Tracker Season 1, Episode 13: The one where the Seattle Seahawks defense punks Aaron Rodgers

Opening with a sunny graphic.

That’s the primary time in any current reminiscence in any respect {that a} late-season Seattle Seahawks group has lived within the higher proper (fascinating) quadrant on general protection. It’s lovely, it’s excellent, it’s sudden, and I’m gonna benefit from the hell out of it whereas I nonetheless can.

There are solely ten groups within the prime proper. Objectively, by an necessary measure that features rush and go protection, they’re a prime 10 d.

DVOA displays this actuality like an early summer time morning on Lake Washington, putting them eleventh. It’s too early to say the Seahawks have arrived, however it’s getting late quick.

Too early in fact, as a result of there are problematic issues with the Seahawks offense, and a pox upon the particular groups (spoiler: these will proceed). However should you can, put apart Geno Smith enjoying the a part of the canine in that one gif, and enjoying it properly. The protection is the place all of the enjoyable is, and doesn’t that really feel warmly acquainted?

Subsequent train is a comparability. It’s honest to say Leonard Williams flies beneath the nationwide radar; he’s by no means been an All-Professional, or led the league in something, or gained a hoop.

He has, nevertheless, performed like the very best inside defensive lineman alive for the final two weeks. Six TFL’s, six extra QB hits, and 4.5 sacks? That’s like if Aaron Donald obtained to play the Seahawks two weeks in a row.

I child, however solely to arrange essentially the most unbelievable chart of the season. Proper under, Massive Cat’s stats from the final two weeks are adjoining to the stat strains of six elite d-linemen. Aside from every of them, I tallied their final FOUR weeks of manufacturing. Sure, they get to have twice as many video games. Not that it helped.

Leonard Williams exceeded all six of those superstars in each class throughout the entire board, save for QB hits by Heyward and Jones. He’s been higher than the very best within the recreation in half the time.

Sufficient, we gotta replace the trackers. And tack on another graphic to disbelieve.

Tracker 1

Loads of average-looking league ranks in there, however within the final 4 video games, Seattle is permitting beneath 300 yards on protection (299.8), which might rank third within the league over a full season.

Tracker 2

Gone are all of the single-digit rankings from early within the yr, but in addition gone are any hints that the protection struggles in anybody side. The worst they’re ranked is seventeenth, in YAC, and even that’s trending up from twenty fourth earlier within the yr.

Additionally gone are all of the down arrows. Actually each class is trending regular or up.

And once more, within the final 4 video games, the Seahawks have turned their success price round — it stands at 39.4 since Week 9. That’s additionally third within the league.

Tracker 3

One of many “issues” with Williams flooding the stat sheet not too long ago is that his teammates aren’t in a position so as to add TFLs or sacks on the identical price as earlier within the yr. So these metrics are flat or down from final season. Based mostly on the 3-0 file because the bye, that’s a threat the Seahawks are collectively prepared to stay with.

Parting shot is identical graph we started with, however utilized to the final 4 video games solely. Bear in mind this consists of one matchup in opposition to every divisional rival.

We’ve seen three straight dominant wins earlier than from this group, this season even. Nevertheless it’s one factor to beat up on a rookie taking his maiden voyage beneath middle and a pair backup quarterbacks. Fairly one other to witness the Seahawks pull off the identical form of efficiency in opposition to Matt Stafford, Brock Purdy and Kyler Murray. Little bit extra related, little bit extra significant, lot bit extra thrilling.