USA TODAY International Edition
Wagner keeps Seahawks defense rolling
SEATTLE – If there is a silver lining for the Seattle Seahawks after losing star defensive players Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor, it’s that middle linebacker Bobby Wagner has emerged from the large shadow of the Legion of Boom.
“It’s about time,” Wagner said with a small smile. “Appreciation is nice.”
It’s hard to fathom that a two-time all-pro can be under-appreciated, but a star-studded secondary and defensive line might have obscured just how important Wagner is to Seattle’s sustained defensive success.
With Sherman, Chancellor and pass rusher Cliff Avril all out for the season, Wagner has had to be everywhere, and say everything, for the Seahawks.
He leads the NFL in solo tackles with 85, just two shy of his career high. He had 13 total tackles (nine solo and four assists) Sunday in Seattle’s 24-10 win over the Eagles.
Twenty-six of his 113 total tackles have come during the three-game stretch without Sherman and Chancellor, proving his worth as a stabilizing force on a defense in transition.
“It’s the consistency. He’s always on it. There’s not a game you can find where he had a bad game,” linebacker K.J. Wright said.
The proof, teammates say, is how the Seahawks twice this season have played the No. 1-ranked scoring offense — in October against the Rams, with both Sherman and Chancellor, and Sunday the Eagles — and both times allowed just 10 points.
Against Philadelphia, the Seattle defense forced Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz into some uncharacteristic mistakes — a fumble inside the 2-yard line that resulted in a touchback and an interception in the end zone, killing two promising Philadelphia drives.
“When people go down, it’s an opportunity just to step up, and that’s how I’m looking at it. We have some big pieces to our defense go down, and everybody wants to step up, including myself,” Wagner said. “I just want to make sure I’m doing everything I possibly can to help us keep being successful.”
The Seahawks now rank No. 9 in total defense with 321 yards allowed per game and are tied for seventh in points allowed with 18.5. Should the Seahawks make the playoffs — they hold the No. 5 seed and are one game behind the Rams in the NFC West — Wagner could garner additional consideration for defensive player of the year honors.
“If he’s not the defensive MVP, then I don’t know what more he can do, honestly. He’s played out of his mind this season,” receiver Doug Baldwin said.