They’re men on a mission

KIRKLAND — Ray Rhodes hasn’t spoken to the media since training camp began.

Not because he’s shy.

Not because he has nothing to say.

Not because he doesn’t like the media.

OK, so scratch that last one.

But the main motivation for the muted Seattle Seahawks’ defensive coordinator this past month has been the fact that he doesn’t have any answers yet.

Rhodes has said in private that he doesn’t want to do any interviews until he has a better grasp of his defensive unit.

Three games into the preseason, the Seahawks’ defense has quietly been providing some answers.

Seattle’s No. 1 unit, despite playing without Grant Wistrom and Marcus Tubbs — not to mention the rotating middle linebacker and recent loss of Chad Brown — has yet to allow a touchdown in three preseason games.

Over a stretch of 17 defensive series, and approximately the equivalent of a game-and-a-half, the Seahawks’ starters have allowed 355 yards of total offense, 22 first downs and nine points.

They’ve given up an average of 3.9 yards per play — or 1.1 yards less than the 2003 Dallas Cowboys, who led the NFC in that category last season.

Eight of their opponents’ 19 drives against the No. 1 defense have ended after three plays or less.

In a nutshell, Seattle’s defense has looked like world beaters thus far.

“They are kicking butt,” said defensive end Grant Wistrom, who had watched from a distance until this week. “I’m just excited about stepping on the field and getting to play with them.”

The Seahawks rank second in the NFL in yards allowed per game (238.7) and seventh in points allowed per game (12.0), statistics that include performances by the backups and backups-to-the-backups.

But the coaching staff is most concerned with Seattle’s No. 1 defense, which has held up to the preseason tests.

Head coach Mike Holmgren is impressed — but with an asterisk.

“I would ask everybody to understand that it’s the preseason,” Holmgren said, tempering his emotion of a unit that has struggled for most of his tenure in Seattle. “Different teams are working on different plays and different (tempos).”

That being said, Seattle’s defense has done just about everything asked of it this preseason.

Ken Lucas answered any questions about who would be the starting cornerback by going out and having the best training camp of his career.

Terreal Bierria has held off rookie Michael Boulware as the starting strong safety.

Defensive tackle Rashad Moore, on a mission to prove that 2003 was no fluke, has had a strong preseason.

And veterans like Anthony Simmons, Marcus Trufant and Chike Okeafor have looked unstoppable at times.

One thing that Wistrom has noticed is the unit’s speed.

“It’s pretty incredible,” he said. “I thought we had a fast defense in St. Louis, but I think all the way across the board (the Seahawks) probably have faster players here than we did there.”

Not that everything is kosher this preseason.

The Seahawks lost Brown for eight weeks, and his primary backup — D.D. Lewis — is struggling with a shoulder problem. Wistrom, the prized free agent, missed four weeks with a heel injury but is expected to make his preseason Seahawks debut Thursday night.

And there is still no clear-cut leader in the battle for the starting middle linebacker spot.

Those are typical problems of any training camp.

This year’s Seahawks are just happy that most of the problems that plagued past Seattle teams look like they might be history.

“We’ve got a lot of potential, but we’ve got to put everything together,” Trufant said.