5 Takeaways from Seahawks-49ers
DK Metcalf issues, run defense issues and offensive line issues
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I wish that my game preview wasn’t so accurate. In analyzing the match up between our beloved Seahawks and the vile 49ers, it became obvious that San Francisco had the advantage at nearly every position group.
This was most obvious at the line of scrimmage.
We knew Nick Bosa was going to be a problem and a problem he was. We knew Fred Warner would be a playmaker and playmaker he was.
We knew the Hawks had to get big plays from their receivers to win this game and the receivers let us down.
Now the Hawks are in trouble.
Sitting at 3-3, with games against Atlanta and Buffalo in the next weeks, reeks of a longer losing streak. Head coach Mike Macdonald and his staff can’t afford another game where they look unprepared. It has to change in this mini-bye week or even the biggest Macdonald backers will start to question what is going on in Seattle.
The Run Defense is a Major Problem
After looking at the all-22 film last week against the Giants, it seemed like the Seahawks run defense was simply trying too hard. The linebackers, Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker, were over-pursuing and leaving gaps open for Giants RB Tyrone Tracy. After watching the Hawks play the 49ers, the assessment is much different. The run defense is a problem.
The Seahawks are giving up over 144 yards per game on the ground which is the fifth worst in the NFL. Even more troubling is the lack of success in the past two games. The New York Giants, without Devin Singletary, ran for 175 yards in Seattle. The San Francisco 49ers, without Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, ran for 228 yards in Seattle.
Overpursuit, lack of discipline and getting blocked into oblivion are all to blame for the horrific performance. The Hawks better figure it out quick with Bijan Robinson and James Cook in the next two weeks.
DK Metcalf Isn’t Playing Like a #1 Receiver
We outlined this on our latest podcast episode, but DK Metcalf needs to play better to be considered among the game’s elite. Metcalf caught just one of six targets to start the game against San Francisco. DK’s first catch was great as he reached back behind him and then kept his acceleration for a big gain. In his next five targets, DK had his hands on two of them, including a touchdown grab where he did not get his feet in bounds. He also had a deep ball that he did not fight for and was incomplete. Yet it was Metcalf who was caught on camera yelling in the headset at Ryan Grubb to “throw the ball past the sticks”.
Nothing gets me more fired up than an athlete yelling at a coach incorrectly.
First, DK wants to be elite yet doesn’t make the elite plays (2-3 plays in the 1st half that elite WRs make).
Second, he yells things that simply aren’t true. Of his six targets, three were deep shots (more than 20 yards). This season, DK Metcalf has the most penalties in the NFL for a wide receiver and the only receiver with two fumbles. This doesn’t even take into account the route he ran on the potential game-winning drive against San Francisco that resulted in a Geno Smith interception. Everyone in the building is calling it a “team interception”. That’s code for we don’t want to publicly fault DK. It is time for DK to stop blaming Grubb and look in the mirror.
The Offensive Line is Offensive
We knew that the offensive line would be the weakness of the Seattle Seahawks. What we didn’t expect was that the Hawks would be playing a third-string right tackle for this much of the season. Unfortunately, it shows. When filtering for all offensive lineman who have taken at least 50% of their team snaps, Stone Forsythe ranks 139th out of 145 in pass blocking, according to Pro Football Focus. Forsythe was allowed 35 pressures through six games played. The next closest players is at 19 pressures. Sadly, that player is the Hawks’ other tackle, Charles Cross.
Guard Anthony Bradford is 131st in pass blocking and has allowed 18 pressures, third worst in the NFL. It doesn’t get better.
Left guard Laken Tomlinson has allowed 16 pressures.
The offensive line is so bad. Even when they have a chance to make a big play, they blow it. How does Kenneth Walker not get the first down on the play below?
Tomlinson (#70) goes and blocks no one while Fred Warner dominates Christian Haynes (#64) and the Hawks end up with one yard.
The Sloppy Seahawks
One of the criticisms of Pete Carroll’s Seahawks is that they had too many penalties, they would make silly mistakes because Pete was too loose and they struggled with time management. Well, the more things change…
The Seahawks are fifth in the NFL in number of penalties, including the most holding penalties in the league. Seattle has the third-worst turnover differential in the league at -6 and Mike Macdonald screwed up clock management at the end of the first half against the 49ers.
Want more? The Seahawks are tied for fourth worst in dropped passes. This is a sloppy team and it has to get better quickly.
Witherspoon and Williams are Really Good
We have to highlight something positive, right? With Byron Murphy coming back from injury and the acquisition of defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris from the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Seahawks have the chance to right the ship defensively. However, regardless of the return of key players, the Hawks do have some guys playing lights out this year.
Corner Devon Witherspoon was targeted only once in the 49ers game by Brock Purdy (for just a three yard catch). Witherspoon remains one of the best corners in the NFL as he has yet to give up a touchdown pass and has held opposing receivers under 51 yards in each game this year.
At the same time, Leonard Williams, a high profile acquisition last year, is earning his new contract in 2024. Pro Football Focus has him as the 13th best interior lineman in the NFL this year. There are numerous examples in the 49ers game of Williams being disruptive, including this one below. On the handoff to Jordan Mason, Williams is engaged with Trent Williams, otherwise known as the best left tackle in football.
Now see what happens next.
That crude arrow is Trent Williams on the ground while Leonard Williams wraps up Jordan Mason for a one yard loss. For the game, Trent Williams had his worst run block game of the season. Leonard Williams was a big part of the reason why.