Boye Mafe training camp updates should absolutely fire up Seattle Seahawks fans
By Lee Vowell
Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu needs some help. Darrell Taylor might be able to give Nwosu some pass-rushing help, albeit extremely inconsistently Nwosu can play the run and pressure opposing passers, but Taylor can't stop the run. Another Seahawks edge rusher that looks like he can be more Nwosu than Taylor is Boye Mafe.
Last year in his rookie season, Mafe also flashed in training camp. He wasn't bad last year, but he didn't really do so well that the general NFL fan might know his name. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Mafe had a decently high grade of 72.6 in 2022 while his pass rush grade was a relatively poor 54.1.
Mafe had 10 total pressures in 2022, 3 sacks, and 6 hurries. That was in the regular season. In the Seahawks playoff game loss against the San Francisco 49ers, it should be noted that Mafe didn't shrink under the pressure of the most important game of Seattle's season. He had 2 hurries and 2 tackles. That game might springboard Mafe to an excellent.
Seahawks edge rusher is having a great preseason so far
So far in training camp, Mafe is one of the best players on the field. Seemingly every day he does something impressive, but he's also making it look so effortless. Of the Seattle players entering their second season in 2023, Boye Mafe seems on the verge of making the biggest jump. But not just as a pass rusher; As a potential starter opposite Nwosu and pushing Darrell Taylor down the depth chart.
... I thought Dre'Mont Jones had a really good day against the run and also sniffed out a screen for about a 5-yard loss. Boye Mafe had a couple good rushes in the 1-on-1s with the OL and also appeared to get the credit for a sack in team.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) July 31, 2023
Of course, Mafe could just be flashing just as he did last preseason, but it just feels different. Plus, he has the experience of 2022 to help him correct anything he might have been doing wrong last year. He's got the size and the speed to be very good. And per all accounts, Mafe is trying to show he should be starter in 2023.
And if Mafe can continue his great play when the real games begin, he could transform the defense. Nwosu is going to be good. But Mafe can relieve some of the focus on Nwosu and also help shut down the opposing team's run game. Plus, if the Seahawks defense is quite a bit better this season, the team could be very dangerous once the playoffs arrive.
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