SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) 鈥� Jarran Reed can鈥檛 quite remember if the nickname surfaced during OTA鈥檚 or training camp, but the Seattle Seahawks lineman recalls a group chat forming among the defensive leaders in the summer to figure out what the defense should be called.
鈥淲e had an identity,鈥� Reed said, 鈥渂ut we had to find a name.”
There were a couple other names thrown around, but 鈥淒ark Side鈥� was the clear winner, a nod to Seattle鈥檚 dreary fall and winter weather and the deafening crowd noise at Lumen Field.
Those who have sought to stack up this defense against the Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman-led 鈥淟egion of Boom鈥� teams from the 2010s have been met with resistance by the Seahawks defenders.
Reserve cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett said the defense didn鈥檛 want to be compared to the group that delivered , but rather for it to be appreciated for its own success.鈥� They’ll have the opportunity to help bring a second title to Seattle when they face the New England Patriots .
鈥淲e kind of wanted our own thing,鈥� Pritchett said. 鈥淪o, the Dark Side just kind of stuck.鈥�
Fitting for a group that is decidedly more anonymous than the star-laden 鈥淟egion of Boom.鈥� This defense is a well-rounded unit devoid of any truly notable stars but also few shortcomings.
During the regular season, no team allowed fewer points per game (17.2), and Seattle finished in the top seven in the league in sacks and interceptions. Despite much of the secondary being injured in the regular season, the Seahawks ended the year 10th in the NFL with the fewest passing yards allowed per game (193.9).
From edge rusher Boye Mafe鈥檚 point of view, the unit doesn鈥檛 have any true soft spots, a source of pride for him.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very rare that you can say that about your defense, that you can say that about your team that you feel there鈥檚 no weak links,鈥� Mafe said. 鈥淪o, as you have that opportunity, it鈥檚 one of those things where you just have to seize the moment.鈥濃��
There are myriad reasons Seattle鈥檚 defense has been so stingy. For one, head coach Mike Macdonald has been the Seahawks鈥� primary defensive play-caller, and he brought with him an aggressive scheme that worked well when he was defensive coordinator for both the Michigan Wolverines and the Baltimore Ravens.鈥�
The Seahawks frequently deploy five or more defensive backs, which allows a defensive front featuring Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II, a duo that tied for the team lead in sacks (7), to go to work.鈥�
Versatile safety Nick Emmanwori, who broke up three passes in the NFC championship game and had 11 pass breakups during the regular season, has looked like anything but a 21-year-old in his rookie season, too.鈥�
鈥淣ick鈥檚 done a tremendous job since he walked in the door, shoot, since we brought him in for a visit pre-draft,鈥� Macdonald said. 鈥淚 think what鈥檚 great about Nick is you can see the physical talent, the physical ability. But his eagerness to learn, and the sense of urgency for detail and his hunger to be great really stands out.鈥�
It鈥檚 an apt description for the defense as a whole, one which is led by the vocal presence of linebacker Ernest Jones IV. In turn, the Seahawks鈥� robust defense has brought out the best of Seattle鈥檚 offense on a weekly basis during practice.
All year, quarterback Sam Darnold has been impressed by the intelligence of his teammates on the other side of the ball and their ability to anticipate what opposing quarterbacks intend to do. The Seahawks had the fifth-most interceptions (18) in the NFL in the regular season.鈥�
鈥淭hey just do a great job,鈥� Darnold said, 鈥渁nd make it really hard on the offense.鈥濃��
Safety Coby Bryant knew something special was brewing from the first day of training camp.鈥�
Fast forward six months, and not only has the defense earned its nickname, but it has also guided Seattle within one win of securing its second Super Bowl title.
鈥淥bviously, there鈥檚 more work to be done,鈥� Bryant said. 鈥淲e still got a job to finish on Sunday.鈥�
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