Seahawks Michael Dickson is NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Seahawks punter Michael Dickson is off to a great start in 2020.

For the second week in a row to start the 2020 season a member of the Seattle Seahawks is being honored as an NFC player of the week. Last week it was Russell Wilson after his 4 touchdown performance against the Atlanta Falcons. This week it is Seattle punter Michael Dickson who earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for week two.

Dickson punted four times against the Patriots with each punt pinning the New England Patriots inside their own 20-yard line. Twice New England started inside its own 10. Dickson averaged 50 yards a punt but more importantly had no return yards. Net punting is more important than average yards per punt and when your net is zero, you’ve done something really good.

So far in 2020, Dickson has had six of his eight punts downed inside his opponents’ 20-yard line. Dickson is truly a defensive weapon when he is on his game (which is most of the time) and one of the reasons he is one of the most important Seahawks. He consistently puts teams behind the chains.

Dickson this year versus his first two seasons

Dickson was a first-team All-Pro in his rookie year of 2018. That year, Dickson was second in yards per punt (48.2) in the NFL and sixth in net yards per punt (42.5). Last season, though, Dickson fell to 20th in yards per punt (45.1) and 19th in net yards per punt (40.9).

Whatever Dickson’s issue was last year, he appears through the first two games of 2020 to be even better than 2018. Dickson is fifth in yards per punt (48.9) and third in net yards per punt (47.9). Dickson is also second with six punts downed inside his opponents 20.

Sure, the Seahawks defense still allows too many long drives but the main reason they have such long drives in the first place is because of Michael Dickson. If Dickson continues to punt like he has through the first two games he will probably win another NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor this season.