"Jared has been very coachable, receptive to everything that we're trying to get done. But I think he's doing a good job of when we talk about exhausting your progressions, being able to eliminate one and two, three, four and then if you get your [running] back out you've got your outlet or your fifth [receiver] eligible if he's involved in protection," McVay said. "That's been a big key — being able to quickly get it out, playing within the timing and rhythm of the plays, and I think that's where you see he's finding completions. We're not taking a whole lot of negative plays and that's going to be a good recipe for playing at a high level at the position."

Avoiding giveaways will be particularly important this week against Seattle's vaunted defense. The Seahawks have forced four takeaways so far this year — three interceptions and a fumble — but have a tendency to force quarterbacks into bad decisions by getting pressure up front. And so while it's well known Seattle plays a lot of Cover 3, the unit can mix up its looks in order to cause some confusion.

"It's a great task. This is an excellent defense," McVay said. "I think you look at the history of what they've done over the handful of years, they've got All-Pro players, really, on all three levels — up front, at the linebacker spot and on the back end. They play hard, they're fundamentally sound, they're very well coached and I think those are the recipes for great defenses and that's certainly what we're getting ready to go up against.

"I think you look at when they get into those known passing situations, they can home with four-man rushes," McVay continued. "They play great coverage on the back end, whether they're playing their three-deep or some of their man principles, and they've got elite players all over the place. It's an excellent challenge. I've got a whole lot of respect for this defense and we certainly have to be at our best if we're going to give our self a chance to compete."