Seattle Seahawks' Third-Down Struggles 'Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb!' - DK Metcalf
The Seattle Seahawks came into this season with a lot of hype and after a wobbly start to the season, coach Pete Carroll's team reeled off three straight wins before losing to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Sitting at 3-2 after losing a game to the Bengals that some think they had no business losing, one blight on coordinator Shane Waldron's offense has been converting third downs.
With the offense showing what it can become when the chains keep moving, receiver DK Metcalf says that improving the unit's third-down struggles comes down to cutting out the mistakes.
“There’s always something to improve on and third downs is just something that sticks out like a sore thumb ..." Metcalf said. "With as many points as we put up, and our red-zone issues is another thing that sticks out.
"If we correct those two things who knows how good this offense could be with how many explosive plays, we can already generate from the players we already have?''
Metcalf is right. For all the issues that have plagued the Seattle offense, the unit is still averaging 24.8 points a game (ranking eighth in the league).
But looking at the third-down numbers, Seattle needs to address the issue and fast.
DK Metcalf says the offense's third-down struggles need to be fixed.
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
In their five games, the Seahawks have converted just 18 of their 57 third-down attempts and as Metcalf says, that stat does stick out like a sore thumb.
If that can be fixed, then the offense, which has weapons everywhere you look, could become seriously dangerous.
The other concerning thing is the red-zone conversions for Seattle. Through five weeks, they rank 21st in the league for converting red zone trips into touchdowns.
In total, 22 trips to the red zone have only been cashed in 11 times, and that includes the Seahawks going 1 of 5 against the Bengals and Metcalf knows the offense simply has to finish its good work.
“We’ve just got to finish the drives," Metcalf said. "Just being clean with our hand and keys and just finishing drives in the end zone and not letting the defense dictate us or hold us to three points.”
So all is not lost given we are just five weeks into Seattle's season, but there are two clear areas needing drastic improvement and the silver lining is that the Seahawks could be - actually should be? - 4-2 on the season.
If those issues can get sorted, then as Metcalf says, there's no telling how good this offense could be going forward.
