Getting ready for 2022-(Linebacking)

[tarlhawk]

Current review of existing Defensive groups and draft prospects:

Coaching

Defensive Coordinator- (Clint Hurtt) Experience: 7 years
Associate Head Coach - Defense (Sean Desai) Experience: 9 years
Linebacking Coach- (John Glenn) Experience: 9 years


Linebackers: Many draft nerds insisted Seattle needed an off ball Linebacker to replace the loss of Bobby Wagner and just like those who insisted on taking a 2022 draft QB...neither position was drafted. Losses and gains suggest an emphasis on more 3-4 def alignments especially with Hurtt and Desai having a strong working relationship with 3-4 Vince Fagio tutelege.

When in 4-3 alignment Cody Barton settles in at MLB with Jordyn Brooks and Uchenna Nwosu on the OLB wings. The 3-4 alignment offers Cody Barton and Jordyn Brooks playing off-ball LB while Darryl Taylor and Uchenna Nwosu handle OLB/Edge for pass rush/drop back coverage.

Linebacker depth for off ball LB is Joel Iyiegbuniwe with Ben Burr-Kirven and Jon Rhattigan coming off major injuries. Backing up Taylor/Nwosu (for now) is 2022 rookie Boye Mafe.

Projected Starters
Three scouting superlatives with one detraction:

Darryl Taylor
Athletic, strong pass-rusher built to have immediate impact in the NFL at 6'4", 267 pounds with excellent all-around athleticism.
Gets low and will bend the corner while winning with leverage; agility and flexibility are on tape.
Beats up blockers with a frame that is rocked up with muscle and quick-twitch fibers.

One detraction:
—Inconsistent production; never had more than 8.5 sacks in a single season.

Jordyn Brooks
Will step up and take on blocks; uses strength to keep himself free from blockers and has shown an ability to stack-and-shed at the point of attack.
Impressive downhill speed; runs with an angry, violent demeanor.
Excellent strength and acceleration.

One detraction:
—Stocky build doesn't lend to much flexibility in his hips; looks stiff in space.

Cody Barton
Good instincts keep him competitive every down.
Coverage experience allows him to play in space with route recognition and awareness.
Competitive toughness is apparent on every snap.

One Detraction
- Play speed is fine, but lacks short-area burst and quickness.

Uchenna Nwosu
Has experience dropping into coverage and can match up well in zone and man situations.
Good hitter with solid wrap-up technique and some pop in his pads.
Gets upfield quickly as a pass-rusher and has a relentless motor.

One Detraction
—Not enough height and short-armed for an edge player at 6'2", 251 pounds with 33 ⅝" arms. Small hands (9").

[NorthHawk]

I'm not all in on Cody Barton.
Sometimes he looks pretty good and sometimes he looks lost and if we go to some 3-4 schemes I'm concerned he will look lost again.
But maybe he's more suited to a 3-4 but hasn't played in one much.
Boye Maife was listed as a LB a few days ago so he might be in that same mix with Taylor. His get off is real good but experience at
LB might be a concern early unless they give him simple assignments until he settles in.
But if they use Taylor and Maife as DE's then LB might be a little thin.
As others like RD and ASF have said, Adams might play a role as a hybrid type player and maybe we end up playing 3 safeties at times.

[TriCitySam]

Interesting, Wyman likes Barton a lot - feels he's very "instinctive", made some mistakes, not perfect, but that happens with young guys". Barton has only played 6 full games, so a lot of room to improve with experience.

I did see where KJ wants to come back to Seattle, or if not, retire. Probably not gonna happen.

[Hawktawk]

Interesting, Wyman likes Barton a lot - feels he's very "instinctive", made some mistakes, not perfect, but that happens with young guys". Barton has only played 6 full games, so a lot of room to improve with experience.

I did see where KJ wants to come back to Seattle, or if not, retire. Probably not gonna happen.

Saw that . Interesting since he and Wags are great buddies and Bobby was snubbed by the organization . His last year here he played some of the best ball of his career . As for Barton he will come downhill and take on a block like Bobby was tired of doing . Wyman called Bobby a finesse linebacker at this stage of his career .

[jshawaii22]

TriCity is right. Looks like an old friend wants back onto the Seahawks. KJ wright has basically begged the 'hawks to bring him in. His family loves it here, and he spent last year by himself in Vegas and won't do it again. Maybe as a coach?

[NorthHawk]

Wyman also thought that Irvin and Mayowa could provide a good pass rush and thought the
Seahawks Defense would be pretty good. Wrong on both accounts.

[Aseahawkfan]

I'm interested to see how they set up the front 7 now. If they move to a 3-4 front, who will be the 3 down linemen. And the LB unit will be four backers with likely Brooks and Cody inside and Taylor and Mafe outside with some type of rotation and probably lots of Jamal Adams in blitz packages. It will be a new look for us that we haven't seen since Knox?

The use of LBs will be the most different element. Hopefully some information filters out during OTAs as to how this will look personnel-wise.

[NorthHawk]

I'm interested to see how they set up the front 7 now. If they move to a 3-4 front, who will be the 3 down linemen. And the LB unit will be four backers with likely Brooks and Cody inside and Taylor and Mafe outside with some type of rotation and probably lots of Jamal Adams in blitz packages. It will be a new look for us that we haven't seen since Knox?

The use of LBs will be the most different element. Hopefully some information filters out during OTAs as to how this will look personnel-wise.

Me, too.
As well, I have heard them (Pete/JS) talk about moving towards a 3-4 and using it at times, but I
wonder what our base Defense will be. Will we be mostly 3-4? Our LB corps doesn’t suggest that
but if they use Mafe and Taylor as LBs then maybe so.

[Aseahawkfan]

Me, too.
As well, I have heard them (Pete/JS) talk about moving towards a 3-4 and using it at times, but I
wonder what our base Defense will be. Will we be mostly 3-4? Our LB corps doesn’t suggest that
but if they use Mafe and Taylor as LBs then maybe so.

That's what I want to see.