Seattle Seahawks: 5 Players to watch vs. Cowboys in Week 3

Rashaad Penny

The rookie first round pick has yet to deliver on all of his promise. He was hyped up as a dynamic athlete who could contribute in the run and passing games, but he hasn’t backed any of that praise up. Seahawks fan undoubtedly hoped when Penny was drafted that he would revive the team’s running game, yet his numbers show he hasn’t been even decent on the ground.

In the Week 2 loss to Chicago, Penny has no receptions and only 30 yards on ten carries. The week before he had four catches for 35 yards but still just seven carries for eight yards. That means he’s averaging a measly 2.2 yards per carry entering Week 3. The versatility that he can bring to the table has been buried either by his lack of touches or simply by poor play on his part along with the struggling offensive line.

The Cowboys boast two strong linebackers in Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith, and they also have a large number of young defensive backs which could make getting Penny involved in the passing game difficult. With Lee and Smith in the middle of the defense, running the ball up the middle also seems like a poor option. To be blunt Penny’s game is a poor match for the Cowboys defense. Pete Carroll has to draw up some more creative plays to make sure his first round pick stays involved.

So much emphasis going into the 2018 season was on the Seahawks potential ability to balance their offense with the running game. So far Wilson hasn’t gotten the help he needs and that’s a large reason why the offense is struggling. Penny doesn’t deserve a lot of blame, he is only a rookie, but he will be blamed regardless. As a surprising, questionable first-round pick, he’s facing an somewhat unfair amount of pressure. A good game on Sunday would go a long way to silencing his critics.