The knock on Seattle Seahawks rookie receiver DK Metcalf for so long was his limitations as a route-runner. His elite combination of size and speed was thought to be only as valuable as his ability to run a variety of different routes, otherwise, he’d be nothing more than a vertical threat that defenses could effectively game plan against.
Metcalf has proven, without a shred of doubt, that he is more than capable of learning a variety of different routes, and Monday night’s game against the Vikings proved that.
“I think he’s been running routes pretty well,” coach Pete Carroll said with a smile. “He did have a couple real nice ones, the 20-yard slant down by the goal line was a really sharp looking route. He can run all the routes now. We’re not surprised to see that, we’re excited about it.”
Metcalf hauled in six receptions (on seven targets) for 75 yards, his third 70+ yard game in his last four. He now has 44 receptions for 705 yards and five touchdowns on the season, continuing his pace as the best rookie receiver in franchise history.
He’s not without his struggles however, and ball security is certainly a big one.
“I think he’s making progress every week,” Carroll said about Metcalf’s fumbling issues. “You can see him working with the ball. He worked hard to protect the football on some runs that he had after the catch which is what we want him to do, more so instead of just trying to be a brute and run over everything.”
Metcalf did have what was nearly a game-altering fumble on Monday night on a ball that was originally ruled an incomplete pass, which Carroll referred to as a teachable moment.
Regardless, Metcalf is miles ahead of where many expected him to be at this early stage of his career, and if he can continue to improve in certain areas he’ll be a dynamic, multi-faceted receiving threat in the NFL for years to come.
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