Legion of Boom to Legion of Doom
It seems like it’s been years since one of the most dominant defenses in National Football League history took home the Lombardi Trophy with an impressive rout of the Denver Broncos, 43-8. The famous moniker for the defense, The Legion of Boom, was set to live on forever. But what happened to that great Seahawks team that dominated the NFC. Was it the decision to pass instead of running the ball on the goal line that cost them another Super Bowl win? Or was it their inconsistent offensive line troubles? Maybe it was just a plague of injuries that caused a collapse in their reign. Whatever the reason was the Seahawks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2011 with a 9-7 record. Since the 2011 season, the Seahawks have boasted a 56-23-1 record. Between the start of the 2012 season and the end of 2016 season, Seattle has held opposing teams to 291.48 yards per game. The defense also contributed 196 sacks and 84 interceptions in that time (44 sacks and 28 interceptions during 2013 season). And now it’s been four years since Richard Sherman’s iconic “I’m the best corner in the game” rant after deflecting a pass to Michael Crabtree to send the Seahawks to the Super Bowl for the second time in as many years.
The Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” consisted of cornerbacks Sherman and Bryon Maxwell and safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Other members of the dangerous defense were defensive backs Jeremy Lane and DeShawn Shead, lineman Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett and Chris Clemons, and linebackers Bobby Wagner, Bruce Irvin, K.J. Wright and Malcolm Smith (the latter being Super Bowl XLVIII MVP).
The team began to fall apart in 2015 when Bryon Maxwell signed a six-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles before ending back in Seattle a couple years later. In 2016, Irvin left for divisional rival, Oakland. Malcolm Smith was the next to go, also leaving for a divisional rival but this time it was the 49ers. Throughout the 2017 season, the Seahawks cut three members of the LOB, Shead, Lane and Sherman. The former landing with the Detroit lions and Sherman signing a huge deal with San Francisco, reuniting with Smith. Jeremy Lane was released with a history of injury and has yet to be signed. DE Michael Bennett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
In the 2018 Draft, the Seahawks took RB Rashaad Penny (27th overall) over Sony Michel, Derrius Guice and Nick Chubb. Seattle then started addressing defense in the 3rd round with the pick of DE Rasheem Green out of USC. After selecting a tight end in the 4th round, the team drafted famous linebacker Shaquem Griffin from UCF in the 5th. Shaq had his left hand amputated when he was four years old and went on to play football and help lead UCF to an undefeated season. Another defender came out of the 5th round, Tre Flowers a corner out of Oklahoma State and then a DE from Temple in 6th round, Jacob Martin. Seattle subsequently received a post-draft grade of a C- from NFL.com
Seattle looks to get back into the playoffs in 2018. Seattle's 2018-2019 schedule is as followed:
Preseason
Preseason Week 1: Thu. 8/9 vs Indianapolis Colts, 7 p.m. Preseason Week 2: Sat. 8/18 at Los Angeles Chargers, 7 p.m. Preseason Week 3: Fri. 8/24 at Minnesota Vikings, 5 p.m. Preseason Week 4: Thu. 8/30 vs Oakland Raiders, 7 p.m.
Regular Season
Week 1: Sun. 9/9 at Denver Broncos, 1:25 p.m., FOX Week 2: Mon. 9/17 at Chicago Bears, 5:15 p.m., ESPN Week 3: Sun. 9/23 vs Dallas Cowboys, 1:25 p.m., FOX Week 4: Sun. 9/30 at Arizona Cardinals, 1:05 p.m., FOX Week 5: Sun. 10/7 vs Los Angeles Rams, 1:25 p.m., FOX Week 6: Sun. 10/14 at Oakland Raiders (London), 10 a.m., FOX Week 7: Sun. 10/21 BYE Week 8: Sun. 10/28 at Detroit Lions, 10 a.m., FOX Week 9: Sun. 11/4 vs Los Angeles Chargers, 1:05 p.m., CBS Week 10: Sun. 11/11 at Los Angeles Rams, 1:25 p.m., CBS Week 11: Thu. 11/15 vs Green Bay Packers, 5:20 p.m., FOX/NFLN Week 12: Sun. 11/25 at Carolina Panthers, 10 a.m., FOX Week 13: Sun. 12/2 vs San Francisco 49ers, 5:20 p.m., NBC Week 14: Mon. 12/10 vs Minnesota Vikings, 5:15 p.m., ESPN Week 15: Sun. 12/16 at San Francisco 49ers, 1:05 p.m., FOX Week 16: Sun. 12/23 vs Kansas City Chiefs, 5:20 p.m., NBC Week 17: Sun. 12/30 vs Arizona Cardinals, 1:25 p.m., FOX