RENTON, Wash. — Throughout their 14 years along with the Seattle Seahawks, John Schneider and Pete Carroll stayed of their respective lanes when it got here to dealing with draft-day questions from reporters. The final supervisor would normally take those a couple of participant’s traits or faculty tape, whereas something associated to the position they envisioned for him can be the top coach’s to reply.
Schneider and new coach Mike Macdonald largely adopted that MO throughout their first draft collectively, with one exception. It got here when Schneider was requested about Tyrice Knight, the within linebacker from UTEP whom Seattle drafted within the fourth spherical.
“That is an excellent one for Mike,” he stated. “Mike’s extra the linebacker guru.”
Schneider did not simply defer to Macdonald on the query due to his background teaching linebackers, which he did for the Baltimore Ravens for 3 seasons earlier than changing into Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2021. It was additionally as a result of, to a point, Schneider had deferred to Macdonald on the choose itself.
Knight had turn out to be a favourite of Macdonald and his defensive workers after the workforce introduced the prospect to the Virginia Mason Athletic Heart on a pre-draft workforce go to. The coaches most well-liked Knight over a cluster of different inside linebackers the Seahawks figured can be accessible early on Day 3. He was projected by some to final till later within the day — ESPN’s Jordan Reid and Matt Miller each had him stepping into Spherical 6 of their seven-round mock drafts — however Schneider took him at No. 118 total, fearing that the Seahawks may miss out on a participant that their teaching workers beloved.
“The very first thing that pops out on the tape is he sees the sport shortly, so key and diagnose,” Macdonald stated. “Instincts, I assume, is an effective technique to put it, however like shifting the place the ball goes form of earlier than all people else possibly is an effective technique to describe it. He stays sq..
“I believe he brings some thump on the level of assault after which once we introduced him in, we acquired to fulfill him and we simply actually preferred the individual and the competitor. His demeanor is soft-spoken proper now, however I believe he is a really clear communicator after which only a man all through the method we began to essentially like.”
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Knight joins an inside linebacker corps that can look utterly totally different from final season, although the Seahawks have saved the door open for a reunion with Jamal Adams with the thought that he’d play that place versus security.
Seattle misplaced Jordyn Brooks in free company and let Bobby Wagner stroll — the workforce’s prime two tacklers in 2023 — earlier than changing them with Jerome Baker ($7 million base worth) and Tyrel Dodson ($4.26 million), every on one-year offers. The backups consisted of younger gamers who’ve primarily performed particular groups, that means there was a necessity for each depth and one other long-term beginning choice.
Knight, who’s just below 6-foot-1 and weighs 233 kilos, ran a 4.63-second 40-yard sprint on the mix, a strong however unspectacular time that ranked eighth-fastest amongst linebackers. Macdonald’s scheme asks a whole lot of its Mike (center) and Will (weakside) ‘backers, and he believes Knight has the top to deal with these duties even when he does not have off-the-charts measurables.
“I do assume he can enhance his hand utilization, however I simply assume he sees the sport and it is sluggish for him,” Macdonald stated. “We will ask our guys to man the center of the protection, and I believe he can try this finally.”
After transferring from Independence Neighborhood School, Knight racked up 386 tackles throughout his 4 years as a starter at UTEP. That was fourth most in FBS in that span. Final season, his 24 run stops (a deal with at or behind the road of scrimmage on a designed rush) have been tied for fourth most in FBS. He recorded 2 interceptions, 17 passes defensed and eight.5 sacks (together with 4.5 final 12 months) in 45 video games for the Miners.
“Linebackers are paid to make tackles,” Macdonald stated. “He makes a whole lot of tackles, in order that’s an excellent factor.”
The Seahawks’ plan all offseason has been to make use of Dodson at Mike and Baker at Will, although each can play both place and Macdonald’s scheme provides them the pliability to change spots relying on the defensive name. Macdonald stated Knight will probably study Will first.
Seahawks sources have emphasised that if the workforce brings Adams again, it is going to be to play weakside linebacker in a part-time position. Given their tight monetary scenario (OverTheCap.com lists them with round $1.5 million in cap area after restructuring cornerback Mike Jackson’s contract) and the truth that Adams is coming off three straight injury-plagued seasons and has zero sacks since 2020, it could probably be for one thing near the league minimal.
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The Seahawks advised Adams once they launched him in March that the transfer was purely cap-related and that they’d be open to bringing him again later within the offseason if he was prepared to play linebacker. He may also should be prepared to play particular groups.
A reunion is not thought of probably, but it surely’s a risk the Seahawks deliberate on discussing internally after the draft.
For now, although, Knight is the most recent member of that new-look group.
“He hasn’t performed all of the issues that we’ll ask him to do schematically, however no one ever does,” Macdonald stated. “So that you’re taking a look at how he strikes and the way he thinks and attempt to undertaking it the most effective you’ll be able to.”