Hawks D Shocks Niners

Their defense can scare you. They hit hard. They wrap up on tackles. Running backs hit a unforgiving wall. Receivers struggle to get open. Their coach is a defensive genius.

That is all the media could talk about leading up the San Francisco 49ers opening day matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. The word on the street was that the Niners would cripple any Seahawks drive. Most everyone agreed that Seattle was simply overmatched. But after yesterday's 31-6 49er drubbing, the Seahawks were the team that deserved the aforementioned defensive accolades. At least for week one.

Coming into the 2010 season the Seahawks were full of question marks. No bigger question mark was the how the defense would play after finishing the last two seasons ranked 24th and 30th in total team defense. Those stats don't conjure up much optimism for 2010. Yet, for the first game, the Seahawks defense dominated the Niners in all phases.

The obvious key to a Seahawk win was to shutdown running back Frank Gore and boy did they come through on that one. Gore was limited to an incredibly low 38 yards on 17 carries. The Hawks defensive line, supposedly the worst unit on the team, would not allow Gore to get going at all. As a unit they played like an absorbing solid. Gore would hit the hole and the line would give a little, then push him back with the help of the Hawks linebackers.

The most telling stat of the day was 1-15 for the 49ers offense on 3rd down. The Hawks dominated 3rd down which dictates the overall effectiveness of an offense. Seattle even stood San Francisco up on 4th down near the goal line. All those stops had the Hawks defense pumped up which then allowed the home crowd at Qwest Field to impose their vocal will on San Francisco.

Although the score was only 14-6 Seahawks at halftime, it was obvious that Seattle meant business. Usually the Seahawks are the team that sputters on offense and only scores field goals but not yesterday. Head coach Pete Carroll kept his men focused throughout the second half; Seattle forced the 49ers to punt on every drive except when cornerback Marcus Trufant intercepted Smith and proceeded to run it back for a 'nail-in-the-coffin' score.

Another improvement displayed was the Seahawks' ability to rush the quarterback. The defense repeatedly hit 49er quarterback Alex Smith, forcing two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and two sacks. Defensive ends Red Bryant and Chris Clemons will haunt Smith's dreams after combining for 7 hits on the QB. If the Seahawks expect to continue this type of performance they will need the defensive line to control the point of attack. If that happens, the secondary will continue to feast on rushed passes.

This was the type of performance that a football team can build momentum off of and carry throughout the season. Not much was expected from Seattle this season and deservedly so; but if the defense brings the intensity they showed against their biggest rival, maybe the Seahawks can break some more hearts.