Our Edge / OLB

[toffee]

Currently, with the injury of Uchenna Nwosu , we have:

Boye Mafe, a star in the making! Good with run defense, and pass rushes.
Darrell Taylor, at best a passing down specialist.
Derick Hall, a rookie that hasn't really flashed, according to folks at PFF, his run defense grade (45.9) is worse than Taylor's (47.9).
Then we have a 30 yo Frank Clark, how much juice has he got?

Somehow Schneider didn't grab an Edge before the trade deadline. As is we have to hope that Clark got enough left in his tank, or one of the following players step up, step up big times.

Levi Bell, Tyreke Smith, Josh Onujiogu.

Thoughts?

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

I think the traditional “edge/leo” position is really scheme determined. Seattle could employ what was a 4-3 defensive tackle “3 tech” at the “edge” as 5 tech as well. And think as the reason rolls around, Seattle will do just this. 4-3 elements with 3 down lineman or 2 down lineman as such.

Dre’Mont Jones and Leonard Williams could also slide into playing edge and defensive tackle as well…

 

[toffee]

I think the traditional “edge/leo” position is really scheme determined. Seattle could employ what was a 4-3 defensive tackle “3 tech” at the “edge” as 5 tech as well. And think as the reason rolls around, Seattle will do just this. 4-3 elements with 3 down lineman or 2 down lineman as such.

Dre’Mont Jones and Leonard Williams could also slide into playing edge and defensive tackle as well…

Thanks for point that out!

 

[12forlife]

I know it doesn't solve our problem for Depth, but I would have loved to see the Hawks grab Sweat, and at the same time moved Taylor. He is a liability against the run, and hasn't supplied much in sacks this year. One more pass rusher and a above average QB, and this team is a serious contender!

 

[Jerhawk]

I'm still banking on Hall really shining the 2nd half of this season.

He's a great story and an incredible young man. Don't count him out just yet. Opposite Mafe, that's going to be a solid group on the edge.

 

[toffee]

I'm still banking on Hall really shining the 2nd half of this season.

He's a great story and an incredible young man. Don't count him out just yet. Opposite Mafe, that's going to be a solid group on the edge.

I have my fingers crossed on Hall, hoping that he will be another Mafe.

 

[Ad Hawk]

Of course it's wise to take Pete's pressers with lots of salt, but he felt that Hall was in the same place as, or further at this point than Mafe was last season. He should improve.

If he reaches the same place as Mafe next year, watch out!

 

[nanomoz]

I think the Hawks are good at edge. All four guys have a path to contribute. And Mafe is growing into a star. Great to see.

Clark will be solid in a rotational role. He's not a running back. Defensive lineman don't automatically fall of a cliff when they turn 30.

 

[toffee]

I think the Hawks are good at edge. All four guys have a path to contribute. And Mafe is growing into a star. Great to see.

Clark will be solid in a rotational role. He's not a running back. Defensive lineman don't automatically fall of a cliff when they turn 30.

LOL, we have a too old/tire and a too young/green there. Let's see if Clark got enough gas in his 30 yo body and Hall can mature real fast. If both works out, we are in very good shape.

 

[renofox]

I brought this up in a different thread.

Snap Counts to date:

IDL (NT - Reed, Young); 85%
IDL (DE - Jones, Morris, Edwards, Adams); 122%
EDGE (OLB - Nwosu, Mafe, Taylor, Hall, Clark); 193%
TOTAL DL/EDGE; 400%

Pre-trade we had 6 IDL and 4 EDGE in the DL rotation. Each group gets about the same number of snaps.

Now we have 7 IDL but still only 4 EDGE. I see Mone may be coming back to IDL this year but I don't see any EDGE additions possible.

If we lose an EDGE to injury we'll only have 3 in the rotation? Is that right? Maybe I'm missing someone?

Maybe we should have gone after Young also?

 

[toffee]

I brought this up in a different thread.

Snap Counts to date:

IDL (NT - Reed, Young); 85%
IDL (DE - Jones, Morris, Edwards, Adams); 122%
EDGE (OLB - Nwosu, Mafe, Taylor, Hall, Clark); 193%
TOTAL DL/EDGE; 400%

Pre-trade we had 6 IDL and 4 EDGE in the DL rotation. Each group gets about the same number of snaps.

Now we have 7 IDL but still only 4 EDGE. I see Mone may be coming back to IDL this year but I don't see any EDGE additions possible.

If we lose an EDGE to injury we'll only have 3 in the rotation? Is that right? Maybe I'm missing someone?

Maybe we should have gone after Young also?

That's my thought too, I guess Pete and John saw or knew something about Frank Clark that we all don't?

 

[Mick063]

The only reason they could swing the Williams deal is because of swapping draft capital for a cash obligation.

Out of money folks. They couldn't have brought in Sweat or Young if they wanted to. It isn't complicated. They brought in Clark because he was the best affordable option. He liked his old team. He did us a favor. If you considered Irvin to be a positive addition last season, then you should think of Clark similarly this season. A few splash plays and entirely worth what he is currently getting paid (Although Clark has enjoyed a higher level of recent success). Nothing more, nothing less.

Just got to pray for health and a deep practice squad. Like everyone else.

 

[renofox]

That's my thought too, I guess Pete and John saw or knew something about Frank Clark that we all don't?

Or maybe they're planning on going with more 3 IDL down lineman? To date, 95%+ of snaps have been 2 IDL and 2 EDGE.

 

[toffee]

Or maybe they're planning on going with more 3 IDL down lineman? To date, 95%+ of snaps have been 2 IDL and 2 EDGE.

Reeds is up there in age, and his backup Cam Young is a rookie, Mone may not comeback this season and he wasn't good to start with. There, we have a single point of failure!! With Williams, we get rid of that risk. Besides, Mario is getting on age too, Williams can spare snaps from Jones, Reed and Mario. Snaps counts will go down, fresher legs and less injury risks.

And yes, we can have Jones, Williams, Reed, and Mario at the same time too.

 

[Spin Doctor]

Our edge position is definitely the weak spot here. Nowosu was a pretty huge loss for this defense. From what I've seen though, they're really trying to work those zone blitzes lately to get that pass rush.

 

[olyfan63]

Thinking back to 2013-2014, the Hawks had a ROTATION of DT and Edge players, and the DT guys weren't considered "stars" by the rest of the league, but they sure got the job done. Brandon Mebane, Clinton McDonald, Tony McDaniel, all shared snaps and got the job done. On paper, we now have considerably more "star power" in the current IDL group than that 2013-14 bunch.

Which leaves the Edge group. Loved Uchenna's game and effort, his injury was a huge loss. IIRC, Darrell Taylor has had a couple game-clinching sacks this year, including on PJ Walker in the Browns game. Does Frank Clark have anything left in the tank? Well, YES, if you consider playoffs, when he always showed up balls-to-the-wall for the Chiefs, and IMO KC wouldn't have won that 1st Mahomes Super Bowl without him. Mafe has been outstanding this year, and really we just need one more player to pop in an Edge rotation role. If Derick Hall can develop a bit, the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts. Being able to throw fresh DTs and Edge players at an opponent in the 4th quarter is a game changer. The Hawks D stepped up when it counted vs Cleveland, to give the O the opportunity to come up big and go get the win.

 

[toffee]

Thinking back to 2013-2014, the Hawks had a ROTATION of DT and Edge players, and the DT guys weren't considered "stars" by the rest of the league, but they sure got the job done. Brandon Mebane, Clinton McDonald, Tony McDaniel, all shared snaps and got the job done. On paper, we now have considerably more "star power" in the current IDL group than that 2013-14 bunch.

Which leaves the Edge group. Loved Uchenna's game and effort, his injury was a huge loss. IIRC, Darrell Taylor has had a couple game-clinching sacks this year, including on PJ Walker in the Browns game. Does Frank Clark have anything left in the tank? Well, YES, if you consider playoffs, when he always showed up balls-to-the-wall for the Chiefs, and IMO KC wouldn't have won that 1st Mahomes Super Bowl without him. Mafe has been outstanding this year, and really we just need one more player to pop in an Edge rotation role. If Derick Hall can develop a bit, the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts. Being able to throw fresh DTs and Edge players at an opponent in the 4th quarter is a game changer. The Hawks D stepped up when it counted vs Cleveland, to give the O the opportunity to come up big and go get the win.

This!!!

I for one would like to give Levi a chance at edge, he is undersized, undrafted, but hey who knows?

 

[Fade]

I have never been more comfortable with the Edge group the Seahawks have right now than ever.

Clem, Avril, & Irvin was pretty sweet.

Now, Nwosu (He's still here long term), Mafe, Hall, Taylor, and Clark (probably just a rental). With Tyreke Smith & Levi Bell developing in the background is incredible.


DT they still need that younger long term building block, but the guys they do have make for a nice rotation that can come at opponents in waves.

The defense is stacked overall, and performing anything under top 8 should be looked at as a disappointment.

As they do have the best Secondary in Football, and are awesome at backer to boot.

 

[olyfan63]

This!!!

I for one would like to give Levi a chance at edge, he is undersized, undrafted, but hey who knows?

Loved watching Bell in preseason but have zero idea how he'd look against NFL starters. But then, look at what UDFA Jake Bobo has done... Would love to see Bell get a look. It's hard to think of him as an Edge, because of his build, but maybe he's one of those guys who just makes plays wherever you put him.

 

[sc85sis]

Loved watching Bell in preseason but have zero idea how he'd look against NFL starters. But then, look at what UDFA Jake Bobo has done... Would love to see Bell get a look. It's hard to think of him as an Edge, because of his build, but maybe he's one of those guys who just makes plays wherever you put him.

Supposedly Bell is 262 pounds, so the weight shouldn’t be an issue. He’s shorter than the big name edge rushers because he’s under 6’.