On 89.2% of the 1058 official plays the Seahawks defense logged in 2008, they were in either a Base (4-3), Nickel (4-2-5) or Dime (4-1-6) package. On obvious passing downs, the Seahawks would bring in a 6th or 7th defensive back (7th DB was always Kevin Hobbs).
In short-yardage and goal-line situations, Seattle would employ a 5-3-3 package with 6-2, 295-pound Craig Terrill as nose tackle.
Group |
Pass |
Run |
Total |
Pass % |
Run % |
Base (4-3) |
237 |
330 |
567 |
41.8% |
58.2% |
Nickel (4-2) |
143 |
71 |
214 |
66.8% |
33.2% |
Dime (4-1) |
143 |
20 |
163 |
87.7% |
12.3% |
3*2*6 |
41 |
8 |
49 |
83.7% |
16.3% |
3*1*7 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
80.0% |
20.0% |
3*3*5 |
24 |
2 |
26 |
92.3% |
7.7% |
5*3*3 |
6 |
24 |
30 |
20.0% |
80.0% |
3*2*5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100.0% |
0.0% |
2*2*6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100.0% |
0.0% |
2*3*5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0.0% |
100.0% |
Total |
601* |
457 |
1058 |
56.8% |
43.2% |
*-Includes pass play on fake field-goal vs. Buffalo
Yes, on a few occasions, the Seahawks had only ten players on the field.
The 2-3-5 play came at home against Arizona. The Seahawks were missing a defensive end and gave up a 12-yard run on the play.
Both the 3-2-5 and 2-2-6 plays came at home against New England. A defensive end was missing on the 2-2-6 play, and the Seahawks gave up a 25-yard pass on a WR screen to Wes Welker that set-up a touchdown and two-point conversion. A cornerback was missing on the 3-2-5 play, but Josh Wilson and Brian Russell combined to hold Kevin Faulk for no gain on a short pass play.
Defensive Participation Report
Here’s a look at the total number of each plays each Seattle Seahawks defensive player was involved in, along with the percentage of the team’s total defensive plays that represents.
Player |
Total |
Poss. |
Poss. % |
25-B.Russell |
1057 |
1058 |
99.9% |
24-D.Grant |
1048 |
1058 |
99.1% |
98-J.Peterson |
1032 |
1058 |
97.5% |
23-M.Trufant |
1017 |
1058 |
96.1% |
51-L.Tatupu |
866 |
1058 |
81.9% |
26-J.Wilson |
842 |
1058 |
79.6% |
55-D.Tapp |
686 |
1058 |
64.8% |
56-L.Hill |
638 |
1058 |
60.3% |
95-L.Jackson |
627 |
1058 |
59.3% |
99-R.Bernard |
607 |
1058 |
57.4% |
92-B.Mebane |
590 |
1058 |
55.8% |
21-K.Jennings |
519 |
1058 |
49.1% |
93-C.Terrill |
459 |
1058 |
43.4% |
27-J.Babineaux |
370 |
1058 |
35.0% |
97-P.Kerney |
363 |
1058 |
34.3% |
58-D.Lewis |
277 |
1058 |
26.2% |
94-H.Green |
222 |
1058 |
21.0% |
91-B.Atkins |
219 |
1058 |
20.7% |
79-R.Bryant |
73 |
1058 |
6.9% |
54-W.Herring |
64 |
1058 |
6.0% |
32-K.Hobbs |
32 |
1058 |
3.0% |
52-J.Babin |
15 |
1058 |
1.4% |
39-C.Wallace |
1* |
1058 |
0.1% |
90-B.Miller |
1 |
1058 |
0.1% |
36-J.Adams |
0 |
1058 |
0.0% |
50-L.Laury |
0 |
1058 |
0.0% |
59-D.Hawthorne |
0 |
1058 |
0.0% |
*-Play came on the fake field goal vs. Buffalo.
Lawrence Jackson: Defensive End or Defensive Tackle?
During his final press conference as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Mike Holmgren was asked about Lawrence Jackson’s rookie season. His response was that the team needed to evaluate what his best position is and let him play there.
Below is a game-by-game look at where Lawrence Jackson lined up. If the final six weeks are any indication, the Seahawks may have already made that determination.
95-L.Jackson |
DT |
DE |
Total |
at Buffalo |
14 |
22 |
36 |
vs. San Francisco |
21 |
29 |
50 |
vs. St. Louis |
9 |
29 |
38 |
at NY Giants |
11 |
39 |
50 |
vs. Green Bay |
10 |
30 |
40 |
at Tampa Bay |
0 |
29 |
29 |
at San Francisco |
25 |
17 |
42 |
vs. Philadelphia |
12 |
29 |
41 |
at Miami |
11 |
42 |
53 |
vs. Arizona |
16 |
28 |
44 |
vs. Washington |
0 |
40 |
40 |
at Dallas |
0 |
35 |
35 |
vs. New England |
0 |
28 |
28 |
at St. Louis |
0 |
33 |
33 |
vs. NY Jets |
0 |
32 |
32 |
at Arizona |
0 |
35 |
35 |
Total |
129 |
497 |
627 |
The other Seahawks defender who logged considerable playing time at a position other than the one he’s listed for was Julian Peterson.
In nickel and dime packages, Peterson usually rushed the passer from the defensive end spot and four of his five sacks came as a defensive end.
98-J.Peterson |
DE |
LB |
Total |
at Buffalo |
17 |
44 |
61 |
vs. San Francisco |
24 |
38 |
62 |
vs. St. Louis |
16 |
38 |
54 |
at NY Giants |
11 |
51 |
62 |
vs. Green Bay |
15 |
50 |
65 |
at Tampa Bay |
7 |
68 |
75 |
at San Francisco |
38 |
35 |
73 |
vs. Philadelphia |
24 |
48 |
72 |
at Miami |
11 |
54 |
65 |
vs. Arizona |
41 |
29 |
70 |
vs. Washington |
28 |
35 |
63 |
at Dallas |
13 |
44 |
57 |
vs. New England |
21 |
51 |
72 |
at St. Louis |
11 |
53 |
64 |
vs. NY Jets |
8 |
51 |
59 |
at Arizona |
19 |
39 |
58 |
Total |
304 |
728 |
1032 |
Blitz Data
Seattle’s opponents ran 601 pass plays in 2008, and Seattle blitzed (sent more than 4 pass rushers) on 232 (38.6%) of those plays. How did the opposing quarterbacks do against the Seahawks’ blitz?
Rushers |
Comp-Att. |
Yards |
TD-INT-Sack |
Rating |
4 or less |
239-347 (68.9%) |
2538 |
16-5-22 |
99.3 |
5+ |
127-219 (58.0%) |
1806 |
9-4-13 |
90.8 |
6+ |
38-67 |
624 |
2-1-4 |
91.8 |
Brian McIntyre lives in the Boston area. In addition to writing for Seahawks.Net, Brian maintains his own blog (www.macsfootballblog.com) and charts games for Football Outsiders. If you’d like to e-mail Brian, you may do so here.