The Seattle Seahawks have turned into one of the league’s most uncomfortable defenses to play against — and Richard Sherman says one rookie is basically the key that makes the whole thing go.
On Kevin Clark’s “This Is Football” podcast ahead of Thursday night’s Rams-Seahawks showdown, Sherman called rookie safety Nick Emmanwori the “engine” of Mike Macdonald’s defense — and even said Macdonald told him Seattle couldn’t run the full defense until Emmanwori got back healthy.
That is about as loud as praise gets, especially with the Seahawks (11-3) hosting the Los Angeles Rams (11-3) on December 18 at Lumen Field in a game with massive NFC West and No. 1 seed implications.
Sherman Puts a Massive Spotlight on Nick Emmanwori’s Role
Sherman didn’t just say Emmanwori is playing well. He framed him as the piece that unlocks Macdonald’s real menu.
And honestly, it lines up with how Seattle has been using the rookie all season: Emmanwori has become hard to label because he’s lining up everywhere — on the edge, in the box, and in coverage — which is exactly what Macdonald wants from his “chess piece” defenders.
Seahawks.com even noted Emmanwori has lined up like a defensive end, as a linebacker, and in a nickel role in the same game, while still being asked to cover top receivers.
If Sherman’s “engine” description sounds dramatic, the production backs up the idea that Emmanwori isn’t just a role player: he entered December with 47 tackles, eight passes defensed, four tackles for loss and half a sack, despite missing time early with an ankle injury. It’s part of the season he’s in contention for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
What It Means for the Seahawks vs. Rams on Thursday Night
This is the kind of game where having a true “positionless” defender matters.
The Rams offense is built to stress rules, spacing, and communication. Having someone Macdonald can move around pre-snap — and ask to handle multiple jobs post-snap — is a big deal in a divisional matchup where both teams know the calls and counters.
The stakes are real: Seattle and Los Angeles are tied at 11-3, with the winner gaining the inside track in the division race.
The matchup also comes with a few key availability storylines. Seattle is expected to be without left tackle Charles Cross (hamstring), while the Rams’ Davante Adams was listed doubtful with leg injuries (and Rams DL Braden Fiske was listed questionable).
So if the Seahawks defense can tilt the field early, it could be the cleanest path to surviving any offensive bumps, and Sherman just told everyone which Seahawk he thinks makes that happen.
Mike Macdonald’s Best “Tell” About Emmanwori
Here’s the part that should make Seahawks fans sit up: Macdonald has been unusually open about how rare Emmanwori is for his system.
In early December, Macdonald said he’s “never really had a player like” Emmanwori, and even admitted they’re “kind of making it up as we go” with how much they ask him to do.
That’s not coach-speak. That’s a coach telling you the defense is expanding because the player can handle it.
And now Sherman just added gasoline to it, right before the Seahawks’ biggest regular-season spotlight game. And the biggest game ever to be broadcast on Amazon Prime and Thursday Night Football.
Richard Sherman Sends Clear Message to Seahawks Ahead of Pivotal Rams Game