Predicting the Seahawks 53-man roster: Defensive edition
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks defense will look different this season. But do so many changes mean the team will be worse than previous seasons?
Do you even recognize these Seahawks, 12s? The offense may be more or less the same, but the defense? Not so much. No more Michael Bennett or Richard Sherman. But could the defense possibly be…better?
I know that sounds ridiculous. But it could be true with a better attitude among the players. No more bickering. Or not as much. And players who are happy to play.
So who will be on Seattle’s defense in 2018? Here’s my best guess. (oh, and if you really want to hear about it, here’s my guess at the offense in 2018 as well.)
Defensive line
Starters: Frank Clark, Dion Jordan, Nazair Jones and Jarran Reed
Backups: Tom Johnson, Shamar Stephen, Marcus Smith, Rasheem Green, Branden Jackson
Short take: I think Seattle is going to struggle getting to the opposing quarterback in 2018. This is, of course, going to hurt the entire defense. But the team should at least be better against the run with the acquisition of Johnson and Stephen from the Vikings. Nazair Jones is my breakout player of the year for the Seahawks.
Linebacker
Starters: K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner
Backups: Shaquem Griffin, Barkevious Mingo, D.J. Alexander
Short take: Seattle plays a 4-2-5 most of the time, which means two linebackers on the field for the majority of snaps. I think Griffin gets a lot of snaps in hopes of helping the pass rush. But the Seahawks defense will go as far as the linebackers can carry them.
Cornerback
Starters: Byron Maxwell, Shaquill Griffin, Justin Coleman
Backups: Neiko Thorpe and Tre Flowers
Short take: The starters are set. But Seattle has a lot of options at backup. I think Thorpe makes the team because he can play special teams and he has experience in the system. Flowers has great size, but what about his speed?
Safety
Starters: Earl Thomas (fingers crossed) and Bradley McDougald
Backups: Delano Hill and Tedric Thompson
Next: What's up with this Russell Wilson nickname?
Short take: There is still a small chance Kam Chancellor plays in 2018. How big of a lift would that be? And Seattle has to be hoping that Thomas actually plays when real games begin. With no Thomas, Seattle will probably not make the playoffs.