Update: Seattle Signs Bradley
by John Morgan on Jan 10, 2009 2:35 PM PST
in Seahawks News
35 comments
Update: Confirmation.
That claim found here. [Edit: Link is now dead, but the quote is legit.]
Here's the basics:
Bradley is a fast rising star. He spent one season with Tampa as defensive quality coach before being promoted to linebackers coach in 2007. He has ten years of college coaching experience. He's more rookie than retread.
Bradley hails from the home of the Tampa 2, but is not as steeped in it as Marinelli. Bradley's starting linebackers produced three sacks over two seasons. So if you're hoping for the wild and woolly wackiness of Jim Johnson, well...Bradley prefers to pressure with the front four and though I'm not sure Seattle will go straight Tampa 2, this is a definite move towards a Tampa 2.
Those three sacks came courtesy Barrett Ruud. The second round pick out of Nebraska is printed across the top of Bradley's résumé. Ruud has become one of the best, most well rounded middle linebackers in the NFL.
Bradley is not Rod Marinelli.
Few more facts and comments:
Bradley played free safety at North Dakota State. Yes, free safety. Which is either fantastic news for fans or fantastic news for Brian Russell.
As defensive coordinator at NDS, Bradley ran a variant of the Tampa 2. I think it's safe to say this is what Tim Ruskell wants. I'm curious and a bit frightened to see how he executes it.
One of the hallmarks of Tampa's resurgent defense is gap control. Bradley, teach our linebackers gap control.
Words you see associated with Bradley: classy, innovative, hard working, energetic, excellence.
Sounds like a real good hire and the type of new blood I've longed for in Seattle.
0 recs |
35 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
that article also says...
“Brian Schneider, the Raiders’ special teams coordinator the past two seasons, is on his way to Seattle to interview there.”
by djafrot on Jan 8, 2009 3:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
why do we have a roster that wouldn't fit a Tampa 2?
Did Ruskell plan for a Tampa 2 and the talent just grew more towards a Jim Johnson style defense? Or was this year’s front 4 just not good enough for what the defense needs?
by Will Kier on Jan 8, 2009 3:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
The frount four doesn't have enough speed.
Tapp would qualify as a Mathis type, but that’s about it. Mebane is a good fit, but that’s assuming Seattle gets a dominant pass rushing 3.
Kelly Jennings and Trufant are man corners. Jennings would be a nightmare in a short zone, pressing, run tackling, jumping routes. Trufant could do it, but you’re taking a great man corner and rolling the dice that he can play the short zone. Josh Wilson fits.
Deon Grant could play a 2 shell.
Lofa Tatupu is Barrett Ruud like. Leroy Hill and Julian Peterson are better blitzers than short zone players. Peterson could be okay, but he’s getting older and his coverage play hasn’t looked as sharp as his younger days. All three are good to excellent blitzers—something the T2 eschews.
Realistically, you’re looking at a top 3, a top to elite RDE, a good FS, a coverage WLB and…well I don’t know what to do with Jennings.
by John Morgan on Jan 8, 2009 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
why would Ruskell draft/bring in guys that don't fit the scheme he wants?
Seems silly to bring in people like Jackson or Jennings if they weren’t going to be able to play.
by djafrot on Jan 8, 2009 3:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
this roster incongruity
seems like it should have been happening in 2005 or 2006, not starting Year 4 of the Ruskell regime. Assuming that this is the hire, it seems inexplicable why Ruskell would have spent the last couple years signing and drafting players who wouldn’t fit a pure Tampa 2, or have signed a coach who didn’t fit the pre-existing player skills.
by Will Kier on Jan 8, 2009 3:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
They could run a man cover-2 to fit the CB personnel
The linebackers have the speed to get to the sidelines, but as you said their coverage skills are a bit of a struggle. Plus, if they’re not attacking the QB then where does the pressure come from?
by Jo-Jo on Jan 8, 2009 4:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
In fact, he probably has to be, because I watched him get double teamed out of a lot of plays.
by John Morgan on Jan 8, 2009 5:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Strength issue?
He looks the part of someone that can control the line.
by Nate Dogg on Jan 8, 2009 5:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I Wiki'ed Tampa 2 for the hell of it, and turned up this quote:
Typically, the [Tampa 2] players don’t have the prototypical size of other NFL defenders. Instead, stress is put on speed, smarts and flawless tackling. […] A quick defensive line is a must, but the middle linebacker position is the straw that stirs the drink.
from someone named Brian Mullen.
Well let’s see- lacks prototypical size, stress on smarts, middle linebacker strength… this is right up Ruskell’s alley.
I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!
by abender20 on Jan 8, 2009 3:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
linked article no longer works
2/3 of the world is covered by water. The rest is covered by Marcus Trufant.
by Chickadee on Jan 8, 2009 3:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
That's interesting.
Maybe the cat’s not yet out of the bag. Or maybe the NFL wants one of their “reporters” to get the scoop.
by John Morgan on Jan 8, 2009 3:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
This is all a misunderstanding
He’s been brought in to replace Brian Russell, not coach him. Welcome in your new starting safety, we’ve got no where to go but up.
by Nate Dogg on Jan 8, 2009 4:13 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Good grief
Of all the people pining for the job, I wanted this guy the absolute least. Basically, our linebackers are all but eliminated from adding additional pressure. What a waste of talent. Too bad we couldn’t snag Spags or Jimmy Johnson.
by Fearless Frog on Jan 8, 2009 4:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Jim Johnson or hairdo?
We had no chance of signing any of those coaches.
by John Morgan on Jan 8, 2009 4:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Why would either of them have been an option?
Seems pretty unlikely that they’d take a lateral move to be our DC.
by Nate Dogg on Jan 8, 2009 4:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Eh, that's true...
But if we were headed in a different direction, I’d rather even have someone like Crennel brought in. Of course, I wanted Zerick Rollins above all.
by Fearless Frog on Jan 8, 2009 4:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He does, hence the 'headed in a different direction' as this move suggests a Tampa 2.
Of course, I wish nothing but the best for our new DC. It’s just frustrating to hear we aren’t getting someone who is effective with zone-blitzes, something our linebackers should theoretically excel at.
by Fearless Frog on Jan 8, 2009 8:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Don't worry, I wasn't trying to correct you or anything.
Just making sure he indeed ran a 3-4. Our personnel would be quite mismatched in a 3-4, perhaps moreso than in a Tampa-2 4-3?
by redwolf75 on Jan 8, 2009 9:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, well in that case, yes he does. So does Mel Tucker, who's also rumored to have been here for an interview.
You’re right about the personnel though. Sando pointed that the only defensive lineman who would fit would be Mebane possibly as the NT, but I think that wouldn’t be good. Here’s to hoping Red Bryant can make something of him self, because he’s showed a lot of promise.
by Fearless Frog on Jan 9, 2009 11:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know if it's realistic
But I really want Red Bryant to be good. If he is everything that he could be, coupling him with Mebane would be a devistating pair.
by Jo-Jo on Jan 9, 2009 11:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
A Tampa-2 guy from the Bucs...
He’ll damn well know the importance of the disruptive 3-tech then.
So watch Gerald McCoy tonight, if he declares as a RS Soph he could be our guy.
by puerto on Jan 8, 2009 4:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Mel Tucker
Farnsworth is reporting that Cleveland DC Mel Tucker is interviewing today as well.
That’s interesting because of his experience as a 3-4 coordinator. It also makes me think about the Casey Bradley interview in a different light. Ruskell/Mora may be looking for talent over scheme. They just know more about what a guy like Bradley brings to the table because of the prior connections. That may be obvious to others, but when I saw Bradley’s name I immediately thought “we’re going to the Tampa 2.” I’m less convinced of that now, even if Bradley is the hire.
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
by dcrockett17 on Jan 9, 2009 5:11 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
O'Neil's saying the Lombardi report was premature
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/seahawks/2009/01/08/report_that_cas.html
So Bradley isn’t yet the confirmed hire (yet) and the team s still interviewing.
Don’t know how I feel about Tucker as a DC candidate … but IMO he’d be a pretty sweet hire as DB coach. (and maybe that’d give us an in for signing Sean Jones in FA to replace B-Russ) win/win.
by jteckmann on Jan 9, 2009 2:06 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
So Bradley's the guy
reasons to be excited:
1. new, young blood
2. Bradley’s (perceived) strengths appear to fit our roster’s strength (esp. our linebackers)
reasons to be concerned:
1. how much transition for the new guy? for the players?
2. we really don’t know exactly what we’ll be doing defensively this coming season
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
by dcrockett17 on Jan 10, 2009 3:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, how much
of the DC hire indicates scheme direction? If you’re Mora running the defense I think you pick most of the schemes and your DC runs practice, helps you come up with innovative game plans within your schemes and provides brilliant insights into what’s going on during the game so you can make better play calls.
by VBJohnson on Jan 10, 2009 6:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
