If you Google “Michael Jarrell,” to learn more about who is starting at right tackle for the Seahawks on Sunday, let me assure you it’s not a Swedish composer.
Michael Jarrell is perhaps more famous than Michael Jerrell as of today. Jerrell is a rookie right tackle who will attempt to keep Atlanta pass rushers away from Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith when the 3-3 Seahawks play the 4-2 Falcons at 10 a.m. on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (FOX TV, KIRO Radio).
Jerrell, a sixth-round draft pick out of Findlay — a Division II football program at a school in Ohio with just over 2,000 undergraduate students — entered the season as essentially the Seahawks fourth-string right tackle. He hopes the feel good story — click here to see his feel-good draft moment — continues on Sunday.
“I’ve always felt like I belonged since the day I got my number called,” Jerrell said after making the final roster.
Jerrell, listed at 6-foot-5, 294 pounds, will become the fourth Seahawk slated to start at right tackle this season. Archbishop Murphy graduate Abe Lucas, placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list prior to the season due to lingering knee issues, has not played this year and his return date is unknown.
Veteran George Fant suffered a knee injury in the season opener and has missed the past five games. Enter — and exit — Stone Forsythe, who has been ruled out for Sunday with a hand injury. Next man up is the man out of Findlay.
“He had a great week of prep,” said Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald of Jerrell. “The guy has just kept improving since he’s gotten here. He’s come such a long way in less than a year — proud of him, and he’s got a great opportunity. I know he’s excited and (I’m) excited to see him go do his thing.”
Seattle elected to roll with the rookie rather than 42-year-old veteran Jason Peters, who recently signed to the Seahawks practice squad. Peters may be in a position to contribute this season, but it sounds like he’s not quite ready to jump back into the lineup.
“He’s not coming up this week, but we’re excited about Jason,” Macdonald said. “He’s doing a great job. “
It may be a soft landing for Jerrell. Atlanta currently ranks last in the league in sacks with five, compared to the 28 and 26 Seattle opponents Denver and the New York Giants have posted, respectively, this season. The Seahawks will need to add to the Falcons’ pass rush frustrations to have a chance to end their losing streak at three games.
Macdonald said he’s seen good things from his team this week.
“I think there is urgency, I think we’re confident,” he said. “We want to be loose and focused. I felt that way this week, and that’s where we’re at. We’ve got a lot to prove, and we’re excited to go have our opportunity to take advantage of it.”
Injury situation
The Seahawks get a big — literally and figuratively — return this week in the form of defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, who returns from a hamstring issue. He missed Seattle’s three losses in 11 days that came after a 3-0 start. They’ll be without linebacker Uchenna Nwosu again, but are otherwise healthier in the front seven than they’ve been for the past several weeks.
The issues now, however, are in the secondary. Starting safety Rayshawn Jenkins (injured reserve) and starting cornerback Riq Woolen will miss Sunday’s game, as will backup corners Tre Brown and Artie Burns.
The pick
This feels like a pivotal game. It’s important not to make too much of a Week 7, non-divisional game, but a fourth-straight loss would be a cause for concerns for the early part of Macdonald’s coaching career. With the secondary missing pieces, Macdonald will need to get some pressure on Kirk Cousins, who has been solid this season.
The Seahawks hope to get running back Kenneth Walker III going, but also look to take advantage of the Falcons’ weak pass rush.
Atlanta is 4-2 in part because they won some close games prior to last week’s 38-20 victory over hapless Carolina. This could come down to which team has the ball last, and which quarterback delivers in key situations.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks are still trying to find their way with the youngest head coach in the NFL and a first-year offensive coordinator in Ryan Grubb, who is coaching in the NFL for the first time. Grubb seemingly didn’t call enough run plays in a loss to the Giants, then perhaps overreacted by running the ball on six of Seattle’s first seven first down plays in the 36-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 10.
The three games in 11 days with a slate of injuries was too much to handle for the Seahawks, but Macdonald and Grubb are smart guys who will have had 10 days to study for the test of a relatively mediocre Atlanta team. The Falcons are favored by three points, but I think the Seahawks get a big day from Geno Smith and find a way to sack Kirk Cousins.
Pick: Seattle 31, Atlanta 27
Aaron Coe is also a contributor to seattlesportsnow.com
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