Grading the Seahawks defensive starters through 13 games

Defensive line

The line has had two players perform at a Pro Bowl level in 2018, Frank Clark and Jarran Reed. Other starters on the line have mainly been Shamar Stephen and Quinton Jefferson. Seriously. Jefferson has started 10 of the Seahawks 13 games.

I am leaving Clark and Reed out for just a minute. As far as Jefferson goes, he has had just two sacks and been in on 20 tackles. He does have 12 quarterback hits, but four of them came in week three against the Cowboys. Jefferson is not really a long-term answer at defensive end. Not if Seattle wants to have a dominant defensive line for several seasons.

Stephen has been steady which is all Seattle wanted from him. He, like Jefferson, also has two sacks this year and has 22 combined tackles. But as opposed to Jefferson, Stephen isn’t supposed to line up and go after opposing quarterbacks. Stephen is supposed to helped slow down the run. He has done this adequately.

Pro Football Focus has both Jefferson and Stephen listed as inside defenders. Stephen is that but Jefferson is not. That is why there is a difference in their grades.

Clark and Reed are the players that make the line as good as it is. Clark came into the season needing a big year in sacks totals. He has 11 in 13 games. That’s very good. Reed has had a break out season with 6.5 sacks and eight tackles-for-loss.

Clark and Reed should be going to the Pro Bowl at the end of 2018. They also need to be wearing Seahawks uniforms for several more years. Let’s hope Seattle does the right thing and extend both these players.

Grades

Clark: A

Reed: A

Stephen: C

Jefferson: D+