This 2024 season has started flying for the Seattle Seahawks, especially regarding the pass rush. Two games into the season, the team is ruling the NFL in team pressures, but not all is well. As great as the number of pressures they have logged stands, they are still only 16th in sacks. So, what does this say of their game? Let’s dig a little deeper.
Seattle Seahawks Sacking Struggle
The Seattle Seahawks have been brutal on the quarterback, bringing 50 quarterback pressures, They lead the league in total pressures. Another player at the top of that pressure game is standout Linebacker Boye Mafe, who ranks second in the league with 15 pressures. Pressure like that breeds chaos, and this team needs to finish.
At the same time, the pressures are high, and it does not necessarily translate into scoreboard success. The Seattle Seahawks entered last season averaging 2.5 sacks per game, but this season, it is 2.9 sacks per game. The Seattle Seahawks faced the New England Patriots on Sunday and brought pressure to quarterback Jacoby Brissett 21 times, but only came away with three sacks. They have to convert more of those pressures into tangible results.
The Missing Piece
The Seattle Seahawks have mustered up some level of pressure on defense without starting Edge Rusher Uchenna Nwosu, who missed the game due to a knee injury. While his absence does increase opportunities for others, there are Mafe, Derick Hall, and Leonard Williams. Of course, they’ve started to demonstrate flashes of being able to come inside into the quarterback’s backfield, but the team was also really missing Nwosu in terms of finishing plays off. His return should jump their sack totals by leaps and bounds.
Boye Mafe is emerging as a factor in Seattle’s defense. Under new Head Coach Mike Macdonald, Mafe isn’t just rushing; he’s also dropping into coverage. This has been spiking his productivity, and Mafe is showing he can be versatile, a product of his large amount of snaps coming from setting the edge but showing up this season frequently in various drops.
The Road Ahead
As the season continues, they must be able to capitalize on those pressures by turning them into sacks. Things don’t get much easier against the Dolphins next. The Dolphins have one of the sturdier offensive lines in the league and have given up very few pressures and sacks this year. If they cannot finish their plays, it may be a bad place for the Seattle Seahawks to be to face such a potent offense.
The Seattle Seahawks possess a top pass rush in the league but need to learn to finish. Players such as Mafe are stepping into the fray, and the possible return of Nwosu is working toward better plays. The spotlight going forward should be on sealing the deal when they get close to the quarterback. If they can manage that, then the Seahawks are going to be a real contender this season.
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