Tag: Derick Hall Seahawks

3 improved Seahawks we’re thankful for this Holiday season

3 improved Seahawks we’re thankful for this Holiday season

The Holidays are a time for self-reflection and positivity. The 8-7 Seattle Seahawks have endured an inconsistent season. Entering Week 17, Mike Macdonald’s club requires help to re-steal the NFC West division from the Los Angeles Rams. Despite the disappointing situation they currently find themselves in, several Seahawks players have showcased improvement throughout this campaign.

We’ve identified three in particular we’re thankful for this holiday season.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Sophomore wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has developed into the Seahawks’ go-to playmaker this season. After an up-and-down rookie campaign, JSN currently leads the offense in receptions (93), receiving yards (1,089), and catching touchdowns (six). Smith-Njigba has already destroyed his rookie-season receiving line (63-628-4). His ascension has been a terrific development for Ryan Grubb’s offense.

Zach Charbonnet

No. 2 running back Zach Charbonnet has been the unsung hero of the offense this season. Preferred ball carrier Kenneth Walker III has been nursing ankle and calf injuries in recent weeks. The sophomore Charbonnet leads all Seahawks skill players in touchdowns with nine (eight rushing, one receiving) through Week 16. In a recent opportunity to lead the backfield, he rushed for a career-high 134 yards and two scores.

Derick Hall

The third and final member of John Schneider’s excellent 2023 draft class to make this list, Derick Hall has flashed legitimate improvement as a pass rusher this season. After playing a part-time role as a rookie that had many questioning the value of his second-round pick status, Hall has exploded in 2024. The former Auburn standout is tied with Leonard Williams for the team-lead in sacks with 7.0 quarterback takedowns.

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3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks defense vs. Bills

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks defense vs. Bills

The Seattle Seahawks’ defense will face a difficult test against a high-octane Buffalo Bills offense in Sunday’s Week 8 contest. The Bills are currently averaging a fifth-best 28.8 points per contest, and a 19th-ranked 321 yards per game. We’ve conjured up three bold predictions for Seattle’s defense versus Sean McDermott’s squad.

Ernest Jones leads the defense in tackles

Seahawks general manager John Schneider upgraded Mike Macdonald’s defense by acquiring linebacker Ernest Jones IV from the Tennessee Titans for Jerome Baker and a draft pick. Jones will be playing MIKE linebacker in Seattle, and he joins the defense having made 44 tackles for the Titans. He’s a playmaker that could lead Sunday’s game in tackles.

The Seahawks force another fumble

Macdonald’s defense made a big-time play in the dominant victory over the Atlanta Falcons last weekend When Derick Hall turned a Boye Mafe strip-sack into a 36 yard scoop-and-score. The Bills have only fumbled twice this season, but Seattle has a core pass-rushing group together that creates chaos in the backfield. Look for Macdonald’s opportunistic defense to create a turnover or two.

Josh Allen throws his first interception of the season

The Bills are the only team yet to throw an interception. Allen has avoided a turnover via the air while ranking 17th among quarterbacks in passing attempts (189). The Seahawks have recorded a middling four interceptions, and could force Allen into his first misfire of the campaign.

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Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon jokingly took credit for Derick Hall’s Week 7 TD

Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon jokingly took credit for Derick Hall’s Week 7 TD

Seattle Seahawks sophomore EDGE Derick Hall scored his first career touchdown in Sunday’s blowout 34-14 Week 7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. With the Seahawks nursing a 24-14 lead, Seattle’s defense helped Mike Macdonald put the game completely out of reach when Hall recovered a Boye Mafe strip-sack for a defensive touchdown, increasing their advantage to 31-14.

Hall recently discussed his 36-yard scoop-and-score, which featured an outstanding block from cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Witherspoon jokingly took credit for springing Hall to his first-ever end-zone visit.

“I did [see Witherspoon’s block], ‘Spoon, as soon as we got off [the field], he said you’re welcome and I said thank you,” Hall joked about Witherspoon taking credit for the score. “He [Witherspoon] plays with an effort that nobody can imagine. I feel like that’s where everybody on defense team gets it from. Witherspoon flies around every single play. He’s always right there. We love this game so much. We’re all living in the moment. ‘Spoon is a very high-character guy, a leader on this team. He makes it known from time to time.”

Additionally, Hall added four quarterback pressures against the Falcons. The No. 37 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, Hall has accumulated a team-high five sacks this campaign. They’ll need his best-efforts against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills’ high-octane offense this Sunday.

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Updated pass rush, run stopping metrics for Seahawks after Week 4

Updated pass rush, run stopping metrics for Seahawks after Week 4

The 3-1 Seattle Seahawks have fielded one of the league’s best defenses through four contests. Mike Macdonald’s unit ranks eighth in yards allowed per game (283.8) with splits of seventh-best (167.5) in passing yards and 14th-best in rushing yards (116.3). There are also advanced metrics that paint a picture of Seattle’s early-season defensive performances.

ESPN Analytics developed pass-rush-win-rate (PRWR) and run-stop-win-rate (RSWR) metrics to analyze how often defensive linemen win their reps. The Seahawks currently rank 14th in the league in both metrics. Macdonald’s defense is posting a 43% pass-rush-win-rate, and a 31% run-stop-win-rate through four weeks.

Furthermore, there are individual Seahawks defenders faring well in various metrics. Ascending superstar pass rusher Boye Mafe ranks fourth-best among all qualifying EDGE defenders in pass-rush-win-rate (PRWR) by winning 30% of his reps. He trails just Myles Garrett (36%), Aidan Hutchinson (34%), and Trey Hendrickson (34%) in that metric.

The Seahawks also have two edge defenders on the run-stop-win-rate (RSWR) leaderboard. Mafe places seventh at 35%, and sophomore defender Derick Hall ranks 10th at 33%. Other players on the list include DeMarcus Lawrence (37%) and Maxx Crosby (37%), so Mafe and Hall are keeping good company here.

Macdonald has completely transformed this Seahawks defense since his arrival. Young studs like Mafe and Hall are thriving under Macdonald’s tutelage. The advanced stats back that statement.

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Seahawks EDGE Derick Hall maximized opportunity vs. Lions

Seahawks EDGE Derick Hall maximized opportunity vs. Lions

The Seattle Seahawks entered Monday’s Week 4 primetime contest versus the Detroit Lions missing several key defenders. Defensive linemen Byron Murphy II and Leonard Williams, outside linebackers Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu, and off-ball linebacker Jerome Baker were all ruled out with injury.

The absences of Mafe and Nwosu led to a bigger workload for sophomore pass rusher Derick Hall. Hall played a career-high 81% of the Seahawks’ defensive snaps versus the Lions, according to data collected by The Football Guys. The former Auburn standout totaled 40 snaps in total, which was actually less than the 45 he played in Week 2, but Seattle’s defense was simply on the field less than expected. He was still a massive part of Mike Macdonald’s game plan.

Hall maximized his opportunities by recording a sack of Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Seattle’s ascending pass rusher defeated seasoned Lions left tackle Taylor Decker on the rep by overwhelming him with power. It was Hall’s fourth sack of the 2024 season, his third in his previous two outings.

Hall currently leads all Seahawks defenders in sacks with those four quarterback takedowns through four contests. Coach Macdonald is undoubtedly eager to get Mafe and Nwosu back healthy. The Seahawks must keep the ultra-productive Hall involved when Mafe and Nwosu return from injury.

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Derick Hall continues showcasing pass-rushing growth for Seahawks

Derick Hall continues showcasing pass-rushing growth for Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall entered his sophomore season still searching for his first career sack after enduring a difficult rookie campaign. Hall didn’t have to wait long, as he recorded his first quarterback takedown in the Week 1 victory over the Denver Broncos. The second-round defender took another sizable step forward in Sunday’s dominant 24-3 Week 3 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Hall accumulated a career-high two sacks on Sunday, bringing his total count to three. Hall is currently tied for the team-lead in QB takedowns with Boye Mafe (3). The former Auburn standout spoke with reporters about his second-year resurgence during Sunday’s post-game presser.

“A big part of [my new success] was knowing what I had to attack going into the offseason,” Hall told reporters. “I really honed in on being able to develop my pass rush [arsenal] and take it to the next level. Having a year under my belt, knowing how things were going to flow, having guys that trust in me like Chena [Uchenna Nwosu], and obviously coach Mike [Macdonald] has put us in the right positions,” Hall added.

https://twitter.com/BradyHenderson/status/1838017904853610917

This is the version of Hall Seahawks general manager John Schneider believed he was getting when he utilized the No. 37 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft on his services. Hall has been a downright difference-maker for Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde. Having a year under his belt, and benefiting from a coaching staff change has developed him into a more well-rounded defender.

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Watch: Seahawks rookie Derick Hall shares his remarkable story

Seahawks second-round draft pick Derick Hall is lucky to be here.

Seahawks second-round draft pick Derick Hall is lucky to be here – not just going into his first year in the NFL – Hall is fortunate to be alive. Born four months premature, Hall was given a 1% chance to survive by doctors attending his mother. 22 years later, he’s getting ready to play the sport at the highest level.

Yesterday Hall shared his remarkable story on his Twitter account. Watch.

Betting lines for every game on Seahawks 2023 schedule