Hello and welcome to the Seahawks podcast from the podium, game day edition as the Seahawks are going to face off against the San Francisco 49ers for the third time this season in the wildcard round.

It's playoff time.

And Pete Carroll thinks the biggest challenge in the matchup is countering the 49ers defense.

It starts with their defense.

It has for a number of years.

They've got a great, great group over there.

It goes right to the guys up front.

You know, and Fred, you're running the whole show there.

It's their style of play and their success, you know, the number you're running the whole show there it's uh their style of play and and

their uh their success you know the number one defense in the NFL and all that um that it's i would

that's where i see it and i don't know how they see it that's why i see it um they they don't fool you

know they just line up and they're they're running their scheme and uh they've got some things

that they do they pressure you know, but effectively. But it's just the fact that they're so consistent at what they do. And you have to beat them. You have to block them. You have to make them miss you. Because they're going to be in the right spots and they're going to execute really well. The linebackers really, the experience that they have in concert with their guys at front, it makes them really accurately right where they're supposed to be so consistently, and it's mids tough. You have to really do well to get anything on them.

Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron says the offense's familiarity with the 49ers defense should help a little bit. I think it helps personnel-wise. You know, we know all about these guys. They've done a great job defensively against us in the first two games this year. So we know we've got a big challenge ahead of us. But it helps knowing who they are, who the personnel is. And I think, like everything in the league, you know, we've tried to evolve and keep getting better week-to-week. So this week's version, you know, the same thing with the San Francisco defense. They've continually evolved. So, you know, this week's version of both teams will be a little different than the last two games. And, you know, we'll see where the thing goes. One of the biggest challenges on that 49ers defense is pass rusher Nick Bosa. The extraordinary athlete won.

He's got great feel.

Probably this best asset is his motor, you know,

that he just keeps bringing it and plays so hard and so aggressively.

So you put that together, you got to, you know, he's a monster if he got to deal with.

On the offensive side of the ball, Pete has been impressed with quarterback Brock Purdy.

He's capable. It's not too big for him.

You know, it doesn't seem like he's got the rookie learning curve to deal with.

You know, and he obviously is getting coached really well, but he's taken to it, and he's utilizing the guys around him.

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