[Preview 2025] Seattle Seahawks: Le Mystère Sam Darnold

The season is approaching. The editorial staff of TDACTU offers you to take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. Seattle made a radical decision, perhaps too much. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.

Last season: 10 wins – 7 defeats, 2^e NFC West

The Seattle Seahawks were so close, and yet so far from the 2024 playoffs. With the same assessment as the division winners, the Rams, the place was there to qualify. But the proposed game was on alternating current.

In contrast to the 2023 season, Seattle started his 2024 exercise very badly before finishing it on the wheel hats (6 victories in the last 8 games). This team has a high variance made it difficult to read, including for its coach, Mike Macdonald (HC), which has taken a drastic solution to the offseason: Get rid of Geno Smith (QB).

The movements of the off -season

Notable arrivals: Klint Kubiak (OC), Sam Darnold (QB), Cooper Kupp (WR), DeMarcus Lawrence (EDGE), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR), Josh Jones (OT), Johnathan Hankins (DT)

Re-signatures : Ernest Jones IV (LB), Jarran Reed (DT)

Draft : Grey Zabel (IOL), Nick Emmanwori (S), Elijah Aroyo (TE), Jalen Milroe (QB), Rylie Mills (DT), Tory Horton (WR), Robbie Ouzts (FB), Bryce Cabeldue (IOL), Damien Martinez (RB), Mason Richman (IOL), Ricky White (WR)

Notable departures: Ryan Grubb (OC), Geno Smith (QB), D.K. Metcalf (WR), Tyler Lockett (WR), Dre’Mont Jones (DL), George Fant (OT)

When Mike Macdonald doesn’t like what he sees, he reacts quickly. During the season, his linebackers did not give him satisfaction, he made them take the door. Ernest Jones IV has arrived in return and has won a new contract.

Ryan Grubb (OC) and Geno Smith (QB) therefore paid the price for a unilateral attack and unable to take care of the balloon. The attacking coordinator only stayed for a year and was unable to carry out his mission of the game on the ground (1627 Yards, 28^e). The quarterback is exchanged after 5 years of good and loyal service but a crazy capacity to give the ball to the opponent in 2024 (15 interceptions).

Yet Geno Smith is also the one that has largely allowed his team to move forward. Many teams would dream of 4320 yards on the pass and 70.4 % of completed passes. To help him in his task, DK Metcalf raised 992 yards, and Tyler Lockett 600 Yards. The first was also exchanged, the second unwrapered.

Admittedly, that makes a lot of losses in a prolific sector. To support his needs, Seattle called on neo-revenue Sam Darnold (QB) and the aging Cooper Kupp (WR). The workforce is also refreshed with the draft with 11 (!) Selected players, including the immediate holder Gray Zabel (IOL).

The typical Seattle Seahawks team

Quarterback : Sam Darnold – Runner: Kenneth Walker III – Receivers: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Tory Horton – Tight-end : Aj children’s – Ligne offensive : Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Olu Oluwatimi, Anthony Bradford, Abraham Lucas – Kicker : Jason Myers

Defensive line: Jarran Reed, Byron Murphy II, Leonard Williams – Edge : Decus Lawrence, Boye Me – Linebackers : Ernest Jones IV, Tyrice Knight – Cornerbacks : Weirth Woolen, Josh Jobe – Nickelback : Devon Witherspoon – Safeties : Julian Love, Coby Bryant – Punter : Michael Dickson

Les points forts des Seattle Seahawks

The analysis will once again be dichotomous for the Seahawks. Because on the side of the positive, it is impossible to overlook the defense. Mike Macdonald gave a few letters of nobility to this jaw squad before his arrival. Be careful however, we are still far from perfection in the state of Washington.

But the quarterbacks opposing are struggling to find sufficient spaces in the Seattle air coverage. In 2024 the franchise collected an average of 211.5 yards on the pass (13^e) and above all she has checked leather on multiple times (13 interceptions). Honers must be returned to backfield Defensive composed of Riq Wooolen, Julian Love and Coby Bryant.

We must not forget The star of this squad: Devon Witherspoon. The young defensive back was less in view in 2024 the fault of statistics month enjolving. But don’t be mistaken, he is still one of the best and is a () pillar of the complex defense of his coach.

This background is well helped by a first curtain, imposing and athletic. Leonard Williams had his best career season at 30, totaling 11 sacks and a pick-6 92 yards. The Rookie Byron Murphy is gaining momentum and Jarran Reed regulates the line. Behind them, Ernest Jones IV transformed the defense against the race passing from 139.4 yards conceded to 99.8 after his arrival.

The defense is good, but the attack in all this? She only hasA single force asserted after all its departures, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The receiver specializing in slotexploded in 2024 Amount 1130 yards and 6 touchdowns in 100 receptions. Icing on the cake, his style of play does not seem dependent on his quarterbacks And he can assume a substantial workload.

The weak points of the Seattle Seahawks

All the rest of the attack is an irremediable weak point, or at least a huge question mark to put into perspective. Sam Darnold (QB) replaces a Geno Smith surely not perfect, but which has long hidden the atrocities of its offensive line. The new quarterback Holder comes from Minnesota Vikings, where he certainly produced (4319 yards, 35 touchdowns), but where he had the best ecosystem in the League to perform. Before that? Nothingness. Sam Darnold must prove that he is not a one year wonder.

To help him the franchise brought Cooper Kupp. If the recipient manages to accumulate 700 yards at the reception it will already be a small victory. The former winner of the triple crown (yards, touchdowns and receptions) in 2021 is far from this level, the fault of repeated injuries. In 8 years of career he only exceeded 1000 yards at reception twice and only played one full season.

Finally, the ground attack is too tender. On paper the doublet of runner Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet is good. In reality, she struggles to help the rest of the team. The first has too many physical seeds and gets bogged down at 3.7 yards per race. The second is confined to a number 2 role despite greater efficiency.

The game against the race is also an integral part of the defense problem. Solutions have been found, they must continue. But Seattle cannot recover the ball (4 fourth covered, 29^e) and undergoes clock control with 28 minutes and 49 seconds of possession on average in 2024 (28^e).

Factor X: the offensive line

Still quoted anywhere, it appears at the best time. The offensive line is the squad that will switch the Seattle Seahawks season from shadow to light and vice versa.

The success of the sam darnold bet involves good pass protection. It is the work that will be requested as a priority from Charles Cross (LT) and Abraham Lucas (RT). The two players grew up together in the franchise and have to pass a new level. Last year cross left 47 pressures on his quarterback. Lucas has only played 13 games in the last two seasons.

On the interior of the offensive line, the mission will be to open the breaches to the runners. In 2024, Kenneth Walker III (RB) won only 1.7 yards on average before being touched (3^e lower total) marking the porosity of the offensive line.

To answer this problem, the franchise has put the means by winning the services of Gray Zabel (IOL), in the first round of the Draft 2025. In the preseason, the solid ex-player of North Dakota State impressed and won his place of holder. He alone raises the level of his squad but can he save her?

Players to follow: Derick Hall and Boye Mafe (Edge)

Derick Hall and Boye Mafe form the doublet of pass rushers Exterior of Seahawks. Often in competition, they take turns in the field to hunt the quarterbacktheir specialty. But they are still far from the best in their profile and Seattle awaits the emergence of one or the other.

Boye Mafe so far holds the rope and its rank as a holder but the gap is rising after a very mastered season from Derick Hall. Statistically the comparison is as follows on 2024:

• Boye Mafe: 15 games, 47 pressures including 6 sacks, 11 % victories against blocks
• Derick Hall: 17 games, 45 pressures including 8 sacks, 8.5 % victories against blocks

Mafe returns in a contractual year and these seasons often give players wings. Derick Hall continues its progress by entering its 3^e NFL year.

Calendrier des Seattle Seahawks

49ers, @Steelers, Saints, @Cardinals, Buccaneers, @Jaguars, Texans, @Commanders, Cardinals, @Rams, @Titans, Vikings, @Falcons, Colts, Rams, @Panthers, 49ers

As with all members of the NFC West, on paper, the crossings are rather simple in 2025. Seattle has no huge complex passages to negotiate and must be regularity.

The Preview Audio

In summary

Everything seems to separate the attack and the defense among the Seattle Seahawks. The offensive side of the ball is the one that will hold the deductible to fly away in the highest strata in the league. Many mysteries surround Sam Darnold, his line and his targets. The attacking coordinator Klint Kubiak must also put his personal touch and learn to this workforce his game.

On the defensive side places regularity by surfing on a good end of the 2024 season. Each line seems complete, dynamic and complementary. It is this defense that naturally raises the floor of the franchise.

Prognosis: 10-7, 4^e NFC West, eliminated in Wild Card