Seattle Sea Dragons 2023 Defensive Preview
The XFL is back this weekend. Pacific Northwest Sports takes a look at the 2023 Seattle Sea Dragons defense.
Seattle Sea Dragons fans have cause for optimism on the eve of the 2023 season. According to Bovada Sportsbook, Seattle is the second favorite (tied with Arlington), behind St. Louis, to win the XFL Championship at +400.
The Sea Dragons have a good mix of talent and experience that should equate to wins on the field. Here is a closer look at the defense.
Defense
Seattle Sea Dragons Head Coach Jim Haslet is a defensive-oriented coach who succeeded in the NFL. His defensive coordinator Ron Zook is chock full of experience as a DC at several levels. He was also a college head coach at Florida and Illinois.
Defensive Back
The Seattle Sea Dragons have an interesting mix of players in their defensive backfield. For example, “safety” Shareef Miller is 6’4″and 255 pounds; when he was with the Eagles, they used him as an edge rusher. It’s quite possible Zook will use him like the Cardinals use Isaiah Simmons.
There are plenty of cornerbacks on the roster. Area fans will be familiar with Linden Stephens from his time with the Seahawks.
From 2018-2020 Chris Jones played in 30 NFL games with four different teams. He’s got the kind of size and length professional teams like. But injuries and his coverage technique have hampered him.
Antoine Brooks is a former Pittsburgh draft pick who played in 8 games for the Rams during their 2021 Super Bowl season. Keep an eye on Mykael Wright (Oregon) and Bryce Thompson (Tennessee).
Linebacker
There are only four linebackers on the Seattle Sea Dragons 51-man roster. What they lack in quantity, they make up for with quality.
Jordan Evans was with the Cincinatti Bengals from 2017-2021 and can provide leadership and experience to a gelling Seattle Sea Dragons defense. He played in 65 games (9 starts) and made 127 tackles.
Clearence Hicks could see time at outside linebacker. During his final year at Texas-San Antonio, he put up 10.5 sacks.
Tuzar Skipper has been on the Steelers practice squad three times. But his 10 NFL games were with the New York Giants (6) and Tennessee Titans (4). Look for him to play opposite Hicks.
Defensive Line
Haslett and Zook know how to dial up pressure. Seattle should generate a good pass rush from their defensive line.
Niko Lalos piled up the the accolades when he was at Dartmouth. His 1.0 tackles for loss in 2020 which earned him First Team All-Ivy League honors. At 6’5″ and 270 pounds he has good size on the edge to make an impact.
In 2018, the Oakland Raiders drafted P.J. Hall in the second round (57th overall). His skill and size 6’1″ 310 pounds will help the Sea Dragons to clog the middle.
Hall played in 40 games (27 starts) in three seasons with Oakland and Houston. His 2021 season ended with a torn pectoral and the Texans parted ways with him after assault charges were filed against him.
Edge rusher Daniel Joseph was one of the Buffalo Bills final cuts last year. The B.C. LIons selected the Canada native in the first round of the CFL Draft, but he opted to stick around the states. During his two years at North Carolina State had 19 tackles for loss, including 11.5 sacks in 22 games
