THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Stop the run, and continue the gibberish

Yes, the Seahawks can defy expectations with a surprise playoff appearance.

But …

No, they can’t pull it off with teams running through, around and over them.

In the past three games, Seattle has given up rushing totals that equate to 205 yards per outing — numbers that would have made Woody Hayes proud back in his Ohio State days.

The Seahawks surrendered a season-high 161 yards to Tampa Bay (when the Bucs previously had averaged 67, dead last in the NFL), then a whopping 293 in that hideous overtime loss to the Raiders, and last week the Rams ran bootlegs and cutbacks for 171 yards on the ground.

These were the crippled, three-win Rams with John Wolford at quarterback, and they came in with the SECOND-worst rushing game in the league (69 yards).

Only that spectacular 75-yard drive led by Geno Smith to finish the day prevented a third straight loss.

You probably hadn’t memorized those numbers, but surely the Seahawks’ defense was failing the eye test pretty clearly.

But just for you math geeks, though, here’s one more stat that might make you wince …

Seattle is allowing a league-worst 2.01 yards per carry BEFORE contact, and that’s just scary.

IF YOU’RE clinging to hope that we’ll find the Seahawks (now 7-5) scratching their way into the postseason, I’m afraid there are two more defensive issues that should cause you worry.

First, defense coordinator Clint Hurtt (and his boss, the defensive-minded Pete Carroll) believed they’d made the proper adjustments after those nightmares against Tampa Bay and the Raiders.

“We thought we fixed it,” said veteran safety Quandre Diggs.

Worse yet, they knew almost exactly what the Rams would be doing.

In the pregame huddle, Diggs told his defensive mates: “We know what it’s going to be. It’s going to be runs and boots, so let’s be great in covering and hitting.”

Obviously, they didn’t manage it very well.

The second problem is coming up this Sunday, when the Seahawks host Carolina (4-8).

The Panthers, directed by interim coach Steve Wilks, have gone to a powerhouse, downhill running attack featuring D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard.

Carolina has called more than a hundred designed runs in its past three games.

In the Panthers’ Week 12 win over Denver, QB Sam Darnold (making his first start) was involved in just 20 dropbacks — while Carolina ran 41 designed rushing plays.

In other words, this weekend at Lumen Field is going to be another rock fight, and somehow … some way … the Seahawks must get the Panthers out of an effective, time-consuming run game.

Hurtt already has said that rookie outside linebacker Boye Mafe, who played just 10 snaps against the Rams, will be on the field considerably more often — with either Bruce Irvin or Uchenna Nwosu giving up some time.

Nwosu is the Hawks’ best pass rusher (nine sacks), so he likely will play on throwing downs, at the least.

Of course, the Seahawks have to force Carolina into some of those long-yardage situations, and lately that’s been a problem.

BOTH HURTT and Carroll have made it plain that there likely won’t be more miraculous individual play.

Sure, they can emphasize everyone executing assignments properly (which hasn’t always been the case), but the Legion of Boom is not going to suddenly reappear.

That leaves defensive schemes as the only tactic that makes sense.

Seattle had some occasional success against the Rams by bringing one of its safeties — Diggs or Ryan Neal — up near the line of scrimmage, effectively showing an eight-man front on what appeared to be running downs.

Hurtt might as well text the Panthers, and just say loud and clear that they’ll be seeing an overloaded box, as Seattle throws everything but the kitchen sink at the Carolina running game.

Playing safeties up close as a game-long strategy obviously has the effect of leaving the Seahawks’ corners all alone in coverage a lot of the time — but Tariq Woolen, Mike Jackson and nickel Coby Bryant have been surprisingly solid all year.

Woolen is tied for the league lead with six interceptions (along with two recovered fumbles), and Jackson is a physical character who doesn’t get overpowered on the left side.

The secondary simply HAS to hold up despite light numbers if Seattle is going to stop the run.

That would allow the offense put away the otherwise-struggling Panthers.

Carroll has ridden in this rodeo a million times.

Asked directly if he felt the Hawks could make the playoffs, Pete said …

“We have a shot at it. We have some of the elements that you need, that we are fortunate to have — leadership, we’ve got quarterback play, we’ve got a style about us, we’ve got a kicking game.

“We’ve got a lot of things that are really positive about this team, but it doesn’t matter.

“It’s a bunch of gibberish unless we win some games.”

Yep.

And to do that, they have to stop people from running over them.

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Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”