With Graham gone, what happens over the middle?

Laloosh · Dec 4, 2015

I'm curious to see how the offense adapts to losing our best target over the middle. Graham has changed our offense in that we have been attacking the middle and we've had success.

From 2012 - 2014 Russ went to the short middle around 13% of the time. In 2015 that has jumped to around 17.5 - 18% (which is around league average).

2015 (11 games)	-	2014

Do we see production in this area regress? Does Luke Willson take a bigger role in this area? After Graham was injured last week, Russ hit Luke on a seam in the very next play.

Largent80 · Dec 4, 2015

We send Willson there.

ImTheScientist · Dec 4, 2015

Luke Willson goes over the middle but just doesn't get the same volume of opportunities.

Bigpumpkin · Dec 4, 2015

ImTheScientist":2dcxgkcb said:
Luke Willson goes over the middle but just doesn't get the same volume of opportunities.

.....he will now! I see him targeted 3-4 times this Sunday.

DeeHawks · Dec 4, 2015

Wilson to Willson

scutterhawk · Dec 4, 2015

Laloosh":1qcyq7zw said:
I'm curious to see how the offense adapts to losing our best target over the middle. Graham has changed our offense in that we have been attacking the middle and we've had success.

From 2012 - 2014 Russ went to the short middle around 13% of the time. In 2015 that has jumped to around 17.5 - 18% (which is around league average).

Here are his targets in 2015 in that area of the field through week 12:

Here are his targets for all of 2014:

2015 has been the year of the TE with regard to targets.

Do we see production in this area regress? Does Luke Willson take a bigger role in this area? After Graham was injured last week, Russ hit Luke on a seam in the very next play.

Looking at those graphs, Willson didn't have too bad a percentage of targets/catches in 2014
Also interesting for 2015, Kearse's numbers ain't showing all that bad either.
Baldwin has been pretty much kicking ass since he's come here.

IndyHawk · Dec 4, 2015

Willson was doing better as he played more last year but injury happened and then we got JG.I think LW will be solid for us.

joeseahawks · Dec 4, 2015

I expect 5 catches, 120 yards for Luke Willson on Sunday. With one bomb coming from B.J. Daniels.

SeahawksBMX · Dec 5, 2015

joeseahawks":3edjjses said:
I expect 5 catches, 120 yards for Luke Willson on Sunday. With one bomb coming from B.J. Daniels.

From Daniels under Center or some trickery (e.g., end around, fake bubble screen)?
Seems like they'd have some sort of gadget play with BJ in their back pocket to pull out if/when the time is right. Granted, the OL would need to provide enough time for such a play to develop and BJ would need to be on the roster that week, but you'd think having a legit second QB in the backfield would make it tempting.

Maybe I'm just being ridiculous, but I will always have an affinity for the trick play thanks to being introduced to football by watching Jack Patera's Seahawks.

SeahawksBMX · Dec 5, 2015

Also, fascinating charts, Laloosh. Thanks for compiling & posting that.

samwize77 · Dec 5, 2015

I've always liked Luke. Remember Ari last year?

Just have to make use of him more.

StoneCold · Dec 5, 2015

DeeHawks":ov1wanzw said:
Wilson to Willson

W to W for the W.

RiverDog · Dec 5, 2015

Laloosh":11wbxzep said:
I'm curious to see how the offense adapts to losing our best target over the middle. Graham has changed our offense in that we have been attacking the middle and we've had success.

From 2012 - 2014 Russ went to the short middle around 13% of the time. In 2015 that has jumped to around 17.5 - 18% (which is around league average).

Here are his targets in 2015 in that area of the field through week 12:

Here are his targets for all of 2014:

2015 has been the year of the TE with regard to targets.

Do we see production in this area regress? Does Luke Willson take a bigger role in this area? After Graham was injured last week, Russ hit Luke on a seam in the very next play.

Good topic.

IMO we will see better ball distribution with Graham out. As your graphic indicates, in an effort to get Graham more involved, we forced the ball more to him as evidenced by his targets/catches percentage.

The answer to your next question is pretty obvious: Yes, Luke will take on an increased role, although IMO you'll see more participation with the outside guys, ie Baldwin, Kearse, and Lockett than was present when we were jamming he ball into Graham all the time.

Tical21 · Dec 5, 2015

I haven't watched any of his tape this year, but last year you would have needed to work hard to convince me that Luke Willson wasn't the worst of however many players suited up for the Seahawks last year. He had a worse Super Bowl than any player I have ever seen play in any game.

Scottemojo · Dec 6, 2015

This is a problem.

RichNhansom · Dec 6, 2015

I can't help but keep thinking about next year.

Assuming the O-line continues to improve and we resign Okung and probably Sweezy if Lynch is done or restructured and getting P-Rich and Graham back while Rawls, Luke Willson and Tyler Lockett gain more valuable experience. How good could this offense become?

This of course assumes that Graham will come back 100% and P-Rich will be and remain healthy.

This would also leave us in good position to address the lines in the draft and possibly FA. We may not need O-lineman as badly by then and Mebane might be riding into the sunset.

Anonymous · Dec 6, 2015

RichNhansom":13d081sm said:
I can't help but keep thinking about next year.

Assuming the O-line continues to improve and we resign Okung and probably Sweezy if Lynch is done or restructured and getting P-Rich and Graham back while Rawls, Luke Willson and Tyler Lockett gain more valuable experience. How good could this offense become?

This of course assumes that Graham will come back 100% and P-Rich will be and remain healthy.

This would also leave us in good position to address the lines in the draft and possibly FA. We may not need O-lineman as badly by then and Mebane might be riding into the sunset.

I don't think it's unhealthy to think to the future at least a little bit, but having the white towel in your hand and being ready to toss it in the ring might be a little too much at this point.

I'm staying in the now.

Plenty of skilled players ready to shine and suiting up today.

Cyrus12 · Dec 6, 2015

Willllsson likely drops some balls...Lockett sees more action in the slot.

With Graham gone, what happens over the middle?

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