Seahawks Roster Analysis: Defensive Line

Did you know they didn’t add the second cous until 1974?

will the defense be good enough to stop other teams?

but “help” is the operative word. They can’t make a bad unit good.

I don’t believe that will tanslate into getting to the passer – if the DL is bad, they’ll still struggle to penetrate (esp with Mebane double teamed).

=P

Remember we got way better as a result of the draft but we still have a way to go. I’m not expecting us to go to the playoffs, it would take SF and Arizona falling apart because of QB play. They could at least win 9 games despite their QB, with their running game and defenses.

because even that isn’t a fair evaluation.

The Kiffin-inspired Tampa-2 defense cornerstone wasn’t just ANY defensive tackle tandem, it was Warren Sapp + one. At the peak of his play he was as good a DT as ever played the game. Saying Kiffen-inspired Tampa-2 starts at the DT position is almost like saying Phil Jackson’s offense starts with the shooting guard.

It’s not going to be the base defense, I’m sure. The Leo package will be talked about more than it will be on the field.

Considering it’s more important, harder to fill and gets paid better — or used to, at least — that would be more of a strike against him, that he switched to guard, I would think.

Sure seems like Hassel B is about done but we can’t even begin to judge Whitehurst yet can we? Does seem like an odd move to get him and to pay to much for him but we just don’t know. So I would say putting QB on the priority list for next year as more probable than absolute.

I’m happy that we shored up as many holes as we have so far so quickly. D line seems like it really hasn’t even been addressed but it’s going to be more interesting than watching that nightmare of last year of getting no where near the opp QB. Mark me as a fellow believer in going out and getting anything possible in the FA or trading WR for genuine D line help and if that isn’t going to happen make that numero uno priority next year.

No other F/A or draft option has been offered for consideration that even comes close to what they accomplished this off-season. Obtaining Whitehurst – for all the angst that move generated – allowed for an amazing draft, one that will provide value for years to come (at least based on what we know now).

Every major hole was filled (secondary/QB/LT) with the exception of a pass-rushing DE. The only major draft opportunity that wasn’t realized was one of the stud DTs, but no where in the draft would it have been proper to take a DT over who was available.

The secondary, the unit I thought most in need of addressing, went from awful to potentially one of the best units in the league (within a couple of years) with the addition of Thomas, Kam and Thurmond to add to the existing talent of Trufant, Wilson and (yes) Jennings, with the resigning of Milloy to mentor the group.

Back-up and possible future starting QB greatly upgraded with Whitehurst over Wallace (who will never be a starting QB and seemed to do a poor job stepping in last year).

RB greatly upgraded with adding Washington and White, allowing the team to ditch Jones.

Okung will likely struggle this year so you will hear lots of criticism but he will likely grow into a good to very good LT.

The WRs have been greatly enhanced with the addition of Tate, the Williamss and a number of other guys I won’t learn until they make the team.

Key FA additions of Hamilton and Baker should contribute this year.

So maybe, just maybe, the talent they have gathered on the d-line will add up to something close to competence, and if it does, Seattle will have a decent year, keeping in mind that many key players still need to grow (Okung, Thomas, Tate, just for starters).

Let’s just hope and pray they play in 2011, because that is more likely to be Seattle’s year.

is so promising that it makes the D-line issues easier to swallow. As long as it gets some kind of major help after 2010, I’m reasonably content. When we came out of the draft with only minor additions to the line I knew there was gonna be trouble and my perspective on that hasn’t changed since. So I guess I’m going with your final option: It is an acceptable consequence.

…plus the ever-present coaches don’t like to change schemes unless absolutely forced to, blah blah blah.

I think the real answer is some combination of:

• suffer until next year’s draft which promises deeper D-line talent
• trade for Haynesworth and put him beside Mebane (shorter-term, win-now thinking, btw)
• work magic on Red Bryant, getting him more disciplined and assignment, gap correct
• blitz a lot and hope our new brand spankin’ new secondary can cover like demons
  Ok, our secondary is not brand new, but with Tru and Thurmond fully recovered, Pistol more experienced, with stronger, playmaking safeties, coupled with a more aggressive scheme (e.g. more man and press coverage), and a more effective Curry, there is some hope.

Or maybe I’m just an optimistic homer.

In any event, I would personally prefer much more aggression on defense this year, even if it means more big plays for the opposition. If I have to sit through another season of soft zones and 15 yard cushions, making mediocre QBs look like All-Pros, as they steadily march down the field converting 3rd down after 3rd down, I will have to start working out or something.

but he was at OLB in minicamp.

Do a word search for “help”.