Quote:In retrospect, look at the free agent signings of Jackson, Amukamara, and Gipson on defense. They fit with pretty much every defensive scheme. Jack and Day didn't fit Gus' scheme very well. Vernon is more of a standard 4-3 DE than a LEO. Caldwell passed on Irvin who was a classic OTTO.


 

I think Caldwell was already planning on a new coach when he made those signings.

 

I disagree with your overall assessment.

 

Sure, those free agent signings could play in just about every defensive scheme, but that can generally be said about good players. Jackson isn't moved around like Michael Bennett, but on passing downs he's very reminiscent of him. Amukamara isn't a small corner and he can play press which fits what Gus wants to do on the outside. Though it hasn't happened like they had hoped this season, Tashaun Gipson fits the free safety position to a T by being a ballhawk center fielder. These players could work in a 3-4 or a standard 4-3, but they work within Gus' defense too.

 

Both Jack and Day fits into this scheme as well. Jack is versatile enough to fit practically any scheme and he would have fit in well here as the future middle linebacker, similar how Bobby Wagner plays in Seattle. Sheldon Day is also a prototypical sub-package DT and all 4-3 defenses use those. Honestly outside of the big end and the love of tall corners (though that is now en vogue across the league), the personnel in the Seattle defense doesn't differ all that much from a standard 4-3.

 

The lack of a Bruce Irvin deal was a bit surprising, especially considering all the smoke right before free agency, but I think Dave went for broke on both Jackson and Vernon instead. I think he had to pick and choose which premium players he was going to go after on day one and Irvin took a back seat to those two. Vernon is a bit heavier than what they look for in a LEO, but I think that was a case of talent superseding measurables.

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