FRISCO, Texas — The Seattle Seahawks have been coached by Pete Carroll since 2010, and they have had a vision in which they use to build out their secondary: tall, lengthy, physical cornerbacks. From the “Legion of Boom” days that featured outside cornerbacks Richard Sherman (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) and Brandon Browner (6-foot-4, 221 pounds) to today’s group — Pro Bowl, second-year corner Riq Woolen (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and 2023 fifth-overall pick Devon Witherspoon (6-foot, 185 pounds) — Carroll has a type. That’s something the Dallas Cowboys (8-3) have clearly noted as they ready to host the Seattle Seahawks (6-5) on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 13.
“I’ve respected what their play style is, how they play, I think that’s consistent,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said. “I think when you look at coaches that have coached a long time, your teams have an identity that is pretty consistent in your time there. Pete’s background being a defensive coach, as far as the way they play and the importance of the run game, I think they’re definitely doing some unusual things from a formation standpoint that will challenge you during the course of the week in the prep.”
Woolen’s eight career interceptions are tied for the third-most in the NFL since 2022 with Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III. Six of those occurred in 2022, which co-led the league. Witherspoon, meanwhile, has 14 passes defended and three sacks this season. He is one of nine players with such a season in the past 18 years, and that list includes two Hall of Famers (Charles Woodson in 2008 and Brian Dawkins in 2005) and one future Hall of Famer (JJ Watt in 2012).
“You study the tape and you see not only, we call them POA tapes, the profiles of each guy, what do you think their strengths are,” McCarthy said Sunday when asked about the Seahawks’ length at corner. “Also being in touch with our guys. We don’t have just one…
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