Assessing Need: Standard Defensive End

by John Morgan on Apr 8, 2010 10:13 AM PDT

We have a little bit of catching up to do. My offseason schedule usually consists of a big pre-draft build, reviews of the players Seattle drafted and then a quiet period after that and leading up to training camp. Well, this year the draft is a bit of a mystery to me. I have some ideas about who Pete Carroll and John Schneider will draft, but nothing terribly solid. Things will pick back up after the draft. Might as well worry about the players Seattle does draft rather than the ones they might. Also, I want to spend a lot of time in July on Carroll's defense and Bates' offense.

Seattle should have better depth on defense. Should. Tim Ruskell was always better at finding defensive talent than offensive talent. Also, I am splitting standard defensive end from standing defensive end.

Defensive End

Possible Starter: Patrick Kerney

Age: Turns 34 December 30.

Health: Spotty.

Contract: Three years remaining.

Performance: Kerney is still a decent edge rusher, but has become a weakness in most other capacities.

Possible Starter: Lawrence Jackson

Age: Turns 25 August 30.

Health: Good.

Contract: Three years remaining.

Performance: Improving towards solid.

Depth: Robert Henderson

Age: Turns 27 November 9.

Health: Incomplete.

Contract: One year remaining.

Performance: Incomplete.

Position need: Sneaky big, but not overwhelming. If Kerney sticks, I think he will be transitioned to a situational pass rusher. Henderson needs to make it out of training camp before we can expect much from him. He played some standup end in college, but I do not think he fits that profile as a pro. We will see. It comes down to Jackson, and that's not so bad. Jackson was always meant to be a steady regular. He is healthy, has excellent recognition and contributes as run defender and pass rusher, just less so as a pass rusher. If Jackson is a rock, Seattle is solid. If not, neither Kerney nor Henderson should be relied on.

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Comments

I'm hoping Kerney gets his contract restructured

He’d be good depth at the very worst.

Though they sink through the Sea, they shall rise again...Death shall have no dominion...

by Cheddar28 on Apr 8, 2010 10:27 AM PDT reply actions

I agree, maybe we should use him in a Jason Taylor kind of way.

Assuming his shoulder gets better he can come in and help, maybe allow LoJack to work on fixing aspects of his game. Hopefully Carroll will figure out how to get the best out of him, he had been working with him before he was a coach.

At least we aren't the Raiders?

by Generzal Zod on Apr 8, 2010 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions

You could look at his drafting strategies while with the New England Patriots.

There should be about 3 years of sample size there. Granted, this is pre-USC but it’s not like Caroll is going to have completely changed his outlook on football.

Side note: I never realized Caroll coached for Sea as a Cornerbacks coach before leaving to USC.

Now with more lemon bars!

by Fear on Apr 8, 2010 11:14 AM PDT reply actions

I'm not sure if his time with the Patriots would tell us much.

From everything he has said (and Robert Kraft has confirmed this since the hire), he didn’t have a lot of control over what the team did, and that’s why control of the roster was a such a sticking point for him to come back to the NFL. And while I havn’t looked at those drafts personally, I’ve read in interviews with Drew Bledsoe that the team drafted horribly while Pete was there, and not many players drafted in that time panned out.

by Mind of no mind on Apr 8, 2010 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm really enjoying this series.

By the way, I noticed a typo: “a quite period”.

by ty540 on Apr 8, 2010 11:18 AM PDT reply actions

Thanks.

Damn migrating ‘e’.

by John Morgan on Apr 8, 2010 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions

I realize McCoy is a DT...

…but does drafting him impact the ends? If so, in what way?

The reason I ask is that I don’t see any first-round DEs worth taking, and McCoy is potentially a disrruptive force in both the run and passing game, so wondering if having him and Mebane at DT opens up some opportunities for the existing DEs on the roster.

Or is DE still a draft need if McCoy is taken?

by Hawksince77 on Apr 8, 2010 11:44 AM PDT reply actions

McCoy could play situational end, and should perform something like a better, better, and, again, better, Redding.

by John Morgan on Apr 8, 2010 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Would Redding improve as the DE's do?

How would he do if he were to be used as a NT who is just there to take up space and letting Mebane wonder and roam to get in the backfield?

At least we aren't the Raiders?

by Generzal Zod on Apr 8, 2010 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Redding now plays for the Ravens.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Sam Bradford, OT Ciron Black*, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling**, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Apr 8, 2010 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions

D'Oh - I meant Cole

At least we aren't the Raiders?

by Generzal Zod on Apr 8, 2010 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions

EH!?

Where the stand up DE’s look strong at this point, the 4-3 DE looks iffy. Lo-Jack looks like he is a solid DE who may be nothing more than solid and that is not a bad thing. I also could see him having a good year if the Hawks draft a guy like Morgan on the other side.

As for Patrick, I just don’t know. He needs to restructure his contract (like Chedder28 said), and even then he is not a lock to make the team. I would like to keep Kerney but I just can’t see the team keeping him if he won’t restructure his contract and/if they draft a guy like Morgan. No matter what the team needs to look at some DE’s in this draft to build some depth for the future (and this year for that matter).

As for Henderson, who knows, maybe the team has a diamond in the rough.

by JustinWF on Apr 8, 2010 12:09 PM PDT reply actions

Man I wish we'd draft some undersized, speedy DEs

not unlike Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis or Trent Cole. Essentially, Nick Reed with some burst.

by rex92 on Apr 8, 2010 12:44 PM PDT reply actions

My dream is that Seattle drafts a 4-3, elite pass-rushing end.

I’m not sure Morgan is that. He seems more technician and skill than physical athleticism. I’m really not sure JPP is that, either – though he has the physical tools to develop into one. Do you draft the freakish talent with a short history and raw at the position, not technically sound or you do you take the well-rounded and skilled player that isn’t the same type of athlete?

This is why I think Spiller, Berry, OT, or QB have to be considered early. Adding the top-rated DE would not be a move I complain about, but I think we need attention on the offensive side first and foremost.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Sam Bradford, OT Ciron Black*, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling**, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Apr 8, 2010 1:39 PM PDT reply actions

Seemed like a decent place to post this so

I was hoping that they’d get a DE in the first few rounds based on the talent available but now I hope that isn’t the case unless they trade back and add another 2nd/3rd rounder. If they do take a DE, these are the players that may fit in the range of Seattle’s picks

Rd 1- Morgan, Griffen (moreso if they trade back)
Rd 3-5: Cunningham, Lane, Greg Hardy, Te’o-Nesheim

(Don’t see value in Rd 2 unless someone falls significantly)

by bilbo on Apr 8, 2010 2:12 PM PDT reply actions