Bumpus: Why Uchenna Nwosu is Seahawks’ most reliable defender
Nov 1, 2022, 12:58 PM
Uchenna Nwosu of the Seattle Seahawks sacks the Giants' Daniel Jones on Oct. 30, 2022. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The Seahawks defense has turned a corner over the last three weeks, and the pass rush has stepped up during that timeframe in a big way.
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After recording just eight sacks across the first five games of the year, Seattle’s defense has 14 over the last three weeks, including five during their most recent win over the New York Giants.
The man leading the charge? Free-agent acquisition Uchenna Nwosu, an outside linebacker who has played exceptionally well over the last three weeks.
Not only does Michael Bumpus think Nwosu has been Seattle’s best and most consistent defender over the last three weeks, he thinks that’s been the case all season long, as he explained during Monday’s Bump and Stacy on Seattle Sports 710 AM.
“This guy has been playing at a high level,” Bumpus said. “The last three weeks, he has three sacks, four tackles for loss, five QB hits.”
As Bumpus pointed out, Nwosu recorded five sacks, eight tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hits last year with the L.A. Chargers. He’s already been about as productive in just eight games in his first year with the Seahawks.
“So far this year, he’s got five sacks, six tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, three passes defended,” Bumpus said.
In addition to major contributions on the field, Bumpus said Nwosu has become an emotional leader for the defense.
“Jordyn Brooks is the guy, right? He has the green dot, he calls all the plays. You’ve got (Quandre) Diggs on the back end. But when it comes to the emotion to getting guys fired up, I want you guys to watch Uchenna Nwosu play,” Bumpus said. “He is fired up, he’s talking, he’s getting guys going and he is relentless when it comes to pursuing that quarterback. He has been a great offseason pickup.”
Bumpus compared Nwosu’s overall contributions to one of the Mariners’ top players from their playoff run this past season.
“I see him as like the (Eugenio Suárez) of this team. Like, you didn’t really expect too much out of him, but he’s the emotional leader of this team, and he’s making big plays,” Bumpus said. “Man, No. 10 needs way more love than he’s getting.”
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