Are the Seahawks Better Post-Draft?: A Guide to Each Position Group on Defense
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks current run has been built on defense; Is the unit better than they were in 2016 with recent draft choices?
The Seahawks have Russell Wilson to lead them. But they have the defense to bind them. Seattle will be looking for the (Super Bowl) ring that will rule them all! Too geek-y? Too Lord of the Rings? We have the “Legion of Boom” already, so is going all LOTR such a reach? No. Not to me. So sue me! (Author’s note: Please do not sue me. My family would be very upset.)
Seattle took a couple of good-sized defensive tackles and several secondary players in this year’s draft. Seattle appears to have a lot more depth going into next season. Here is a look at each position group on defense to see if they are truly better.
Safety
Outlook: Let’s be honest. As much as the safety position has been one of the strengths of the Seahawks over the last several seasons, 2016 was not good. This lack-of-greatness was not due to Kam Chancellor or Earl Thomas not playing well, though. Both were the usually fantastic selves. The issue became there was no depth at free safety after Thomas was injured. Steven Terrell was not good and is no longer with the team.
The Seahawks did bring in Bradley McDougald as a free agent, but also drafted three safeties, Delano Hill, Tedric Thompson and Mike Tyson. Hill and Thompson are physical. They are clearly Seattle-type players. Tyson was a sixth-round pick and will most likely play a role on special teams, if he makes the roster. With Hill and Thompson, there is already more quality depth in 2017. They will make mistakes because they will be rookies. But they want to hit you and hit you hard. This is Seahawk football.
Better in 2017?: Yes. Clearly, yes. If the Seahawks had not taken but Hill, Seattle would be better. McDougald should be a good fit in Seattle, and so should Thompson and Hill.
Cornerback
Outlook: Seattle has a definitive hole in 2017 at the corner opposite Richard Sherman. DeShawn Shead played well in 2016 but will not be back until halfway through 2017. Seattle took Shaquill Griffin in the draft. He has speed and decent size. Griffin does have a bit of an issue covering receivers deep downfield, though. This is something that the Seahawks would not allow in a cornerback who played much. Griffin is also still a bit of an unknown as he did not play consistently against elite competition at the University of Central Florida. Griffin probably will not start in week one. Or week two.
Better in 2017?: Here’s the rub: though Griffin might make Seattle better long-term, he will not make them better early in 2017. Shead may return halfway through the season before Griffin has a chance to separate himself. So, the Seahawks are not better off in 2017, but may be in 2018.
Linebacker
Outlook and Better in 2017?: The Seahawks did not take a linebacker in the 2017 draft. They have signed five million linebackers in free agency, however. Mike Morgan will probably not be returning so the linebacker position is not better off in 2017. That said, the majority of snaps the Seahawks play a 4-2-5, which is four defensive linemen, two linebackers and five defensive backs. When your two linebackers are K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner, that is pretty good. If one of those two gets hurt, though, there could be trouble.
Defensive End
Outlook and Better in 2017?: Like linebacker, the Seahawks did not pick a true defensive end in the draft. The Seahawks seem set with the greatness that is Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Frank Clark. Sure, the Seahawks signed a free agent or two, but these three guy will be expected to create havoc for opposing quarterbacks. Bennett, Avril and Clark accounted for 26.5 of Seattle’s 42 sacks in 2016. They will need to replicate that for Seattle to be great again. Therefore, the outlook is the same, which if those guys are your ends is pretty good.
Defensive Tackle
Outlook: Seattle, like everyone else in the known universe and shire, realized that Seattle got nearly nothing from it’s interior rush in 2016. Hence, Malik McDowell is a new member of the Seahawks. So is Nazair Jones, who can apply a little pressure himself. Jones will not be a starter in week one. The Seahawks still have Ahtyba Rubin to play the early downs. Jarran Reed is also there mostly for run support. Jones should see several plays, though, while he learns how to be an NFL defensive lineman.
McDowell, on the other hand, is expected to make an immediate impact on passing downs. When motivated, McDowell can be a disruptor. Imagine if you will, Seahawks fans, an opposing team on a passing down at CenturyLink with a pass rush of Clark, Bennett, Avril and McDowell.
Just…imagine.
Better in 2017?: Absolutely, yes. Potentially, this is a strength of the team. Jones and McDowell could be very good in run defense, but if they can help with the interior rush at all then the Seahawks will win the day.