“We’ve the chance to study a lot about who we’re, how we’re going to develop our operation all through the week, how we put together, and we may be so a lot better.”
These had been the opening phrases from Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald on Monday, the day after Seattle’s 24-3 win over the Miami Dolphins. It’s the primary time that the Seahawks have began 3-0 since 2020, which is maybe not coincidentally the final time Seattle gained the NFC West.
There is no such thing as a doubt that the Seahawks may be higher than they’ve proven even with their unbeaten begin, and so they’ll have to enhance as a way to hold profitable towards exceedingly harder competitors. Except for the plain want for higher go safety, which at this level might already be a misplaced trigger barring drastic modifications, listed here are there key areas of enchancment that may assist flip Seattle into a very nice staff.
Too many penalties on offense
From Coach Macdonald: “A few of them are selections that we’re making in real-time in order that we may be smarter. A few of them, we’re not placing ourselves ready the place we are able to both block or do no matter our job is and do it legally, so we’re going to need to be higher in these conditions.”
The Seahawks have dedicated 23 accepted penalties, tied for sixth-most within the league. Greater than half of these infractions have been false begins (6), offensive holding (7), and offensive go interference (3, all on DK Metcalf). Should you get the image, the Seahawks protection has typically performed clear soccer exterior of a few foolish Devon Witherspoon penalties.
Nearly all the onus is on the offense to scrub up its mess, significantly Anthony Bradford and his team-leading 6 accepted penalties. Seattle had three run performs worn out for offensive holding within the Dolphins recreation, all of which resulted in eventual punts. The Seahawks have gotten away with this up to now, however it should immediately price them a recreation in the event that they’re not cautious.
Avoiding third and lengthy
Discover I didn’t say third down offense, as a result of the Seahawks have really been stellar after they don’t put themselves method behind the sticks.
Utilizing the Stathead play filter (and excluding “no play” penalties and kneeldowns), the Seahawks offense is an elite 14-of-22 (63.6%) on third and 1-9 yards to go. That’s third within the NFL! It’s glorious! Beneath the identical parameters final season they had been twenty seventh.
The issue: They’re not often in third and manageable.
When you’ve got 38 makes an attempt and solely 22 are lower than 10 yards to go, you’ve acquired an enormous ol’ downside. Seattle is 0-of-16 on third and 10+, and solely the Houston Texans and traditionally unhealthy Cleveland Browns have confronted extra third and 10+ performs than the Seahawks.
All of this this ties into the Seahawks’ points with penalties and early down sacks—Geno Smith has not been sacked on third down but—placing them at a horrendous drawback. Repair this and the third down numbers will normalize.
Suboptimal punting and punt returning
The Seahawks particular groups will not be off to a terrific begin beneath Jay Harbaugh. FTN Fantasy’s DVOA rankings have the Seahawks at twenty seventh, and so they’ve been under common at every little thing besides area objectives/further factors. I can typically forgive any struggles with this modified kickoff, however the two areas which have actually been liabilities for the Seahawks are punt protection and punt returning.
Evidently, I prompted a stir within the feedback part of Winners and Losers after I listed Dee Williams as a “Loser” for some questionable punt return selections. Whereas Williams did a have an enormous return towards the New England Patriots, the rookie has additionally muffed a punt and put the Seahawks in some unhealthy area place spots by letting an in any other case returnable (or fair-catchable) punt bounce.
I would really like for 33’s punt return selections to be higher. Seattle is twenty sixth in punt return DVOA (per @FTNFantasy).
When Dee really catches and returns the ball he is efficient. When he would not…
(Be aware: Final punt was a penalty on Miami so that they rekicked) pic.twitter.com/eeBGtrgk4n
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) September 23, 2024
The Seahawks are twenty sixth in punt return DVOA. They really improved a spot within the rankings as a result of the San Francisco 49ers had one other horror present on Sunday towards the Los Angeles Rams and had a heavy drop.
Williams gained’t get benched except he actually screws up, however Seattle’s offense will not be well-equipped to deal with horrible area place; they’ve already dedicated a security and a safety-turned-interception partially due to Williams’ return selections. If this continues, then on the very least they may want a “safer” choice relying on the place they’re on the sector simply to scale back the danger of one thing unhealthy taking place.
In the meantime, the punt protection unit has struggled. Michael Dickson has only one punt downed contained in the 20, and the Seahawks have allowed the fifth-most punt return yards on common at 14.4. Braxton Berrios ripped off a 44-yard return on Dickson’s longest punt of the season (61 yards). If we randomly pretended the season ended at the moment, Dickson’s 39.3 yards of internet punting could be the worst of his profession.
Seattle is 3-0 regardless of having a few of the worst common beginning area place on offense (personal 27-yard line) and absolutely the worst beginning area place on protection (personal 36-yard line). Particular groups has had important culpability at each ends, and it’s in all probability the one actual disappointment I wasn’t anticipating initially of the season.
You probably have any areas you’d prefer to see enhance that I could have ignored, drop your options within the feedback part!
