Who will play SS LB?

by Nick Andron on May 5, 2009 11:57 AM PDT

Now that we're all done (or are we?) rejoicing that Leroy is a Seahawk for more than half a decade (saying it that way really puts things into perspective, doesn't it?), now comes the more difficult task of determining where our linebackers fit.

The easiest decision is putting Lofa at ILB. That's where he excels (as seen in past years) and both Curry and Hill are not ILBs.

So here comes the hard part: Who plays strongside? Hill tore it up his rookie year on the strong side: 7.5 sacks and 72 tackles. Once Julian was signed the next year, Hill played WS LB for 3 years and totaled less sacks (7) than his rookie year, combined.

Curry isn't a pass-rush specialist. He specializes in getting to the ball, tackling hard, and tackling for losses. This is a simplistic and likely laughable analysis to you junkies, but for the most part I think it gets the point across.

So how do you guys think it'll shake out? Does the WS put a damper on too many of Curry's strengths? What's the cost/benefit?

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I think Curry will be designated strongside

but I think the two OLBs will be used interchangeably, and I think eventually both Curry and Hill will see work at the strongside.

by John Morgan on May 5, 2009 12:10 PM PDT reply actions

So if I understand correctly

do you mean much like the safeties. They’re both kind of both in the sense that it’s determined by the formation and they both kind of play their side of the field reguardless (strong or weak) ?

by hawkfanjp on May 5, 2009 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions

I think the strongside and weakside designations will not strongly impact how they are played,

but that Curry will play over the tight end.

by John Morgan on May 5, 2009 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions

John Clayton said Mora has already designated Curry SLB

Link

by Ezzra on May 5, 2009 12:19 PM PDT reply actions

Wait, I don't get it.

We’re going to keep Leroy at the spot he’s been the last two seasons while Peterson held his rookie spot down?

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on May 5, 2009 12:24 PM PDT reply actions

yes, but it's a different defense

the linebackers will be used differently. He wasn’t a full time starter as a rookie and was brought in mainly to blitz. Besides, do you really want Hill covering the tight end?

by B.B.Finnegan on May 5, 2009 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Depends on the TE.

If the TE sucks, who cares, it’s only 3 catches for 40 yards probably. If it’s Witten, make Curry cover him.
Of course we could always come across a Brent Celek-type…

McCoy McCoy 2010, also acceptable, Russell Okung, Ndamukong Suh, Dez Bryant, Ciron Black, Trent Williams, and Bryan Bulaga.

by LantermanC on May 5, 2009 8:01 PM PDT up reply actions

No, that's what I mean.

If he stays at the position he’s been at the last couple of seasons, won’t he be stuck in coverage some more?

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on May 5, 2009 8:53 PM PDT up reply actions

No, because the position's being redefined

By all indications, Hill will be on the backside so that he’s free to do what he does best, rather than being made to spend most of his time on what he does less well.

by The Ancient Mariner on May 6, 2009 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Okay.

Just getting that clarified.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on May 6, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm hoping our blitzing schemes are going to be less predictable

In that case, it wouldn’t really matter all that much where they play, a blitz could come from either side. Curry will play sam but not in the same, extra end way Peterson did

by ciarannh on May 5, 2009 1:05 PM PDT reply actions

Running more to strong side + Curry can actually shed blocks

I love Lofa and Leroy, but it’s pretty unusual to have 2 LBs that can’t shed blocks. Curry can do that. Teams will run more to the strong side, so it makes sense to have the bigger, stronger, better block shedder over there.

I’m guessing that means Leroy would more likely cover RBs in the WS flat?

Saw film of the Wake Forest/Maryland game, Curry made like 3 open field tackles on Hayward-Bey on the outside. He’s just sick.

by PerryCollective on May 8, 2009 8:25 PM PDT reply actions

With that said

Can we assume that this year’s pass rush won’t often come from our linebackers but our front four instead?

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on May 12, 2009 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions

Personally, I doubt it

I suspect there will be much of the time when Hill’s assignment is “stop the run on the way to the quarterback.”

by The Ancient Mariner on May 12, 2009 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Indeed,

I just hope we get a bit more dynamic with our blitz packages. Last year, it seemed as if our blitzes were way too predictable. As in, “flashing neon sign” predictable.

"And the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short." Thomas Hobbes' "Leviathan"

"But, in spite of these things, it was a gay and magnificent revel." Edgar Allen Poe "The Masque of the Red Death"

by Grimm Blackwood on May 12, 2009 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions