Thor Griffith was left out of this. I imagine it was written before he was signed. UDFA NT, listed at 305 but played at ~320, 42 reps on the bench press.
Remember hearing how Tyrice Knight was just a good run defender and was highly lacking in the pass game leading up to and even after the draft? Hence the later round pick. Not hearing that too much anymore, huh?
My first thought about Williams being played as DE, and I recall those days was Big Red. And second MB. MB played all along the line but Williams just so much better. But Big Red as a DT/NT type. Just not great. Moved him out to “DE” and was an absolute monster. He owned half the field. Couldn’t run that side at all. And KJ got to tackle and defend passes because Big Red kept OLine off of him. Williams isn’t Big Red, but miscasting a player is bad coaching.
My feel for back ups on defense is not great, maybe that's why I'm not very confident in much of our second string front seven. If we start losing any front seven starters I get nervous quick. I'm hoping MMD knows his team well enough to know if he needs better back ups. He's not slow to make changes...a trait I really admire about Old Macdonald. It's sometimes hard to admit when things didn't go as planned and then to identify the root of the problem and make that change isn't easy. When I coached I quickly learned in game changes were the mark of a good coach. In season changes were not something I had to deal with too often...injuries happened but we were lucky and we were high school so there was a limit to the pool of players to choose from. I really admire Mike and John for making swift decisions that worked out. Keep it up and go Hawks!
I'm not arguing or taking sides...but it's weird that next gen stats had Leonard Williams at 50 pressures last year, fourth among DT's. That's a big discrepancy in pressures and they don't agree about his position label either....hmmm.
I am of the belief that the coach puts them where he wants them in his defense. Everything else is irrelevant. We've seen the sketchiness at PFF also. Meh. Whatevs
If the front seven stays healthy, I think it will be the strength of the defence. Not worried at all about it living up to expectations. The right mix of talent and personalities. Murphy should take a jump in both utilization and impact plays, but that's to be seen. That Durde has been investing in him all offseason gives me hope that his win rate at the LOS will be improved. Pressure up the middle is deadly for offences.
That this is the second year in the scheme might be the biggest difference for the defence. That Sam Darnold and the offence have to go up against Mike MacDonald every day in practice has to be a good thing, doesn't it?
Murphy and Knight taking a jump would be great to see. One fast and big at the line. The other fast, quick off-ball. Both knocking down passes and maybe causing/collecting TOs.
Turnovers need to go up this year. I'm hoping that's what we see early and often, as it would be HUGE for the team. Instant drive kill, defense off the field, offense on the field in good field position. If we do use Milroe in some packages during the season, bringing him in behind a change of possession would really put the defense on its heels. Quick change scenarios are hard enough, but quick changes and you see a different QB take the field, that'll really stress the defense. I'll give Mike a ring and pass along my thoughts lol.
I’m super worried about LB depth considering I still remember the first several games of the year before Jones and Knight, when we had Baker and Dodson out there (both of who still start elsewhere). If even those two were such a dramatic fall-off, is it reasonable to expect our current guys can fill in ably?
iLB is a concern for me as well. Behind the two obvious starters, I'm not sure what we have. MacDonald is the LB guy, so it will be telling whether we make a move during final cutdowns, or if we don't. He hasn't been talking up any of the other guys that I have seen which always makes me wonder, but I don't recall the press asking how he feels about the position overall.
The other question I've been mulling over in my head is whether they might consider Emmanwori a depth off ball option if Knight or EJ go down? Drake Thomas? Don't know. Josh Ross? Ditto. I read some promising things about the UDFA they brought in there, but have not heard his name come up at all during camp.
No need to take shots at other Seahawks content creators. I bet many SSJ subscribers also appreciate Rob Staton.
Thor Griffith was left out of this. I imagine it was written before he was signed. UDFA NT, listed at 305 but played at ~320, 42 reps on the bench press.
Remember hearing how Tyrice Knight was just a good run defender and was highly lacking in the pass game leading up to and even after the draft? Hence the later round pick. Not hearing that too much anymore, huh?
My first thought about Williams being played as DE, and I recall those days was Big Red. And second MB. MB played all along the line but Williams just so much better. But Big Red as a DT/NT type. Just not great. Moved him out to “DE” and was an absolute monster. He owned half the field. Couldn’t run that side at all. And KJ got to tackle and defend passes because Big Red kept OLine off of him. Williams isn’t Big Red, but miscasting a player is bad coaching.
My feel for back ups on defense is not great, maybe that's why I'm not very confident in much of our second string front seven. If we start losing any front seven starters I get nervous quick. I'm hoping MMD knows his team well enough to know if he needs better back ups. He's not slow to make changes...a trait I really admire about Old Macdonald. It's sometimes hard to admit when things didn't go as planned and then to identify the root of the problem and make that change isn't easy. When I coached I quickly learned in game changes were the mark of a good coach. In season changes were not something I had to deal with too often...injuries happened but we were lucky and we were high school so there was a limit to the pool of players to choose from. I really admire Mike and John for making swift decisions that worked out. Keep it up and go Hawks!
I'm not arguing or taking sides...but it's weird that next gen stats had Leonard Williams at 50 pressures last year, fourth among DT's. That's a big discrepancy in pressures and they don't agree about his position label either....hmmm.
I am of the belief that the coach puts them where he wants them in his defense. Everything else is irrelevant. We've seen the sketchiness at PFF also. Meh. Whatevs
'Jarran Reed describing Byron Murphy, calls him, "strong as shit, fast, and strong as shit." '
Someone who knows his shit.
This just has to be the biggest chuckle of the day. Can't Touch This !
Maybe see JReed doing can’t touch this dance too
If the front seven stays healthy, I think it will be the strength of the defence. Not worried at all about it living up to expectations. The right mix of talent and personalities. Murphy should take a jump in both utilization and impact plays, but that's to be seen. That Durde has been investing in him all offseason gives me hope that his win rate at the LOS will be improved. Pressure up the middle is deadly for offences.
That this is the second year in the scheme might be the biggest difference for the defence. That Sam Darnold and the offence have to go up against Mike MacDonald every day in practice has to be a good thing, doesn't it?
Murphy and Knight taking a jump would be great to see. One fast and big at the line. The other fast, quick off-ball. Both knocking down passes and maybe causing/collecting TOs.
Turnovers need to go up this year. I'm hoping that's what we see early and often, as it would be HUGE for the team. Instant drive kill, defense off the field, offense on the field in good field position. If we do use Milroe in some packages during the season, bringing him in behind a change of possession would really put the defense on its heels. Quick change scenarios are hard enough, but quick changes and you see a different QB take the field, that'll really stress the defense. I'll give Mike a ring and pass along my thoughts lol.
I’m super worried about LB depth considering I still remember the first several games of the year before Jones and Knight, when we had Baker and Dodson out there (both of who still start elsewhere). If even those two were such a dramatic fall-off, is it reasonable to expect our current guys can fill in ably?
iLB is a concern for me as well. Behind the two obvious starters, I'm not sure what we have. MacDonald is the LB guy, so it will be telling whether we make a move during final cutdowns, or if we don't. He hasn't been talking up any of the other guys that I have seen which always makes me wonder, but I don't recall the press asking how he feels about the position overall.
The other question I've been mulling over in my head is whether they might consider Emmanwori a depth off ball option if Knight or EJ go down? Drake Thomas? Don't know. Josh Ross? Ditto. I read some promising things about the UDFA they brought in there, but have not heard his name come up at all during camp.
Emmanwori occurred to me as well, maybe that’s their back up plan.
Agreed!!!!