Canty will visit the 'Hawks Monday, March 2.
The Seahawks are meeting with right defensive end Chris Canty on Monday. While the Seahawks will probably not upgrade their defensive ends, Canty’s 3-4 expertise could only fit in the Seahawks roster as the team’s right defensive tackle, next to Brandon Mebane.
The team is looking to fill the impending hole Rocky Bernard will most likely leave when he takes a deal with another team this offseason.
So what can Canty bring to the Seahawks?
To Continue...
Canty could potentially bring an upgrade at defensive tackle.
For a RDE in a 3-4 Canty has the rare ability to be a consistent run stuffer, something the Seahawks could greatly benefit from.
It hasn’t been widely reported, but the Seahawks secondary troubles stemmed from a poor run defense that often forced safety Deon Grant to play more as a linebacker, leaving Brian Russell to look like a fool for having to run twice the distance.
He’s a big, athletic linemen (300 lbs, 6-7) who can shut down passing lanes with his long arms (33 inches wingspan) with an adequate ability to rush the passer, while drawing double teams. This is something the Seahawks defense could greatly benefit from, by having at least two defensive linemen who could draw double teams (Patrick Kerney).
That's not to say Canty is the type of player to draw double teams consistently, but he has an adequate ability to work against them.
His biggest criticism seems to stem from the inability to push into the elite category by not making significant plays such as forcing fumbles and not racking up as many sacks as could be expected by a player with his type of athleticism (three sacks last year). However, players of his position in the 3-4 are not expected to earn high sack counts.
Consequently, his effort has been called into question, as Canty seems to disappear on occasion. His was practically an every down player in Dallas, so he could benefit in Seattle, who like to rotate their defensive tackles frequently. It's possible his disappearing act could come from normal game fatigue.
Another plus to Seahawk fans is that Canty has been healthy in the NFL, starting in every game the last three seasons, but that could change due to Canty’s college history.
However, he did have some injury concerns in college. He suffered the infamous beer-bottle-to-the-face injury that caused him to spend a night in the hospital and raise doubts about his eye sight (which were eventually quelled). He also suffered a knee injury his senior season, a fractured left ulna and right tibia in 2002 and had shoulder problems his freshman season.
The biggest downside for Canty may be the defense he comes from; a 3-4. Canty appears built like a prototypical 3-4 end and may not have the perfect fit on the Seahawks line as a defensive tackle. He will also command a high price tag now that Haynesworth is off the market, and many teams are reportedly looking at him, including the Titans.
Mora and the coaching staff will have to answer that question when Canty comes to town this Monday.
Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
