Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos: 3 Things to Watch
By Paul Frances
May 26, 2015; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard speaks with media following an OTA practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Will the defense look any different with Kris Richard now in charge?
Richard was an assistant coach under Pete Carroll at USC. He was hired by the Seahawks as the defensive backs coach in 2012. Over the past three seasons Richard and the Seahawks have put together one of the best secondary units to ever play in the NFL. Richard coaches his players to play aggressively. The secondary’s hard-hitting style has been nicknamed the ‘Legion of Boom’.
I don’t expect the defense style to change at all. The Seahawks’ defensive line has been bolstered by the signing of probable starting defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin and highly-talented rookie defensive ends Frank Clark and Obum Gwacham. The linebacker group is much the same as last season but with the addition of some gifted rookies.
With former starting cornerback Byron Maxwell now with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Seahawks have signed cornerback’s Cary Williams, Will Blackmon and Mohammed Seisay in the hope of finding Maxwell’s replacement.
The ‘Legion of Boom’ looks set to be without its leader, injured free safety Earl Thomas for all of preseason. Behind Thomas there is very little experience, there is third year player Steven Terrell and the Seahawks have signed two rookie free safeties in Ryan Murphy and Ronald Martin Jr.
The Seahawks and Richard will use the next four games to find a new starting cornerback and Thomas’s stand in. I believe that Cary Williams will start at corner opposite Richard Sherman and Will Blackmon will play as the nickel. The Seahawks defense is tailored for Thomas’s skill set and finding cover for the league’s best safety is going to be a tall order. It’s going to be the hardest decision that Richard will make this preseason.
Next: How will the wide receiver battle play out?