The Seattle Seahawks have seen the emergence of two of their defensive weapons over the last couple of outings. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has his breakout game against the 49ers and Ziggy Ansah impressed last Sunday in Philadelphia.
The goal, however, is to have both impact players on the field together.
“It’s what we kind of hoped for going into the season,” coach Pete Carroll said Monday of their recent production. “You can see the results of what the pass rush factor is. It just makes it really hard on the offense to function at a high rate. Their quarterbacks numbers are in the 60s and 70s in ratings and stuff like that. That’s playing the kind of football that allows the ball to be available to you. That’s eight turnovers in the last two weeks. Those guys will just contribute more to it.”
Clowney was inactive Week 12 in Philadelphia after receiving treatment for what is believed to be a sports hernia. Surgery is not required at this time and Carroll is hoping he’ll be available Monday night when the Vikings come to town.
Ansah has finally put some weight back on in time for the second half of the season with Carroll calling him the “strongest and heaviest” he’s been in Seattle.
But Clowney and Ansah aren’t the Seahawks’ only options to rush the passer.
“They’ve got a little competition there, Griff’s making a move on them,” Carroll said of Shaquem Griffin. “He looks like he’s got some stuff that we can incorporate and keep developing that he can be a factor as well. You can see that when those two guys are going, we’ll be at our best. With Griff’s addition, too, with the things that he can bring, the speed that he injects is really valuable to us. I think it’s obvious when you watch the film or watch the games that he’s a factor.
“They’ve got to be careful, or he’s going to get them. Competition is a beautiful thing.”
The Seahawks resume practice Wednesday to prepare to face the Vikings Monday night.
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