One of these days, the Seahawks might field a full team – and we’ll see just how powerful they really are. For now, like so many teams around the league, they have to be content playing with about 80% of their top players – their battered secondary and pass rush still not full strength.

That was not quite enough against Tampa Bay last Sunday, but trust Mike Macdonald to have learned from that defensive meltdown (370 passing yards, 38 points allowed). Even if the Hawks are again without Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love, Macdonald likely will put his defense in position against Trevor Lawrence and the Jags in Jacksonville.

With Riq Woolen also likely out, Josh Jobe, Derion Kendrick, Nehemiah Pritchett, Ty Okada and Shaq Griffin (finally?) will have to do a much better job than they did last week.

More than that, the defensive front will have to rebound from a poorly timed worst game of the season and put pressure on Lawrence. After Baker Mayfield carved up his defense amid little pressure, Macdonald referred to the old backyard football pass rush rule, saying Mayfield had “too many Mississippis.”  

Expect Lawrence to get fewer Mississippis. Macdonald does not make the same mistake twice, and he should have a good plan — whether that is more blitzing, better disguises or whatever.

Leonard Williams pointed out the schedule helps the Hawks create a plan for this one, as they are facing pretty much the same offense they just saw. Jags coach Liam Coen was Tampa’s offensive coordinator last year.

“So, in my opinion,” Williams said, “it’s a good thing we’re going to see two back-to-back offenses like this. We’ve seen what we’re deficient and lacking in, in this last game against that type of scheme, so we’ve seen that’s something we have to work on and something we’re going to get better at throughout the week.”

The lack of cohesiveness in the back end has no doubt contributed to the Seahawks being a bottom-10 tackling team in the NFL. Williams said the pursuit effort has not been good enough.

“When (the first guy) missed the ball, it should be stopped as soon as he cuts back inside. That’s part of our defense. We play with hustle, we play with energy and we help each other out by how hard we play.”

While the defense is trying to figure out how to overcome key losses, the offense and special teams are in fine form. Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have quickly become the best passing tandem in the NFL, the Seahawks’ running attack has had a couple of good performances in a row and the return games are among the best in the NFL (both rank second).

The big key in this game likely will be turnovers. The Jags lead the NFL in takeaways, and the Hawks have turned the ball over at least once in every game – including twice in aborted comebacks. Seattle’s defense had been pulling two a game itself until drawing a goose egg against Tampa. One takeaway might have been enough to win that game.

The Hawks have forced two turnovers in each of their two road games; if they do it again, they should win their ninth straight road game.