Seahawks must contain the explosive Alvin Kamara

The Seahawks won’t have to face Drew Brees when the Saints come to town. It still won’t be easy, not with Alvin Kamara on the other side of the field.

The Seahawks caught a break in their third game of the season. They won’t have to face one of the NFL’s all-time greatest quarterbacks, Drew Brees. In his analysis of the Saints quarterback situation, Lee Vowell wrote that he’d rather have the Hawks face Brees and beat him. I completely agree. But the guy that scares me isn’t Teddy Bridgewater. It’s the dynamic Alvin Kamara.

The Seahawks haven’t faced Kamara, as he joined New Orleans in 2017, the year after our last meeting. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, he’s as dangerous coming out of the backfield for a pass as he is with the ball in his hands. And he’s a very dangerous runner.

As a rookie, Kamara averaged 6.1 yards per carry on 120 rushes and found the end zone eight times. He did just as much damage as a receiver. The Saints targeted him 100 times, and Kamara rewarded them with 81 catches for 826 yards and five more touchdowns. That’s 1,554 yards and 13 scores on 201 touches. That is a dangerous man.

Seattle Seahawks

Last season his averages took a dip, but his overall production climbed even higher. With Mark Ingram limited to some extent, teams could key on Kamara more than in 2017. He still ran for nearly 900 yards, added another 700 through the air, and scored a total of 18 touchdowns. Kamara is certainly one of the league’s most versatile and dangerous running backs. He’s definitely the toughest challenge at running back the Seahawks have seen this season.

I’d say he’s the most dangerous back Seattle has faced since they last played the Carolina Panthers. No, I’m not forgetting about Elliot or Gurley. But to me, Christian McCaffrey presents the Hawks defense with more fits than anyone. I’m sure you remember that last year, McCaffrey absolutely shredded the Hawks defense. He ran for 125 yards and a score, and caught all 11 of his targets for 112 yards and another touchdown. He was nearly unstoppable.

That’s what concerns me about the Saints game. Kamara and McCaffrey have such similar skillsets, it’s scary. Both are incredibly fluid runners, both can shift effortlessly into a higher gear, and both have the softest hands this side of Doug Baldwin. Okay, maybe not that good, but they can both bring the ball home. McCaffrey ate up the Hawks defense, which is why I’m so concerned about Kamara.

Then again, the Seahawks won that game in Carolina, despite the heroics of their running back. As for Kamara, the Rams held him to just 60 total yards last week on 14 touches. Don’t think for a moment that Saints coach Sean Payton won’t do all he can to get the ball in Kamara’s hands more this week, especially with Brees out. Seattle will have its hands full with Mr. Kamara, but I still think the home team will take this one.