Under Larry Izzo, Seahawks Continue to Put ‘Special’ in Special Teams

Since getting off to the races with a 6-3 begin to surge to the highest of the NFC West, little has gone proper for the Seahawks as they’ve fallen out of the playoff image by shedding 4 of their previous 5 video games.

However whereas Seattle hasn’t been in a position to run the ball with any consistency on offense nor decelerate opposing run video games and restrict explosives on protection for greater than a month, behind the scenes, the particular groups unit has as soon as once more emerged as arguably the most effective within the NFL. Thriving in all sides within the third part of the sport, based on Soccer Outsiders, the workforce leapfrogged Baltimore into first place in particular groups DVOA with three video games left to play.

Following the lead of coordinator Larry Izzo, who was an esteemed Professional Bowl specialist throughout a stellar 14-year profession with the Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets, the Seahawks play sensible, aggressive, and hard on particular groups. His imprint will be seen on all the pieces they do from kick and punt protection to subject purpose block to the kick return recreation.

Showcasing the velocity coach Pete Carroll raved about through the offseason and coaching camp with quite a few younger gamers similar to receiver Dareke Younger and security Joey Blount contributing, Seattle’s kickoff and punt protection items fly down the sphere, swarming returners earlier than they’ve an opportunity to rise up to hurry. Anchored by captain Nick Bellore, who leads the workforce with 11 particular groups tackles and completed second in Professional Bowl voting amongst NFC specialists, they rank first in kickoff DVOA (6.1) and seventh in punt DVOA (4.4).

Earlier within the season, the Seahawks punt protection workforce single-handedly propelled the workforce to a 27-13 victory over the Giants, as tight finish Will Dissly and working again Travis Homer compelled a pair of fumbles by returner Richie James that set the offense up with nice subject place. The 2 turnovers led on to 10 factors for the house workforce, together with a game-clinching landing run by Ken Walker III halfway via the fourth quarter that prolonged the result in 14 factors.

With punter Michael Dickson having fun with one other robust season booming the ball off his proper foot and the protection workforce rapidly cleansing up returners in pursuit, Seattle ranks second within the NFL netting 45 yards per punt. Per Professional Soccer Reference, the workforce has solely allowed 159 punt return yards all season, the eighth-lowest complete within the league.

In the meantime, kicker Jason Myers has continued his odd pattern of taking part in at his greatest throughout even-numbered years, rating first in subject purpose and additional level DVOA at 9.5. Coming off a disappointing 2021 marketing campaign by which he made lower than 75 p.c of his subject purpose makes an attempt, he is been near-automatic this 12 months for the Seahawks, splitting the uprights on 26 out of 27 subject purpose makes an attempt and every of his previous 21 kicks courting again to Week 4.

Already with extra made subject objectives than his historic 2020 season the place he made all 24 makes an attempt, Myers has taken his recreation to a different stage with free company proper across the nook. The veteran place kicker has been cash from lengthy distance, nailing all six of his subject purpose makes an attempt of 50-plus yards and placing him one away from tying a career-high for makes in a season from that distance. When accounting for his near-perfect 37 for 38 additional level totals, he is accounted for 8.2 factors per recreation, fifth-most within the NFL in 2022.

Making Dickson and Myers’ success much more spectacular, they have not missed a beat with out lengthy snapper Tyler Ott, as Carson Tinker has achieved a improbable job in his absence and completed fifth in Professional Bowl voting.

Even within the return recreation the place the workforce has struggled at occasions, Seattle ranks a good seventh in kick return DVOA (3.6). The latest arrival of speedy working again Godwin Igwebuike, who was elevated from the apply squad the previous two video games, has offered a serious jolt on particular groups as he has returned six kicks for 187 yards and north of 31 yards per return in these two contests. For the season, they rank sixth in return yardage per kickoff.

If there’s one blemish on the Seahawks in any other case dynamic particular groups unit, Izzo hasn’t but been capable of finding a viable resolution for returning punts. Averaging solely 6.5 yards per return, the fifth-lowest complete within the NFL, they rank twenty fourth in punt return DVOA (-3.0), simply their worst rating within the third part of the sport. They’re considered one of six groups this 12 months that hasn’t had at the very least one punt return of 20 or extra yards.

Nonetheless, throughout the board, Seattle has acquired excellent manufacturing on particular groups all season lengthy, together with cornerback Tariq Woolen blocking a subject purpose in a Week 2 loss at San Francisco that was returned for a landing by teammate Mike Jackson. Even when accidents have struck, together with Homer lacking a complete of 5 video games resulting from rib and knee points and Bellore lacking a recreation with a concussion, Izzo has been capable of finding succesful replacements to step in and hold the unit buzzing at full capability.

In actuality, this success should not be a revelation. Since Izzo took the reins in 2020, Seattle has completed within the high 5 in particular groups DVOA all three seasons. It has been one fixed for a franchise that has undergone substantial roster and training adjustments together with curler coaster outcomes on offense and protection throughout that point. Within the course of, Izzo has constructed a rock strong resume for a head teaching place down the street if he desires one.

Contemplating how a lot the Seahawks have struggled defensively for a lot of the season and the regression on offense with out a working recreation to enrich Geno Smith, they may probably want their particular groups items to ship clutch performs to complete robust and push for a playoff spot. Fortunately, Izzo’s group has given no purpose to imagine they will not be up for the problem and no person ought to be shocked if they arrive via with a key turnover or two whereas Myers retains dialing up from lengthy distance over the following three weeks.

Hey, 12s! Get your Seahawks Tickets from SI Tickets … HERE!

Need the most recent in breaking information and insider data on the Seahawks? Click on Right here to subscribe to AllSeahawks.com’s Publication.

Comply with All Seahawks.com on Twitter and Fb

Make sure that to subscribe to our every day podcast @lockedonseahawks right this moment! Click on right here To Hear.

Need much more Seattle Seahawks information? Try the SI.com workforce web page right here.