Field Gulls
Woolen has shown spells of great play, but there are areas of his game that he needs to improve in order to be elite... and possibly stay in Seattle.
After an impressive rookie season in 2022 and a regression in 2023 marked by injuries and fluctuations, Riq Woolen entered 2024 with the mission to prove he could be more than an athletic cornerback with occasional production. In his third year, the Seattle Seahawks corner had a solid season, but marked by technical ups and downs.
This reignited the debate: Is Woolen an elite player in the making or a still-raw athlete trying to catch up with the position’s mental game?
Via PFF for cornerbacks with 100+ snaps played (155 qualified):
15 games (889 snaps, 28th-best);
Interceptions: 3 (8th);
Pass Breakups: 8 (16th);
TDs Given Up: 6 (6th-worst);
Pass Completions Against: 55.2% (22nd-best);
QB Rating against: 83.7 (43rd best);
Missed Tackles in Pass Play: 7 (28th worst);
Penalties: 7 (23rd worst);
Coverage Grade (PFF): 65.7 (59th);
Woolen allowed only 46.7% of his passes completed on routes over 20 yards deep, using his recovery speed and range to contest high-flying balls.
He’s playing zone defense and plays with a low pad level. This allows a guy of his height to change direction quickly. Then, he uses his hand on the receiver to feel where the route will go.
Closing Speed: When out of position, Woolen showed explosiveness to recover space with closing speed, especially in zone coverage with cross-field routes.
His work in press coverage and man-to-man is still the greatest strength of his game. He senses the WR’s movement and is in a good position to change direction without wasting almost any steps and preventing the reception.
It’s a third-and-three, and the WR runs a quick route. However, Woolen’s work at the line of scrimmage disrupts the timing with the QB and forces the cut to happen a little earlier, resulting in a fourth-and-one.
He forces the WR inside, intending to receive help from the safety. Puka Nacua “declares” his release, and Woolen realizes where the route is going and essentially becomes a receiver attacking the ball at the high point.
Lacks solid foundation, hip use, and willingness to make physical contact – issues that PFF highlighted repeatedly.
I don’t know if the start of the play is due to the fact that Rayshawn Jenkins and Woolen were in the same zone. The play develops late, going to the RB. Woolen doesn’t show much effort, and the RB gets 24 of the 26 yards he needed for the conversion. Love shows his leadership and clearly asks Woolen for more action. This became a fourth-and-2, which the Jets converted by passing the ball to Adams with Woolen in coverage. The game was 26-21, and it was the Jets’ final drive (which ended in a turnover on downs).
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