A foot injury has kept Grant Wistrom from showing why the Seahawks paid this defensive end a $14 million signing bonus to jump from the St. Louis Rams.
Supposedly, Wistrom will tip the balance of power in a division that doesn’t play much defense anywhere. Not a sack artist, getting only 7.5 last season opposite Leonard Little, Wistrom is a hustler who brings life to a defense.
Still, Bears coach Lovie Smith wasn’t interested in pursuing him in free agency after watching him perform up close as Rams defensive coordinator.
In Seattle, the hope is for the undersized Wistrom on the right side and Chike Okeafor on the left to benefit by the pressure of rookie Marcus Tubbs inside with Cedric Woodard and keep coordinator Ray Rhodes on the path of improvement.
The defense jumped from 28th to 19th last year. Another similar leap would practically guarantee playoff success.
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This is a division that needs improvement on defense everywhere if any team wants to keep advancing in the playoffs.
No other division team hired names as familiar as Wistrom and cornerback Bobby Taylor. If the Rams prove their defense can get along just fine without Wistrom, there will be red faces in Seattle.
Coach Mike Holmgren knows what a difference a talented defensive end can make. Wistrom reminds no one of Reggie White, but he still seems like a good idea.