RedFlagReview

Seattle has been linked to the Osi Umenyiora trade talks over the last couple of weeks, with the assumption that Schneider and Co. were looking to upgrade the Leo defensive end position. As you are likely aware, Pete Carroll’s offense has two very different job descriptions for the DE positions.

One defensive end, which I call the strong side DE, is a two gap player that sits on the strong side of the defense, under the tight end, and who’s main purpose is to be a run stuffing machine. Last year, Red Bryant filled this role with aplomb. He was the perfect fit, previously a rigid interior DT with the ability to shoot past blockers in pass situations. The Seahawks went 4-2 in the first 6 games with Red Bryant keying a run-stuffing defensive line, before being lost for the season in the week 8 contest vs the Raiders.

The opposite defensive end, the Leo DE, is reserved for the best pass rushing lineman on the team. This DE position focuses on getting around the tackle and putting as much pressure on the QB as possible. Last year, Chris Clemons did an excellent job in this position, racking up 11 total sacks for the year with 3 multi sack games. Clemons is on the small side for a DE, weighing in at around 250 lbs, which makes him a liability against the run. But Clemons has a quick burst off the line that gives him the opportunity to get around the offensive tackles and put pressure on the blind side of the QB. Clemons isn’t the fastest speed rusher, nor does he have the bulk to manhandle a tackle, but he uses his tools with efficiency and gets pressure on the QB.

Seattle is much more successful when Clemons is successful. Clemons posted sacks in 9 of the 16 games he played in 2010. Seattle posted a 6-3 record in those games, showing a correlation to the effectiveness of the pass rush to success in the outcome of the game.

Osi Umenyiora is an extremely talented player. Similarly lithe for a DE when compared to Clemons, Umenyiora possesses even greater quickness off the snap and has made tackles across the league look like slow, plodding beasts chasing a rabbit. Umenyiora’s output last year was similar to Clemons (48 tkls, 11.5 sacks vs 49 tkls, 11.0 sacks), with one very big difference – Osi forced 10 fumbles last year. That number has to jump out and scream at Pete Carroll. Carroll preaches the value of the turnover as gospel. You can see it in practice, when the DBs and LBs are running through different variations of tip drills, strip drills, and any other drill that will emphasize the skills needed to give the Seahawks an opportunity to reclaim possession of the football.

Osi is definitely an upgrade over Clemons. If we are sitting down and picking players in a draft, I am going to pick up Osi before I will put Clemons on my team, but there is a cost factor that has to be considered.

Osi only became available because of the discontent he has for his current contract situation in New York. By all appearances, Osi, who at 29 years old is only 17 days younger than Clemons, is looking to secure what is likely his final big contract as an NFL player. Charles Johnson, as an unrestricted free agent this year, parlayed a great 2010 season into a 6yr $76 million deal. The breakout year for Johnson set the DE market for 2011. Osi is likely to ask any team that picks him up for a similar contract. Osi consistently has put up big numbers over his career, and would likely command a $8-$10 million a year price tag over a 4-5 year deal.

If Umenyiora were a free agent, the pursuit might be worth investigating. But, he is still in the 6th year year of a 7yr/$41 million deal with the Giants, with a $3.125 million payday for this year. Osi will be pushing 32 at the end of this contract, and is not likely to land as large of a deal as he could today. His agent was given the option to pursue a trade, and it was reported that the Giants wanted a 1st round pick in compensation. Many teams were interested, but the price was just too high. On top of a potential $50-$60 million contract, teams were being asked to give away the holy grail of team building.

If I were the Giants GM, I would hold a hard line to making Osi stick to the deal. Reports from earlier today indicate that Osi is looking to renegotiate his contract to an incentive laden one year deal that will allow him to become a free agent after the 2011 season. He’s not currently holding out of camp, but is spending his time on a stationary bike and hinting at a knee injury. This injury, dubbed a “sore knee” in official reports, is being linked in media stories to a problem with his meniscus, although it seems surgery is not required.

All of this considered, Umenyiora is a very desirable pass rushing DE. One who could potentially improve on the Seahawks performance in the pass rush, and potentially have a positive impact on the win-loss tally for the year. But, he also looks like a man trying to get what he feels is his due for performing at the level he has. The Giants recognize this, and recognize his value to the team, and therefore they have put a high price tag on him. All in all, it makes up for a very expensive addition, for what is likely to only be a minimal improvement over Chris Clemons, who has performed at a very high level in Pate Carroll’s defense and has a cap number of $2.3 million in 2011 and $3 million in 2012.

This leaves me to believe….