3 key observations from DK Metcalf’s performance in Week 3

The Seahawks finally used DK Metcalf in a way different than the first two games. Instead of a possession receiver, he was a possession receiver with benefits.

The fact is – or at least appears to be – that the Seahawks offense is not going to be anywhere close to the same fluidity that 12s have become accustomed to over the last 10 seasons. No offense to Geno Smith because he is doing what he is being asked to do, but there is no way that DK Metcalf is going to see as many pure downfield throws as he did when Russell Wilson was the quarterback.

Heck, even if Wilson was still the Seahawks quarterback in 2022 DK Metcalf might not be benefiting. Wilson hasn’t been good with the Broncos in his first season there and he certainly wasn’t himself in 2021 either.

So what can we hope DK Metcalf to accomplish in 2022 based on his last performance? He was better because the Seattle offense was a bit better. But did we see the high end of possibly Metcalf’s lowest year of his career?

DK Metcalf was better in Week 3 but not perfect

In Week 3 against the Falcons, we did see what we hope is a positive trend. That is, DK Metcalf saw a lot of targets. In Week 1, Metcalf was targeted 7 times and in Week 2 it was 6. But in Week 3, Metcalf saw 12 targets. He only caught 5 of them, however. One was for a touchdown and Metcalf caught the pass with strength and great hands. It was Metcalf’s first touchdown reception of the year.

The number of targets Metcalf received, though, is a bit misleading. Some were intentional overthrows that Metcalf had no chance to catch. Most of the catchable passes Metcalf did corral. But he also had a drop in the fourth quarter that would have been a first down.

Thankfully, his drop didn’t end the drive as Seattle eventually picked up a first down on another pass to a different receiver. But would have Tyler Lockett dropped the same ball thrown to Metcalf? Likely not.