Scruggs and Howard

[Largent80]

Howard gets to reunite with Quinn. That can only help him, That and some real playing time.

 

[kearly]

I thought Howard looked great as a pass rusher but horrific as a run defender in the preseason. I don't think Pete felt great about spending a roster spot on another 3rd down specialist so that probably explains why Howard was never activated.

Scruggs flashed dominance but not consistency. I have very high hopes for him as a Cory Redding or Jason Jones type hybrid, but we may not see him at his best this season just yet.

 

[TDOTSEAHAWK]

I am waiting to see what Quinn does with Howard. I frankly think he will be most depth this year.

Scruggs reminds me a lot of Michael Bennett when he started with us. Smaller 3 tech DT with great length, quickness and motor. I am excited to see how he develops as a pass rusher.

 

[Blitzer88]

Jaye and Gregg are gonna have to step it up next year for us if we do not get the guys at DT the FO wants.

 

[Shadowhawk]

This team has never been shy about cutting loose draft picks that they feel can't get the job done. EJ Wilson and Mark Legree can testify to that.

If they are keeping Howard around they must feel like he's at least worth another look. I wouldn't count him out just yet.

 

[Basis4day]

Yeah, Howard was a HUGE dissapointment. A big dude not making the active roster is odd. You can never have enough big bodies rotating.

Jaye Howard was NOT a "disappointment," never mind a "HUGE" one. He was simply a rookie who was the odd man out in a deep rotation of veteran DT's (Mebane, Branch, McDonald, Jones on passing downs, not to mention Bryant/Scruggs' ability to spin down as DT's if needed) which rendered him inactive for all but two games. There isn't a team in the league that carries 5 DT's on its 45-man active gameday roster. Howard was ostensibly 'redshirting' as a rookie while continuing to grow into his frame, add more functional strength, and learn the nuances of DT play at the NFL level. Howard arrived at Florida as a 230-pound DE and was bounced all around the Gators' D-line during his career. He didn't settle in as a full-time DT until hs senior season, so he is still very raw (and growing) at/into the position while simultaneously acclimating to the step up in play going from the college to pro level. There has been positively nothing that has come from anyone associated with the Seahawks which indicates that the club is in any way "disappointed" with Howard's freshman season with the team, or his future/potential.

Well said. Took the words out of my mouth. I think later rd gold (Sherm, Kam, KJ) has spoiled our expectations of our draft picks. Someone on the team needs to be inactive.

 

[pehawk]

Okay, maybe HUGE disappointment would be a stretch. But, I had HIGH hopes for him, because coming out his skill was exclusively providing interior pressure. That’s what Howards good at, and is/was a huge need.

It’s disappointing his best skill didn't earn PT, even though it matched the Seahawks biggest deficiency.

 

[Attyla the Hawk]

Well said. Took the words out of my mouth. I think later rd gold (Sherm, Kam, KJ) has spoiled our expectations of our draft picks. Someone on the team needs to be inactive.

Actually, I'm just looking at how these examples were entrusted by Pete to play. Scruggs was entrusted to play just like all three of those guys.

Howard got the Dexter Davis treatment.

Pete has been pretty consistent in that guys he likes (and guys that turn into later round gold), tend to be treated similarly. They get snaps, even if they are inconsistent. It's as if Pete likes to sprinkle some game experience in with their development to accelerate the process.

Even guys like Lane and Maxwell and Tate have been afforded limited role opportunities early in their development. Truthfully, I don't know of any developmental guys that turned out for us that were stashed away on an inactive list.

I can see the virtue in the idea that we could only keep so many DL active. But when it came down to it, it was Scruggs who made the cut and not Howard. For a role/position that Howard was specifically drafted for.

I'd say Howard has a very uphill battle. Because he's going to be competing against a better Scruggs, and whomever we take in this years' draft too.

 

[MysterMatt]

Yeah, Howard was a HUGE dissapointment. A big dude not making the active roster is odd. You can never have enough big bodies rotating.

Scruggs is the utility knife, IMO. I think he's being groomed, and will succeed, in playing every position along the line. He could also be a future Red Bryant, who MAY add a little more QB pressure.

Pretty much my thoughts. I don't recall Howard doing much of anything, and it wouldn't bother me in the least if we jettison his considerable arse for someone who might be able to play in this league. Scruggs could be a solid utility guy, and seems the sort who could compete with Red for the LDE spot. We still need a legit 3-tech, which we haven't really had since Bernard. Jones was as close as we got, really.