The Seattle Seahawks offense will meet its most challenging test Monday night when the Houston Texans roll into Lumen Field. The Texans’ defense is allowing a league low 12.2 points per game. Houston boasts the fifth-ranked pass defense, which is allowing just 175 passing yards a game. Running against the Texans is just as tough; they are allowing 90.6 yards per game, which is sixth-best in the league.
Will the pass need to open soften up the defense for the run?
Sam Darnold is leading the fourth-best passing attack, averaging 252.2 passing yards per game. After a subpar start to the season in which he had two subpar quarterback ratings in the first two games, Donald has caught fire. In his last four games, Darnold has completed 105 of 238 pass attempts for 1,096 yards, nine touchdowns, and just one interception.
It is highly unlikely that the Seahawks will rely solely on the pass to beat the Texans. To beat the Texans, Seattle has to muster a running game. Leading up to the Texans game, the Seahawks’ philosophy has been to use the run to soften the defense. On Monday, the Seahawks’ run game has to deliver some body blows to the Texans’ defense.
Inconsistent run game
To deliver lethal blows to a defense via the run game, the Seahawks have to win the early downs. In their last four games, the Seahawks have reached first down seven times against the Saints, six times against the Cardinals, and the Buccaneers. Against the Jaguars, the Seahawks gained just two first downs by running the ball. To run effectively, the Seahawks will need the offensive line and the running backs to work as a unit on a consistent basis.
“ Like anything else, we’re just continuing to evolve as an offense, we’re continuing to work on things. We’re just going to continue to work on it Monday through Saturday, or I guess in this case, Tuesday through Sunday,” said Darnold when asked about the teams commitment to the run game during the week. “We’ll be ready to roll by the time Monday night comes around, but yeah, we’re always evolving as an offense and making sure that everyone’s on point, whether it’s the run game or the pass game.”
The Seahawks offense is averaging 104 yards per game, which is an inflated number given the team’s rushing total over the last four games. In week three against the Saints, the Seahawks rushed for 87 yards. The 155 yards in week four at Arizona were a season best, followed by a 122-yard output against the Buccaneers in week five. In last week’s win over the Jaguars, the Seahawks rushed for 60 yards.
Can the Seahawks unleash Ken Walker
The tandem of Zach Charbonnet and Ken Walker II has worked with mixed results. Charbonnet is the short-yardage and between-the-tackles runner. His counterpart, Walker, is outside the tackle and one move away from paydirt as a tailback. One of the most significant issues is getting enough reps for Walker to find a rhythm to attack the defense. After a impressive practice week, head coach Mike Macdonald is looking for a breakout game from Walker and the running back unit.
“ I’d say with Ken (Kenneth Walker III), one thing you appreciate about all of our backs is how they practice. Ken’s always had incredible practice habits, as does Zach (Charbonnet) and George (Holani). But it’s important to get all the reps and it takes muscle memory to get the tracks right and be confident in those things and keep the consistency going. That’s what you’re seeing with Ken, said Macdonald. “ He’s gaining more confidence and with those little details, and we did a great job this week. But his effort and intent have always been there. He’s a great practice player.”
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