Seahawks vs. Lions: Time To Fix Seattle Defense

Instead of a dominating performance over an L.A. Rams team that is supposed to be in a mini-rebuild mode, the Seattle Seahawks walked off the field with heads hung low after a 30-13 home defeat.

The Seattle Seahawks came into the season opener on Sunday with high expectations. After an impressive 2022 and an offseason of improvements, the first matchup of the new year was supposed to go very differently. Instead of a dominating performance over a Rams team that is supposed to be in a mini-rebuild mode and that's been riddled with injuries, Seattle walked off the field with heads hung low after a 30-13 home defeat.

Of course, it's only one game, and the playoffs don't start tomorrow, but the start of the season is alarming for sure. The defense allowed 334 total yards and 30 points, while the offense gained just 12 yards in the second half. What went wrong?

Seahawks Radio Network host Michael Bumpus indicated he saw moments of confusion. "We’re looking at this (defense) and we go, ‘There are some simple things that just aren’t being figured out,’” he said during Monday’s Bump and Stacy on Seattle Sports. “Like when (the Rams) go in a bunch formation — a bunch formation is when you have a receiver at the point, one receiver to the right, one by one, we’re talking about the yards and separation, one by one to the other side — and we’re like, OK, you press the point. One defensive back gets wide, and then the outside linebacker keeps his eyes inside, you look for the switch. We’re looking at that and we all go, ‘Dang, they’re confused.’

© Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY

“So there’s two ways you can look at it: Either they’re not being coached up or they’re not taking the coaching, because that’s simple football. And we know the minds on that (defensive staff). There’s no way they told them to play that situation like that. There’s some growing that needs to happen.”

The Rams converted 11 of 17 third down conversion attempts. That's particularly alarming to coach Pete Carroll since third down situations were a point of focus in the offseason.

There are questions on offense too, but the Seahawks have time to re-focus and address both sides of the ball. There are still 16 games left to play and the NFC West title is wide open. The question is, was last season an aberration? Or can Carroll & Co. right the ship?