Heaps: Jamal Adams and tight ends must step up for Seahawks against Rams

The Seahawks will look to get back to their winning ways after a tough loss last week to the Bills during a divisional matchup with the Los Angeles Ram during Week 10.

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Seattle has dropped two of its last three games, which includes last week’s 44-34 loss in Buffalo to fall to 6-2. The Rams, meanwhile, are coming off their bye at 5-3 and with a win, could hop the Seahawks in the NFC West standings.

If the Seahawks want to stay atop the division and also keep up with top teams like the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, a win in Los Angeles is a must. If that is to happen, who on the Seahawks must come up big during the NFC West showdown?

Former NFL quarterback Jake Heaps provided some selections on both offense and defense during his show with Stacy Rost on 710 ESPN Seattle on Friday.

Starting on offense, he went with some pass catchers, but likely not the ones you’re thinking of.

“I think (tight ends) Greg Olsen, Jacob Hollister, Will Dissly, they’re going to have to step up big in this weekend’s matchup,” Heaps said.

The Seahawks have arguably the best passing attack in the NFL with quarterback Russell Wilson leading the charge, but most of the targets, catches and touchdowns have gone to receivers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and David Moore.

Heaps thinks the matchup with the Rams, who are allowing the second-fewest passing yards per game and have arguably the game’s best cornerback in Jalen Ramsey, allows for the Seattle’s tight ends to play a big part in the passing game.

“I think there’s opportunities there for them in the zone coverages that the Rams like to run for the tight ends to be effective in this game,” he said.

While the Seahawks have been great offensively, they’ve been anything but defensively this year. Seattle is on pace to allow the most yards and passing yards in a single season in NFL history. That, naturally, caused Heaps to pick a member of the secondary to step up in Los Angeles.

“This is the game that (strong safety) Jamal Adams has to play big,” he said. “This is the reason you traded two first-round picks for this guy.”

Adams will be especially important as the Seahawks will be without their two starting outside cornerbacks in Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar. Adams has played just four of eight games for Seattle this season because of a groin injury. He has 3.5 sacks this season, which is tied for the team lead with defensive tackle Jarran Reed.

During a previous show segment, former NFL receiver Michael Bumpus told Heaps and Rost that Adams, who returned to action last week after missing three games, is still trying to progress to get back to 100%. Heaps said the time for that is now.

“The progress for Jamal Adams in my opinion is stepping up from an OK performance to really getting yourself back and playing at the level that you’re capable of,” Heaps said of the 2019 First-Team All-Pro safety. “Being a factor in the run game, being a factor in some of these shallow crosses and cross routes and blowing those things up.”

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