‘This is really special’: Surprising Seahawks continuing to exceed expectations

RENTON, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks didn’t participate within the NFL’s commerce frenzy earlier than Tuesday’s deadline, but it surely wasn’t for a scarcity of curiosity. In typical vogue, basic supervisor John Schneider – with additional 2023 draft capital however not lots of 2022 cap area — was in conversations on a number of potential offers.

“It’s simply the best way we do it,” coach Pete Carroll stated Wednesday. “John was actually lively and burning the telephones up and stuff simply to know what was out there, who was on the market and all that type of stuff. However nothing match.”

Depth stays a difficulty at inside linebacker behind starters Jordyn Brooks and Cody Barton, who’ve each been taking part in higher. However this wasn’t just like the 2019 and 2020 commerce deadlines when the Seahawks made much-needed strikes for security Quandre Diggs and defensive finish Carlos Dunlap, respectively.

It is a workforce with none apparent front-line holes.

It’s the identical workforce that began 1-2 — with one other depressing begin on protection. Sure, the identical workforce that was purported to take a step again with Russell Wilson now not at quarterback and a bunch of younger gamers round his former backup-turned-replacement, Geno Smith.

But right here they’re, sitting at 5-3 with a one-game lead within the NFC West heading into Sunday’s rematch with the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium (FOX, 4:05 pm E.T). The Seahawks are two-point underdogs towards the Cardinals, whom they beat 19-9 in Week 6 to kick off their defensive turnaround and their three-game win streak.

“It is occurring,” Carroll stated after the Seahawks’ 27-13 win over the beforehand 6-1 New York Giants on Sunday, “and I am actually enthusiastic about it. We’re simply actually getting warmed up. We’re proper in the midst of all of it, and we have a protracted technique to go.”

ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index isn’t fairly as bought on the Seahawks, giving them solely a 32.1% likelihood to make the playoffs. That’s ninth within the NFC, proper behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Inexperienced Bay Packers, each 3-5. FPI has Seattle at solely a 12.7% to win the division, properly behind the 4-4 San Francisco 49ers at 76.4%.

However nothing in regards to the Seahawks’ success appears like a mirage — not even Smith’s brilliance, as surprising because it has been. He threw two extra landing passes towards the Giants to present him 13 this season in comparison with solely three interceptions, good for the NFL’s third-best ratio. He’s fourth in Whole QBR, first in completion fee and likewise first in adjusted completion fee, which components in air yards, and thus underscores how he’s doing rather more than merely feasting on dinks and dunks.

Smith can be making performs on the age of 32 and regularly placing the Seahawks in advantageous conditions by altering calls on the line of scrimmage, displaying the command of Shane Waldron’s offense that helped him beat out Drew Lock for the beginning job.

“He is the true deal,” Carroll stated of Smith, who was simply named the NFC’s Offensive Participant of the Month for October. “… He is aware of precisely what he is doing and he reveals you week in and week out, throw after throw after throw.”

Exterior of a expensive damage, the one concern in regards to the sustainability of the Seahawks’ success could also be that their rookies have hit the proverbial late-season wall. However proper now, the six who’re already main contributors solely seem like they’re getting higher. Working again Kenneth Walker III sealed the win over the Giants along with his fifth landing within the final 4 video games to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month. Cornerback Tariq Woolen, with three interceptions in October and 4 this season, took house the defensive model of the award.

“I believe the most important factor is that it’s wonderful what we will accomplish when no one cares who will get the credit score,” stated veteran receiver Tyler Lockett, who caught the go-ahead landing towards the Giants to redeem a pair of uncharacteristic blunders earlier within the recreation. “My highschool basketball coach used to at all times discuss that … We have now a bunch of men which might be prepared to purchase in. If you take a look at the rookie class, they most likely haven’t stated 500 phrases since they’ve been right here. They simply put their head down and work, like actually. And so they pay attention, they do no matter you need them to have the ability to do, they usually go on the market they usually shine every week.”

Carroll downplayed his aid after being written off as a rebuilding workforce heading into the season, although he stated they’ve drawn not less than some satisfaction from exceeding their low outdoors expectations. Nonetheless, later in his postgame press convention, he indulged when requested how a lot enjoyable he’s having.

“That is actually particular,” Carroll stated. “… I hate that we had been crappy early within the yr and we weren’t doing stuff proper, however we held on to it and we felt like we knew the place we might go, and we’re getting going. You realize, all of the those who doubt, such as you’re shedding, ‘we run the ball an excessive amount of,’ ‘you do not perceive soccer’ and ‘he cannot keep up with the brand new recreation’ and all that type of stuff — that is a bunch of crap, I am telling you. Look, we’re doing tremendous. We’re all proper. We’re enhancing day in and day trip.”