By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Seahawks dept to be tested against the Saints

The Seattle Seahawks have five players listed as doubtful heading into Sunday’s game against the Saints.

After Friday’s practice, the team declared cornerback Devon Witherspoon ( knee), safety Julian Love ( hamstring), Nick Emmanwori ( ankle ), and RB Zach Charbonnet( foot) doubtful for Sunday’s game.  On Saturday, the team added receiver  Jaxson Smith-Njigba to the dubious list due to an undisclosed illness.

“On those four guys that are listed as doubtful, we were optimistic at the beginning of the week, and now we’re doubtful. That’s their status, “  said Macdonald after Friday’s practice. As if any of the four had any chance to play, Macdonald said, “Right now, no.”

Complicating matters for the Seahawks is  Thursday night’s game with the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale. The quick turnaround from Sunday to Thursday is sure to play a factor in McDonald’s decision on player participation.

“It does. If you were going into a bye week, those funky timetables are definitely taken into account, but we’re trying to do everything we possibly can to win this game.”

RUN GAME CONSISTENCY

To beat a deceiving 0-2 Saints team, the Seahawks will have to run the ball with efficiency. In last week’s win over the Steelers, the team rushed for 117 total yards.  Ken Walker rushed for 105 of those yards and scored a back-breaking touchdown on third and  19. The 117 rushing yards opened up the play-action passing game. After some early struggles, quarterback Sam Darnold found his footing and threw two touchdowns to offset his two interceptions.  Darnold finished the day completing  22 of 33 pass attempts for  295 yards. He was sacked twice for minus 17 yards.

The efficiency of the run game gave Darnold time to settle down. While it’s doubtful that Darnold will have another slow start, the Seahawks will need to have a productive ground game. Enter George Holani. The chance of Charbonnet playing without practicing all week are slim. Holani has demonstrated that he possesses the skills to compete in the NFL.  While he has no regular season carries in the regular season, Holani won the third running back job with a solid preseason in which he totalled 12 carries for 110 and a touchdown. Holani scored a special teams touchdown against the Steelers when he recovered a kickoff in the end zone.

SAFETY POSITION

After missing practice, Love was able to make a late recovery and play in the Steelers game. The hope from the Seahawks’ perspective is that history will repeat itself.  Love missed the first two practices of the week and was limited during Friday’s practice.  If  Love is limited, Macdonald and his coaching staff will look to  Ty Okada and D’Anthony Bell.  Both saw special teams action in Pittsburgh. This is Okada’s third season with the Seahawks.

This is Bell’s first season after spending the last three with the Cleveland Browns. Both players played over significant playing time in the Seattle preseason final against the Packers. Okada played all 69 defensive snaps at safety, and Bell played 66 snaps at the other safety position.  After Friday’s practice, Macdonald was asked if Okada would start.  “You can expect to see Ty (Okada) in a larger role, ‘ was Macdonald’s reply. While he has the same designation as  Love, it is highly unlikely that Emmanwori would see any game action without a full week of practice.

LEADING RECEIVER   AILING

If Smith, the team’s leading receiver, is unable to go, rookie Tory Horton would be the next man up. The promising rookie caught his first NFL touchdown in the  Steelers game and overcame a late summer injury to not only make the team but earn first-team punt return duties.  Cooper Kupp had his best receiving game as a Seahawk in the Steelers contest. Kupp had seven receptions for 90 yards. Another option for offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will be to throw more passes to the tight ends. Elija Arroyo and A.J.Barner had two receptions apiece. Arroyo totaled 31 yards and Barner had 26 receiving yards and one touchdown.

BIG TAKE


The Seahawks are the clear definition of team and it is by design. MacDonald’s coaching philosophy is built on 12 and one, and the first weeks have shown it in the way the team has performed. The mantra all means that there is no one true superstar but a group of very talented players who compete daily to make each other better.

If the interior defensive line can continue to exert pressure while rushing just four , and the offensive line takes another step forward in its pass blocking, then the Seahawks will be able to weather this early injury storm they are navigating.

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