Seahawks hosting two veteran defenders: a former All-Pro ‘snacker,’ and a Super Bowl champ
It’s hosting day at Seahawks headquarters.
As the players strolled through the fog to team headquarters on their off days for yet more COVID-19 tests Tuesday morning, their team was taking next steps to bolster the defense.
Seattle was having 2016 All-Pro defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison in for a free-agent visit Tuesday. The team is thin on the defensive line in general, and inside in particular. Bryan Mone, a 2019 undrafted rookie, and recently signed Anthony Rush each played more than one-fourth of the snaps at tackle Sunday in the Seahawks’ win at Miami.
Harrison turns 32 next month. He’s been unsigned since playing 15 games last season for Detroit. He starred for the New York Jets and Giants from 2012-18.
Also Tuesday, the Seahawks were hosting old friend Mychal Kendricks on a free-agent visit.
Kendricks was Seattle’s starting strongside linebacker for 17 games in 2018 and ‘19, before season-ending knee injuries in both seasons. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee Dec. 30 in the Seahawks’ NFC West title-game loss to San Francisco.
He turned 30 last week. He won a Super Bowl starting for Philadelphia during the 2017 season.
The Seahawks exploring adding Kendricks comes one week after starting strongside linebacker Bruce Irvin had season-ending knee surgery.
It also doesn’t bode well for Cody Barton.
Barton, Seattle’s second-round draft choice last year, made his third career start last weekend against the Dolphins. His first two starts were last season for Kendricks at strongside linebacker. Barton played on the weakside, more off the ball, for 24 of the game’s 71 snaps in the Seahawks’ base 4-3 defense in Miami; the Seahawks again were in nickel with two linebackers (K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner) and five defensive backs for two-thirds of the defensive snaps.
Barton missed multiple tackles in the open field against the Dolphins in a newer defensive scheme, compared to Seattle’s last month. It had less blitzing without injured All-Pro safety and blitzer Jamal Adams. Linebackers dropped deeper off the ball and were to keep plays in front of them, relying on sure tackling to prevent the 19 huge plays (gains of 20-plus yards) that were crushing Seattle through its first three games.
It worked—except for Barton. Wright moved from his usual weakside spot to strongside against the Dolphins, and the team’s longest-tenured player had one of his best games in years. Seattle held Miami without a touchdown until garbage time in a two-score game late.
Seattle allowing Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to throw for 343 net yards passing was actually an improvement over the first three games. The Seahawks are last in the league in total defense (477 yards allowed per game) and pass defense, by plenty. They are allowing 401 yards per game through four games. That’s 60 more yards allowed on average through the air than any other team.
Rookie first-round pick Jordyn Brooks was in line to be starting at weakside and Wright on strongside with Irvin on injured reserve. But late in his first career start Sept. 27 against Dallas, he sprained his knee.
Wright is starting, Sunday night for the Seahawks (4-0) at home against Minnesota (1-3) and beyond. The team believes Brooks is coming back from his first-degree sprain of his medial-collateral ligament at some point this season.
So the interest in Kendricks is an indication the coaches aren’t thrilled with Barton starting in the meantime.
Coach Pete Carroll was asked Monday about Barton’s play in Miami.
“Cody got involved in some good stuff. Missed a couple opportunities,” Carroll said. “Played the most he’s played all season (24 snaps in base defense), which was good for him for to get going.
“I would expect that he would get better and better as he gets his time. To be able to play the ‘Will’ (weakside) backer spot, which is where he has spent the most time preparing, will really help him. We are really counting on him to play well.”
This story was originally published October 6, 2020 at 10:19 AM.
