Cory Redding's career has taken much the same path
as Rocky Bernard's, but Seattle needs more than a
decent pass rusher out of him.
When the Detroit Lions re-signed Cory Redding to a seven-year $49-million deal in 2006, they made him the highest paid defensive tackle in the league.
It's a move indicatice of why the Lions have been, not one-of-the-worst, but the worst team in the NFL this past decade.
The contract was an effort to lock up a player who finished third in the league that season in sacks amongst defensive tackles with eight. Redding had accumulated four total in the previous three seasons.
To continue...
The numbers, however, weren't quite as modest as they look. Redding earned all eight sacks in just the 11 games he spent at defensive tackle. The shift from defensive end came due to injuries to starters Shaun Rogers and Shaun Cody.
Redding had an immediate impact, living and breathing in the opponents backfield. The shift in responsibilities from run-stuffing end to pass-rushing tackle seemed to suit his abilities and play style.
After his 2006 season, Lions head coach Rod Marinelli called Redding a "Pro Bowl waiting to happen."
Well, it didn't happen.
Paired with a healthy Rogers, who's a 340-pound run-stuffer, Redding was expected to perform even better. Instead, he battled shoulder injuries all year and finished with one sack, six less than Rogers.
Redding played and started in all 16 games in 2007 but had to have surgery to repair his shoulder after the season.
Again, Redding struggled with injuries in 2008, this time to his knee and groin. The Lions placed him on injured reserve with three games to go. He finished with three sacks.
Redding is known for his explosion off the snap and a relentless motor. During his time at defensive tackle though, the Lions finished 21st, 31st and 32nd in the league at stopping the run from 2006-08.
He will likely replace Rocky Bernard as the three-technique tackle responsible for knifing into the backfield.
Like Bernard, he has had one terrific season surrounded by mediocre ones. However, even Bernard has managed more than three sacks in his surrounding seasons.
Still, at this point in their careers, Redding probably has more upside, as he really hasn't had a healthy season on a decent team, and he's two years younger.
In Seattle, Redding will have Brandon Mebane and Patrick Kerney to take the pressure off him, not to mention Leroy Hill blitzing.
It's possible Redding returns to dominance in Seattle, which Seattle needs. Bernard was a poor run-stuffer and an average pass-rusher after 2005.
The Seahawks need more push from the defensive tackle position if the defense is going to rebound from an awful 2008 season.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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