Can Seahawks keep away from rookie wall in essential last six video games? – Seattle Seahawks Weblog

RENTON, Wash. — As a rookie with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019, DK Metcalf was barely extra productive the second half of the season than the primary. Then he delivered a record-setting efficiency within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs.

So Metcalf was talking from expertise final week when he mentioned that overcoming the so-called rookie wall is a mind-over-matter affair.

“It’s solely an actual factor in case you permit it to be,” Metcalf mentioned. “I feel your psychological toughness goes a great distance on this league and the way you take care of the whole lot … I don’t suppose the rookie wall goes to be an impact for these guys.”

The Seahawks higher hope not. With as many first-year gamers as they’re counting on from their stellar 2022 draft class, it could be the largest X-factor that may decide the course of their last six regular-season video games and whether or not they could make any noise within the playoffs — in the event that they make it there in any respect.

Take into account that the three,680 mixed snaps the Seahawks have gotten from rookies this season (counting offense, protection and particular groups) are second-most within the NFL behind solely the Chicago Bears (4,291). Additionally think about that these gamers are accustomed to varsity seasons that, with the calendar turning to December, are both over by now or are winding down, with solely a bowl recreation left after an prolonged break.

With NFL schedules now together with a seventeenth recreation, there’s roughly one other half a school season to go. And that’s earlier than the postseason — the Seahawks have a 67.5% probability to succeed in the playoffs, in accordance with ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index, regardless of two straight losses which have dropped them to a half-game out of playoff place.

Coach Pete Carroll mentioned final week that he hadn’t observed any indicators of his rookies slowing down, although he acknowledged the priority and described it as simply as a lot psychological as it’s bodily.

“I feel it is determined by the people, it is determined by how worn down they’re … however it’s very a lot a person factor, how guys deal with it,” he mentioned. “This isn’t a spot that beats you down. We aren’t beating these guys down mentally. … Our coaches are watching, speaking and searching for the messages and indicators that these guys can provide us that they’ve been up towards and have been overloaded.”

Maybe none of Seattle’s rookies wanted the bye in Week 11 greater than tackles Charles Cross and Abe Lucas, provided that they’ve performed nearly each snap.

“You’re by no means going to be 100%, however I really feel fairly good,” Lucas mentioned final week. “If you concentrate on it, with the three [week] preseason and the ten video games that we’ve performed, my school season would’ve been over two weeks in the past. We’ve got [six] extra. I can deal with that.”

Lucas is one among six Seahawks rookies who’re both beginning or taking part in important snaps. He ranked ninth amongst tackles (left or proper) in ESPN’s Cross Block Win Charge till final week, when he battled each an sickness and Las Vegas Raiders Professional Bowl defensive finish Maxx Crosby in Seattle’s extra time loss. Lucas fell to twenty first in PBWR, however he and Cross (twenty sixth general) nonetheless rank first and third, respectively, amongst rookies.

Cornerback Tariq Woolen has proven no indicators of slowing down. He stays a number one candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Yr after recording his fifth interception of the season in Week 10.

Operating again Kenneth Walker III padded his resume for the offensive model of the award with two extra dashing touchdowns towards Las Vegas and now leads all rookies with 9, however he’s been held to solely 43 yards during the last two video games.

Nickelback Coby Bryant’s final two video games have additionally been a blended bag. He allowed a landing towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by way of a blown protection, however would have his league-high fifth compelled fumble of the season final week had it not been for an early whistle that blew the play lifeless.

Boye Mafe stays an everyday within the Seahawks’ outdoors linebacker rotation, however he’s but to emerge as a playmaker.

Two different rookies — security Joey Blount and receiver Dareke Young — are taking part in extensively on particular groups.

None of them performed greater than 14 video games in any school season.

“It’s an incredible basis for years to return in Seattle and people guys are contributing closely,” mentioned veteran outdoors linebacker Bruce Irvin. “We’re relying on these guys quite a bit, so hopefully they’ll preserve exhibiting up.”