The returning of rookie Tyler Lockett led a Seahawks' special teams corps that was largely good in 2015 but had some spotty moments in coverage.
The Seahawks hardly could have hit more spectacularly on the most goal-specific pick of their 2015 draft when they traded up to select Tyler Lockett.
The goal was to improve the kickoff- and punt-return units. Lockett returned a punt for a touchdown on his first regular-season attempt on his way to earning first-team All-Pro honors and an invite to the Pro Bowl.
The Seahawks hadn’t returned a punt or kickoff for a touchdown since 2012 (a kickoff return by Leon Washington) but got one of each this season from Lockett. We conclude our breakdown of the Seahawks’ position groups by examining the special teams:
Starters: Kicker Steven Hauschka
Age: 30.
Contract situation: Signed through 2018.
2015 stats: 29 of 31 on field goals, 40 of 44 on extra points.
Punter Jon Ryan
Age: 34.
Contract situation: Unrestricted free agent.
2015 stats: 45.7 average yards, 37.9 net yards.
Long snapper Clint Gresham
Age: 29.
Contract situation: Signed through 2017.
2015 Seahawks stats: One tackle.
Returner Tyler Lockett
Age: 23.
Contract situation: Signed through 2018.
2015 stats: 25.8 yards per kickoff return and one touchdown, 9.5 per punt return and one touchdown.
2015 review
Lockett wasn’t the only highlight, as the kicking spots were solid most of the season. Hauschka made his first 17 field-goal attempts, including kicks of 51 and 52 yards that proved critical in a 13-10 win over Detroit. He also made a game-winner at Dallas and a 46-yarder in the fourth quarter for the go-ahead points of the wild-card playoff win at Minnesota. His four misses on the longer PAT late in the season was the only real nitpick.
Ryan also was steady with an average of 45.7 yards that was the third-best of his career. Gresham also was steady until a bad snap in the wild-card game at Minnesota, undoubtedly influenced by the cold, led to a botched punt and a broken nose for Ryan.
Lockett helped the return teams finish with averages better than in 2014 — the kickoff return was up to 25.5, second-best in team history, from 21.0 and punt returns up to 10.7 from 7.0.
The coverage teams were a little spottier as the Seahawks allowed both a punt and a kickoff return for a touchdown. Seattle’s opponents also finished with a 25.5 average on kickoff returns, third-highest in Seahawks history, and were better than the Seahawks on punt returns at 13.3, the highest average allowed in Seahawks history.
Grade: B-minus. Lockett was a star, and the kickers were fine. But some of the coverage inconsistencies bring the grade down a bit.
Offseason objectives
The Seahawks have had the same kicking battery — Ryan, who is also the holder, Gresham and Hauschka — since 2011.
But that could change this offseason, as Ryan is an unrestricted free agent. He said he wants to return but added he would consider other offers, and the Seahawks could go with a younger, cheaper replacement.
The Seahawks have already brought in some potential competition for Gresham, having recently signed Andrew East to a futures contract. East, who played at Vanderbilt, was in camp as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Chiefs last season before being released. East was considered by some analysts as the best long snapper available in the 2015 draft.
Gresham has two years remaining on a three-year, $2.7 million contract signed last offseason, at the moment the 19th-highest paid snapper for 2016.
Hauschka has one year left on his contract, which will have a $3.5 million cap hit in 2016. At $2.85 million per season he is scheduled to be the 12th-highest-paid kicker in 2016.
And as always, special teams will weigh heavily in the decisions of those players who fill out the final spots on the roster.
Key special-teams players who are unsigned include linebacker Mike Morgan and fullback Derrick Coleman (the latter a restricted free agent).