Field Gulls
The Seattle Seahawks defense has been nothing short of dominant in their last two games, allowing a total of nine points across eight quarters.
Each part played lights out in tandem with one another, but it was the secondary that shined in their throttling of the Atlanta Falcons. Rookie safety Nick Emmanwori was key to the group’s success, finally turning a corner and taking over a game with his elite athleticism that made the Seahawks trade up to select him.
The day started a little slow for Emmanwori, as it did for the entire Seattle team, with him not making an impact in the first quarter, but he didn’t wait long to introduce himself to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. After a tipped Sam Darnold interception gave the Falcons a free field goal attempt, Emmanwori used his burst to get off the edge and get his hand on the kick to keep the game tied at 3-3.
While his day hit a brief speed bump, allowing a few downfield completions to Atlanta’s tight end Kyle Pitts, and leaving the game with an injury, the former South Carolina Gamecock was not deterred. The rookie slammed down Tyler Allgeier for his first of two tackles for loss.
Emmanwori followed that up two plays after returning to the game from injury, by snagging his first career interception off a pass that went through Pitts’ hands and nearly through his own.
Emmanwori closed out his Rookie of the Year statement with a crushing sack of Falcons’ quarterback Kirk Cousins, who stood no chance of fighting off the blitzing safety at full speed.
He ended the day totaling six tackles with two for loss, one sack, one PBU, a blocked and his first interception, pure domination in his ninth career game.
The performance was enough to earn him the praise of his teammates, who all spoke highly of the rookie in their post-game press conferences. Seahawks’ star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba said he’s been picking on Emmanwori in practice, but that he sees a bright future ahead for the rookie.
“I told him he can be a legend, Mike [Macdonald] has been having him in a great spot to play fast,” Smith-Njigba said. “I’m on him until probably next year, then I’ll probably still be talking smack to next year, but that’s the guy I kind of pick on and talk smack to on defense.”
Fellow rising star cornerback Devon Witherspoon said there is nothing Emmanwori can’t do. During his time at the podium, still in uniform, Emmanwori said the Seahawks’ defense is one of the best he’s ever been on.
“We got a lot of special dudes on this team,” Emmanwori said. “From the first level, the defensive line to the linebackers to the secondary, I think this defense is historic, almost.”
The Seahawks will need to maintain their dominant performance throughout the rest of the season to be considered among the best defenses in the team’s history. However, Emmanwori’s stat line already put his name in...
