Don't Cry for the Seahawks Run Defense
by John Morgan on Nov 2, 2010 6:34 PM PDT
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Red Bryant was probably the Seahawks best defensive linemen through seven game. With him out, the Seahawks run defense weakened significantly against the Raiders. I'll say this, and it might prove untrue, but I don't think it is: Seattle's run defense can weather the loss of Bryant.
I think this because before Bryant started as Dan Quinn's supersized end, there was Cory Redding. Both players were converted defensive tackles that sort of straddled definitions. Redding and Bryant exist somewhere between a 3-4 end and a 4-3 tackle. The implicit sacrifice of starting an end at tackle is the loss of pass rush, and even though Bryant performed a bit better than expected, he was mostly a component pass rusher. Bryant set the edge so that linebackers and defensive backs could rush.
Now that Bryant is on injured reserve, we get to see if Bryant was particularly capable of stuffing the strong side or if another tackle-end type can also jam offensive guards and tackles. Frank Okam seems like the obvious replacement. He is huge and long-limbed, but plays upright for a tackle and loses leverage. So, Red Bryant. He's not as quick as Bryant, but I'm not sure we'll see that difference. Seattle signed Okam to a two-year contract. That means he is coming in to play, and given his tools and skills, I assume it means he is coming in to take over for Bryant.
The blitz might suffer, but I doubt the run defense will suffer too terribly much.
It's interesting, because though I think Bryant was playing at a higher level than Mebane, I don't think Bryant is nearly as irreplaceable as Brandon Mebane. Under tackles that can penetrate and stuff are pretty uncommon, and though Kentwan Balmer hasn't played poorly, I don't think he's Mebane's match. Maybe I'll regret assuming Okam can approximate Bryant's contributions, but I doubt it. If you're willing to forfeit pass rush from part of the front four, it's not terribly hard to find someone that can stuff the run.
Now, will Seattle's strong side pressure still work? That I am not sure about.
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I think you said something similar to this in the game thread, that Seattle's run defense shouldn't suffer but it's pass rush probably will.
I pretty much agree. For as much as I doubted Red in the preseason he proved pretty capable of not just holding the point but helping collapse the pocket. I doubt they’ll get that from anyone they sign off the scrap heap.
Where does EJ Wilson fit in all of this?
Forgot all about Wilson actually
I mean, completely forgot about him…
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
Stupid question:
What exactly does “set the edge” mean?
"Pass rushers enter the world of Okung but never leave." - JM
http://seahawksblog.wordpress.com
If you think of the offensive line as a line, setting the edge would be turning one end of it in, so that a pass rusher can take a tight angle to the ball carrier.
Basically, it means occupying and influencing the tackle and tight ends so that Milloy and Curry, etc, can rush off the edge.
OK, makes sense. Thanks!
"Pass rushers enter the world of Okung but never leave." - JM
http://seahawksblog.wordpress.com
Will Kentwan help fill Bryant's void?
Also, what about E.J. Wilson? Can Siavii play DE at all?
Start Charlie Whitehurst. / #24 = Beast Mode! Welcome, Marshawn
Kentwan substituted on Sunday, but I think Okam is the intended replacement.
I don’t really know where E.J. Wilson fits in.
Stupid Question: Strong Side vs Weak Side
I know that I should know this, but it escapes me this evening:
Who lines up where for the Hawks defensive front seven? Strong side vs weak side?
And which side of the offense does the tight end usually line up on?
Thanks.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is:
The TE is what determines it. Whichever side he lines up on is the offense’s strong side. Since the TE can act as an extra blocker in a run play, the Seahawks usually lined up Big Red on that side of the line and put the Leo on the other side.
Thank you, Walter Jones.
Thank you, Ken Griffey Jr.
As a follow up
if its a two tight end set, is there still a “weak” and “strong” side?
All you hear about is the past, the past... the past is the !@#$ing past, this is the present.
THIS IS TEMPORARY! A CHAMPIONSHIP IS PERMANENT
-Michael Strahan
doesn't seem like it should be
But I think the strong side still is the side with more blockers.
One concept is to think of the “strong side” as the side that favors the run or pass protection. So if you run the “I” with two tight ends and one is more of a blocking TE, and one a pass catching TE. You could consider the blocking side the strong side, and the pass catching side the weak side.
Well, if you have a FB on one side then that's strong.
But if it’s an I with a TE on each side, it’s a balanced formation. Our OC is said to be a fan of a balanced formation, whether it has a single-back or two backs.
There are other scenarios where either balance, formation, or how the receivers line up render there being no
obvious distinction for strong and weak. If it’s not immediately determined by the TE or the backfield (i.e., offset I formation), it’s determined by the QB’s throwing hand. Most right-handed QBs (most QBs) are a little more effective reading & throwing to the right, so offenses are typically slightly more prolific in going to the right.
by jacobstevens on Nov 3, 2010 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Well, Sunday will certainly be a good test
I still think our Red Zone Defense is beyond solid, but I’m concerned about how well the Run D will be able to contain Bradshaw. And if we allowed Heyward-Bey to have a career best game against us (well maybe he was due?) what is Nicks going to do to us? My hope is that the Run D holds up which forces Eli to throw often and ET is all over the field and in the right place at the right time for a couple of pick-sixes. Maybe 12th man can cause a few false starts but a repeat of the 2006 game is probably too much to hope for as I’m sure that Eli and the Giants O-Line are better prepared for the noise this time.
well DHB was lined up against Nate Ness for most of the game
Nicks will be lined up against Trufant on Sunday. Also remember that we play twice as well as home as we do on the road
Seconding that Nate Ness was a big reason for that
I feel like I’m flashing back to left season looking at our corners and thinking “Now who the hell is that guy?”
We need some WT3 up in here.
Thurmond and Jennings should be back for the game.
I would expect far better coverage on Sunday.
"Pass rushers enter the world of Okung but never leave." - JM
http://seahawksblog.wordpress.com
Did I hear correctly that Nate Ness was cut?
If so, that’s rough. Starter one week, out of the league the next.
Talents I covet: Akeem Ayers, Leonard Hankerson, Knile Davis, DeMarcus Love
Good riddance.
He couldn’t cover a gnat with a blanket.
Start Charlie Whitehurst. / #24 = Beast Mode! Welcome, Marshawn
Good points, John.
I agree with you about the replacability of Mebane vs Bryant despite who was playing better.
Red's out for the season.
Cole sounds like a few weeks.
This:
“Seahawks NT Colin Cole is out indefinitely with what coach Pete Carroll described as a severe ankle injury. same link as above
Start Charlie Whitehurst. / #24 = Beast Mode! Welcome, Marshawn
Could be a few weeks...sounds like a loooong few, though.
Start Charlie Whitehurst. / #24 = Beast Mode! Welcome, Marshawn
WHAT THE FUCK
Can we please, pretty please, catch a break? The FO busts it’s ass bringing in player after player and it seems like every quality player they find is negated by some starter going down to injury.
Okam is a good replacement for the injured Bryant especially now that the Seattle run defense is incapacitated. Okam might not be pacy and skilled as Bryant but he is great let’s see how he does it before the gifted Bryant is back
Is Michael Jordan God?
I like your positivity,
but I wonder: what is there to suggest Okam will even be an adequate replacement?
Start Charlie Whitehurst. / #24 = Beast Mode! Welcome, Marshawn
It's the system! You could plug my grandmother into Pete Carroll's line and she'd suffocate the run at 5-tech.
I don’t know. I assume we’ll notice some dropoff.
by jacobstevens on Nov 4, 2010 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions
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