Three Things We Learned

Sam Darnold has been great.

I did not expect Darnold to be an improvement on Geno Smith. So far, however, he has been. He’s been among the league’s most efficient passers through the first quarter of this season.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is everything and anything you want in a wide receiver.

He was Seattle’s top receiver last season. The question, however, was how much he benefited from D.K. Metcalf’s tendency to attract attention from the defense. Turns out, Smith-Njigba is a hell of a receiver all on his own whether it’s coming out of the slot, playing outside or creating big plays in those gotta-have-it moments.

Seattle’s defensive front seven is formidable.

The Seahawks have 12 sacks, tied for fifth-most in the league. They are doing that while having one of the lowest blitz percentages in the league. Uchenna Nwosu’s pair of sacks on Thursday show that it may get better as the season progresses..

Does the defense have a closing problem?

Through four games, Seattle has one of the best defenses in the league. The one issue: In Seattle’s four games this season, the defense has been sent out to protect a single-possession fourth-quarter lead twice. The opponent has scored a touchdown twice and while the Seahawks wound up with enough to time to kick a game-winning field goal, the fact that Seattle hasn’t been able to slam the door shut is something that should be monitored.

What’s Riq Woolen’s future in Seattle?

With Devon Witherspoon back from a knee injury, Woolen is now the third cornerback, coming onto the field when Witherspoon slides inside in the team’s nickel package. Woolen was penalized three times on Thursday though he otherwise played pretty well. The trade deadline is Nov. 9, and while I’m not saying Seattle will look to move him, that’s not something I’d rule out, either.

Can Kenneth Walker become more consistent?

He is Seattle’s most explosive runner. He’s also the most volatile, and I’m not talking about him throwing the ball at an opponent, drawing a drive-stalling penalty for taunting though I certainly could be. Walker is Seattle’s most explosive runner. He can turn what appears to be a 4-yard gain into a 19-yard touchdown run that clinched the win in Pittsburgh. However, his eyes for big plays can turn what should be a 4-yard gain into a 1-yard loss as happened in Week 4 at Arizona.