Tell me more about the Seahawks defense. They did a good job last week keeping Gore in check should I expect them to be solid against the run all year?
I believe they will stop the run well all year for several reasons. Also, they know Gore. They did this to him at home last season too in a win.1. Moving DT Red Bryant to DE is a significant upgrade in the run defense. He's massive for a DE. I don't think you'll see at right tackles setting the edge well against him.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seah...030_hawk17.html
2. A healthy Lofa Tatupu is a giant difference maker at MLB. If you caught the play where he met LG Mike Iupati in the hole you'll know exactly what I mean. Lofa gave himself up to blow up the play in his typical unselfish manner. It was a good lesson for Iupati in "pad level wins".
3. Development of OLB Aaron Curry. He's a physical freak, but that needs to translate into big plays on the field. At some point he's going to explode. If he doesn't, you'll hear him talked about as a draft bust, but for now I think the jury is still out.
4. DT Brandon Mebane is an emerging star. Most have no idea who he is, but over the past two years he's been the best player on a defense that has struggled. He has quickness and explosion in small spaces.
5. SS Lawyer Milloy is up in age, but holy crap he brings a giant thump from the wood shed when playing the run. He's the attitude and intensity that a young defense needs to see from a veteran.
Pass defense? Not so much. There are reasons for optimism, but I see this defense getting picked apart by good quarterbacks. That said, they won't see good quarterbacks in the NFC west (Smith, Anderson, and Bradford).
1. CB Marcus Trufant appears to be back in Pro-bowl form, but he's the only one in the defensive backfield worthy of that title.
2. CB Kelly Jennings got a vote of confidence when they shipped Josh Wilson off to Baltimore for a draft pick, but he's shown major liabilities in coverage so far in his career. Specifically, Jennings doesn't have ball skills. When its in the air he never appears to have that "go get it" mentality. Time will tell if he develops.
3. They are starting an over the hill SS in Milloy that likes to blow people up, but is likely susceptible to getting burned in coverage.
4. They are starting first round draft pick FS Earl Thomas who appears to have massive ball skills, but is only a rookie. Thomas looks like a play maker. Likely not an Ed Reed, but in that mold. Again, time will tell if he is the real deal. During the draft Mike Mayock raved about him and went on and on about why he had him ranked ahead of Berry that went to KC with the fifth pick.
5. Where will the pass rush come from, and will it be consistent? This is the largest question mark with regard to this team. They sent DE Daryl Tapp to Philladelphia in exchange for Chris Clemons. Clemons was brought in specifically to play the "LEO" role in Pete Carroll's defense. This is the guy that should bring the heat on pass plays. He showed a lot of promise in the preseason (dude is quick like a DE shouldn't be) and did his job well last week against SF, but that's not enough to make me a believer yet. I won't be surprised to see him lead this team in sacks, but will it be a ho-hum 8 sack season, or a 16 sack pro-bowl caliber season? The move of DT Red Bryant to DE is huge for the run defense, but can a guy that big (listed at 323 lbs) bring a pass rush? Lastly, what sort of contributions will the OLBs bring to the pass rush? See? There are lots of questions about pass rush, and in this league winning has become more and more about moving the sticks with the pass and stopping the pass with the rush. Again, time will tell here.
http://www.seahawks.com/news/articles/arti...06-a46c2c813322
Holy crap. I guess I had a lot to say. I'm hopeful to see how this defense turns out. I try to be objective, but I'm a homer and I know it.
EDIT: I added some links to articles that highlight a few of the points I made about Bryant and Clemons.
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Report: Hawks, DE Nick Reed part ways
Also Leroy Hill is back from suspension, he is a nice upgrade at OLB.
guilty
Earl Thomas looks Pro Bowl-bound. And even though he hasn't made many "big plays", the impact Carroll has had on Jennings is unbelievable. I am beginning to buy into the hype that Pete Carroll is one of the greatest defensive backs coaches of all time.
