Seahawks Midseason Awards: Bump & Stacy on top players, unsung heroes

The Seahawks moved past the midway point of the 2022 season with their 31-21 win at Arizona on Sunday, and with them leading the NFC West with a surprising 6-3 record, it’s a good time to take stock of how they’ve got here.

Fann: Why Seahawks are versatile enough to sustain success

Monday on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy, the co-hosts went through a list of midseason awards for the Hawks. While they named some of the more traditional standouts, such as the top players on each side of the ball and best rookie, they also had a couple more creative awards to hand out.

Here’s a look at what Michael Bumpus and Stacy Rost had to say.

Seahawks Defensive Player of the Half

• Uchenna Nwosu, linebacker (consensus pick)

Michael Bumpus: “Three weeks ago it would have been (cornerback) Tariq Woolen, but right now, it’s Uchenna Nwosu. This guy has seven sacks, already a career year… Right now he is the heartbeat of the defense. He sets the tone on that defensive line… Uchenna Nwosu has been the best offseason acquisition. He’s playing at a high level. He should be considered for Pro Bowl right now.”

Stacy Rost: “He is outperforming his contract, I feel, even though he got a pretty competitive contract in free agency. Great signing by (Seahawks general manager) John Schneider.”

Came for the sack, stayed for the @UchennaN_42 celebration.

📺 up next #SEAvsTB on NFLN pic.twitter.com/de4304kK6o

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 7, 2022

Offensive Player of the Half

• Kenneth Walker, running back

Bump: “We know that the identity of this team wants to be a run-first type of team, and you’re able to do that (with Walker). In eight games he’s got 570 yards, a long of 74, seven touchdowns, he’s averaging 5.1 per carry. If (on) first down, you can get me second-and-5, we good. Playbook is wide open. Kenneth Walker is a huge reason for that. And with Ken Walker, you got to bring that offensive line into play, too, because Ken doesn’t do it without the O-line. … This guy is gonna go for over 1,000 yards his rookie season and will be considered a top 10 running back next year, if he isn’t considered that already.”

PSA: KENNETH WALKER IS VERY FAST!

📺: #SEAvsNO on FOX pic.twitter.com/aeRCiO9L5n

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 9, 2022

• Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, offensive tackles

Stacy: “The two rookie tackles, I think they’ve gotten off to a really, really solid start. … Offensive linemen in general aren’t gonna get enough love, and (how the rookie tackles would do as starters) was a story when we went into the season, and the fact that it’s now slipped to like the 10th thing we talk about means those guys are doing a good job.”

Best Seahawks Rookie

• Tariq Woolen, cornerback

Bump: “This guy is locking it down. He’s got four interceptions, he made a couple good plays on (Arizona wide receiver) DeAndre Hopkins (Sunday). He’s the biggest surprise out of this (rookie) group so far. … And Tariq Woolen’s been getting love this whole season by a lot of guys with names that you respect in the game.”

IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, TARIQ WOOLEN IS VERY FAST!

HIS FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF HIS CAREER!

📺: #SEAvsDET on FOX pic.twitter.com/e4IFG4IP06

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 2, 2022

Most Improved Unit

• Tight ends (consensus)

Bump: “Last year this group had 74 receptions as a group. This year so far they have 63 receptions; they’re on pace to have well over 100 receptions as a group. They were the most underused unit last year when it came to throwing the football. They are great in the blocking game. … I don’t think any other team (uses) three tight ends now (as much as the Seahawks do). This is the best tight end unit in the NFL. These guys need some love.”

Stacy: “And they’re the most versatile (position group). A unit where you can roll out 13 personnel (three-tight end sets) and people are like, ‘If they have Ken Walker there, I still think they might run it even though they have three tight ends because these are these are all guys that can block.'”

What a day for @nrfant! 👏 pic.twitter.com/b3qby9g56W

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 6, 2022

Most Underrated Player

• Cross and Lucas

Bump: “Now this is where I go to the offensive line, and I go to the tackles because they literally have to get a flag for you to notice them. Most people are just going to follow the football, they’re going to see Ken Walker break all these tackles. They’re not going to see Abe Lucas get into that second level and pancaking a dude. They’re not going to see Charles Cross on the blind side protecting (quarterback Geno Smith).”

• Al Woods, defensive tackle

Stacy: “I might go to the other side, still up front, though, in the trenches with Al Woods. I think that he has been such a huge part of what this defense has been able to do. He is acting like a captain, he’s playing like one on the field, and defensive tackle is overlooked a little too much.”

Big Second Half Candidate

• Marquise Goodwin, wide receiver

Bump: “I’m going with Marquise. Get healthy, baby, because we’re going to need you. I think they untapped something with Marquis playing when DK (Metcalf) went out (with an injury in Week 7). He’s still got some juice left, he’s 31 years old, he doesn’t need to be your No. 1 receiver… I think they’ve got something there.”

Marquise Goodwin TD x2! @Seahawks

📺: #SEAvsLAC on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/HyjkGpXIek pic.twitter.com/1FVMjS0UQq

— NFL (@NFL) October 23, 2022

Seahawks MVP

• Geno Smith, quarterback

Bump: “It’s Geno, man. No doubt about it. This team is nowhere without him, completing 73% of his passes, 15 touchdowns, four interceptions, bounced back from a pick-six (Sunday). This guy is doing his thing.”

You can listen to the full segment in the podcast player below.

Seahawks Takeaways: Carroll on Geno-Waldron chemistry, Walker comp

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