Pass Game Coordinator George Edwards on Klint Kubiak's System
The Seahawks utilize a variety of different personnel groupings that force defenses to combat with nickel, base and jumbo packages. Seattle has had two or more tight ends on the field for 41.2% of their plays and have had their best yards-per-play (6.8) and best success rate (49%) out of that 12 personnel grouping. Klint Kubiak's system features a heavy does of play-action and outsize zone to stretch teams horizontally and the Bucs' defense will have to be disciplined in rallying to the football and setting the edge.
"In preparation for this week, guys have really locked in and we are just trying to look at different personnel groupings and those kinds of things," said George Edwards. "These guys use a lot of different personnel groupings. They are good at run and play-action on first and second down -- probably as good as anybody in the league -- and we have to do a good job at keeping leverage in the run game and in the pass game…They have got two really good backs, they are good up front. There is no doubt it. They are ranked in the run game in our league, I mean they are going to do it. I was with [Klint] Kubiak in Minnesota for about three or four years and that tree is going to run the football and the play-action is set up right off of it."
Baker Mayfield on Seattle's Defense
Seattle currently has three players tied with two interceptions, including Coby Bryant, Ernest Jones IV and Derion Kendrick. Pass rush benefits coverage and for Seattle, it starts up front with Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II. They are tied with a team-high 2.5 sacks and have fueled their defense. Murphy, the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has twitchy first-step quickness, power and disrupts gaps with a relentless energy. Williams plays with powerful hands to redirect offensive linemen and fires off the line with a low pad level. Williams gets home on single blocks and the matchup could likely hinge on the play in the trenches.
"The rookie No. 3 (Nick Emmanwori) is a really good player," said Mayfield. "Obviously, he's been injured a little bit – banged up – but he adds a different factor at the nickel [cornerback] position. It starts up front – Leonard Williams and those guys up front [are a] really good D-line and an aggressive D-line. They're coached well, with Mike Macdonald from Baltimore, you can tell it's a similar system to that – they're flying around with different blitz looks. They try and get your eyes in different spots. The guys, they execute well. It's a sound defense overall with good pressure guys and good blitzers. Obviously, with the [cornerbacks] they have out there – big, tall corners that are physical and willing to tackle. That adds a different element for us."
Emeka Egbuka Wins Offenisve Rookie of the Month
Emeka Egbuka was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for September, celebrating his impact on the field. He became the first Tampa Bay wide receiver to earn Rookie of the Month honors in franchise history and he is the first Bucs offensive player to do so since 2015.
Egbuka emerged as the team's leading receiver during a month in which the Bucs' top three returning receivers all missed time. He finished the month of September with 18 receptions for 282 yards (15.7 avg.) and four touchdowns, including a game-winning score with 59 seconds remaining in the team's Week One victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Egbuka became just the second player since the 1970 merger to record a game-winning touchdown reception in the final minute of regulation in his first career game (Ernest Wilford, 2004).
The Ohio State product led all rookies in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and yards per reception in September, while tying for the rookie lead in total touchdowns scored (four). Among rookie wide receivers, he ranked first in yards from scrimmage (291) and yards after catch (115), while tying for the most receptions (18) and ranking second in receiving first downs (11).
Since 2000, Egbuka is one of four players with 15-plus receptions, 250-plus receiving yards and four-plus touchdown receptions through four career games joining Ja'Marr Chase (2021), Calvin Ridley (2018) and Roy Williams (2004) – all of whom also won their season's September Offensive Rookie of the Month award. He has helped set the tone with command at the catch point and precision on routes.
