Will Seahawks DK Metcalf Find Success vs. ‘Young’ Rams DBs?
Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf is undoubtedly looking to continue what has been a successful history against the Los Angeles Rams when their division-rivals visit Lumen Field on Sunday for their Week 1 matchup.
In eight career games against the Rams, Seattle’s alpha receiver has amassed 526 yards on 38 catches with fourth touchdowns. With Los Angeles’ former top cornerback Jalen Ramsey now a member of the Miami Dolphins, Metcalf appears poised to feast on a young, and somewhat inexperienced secondary.
However, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll reminded fans, media and most-importantly his team, that L.A.’s defensive backfield is capable of presenting a significant challenge.
“They're really quick, they’re very aggressive. The quickness really shows up in their ability to cover and stay tight to people,” Carroll told reporters Wednesday. “We're anxious to see how they do it. Are they going to stay with their scheme that they’ve had in the preseason or are they going to play more man-to-man with those guys? We'll find out. But it's a talented group athletically and they're just young.”
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Despite Ramsey’s departure, the Rams still employ a pair of athletic, second-year cornerbacks in Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant. Fellow 2022 draftee Russ Yeast aligns at free safety, with elder statesman Jordan Fuller playing in the box.
Though he was able to post the second 1,000-yard season of his four-year career, Metcalf only cracked the century mark in receiving yards in two games this season, one of which came in the Seahawks’ victory over the Rams in Week 13 — a game in which Metcalf caught all eight of his targets while finishing with 127 yards and one touchdown. Still, he finished the year with more than respectable numbers; having caught 90 passes for 1,048 yards and six touchdowns.
Should Metcalf hope to find success against the Rams secondary on Sunday, he may look to do so inside the 20. Last season, the Ole Miss product was targeted 24 times in the end zone. The 6-4 wideout may be wise to use his size and experience to his advantage against a Rams’ defensive backfield that may wish to test their versatility by playing tight coverage in the red zone.
The Rams and Seahawks are set for a 1:25 p.m. PT kickoff from Lumen Field on Sunday.
