Seattle, WA
New week, new Seahawks: Cardinals facing evolved Seattle squad
TEMPE — When the Arizona Cardinals tackle the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, it’ll be 21 days for the reason that two met in Week 6.
Regardless of the short turnaround and information Arizona has on Seattle, the Seahawks enter the NFC West conflict with atop the division, driving a three-game successful streak and sporting a brand new look.
The protection doesn’t look so backside of the barrel anymore, enhancing their factors allowed per recreation from 30.8 to 24.9. They aren’t counting on the passing assault to win video games as a lot as earlier than, with rookie Kenneth Walker shouldering the load. They usually’re doing so comparatively cleanly.
“They’ve modified,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph stated Thursday. “I believe (Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll’s) plan of enjoying good D, operating the soccer and never turning the ball over is unquestionably in impact. You may see his print on that group.
“The primary time we performed them it was much more taking pictures and being aggressive within the move recreation however the final two weeks, it’s been extra run recreation. It’s been extra two tight ends, 13-personnel units and extra Walker than move recreation. They’re positively completely different than we noticed the primary time and groups do evolve. It occurs every week.”
Since placing up 97 yards and a landing on 21 carries in his first profession begin in opposition to the Cardinals, Walker has racked up 218 yards and three scores on 41 makes an attempt. He’s averaging simply over 5 yards per carry throughout three begins.
For his efforts, Walker picked up Offensive Rookie of the Month for October.
Joseph wasn’t mendacity when he stated this child was one thing else forward of the Week 6 assembly.
“Belief my analysis, proper?” Joseph stated. “The extra he performs, the higher he seems to be. Each recreation, he’s making runs which can be that particular. He’s making guys miss, he’s breaking tackles along with his quickness and along with his energy and his legs. He’s catching the ball higher.
“Watching this child early on, I knew he was going to be an excellent participant, however boy, he’s approaching quick. Each recreation, he’s making game-changing play.”
And with quarterback Geno Smith, who continues to outperform expectations and is coming off back-to-back video games of not less than 210 yards and two touchdowns, alongside Walker, the offense is a a lot more durable out than many initially thought not way back.
The identical is beginning to be stated in regards to the protection, too.
Turning to a different rookie in cornerback Tariq Woolen, the unit has grown because it final met up with quarterback Kyler Murray and Co.
On his approach to selecting up Defensive Rookie of the Month for October, the cornerback racked up three picks, one among which was returned for a landing, 5 passes defensed, 19 tackles and two pressured fumbles throughout 5 video games.
Due to the upped play from Woolen, the Seahawks have seen a pleasant soar of their move protection, permitting 236.6 yards by way of the air per recreation. Coming into the group’s Week 6 matchup with the Cardinals, Seattle was permitting 359.8 yards per recreation.
“They’re on a three-game successful streak, in order that they’re enjoying extraordinarily assured,” tight finish Zach Ertz stated Thursday. “They haven’t modified an excessive amount of, however I really feel like their confidence degree and depth has sort of raised as they’ve grown extra assured within the scheme.”
However whereas the Seahawks give off a distinct vibe getting into Spherical 2, the identical may be stated in regards to the Cardinals.
Not like Week 6, Arizona can have it’s finest offensive weapon on the sphere in DeAndre Hopkins. The wideout has been on a mission since his return from a six-game PED suspension, racking up 262 yards and a landing on 22 catches (27 targets).
His presence has helped foster higher offensive outputs for Arizona, too, with the unit averaging 27 factors per recreation over the previous two outings. And with additional eyes wanted on Hopkins, that ought to open up some alternatives for these round him.
Getting beginning operating again James Conner, who hasn’t performed since Week 5 as a result of harm, again within the fold alongside Eno Benjamin may additionally go a great distance in opposition to a protection that’s twenty eighth in opposition to the run (140.8 yards per recreation).
Whereas Benjamin has crammed in admirably rather than Conner, turning three begins into 151 yards and a landing on 36 carries, the return of the bullying again would current a two-headed speeding assault for an offense that runs at its finest with a number of choices within the backfield.
