Green Bay Packers: Getting to Know Seattle, Takeaways & Predictions
By Paul Bretl
Who is one player on offense and one on defense that Packer fans may not know as well but could have big impacts on the game?
Lee: The Seahawks offense revolves around one player, really, and that is Russell Wilson, of course. If he plays well, Seattle has a chance to beat Green Bay. If he doesn’t Seattle will lose. That said, he does use the players around him well.
Most people probably know about Tyler Lockett and are getting to know D.K. Metcalf, but tight end Jacob Hollister has had a good year. He isn’t ever going to be a Pro Bowl guy and won’t be a long-term starter with Will Dissly coming back. But he has had 41 catches in 11 games. Those 41 catches are more than the Patriots tight ends combined and New England let Hollister go to Seattle for a song this offseason.
Defensively, Quinton Jefferson has had a pretty decent year. The most important players are guys Jadeveon Clowney, Bobby Wagner and Quandre Diggs, but Jefferson actually was second in the team in sacks, second in quarterback hits and third among defensive linemen in tackles for loss.
Takeaway: Jacob Hollister likely isn’t going to wow anyone but he is a reliable target of Russell Wilson’s and Green Bay has had issues covering tight ends this season. In fact, they are allowing 11.2 yards per catch and 54.1 receiving yards per game to the tight end position. However, to their credit they have been better recently, but Hollister is certainly a name to know on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Quinton Jefferson may be second in sacks and quarterback hits, but overall this is a Seahawks’ defense that is near the bottom when it comes to pressuring the quarterback. I think the Green Bay offensive line unit has a huge advantage in this matchup and Seattle may have to resort to blitzing – which they don’t do often – in order to get after Aaron Rodgers.