D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks.
Some conversations are hard to have, and we put them off for as long as possible. Maybe we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, or we don’t want to face the reality of a bad situation. Eventually, though, we have to rip off the band-aid and say what needs to be said. So here it is: I’m sorry, Seahawks fans, but D.K. Metcalf isn’t that great.
Before the comments start coming in suggesting I remove my head from my (fill in the blank), please understand I’m not saying he’s a bad player, just not great. He’s fine, Metcalf can occasionally have a huge game and keep defenses honest, but he is not one of the top five or even top ten wide receivers in the NFL. That’s just the reality of the situation.
Stats can be deceptive, and with Metcalf, the sum is somehow more than his actual contributions. Let’s say breaking 100 yards equates to a great game for a wide receiver. Metcalf had five games with over 100 yards receiving in 2020. After the quiet first two weeks he’s had this season; it’s now been seven games since he last eclipsed that mark.
As a comparison, Steffon Diggs had almost; ten, Davante Adams, seven; DeAndre Hopkins, seven; and Justin Jefferson had seven (he missed eight by 15 yards) in 2020. In addition, none of those players went more than three games without hitting the century mark. D.K. has already doubled that number and then some during his current quiet stretch. You can’t be one of the best if you aren’t a factor every time out.
Scouts questioned his fluidity and ability to win at the line of scrimmage and create separation coming out of college, and it seems that he’s playing to that reputation. As NFL defenses adjusted to Metcalf, we’ve seen him struggle to get open on shorter pass routes.
When opponents keep a safety back to take away the deep ball, it greatly reduces his effectiveness. Metcalf’s back-to-back weeks of frustration penalties stem from corners playing him physically at the line and holding him in check. That further adds to his struggles.
The difference between Metcalf and those other receivers I mentioned is their ability to adjust and find ways to contribute no matter what. A 50 yards-per-game average over his last seven is just not going to cut it. So the question becomes just what do the Seattle Seahawks have in Metcalf?
Is he a superstar going through a rough patch, or is he a good receiver who occasionally breaks out with a spectacular game? The evidence seems to indicate the latter and 12’s should all recalibrate our expectations.
The best comparison I could find for Metcalf was another supremely gifted athlete at the wide receiver position who also isn’t as consistent a performer as you might think. The Chiefs Tyreek Hill. Like Metcalf, Hill has some monster games with hundreds of yards. Also, like D.K., he has more games where he’s average to invisible.
Over his career, Hill typically has three or four games per season where he goes off. The rest of the season, he is mediocre at best. Is Hill a weapon? Absolutely. Is he overrated? Absolutely.
The difference between Hill and Metcalf right now is age. There’s hope that D.K. can add some little wrinkles to his game and find ways to make an impact when the deep ball isn’t there. It’s on the coaching staff to help convert potential into production.
I’d love to see offensive coordinator Shane Waldron incorporate more plays where D.K. is running slants or shallow crosses that allow him to use his speed to create some separation. Better yet, design the routes with a natural pick to create ways to make things easier for him. A game plan requiring him to run only go routes and hoping he can win jump balls play after play is not working.
I don’t question Metcalf’s work ethic or his effort. In fact, there’s no reason to think he can’t have a big game this week against a Vikings secondary that the Bengals and Cardinals shredded.
At the end of the day, I don’t think Metcalf can live up to the fans or his personal expectations. How he and the Seattle faithful handle that will determine what the rest of his career is like. So I implore you 12s, appreciate what you have even if it’s not quite what you thought it was.
What’s your take on D.K. Metcalf’s drop in production? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.