Seattle joined the Patrick Kerney sweepstakes in the offseason just after Super Bowl XLI. They were not getting the requested productivity from then starting defensive ends Grant Wistrom and Bryce Fisher. Wistrom finished that season with only 4 sacks and Fisher accumulated just 4 sacks as well. In the next 3 months, the Seahawks searched vigorously for a player who could step in and explode off the edge. The 'Hawks found the man they were destined to sign and he was a physically gifted 6-5 270 lb. pass rusher named Patrick Kerney. Kerney signed a 6 year, $39.5 million contract and he recorded 14.5 sacks in his first season. Ever since the Seahawks signed Kerney, the NFL has really taken a more in depth look at pass rushing defensive ends instead of run stopping defensive ends. Jared Allen was the top choice before Kerney of all the 2007 free agents but he resigned with the Chiefs but was ironically traded before the 2008 NFL draft to Minnesota. The 2008 NFL draft saw four defensive ends go in the 1st round but only 1 of those (drafted by our Seattle Seahawks) specialized in stopping the run instead of assaulting the passer. The first three chosen were all substantial pass rushers and that is becoming the new trend in the NFL. Understand that there are still talented run stoppers out there but the majority of NFL teams are building around a defensive end that can effect the quarterback's success of completing a pass.
Continue reading "Are pass rushing defensive ends the new style?"
