How Seahawks special teams will make a huge difference in 2021

The difference makers

Some of the guys on special teams will be known to the Seahawks faithful and receive their necessary recognition, but many go partly or completely unnoticed.

But during the course of the season, these are the guys that win you the field position battle or make that crucial play that leads to the turnover that changes the entire flow of the game.

We all notice the subsequent Russell Wilson pass for a TD or the receiver that makes the vital end zone catch, or the running back that forces his way over the goal line.

But oh so often we can forget the special teams guys who put them in the position to make that play.

Jason Myers

Kickers get paid to make kicks, right? Well, yes, obviously. But let’s not assume this is easy and just gloss over their contribution. Myers got much credit for going 24 of 24 on field goals last season and also made 49 of 53 PATs.

Ask Pete Carroll how nice it is to be able to coach the end of a game when you have such a reliable kicker to make that crucial game-winning kick, as opposed to feeling you have to go for it on fourth down to get that bit closer.

Michael Dickson

The life of a punter is not a glamorous one, no Seahawks fan ever wants to see him on the field after all. But when he has been needed Dickson has been amongst the very best in the league in his fledgling 3 year NFL career. Due to the tremendous work by Dickson and his special teams colleagues, Dickson has had just one unit blocked in 213 attempts.

For his career, he averages net 43.9 yards per punt. In 2018 he pinned the opposition inside their own 20 on 35.9 of punts, this increased to 45.95% in 2019 and increased again last season to a superb 52.46%.

Kick returners

The Seahawks used six different guys to return kicks in 2020, the four that did the bulk of the work were Travis Homer, D.J.Reed, Freddie Swain and David Moore. Moore has left via free agency, whilst Reed had the best average of the other three at 27.4 yards on kickoff returns, whereas Moore averaged just 15.7 yards per kickoff return.

Again ask Russell Wilson how he feels about starting a drive between the 25 and thirty yard lines as opposed to inside his won 15 and you will get some idea of what  huge difference these yards make.

The Seahawks have added potential kick returners in D’Wayne Eskridge, Connor Wedington and Cade Johnson. So coach Izzo could have an embarrassment of riches in that area in 2021.