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Seattle Seahawks: Ripple effects of Jarran Reed’s suspension

By Samuel Teets

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 30: Jarran Reed #90 of the Seattle Seahawks sacks Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals in the third quarter at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 30: Jarran Reed #90 of the Seattle Seahawks sacks Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals in the third quarter at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 10: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to avoid a sack by Jarran Reed #90 of the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter at CenturyLink Field on December 10, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 10: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to avoid a sack by Jarran Reed #90 of the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter at CenturyLink Field on December 10, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Seattle’s defensive tackle depth

The Seahawks are already a little light at the defensive tackle position. Shamar Stephen, who started 14 games last season, left in free agency. Reed’s absence will likely lead to Poona Ford taking his spot for the first six games of the season.

Ford was an undrafted rookie signing last year that looks like it could be a great addition to the team. He flashes potential as a rookie, but he failed to record a sack. Besides Ford, the Seahawks also have defensive tackles Demarcus Christmas, Jamie Meder, Bryan Mone, Jay-Tee Tiuli and Al Woods on the roster.

Christmas was a sixth-round pick this year but is starting his career on the PUP list. Meder was a starter for the Cleveland Browns back in 2016, but he was cut by the Browns in September last season and saw no action in 2018. Mone and Tiuli are rookie undrafted free agents. Woods started eight games for the Indianapolis Colts last season, and he started all 16 games for the team back in 2017.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Seattle has also signed veteran defensive tackle Earl Mitchell. Mitchell is  entering his 10th year in the NFL and spent the last two years as a starter for the San Francisco 49ers. He has 6.5 sacks during his career and just one in the past four seasons.

Outside of Reed, Seattle’s defensive tackles currently have a combined 13 during their NFL careers. 11 players recorded 13 or more sacks last season.

It will be interesting to see if the Seahawks kick Jefferson inside and have him play alongside Ford during Reed’s absence. Jefferson played defensive end for Seattle last season, but he has the size and experience necessary to play inside. That shift would allocate more snaps at the defensive end position to Ansah, Collier, and Marsh while still allowing Jefferson to see the field.

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There are a lot of ways the Seahawks could adjust their defense to deal with the short-term loss of Reed. Pete Carroll and Seattle will probably try multiple looks during the preseason and in the opening weeks of the regular season to see what the best lineup is.

The Seahawks will face the two top teams in the NFC from last season, the New Orleans Saints (Week 3) and Los Angeles Rams (Week 5), while Reed is suspended.

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