By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

THREE KEYS TO A SEAHAWKS VICTORY IN NEW YORK

A confident  2-1 Seahawks team will take on a 1-2 New York Giants team that is searching for early-season answers. An embarrassing 40-0 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on opening day was followed up with a dramatic  31-28 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The Giants scored  17 points in the final 8:51 to tie the biggest comeback win in franchise history. The dramatic win was followed by a 30-12 loss to the  San Francisco 49ers.  For the Giants, it is a matter of which team will show up. For the Seahawks, it is a matter of consistency.

SEATTLE IDENTITY

The Seahawks know who they are the question is can they be consistent and continue to improve? After a bewildering home opening loss to the Rams, the Seahawks beat the Lions in OT at Detroit and a  convincing 37-27 win the Panthers followed. The win was convincing but questions remained.

THIRD DOWN ISSUE

The Seahawks offense is ranked 17th overall averaging 332 yards a game with 50% of their drives ending in a  score.  A 5.4 yards per play is another box to check. The truth is the Seahawks can check off a lot of boxes on offense except the most important one.  Third down conversion. A mere 30.3%  third down conversion continues to be the team’s Achilles heel. As a result, the team is 29th in scoring.  A balanced offensive attack that can produce long sustained drives will be critical for a Seahawks victory against a Giants team that likes to blitz.

“I think the challenge is always going to be finding that consistent rhythm. We know we’re not where we want to be right now on 3rd downs, and it’s been something that we’ve stressed, we’re worked at, but also making sure that we know that 3rd down, it’s an important down. We know it’s that, but it’s not making it more than it is.” Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.

“We had some great drives where we were executing at such a high level on 1st and 2nd down and then getting into the red zone, so we just add the 3rd down into making it normal like it is on 1st and 2nd down and operating and executing at a high level, that’s something that can come full circle for us offensively and allow us to operate at an even more efficient level”

JAMAL ADAMS FACTOR

After a gruelling 18-month recovery from a horrific injury, Jamal Adams is set to make his 2023 season debut Monday Night against the Giants. Seattle has done a good job of easing injured players back into the line-up. Devon Witherspoon is a good example. How and where will the team play Adams?  All signs point to Adams playing close to the box to aid with the run and be a destructible force on passing downs. The question is Adam’s ability to play pass defense. The Giants could send tight end and slot receivers on crossing routes behind line-backers Bobby Wagner and Jordyn  Brooks and force Quandre Diggs to roll down. If that happens the Seahawks cornerbacks will have no help on deep routes. A strong push from the Seahawk’s defensive interior would put pressure on Giants Daniel Jones who is completing just  64%  of his passes and has been picked off four times.

A DIVERSE OFFENSE

In the win over the Panthers  DK Metcalf caught six passes for 112. Tight end Noah Fant had four receptions for 41 yards. Ken Walker III,  Colby Parkinson, and Tyler Locket all had three receptions.  Rookie Jake Bobo was the only pass catcher with a TD. Fellow rookie  Jackson Smith-Njiba had just one reception.  In the week two win over the Detroit Lions  Lockett had eight receptions for  59 and two touchdowns. If the offense is going to have any success against the blitzing Giants  Geno Smith has to find a way to get the ball to Lockett and Smith-Njigba in the shallow routes.

 Smith has been patient in the pocket and going through most of his progressions. On  Monday he will need to stay a little longer with the shallow routes before looking downfield for the big play.  Walker III was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his 97 yards and two touchdown performance. A similar performance will open up the play-action game for Smith and give him time to scan the field when in the pocket.

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