Seattle Seahawks defense.
Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks defense.
You don’t have to be a 12 to know the Seattle Seahawks defense over the first five weeks of the season stank on ice. As a 12, it hurts a little more because there is more than enough talent for the Seahawks D to be very competitive. Take heart, Seahawks fans. Your defense will be much better after the team’s Week 6 bye. Not just in one area but several.
With perennial All-Pro middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and his wingman for the last decade, versatile K.J. Wright on the outside, the base for an outstanding core is in place. This year’s first-round pick Jordyn Brooks should have made the trinity complete. Of course, rookies face growing pains, and it didn’t help that he missed the last two games with a knee injury.
His replacement, Cody Barton, played hard against Dallas and Miami but doesn’t have as much talent. To make matters worse, safety Jamal Adams (more on him shortly) wasn’t available to pick up the slack. Brooks is back practicing with the team, albeit on a limited basis. Chances are good the former TCU star will see some action this Sunday.
Seattle Seahawks General Manager John Schneider took out a little insurance recently. He signed veterans Ray-Ray Armstrong and Mychal Kendricks to the practice squad.
Armstrong, the definition of a journeyman over the last seven seasons, adds some depth to the linebacking corps. Kendricks, on the other hand, has a chance to make a considerable impact.
Kendricks, who started 14 games for the Seahawks in 2019, missed the playoffs after tearing ligaments in his knee, Week 17. Following reconstructive surgery in December, Kendricks rehabbed to the point where Seattle signed him to the practice squad this week. When healthy, the ninth-year pro is a force on pass defense. Last year he had 74 tackles, four passes defended, and three sacks.
Quandre Diggs, Seattle Seahawks.
Obviously, Adams is the biggest mystery. He hasn’t played since Week 3, when he slipped while blitzing Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott in the fourth quarter, injuring his groin in the process. Adams still hasn’t returned to practice. According to head coach Pete Carroll, the team is taking it “one day at a time” with his recovery.
Without backup safeties Marquise Blair and Lano Hill, who are both on injured reserve, an outsider might think the situation is bleak. Not so fast. While three of Seattle’s top four safeties are out of action, both Ugo Amadi and “Baby KamKam” Ryan Neal moved from obscurity to prominent roles on the Seattle Seahawks defense and succeeded. The more game action and practice time they get, the better they play.
There is more good news. In an under the radar move, the Seahawks claimed defensive back D.J. Reed off waivers from San Francisco on August 4. Reed played in 31 of 32 games since the Niners drafted him in 2018. Unfortunately, he tore a pectoral muscle during offseason workouts. San Francisco tried to sneak Reed through waivers to put him on their practice squad to open 2020, but Schneider was a move ahead and claimed him.
A versatile player, Reed saw action at cornerback, nickel, and safety. Pro Football Focus gave him high grades last year for his pass coverage abilities. Reed is probably two weeks or so from getting into the thick of it, but opposing receivers will have a much harder time getting open downfield when he does take the field.
Damon “Snacks” Harrison, Seattle Seahawks.
The much-maligned Seattle Seahawks D-Line recently got a huge boost. Seattle signed Damon Harrison, a.k.a. “Snacks,” in Week 4 to bolster the front four. When motivated, Harrisson is an impressive run-stuffer from his defensive tackle position. His skill set is needed because the Seahawks were killed in their last game by Minnesota’s inside run game.
Harrison was inactive the past two weeks as he worked to get back into football shape. His ability to a.) plug holes inside and b.) force double teams makes the entire D better. Speaking of double teams, Snacks’ ability to draw an extra offensive lineman with his strong inside push means the Seahawks edge rushers don’t have to face a double team as they try to get into their opponent’s backfield. Look for edge rushers L.J. Collier and Benson Mayowa to become bigger factors going forward.
Starting upfront, the Seahawks will get a better push from the middle with Damon Harrison. In turn, opposing guards won’t be able to double Seattle’s edge rushers. Also, the linebackers should have one less blocker to contend with when stopping the run.
Speaking of the linebackers, the return of Brooks and the addition of Kendricks will improve short zone coverage. All the above will make Adams’ return to the lineup even more impactful. Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. will use the All-Pro safety in various roles to confuse opposing quarterbacks.
It will take a few weeks before the Seattle Seahawks defense is close to full strength. In the meantime, fans can expect incremental improvement over the next few games.