Is the Seahawks defense primed for another midseason turnaround?

SEATTLE — They did it in 2020, going from a traditionally unhealthy protection early within the season to top-of-the-line within the NFL over the second half.

They did it once more in 2021, righting the ship on that facet of the ball after a brutal first month.

Was the Seattle Seahawks’ dominant defensive efficiency in Week 6 an indication that they’re pulling off one other drastic turnaround from their newest depressing begin? There was loads of celebration after their 19-9 win over the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Area on Sunday, however are their defensive struggles from the primary 5 video games fully within the rear-view mirror?

“You are seeing the entire work that we put in in apply lastly beginning to come out,” stated defensive finish Shelby Harris, who had one in all Seattle’s six sacks of Kyler Murray. “Once we get the lead like this on the finish of video games, you get the frenzy, D-line will get to have some enjoyable. Clearly, you look across the locker room and everyone seems to be all the time happier after a win. You are not as sore after a win. At all times bear in mind this sense, and go replicate this subsequent week.”

The Seahawks entered Week 6 permitting essentially the most yards per recreation (430) and the second-most factors per recreation (30.8), whereas additionally rating close to or on the backside of the NFL in a number of different defensive metrics, together with yards per cross and yards per rush.

They held the Cardinals to 315 whole yards and saved their offense from scoring after it drove for a area objective on the opening possession (Arizona’s solely different factors got here by way of a fumble restoration ultimately zone on a botched punt). They held Arizona to 4-of-16 on third down and 1-of-5 on fourth down. Throw within the two takeaways they obtained from rookie cornerbacks Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant, and this may need been the Seahawks’ most complete defensive efficiency since they held the Los Angeles Rams to 3 area targets in Week 16 of the 2020 season.

It helped that the Cardinals had been lacking their No. 1 receiver DeAndre Hopkins in addition to RB1 James Conner, however the Seahawks’ protection had gotten gashed in consecutive weeks by Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints offenses that had been every lacking a few of their greatest gamers. That made Sunday’s win a reversal of what had turn out to be well-established roles over the primary 5 video games, with the Seahawks’ protection carrying the load for a change whereas Geno Smith and the offense did simply sufficient.

“Actually proud of the entire group on protection,” coach Pete Carroll stated. “They have been combating their tails off to get it accomplished and to attempt to get to a degree the place they actually really feel like they’re doing one thing. And the cross rush got here to life at present. And the blokes had been all around the quarterback. So actually rewarding in that regard.”

The Seahawks’ six sacks had been their most in a recreation since that they had that many in Week 12 of the 2020 season, proper after that turnaround started. They got here from six completely different gamers: Harris, defensive linemen Poona Ford and Quinton Jefferson, outdoors linebackers Uchenna Nwosu and Darrell Taylor and security Ryan Neal. In response to ESPN Stats & Data, they despatched 4 or fewer rushers on all six sacks — their most sacks in a recreation by way of a regular rush since their 2013 Tremendous Bowl season.

“We stopped the run,” Nwosu stated. “That is actually what it was. The final 4 or 5 weeks, we have had hassle stopping the run, and that is what the sport plan was going into this recreation: Cease the run so we will have some enjoyable. We did that, and guys had been in a position to fly all around the area and get after Kyler Murray.”

Murray ran for 100 of the Cardinals’ 144 dashing yards as Seattle held their working backs to a mixed 44 yards on 18 makes an attempt. The Seahawks had been permitting just a little greater than 5 yards per rush (together with QB runs) getting into Sunday, the fifth-worst mark within the NFL.

Carroll made imprecise mentions of some changes that defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt made up entrance after their 39-32 loss final week in New Orleans, although he did not need to specify with the Seahawks and Cardinals going through one another once more in three weeks. The modifications included completely different alignments by their defensive linemen — Ford performed extra on the sting, as an illustration — and never as many snaps for beginning inside linebacker Cody Barton, who’s had an uneven begin to the season, notably in opposition to the run.

“Their working backs averaged 2.5 yards a carry,” Carroll stated. “And it is all of these guys working inside and setting the factor in movement. We made a few changes this week that labored out nice. And I feel they are going to repay as we transfer ahead.”

At 3-3 heading into their Week 7 recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium, the Seahawks are tied with the San Francisco 49ers and Rams for one of the best file within the NFC West. Each group within the division has its flaws and none of them seem poised to tug away anytime quickly.

With Smith enjoying like an above-average starter, it would not appear in any respect unrealistic to assume the Seahawks can compete for a playoff spot in what was alleged to be a transition season following the Russell Wilson commerce — particularly if their efficiency in opposition to Arizona was certainly the beginning of one other defensive turnaround.

“Now it is time to begin stacking these items week to week,” security Quandre Diggs stated. “You’ll be able to’t be a kind of groups that wins one, loses one, wins one — as a result of that is common soccer. We have to begin stacking these dubs and being constant. I feel it should be actually, actually enjoyable when offense, protection and particular groups are clicking on the similar time. I feel it might be actual particular round right here.”