Responsibility for the Seattle Seahawks' opening day loss to the San Francisco 49ers rests mainly with the Hawks’ offense. Klint Kubiak’s crew couldn’t sustain drives and was guilty of two crucial fumbles that may have prevented scores. Worst of all, they put up just 13 points.
Still, it might have been enough had Riq Woolen not forgotten the most important thing about playing cornerback late in the contest. Woolen was often in a position to make plays with the game on the line. Yet he failed to do so. He failed to stop the other team from catching the ball at the biggest moments of the contest.
Seattle’s secondary is supposed to be a genuine strength of Mike Macdonald’s team. Suddenly, one week into the season, with rookie safety Nick Emmanwori dealing with a high ankle sprain and Woolen’s maddening lapses, that unit appears to be a problem that needs a solution.
There might be such a solution waiting for a call.
Veteran cornerback is still on the market if the Seattle Seahawks want him
Kendall Fuller has been a quality cornerback in the NFL for nine years. He has started over 100 games, recorded 16 interceptions, and has 82 pass breakups. He has shown the ability to play both zone and man coverage, and can bounce between the right and left sides.
Though built more like a slot corner, he has been primarily used on the perimeter, where his athleticism and savvy have made him a reliable presence in Washington, Kansas City, and Miami. He has appeared in six playoff games and was part of Kansas City's Super Championship team in 2019.
In short, Kendall Fuller offers a great deal of what Seattle is failing to get from the athletically-gifted Woolen – steady, professional play.
When John Schneider brought Shaquill Griffin back to town, the move appeared to be designed to add some veteran depth behind starters Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, and Woolen. But Griffin looked shaky in the preseason and was dropped to the practice squad when Schneider claimed former Ram Derion Kandrick.
Kendrick and second-year man Nehemiah Pritchett played on special teams against the 49ers, but at corner, it was just Spoon, Jobe, and Woolen.
Macdonald may have great faith in Pritchett and Kendrick, but if they have to step in for an injured starter or as a sub for Woolen if he doesn’t get things turned around, they would become immediate targets for opposing offenses.
Signing a steady vet like Fuller could help alleviate that kind of problem. He is the same age as Griffin but has played a lot more – and a lot better – over the past few seasons. Fuller was released as part of a salary dump in Miami. He has reportedly drawn interest from other cornerback-needy teams but has not yet agreed to terms with anyone.
Assuming he still wants to play – and he has given no indication to the contrary – Seattle would be a very good fit. He’d be joining a quality defense playing under one of the best defensive-minded coaches in the league. Seattle’s secondary has a lot of talent, so he would not need to be a hero. He would just need to be a steadying influence.
The best case scenario would have Fuller come to town and then barely play because Woolen steps up his game. But the veteran would be there if needed. And he could help patch one of the only holes which currently exists on the defense – a hole which may well have cost the Seahawks a victory in Week 1.