CORBIN K. SMITH
11
HOURS AGO (November 12, 2022)
MUNICH,
Germany - Spearheading their current four-game winning streak, the Seahawks
have executed a remarkable defensive turnaround over the past month. After
getting torched in the first five weeks of the season, they have allowed less
than 13 points per game in their past four contests.
At the
center of that 180 degree transformation, as cited by coach Pete Carroll and
players alike, unleashing the defensive line with a more aggressive,
one-gapping, penetrating style paid immediate dividends. Since implementing
those schematic and technical adjustments, Seattle has racked up 19 sacks and
dramatically improved a once-porous run defense, yielding under 100 rushing
yards a game after surrendering north of 170 rushing yards per game in the
first five weeks.
Seeking a
fifth straight win with a historic Week 10 clash against the Buccaneers in the
first-ever NFL regular season game in Germany on Sunday, the Seahawks will once
again be counting on their defensive tackles to continue their stellar play in
a matchup where the outcome may ride on which team performs better in the
trenches.
Boasting
plenty of experience with starters Poona Ford, Shelby Harris, and Al Woods as
well as reserves Quinton Jefferson and Bryan Mone, Seattle has a stable of
well-rounded, athletic veterans in the middle capable of doing damage defending
the run as well as rushing from the interior. Over the past four weeks alone,
everyone except Mone has produced at least one sack, while Harris has gone off
with eight pressures.
Rolling
into this weekend, the group as a whole should be licking their lips
considering how much Tampa Bay's front line has regressed due to retirements,
free agency, and injuries.
Only two
years ago, one of the NFL's premier offensive lines stood out as a pillar for
the Buccaneers eventual Super Bowl champion protecting Tom Brady and creating
running room for Leonard Fournette. But the group now looks like a shell of its
former self after standout guard Ali Marpet shockingly hung up his cleats at 28
years of age, Alex Cappa bolted for the Bengals in free agency, and star center
Ryan Jenson injured his knee early in training camp.
In the
aftermath of those departures and unfortunate injuries, Tampa Bay hasn't been
able to run the football effectively at all this year, averaging a league-low
60.7 rushing yards per game. Though Brady has only been sacked 14 times, that
hasn't necessarily been because of quality protection, as the team ranks 26th
in ESPN's Pass Block Win Rate metric. To the contrary, Pro Football Focus views
the unit much more favorably with the seventh-best pass blocking grade in the
league.
Nonetheless,
with rookie Luke Goedeke ruled out for Sunday with a foot issue and Jenson
likely out for the year, the Buccaneers will be playing a pair of second string
reserves in Nick Leverett and Robert Hainsey in their place. This
undoubtedly sets the stage is set for Ford, Harris, Woods, and the rest of the
Seahawks defensive front to build off their recent showings against an
undermanned, maligned unit.
But
interestingly, anchoring a stout front line that helped guide the team to a
Lombardi Trophy two years ago, Tampa Bay may have same advantage of its own on
defense thanks to the presence of Pro Bowl nose tackle Vita Vea and recent
return of standout defensive tackle Akiem Hicks.
While the Buccaneers have missed star pass rusher Shaquill
Barrett, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last month, Vea has
enjoyed a career year as a pass rusher. Leading the team with 23 pressures and
6.5 sacks, including bringing down Matthew Stafford twice in last week's 16-13
win over the Rams, the gargantuan 350-pound defender with an orbit of his own
has been a one-man demolition crew creating stalemates at the line of scrimmage
and collapsing pockets.
On the
other side of the line, even while starting a pair of rookie tackles in Charles
Cross and Abraham Lucas, the
Seahawks have quietly built one of the most underrated offensive lines in
football. At the center of that emergence, center Austin Blythe has brought
much-needed stability to the position and his knowledge of coordinator Shane
Waldron's offense coupled with his communication skills has been a major boon
for the entire group.
Seattle
has also received quality contributions from a trio of veteran guards,
including recently launching a successful
platoon between Gabe Jackson and Phil Haynes at right guard across
from Damien Lewis. Aiming to keep both players fresh in the second half, they
may continue rotating series next to Blythe for the long haul.
Making
marked improvements compared to a year ago with three new starters in the
lineup and excelling under the coaching of Andy Dickerson, the Seahawks rank
fourth in ESPN's Pass Block Win Rate metric and a respectable 12th in PFF's
pass blocking grades. The team hasn't been quite as successful in the run
blocking department, however, ranking 24th in Run Block Win Rate and 19th on
PFF.
Though Blythe and the rest of his line
mates have done a commendable job thus far contributing to a surprising 6-3
start, the group will have their hands full trying to deal with Vea and
Hicks, who each weigh north of 330 pounds and can win with power as well as
rare athleticism. Keeping those two at bay will be crucial for MVP dark horse
Geno Smith to have time to throw to his bevy of receivers in the pocket and
Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate Ken Walker III to find any traction on
the ground.
When the
Seahawks and Buccaneers tangle in Deutschland this weekend, there will be no
shortage of star power at the skill positions with the likes of Metcalf, Mike
Evans, Walker, Chris Godwin, Lockett, and Julio Jones suiting up. But in this
clash of first place teams carrying significant playoff implications, the
victor will likely be decided by which interior offensive line best steps up to
the challenge against formidable foes lined up across the line of scrimmage.
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