Through three games, Rashid Shaheed’s offensive production is sitting at a mere six catches for 53 yards, and yet Coach Mike Macdonald is telling everyone to chill out. Macdonald made it clear this week that he’s confident the ball is going to find Shaheed, eventually.
The Numbers Aren’t Lying, Yet
It’s not what we expected, right? Back in June, Coach Macdonald sounded stoked to see what Shaheed would bring to the offense after a full offseason and training camp with the team. Now, three weeks in, those 6 catches for 53 yards are looking pretty thin. It’s especially tough to swallow when you stack them up against what Jaxon Smith-Njigba is doing, absolutely feasting with 27 catches for a ridiculous 405 yards and six touchdowns. Even Cooper Kupp, who’s still getting comfortable here in the Emerald City, has pulled in 8 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown already. Shaheed isn’t totally absent from the game sheet, he is out there making plays on special teams, which we love to see. But on offense, the production just isn’t there.
Macdonald’s Big Bet on ‘The Process’
When asked about Shaheed’s quiet start, Macdonald was pretty chill about it. He even admitted he wasn’t sure of Shaheed’s exact numbers, but he knows “the ball’s finding [Jaxon Smith-Njigba] a lot right now.” Still, he’s adamant about Shaheed’s effort. “Sheed’s doing a great job,” Macdonald said, adding a confident, “it will,” find him. It’s all about sticking to their process and making “tweaks in how we approach everything,” he explained. Macdonald is trusting that “the ball goes in the right direction and it’ll find him, but he’s doing a good job.”
Macdonald’s banking on trust and process, but us 12s in the Emerald City are ready for that ball to *actually* find Shaheed in the passing game. With JSN going off, imagine what this offense could be if we get all our playmakers firing on all cylinders! Keep your eyes peeled, Seattle, because if Macdonald is right, things are about to get even more explosive at Lumen Field.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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