"Turnover Thursday" is one of common phrases used at Seahawks practices throughout the week by Pete Carroll, but is there too much turnover occurring in Renton? Seahawks Defensive End Michael Bennett joined The Cliff Avril and Ian Furness Show today and said this much coaching turnover could create issues.
"I never think too much turnover is good, but I think you lose some key coaches. Kris Richard has been one of the fundamental parts, especially on the defense, the last couple years. You lose Bevell, you can question the call on the one-yard line, which everyone questions, but he's been instrumental to the Seahawks success. I think losing (Bevell), Tom Cable, and dealing with the offensive line changes that he's had to deal with over the years... I think Duane (Brown), Duane was the first time we've had a Pro-Bowler on the offensive line in a long time since Russell Okung left... Losing all the defensive coaches, Dwaine Board and some of the other people, it's always heart-breaking because you build these relationships outside of football, you get to know these people very well."
Bennett went onto praise the Seahawks new incoming defensive coordinator, Ken Norton Jr., and the new defensive line coach, Jethro Franklin.
"I know that Kenny Norton is a great coach, he's always been loved by the players, a player's coach, because he was once a great player so he knows how to deal with winning. I'm looking forward to see how he meshes and then to add Jethro Franklin, I don't know much about him, but I've always felt he's been a pretty good defensive line coach."
Bennett said that you'll likely see more player changes during the off-season, and it could even come from the offense in free agent tight end, Jimmy Graham.
"I definitely think there's going to be some player changes, you never know, I definitely think there's always changes... Earl Thomas has one year on his contract, Richard Sherman is coming off the injury, just never know, Kam (Chancellor), (Avril). Jimmy Graham coming off a monster year in the end-zone targeted, being one of the leaders in YAC, yards after catch, and being able to be that weapon, and still not being used the way he could possibly be used as a mismatch. It's going to be great to watch to see what (the Seahawks) do, it's going to be like watching the Super Bowl with just hot players moving."
Graham is an unrestricted free-agent in 2018 and carried a $10 million cap-hit last season. Earl Thomas has one year left on a four-year, 40 million contract. Richard Sherman is in the final year of his four-year, 56 million contract with a 13.2 million cap hit in 2018. Kam Chancellor still has three years left on his three-year 36 million contract, but he is rehabbing from a neck injury he suffered against Arizona on November 9. Avril suffered a neck injury in week four against the Colts, and is in his final year of a four-year, $28.5 million contract. The Seahawks placed Cliff Avril on the Injured Reserve list in April.
You can listen to Michael Bennett's interview above in the podcast, or in the full-hour of The Cliff Avril Show, by clicking here.