Three Seattle Seahawks with Pro Bowl Aspirations: Defense

The saying goes in the NFL is defense wins championships, this is not an absolute formula, but it has become convincing. Just ask Pittsburgh Steelers fans, they averaged being the No. 2 ranked defense in their recent pair of Superbowl titles. In contrast the New England Patriots could not pull off a perfect season with their record setting offense in 2007. 

Bottom line, the better your defense, the more you shut down the opposition, and the more chances your offense has to score.

With the arrival of Jim Mora the Seahawks will become a defensive minded team. With all of the weapons on offense, concentrating on defense will ultimately balance this team out.

After some dismal finishes from the defense in 2008 (32nd in passing yards, 30th in yards, 25th in points allowed), a scheme change and peppered in off-season acquisitions to the unit look to contribute to a playoff turnaround in 2009. Here are three Seahawks on defense who are poised for a breakout season.

Cory Redding: Defensive End

He is not a Julian Peterson esque talent, but has flashed brilliance in the past. In 2006 he racked up eight sacks playing on the interior for the Detroit Lions.

Now he is playing with a better supporting cast surrounded by the likes of All Pro DE Patrick Kerney, and fellow newcomer 335 lb. run stuffer Colin Cole. With the quality, and depth across the Seahawk's D he is poised for a breakout season.

Redding will benefit from having Colin Cole by his side as he will command consistent double teams, taking potential blockers off of Redding.

If Kerney can even be 75 percent of his 2007 form teams will have to focus additional blockers on him. Both players will virtually guarantee man to man blocking situations that will favor Redding. 

On third down he will be moved to shade the guard, this will give him opportunities to blow by the slower interior OL on passing downs. 

If he performs, he gets rewarded with new, sizable contract, if he flops the Seahawks cut their loss and resume with Lawrence Jackson. 

Expect 52 tackles and nine sacks from Redding as he shifts to being more aggressive in Seattle's Tampa 2 defense. IF teams begin doubling Cole and Kerney early and often, his production will skyrocket, and he will shine.

Leroy Hill: Linebacker

Always having played in the shadow of former Seahawks Pro Bowler Julian Peterson. Hill will now become the yang to All Pro MLB Lofa Tatupu. He is slated to take over Petersons' old pass rushing duties, where he tallied 7.5 sacks as a rookie in the same role.

Unlike Redding, Hill has been a consistent proven commodity who racked up 84 tackles in only 12 starts last season. Now he has inherited a goldmine of to-be-had production and will play a much larger role in a revamped defense.

With a fresh six year, $38 million dollar contract and the hype of being part of the leagues best LB unit, the expectations are high for Hill and the Seahawks LB crew. Their play will be a huge factor in how a turn-around from a 4-12 season will turn out.

If they fail to perform this defense will crumble, if they play like the leagues most vaunted unit, this defense will flourish and chance of sixth playoff trip in seven seasons will become greatly enhanced. 

Expect 102 tackles and 10 sacks as Hill flourishes in his pass rushing role and makes a well deserved first trip to Hawaii along with All Pro Lofa Tatupu.

Deon Grant: Strong Safety

His production rose from his first year with Seattle by two tackles (79) whilst playing the majority of 2008 with a torn hamstring. When healthy there is no reason why he cannot perform at a Pro Bowl level and with the welcome addition of veteran Ken Lucas the secondary should be more stabilized.

If the rest of the defense backfield can do their jobs it will open up Grant to deliver devastating hits, force turnovers, and become a ball-hawk. He is poised to have a career year if he can avoid those nagging injuries.

Expect 87 tackles and five-seven INT's from Grant as the Seahawks secondary returns to 2007 form when the almost identical unit when healthy gave up the leagues fewest passing TD's (15).