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Thursday Round-Up: Seahawks Corners Have Become 'One Of The Team's Strengths'

Frank T. Raines of SB Nation’s Field Gulls gives a detailed look at how the Seahawks’ cornerbacks have improved their play over the last three games

Nov 18, 2021 at 01:36 PM

Jordan Duncan

Seahawks.com Contributor

Good morning, 12s. Here's a look at what's out there today — Thursday, November 18 — about your Seattle Seahawks.

Breaking Down Seahawks' Improved Cornerback Play

The Seahawks' defense has made vast improvements over the past month or so, going from a unit that was on pace to surrender more yards than any team in NFL history to one that has held opponents to an average of just over 14 points a game over its last four outings. The team's secondary struggled at times in the early part of the season, giving up 347 pass yards to Ryan Tannehill as the Titans earned a comeback win in Week 2, and then allowing Rams QB Matthew Stafford to throw for 365 yards — 204 of them in the second half — as the Rams staged a comeback win on Thursday night in Week 5.

The pass defense numbers have improved in recent weeks, with Aaron Rodgers being the only opposing quarterback to eclipse the 250 yard mark against the Hawks over the last four games. Players have pointed to communication and flat out hard work as reasons for the improvements on defense. This week, Frank T. Raines of SB Nation's Field Gulls dug into the numbers from the Seahawks' games against the Saints, Jaguars and Packers to see just how effective Seattle's corners have been in limiting their opponents' passing game.

Starting with last Sunday's Packers game, Raines praised D.J. Reed's performance at right corner: "D.J. Reed played 74 total snaps, 43 of them in coverage. He was the closest defender on 4 of Aaron Rodgers' passes. He had a pass breakup and allowed only 1 reception … That one reception was a 41-yard catch-and-run by Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the third play of the game, and it moved the ball from Green Bay's 39 to Seattle's 20. Fortunately, the Packers didn't get any points on that drive so ... no harm, no foul (so to speak). Reed played lights-out after that.

"Tre Brown matched D.J. Reed snap-for-snap; 74 total, 43 in coverage. He was targeted twice. Neither of those passes were caught. For the game, he allowed zero yards. Oh, and he forced a turnover on downs with this beautiful, BEAUTIFUL play. Not too bad for a 4th-round pick, eh?"

According to Raines, over the past three games, the cornerback collection of Reed, Brown, Sidney Jones, and Ugo Amadi have combined for 390 coverage snaps and amassed 48 targets for 31 receptions and 284 yards, with six pass breakups and zero touchdowns. "Bottom line: Seattle's outside corners were arguably the team's biggest concern when the season started," Raines said. "Now? Not so much. One might even argue that they have become one of the team's strengths. Who woulda thunk it?" Click here to read Raines’ full breakdown of the Seahawks' cornerbacks.

Seahawks Honor Shawn Durnen As Delta Community Captain

After leaving the US Army, Shawn Durnen spent a decade struggling with mental health, anxiety, homelessness, being a single father, and other patterns of self-destruction. In 2011, he took the first step toward getting help and found peace through therapy. That led him to becoming the founder and president of NineLine Veteran Services, a group dedicated to helping veterans improve their lives through housing, employment, and wellness using innovative approaches for those veterans and their families.

NineLine organizes events and activities for veterans in collaboration with Route Step Outdoors, helps veterans find employment through partnerships with Boeing, MOOG and other companies, and partners with charitable organizations to provide housing for homeless vets. NineLine is also a member of the Seahawks’ Task Force 12, a collection of military nonprofits working to improve the lives of veterans around the Pacific Northwest.

Durnen has worked on local and national cross-sector initiatives to end homelessness and increase housing affordability for vulnerable populations, and led holistic veteran engagement efforts to combat homelessness, suicide, trauma, and isolation. He has a background in social services and non-profit management with credentials in military trauma and co-morbidities from the Massachusetts General Hospital, with a primary emphasis in military, veteran and family trauma.

Recently, the Seahawks and Task Force 12 (including Durnen's NineLine), along with several other partners, hosted Operation Turkey Drop, building care packages for local military veterans and their families. At the event, Durnen was recognized as the Delta Community Captain, receiving some swag items, and an invitation from Delta Air Lines to be in attendance as the Seahawks take on the Cardinals at Lumen Field for our Salute to Service game this Sunday, Nov. 21 at 1:25 p.m.

PHOTOS: Seahawks And Task Force 12 Hosts Operation Turkey Drop

The Seattle Seahawks teamed up with organizations from Task Force 12, Delta Air Lines, Starbucks, and Operation Gratitude to build care packages for local military veterans and their families. The event was one of several different activities planned by the Seahawks in honor of their Salute to Service game on November 21. Read more: https://shwks.com/3ff465

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