Shredded Seahawks defense needs fill-ins, reinforcements to help Russell Wilson in Miami
The Seahawks’ defensive line has been as ineffective as it’s been thin.
Good thing for them the game begins early on the East Coast.
Seattle, 3-0 for the first time since 2013, tries for its first 4-0 start since that only Super Bowl-championship season Sunday here in steamy Miami. The Seahawks arrived Friday and have basically been sequestered in their hotel in north Dade County. It’s part of coach Pete Carroll’s customary travel schedule of going to the Eastern and Central time zones two days early.
It works.
The Seahawks used to have big issued playing back here. But they are 17-6 in games starting at 10 a.m. Seattle times. They’ve won the last seven of those 10 a.m. starts. That includes their opener last month, a 38-25 victory at Atlanta.
The Seahawks awakened in south Florida to clouds, but forecasters say there is just a 15% chance of rain at Hard Rock Stadium for this 10 a.m. kickoff with the Dolphins.
About that thin Seahawks defensive line: it’s missing edge rusher Bruce Irvin (on injured reserve), rookie second-round draft choice Darrell Taylor (out indefinitely on the non-football-injury list). Veteran free-agent defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrision has visited the team and remains a possibility to join a needy front line.
The Seahawks made good on Carroll’s promise this week that Shaquem Griffin had earned playing another game after he impressive season debut late in last week’s win over Dallas. Seattle signed the linebacker and edge rusher from the practice squad on Friday.
The more the better. Temperatures are supposed to be up to 87 degrees in 75% humidity.
Here are the key players for Seahawks-Dolphins:
1, Who’s left to play for Seattle’s ransacked defense? It’s giving up record-breaking yardage in the passing game. All-Pro safety Jamal Adams (strained groin) and Lano Hill (back) are out. So Ryan Neal, the unlikely late-game hero against Dallas, is ready for his first career start after three seasons on the practice squad. The Seahawks signed former Packers starter Damarious Randall from the practice squad to the active roster at safety on Saturday. They just signed Randall this week.
Miami native Quinton Dunbar is out with an aching knee. Tre Flowers will start for Dunbar for the second consecutive week at right cornerback. Flowers and Pro Bowl cornerback Shaquill Griffin got beaten on multiple big passes by the Cowboys. Dak Prescott threw for 472 yards, the most by a quarterback ever against the Seahawks.
Rookie first-round pick Jordyn Brooks is out with a sprained knee. He made his first career start last week, at strongside linebacker, for out-for-the-year Irvin.. Cody Barton is likely to be the starting linebacker next to Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright.
The fill-ins need to step up. Somebody has to on this defense.
After Dallas rolled to 522 yards last week against his defense, leaving Seattle having allowed 1,292 yards passing, the most in NFL history through three gamed, Wagner said: “I’m not accustomed to this.”
2. Or will Russell Wilson continue to just outscore everyone by himself?
He’s the NFC offensive player of the week for the second time in three weeks. He is the first Seahawks quarterback to win player of the month since Matt Hasselbeck in 2004. He had his second consecutive five-touchdown game passing last week. Wilson broke Patrick Mahomes’ NFL record for most TD throws through three games. Wilson has 14. Two more Sunday and he ties Peyton Manning for the most touchdown passes in the first four games of a season. Wilson is completing 79% of his passes. His lone interception this season went through the hands of tight end Greg Olsen.
It doesn’t seem sustainable, the Seahawks winning with Wilson and Wilson only. But the way number 3 is playing, maybe it is. The Dolphins are 25th in pass defense and next-to-last in the NFL is yards allowed per pass.
3. Miami is also 25th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing more than 133 yards per game on the ground. That would normally be a green light for Chris Carson to romp. But Carson sprained his knee last weekend when Dallas defensive tackle Trysten Smith twisted his leg on the ground after a tackle. He and Carlos Hyde (shoulder) are questionable to play, though Carroll said Friday he thinks both will play. Hyde may get to show why the Seahawks signed him this offseason. Hyde, the former San Francisco 49ers lead back, had the first 1,000-yard season of his career last year for Houston. This may be Hyde’s most featured day yet for Seattle.
4. Shaquem Griffin waited three weeks then almost the entire game last weekend to make his season debut, and he did it as both an edge rusher pressuring Prescott once then a quarterback spy over the final 17 snaps of Seattle’s win over Dallas. Carroll says Griffin earned a place on the active roster with that cameo performance. The Seahawks’ sickly pass rush needs anyone and everyone it can get.
This story was originally published October 4, 2020 at 7:26 AM.
