Bzgl der SAM-Position im Allgemeinen hat sich Schneider auch geäußert und unterstreicht nochmals die schwindende Bedeutung dieser Position:
ZitatAs Schneider also noted, though, the strongside linebacking spot is diminishing a little in importance each season as teams continue to emphasize the pass on offense. In Seattle’s defense, it’s the strongside linebacker who comes off the field when the Seahawks bring on an extra defensive back and go into a nickel defense in passing situations (Bruce Irvin often stayed on the field when he was the SLB because he would move to the line to pass rush but Seattle does not require that of its SLB.)
Morgan, for instance, played more than 31 percent of the snaps in a game only once last season — 51.7 percent against the run-heavy Rams in the second game of the year.
Schneider said that realization was evident in Seattle devoting relatively limited resources to filling the strongside linebacker spot this off-season.
“When you look at the SAM linebacker position, it’s really hard to say you’re going to take a huge risk on somebody or step out on a limb for somebody because the reps are — it’s 15 to 17 (per game) or something like that is the average,’’ Schneider said. “So that’s why you see that position in our defense — it’s just a nickel league now.”