There’s no point denying it. Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs is having a bad season. It’s just been easy to ignore with so many other defensive issues going on and Diggs having been solid or superb every other year in Seattle. However, Diggs’ whiffed tackle on Deebo Samuel’s touchdown this past Sunday was a glaring reminder that the team’s normally-elite free safety is just… off in 2023.
The evidence for Diggs’ regression is all over the Seahawks’ film. Since the start of the regular season he’s frequently been a step late in coverage and he’s consistently had trouble tackling. Heading into Week 15 Diggs has allowed a career-worst 105.1 passer rating and has missed 11 tackles (13.1%). For the season Pro Football Focus has him graded out below 50.0 in coverage and just above it in tackling.
Part of it is the nature of playing safety in the modern NFL, where even great players have bad games, bad stretches and yes, sometimes bad seasons. The easiest way to imagine yourself trying to stop Justin Jefferson from catching a pass from a pro quarterback – or imagine trying to tackle someone Deebo Samuel’s size when you’re Quandre Diggs’ size – and imagine doing this all well on a consistent basis in front of millions of people every week and then report back. Peaks and valleys are to be expected. Another example is Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen also suffering a significant regression this year after a very promising rookie season – to some extent it’s just part of playing the hardest positions in the game.
It might not be fair to hold DBs to a high standard every year, but fans aren’t always reasonable – and Seattle’s are understandably peeved right now. If you need further evidence of how rough it’s been for No. 6, check out the replies the team got on Twitter when they shared a post promoting Diggs for what would be a fourth-straight Pro Bowl appearance…
Retweet to #ProBowlVote for @qdiggs6! https://t.co/wLIz8rU6vp pic.twitter.com/UIT5TQnOQm
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 13, 2023
“Rt to get Nino in” pic.twitter.com/FN0GH8rVHY
— Shadow (@FeelLikeMafe) December 13, 2023
Quandre Diggs when it’s time to tackle pic.twitter.com/a9mrl1VA1x
— BL 🥷🏼 (@BarbosaLand) December 13, 2023
LMAO?
— 🎟️ (@Plazuhbtw) December 13, 2023
What!? The dude has been a failure captain wise and playing safety this year. Definitely letting Pete down. Him and @Prez have decided to play their own style and not play team ball as Pete wants. Selfish dudes
— Ivan (@Ivan31365953) December 14, 2023
KJ Wright "You got to come inside out and find light."
Brock Huard "Quandre runs into darkness."
Both referring to the the long CMC run to start the game. I'd gladly vote if he deserved it. The D is playing with a lack of discipline/focus, and only Spoon is worthy and maybe Reed.— DPankey (@dpankey827) December 14, 2023
😂 safety play this season has been a huge weakness of the defense. Diggs and Adams shouldn’t be on the roster next year.
— Sean Coulter (@Iri5hwater) December 14, 2023
Funny media team right here
— ᴅᴏxx ⚡️ (@new_era72) December 14, 2023
— Joker06 (@ItzJoker06) December 14, 2023
I mean, I really, really like Nino, but, c'mon, seriously???
— TheXRPDoctor (@HealthYakima) December 14, 2023
— michelle (@doritojaykay) December 14, 2023
I like my guy, but no.. this year is not for him
— i dont drive r8s (@HennessC_God) December 13, 2023
— Fox (@Foxtane) December 13, 2023
qDiggs goes to pro bowl for bad tackling? Anyways ProBowl is a joke & popularity contest, I don’t think QDiggs himself would want to be recognized as a pro bowl player the way he is playing in 2023
— Rajesh Patil (@RajeshP74187015) December 13, 2023
— FD (@Est83Dawg4life) December 14, 2023
This is a joke, right?🤣🤣🤣
— Bryon Wetzel (@BryWetzel) December 14, 2023
LMFAOOOO pic.twitter.com/Z1Wscep7Nn
— 🗿 (@SSilencxer) December 13, 2023
He didn’t do nothing this season lol
— Afc Abdi 🇪🇹 (@Ethiokiddd) December 13, 2023
I'm a homer and I want Seahawks in the pro bowl but…. Really? Should we vote for Bradford for pro bowl too?
— N8_Seahawks (@RealEstN8) December 13, 2023
I mean I love quandre but the level of play is not pro bowl worthy
— optimistic hawks fan (@skwahaeselttaes) December 14, 2023
— 수캐스트 (@Jayden_Ebi) December 14, 2023
I thought this was telling us he had been released. Damn.
— Steve Jepperson (@stevej259) December 14, 2023
Pro Bowl?? More like Toilet Bowl..
— Bosco (@rbosco71) December 14, 2023
IT AINT 2022 ANYMORE MAKE SOME PLAYS
— Tyler Corns (@PossiblyCorns) December 13, 2023
Just don’t see it happening.
— Steve Lai (@sly111) December 14, 2023
With a 49.9 PFF position grade? pic.twitter.com/Jf0TuOeMEw
— @LifeSizeHacks (@LifeSizeHacks) December 14, 2023
— AOPWarrior (@WarriorAOP) December 14, 2023
You gotta kidding? Playing as bad as he ever has as a Seahawk. The secondary is in disarray and he’s right in the middle of it.
— bhurls (@bhurlbut53) December 14, 2023
nah we’re good
— addy💒 (@_si4mp) December 13, 2023
— Richard Scott (@RichardSco59350) December 14, 2023
Seahawks twitter being funny… Y’all go ahead and bring play Coby Bryant back please
— Geno Smif N Wesson (@Joey_Rozayy) December 13, 2023
Retweet if you want quandre diggs to be benched and cut this offseason
— Robel14 (@igiveupp2234) December 13, 2023
I mean does anyone really deserve to be in the pro bowl on this team? Honestly.
— Cody Cowbot (@codycowbot) December 13, 2023
Seriously? This guy has played terrible this year. I love the hawks but no vote from me…
— Bota Storaasli (@BZoomin420) December 14, 2023
