3 observations about Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf in Week 10
By Lee Vowell
DK Metcalf is the face of the Seahawks franchise. That’s not a bad thing. He is an effervescent player who is physically capable of doing things the rest of us mortals cannot, and he appears to have a lot of fun while playing football.
But Seattle still needs more from Metcalf in 2022. So far this year, Metcalf has just one game with more than 88 yards receiving. He has zero games with multiple touchdowns. In the one game he did have with more than 88 yards receiving – 149 yards in Week 4 versus the Lions – Metcalf didn’t score a touchdown even though the offense scored 41.
Metcalf is on pace for 130 targets, though. This would be a career high. So, if you might be thinking that Metcalf isn’t as productive this year because he is seeing the ball less, you’d be wrong. Also, fellow receiver Tyler Lockett has 6 fewer targets this season than Metcalf but one more touchdown and 59 more yards.
3 takeaways from Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf in Week 10
Observation 1: The offense wasn’t built for DK but that’s kind of OK
In Seattle’s Week 10 loss to the Buccaneers, Metcalf was targeted 9 times. That is the third-most this season. He caught 6 of the targets for 71 yards and no touchdowns. Metcalf was on the field on 90 percent of the Seattle offensive snaps, however, and that was his most since Week 5.
For Seattle’s offense to truly work the way offensive coordinator Shane Waldron wants it to work, the team needs to run the ball very effectively, though. Metcalf can be brilliant but the offense isn’t designed for him to create explosive plays without help. Against Tampa Bay, Seattle couldn’t run and therefore the offense was a lot more stagnant.
While Geno Smith is having a great season, he is also less likely to force passes to Metcalf as well. Smith is using his tight ends more effectively than Russell Wilson ever did and Smith is throwing to running backs as well. This is what the offense is supposed to do and it’s been mostly effective this season. Metcalf is a key part of the offense but it can also be good when he isn’t, just not in Week 10.