DK Metcalf

[Spin Doctor]

A lot of people are talking about Geno Smith, but we need to talk about this guy. He clearly is a playmaker, but for how long he's been in the league his game sense and route running are something I want to talk about. He clearly can break things wide open, but he's also been a liability for the last few games. The fumble and ad-libbing he's doing is clearly costing the team. I don't know if it's Geno or Grubb, or a combo of both, but we're forcing the ball to him an unreasonable degree. I've rewatched some of the games and have seen JSN and Lockett open.

I've not seen a lot of people talk about DK, but he's been an huge issue for us the last few games. Mental lapses, drops, fumbles, poor route running. He's a playmaker but lately he's just as much of a double edged sword. He's not living up to his contract, and I think our penchant for feeding him is starting to cost us.

 

[DarkVictory23]

I responded to this a bit in a different thread, but quick recap: We are targeting DK basically at the same rate as other teams target their #1 WR. (About 1 out of every 5 throws). Some more, some less, but it's in the ballpark.

In fact, he's been targeted slightly less this year and last than he was in 2022, 2021, and 2020. (Actually, a lot less than 2021. He was targeted just under 1 of out of every 3 pass attempts in Russ's last year here.)

I also think it's important to point out that DK is physically bigger, stronger, and faster than most DBs who line up against him. As our #1 WR, he's going to be the primary read on a lot of plays and what reads as DK being open isn't what it would look like for other WRs who aren't as physically gifted.

This means that when you've got an O-Line that's as infamously porous as the one we have, if Geno reads that DK is 'DK open' as his primary read, he's not going to check off of it to see if Tyler has been able to backyard himself some extra space or whether Walker is getting free in the flat. He's going to whip it in there to his #1 WR, he doesn't have the time to do otherwise.

And whether DK is worth his contract or not, it's a waste of money if we aren't using him for what he offers us the most, which is to outmatch DBs physically.


The bad hands (he catches so much with his body and is obviously fumble prone) and the sometimes-lackadaisical route-running are indeed issues, and they've cost us badly to this point this year.

DK is our best option at WR for big plays but his catch rate and success rate are below both JSN and Lockett. That's the mixed bag we get with DK. Is the tradeoff worth it? Overall, prior to this year, I'd say yes. Right now, with two big fumbles still in recent (and painful) memory, I'm more hesitant to commit... get back to me in Week 10.

 

[renofox]

With the amount of huge contract $ and draft capital spent on the WR corps, the overall level of performance should be much, much higher. The Seahawks are not getting a good return on investment. DK is good. Lockett is good. JSN is good. But none are top-tier, elite, or great. Another example of JS overpaying.

 

[Natethegreat]

D.K. has a size speed combo most WRS only dream of. He also has more penalties and more fumbles since he has come into the league than any other WR in that time. He is both irreplaceable in his abilities and yet still costing this team over and over and over again with the same stupid mistakes that never go away.

Do we pay him top dollar and have that unique size and speed and accept the constant game changing fumbles and penalties or move on? I don't know, its hard to acquire players like that and Lockett will be gone soon so that means more picks spent to get a WR to replace him. I bet they just end up paying him.

 

[Crizilla]

Starting to think the dude is a headcase.

 

[m0ng0]

I've been ready for him to go for years, million dollar body 10 cent head. Stupid penalties, drops, fumbles, bad routes and seems to be a bit of a trouble maker. I wish we could get a first for him NOW!!!

 

[JayhawkMike]

A lot of people are talking about Geno Smith, but we need to talk about this guy. He clearly is a playmaker, but for how long he's been in the league his game sense and route running are something I want to talk about. He clearly can break things wide open, but he's also been a liability for the last few games. The fumble and ad-libbing he's doing is clearly costing the team. I don't know if it's Geno or Grubb, or a combo of both, but we're forcing the ball to him an unreasonable degree. I've rewatched some of the games and have seen JSN and Lockett open.

I've not seen a lot of people talk about DK, but he's been an huge issue for us the last few games. Mental lapses, drops, fumbles, poor route running. He's a playmaker but lately he's just as much of a double edged sword. He's not living up to his contract, and I think our penchant for feeding him is starting to cost us.

I like how you are subtly the biggest Geno homer on the board.

 

[Timberhawk]

I love watching football but played basketball growing up. One reason I don’t comment much. Many of you are way smarter at football than me. Anyway, DK reminds me of some players I played hoops with. He is big, super strong, fast but doesn’t know how or have the desire to use that size advantage against smaller opponents. Like a dude that should be a great rebounder but just is not. A few times it looks like he could come back to an under-thrown ball and he just doesn’t do it. If he works back he can get his body between the ball and the opposing player so they get “boxed out” and he can make the play unless they foul him to get to the ball. He needs to do this more IMO.

 

[Seahawk_Dan]

DK has talent, he is a physical freak, but he lacks the real X factors. When you think of Fitzgerald, Moss, Johnson (Megatron), these guys are all legends that DK matches up with PHYSICALLY. However, DK may have the body of a Lamborghini but the engine of a Toyota Carola.

I’m in the camp of trading him before the deadline. Maybe a really desperate team gives you a 1st Rounder for him.

 

[CalgaryFan05]

A lot of people are talking about Geno Smith, but we need to talk about this guy. He clearly is a playmaker, but for how long he's been in the league his game sense and route running are something I want to talk about. He clearly can break things wide open, but he's also been a liability for the last few games. The fumble and ad-libbing he's doing is clearly costing the team. I don't know if it's Geno or Grubb, or a combo of both, but we're forcing the ball to him an unreasonable degree. I've rewatched some of the games and have seen JSN and Lockett open.

I've not seen a lot of people talk about DK, but he's been an huge issue for us the last few games. Mental lapses, drops, fumbles, poor route running. He's a playmaker but lately he's just as much of a double edged sword. He's not living up to his contract, and I think our penchant for feeding him is starting to cost us.

I threw a tremendous amount of shade DK's way for the past couple of years. And took some heat for it

For what it's worth - I've been impressed with a few things, aside from the turnovers. He seems more motivated this year - not sure if that's the MM X factor or what

Trading him? I don't know if I'm onboard for that. But, honestly with the HOT and then ICE COLD start on a 3 game split each - there's so much bullshit swirling around this team right now that it's hard for me to see DK sticking out as the 'problem'. It's not like he's jumping into the stands and grabbing the cameras, and that kind of nonsense again. He's pouting a bit when things don't go his way - which is kinda understandable.

I mean the first big turnover he was dragging like 3 guys along with him, wasn't he? I'm seeing both him and Lockett try for YAC that I haven't seen in several years.

Unfortunately, my hatred of prime time games has caused me to largely fast forward threw recorded versions of the Lions game and the 9ers game - so I don't feel like I've got a 100% accurate take on any of the pouting or Geno smashing the tablet against his head type incidents.

Even with the 2 fumbles. And they were big ******* fumbles. I'm seeing an increased level of effort, and at least that's 'something'. It's something better than telling PC to F himself and "I'm not going to change the way that I play." - essentially daring PC to cut him.

Worst case - use him to draw coverage and throw to JSN a bunch more. I've read another poster saying that we're force feeding DK a bit - and I can see that. He used to throw tantrums, even in the Russ years - when he didn't get the ball - so perhaps there's more going on behind the scenes that we don't see between him and Geno - 'cause Geno seems pissed.

BUT, this season, with the oline and the dline, and the secondary, and all the other warts that we've got - I'm really not sitting around thinking: "Boy, if we could trade DK for a first round pick, everything would be fixed.".

Oh yea, and we need to run the ball more

 

[getnasty]

The fumbles suck but DK is a dawg and one of maybe 3 guys on this team that can change a game and make people game plan against. He's a difference maker. Had Kenneth Walker stop jogging in place for no reason we'd probably be talking about DK differently today.

 

[Rat]

I've not seen a lot of people talk about DK

Is your screen on full darkness or something?

 

[keasley45]

DK, though more mature than he was even last year is still prone to emotional ruts that effect his game. The loss to Cincy last year is an example.

When he isnt engaged in the game, and we start losing, he still throws his tantrums and loses focus. It might have been what haooened on the 2nd int Thursday, but Geno should have thrown that ball further out front and up-field, away from the defender. I know that commentators said he ran the route soft, but still, you cant put the ball where a db can ubdercut it.

I dont get his frustration about not pushing the ball more. I mean, its pretty well known Ds have trended toward taking away the deep routed over the last few years. With no semblance of a running game to force a safety down an o line play that allows defenses to get pressure with 4 men, Grubb is in a bit of a bind. He's left to work the short and medium routes, which i think he had done well. And as Geno showed in the Miami and NE games, when there's a coverage to exploit, they hook up and take advantage.

From the perspective of being a competitor and wanting to win every play and every game, i get his frustration. But he needs to look inside first and make the plays that arebhis to be made before complaining about whats NOT happening otherwise.

He needs to keep his head in the game.

 

[MORGULON]

I love watching football but played basketball growing up. One reason I don’t comment much. Many of you are way smarter at football than me. Anyway, DK reminds me of some players I played hoops with. He is big, super strong, fast but doesn’t know how or have the desire to use that size advantage against smaller opponents. Like a dude that should be a great rebounder but just is not. A few times it looks like he could come back to an under-thrown ball and he just doesn’t do it. If he works back he can get his body between the ball and the opposing player so they get “boxed out” and he can make the play unless they foul him to get to the ball. He needs to do this more IMO.

Great observation.

He is missing the mental element that the top tier WR have. He misses a lot of balls that I feel he should at the very least make a stronger effort to catch.

If people have to debate whether a player is worth a NFL record contract , Id lean towards not doing it.

This in combination with all the other side distractions makes me hope they trade him .

 

[renofox]

The cap savings of a cut or trade after this season are only $10.8M. I'd be OK trading him, but would need two 1st rounders minimum to make up for the $21M cap hit we're taking for whoever gets him. They'd have to be high 1st rounders or I'd need a 2nd and a 4th on top.

 

[907 MILITIA]

Did y’all watch coach JB go off on DK? So funny and mostly true.

 

[907 MILITIA]

DK needs his binky back.

 

[seabowl]

Get an offensive line and watch how great DK becomes.

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

I’m sure JS has thought about moving DK before, maybe once or twice.

And I’m sure other teams may have also reached out.

Right now, business wise, right now isn’t a good time to move DK, you gotta wait for a “sell high” moment.

Maybe after this season if DK goes over 1000 yards and 8 TDs or so. Then move him to the highest bidder when his value is high.

 

[hgwellz12]

Did y’all watch coach JB go off on DK? So funny and mostly true.

Coach JB? Bynes? I missed that. What part of the game was it/after which play/event?