The NFL is a copycat league. Coaching staffs and front offices are constantly scouring every nook and cranny to gain an edge, which includes monitoring and replicating what other teams across the league are doing.
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So, what can the rest of the league learn from the 2025 Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks?
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was posed that question Tuesday on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. He listed five areas of emphasis that teams may place a greater value on after watching the Seahawks’ championship run.
Run-stopping defensive tackles
Jeremiah: “Put more value on DTs that can play the run.”
Added context: The Seahawks had the NFL’s best run defense, allowing just 3.7 yards per carry. It all started up front with the elite defensive tackle trio of Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II and Jarran Reed.
Edge rusher depth
Jeremiah: “Continue to invest more and more in edge depth.”
Added context: The Seahawks had a league-high six pass rushers with 40-plus pressures during the regular season, according to Pro Football Focus. That group included four edge rushers: DeMarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, Derick Hall and Boye Mafe. Along with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, it marks the second straight year that the Super Bowl champion have featured waves of pass-rushing talent up front.
Elite tackling
Jeremiah: “This was one of the best tackling teams that I’ve seen in a long time. They are outstanding tackling at the second and third levels.”
Added context: A major key to the Seahawks’ top-ranked scoring defense was its tackling. Even when a defender missed a tackle, there usually seemed to be another defender or two right there to clean things up.
All-around tight ends
Jeremiah: “Having complete tight ends – hand-in the ground tight ends that can block and that are functional in the passing game.”
Added context: The Seahawks’ decision to release veteran pass-catching tight end Noah Fant prior to training camp was indicative of their emphasis on having tight ends who could run block. Top tight end AJ Barner was a key receiving threat, hauling in 519 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season and adding a TD catch in the Super Bowl. But Barner also was a major part of the run game, ranking 16th out of 75 tight ends in PFF run block grading. Veteran Eric Saubert also graded well, ranking 23rd among tight ends in run blocking.
High-IQ players
Jeremiah: “Overall smart football players – putting more of an emphasis on intelligence.”
Added context: The Seahawks’ precision and attention to detail was evident all season long. That starts with coaching, but it also takes high-IQ players to implement that on the field.
Listen to the full conversation with NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune into Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
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