Marquise Blair, Seattle Seahawks.
Every year there are players on each team who wind up being difference makers. Sometimes they make positive differences, other times, not so much. These aren’t necessarily the stars. Of course, the Seattle Seahawks are a far worse team without Russell Wilson or Bobby Wagner.
X-factors are about the players who are new to the team, new to a position, have increased responsibilities, or need to bounce back. In 2020, several Seattle Seahawks could be a difference-maker on the fine line between winning and losing. Here are the top five.
Until the Seattle Seahawks traded for All-Pro Jamal Adams, at the end of July, Marquise Blair was slated to be one of the starting safeties. With Quandre Diggs and now Adams on the team, he was out of a job. Blair is an excellent player, so Seattle moved him to the slot/nickel corner position.
By all accounts, Blair is taking to the position quite well. Last year the Seattle Seahawks had the fewest defensive snaps in the nickel. Head coach Pete Carroll is so happy with Blair; he said the defense would use the formation more often.
Without a preseason, there is no way to tell how well Blair will do against competition in a different color jersey.
One of the more head-scratching moves Seattle made on cutdown day was to keep only three defensive tackles on the roster. One of the keys to successful line play is rotating in fresh players. So Bryan Mone will see plenty of snaps.
Signed last season as an undrafted free agent, Mone spent most of the season on Seattle’s practice squad. He dressed for four games and played a total of 89 snaps. The Seahawks will need him to step up in a big way this year, especially if either Poona Ford or Jarran Reed get hurt.
No doubt Greg Olsen‘s resume is impressive. With 718 career receptions for 8,444 yards and 78 touchdowns, the 35-year-old has punched his ticket to the Hall of Fame in Canton. But how much more does he have in the tank?
Last season Olsen gained 597 yards on 52 catches. That’s a far cry from the three seasons between 2014-16 when he averaged 80.3 receptions and 1,061.7 yards per year. For the Seattle Seahawks offense to thrive, they’ll need production from the tight end position.
Much was expected from L.J. Collier when Seattle drafted him in the first round (29th overall) last year. Unfortunately, an ankle injury suffered in training camp hampered him for the entire season. As a result, Collier only played 152 snaps in 11 games, making a staggering three tackles.
When healthy, Collier has a unique combination of power, speed, and an internal engine that won’t quit. He beat out Rasheem Green to be the starting left defensive end on opening day. In 2019, Seattle tied for the second-lowest sack total in the NFL. The Seahawks desperately need him to get pressure on the quarterback. Without a preseason, it’s hard to gauge how far Collier has come in his rehabilitation.
Tyler Lockett, the wide receiver, isn’t an X-Factor. Over the last two seasons, he pulled in 139 Russell Wilson passes for 2,022 yards and 18 touchdowns. That makes him a reliable offensive weapon and the Seahawks number one receiver.
While he’s been killing it on offense, Tyler Lockett, the return man, has been in steady decline. In 2019 he had career lows in both average yards per return kick return (19.9) and average yards per punt return (5.1). The Seattle Seahawks need better, but they still have him listed as their primary return man.
Who do you think will be the Seattle Seahawks X-Factor players in 2020? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.