Tag: boye mafe

First half highlights: Seahawks lead Dolphins 17-3

First half highlights: Seahawks lead Dolphins 17-3

The Seattle Seahawks have started the game red-hot against the Miami Dolphins. Seattle is seeking their first 3-0 start since 2020 and so far they are playing like they truly want it.

The Seahawks started the game off with a 56-yard field goal on their opening drive to take an early 3-0 lead. Miami attempted a 57-yarder themselves to respond, but the kick sailed wide left. Seattle managed to find the end zone on their ensuing possession, set up lovely by DK Metcalf’s remarkable reception on second down.

One play later, Charbonnet found paydirt for the second time in as many weeks.

Unfortunately, Seattle’s third drive of the game ended in near-disaster. Backed up in the shadow of the north end zone, Geno Smith was nearly sacked on 3rd-and-15. Instead, he tossed an ill-advised ball towards Charbonnet, which was far too high and landed in the waiting arms of Dolphins defensive back Kader Kohou.

Once more, the Seahawks defense was placed in a brutal spot on the field to defend. They were put in their own red zone twice in Week 1 against the Broncos, and they found themselves there again. Fortunately, Seattle’s defense did what they excel at this season and held Miami to only a field goal.

Geno Smith found instant redemption on his very next throw in the final five seconds of the first quarter.

Metcalf’s 71-yard touchdown was the third longest in his career, and the seventh time he’s had a 50+ yard score.

Seattle’s pass rush came to play in the first half, sacking Skylar Thompson four times, including the first sack of the season from Derick Hall. Boye Mafe also had his third sack of the season, his third in as many games. Last season, he set a franchise record for a sack in seven-straight games.

The second quarter did get a bit sloppier for Seattle. Their three drives before halftime resulted in a missed field goal, two punts and a bevy of penalties caused by the offensive line. However, thanks to the defense, their lead was never in jeopardy. The Seahawks forced Miami to punt the ball on three-straight drives in the second quarter, and then another devastating sack from Derick Hall to conclude the half.

The Dolphins will get the ball to start the second half.

Be sure to follow @TheSeahawksWire and @KoleMusgrove23 on Twitter for live updates, highlights and analysis during the game.

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Seahawks young pass rushers show growth in Week 1 win

Seahawks young pass rushers show growth in Week 1 win

The Seattle Seahawks entered Sunday’s Week 1 contest versus the Denver Broncos without star pass rusher Uchenna Nwosu, who is nursing a week-to-week knee injury. That placed extra responsibility on the shoulders of young outside linebackers Boye Mafe and Derick Hall. Both players responded with quality performances.

Mafe carried a particularly heavy load in Nwosu’s absence. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher played 60 total snaps against the Broncos. That accounted for 87% of Mike Macdonald’s defensive snaps in Week 1.

Mafe totaled a team-high nine pressures, tied for the most of any pass rusher on Sunday, according to Next Gen Stats. Mafe recorded his first sack of the season, and Pro Football Focus also credited him with seven quarterback hurries. It was a dominant performance from a potentially budding superstar.

Hall was also very effective in a rotational pass-rushing role. The second-round sophomore totaled a more modest 31 snaps, equaling 45% of Seattle’s defensive plays.

Hall converted 23 pass-rushing snaps into four pressures, two QB hits, one sack, and one hurry, per Pro Football Focus’ charting. It was Hall’s first career sack. He appears primed to showcase growth as a sophomore this season.

The Seahawks could be without Nwosu for the next two contests. A two-to-three-game timeline was the expectation when Seahawks general manager John Schneider didn’t place him on IR. Having young pass rushers like Mafe and Hall showcase the desired development is allowing Seattle to get by without their first-choice quarterback hunter.

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Boye Mafe talks about his first game against Russell Wilson, Broncos

Boye Mafe talks about his first game against Russell Wilson, Broncos

I believe I speak for all the 12’s when I say the Monday Night Football game in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos will be one of the most memorable Seattle Seahawks in recent memory, if not all time. The heavily favored Broncos with their newly acquired quarterback in Russell Wilson were supposed to walk over the “rebuilding” Seahawks. Instead, they returned home with a stunning 17-16 defeat.

As memorable as it is for the fans, it is infinitely more so for those who actually played in the game. Such is the case for linebacker Boye Mafe, who made his NFL debut in the very same game. Recently, Mafe went on Chris Long’s podcast to reminisce on the insanity and high octane energy he experienced.

As you can see, the reason I put “rebuild” in quotations in the opening paragraph is because of how Mafe himself still holds scorn for that assesment. After the last two years, players like Mafe are still holding a little grudge over the media writing Seattle off like they did… and are potentially still doing.

Mafe may not have been the heavy sack producer he is now when he played in that game, but his introduction into the league is one of the more unique situations a rookie can find himself in. It’s safe to say he will always remember that moment, and the feeling of his ears ringing days later.

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Watch: Every Boye Mafe sack from 2023

Watch: Every Boye Mafe sack from 2023

As bad as the Seattle Seahawks defense has been for the last two years, they do have some exciting pieces at key positions. Seattle may not have been able to slow down the run, but they did their best to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks with their pass rush.

Leading the way was second year linebacke Boye Mafe, who truly turned on the jets to become a terror for offensive linemen. Mafe set a new franchise record for recording a sack in seven straight games. During this stretch, the Seahawks went 5-2, with the only losses coming on the road in Cincinnati and Baltimore.

Mafe went on a bit of a sack drought towards the second half of the season, which correlates more to Seattle’s struggles down the stretch. Still, he finished the season with nine sacks – an improvement from three the year before – with two in the 20-17 win over Tennessee.

For those who want to take a trip down memory lane, here are all nine of his sacks from last season.

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Seahawks EDGE Boye Mafe explains why Trent Williams, Lane Johnson are his toughest foes

Seattle Seahawks edge-rusher Boye Mafe explains why Trent Williams and Lane Johnson are the NFL’s toughest blockers to deal with.

It’s often said that edge rushers need a full year in the NFL before proverbial light goes on. Rookies are dealing with experienced offensive tackles who not only know all their moves, but can also counter them with moves those rookies have never seen. So, the kids learn as they go, and eventually (well, hopefully), they’re able to match their athletic traits with the things they need to know to succeed at the highest level.

When the Seahawks selected Boye Mafe of Minnesota with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 draft, that was the hope for him. Mafe had some things to learn, but he also had the ability to rush from multiple gaps with both speed and power.

Mafe had three sacks and 12 total pressures in 200 pass-rushing snaps in his rookie season. But it all paid off starting in 2023. From Week 3 against the Caroling Panthers through Week 10 against the Washington Commanders, Mafe had a sack in every game. And it wasn’t just about sacks for the second-year man — Mafe totaled nine sacks, seven quarterback hits, and 42 quarterback hurries last season. Among edge defenders selected in the 2022 draft, only Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions, George Karlaftis of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Travon Walker of the Jacksonville Jaguars had more total pressures than Mafe’s 58 — on 443 pass-rushing snaps.

Mafe is excited about his place in new head coach Mike Macdonald’s defense, as the pressure in that scheme tends to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. He was recently on former NFL edge-rusher Chris Long’s Green Light podcast, and Mafe also got into the two offensive tackles that have given him the most trouble to date: Right tackle Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Trent Williams of the San Francisco 49ers.

On Johnson, Mafe had this to say:

“The thing people don’t give Lane credit [for] is how smart he is. I’ve never had a tackle pass set me on a run down. I don’t know how he knows, but he’ll pass set you, I’ll beat him on a move, I’ll look, and the ball’s going the other way. I’m like, ‘Aw man, this is gonna look terrible [on film].’

“If a tackle stays square on you, it makes your job harder… if a tackle opens and closes the door, and kick-drops his leg back, that’s fair game.”

As for Williams, the best left tackle in the NFL today, Mafe had all kinds of things to say about how the future Hall of Famer takes edge-rushers out of their games.

“The big difference with him is his athleticism. Trent can give you the [gap] and then take it away. You think it’s wide open, and the next thing you know, he’s squeezing right back with you.

“One thing I’ve noticed about him is that he’s quick with his hands. When people go to power, he does not let power sit on him. He’s chopping that hand down as soon as you get it in there. He’s quick with his hands, so you’ve got to play a game with him. You’ve got to make him think.”

Given the level of scouting (and self-scouting) Mafe has been doing, the experience that gives him on the field, and how he could factor in to Macdonald’s multi-faceted defense, it’s fair to expect a huge season in Mafe’s Year 3.

Seahawks OLB Boye Mafe highlights from the 2023 season

Here are 52 seconds of Mafe’s best work from the 2023 season.

One of many Seahawks players who should be excited about getting to work with new head coach Mike Macdonald is third-year edge rusher Boye Mafe. Last season Mafe had a breakout year, posting nine sacks, 16 quarterback hits and nine tackles for a loss.

Here are 52 seconds of Mafe’s best work from the 2023 season.

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Heading into his third year in the league, Mafe has his sights set on improving his game.

After speaking with wide receiver DK Metcalf yesterday, the Seahawks beat reporters got a chance to interview outside linebacker Boye Mafe, who’s coming off a breakout second season in the NFL. Mafe posted nine sacks in 2023, including a franchise record seven straight games with at least one.

Heading into his third year in the league, Mafe has his sights set on improving his game. Here’s what he had to say about his goals going into 2024.

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One thing Mafe has working in his favor is a coach who knows how to get the most out of his edge rotation.

The Seahawks have some young and underrated talents on their roster. One of the most crucial heading into the 2024 season is third-year outside linebacker Boye Mafe. After not seeing the field much as a rookie, Mafe broke out in 2022, posting nine sacks, 16 quarterback hits and 25 pressures in 808 total defensive snaps (72%).

If Seattle is going to make all the doom and gloom predictions of this offseason prove false, then the team is going to need players like Mafe to step up even more in 2024. Mafe has been named the Seahawks’ most underappreciated player on the team, via Tom Blair at NFL.com:

“Mafe’s spot atop the team’s sacks leaderboard (nine) can’t be ignored. Neither can the franchise record he set for consecutive games with at least one sack (seven). Seahawks fans are surely aware of his Year 2 breakout. His spot on this list is for anyone who might still see Mafe as somewhat unproven after an unremarkable rookie year, or who might have lost sight of his emergence after the Seahawks fell short of a playoff berth. Mike Macdonald wasn’t brought in to salvage a lost defense; he has pieces to work with, and Mafe is definitely a key one.”

One thing Mafe has working in his favor is a coach who knows how to get the most out of his edge rotation. Last season in Baltimore both Kyle Van Noy and Jadeveon Clowney were exceptionally productive as pass rushers compared to the previous few years of their respective careers. If Mike Macdonald can engineer a similar boost with Mafe and the equally underappreciated Uchenna Nwosu, it will go a long way towards making Seattle’s defense respectable again.

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Here’s what Pete Carroll and a few Seattle players had to say to the media after their loss to Pittsburgh.

The Seahawks suffered another frustrating loss at home yesterday, this time against the Steelers – and this time dealing a potentially fatal blow to their playoff hopes. Now they need to beat the Cardinals in Week 18 and hope the Bears upset the Packers, otherwise they’ll be going home early again.

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Geno Smith led the way with another game-winning drive – boosting his case as one of the league’s most-clutch QBs right now.

Playoff teams have to be able to win ugly games. At least on that score these 2023 Seattle Seahawks are fully prepared for the postseason. In each of the last two weeks they have managed to scrape out unlikely wins in the last two minutes. The credit has to be shared. In Sunday’s victory over the Tennessee Titans, outside linebacker Boye Mafe stood out most on defense as a pass rusher, and on offense Geno Smith led the way with another game-winning drive, boosting his case as one of the league’s most-clutch QBs right now.

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