Back atop the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks have rediscovered their defensive edge during a two-game winning streak.
However, one pressing issue on offense still needs addressing for Mike Macdonald’s team to emerge as a true contender.
Despite efforts to strike a better balance on offense and ease the burden on quarterback Geno Smith, who leads the NFL’s most pass-heavy attack, Seattle’s ground game remains a struggle.
The lack of continuity on the offensive line has played a significant role in the team’s inability to find its rhythm in the run game.
After being limited to just 65 rushing yards in Sunday’s win over Arizona, the Seahawks rank 28th in both rushing yards and yards per carry through 12 weeks.
Ken Walker III, two years removed from surpassing 1,100 rushing yards as a rookie, has been hampered by inconsistent blocking.
The third-year running back is averaging a career-low 3.8 yards per carry and has yet to surpass 500 rushing yards this season.
Still, Walker has shown remarkable ability to create plays, leading all running backs with 53 missed tackles forced.
He’s averaging 3.11 yards per carry after contact and has scored seven touchdowns despite the challenges.
Given these underwhelming numbers, it would be easy for coach Mike Macdonald to dwell on the lack of progress.
However, after reviewing film from Sunday’s win over the Cardinals, Macdonald remains optimistic, believing the run game is on the verge of a breakthrough.
Consistency, he noted, remains the primary obstacle.
“When you look at how we’re planning, implementing, practicing, and executing on the field, there’s some good stuff out there,” Macdonald said.
“It’s just not as consistent as we want, but there are positives. Our guys are working really hard, and our coaches are coming up with solid plans that we’re refining. I think we’re on the right track.”
With offensive balance still elusive, Locked On Seahawks hosts Corbin Smith and Rob Rang dive into how Seattle can revitalize its stagnant run game.
They discuss potential schematic adjustments to simplify things for the offensive line and preview six key positional matchups to watch when the Seahawks face the Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
