Mafe and Hall are the best pair of rookie contract edges in the league. They are the biggest reason why team pressure rate is off the charts and tops in the NFL. Further, Seattle is consistently getting pressure with a four-man rush. A bigger sample size isn't needed, and you can't rationalize this superior edge play by marginalizing the quality of opposing quarterbacks. Opposing QBs are not holding the ball for too long and when they occasionally are, the confusing Macdonald coverages schemes are the biggest reason why. Inexperienced quarterbacks are routinely blitzed into oblivion in the NFL and Macdonald doesn't even feel compelled to do that. This is how much confidence he has in the edges to get it done without disproportionate blitz help. In other words, the team didn't blitz the inexperienced QBs any different than they would against a veteran QB that could hurt them for it. I think Macdonald did so on purpose. To get the defense conditioned to his play call rhythm and to not yield video of his blitz schemes unnecessarily. He isn't using them needlessly. He didn't have to. Because Mafe and Hall are playing like beasts.
On another note, I have been watching this team since its expansion in 1976, and I cannot ever recall sending one pass rusher in a prevent situation. In fact, I can't recall seeing any team do it. I'm sure it has been done before. I just have never seen it.
