KIRKLAND, Wash. – For all the talk about Mike Holmgren developing four Pro Bowl players last year with his West Coast offense, Seattle’s fast start this season is all about defense.

The Seahawks (3-0) have allowed only 13 points. They are tied for the NFL lead with 10 takeaways, setting up 31 of their 65 points. Last week, Seattle became the first team since 1977 to shut out the San Francisco 49ers.

The defense is playing with a contagious enthusiasm.

“Guys are out there making big plays, and it jacks up the level of the whole defense,” end Grant Wistrom said. “The more excited you are, the harder you play and the better your chances of making a big play yourself.”

Directing this high-flying show is defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes, who has players hitting hard and running to the ball on every snap.

It’s been said that teams take on the personalities of their coaches. If that’s the case with Seattle’s defense, look out.

These Rhodes scholars play with a passion that is impossible to fake.

“You can tell Ray is an intense guy, but you wouldn’t necessarily call him aggressive,” injured linebacker Chad Brown said. “Then you sit down and talk to him and you realize, There’s a killer somewhere inside.”‘

That much seemed confirmed last Sunday. With Seattle leading 24-0 at halftime against the 49ers, Rhodes kept his defenders fired up in the locker room when he promised to give them every chance to preserve the shutout.

“‘Keep the pressure on, keep the shutout on,”‘ Wistrom said, recalling what Rhodes told them. “He was going to keep making aggressive calls. They were going to try to help us have the best chance to do it.”

Don’t forget that Seattle was 3-0 at this point last season, too, then went 7-6 the rest of the way. This year’s defense, though, has given the team a different feel – a confidence that suggests this team is better.

“Time will tell,” Holmgren said. “How do we handle a 3-0 start this year? Do we handle it well? Do they start feeling pretty good about themselves? That will be important.”

Ask any defender, and Rhodes is the biggest difference. Though it’s his second season with the team, the veteran coach has added a few more schemes, and most players have one more year working with him.

“It’s got to be the coaching and the attitude they brought,” tackle Cedric Woodard said. “We’ve had players here before, but I think you need to play defense with a certain attitude to be really successful.”

Rhodes has installed the second year of his overall package. And there’s the improved play from Woodard and cornerback Ken Lucas and the addition of free agents Wistrom and cornerback Bobby Taylor. After reaching the wild-card round last season, the Seahawks look even more formidable this year.

“Each defense puts in what I call teaching layers,”‘ Brown said. “In the first year, you put in a layer or two. Each year after that, you can put in a few more. By repetition, guys get familiar with all of it.

“The new personnel obviously helps us, and Ray has a proven track record of turning defenses around,” Brown added.

Seattle ranked 28th defensively after the 2002 season, when the defensive coaching staff was fired. In came Rhodes, and the Seahawks improved to 19th last season.

It’s impossible to predict where this year’s defense will rank, but Rhodes has an impressive track record. At each of his previous stops – Denver, Washington, Philadelphia and Green Bay – his defenses have ranked in the top 10 overall within two seasons.

Rhodes isn’t fond of interviews, and his meetings with reporters have been spaced by months since he came to Seattle.

Players say the method to his magic is simplicity. He breaks down assignments, clarifies what each person’s responsibilities are. He fosters enthusiasm, urging his defenders to hit hard and swarm to the ball.

Most importantly, he promises to find someone else if a player can’t do what’s expected.

“Ray keeps it simple enough that going into every game, you can be confident,” Brown said. “He’s not going to pull some crazy stuff out. At no point should you question your assignment or what you’re going to do.”

Imagine how potent the Seahawks could be when the offense operates at full throttle. Last season, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, running back Shaun Alexander, guard Steve Hutchinson and tackle Walter Jones reached the Pro Bowl.

The 34 points against San Francisco showed things are picking up after some sporadic offensive efforts, but there’s a sense that Hasselbeck and his teammates are just starting to click.

Then again, they might not need to score much if the defense keeps it up.

“Our defense came out of the gate playing awesome football,” Hasselbeck said.

AP-ES-09-30-04 1413EDT