Seahawks week 5: Underachiever and overachiever of the game

The Seahawks had obvious choices for the underachiever and overachiever of the game in last night’s critical division loss. To be clear, not everyone played their best, and more than a few players stepped up. But two players truly stood out.

The Seahawks certainly didn’t get the outcome they wanted in another home loss. A win would have kept them in the race for the division title. Sadly, this loss puts them, what, 12 games back? It certainly feels like it.

Games like this typically have no shortage of underachievers and a dearth of overachievers. It’s far too easy to call out players when they come up short, and I much prefer to accentuate the positive aspects of the game. But one player truly deserves negative recognition. You know who I’m talking about, 12s.

Unfortunately, our 70-million dollar safety didn’t play up to his contract last night. Jamal Adams did nothing to conjure up images of Kam Chancellor or Earl Thomas, that’s for sure. I think our own Geoff Shull had it absolutely right when he said the Seahawks should try Adams at linebacker. He isn’t covering like a safety, that’s for certain. Unfortunately, at least last night, he isn’t hitting like a linebacker, either. And just to be clear, Geoff’s point was that the Hawks need to do something to shake up this defense.

Seahawks standouts from week 5 loss to Rams

Back to the highest-paid safety in the league. Adams had zero pressures – I know, that’s based on the defensive scheme, but he did set the all-time record for sacks by a safety last year. Far more egregious, he had two horrific failures in coverage. Adams was far too late on coverage on a 68-yard bomb to DeSean Jackson – an underthrown pass that would have been a guaranteed pick in the Legion of Boom days. He trailed TE Tyler Higbee on the score that put the Rams up 16-7 as well. This loss sits on no one’s shoulders more than those of Jamal Adams.

On the positive side, the fact that the Seahawks stayed in the game at all tests on the shoulders of the least likely of players. Hey 12s, did you all even remember Seattle had a backup quarterback? I’m pretty sure the last time the Hawks needed the backup to finish the game was sometime in the Hoover administration.

When Russell Wilson left the game with an injured finger, we all thought the game was over. Unfortunately, we were right, but the Seahawks backup did everything he could to bring the win home. That’s right, 12s, Geno Smith stepped up.

Smith led an extremely improbable 98-yard touchdown drive. That bettered the Seahawks previous long drive by   yards. Mind you, that’s without Chris Carson in the lineup. He did throw a pick, but that was only because Tyler Lockett fell on the route.

Smith was 7-7 on that first scoring drive, and drove the Hawks to the Rams 14 on the next drive before settling for a Jason Meyers field goal. Seattle trailed by a touchdown, clearly within striking distance. The Seahawks defense forced the Rams to punt, and the stage was set for another storied drive. Sadly, Lockett fell, Smith was intercepted, and the game was truly over.

The loss drops the Seahawks to 2-3, two games behind the Rams and possibly three behind the Cardinals. To catch up in the division race, Seattle will need less underachievers and at least a few more overachievers.