Three Seahawks Who Shined In First 2022 Preseason Loss To Steelers
The Seahawks dropped their first preseason game of the year on Saturday to the Steelers by a score of 32-25. Which Seahawks players showed up and showed out in the loss?
While the NFL preseason isn’t necessarily the most exciting watch, it’s a time to learn tons of valuable information about an NFL roster. This preseason will be especially important for the Seahawks and their fans, since it’s a first look at what could be a foundational draft class.
In watching the first contest of the preseason, three players stood out to me in their contributions to the team, and while it’s difficult to tell the level of play from these players against defensive backups for Pittsburgh, these players were balling out on Saturday.
Three Seahawks With Big Contributions In Steelers Game
Drew Lock, Quarterback: While it was hard to tell what Drew Lock might look like playing with the likes of Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf considering he was playing with the likes of Darwin Thompson by the end of the game, Drew Lock took charge of the offense in the second half. Drew Lock played more decisively than Geno Smith did, and while the fumble to end the game was partially Lock’s fault, he took accountability for the mistake and recognized that he needed to pick up the blitz read. When Lock was under pressure, he did well checking the ball down and he made a great throw to Dareke Young for his first touchdown.
Charles Cross, Left Tackle: While it’s sometimes difficult to diagnose the play of a rookie offensive lineman (especially in his first career game), Charles Cross did everything right in this game. His pass protection consistently held up for several seconds, and while he can make improvements in the run game, I saw real promise from him in game one. He played with the excellent technique that had me and other 12s celebrating his selection back in April. The play of Abraham Lucas was not lost on me, as he looked better in the run game than even Cross did.
Boye Mafe, Linebacker: Boye Mafe, my goodness. What a debut for a player that has all the potential in the world to be an anchor for the Seahawks defense in the coming years. Mafe had two sacks (one that forced a fumble) and made big-time plays for the defense and on special teams. Mafe is still raw, but he will be a big part of the outside linebacker rotation as the season goes on. He and Darrell Taylor are the future of the Seahawks pass rush, an aspect of the defense that gets more important with each passing season.
Honorable Mentions
DeeJay Dallas, Running Back: DeeJay did what he does best in this game: he ran the ball hard and would not be denied. Dallas seems to be ready to step up this season, and I believe he will be the primary kick returner for the Seahawks, as he was in 2021. Dallas ran for 7.3 yards per carry on his ten opportunities, and if Kenneth Walker III doesn’t take a third down role this year, Dallas will slot in alongside Travis Homer to cover third down running back work.
Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant, Cornerbacks: Hear me out here. While Woolen and Bryant were targeted often in this game and both made mistakes that led to first quarter touchdowns, their mistakes were expected. Neither player played exceptionally well, but they were able to start and get their first game under the belt. I expect both corners to improve in tackling and coverage, and I saw positives from both of them when tested early on in this game.
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