Tag: seahawks news

Seahawks are in good hands if Mike Macdonald misses Sunday’s Week 14 game

Seahawks are in good hands if Mike Macdonald misses Sunday’s Week 14 game

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald missed Monday’s practice leading up to Sunday’s upcoming Week 14 game versus the Arizona Cardinals. Macdonald wasn’t simply skipping practice. He had an outstanding reason. His wife went into labor with their first child!

Assistant head coach Leslie Frazier took the responsibility of meeting with local media on Monday. When asked about Macdonald’s return, Frazier delivered an unclear timeline. If Macdonald has to miss Sunday’s NFC West showdown with the Cardinals, understandably so, the Seahawks would be in excellent hands.

Frazier joined Macdonald’s staff after spending the 2023 season out of football. From 2017 to 2022, he enjoyed an excellent stint as the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator. Frazier’s coaching career dates back to 1988, and he spent three campaigns as the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach from 2011 to 2013.

Frazier and Macdonald crossed paths with the Baltimore Ravens during the 2016 season. Frazier was the secondary coach and Macdonald was still cutting his teeth as a defensive assistant. When Frazier joined the Bills in 2017, Macdonald was promoted in Baltimore to defensive backs coach.

When Macdonald received the opportunity to become the Seahawks’ head coach, he wisely called on Frazier. Looking for experienced assistants to join his staff, he appointed Frazier as his assistant head coach. If Frazier has to coach Sunday’s game versus the Seahawks, expect him to field a prepared, motivated team looking to get a win in celebration of Macdonald’s life-altering event.

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Seahawks have one active player in top 10 Pro Bowl voting

Seahawks have one active player in top 10 Pro Bowl voting

The Seattle Seahawks have won three consecutive contests and currently sit atop the NFC West. Naturally, several of Mike Macdonald’s players are earning Pro Bowl consideration. As of Monday, following one week of fan voting, the Seahawks had two players among the top 10 in their position. They are safety Julian Love (fifth overall, third in the NFC) and special teams returner Laviska Shenault Jr. (fourth overall, fourth in the NFC).

Well, awkwardly, the Seahawks released Shenault Jr. from his contract on Monday, making Love their only active player in the top 10 of Pro Bowl voting at his position.

Shenault Jr. put forth a truly disastrous performance against the New York Jets that easily could have swung the result the Jets’ way. After the other struggling returner Dee Williams fumbled a kick off, Shenault muffed a kick of his own. He was able to recover, but his error set the Seahawks’ offense back at their own 12 yard line.

Just minutes later, the Jets scored a special teams touchdown via a 99-yard kickoff return. Shenault had an opportunity to redeem himself. Instead, he muffed a second consecutive return, and this time the ball was recovered by the Jets at Seattle’s 38 yard line, ironically leading to Leonard Williams’ historic 92-yard pick six return TD.

Love has been outstanding for the Seahawks throughout 2024. The versatile safety has recorded 82 tackles and is en route to a third consecutive 100-tackle campaign. Love has also added two interceptions and seven pass breakups to his defensive totals. He deserves Pro Bowl consideration.

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Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Jets on offense in Week 13

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Jets on offense in Week 13

The Seattle Seahawks outlasted the New York Jets on Sunday, winning their Week 13 contest 26-21. The offense struggled occasionally, but made enough game-changing plays to swing the result in their favor. The Seahawks gained just 16 first downs and 259 total yards. Analyzing the advanced metrics, these were Seattle’s three highest-graded players on offense, according to Pro Football Focus.

Geno Smith | 75.9

Smith was more of a game manager, completing 20 of 31 passing attempts for 206 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. He was sacked on just three occasions and did not commit a turnover. Smith’s lone touchdown pass went to tight end AJ Barner, helping eliminate a first-half 14-0 Jets lead.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 72.5

Sunday was arguably Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s most efficient performance of the entire season. JSN caught all four targets Smith threw his way, converting those opportunities to a team-high 74 receiving yards. The 22-year-old Smith-Njigba now ranks 11th in the entire league in that department with 829 yards, having already surpassed his rookie season output (628).

DK Metcalf | 71.0

DK Metcalf and Smith weren’t consistently on the same page, but his nine targets still resulted in four receptions for 66 receiving yards. Metcalf’s 30-yard reception was Seattle’s longest offensive gain of the afternoon. Seattle’s big-bodied dominant receiver was on the receiving end of double-team attention from Jeff Ulbrich’s secondary.

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Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Jets on defense in Week 13

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Jets on defense in Week 13

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New York Jets 26-21 in Sunday’s rollercoaster of a Week 13 game. Mike Macdonald’s defense was downright dominant. Seattle limited the Jets to 258 total yards of offense, forced two turnovers, and four punts. Analyzing the advanced metrics, these were Seattle’s three highest-graded players on defense, according to Pro Football Focus.

Leonard Williams | 92.6

To nobody’s surprise, Leonard Williams was Seattle’s highest-graded defender for a second consecutive week. Williams maximized his revenge game opportunity versus the franchise that drafted him, sacking Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers twice. More historically, his 92-yard pick-six return touchdown was the longest by a defensive lineman in NFL history, according to ESPN Research. He also blocked a kick. The Jets had no absolutely no answer.

Julian Love | 86.1

Safety Julian Love made a big-time impact. The versatile safety recorded six total tackles and forced a fumble. Love also had a pass breakup. He was a critical part of a Seahawks secondary that limited Rodgers to 21 passing completions, 185 yards, and his aforementioned pick-six touchdown.

Tariq Woolen | 79.3

Tariq Woolen was a shutdown cornerback. Rodgers tested his coverage abilities on seven occasions, completing just one pass for a five-yard gain, according to PFF’s tracking data. Woolen forced an incompletion via a pass breakup. His average depth of target (aDoT) was 18.7, which means the Jets failed to complete multiple deep-ball attempts in his direction.

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Zach Charbonnet continues to be underrated member of Seahawks offense

Zach Charbonnet continues to be underrated member of Seahawks offense.

Seattle Seahawks sophomore running back Zach Charbonnet entered Sunday’s Week 13 contest versus the New York Jets having scored five touchdowns this season, second-most among all Seahawks skill players. Charbonnet has been extremely useful to Ryan Grubb’s offense this campaign. He made another big-time impact in the come-from-behind victory over the Jets.

The Seahawks once trailed 14-0. Entering the fourth quarter down 21-16, a Jason Myers field goal narrowed the Jets’ advantage to 21-19. On the next possession, Grubb’s offense put together a 12-play drive that started with a Charbonnet run. A horse collar tackle later extended the drive, and Charbonnet concluded Seattle’s comeback efforts with an eight-yard TD run.

Charbonnet’s game-winning TD was featured on Brian Baldinger’s social-media-famous “Baldy’s Breakdowns.”

Charbonnet has now rushed for 266 yards and five touchdowns via 75 carries this campaign. He’s been a useful resource behind No. 1 running back Kenneth Walker III. Charbonnet has also added 29 receptions for 204 yards and one additional touchdown to his offensive totals.

Charbonnet earned just four carries versus the Jets, but he averaged 7.0 yards per carry, his second-best average output of the season. Walker was his typical workhorse self, but struggled to consistently find running room, gaining 49 yards on 16 carries (3.1 YPC). Charbonnet will continue maximizing his opportunities.

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Seahawks defense has been dominant vs. the run throughout ongoing win streak

Seahawks defense has been dominant vs. the run throughout ongoing win streak

The Seattle Seahawks were struggling mightily to defend the run earlier this season. Approximately just one month ago, Mike Macdonald’s inconsistent unit entered their Week 9 contest versus the Los Angeles Rams allowing a 29th-ranked 148.4 rushing yards per contest. They were also allowing the fifth-highest yards per carry average (4.9) in the league.

Things have changed drastically in recent weeks. In Sunday’s Week 13 victory over the New York Jets, their third consecutive triumph, the combination of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen were limited to 71 rushing yards and zero touchdowns via 17 carries. The Jets were ultimately held under 100 net rushing yards.

Seattle’s run-stopping metrics have drastically improved since that Week 9 update. Macdonald’s disciplined run defense now ranks 22nd in the league, allowing 127 yards per outing. They are surviving their lackluster early-season start, and are consistently climbing the charts.

In fact, the Seahawks have faced four outstanding running backs over the previous four weeks. The list includes Hall, Kyren Williams, Christian McCaffrey, and James Conner. The results? Macdonald’s defense has allowed 216 rushing yards and zero touchdowns via 60 carries. That equals just 3.6 yards per carry.

They’ve been spearheaded forward by dominant performances from Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed and Co.

The turning point for Seattle’s run defense was arguably swapping out linebackers Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson for Ernest Jones IV and Tyrice Knight. Jones has been a tackling machine since being acquired in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. Seattle’s improving run defense is peaking at the right time.

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Seahawks DT Jarran Reed reaches milestone in Week 13 win

Seahawks DT Jarran Reed reaches milestone in Week 13 win

The Seattle Seahawks claimed their third consecutive victory on Sunday, defeating the New York Jets 26-21 in Week 13. It was an absurd game that featured multiple special teams gaffs by the Seahawks, and a historic 92-yard pick-six touchdown by 300-plus pound defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Lost in the craziness was some team history made by veteran defensive tackle Jarran Reed.

Reed appeared in his 100th career contest for Seattle on Sunday, according to Seahawks PR. Over 1,200 players have played for the Seahawks. Reed became just the 50th to play in 100 games for the franchise.

Reed made his usual impact for a Seahawks defense that was stout versus the Jets offense. Reed played a total of 35 snaps, accounting for 51 percent of Mike Macdonald’s available plays. He consistently supported a dominant Williams on the defensive line.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider originally drafted Reed with a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. The former Alabama standout played out his entire rookie contract with the franchise before joining the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021. He later played a single season for the Green Bay Packers before re-joining the Seahawks in 2023 via a two-year contract worth $9 million.

Reed has totaled 31 tackles and 2.5 sacks throughout 2024. He made heartwarming history for the Seahawks on Sunday. Reed is an underrated performer that deserved Sunday’s accolade.

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3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks defense vs. Jets in Week 13

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Jets in Week 13

The Seattle Seahawks are entering an extremely winnable game versus the 3-8 New York Jets in Week 13. Mike Macdonald’s defense put forth a dominant showing in the Week 12 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. They’ll love their chances of repeating those efforts against Aaron Rodgers and a struggling Jets offense. We’ve compiled three bold predictions for the defense on Sunday.

Leonard Williams dominates again

Leonard Williams was downright dominant in last weekend’s win over the Cardinals, recording seven quarterback pressures and two sacks. Williams’ Pro Football Focus grade was an elite 87.0. It was arguably his best single-game showing as a Seahawk. Fans can expect a solid follow-up performance against a lackluster Jets offensive line.

Coby Bryant records another interception

Rotational safety Coby Bryant has been maximizing his opportunity to start in recent weeks. Bryant made the game-defining play in last weekend’s victory over the Cardinals by returning a Kyler Murray 4th-and-1 throwing attempt for a 69-yard pick-six touchdown. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. The versatile defensive back will be anxious to pick off Rodgers, who has thrown seven interceptions this season.

The Jets fail to surpass 17 points

The Seahawks have held consecutive opponents, the 49ers and Cards, to 17 and six points respectively. Macdonald’s defense has been dominant since exiting the Week 10 bye. Meanwhile the hapless Jets offense is averaging a 27th-ranked 18.5 points per game.

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3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Jets in Week 13

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Jets in Week 13

The Seattle Seahawks will face the New York Jets in Sunday’s Week 13 contest. Starting quarterback Geno Smith will return to MetLife Stadium for the first time since his messy breakup with the franchise that drafted him. We’ve conjured up three bold predictions for Seattle’s offense on Sunday.

Geno Smith throws 3 TD passes

Smith downplayed any revenge-game discussions earlier this week, but the ex-Jet is undeniably motivated to show-up the franchise that gave up on his development. Smith has enjoyed just one three-TD performance this season. It was accompanied by three interceptions in an overtime defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. Look for the former West Virginia standout to play a cleaner game while throwing three scores.

Zach Charbonnet catches a TD

Look for No. 2 running back Zach Charbonnet to be on the receiving end of a Smith touchdown pass. The backup to Kenneth Walker III has scored five touchdowns this season, second-best among all Seahawks skill players. Charbonnet has been extremely useful to Ryan Grubb’s offense this campaign.

DK Metcalf surpasses 100 receiving yards

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been Seattle’s most productive receiver in recent weeks. That makes typical go-to wideout DK Metcalf a candidate for a late-season breakout performance. Metcalf hasn’t topped 100 receiving yards in a single contest since a late-September loss to the Detroit Lions. Look for that drought to end versus a disappointing Jets defense.

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3 underrated Seahawks we’re thankful for

3 underrated Seahawks we’re thankful for

As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, the Seattle Seahawks are preparing to face the lowly New York Jets in Sunday’s Week 13 contest. The surging Seahawks, winners of two consecutive divisional contests, currently sit atop the NFC West. Fans are feeling particularly thankful this time of year.

The Seahawks have undeniably been powered forward by their superstars, players like Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Leonard Williams, to name a select handful. Underrated contributors have also made a difference, through impact and effort.

We’ve identified three underrated Seahawks players fans should be thankful for in 2024.

Olu Oluwatimi | C

Sophomore center Olu Oluwatimi was catapulted into the starting lineup two weeks ago following Connor Williams’ shocking midseason retirement. In consecutive starts, the former Michigan standout hasn’t allowed a sack, nor has he been whistled for a single penalty. Seattle’s offensive line is suddenly playing better following some early-season struggles. Oluwatimi has completely transformed this unit at a critical point in the season.

Josh Jobe | CB

Third-year undrafted cornerback Josh Jobe joined the Seahawks’ practice squad in late August. Several injuries at the position offered Jobe an opportunity to play meaningful snaps. He’s since established himself as a near-every down starter next to Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen. Pro Football Focus has credited the former Alabama Crimson Tide performer with allowing a passer rating of just 61.8.

Zach Charbonnet | RB

Zach Charbonnet is the clear No. 2 behind Kenneth Walker III, but consider this. Charbonnet’s five touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving) ranks second among all skill players behind just Walker (8). The backup running back has scored more touchdowns than Metcalf and Smith-Njigba this season. He’s been crucial to Seattle’s offensive success.

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