Tag: Christian Haynes

Should the Seahawks claim G Nate Davis off waivers?

Should the Seahawks claim G Nate Davis off waivers?

The right guard position has been a massive weakness for the Seattle Seahawks’ offense this season. Starting blocker Anthony Bradford has struggled all season long. Pro Football Focus has credited Bradford with allowing five sacks and being whistled for nine penalties. He unfortunately leads all guards in both categories.

Despite his lackluster showings, rookie Christian Haynes has been unable to permanently dethrone him. Haynes has received opportunities to rotate into the lineup, but the first-year guard hasn’t provided the offense with an upgrade. The former UConn standout has earned an overall grade of 48.0 from PFF for his sporadic performances.

A potential solution hit the waiver wire on Wednesday morning. The Chicago Bears released Nate Davis from his contract. The move arrives halfway into a disastrous three-year, $30 million contract signed in free agency last offseason.

The Bears ended up paying Davis more than $20.4 million for 13 starts. Davis was routinely injured throughout his tenure with the Bears. His effort level was routinely questioned by the coaching staff and fan base.

Davis has been benched and even a healthy scratch after a lackluster start to his campaign. The veteran Davis, a third-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, must clear waivers before reaching free agency. Davis’ high-price contract makes him a near guarantee to pass through waivers, but Seahawks GM John Schneider could consider claiming him.

If Davis clears, the Seahawks would be free to negotiate a brand-new contract with his representation. Bringing in Davis would be a risk given his reputation in Chicago. Given their weekly problem at right guard, would Seattle consider rolling the dice? Time will reveal.

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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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Seahawks to stick with Anthony Bradford at RG in Week 9

Seahawks to stick with Anthony Bradford at RG in Week 9

The Seattle Seahawks have struggled to establish a starting right guard on the offensive line this year. Sophomore blocker Anthony Bradford won a training camp competition, but has routinely delivered lackluster performances on Sundays. Rookie guard Christian Haynes has received opportunities on occasion as a result, but he hasn’t fared much better.

The Seahawks have begun rotating Bradford and Haynes in-game. In a Week 8 blowout defeat to the Buffalo Bills, Bradford earned the majority of snaps, playing 40 of the available 51 offensive snaps. Haynes earned the remaining 11.

Haynes struggled mightily against a hard-nosed Bills defensive line. Haynes was whistled for a penalty and allowed one pressure via just eight pass-blocking snaps, earning a season-worst pass-pro grade of 12.0 from Pro Football Focus. Unsurprisingly, the Seahawks are rolling with Bradford in Sunday’s Week 9 NFC West showdown versus the Los Angeles Rams.

Bradford wasn’t called for a penalty for a fifth consecutive game after being whistled for a league-high seven infractions in Seattle’s opening three contests. Pro Football Focus assigned him an overall offensive grade of 65.3, his second-best score of the season. Another good performance versus the Rams in a big-time game for Seattle would help Bradford create more distance between Haynes and himself.

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3 RGs Seahawks should consider trading for before NFL trade deadline

3 RGs Seahawks should consider trading for before NFL trade deadline

The right guard position has been a constant thorn in the Seattle Seahawks’ backside. Regular starter Anthony Bradford has routinely struggled, posting a pass-blocking grade of 46.9, according to Pro Football Focus. Bradford has also been whistled for a league-high seven penalties this season.

Bradford’s struggles led the Seahawks to rotate rookie guard Christian Haynes into the lineup during the Week 4 contest versus the Detroit Lions. Bradford handled 54 snaps while Haynes, who performed better, earned 36 snaps. The Seahawks may employ a similar strategy against the New York Giants in Week 5.

The NFL trade deadline is approximately one month away (November 4). The 3-1 Seahawks are legitimate contenders. General manager John Schneider should consider acquiring a right guard via trade. We’ve identified three potential options.

Daniel Brunskill, Tennessee Titans

Daniel Brunskill started at right guard for the Tennessee Titans last season. He put forth better results than what Bradford and Haynes are providing, being whistled for just one penalty all year long. Brunskill was credited with allowing just two sacks via 768 total snaps by Pro Football Focus, earning a stellar pass-blocking grade of 67.7.

Tennessee’s new coaching staff decided to bench Brunskill this campaign, inserting a bigger-bodied player (Dillon Radunz) into his spot in the starting lineup. Brunskill is slightly undersized, but he put together a solid season at right guard in 2023. He’s in a contract year and could be available for very cheap as the Titans are a rebuilding 1-3.

Wyatt Teller, Cleveland Browns

The struggling 1-3 Cleveland Browns recently placed veteran right guard Wyatt Teller on IR, but he’s eligible to be activated roughly one week prior to the trade deadline (October 27). Rookie guard Zak Zinter is starting in Teller’s place. The rebuilding Browns should consider giving the much younger Zinter an extended look.

Teller remains under contract through 2025, carrying manageable cap charges of $11.6 million and $14.4 million this campaign and next, according to OverTheCap. Teller’s contract is complicated, because it also contains a void year (2026). The proven veteran could land on the trading block if the Browns continue falling behind in the postseason race.

Cody Whitehair, Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders are preparing to trade superstar wide receiver Davante Adams. This could incite general manager Tom Telesco to hold a fire sale at the trade deadline. The Raiders must stack as much draft capital as possible heading into the 2025 NFL Draft.

Whitehair has started for the Raiders this season, but they also possess a young duo at guard on the roster in Jackson Powers-Johnson and Dylan Parham. Powers-Johnson should soon permanently replace Whitehair at guard. The 2016 draftee would add experience to the Seahawks’ offensive line.

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Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb talks Jason Peters, RG competition

Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb talks Jason Peters, RG competition

The Seattle Seahawks recently reunited with 42-year-old offensive tackle and 21-year pro Jason Peters by signing him to the practice squad. With Abe Lucas on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and no clear-cut timeline for his return in place, and George Fant on IR, Peters could eventually replace the struggling Stone Forsythe at right tackle.

The Seahawks are also facing ongoing questions at the right guard position. In the Week 4 defeat to the Detroit Lions, head coach Mike Macdonald and the offense made the decision to rotate Anthony Bradford and Christian Haynes, two players in competition with each other. Bradford has been whistled for a league-high seven penalties this season. Despite playing fewer reps, the general consensus was that Haynes outperformed his peer.

Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb discussed the addition of Peters, and the ongoing battle at right guard following Thursday’s practice.

“Anytime you have a Hall of Fame-caliber player, has done it at that level for many years, you’re bound to get a lot of experienced wisdom filtering through the room,” Grubb said about Peters. “It’s been awesome having him [Peters]. It’s a big help.”

“I thought they both had some really good points,” Grubb said about Bradford and Haynes when asked to assess their performances versus the Lions. “I thought there were a few points where both of them played their best football of the year. So I think the competitive spirit is helping them both out. I think we still have to brush up on some things at practice, they’re still showing up on tape. Christian did a better job not getting overwhelmed.”

The Seahawks will continue analyzing their offensive line against the New York Giants in Sunday’s Week 5 contest. The Giants have posted a third-highest 15 sacks this season. Pass rushers like Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, and Dexter Lawrence could get the better of Seattle’s struggling offensive line.

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The results of Seahawks rotating Bradford, Haynes at RG on MNF

The results of Seahawks rotating Bradford, Haynes at RG on MNF

Seattle Seahawks starting right guard Anthony Bradford has struggled this season. The sophomore blocker entered Monday Night Football’s eventual defeat with the Detroit Lions having been whistled for a league-high seven penalties. Despite that, the Seahawks have stuck by Bradford, explaining that he’s more experienced and pro-ready to handle powerful assignments than rookie option Christian Haynes is.

But with Bradford’s struggles being an ongoing theme, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb decided to test a new theory against the Lions. Bradford and Haynes rotated snaps at right guard. Bradford earned the majority nod, playing 54 total snaps, accounting for 60% of all Seahawks offensive plays. Haynes played a sizable 36 snaps, making up the remaining 40% of the team’s available plays.

Pro Football Focus credited Bradford with allowing just one pressure against a relentless Lions defensive front. Starting quarterback Geno Smith was sacked on three occasions, but Bradford wasn’t assigned blame for any of them.

PFF slapped the former LSU standout with a stellar pass-blocking grade of 66.6, a season-low run-blocking score of 30.8, and an overall offensive grade of 44.7. He finally wasn’t whistled for a penalty for the first time this season.

Haynes allowed one pressure via his limited opportunities. The rookie blocker from UConn had a pass-blocking grade of 67.9, a run-blocking score of 56.9, and an overall offensive grade of 61.8, far better than Bradford’s final grade.

The Seahawks continue to sort through their options at right guard. Indications are it may be a problem-position all campaign long. Haynes and Bradford will attempt to separate themselves ahead of a Week 5 contest versus the uncompetitive New York Giants.

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Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb explains why they’ve stuck with Anthony Bradford at RG

Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb explains why they’ve stuck with Anthony Bradford at RG

The Seattle Seahawks have continued to stick by sophomore offensive lineman Anthony Bradford at right guard despite his weekly struggles. Head coach Mike Macdonald pondered a change ahead of Week 3’s game versus the Miami Dolphins, re-opening the position to a training camp-like battle. Despite reevaluating the right guard spot, Bradford started his third straight contest.

Unsurprisingly, Bradford did not perform admirably. He posted season-low grades in pass protection (27.4), as a run blocker, (50.1), and overall score (37.5), according to Pro Football Focus. Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb spoke with the media on Thursday ahead of Monday’s primetime showdown with the Detroit Lions.

Grubb explained why Bradford continues starting ahead of rookie guard Christian Haynes, despite being whistled for a position-high seven penalties this season.

“I think Anthony [Bradford] would tell you he didn’t have his best game,” Grubb told reporters. “He’s a young player that’s hopefully continuing to develop. We think he has a very good skill set. We’re trying to develop that.”

Grubb then shed light on why Haynes hasn’t dethroned Bradford as the team’s starting right guard.

“Technique and power,” Grubb responded when asked which parts of Haynes’ game need to improve. “Raw power at the guard position in the NFL is so critical. That’s why Anthony can withstand a lot of [power], his sheer size and what he can take inside.”

https://twitter.com/BradyHenderson/status/1839446156201591017

The Seahawks clearly don’t feel that Haynes is equipped to handle NFL-caliber power. The rookie blocker played 15 snaps against the New England Patriots in Week 2, earning a lackluster PFF pass-blocking grade of 18.3. Until Haynes shows improved power, Grubb and Macdonald will continue sticking with Bradford based on sheer size alone.

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Seahawks continue dealing with uncertainty at RG

Seahawks continue dealing with uncertainty at RG

The Seattle Seahawks went into last week’s practice sessions holding another open competition at right guard between sophomore Anthony Bradford and rookie Christian Haynes. Bradford had won the job in training camp, but has put forth lackluster performances throughout the early portion of the regular season. He was awarded another opportunity in Sunday’s Week 3 victory over the Miami Dolphins, but struggled mightily.

Bradford played all 64 offensive snaps as the Seahawks even declined an opportunity to rotate him by series with Haynes, a strategy we’ve seen other offensive lines employ, to inconsistent results. Bradford arguably delivered his worst performance of the campaign. He had season-low grades in protection (27.4), as a run blocker, (50.1), and overall score (37.5), according to Pro Football Focus.

Bradford allowed his first two sacks of the season. He struggled to block the likes of Calais Campbell and Zach Sieler, who each had a sack (so did Da’Shawn Hand). Bradford allowed a season-high six pressures. He was also whistled for two penalties, bringing his overall infractions count to a position-high seven.

Perhaps the more disappointing aspect of all this is that the Seahawks settled on Bradford after evaluating him and Haynes throughout the week of practice. There’s no reason to doubt Macdonald’s evaluation. Haynes is a rookie blocker. He played 15 snaps against the New England Patriots in Week 2 and struggled, earning a PFF pass-blocking grade of 18.3.

The unfortunate reality is the Seahawks may not possess a straightforward answer to the struggles at right guard. Bradford continues to deliver below-average results, and Haynes isn’t yet fully acclimated to the challenges of professional football. It could be a season-long weakness for the Seahawks offense.

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Could Christian Haynes replace Anthony Bradford at RG for Seahawks?

Could Christian Haynes replace Anthony Bradford at RG for Seahawks?

Seattle Seahawks sophomore guard Anthony Bradford defeated rookie blocker Christian Haynes in a position battle for the right guard job during a competition in training camp and the preseason. Fast forward two weeks into the 2024 campaign, and though the Seahawks are 2-0, Bradford’s form has left plenty to be desired.

Bradford was whistled for two penalties in Sunday’s Week 2 overtime victory over the New England Patriots. That brought his penalty total to five through two completed contests. No guard in the league has been penalized for more infractions.

Bradford struggled mightily in pass protection in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos. Pro Football Focus credited the former LSU standout with allowing two pressures en route to a lackluster pass-blocking grade of 30.9. Bradford’s three penalties prevented his official pass-pro numbers from being even worse.

After evaluating Bradford’s latest two performances, it sounds like head coach Mike Macdonald is open to making a change at the position. “Christian (Haynes) probably deserved a few more reps,” Macdonald told local media on Monday.

It’s rare that a position battle is reopened after initially being settled, but Macdonald purposely noted that it remains “ongoing.” Wednesday’s practice could be very telling. Don’t be shocked if Haynes receives first-team reps, or at least splits them with Bradford. The Seahawks are legitimately considering making a lineup change here.