Bruce Irvin Will Be X-Factor For Seattle Seahawks In Week 9

By Connor Frederickson on October 30, 2014

The Seattle Seahawks‘ defense played their best game of the season in last week’s 13-9 victory over the Carolina Panthers. The biggest difference between when this defense plays well and doesn’t play well is their ability to pressure the opposing quarterback. When Seattle’s pass rush is able to consistently get in the backfield, they are the best defense in the league. One of the key components of that pass rush is hybrid linebacker and defensive end Bruce Irvin, who had two clutch sacks at the end of Sunday’s game against the Panthers. Those two sacks may have been the turning point for a young player who has struggled since leading all rookies with eight sacks in 2012.

Irvin only had three sacks since 2012 coming into last week’s matchup in Carolina. While he made two bonehead offsides penalties in the game, his finish at the end was encouraging. If he is able to rush the quarterback like the Seahawks envisioned when they selected him in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, it could mean a huge turning point for a Seattle team looking to defend their Super Bowl title. When the team is unable to pressure the quarterback, they’ve largely struggled to stop opposing offenses from long drives, usually ending in touchdowns.

With the winless Oakland Raiders coming to Seattle this week, Irvin will be relied upon heavily as both a linebacker and defensive end because middle linebacker Bobby Wagner will again be out with a turf toe injury. The Seahawks are certainly favored in this matchup, but if rookie quarterback Derek Carr has plenty of time to throw the ball he can single-handedly tear apart a depleted Seahawks secondary. He did it in the preseason when the Raiders beat the Seahawks in Oakland. However, if Irvin and the pass rush can get to Carr, it’s hard to think of any way that Oakland leaves town with an upset victory.

Irvin has a special talent and could become one of the elite sack artists in the league. His athleticism and speed makes him a difficult to block for opposing teams. It’s time for the former first-round pick to show his true potential. It’s time for him to show why the Seahawks reached for him in the draft. It’s time for the “Bruce Irvin Show.”

Connor Frederickson is a Seattle Seahawks Writer for www.RantSports.com. “Like” him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @cfredrun or add him to your network on Google.