What we’re still trying to figure out: Seahawks pass rush (or lack thereof)
Oct 24, 2017, 10:25 AM | Updated: 10:55 am
Jarran Reed has been one of the few bright spots when it comes to the Seahawks' pass rush. (AP)
(AP)
Tough to find many complaints about a defense that is allowing the fewest points of any team in the league.
However, Seattle’s pass rush hasn’t exactly been as good as envisioned before the season.
O’Neil’s 3 Things: Seahawks’ offense might not be so bad
That along with penalties and the offense’s tendency to need a jump-start at halftime are the list of things we’re still trying to figure out as the Seahawks stand at 4-2:
Three things we’re still trying to figure out
1. Where is Seattle’s pass rush?
The Seahawks have 12 sacks, which is tied for fourth-fewest in the league. That doesn’t mean the pass rush has been absent entirely. Seattle harassed the Rams’ Jared Goff pretty thoroughly in Week 5, Frank Clark forcing a fumble with one edge rush in the fourth quarter and Jarran Reed getting an interior push that led to Earl Thomas’ interception. Reed also had a huge strip sack in Sunday’s game that helped Seattle slam the door on a potential Giants comeback. But for all the talk about teams getting rid of the ball quickly against Seattle, the fact is this pass rush hasn’t been as fearsome as expected. The question is what to do about it. The fact that Cliff Avril is on injured reserve isn’t going to help, which might explain why 307-year-old 37-year-old Dwight Freeney had a workout scheduled with Seattle on Tuesday.
2. Is Germain Ifedi getting better?
There are really encouraging signs. First there was Howard Mudd, a long-time dean of offensive line coaches in the league, who told Mike Sando of ESPN.com after Week 1 that Ifedi had the talent to become one of the top 15 offensive tackles in the league with more experience. ProFootballFocus.com rated Ifedi as the best of Seattle’s linemen through the first five games, and while that might sound like being named the best sushi in Iowa, PFF concluded that Ifedi had yet to allow a quarterback hit through the first five games. Well, Sunday was a step back for Ifedi as he was penalized three times in the game and could have been called for another two or three holds. He has been flagged nine times in five games, most of any player in the NFL. He is strong and tough and has a nasty temper. He should fit right in with how Seattle wants to play if he keeps improving.
3. Can Seattle have its halftime meeting before the game?
The Seahawks have scored nine points in the first quarter this season, 30 in the second, 42 in the third and 53 in the fourth. It’s almost like their coach believes you can’t win the game in the first quarter or something. But seriously, there’s no reason why Seattle is so much better offensively in the second half than it is in the first half, and before you wonder if the Seahawks are wearing down their opponents with their running game I’ll ask you to take another look at Seattle’s running game. Is that possibly wearing anyone down? It has now been 19 consecutive regular-season games since the Seahawks scored a touchdown on their first possession of the game, so why not start with a halftime speech before the opening kickoff and tell the players it’s the third quarter?
