Seahawks can expect breakout years from these three offensive players

The Seahawks can expect breakthrough seasons from these three players on the offensive side of the ball. Their play will have a huge impact on Seattle’s 2021 success.

As always, the Seahawks have high expectations for this season. That’s nothing new, right 12s? What will be new this season is the impact these three players on offense will have on the Hawks’ march through the postseason.

Before I dive in, I’d like to give a nod to the predictions of two of my compatriots here on 12thManRising. Lee Vowell listed three studs a few months ago, and Andy Excell gave you five candidates to watch this season. He does, you know; excel, I mean.

Three Seahawks players who will breakout on offense

Okay, that’s enough frivolity for the moment. Let’s get to the good stuff, 12s. Oh, a caveat here: I’m not going to consider players that we all know are kinda good, like, ohhh…TE Gerald Everett. He got seven starts last year in LA and has over 100 catches in the past three seasons. Besides, we all know Will Dissly has got the goods if he can just stay healthy. Lee thinks Uncle Will will finally see the big year we’ve all expected since he blew up the Broncos for 105 yards in his debut.

I think there’s just too much competition for those precious receptions. Believe me, I’d love to be proven wrong about Everett, as I love the guy’s game. A lot of people are picking him as a breakout player. I just think he’s too close to established already, for one, and that Dissly will steal too many opportunities away for Everett to have a big year.

Uncle Will’s catch rate over the past two seasons is 84 percent. Everett’s is 64 percent. Yeah, I get it, Waldron knows Everett and likes him. The Seahawks new OC also likes completions.

I don’t think I’ll be proven wrong on my first choice, though. Despite what I just said about so much competition for those DangeRuss pass receptions, I’m going with a wideout for my first choice. Obviously, it isn’t either DK Metcalf or the now laughably underrated Tyler Lockett. Yes, I know those two magnificent players got 261 targets combined in 2020. I don’t care. I’m still going with rookie wide receiver D’Wayne Eskridge. Read on, 12s, read on.

D’Wayne Eskridge

Eskridge is poised to take over the critical third wide receiver slot from the much-missed David Moore. Of course, the Seahawks have other options, notable second-year man Freddie Swain. Still, Swain got one start and 21 targets last year versus Moore’s 6 and 47. I love Moore, but the reason he’s now on the Raiders practice squad is that maddening lack of consistency. The fact that Swain couldn’t beat him out tells me a lot. If I’m wrong, your next beer is on me, Freddie.

Eskridge brings 4.38 speed and a 6.93 quickness (three-cone drill) to the Hawks. For comparison, Metcalf ran that famous 4.33 40 in the Combine and a 7.38 in the three-cone drill. So Eskridge isn’t as fast as DK – and let’s face it, I’m not sure the Flash is, either – but he’s quicker. For another reference, Lockett ran 4.40 and 6.89. So the rook is a bit faster than Lockett and a hair slower making the cut. More to the point, Swain’s times were 4.46 and 7.05, respectively.

And that’s the point. The Western Michigan standout is markedly faster and quicker than Swain. The fact I grew up less than 25 miles from the school and that my brother is a proud Bronco alumnus has nothing to do with Eskridge’s appeal to me. It’s really more those eight touchdowns on 33 receptions in his senior year that has me excited.

Okay, before this turns into the D’Wayne Eskridge infomercial, I’ll move on to my next pick. Besides, our own Carson Schroer already did a brilliant job covering Eskridge here. As a matter of fact, recovered the Seahawks rookie better than any secondary will all season. Just read what he had to say, and smile, 12s. As for my next breakout player, please continue, dear 12s.

Alex Collins

No, I’m not going with Rashaad Penny here. He’s a very popular choice, not only on our own site but on plenty of other media. Take Brock Huard’s comment on the Danny and Gallant podcast from 710ESPN here, comparing Cody Barton and Penny. Posting this link from .@Maura_Dool on the Twitterverse so you can jump right to his response:

I’ve been in Penny’s corner since he was picked, in what now seems like centuries ago. Since then, he just hasn’t proven himself ready to be The Man. He’s been a capable backup, but Chris Carson has missed seven games since Penny’s arrival. The Seahawks have this thing called practice, too. It just isn’t happening.

I am going for a running back though, and prodigal son Alex Collins is my choice here. He looked great in the preseason, and – yeah, I know, he looked great in the preseason in 2017, too. All he did when the Seahawks cut him was go off for over 1100 total yards with the Ravens that year. For me, that’s the key to his possible breakout status, the chance for combined yards, not just carries.

Here, let the Seattle Times great Bob Condotta tell you why Collins will be the next man up behind Carson:

"Collins, who signed a one-year deal in February, finished the preseason with 58 yards on 19 carries. That may not seem like much. But what impressed more is the way Collins did it. According to Pro Football Focus, Collins averaged 2.74 yards after contact per attempt, which last year would have ranked him in the top 10 in the NFL. He also had 10 receptions on 11 targets for 73 yards, showing a greater versatility to his game than earlier in his career."

Collins has simply outplayed Penny at this point, and it sounds like this time, Pete Carroll noticed. Now, the one-time practice squad player does have a bit of a roadblock ahead of him in the wonderful Carson. The only way Collins has a breakout year is if number 32 misses extensive time.

But as the first one off the bench to give Carson a rest or give the Seahawks a change of pace, Collins can still make a serious contribution to Seattle’s success. I hope he doesn’t get the opportunity to be a breakout player. But if it arises, he’s the man for the job. As for the last of my trifecta…

Damien Lewis

Okay 12s, let’s just start off by admitting that the offensive line s the least glamorous position possible in the NFL. In fact, most teams’ mascots get more press and fame than a typical lineman. Yes, that’s a shoutout to you, Blitz. Despite that, I’m going to the line for the Seahawks third breakout player for 2021. My pick here is guard Damien Lewis. Yes 12s, I know he made the NFL’s All-Rookie team. So how can he be a breakout player?

Well, just how many rookie players started more than half the season last year? Only nine players had as many as 300 snaps, only five more than 600. That’s out of 64 starting players. I’m not belittling Lewis’ season, just saying that’s a much smaller pool to draw from than the entire league. And when big number 68 makes his first Pro Bowl after this season, he’ll stand out among all his peers.

He graded out as the fourth-best run-blocking guard in the entire league last year. Lewis does need work on his pass protection, though. He committed a league-high 12 penalties and gave up too many pressures, 28 in all. But just three sacks allowed is a pretty sweet starting point for a rook. This year he’ll be moving to the left side of the line, where the presence of Seahawks stud tackle Duane Brown can only help.

Another year getting used to where the true spin doctor, Russell Carrington Wilson, will move can only help those penalties and hurries, too. Lewis is certainly my strongest candidate for breakout player, as he has by far the greatest opportunity to excel.

There you have it, 12s. The Seahawks will bring that silver football home again this season. These three players will each have a big role in that victory. And about 15 others, give or take a win.