Seahawks defense preparing for clash against Dallas run game

In the 24 hours or so since the Seattle Seahawks' charter flight landed in Seattle after their Monday night game against the

Washington Redskins, Seahawks defenders heard all about the Dallas Cowboys' suddenly-dominant offensive line and power running game, with DeMarco Murray, the NFL's leading rusher.

Consider Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner not all that impressed.

Asked Wednesday if Murray is the best running back the Seahawks will have faced so far this season — after previous games against Green Bay's Eddie Lacy, San Diego's Ryan Mathews, Denver's Montee Ball and Washington's Alfred Morris — Wagner quickly shook his head.

"No," Wagner said. "It's Marshawn."

As in, Seattle's own starting tailback Marshawn Lynch, whom the Seahawks face in practice.

Wagner might be boastful, but it is something Seattle believes it has earned through its first four games. The Cowboys' running game might be ranked No. 2 in the NFL, but Seattle will point out that Lynch and Co. are No. 1, while Seattle's defense is allowing a league-low 62 rushing yards per game.

It's all setting up for a classic strength-vs.-strength game against the Cowboys Sunday at CenturyLink Field.

"We're fortunate we're getting them early, because a year from now, these guys are really going to be something," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.

Seattle's successful run defense might not be a surprise, given the Seahawks' defensive domination over recent seasons that culminated in a Super Bowl title last season. The defensive line might look a little different now – with veterans like Red Bryant and Chris Clemons gone, and bigger roles for guys like Michael Bennett and Tony McDaniel – but the anchor remains defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, whom cornerback Richard Sherman described Wednesday as, "an immovable object."


It's allowed linebackers like Wagner and safety Kam Chancellor to effectively shut down any running backs that might happen to get into the second level of the defense. It hasn't happened often — no single running back has gained more than 38 yards against the Seahawks this season.

"We're the No. 1 run defense for a reason," Sherman said.

But Dallas' run game isn't a fluke — not with an offensive line that features three first-round picks (tackle Tyron Smith, No. 9 in 2011; center Travis Frederick, No. 31 in 2013; and guard Zack Martin, No. 16 in 2014) and a commitment to Murray, who is averaging 134 yards and 26 carries per game. After seemingly years of hollow promises to build a balanced offense, the Cowboys have finally done it — and it has been so far the perfect complement for quarterback Tony Romo, who had offseason back surgery.

"We feel like that's the kind of team we want to be. We want to be a physical team on the line of scrimmage," Dallas coach Jason Garrett said. "We want to run the football, control the game that way and then take your shots outside with the play makers that we have in the passing game. We've been a very good passing team through the years but we haven't been strong to the offensive line and we wanted to make this transition. I think it's' been a good one for us."