Michael Dickson's impressive rookie season now includes NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, which he was given Wednesday for his performance in the Seahawks' Week 8 win in Detroit.
Dickson punted four times against the Lions, with two of those punts pinning Detroit inside the 20. He averaged 49.5 yards per punt and had a net average of 47.5 yards per punt. Most memorably, Dickson had one run for 9 yards, deciding to go off script late in the game by running for a first down out of Seattle's end zone when the plan was for him to run around, take some time off the clock, then step out of the end zone for a safety.
Seven games into his rookie season, Dickson ranks third in the NFL in net average (42.5) and sixth in gross average at 46.6, and also had 14 of his 35 punts downed inside the 20, all of which helps show why the Seahawks moved up in the fifth round of this year's draft to select him.
"John Schneider and his guys did a great job of figuring that out during the draft season and we made a little move to get him; we really wanted him on our team," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "Really, he has done nothing but really show us more stuff than we thought he had. We didn't realize all of the dynamics that he brings. He's been a really good asset and he's just getting going, too. He's just a pup, just getting started. He hasn't hit it all. He hasn't hit everything exactly right, but he's been very productive so far. He's really becoming a weapon for us. Field position is enormously important with our style of play and Michael keeping the ball deep and keeping them pinned back is important, but also changing the field with the big kicks that he's capable of doing not to mention the other things—the placement of the ball and the things that we're learning how to do on the kickoff team. A lot of really cool things that you don't normally get from your punter so we're just trying to grow with it and really understand him better so that we can utilize him more."
Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares moments from the Seattle Seahawks' Week 8 road win over the Detroit Lions.
On Saturday afternoon in Detroit, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll watches his team undergo their walkthru at a nearby university's indoor facility due to inclement weather.
Quarterback Russell Wilson shakes hands with receiver David Moore at the end of walkthru on Saturday.
Receiver Doug Baldwin smiles at the end of walkthru after being named a game captain. At right is running back Mike Davis.
Seahawks David Moore, Tre Flowers and Shaquill Griffin have fun as they exit the site of Saturday's walkthru.
After walkthru was a quick visit to Ford Field for the team, who gathered on the field that was still covered from the previous night's concert featuring country star Luke Bryan.
Defensive lineman Jarran Reed exits the bus after walkthru.
Bradley McDougald exits the bus after arriving back at the team's hotel in Detroit.
Neiko Thorpe stops to sign an autograph for a young fan after arriving back at the team hotel after Saturday's walkthru.
On game day, Bobby Wagner was among the first players to head for the buses for the ride to the stadium.
Quarterback Russell Wilson, wearing his Bose headphones, heads for the buses before the game.
At the stadium, offensive lineman D.J. Fluker works with Elijah Nkansah before the game.
Safety Tedric Thompson gets loose during early pregame.
Receivers and former teammates Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin chat on the field hours before the game.
Cornerback Justin Coleman applies eyeblack before leaving the locker room.
As the team prepared for kickoff, guard D.J. Fluker got fired up in the locker room.
The Seahawks gather for a pregame prayer in the moments before leaving the locker room.
Linebacker K.J. Wright, playing for the first time in the regular season, talks to the team before kickoff.
Offensive linemen Justin Britt and Germain Ifedi lead the team down the long walkway from the locker room to the playing surface at Ford Field.
Quarterback Russell Wilson leads the Seahawks onto the field during pregame introductions.
Twin brothers Shaquem and Shaquill Griffin pray together in dim light of the pregame festivities at Ford Field.
The Lions honored Seahawks owner Paul Allen with a moment of silence before kickoff.
Seahawks captains including Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner and Tyler Ott watch the opening coin toss at midfield.
Seahawks D.J. Fluker and Justin Britt protect the pocket on the team's opening drive of the game.
Seahawks running back Chris Carson leaps through a seam in the first quarter.
Seahawks Chris Carson collides with Detroit's Darius Slay so hard that Slay loses his helmet on the play.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson fires a pass to the end zone during the second quarter. Wilson finished the game with three touchdown passes and a perfect 158.3 quarterback rating.
Seattle's Tyler Lockett catches a beautifully thrown pass by Russell Wilson for a 24-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Tyler Lockett celebrates his 24-yard touchdown reception from Russell Wilson, which tied the game at 7-7 in the second quarter.
Receiver Doug Baldwin is "hit" by a "pitch" thrown by Tyler Lockett during a baseball-themed touchdown celebration.
Seahawks Barkevious Mingo and Shalom Luani dive after a Lions fumble recovered by Mingo in the second quarter.
Seahawks receiver David Moore puts the finishing touches on a juggling touchdown reception on a 15-yard pass from Russell Wilson.
Receiver David Moore leaps high and comes down with a reception initially ruled incomplete but was overturned on a successful Seahawks challenge.
Tight end Ed Dickson, playing his first game as a Seahawk following injury, leaps high to corral his first touchdown pass in a Seattle uniform.
Seattle's defense stymied Lions running back Karryon Johnson, as Bobby Wagner, Quinton Jefferson and Shamar Stephen combining on this tackle.
Seahawks Shaquill Griffin and Bradley McDougald close in as K.J. Wright brings down former Seahawks tight end Luke Willson.
Seahawks running back Chris Carson bulls his way into the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to give Seattle a 28-7 lead.
An official signals Seahawks ball after Frank Clark recovered a fumble by Detroit's Matt Stafford.
Seattle's Bobby Wagner flies into tackle Detroit's Golden Tate after a short gain in the fourth quarter.
Seattle's Justin Coleman leaps high to intercept a pass intended for Detroit's Golden Tate in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks cornerback Justin Coleman celebrates as Detroit fans react after Coleman's interception in the fourth quarter.
12s were abundant in Detroit and held signs honoring the late Seahawks owner Paul Allen.
Head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson share a smile near the end of Seattle's 28-14 road win at Detroit.
Safety Bradley McDougald is all smiles after greeting 12s in the end zone on his way to the locker room after the game.
Bradley McDougald uses his phone to record the postgame celebration in the Seahawks locker room after the win.
Head coach Pete Carroll smiles amid a happy Seahawks locker room after the victory.
12s waited in the rain on Sunday evening to welcome the Seahawks back to Seattle.
