1. Preseason or not, that was a really encouraging begin for the protection.

The Seahawks employed Mike Macdonald to be their head coach in no small half as a result of he is among the greatest younger defensive minds in soccer. And whereas it is means, means too quickly to make any definitive statements about Macdonald’s protection in Seattle, that unit acquired off to a fantastic begin in its preseason debut.

Sure, it was solely the preseason, and sure, Chargers beginning quarterback Justin Herbert did not play, however even with these caveats out of the way in which, it is laborious to not be inspired by what the protection confirmed on Saturday.

Seattle’s starters, minus linebacker Jerome Baker, who’s coping with a hamstring harm, performed two possessions, each of them Chargers three-and-outs. Not a lot modified when the Seahawks introduced of their backups, with the No. 2 protection forcing one other three-and-out, then getting an interception on L.A.’s fourth possession. That turnover, which featured an enormous hit over the center of the sector by security Ok’Von Wallace to arrange a Coby Bryant choose, gave the offense a brief area it was in a position to benefit from, with rookie George Holani scoring on an 11-yard landing run.

The Chargers completed the primary half with simply three first downs, the primary of which got here with beneath 5 minutes to go within the half, and began the sport 0 for 8 on third down earlier than getting their first conversion late within the third quarter.

Along with forcing eight punts and a turnover, Seattle’s protection additionally acquired sacks from Derick Corridor, Jon Rhattigan and DeVere Levelston, and held the chargers to 198 yards and a 2 for 13 conversion charge on third down.