Why Seahawks’ run-game issues are biggest concern from Commanders loss

There are only a few ways to overwhelm an opponent into submission in the NFL.

One is to run the ball, one play after another, right at a defense and challenge them until they make a stop.

Just a week ago, the Seahawks closed out their dominating victory in Arizona like a fighter systematically throwing continuous body blows at their opponent. The final drive against the Cardinals was what every offensive lineman and running back dreams about, one successful run after another — 15 in total — until finally finding the end zone.

And just seven days later, the Seahawks all but abandoned that aspect of their offense because of how little it was successful.

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The inability of the Seahawks to get anything going with the run game should undoubtedly be one of the big concerns to come from the 33-31 loss to Washington. Turnovers are at the top of the list. Averaging a meager 2.4 yards per carry on the ground should be next on the list.

“Honestly, I’m not sure,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said when asked about the lack of a run game against the Commanders. “That was a good front. We were trying to find solutions. I think also the way the second half went, with the weather clearing up and the way the pass game was going, I think that’s (what) we decided to emphasize.”

The Seahawks finished with just 44 yards rushing against Washington. It’s the second-fewest yards rushing of any game during Macdonald’s tenure, topped only by the 32 yards on the ground in Week 8 of his first season against Buffalo.

Rookie Jadarian Price managed just 15 yards on five carries and carried the ball only twice after his first-quarter fumble. The Seahawks were seemingly unwilling to try establishing Price as a running threat after his second fumble in two weeks. Of his meager 15 yards, 11 came on one run — the first play of the game.

A week after closing out the game as the only ball carrier on that impressive final drive in Arizona, Emanuel Wilson managed just 14 yards on nine carries.

Finding holes to run through was challenging to the point the Seahawks mostly gave up even trying in the second half, attempting just six runs over the final 30 minutes.

The lack of a run game was mitigated by what Sam Darnold was able to do through the air, throwing for 379 yards and four touchdowns. But he also threw a pair of interceptions.

“They did a really good job of kind of stopping our run game, but again we just got to continue to be better and be more efficient on those early downs,” Darnold said.

Running the ball successfully isn’t a prerequisite for success for the Seahawks. There are plenty of games in recent seasons where the lack of a run game didn’t stand in the way of a victory. With how the combo of Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba were linking up in the second half, a defensive stop on the final series might have been enough for the Seahawks rally in the final minutes to extend their win streak.

But it sure does make things work a little bit better when the run game is functional. It balances the offense. It often leads to more time of possession and more breaks for the defense.

The absence of Anthony Bradford at right guard is notable. While he’s struggled at time as a pass blocker, Bradford excels blocking the run. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Seahawks rushed for only 3 yards to the right side of the offensive line on Sunday.

Price has the look of a potential star, but the ball security must improve. He’s shifty. He has burst. He looks like a perfect combo for when Zach Charbonnet is finally healthy and able to return from his torn ACL.

But he can’t be putting the ball on the ground.

“JD is such a great dude and he knows his responsibility. He knows not to turn the ball over,” Darnold said. “There’s not much you say to him. You just tell him to keep going and we got your back.”

The problems with the run game are more glaring with what Kenneth Walker III is accomplishing in Kansas City. It’s not an apples-to-apples comparison. The decision to let Walker reach free agency allowed the Seahawks the chance the fulfill contractual obligations in other areas.

But until the Seahawks run game gets going, a wandering eye will continue to peek at what Walker is doing in Kansas City and wonder, “what if?” For those wondering, Walker had another 70 yards rushing and a TD on Sunday against Miami.

The 0-3 Chargers are coming to town next week and allowed 176 yards rushing to Buffalo on Sunday. It’s still plenty early, but it also seems like an optimal opponent to try quickly correcting the issues that were seen on Sunday.