Jimmy Graham was limited to a total of just four catches for 50 yards in the Saints’ two games against the Seahawks last season, and he says Seattle had the best defense he has faced, by far. Part of the reason for the Seahawks’ greatness, Graham says, is gambling that the officials won’t call pass interference.
Graham said on Mike and Mike in the Morning that the Seahawks get physical with the opposing receivers, knowing that even if they get flagged once or twice, they’ll get away with it more often.
“They’re the type of team that they’re very, very aggressive,” Graham said. “I think they teach, ‘Listen, they’re not going to call the P.I., so just grab and hold as much as you can.'”
Graham said the Saints were “caught off guard” by how fast and physical the Seahawks were, and he said that while most players across the NFL get worn down as the season goes on, the players on the Seahawks’ defense seemed like they were at full speed both in Week 13, when the teams met in the regular season, and in the playoffs.
After the way the Seahawks’ defense played in winning the Super Bowl, no team should be caught off guard by the Seahawks next year. And offensive players may be hoping that the NFL will make pass interference and illegal contact a point of emphasis with the officials this offseason, so that the Seahawks will be caught off guard by how many penalties they get when they grab and hold.