The Seattle Seahawks are coming off a Week 13 win over the Minnesota Vikings. However, the victory might raise concerns about quarterback Sam Darnold’s ability to handle the opposing team’s pass rush.
Against the Vikings, Darnold was sacked four times, but the Seattle signal-caller was facing constant pressure from the opposition. Minnesota’s Dallas Turner was the player harassing the USC product the most as he recorded two sacks, 22 pressures, one hit, one hurry, and a pass-rush win rate of 18.2 percent, per PFF.
Despite the pressure that Darnold was under and knowing that opposing defensive coordinators will look at the tape to see what Brian Flores was successful at, former Seahawks running back isn’t concerned about the signal-caller’s ability to handle the pass rush.
“I believe that everybody can get a little bit better, and they [have] to find the way to get him to his check out of the blitz,” Alexander said on the December 2 edition of “Up & Adams.” “That usually happens with either running the ball or having the perfect check call for him to get to, which, when you go against defensive masterminds, they’re going to figure that out.
“We have our work cut out as the Seahawks, as the offense does, to figure out how to get that blitz under control, but good down distance always saves that. And that’s going to be the answer, playing at third and three, third and four, third and two over third and anything plus. But it’s still football, and Sam’s got talent, and we trust it, and he’s going to figure out how to put the guys in the right situation for them to go well.”
The Seahawks Will Need to Scheme for Sam Darnold
The loss to the Los Angeles Rams on November 16 marked another game in which Darnold struggled with the pass rush. Moreover, with a game on December 18, Seattle will need to do a better job of combating their pass rush. Alexander noted that the Seahawks can scheme to prevent the pressure Darnold will face against the Rams and other elite defenses.
“I just think it goes back to just the little things, like you got to get the first down set,” Alexander added. “So when you have it short yards, when it’s third and four or less, then you actually have a whole set of plays and personnel that you can actually put the quarterback in a situation where they don’t want to give up a big play or a big touchdown for the sake of rushing him.
“And so that’s what you have to do, you got to get it where they rather give up three or four than give up 50. And that’s a big statement for the pros, but that’s the only situation you can when your quarterback’s struggling with blitz pickups.”
Sam Darnold Will Be Tested in the Final Games of the Season
Seattle have five games left in the 2025 NFL season. Moreover, three of these five contests will be against teams in the top 10 in sacks: Atlanta Falcons (41), Indianapolis Colts (35), and the Rams (33), per Pro Football Reference.
Additionally, these three teams are in the top 10 in terms of pressure: Colts (129), Falcons (114), and Rams (107). As a result, these games will be a perfect tune-up to see if Darnold can handle the pass rush from opposing defenses.
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