Roy Robertson-Harris and Ernest Jones IV haven’t fixed Seahawks run defense yet
The Seattle Seahawks acquired veteran defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris and linebacker Ernest Jones IV in separate trades over the past two weeks. The idea was to help improve a struggling defense, particularly in the run game. That hope did not come to fruition in Sunday’s embarrassing 31-10 Week 8 blowout defeat to the Buffalo Bills.
Bills starting running back James Cook rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns via seven carries. He averaged an explosive 6.5 yards per carry, routinely gashing Mike Macdonald’s defense on the ground. Backup running back Ray Davis, a fourth-round rookie, averaged 4.8 yards per carry. Dual-threat Bills quarterback Josh Allen added 25 rushing yards to Buffalo’s offensive totals.
No play sums up the #Seahawks run defense problems better than James Cook’s final touchdown. Look at the push the interior o-line gets out of 12 personnel grouping… and then the finish by Cook at the goal line de-helmeting Ernest Jones. pic.twitter.com/1Aj6sX9Ngb
All in all, the Bills accumulated 445 total yards of offense, out-gaining the Seahawks 164-32 on the ground. An effective and efficient rushing attack kept the Bills in favorable down-and-distance situations, leading to their offense converting better than 50 percent (8-15) on third downs. Cook scored two second-half rushing touchdowns to put the game out of Seattle’s reach.
The Seahawks are now the league’s 29th-ranked run defense, allowing 148.4 rushing yards per outing. Jones recorded a team-high 15 tackles on Sunday, but he also got bowled over by Cook at the goal line. Robertson-Harris played a more anonymous game. Both Jones and Robertson-Harris will improve Seattle’s defense, but Sunday’s showing was a struggle, proving the Seahawks’ issues are larger than one or two players.
The Seattle Seahawks acquired linebacker Ernest Jones IV in a trade with the Tennessee Titans last week in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick and fellow linebacker Jerome Baker. Immediately entering the starting lineup, Jones made his Seahawks debut in Sunday’s disappointing 31-10 Week 8 defeat to the Buffalo Bills. Jones played well, despite the lackluster defensive showing.
Jones recorded a season-high 15 tackles against the Bills. It was Jones’ third double-digit tackle game of the season, according to ESPN Stats & Info, who credited him with one stuff. Despite his mostly positive afternoon, he unfortunately made highlight reels when Bills running back James Cook flattened him at the goal line on a touchdown run, forcing his helmet to come flying off.
No play sums up the #Seahawks run defense problems better than James Cook’s final touchdown. Look at the push the interior o-line gets out of 12 personnel grouping… and then the finish by Cook at the goal line de-helmeting Ernest Jones. pic.twitter.com/1Aj6sX9Ngb
Mike Macdonald immediately placed his trust in Jones, who played all 76 defensive snaps. He was one of three Seahawks defenders to play every single snap, joining Coby Bryant and Tyrel Dodson. Macdonald immediately leaned on Jones in an attempt to fix his defensive issues.
Pro Football Focus credited Jones with a 54.6 overall defensive grade. His 15 tackles easily led the Seahawks in that department. Despite the so-so overall grade, Jones’ tackling score of 84.6, his highest of the season, was elite. He did struggle in coverage, allowing four receptions on five targets for 59 yards, 14.8 yards per catch, and a passer rating of 115.8.
Jones represents an upgrade for the Seahawks at linebacker, but it mattered little on Sunday versus elite quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills’ high-flying offense. The early indication is that Jones was a good acquisition, but the Seahawks still have defensive issues to address. Sunday was a step in the wrong direction.
Ernest Jones IV facing the Bills in back-to-back weeks after trade
The Buffalo Bills will have the rare chance to face the same player in back-to-back weeks as the team heads to Seattle to face the Seahawks in Week 8.
After a trade between the Seahawks and Tennessee Titans following Week 7, the Bills will go against linebacker Ernest Jones IV again after facing him against the Titans last week.
In last week’s loss to the Bills, Jones posted five tackles and a pass defended. He appeared on the Bills’ “mic’d up” video of Josh Allen, as he and Allen were bickering back and forth after he made a touchdown-saving tackle on Allen.
Allen will see him again on Sunday. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said Jones will see plenty of action against the Bills and that he will fill the middle linebacker role for Seattle, pushing former Bills linebacker Tyrel Dodson from middle to weakside linebacker.
So, Allen will be familiar with both of Seattle’s linebackers in Week 8. One he faced just last game and the other he went against in practice before this year.
Just last week, a similar situation took place in the NFL. Davante Adams lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6 as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, and then after being traded to the New York Jets, he lost again to the Steelers in Week 7.
Allen and the Bills are trying to provide Jones with a similar experience.
It represents a change in approach, because Dodson had actually been playing MIKE linebacker this season. Dodson, who played the weak-side linebacker position in Buffalo throughout 2023, believes the switch will lead to him recapturing his best form.
“We’re still working on that [who will be playing where],” Dodson told reporters on Thursday. “I’m a team-first guy. Moving over to the WILL [linebacker] position, it’s still linebacker at the end of the day. It’s not that much different. I’ll get to play in space a little bit more. I played it last year in Buffalo. You’re covering running backs out of the backfield. You’re in space covering tight ends. I had my best year at this position last year in Buffalo. Hopefully I have my best year again. I’m looking forward to it,” Dodson added.
Tyrel Dodson says his move from middle to weakside Will LB from the #Seahawks trading for Ernest Jones IV is moving him, Dodson, back to the position he had his best season last year with Buffalo.
Pro Football Focus has credited Dodson with an overall defensive grade of 68.1. The former Texas A&M standout has been especially stellar in coverage, earning a 75.5. Playing weak-side linebacker will ask him to defend running backs and tight ends in space more frequently. Last year, Dodson had an elite grade of 89.5 while playing the WILL in Buffalo.
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.
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.
Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde have largely been displeased with the outputs of their run defense this season. Entering Sunday’s Week 8 matchup with the Buffalo Bills, Seattle is allowing a 28th-ranked 146.1 rushing yards per contest. Macdonald has routinely criticized the linebackers for missing tackles and playing with poor gap discipline.
We’ve agreed to a trade with the Titans for LB Ernest Jones IV.
Jones could help solve Seattle’s issues. The former South Carolina standout ranked second on the Titans in tackles (44) at the time of his departure. That will also rank second on the Seahawks, with Dodson and Julian Love (55) tied for the team-lead mark.
Jones is a downhill linebacker with outstanding read-and-react ability. Pro Football Focus has assigned him a stellar grade of 68.4 as a run defender this season. That’s notably higher than what Baker (62.6) and Dodson (54.0) have earned this season.
Jones has also been credited with 19 total stops. Jones has missed three tackles, which equals Dodson’s missed-tackle total to date, but is notably lower than Baker’s (6). That alone could help improve Seattle’s run defense.
If there’s one area of Jones’ game that requires improving, it’s coverage. He’s been credited with allowing 12 receptions on 14 targets this season for 151 yards and a passer rating allowed of 111.6, en route to a coverage score of 54.0. The Seahawks will likely continue using Dodson as their main coverage ‘backer, as he’s performed significantly better in man and zone situations, allowing 14 catches on 20 targets for 141 yards, and a passer rating of 89.8.
Jones is an excellent linebacker. The Seahawks were awfully familiar with him from his Los Angeles Rams & NFC West days. Jones is a big-time upgrade for Macdonald’s defense.
“He loves football, he’s tough as nails, and we’re excited to get him here,” Macdonald said about Jones. “We’re working through that [his position] right now, but we’ll probably put Ernest at MIKE [linebacker] and have Tito [Tyrel Dodson] at weak-side linebacker right now,” Macdonald said when asked if Jones would step into Baker’s weak-side role.
Mike Macdonald says Ernest Jones will likely play MLB and Dodson likely moving to WLB. pic.twitter.com/y3J065E6FG
It’s notable because Dodson had been playing MIKE linebacker in Seattle’s defense this season. Instead of having Jones fill Baker’s previous weak-side role like-for-like, the Seahawks plan to have Jones swap roles with Dodson.
Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde have been dissatisfied with the state of their defense, particularly in the run game. That’s precisely why general manager John Schneider has made aggressive moves in recent weeks to acquire Jones and defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris. Having Jones and Dodson swap positions is another tweak to Macdonald’s in-progress defense.
The Tennessee Titans head to Michigan to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday and here are three causes for concern heading into Week 8.
This Sunday, the Tennessee Titans head to Michigan to face the Detroit Lions. The Titans are 1-5 after six games, while the Lions are 5-1 and lead the NFC North division.
As much as the Buffalo Bills and Titans were polar opposites in Week 7, the Lions and Titans are equally as opposite. Jared Goff has exploded onto the scene as a reliable and consistent leader on the field. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are sharing time and making the most of it. Even with the loss of Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions’ defense still presents a problem for the Titans.
The Titans have their work cut out for them on the road and there are three major causes for concern in Week 8.
Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
Offensive woes are a persistent problem
Titans head coach Brian Callahan admits there’s a problem at right tackle. Leroy Watson played well against Indianapolis and didn’t allow a single sack but was penalized twice which resulted in Nicholas Petit-Frere getting back on the field against Buffalo. And we all know how that went.
On top of the offensive line issues, the Titans just traded away their top receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs. This still leaves them with Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. And with Treylon Burks on injured reserve (IR), rookie Jha’Quan Jackson will likely see some playing time.
The thing is, if the quarterback, which looks to be Mason Rudolph as of right now, can’t get the ball to the receivers, then it doesn’t matter which receivers are on the field. Rudolph struggled against Buffalo in Week 7, and Week 8 against the Lions isn’t going to be any different.
Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
Defensive changes will impact on-field play
The Titans traded away Ernest Jones IV on Wednesday. It was the second trade of the day, and this one had a bigger impact than the Hopkins trade. Jones was a leader among the defense, he is second in tackles behind Kenneth Murray Jr., and while he hasn’t recorded any sacks this season, his presence on the field will be missed.
On top of that trade, the Titans made it known that Harold Landry III is on the trading block and the team is open to offers. Landry will still go out there and play and he will do his job to the best of his ability, but that has to be in the back of his head and could affect how well he plays on Sunday.
The Titans’ defense is riddled with injuries, and with how this season started, it’s clear that Ran Carthon is looking forward and brushing this season off as a loss. Whether that’s his intention or not, that’s the perception, and you better believe it impacts how every player on the team performs.
Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
The locker room is frustrated, morale is down
Losing games. Trading key players. The same problems happening week after week. The Titans’ locker room is frustrated, and it’s not just the receivers. No one likes losing, and the people who are most impacted by the losses are the players trying their hardest on the field. There is nothing more frustrating as an athlete than doing your own part and doing everything in your power to win a game, only to lose it because of coaching or front office issues.
That’s where the Titans are this week. Brian Callahan’s inability to make in-game adjustments has cost them at least three of their six games. Ran Carthon’s decision to trade both Hopkins and Jones feels like a gut punch,and is a clear indication that the Titans are going to rebuild, and they’re starting now.
When players are frustrated, they don’t play well. When they don’t play well, their mood comes down and turns to anger. Continuing to lose amplifies those feelings. Carthon just dropped a match on a tinder box filled to the brim, and it’s going to explode. Probably on Sunday if (when) they lose.
Like Jones, Baker will be a free agent at the conclusion of the 2024 season and will be departing the Seahawks after a very short stint in Seattle. The Seahawks signed the veteran linebacker in March to a one-year $7 million contract. Clearly, things didn’t work out.
He was signed after playing six seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Baker underwent surgery on his wrist in January and was eventually released by the Dolphins with a failed physical designation. The 27-year-old linebacker was a third-round pick by the Dolphins in 2018 and has started 82 games in his six NFL seasons. Before his release, he was entering the final year of a three-year, $37.5 million contract he signed in 2021.
The veteran linebacker has battled a hamstring injury while with the Seahawks, which has limited his production. On the season, Baker has recorded 37 tackles (21 solo), one sack, and one forced fumble. He finished his time with the Seahawks with a 62.7 PFF grade.
One can argue that Jones is superior to Baker at this point, but it is clear that he was not in the team’s long-term plans at the linebacker position. Baker is a solid veteran who can help mentor Cedric Gray, who the Titans likely view as the solution inside next to Kenneth Murray.
If Baker can pick up the defense quickly, he should be available to make his debut with the Titans on Sunday when they face the Detroit Lions. However, he will likely be inactive, with preparations in full swing.
Here is the preliminary grade for the Tennessee Titans trade of LB Ernest Jones to the Seattle Seahawks.
Ran Carthon and the Tennessee Titans front office were busy on Wednesday. Not only did they deal WR DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs, they made a second trade, sending LB Ernest Jones IV to the Seattle Seahawks.
Unlike the Hopkins deal, which took some time for the full details to come out, this deal moved quickly, making it easier to make a snap judgment and grade the transaction.
In the deal, the Titans sent Jones to the Seahawks in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft and LB Jerome Baker.
Titans grade: A
Baker is nowhere near the player of Jones caliber, but he is a veteran and could add some experience to the unit. With rookie Cedric Gray likely being activated from injured reserve and taking a spot on the 53-man roster, this move opens a path for him to get onto the field.
Where the Titans win is with the draft capital gained. After trading a 2026 fifth-round selection for Jones in September, the team flipped the linebacker and secured a 2025 fourth-round pick for a player with an expiring contract who was most likely not in the team’s long-term plans.
Jones was a solid addition to the Titans’ defense and seemed like a solid fit during his short stay in Nashville. However, with the season trending in the wrong direction, moving on from a potential free agent and receiving any type of compensation is a coup.
The Titans appear to be headed into a total rebuild, and these trades could be the opening for more transactions in the coming days. Stay tuned to Titans Wire for all of the updates.
