Good afternoon, 12s. Here's a look at what's out there today — Monday, October 9 — about your Seattle Seahawks.
Seattle's young talent and depth have been a major factor in Seattle's 3-1 start to the 2023 season.
The 3-1 Seahawks head back to action in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals after the bye, looking to build on a three-game winning streak. Tim Booth of the Associated Press looks at the production of Seattle’s rookies and second-year players during the first quarter of the season, as the Seahawks young starters and rotation depth continue to lead the way in 2023.
Seattle entered the 2023 season with one of the youngest teams league-wide, with an average age of 26-years-old. The Seahawks roster features just a handful of players over 30-years-of-age, including quarterback Geno Smith, linebacker Bobby Wagner, wideout Tyler Lockett and safety Quandre Diggs. In 2022, Seattle's youth movement played a big part in a 9-8 finish leading to a playoff berth. Rookie tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas became the first duo to start a team’s first-15 games since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Seattle has been forced to do without the duo, after both suffered injuries in Week 1’s 30-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but the youth movement on Seattle's offensive line has stepped up in a big way. Third-year tackles Stone Forsythe and Jake Curhan have stepped up to protect quarterback Geno Smith since the second half of Week 1's loss, allowing the West Virginia alum to be sacked just five times in the past three weeks. Rookie center Olu Oluwatimi and guard Anthony Bradford have stepped up in place of guards Damien Lewis and Phil Haynes after they went down with injuries in Week 4's 24-3 victory over the New York Giants.
Associated Press writer Tim Booth takes a look at the excellent play of Seattle's young talent, starting with rookie cornerback and No. 5 overall selection Devon Witherspoon.
The latest young player to flash for Seattle was rookie Devon Witherspoon, who was named the NFC defensive player of the week for his performance last Monday night. He had seven tackles, two sacks and an interception that he returned 97 yards for a touchdown.
It was the kind of impact Seattle was hoping to get when it took Witherspoon with the No. 5 overall pick, the highest-ever selection for the tandem of Carroll and general manager John Schneider.
"He has been electric for this defense and just is confident. You don't see rookies that are that confident," Seattle safety Julian Love said. "He's coming in, obviously he missed the first game. He was missing most of camp because he was battling, rehabbing. He was coming in and has impacted this defense in a positive way, which is huge, and now just keep taking steps forward for him."
Witherspoon has overcome being thrown into the fire immediately, becoming the league’s most-targeted cornerback early in the season. The Week 4 NFC Defensive Player of the Week became the first rookie defensive back in league history to record multiple-sacks and a pick-six in a game.
Seattle’s player development continues to be on display, with a good number of the team’s 22 first-or-second year players receiving significant playing time. After joining Seahawks Legend Curt Warner as the only rookie backs to hit 1,000 yards, second-year running back Kenneth Walker III is off to a hot start in 2023. In addition to tying for No. 4 league-wide in rushing touchdowns (5), Walker is averaging 4.4 yards per carry, gaining 283 yards on 64 carries. Rookie back Zach Charbonnet is yet to score his first-career touchdown, but the UCLA alum averages 4.95 yards per carry. Prior to the bye, Coach Pete Carroll discussed what the youth movement can mean for the franchise.
"This is a really good time for us," said Carroll. "It's a good time for us to come back with a new perspective for the young guys where we can kind of go back to talking about what they've accomplished and how far they've come along," Carroll said. "Really, to me, there's so much focus on those guys and their ability to contribute as we move forward. I think this is a really good stopping point for us in that regard."
Booth takes a look at the production off-the-bench from Seattle's young nucleus, including defensive end Derick Hall and undrafted wideout Jake Bobo.
The performance by Witherspoon against the Giants was the flashiest moment among this year's rookie class for Seattle. Running back Zach Charbonnet is averaging more than 5 yards per carry in the past two games, getting limited carries as a counter to Walker's running style. Edge rusher Derick Hall is playing 35% of the defensive snaps. Bradford and Oluwatimi only get noticed if something goes wrong. Even undrafted wide receiver Jake Bobo made a mark with at touchdown reception in Week 3.
The one rookie still awaiting a breakout performance is first-rounder Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Expected to be the No. 3 option in Seattle's pass game, Smith-Njigba has 12 receptions but for a total of 62 yards. Nine of his catches have been for 7 yards or less.
Rookie wideout and No. 20 selection receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba currently ranks third (12) amongst the team in receptions, trailing veterans DK Metcalf (18) and Tyler Lockett (17). Booth declares getting Smith-Njigba more reps and experience will make the Seahawks even more dangerous.
The one rookie still awaiting a breakout performance is first-rounder Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Expected to be the No. 3 option in Seattle's pass game, Smith-Njigba has 12 receptions but for a total of 62 yards. Nine of his catches have been for 7 yards or less.
If Seattle can unlock more from Smith-Njigba, the rookie contributions could grow exponentially.
Social Post Of The Day
Seahawks Legends Steve Largent and Jerry Rice, and current receiver Tyler Lockett are three of five receivers in NFL history to record 15 receptions and three touchdowns in a single game.
More From Around The Web
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times: Here’s where the Seahawks stand in the NFC West entering NFL’s Week 6.
Brandon Gustafson of Seattle Sports 710AM: Bumpus: The route concept for Seahawks to get JSN more involved.
Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic: Devon Witherspoon is a budding star and other Seahawks rookie observations.
Brandon Gustafson of Seattle Sports 710AM: Huard: How Giants’ collapse could boost the Seahawks’ defense.
Gregg Bell of The News Tribune: Turns out, Seahawks’ ‘weird,’ earliest bye since 2016 comes at an ideal time - to heal.
Corbin Smith of Sports Illustrated: Seahawks Analysis: 3 Areas Team Must Improve Coming Out of Bye Week.
Take a look at the 53-man roster for the 2023 Seahawks.
0 LB Devin Bush is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Devin Bush (0)
1 WR Dee Eskridge is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1)
2 QB Drew Lock is in his fifth season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2)
4 P Michael Dickson is in his sixth season in the NFL and his sixth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4)
5 K Jason Myers is in his ninth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5)
6 S Quandre Diggs is in his ninth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (6)
7 QB Geno Smith is in his 11th season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7)
8 CB Coby Bryant is in his second year in the NFL and his second year with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant (8)
9 RB Kenneth Walker III is in his second year in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9)
11 WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11)
14 WR DK Metcalf is in his fifth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14)
16 WR Tyler Lockett is in his ninth season in the NFL and his ninth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16)
19 WR Jake Bobo is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19)
20 FS Julian Love is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20)
21 CB Devon Witherspoon is in his first season in the NFL and first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21)
22 CB Tre Brown is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22)
23 CB Artie Burns is in his eighth season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Artie Burns (23)
25 RB Kenny McIntosh is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
26 RB Zach Charbonnet is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26)
27 CB Riq Woolen is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27)
30 CB Michael Jackson is in his fifth season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Jackson (30)
31 RB DeeJay Dallas is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas (31)
32 S Jerrick Reed II is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32)
33 SS Jamal Adams is in his seventh season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Jamal Adams (33)
Seahawks TE Brady Russell is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38).
41 LS Chris Stoll is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
44 FB/LB Nick Bellore is in his 13th season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks fullback/linebacker Nick Bellore (44)
51 C Olu Oluwatimi is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (51)
52 LB Darrell Taylor is in his fourth season in the NFL and fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor (52)
53 LB Boye Mafe is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53)
54 LB Bobby Wagner is in his 12th season in the NFL and his 11th season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (54)
55 DE Dre'Mont Jones is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55)
56 LB Jordyn Brooks is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks (56)
Seahawks outside linebacker Frank Clark (57).
58 LB Derick Hall is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58)
59 LB Jon Rhattigan is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59)
63 C Evan Brown is in his sixth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks center Evan Brown (63)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle McClendon Curtis (66)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle McClendon Curtis (66)
67 OT Charles Cross is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67)
68 G Damien Lewis is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks guard Damien Lewis (68)
72 OT Abraham Lucas is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72)
75 G Anthony Bradford is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75)
78 OT Stone Forsythe is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tackle Stone Forsythe (78)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Raiqwon O'Neal (79)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Raiqwon O'Neal (79)
84 TE Colby Parkinson is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson (84)
87 TE Noah Fant is in his fifth season in the NFL and second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87)
89 TE Will Dissly is in his sixth season in the NFL and his sixth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Will Dissly (89)
90 DE Jarran Reed is in his eighth season in the NFL and his sixth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90)
93 NT Cameron Young is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks nose tackle Cameron Young (93)
95 NT Myles Adams is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks defensive end Myles Adams (95)
97 Mario Edwards Jr is in his ninth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97)
