Almost everybody associated with the Seattle Seahawks likes Mike Morris. His a big, energetic guy who can run. A 300-pounder who will cover kicks. Good attitude. Good history with Mike Macdonald, back to their days at Michigan. Mike Morris is the kind of developmental prospect a lot of teams would like to have.
The flipside of this story is that [Mike Morris has been](https://12thmanrising.com/unexpected-seattle-seahawks-shocked-everyone-training-camp) in the league for two years now and played a grand total of 96 snaps on defense. He has made eight tackles in the NFL. Almost half of them came in week one of his rookie year. No matter how much you may like Mike Morris, you have to wonder whether he is progressing.
I don’t think it is fair to say that re-signing Jarran Reed was a commentary on Morris’ development. Jarran Reed remains a very good player. You want him on your team. But Reed’s return provides another roadblock for Morris. I suspect this season, there may be an even bigger one looming.
What kind of defensive line does Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald want?
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When he was in Baltimore, Macdonald had the massive Michael Pierce in the middle of his defensive line. Pierce was listed at 6’0”, 355 pounds, but had surprising short-area quickness for a man his size. Macdonald began developing the 6’4”, 341-pound Travis Jones as a nose tackle when Pierce was getting on in years.
Pierce has now retired, and Jones will play nose tackle for Baltimore this year. That did not stop the Ravens from signing the veteran John Jenkins to back up Jones. At 6’3”, 360 pounds, he is the biggest nose tackle yet.
Last year, apart from Johnathan Hankins, Baltimore did not have anyone naturally suited to playing that role. Jarran Reed and Byron Murphy II lined up over center at times, and both can use their quickness to make plays from the position. But you don’t want them in there taking on double teams too often.
That’s why Hankins was re-signed when a lot of people thought he was done after last season. That’s why a lot of people are [high on Brandon Pili](https://12thmanrising.com/unsung-seattle-seahawks-defensive-lineman-turning-heads-battle-roster-spot) right now.
I think there is a better than 50/50 chance going into the final preseason game that Macdonald will choose a second nose tackle over Morris if his choice comes down to that. He may not have to make that call. The coach will have some wiggle room at tight end, wide receiver, and in the defensive backfield.
But if he is going to keep five defensive linemen, with Riley Mills beginning the year on PUP or IR, then I think Morris could be in jeopardy.
Pili has looked quick. His safety in the Chiefs game is exactly the kind of play Macdonald wants from his nose tackles. Johnathan Hankins hasn’t played this preseason. 33-year-olds with back injuries are an iffy proposition in the NFL.
I think that opens the door for Quinton Bohanna to grab the last D-line roster spot and essentially serve as a rotational nose tackle with Pili. That would allow Reed and Murphy – and eventually Mills – to move around the line, which should benefit them. Of course, Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence, and other situational edge rushers will all be out there as well.
Great defenses are usually built from the inside out, and I think Mike Macdonald wants more size in the middle. In the final preseason game, I’ll be paying particular attention to Bohanna – how much he plays and how disruptive he looks.
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