Seahawks have reason for concern and encouragement after Devin Bush's debut
The linebacker position has developed into a problem area for the Seahawks in recent times and there appears a strong chance it will be the weak spot of the Seattle defense in 2023. With Cody Barton leaving in free agency and Jordyn Brooks heading into the campaign without a definitive date for his return from […]
The linebacker position has developed into a problem area for the Seahawks in recent times and there appears a strong chance it will be the weak spot of the Seattle defense in 2023.
With Cody Barton leaving in free agency and Jordyn Brooks heading into the campaign without a definitive date for his return from a torn ACL, the Seahawks are set to start the new season without both of their starting linebackers from last year.
Seattle addressed the position in the offseason by bringing back Bobby Wagner and signing former Steelers first-round pick Devin Bush. Though Wagner may be past his prime, the Seahawks will trust his instincts and experience. Bush is a bigger question-mark. Seattle got a glimpse into what they can expect from him in their preseason opener, and it was a mixed bag.
The largest area of concern for the Seahawks surrounding their linebackers that emerged from the exhibition from the Vikings was a familiar one.
Seattle's defense finished 22nd in the NFL in positive play rate allowed on play-action passes in 2022, per Sports Info Solutions, and the Seahawks' performance in that regard looks unlikely to improve if Bush does indeed start the season in place of the injured Brooks.
Minnesota had little problem tormenting the Seahawks linebackers with the play-action game.
On this completion from Nick Mullens to Jalen Reagor, the ease with which the Vikings get almost the entire Seahawks defense, including Bush and fellow linebacker Jon Rhattigan, to flow to the left by faking a run to the weak side is striking.
The play-fake opened a huge void for Reagor to run into over the middle, and Mullens succeeded in connecting despite pressure in his face from Boye Mafe.
Rookie Jordan Addison made his mark for the Vikings with a 22-yard reception that came courtesy of another successful play-fake.
This time, both Bush and Rhattigan do a better job of not biting on the backfield action, but the former struggles with his 'robot technique' as he works to drop back into coverage, leaving Addison substantial room to run into on his deep over. If Mullens' pass was more accurate it would have been a touchdown.
When he gets the chance to play behind the Seahawks' starting defensive line and next to Wagner, Bush might have more success in preventing such gains on play-action passes more regularly.
But Bush's issues in that aspect of the game may be a reason why Seattle has often lined up with six defensive backs on the field during training camp.
Still, there were positives from Bush's display. He was around the ball frequently, making five tackles and impressing in pursuit. On top of that, he had a strong play in man coverage from the slot against Addison, using his physicality to break up another pass intended for the Vikings' first-round pick.
Bush's play in coverage in college was key to him going in the first round back in 2019. The promise he displayed defending the pass at Michigan has not translated to success in the pros, but plays like his successful defense of Addison in man coverage will give the Seahawks cause for belief they can get the best out of him, provided they can minimize the very prevalent issues against play-action.
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