| 01 September 2009
Will Lofa Tatupu continue leading the "West Coast Defense"?
When Jim Mora and Gus Bradley first addressed Seattle regarding their plans for the defense, they described their scheme as a "west coast defense," then defined as big up front, fast, and disruptive with a heavy emphasis on turnovers. Last I checked, there are few schemes that don't want those same emphases. I thought it might be worth taking a look at where the Seahawks are at after the first three preseason games (most crucially, the third), to see how this defense has been manifesting itself.
First of all, 91% of our defensive snaps have come from either our Base 4-3 package or our base nickel package (4 Linemen, 2 LBs, 5 DBs). There have been 15 snaps out of a dime formation and two out of a 3-3-5 Nickel package. While these numbers may change a bit in the regular season -- we will be more likely going into the Dime package with Trufant out there, for example -- we can probably expect 90% of our snaps to come out of the 4-3 and 4-2 Nickel packages.
One point of emphasis the coaches have made in the offseason has been their desire to have Aaron Curry play with his hands in the dirt a little bit. If the Seahawks are successful in crafting Curry into a Defensive End in the Nickel, one might expect to see that package even more often once Trufant is back on the field. The key to this defense appears to have all of your best players on the field as often as possible, and both Aaron Curry and Josh Wilson fit into that mold on passing downs.
The WCD is fast and attacking, it is relentless in pursuit and is adaptable to the personnel on the defense and the strategy of the offense. Have we seen this? Not yet. The last two games, especially Week 2, the Hawks defense came out of the gates sluggish. They were not attacking well, they were losing battles in the trenches, and generally speaking, they were not "relentless." We have, however, seen some wrinkles of this from the Seahawks.
It is difficult to look at the half-time adjustments that a team makes in a preseason game. You've got different personnel out there for most of the second half, so who is to say that the team is playing better or has adjusted? Well, you can't really. At the beginning of each half, however, the Seahawks defense has attacked much more efficiently (regardless of the personnel). It appears that the adjustments at half are sufficient to get through a game, that Gus Bradley, Mora, Quinn and the other defensive coaches are analyzing the opponent and seeing a) what they've done so far, and b) what they can be expected to do in certain circumstances.
That is the adaptability function of the West Coast Defense. That is the key to coaching this 2009 Seahawks defense, and any others that end up following suit. The Hawks have the coaching personnel to run it; do they have the discipline, athletic ability, and personnel to do so effectively? That answer will begin revealing itself on September 13, but if the starters can amp up the energy a notch or three, it would appear the answer is yes. If not, there may well be two top twenty picks next year.
Comments (14)
...
written by tam, September 01, 2009
written by tam, September 01, 2009
thanks for a new post Sully...so back to Branch and Marshalll, this is what i think should happen...just kidding!
-
- +0
-
-
I'm not 100% the secondary is our big concern
written by GnarlyHawk, September 01, 2009
written by GnarlyHawk, September 01, 2009
I'm not pleased w/ the tackling. We have gotten burnt from missed tackling from the 1st team line backers. This must be addressed if we are to stop screens, runs and underneath passing YAC.
-
- +0
-
-
...
written by durteehawk, September 01, 2009
written by durteehawk, September 01, 2009
I have noticed this too GnarlyHawk but I think it is just relaxed play by Tatupu and Hill in order to stay Healthy.
Curry has shown his sure tackling skills.
I agree we can't arm tackle. I don't think that will be too much of a concern though. Not as much as the secondary...
Curry has shown his sure tackling skills.
I agree we can't arm tackle. I don't think that will be too much of a concern though. Not as much as the secondary...
-
- +0
-
-
CBs....
written by CanadaHawk, September 01, 2009
written by CanadaHawk, September 01, 2009
PFT reports Ron Wood is available... no mention that the Hawks would be interested.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/08/31/look-for-a-market-to-emerge-for-rod-hood/
Just wondering... Why not?????? Now, I'm not all that up to speed on Wood, but shouldn't we be bringing in guys to, at the very least, look at and kick their tires? Esp now that we are hearing that Trufant will not practice this week either?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawksblog/2009781702_marcus_trufant_9.html
I can't bear to watch Jennings play. Good grief.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/08/31/look-for-a-market-to-emerge-for-rod-hood/
Just wondering... Why not?????? Now, I'm not all that up to speed on Wood, but shouldn't we be bringing in guys to, at the very least, look at and kick their tires? Esp now that we are hearing that Trufant will not practice this week either?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawksblog/2009781702_marcus_trufant_9.html
I can't bear to watch Jennings play. Good grief.
-
- +0
-
-
...
written by Seahawk Addicts, September 01, 2009
written by Seahawk Addicts, September 01, 2009
CanadaHawk - While I agree that Rod Hood is an intriguing cut, he hasn't been cutting it as the Browns' third-string CB going against rooks and scrubs. I don't see him outplaying Jennings, though it definitely caught my eye too.
-
- +0
-
-
...
written by optimistichawkfan, September 01, 2009
written by optimistichawkfan, September 01, 2009
I can see Aaron Curry and Nick Reed both with 'hands in the dirt' attacking around their respective ends. How would you like to be an OT on a pass play?
-
- +0
-
-
...
written by Lars, September 01, 2009
written by Lars, September 01, 2009
Mora has also said multiple times that they don't game plan for the preseason games. That could be why it takes us a while to get going and also why we look so good after half time.
-
- +0
-
-
...
written by omarlittle, September 01, 2009
written by omarlittle, September 01, 2009
Sounds like Taylor Mays would be a good fit in the WCD. Hes fast and hard hitting, and probably the best athlete in the 2010 draft. Would rather see Berry but still, Mays looks like he'd fit in with this system.
-
- +1
-
-
...
written by Seahawk Addicts, September 01, 2009
written by Seahawk Addicts, September 01, 2009
Omarlittle - Agreed completely. Mays and Berry are both very fast, smart, and incredibly hard hitting. Berry has much better ball skills than Mays, but Mays has better size. Call it a draw, just get one of them on this team next year!
-
- +0
-
-
You ain't seen nothin' yet
written by phxhawk, September 01, 2009
written by phxhawk, September 01, 2009
Another thing to remember is that the defensive schemes are relatively vanilla (you don't want to give too much away) and there isn't much game-planning done for the preseason games. Expect to see a lot more stunts and exotic blitzes when we get to the regular season.
-
- +0
-
-
Identity politics
written by Bokeh, September 01, 2009
written by Bokeh, September 01, 2009
The `WCD' seems to be an attempt to carve out a unique identity, as much as it is a unique scheme. And if so, well, shoot, go ahead and count me in. With a unique identity, you get unique standards and expectations, working from a blank page to build something new, and especially effective. Whatever you call it, whatever the schematic particulars, it's going to be judged in total. By points allowed, by hits, by picks, by wins. Aim high, gentlemen, but above all, make it work. Put the `west coast defense' front and center into the NFL vernacular, and watch the world beat a path to your door.
I appreciate the value of a strong and unique identity. The `Steel Curtain' is utter BS, but then SOMETHING caused all those ridiculous flags at Superbowl XL. If it wasn't a fix, maybe it was just simple marketing?
I appreciate the value of a strong and unique identity. The `Steel Curtain' is utter BS, but then SOMETHING caused all those ridiculous flags at Superbowl XL. If it wasn't a fix, maybe it was just simple marketing?
-
- +0
-
-
...
written by omarlittle, September 01, 2009
written by omarlittle, September 01, 2009
I'm excited by what the combo of Mora and Bradley offers our defense. Bradley had huge praise heaped upon him by Monte Kiffen, one of the great defensive coordinators of all time. He is Kiffen's hand picked protoge, much like Holmgren was to Walsh and I'm really excited to see him put the pieces of our defense into an elite unit. We have the pieces, even Russell is not that bad of a player. There is no reason we can't succeed this season.
-
- +0
-
-
Write comment
You must be logged in to post a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.
| < Prev |
|---|
Every aspect of the Defense seems to have to gelling in order for this "WCD" to work properly.
I think the success of this defense rides on the shoulders of the secondary at this point as the other two groups appear to be solid(D-line, LB).
Trufant needs to be in this secondary in order for this defense to be successful.