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How Much Could the Seahawks be Impacted by New NFL Rules?

It not a secret that the Seattle Seahawks bend the rules on the defensive side of the ball, especially down the field in the passing game. They are among the most physical defenses in the NFL. And it has paid off a great deal since the Legion of Boom became a thing. While not necessarily focusing on Seattle’s down-field tactics, the NFL is implementing new rules as it relates to how defensive backs can go up against pass catchers this season. 

The primary focus of officials will be illegal contact penalties more than five yards from the line of scrimmage. While defensive backs can bump and make contact within five yards, any sort of contact after that will lead to penalty flags being thrown. In the past, the focus had been on whether the defensive back impeded a receiver’s ability to make a play on the ball.

This new focus has been prevalent around training camps this summer, which has forced coaching staffs to emphasize to defensive backs exactly what it means.

“Play without your hands” has been one calling card. Once officials see a jersey being tugged at more than five yards down the field, a flag will be thrown. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, this means that they’re going to have to adjust their play style accordingly.

According to The Seattle Times, NFL officials visited Seahawks training camp in the build up for their inital preseason game against the Denver Broncos. And the results were immediate as it relates to flags being thrown.

In the buildup to Seattle’s first preseason game Thursday against the Broncos, NFL officials visited the Seahawks training camp and called penalties according to the new guidelines. That meant more penalty flags were thrown for clutching and grabbing than might have been the case last season, said NFL referee Craig Wrolstad.

Wrolstad went on to say that there were a number of penalties associated with grabbing or pulling of the jerseys in the one practice that they officiated.

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This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to those who have played against or studied the Seahawks defense over the past three seasons. They’re among the most physical in the NFL and pride themselves on that. “If they don’t call it, it’s not a penalty” has been somewhat of an unofficial rallying cry for the defense since Pete Carroll took over in Seattle.

In fact, there have been some players and coaches come out indicating that Seattle has “perfected the art of holding” in the defensive secondary.

Back in January, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White had this to say about the Seahawks antics (via NFL.com).

These are the toughest guys you are going to face (Seahawks secondary)…The way that they scheme, the guys that they have out there playing man-to-man coverage. They are all tall, they are all long, they are all lanky guys. They have perfected holding.

Former New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride provided a similar assessment (via Wall Street Journal). 

If you think they’re going to be called and expect that to be the solution to the problem, you’re going to be sadly mistaken…They’ve perfected the art.

But that was under previous rules. Once officials notice a jersey being as little as tugged on this upcoming season, flags will fly.

This means Seattle will have to change its tactics in the secondary. And it could potentially impact the success this unit has on the football field. Head coach Pete Carroll has indicated that the team is trying to adapt and go with the flow.

Courtesy of SI.com: There is going to be a certain learning curve for Seattle's secondary.

Courtesy of SI.com: There is going to be a certain learning curve for Seattle’s secondary.

We’re not fighting or resisting the changes that are here,” Carroll said. “We’re trying to adapt and go with it.

That’s fine and dandy, but it’s going to be really interesting to see how the Seahawks actually do adapt to the new rules when live-game action begins. It’s one thing to utilize a different approach in practice. It’s a completely different thing to see it succeed on the field come game time.

While every team is going through the changes that come with these new rules, Seattle will be the team that is impacted the most. It’s now all about the Legion of Boom rolling with the punches. If the talent in Seattle’s secondary is any indication, it should be okay.

Photo: NY Post

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