Leroy Hill - linebacker
Mo money, mo problems. That's the issue confronting Seahawks LB Leroy Hill this season.
With any increase in pay comes an increase in expectations. For Hill, the increase expected of him comes in one category--sacks. Now that Julian Peterson's gone, Hill needs to bring the heat off the edge.
To continue...
He'll have help with the addition of Aaron Curry, but the rookie doesn't have much experience as a pass rusher and shouldn't be expected to contribute more than five sacks this season.
That leaves Hill as the go-to guy in blitz packages. At his best, Peterson reached double-digits in sacks. The same should be expected of Hill.
Still waiting on that breakout year
Let's face it, for as good as Hill has proven to be, he's yet to be a dominant player and have anything close to a Pro Bowl year.
It could be said he was having that last season, as he led the team in tackles before a week 13 injury ended his season. But he still only finished with one sack.
With his new $38 million contract, Hill now makes more than any 4-3 outside linebacker except Peterson. That's two million more than Bears LB Lance Briggs signed a year ago. Briggs happens to be a four-time Pro Bowler.
Chances are,GM Tim Ruskell didn't re-sign Hill to that much money to continue being excellent against the run and decent in coverage.
A chance to shine
Now, most will say he's always been a great, maybe even dominant player. He just hasn't had a chance to shine with a mediocre defensive line and especially two Pro Bowl linebackers beside him.
But plenty of great sidekicks have failed when given the star role. Until Hill has proven it for an entire season, there is no guarantee he can be the man Seattle needs blitzing the edge and terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.
Perhaps in the future, Curry can be that man, but for 2009, Seattle needs Hill to step it up. If he doesn't, that contract of his could prove to be more money than Seattle can afford at the linebacker position, especially if Curry proves to be the better player.
Number 1 - Jim L. Mora
Number 2 - Chris Spencer
Number 3 - Julius Jones
Number 4 - Gus Bradley
Number 5 - Brian Russell
Number 6 - Lawrence Jackson
Number 7 - Deon Butler
Number 8 - Ken Lucas
Number 10 - Brandon Mebane
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
