What to look out for in the Seahawks game against Miami

With starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on the injured reserve list due to a concussion, the Dolphins start with Skylar Thompson, a 2022 seventh-round pick who has made three starts in his career (including playoffs).

The Seahawks know that they cannot underestimate opponents in the NFL, especially not a quarterback in the McDaniels system who plays with the weapons that Miami has on offense. Nor are they going into the game arrogant just because a backup quarterback is starting.

However, Macdonald noticed a difference between the two Miami quarterbacks: Thompson holds the ball by default and tries to extend plays, unlike Tagovailoa, who gets rid of the ball quicker. “Thompson holds the ball a little longer than Tua,” Macdonald said. “Tua played really fast, the ball came pretty quickly and accurately. Thompson had the same skills, but he tried to extend the play more often, and that’s something to watch out for more than with Tua.”

While a quarterback willing to extend plays can create great opportunities for the offense, it also creates more opportunities for the pass rush. And the Seahawks have done a good job of putting pressure on their regular quarterbacks so far.

The Seahawks have recorded five sacks through two games, which ranks them mid-15th in the league. But that doesn’t tell the whole story of the pass rush. Despite a blitz rate of just 22.2%, which ranks 22nd in the NFL, the Seahawks are third in quarterback pressures with 31, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, and they rank sixth in quarterback pressure plays (38.3%).

The Seahawks are hoping their pass rush, along with the loud fans in the stadium, can make life difficult for the young quarterback. “I think it’s going really well,” defensive lineman Leonard Williams said of the pass rush. “In camp, we knew we had a lot of guys that could bring pressure from anywhere along the D-line. I think we’re doing a good job of utilizing everyone’s strengths, and as players, we’re also learning to play better with each other.”