Tag: seahawks pff

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Packers on defense in Week 15

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Packers on offense in Week 15

The Seattle Seahawks did not play a good-quality defensive game in Sunday’s primetime 30-13 defeat to the Green Bay Packers. Matt LaFleur’s offense encountered little resistance en route to scoring 30 points and posting nearly 400 total yards of offense. Nonetheless, these three Seahawks were their highest-graded players on defense, according to Pro Football Focus.

Boye Mafe | 80.0

Boye Mafe did not make the graphic because he didn’t play the minimum required 25 snaps, but it feels silly to discredit 22 snaps. That’s a decent workload, and Mafe maximized those opportunities, earning a stellar overall grade of 80.0. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher tied for the team-lead in QB pressures with three.

Dre’Mont Jones | 79.4

Dre’Mont Jones has steadily improved his form as the season’s progressed forward and that remained the case on Sunday Night Football. The veteran pass rusher recorded three stops and was effective both as a run stopper and pass rusher. Jones has been an impactful defender for Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde.

Leonard Williams | 69.3

Leonard Williams was a bit quieter than usual given his insane run of form, but he still accumulated a defensive-line-high five tackles. Williams pressured Packers quarterback Jordan Love twice. He also posted a defense-high five stops, matching what off-ball linebacker Ernest Jones IV achieved in this game.

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Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Packers on offense in Week 15

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Packers on offense in Week 15

The Seattle Seahawks were dismissed by the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football, losing 30-13. Ryan Grubb’s offense gained just 208 total yards and were limited to 13 measly points. Nonetheless, these three Seahawks were their highest-graded players on offense, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 77.3

Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued his ascension as Geno Smith’s go-to target in the passing game. JSN posted team-highs in receptions (10), receiving yards (83), and targets (12). Smith-Njigba did the majority of his work underneath the coverage, averaging just 8.3 yards per catch, though he was on the receiving end of Seattle’s longest completion of the evening, a 25-yard gain in the passing game.

Charles Cross | 76.3

The Packers dominated the interior of the Seahawks’ makeshift offensive line, but Mike Macdonald’s bookend tackles held their own. Franchise left tackle Charles Cross was credited with allowing three pressures and one sack, posting an overall grade of 81.1 in pass protection. That was his second-best grade of the season in protection.

Abe Lucas | 73.8

Right tackle Abraham Lucas was Seattle’s third-highest graded offensive player at 73.8. He occasionally struggled in pass protection, allowing five pressures and two sacks, but was also dealing with a lackluster situation at right guard. Lucas was also a net positive in the running game, earning a grade of 79.7 in that department.

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Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III is elite at making defenders miss

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III is elite at making defenders miss

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III did not play in Sunday’s 30-18 Week 14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals due to a calf injury. Zach Charbonnet filled in more than admirably, rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown. Head coach Mike Macdonald called Walker “day to day” at Wednesday’s practice, for which he remained sidelined. When Seattle’s top-choice ball carrier has been on the field this season, he’s been elite at making defenders miss.

Walker leads the Seahawks in rushing yards with 542 despite missing three games this season. Pro Football Focus does an outstanding job tracking advanced running back data. Walker ranks second in the entire league in missed tackles forced (MTF) after a rush with 58, tied with Green Bay Packers back Josh Jacobs.

Najee Harris leads the league in missed tackles according to PFF with 59. Walker has carried the football on 145 occasions this campaign compared to 223 for Harris. It’s safe to assume a fully healthy Walker would be topping the league in that category.

Both of Seattle’s running backs have done an outstanding job navigating the difficulties provided by an underperforming offensive line. Charbonnet ranks fifth in yards after contact per attempt (YCO/A) at 3.61. As a tandem, they’ve been highly effective in making defenders miss either at the line of scrimmage, or after contact.

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Seahawks QB Geno Smith leads league in this advanced stat since Week 11

Seahawks QB Geno Smith leads league in this advanced stat since Week 11

The Seattle Seahawks are among the hottest teams in all of professional football. Their ongoing four-game win streak is the third-largest active streak in the league, trailing just the Philadelphia Eagles (nine) and Minnesota Vikings (six). A big reason why has been the play of starting quarterback Geno Smith.

Smith has been outstanding over the previous four contests. The former West Virginia standout has completed 91-of-124 passing attempts for a stellar completion percentage of 73.3%. Smith has thrown three touchdowns, two interceptions, and 914 yards. He added a rushing score to his offensive totals via the walk-off win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11 that started this recent run of form for Seattle.

Unsurprisingly, Smith’s advanced metrics have been equally as outstanding as the raw numbers indicate. Since Week 11, the start of Seattle’s ongoing win streak, Smith ranks second among all qualifying quarterbacks in adjusted completion percentage (ADJ%) at 83.2%, according to data tracked by Pro Football Focus. Only Sam Darnold ranks higher (83.8%).

If you’re unfamiliar, ADJ% tracks the percentage of aimed passes that are thrown on target combining completions with drops / aimed passes). Typically, when a quarterback is playing well, their ADJ% rises because their actual completion percentage is being lowered by drops and missed opportunities. Smith has been elite and accurate for the Seahawks since Week 11 onward and his ADJ% proves it.

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Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Cardinals on defense in Week 14

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Cardinals on defense in Week 14

The Seattle Seahawks captured their fourth consecutive victory on Sunday, defeating the Arizona Cardinals 30-18 in Week 14. Mike Macdonald’s defense limited the Cardinals to 356 total yards and forced two turnovers, completing the regular-season sweep over their NFC West rivals. Analyzing the advanced metrics, these were Seattle’s three highest-graded players on defense, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jarran Reed | 84.1

Veteran defensive tackle Jarran Reed was his usual disruptive self. The former Alabama standout recorded three pressures and logged a QB hit on Kyler Murray. Reed also broke up a pass and routinely dominated the line of scrimmage versus an outmatched Cardinals interior offensive line.

Rayshawn Jenkins | 76.3

Rayshawn Jenkins was Seattle’ second-highest graded overall defender at 76.3. The versatile safety recorded three tackles and one of Macdonald’s two team sacks on a well-timed blitz. Jenkins accumulated two additional tackles and two stops. He was never targeted in coverage by Murray.

Coby Bryant | 73.4

Rotational safety Coby Bryant continues to take advantage of his opportunities. With Jenkins still easing into the lineup, Bryant has captured a full-time starting role for himself. The ex Cincinnati Bearcat played 100 percent of Macdonald’s defensive snaps for a sixth straight game. He recorded his team-high third interception of the season, his second takeaway in three games.

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Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Cardinals on offense in Week 14

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Cardinals on offense in Week 14

The Seattle Seahawks strung together a complete performance in Sunday’s 30-18 Week 14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. The offense produced more than 400 yards of offense and completed nearly 50 percent of their third-down attempts. Analyzing the advanced metrics, these were Seattle’s three highest-graded players on offense, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 84.1

Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to be Seattle’s most effective wide receiver this season. JSN caught a first-quarter touchdown on the next play after linebacker Ernest Jones IV intercepted Kyler Murray. All in all, Smith-Njigba totaled a team-high 82 receiving yards and a score via five receptions. He averaged an explosive 16.4 yards per catch.

Zach Charbonnet | 80.4

Zach Charbonnet received an opportunity to lead the backfield after Kenneth Walker III was ruled out with a lower-leg injury. The former UCLA Bruin took full advantage of his opportunity, rushing for a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns. Charbonnet was impactful in all phases, adding seven receptions for 59 receiving yards to his offensive totals.

Geno Smith | 79.2

Geno Smith was the architect of Seattle’s stellar offensive performance. The veteran quarterback was efficient, completing 24-of-30 passing attempts for 233 yards, one touchdown, and zero turnovers. Smith pulled the strings for a Ryan Grubb-coached offense that was firing on all cylinders.

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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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12 strong individual PFF grades for the Seahawks from Week 6

Here are 12 individual grades from PFF this week for the Seahawks that deserve some recognition.

The Seahawks may have lost Sunday’s game in Cincinnati, but they took another step forward towards the long-term goal, proving for the second time this season that they can hang with the best the NFL has to offer. While they still have plenty of room to grow, they keep getting strong performances from their young corps as well as their key veterans.

Here are 12 individual grades from PFF this week for the Seahawks that deserve some recognition.

Seahawks: Best and worst PFF player grades from Week 12 loss

Let’s review the team’s best and worst Pro Football Focus grades for Week 12.

The Seahawks are a mess. Monday night’s loss to Washington proved that right now they can’t even beat the most mediocre of competition at the bottom of the pile in the NFC. Seattle’s postseason odds have dropped to just 1% and they still don’t hold a single tie-breaker.

Let’s review the team’s best and worst Pro Football Focus grades for Week 12.