Field Gulls
The Seattle Seahawks got their first win of the season. The start was rough, and it looked like the Seahawks would let the win slip away after shooting themselves in the foot several times in the first half. A win is important in an away game against a team that’s tough to beat at home.
Let’s look at the All-22 and see what happened in last week’s 31-17 win. All data used in this article was taken from PFF.
The Seahawks rushed for 117 yards, averaging four yards per carry. They helped Ken Walker (who entered the Seahawks’ top 10 in rushing yards, surpassing Maurice Morris) achieve his first 100-yard game since his 2024 opener against the Broncos.
In pass protection, they had 15 pressures, 2 sacks allowed, 6 hits, and 2 players with a pass-block rating of 30 or less. The highest rating (Charles Cross) was only 68.7.
The unit had some good plays over the two weeks, but the main problem, in my view, has been consistency (or rather, the lack thereof). The offensive line is capable of opening up wide spaces for the run, creating clean pockets while delivering quick pressure and tackling behind the line of scrimmage.
They had 9 carries for 0 or fewer yards. If you increase the criteria to 3 yards or less, the number increases to no less than 18. You can’t look at the Seahawks’ OL and firmly believe the team will be able to convert a short third or fourth down. It’s as if anything is possible.
The offensive line can’t create movement in the encounter with the DL and leaves the RB essentially with no way out. Abe Lucas can’t block TJ Watt, and the tackle is made.
Besides these “physicality” issues, there were problems with the execution of the runs. On this play, Bradford goes to the second level but leaves Patrick Queen unblocked, and the LB has a clear path to the RB.
This type of confusion also occurred in pass protection. The right OL has four players to block three. Abe Lucas seems to be waiting for a chip block and then blocking TJ Watt. He gets lost and doesn’t block anyone (basically, three players are around Watt), and Jack Sawyer has a clear path to the QB.
The Steelers used this type of stunt a lot throughout the game and were mostly successful, taking advantage of the Seahawks’ OL having no response. Watt comes from the D-gap on the right side, basically to the A-gap on the left.
Pause to highlight this incredible crack block by Cooper Kupp. The receiver had an 89 run-blocking grade and leads WRs in zone blocking grade in the first two weeks with an 85.4.
Returning to the inconsistencies, let’s look at Bradford as an example.
On this snap, he manages to show all his strength (even though he wasn’t able to hold the block long enough).
Here, he...
