Eerie similarities between LOB and Mike Macdonald's Seahawks point to 2025 magic

The 2011 and 2024 Seattle Seahawks defenses have more in common than you think. That's a very good sign for the 2025 defense to take another big step forward to elite status.

The Seahawks brought Mike Macdonald to Seattle to revitalize the defense. What was once the most feared defensive unit in the league had fallen off to mediocrity in the past few years. It hurts, but there's no other way to describe it.

Not when the Seahawks ranked 25th in the league in points allowed in 2022 and 2023. Allowing 401 and 402 points in consecutive seasons is not a winning formula. But at least they were consistent.

The 2011 Seahawks defense predicts greatness for the 2025 squad

Exit Pete Carroll, enter Mike Macdonald. In his first season, Macdonald proved that the faith of John Schneider and Jody Allen was well-placed. Seattle's rank improved from 25th to 11th. True, they only cut their points allowed by two points per game, but two points can win a whole lot of games.

Seattle's failures last year were more often on the offense, and that's been addressed. But looking back at Seattle's history, there's another reason to believe the defense will be elite this year.

The Legion of Boom didn't arrive until the next season with the addition of eventual first-ballot Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner. But most of the pieces were already in place. Cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner were there, as were the safety duo of Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas.

Browner and both safeties made the Pro Bowl. They already had other standouts like Red Bryant, Chris Clemons, and K.J. Wright as well.

But when BWagz joined the team, the party was on. The Seahawks defense jumped from 7th-best in points allowed with 315, to 1st in 2012. Seattle gave up just 245 points, an astounding improvement of 70 points. That's over four points per game. Naturally, Russell Wilson's arrival had a lot to do with the Seahawks improving from 7-9 to 11-5, too.

What interests me is the similarities between the 2011 defense and last year's unit. Sure, the 2011 squad gave up far fewer points, 368 to 315. But the league's average scoring has increased a bit since then. The average points per game in 2011 was 22.2; by 2024, it was 22.9.

And of course, there's that pesky Game 17. The difference in points per game between the two units, 19.7 and 21.6, is just under two per game. That's the same difference between the defense in 2023 and last year, I know. But wait.. there's more.

Mike Macdonald's (and Aden Durde's) defense took a major step forward when they jettisoned Tyrela Dodson and Jerome Baker. When Ernest Jones IV joined the Seahawks in Week 7, their fortunes began to change. Up to that point, Seattle had allowed 23.42 points per game.

After Jones arrived and Tyrice Knight was promoted to the starting gig, their points allowed improved to 20.4 per game. Subtract Geno Smith's pick-six in Week 9, and it's just 19.7 points per game.

In case you're curious, that equals 335 total points allowed, which would rank Seattle sixth in the league for fewest points allowed. Looks a lot more like the 2011 squad now, doesn't it? I'm not saying Jones is the new Wagner. Nobody is. But his arrival, along with the elevation of Knight, had a similar effect on the defense.

So why will the 2025 defense be elite? As you recall, the 2011 squad had three Pro Bowlers on defense, while the 2024 squad had just two. But safety Julian Love made the Pro Bowl in 2023 and was still extremely effective last year. Devon Witherspoon's talents are unique, and as good as the 2011 defensive line was, they didn't have a player like Leonard Williams up front.

Jones, Knight, and Coby Bryant will have a full season of camp to refine their play. With a complete offseason program with the Seahawks, expect Jones to truly excel this year. Bryant didn't take over at safety until Week 7, so he deserves a lot of credit for the defensive improvement as well. Now the Seahawks have added Nick Emmanwori, who I expect will have a profound impact on the team. Remember, Bobby Wagner was a second-round pick, too.

New addition DeMarcus Lawrence will certainly have an impact as well. I don't expect him to return to his Pro Bowl form, but he'll be a major improvement over Dre'Mont Jones. And for a lot less money. The $3 million Seattle saved will pay for Shaquill Griffin's new deal. And that adds even more depth to the defense.

Yes, there are still some major questions about the offense. But all signs point to Mike Macdonald's Seahawks putting an elite defense on the field this season.