Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall describes jump in play as ‘night and day’

For Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall, there’s a “night-and-day” difference between his first NFL season and his second.

“Just coming to work, knowing what to expect,” Hall said during an appearance on Seattle Sports’ “The Huddle.” “Knowing what to look at, studying film and being able to get my game plan down a little bit better. Not having to worry about moving and getting in and getting settled and all the things that rookies have to do. It’s a little bit of a distraction.

“It’s just night and day for me, just being able to go out, play fast, play physical and be confident in my abilities.”

Hall’s statistics confirm his assertion.

As a second-round rookie from Auburn, Hall played in every game for Seattle in 2023. He had 38 tackles, three tackles for loss and five quarterback hits but did not record a sack.

In seven games this season, Hall has 21 tackles, three tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits and five sacks.

“Rushing-wise, last year I felt like I restricted myself a little bit in what I can do,” Hall said, “and just powering, powering, powering, powering and just continue to use power. Now coming this year and being able to see what to expect and be able to talk to guys … communicate, and, like I said, that comes back down to trust and being able to rush off each other, and that’s what allows us all to be effective.”

In seven games this season, Hall has played almost as much with Seattle’s defense as he did during his entire rookie season, when he had 307 defensive snaps and 287 special-teams plays. In 2024, Hall has 294 defensive snaps and 37 special-teams plays.

Hall’s rookie season was Pete Carroll’s 14th and final season as the Seahawks’ coach. Seattle hired Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to take his place in 2024.

“I think really coming out of OTAs, it was really, really big for me, just really picking up the scheme and talking to Coach Mike and all the coaches and everything that they’ve put us in place to go out and be successful,” Hall said about when he knew about his second season would be different from his first. “And really once I got that down and knowing what to expect, obviously having a year in with the guys that I know are going to be here and know how to play off each other and know how to go out and be successful, man, I think we just took it one day at a time, and we just continue to build that brotherhood, that trust and that care and love for one another. And the sky’s the limit for us as a defensive unit.”

Hall said he made some offseason changes, too.

“I think last year I played a little bit heavy,” Hall said, “so the biggest thing for me coming into the season was dropping about 5 to 8 pounds, getting back down about 260, around that area. And, man, it’s just been night and day in that aspect, and then just being able to build my body up, just like I said, knowing what to expect, and then the grind of trying to make yourself available for every single Sunday. I think that’s the biggest thing, just the process of taking care of your body and just knowing what you have to do to be available. I think that’s the biggest difference body-wise for me. …

“I thought I knew what taking care of my body was, and I really didn’t. And that entails massages, cryotherapy, chamber, jaw needling, doing every single thing you can to make yourself available on Sunday because I’m sure a lot of people know that I play this game Monday through Saturday. You’re just trying to get yourself going and trying to make yourself available that Sunday. That’s the best you’ll ever feel throughout that week, so just trying to do whatever you can to make yourself available.”