Tag: Connor Williams

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 Week 7 injury report: Byron Murphy II returns to practice

Seahawks Week 7 injury report: Byron Murphy II returns to practice

Injuries have been the name of the game for the NFL this season, especially when it comes to the Seattle Seahawks. After playing three games in an eleven day stretch, the team was in desperate need of some time off. Unfortunately, it appears the extra rest didn’t exactly heal the team up.

Safety Rayshawn Jenkins was placed on injured reserve, no improvement to Abe Lucas, and now the injury report includes the right half of Seattle’s already decimated offensive line.

The only bit of good news is Byron Murphy II has returned to practice in a limited capacity. But that’s just about where it ends for Wednesday’s injury report.

The full report can be seen below.

Did Not Participate:

  • T Stone Forsythe – Hand
  • G Anthony Bradford – Toe
  • CB Tre Brown – Ankle
  • CB Riq Woolen – Ankle
  • WR Laviska Shenault – Back

Limited Participation: 

  • C Connor Williams – Chest
  • LB Boye Mafe – Knee
  • DT Byron Murphy II – Hamstring
  • DE Leonard Williams – Knee
  • S Jerrick Reed II – Knee

Full Participation: 

  • S Julian Love – Hamstring/Quad

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Seahawks C Connor Williams is showcasing weekly improvement

Seahawks C Connor Williams is showcasing weekly improvement

The Seattle Seahawks signed free-agent center Connor Williams in August to help solidify an interior offensive line that went into the 2024 season with massive question marks. Fast forward six games into the campaign, and both left guard (Laken Tomlinson) and right guard (Anthony Bradford/Christian Haynes) have been problem spots for the Seahawks. Thankfully, Williams has been rock solid.

Williams arguably played his best game of the season against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6. Among all offensive lineman, Williams played the most pass-blocking snaps (53) with allowing a single pressure, according to Pro Football Focus.

It marked the first game this campaign Williams wasn’t credited with allowing a pressure, mind you he’s allowed just one (1) pressure in four of his other five appearances. Williams’ worst performance came against the New England Patriots in Week 2, when he was assigned blame for three pressures. The former Texas Longhorn standout has allowed two sacks.

Williams’ PFF pass-blocking grade of 70.3 was his second-best single-game mark this year, trailing just the 70.7 he earned in protection against the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. Overall, Williams has Seattle’s second-best grade in pass protection this season, with left tackle Charles Cross (77.8) leading the way.

The Seahawks have unfortunately struggled to protect quarterback Geno Smith this season. Collectively, they’ve posted a 52% pass-block-win-rate (PBWR), 28th-best in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

At least Williams has solved the center position.

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Seahawks name team captains for Week 3 vs. Dolphins

Seahawks name team captains for Week 3 vs. Dolphins

One of the big changes Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald made this season was to name weekly captains as opposed to having season-long captains. Pete Carroll previously had the locker room vote on captains that remained in place throughout the entire campaign. Macdonald’s approach is allowing various players to serve as captains for special games.

As such, the Seahawks named their three captains for Sunday’s Week 3 clash at Lumen Field versus the Miami Dolphins. They are cornerback Devon Witherspoon, kicker Jason Myers, and center Connor Williams.

https://twitter.com/Seahawks/status/1837190911723458794

Williams is a no brainer. He spent the previous two campaigns (2022-23) with the Dolphins after signing a two-year contract worth $14 million during the 2022 free agency period. The Dolphins didn’t show interest in retaining his services after he suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Week 14 last year. This is precisely why coach Macdonald prefers the weekly captains approach. It offers Williams an opportunity to serve as a captain versus a familiar opponent.

Witherspoon is an emerging superstar. His captaincy selection is no surprise, particularly given that he hails from Pensacola, Florida. Witherspoon has totaled 14 tackles and one pass breakup so far this season.

Myers is among the longest-tenured Seahawks, having first joined the franchise in 2019. He’s a perfect five-of-five on field goal attempts this season with a long of 50. He’s also converted 100% of his extra point opportunities. Myers, a two-time Pro Bowler and 2022 NFL scoring leader, is an established veteran in Macdonald’s locker room.

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Seahawks C Connor Williams showcased improvement in Week 2

Seahawks C Connor Williams showcased improvement in Week 2

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider signed free agent center Connor Williams in early August to boost the team’s offensive line. Williams was still recovering from a torn ACL injury suffered with the Miami Dolphins in Week 14 last season. Thankfully, he recovered in time to start both of Seattle’s regular-season wins so far.

Naturally, Williams had some rust to shake off in the Week 1 victory over the Denver Broncos. Pro Football Focus assigned him a run-blocking grade of 67.6 in that contest. Head coach Mike Macdonald recently told reporters that Williams played far better in the Week 2 overtime win over the New England Patriots.

“Williams made a big jump [in Week 2],” Macdonald said, before adding, “we’ll be cooking [on the offensive line] if he continues that progression.”

https://twitter.com/gbellseattle/status/1836484941447921719

Macdonald’s note is interesting because PFF didn’t necessarily agree with that assessment. They credited Williams with allowing three pressures, including a sack en route to a disappointing pass-protection grade of 37.8. Williams was also whistled for a penalty. It’s worth noting his run-blocking grade improved to 74.2, highest on the team among the starting five. Even with the lackluster numbers in protection, we’ll trust Macdonald’s opinion.

Williams should continue flashing improvement as the season progresses forward and he gets further removed from last year’s ACL injury. Seattle’s overall offensive line play has been somewhat disappointing despite the perfect 2-0 start. As Macdonald said, they’ll “be cooking” once Williams fully shakes off the rust.

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Seahawks shuffle OL with several starters on rest days

Seahawks shuffle OL with several starters on rest days

The Seattle Seahawks are still working through multiple scenarios across their offensive line heading into Saturday evening’s preseason finale with the Cleveland Browns. Head coach Mike Macdonald shuffled things up front at Thursday’s practice due to different circumstances.

In the most positive development, center Connor Williams was more involved than ever before. Williams played the majority of snaps during the scrimmage, according to Gregg Bell. That represented a new trend, after he was replaced midway through Monday’s and Tuesday’s session.

It’s clear that Macdonald is ramping up Williams’ workload with Week 1 versus the Denver Broncos on the horizon. Williams is unlikely to play versus the Browns in the exhibition finale this weekend, but he’s getting ready for regular-season action.

Elsewhere, right tackle George Fant and left tackle Laken Tomlinson presumably received veteran rest days. Their absences meant Christian Haynes was the starting left guard, and Stone Forsythe was the right tackle, per Brady Henderson. Haynes is still in a position battle with Anthony Bradford at right guard, but his services were required to fill-in on the left for Tomlinson.

The Seahawks continue to display faith in Haynes’ ability to play both left and right guard. Switching sides on a daily basis hasn’t prevented him from pushing Bradford for the right-sided starting gig. A decision on the starting right guard is expected to be announced prior to Week 1.

Forsythe is an interesting case. He’s not guaranteed a 53-man roster spot, though Abe Lucas‘ injury status may rescue his chances given that he’s currently working as the second-string right tackle behind Fant. With Lucas remaining sidelined at this point, Forsythe is seeing an increase in work given Fant’s advancing age.

 

Connor Williams vs. Byron Murphy II at Seahawks practice

Connor Williams vs. Byron Murphy II at Seahawks practice

Today, the Seattle Seahawks witnessed Longhorn on Longhorn violence at practice. Seattle has become a landing spot for former Texas Longhorns finding their way into the NFL. Most recently, the Seahawks selected defensive tackle Byron Murph II with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Murphy joins an already well-established list of former Longhorns-turned-Seahawks, following the likes of safety Earl Thomas, fellow defensive tackle Poona Ford, and current punter Michael Dickson.

Now, Murphy has another Longhorn in the form of center Connor Williams, who was at Texas from 2015-2017. Only this time, Murphy is going to have to directly face his fellow alumni.

Williams took to the field as a Seahawk for the first time on Tuesday after the Seahawks signed him on August 6th. Now, the former Dallas Cowboy and Miami Dolphin has to work to defend against a player many considered to be the best defensive tackle in the most recent draft.

The winner in all of this is of course, the Seattle Seahawks, who have both talented men playing football for them.

The Seahawks need to get tougher in the trenches. Far too often for the last two years, Seattle has been bullied in the middle of both their offensive and defensive front. Adding Williams and Murphy into the mix is going to go a long way to ensure the Seahawks are more formidable in the most important area on the field.

In a sense, this is a case of iron sharpening iron.

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Connor Williams partakes in first practice with Seahawks

Connor Williams partakes in first practice with Seahawks

When the Seattle Seahawks signed free-agent Connor Williams on August 6th, questions over when he’d be fully healthy loomed. Williams suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury in Week 14 with the Miami Dolphins last season, and had yet to practice or play since. Good news arrived on Monday evening as he participated in his first Seahawks practice since signing his contract approximately one week ago.

Williams received snaps with the first-team offense. He was eventually replaced by Olu Oluwatimi, who has worked as the starting center ever since Leroy Harris was traded to the Cleveland Browns. The Seahawks are simply easing Williams into their lineup. He did some position drills as well as he began acclimating back to the physical aspects of practice.

Williams served as the starting center at the start of Monday’s scrimmage. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald commented on Williams’ involvement following practice. Clearly a plan is in place.

“We have a plan for him to ramp him in, and it’s good to see him get a few reps today,” Macdonald said about getting Williams back at practice. “Hopefully we’ll keep that process growing as we head towards the season.”

Macdonald has consistently said that he hopes for some starters to play in Saturday’s preseason finale versus the Browns, though he’s still working through the details. That obviously won’t include Williams. Williams appears on schedule to be healthy for Seattle’s regular-season opener with the Denver Broncos though.

Williams took a big step on his path to integrating into Seattle’s offense on at Monday’s practice.

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Details of C Connor Williams’ contract with the Seahawks

Details of C Connor Williams’ contract with the Seahawks

The NFL is a hard league to win in. Hardly breaking news, I know. But every so often you catch a lucky break or two. For the Seattle Seahawks, this is exactly the case with Connor Williams. It is not every day that an interior offensive lineman of his caliber becomes available, and it is even fewer days when he is affordable for a team pushed against the salary cap.

Yet, this is the scenario where Seattle finds themselves in. Williams, recovering from an ACL tear last year, was a free agent all the way into August. That is, until he found his new NFL home in the Emerald City.

We knew Williams was signed by the Seahawks to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million. Now we know how it all breaks down.

Williams, when healthy, has been one of the better centers in the NFL for the last couple of seasons. Suffering an ACL injury at the end of the season last year as his contract was expiring was unfortunate timing. Williams is likely gambling on himself a bit to prove he can still be the player he once was.

If he is able to be successful, the Seahawks are going to be the ones to help reap the rewards.

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New Seahawks C Connor Williams wearing No. 57 jersey

New Seahawks C Connor Williams wearing No. 57 jersey

The newest Seattle Seahawk has a new jersey number. At least, for now. Officially apart of the team since Seattle traded away Nick Harris back to the Cleveland Browns, center Connor Williams has been spotted at practice. Now, he is wearing his new threads and his new number.

I must say, the white and college navy of the Seahawks’ color scheme looks pretty good on the former Cowboy and Dolphin.

Whether or not No. 57 is Williams’ choice or merely a team-assigned number, it will be the third distinct number he has worn as a professional. With Dallas, Williams was No. 52, and with Miami he wore No. 58.

Williams is not even nine full months removed from an ACL injury he suffered last year, and he is already back on a practice field. It is a remarkable recovery for him as he looks to make his way back into the league. For the Seahawks, signing a player of Williams’ caliber at this position is something we have not seen since perhaps the Max Unger days.

Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune and Brady Henderson of ESPN, both of whom were present at Seattle’s practice on Monday, reported Williams was not taking part in the early activity at practice. Instead, it was second year pro Olu Oluwatimi taking snaps to quarterback Geno Smith.

While I am sure the Seahawks are being extra cautious with their newest player, not wanting to ramp him up too quickly, it is also further evidence of the team’s faith in Oluwatimi. Signing someone with incredible NFL experience like Williams is not a slight on what they believe they have in Oluwatimi. In fact, it is the opposite. It is surrounding a young player with a quality veteran so an undue burden is not imposed on Oluwatimi.

For now, we will see how Williams gets integrated into Seattle’s system, and how quickly he can rise to the status of official starter.

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