Quote:  Michael Bennett,  Frank Clark,  Cliff Avril, and co. demonstrated in the Seahawks dominating win over the Vikings in Minneapolis that with the right personnel,  it can be a very effective strategy.   When you don't have the horses,  it's difficult to get a consistent enough pass rush regardless what Defensive strategy is used.  

Michael Bennett is an absolute monster, period. Avril is better on one leg than Branch and Clemons are combined... and then some.

 

With Marks hurt, we don't have anybody who's even close to those two guys.

 

The scheme can absolutely work, but you need a nasty front four for it to really work. Even with the weapons the Hawks have in the secondary (Thomas, Sherman, Kam), there has been plenty of times this season where their front 4 has not gotten any pressure and the coverage was completely smoked.

 

When the personnel and this specific scheme is on point and rolling, it's great. When it's not, it's completely awful.

 

Another issue I really have is, why was Chris Smith a healthy scratch... He was one of 3 players last week who recorded a pressure on Rivers and you scratch him from this game? I understand he might not be the answer, but Branch is just logging reps at this point and Clemons is completely done.

 

The old saying, "play till you can't do it anymore, and then play one more year" is literally what Clemons is doing right now. Going through the motions and collecting his paycheck. It's not his fault, he has had a good career. He has just hit the father time wall and it's very clear to see.

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