Secondary playing well ...STATS

[ThePro]

http://seahawksdraftblog.com/

[Sibelius Hindemith]

I didn't realize Kendricks was that athletic. Signing him last year was a smart gamble despite the suspension and on-going legal matters. If Clowney can heal up this defense is as good as any in the league now. Everything seems to be coming together.

[DavidGee24]

It looked like the D was going to be our undoing and all of a sudden they're much improved, and this is very important considering we're getting into the winter months where Russell Wilson won't be making all those Russell Wilson Throws.

[Donn Beach]

wish i could find the talking head comment, that at this point in the season there wasn't much hope to seeing improvement in the defense, and there it is, improvement in the defense

[Donn Beach]

Analysis: Why Quandre Diggs single-handedly makes the Seahawks a legit contender

Diggs has taken on ET's role in the defense

Question: What happens when a single-high defense doesn’t have a legit single-high safety?

Answer: It gets torched on a regular basis, even against lesser talent like Andy Dalton (benched by the Bengals) and Matt Schaub (a backup who made his first start since 2015).

For nine weeks in 2019, the Seattle Seahawks defense wasn’t good. Period. The team was still 7-2 solely because of Russell Wilson’s MVP-level heroics. But it wasn’t sustainable – the rope-a-dope strategy that kept the Seahawks just barely above water was a mirage more than a reliable formula.

There’s a reason why Carroll values having a veteran at free safety and why Earl Thomas was such a lynchpin to Seattle’s dominant defenses over the last decade. You could already argue that Diggs is a top five most valuable player on the Seahawks roster given the importance of his role and his collective impact on the defense. The nickname for the position is literally “The Eraser,” which requires the physical ability and mental capacity to clean up the mistakes of others.

When other players know they have that safety net, it allows everyone to play faster, be more aggressive in their assignments and even take a few chances if they feel like they know what’s coming. Notably, K.J. Wright said Seattle’s defense was all over Philadelphia’s offensive tendencies on Sunday.

The overall speed of the defense has been evident over Seattle’s last eight quarters of football.

“Quandre is the man,” Wright said. “I’m glad he’s on this team. Ever since he came here, somehow we’ve just been playing super dominant. We’ve got a bad man in the middle of the field, just running redline to redline; making big hits. It can make a statement for your defense.”

Seattle tried to mix in some single-high looks earlier in the season and got burned regularly. John Ross’ 55-yard touchdown just before halftime in Week 1 against Tedric Thompson is a play that comes to mind. Marquise Blair wasn’t ready for the responsibility of the position, either.

That’s why the biggest benefactor of Diggs’ presence is Bradley McDougald. Prior to playing alongside Diggs, McDougald played as a two-high safety predominantly and even had to play free safety at times.

Now the traditional strong safety is back to doing what he does best, solely because Diggs was able to take so much off of his plate.

“I have found myself being able to play one position, staying in closer (to the line of scrimmage); doing my job,” said McDougald, who had six tackles and intercepted Carson Wentz on Sunday. “I’ve got less to worry about – less getting people lined up. It’s just less. I can focus on me. That’s the best position to be. I’m moving faster.”

Carroll was ecstatic about Seattle’s safety play in the win against the 49ers and had similar sentiments after beating the Eagles. He noted the sideline conversations and in-game adjustments between Diggs and McDougald that have been so crucial.

“They’re really balling,” Carroll said.

https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/sea ... -contender

[Donn Beach]

Clowney update, that seems kind of odd, at least it seems a quick recovery, and didn't hurt them

“He’s looking forward to playing this week,” Carroll said on Monday.

Clowney didn’t get his “off-campus treatment” until last Friday. When asked why the pass rusher didn’t get the treatment during the bye week, Carroll said the team wasn’t sure what the ailment was at that point. It took a while to determine that it wasn’t a hip flexor or groin issue.

“After you eliminate all of the things it could be, it generally comes back to the sports hernia thing,” Carroll said.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

I would hope they would limit his time on the field this monday unless he's near 100%. Don't want the sport hernia to become a lingering issue or more serious requiring surgery. They need him for the playoffs.

[D-train]

Prisco moves us up to #4 due to the improving D.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl- ... 16-10abi8e

[D-train]

It looked like the D was going to be our undoing and all of a sudden they're much improved, and this is very important considering we're getting into the winter months where Russell Wilson won't be making all those Russell Wilson Throws.

Bell just said that throw RW made into the 40 mph wind for the Turner TD was the best he has ever seen him make.

[D-train]

Man my 11-5 prediction is looking horribly pessimistic.