JAKE AND STACY

How new Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs improves the defense

Nov 18, 2019, 3:07 PM | Updated: 3:08 pm

Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs...

New Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs made his team debut against the 49ers. (Getty)

(Getty)

While new Seahawks wide receiver Josh Gordon has gotten a lot of love for his two third down catches during last week’s 27-24 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers, another recent acquisition also made his mark.

Why things look good for Seahawks coming out of bye

Safety Quandre Diggs made his Seahawks debut and played in the back end of the Seattle secondary along with Bradley McDougald. The duo had what head coach Pete Carroll described as the best safety play the team has seen all year.

Diggs had some big hits to go along with two tackles, a pass defense and an interception that set up a Russell Wilson touchdown pass to tight end Jacob Hollister.

How does Diggs make the defense so much better? Jake Heaps of Tom, Jake and Stacy said Diggs’ style of play causes offensive players to think twice about coming his way.

“The physicality that he brings in the run game and on the back end hitting receivers and tight ends,” Heaps said to describe what stands out when watching Diggs play. “… Being a force back there and making quarterbacks and receivers and skill players second guess whether or not they want to go over the middle.”

But that’s not all that Diggs brings to the defense.

“In coverage, what Quandre Diggs does is he understands where weaknesses are with particular players,” Heaps said.

Diggs’ knowledge of the game allows him to sometimes cheat to one half of the field where the opposing offense is trying to attack. That shows Diggs’ “veteran savvy,” Heaps said, which is something Seattle hasn’t seen much from the safety position since Earl Thomas left via free agency and Kam Chancellor retired after 2017.

“You watch the past year and a half of safety play in Tedric Thompson and other guys that they’ve tried back there,” Heaps said, “they just play the middle of the field and in their coverage, they do their job and they’re not very reactive or instinctive.”

But when Diggs is on the field, it’s different.

“Instead Quandre Diggs is shrinking holes in the zone because he’s recognizing what offenses are trying to do, how they want to attack and who may be the weak link on the defense at different times,” Heaps said. “So he’s done a great job in one game of just showing offensive coordinators and quarterbacks that if you’re going to throw the ball over the middle of the field or down the field, you’d better be on it because Quandre Diggs is going to make that window smaller.”

Tom Wassell, one of Heaps’ co-hosts, said he saw the following tweet from Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com that broke down what the Lions have done on defense since Diggs was traded from Detroit to the Seahawks.

In short: The Lions’ secondary hasn’t been good since Diggs came to Seattle.

“I read through it two or three times and I thought, well yeah, did you think the Lions were going to get better by trading away a key part of their secondary away?” Wassell said.

Responded Heaps: “But fortunately for the Seahawks, the Lions were willing to deal him and he’s absolute been a factor in only one game, but there’s obvious signs to be optimistic.”

Diggs will have a chance to solidify his role in the Seahawks defense on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

While Seattle is 8-2 and coming off its bye, the Eagles are 5-5 and coming off a tough 17-10 home loss to the New England Patriots. The game could have playoff implications for both teams, as Seattle is one game behind the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West race while Philadelphia is one game behind the Dallas Cowboys for first place in the NFC East.

Listen to the discussion in the player below.

Seahawks’ path to NFC’s top seed didn’t get easier with Sunday’s results

Jake and Stacy

Seahawks Drew Lock...

Stacy Rost

Seahawks Practice Snapshot: Good day for QB Drew Lock and offense

Stacy Rost details the latest from Seahawks practice as they're just days away from beginning the preseason against the Steelers on Saturday.

2 years ago

Michael Bumpus Stacy Rost...

SeattleSports.com Staff

New Seattle Sports show: ‘Bump and Stacy’ with Michael Bumpus and Stacy Rost

The next chapter of middays on Seattle Sports begins Monday with the debut of Bump and Stacy, co-hosted by Michael Bumpus and Stacy Rost.

2 years ago

Seahawks Sean Desai...

Brandon Gustafson

What new assistants Desai and Scott revealed about Seahawks’ defense

Jake Heaps breaks down some encouraging comments from new Seahawks defensive assistants Sean Desai and Karl Scott about the defense.

2 years ago

Seahawks Broncos Drew Lock...

Brandon Gustafson

Should Seahawks be OK going into 2022 with Smith or Lock at QB?

Are the Seahawks really comfortable with Geno Smith or Drew Lock as the starter? Jake Heaps thinks that isn't "an ideal situation."

2 years ago

Jake Heaps Stacy Rost...

SeattleSports.com Staff

Seattle Sports’ Jake Heaps announces departure from Jake & Stacy show

After four years with Seattle Sports, Jake Heaps will be leaving the Jake and Stacy show to enter a new chapter in his career.

2 years ago

Seahawks 49ers Jimmy Garoppolo...

Stacy Rost

3 things Seahawks fans should know about potential Jimmy G trade

The possibility of the Seahawks acquiring quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has picked up steam this week. Stacy Rost examines its viability.

2 years ago

How new Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs improves the defense