Seattle, WA
Seattle Seahawks ‘Where They’re Meant to Be’ Defensively With End of OTAs Looming
As OTAs near a conclusion, first-time defensive coordinator Aden Durde is in no rush to make sure his players have mastered the early installs of the Seattle Seahawks’ new defensive scheme, and that’s exactly how it should be.
With eight OTA practices in the books, mandatory minicamp on the horizon June 11 to13, and a long training camp beginning in late July, Durde told reporters on Monday that most of the focus has been on what’s happening before each play, not during or after, especially with all the defensive playmaking restrictions in OTAs.
Speaking with media after Monday’s final open OTA session, Durde and head coach Mike Macdonald want to ensure pre-snap communication, adjustments, and shifts are locked in first.
“Obviously, where we are at, definitely it is part of installing a new scheme, but really it’s just part of the process of this year,” Durde said. “When there’s certain restrictions in the way you can practice and the things you can do, it’s like how do you maximize that by making sure pre-snap you’re moving fast, you’re talking, everyone’s down in a good position. Those are the things you’re looking for.”
With many players still not practicing during OTAs or even being present at all, it’s almost impossible to gauge where the unit that will eventually be Seattle’s starting defense currently stands. For now, Durde said those who are practicing are grasping the new scheme well, albeit with some miscues, which are expected.
“I think this time of year you really have to kind of step back and look at it from [the] big picture. I don’t think you have to get down into the detail,” Durde added. “You’re going to install the system, then you’re going to install it again. Then they’re going to get another hit of it next week when we get into true mandatory minicamp and then they’ll get another hit in training camp. I think right now they’re just where they’re meant to be and you have to, I think at this time of year, you’ve got to be comfortable making those mistakes and learning from them.”
Durde and the rest of Seattle’s defensive coaching staff have been tasked with fixing a Seahawks defense that was 30th in total yards allowed, 31st in rushing yards allowed, and 25th in scoring defense while allowing 23.6 points per game. Those poor numbers played a critical role in the decision to move on from legendary coach Pete Carroll and his staff this offseason.
When he was hired, Durde said Macdonald had a “very clear vision” of what the system would be, and it’s only grown from there as the pair — alongside assistant head coach Leslie Frazier — have continued to discuss how they see the team’s culture and its style of play. That has trickled down to the players and he hopes to see continued growth as training camp approaches.
“The players believe in the process, and we’re always looking at it and making sure that it’s right for them.”
West Seattle pickleball players rallied this week as they ramp up opposition to Seattle Parks‘ Draft Outdoor Racquet-Sports Strategy, which would – among other things – change dual-striped courts at High Point and Alki to tennis-only. Next milepost along the way: Tomorrow night (Thursday, April 23), the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners – a city-convened advisory group – gets briefed on the “strategy.” Though board meetings usually have a public-comment period, the department is directing comments to the three feedback meetings (none in West Seattle, though some local advocates are trying to get one set up). The advocate who contacted us says they’re trying to “show their support to save these vital community resources. These courts are used by hundreds of people every week to stay active and connect with neighbors. We have no idea why the city would seek to do away with such highly used and inclusive gathering places.” They’re describing what they’re doing as a “WS-specific effort … aimed at saving pickleball at Walt Hundley and Alki. We are planning another larger rally on a weekend in Mid/Late May where we hope to turn out the entire West Seattle pickleball community and invite our local elected leaders and city officials to see how many lives are touched by pickleball in West Seattle.” In the meantime, they’re continuing to collect petition signatures here. Tomorrow night’s Parks Board meeting is being held in person downtown and via Zoom at 6 pm – attendance info is here.
over at Bleeding Green Nation. During the off-season, he’s been writing his mock
draft blog and just wrote up–a rather lengthy–mock pick for the Seahawks at
#32.
Personally, not enamored with the pick, but he does a VERY deep dive into the
offensive and defensive makeup of the Hawks, trying…
After months of build up, the Seattle Seahawks are less than 48 hours from being on the clock for their first pick of the NFL Draft, as long as they hold on to pick No. 32 in the first round.
Seahawks Draft: A mid-round edge rusher with elite length
While the offensive line has long been a need for the Seahawks in drafts, this year running back, edge rusher and cornerback are among their top positions of need.
Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard highlighted a pair of players who could help bolster the Seahawks’ edge group as he continued his draft profile series Tuesday during Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk.
In this edition of Huard’s draft profiles, he looked at Michigan edge rushers Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham, who also played on the same team together in high school at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore.
Huard pointed to the connection head coach Mike Macdonald, a former Michigan defensive coordinator, and many members of his coaching staff have to the Michigan program.
“They know these guys, they know them inside and out,” Huard said. “They typically like they’re Michigan men, and these are two physical guys that have all the attributes you’re looking for on the edge.”
The high-floor pick
Moore is coming off a decorated four-year career at Michigan where he piled up 24.5 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, eight passes defended and three forced fumbles in 53 games.
This past season, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Moore totaled 10.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles while earning first-team All-Big Ten honors.
“I think this is a pretty fair quote about him: ‘Unselfish, well-rounded, high floor.’ Is he a high-ceiling guy? Not as much as Barham, but he’s a very high-floor guy,” Huard said.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has Moore ranked as the No. 65 prospect in this years draft. ESPN has him ranked 60th.
“He is just your fierce, tough, edgy, productive (player),” Huard said. “He played in space a little bit more. They are field-boundary scheme at Michigan at times. He’s been more of the field rusher, more against your left tackle. And (he’s) just got more in the tool bag… He’s been a defensive end. He’s pretty well versed in it. He’s going to have a bigger tool bag, I think, than both Boye (Mafe) and Derrick Hall had, and he’s going to be a second, late-second-round (pick). Rugged, tough Michigan guy.”
The high-ceiling pick
Barham spent his first two college seasons at Maryland, which included earning Freshman All-American honors in 2022, and transferred to Michigan in 2024. He played linebacker at Maryland and in his first season at Michigan before making the move to edge for his final college season.
In 12 games at a new position in 2025, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Barham amassed 10 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks.
“Jaishawn Barham is a little bit more of a wild card, and one of the scouts that was quoted in some of the prep for this said he may bloom with the right coaching,” Huard said.
Huard recalled seeing Barham as a freshman at Maryland while he was doing color commentary for FOX and being in awe of how physically mature he already looked.
“I remember being on the field, as a freshman, looking at him going, ‘There’s just no way. There’s no way humanly possible that that guy played high school football the year before,’” Huard said.
Jeremiah has Barham ranked as the No. 77 prospect in the draft. ESPN has him ranked 88th.
“He is a higher ceiling guy you’re going to have to coach up,” Huard said. “He doesn’t come with years and years and years of experience on the edge.”
Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft coverage
• An under-the-radar Seattle Seahawks need Brock Huard sees
• NFL Draft: What – and who – Seahawks could get by trading back
• Why Hasselbeck says Seahawks are in great spot to trade back
• Seattle Seahawks open to trading top pick for bigger draft class
• A player Seahawks could trade for another draft pick
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