1. Whether it was preseason or not, this was a very encouraging start for the defense.
The Seattle Seahawks have hired Mike McDonald as their head coach because he is one of the best young defensive minds in football. While it is too early to make any definitive statements about McDonald’s defense in Seattle, the unit has had a great start in its first preseason game.
Yes, it was just the preseason, and yes, Chargers starting quarterback Justin Herbert didn’t play, but even with those caveats, it’s hard not to be encouraged by what the defense showed on Saturday.
Seattle’s starting linebackers, without quarterback Jerome Baker, who has a hamstring injury, played two games, both three-and-out for the Chargers. Not much changed when Seattle brought in the bench, as the No. 2 defense forced Los Angeles to another three-and-out, then had an interception on Los Angeles’ fourth possession. That deflection, which included a huge midfield hit by safety Kvon Wallace to set up a Kobe Bryant interception, gave the offense a short window to capitalize on, with rookie George Holani scoring from 11 yards out.
The Chargers finished the first half with just three first downs, the first with less than five minutes left in the first half, and started the game 0-for-8 on third downs before getting their first conversion late in the third quarter.
In addition to forcing eight punts and a turnover, Seattle’s defense also held Derek Hall, John Ratigan and DeVier Liveston to 198 yards and a 2-of-13 conversion rate on third downs.