Seahawks Show Sparks with Graham and Lockett

The story for many this week will be injured running back Marshawn Lynch and whether the team is better off with undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls getting the majority of carries. It’s the sensational storyline, but not the important one. 

Yes, fresh legs are necessary. But whether the punch from the running back position comes from the tank Lynch or the waterbug Rawls is moot: they need both. And the balance will be figured out as the season progresses – though it is good to see the rookie step up when needed. 

What matters for the ‘Hawks, though, is the passing game. With sluggish starts in all three of their games – the ‘Hawks have scored only 19 of their 77 total points in the first halves – and their defense not looking as imposing as in seasons’ past, we have to wonder: what is the team’s identity, particularly in the air? 

Despite the shutout, the week 3 win felt hollow against an inferior Chicago Bears team. Besides Rawls’ debut with 104 yards on the ground, which was more situational than breakout, there were only two plays of note for the Seahawks: Jimmy Graham’s TD catch and Tyler Lockett’s return. 

Leading 6-0 after two “Take it to the” Hauschka field goals in the first half, Lockett ran back the opening third-quarter kick for a 104-yard touchdown. Return TD’s can’t be predicted, or relied upon, yet Lockett will create more of these opportunities than most. He is the single best special teams player in the league right now, and a better than decent receiving option too, grabbing a 23-yard reception in the second half Sunday for a first down. But Graham’s 30-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter seemed to lift the entire team by itself. It provided a portal into something new the offense could be. He’s big, strong, fast, hard to tackle (though he can’t block much) and a potential touchdown machine. 

Graham’s score provided the hope the team needed after their ugly grind of a first half, which included a 12-man on the field penalty, the Bears first three sacks of the season (is it me, or is Wilson staying in the pocket way too long?) and failures by the team to convert first downs on short yardage (despite being the league’s leading rushing team last year). If the Hawks can get threats (Lockett, Baldwin) on the outside and Graham along the seam and middle of the field, their passing game could be dangerous and allow them to open up the run and progress into the playoffs. 

On the defensive side of the ball, though, there are regular holes in the middle of the field — even when facing Bears quarterback Jimmy Clausen, the career backup. He wasn’t able to do much, but big open spaces give fans PTSD after the holes the Rams and Packers enjoyed against the ‘Hawks’ secondary the past two weeks. 

Sherman seems a quarter step slow, Chancellor is either a half step slow or rusty after his holdout (he only had one tackle) and the linebackers look a touch sluggish but were tackling better than the past two weeks. Football is a fast game, both on the field and with how the game passes by veteran superior talent. This is why rookies are so important and, again, why people will be talking about Rawls over Lynch (until next week against the Lions when we predict Lynch will score two bruising touchdowns). 

How can the defense feel the sort of rejuvenation that Graham offered the offense and that Lockett offered the special teams this week? Seattle fans will hope it’s Chancellor’s return, though that’s stil unclear. 

Week 4 will be another test for the secondary. The Detroit Lions aren’t great but they have a good passing game, which features superhuman wideout Calvin Johnson and former Seahawk, Golden Tate. Detroit likely won’t win the game, but questions remain whether the defense will return to form. 

In the mean time, NFC West foe, the Arizona Cardinals, are 3-0 and might as well be 12-0 after crushing the San Francisco 49ers. The division is starting to feel out of reach – unless the ‘Hawks can beat the Cards twice, or their quarterback, Carson Palmer, gets hurt like he did last season. 

It’s a long season, of course, but this week the ‘Hawks got a win and showed a few sparks that could move them closer toward the promised land.