The Seahawks’ linebacking corps was widely regarded as the strongest single position unit on the team–maybe the best LB unit in the NFL. No longer.
Leroy Hill, one of the team’s three starting linebackers, and the recipient of a six-year, $36-million contract in May, partially tore a muscle in his groin trying to tackle Stephen Jackson in the Seahawks’ win over the Rams Sunday and will miss at least the next five games.
Best case scenario, Hill rejoins the Seahawks Nov. 1 vs. Dallas. The injury may end up requiring surgery, which, depending on what they find when they open Hill up, might put him out for longer.
Special teams ace Will Herring replaces Hill as weak-side linebacker (meaning he lines up across from whichever side of the offense doesn’t have a tight end), as he did on Sunday when Hill went down.
Leroy Hill (l.) is out until November, Will Herring will start in his place.
What does this mean for the Seahawks defense? We turn to John Morgan of the fantastic Seahawks blog Field Gulls for the answer: “Herring is not Hill’s equal as a run defender, open field tackler, or blitzer, but…Herring is a much better pass defender.”
Morgan points out that, among the Seahawks next five opponents, both Arizona and Indianapolis are primarily passing teams, so Herring’s presence might actually be an upgrade.
It will not, however, help the Seahawks in dealing with 49er running back Frank Gore on Sunday in San Francisco. Gore has averaged 5.5 yards per carry in seven career games against the Seahawks; keeping him in check will be job one and Sunday–and Herring will be a big part of that.
What it could mean on the field is that Lofa Tatupu is more likely to stay up front to help Herring against the run than to drop back into pass coverage–which could leave the Seahawks vulnerable to passes over the middle. We’ll shall see.
In other Seahawks injury news: Walter Jones, Chris Spencer and Deion Branch remain questionable for Sunday, with Jones looking least likely to play. Tatupu, who suffered a hamstring injury Sunday, is expected to play.