Tag: Seahawks Week 9

Seahawks must establish RB Kenneth Walker III vs. Rams in Week 9

Seahawks must establish RB Kenneth Walker III vs. Rams in Week 9

The Seattle Seahawks failed to run the football effectively versus the Buffalo Bills in their Week 8 blowout defeat. Starting running back Kenneth Walker II was completely ineffective, rushing for 12 yards via nine carries. Change-of-pace back Zach Charbonnet rushed for four yards and a touchdown on three carries. Starting quarterback Geno Smith was actually Seattle’s leading rusher, a sign of their ground-game failure, gaining 16 yards via five scrambles.

Establishing Walker versus the Los Angeles Rams in Sunday’s Week 9 NFC West showdown is a must. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has faced difficult questions about abandoning the run this week. Grubb will surely attempt to get Walker going against the Rams.

Grubb dialed up seven passing attempts on Seattle’s opening nine offensive plays from scrimmage. The Seahawks immediately went into a pass-happy shell while the game was still close against Buffalo. That can’t be repeated versus the Rams.

Sean McVay’s Rams have struggled to defend the run this season. They’re currently allowing a 23rd-ranked 139.1 rushing yards per contest. Seattle’s offense is essentially the opposite of that, rushing for a lackluster fourth-worst 89.3 ground yards per outing. Analytics indicate the Rams actually have an 11th-best run-stop-win-rate (RSWR) of 32%, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Meanwhile, Seattle’s run-block-win-rate (RBWR) is just 69%, 25th-best in the league, indicating the struggling offensive line is to blame for the run-game struggles.

Walker rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown in a Week 1 victory over the Denver Broncos. It’s been difficult to repeat those efforts, with a disappointing string that included showings of 19, 32, and 12 rushing yards. Establishing Walker against the Rams is a necessity given the recent ground-game struggles.

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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 DL Leonard Williams gives detailed answer on struggling run defense

Seahawks DL Leonard Williams gives detailed answer on struggling run defense

The Seattle Seahawks are struggling to defend the run this season. Mike Macdonald’s inconsistent unit will enter Sunday’s Week 9 game versus the Los Angeles Rams allowing a 29th-ranked 148.4 rushing yards per contest. The challenge against Rams running back Kyren Williams will be sizable.

Seattle is allowing the fifth-highest yards per carry average (4.9) in the league. Veteran defensive lineman Leonard Williams met with the media following Thursday’s practice and faced questions about the run defense. Williams offered an incredibly detailed answer.

“When you’re trying to correct something [run defense] for a few weeks, there’s a lot of competitors on this team,” Williams began. There are guys who want to put it all [the blame] on their shoulders, which is respectable. Everyone is competitive, they want to be the one to make the play. In times like that, we end up [trying to] do other people’s jobs and that affects the rest of the defense. It goes back to consistency, just consistently do your job and we’ll eventually all come together as 11. It’s about us getting back to basics and trusting that your teammate is going to do his job,” Williams concluded.

The Rams are averaging a seventh-worst 101.3 rushing yards per contest. Their 3.9 yards per carry average ranks 30th in the league. That’s despite superstar running back Kyren Williams scoring a touchdown in every game this season. Seattle’s defense will attempt to remain disciplined against LA’s struggling ground attack on Sunday.

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

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

The 4-4 Seattle Seahawks host the 3-4 Los Angeles Rams this weekend. It’s a critical game to further determine the standings in a tight-knit NFC West division. We’ve conjured up three bold predictions for Mike Macdonald’s defense against Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Co.

Seahawks keep Kyren Williams out of the end-zone

Rams running back Kyren Williams has scored a touchdown in every contest this season. LA’s Week 8 victory over the Minnesota Vikings marked the first game of the campaign that he hasn’t rushed for a touchdown, but the former Notre Dame standout was on the receiving end of a Stafford passing score. The Seahawks are struggling to defend the run, allowing a 29th-ranked 148.4 ground yards per outing. Preventing Williams from reaching the end-zone would qualify as a major victory.

Derick Hall records his 6th sack

Sophomore pass rusher Derick Hall leads the Seahawks in sacks with five quarterback takedowns this season. The No. 37 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft has gone ice-cold, failing to record a sack in three consecutive contests. Hall ends the recent drought on Sunday by recording his team-leading sixth sack, dragging Stafford down.

Riq Woolen intercepts Stafford

Seattle’s No. 1 cornerback Riq Woolen was a full participant at Thursday’s practice. Woolen continues to work through an ankle injury that sidelined him for two contests. He returned to a full workload versus the Buffalo Bills, and could continue rounding back into tip-top form by intercepting Stafford.

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Rams WR Puka Nacua injures knee, could miss Seahawks game

Rams WR Puka Nacua injures knee, could miss Seahawks game

The Seattle Seahawks have a critical game on the schedule this weekend. The 4-4 Seahawks will host the 3-4 Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field in a potentially decisive NFC West showdown. The Rams may be short-handed following an injury at Thursday’s practice.

Superstar sophomore receiver Puka Nacua recently returned to the Rams’ lineup from a knee injury he suffered versus the Detroit Lions in Week 1. Nacua was sidelined for the Rams’ following five games. He returned in their Week 8 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, recording seven receptions on nine targets for 106 receiving yards.

Nacua was expected to keep that momentum going versus the Seahawks this weekend, but he may have suffered a setback at Thursday’s practice. Nacua exited the session with an injury to the same knee he injured earlier this season, according to multiple reports from media members in attendance. Rams head coach Sean McVay would miss his sophomore wideout. His availability against Seattle is certainly at risk this weekend.

Nacua has totaled 11 catches via 13 targets for 141 receiving yards in just two appearances this season. His absence would qualify as a big-time break for a struggling Seahawks defense. We’ll monitor Nacua’s status leading up to Sunday’s NFC West rival game.

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