For a good while there, it looked like the Seattle Seahawks had fixed their dreadful run defense from 2022. From Weeks 1-8, the Seahawks ranked 7th in EPA/play and 1st in success rate*. Huzzah!
*Success rate is traditionally defined as gaining 40% of needed yards on first down, 60% on second down, and 100% on third- and fourth-down.
Then Uchenna Nwosu got hurt, and the good times ended.
Nwosu is not only one of the team’s best pass rushers, he’s also one of the best run defenders. On an otherwise poor run defense, Nwosu was one of the few bright spots on last year’s squad.