Heaps: New DT Shelby Harris adds something Seahawks were missing

It most likely shouldn’t be an excessive amount of of a shock that among the gamers the Seahawks acquired of their blockbuster commerce of Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos have fallen underneath the radar.

Huard: Why dealing with Wilson, Broncos in Week 1 helps the Seahawks

The preliminary shock of the Wilson commerce overshadowed the three participant additions Seattle made, and quarterback Drew Lock coming in because the potential successor of Wilson has overshadowed the opposite two gamers within the deal.

The Seahawks picked up invaluable gamers from the Broncos, although, and together with promising fourth-year tight finish Noah Fant, Seattle has a key new determine for his or her line of defense.

“Essentially the most underrated line of defense addition that (the Seahawks have) made was buying Shelby Harris in that commerce for Russell Wilson,” Jake Heaps of Seattle Sports activities Station’s Jake and Stacy mentioned Friday.

The 30-year previous Harris is a 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive sort out getting into his eighth NFL season, and he’s been a strong contributor for Denver in recent times, making six sacks in every of the 2021 and 2019 seasons. And in line with Heaps, he ought to present one thing the Seahawks have been lacking.

“Clearly, (Harris’ addition) was ignored,” Heaps mentioned. “Shelby Harris is just not a Professional Bowl participant, he’s not anyone that you just take a look at (his) stats and say, ‘Oh my gosh, this man, take a look at the numbers that he’s in a position to produce.’ However that is the man for the primary time (in just a few seasons) you’ve got an inside defensive lineman that may genuinely get after the quarterback. I believe that that is an addition that has been a wanted improve for this line of defense (for) fairly a while.”

The Seahawks have put an emphasis on bettering their cross rush for 2022, and Harris ought to play a component teaming up with edge rushers Darrell Taylor, Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe.

“We’ve talked about cross rush, we’ve talked about edge rush and you’re keen on the way it’s shaping up with Darrell Taylor, Nwosu and Boye Mafe, however you want critical assistance on the inside,” Heaps mentioned. “You possibly can take a look at Al Woods and Bryan Mone and Poona Ford and the job that they’ve carried out within the operating sport, and that’s all nice. However you haven’t had nice inside cross rush since 2018 when Jarran Reed offered you 10.5 sacks. Since that time, you haven’t had an inside cross rush.”

Heaps mentioned that if Harris can replicate what he did in 2021 for the Broncos, it can go a great distance for the Seahawks.

“Shelby Harris is a man that I really feel assured in that he’s going to have the ability to apply that cross rush for this group. If he can match what he did a season in the past – six sacks, seven tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits – that will be a giant increase for this protection.”

You possibly can take heed to Heaps’ full ideas within the 4-Down Territory section of the podcast at this hyperlink or within the participant under.

Extra from Jake Heaps: 4 Hawks rookies who may begin in Week 1

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