Code Red: Carroll likes the look of Bryant at defensive end

Published on May 17, 2010 by

The biggest change in Seattle’s defense so far this offseason?

That’s easy. Red Bryant. He was big as a defensive tackle, listed (very) conservatively at 318 pounds. Now, he’s positively monstrous playing right defensive end, which coach Pete Carroll listed as a move loaded with potential.

“Of all the little things that we’ve looked at, trying to experiment and stuff, that’s the one thing that looks to be really, really positive,” Carroll said. “We have a chance to find a lot of plays out of Red.”

Bryant was a fourth-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2008. He suffered a knee injury in training camp that year, which set him back, and last year he was a situational tackle who played in six games.

After two seasons, he doesn’t have a sack. But his move to right end is one of the things to watch over this offseason.

In Seattle’s defense this season, the defensive ends will be increasingly typecast. The left end — referred to as the Leo — is a pass-rusher who’s really a hybrid between a linebacker and defensive end. Chris Clemons is the first-string player at that position with Nick Reed working with the second unit.

The right defensive end is being referred to as the five-technique, a reference to the gap assignment on the line.

“The other end in the system needs to be a really effective run defender first,” Carroll said. “We always want pass rush out of our defensive ends, but in the status we’re in right now in the program, we’ve got to get the five-technique position filled up with a guy we know can play the running game.”

Seattle drafted E.J. Wilson of North Carolina to play that role, and Lawrence Jackson continues to working with the first unit.

The Seahawks gave Bryant a look-see at the position in the last three-day minicamp, and he was back in that spot during Monday’s practice.

“We never thought of him as a defensive end when we came in here,” Carroll said. “He has worked really hard in the offseason program, and he seems to be moving well and has taken to the position. If we were able to man the defensive end position with a guy that weighs 330 pounds, that’s a good thing.

“That’s if we can get Red down to 330.”

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Tags: Amp, Chris Clemons, coach pete carroll, Defensive Ends, First String, Gap, Hybrid, J Wilson, Knee Injury, Leo, Minicamp, Offseason Program, One Thing, Pass Rusher, Running Game, Seahawks, Six Games, String Player, training camp, Two Seasons

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