3 Seahawks that need to thrive for the rest of the NFL season

Week 9 of the NFL season was an interesting one for the Seattle Seahawks. They went from first to worst in the NFC West, again losing to Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams. Seattle's second-string right tackle left due to injury, giving way to Seattle's fourth-string right tackle. There was even a Cody White breakout game in this overtime loss.

Seattle's season seems to be spiraling at this point, but the good news is that the division race is still tight. A young and learning defense still has growth potential, and one can only hope for better health for the offense. No matter how the final record progresses, it should be a priority to utilize the remainder of the season to evaluate for the future. Who fits the vision of head coach Mike Macdonald? Who should be the building blocks of the next generation of Hawks?

Seattle has a bye week this week, so role changes, scheme adjustments, and rest for the weary are all on the table. The front office and coaching staff may need to get together to assess how to maximize the current season while simultaneously trying to plan for future seasons. There are still statements left to be made in this Seahawks season.

Seahawks players that must ball out in the remainder of the 2024 season, post-bye week

There are certainly some fascinating decisions left to be made this offseason, and the players will be able to make their closing arguments in the coming weeks. A season with highs and lows may even serve as a better testing ground for the evaluation of which players have grit and heart. Mike Macdonald, Ryan Grubb, and the team must find their guys.

Who needs to have a big 2nd half(-ish) of the season? Let's start with the biggest source of frustration for the 2024 Seattle Seahawks: the offensive line. John Schneider may have to answer for this ragtag bunch.

Abraham Lucas - Seahawks offensive tackle

Remember when Seattle had two rookies starting at each of the bookend tackle spots on the offensive line, and it looked like they were set there for the next decade? It was wacky, zany, and exciting. WSU's own Abe Lucas even looked potentially even better than the highly drafted Charles Cross for a spell. Two painful years and a flood of missed games later, fans are starting to wonder if Lucas will ever don the navy and action green again.

Lucas has played in 22 of a possible 42 games since he was drafted in 2022 and is currently dealing with recovery from knee surgery. His chronic knee issues have been an unwelcome and uncomfortable plot twist after such a successful rookie year. Seattle has fallen all over itself trying to replace him: from Stone Forsythe (currently leads the league in pressures allowed) to Jason Peters (a 42-year-old practice squad player), to George Fant (has been injured in both games he tried to start), to Michael Jerrell (allowed two sacks against the Rams).

The question looms: can Seattle rely on his health, or do they need to invest even further in contingency plans? We may be on the verge of seeing big Abe make his highly anticipated return to the right side of Seattle's offensive line, as coach Macdonald mentioned that he has a chance to play after the bye week. When that happens, he could be a major upgrade for a struggling unit. How could he change the tenor of the Seahawk offense? Many Seattleites (including his QB) are desperate to know.

Geno Smith - Seahawks quarterback

Let's not pretend. Quarterback is the position that will most directly affect the Seattle Seahawks in the standings for the rest of the year. Geno Smith touches the ball on every play, and we know that his position gets all the praise, and all the criticism (fair or not). Some 12s would love it if Smith does not do well, all so the Seahawks could be positioned to draft a young QB. He has not played to his previous Pro Bowl level but has done well to overcome the struggles of a Swiss-cheese offensive line. The NFL's current leader in passing yards holds the future in his right arm.

Seattle, of course, traded for quarterback Sam Howell in the offseason. Mr. Howell looked impressive at the beginning of the year as the starting QB in Washington, D.C., but bad decisions and poor protection doomed him. The Commanders have to be happy to have Jayden Daniels in the fold now, as he has balled out. Is the success of Daniels an indictment of Sam Howell? That is not necessarily true, as there are many variables, but Howell led the entire league in interceptions last year. Not a great look.

A new coaching staff often means a handpicked quarterback is on the way if a franchise QB is not already established. Geno Smith has not been the problem (88.6 QB Rating)... but he has also played his worst ball during primetime games. What if Abe Lucas comes back stronger? What if that allows Geno to actually get some time in the pocket to locate the embarrassment of riches at the skill positions? What if No. 7 finishes on an absolute tear? That could change the future for both his career, as well as the near future of the Seattle Seahawks organization.

Tre Brown - Seahawks cornerback

The reason that there is only one defensive player on this list is that I have full confidence that Mike Macdonald will keep working tirelessly to improve this stop unit. More time for players to get comfortable with the playbook, more time for the play caller to learn the personnel, and more time for the pieces to gel. The emergence of a third cornerback outside of Woolen and Witherspoon would be a game-changing factor.

So far this year, we've seen probably the most disappointing play from Tre Brown since he's been in Seattle. He burst on the scene as a rookie, playing above his draft status and above his stature. Brown then struggled with injuries until finally getting healthy and becoming a factor last year. His play may have been what got Mike Jackson traded to Carolina. Sadly, the most enduring memory from him so far is him getting absolutely cooked by Daniel Jones and the Giants.

Tre Brown becoming a consistent lockdown force for the Seahawks' defense would go a long way toward a defensive renaissance in Seattle. It could shorten the time to throw, allowing Seattle's squadron of pass rushers to get home, as well as allow Devon Witherspoon to man the slot and help out in the run game. This is the final year of his rookie contract, and a second-half breakout could be a catalyst for improved team defense, as well as a shifting of future plans for the young man out of Oklahoma.

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