etc.

[Cascade Kid]

I think Bobo could be effective in the slot. What he lacks in dressed down 40 times he makes up for in route running and finding the soft spots in the secondary. I think he could help keep the safeties honest by splitting the seams where needed. He's also got size, soft hands on his side and has shown to provide some good YAC after the catch. He's a little more like a slight TE that can play in the middle of the field than being tabbed as a slow slot WR

[auroraave]

I think Bobo could be effective in the slot. What he lacks in dressed down 40 times he makes up for in route running and finding the soft spots in the secondary. I think he could help keep the safeties honest by splitting the seams where needed. He's also got size, soft hands on his side and has shown to provide some good YAC after the catch. He's a little more like a slight TE that can play in the middle of the field than being tabbed as a slow slot WR

People wildly over value glossy terms like "40 times". How often is ANY player running unimpeded? Virtually never. Fundamentals, assignment execution, adjustments on the fly, far more valuable over the long run. They already have metcalf who's speed threat is arguably more valuable in opening up underneath routes as he pulls the defense out of the zones, as it is in challenging the deep safeties. The slight TE comparison is accurate. Seattle has a TALL group of pass catchers. Would seem to be red zone gold.

[Donn Beach]

I think Bobo could be effective in the slot. What he lacks in dressed down 40 times he makes up for in route running and finding the soft spots in the secondary. I think he could help keep the safeties honest by splitting the seams where needed. He's also got size, soft hands on his side and has shown to provide some good YAC after the catch. He's a little more like a slight TE that can play in the middle of the field than being tabbed as a slow slot WR

People wildly over value glossy terms like "40 times". How often is ANY player running unimpeded? Virtually never. Fundamentals, assignment execution, adjustments on the fly, far more valuable over the long run. They already have metcalf who's speed threat is arguably more valuable in opening up underneath routes as he pulls the defense out of the zones, as it is in challenging the deep safeties. The slight TE comparison is accurate. Seattle has a TALL group of pass catchers. Would seem to be red zone gold.

That isn't what the 40 is testing, it's testing more general athletic ability, explosiveness, acceleration, believe it's considered the single biggest testing benchmark