Seahawks at Cowboys: Can Special-Teams Problem Be Solved?

Kick and punt coverage has been unusually porous for the Seattle Seahawks in their first two preseason games, and needs to turn around prior to the regular season to avoid being a huge liability.

Thus far in the preseason, the Seattle Seahawks special teams – particularly the kick and punt coverage – has been a big disappointment. After allowing a 38-yard punt return in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, the Seahawks one-upped themselves by allowing a 58-yard kickoff return in addition to a 48-yard punt return. 

Even head coach Pete Carroll is flummoxed by the poor showing.

“Our leverage on the return game was really bad on special teams for two weeks in a row and I don’t remember us ever looking like that,” Carroll told media after the Bears game.

Special teams may not be as glorious as the other two phases of the NFL game, but many young players cut their teeth on the return and coverage units. The coverage breakdowns could partly be attributed to players on those units who will be looking for new jobs after final cutdowns, but it’s still a concerning trend for the Seahawks since they have fielded successful special teams units in recent years as evidenced by finishing the 2021 season with the fifth-ranked special teams by DVOA.

Up next this preseason is the Dallas Cowboys. Maybe their return units are struggling, too?

Oh. Well, maybe their punt return unit is struggling.

Yikes. That’s wide receiver KeVontae Turpin, the USFL’s MVP from this past spring running through, around, and past the Los Angeles Chargers for a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown and an 86-yard punt return touchdown. 

Friday’s game against the Cowboys might feature Turpin (and other key Dallas players) in bubble wrap, Still, this outing should provide a stiff test for the Seahawks coverage units as they look to improve prior to the regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos.