Why I think they kept so many linebackers

[ivotuk]

The read-option and mobile QBs in Cam Newton and Colon Kapernick. DL don't tend to be flexible or fast enough to chase down a mobile QB sideline to sideline but LBs and DBs can. Benson Mayowa may be one of those guys ala Bruce Irvin albeit not as fast. Mobile QBs need mobile players to tackle them. Usually when a QB gets loose it's because the DL has huge gaps up the middle or outside.

I've been also thinking that Quinn may use a lot more 3 DL than Gus did in games where there is the possibility of a running QB.

That, and I think the DL is healthier than we are led to believe which means the run defense should be up to snuff for this game.

 

[twisted_steel2]

The way I look at it, yea 8 Linebackers, but 6 are pure linebackers in the traditional 4-3 sense, and two are tweeners, they can also get in a 3-pt stance. In green.

Then the defensive ends that are listed, 3 are tweeners, can stand or get in a 3-pt stance. In green. But whats interesting, the other 2 DE's can also play DT as well.


72 Bennett, Michael DE/DT 6-4 274 27 5 Texas A&M
79 Bryant, Red DE/DT 6-4 323 29 6 Texas A&M
56 Avril, Cliff DE/LB 6-3 260 27 6 Purdue
91 Clemons, Chris DE/LB 6-3 254 31 10 Georgia
95 Mayowa, Benson DE/LB 6-3 252 22 R Idaho

57 Morgan, Mike LB/DE 6-3 226 25 3 USC
93 Schofield, O'Brien LB/DE 6-3 242 26 4 Wisconsin
52 Bradford, Allen LB 5-11 235 25 3 USC
55 Farwell, Heath LB 6-0 235 31 9 San Diego State
58 Lotulelei, John LB 5-11 233 21 R UNLV
53 Smith, Malcolm LB 6-0 226 24 3 USC
54 Wagner, Bobby LB 6-0 241 23 2 Utah State
50 Wright, K.J. LB 6-4 246 24 3 Mississippi State


So much flexibility when you looks at it like this. Just for me, to wrap my head around this, there's almost 4 groups right now for the front 7.

Pure DT's - 4
DE/DT's - 2
OLB/DE's - 5
Pure LB's - 6

 

[ivotuk]

Nice breakdown. I posted a thread in NFL forum about Green Bay's plans for playing versus QBs like Kapernick.

http://seahawks.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=71853

 

[Blitzer88]

The way I look at it, yea 8 Linebackers, but 6 are pure linebackers in the traditional 4-3 sense, and two are tweeners, they can also get in a 3-pt stance. In green.

Then the defensive ends that are listed, 3 are tweeners, can stand or get in a 3-pt stance. In green. But whats interesting, the other 2 DE's can also play DT as well.


72 Bennett, Michael DE/DT 6-4 274 27 5 Texas A&M
79 Bryant, Red DE/DT 6-4 323 29 6 Texas A&M
56 Avril, Cliff DE/LB 6-3 260 27 6 Purdue
91 Clemons, Chris DE/LB 6-3 254 31 10 Georgia
95 Mayowa, Benson DE/LB 6-3 252 22 R Idaho

57 Morgan, Mike LB/DE 6-3 226 25 3 USC
93 Schofield, O'Brien LB/DE 6-3 242 26 4 Wisconsin
52 Bradford, Allen LB 5-11 235 25 3 USC
55 Farwell, Heath LB 6-0 235 31 9 San Diego State
58 Lotulelei, John LB 5-11 233 21 R UNLV
53 Smith, Malcolm LB 6-0 226 24 3 USC
54 Wagner, Bobby LB 6-0 241 23 2 Utah State
50 Wright, K.J. LB 6-4 246 24 3 Mississippi State


So much flexibility when you looks at it like this. Just for me, to wrap my head around this, there's almost 4 groups right now for the front 7.

Pure DT's - 4
DE/DT's - 2
OLB/DE's - 5
Pure LB's - 6

Wow, very well explain and stated.

 

[BlueTalons]

The way I look at it, yea 8 Linebackers, but 6 are pure linebackers in the traditional 4-3 sense, and two are tweeners, they can also get in a 3-pt stance. In green.

Then the defensive ends that are listed, 3 are tweeners, can stand or get in a 3-pt stance. In green. But whats interesting, the other 2 DE's can also play DT as well.


72 Bennett, Michael DE/DT 6-4 274 27 5 Texas A&M
79 Bryant, Red DE/DT 6-4 323 29 6 Texas A&M
56 Avril, Cliff DE/LB 6-3 260 27 6 Purdue
91 Clemons, Chris DE/LB 6-3 254 31 10 Georgia
95 Mayowa, Benson DE/LB 6-3 252 22 R Idaho

57 Morgan, Mike LB/DE 6-3 226 25 3 USC
93 Schofield, O'Brien LB/DE 6-3 242 26 4 Wisconsin
52 Bradford, Allen LB 5-11 235 25 3 USC
55 Farwell, Heath LB 6-0 235 31 9 San Diego State
58 Lotulelei, John LB 5-11 233 21 R UNLV
53 Smith, Malcolm LB 6-0 226 24 3 USC
54 Wagner, Bobby LB 6-0 241 23 2 Utah State
50 Wright, K.J. LB 6-4 246 24 3 Mississippi State


So much flexibility when you looks at it like this. Just for me, to wrap my head around this, there's almost 4 groups right now for the front 7.

Pure DT's - 4
DE/DT's - 2
OLB/DE's - 5
Pure LB's - 6

Wow, very well explain and stated.

Yes nice break down! You could also lump other groups like the defensive backfield. And you could lump in our TE/FB and RB/FB looks on offense. This is how you take a 53 man roster and make it look like a 70 man roster!

GO HAWKS!!

 

[hox]

The read-option and mobile QBs in Cam Newton and Colon Kapernick. DL don't tend to be flexible or fast enough to chase down a mobile QB sideline to sideline but LBs and DBs can. Benson Mayowa may be one of those guys ala Bruce Irvin albeit not as fast. Mobile QBs need mobile players to tackle them. Usually when a QB gets loose it's because the DL has huge gaps up the middle or outside.

I've been also thinking that Quinn may use a lot more 3 DL than Gus did in games where there is the possibility of a running QB.

That, and I think the DL is healthier than we are led to believe which means the run defense should be up to snuff for this game.

Keeping all those LBers for QB contain and joker package purposes makes sense. I'd still like another stout pure DT for run stopping though. Think Mebane has had that same nagging injury before and McDaniel is still not proven with us despite having a good preseason game. Not sure how much Bennett will play in that role. Seems like he is Red's back up.

 

[FlyingGreg]

What you always have to consider now is only 45 players will be active for the game. The number of LBs on the active 53 man roster is the starting point, but how many will dress for the game will be interesting.

I doubt Lotulelei is active vs Carolina, but I would guess the other 5 "traditional" backers will be.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

I think the main reason Pete and John kept so many LB's is because of the D-Line injuries. We're gonna have to go with more 3-4 schemes until these guys get healthy, which means more LB's to rotate in and out.

When and/or if Avril, Mebane, Irvin, Clemons come back and can play each week, I bet some of these extra LB's we kept get released. Until then it'll be all hands on deck with some crazy 3-4 formations and schemes.

 

[seedhawk]

Knowing Pete and his defensive mentality, it would not suprise me to see us sub in and entire front 7 depending on down and distance. Keep everyone fresh and hungry.

 

[SmokinHawk]

I think it's become pretty clear that they intend to run a lot of 3-4 and 3-3-5/Big Nickel looks this year. I think we'll see a lot of pressure coming from OLBs as a wrinkle in this year's scheme. So many tweeners on the roster. They will probably just sub in whoever has the freshest legs to rush from the edge as an OLB. Most of our LBs are also decent in coverage.

I can't tell if we are a 4-3 or 3-4 anymore, and I'm not sure if the coaches can, either. One thing is for certain. The 2013 Seattle Seahawks' Amoeba Defense is going to engulf the competition.

 

[Latte Thunder]

Old football saying that goes, "If you have 2 quarterbacks, then you don't have 1". Hope that doesn't apply to defenses.

 

[bestfightstory]

Maybe the dream I have nurtured since 1985 is coming true and the Seahawks will shock the world by implementing the 'Radar-8' Defense.

 

[ivotuk]

Maybe the dream I have nurtured since 1985 is coming true and the Seahawks will shock the world by implementing the 'Radar-8' Defense.

Which is?