Midseason awards for the surprising Seattle Seahawks

Back in March when the Seattle Seahawks made their trade official with the Denver Broncos, sending them franchise quarterback Russell Wilson, nearly everyone was in shock. Post-trade, many were unsure of what direction this Seahawks franchise would be heading in.

With a 71-year-old head coach in Pete Carroll, would rebuilding be the smartest thing? Despite Seattle refusing to admit that they would enter rebuilding mode, mostly everyone assumed they would start by selecting a quarterback in the draft. What most failed to recognize, including me, is that they already knew their quarterback was in-house.

The forgotten man over the last decade, Geno Smith was once again pushed to the side after Seattle acquired Drew Lock. The QB competition that bored everyone throughout OTAs, training camp and preseason left everyone in shock for what was about to come.

As we enter Week 10, Geno Smith is a dark horse MVP candidate. The Seattle Seahawks rookie class has been absolutely astonishing. They sit atop of the NFC West with an impressive 6-3 record. And, oh, by the way, have multiple picks in next year’s draft. A first and a second that belongs to a Denver Broncos team that is currently 2 games under .500. Safe to say, the future is bright in Seattle.

Seattle Seahawks: Midseason awards

It feels as if every player on this roster earns a reward as we have officially passed the midway mark of the 2022 regular season. Guys have stepped up at nearly every single position. The coaching staff has shown the ability to adjust not only in games but during game preparation and help this team get better in areas of weakness.

To say the very least, this Seattle Seahawks team has taken the league by storm. They are a young, fast, athletic group that is playing for each other and having fun while building confidence in the process.

I will be handing out the rewards in the following categories: MVP, offensive player of the year, defensive player of the year, rookie of the year, and most improved.

Seahawks Rookie of the Year – Kenneth Walker III

This award was honestly the hardest one. It seems as if the Seattle Seahawks have hit on multiple of their draft picks. The two young rookie tackles in Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas have been great up front. They are a part of a rebuilding offensive line that has attributed to the success of Geno Smith and this offense.

LB Boye Mafe has shown flashes of his potential and has done a good job in setting the edge for what was once a struggling defense. In the backend, the two cornerbacks, Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant are absolute ballers! Tariq Woolen leads all rookie cornerbacks in interceptions and is tied for 2nd most in the NFL with 4. Coby Bryant leads the league in forced fumbles with 4.

Perhaps, the most impressive of them has been HB Kenneth Walker III. He has burst onto the scene and made some big plays for this Seahawks offense. We all know Pete Carroll loves to run the football and it seems he found himself a perfect fit in Kenneth Walker. What I have loved about him thus far has been his closing ability. No one in the NFL has more fourth quarter touchdowns than Kenny Walker.

He makes this Seahawks offense more dynamic. Teams need to worry about the explosive home run play every time the ball touches his hand. We have seen him display great recognition and awareness as he has had two really nice touchdown runs when he cuts back to the opposite side of the way he’s supposed to go. We have seen him hit the explosive plays as such in Los Angeles against the Chargers. And, we have seen him lower his shoulder and deliver a blow to an opposing LB.

This kid can do it and I am confident he will end up as the actual rookie of the year when it’s all said and done.

Seahawks offensive Player of the Year – Geno Smith

The man who still hasn’t written back, Geno Smith, has taken the league by surprise. Originally, his tremendous play was sought out as a feel-good story. A veteran who was written off by pretty much everybody getting his second chance on a team only because they traded their franchise quarterback. However, people in the building knew what Geno was capable of. Seeing him for two years at practice and with 3 starts due to injury last year gave them enough confidence to hand him the keys.

Well, this feel-good story is starting to turn into a legitimate MVP bid. What hasn’t Geno done well this year? Week after week, he helps his team win in whatever way he needs to. The completion percentage is certainly impressive. Moreover, his willingness to be coached and his willingness to stand in the pocket and deliver darts to keep drives alive has been spectacular. The passer rating speaks for itself.

Defensive Player of the Year – Uchenna Nwosu 

In the offseason when the Seahawks signed Uchenna Nwosu, it was considered a good move given the value they got him at. But, halfway through the year, it looks like an absolute steal. Signing a 2 year, $20 million contract with Seattle, Uchenna has been one of the big reasons for this tremendous defensive turnaround. He ranks near the top of the league in sacks and pressures. His relentless pursuit has helped others on this defensive line get some too.

It is worth noting that Jordyn Brooks, Tariq Woolen and Ryan Neal got some consideration for this award. However, Uchenna has been consistently good all season long. Right from the jump in Week 1, he set the tone up front. He is well on his way to a pro bowl season and has made the transition to a 3-4 scheme way easier. He is one of the many speedy, athletic defenders flying all over the field making plays on the ball.

Seahawks MVP – Shane Waldron

I know MVP stands for Most Valuable Player, but I must give this award to offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron. Entering his second year with Seattle, it feels as if the offense has been redefined. Certainly, some of the changes have come as a result of losing Russell Wilson. But, they are all positive changes. Waldron has been a stupendous job in getting creative and getting everyone involved.

The Seahawks currently have the 4th best scoring offense in the NFL, averaging about 27 points per game. One of the biggest reasons for that is the easy setups Waldron gives Geno. Everyone knows the Seahawks love to run the ball. Waldron does an incredible job of sticking to the run and using it to his advantage. How successful have the bootlegs been for Seattle this season? We have seen all 3 of our tight ends block well and catch well.

We have seen different formations. A lot of pistol with two tight ends in the backfield. The aggressiveness on fourth down with the shovel play. In the midst of it all, we can not lose sight of the explosive plays. Both Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf are on pace for 1,000+ yard seasons.

Most Improved – Ryan Neal

After the season-ending injury suffered by Jamal Adams in Week 1, Ryan Neal was inserted in this defense as the sub-LB in certain packages. To be quite honest, it was frustrating watching him early on. In Week 2 against San Francisco, he struggled in the run game, missing a lot of tackles. Same was to be said in Week 3 against New Orleans when Alvin Karma and Taysom Hill had their way. But, Neal has improved immensely over the last month of the season.

He has really settled into his role with this defense and is playing with confidence. He is no longer missing tackles. He has gotten better in coverage. We see him explosive off the snap as a blitzer. He really has been all over the field, making plays on the ball. A standard that we hold Jamal Adams is too is now what Ryan Neal is delivering. The turnaround alone for him as a player has been really cool to watch and certainly earns him this honor as the most improved player.