Why was Al Woods the choice at defensive tackle for Seahawks?
May 13, 2019, 11:29 AM
New Seahawks DT Al Woods has spent time with the Titans and Colts. (Getty)
(Getty)
The Seahawks continued to bolster their defensive line with addition of veteran defensive tackle Al Woods, whom the team reportedly signed to a one-year deal Friday. The move isn’t nearly as splashy as the signing of former Lions pass rusher Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah, but for 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard, Woods was signed to occupy a role the Seahawks have leaned on for years.
Why was Woods the choice at defensive tackle?
“Humility, and comfort and background,” Huard said during his Blue 42 segment of Brock and Salk Monday morning. “He was here a long time ago with Pete Carroll. Woods has now been with more teams in the NFL (five) than he has sacks in his nine-year career (four-and-a-half). He is not a guy who is going to give you any upfield push. But I say ‘humility’ in that (his mentality is going to be) ‘You want me to eat up these two blocks? I’ll eat them up.’
“Last year, according to Pro Football Focus, Woods’ D-tackle ranking was really low. The season before that? He was a top-15 guy as far as defensive tackles in the league go, of holding the point, of doing your job, of making people around you better. Basically, (he is) what Shamar Stephen has done in this system; what Tony McDaniel has done. That position is to eat up two dudes, and free up Bobby Wagner, free up K.J. Wright, and free up the others to go and get it done. Play your early downs — that’s what he’s going to be asked to do.”
Woods appeared in two games for the Seahawks in 2011. Since then, he’s played at nose tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, and most recently, with the Indianapolis Colts. Over the course of his career, the 32-year-old has appeared in 111 games, and recorded three passes defended, 4.5 sacks, and 172 combined tackles.
Huard also answered questions about quarterback Geno Smith, who is reportedly expected to sign with the Seahawks, and potential replacements for wide receiver Doug Baldwin. Listen to Monday’s full Blue 42 segment in the audio clip embedded above, or on Brock and Salk’s podcast page.
