Is the Seahawks' 2nd-string defense playoff caliber?

[NorthDallas40oz]

Assuming everyone on the roster was available (I.e. not factoring in current injuries, suspensions, etc.) the Hawks' 2nd-string defense looks like what you see below. Note that I'm including M. Bennett because even though he plays starter-level snaps, Red & Avril are the official starting DE's.

So the question is....would this defense be good enough to take a team with a solid offense to the playoffs if it were it's starting D? While I think there would some issues up the middle, I think it's plausible.


5-tech DE: Michael Bennett
NT: Clinton McDonald
3-tech: Jordan Hill
Leo: Chris Clemons

WLB: Malcolm Smith
MLB: Heath Farwell
SLB: Mike Morgan (or O'Brien Schofield)

CB: Walter Thurmond
SS: Jeron Johnson
FS: Chris Maragos
CB: Byron Maxwell
Nickel: Jeremy Lane

 

[themunn]

since when are Bennett and Clemons 2nd string? Clemons has started every bar one he's played

Replace Maragos with Thomas and that defense is better than the one that made it to the playoffs in 2010, so yes.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

I gotta wonder how different this defense would be with Jeron instead of Earl. But I do think they might be starting material, if not playoff-caliber.

 

[AbsolutNET]

I think the caveat is that our starting defense has such incredible depth because of these guys, that they wouldn't have nearly the support they provide. Pretty talented group aside from the up the middle like you said, though. There's a handful of guys that would probably start on other teams, for sure.

 

[drdiags]

The safeties and 2/3rd of the LBs are suspect. You could run on that DL as well. So my answer would be no.

 

[NorthDallas40oz]

since when are Bennett and Clemons 2nd string? Clemons has started every bar one he's played.

Clemons and Avril have been pretty interchangeable and both have started at the Leo spot, so it really doesn't matter. If you consider Clemons the starter then just substitute Avril's name in on the 2nd string, doesn't make any difference as they're comparable talents.

And as I stated in my post, Red Bryant is the official starter at the 5-tech DE spot in base sets, thus Bennett can be included in this 2nd string D even though the plays a starter's number of snaps in most games....which is part and parcel to my point about the depth here.

 

[RussWILSON3]

since when are Bennett and Clemons 2nd string? Clemons has started every bar one he's played.

Clemons and Avril have been pretty interchangeable and both have started at the Leo spot, so it really doesn't matter. If you consider Clemons the starter then just substitute Avril's name in on the 2nd string, doesn't make any difference as they're comparable talents.

And as I stated in my post, Red Bryant is the official starter at the 5-tech DE spot in base sets, thus Bennett can be included in this 2nd string D even though the plays a starter's number of snaps in most games....which is part and parcel to my point about the depth here.

I believe with our 2nd string starting, our defense is still better than half of the NFL. Maybe more.

 

[tom sawyer]

Sometimes you have to player in the "frame of play" to reveal the mettle they can display.

 

[onanygivensunday]

If "playoff caliber" is 7-9, then the answer is likely yes.

If "playoff caliber" is 10-6 or better, I think not... unless, the offense is a juggernaut to compensate for a middle-of-the-road D.

 

[Hawks46]

Well it depends. Like a few guys have said here, you're suspect up the middle and I haven't seen Maragos enough to know how the defense would be affected vs. Thomas being back there.

So, how solid is the offense ? If we're talking a top 10 offense (call it 10th ranked) I would say yes this defense could get you to the playoffs.

If you didn't play in the NFCW. A top 10 offense with that defense could win the NFCEast and NFCNorth. You probably don't make the playoffs in the NFC South.

You would make the playoffs easily in the AFC.

 

[Basis4day]

Hmm. Johnson is on IR, instead it would be Snead. LB corp is suspect, except for M. Smith. He's lights out.

 

[Zebulon Dak]

Our depth is amazing. Maragos, however, isn't Earl and I doubt he has the playing speed or the instincts ET does and I'm pretty sure most of us here can agree that Earl is the cog that keeps this D in motion.

 

[Axx]

Well Byron is already playing like a top 10 CB in the NFL.

 

[HawKnPeppa]

Like a few others have said, but more condensed. Numerous guys have come in and played well, but never without our very talented and flexible starters morphing into roles that compensate for a lost skill or two, as well as exercising leadership.

Pull Sherman and Thomas out, and the unit as a whole would be much more pedestrian. At times, my curiosity makes me wish for that to happen just to see the coaches forced into releasing their death grip on the 'O.' I really enjoy seeing RW and crew unleashed, but that only takes place when Pete's hand is forced (IE Atlanta, Washington, TB etc). Then I come to my senses and am happy with being 12-2

 

[Scottemojo]

We have some good depth players.

But the end of the Minnesota and Jacksonville games would suggest that no, as a unit the 2nd team is not that good.

 

[TJH]

No. This is getting silly.

 

[Diezel Dawg]

We have some good depth players.

But the end of the Minnesota and Jacksonville games would suggest that no, as a unit the 2nd team is not that good.

I think that would be. More because of defensive scheme than the players.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

The safeties on that team would get abused. I like Jeron Johnson and all, but woof.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

We have some good depth players.

But the end of the Minnesota and Jacksonville games would suggest that no, as a unit the 2nd team is not that good.

Also the end of the Giants game, where it was mostly backups except for our DB's. The Giants drove right down the field and almost scored if not for Sherman and ET's amazing tip interception.

I don't care how deep a roster is, backups are backups. Sure one or two backups can be inserted into a game where they're surrounded by starters and perform well. But ALL the backups in the game? That's insane.

 

[loafoftatupu]

As an entire unit I don't think so. They would be in the middle I think. However, the second string guys get a lot of opportunities to play in every game. Even in the biggest game they are playing at some point.

It isn't right to go by simple stats, there are times that Carroll puts them in for an entire quarter, when the other team is in hurry up and they are purposely allowing yards in the middle. Heck, that goes for stats in general. The overall stats for offense, defense and even personal numbers look lower because of backups playing.