Why I cannot be mad at DK Metcalf
He signs, he runs, he is never tackled, and he is ejected from games.
Let me start with the opposite of burying the lede: I love having DK Metcalf on the Seattle Seahawks. In the interest of fairness, I’ve attempted to cover several aspects of his game, including some of his penalties and some of his poor catch percentage games.
But, in a world of high-profile, often bizarre wide receivers, Metcalf has emerged as a one-of-a-kind figure in his own right.
Obviously, we’re coming off an ejection and another fight, but it’s nothing to be concerned about this time.
In fact, I continue to believe, as I did earlier this season, that Metcalf is one of the most valuable assets on this squad, which is currently being evaluated.
For starters, this sign language thing is fascinating, and it is not a normal route that pro athletes take in their various endeavors to draw awareness to a cause or condition.
Just spoke with DK Metcalf's American Sign Language instructor.
Darrell Utley is deaf and has been teaching ASL to others for the past few years.
He didn't know who DK was before they started working together.
He said DK being a champion for the language has meant everything. pic.twitter.com/4lstwMb2lG
— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) December 7, 2023
It’s a little but significant gesture that no one on the team compelled him to do, and probably no one even suggested it, assuming you take his remarks seriously that he wanted to cease incurring fines for his words.
Second, he’s achieved some significant early-career achievements. No, they’re not Justin Jefferson numbers – in fact, he won’t make the next group due to injuries this year – but they’re better than Jefferson figures.
Third, we’ve seen Metcalf do a fantastic job this year of utilizing his skill set to the best of his ability, despite some of the scheme and quarterback concerns that he is at the hands of.
He has good hands (when they are firmly planted on the ground), and he is swift as hell.
This recent touchdown from the Week 14 game against the San Francisco 49ers was very intriguing because it is, in my opinion, DK’s best score while in the air. Again, this is a poor aspect of his game, but this is a ridiculous reception. Make a defender appear dumb and confused-type catch, for example.
Metcalf has four touchdowns in two games for the second time this season, and he has three games this season with a passer rating of 130 or higher when being targeted. He’s done it every year save his freshman year.
I mentioned Metcalf’s poor catch rate this year (5 of 14, 3 of 9, etc.) the last time I mentioned him. What I didn’t say at the time is that, unlike his rookie season, I don’t think this is all his responsibility. This year, he’s only been credited with three drops. Shane Waldron got substantially poorer at unleashing what we believed was a star-studded offense as he got farther into using it, something Pete Carroll has acknowledged a few times.
So I’m not furious on a day when DK was 2 of 5 and was disqualified for re-punching Fred Warner. With Tyler Lockett fading, this is the first time I believe Metcalf is the team’s top receiver. They struggle a lot to get him the ball the correct way, which involves a lot more slants in the middle of the field, but when it eventually clicks, he’s at the top of his game.
Metcalf is one of three offensive guys I’d keep and bring back next season if you forced me to pick three. He’s well worth it.
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