Overlooked amid all the Seattle Seahawks' defensive calamities was an exceptional performance by offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb against the Detroit Lions on Monday night. Grubb got Seattle to 27 points against what was a very tough Detroit defensive unit, 29 with a two-point assist from a late safety against the Lions.
For the second time this season Grubb responded to a bad first half rushing by making some clever adjustments and coming out and running the ball far better after the break. Just as it was against Denver Week 1, after a brutal first half on the ground supersoldier Ken Walker finished with 80 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Grubb also managed to take advantage of all of Seattle's weapons at wide receiver, with DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett all posting 50 or more receiving yards and combining for 216 all together. All starting quarterback Geno Smith did was post a career-high 395 passing yards to take the league lead in that stat going into Week 5.
Grubb 3:16
It was an awesome game all around, but perhaps Grubb's most-inspired moment was the successful trick play call, which had JSN throwing a lateral to running back Zach Charbonnet to convert a wild third and 16. Yesterday Grubb was asked how the team arrived at JSN making that pass and he said first they tried several other receivers during training camp.
Apparently, both Tyler Lockett and Jake Bobo got "fired" from the role after trying. While DK Metcalf showed some range, it was ultimately JSN's accuracy that won him the honor, according to Gregg Bell at the Tacoma News Tribune.
Ryan Grubb on Seahawks' trick play competition
"Bobo got fired. I think Lock got fired. There were multiple guys. DK said he could throw and he could throw it about a mile. But Jax was clearly the most accurate."
Fascinating. Something to remember if the Seahawks come across an emergency quarterback situation at some point this season.
Overall, we are extremely encouraged by what Grubb has done so far, especially his saving that particular play for a crucial moment in a big game like that. We can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve for Seattle's most bitter division rivals.
What's next for Seahawks?
Speaking of which, on Sunday the Seahawks will host Daniel Jones and the New York Giants, who probably won't offer much of a tune-up as the team prepares for what will probably be the most-difficult portion of their 2024 regular season schedule.
Next Thursday night they host Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers, followed by a road trip to face the much-upgraded Atlanta Falcons (Kirk Cousins is even winning in prime-time). After that they host alien-cyborg Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, followed by Matt Stafford and the always-tough Los Angeles Rams. Mercifully, a bye week comes after that, but then they get thrown right back into the fire, facing the 49ers again on the road in their return. How this particular stretch goes for the Seahawks may determine how the whole season goes.
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