The Seattle Seahawks came into Week 1 looking to make a statement against their NFC West rival, the San Francisco 49ers. Instead, they left with more questions than answers after a tough loss.
While much of the focus has been on the quarterback play and a stagnant offense, the defense also showed cracks - and one player who struggled to find his footing was safety Coby Bryant.
Bryant, entering his third season in Seattle, was expected to take on a bigger role in the secondary compared to where the safety sat before last season. Unfortunately, the opener against the 49ers exposed some weaknesses (subscription required). San Francisco's offense repeatedly tested Bryant, targeting him in coverage and forcing him into tough matchups.
The Seattle Seahawks need Coby Bryant to be better than he was in Week 1
He gave up key completions that extended drives and had difficulty finishing tackles in open space. Against a team loaded with offensive weapons, every mistake gets magnified, and Bryant learned that the hard way.
It wasn't all bad, as Bryant showed some flashes of his athleticism and quickness, but consistency was missing. For a Seahawks defense trying to establish itself as a disciplined and reliable unit, blown assignments and missed tackles are the kind of mistakes that simply can't happen.
Fans know Week 1 isn't the final verdict on any player, but Bryant will need to bounce back quickly to regain confidence and prove he can be trusted in a high-volume role.
The bad news is that Seattle might be stuck with Coby Bryant for better or worse. Rookie Nick Emmanwori hurt his ankle in Week 1 and could miss several weeks. The depth behind Bryant, Emmanwori, and Julian Love is questionable at best. Bryant simply needs to be good, just as he was in the second half of last season.
The good news for Seattle is that Macdonald has a track record of helping defensive backs grow his system. With film study and adjustments to make, Bryant has the chance to learn from this performance and turn the page. Week 1 may have been rough, but the season is long, and Bryant's response will say a lot about his future in the Seahawks' secondary.