The numbers are downright scary, and that was the theme all week when Arizona Cardinals players and coaches were asked about the Seattle Seahawks defense.
In the rankings quoted most often, the Seahawks were sixth in yards allowed last season (285.9 per game), third against the run (91.9) and 10th against the pass (193.9). But those don’t begin to tell the entire story.
Breaking them down further, here are several other categories:
- Second in yards per play (4.6)
- First in yards per rush (3.7)
- Second in yards per pass play (5.1)
- Fifth in interceptions (18)
- Sixth in percent of passes intercepted
- Tied for seventh in sacks (47)
- Tied for fourth in first downs per game (17.1)
- First in third-down efficiency (32.1%)
- First in points allowed (17.1)
- Fifth in takeaways (25)
The admiration for what the Seahawks do on defense was evident, especially from head coach Mike LaFleur, who faced them as the Rams offensive coordinator three times last season including the NFC Championship Game.
So, what stands out, coach?
"Everything,” he said. “There's no weakness whatsoever. It's a player-driven
league, but you'd be messed up not to say how well they are coached too. It's 11 guys working in unison that just understand what's going on. They have great players (and) they've got great coaches. They're fundamentally sound. They're violent. The tape speaks for itself. You talk about the silent tape; that tape is not silent. You can just see it, and yeah, I played them quite a bit. It is the fourth time we played them since late November last year, so you know them and you've seen them a lot. It's a lot of the same faces out there.”
As for the Seahawks opener against the New England Patriots, LaFleur said, “It's never a rinse and repeat thing, but like I told the guys, it sure kind of looked like at least from the defensive perspective that they're picking up right where they left off. They played great against New England on defense, and just knowing (head coach) Mike (Macdonald) and AD (defensive coordinator Aden Durde), there's another level that they can go — I'm guessing. I hope it waits a week, but no, they're talented. I've got a ton of respect for them."
Reflecting back to last season, LaFleur said, “You pop on the tape, and it's like, 'Oh yeah, I remember sitting there in late January having to get ready for them for what felt like the 10th time in 14 days.' It's such a challenge. It's a challenge schematically, and it's one thing even if you feel good about what you're doing schematically, (but) then you actually have to go do it against their players. That's a whole other issue. Just a ton of respect and not trying to put them on the pedestal, but they were, in my opinion, one of the best defenses probably this league has ever seen last year."
Asked what makes their defense so difficult to face, quarterback Jacoby Brissett said. "I wish I knew. He (Macdonald) does so many different things (with) different personnel groups. Obviously, he has the players to do a lot of the things that he wants to do, and they're very versatile in the way they can play in different spots of the game, and they're disciplined. It looks like they're doing a lot of different things, but they're disciplined in their rules and present a lot of different problems on every down of football."
Last season, the Cardinals lost at home to the Seahawks on a last-second field goal in Week 4, 23-20, but then 44-22 in Week 10 when the Seahawks scored early touchdowns on strip-sacks. That began the Cardinals nine-game slide following a win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Tight end Trey McBride said he’s looking forward to the challenge.
“You want to play against the best,” he said. “Why not just go out there and let's see what we got. And I'm excited to put it all out there. I'm excited for this offense. Just go out there and just let it rip one more time this week against a really good football team. So, yeah, we got our hands full.”
Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is showing himself to be a student of the game, who understands the importance of game preparation.
He said, “They're very physical. They have a great defensive line; just great defense in general. When I study film, I'm just looking at the demeanor of guys, how guys attack. Their defensive line, they have an attack mindset. Every single play they’re going and they’re trying to penetrate and they’re just doing their jobs. And their secondary as well. They’re well-tuned together and they attack the ball as well. I'm ready for the challenge. I'm excited to get out there and compete against some good players.
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was asked what’s more challenging, a defense that has exotic blitzes all the time or a defense like Seattle that just rushes four.
And off Hackett went.
“This Seattle defense is special,” he said. “When you keep watching it, it keeps you up at night. That is for sure. And I think it's because they have both. They rush four and they're elite at it. And they've been together for three years. They've had unbelievable success. What I think is the coolest thing about them is how unselfish they are. When they decide to bring a unique pressure -- they have all kinds of stuff that they can do -- they all know exactly where to fit and exactly where to hurt the offense.
“It makes it so that you're nervous as an offensive coach because they're very good and they're unselfish and being able to take advantage of any rule that you might throw at them. They're phenomenal. I mean, they're the world champs for a reason. You see it on tape every single play and I haven't seen a dropoff.”
He concluded simply, “This team; they just got it all.”
It was left to Brissett to vocalize what he expects Sunday.
He said, "You just look at one game; it's so much defense of them out there. They're tough, and there's no sugarcoating it. It's more so from the standpoint of you can watch the film to see how physical those guys are. You watch the last game from them, and it just re-confirms how physical they are and how tough they are.
“It's going to take 60 minutes; it's going to be a bloodbath."
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Cardinals vs. Seahawks: Arizona offense facing tremendous Seattle defense
