Pete Carroll Can Solidify Seattle’s Defense With an $11.5 Million Imposing Force
Good times are ahead for Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks.
With veteran quarterback Russell Wilson playing at an MVP level, Seattle won its first five games and is in good shape going forward. But unlike years past, Seattle’s defense has been inconsistent, to put things kindly.
The Seattle Seahawks have never been afraid to make moves at the trade deadlines. Carroll should try to swing a trade for a veteran defensive lineman who could help turn Seattle’s defense around.
Pete Carroll’s Seahawks are 5-0 despite an inconsistent defense
Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks are in a semi-inverse of years past.
Many years ago, also known as less than a decade ago, the Seattle Seahawks rode a ground game and a brilliant defense to the playoffs every year. Seattle only needed Russell Wilson to limit his mistakes and, occasionally, use his athleticism and arm to bail out the team.
How things have changed. Wilson is an MVP-frontrunner, and it’s the Seahawks defense that, while not playing horribly, looked inconsistent over the first five games.
Seattle’s defense allowed an NFL-high 471 yards per game in those outings. The unit has played fine at times — Bobby Wagner is still leading the way at linebacker — but the group definitely needs to improve over the coming months.
Ryan Kerrigan is a veteran pass-rusher in Washington
When the NFL’s best sack artists of the 2010s are considered, the likes of Chandler Jones, J.J. Watt, and Von Miller usually come to mind.
Washington veteran Ryan Kerrigan never appears in those conversations, for some reason. The 16th overall pick in 2011, Kerrigan had 90 sacks, forced 26 fumbles, returned three interceptions for touchdowns, and posted 114 tackles for loss in his first nine seasons.
Kerrigan made four Pro Bowls in that span.
Kerrigan has 1.5 sacks and a tackle for loss in three career games against Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle held Kerrigan without a sack in their NFC wild-card game showdown in January 2013.
Kerrigan had three sacks, three tackles for loss, and a 6-yard fumble recovery in Washington’s first six games this season. Unfortunately for Kerrigan, Washington lost five straight games after a surprising Week 1 victory against Carson Wentz and the Eagles.
Pete Carroll should try to swing a trade for Ryan Kerrigan
The Seattle Seahawks need defensive playmakers, and Ryan Kerrigan is tolling away on a bad Washington team.
In that regard, the two are perfect trade partners. Kerrigan is a free agent after the season and is still playing at an impressive level in rotational duty.
Washington’s future in the trenches belongs to the likes of Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Kerrigan played a season-low seven defensive snaps in a Week 6 loss to the Giants, although he picked up a sack on one of those snaps.
Seattle likely wouldn’t need to give up much to acquire Kerrigan, who is making $11.5 million this season.
Pete Carroll has long been known as a player’s coach and, even if Kerrigan isn’t drawing starts or playing 80% of the team’s defensive snaps, would have a more significant role and a chance to win the Super Bowl.
Kerrigan turns 33 next August. He is running out of chances, and the Seahawks could very well be his best opportunity to go out on top.
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