Seattle Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett Has Superstar Potential

Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver Tyler Lockett impressed once again in the Week 1 game against the St. Louis Rams. Yes, Lockett took his third kick return to the house since being drafted by Seattle this offseason in the form of a 57-yard punt return in the first quarter. Lockett is starting to look like one of the premier returners in the league, and may very well start becoming a major threat that teams will look to kick away from.

What remains impressive about Lockett’s special teams ability is how easy he makes it look. Lockett always seems to catch the ball while on the move, and he rarely seems to have to break tackles to get going. He seems to routinely hit the right holes and accelerate where it almost looks too easy. Much of that credit has to go to the rest of the guys on the special teams unit, but you cannot help but realize the ability that this kid has when he gets a little room.

One of the more amazing parts of Lockett’s development is the fact that Seattle is making a conscious effort to make him a key part of their offensive attack. Lockett finished his first regular season game with four catches on four targets for 34 yards, which ended up being the fourth most receiving yards on the team. The fact that he made every catch that came his way shows his sure-handed ability and will go a long way in developing his relationship with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. While those numbers are in no way eye popping, it was the timing in which he was targeted that was surprising.

Many of Lockett’s chances were on short routes or screen plays when the Seattle offense was looking to get going. Normally these situations would be reserved for more experienced guys like Doug Baldwin, but the fact that head coach Pete Carroll and Wilson had enough confidence in the young receiver to handle those situations shows just how talented they think he is.

A lot of what Seattle was doing with Lockett seems like the type of stuff that they used to try with Percy Harvin. While Lockett may not be quite as explosive of an athlete, he brings a lot of the same attributes to the table for Seattle only he might possess better route running ability, complemented by a better attitude. This could play a major factor in Seattle’s offensive attack by adding a whole different element that they have missed since trading Harvin to the New York Jets. With a struggling offensive unit, this could prove to be essential to Seattle’s success this season.

In a game where Seattle seemed to beat themselves and many negatives could be taken away, Lockett remained one of the bright spots. Lockett is still a young guy with a lot of development in front of him, but thus far he has all the makings of an NFL superstar.