The New Orleans Saints have a lot of pedigree across their defensive front seven. Franchise legend Cameron Jordan was a first-round draft pick many years ago, as were Chase Young and Bryan Bresee. Most of their linebackers were day two picks.
However, their best player up front for the past several years has been an undrafted free agent they signed out of Wyoming back in 2019. And if Seattle Seahawks' offensive line coach John Benton doesn’t develop a sound plan for blocking him, Carl Granderson could ruin Sam Darnold’s day when New Orleans comes marching in on Sunday.
Granderson is listed at 6’5”, 261 pounds, but if you watch him, you’d swear he was even taller. It’s largely due to his 34” arms. That’s JJ Watt territory, and they allow the seventh-year player to corral running backs even when he is not right on top of them. Those arms, combined with the arsenal of pass rush techniques he has developed, make him a real threat on passing downs as well.
Slowing down Carl Granderson is the key to the Seattle Seahawks' offensive success in Week 3
Granderson can move around the line, but he will typically line up as a defensive end coming from the left side of the defense. That means he will be across from Abe Lucas on a lot of plays this week.
Lucas has been OK through two games this year. Most importantly, he has been healthy. His unavailability over the past couple of seasons has had a major negative impact on Seattle's ability to establish a cohesive offense. But he has not exactly been dominant. That adjective only applies to left tackle Charles Cross on the offensive line.
Lucas is going to have his hands full taking on Granderson one-on-one. Granderson has a quick spin move. He has the speed to turn the corner on slow-footed tackles. And I have seen him bull rush no less a player than Philadelphia’s Lane Johnson, one of the premier right tackles in the league.
Seattle will probably be in heavy formation for much of the game. AJ Barner, Elijah Arroyo and Robbie Ouzts could well be on the field at the same time on at least a handful of plays. When that is the case, look for one to help out on Granderson. You may also see some of the better-blocking receivers like Cooper Kupp and Jake Bobo coming in for (hopefully legal) crackbacks.
READ MORE: It took two games for Seahawks' Sam Darnold to prove the Vikings wrong
However, there are going to be times when Lucas needs to win the one-on-one matchup. And he’s not the only lineman who will be tested.
New Orleans will run stunts with one of their bigger interior linemen – Cameron Jordan has been doing this of late when lined up at tackle – crashing upfield and allowing Granderson to use his quickness to shoot the gap that may be created. Guard Anthony Bradford and center Jalen Sundell will need to be aware of this move and be ready to slide into the rush lane to take on Granderson.
Carl Granderson picked up 14.5 sacks in his first four years. Not bad for a reserve player. In the last two seasons, as a starter, he had 14 sacks. Last year, he finished in the top 20 in the league in quarterback pressures and he is well ahead of that pace this year.
Through two games, he is tied for the league lead in sacks (3.5) with Myles Garrett and pressures (7) with Zach Allen and Jeffrey Simmons.
That’s some pretty good company. Hopefully, on Sunday, Seattle will have a blocking scheme that prevents him from adding Sam Darnold to his totals.