Good list ErikG803.
lukerguy wrote:The philosophy works if you can stop the run. Bryant wasn't right this year. We were must better against the run in 2011, but we still couldn't get the QB on 3rd and long. Hypothetically if you could mix 2011 run stopping production with better pass rushers, you have a match made in heaven..Unfortunately, if you can't stop the run, and you can't get to the QB on 3rd down...well you have what we had this year.
I think Quinn will help with our pass rush, but I can't see us abandoning the Bryant DE strategy..It has the potential to be too dominant against the run.
Our run defense ranking, by season (football outsiders):
2012: 12th
2011: 12th
2010: 17th
2009: 10th
2008: 17th
2007: 5th
Our rush defense peaked in 2007. Since then it's pretty much held steady between 10th and 17th. The best run defense we've had in the last 5 years was actually the year right before the Red Bryant experiment began. Really, the numbers don't support the idea that Red Bryant at end has helped our run defense. It probably just feels that way because Seattle's run defense always starts out really strong before falling off the planet in the 2nd half of the year. I'm starting to think this isn't a coincidence. You would expect a 330 pound DE to wear out in the 2nd half.
Those run problems continued in the playoffs.
Quinn was here before the Red Bryant experiment began. I don't expect him to end it, because I suspect it was Carroll, the guy who loves unique players, who made that call.
But I guess we'll see what happens. Even when I disagree with Pete, I have faith in him. He played Mebane at the 3 tech in 2010 when it was obvious to any tenured Seahawks fan that he belonged at the 1. Pete later said in his defense that he "didn't know" about Mebane's history at the 1. Fair enough. Maybe he'll pull the "didn't know" card again with Bryant, that he didn't know until the season was basically over how Bryant had been holding our line back. Or maybe he'll double down.
Either way, I heard exasperation in Pete's voice when he talked about pass rushers in the plural form. He knows radical action is needed. I guess we'll find out what that ends up being.