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Seattle Seahawks: 3 X-factors for the 2019 season

By Samuel Teets

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 30: Tre Flowers #37 of the Seattle Seahawks before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 30: Tre Flowers #37 of the Seattle Seahawks before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 14: Poona Ford #95 of the Texas Longhorns pursues Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half of a game at the Cotton Bowl on October 14, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Richard W. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 14: Poona Ford #95 of the Texas Longhorns pursues Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half of a game at the Cotton Bowl on October 14, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Richard W. Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

The Seattle Seahawks are looking to make a deeper run in the playoffs this year and these three X-factors could be a huge help.

While the Seattle Seahawks overachieved last season, they were bounced from the playoffs in the first round. It was conceivable that Seattle could have beaten the Dallas Cowboys in that Wild Card Round loss but the Seahawks would have run into a wall of better competition. The 2018 Seahawks did not have the ceiling necessary to make a deep playoff run.

Thanks to a large draft haul and an active free agency period, Seattle has a lot of new faces on the team this year. However, it’s three second-year players who have the opportunity to be X-factors for the team.

All three of these players had roles on the Seahawks last season, but they will see more snaps in 2019. While they might not become Pro Bowlers, the key here is that they can become central to the team’s success. Considering their positions and how the roster has shaken out so far, these three players are in the best positions to become crucial, X-factors that can uplift the team this season.

Poona Ford, DT

With Jarran Reed suspended for the first six games of the season, Ford will be pushed into a more significant role than initially intended. The undrafted free agent from Texas was an analytics darling last season.

Pro Football Focus (subscription required) gave him a 90.3 grade for his rookie season. That ranked favorably among defensive linemen. He also received a 91.5 run-defense grade, which was the highest grade given to a rookie interior defensive lineman in PFF’s history.

However, Ford only saw a limited number of snaps last season. He appeared in 11 games but only made one start, so his grade is incomplete in a sense. Also, a good analytical grade doesn’t always translate to game-changing contributions on the field. Ford did well during his limited time last season though.

The Seahawks are going to experiment with their defensive tackle combinations during the Preseason and into the regular season. Reed was a stud for the team last year, and his absence will have a major effect on the pass rush. Shamar Stephen started 14 games for the Seahawks at the other defensive tackle position last season, but he signed with the Minnesota Vikings in free agency.

If Ford can replicate his play from 2018 on a larger scale, then he should be the co-starter alongside Reed when the sack artist returns from suspension. In the meantime, Ford is charged with keeping Seattle’s interior defensive line from being a weakness.

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