Breakdown: The crux of Seahawks’ offensive struggles

The Seattle Seahawks’ offensive struggles this season are widespread and multi-layered.

Seahawks had ‘honest conversations’ about struggling offense

But so many of the problems stem from one particular issue: The lack of a credible threat posed by Seattle’s injury-depleted and ineffective rushing attack.

That’s allowed defenses to devote more players to coverage, which in turn has made it more difficult for Sam Darnold and the Seahawks’ passing attack. Darnold has thrown seven interceptions over his past four games and ranks 25th among qualified quarterbacks in completion rate (60.4%) and 17th in yards per pass attempt (6.9%).

“With no true threat out of the backfield to scare defenses, they’re basically daring Darnold to beat them,” NFL Network’s Trevor Sikkema told Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy. “And he has at some points, but then there are other times where he hasn’t.”

A closer look

When facing the Seahawks this season, opposing defenses have deployed six or fewer defenders in the box on 39.6% their snaps, according to Sumer Sports. That’s a significant increase from last year, when defenses used light boxes at a 30.2% clip against Seattle.

The increase in light boxes coincides with a Seahawks backfield that lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in free agency, and has been without Zach Charbonnet for the first six games and rookie first-round draft pick Jadarian Price for the past three games.

With Emanuel Wilson and George Holani getting the bulk of the backfield snaps, Seattle ranks 18th in yards per carry (3.9) and 30th in EPA per carry. That’s a stark contrast from the back half of last season, when Walker and Charbonnet led a surging Seahawks ground attack that ranked 11th in yards per carry (4.5) and 14th in EPA per carry over that span.

“When (Walker) was there, it felt as though (opposing defenses) recognized that as a threat always,” Sikkema said. “So they had to make sure that there was a hat on a hat – that they had enough guys toward the line of scrimmage and at the linebacker level.

“And it’s just not that same sort of threat this year, so Darnold is now having to throw against more players in coverage, and he’s struggling to do so.”

In essence, Seattle’s offense is far too one-dimensional.

“It’s not like this problem that Seattle is facing right now is unique and new and that no one has gone through it before,” Sikkema said. “The best teams in the NFL are the ones that make you feel like at any given moment they will run or pass the football, because they have the ability to have so much success doing both.

“When you take away one of those things, at the pro level, teams are just far too good at adjusting against you.”

Reason for optimism

The good news for the Seahawks? Reinforcements appear on the horizon for their sputtering rushing attack.

Charbonnet, who missed the start of the season while working back from February ACL surgery, was activated off the physically unable to perform list on Thursday and has a chance to play this week. Price, who is dealing with a chest injury, is eligible to be activated off injured reserve as soon as next week.

And starting right guard Anthony Bradford – one of the team’s best run blockers – has a shot to play this week after missing the past five games with a knee injury.

“They absolutely just need to be more efficient, more effective and more explosive on the ground,” Sikkema said. “That’s something they have to get better at if they want to defend this title deep into the playoffs. That is a must. That has to happen.

“It doesn’t mean that they can’t have success and get wins and get into the postseason, obviously. But if you want to truly defend that title, they’re going to have to get better in the run game. Whether it is Zach Charbonnet when he returns, whether it is Jadarian Price, they’re going to have to get better.”

Listen to the full conversation with NFL Network’s Trevor Sikkema at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune into Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

Seattle Seahawks news and analysis

• Seahawks activate Charbonnet; Arroyo out for season, per report
• The Athletic sheds light on Kenneth Walker III’s departure from Seahawks
• Brock & Salk: Who the Seattle Seahawks could target in trades

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