Tag: charles cross

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Packers on offense in Week 15

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Packers on offense in Week 15

The Seattle Seahawks were dismissed by the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football, losing 30-13. Ryan Grubb’s offense gained just 208 total yards and were limited to 13 measly points. Nonetheless, these three Seahawks were their highest-graded players on offense, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 77.3

Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued his ascension as Geno Smith’s go-to target in the passing game. JSN posted team-highs in receptions (10), receiving yards (83), and targets (12). Smith-Njigba did the majority of his work underneath the coverage, averaging just 8.3 yards per catch, though he was on the receiving end of Seattle’s longest completion of the evening, a 25-yard gain in the passing game.

Charles Cross | 76.3

The Packers dominated the interior of the Seahawks’ makeshift offensive line, but Mike Macdonald’s bookend tackles held their own. Franchise left tackle Charles Cross was credited with allowing three pressures and one sack, posting an overall grade of 81.1 in pass protection. That was his second-best grade of the season in protection.

Abe Lucas | 73.8

Right tackle Abraham Lucas was Seattle’s third-highest graded offensive player at 73.8. He occasionally struggled in pass protection, allowing five pressures and two sacks, but was also dealing with a lackluster situation at right guard. Lucas was also a net positive in the running game, earning a grade of 79.7 in that department.

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Seahawks’ pass-blocking metrics through Week 9

Seahawks’ pass-blocking metrics through Week 9

The Seattle Seahawks have struggled to protect starting quarterback Geno Smith this season. Smith has been pressured on 153 of his dropbacks, according to data collected by Brian Nemhauser. That means the offensive line is leaking protection on 40% of their starting quarterback’s dropbacks.

The majority of those pressures have arrived from the right side of the offensive line. Pro Football Focus credits right guard Anthony Bradford with allowing 24 pressures, second-worst (112) among 113 qualifying guards. Bradford has also been whistled for a position-high nine penalties, and he’s allowed five sacks, ranking 110th out of 113.

The right tackle position has also struggled. Injuries have forced the Seahawks to start three different right tackles this year. George Fant, Stone Forsythe, and Mike Jerrell have all started for Mike Macdonald’s lackluster offensive line. Below-average results have been delivered.

The Seahawks have a 53% pass-block-win-rate (PBWR) this season, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Franchise left tackle Charles Cross has been far-and-away the team’s best blocker in pass protection. Cross is Seattle’s only offensive lineman that cracks ESPN’s leaderboard, posting an elite individual PBWR of 92%.

The Seahawks have allowed a sixth-worst 28 sacks this season. Smith has been outstanding when operating from a clean pocket, posting a passer rating of 108.6 in such rare scenarios, per PFF. When under pressure, that rating plummets to 49.5.

The offensive line remains a work in progress. Cross is outstanding, but the overall unit, particularly the right side, desperately needs improving. Hopefully Abe Lucas returns against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11 and helps deliver clean pockets for Smith with more consistency.

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Seahawks’ run-blocking metrics through Week 9

Seahawks’ run-blocking metrics through Week 9

The Seattle Seahawks have struggled to effectively run the football this season. Entering their Week 10 bye, the offense is currently producing a 28th-ranked 91.2 rushing yards per game. As a unit, they are averaging a disappointing 4.1 yards per carry. Starting running back Kenneth Walker III has enjoyed just one 100-yard rushing showing this year, and it occurred way back in Week 1.

A struggling offensive line is largely to blame for the lackluster results. Head coach Mike Macdonald has rotated through an abundance of blockers at right guard and right tackle in search of the right combination, to no avail. Opposing defenders have routinely made plays in the backfield.

The Seahawks currently have the fourth-worst run-block-win-rate (RBWR) in the league at 67%, according to data collected by ESPN Stats & Info. Seattle doesn’t have a single offensive lineman on ESPN’s RBWR leaderboard.

Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has also struggled to commit to sticking with the struggling ground game. Despite owning a competitive record of 4-5, the Seahawks rank 29th in rushing attempts with just 201. Oddly enough, Seattle’s 11 rushing touchdowns are tied for sixth-most in the league.

The Seahawks have gone into pass-happy shells due to the nonexistent ground attack. Grubb’s rushing offense is scoring touchdowns despite few attempts and inconsistent results. The Seahawks require improved ground-game efficiency when they return from the Week 10 bye.

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Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks players on offense vs. Rams

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks players on offense vs. Rams

The Seattle Seahawks were defeated 26-20 by the Los Angeles Rams in overtime on Sunday. The offense gained 20 first downs and accumulated 424 total yards in a losing effort. Pro Football Focus had the following three Seahawks players as their highest-graded talents versus the Rams.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 92.5

Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba enjoyed the best game of his young career on Sunday. The sophomore wideout produced seven receptions for 180 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including a late fourth-quarter score that sent the game to overtime. Smith-Njigba was PFF’s second-highest graded receiver of the week, trailing just Zay Flowers (94.5).

Geno Smith | 76.2

Starting quarterback Geno Smith endured a rollercoaster of a performance. The veteran signal caller completed 21-of-34 passing attempts for 363 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. PFF ranked Smith highly despite him committing multiple turnovers. He was sacked seven times, and likely earned brownie points for performing behind a lackluster offensive line.

Charles Cross | 75.8

Speaking of that offensive line, franchise left tackle Charles Cross was the lone standout performer. Cross was credited with allowing just three pressures and zero sacks in pass protection. The former Mississippi State standout has been outstanding all season long. Seattle’s underwhelming offensive line requires more players of his caliber.

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Ranking the top 32 left tackles in the NFL by annual salary

Contract numbers are via Over the Cap.

For a minute there it looked like the Seahawks found two long-term starters at left tackle and right tackle in the same draft class with Charles Cross and Abe Lucas. Two years later, that’s far from a sure thing. While both have shown a lot of potential, there’s also reason to doubt both of being worth another contract after their rookie deals are done.

For now, Cross is only costing Seattle a little over $5 million per year and Lucas even less, but it speaks volumes that the team brought back George Fant, who’s the next man up at both spots this year. Here’s how their contracts compare with the top 32 left tackles around the league going into the 2024 season. Contract numbers are via Over the Cap.

Ranking the top 33 tight ends in the NFL by annual salary

Seahawks starting offensive line from open OTAs practice is (sort-of) revealing

If your initial reaction is to panic about the state of the offensive line then it’s going to be a long offseason.

The biggest question mark about these Seattle Seahawks heading into the 2024 season is their offensive line. No NFL team is spending less money on that unit than Seattle and there are legitimate questions about their depth as well as every projected starter. That’s why it’s so difficult to sort out the depth chart at this early point in the offseason – at this point in time nothing is settled outside of Charles Cross continuing to start at left tackle and veteran Laken Tomlinson taking over at left guard for Damien Lewis, who’s currently swimming in a pool of David Tepper’s money somewhere.

Cross and Lewis were part of the starting five at yesterday’s practice, and Olu Oluwatimi was taking first-team reps in the middle over former Browns/Huskies center Nick Harris. Meanwhile, at right guard 2023 undrafted free agent McClendon Curtis was rolling with the starters while rookie Christian Haynes worked with the second team unit. With Abe Lucas still sidelined by his knee injury, veteran George Fant was the next man up at right tackle. All this is per Brady Henderson at ESPN.

If your initial reaction is to panic about the state of the offensive line then it’s going to be a long offseason. The time to panic will come in the first week of September when general manager John Schneider is scrambling to sign another starter before the season begins.

For now, fans should remember that OTAs are voluntary and most of the team’s premiere players weren’t even at practice on Wednesday. Stone Forsythe might be RT2 instead of George Fant and Anthony Bradford was sitting out with a tweaked ankle – so he may still be ahead of both Haynes and Curtis at right guard.

Their positional spending says otherwise but based on their offseason comments, we expect Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald to make a bigger investment in this unit. If that’s the case, it’s going to take time.

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Charles Cross says Mike Macdonald ‘brings a tenacity to the building’

One common theme we heard during these conversations is that the players all seem to adore their new head coach, Mike Macdonald.

Seahawk left tackle Charle Cross was one of the players who spoke with the media yesterday at the team facility in Renton. One common theme we heard during these conversations is that the players all seem to adore their new head coach, Mike Macdonald.

When Cross was asked for his first impression of Macdonald, he said he loves him and that he brings a tenacity to the building.

Looking ahead, Cross is heading into a make or break 2023 season, which will be his third in the league. Cross showed a lot of potential as a rookie. However, he showed no improvement last year and in fact regressed, especially in pass protection.

Cross will get some breathing room if Seattle elects not to draft a left tackle like Washington’s Troy Fautanu next week. Still, he will have to show some serious development in 2024 or else the team will likely look to replace him in next year’s draft.

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Ranking the Seattle Seahawks’ 5 biggest roster needs going into 2024

In that spirit, let’s examine the team’s five-biggest roster needs going into the 2024 NFL season.

The Seattle Seahawks are coming off a rollercoaster of a 2023 season, which was quickly followed by the most shocking offseason move in franchise history. The dismissal of Pete Carroll as the team’s head coach and the ongoing search to replace him is enough to make any fan feel dizzy and befuddle any analyst. For now, all we can do is keep track of the candidates and try to project what roster changes need to come no matter who the next head coach winds up being.

In that spirit, let’s examine the team’s five-biggest roster needs going into the 2024 NFL season.

Takeaways and observations from Eagles 33-25 win over Giants in Week 16

We’re looking at takeaways and observations from the Philadelphia Eagles 33-25 win over New York Giants in Week 16

Philadelphia snapped a three-game losing streak and needs to beat Arizona next week and defeat the Giants again in the season finale to finish atop the NFC East.

The Eagles (11-4) now hold a one-game lead over the Cowboys in the NFC East after their 33-25 win over the Giants on Christmas Day.   Philadelphia is 11-0 at the Linc against New York since 2014 and beat the Giants three times last season in Brian Daboll’s first season.

With the matchup complete, here are takeaways and observations of the ugly win.