3 players to watch in Seahawks-Rams
Nov 9, 2018, 8:22 PM | Updated: 8:25 pm
Seahawks RB Mike Davis had a career year in 2018. (AP)
(AP)
The Seahawks are heading into their Week 10 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams as a 9.5-point underdog, marking just the fourth time in Russell Wilson’s career that Seattle has been an underdog by seven or more points.
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In addition to the challenge of facing a one-loss Rams team, the Seahawks are also hitting the road with a crowded injury report. They could be short several starters Sunday, including two players – running back Chris Carson and right guard D.J. Fluker – who have fueled the team’s run-first offense.
With that opponent (and those injuries) in mind, here are three players to watch:
RB Mike Davis
Should Chris Carson (hip) be inactive, the Seahawks will lean on Mike Davis to handle the bulk of Sunday’s carries.
Davis, now in his second season with Seattle, recorded the first 100-yard game of his career earlier this year in a Week 4 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Coincidentally, Davis was starting in place of an injured Carson.
Even if Carson is out, it doesn’t appear offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer intends to alter Seattle’s game plan.
“Chris is a really, really good player, but one of things we pride ourselves on is being able to do the things we want to do regardless of who’s in the game,” Schottenheimer told reporters Thursday.
Also in that rotation is rookie Rashaad Penny and third-year tailback C.J. Prosise. Penny was a first-round pick this year but has yet to have a consistent presence in the back field. One reason behind that could be that Seattle is choosing to stick with what works, and what works has been Carson and Davis. But Sunday could provide more opportunities for the former San Diego State standout.
Likewise, Prosise has been limited in his time with Seattle. Injuries have contributed to many of those absences, but he’s also been a healthy scratch on game days. During his press conference Wednesday, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll mentioned Prosise as a potential contributor this week.
“C.J. is ready to go,” Carroll said. “He’s dying to play. He’s frustrated by not being able to play. He’s healthy and he’s talented so it’s just a matter of getting the slots right so we can get him on the field.”
SS Delano Hill
Second-year strong safety Delano Hill has seen most of his work come on special teams this year, with veteran Bradley McDougald acting as the starter and leader in Seattle’s secondary.
However, McDougald is one of seven players listed as “questionable” heading into Sunday. Hill – who took over for McDougald when the latter was forced out of a Week 9 contest against the Chargers – looks to be the starter there if McDougald is out.
As opposed to when he was thrown in last week, though, Hill was able to prepare this week with first-team practice time.
“His confidence was there, the speed of reaction was there, everything about him – even his play carried over to special teams as well. I think he was very comfortable with what was asked of him,” Carroll said of Hill’s week of work. “He’s a really talented athlete – he’s fast, he’s strong, he’s a cover guy, he’s a good hitter, all of that… We’re confident he can do a nice job for us. He’s certainly physical and ready to make the plays that we’re calling on him.”
DE Frank Clark
Clark is Seattle’s top pass rusher and leads the team with 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Last time these two teams met, Clark nabbed the first interception of his career, picking off a tipped pass from Rams quarterback Jared Goff at the goal line.
The Seahawks will need Clark, along with defensive linemen Dion Jordan and Jarran Reed, to be a disruptive force if they want to pressure the league’s top-ranked offense into making a mistake – something Carroll noted himself could be the key to a win.
“They’re not giving the ball up,” Carroll said of the Rams. “To beat these guys you’re going to need to take the ball off them two, three times in a game and make something out of (those turnovers) as well. So that’s part of the challenge.”
