Seahawks enter offseason looking for pass rushers
Atlanta's Matt Ryan dropped back 35 times Sunday, and the Seahawks generated one quarterback hit and no sacks.
They blitzed, but didn't bother Ryan, on his two passes in the last half-minute: 22- and 19-yard completions that set up Matt Bryant's game-winning field goal.
So on Monday, it wasn't surprising when Seattle coach Pete Carroll said adding pass rushers is a priority.
"We need another pass rusher. We really do. ... We're going to need a couple of them,” Carroll said in his season-ending press conference, according to reporter Curtis Crabtree on Twitter.
Defensive end Chris Clemons, who led the team with 11.5 sacks and forced three fumbles, tore his ACL in the playoff win over Washington. DE Bruce Irvin set a franchise rookie record with eight sacks, but was held to one tackle in the loss to the Falcons. DE Red Bryant is a run stuffer, not a pass rusher.
The Seahawks tied for 18th with 36 sacks in the regular season. Still, they allowed an NFL-low 15.3 points per game.
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According to Crabtree, Carroll said it's "enormous" that the Seahawks enter the offseason knowing they're set at quarterback with Russell Wilson. The rookie threw for 385 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a team-high 60 yards and another score in the 30-28 loss Sunday.
"Put him out there on the field on gameday and he's a baller," Carroll said.
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