3 Seahawks who need to thrive in Week 6 versus the San Francisco 49ers

How do you put words to the Seattle Seahawks' ugly, frustrating loss against the New York Giants? Maybe moving forward is for the best. We could say it was a trap game, sandwiched in between two short weeks (three games in 11 days), with the upcoming showdown with the Niners in primetime possibly on the brain. We can chalk it up to playing an emotional game with a physical team in Detroit on a short week coming in.

Believe me, I had some Tweets (Xeets?) of anger that I won't stand 100 percent behind now that it's the light of day. With some time to think and evaluate, I will leave the hot takes and pitchforks for future weeks. What we will not do is blame the signal caller for that loss.

Some of you may not like to hear this, but let's be honest: Geno Smith is the reason we got any traction at all in that game! He was constantly poised in the teeth of instantaneous pressure. Smith was sacked 7 times but didn't turn the ball over on the way to 284 yards, a touchdown, and a 98.3 QB Rating. That's top-10 quarterback efficiency territory right there, despite a struggling offensive line.

Seahawks players who need to ball out versus the Santa Clara 49ers

It's ok to have confrontations and tell the truth on the field of play, especially early in the season. The Legion of Boom had many and very visible sideline outbursts and arguments. They always rallied and pulled themselves up off of the mat and pulled themselves together. Can this next generation of Seahawks do the same? Who will need to step up as this team seeks to forge their identity?

Johnathan Hankins - Seahawks nose tackle

The Seahawks got gashed on the ground by a New York team that was missing its prolific, star rookie receiver as well as its top running back, for crying out loud. They achieved 175 yards on the ground... after coming into the contest as a bottom-three rushing team in the NFL. That's painful to type.

How about the supersized run stuffer gets in there and clogs things up against a Bay Area team that loves to pound the rock? Hankins must make it his mission to get nasty and fortify the middle of Seattle's defense against the hated division rivals. The big boy will need to lead the charge when it comes to restoring some dignity in the integrity of the run defense, especially after he earned a 43.1 Pro Football Focus (subscription required) grade against the G-Men.

Boye Mafe, Seahawks edge

Unfortunately, the return of edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu was short-lived, as he will miss more time. Derrick Hall missed yesterday and is uncertain for Thursday Night Football. Boye Mafe has a shot to return this week after a two-game absence.

Mafe will be needed to step right back in the gaps and set the edge in the run game. Equally as crucial: Boye must act as an agent of chaos to help disrupt the timing and rhythm of the SF offense. He had his breakout last year, but now is the time to establish himself as a dominant player. As they say, big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.

Ken Walker III - Seahawks running back

This is first and foremost. We've already gotten sweet highlights from KWIII of him bucking a suplex against the Broncos, somersaulting on top of a Lion in Week 4, breaking rando defenders' ankles... all of Seattle is aware of the types of plays that Walker can make when given a chance. It's time to feed the beast. Don't let Nick Bosa get going against our makeshift offensive line.

The Seattle Seahawks were getting pressured on seemingly every single dropback on Sunday. Do you know a good way to slow down those pass rushers? Running the ball! There's no way that Walker should've gotten only five handoffs against a team that came in at 1-3. That historically low use of K9 is something that has to change in order to best the team in Santa Clara and secure the NFC West.

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