The Seahawks allowed the fewest points in the league this season. They led the league in defensive DVOA<\/a>, ranking 12th all-time in a single season in the popular metric. And anyone watching the group on a weekly basis (or just on Saturday when it shut down the high-octane 49ers offense) can vouch for just how dominate the unit is.<\/p>\n With that said, Seahawks Radio Network and former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus<\/a> believes the defense will get even better before its first playoff game in the divisional round next weekend. The expected return of safety Coby Bryant is the reason.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Bryant has missed Seattle\u2019s past two games with a knee injury, but general manager John Schneider expressed optimism he\u2019d be back for the team\u2019s first playoff game during a pregame interview on Saturday with Seahawks play-by-play voice Steve Raible on Seattle Sports 710 AM.<\/p>\n Bumpus credited backup Ty Okada for the job he did filling in for Bryant, as well when he filled in for Julian Love when the 2023 Pro Bowler missed nine games this year. But he believes having Bryant and Love on the field at the time, which happened just six times during the regular season, lets both play to their strengths.<\/p>\n \u201cTy Okada did a great job, but most of the time when Ty Okada is in the game, J-Love is the guy who is in the box,\u201d Bumpus explained. \u201cTy Okada, they rotate him down too, but it\u2019s mostly J-Love. I think J-Love is best on the back end. He\u2019s the guy that keeps everything in front.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Coby Bryant walks down in that box, it just hits different,\u201d he added. \u201c\u2026 Once Coby Bryant gets back out there, this defense is going to get even better because you have another guy who plays with intensity who will go downhill and hit you.\u201d<\/p>\n Hear all of Michael Bumpus\u2019 Four Down Territory segment from Tuesday here<\/a>. Listen to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.\u00a0<\/p>\n More on the Seattle Seahawks<\/p>\n \u2022 Report: Seahawks OC Kubiak up for 4 NFL head coach jobs<\/a>
\u2022 Who Seattle Seahawks are most at risk of losing OC Kubiak to<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Daniel Jeremiah: Three reasons Seattle Seahawks are NFC\u2019s No. 1 seed<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Why Schlereth could see Seahawks pulling off repeat of Super Bowl 48<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Salk: How I\u2019m learning to stop worrying about Sam Darnold<\/a><\/p>\n
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