3 keys for success for Seahawks versus Russell Wilson and the Broncos

Seahawks need to use its tight ends more than in 2021

For whatever reason – maybe he would rather hit the deep pass than try to simply continue drives – Russell Wilson appears to have missed open tight end over the middle of the field a lot the last two years. It wasn’t that the Seahawks lacked talent at the position. Will Dissly was a good receiver, though oft-injured, in his first two seasons but underused in the past two.

Gerald Everett was a Seahawk for one year (2021) and was brought in because he could catch and run but he was only targeted one more time last season (63 times) than he was in 2020 when he was with the Rams. With Los Angeles, Everett was basically the second option at tight end and with Seattle he was first. Still, Russell Wilson didn’t throw to him enough (also, Everett caught 76.2 percent of his targets in 2021 so it wasn’t like he was dropping every pass).

Now with Geno Smith at quarterback, the Seattle offense might look a lot more like offensive coordinator Shane Waldron wants and less like what Russell Wilson wanted. This might be good or it might be without Wilson’s talent the offense stumbles.

Either way, Smith should help the tight ends be more productive and that should help extend drives. And we shouldn’t rule out new Seahawk Noah Fant being extra-motivated for the game. He was part of the deal that sent Wilson to the Broncos this offseason. If Wilson wants to show 12s what they will be missing in the future, Fant might want to show Denver what they gave up.