This might be the most important stat for our defense

[Jazzhawk]

Seahawks, even in this 'Re-Tooling' or Re-Building year, are a top-10 defense in scoring average.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/NFLMatchup/status/1078331248534265856[/tweet]

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Goes to show two things;

1. Pete REALLY knows how to coach defense. His mastery of positions, type of players needed and how to best scheme and use everyone to their full potential is his genius on the defensive side of the ball.

2. When all the players buy into what Pete's preaching and know their assignments, this cover 3 defense is a very effective bend but don't break defense that is very difficult to score on with any sort of consistency.

 

[Sox-n-Hawks]

Pete's ability to take talent and coach them to the next level on defense is incredible. He did it well at USC and he's doing it here. PC's key to continued success, be the training ground for young DBs.

 

[Heyseed]

Coaches seem to make quick game-time adjustments if we get burned defensively.

 

[Ad Hawk]

This part of our success this year, for sure. With some growth from our rookies and young dbs, and getting Mychal Kendricks back, that number could get ever better next year.

What was that figure under the LoB for a couple years--like 15 and a half or something obscene like that?

 

[sutz]

People focused on the "pro bowl" level players that were let go/moved out. Meanwhile, we had a pool of young guys ready to step up. Pete knew this, most of didn't, because it's hard to know how well the 'backups' are doing.

They're doing fairly well, it seems. :mrgreen:

 

[MontanaHawk05]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/NFLMatchup/status/1078319261364432896[/tweet]

This was badly needed, and it's happening. It does seem to be a motley mix of Q-Jeff, Poona, Martin, and Dion comprising our third pass rusher after Clark and Reed, but I'll take it. We're not getting far in the playoffs without consistent pass rush.

 

[sutz]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/NFLMatchup/status/1078319261364432896[/tweet]

This was badly needed, and it's happening. It does seem to be a motley mix of Q-Jeff, Poona, Martin, and Dion comprising our third pass rusher after Clark and Reed, but I'll take it. We're not getting far in the playoffs without consistent pass rush.

I'd actually prefer it come from multiple guys, and not from one 18-20 sack player. If all pressure comes from one guy, it is too easy to gameplan that one guy out. Having 4-5 guys contributing to the pressure keeps the offense in more basic schemes and makes double teams less effective.

 

[SeaWolv]

What was that figure under the LoB for a couple years--like 15 and a half or something obscene like that?

In 2010 it was 25.4 average points per game (appg) (rank #25)
In 2011 it was 19.7 appg (#7)
In 2012 it was 15.3 appg (#1)
In 2013 it was 14.4 appg (#1)
In 2014 it was 15.9 appg (#1)
In 2015 it was 17.3 appg (#1)
In 2016 it was 18.3 appg (#3)
In 2017 it was 20.8 appg (#13)

The defense was #25 in 2009, Mora's only season as coach, at 24.4 appg. I would argue that although Pete was coach in 2010 that #25 ranking was, in part, a by-product of Mora's coaching from the previous year. Since Pete's been here the defense has been ranked top 10 every year except last (not counting 2010, see above).

 

[MontanaHawk05]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/NFLMatchup/status/1078319261364432896[/tweet]

This was badly needed, and it's happening. It does seem to be a motley mix of Q-Jeff, Poona, Martin, and Dion comprising our third pass rusher after Clark and Reed, but I'll take it. We're not getting far in the playoffs without consistent pass rush.

I'd actually prefer it come from multiple guys, and not from one 18-20 sack player. If all pressure comes from one guy, it is too easy to gameplan that one guy out. Having 4-5 guys contributing to the pressure keeps the offense in more basic schemes and makes double teams less effective.

Well, we got to the Super Bowl coming from two 8-sack players (Avril and Bennett) and three others with four or five sacks (McDonald, Clemons, and Wagner).

This year we've got Clark and Reed with 20.5 sacks between them(!!!) but we're lacking the next step down, it seems. Nobody else has more than two.

 

[niveky]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/NFLMatchup/status/1078319261364432896[/tweet]

This was badly needed, and it's happening. It does seem to be a motley mix of Q-Jeff, Poona, Martin, and Dion comprising our third pass rusher after Clark and Reed, but I'll take it. We're not getting far in the playoffs without consistent pass rush.

I'd actually prefer it come from multiple guys, and not from one 18-20 sack player. If all pressure comes from one guy, it is too easy to gameplan that one guy out. Having 4-5 guys contributing to the pressure keeps the offense in more basic schemes and makes double teams less effective.

That is pretty much exactly why they lost to the falcons Wilson's rookie year. Clemmons went down with the knee injury during the Washington win and there was no pressure on Matty Ice.

 

[Erebus]

I assume there's a tweet in the OP. I can't see embedded tweets when I browse from work. Can someone please tell me what it says?

 

[DangerousDoug]

Something sorely lacking last year and the first half of this year. Have really seen improvement in this area. Surprised that the Texans are down that low given the big names on their D.

 

[Mad Dog]

This part of our success this year, for sure. With some growth from our rookies and young dbs, and getting Mychal Kendricks back, that number could get ever better next year.

What was that figure under the LoB for a couple years--like 15 and a half or something obscene like that?

Rules have significantly changed since those halcyon days. That's why even this years best defenses are hovering near the 20's. The defenseless receiver rules and illegal contact rules have lead to a big increase in spread formations and use of receivers other than TE's over the middle. Makes the Tyreek Hills of the world very difficult to contain when they can cross the middle without fear of being de-cleated.

 

[LTH]

Seahawks, even in this 'Re-Tooling' or Re-Building year, are a top-10 defense in scoring average.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/NFLMatchup/status/1078331248534265856[/tweet]

What makes it even better is the Seahawks had one of the toughest schedules in the NFL ...

LTH

 

[evergreen]

I think our ball control offense has had a huge impact on how good our young D is. It’s also led to fewest turnovers which helps scoring. Just imagine how good it’d be without Wilson’s pick sixes and la strip sack. I don’t want to imply that we’re onku good because of the great ball control offense we have thou. Our D was getting stale last year. We probably waited a year too long to clean house but we’re squared away now. Loving it!

 

[evergreen]

Maybe it was last year or the one before but we were the worst team on 3rd and long. Teams constantly converted on ridiculously long 3rd downs. So glad for the positive change. This matches the eye test better than last years defense being better.

 

[A-Dog]

Agree, this is critical. Getting Jordan back could be key to this playoff run.

To put it in better context though, would like to see blitz%, avg yards to go, and 3rd down conversion %.

 

[sutz]

Red zone percentage is important, too. 4th Qtr scoring. KC with 3 red zone opportunities, 2 FG/1 TD.

KC FG 10:28
Harrison Butker 29 Yd Field Goal
10 plays, 60 yards, 3:45
20 24

Sea TD 7:31
Ed Dickson 2 Yd pass from Russell Wilson (Sebastian Janikowski Kick)
6 plays, 70 yards, 2:57
20 31

KC TD 4:36
Demarcus Robinson 11 Yd pass from Patrick Mahomes (Patrick Mahomes Run for Two-Point Conversion)
9 plays, 72 yards, 2:55
28 31

Sea TD 2:29
Chris Carson 1 Yd Run (Sebastian Janikowski Kick)
8 plays, 75 yards, 2:07
28 38

KC FG 1:20
Harrison Butker 32 Yd Field Goal
5 plays, 16 yards, 1:09
31 38

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

The best thing about this Defense, it doesn’t care about yardage, it forces teams to drive downfield, only for an opponents drive to be demoralized more often than in the RZ with the D holding strong turning 7 to 3s or forcing momentum draining Turnovers.

It’s not the best D in the NFL. But it’s still a Defense, that’s better than most people think, and Defense that can come up big in crucial moments. It’s not going to put the team on it’s back in the Playoffs but it still a dangerous overall unit.