MORSE: A Deep Dive Into the Seahawks
Super Bowl LX Scouting Report: Seattle Seahawks Offense, Defense & Special Teams Deep Dive
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It’s time to learn about the Patriots’ opponent, the Seattle Seahawks. This is for all the marbles in Super Bowl LX. I purposely didn’t post about the Super Bowl because of all the media attention, with two weeks to get every bit of info about the two teams. Here is my breakdown of the Seahawks.
| Starter | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |
| QB | Sam Darnold | Drew Lock | Jalen Milroe | – |
| RB | Kenneth Walker | George Holani | Zach Charbonnet IR | Kenny McIntosh IR |
| WR | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Jake Bobo | Cody White IR | – |
| WR | Cooper Kupp | Dareke Young | ||
| WR | Rashid Shaheed | Tory Horton IR | – | – |
| TE | AJ Barner | Elijah Arroyo | Eric Saubert | Nick Kallerup |
| FB | Robbie Ouzts Q | Brady Russell Q | – | – |
| LT | Charles Cross | Josh Jones | Amari Kight D | Mason Richman |
| LG | Grey Zabel | Christian Haynes | Bryce Cabeldue IR | |
| C | Jalen Sundell | Olu Oluwatimi | – | – |
| RG | Anthony Bradford | Christian Haynes | – | – |
| RT | Abraham Lucas | Mason Richman | – | – |
The Seahawks Offense rankings in the Regular and Post-season:
Regular Season Rank Post-Season
Overall 3451.4 Yards Per Game 7th 338.3 Yards Per Game
Passing 228.1 YPG 8th 213.5 YPG
Rushing 123.3 YPG 10th 125 YPG
Scoring 28.4 Points 3 36 Points
At Quarterback the Seahawks rely on veteran Sam Darnold. Can the Seahawks win with the erratic Darnold at QB? Over the 1st half of the season, Darnold was one of the best QBs in the league. However, in the 2nd hal,f he turned back into a turnover machine with 9 INTs. Darnold is not good under pressure. If the Patriots Defense can get pressure on Darnold, he will crack. On the season, he threw for 4,048 yards, 67.7 completion %, 8.5 YPA, 25 TDs, and 14 INTs. He has been better in the two playoff games at 69.8% completion %, 4 TDs, and 0 INTs. The 8-year veteran was the 1st round (#3) selection by the Jets in 2018. Darnold is just 28 years old. Remember, this is the same QB who admitted to seeing ghosts when pressured by the Patriots as a rookie. Darnold is no threat to run and should be right there in the pocket for the rush to get. The backup QB is Drew Lock.
Seattle lost backup runningback Zach Charbonnet to a knee injury against San Francisco in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Charbonnet ran for 730 yards and led the team with 12 TDs. Kenneth Walker is the big threat and will have to carry nearly the entire load. In two playoff games, Walker has rushed 38 times for 178 yards, 4.7 YPC, and 4 TDs. Seattle wants to run the ball first, but they haven’t played a front like the Patriots yet. Walker has 7 receptions on 7 targets for 78 yards, 11.1 YPC, and 0 TDs. Charbonnet was a little bigger than Walker, especially when running in the Red Zone. George Holani is now the backup, and he had just 4 yards on 3 carries last week after Charbonnet was hurt. He does have 3 Catches on 4 Targets for 27 yards, 9.0 YPC, and 0 TDs. FB Robbie Ouzts is a converted TE playing Fullback and is strictly a blocking back. He didn’t have a carry in the regular season or playoffs.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a legitimate #1 Wide Receiver in the league. Smith-Njigba led the league in receiving yards with 1,793. The 6’, 197-pound receiver played at Ohio State and was selected in the 2023 draft, 1st round (20). He had 119 receptions on 163 targets for 1,793 yards, 15.1 YPC, and 10 TDs. A huge portion of the Seahawks Offense goes through Smith-Njigba. Seattle moves him all over the formations, and he plays all the different WR positions. I am interested to see if the Patriots try and match up Christian Gonzalez against Smith-Njigba. I am sure the goal of the defense is to take away the best player.
Cooper Kupp has emerged as a very reliable 2nd receiver. In the two playoff games, Kupp is back in form with 9 catches on 11 Targets for 96 yards, 10.7 YPC, and 1 TD. Rashid Shaheen was a terrific trade deadline acquisition. He is a dangerous return man who had a Kickoff Return TD against San Francisco in the Divisional Round playoff game. In two games, he has been targeted 5 times with only 1 catch against Los Angeles, but it was a big 51-yard catch. Jake Bobo is the backup receiver and had 2 catches on 3 Targets for 33 yards. 15.1 YPC and 1 TD.
AJ Barner is the top TE, but he has only been targeted 3 time with 2 Catches for 13 Yards, 6.5 YPC, and 0 TDs in the two playoff games. Rookie TE Elijah Arroyo, a 5th round pick this past draft, had 15 Catches on 26 Targets for 179 Yards, 15.9 YPC, and 1 TD during the regular season. He has not been targeted in the postseason.
The Offensive line is the key for the Seahawks. How they are able to block the Patriots’ improved D-Line will be a key to his game. If Milt Williams and Christian Barmore eat up the interior O-line like they did the Top Rated O-line of Denver, it could be a long day for Sam Darnold and the Seahawks. Seattle’s O-line is ranked 15th, 4 spots behind the Patriots’ O-line. Charles Cross is everything Seattle hoped for when they drafted him #9 overall in the 2022 Draft. The 6’5”, 307-pound LT played at Mississippi State. His PFF grade for the Regular Season was 73.2, 30th of 89 OTs. In the Post-Season, his Grade is 83.3, giving up 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hits, 3 Hurries, and 3 Pressures.
Left Guard Grey Zabel is a rookie that has progressed nicely over the course of the season. His PFF grade for the Regular Season was 57.3, 52 of 81 Guards. The 6’6” 305-pound guard played at North Dakota State and was selected in this year’s draft, 1st round (18). His PFF grade for the season was 57.3, 52 of 81 Guards. For the Post-Season, his grade improved to 77.3, allowing 0 sacks, 1 QB Hit, 3 Hurries, and 4 Pressures.
Center Jalen Sundell also played at North Dakota State. The 6’5” 300-pound Center went Undrafted in the 2024 Draft. His PFF grade was 64.6 for the Regular Season but dropped a bit in postseason play to 63.4. In the postseason, he has given up 1 sack, 1 QB Hit, 3 Hurries, and 5 Pressures. Right Guard is the weak spot. Anthony Bradford is a 6’4”, 332-pound guard who played at LSU and was drafted in the 2023 draft, 4th round (109). For the Regular Season, his PFF grade was 50.6, 70th amongst 81 Guards. For the postseason, he dropped to a 44 Grade and a 3.1 Pass blocking Grade against the LA Rams in the Conference Championship game. I have never seen a grade that low. In the postseason he has given up 1 sack, 1 QB Hits 5 Hurries, and a7 Pressures.
Abraham Lucas is a solid Right Tackle. The 6’6”, 350-pound Tackle played at Washington State and was selected by Seattle in the 2022 Draft, 3rd round (72). His PFF Grade for the Regular Season was 75.6, but that improved to 84.7 for the Post-Season. For the postsason, he has given up 0 Sacks, 0 Hurries, 2 Hurries, and 2 Pressures.
Regular Season Rank Post-Season
Overall 285.9 Yards Per Game 6 357.5
Passing 193.9 YPG 10 246.5
Rush 91.9 YPG 3 111
Scoring 17.2 Points 1 16.5
Red Zone 50% 2 72.7%
3rd Down 32.1% 1 35%
| Starter | 2nd | 3rd | |
| LDE | DeMarcus Lawrence | Mike Morris | – |
| LDT | Byron Murphy II | Brandon Pili | – |
| RDT | Leonard Williams | Jarran Reed | Rylie Mills |
| RDE | Derick Hall | Jared Ivey | – |
| WLB | Drake Thomas | Tyrice Knight | |
| MLB | Ernest Jones | Chazz Surratt IR | – |
| SLB | Uchenna Nwosu | Boye Mafe | Connor O’Toole |
| LCB | Devon Witherspoon | Nehemiah Pritchett | – |
| SS | Coby Bryant | Ty Okada | AJ Finley IR |
| FS | Julian Love | Ty Okada | |
| RCB | Josh Jobe | Riq Woolen | – |
| NB | Nick Emmanwori |
The Seahawks Defense us very good. Drake Maye has struggled against good Defenses the last three weeks in the playoffs. To Maye’s credit, he has played the #1, #2, and #5 Defenses. No Quarterback has ever had to run the gauntlet that Maye has had to endure, with another strong Defense in the Super Bowl.
DeMarcus Lawrence is the Left Defensive End. The 6’3” 265-pound Edge played at Boise State and was selected in the 2014 Draft by Dallas in the 2nd round (34). His PFF grade for the Regular Season was 82.9, 13th of 115 Edge players. In the Post-Season he maintained a 73.7 grade. He had 53 Tackles in the Regular Season and 2 Sacks, 2 QB Hits, and 5 Hurries in the Post-Season.
Byron Murphy is the Left Defensive Tackle. The 6’1” 308-pound DT played at Texas and was selected in the 2024 Draft 1 (16) by Seattle. His Regular Season PFF Grade was 72.4, good for 25th of 134 DTs. In the Post-Season his grade went down to 60. He had 60 Tackles in the Regular Season and added 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hits, and 7 Hurries in the Post-Season.
Leonard Williams is the Right Defensive Tackle. Williams stands 6’5” and is a 302-pound DT who played at USC and was selected in the 2015 1st Round (6) by the New York Jets. His PFF Grade for the regular Season was 75.3, 11th of 134 DTs. In the Post-Season his grade is 70.6. In the Regular Season, he had 62 Tackles. In the postseason, he has 1 Sack, 3 QB Hits, and 4 Hurries. Derrick Hall is the Right Defensive End. He stands 6’3”, 223 pounds. The former EDGE standout at Auburn was selected in the 2023 Draft, 2nd Round (38) by Seattle. His PFF Grade for the Regular Season was 73.3, 37th amongst 115 EDGE players. His Grade dropped to 49.8 in the postseason. In the Regular Season, he had 30 Tackles, and in the postseason, he has 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hits, and 6 Pressures.
Drake Thomas plays the Weakside Linebacker. The 6’ 223-pound LB played at North Carolina State and went Undrafted in the 2023 Draft and was signed by Las Vegas. His PFF Grade for the Regular Season was 73 good for 23rd of 88 LBs. During the Post-Season his grade has been 67.1. He had 96 Tackles in the Regular Season and in the Post Season has 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hits, and just 1 Hurry.
I have read that Ernest Jones is supposed to be this otherworldly type of Linebacker. However, his PFF Grade doesn’t back that up. The 6’2”, 230-pound Backer played at South Carolina and was selected in the 2021 Draft, 3rd round (104) by the LA Rams. His PFF Grade for the Regular Season was 58.8, 49th of 88 Linebackers. During the Post-Season he has elevated his play to a 74.9 grade. For the Regular Season, he had 126 Tackles. In the postseason, he has 0 Sacks, QB Hits or Hurries, and the lone Interception by the Seahawks Defense.
Uchenna Nwosu is listed as the Strongside Linebacker. The 6’2”, 251-pound Backer played at USC and was selected in the 2018 Draft 2nd round (48) by the LA Chargers. His PFF Grade for the Regular Season is 60.4. For the postseason, it drops to 36.3. He had 7 sacks during the Regular season. In the Post-Season he has 0 Sacks, 1 QB Hit, and 4 Hurries. Boye Mafe will get in on passing downs. The 6’4”, 261-pound EDGE played at Minnesota and was selected in the 2022 4th round (109). He had a 69.2 PFF Grade for the Regular Season and a 63.4 grade for the Post-Season. During the Regular Season, he had 31 Tackles, and during the postseason, he had 0 sacks, 0 QB Hits, 1 Pressure.
The secondary starts with Devon Witherspoon, the #1 rated CB by Pro Football Focus. The 5’11”, 181-pound Corner played at Illinois and was selected in the 2023 Draft 1st round (5). His PFF Grade for the Regular Season was 89.7, 1st amongst 114 CBs. For the postseason it is 80. For the Regular Season, he had 72 Tackles, and in the postseason, he has 0 Sacks, QB Hits, or Hurries.
Coby Bryant plays the Strong Safety role. The 6’1”, 193-pound Safety played at Cincinnati and was selected in the 2022 Draft, 4th round (109). His PFF Grade for the Regular Season is 65, 45th of 98 Safeties, and his Post-Season grade is 70. During the Regular Season, he had 66 Tackles, and for the Post-Season, he has 0 Sacks, QB Hits, or Hurries. Julian Love is a free safety. The 5’11”, 195-pound Safety played at Notre Dame and was taken in the 2019 Draft 4th round (108) by the New York Giants. His Regular Season PFF grade is 82.2, 6th of 98 Safeties, and in the postseason, it is 78.8. For the Regular Seaso,n Love had 34 Tackles, and in the Post Season has 0 Sacks, QB Hits, or Hurries.
Josh Jobe is the Right Cornerback. The 5’11”, 190-pound DB played at Alabama and was an UDFA from the 2022 Draft signed by Philadelphia. Nick Emmanwori is a big DB, and they play him all around the formation, but mostly at Nickel back. The rookie 6’3” 227-pound DB played at South Carolina and was selected in the 2nd round (35) of this year’s draft. His PFF grade was 71.4, and he has elevated his play with a 77.9 grade in the postseason. He had 81 Tackles in the Regular Season and in the Post Season he has 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hits, and 1 Hurry.
Tariq Woolen is another big DB. The 6’4”, 205 DB plays a little handsy and is called for many Pass Interference and Defensive Holding calls. The former UTSA star was selected in the 2022 draft, 5th round (153). His PFF grade was 61 for the Regular season and 55.3 in the postseason. He had 41 Tackles in the Regular season, which indicated the amount of playing time he received. In the postseason he has 0 Sacks, QB Hits, or Hurries.
| Starter | 2nd | 3rd | |
| PK | Jason Myers | – | – |
| P | Michael Dickson | – | – |
| H | Michael Dickson | – | – |
| PR | Rashid Shaheed | Jake Bobo | Tory Horton IR |
| KR | Rashid Shaheed | Dareke Young | George Holani |
| LS | Chris Stoll |
The Seahawks Special Teams are very good. Jason Myers is a good kicker, ranked 21st in the league at 85.4%. Myers is second in the league in made Field Goals. Michael Dickson handles the punting. His 42.2 Net Avg is 15th in the league. Rashid Shaheed is a dangerous Kick Returner who averaged 14.1 Yards Per Punt Return with 1 TD, which is 5th in the league. He also handles Kickoff returns and averages 29.8 Yards Per Return, with a 100-yard TD. Shaheed ranks 7th in the league.
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