Seahawks offensive and defensive grades from Week 16 victory

Defense

Impressive is an understatement. Ever since the addition of Carlos Dunlap, this defensive line has transformed into one of the better ones in the entire league. In the win over the Rams, Carlos Dunlap himself did an incredible job of setting the edge. The Rams offense involves a lot of misdirection. They are at their best when they run the ball well and they mainly draw up power runs. When watching them, you will notice they often motion one of their wide receivers over to the side of the power run. By doing that, they are bringing in an extra blocker. Both Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp are excellent run blockers and hence, allows them to establish the run game and then build off of that with the play action.

This Seahawks defensive front was well prepared yesterday. Time after time, they would set the edge and not allow a big run. By taking that away, they forced the Rams to lose a hand. As a result, they weren’t able to build off the play-action game and make big plays down the field. They also weren’t allowed to go up-tempo more often and catch this defense sleeping. Not only did they set the edge really well, but they generated pressure on Goff. They finished the game with 3 sacks and 9 quarterback hits. Goff often gets rattled when under pressure, which leads to poor decisions. We saw that on display yesterday, as the guys up front looked like a Super Bowl-caliber defensive line.

Rookie LB Jordyn Brooks saw a significant number of snaps in the win over the Rams. The main reason being the Rams ran a lot of two tight end formations. Although they were successful in stopping the run, the two things that impressed me the most from this linebacker group were helping establish the edge and taking away the tight ends. In the past, the Rams tight ends Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett would have big games against this defensive unit. But, not in Week 16. As mentioned earlier, this defense was well prepared. They knew exactly what was coming and didn’t fall for any of the traps that the Rams set.

Carlos Dunlap did a great job of setting the edge and K.J. Wright finished the play by forcing Goff to keep the ball and get a 2 yard gain rather than a 10-yard completion down the field. There were countless times I saw Wright sniff out the play and read Goff’s eyes. Rather than going for the sack, he would drop into containment and make Goff keep the ball. Secondly, Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks stuck to their assignment and kept the tight ends out of this game. On the crossing routes that the Rams like to run so often, the Seattle linebacker group stayed in containment and took it away. It was a job well done and another position group playing like a Super Bowl contender.

It becomes shocking when Jamal Adams finishes a game without a sack. Rams HB Malcolm Brown did a solid job in pass protection as he often picked up Jamal Adams when he blitzed. But, that isn’t to say that Adams didn’t have a presence in this game. Up 13-6, Jamal Adams made a touchdown-saving tackle on Darrell Henderson. As a result, the Seahawks held their own on a goal-line stand and got the ball back. That single play epitomizes who Jamal Adams is as a player. He never gives up on a play and has a relentless pursuit of hitting the man with the ball.

CB2 D.J. Reed has been doing a sensational job of stepping in. He has back-to-back impressive performances and is earning himself a spot on this roster. Shaquill Griffin had another nice game in coverage and we now see this Seattle secondary developing the necessary chemistry right ahead of the playoffs. But, how about the first time pro bowler Quandre Diggs? He had another interception in this game and my god, he is all over the place in coverage. He is so good at dissecting a play, breaking on the route, and laying a hard hit on the receiver. Another job well done by the secondary in what was a dominant defensive performance.