It’s the finish of September, and the Seattle Seahawks are 1-2. That shouldn’t be a shocking document given expectancies for this workforce, but it surely certain would’ve been great to get that Atlanta Falcons recreation and input a two-game street go back and forth above .500. I doubt any person believed 3-0 was once going to occur, so 2-1 was once the ceiling and 0-3 was once the flooring.
This week I’m unveiling a brand new Field Gulls characteristic, which is a month-long version of Winners and Losers. This is not going to come with everybody who was once personally or jointly indexed in particular video games, slightly a abstract of the maximum notable performances (or lack thereof) thru the month.
Winners
1st Half Geno Smith
You gotta admit, 1st Half Geno Smith looks as if a Pro Bowl quarterback. His break up is 49/61 for 498 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception. And talking extra critically, in opposition to the Broncos and Falcons we noticed Smith persistently transfer the offense down the box and carry out above expectancies on third down. Perhaps the greatest stat from 1st Half Geno? No sacks.
Charles Cross and Abe Lucas
Cross was once all the time located to be the beginning left take on as soon as he was once drafted ninth overall through the Seahawks, however Lucas needed to beat out Jake Curhan to win the proper take on festival. Both males have favorable PFF pass-blocking grades north of 70, and Lucas has but to surrender a sack. Cross has allowed 3, all interestingly in the 4th quarter, however he’s been a internet sure as a go protector.
It’s onerous to recall too many cases the place we’ve got praised drafted Seahawks offensive linemen for sure play, however they each earn kudos for a way they carried out of their respective first months as professionals.
Tariq Woolen
The rookie out of doors cornerback wasn’t meant to be beginning Week 1, and whilst he’s taken some lumps alongside the manner he’s carried out smartly overall to me. He made an affect play on particular groups along with his block that was once returned for a landing in opposition to the 49ers, and then notched an interception in opposition to Atlanta that was once a pleasant play without reference to the Falcons’ determination to run a play earlier than halftime.
Michael Jackson
This was once a difficult name taking into consideration I don’t consider Jackson in reality carried out in particular smartly at nook in both the 49ers or Falcons video games, however he did ranking the workforce’s best TD in Santa Clara and the ones two fumble recoveries as opposed to Denver have been seize. I’d argue the moment fumble restoration was once a lot more necessary as it was once a third down run and thus the Broncos may’ve recovered it for a landing.
Al Woods
Literally the best defensive lineman who has persistently completed his activity smartly. Big Al could also be 35 however his recreation turns out ageless. He leads the workforce with 3 tackles for loss, all going on on run stops.
Uchenna Nwosu
The former Chargers out of doors linebacker was once NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his opening night time time out in opposition to the Denver Broncos, and his heads up fumble restoration in opposition to the Falcons gave Seattle an opportunity to win (spoiler: they didn’t). Nwosu is in point of fact the just one who’s persistently generating force on the quarterback — he leads the workforce in QB hits with 6 — and for that he’s in the winner’s column.
Tight End intensity: Will Dissly, Colby Parkinson, Noah Fant
Geno Smith has been remarkably environment friendly throwing to tight ends, and all have contributed someway. Noah Fant has the maximum receptions (9), Will Dissly has the maximum touchdowns (2), and Colby Parkinson has the maximum yards (87 on simply 4 catches). It’s in reality Fant who’s no longer been overly convincing, however the primary level is that the Seahawks’ use of tight results in the passing assault is welcome and it’s thrilling.
Tyler Lockett
As ever, Lockett stays an effective go-to goal, raking in 21 passes on 26 goals for 211 yards. He’s but to attain a landing in 2022 however that’ll indisputably come quickly sufficient, and in October he’s poised to surpass Doug Baldwin for third position in Seahawks franchise historical past for receptions. I’m beautiful certain he can get 23 catches over 5 video games.
Jason Myers
Myers didn’t carry out smartly in 2021 and then had a few hiccups in preseason that had me overtly wondering why he didn’t have any festival to push him for his roster spot. So a long way, he’s a really perfect 5/5 on PATs and 4/4 on box targets. Seattle’s particular groups as an entire has been excellent bar the turnover in opposition to the 49ers, and Myers merits credit score for beginning the common season at a degree on par along with his 2020 marketing campaign.
Losers
The whole entrance seven
A nasty go rush is something however the cave in of what have been a forged run protection for the previous two seasons has been staggering. Darrell Taylor may finally end up having a discounted snap depend and I believe that (out of doors of no longer generating sufficient with regards to go rush) his errors in the run recreation may value him. Poona Ford and Bryan Mone had been quiet, which I believe bodes extra poorly for Ford given his cap hit. I’ve no longer been too essential of Jordyn Brooks or Cody Barton this 12 months, however Barton was once horrible in opposition to Atlanta and Brooks’ tackles had been much more of the clean-up selection than the rest downhill. I believe an excessive amount of has been placed on their shoulders on account of how deficient the Seahawks had been in the defensive trenches. Clint Hurtt would possibly want to reconsider how a lot 4-2-5 they’re working as a result of we’ve been seeing a large number of that formation up to now.
Josh Jones
It’s no longer Jones’ fault that he was once thrust into this place to switch Jamal Adams, whose season lasted all of 2 quarters earlier than a quad damage put him on the shelf till 2023. Jones was once one among the few shiny spots for the protection in preseason, however having a look just right in opposition to backups/non-NFL caliber opposition is a hell of so much other than first-stringers unleashing the highest they have got to provide. Jones has been gradual in his pursuit angles, in particular unhealthy in go protection, and he has no longer been an efficient tackler. Quandre Diggs has no longer been his standard high-level self since returning from damage, so Jones’ struggles best exacerbate the downside at the protection place.
Pete Carroll
I’ve had him in the Losers column two times and the Winners column as soon as. I suppose on that stability he’s in the Losers for the month but it surely’s much less to do along with his gameday training and extra to do with roster development and the state of this protection. That we’re having a look at 3 directly years of entire disorganization and shoddy defensive performances throughout two other coordinators, schemes, and units of gamers I believe has to fall on Pete. We’ve persistently noticed roster issues that vary any place from the incapacity to discover a standout go rusher to the nice nickel nook drought of 2019. If it ever will get to some degree the place Carroll leaves this group and it’s no longer on his personal phrases, it will have far more to do with how he’s treated participant group of workers than his exact training. That, to me, is the primary explanation why the Seahawks haven’t been actual contenders for years now.
Gabe Jackson
The veteran guard has possibly been the Seahawks’ worst acting offensive lineman, in particular in the case of go blocking off. He was once lower than usual in opposition to the 49ers and gave up the maximum pressures as opposed to Atlanta. If this persists I believe the Seahawks will have to take an actual take a look at both switching Jackson again to left guard and having Damien Lewis go back to proper guard, or benching Jackson solely and sticking one among Phil Haynes or Jake Curhan in there.
Run Blocking
It reeks. They are thirty first in run block win price and the working backs as such are close to backside of the NFL in yards according to touch. You can’t in point of fact assess Rashaad Penny and Kenneth Walker III once they’re no longer getting many lanes to run thru. That falls on everybody alongside the offensive line.
Dee Eskridge
The second-year guy out of Western Michigan has been outsnapped through Marquise Goodwin and has simply two catches for a half-dozen yards to his title in 2022. With Seattle extra susceptible to make use of Goodwin and their tight ends as “third options” in the passing recreation it appears increasingly more like Seattle’s (I consider, justified) efforts to spice up the extensive receiving corps in 2021 ended up whiffing.
2d Half Geno Smith
…Now the unpleasant section for Geno. While 30/41 is only a few share issues under his season moderate in of completion price, 219 yards and a 4.81 adjusted internet yards/strive is close to the worst in the league. While I’ve normally defended Smith and nonetheless don’t consider all of the 2d half of offensive woes get started with him, he’s additionally no longer absolved from blame given a few of the misfires and sacks taken.
Final Notes
- I’ve Boye Mafe and Coby Bryant on my radar as two gamers possibly to seek out themselves on the Winners facet of the column at the finish of October. I’m additionally no longer completely discounting what Darryl Johnson can do, as he’s been a good contributor in restricted (however possibly quickly to be increasing?) enjoying time.
- DK Metcalf isn’t a winner or loser however I will be able to say that the unhealthy drops that we’ve noticed him make during his profession have been virtually completely absent this month. I’d like to look him used on longer routes — no less than crossers to get him in area — as a substitute of as regards to the line of scrimmage, and ideally whilst he’s on the transfer and no longer having to take a couple of mins to rev the engine up. That onus is on Shane Waldron to make the maximum out of this type of proficient receiver.
- DeeJay Dallas has a large alternative to step up as the number one third down again subsequent month with Travis Homer out. He’s already a forged particular groups contributor however I believe the highest is but to come back for the former Miami superstar.
- If you loved this concept then we’re going to proceed this option. If no longer… smartly you’re nonetheless getting Winners and Losers after gamedays anyway.