Rost: One thing plainly distinguishes Seahawks from the greatest teams in the NFC
When it comes to the Seattle Seahawks closing the gap on the NFC’s finest teams, one obvious response isn’t always the most appealing.
For every hot take about star cuts or major scheme changes, there is another truth: the Seahawks have needed to be better in the trenches for years.
That hasn’t been the primary cause of recent losses. Ask any Seahawks fan why they lost to the 49ers in Week 14, and they’ll tell you “explosive plays.” They won’t be wrong; the 49ers offense had five plays of 30 yards or more, including touchdowns of 44 and 54 yards, to Seattle’s one. And the Seahawks’ offense is allowing the 25th-most passing yards per game this season.
However, it has become evident that the league’s greatest teams are often excellent along their offensive or defensive lines, and the Seahawks have lagged behind their contemporaries in this area. After seeing San Francisco twice since Thanksgiving, watching Philadelphia next Monday should be an eye-opening experience for Seattle spectators right now.
The Eagles may have lost the Super Bowl last year, and the Cowboys may have frequently disappointed their fans in the playoffs, but both clubs are currently doing better than Seattle and are in excellent position to make another postseason run. The offensive line is a big element of that.
According to Pro Football Network and Pro Football Focus, Philadelphia has had the top-ranked offensive line since 2022 (and we’re curious why the “Brotherly Shove” doesn’t work as well with other teams). Dallas has a top-five unit as well.
If you’re one of the many Seattle supporters who bemoan the team’s inability to establish a punishing, forceful identity in the run game, this is a big part of it. No rushing back can compensate for bad or inconsistent play up front in the long haul. Over the previous two seasons, Seattle has spent two second-round picks on rushers yet is 28th in rushing yards per game (Philly and San Francisco are all in the top 10, while Dallas is 11th).
There are a few things to bear in mind here. Last year, Seattle drafted two intriguing young tackles and spent a third-round choice on guard Damien Lewis. The Seahawks’ main problems have been a rotating cast at center and injuries along the offensive line.
You might compensate for flaws and injuries elsewhere, but Seattle’s defensive line has also battled to establish itself as a dominant unit. This despite a big facelift this offseason and alterations to its base defense, which switched from a 4-3 front to a 3-4. The 49ers don’t have a top-10 offensive line, though they do have one of the league’s finest tackles, but they’ve regularly had one of the league’s greatest defensive fronts (as have the Eagles).
It hasn’t been for a lack of effort on Seattle’s part. True, the Seahawks used their fifth overall pick in April to select a cornerback rather than a D-lineman, but it was a wise decision.They’ve selected first-round defensive ends (L.J. Collier) and second-round edge rushers (Darrell Taylor, Frank Clark), as well as signed free-agent starter Dre Jones. Despite all of their efforts, they have yet to draft a defensive lineman who was a Pro Bowler while playing for Seattle.
What about coaching?
If play in the trenches is one of the major differentiators between Seattle and the conference’s best, my Bump and Stacy co-host, Michael Bumpus, adds coaching as another aspect.
“Look at the teams that are currently nice. “You have Kyle Shanahan over there with the 49ers, and you also have (49ers defensive coordinator Steve) Wilks on the defensive side of the ball,” Bumpus added. “You’ve got Mike McDaniel with the Miami Dolphins, John Harbaugh with the Ravens, Dan Campbell with the Lions, and Nick Sirianni with the Eagles.” (Buffalo head coach) Sean McDermott, despite getting into some difficulty this year. Dallas’ Mike McCarthy, who has been in the league for a long and has already coached an MVP. There are men with prior experience. When I look at this coaching staff, I wonder who is in charge of the sidelines.
“I’m always asked why (Seahawks defensive coordinator) Clint Hurtt isn’t on the sidelines because he’s a presence and can demand more from his staff and players when he’s on the field.” But I understand why he wants to be up there; the view is incredible, and you can see everything. I believe that there should be growth all around. I’m not suggesting these folks over there are horrible coaches. No, they understand football and what they’re doing. But it all comes down to having the correct mix of guys. Call me a homer or whatever, but I still think Pete Carroll is one of the best to ever do it and if there’s anyone who’s gonna figure it out, I think Pete can figure it out.”
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