Seahawks get more award-worthy play from Devon Witherspoon. And Leonard Williams shines
From the first play, it was obvious Devon Witherspoon was going to be an issue in this one.
He was that for Terry McLaurin. For Sam Howell. For the Washington Commanders.
The Seahawks’ rookie was the NFL defensive rookie of the month for October, after being the player of the week to begin the month.
He was defensive player of the day in Seattle’s 29-26 win over the Commanders at Lumen Field Sunday.
“’Spoon is ‘Spoon,” Seahawks captain Bobby Wagner said of his 22-year-old cornerback, nickelback, all over the opponents’ backs.
“He’s going to make plays, and he’s going to bring the energy.”
Instantaneously, too.
First snap Sunday, with the pilots of the fighter jets that flew over the stadium on Salute to Service day barely done with their banked turns out of downtown, Witherspoon flew in on Washington’s Curtis Samuel. The wide receiver looked around as if to wonder where the fifth pick in this year’s draft came from to break up Howell’s first pass, short outside.
The Seahawks stayed in nickel defense with Witherspoon inside as the slot cornerback almost exclusively Sunday. That’s because pass-happy Washington, with former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy calling the plays, throws more than any NFL team this season. Sure enough, 43 of the Commanders’ first 50 plays Sunday were pass calls.
So it was Witherspoon as the nickel inside almost all day. And the middle became a bad place for Howell to throw, because of Seattle’s rookie.
Witherspoon broke up three of Howell’s passes in the first 21 minutes of the game. Three of Howell’s first six incomplete passes Sunday were because of Witherspoon. He jumped on routes by Samuel twice, and one by McLaurin, Washington’s top wide receiver.
Also in the first quarter, Witherspoon showed off his instincts, his speed and his aggressiveness on one play. He came free on a nickel blitz through the right side of Washington’s offensive line. He leaped and almost batted, or caught, Howell’s short pass to John Bates. Then Witherspoon turned and was in on teammate Jordyn Brooks’ tackle of the tight end for no gain.
Witherspoon’s highlight play came in the third quarter, just after Kenneth Walker’s 64-yard catch and run gave the Seahawks their first lead, 16-12. Witherspoon was tackling Howell at the end of a scramble run for a Washington first down, but he saw teammate Quandre Diggs helping him. So he ripped the ball from Howell as Washington’s quarterback was falling onto Diggs past midfield. Teammate Riq Woolen recovered the fumble Witherspoon forced.
“Fantastic play. So clear, the intent,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “He knew ‘I’ve got the quarterback, I’ve got him held up. I’ve got a chance.’ And he just out-competed for the football and just got the ball out. It was a great play.
“The pass break-ups, a couple of them (against) McLaurin, too. Challenged him right from the get-go, one of the first plays of the game. ...
“He continues to show us he’s a very special football player.”
Seattle’s offense went three and out after Witherspoon’s fumble play. A holding penalty on guard Damien Lewis ruined the ensuing drive, so Seattle’s lead remained only 16-12.
It got to the point the Commanders took McLaurin out of the middle, to get him away from the plays Witherspoon was making.
That’s where the rookie has gone in a month and a half as a nickel DB: veteran NFL coordinators are adjusting their game plans to avoid him.
“We’re lucky to have him on our side,” Carroll said.
Leonard Williams’ sack debut
Leonard Williams may want to play Washington every game the rest of this season.
The newest Seahawks defensive lineman got his first Seattle sack in the first Seahawks home game. He broke into the Commanders’ offensive line and chased down Howell 10 yards into the backfield for a sack on a third and 4 midway through the second quarter. That kept the Seahawks down only 9-6.
It was his first full sack since week three, when he had one for the New York Giants — against Howell and the Commanders.
The Giants traded Williams to the Seahawks two weeks ago, for a second- and fifth-round draft choices.
In 10 career games against Washington, the Giants’ NFC East rivals, Williams has five sacks. That’s his most against any NFL team.
The previous week in his Seahawks debut at Baltimore, defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt had Williams playing mostly running downs inside at tackle. On the sack he got Sunday, he entered on third down to be a pass rusher after being on the sidelines for first and second downs.
That’s the versatility and play-making the Seahawks traded two picks for — and why they intend to re-sign him to a contract extension after this season.
Williams’ first impression of a Seahawks home game and the atmosphere at Lumen Field are positives in Seattle’s favor to keep him, too.
“It was pretty electric. Not going to lie,” said Williams, who left the last-place Giants and joined a team that shares the same 6-3 record as San Francisco atop the NFC West. “On that 2-minute drive with the defense (late in the game with Seattle leading 29-26), I had to have Bobby scream in my ear what the play was, because I literally couldn’t hear anything.
“I love the energy, I love the atmosphere here. I love the team. It was a great first home game.”
Williams’ teammates already like him, two games in.
“That’s my dog, man,” said end Dre’Mont Jones, who also sacked Howell Sunday. “Leo is a hell of a player. I love being around him. I can just say so many positive things about him.
“Really, just one of those guys you need in the locker room.”
This story was originally published November 12, 2023 at 7:56 PM.
