DANNY AND GALLANT

Bumpus: Seahawks’ biggest bye-week goal? Improve on 3rd downs

Oct 15, 2020, 10:16 AM

Seahawks third downs...

The Seahawks have struggled on third down on offense and defense in 2020. (Getty)

(Getty)

The Seahawks are off this weekend and currently sit at 5-0, which is best not only in the NFC West, but the NFC in general.

Seahawks rookie progress report: How is 2020 class performing at bye?

Like any other team, Seattle will use the bye to get healthy, especially on defense where two starters have missed multiple games and others are banged up.

But aside from getting healthy, there are issues that this team must improve on if they hope to remain the top dog of the NFC West and the conference as a whole.

The first focus, former Seahawks receiver Michael Bumpus said to 710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny and Gallant is the players must be smart due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Keep the same schedule you had during the season, which helped make this team so successful,” he said.

As far as what needs to get better on the field, both the offense and defense need to improve in the same area.

“Offense and defense, they can come together on one thing: third downs,” Bumpus said.

Currently, the Seahawks are 31st in the league in third-down conversions on offense. They’ve converted 15 third downs (fewest in the league) on 46 chances, good for just 32.6% per ESPN. On defense, Seattle is tied for 28th in third-down defense, allowing conversions 50% of the time per TeamRankings.

“For all the positives that the offense has done, that’s where they’re struggling,” Bumpus said. “For all the things that the defense is struggling with, I think that’s a big factor in them having success going forward.”

The Seahawks’ win against the Vikings was a prime example of those third-down struggles.

On offense, Seattle won despite going 0-7 on third down. The last team to win a game without converting on third down? The Seahawks in 2018 against the Cardinals.

Defensively it was a little better, going 6-14 on third down, but the Vikings were able to put some long drives together thanks to key third-down conversions and even a few fourth-down conversions.

The Seahawks have had a top offense so far and are doing most things right, but those third downs have been that group’s biggest area of weakness by far.

“You have to be able to keep drives going,” Bumpus said. “Russell Wilson and the (offense) can do that, but (they’ve been) putting so much pressure on them to be able to be successful on second down. Put together 13- or 14-play drives and really grind it out. And then for the defense, just get off the field so the offense can work.”

A big reason offense hasn’t been able to convert on third down has been self-inflicted wounds and flat-out failing to execute.

“Limit your penalties and just execute,” Bumpus said, noting the Seahawks were in second-and-long and third-and-long too many times against the Vikings due to sacks and penalties. “A third-and-2? You’ve got to pick it up. There were some situations where it was third-and-short and they just didn’t get it done.”

Listen to the conversation at this link or in the player below.

Follow Michael Bumpus on Twitter.

Gallant: DK Metcalf on Jerry Rice-like rise? Not as crazy as it sounds

Danny and Gallant

Seahawks Alex Collins...

Brent Stecker

Huard: What do Seahawks do at No. 2 RB with Alex Collins, Rashaad Penny?

Alex Collins was impressive this preseason, but was it enough to earn the job as the Seahawks' backup to Chris Carson over Rashaad Penny?

3 years ago

Seahawks Darrell Taylor...

Paul Gallant

Gallant: 4 takeaways after Seahawks wrap up preseason with win

Paul Gallant takes stock of the Seahawks after they wrapped up the preseason with a 27-0 win over the Chargers on Saturday night.

3 years ago

Seahawks TE Gerald Everett...

Brandon Gustafson

Bumpus: Why TE Gerald Everett will be Seahawks’ most impactful offseason addition

When it comes to every new player the Seahawks added this offseason, Michael Bumpus is counting on TE Gerald Everett to stand out the most.

3 years ago

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson...

Paul Gallant

Gallant: Will Seahawks’ Russell Wilson, a pioneer of mobile QBs, adapt into his 30s?

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson has been a mobile QB for his whole career, but Paul Gallant hopes he'll consider a few things as he loses a step.

3 years ago

Mariners OF Kyle Lewis...

Brandon Gustafson

Jerry Dipoto Show: His future with the Mariners, Flexen’s consistency, Lewis’ return

Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto joined Danny & Gallant to talk about the playoff race, his future in Seattle, and the close return of a key player.

3 years ago

Seahawks John Reid...

Brandon Gustafson

Bumpus: What the addition of John Reid means for Seahawks’ CB room

The Seahawks traded for second-year CB John Reid this week. Michael Bumpus breaks down what that means for Seattle's CB competition.

3 years ago

Bumpus: Seahawks’ biggest bye-week goal? Improve on 3rd downs