Their 27 quarterback “hurries” were the fifth most out of any defensive-end tandem in the NFL this season. A rushed quarterback makes bad decisions, which makes for easy pickings for Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and the gang.
Seattle’s pass rush will be crucial against New England and Tom Brady, who is best when he is given time to pick a defense apart with short and long passes alike.
“We have to collapse the pocket,” Avril said Monday. “We have to make him move his feed and make him uncomfortable in the pocket. We need to make him make some bad decisions.”
That’s a big reason Seattle put a priority on signing Bennett and Avril to long-term contracts within the past year. Each signed a four-year, $28.5 million deal.
“A big thing is that we’re all diverse,” Avril said. “Michael Bennett can go inside or out, I can stand up and rush, Bruce (Irvin) does it all.”
Bennett, whose 7.0 sacks led the Seahawks for a second straight year, said he nearly signed with Chicago, where his brother Martellus plays tight end.
“My brother playing for the Bears played a big focus to me almost going there, but ultimately I came back,” Bennett said. ” ‘Sherm’ (Sherman) called me a lot. The rest of the guys called me, and they said that I was one of the key players of the defense. That made me want to come back.”
When Bennett lines up across from New England in Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, he will occasionally be across from one of the NFL’s most dynamic players in Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. “Gronk” caught 12 TD passes this season, tied for fourth in the NFL.
“I think Gronkowski’s the second-best tight end,” Bennett said. “My brother’s first, obviously.”
The ties of family and friends mean a lot to Bennett. The past week, he has worn a white cowboy hat to honor a friend who recently died of cancer.
Bennett elaborated more on the hat while meeting with reporters Sunday. He said it was given to him by the widow of Mark Alexander, whose son Bennett grew up with in Houston.
“He was like a guy who was a mentor to a lot of kids around my neighborhood,” Bennett said. “When he died, he had more than 500 people show up at his house.”
But Alexander’s impact went beyond being an after-school mentor. That became clear to Bennett when he heard of all the stories of success that Alexander inspired
“And to have so many kids come back, Kids were lawyers. Kids were bankers, teachers, coaches,” Bennett said.
Bennett was flattered, to say the least, when Alexander’s widow offered the hat to him.
“This was his favorite hat,” Bennett said. “His wife gave it to me so I’m wearing it all week to give me some good luck.”
And the Seahawks would definitely welcome some luck and a ferocious pass rush against New England on Sunday.
Beastly bookends
The top pass-rushing defensive end tandems (2014 regular season)
Sacks QB hurries
Jerry Hughes-Mario Williams (Buf) 25 40
J.J. Watt-Jared Crick (Hou) 24 39
Olivier Vernon-Cameron Wake (Mia) 18 29
Charles Johnson-Mario Addison (Car) 15 29
Michael Bennett-Cliff Avril (Sea) 12 27
