September 18, 2025 • 26 mins
The Seahawks are vying for their first home win of the 2025 season against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3. Jen Mueller and John Boyle preview the matchup vs. the 0-2 Saints. Today's show: What we learned (0:27), Depth in the secondary (3:17) , Byron Murphy II finding success (08:43), Uchenna Nwosu easing back (14:22), Alvin Kamara (17:32), Grey Zabel (21:21) and Two things we need to see (23:51).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to the Seahawks Insiders getting you ready for
Seahawks Football every Sunday, presented by Delta, the official airline
of the Seahawks. Now here's your host, Jen Mueller.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Heading into week three, the Seahawks have even their record
at one and one, John, There's plenty to talk about
from this one.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
But I guess the question that I have, and I
think I'm.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Going to have this question for another couple of weeks,
what did we actually learn from week two in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
I think we learned what we got a glimpse of
in week one.
Speaker 5 (00:33):
Is that this defense is legit, and the defensive front
is outstanding, Like those dudes are playing really well up front.
And I think offensively, we saw the offense start to
look like what we hope and expected to be. They
were running the ball better, they're distributing the ball, moving
the quarterback more under center, just a lot more what
we thought Kubiak's offense was going to be than maybe
(00:55):
what was on display in week one.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
How much of that do you think was just getting
that extra week in there and you kind of fit
the pieces in. Everybody feels a little bit more confident
versus what we actually saw on the Steelers.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
Yeah, you know, I think look from it's a small
sample size, but I think the two weeks in, it's
probably safe to say the forty nine Ers are a
better defense than Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Some of that too. You know, it can just be
how you game plan for a specific opponent.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
There might have been something the way San Francisco's front plays,
different things they saw that just they didn't like some
of the looks that they were getting that they did
like in Pittsburgh. So everything's so new this time of year,
like stuff changes so much week to week.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
It's hard to make any big statements.
Speaker 5 (01:32):
But yeah, just again, it just looked like when we
talked about what we saw in training camp and they're
one drive in the preseason, the things they were doing,
it just looked more like that to me.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, I feel pretty good about it, right, and you
are seeing enough of the flashes and they scored on
the opening drive.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, that was the first time in a while, first.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Time they had gotten a touchdown on the opening drive
since twenty twenty three. That means it was the first
time underhead coach Mike McDonald. I totally had blocks from
my mind that it had been that long after the like,
oh yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
I like that.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
It's kind of like, oh, this is it's much more
fun to play with an early lead makes a huge
difference on that front.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
You know what else strikes me as I keep seeing
headlines that are coming out of the NFL how many
injuries there are around the league, and I know that
we have had a few injuries, but the number of
quarterbacks that have been hurt, the number of significant injuries,
like this is a knock on wood, cross your fingers
every single week.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
Yeah, I mean it's it's a tough sport, but yeah,
sometimes some years some chunks. This season, it just feels
like it's worse. And then you see when it's quarterbacks
that really stands out. When you have a guy like
Joll Burrow getting hurt and it's it's tough to see.
And that's it is why I mean so often we
hear teams talk about their depth and about the importance
of that, like that's unfortunately a lot of times how
(02:46):
teams fates are decided is like how how well your
guys step up when they're called upon.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah, so it's Burrow, it's Jade Daniels. It's pretty although
Party might be back this week. I think McCarthy's dealing
with something. I mean, around the league, it has truly
been remark so Sam Darnold has stayed healthy. And when
you talk about the depth of the team, really what
Seattle's looking at right now is depth in the secondary.
Because Devin Witherspoon was not able to play against Pittsburgh,
(03:12):
Nick imm and Worri still not ready to go, although
not on IR so that's a really good side.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
But yeah, you need those guys back there.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
And you also know that you need more than fifty
three for the entire year.
Speaker 6 (03:25):
You know, we talk about the seventy's.
Speaker 7 (03:27):
That's a critical part of our team, and I think
was a is going to be something that we're going
to be leaning on to have success over the course
the year. Whether it's our DB's or whatever position. There's
gonna be times where positions low on guys and we're
going to be dependent on those guys to step up
and go play. And they did that last week and
that's great, But every week we're going to be dealing
with that sort of things.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
That's the nature of our business.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
That's a term we've heard Mike McDonald and John channathrow
around a lot of this idea of a seventy man
or roster, and you know the rules that changed during
COVID to elevate players really kind of change again, like
teams can get these guys on the field and a
the teams like it because it just makes feel deeper,
but it's also it's good for the players, like it
makes these practice squad guys or I'm sorry, ready squad
(04:10):
as Mike likes to call it, It makes him feel
much more like they're a part of the team. And
it's we've seen it really pay off both for the
team and for players. You go back to the last season,
Josh job was a practice squad guy to start the year.
Now he's one of their top three corners who's playing
starter snaps every week because he earned it and you
want out prove himself. Cody White's kind of this guy
who's been back and forth, and in the past he
(04:30):
would have been a guy that hangs on the practice
squad and you don't really think about him, but he's
out contributing on game day. And it also allows you
to kind of slop guys back and forth, like we've
seen Shaquille Griffin, Cody White, back and forth kind of
reward more guys get him on the roster. So yeah,
it's it is important because those guys you're going to,
I mean, not all seventeen of them, but quite a
few guys on the.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Practice squad are going to be asked to help out
this season.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Yeah, a couple of things on this.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
So John Schneider actually talked to us during our production
meeting during the preseason, and he is the one that
introduced that term ready squad. And it was funny because
Mike McDonald was like, I quite honestly don't even remember
the origin story of that, but when John was talking
about it, it was in terms of so it was
heading into that third preseason game and he said, look,
I know everybody is looking at roster cutdown date as
(05:15):
fifty three. What we have told the coaches and the
entire scouting department knows this, right, I need you to
think about November and December. I don't need you to
think about week one and week two. We've got that cover.
This is about thinking long term. So look at the schedule,
you know, look at who you're gonna need. Just kind
of try to make the best projections. You cannot predict
(05:37):
all injuries, I know this, right, but try to make
your best projections. If we're going to project into the future,
then those seventy guys are expected to play. So let's
not treat them to your point as if they are
not going to play, you are not practicing to play.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
You are ready to play.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
And I think we heard Leo Williams this week talk
about and we heard Mike too, right, next man up
mentality is a really nice thing to say.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Everybody says it. Yeah, it really.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Comes down to the mentorship that you want to give
the guys that are right behind you, and that is competition, right,
And it's sometimes challenging because that guy could come and
take your spot.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
And Seattle has done a really good.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Job with the leaders and the leaders kind of reaching
back and helping those guys. To Mike McDonald's point of
I'm not worried about the next guy coming, and I'm
actually pretty excited.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Because we've seen so many good things in.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Practice, right, Like, it's a totally different mindset, but I
wouldn't be surprised if it is changing around the league.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
Yeah, that's something like McDonald brought up last season is like,
I get excited for this, Like not that you're excited
guys get hurt, but like you want to see what
guys do with their opportunities.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
And Kobe Bryant's another one.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
He wasn't on the practice squad, but he was a
guy who was kind of stuck in a backup role
doing thing on special teams and impressing coaches in practice,
and then he got his chance and he sees it.
And there's multiple guys playing big role on this team
who were not starters a year ago, but they earned it.
So it's good to see another little subplot of that
that I really like that both Mike and Peter's reference
when you're setting that fifty three, because you look at
(07:10):
a seventy, you're not necessarily making decisions on these are
our top fifty three.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
It's who's going to get claimed if we release there.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
They were both kind of honest about that when they're
asked about the undrafted rookies who made the team, like, hey,
they did a great job, but also we're looking at,
you know, who's going to get claimed. Who's not like
you release a veteran guy, you can sign him right back.
He's not subject to waiver, so kind of a fun
little like game. Teams all play of who we want
to protect and who do you think we can get
to the practice yep.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Which is why there was a couple of those on
cutdown day where you're like, how did this guy.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Make the right Like Nick Caller up, we didn't talk about.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Him at all during the preseason, by the way, that
was on purpose. Yeah, yeah, and yet you know he's
there and people are trying to figure out why for
that exactly.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Or last year, I think they kept eleven linemen to
start the season, say.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
They loved the offensive line are.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
Hard to like.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Teams always need offensive lineman, so if you have a
young lineman, you like you kind of want to protect
that guy. So again, the new practice squad rules really
kind of change the game of how you structure that roster.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
I also cannot help but notice that there's a lot
of people in the building that have ready Squad t shirts. No,
you haven't given one to us, I don't. Did we
not make the cut on that?
Speaker 4 (08:16):
Not even on the ready squad. We're we're on the
talking about it squad?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Can I please get it?
Speaker 7 (08:22):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Says talking about it squad? Oh if somebody could make
that happen. That would certainly make my day. Byron Murphy
made a lot of people's days, including his own against Pittsburgh.
And look, we have talked about him for a while.
People have wanted the proof, which is the numbers, and.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
I totally get it.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
It's not that he just started to be disruptive, but
it certainly showed up on a different way.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Sunday.
Speaker 7 (08:48):
I feel like I've answered it Byron's questions pretty consistently
over the last year because I feel like he's played
at that level, So I think it's more of a
functioning just I'm happy that now that, like the numbers
are there, I guess, but the tape tells a similar
story of how well he's playing. But production does matter, obviously,
I mean, especially individually, So I'm happy that that he
was able to get the production he got.
Speaker 5 (09:10):
On Sunday, I loved when Jarreuied was asked about it
after the game and just kind of he kind of
pause and looks everybody.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
He's like, look, I'm not surprised at all, that's what
he said.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
And he's like, because he's been talking, he might be
a little bit of hyperbole, but going back to training camp.
He said, Byron Murphy's a you know, defensive player of
the year type player, where it's like the guys who
have put in the work with him and watched him
in practice and even how he played last season. Again
the stats from there, but a lot of that was
just what they asked him to do. He was that
guy playing nose tackle, taking on guards and centers, eating
(09:38):
up blocks to help free up as teammates. And so
everybody who's been around him, watched him work, just understands
the talent he is. Feels like it's a matter of
time till these breakout games happened, and we saw one,
and I think the numbers are going to be a
lot different this year by the time the dust settles.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Well, how about Leo saying, look, the only thing I
can help him with is how to read past rush.
He goes he can take on a double team better
than I can't. He is the best you know run
stuffer that I've been around, Like there's nothing there. But
I also thought it was interesting because I did talk
to Byron Murphy after the game and his smile when
I asked about just getting to Aaron Rodgers. First of all,
(10:17):
he had a lot of blinks, so it was very shiny,
very very shiny, and.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
He just had the biggest smile in the entire world.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Like it means a lot to him, but also the
pressure that you can put on yourself. Again Leo's comments
this week, if you don't get the big splash plays, yeah,
you're still doing your job.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Everybody wants the stats.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
Look, it's human nature. You know, you put in the work,
you want the reward for it. So it's good for
him to show up and you know, make some splashy
plays and have people talking about him after a game
and teammates and coaches loving him up.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
It's great to see. And I think, you know, he's
not gonna.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Get a second half every week, be great if he did,
but I think we're gonna see a lot more productive
season just as he matures. He talked about, you know,
he's seeing the game different stretch stuff, he's learning how
to do this even better.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
And he was good at a rookie. But he's having
a good year.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
All right.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Well, let's look at what that matchup is this week
against the Saints, because the other part of the storyline
is Byron Murphy had three quarterback hits on Aaron Rodgers.
Derek Hall had three quarterback hits nine total on Rogers.
They did not need to blitz to get there four total.
I think I think it was four total. Now as
I'm looking at Spencer Rattler starting quarterback for the Saints,
(11:30):
just in case people are not familiar with that name,
because it just I don't know.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I love the name. It just trips me up every time.
He was sacked three times last week by the forty
nine Ers.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Also worth noting that Fred Warner was Defensive Player of
the Week after playing the Saints. But I was really
surprised he's only been sacked four times this year, and
that at the top of the list you've got guys
like Aaron Rodgers, Cam wore Gino's.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Up there, Ross's up there.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
I was a little bit surprised apparently that that offensive
line is more stout than I thought.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
Yeah, I mean, they've invested a lot into that line,
a lot of high picks in recent years. They unfortunately
are a little banged up right now. They're missing some guys.
But and I think Rattler is also from what I've
seen and what I've heard talking to people, they're like,
he's done a pretty good job getting the ball out,
not not holding it and taking those sacks. And you
know that would kind of stand to reason with what
we've seen out of Kellen Moore over his career as
a play caller, Like he's not a guy that's gonna
(12:26):
He's been quarterback and he's been in a high octane,
fast passing offense his whole life, So I think he
understands the value of helping the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Out that way.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Well.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
And if you look at it, and I heard Charles Davis,
who is on the TV call this week, described it
this way, that offense functions as if it's going station
to station in baseball, and the number certainly bear that out.
So after two games, they are averaging four point seven
yards of pass and four point four yards per rush. Now,
I know the defense would like to allow fewer than
(12:54):
that this week. I'm sure that's going to be a goal,
But how does that affect what you're doing. If you're
really just going for those those short plays, right, you're
probably not going to be lining up to take a
whole bunch of deep shots down field.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
Yeah, defense gets a little limited.
Speaker 5 (13:09):
Yeah, I mean, but that's Yeah, it's one of those where, Okay,
so the defense you counter, you're gonna be able to
put more guys in the box to stop that. You're
going to get more aggressive attacking those short routes, and
then it's an offense counter and have a counter punch
to that to try to throw it over you.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
We'll see this Gallo secondary has played very well.
Speaker 5 (13:25):
But yeah, it's you know, it's a fun, fun, different
challenge each week. I'm I'm pretty excited about what our
defense could show.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Though I am also surprised when I look at the numbers.
It's pretty even. Like you look across the board offensive numbers,
defensive numbers, you would be hard pressed to tell who
was one on one and who was zero and two.
And by the way, those Saints games have been decided
by a combined twelve points. They have been within striking
distance their fight. Yep, they are a feisty team. But
(13:52):
you might get even more this week out of Uchennanuosu
sixteen snaps last week.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Yeah, definitely on a pitch count.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
Yeah, I mean it's kind of a preseason for him.
He missed a lot of time with that knee surgery
and didn't you know, he wasn't on the field for
most of training camp, So this was never about like, hey,
we're gonna throw him in there. And it's good that
you have a deep edge rotation right now where you've
got you know, three guys and Boy and Mafe, Derek
Hall and DeMarcus Lawrence eating up most of snaps. You
can kind of ease Chinna in and build him up
(14:19):
to full strength and then you add another great player
when he's.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
Ready to go.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Well, they do anticipate him playing a larger role as
the season goes on, which, to John's point, helps an
already deep pass rush group.
Speaker 7 (14:30):
Well, it's just great Tom back. He's gonna, he's gonna continually.
It's not easy to step in in your first NFL
experience and go and play and play a game, and
but it's a great first step.
Speaker 6 (14:40):
It's a great foundation. I think he gained confidence.
Speaker 7 (14:44):
He's were in a position now where I think you
can see some sort of increase to some sort of
degree over the next x amount of time.
Speaker 6 (14:50):
I mean, we're not going to just stick at that
play level as long as he's feeling well.
Speaker 7 (14:54):
So but and also let's you know, have a little
bit more rotation at the edge position, So it's kind
of good for him, good for everybody.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
I wonder what part of the presentation he takes on Saturdays.
John another revelation that we had this week that the
defensive line meets together and has presentations. And I really
wanted to ask if power points are involved, because I
hate power points and it would kind of make me
laugh if NFL players have to make power points. I'm
just assuming that they do really interesting though, because when
(15:24):
you have a group of pass rushers that is as
proficiently potentially proficient, That's what I was going to say,
it's a lot of peace.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
That was a that was a poor choice of words
on my part.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
You really do have to have a plan in place,
and because Mike McDonald is calling the defense, and because
you were trying to read the offense, sometimes it is
going down to the very last second, and so the
presentation is to help them get their rush plans in place.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
Yeah, I think what had leader describe it like, You'll
have the Byron presents on the opposing center or guard,
and they each take different positions on that line sort
of say hey, here's how he passed that, here's how
it's it's really fascinating cause you think you just if
you're casually wash like okay, they block you, go around
and whatever you try to go through. But there's so
much little nuance to pass rushing. Which I'm getting off topic,
but I think that is why a lot of times
(16:13):
we see defensive linemen develop later than some positions. Like
there are rookies who do thrive, but a lot of
these guys like Iron Murphy, like Jaringry to place their
best football into their thirties because there's just so much
subtle nuance and what they do well.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
And Derek Hall said this year in training camp, this
is going to be way more fun because I understand
exactly what's going on now. I will tell you that
most of the conversations on the sideline during the game
is all about their rush plan. It's which laner you in,
which mover are you using, And there's quite a bit
of adjustment in game once they actually figure out how
(16:46):
that is being played. But that is mostly what those
guys are talking about. We have been talking long enough,
how but if we pause and get a word from
our presenting sponsor.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Statistically, the world is losing color.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Just consider all white kitchens, baby nurseries, a sea of
gray cars. But in the hundreds of destinations Delta flies to,
you can rediscover color in the bright blue waters of Hawaii,
the emerald green hills of Scotland, the very pink cherry
blossoms of Tokyo, and so much more. Sometimes opening your
world is all it takes to open your mind, which
(17:19):
is why when you fly Delta, your potential takes off
when you do. Delta Official Airline of the Seattle Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Before we highlight the Seahawks offense and one of the
new players in particular, let's not forget to talk about
Alvin Kamara and what he does for that Saints offense,
because it is very clear that they want to get
him the ball, certainly on the ground, but his all
purpose yards they are up there at the end of
every year, and it's been true the first two weeks.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Of the season.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
You want to not so fun stat jen.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
I don't usually like those, but sure.
Speaker 5 (17:51):
Three career games against the Seahawks, Alan Kamara is averaging
one hundred and seventy eight scrimmage yards per game, most
recently a big game in twenty twenty two down in
North owns. That's the third most by a player against
a single opponent minimum of three games played in NFL history.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
I'm sorry, in the Super Bowl era.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Way to bring down the vibe.
Speaker 5 (18:11):
Yeah, so you know that's if you're looking for where
to start when it comes to defending the Saints. Let's
work on Alvin Kamara because he has had a good
time playing against the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Yes, well, if we take a look at what he
did last week, twenty one carries ninety nine yards, Like,
ninety nine yards rushing is pretty good. It took twenty
one carries to get there, John, I do actually kind
of like that number in that ratio.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
He caught all six balls that.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Were throwing his direction for twenty one yards, but his
longest run was fifteen yards.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Like, I get it.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
But the entire offense has run through him at the moment,
it looks like kind of like the Seahawks week one,
they're looking for that other counter to him.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
I mean, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
I feel pretty good about the defense knowing what Kamara
it can do and loading up against him.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
I mean we saw, like Christian McCaffrey, great example week one,
he touched the ball a ton so his total yards
are pretty good, but they held them. I think under
four yards carry they held the I know the Niners
is a team or three point four.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Carry, so yes, there is some catch and run for
those running backs though that the defense needs to clean up.
And that is also where Kamara has done a lot.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Of damn maass.
Speaker 5 (19:21):
Yeah, he's just one of those guys that just it's
so hard to tackle. He's not the obvious you know,
Barry Sanders and Juken yead of your shoes, but he's
got just that like subtle, deceptive, almost like slippery running style.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
That slippery sounds good. That is not the word that
Mike McDonald used. You're close. Well that's fine here from Mike.
Speaker 6 (19:40):
Well, yeah, he's been.
Speaker 7 (19:41):
He's been a really good player for a while now
in in our league. He's got a kind of a
smooth speed about him where he has accelerated. It's just
such a smoothness to his running style. Doesn't lack physicality.
It's a smoother change the direction. You know, obviously the contact,
balanced body control, all that type of all that type
of stuff is there. Then him catching the ball to
(20:02):
the backfield has always been a something that you have
to account for with with with with him, and he's
playing at high level right now, so they're doing a
good job.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
You know what nobody has ever used to describe my
running side, don't, John?
Speaker 6 (20:16):
It's smooth?
Speaker 4 (20:16):
Are you more than Matt hasselback draft on ice skate stuff?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
I no, I just feel like, yes, yes, I just
feel like I feel like a bowl running. It doesn't
it doesn't look good. I get there, but it doesn't
look great on that front. Yeah, kamaras smooth.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
Yeah, that's a good way to describe it, better than mine.
I wouldn't say it's better. We're that the guy who
coaches defense for a living is better describing and wasn't
running back than me.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Hey, John, I was not against your description.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
I was just pointing out that you were close but
not quite to what Mike had said. Now, when it
comes to talking about Seattle's offense, and it's funny because
I have not talked to Grey's Abel after a game yet,
I'm kind of waiting because I know, just like we
were talking about at the beginning of this episode, right,
it takes a couple of weeks to get settled in
to figure out what's going on. You really as a rookie,
(21:07):
do not have a good point of reference until you
get to week three or four, or maybe until you
face the same opponent twice, right, because then you've got
a kind of a catalog and.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
You know what to expect.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
I don't know that that is the case for Grey's abel.
It feels like he has been playing for forever. Certainly
sounds like it the way coach describes it.
Speaker 6 (21:30):
Yeah, I'd to say Gray's is steady. He's just which
is what we need.
Speaker 7 (21:34):
We need a tough, steadying force and the inside of
our offensive line, and I think his chemistry with Charles
and Jalen and oulu.
Speaker 6 (21:41):
Is is really cool.
Speaker 7 (21:42):
That's what we need our offensive line, And even being
a rookie, he's a driving force behind their chemistry and
doesn't feel like he's a rookie. I guess it's probably
my biggest compiment i'd give him.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
I mean, nobody's gonna be perfect playing on the offensive line,
especially a rookie. But he has been so good these
first couple of weeks for a guy just being plugged
in THEREFL experience, which again he's making the leap from
North Dakota State. Great program, but not quite the same
level competition that what he's seen in the NFL, and
he's more than held his own. I mean, he's looking
like a very very good player on that left side
(22:12):
of Charles cross You go back and look at the
numbers Ken Walker did. I think it was like eighty
plus ninety yards of his one hundred and five yards
running left, And part of that was, Hey, TJ.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
Watt over there, he's pretty good.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
Let's run that way, which seems very basic, but it
worked because TJ. Watt almost always lined up on the
Seahawks right side the Steelers left and they ran away
from him. But man, those two Charles crossing Gray's able.
If you watch someone's long runs, they're way downfield running
guys over.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Yeah, it was really fun and I think perhaps most
telling from my side of things.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
On the radio broadcast, we haven't called his name at all.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
No, and you never look down and be like, ah,
he got knocked on his wallet, like it truly is impressive. Yeah,
Like the being unnoticed on the offensive line is exactly exactly.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Yeah, that is exactly like an umpire in baseball. You
don't want to he talked about.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
That's right, or an official in football. We shouldn't be
talking about them either. Long snappers long step. That might
be my favorite.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
If you ever talking about long Snapper, it ain't good.
You're never like, damn, he snapped that ball right on
the money.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
It's true.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
When was the last time you talked about long snapper unless.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
It was like, Uh, I'm gonna talk to Crystal about
this because he might take offense to it, and.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Maybe you shouldn't because you know what, I don't think
i've written about Crystal in three years because he's damn good.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
At his job.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Well, you make a point. Steve does say the hold,
the snap, snaps, the hold, the kick, I.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Mean he gets maybe we can get an work and Stole.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
I'll see what Steve can do on that front.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
I feel like I'm getting something.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
I'm going to bring you right back because the only
thing we need are two things to have a Seahawks
win on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Well, we just talked about Alam Kamara whole bunch and
he's been the focal point of their offense. So I
want youwer than one hundred scrimmage yards. He's going to
get some.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
I don't think you're gonna.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Show a hundred scrimmages Okay, yes, that would be impressive.
Speaker 5 (24:11):
I call it, you know, fifty sixty on the ground,
few in the air, and we'll call that good. And
then I want to see these interceptions keep happening, not
necessarily because the interception it self is a play, but
it's showing you. Mike always talks about the pass rush
and the coverage working together.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
Two interceptions a game.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
Got a young quarterback coming in, Let's get him a
little rattle and make that big play.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Spencer rat Y, you didn't even know how good he was.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Maybe, Okay, I have two that go that are totally
different than yours, which is always a good thing.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
I went to all Seahawks defense, So I would.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Like the Seahawks to once again score on their opening drive.
The Saints, meanwhile, have not put up points in the
first quarter of either of their games. So that puts
you in a really good position if you can maintain
that trend on the Saint side of things, but also
kind of build that momentum opening drive on offense. And
this one is also it's well within your ability. Just
(25:13):
don't commit the penalty. Seattle has done a really good
job of that. The Saints, however, have struggled, so thirteen
penalties week one. They cut it in half last week
with seven. They've also had a couple of miss field goals.
They put the ball on the ground. They have found
all sorts of different ways to make life difficult on themselves.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
Don't do that for Seattle this week. Make them frustrated.
Just do what you're doing. No penalties, no drops plan game.
Speaker 5 (25:39):
Indeed, I forgot, we forgot some important joan we should
I did, we did collectively wet. I give a little
shout out to our friends in Prosser, Washington, Oh, home
of yes coach.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
Yes, nice little local kid story.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
So yes it is. I was so focused on Seattle.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
Yes, who you know, I'm old enough to have covered
Kellen Moore.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
I was gonna say, I remember him and high schooled
him a couple of times at Boise.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Yeah, yeah, it's a head coach.
Speaker 4 (26:10):
He unseated Mike McDonald.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
From the youngest. That's true. And while I wish all
the best to Kellen Moore throughout.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
The season, help his family has a horrible drive.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Home, his family to be celebrating on the way home.
But all the other weeks of the year, we're right
there with him. All right, John's been a downer this
entire time, b'ges. I'm gonna call it. I'm calling it.
That is it.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
That is all we have for you on this episode
of the Seahawks Insiders podcast.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
We'll see you next week.
You're listening to the Seahawks Insiders getting you ready for
Seahawks Football every Sunday, presented by Delta, the official airline
of the Seahawks. Now here's your host, Jen Mueller.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Heading into week three, the Seahawks have even their record
at one and one, John, There's plenty to talk about
from this one.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
But I guess the question that I have, and I
think I'm.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Going to have this question for another couple of weeks,
what did we actually learn from week two in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
I think we learned what we got a glimpse of
in week one.
Speaker 5 (00:33):
Is that this defense is legit, and the defensive front
is outstanding, Like those dudes are playing really well up front.
And I think offensively, we saw the offense start to
look like what we hope and expected to be. They
were running the ball better, they're distributing the ball, moving
the quarterback more under center, just a lot more what
we thought Kubiak's offense was going to be than maybe
(00:55):
what was on display in week one.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
How much of that do you think was just getting
that extra week in there and you kind of fit
the pieces in. Everybody feels a little bit more confident
versus what we actually saw on the Steelers.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
Yeah, you know, I think look from it's a small
sample size, but I think the two weeks in, it's
probably safe to say the forty nine Ers are a
better defense than Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Some of that too. You know, it can just be
how you game plan for a specific opponent.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
There might have been something the way San Francisco's front plays,
different things they saw that just they didn't like some
of the looks that they were getting that they did
like in Pittsburgh. So everything's so new this time of year,
like stuff changes so much week to week.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
It's hard to make any big statements.
Speaker 5 (01:32):
But yeah, just again, it just looked like when we
talked about what we saw in training camp and they're
one drive in the preseason, the things they were doing,
it just looked more like that to me.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, I feel pretty good about it, right, and you
are seeing enough of the flashes and they scored on
the opening drive.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, that was the first time in a while, first.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Time they had gotten a touchdown on the opening drive
since twenty twenty three. That means it was the first
time underhead coach Mike McDonald. I totally had blocks from
my mind that it had been that long after the like,
oh yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
I like that.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
It's kind of like, oh, this is it's much more
fun to play with an early lead makes a huge
difference on that front.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
You know what else strikes me as I keep seeing
headlines that are coming out of the NFL how many
injuries there are around the league, and I know that
we have had a few injuries, but the number of
quarterbacks that have been hurt, the number of significant injuries,
like this is a knock on wood, cross your fingers
every single week.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
Yeah, I mean it's it's a tough sport, but yeah,
sometimes some years some chunks. This season, it just feels
like it's worse. And then you see when it's quarterbacks
that really stands out. When you have a guy like
Joll Burrow getting hurt and it's it's tough to see.
And that's it is why I mean so often we
hear teams talk about their depth and about the importance
of that, like that's unfortunately a lot of times how
(02:46):
teams fates are decided is like how how well your
guys step up when they're called upon.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah, so it's Burrow, it's Jade Daniels. It's pretty although
Party might be back this week. I think McCarthy's dealing
with something. I mean, around the league, it has truly
been remark so Sam Darnold has stayed healthy. And when
you talk about the depth of the team, really what
Seattle's looking at right now is depth in the secondary.
Because Devin Witherspoon was not able to play against Pittsburgh,
(03:12):
Nick imm and Worri still not ready to go, although
not on IR so that's a really good side.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
But yeah, you need those guys back there.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
And you also know that you need more than fifty
three for the entire year.
Speaker 6 (03:25):
You know, we talk about the seventy's.
Speaker 7 (03:27):
That's a critical part of our team, and I think
was a is going to be something that we're going
to be leaning on to have success over the course
the year. Whether it's our DB's or whatever position. There's
gonna be times where positions low on guys and we're
going to be dependent on those guys to step up
and go play. And they did that last week and
that's great, But every week we're going to be dealing
with that sort of things.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
That's the nature of our business.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
That's a term we've heard Mike McDonald and John channathrow
around a lot of this idea of a seventy man
or roster, and you know the rules that changed during
COVID to elevate players really kind of change again, like
teams can get these guys on the field and a
the teams like it because it just makes feel deeper,
but it's also it's good for the players, like it
makes these practice squad guys or I'm sorry, ready squad
(04:10):
as Mike likes to call it, It makes him feel
much more like they're a part of the team. And
it's we've seen it really pay off both for the
team and for players. You go back to the last season,
Josh job was a practice squad guy to start the year.
Now he's one of their top three corners who's playing
starter snaps every week because he earned it and you
want out prove himself. Cody White's kind of this guy
who's been back and forth, and in the past he
(04:30):
would have been a guy that hangs on the practice
squad and you don't really think about him, but he's
out contributing on game day. And it also allows you
to kind of slop guys back and forth, like we've
seen Shaquille Griffin, Cody White, back and forth kind of
reward more guys get him on the roster. So yeah,
it's it is important because those guys you're going to,
I mean, not all seventeen of them, but quite a
few guys on the.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Practice squad are going to be asked to help out
this season.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Yeah, a couple of things on this.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
So John Schneider actually talked to us during our production
meeting during the preseason, and he is the one that
introduced that term ready squad. And it was funny because
Mike McDonald was like, I quite honestly don't even remember
the origin story of that, but when John was talking
about it, it was in terms of so it was
heading into that third preseason game and he said, look,
I know everybody is looking at roster cutdown date as
(05:15):
fifty three. What we have told the coaches and the
entire scouting department knows this, right, I need you to
think about November and December. I don't need you to
think about week one and week two. We've got that cover.
This is about thinking long term. So look at the schedule,
you know, look at who you're gonna need. Just kind
of try to make the best projections. You cannot predict
(05:37):
all injuries, I know this, right, but try to make
your best projections. If we're going to project into the future,
then those seventy guys are expected to play. So let's
not treat them to your point as if they are
not going to play, you are not practicing to play.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
You are ready to play.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
And I think we heard Leo Williams this week talk
about and we heard Mike too, right, next man up
mentality is a really nice thing to say.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Everybody says it. Yeah, it really.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Comes down to the mentorship that you want to give
the guys that are right behind you, and that is competition, right,
And it's sometimes challenging because that guy could come and
take your spot.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
And Seattle has done a really good.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Job with the leaders and the leaders kind of reaching
back and helping those guys. To Mike McDonald's point of
I'm not worried about the next guy coming, and I'm
actually pretty excited.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Because we've seen so many good things in.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Practice, right, Like, it's a totally different mindset, but I
wouldn't be surprised if it is changing around the league.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
Yeah, that's something like McDonald brought up last season is like,
I get excited for this, Like not that you're excited
guys get hurt, but like you want to see what
guys do with their opportunities.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
And Kobe Bryant's another one.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
He wasn't on the practice squad, but he was a
guy who was kind of stuck in a backup role
doing thing on special teams and impressing coaches in practice,
and then he got his chance and he sees it.
And there's multiple guys playing big role on this team
who were not starters a year ago, but they earned it.
So it's good to see another little subplot of that
that I really like that both Mike and Peter's reference
when you're setting that fifty three, because you look at
(07:10):
a seventy, you're not necessarily making decisions on these are
our top fifty three.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
It's who's going to get claimed if we release there.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
They were both kind of honest about that when they're
asked about the undrafted rookies who made the team, like, hey,
they did a great job, but also we're looking at,
you know, who's going to get claimed. Who's not like
you release a veteran guy, you can sign him right back.
He's not subject to waiver, so kind of a fun
little like game. Teams all play of who we want
to protect and who do you think we can get
to the practice yep.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Which is why there was a couple of those on
cutdown day where you're like, how did this guy.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Make the right Like Nick Caller up, we didn't talk about.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Him at all during the preseason, by the way, that
was on purpose. Yeah, yeah, and yet you know he's
there and people are trying to figure out why for
that exactly.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Or last year, I think they kept eleven linemen to
start the season, say.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
They loved the offensive line are.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
Hard to like.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Teams always need offensive lineman, so if you have a
young lineman, you like you kind of want to protect
that guy. So again, the new practice squad rules really
kind of change the game of how you structure that roster.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
I also cannot help but notice that there's a lot
of people in the building that have ready Squad t shirts. No,
you haven't given one to us, I don't. Did we
not make the cut on that?
Speaker 4 (08:16):
Not even on the ready squad. We're we're on the
talking about it squad?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Can I please get it?
Speaker 7 (08:22):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Says talking about it squad? Oh if somebody could make
that happen. That would certainly make my day. Byron Murphy
made a lot of people's days, including his own against Pittsburgh.
And look, we have talked about him for a while.
People have wanted the proof, which is the numbers, and.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
I totally get it.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
It's not that he just started to be disruptive, but
it certainly showed up on a different way.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Sunday.
Speaker 7 (08:48):
I feel like I've answered it Byron's questions pretty consistently
over the last year because I feel like he's played
at that level, So I think it's more of a
functioning just I'm happy that now that, like the numbers
are there, I guess, but the tape tells a similar
story of how well he's playing. But production does matter, obviously,
I mean, especially individually, So I'm happy that that he
was able to get the production he got.
Speaker 5 (09:10):
On Sunday, I loved when Jarreuied was asked about it
after the game and just kind of he kind of
pause and looks everybody.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
He's like, look, I'm not surprised at all, that's what
he said.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
And he's like, because he's been talking, he might be
a little bit of hyperbole, but going back to training camp.
He said, Byron Murphy's a you know, defensive player of
the year type player, where it's like the guys who
have put in the work with him and watched him
in practice and even how he played last season. Again
the stats from there, but a lot of that was
just what they asked him to do. He was that
guy playing nose tackle, taking on guards and centers, eating
(09:38):
up blocks to help free up as teammates. And so
everybody who's been around him, watched him work, just understands
the talent he is. Feels like it's a matter of
time till these breakout games happened, and we saw one,
and I think the numbers are going to be a
lot different this year by the time the dust settles.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Well, how about Leo saying, look, the only thing I
can help him with is how to read past rush.
He goes he can take on a double team better
than I can't. He is the best you know run
stuffer that I've been around, Like there's nothing there. But
I also thought it was interesting because I did talk
to Byron Murphy after the game and his smile when
I asked about just getting to Aaron Rodgers. First of all,
(10:17):
he had a lot of blinks, so it was very shiny,
very very shiny, and.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
He just had the biggest smile in the entire world.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Like it means a lot to him, but also the
pressure that you can put on yourself. Again Leo's comments
this week, if you don't get the big splash plays, yeah,
you're still doing your job.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Everybody wants the stats.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
Look, it's human nature. You know, you put in the work,
you want the reward for it. So it's good for
him to show up and you know, make some splashy
plays and have people talking about him after a game
and teammates and coaches loving him up.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
It's great to see. And I think, you know, he's
not gonna.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Get a second half every week, be great if he did,
but I think we're gonna see a lot more productive
season just as he matures. He talked about, you know,
he's seeing the game different stretch stuff, he's learning how
to do this even better.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
And he was good at a rookie. But he's having
a good year.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
All right.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Well, let's look at what that matchup is this week
against the Saints, because the other part of the storyline
is Byron Murphy had three quarterback hits on Aaron Rodgers.
Derek Hall had three quarterback hits nine total on Rogers.
They did not need to blitz to get there four total.
I think I think it was four total. Now as
I'm looking at Spencer Rattler starting quarterback for the Saints,
(11:30):
just in case people are not familiar with that name,
because it just I don't know.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I love the name. It just trips me up every time.
He was sacked three times last week by the forty
nine Ers.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Also worth noting that Fred Warner was Defensive Player of
the Week after playing the Saints. But I was really
surprised he's only been sacked four times this year, and
that at the top of the list you've got guys
like Aaron Rodgers, Cam wore Gino's.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Up there, Ross's up there.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
I was a little bit surprised apparently that that offensive
line is more stout than I thought.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
Yeah, I mean, they've invested a lot into that line,
a lot of high picks in recent years. They unfortunately
are a little banged up right now. They're missing some guys.
But and I think Rattler is also from what I've
seen and what I've heard talking to people, they're like,
he's done a pretty good job getting the ball out,
not not holding it and taking those sacks. And you
know that would kind of stand to reason with what
we've seen out of Kellen Moore over his career as
a play caller, Like he's not a guy that's gonna
(12:26):
He's been quarterback and he's been in a high octane,
fast passing offense his whole life, So I think he
understands the value of helping the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Out that way.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Well.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
And if you look at it, and I heard Charles Davis,
who is on the TV call this week, described it
this way, that offense functions as if it's going station
to station in baseball, and the number certainly bear that out.
So after two games, they are averaging four point seven
yards of pass and four point four yards per rush. Now,
I know the defense would like to allow fewer than
(12:54):
that this week. I'm sure that's going to be a goal,
But how does that affect what you're doing. If you're
really just going for those those short plays, right, you're
probably not going to be lining up to take a
whole bunch of deep shots down field.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
Yeah, defense gets a little limited.
Speaker 5 (13:09):
Yeah, I mean, but that's Yeah, it's one of those where, Okay,
so the defense you counter, you're gonna be able to
put more guys in the box to stop that. You're
going to get more aggressive attacking those short routes, and
then it's an offense counter and have a counter punch
to that to try to throw it over you.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
We'll see this Gallo secondary has played very well.
Speaker 5 (13:25):
But yeah, it's you know, it's a fun, fun, different
challenge each week. I'm I'm pretty excited about what our
defense could show.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Though I am also surprised when I look at the numbers.
It's pretty even. Like you look across the board offensive numbers,
defensive numbers, you would be hard pressed to tell who
was one on one and who was zero and two.
And by the way, those Saints games have been decided
by a combined twelve points. They have been within striking
distance their fight. Yep, they are a feisty team. But
(13:52):
you might get even more this week out of Uchennanuosu
sixteen snaps last week.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Yeah, definitely on a pitch count.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
Yeah, I mean it's kind of a preseason for him.
He missed a lot of time with that knee surgery
and didn't you know, he wasn't on the field for
most of training camp, So this was never about like, hey,
we're gonna throw him in there. And it's good that
you have a deep edge rotation right now where you've
got you know, three guys and Boy and Mafe, Derek
Hall and DeMarcus Lawrence eating up most of snaps. You
can kind of ease Chinna in and build him up
(14:19):
to full strength and then you add another great player
when he's.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
Ready to go.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Well, they do anticipate him playing a larger role as
the season goes on, which, to John's point, helps an
already deep pass rush group.
Speaker 7 (14:30):
Well, it's just great Tom back. He's gonna, he's gonna continually.
It's not easy to step in in your first NFL
experience and go and play and play a game, and
but it's a great first step.
Speaker 6 (14:40):
It's a great foundation. I think he gained confidence.
Speaker 7 (14:44):
He's were in a position now where I think you
can see some sort of increase to some sort of
degree over the next x amount of time.
Speaker 6 (14:50):
I mean, we're not going to just stick at that
play level as long as he's feeling well.
Speaker 7 (14:54):
So but and also let's you know, have a little
bit more rotation at the edge position, So it's kind
of good for him, good for everybody.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
I wonder what part of the presentation he takes on Saturdays.
John another revelation that we had this week that the
defensive line meets together and has presentations. And I really
wanted to ask if power points are involved, because I
hate power points and it would kind of make me
laugh if NFL players have to make power points. I'm
just assuming that they do really interesting though, because when
(15:24):
you have a group of pass rushers that is as
proficiently potentially proficient, That's what I was going to say,
it's a lot of peace.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
That was a that was a poor choice of words
on my part.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
You really do have to have a plan in place,
and because Mike McDonald is calling the defense, and because
you were trying to read the offense, sometimes it is
going down to the very last second, and so the
presentation is to help them get their rush plans in place.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
Yeah, I think what had leader describe it like, You'll
have the Byron presents on the opposing center or guard,
and they each take different positions on that line sort
of say hey, here's how he passed that, here's how
it's it's really fascinating cause you think you just if
you're casually wash like okay, they block you, go around
and whatever you try to go through. But there's so
much little nuance to pass rushing. Which I'm getting off topic,
but I think that is why a lot of times
(16:13):
we see defensive linemen develop later than some positions. Like
there are rookies who do thrive, but a lot of
these guys like Iron Murphy, like Jaringry to place their
best football into their thirties because there's just so much
subtle nuance and what they do well.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
And Derek Hall said this year in training camp, this
is going to be way more fun because I understand
exactly what's going on now. I will tell you that
most of the conversations on the sideline during the game
is all about their rush plan. It's which laner you in,
which mover are you using, And there's quite a bit
of adjustment in game once they actually figure out how
(16:46):
that is being played. But that is mostly what those
guys are talking about. We have been talking long enough,
how but if we pause and get a word from
our presenting sponsor.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Statistically, the world is losing color.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Just consider all white kitchens, baby nurseries, a sea of
gray cars. But in the hundreds of destinations Delta flies to,
you can rediscover color in the bright blue waters of Hawaii,
the emerald green hills of Scotland, the very pink cherry
blossoms of Tokyo, and so much more. Sometimes opening your
world is all it takes to open your mind, which
(17:19):
is why when you fly Delta, your potential takes off
when you do. Delta Official Airline of the Seattle Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Before we highlight the Seahawks offense and one of the
new players in particular, let's not forget to talk about
Alvin Kamara and what he does for that Saints offense,
because it is very clear that they want to get
him the ball, certainly on the ground, but his all
purpose yards they are up there at the end of
every year, and it's been true the first two weeks.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Of the season.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
You want to not so fun stat jen.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
I don't usually like those, but sure.
Speaker 5 (17:51):
Three career games against the Seahawks, Alan Kamara is averaging
one hundred and seventy eight scrimmage yards per game, most
recently a big game in twenty twenty two down in
North owns. That's the third most by a player against
a single opponent minimum of three games played in NFL history.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
I'm sorry, in the Super Bowl era.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Way to bring down the vibe.
Speaker 5 (18:11):
Yeah, so you know that's if you're looking for where
to start when it comes to defending the Saints. Let's
work on Alvin Kamara because he has had a good
time playing against the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Yes, well, if we take a look at what he
did last week, twenty one carries ninety nine yards, Like,
ninety nine yards rushing is pretty good. It took twenty
one carries to get there, John, I do actually kind
of like that number in that ratio.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
He caught all six balls that.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Were throwing his direction for twenty one yards, but his
longest run was fifteen yards.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Like, I get it.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
But the entire offense has run through him at the moment,
it looks like kind of like the Seahawks week one,
they're looking for that other counter to him.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
I mean, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
I feel pretty good about the defense knowing what Kamara
it can do and loading up against him.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
I mean we saw, like Christian McCaffrey, great example week one,
he touched the ball a ton so his total yards
are pretty good, but they held them. I think under
four yards carry they held the I know the Niners
is a team or three point four.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Carry, so yes, there is some catch and run for
those running backs though that the defense needs to clean up.
And that is also where Kamara has done a lot.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Of damn maass.
Speaker 5 (19:21):
Yeah, he's just one of those guys that just it's
so hard to tackle. He's not the obvious you know,
Barry Sanders and Juken yead of your shoes, but he's
got just that like subtle, deceptive, almost like slippery running style.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
That slippery sounds good. That is not the word that
Mike McDonald used. You're close. Well that's fine here from Mike.
Speaker 6 (19:40):
Well, yeah, he's been.
Speaker 7 (19:41):
He's been a really good player for a while now
in in our league. He's got a kind of a
smooth speed about him where he has accelerated. It's just
such a smoothness to his running style. Doesn't lack physicality.
It's a smoother change the direction. You know, obviously the contact,
balanced body control, all that type of all that type
of stuff is there. Then him catching the ball to
(20:02):
the backfield has always been a something that you have
to account for with with with with him, and he's
playing at high level right now, so they're doing a
good job.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
You know what nobody has ever used to describe my
running side, don't, John?
Speaker 6 (20:16):
It's smooth?
Speaker 4 (20:16):
Are you more than Matt hasselback draft on ice skate stuff?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
I no, I just feel like, yes, yes, I just
feel like I feel like a bowl running. It doesn't
it doesn't look good. I get there, but it doesn't
look great on that front. Yeah, kamaras smooth.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
Yeah, that's a good way to describe it, better than mine.
I wouldn't say it's better. We're that the guy who
coaches defense for a living is better describing and wasn't
running back than me.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Hey, John, I was not against your description.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
I was just pointing out that you were close but
not quite to what Mike had said. Now, when it
comes to talking about Seattle's offense, and it's funny because
I have not talked to Grey's Abel after a game yet,
I'm kind of waiting because I know, just like we
were talking about at the beginning of this episode, right,
it takes a couple of weeks to get settled in
to figure out what's going on. You really as a rookie,
(21:07):
do not have a good point of reference until you
get to week three or four, or maybe until you
face the same opponent twice, right, because then you've got
a kind of a catalog and.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
You know what to expect.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
I don't know that that is the case for Grey's abel.
It feels like he has been playing for forever. Certainly
sounds like it the way coach describes it.
Speaker 6 (21:30):
Yeah, I'd to say Gray's is steady. He's just which
is what we need.
Speaker 7 (21:34):
We need a tough, steadying force and the inside of
our offensive line, and I think his chemistry with Charles
and Jalen and oulu.
Speaker 6 (21:41):
Is is really cool.
Speaker 7 (21:42):
That's what we need our offensive line, And even being
a rookie, he's a driving force behind their chemistry and
doesn't feel like he's a rookie. I guess it's probably
my biggest compiment i'd give him.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
I mean, nobody's gonna be perfect playing on the offensive line,
especially a rookie. But he has been so good these
first couple of weeks for a guy just being plugged
in THEREFL experience, which again he's making the leap from
North Dakota State. Great program, but not quite the same
level competition that what he's seen in the NFL, and
he's more than held his own. I mean, he's looking
like a very very good player on that left side
(22:12):
of Charles cross You go back and look at the
numbers Ken Walker did. I think it was like eighty
plus ninety yards of his one hundred and five yards
running left, And part of that was, Hey, TJ.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
Watt over there, he's pretty good.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
Let's run that way, which seems very basic, but it
worked because TJ. Watt almost always lined up on the
Seahawks right side the Steelers left and they ran away
from him. But man, those two Charles crossing Gray's able.
If you watch someone's long runs, they're way downfield running
guys over.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Yeah, it was really fun and I think perhaps most
telling from my side of things.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
On the radio broadcast, we haven't called his name at all.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
No, and you never look down and be like, ah,
he got knocked on his wallet, like it truly is impressive. Yeah,
Like the being unnoticed on the offensive line is exactly exactly.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Yeah, that is exactly like an umpire in baseball. You
don't want to he talked about.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
That's right, or an official in football. We shouldn't be
talking about them either. Long snappers long step. That might
be my favorite.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
If you ever talking about long Snapper, it ain't good.
You're never like, damn, he snapped that ball right on
the money.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
It's true.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
When was the last time you talked about long snapper unless.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
It was like, Uh, I'm gonna talk to Crystal about
this because he might take offense to it, and.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Maybe you shouldn't because you know what, I don't think
i've written about Crystal in three years because he's damn good.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
At his job.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Well, you make a point. Steve does say the hold,
the snap, snaps, the hold, the kick, I.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Mean he gets maybe we can get an work and Stole.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
I'll see what Steve can do on that front.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
I feel like I'm getting something.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
I'm going to bring you right back because the only
thing we need are two things to have a Seahawks
win on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Well, we just talked about Alam Kamara whole bunch and
he's been the focal point of their offense. So I
want youwer than one hundred scrimmage yards. He's going to
get some.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
I don't think you're gonna.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Show a hundred scrimmages Okay, yes, that would be impressive.
Speaker 5 (24:11):
I call it, you know, fifty sixty on the ground,
few in the air, and we'll call that good. And
then I want to see these interceptions keep happening, not
necessarily because the interception it self is a play, but
it's showing you. Mike always talks about the pass rush
and the coverage working together.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
Two interceptions a game.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
Got a young quarterback coming in, Let's get him a
little rattle and make that big play.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Spencer rat Y, you didn't even know how good he was.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Maybe, Okay, I have two that go that are totally
different than yours, which is always a good thing.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
I went to all Seahawks defense, So I would.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Like the Seahawks to once again score on their opening drive.
The Saints, meanwhile, have not put up points in the
first quarter of either of their games. So that puts
you in a really good position if you can maintain
that trend on the Saint side of things, but also
kind of build that momentum opening drive on offense. And
this one is also it's well within your ability. Just
(25:13):
don't commit the penalty. Seattle has done a really good
job of that. The Saints, however, have struggled, so thirteen
penalties week one. They cut it in half last week
with seven. They've also had a couple of miss field goals.
They put the ball on the ground. They have found
all sorts of different ways to make life difficult on themselves.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
Don't do that for Seattle this week. Make them frustrated.
Just do what you're doing. No penalties, no drops plan game.
Speaker 5 (25:39):
Indeed, I forgot, we forgot some important joan we should
I did, we did collectively wet. I give a little
shout out to our friends in Prosser, Washington, Oh, home
of yes coach.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
Yes, nice little local kid story.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
So yes it is. I was so focused on Seattle.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
Yes, who you know, I'm old enough to have covered
Kellen Moore.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
I was gonna say, I remember him and high schooled
him a couple of times at Boise.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Yeah, yeah, it's a head coach.
Speaker 4 (26:10):
He unseated Mike McDonald.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
From the youngest. That's true. And while I wish all
the best to Kellen Moore throughout.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
The season, help his family has a horrible drive.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Home, his family to be celebrating on the way home.
But all the other weeks of the year, we're right
there with him. All right, John's been a downer this
entire time, b'ges. I'm gonna call it. I'm calling it.
That is it.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
That is all we have for you on this episode
of the Seahawks Insiders podcast.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
We'll see you next week.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.