3 concerns for the Seahawks heading into Week 5 versus the Saints

Concern 2: Will the Seahawks recede back into not running the ball?

While Seattle was very productive when they ran the ball in Week 4, they didn’t really try to establish Rashaad Penny until the second half of the game. In the first three games of 2022, Seattle simply never tried to establish a running game. This is a bit of a shock to all those who thought Pete Carroll just wanted to run the ball all the time.

And the Seahawks needed to run more than they did in the first three weeks. Penny is a great back and just needs two or three runs to change the landscape of any game. But he needs to get his chances and he wasn’t. Rookie Ken Walker might also miss Week 5 which means Seattle will be thin at running back as Travis Homer is having to miss several games.

So does Seattle go back to the way they were in the first three games when Seattle was a pass-heavy offense and in the top ten of the league in pass-to-run ratio? Let’s hope not. For the offense to truly work as offensive coordinator Shane Waldron designs, Seattle must consistently run the ball and make a defense play more honestly and not key on quarterback Geno Smith.

The Saints, though, are 10th in the NFL in yards-allowed-per-rush at 4.0. If Seattle gets stuffed several times, they can’t give up on giving the ball to Penny. If they do, New Orleans is good enough against the pass to make the Seahawks have a miserable day offensively.