2. Can the defense continue to show progress while facing a dangerous Cardinals offense?
Prior to their bye week, the Seahawks appeared to have made some progress on defense, playing well against the Rams despite an overtime loss. Two weeks later, Seattle’s defense showed that improvement wasn’t a fluke, limiting the 49ers to 277 total yards and 17 points. And most notably last week, the Seahawks allowed just one play of 20 or more yards, a 22-yards reception.
“I just think when you limit explosives, it really comes to execution, like the ability to execute, the ability communicate and understand what they’re trying to attack,” Durde said. “Taking away the deeper throw, you’re making a play, you’re covering someone else. Those are the areas, like tackles, those things create explosives when you miss those things. Last week we didn’t and we played clean and it helped us a lot. Especially because what happens is suddenly you put yourselves in good third down situations.”
The Seahawks like the direction their defense has been heading in recent weeks, but they also know it won’t be easy to maintain that level of play when facing a dangerous Cardinals offense led by quarterback Kyler Murray, who is playing the best football of his career.
“They are being really efficient,” Durde said. “At times they remind me when those (coaches) were at Philly. The way they stay in front of the sticks, get themselves manageable third downs, and they get in situations where they can run or pass on third down. Kyler Murray can use his legs. They’re doing a great job with. They play the right way.”
In addition to Murray, the Seahawks need to contend with the likes of running back James Conner, who has 697 yards and five touchdowns through 10 games, tight end Trey McBride, who leads the team in receptions (42) and receiving yards (552), and rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is second to McBride in receiving and who has a team-high six touchdown receptions.
“I think there’s just like a synergy to it on how they’re playing and how efficient Kyler’s playing, he’s playing decisive,” Macdonald said. “They do a great job. It’s a different operation than we’ve seen. It’s a ton of gap scheme, a ton of pullers. They do a great job protecting the football. And then if all else doesn’t go to plan, then Kyler’s one of the best in the business at extending plays and kind of making you pay late in the down too. The easy answer would be to say that the run game kind of starts it, but they kind of have all the things going. All the play actions, the movements, the screens, it kind of all works together. So, they got a great system and they’re executing at a high level right now.”
