2 rookies demonstrate how the Seahawks cheated
Once a consensus Power Ranking top-10, the Seahawks have faltered and the veil has fallen.
Against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football, the Seattle Seahawks performed poorly.
As many observers have concluded over the last four weeks, Seattle’s 5-2 start to the season was about as fake as it gets. The 31-13 blandfest proved this.
Numerous elements come into play here, as demonstrated by advanced measurements, standard metrics, metrics at the kindergarten level, the metric system, and so on.
The Seahawks are not who we thought they were, as evidenced by a few clear contenders.
A winning record with a negative 20-point differential is one option.
We may examine the run defense that was once the best in the NFL, while not having any players with the same caliber of skill as Christian McCaffrey or Lamar Jackson.
One squad that ranks third in field goals made per game yet twenty-first in touchdowns scored per game is worth examining.
We could look at total DVOA, which is still in the top third of the league despite being artificially enhanced by good ball movement up until a kick or non-score occurs.
But regrettably, it goes even farther. Furthermore, it’s a systemic issue where it’s hard to determine how things got to be this way.
My main point is this: The Seahawks are really good at some stuff that doesn’t matter, terrible at some things that matter more, and the combination is how they squeaked a 5-2 record but get stonewalled by the truly formidable teams.
The ways in which the Seahawks deceived the NFL for almost two months are perfectly encapsulated by two well-known players. These players—whose names are well-known enough for my wife to know—have examples from both the season’s opening loss to the Niners and from that game.
DK Metcalf
This season, Geno Smith has guided four game-winning drives. Jason Myers missed the kick against the Rams, so only three of them ended in victories; however, in every game, Smith got them within touchdown or field goal range.
A highlight play of every drive was an explosive play up the middle to DK Metcalf. Working backwards from the most recent back to the Detroit Lions walk-off, Metcalf helped with the following during the game’s last drive:
LAR – 21 yards on 3rd-and-8.
WAS – 17 yards on 3rd-and-4, followed by 27 yards on 2nd-and-10.
CLE – 9 yards into Cleveland territory on 2nd-and 3. (So this one’s not quite as explosive)
DET – 16 yards on 3rd-and-6.
If you just take final drives, Metcalf is in the upper echelon of NFL receivers. Not just good, but truly clutch.
However, his total stats tell a completely different story. Metcalf’s Receptions to Targets since Week 6 are as follows:
- 4 of 9
- 5 of 14
- 1 of 4
- 7 of 12
- 5 of 9
- 3 of 9
Metcalf is insignificant for ninety percent of the game. After that, he averages almost one long drive per game and puts up outstanding last-drive performances for half of the season. Which version is therefore accurate?
Once more, DK is not to blame for this article; rather, it is a microcosm of the Seahawks’ season-long problems.
Selective success characterizes the entire cursed team. While we’ve now witnessed two embarrassing instances of when a full team shows up and Seattle’s little gimmicks can’t compete, it has kept them in some games and even helped them win some.
There is a defensive counterpart to Metcalf, who served as the offensive prototype. Furthermore, DK occupies one end of the spectrum, while the next player occupies the other. Generally speaking, the Seahawks excel at many unimportant tasks but struggle when the chips are down. Observe the third downs, the previous complaints, etc. Metcalf is not like that. He’s generally been awful or mediocre, but for two minutes he shines.
Problem is, two minutes just isn’t enough. On the football field and…other places.
For another picture, we turn to future Hall of Famer.
Bobby Wagner
So happy for Bobby to be back, to get possibly 170 tackles this year (not actually happy), and that he’s still strong and smart as ever. But if Metcalf’s line is fraudulent, Wagner has done the biggest bamboozle of them all.
Like I’m pretty sure Wagner might be the best run defender and worst pass defender in the league.
Against the pass:
11.7 yards per completion, career worst. 111.6 passer rating, career worst. 339 yards allowed, with six games to go.
It was as clear-cut as it gets when playing San Francisco. Run away and hurl something at Wagner. It appears that opposing coordinators have gone all out to target the linebackers in coverage during the last three games. Wagner has an endless supply of tackles, as did Jordyn Brooks until recently. Contrary to popular belief, these tackles are not even empty calories. Rather, they are misleading indicators because the linebackers perform incredibly well when playing against the less crucial aspect of the game, the run, and appallingly when playing the more crucial aspect of the game, the pass.
Seattle has been lying to you.
It’s hard to see the path to fixing it midseason.
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