Seattle Seahawks: Dud and Stud of week 12 – Carolina

Dud of the week

1st dishonorable mention: The entire secondary. Yes, yes Bradley McDougald had a key interception on a fantastic play. I’m fully aware that play was clearly crucial in the Seahawks winning a football game they desperately had to have. That said a single play, doesn’t wash clean the porous defense displayed throughout the day in Charlotte.

2nd dishonorable mention: Pass rush. Once again Seattle showed little to no pressure on an opposing quarterback. This is something that isn’t just an occasional blip, but a recurring and disturbing trend. The unit’s inability week in and week out continues to expose the defensive backs. Frank Clark and company need to start playing every down as if it matters, instead of an occasional flash of excellence from week to week.

3rd dishonorable mention: Run defense. McCaffrey and Newton are a handful to contain, there’s no valid argument to claim otherwise. That said, allowing 7.4 yards-per-carry to McCaffrey and 7.9 to Newton isn’t just “struggling” but horrendous and embarrassing.

Dud of the week: Everybody that tried (or didn’t try) to cover a fumble. Seattle had five forced fumbles in this game. Five. That’s an insane amount of turnovers just waiting to happen. Time after time, Seattle it appeared was slow to the ball or wasn’t playing through the whistle.

There is no excuse for Panthers offensive lineman to recover fumbles fifteen yards downfield with few if any Seahawks defenders around the ball. This game isn’t the heart attack waiting to happen if Seattle recovers half those miscues by Carolina.