Want Seahawks To Throw More? Invest in More Receiving Weapons

Perhaps the trendiest thing to do on Seahawks Twitter right now is to “bash” the team for being too run-heavy. And while the top level of this group understands, too many seem to ignore one important problem with the current roster.

Now, just to clarify, I love that the Seahawks run the ball and are more committed to it than any team in the NFL except maybe the Ravens. But like most people, I think they can stick with it too long. This is where you are screaming about the Cowboys game. I agree they were too stubborn in their gameplan.

But for the most part, I have no issue with them being a run first team. Yes, Russell Wilson is elite and can win you games without a run game or defense, as seen from the Carolina Panthers game. But there is little doubt that Russell is best when he is complemented by a good run game.

The commitment to the run game also helps the defense stay off the field. In 2018, the defense somehow finished 11th in PPG despite being 17th in yards allowed. Yes, turnovers played a big role, but so does ball control of the offense.

But now we are straying further from our bigger point. The majority of the crowd that wants Seattle to air it out more are missing one key point. Exactly who would you like to throw the ball to? Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett are both really good. Are they elite, number one types? No.

Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks need more receivers to pass more often

So when this group demands they throw it 40 times a game, my question is to whom? Wilson makes his receivers better, no question about it. But when David Moore is your #3 WR and you don’t have a dominant pass-catching running back or tight end, why are you so sure that more passing attempts would be better?

Since joining the site, I’ve written a few times about Seattle needing to target wide receivers this off-season and treat it like a need. And typically, the feedback received is ” they have too many other holes to fill.”

But if you want to throw the ball more, shouldn’t you tailor your offense around that goal? Shouldn’t you be investing serious capital in a true #1 receiver? Where is your James White? Are D.J. Fluker and J.R. Sweezy really the right fit in the offense you want to run?

If you believe the Seahawks should spend this entire off-season redesigning its 27 PPG offense to be a pass-heavy squad, that is a discussion worth having. If you just want the team to blindly commit to the pass without major personnel changes, you are missing the boat entirely.

The Seahawks, under Pete Carroll and John Schneider, have always been built to run the ball, limit turnovers, and trust your QB to win the game late. And for seven years, it has worked well. In fact, the one season they didn’t make the playoffs was the one season they were incapable of running the ball.

So, asking the Seahawks to completely change their identity is fine. Ragging on them last year for running the ball with run-heavy personnel? Doesn’t make a lot of sense. It is highly unlikely that the Seahawks are going to make the drastic changes to become a pass-heavy team. But in order to complain about them not throwing the ball enough, we must acknowledge that the personnel needs drastic changes.