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The Seattle Seahawks have gone from 1-5 over the middle of the season to a four-game win streak and first place in the NFC West.
Some might call it a turnaround.
Sorting through the roster from Week 1 to Week 14, we might instead call it an overhaul.
The Seahawks made waves during the bye week by parting ways with not one but both starting linebackers. But the roster transition has been steadily – not even all that slowly – driving towards the place it now rests since the opener.
A massive amount of roster turnover has taken place. Take a look at the lineup from the Week 1 win over the apparently great Denver Broncos.
OFFENSE:
Geno Smith
Kenneth Walker
Zach Charbonnet
Tyler Lockett (1) [Most targets]
DK Metcalf (2)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (3)
Noah Fant (1)
Pharaoh Brown (2)
Charles Cross
Laken Tomlinson
Connor Williams
Anthony Bradford
George Fant
FLEX: Laviska Shenault
DEFENSE:
Leonard Williams
Boye Mafe
Derick Hall
Byron Murphy II
Jarran Reed
Johnathan Hankins
Dre’Mont Jones
Jerome Baker
Tyrel Dodson
Rayshawn Jenkins
Tre Brown
K’Von Wallace
Julian Love
Riq Woolen
Devon Witherspoon
Kick Return:
Shenault
Dee Williams
After going 3-0 we thought this squad was pretty great. After they followed it up with five losses in six weeks, we thought otherwise.
The defense has gotten all the praise lately, and rightly so, but check this stat which bears greatly upon a 60% change in the offensive line.
Also from ESPN Research: Geno Smith was pressured on 17% of his dropbacks (five of 30), his lowest pressure rate faced as a member of the Seahawks. His two lowest pressure rates of the season have now come in the last two weeks.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) December 9, 2024
Here’s the new squad, as reflected on Sunday. Again, I’m a layer or two deep but not putting WR5 or fourth nose tackle on the list.
OFFENSE:
Geno Smith
Kenneth Walker
Zach Charbonnet
JSN (1)
DK Metcalf (2)
Tyler Lockett (3, and far below the tight ends)
AJ Barner
Noah Fant (2)
Charles Cross
Laken Tomlinson
Connor Williams
Olu Oluwatimi
Anthony Bradford
Sataoa Laumea
George Fant
Abraham Lucas
FLEX: Laviska ShenaultJSN.
DEFENSE:
Leonard Williams
Boye Mafe
Derick Hall
Byron Murphy II
Jarran Reed
Johnathan Hankins
Jerome Baker
Tyrel Dodson
Rayshawn Jenkins
Tre Brown
K’Von Wallace*
*These last three are crossed off not because they are off the team, but have lost their starting positions or significant play time.
Coby Bryant
Julian Love
Riq Woolen
Dre’Mont Jones
Devon Witherspoon
Ernest Jones IV
Tyrice Knight
Josh Jobe
Kick return:
Anybody but Shenault and Williams.
By my count that is 11 major position changes, to go along with a complete reshuffling of the wide receiver target hierarchy. Several players are gone, a couple are new, many are benched or simply playing less.
That’s a lot.
If the team feels like a totally different team playing the second half of this season, it’s in part because they’ve unlocked some things as a new coaching staff, but don’t underestimate the aggressive chasing of the right personnel either. Mike Macdonald’s not messing around; he’s looking for the right guys.
For now, they’ve found more of them than not.
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