In Part One of this two-part series, I put together a list of one player from each of the Seahawks’ first six opponents of 2020 that should make a difference in Seattle’s approach to each game. Now, in part two, I detail one player from the remaining seven opponents that should have a similar impact.
Note, I chose not to select any quarterbacks, running backs, or wide receivers for this list, as the success of those positions is obviously paramount to a team’s chances of winning.
Week 8 (Nov. 1) and Week 17 (Jan. 3, 2021): San Francisco 49ers
Impact player: TE George Kittle
Look no further than last year’s season series between the Seahawks and the 49ers to feel Kittle’s impact – the Seahawks won without Kittle on the field, and lost when he was there. Kittle, an All-Pro First Team member, was PFF’s top-ranked player at any position in 2019 after posting his second straight 1,000-yard season and leading all tight ends AND receivers in broken tackles. He is an absolute game-breaker in both run-blocking and pass-blocking, and should easily be the Seahawks’ number-one concern on defense.
Week 9 (Nov. 8): Buffalo Bills
Impact player: DE Mario Addison
The Bills picked up Addison in free agency to bolster their front seven, hoping to bring their run defense up to the level of their lockdown pass defense. Addison led the Carolina Panthers with nine and a half sacks last season, also forcing two fumbles. At 32 years old, Addison is only improving – he has compiled 39 sacks, eight forced fumbles, and 136 tackles over the past four seasons, while recording at least 45 pressures in each of the past five seasons. With such a productive player coming off the edge, Russell Wilson may be forced to scramble more than usual – and will subsequently have to contend with Pro Bowl linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
Week 10 (Nov. 15) and Week 16 (Dec. 27): Los Angeles Rams
Impact player: CB Troy Hill
Although Jalen Ramsay will rightfully be receiving a majority of the attention at cornerback, the man roaming the other side of the field is no slouch in the slightest. Hill filled in for an injured Aqib Talib in Week 5 of 2019 and never looked back, quickly becoming one of the league’s best defenders in zone coverage despite his small size (5-foot-11, 183 lbs). He missed just two tackles all year on 45 attempts and also picked up two interceptions, eight batted passes, and a sack while allowing an opponent completion percentage of only 45.6. The Seahawks must be careful here – they may need to take their chances with Hill, as they will have to deal with both Aaron Donald’s existence and with safeties Taylor Rapp and John Johnson III prowling the box.
Week 12 (Nov. 30): Philadelphia Eagles
Impact player: TE Dallas Goedert
Zach Ertz is the clear No. 1 tight end in Philadelphia, but Goedert should not be overlooked, especially with the Seahawks’ issues defending tight ends. The latter logged 331 yards after the catch to Ertz’s 255 in 2019, despite having 30 fewer receptions. He is a solid blocker in both the passing and the running games, as well as a demonstrated red zone threat with five touchdowns last season. The Eagles added plenty of speed to their offense over the offseason, which should lead to tight end routes opening up (provided that the wide receivers can stay healthy).
Week 13 (Dec. 6): New York Giants
Impact player: OG Kevin Zeitler
Zeitler had a bit of a down year last season while battling a shoulder injury, but PFF still gave him their sixth-highest grade of all offensive guards. He should have a better year with the Giants this season – New York took several steps to revamp its offensive line, including hiring a new position coach (Marc Colombo) and selecting offensive tackle Andrew Thomas at No. 4 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. A nine-year veteran, Zeitler was a consistent presence on the interior in 2019, receiving just one penalty while playing 93 percent of offensive snaps. With star running back Saquon Barkley looking to find any holes that Zeitler opens, the Seahawks defensive line may have their work cut out for them.
Week 14 (Dec. 13): New York Jets
Impact player: DT Folorunso Fatukasi
The Jets fielded a surprisingly good defense in 2019, even with injuries to linebackers C.J. Mosley and Avery Williamson. New York ranked seventh overall in total defense and second in both rushing yards per game and yards per carry. Fatukasi was a major contributor to that success after entering training camp on the roster bubble, earning his way to 391 defensive snaps and 114 special teams snaps over the season. He was PFF’s fourth-best run defender of all interior defensive lineman, shoving his blockers into the backfield on a consistent basis. If Fatukasi rounds out his skillset by improving his pass rush technique in 2020, he could be a truly dangerous force against the Seahawks offense.
Week 15 (Dec. 20): Washington
Impact player: DT Matt Ioannidis
Washington’s defensive line has some serious depth. The team added the ultra-talented Chase Young with pick No. 2 in the NFL draft to line up opposite Ryan Kerrigan on the edge, while Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne maintain a formidable inside presence in new defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio’s 4-3 scheme. Ioannidis may not start the game against the Seahawks, but he will be looking to finish it; as Washington’s 2019 sack leader with eight and a half, he also compiled 64 tackles (11 for loss), 16 quarterback hits, 18 QB hurries, 35 pressures, and a batted pass. His incredible power at the line of scrimmage led the team to include him in 73 percent of defensive snaps and 35 percent of special teams snaps. The Seahawks offensive line will need to take a serious leap forward in order to prevent Ioannidis from setting his sights on Russell Wilson, who was sacked 54 times last year.
