Seattle Seahawks season sneak peek: All eyes on pass rush ahead of 2020 NFL season

The position that was a cause of endless dismay a year ago has remained under the microscope throughout the offseason in Seattle, as the Seahawks replenished their stable of pass rushers with a handful of secondary and tertiary threats. While the absence of a main rusher and Jadeveon Clowney’s ongoing free agency has led to Seattle’s retooling still going incomplete, the Seahawks’ roster building seems to suggest their job is done. So just like the Seattle defense in 2019, we’ll be content with what we have when previewing this year’s EDGEs.

Expected group

The Seahawks’ two defensive spots appear to be settled, with less than two weeks of Week 1. At LEO, Benson Mayowa has received most of the first-team reps at camp and is set to start the season there.

Mayowa is expected to be backed by rookie Alton Robinson, who has already received a fair amount of praise. On the other hand, Rasheem Green is projecting himself as a starter at 5-tech, with LJ Collier desperate for a solid second season behind him.

Darrell Taylor is a bit of a wild card in any screening. The team’s second-round pick this year is still recovering from a stress fracture and is in a race to be ready for Week 1. Once he’s healthy and part of the rotation, he’ll see some snaps in the game. LEO and will probably allow the team to turn around. Robinson between the two spots.

Bruce Irvin and Shaquem Griffin, both of whom will rush the passer over a good number of their shots, are considered SAM linebackers in the Seattle defense.

Black Horse

With such a crowded group at EDGE, it will be extremely difficult for anyone off the roster to break through. Of those expected to make the 53, Robinson is the dark horse to contribute as a fifth-round rookie, while Collier could take advantage of low expectations to surprise some, especially as an inside rusher.

Reason to be optimistic

In 2019, as Clowney tried to perform solo, the Seahawks’ lack of depth was surprising. Now they have that depth in groups with many proven contributors and young ascendant players. While that won’t make up for the lack of high-end talent at the top, Mayowa and Irvin regularly arrive at quarterback at a steady pace and are expected to continue doing so in 2020. Elsewhere, it’s hard not to be excited about Green , who made a very promising jump as a sophomore and is expected to continue to develop into his season at 23.

Where it could go wrong

In a way, it looks like Seattle traded a high cap for a high stage between 2019-20. Between that and a stacked secondary, they are expected to produce at a higher level by rushing the passer this season. However, the lack of elite (or even big) talent is glaring and it’s hard to project a player as likely to reach double-digit sacks. Defense as a unit should be improved but the pass rush dragging 30 sacks for the second year in a row is not that hard to imagine.

Perspective

In the end, the Seahawks seemingly sacrificed top-end talent in the name of depth and youth. In the long run, this should certainly pay off. For a team in a Super Bowl window, the payoff must also come in 2020. Without Clowney, it remains to be seen whether that will be the case.