Good morning, 12s. Here's a look at what's out there today — Friday, December 2 — about your Seattle Seahawks.
Pete Carroll & Seahawks Players Earn Superlatives In The Athletic's Two-Thirds Season Awards
With Week 13 approaching, Nate Tice of The Athletic breaks down which Seahawks earned superlatives at the season’s two-thirds mark.
While there is more than a month of regular season football remaining, Tice breaks down some potential landing spots for the league's top awards - as well as hands out some acknowledgment of his own.
It's time to collect ourselves at the NFL's two-thirds checkpoint for another edition of "The Thirdies!" in which I assign awards based on how I would vote at this juncture of the season. This is not who I think will win at season's end, as things can change rapidly, but rather who deserves the awards (both real and the ones I made up) right now.
Coach Pete Carroll is one of Tice's candidates for Coach of the Year, as Seattle continues to surpass some national offseason expectations.
Coach of the Year
The candidates:
Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
Brian Daboll, New York Giants
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings
Robert Saleh, New York Jets
Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
Carroll and Geno Smith are among the feel-good stories of the year. The Seahawks have already exceeded their preseason Vegas total of 5.5 wins and are playing with house money since the Broncos' 2023 first-round pick that Seattle owns could land in the top five.
Quarterback Geno Smith currently ranks in the top-10 in the majority of passing statistics, ranking first in completion percentage (72.8), second in passer rating (107.9), tied for fifth in touchdown passes (19), throwing for 19 touchdowns, sixth in yards (2,802). Smith's 11 games played in 2022 are the most since his sophomore campaign as a New York Jet. Smith is Tice's pick for Comeback Player of The Year.
This one is tough for me, because … what has Smith come back from, exactly? Barkley and Lawson both have had to battle back from injuries. Barkley has tapered off a bit in recent weeks, but Lawson has continued the strong performances that remind you what kind of player he was in Cincinnati.
Smith, though, has been superb for the surprising Seahawks. He is tied for ninth in EPA per dropback, and his strong play from the pocket and intelligence let the Seahawks attack teams in various ways through the air. He may not have come back from injury, but he has certainly returned from the quarterback NetherRealm to be a damn good player this season.
Week 6 pick: Barkley
Week 12 pick: Smith
Rookie running back Kenneth Walker III and cornerback Tariq Woolen are top rookie of the year candidates for their respective sides of the ball.
Walker was used as a rotational back behindRashaad Pennybut has been a ball of energy for the Seahawks. He, too, has had a drop-off in production the past couple of weeks, but he's continued to rack up scores. He's tied with Jacobs for fourth in rushing touchdowns (9).
While Walker is a top-five offensive candidate, Tice narrows the defensive race down to Woolen and New York Jets corner Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner.
But this is, essentially, a two-horse race:
Sauce Gardner*_, CB, Jets_*
Tariq Woolen*_, CB, Seahawks_*
Woolen was considered a height-weight-speed project coming out of UTSA but has more than held his own as a rookie cornerback. He's second in the entire NFL with five interceptions and ranks ninth in passes deflected. He hasn't been perfect — he's tied for fifth in penalties among defensive backs (although he hasn't been flagged for a post-snap penalty since Week 5). But he has played so well that even people who were optimistic about him as a prospect have to be stunned at how early he's shined.
Check out Tice's full list of midseason superlatives here.
Social Post Of The Day
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith continues a season like no other with another major accomplishment in the record books. #Seahawks
More from Around The Web
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times: What to watch when Seahawks take on Rams in Week 13 — plus Bob Condotta’s prediction.
Adam Jude of the Seattle Times: Seahawks’ Jordyn Brooks draws strong reviews as Bobby Wagner’s successor.
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times: Geno Smith hasn’t shown any drop-off in surprising season for Seahawks.
Michael Bumpus of Seattle Sports 710AM: Bump’s Breakdown: 3 things Seahawks must do to get on track.
Here at Seahawks.com, rookie safety Joey Blount is playing to honor three former teammates killed in last month’s shooting at the University of Virginia.
Seahawks players worked with talented artists to bring a vision to life for the cleats they'll wear on Sunday, December 4 vs. the Rams as part of the NFL's 'My Cause My Cleats' program. Learn more.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
Seahawks players get their first look at their 'My Cause My Cleats' designs to be worn on December 4, 2022 vs. the Rams.
'My Cause My Cleats' being worn by Seahawks players stacked in a pile.
