Tag: Mike MacDonald

Seahawks lose 26-20 to Rams in overtime, fall to last place in NFC West

Seahawks lose 26-20 to Rams in overtime, fall to last place in NFC West

The Seattle Seahawks are now in sole possession of last place in the NFC West. After losing 26-20 in overtime to the Los Angeles Rams, and with the Arizona Cardinals defeating the Chicago Bears 29-9, the one-time division leaders are now in the basement of said division.

Seattle has now lost their fourth-straight home game, matching their longest losing streak at Lumen Field since the end of the 2020 season through 2021. What game started that particular losing streak? A home playoff loss to – you guessed it – the Los Angeles Rams.

Last season, the Seahawks lead the Rams 13-7 at halftime after a late Geno Smith touchdown pass, and were eventually shutout in a disappointing 30-13 home defeat. In a sick way, history almost repeated itself without edit.

On Sunday, the Seahawks took a 13-3 lead in the final moments of the half after a Geno Smith touchdown pass. From there, the wheels started to fall off for Seattle. The Rams scored 10 points of their own in the third to tie the game 13-13 headed into the fourth. Unfortunately, this is when the Seahawks started to implode.

Well, that’s not entirely accurate. I should say this is when quarterback Geno Smith started to implode. It was one of the worst second half performances the 12th Man has seen from a quarterback in some time. Smith got the offense down to LA’s goal line when he threw a wobbling pass into traffic in the end zone. It was picked off by Kamren Kinchens, who then returned the ball 103-yards for the go ahead touchdown.

After the pick-six, the Seahawks and Rams traded punts. At least, that’s what Los Angeles attempted to do, but their punt attempt was blocked by wide receiver Cody White, who was elevated off the practice squad this weekend. White’s block set Seattle up at the Rams’ 19-yard line.

Unfortunately, the golden opportunity was (quite literally) thrown away by Smith, who threw his third interception of the game five plays later.

However, against improbable odds, the Seahawks were given one final opportunity in regulation to tie the game, and they did make the most of it. Smith engineered an eight-play, 73 yard drive to tie the game with this beautiful throw to JSN. Seattle had life!

In overtime, the Seahawks won the coin toss and got the ball first. Seattle made it all the way to LA’s 16-yard line. On fourth and one, the Seahawks elected to go for it instead of kicking a field goal to take a lead. They were stuffed on the ensuing run. The game then shifted into sudden death overtime.

The Rams went 83 yards in only four plays, and ended the game with a 39-yard touchdown strike from Matthew Stafford to send the Seahawks into last place.

Seattle heads into their bye week seeking answers. Their 3-0 start has devolved into a 1-5 stretch and are looking up at every other team in their division… a division where they are now 0-2 in games against rivals. The Seahawks will be back in Week 11 to play the San Francisco 49ers on the road.

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How Rams’ loss to Mike Macdonald’s Ravens last year could help them beat Seahawks

The Rams lost to the Ravens last year, but that game gave them plenty of film to study before facing Mike Madconald’s Seahawks on Sunday

When the Rams visited Baltimore during the 2023 season, the offense faced one of the best defenses in the NFL. Mike Macdonald, the current Seattle Seahawks head coach, coordinated the Ravens D, a defense that had four All-Pros on its roster.

During the game, Macdonald, whose Seahawks are set to welcome the Rams on Sunday, gave the team a lot of film to analyze. The Macdonald defense is a zone-based shell defense that prioritizes stopping the run and keeping the ball in front of the secondary. He does this through a multitude of different defensive looks, utilizing his linebackers and hybrid defenders such as Kyle Hamilton to disrupt passing lanes up the middle.

The Rams should be able to take away several lessons from that game. Macdonald called a series of tendencies that constantly showed up throughout the game.

On third down, he’d stack his linebackers at the line of scrimmage to confuse the QB on whether he was bringing the blitz or dropping his backers into coverage. Most times, they bail out but considering the Seahawks acquired former Rams linebacker Ernest Jones, Macdonald may blitz him to send a message.

Macdonald also calls blitzes in the red zone, especially when the QB is in the shotgun. He’ll use his defenders to eliminate check-downs to the tight end and running back, so having a slot receiver hot read in the red zone is a must.

Macdonald rarely has more than two interior defensive linemen on the field as he expects his linebackers to blow up gaps on runs. As a result, on rushing plays, the linebackers crash hard. Running a trap blocking scheme could give Kyren Williams a clear path to the end zone.

Lastly, Macdonald likes to run man coverage in the red zone. Pre-snap motion in the red zone is a must as the Rams will struggle to find an advantageous matchup against Tariq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon, so diagnosing who they’re covering is key to victory.

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Rams in Week 9

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Rams in Week 9

The 4-4 Seattle Seahawks host the 3-4 Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field this weekend. It’s a critical divisional showdown to further determine the standings in the tight-knit NFC West. We’ve come up with three bold predictions for Ryan Grubb’s offense against the Rams defense.

Kenneth Walker III rushes for 100 yards

Kenneth Walker III was a non-factor in Sunday’s defeat to the Buffalo Bills, rushing for 12 yards via nine carries. Grubb will attempt to establish Walker against the Rams this weekend. The former Michigan State standout hasn’t rushed for 100-plus yards since Week 1, but all parties involved will be looking to end that drought against a 23rd-ranked Rams run defense that’s allowing 139.1 yards per game.

Tyler Lockett enjoys bounce-back game

Veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett was another offensive weapon that was borderline invisible versus the Bills. Despite DK Metcalf being sidelined with injury, Lockett recorded season-lows in receptions (one) and receiving yards (nine). With Metcalf’s status versus the Rams still questionable heading into Friday’s practice, Seattle’s most established wideout may need to put forth a much better performance against the Rams.

Geno Smith throws two touchdowns

Geno Smith did not throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season against Buffalo. Prior to the Bills disappointment, Seattle’s starting quarterback had thrown eight touchdowns in seven appearances. Smith could toss multiple scores against an outmatched Rams secondary that ranks a middling 16th versus the pass (212.6/game).

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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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Seahawks DL Jarran Reed clears air after sideline dust-up with Derick Hall

Seahawks DL Jarran Reed clears air after sideline dust-up with Derick Hall

The Seattle Seahawks were embarrassed by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, losing their Week 8 contest 31-10. Emotions tend to boil over when suffering such a lopsided defeat. At one point, those emotions boiled over when veteran defensive lineman Jarran Reed decided to address Derick Hall on the sideline following his critical roughing the passer penalty.

Reed claims the Seahawks had discussed how Bills quarterback Josh Allen is a well-known flopper that draws roughing the passer penalties. That was at the heart of Reed’s disappointment with Hall’s 15-yard penalty. The two defenders have since buried the hatchet, per recent comments.

“Emotions run high in football,” Reed told the media on Wednesday. “We talked about what [Bills QB] Josh Allen could do all week with the flopping. It was a boneheaded play, and I just wanted him [Derick Hall] to know that we couldn’t do that. It was a critical play in a critical time of the game. It created an explosive play, which is what we’re trying to eliminate. That’s all we were talking about. We’re just two guys who care about football. Look, D-Hall is my guy, he’s one of my friends on this team. We’re still cool. There’s no love lost, it just happens,” Reed concluded.

Hall leads the Seahawks in sacks this season with five quarterback takedowns. Reed has been effective, totaling 25 tackles, three for loss, and two sacks. The Seahawks need Hall and Reed to continue playing quality football for Mike Macdonald’s struggling defense.

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Seahawks host veteran DE Randy Gregory on free-agent visit

Seahawks host veteran DE Randy Gregory on free-agent visit

The Seattle Seahawks hosted free-agent veteran defensive lineman Randy Gregory on a visit, according to multiple reports. General manager John Schneider has dealt with various injuries to his front seven this season, though Mike Macdonald’s defense is mostly healthy now. Gregory would be an intriguing gamble as a low-risk, high-reward addition.

The controversial Gregory has often been entangled in off-field disappointments. Most recently, the former Nebraska standout was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after no-showing at training camp. Gregory has been available on the open market ever since.

The Seahawks have shown a willingness to roster familiar veteran pass rushers on the practice squad this season. They momentarily had Tyus Bowser before he was plucked by the Miami Dolphins. Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde briefly overlapped with Gregory in Dallas.

Ascending pass rushers Derick Hall and Boye Mafe have performed admirably for the Seahawks this season. Dre’Mont Jones is also playing on the edge more frequently this year. Gregory would have a difficult time earning snaps in Seattle when all rushers are healthy.

Gregory has occasionally flashed high-end talent throughout his career, but he was also suspended for the entire 2017 and 2019 campaigns. Gregory played for the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers last season. He’d likely join the practice squad first if Seattle decides to add him.

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Seahawks CB Tre Brown in competition for starting job with surprising performer

Seahawks CB Tre Brown in competition for starting job with surprising performer

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown entered the season as the boundary starter opposite Riq Woolen. Brown played fairly heavy workloads in Weeks 1-6 before suffering an ankle injury. He was sidelined for Week 7, but was deemed healthy enough to be active in Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Surprisingly, Brown did log a single snap. Practice squad call-up corner Josh Jobe played 51 snaps (67% of all Seahawks defensive plays) after logging a 94% workload (65 snaps) in Brown’s absence in Week 7. Jobe is now in contention to retain the starting job opposite a healthy Riq Woolen, according to head coach Mike Macdonald.

Pro Football Focus credited Jobe with allowing three receptions on five targets for 81 receiving yards against the Bills on Sunday. He allowed a long-catch of 35 yards, and forfeited 14 yards after catch. Jobe also intercepted Bills quarterback Josh Allen, his first interception of the season.

Jobe was outstanding in the Week 7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. The former Alabama standout was credited with two pass breakups and giving up just three catches on seven targets (less than 50% completion percentage). Jobe earned a stellar coverage grade of 66.6 versus the Falcons.

The Seahawks have rode a rollercoaster over the previous two weeks, being on opposite ends of blowouts. A surprising performer has emerged in Jobe. Brown may have a difficult time reclaiming his starting gig.

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Seahawks LB Ernest Jones has had to play Bills in back to back weeks

Seahawks LB Ernest Jones has had to play Bills in back to back weeks

The Seattle Seahawks learned the hard way that the Buffalo Bills are one of the league’s best. Their 31-10 loss to them was, by margin of defeat, the worst home loss the Seahawks have suffered since a 42-7 loss to the Rams during the 2017 season.

Unfortunately, a disastrous multi-score loss to the Bills is something newly-acquired linebacker Ernest Jones IV has had to endure in back-to-back weekends. Seattle traded for Jones from the Tennessee Titans, who in Week 7, had a road game to western New York.

Tennessee took an early 10-0 lead… and then allowed 34 unanswered to suffer a 34-10 defeat. Jones had 5 total tackles, one quarterback hit, and one pass defense.

While his new team also could not score more than 10 points in yet another loss to Buffalo, Jones performed much better in Week 8. Jones made an immediate impact for Seattle, leading the team with 15 total tackles. The next best Seahawk was Josh Jobe, who only had seven tackles.

Not much of anything went well for the Seahawks on Sunday. When you have a 21-point home loss, it is a failure on both sides of the ball and in all phases of the game. But head coach Mike Macdonald did give Jones some praise, calling his strong performance a “silver lining” in the Week 8 debacle.

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Is DK Metcalf playing vs Rams? Injury updates for Seahawks WR for Week 9

Seahawks WR DK Metcalf is dealing with an MCL injury. Here are the latest updates.

The Seattle Seahawks were without wide receiver DK Metcalf last weekend in their abysmal 31-10 home loss to the Buffalo Bills. Metcalf suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain during the win over the Falcons. In his absence, the Seahawks offense were clearly lacking an explosive threat to stretch the field. While Metcalf being active likely wouldn’t have changed what we saw on Sunday, I image Seattle would have been more of a threat with him.

On Monday, head coach Mike Macdonald gave an update in regards to Metcalf’s knee, and it is on the more optimistic end.

The Seahawks are in dire straights right now. Their 3-0 lead in the NFC West has completely evaporated, as they are now technically in third place. If Seattle loses on Sunday to the Los Angeles Rams, and the Arizona Cardinals beat the Chicago Bears at home, they will be in sole possession of dead last in the division.

In his 10 games against the Rams in his career, Metcalf has caught 46 passes for 667 yards and six touchdowns. Last year, he had a touchdown in each of the two games with Los Angeles, both Seahawks losses.

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Seahawks ongoing run-game struggles take center stage vs. Bills

Seahawks ongoing run-game struggles take center stage vs. Bills

The Seattle Seahawks continue to struggle to establish an efficient rushing attack. Those ongoing difficulties took center stage against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8, a lopsided 31-10 defeat. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb must make an effort to rely on Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet earlier in games.

Walker was completely ineffective, rushing for 12 yards via nine carries. Charbonnet rushed for four yards and a touchdown on three carries. Starting quarterback Geno Smith was Seattle’s leading rusher, galloping for 16 yards via five scrambles.

The Seahawks rushed for 32 net offensive yards. Mike Macdonald’s squad was woefully out-gained on the ground by the Bills 164-32. Time of possession heavily favored Buffalo, 38:03 to 21:57.

Grubb continues to feature a pass-heavy attack. As pointed out by The News Tribune’s Gregg Bell, the Seahawks called seven passes on their first nine offensive plays from scrimmage. The Seahawks gained 16 rushing yards via 12 carries by Walker and Charbonnet. Buffalo only led 7-3 with 20 seconds remaining in the first half, giving Seattle no tangible reason to go into a pass-happy shell.

The Seahawks are now the league’s 29th-ranked rushing attack, producing 89.3 ground yards per outing. Grubb must work on his willingness to establish the run early. Seattle will continue being an inconsistent offense until they run the football more effectively and efficiently.

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