The Seattle Seahawks picked up DE Patrick Kerney in the 2007 off-season and it was known as one of the biggest pick-ups that off-season. Kerney was given a 6-year contract worth almost $40 million. And while he did record a NFC-leading 14.5 sacks, was NFC Defensive Player of the Year, and made the Pro Bowl as an All-Pro selection, is he really all the hype?
If you look game-by-game at Kerney's stats in 2007, you notice that a good number of his sacks on the year were clumped together in single games. In fact, Kerney recorded 9 of the 14.5 sacks in 3 single games. Even though that's impressive, what happened in the other 13 games?
After coming off of a 3-sack game versus the Cardinals in Week 14, Kerney really turned his play down a notch. In the last 5 games of the season, Kerney recorded a mere 1 sack. As Hawks head coach Mike Holmgren put it, he got a bit worn out. I guess, the guy's in his 30s, give him some slack. But still!
His deteriorating play later on in the season also saw a game in which he didn't crack a single stat (only time that occured in 2007), the Packers divisional playoff game; by the way, the Hawks allowed Packers RB Ryan Grant to rush for over 200 yards in the same game (a Packers playoff record).
You also have to admit the Hawks were pretty bold in giving Kerney such a big contract. What people didn't realize or take into consideration at all was the fact that Kerney was 30 years old when we signed him. He was also coming off of surgery on his right pectoral muscle. When a player is aging and needs surgery due to an on-field injury, there's not a great chance that he'll have a great year following. But he certainly proved me and a few other critics wrong, didn't he.
One last thing, most of the time, unless you're a top, top, top, top-notch player, older players in the NFL probably won't have two (or more) consecutive double-digit sack years. I believe that a 10-sack season in 2008 for Kerney is realistic, but I also think a 5-sack season in 2008 for Kerney is realistic as well. So maybe the Hawks GM Tim Ruskell and Holmgren were right in drafting a defensive end, but should it have been Lawrence Jackson? Or Phillip Merling?
Kerney can still be effective as part of a three-man rotation. He's an older DE and as such can use the rest. For the draft, I'd have probably drafted Merling instead. Merling is the most complete DE in the draft. He can stop the run and defends well against the pass.
Merling had a history of injury. Following the Seahawks personnel process, Williams is an intelligent, well spoken, and upstanding young man. He comes from a high exposure, big time college program and has a lot of upside.
Like Jon says, the Hawks have been rotating their defensive tackles with some success given the available talent, now it appears they will also be rotating their DEs.
Kerney is not as young as you'd like, but the skills are still there. Tap is entering his third season and with rookie Williams, they will rotate. The "old man", who I'm sure will be teaching Williams what he can, will benefit late in the season through this procedure... Not a bad deal!
As for that Packers game. How many times did Grant run to the right? Grant hardly did. The Packers new if they contained Kerney and pounded the left side, they would put up big numbers. And this was pretty obvious when Grant had two early turnovers, but Favre kept giving the ball to Grant. And again that Packers game plan was contain Kerney and play smash mouth on the other side.
Kerney is a HUGE part of our pass rush. With the amount of attention other teams have to give him, it frees up guys like Tatupu to fall back into the passing lanes to help our secondary.
Kerney's emotions spark our "D" and he is HUGELY respected by the team, on and off the field.
I'd be curious to know how much of Kerney's contract is guaranteed.
As much as I liked Wistrom, Kerney is a light-years better pass rusher. The Seahawks pass rush is the reason their pass defense is so good.
Kerney did draw double teams everytime he played, sometimes triple teams, even if he does not pressure the QB he does his job by occupying blockers. Just like WS said.
With bigger DTs a rotation of DEs, and hopefully Tapp playing more consistant football look for those double teams happening less often. Also as for those last five games, he may only have had one sack, but he did keep the pressure on the QB and definitly made him rush his passes. Remember the Cardnials, and the Philly game?
Oh, and Gil Haskell is our OC, Tim Ruskell is our GM.
Last edited by ISaidJoeMantegna on May 5th at 10:14 AM.
I agree that his lapse of noticeable play was due to being double teamed. That may change this year as we have bigger guys on the D line who may draw the double team freeing up Kearny and the others for more pass rushing and I predict another good year for Kearny.
Barring a major injury, to say Patrick Kerney is over the hill or will have a bad year is ridiculous. Like it has already been stated by thinkaboutit7 and IsaidJoe, Kerney was consistantly double and triple teamed. He is not over rated and will enjoy a lot more success now that he will be a part of a rotation, rather than being used on every down. I disagree with your take on this player, but do back some of the blogs. Go Hawks!!!!
PK is an ANIMAL, late in his career or not, he will be a force, and as previously stated "takes the heat off others so they can make play's" The man's workout regimen is that of a Yogi Master. His body he conciders a temple to the Football Gods.
Yes Strahan should retire, and get some dental work done. On the other hand it is his trademark look, and he's funny as hell.
viagra jesgamble
I am a FOX Sports Blogger who is a fan of the Seattle Seahawks. My primary interest is the NFL, I also enjoy the Arena Football League (AFL) and I follow-up on the NBA and MLB. I live on Mercer Island, Washington; across from the city of Seattle. Send any comments or complaints to:
chad.johnson. bengals@gmail .com (I'm an Ocho Cinco fan).
