Seahawks with conundrum at cornerback in Week 4

The calendar has rolled to October, and for the Seattle Seahawks which means the primary lengthy street journey of the yr. This weekend sees the Hawks touring east to tackle the Detroit Lions in an early slot sport Sunday, although not the earliest slot, as that would be the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints enjoying within the 6:30 AM Pacific Time Zone slot in London.

Nonetheless, when the Seahawks get round to taking the sphere Sunday afternoon in Detroit, they’ll be confronted with a number of questions relating to the roster, not the least of which will likely be at cornerback. Via the primary three weeks the protection has struggled, each in permitting opponents to throw the ball nicely whereas additionally failing to persistently apply stress to the quarterback. The result’s a protection that’s thirty first ranked within the NFL in internet yards per try (NY/A), and now the query turns into what the Hawks will do with a purpose to try to alter that.

Followers already heard from Pete Carroll earlier within the week that he want to get children Boye Mafe and Darryl Johnson extra concerned, which may imply a lack of enjoying time for third yr man Darrell Taylor. Nonetheless, the query then turns into what the protection could be how the protection plans to deal with the problems on the again finish of issues. With Justin Coleman nonetheless recovering from a calf harm and listed as uncertain for the sport in opposition to the Lions, the beginning cornerbacks may as soon as once more be Tariq Woolen and Mike Jackson on the skin, with Coby Bryant persevering with his function because the nickel again.

The play from the kids at cornerback has not been excellent, however that’s to be anticipated from first yr starters nonetheless studying the right way to play their place. With that in thoughts, although, the veteran free brokers the Hawks signed in free company within the spring, Artie Burns and Sidney Jones, are each absolutely cleared and again as much as full velocity, per Carroll.

That’s not all that completely different from the replace Pete offered heading into Week 3 in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons, a sport for which each Jones and Burns had been wholesome scratches.

So, Jones was “sitting on the third spot” heading into Week 3, after having seen the sphere for a dozen defensive snaps in opposition to the Denver Broncos in Week 1 earlier than failing to see the sphere within the Week 2, regardless of being energetic, within the drubbing taken by the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. Besides, from that third spot Jones turned a wholesome scratch because the workforce opted to begin Woolen and Jackson, with Xavier Crawford and Isaiah Dunn offering the depth.

It actually raises the query of not simply who will begin at outdoors cornerback Sunday in opposition to Detroit. Will it once more be Jackson and Woolen? Or will Carroll go for a extra veteran presence on the skin in opposition to a Detroit offense that was extremely productive each on the bottom and thru the air throughout the month of September? The Hawks presently have eight cornerbacks on the roster, together with:

• Mike Jackson
• Tariq Woolen
• Artie Burns
• Sidney Jones
• Xavier Crawford
• Isaiah Dunn
• Coby Bryant (nickel)
• Justin Coleman (nickel; uncertain for Week 4)

How the workforce opts to deal with the cornerback place in Week 4 may shed a variety of mild on how the workforce plans on addressing the rest of the 2022 season. If Jackson and Woolen are once more the starters on the skin, it might be a sign the workforce is content material to construct for the longer term and fewer involved with speedy on discipline outcomes. On the flip aspect, if the workforce opts to begin both Burns or Jones, or probably each, it could appear to sign that Carroll is just not but prepared to write down off 2022 and desires to present himself the most effective alternative to win now.

A 3rd choice might be for the Hawks to have the veterans break up time with the kids, so don’t be stunned if the duos are alternating or rotating between possessions. This is able to be similar to how Carroll labored Tre Brown into the lineup beginning in Week 3 of the 2021 season, and would probably serve a number of functions. In the beginning, it could power the Lions to react to one thing they’ve but to see this season, whereas on the similar time giving Jones and Burns a chance to point out what they’ll do within the new system.

Now, getting Jones and Burns a chance to point out what they’ll do is probably going a far much less vital aim than letting guys like Woolen, Jackson and Bryant develop, however letting Jones and Burns play may generate different returns. Particularly, placing what they’ll do on tape may give the Hawks the power to John Schneider to work his commerce deadline magic and deal one or each of them ought to the Seahawks decide to be sellers come Halloween. Neither could be more likely to see the workforce obtain greater than a Day 3 choose in return, however a Day 3 choose is an entire lot extra return than they’d be getting from a participant (or two) who may probably be wholesome scratches down the stretch, particularly if Tre Brown returns and provides his identify into the competitors.

Briefly, don’t be stunned if the Hawks give some enjoying time to Jones and Burns to throw a wrench within the Lions gameplanning for Woolen and Jackson, whereas additionally organising the likelihood for some commerce deadline dealing ought to the workforce resolve in a couple of weeks they’re unlikely to be contenders in 2022.