Good morning, 12s. Here's a look at what's out there today — Thursday, August 24 — about your Seattle Seahawks.
Doug Farrar and Greg Cosell from USA Today's Touchdown Wire Have High Hopes For Seahawks Offense
Despite nagging injuries affecting both sides of the ball throughout the offseason, the Seahawks remain undefeated heading into the preseason finale Saturday against the Green Bay Packers. Doug Farrar and Greg Cosell of USA Today’s Touchdown Wire take a look at why an abundance of talent and depth on the offensive side of the ball make Seattle a must-see offense in 2023.
Longtime NFL Analyst, Producer and Author Greg Cosell has been behind-the-scenes pushing forward the National Football League for over four decades. Pairing with Doug Farrar, a fellow analyst and co-author of 2018’s The Genius of Desperation: The Schematic Innovations that Made the Modern NFL, the two launched the X’s and O’s Podcast in April.
Throughout the summer, Farrar has been vocal about how much better the Seahawks offense can be in 2023, following a 9-8 campaign where quarterback Geno Smith took home the 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year Award. Not to mention, running back Kenneth Walker rushed for over 1,000 yards (1,050) and wideouts Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf each had over 1,000 receiving yards. Earlier this month, Farrar joined ESPN analyst Mina Kimes to discuss why first-round selection wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba will help solve Seattle’s Redzone woes. Seattle scored on just 48 percent of opportunities within the 20-yard-line (27th). After a productive offseason and two preseason performances, Smith-Njigba prepared to miss some time after announcing surgery for a “slight” wrist fracture.
But Cosell and Farrar are thinking long-term this season, as they break down why Seattle's offense will be fine until Smith-Njigba returns - after that, the sky's the limit.
Last season, the Seahawks ranked 21st in dropbacks out of 11 personnel – 387, of which 260 were completed for 2,790 yards, 1,666 air yards, 20 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 97.8, which ranked fourth behind the Lions, Bengals, and Dolphins. Those three teams are far more defined by their use of 11 personnel, and with the addition of Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a receiver group that already includes DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, we should expect a ton more of it. Because Geno Smith was one of the NFL's best quarterbacks out of 11 personnel last season.
Unfortunately, Smith-Njigba might miss the first couple weeks of the regular season due to a wrist injury, but as Cosell says, you don't draft a guy this high if you don't want him to help change your offense.
"They'll still line up in 12 — we know that Pete Carroll wants to run the ball," Cosell said, "But you're now dealing with a lot more you can do in the passing game, and [offensive coordinator] Shane Waldron has that background [from his time with the Rams] of putting together a passing game in multiple ways. And Geno Smith obviously had a really good season."
Cosell also points out that 2022 rookie offensive tackles Charles Cross and Abe Lucas will be under pressure to perform in 2023 — the Seahawks were the first team since the 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars to start two rookie offensive tackles all the way through their inaugural seasons. Waldron wants to get five receivers out in the formation from time to time, and while Cross and Lucas played well for the most part, this will present a new set of challenges once Smith-Njigba is healthy.
Before Seattle can look ahead to the season, the team focuses its sights on Saturday's preseason finale in Green Bay.
Social Post Of The Day
Greg Cosell & Doug Farrar of USA Today's Touchdown Wire break down why the Seahawks are a Top-5 must-see offense in 2023.
More From Around The Web
Mike Salk of Seattle Sports 710 AM: Salk: What about the Seahawks’ hype is and isn’t fragile.
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times: Jake Bobo is making it harder and harder for Seahawks to keep him off the roster.
Michael Chavez of the Seattle Times: Why Seahawks coach Pete Carroll still runs sprints at practice.
Gregg Bell of The News Tribune: ‘More Bobo’: How this Seahawks undrafted rookie has gone from no expectations to camp star.
Gregg Bell of The News Tribune: Kenneth Walker back full go. Geno Smith and the Seahawks need him to go farther in 2023.
Corbin Smith of Sports Illustrated: How Will Jordyn Brooks, Jamal Adams Impact Seattle's Defense? - Locked On Seahawks Podcast
Tim Weaver of Yahoo Sports: 5 takeaways from Wednesday’s Seahawks practice.
Kevin Patra of Around the NFL: Seahawks rookie WR Jake Bobo making strong case for roster spot after going undrafted.
The Seahawks practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas (31) and linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver Cade Johnson (88) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks center Evan Brown (63) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks defensive line at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks defensive end Myles Adams (95) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver John Hall (82) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver Cade Johnson (88) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver Cade Johnson (88) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) and wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver Cade Johnson (88) and wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks quarterback Holton Ahlers (15) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Aug. 23, 2023.
