What’s behind Seahawks’ short-yardage rushing struggles?

The Seattle Seahawks’ short-yardage run game has sputtered early this season.

Macdonald: Seahawks RB Price will ‘attack’ fumbling issues

Through three weeks, the Seahawks have an NFL-worst 25% conversion rate (2 of 8) when running the ball in 1-yard-to-go situations, according to Stathead.

It’s a sharp contrast from last year, when Seattle ranked fourth in the league with an 82.9% conversion rate (34 of 41) in such situations.

Head coach Mike Macdonald said it’s an area the Seahawks are taking a close look at.

“It’s something that we want to direct our attention to and kind of stress test our process,” Macdonald told Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Monday. “We started that process a little bit last week, but I think we’ll put some more attention into it right now and have those conversations and go attack it and see where that process takes us.”

What about the ‘Barnyard?’

One of the most notable differences this season has been the lack of “Barnyard” plays.

Last year, the Seahawks put their own twist on the Philadelphia Eagles’ “tush push” play by using 6-foot-6, 251-pound tight end AJ Barner in short-yardage situations. The play was so effective that it earned its own nickname. Barner converted a first down on 9 of his 10 carries, all of which came on either third-and-1 or fourth-and-1.

But this year, the Seahawks have technically only run the “Barnyard” once – when Barner plowed into the end zone for a 1-yard TD in the closing minutes of Seattle’s Week 2 rout of the Arizona Cardinals.

The Seahawks also attempted the “Barnyard” in their Week 1 win over the New England Patriots, but Barner’s conversion was negated by an offside penalty on right guard Anthony Bradford.

Macdonald didn’t divulge much when asked Monday about the team’s lack of “Barnyard” plays this season.

“I probably don’t want to say the reason publicly, honestly, but (the play remains) an option,” Macdonald said. “It’s a viable option. … It’s definitely something that we’ll keep considering moving forward.”

Other factors

Another key difference, of course, is Seattle’s new-look backfield this season.

Last year, Kenneth Walker III was 8 of 8 in converting 1-yard-to-go runs, while Zach Charbonnet was 11 of 16. But Walker signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, and Charbonnet is working back from February ACL surgery.

This year, Emanuel Wilson is 1 of 5 in such situations and George Holani is 0 of 2. Rookie first-round draft pick Jadarian Price has yet to receive a carry in a 1-yard-to-go situation.

The Seahawks also are missing the the 6-foot-4, 335-pound Bradford’s physical presence at right guard. Bradford has only played one game this season due to knee and hip injuries that landed him on injured reserve. The earliest he can return from IR is Week 7.

“I think you’re missing some of Bradford’s pure power,” former NFL quarterback Brock Huard said on Brock and Salk. “He is a powerhouse – a big man who’s greatest strength is being in those phone booths and moving men.”

‘We’ve gotta find a way’

While the Seahawks have struggled on the ground in short-yardage situations, they’ve found some success through the air.

On a fourth-and-1 against New England, Drew Lock hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a game-tying 45-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. And on a second-and-goal Sunday against the Washington Commanders, Sam Darnold fired a 1-yard TD pass to Smith-Njigba.

However, the Seahawks also turned the ball over on downs with three consecutive incompletions from the 2-yard line on Sunday. That sequence ultimately proved costly in Seattle’s 33-31 loss.

“We’ve gotta find a way to finish down there,” veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp said. “That’s too many plays being run inside the 5 without getting touchdowns, so certainly something that we need to find a way to get into the end zone.

“As an offense, it’s unacceptable. We’ve got to find a way to finish drives.”

More Seattle Seahawks coverage

• Stacy Rost: Which Seahawks concerns are real, and which aren’t
• Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba off to historic 3-game start
• Brock Huard: Seahawks’ loss to Commanders ‘is going to sting’

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