Three takes: This is defense Seahawks fans expected

This is the defense Seahawks fans have been waiting for all season.

The ball-hawking one.

The one that scores not one but two touchdowns.

The defense Seattle must have if it wants to reach the goals the Hawks have set for themselves.

The type of defense that doesn’t have to be perfect, and in the 46-18 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night, it wasn’t.

But it was explosive.

When the game was hanging in the balance early, nickelback Justin Coleman’s interception and 28-yard scoring return tipped the ledger in the Hawks’ favor. And gave them a 10-2 lead.

When the Hawks needed a knockout blow, middle linebacker Bobby Wagner delivered it, scooping up Jacoby Brissett’s fumble – caused by reserve defensive lineman Marcus Smith II – and bulling his way for 21 yards and a second defensive score.

Such crushing blows hadn’t been seen yet this season and their absence has contributed to the Hawks’ 1-2 start. This hasn’t been a team with an explosive offense.

So defensive scores are what separate hang-on-to-your-seat games from blowout wins.

The defense was coming off a 33-27 loss to Tennessee in which the defense had yielded 420 yards and did not force a turnover. That stung.

So the defense went into Sunday night with an aggressive mindset, taking advantage of the Colts’ offensive line problems, pressured Brissett relentlessly and helped the Hawks even their record heading into next weekend’s showdown with the Rams.

Gruesome fate for Carson

The NFL is hard to watch sometimes. There are various reasons, but the most sickening one is illustrated by what happened to Chris Carson with a little more than 6 minutes left and the Hawks in control.

Carson was sandwiched by two Colts defenders on an innocuous run off left tackle. What happened to his left leg shouldn’t happen to anyone.

His pain was palpable, even on television.

The trainers rushed out, they immobilized the rookie’s leg and he was taken off on a cart.

Unless some sort of miracle happens, he won’t be back this season. And the road to any return will probably be a tough one.

Carson had earned his spot in the lineup. He had become the Hawks’ top back. And now he’s out.

Graham just hasn’t worked out

When are the Seahawks going to admit the Jimmy Graham experience hasn’t been a positive one?

The 6-foot-7 tight end, acquired from New Orleans in 2015, is still a decent to good football player. And can be a serviceable target in many offenses.

But he just doesn’t fit in Seattle.

The numbers, though not as spectacular as they were for the Saints (he caught 386 passes in 78 games), have been decent, especially last season (65 catches).

The problem is Graham’s style of play doesn’t fit with the Hawks.

The Seattle culture is built on bury-your-nose-into-the-other-guy’s-chest toughness. Marshawn Lynch toughness. Kam Chancellor toughness.

That’s not something Graham displays.

He’s an ambivalent blocker at best. He doesn’t sell out on every route. And he doesn’t fight for the ball as ferociously as a guy his size should.

A good example of this came with 3:41 left in the first half.

Graham ran an out pattern. Russell Wilson threw the ball as if he thought Graham was going to cut a bit sharper. Those things happen.

So does a defender taking advantage, as the Colts’ Matthias Farley did, cutting in front of Graham.

It was a 50/50 ball, the type of play the bigger, stronger guy should make. If he fights for it.

Graham was the former. He wasn’t the latter. And Farley came up with the pick. It led to Indianapolis’ go-ahead touchdown, a minor blip, sure, in a game the Hawks won by 28 points. But it was symbolic of Graham’s Seattle resume.

Could the throw have been better? Sure. Did Farley make a good play? Sure. Did Graham contest the pick? No, not at all.

His effort was not good enough, not worthy of the culture Pete Carroll and John Schneider have built in Seattle.

The problem is those are the two who would have to admit Graham’s acquisition was a mistake. They were able to accept that blame with Percy Harvin. They haven’t been able to admit it yet with Graham. It’s time they did.