Mayowa is just part of what will be a revamped pass-rush squad for Seattle in 2020. The Seahawks also signed Bruce Irvin, a strong-side linebacker and pass-rusher who began his career in Seattle as a first-round pick from 2012, and they draft defensively end Darrell Taylor and Alton Robinson. Unless Seattle re-signs Jadeveon Clowney, who remains a free agent, the Seahawks will not necessarily have much stellar power when it comes to their D-line, but that does not mean that this group will not be successful, Mayowa says.
“You don’t always need the big name guys – it’s always good to have a guy with big names, but you just need someone who is actively collaborating to get to the quarterback, that’s what you need,” he said. . “That’s fit, you work your ass off to get in. Chris Clemons, he had 11 bags three years in a row, you could not know him before. It’s not always about a boy with a big name, it’s about how bad you want to get to the quarterback. “
The Clemmons comparison is not bad for Mayowa. Like Mayowa, Clemons went on to develop, and like Mayowa, he had to wait for his chance to become a starter, starting just three games in his first five seasons before the Seahawks got him a 2010 trade. Clemons went up 33.5 sacks in his first three years with Seattle, while playing all 16 games each season.
And while it’s still in camp early, Carroll loves what he’s seen of his new pass rushers, and of Mayowa and Irvin in particular.
“They’re both excited about the roles they have, the Sam and Leo spots,” Carroll said. “It’s a race to the quarterback, they’re already a bit (competitive) going on, they want to try to survive each other, which is a perfect mentality. I think the focus for Benson over the years has been more of a rusher helped him, and where he was a ‘backer’ he played the Sam ‘backer spot for a while and then mixed both, he really had to be zero in to become an adept pass rusher.He has good stuff, he has done well Good things change, good ups and downs. He’s just a much more accomplished footballer, just like Bruce is in the pass, and it shows. In the first few days you can just feel the constant of the edge, what so important to us, this is all we, we came back to this camp to find.And I’ll say the first few days, Alton Robinson, also had some good days, some good ripples, that’s really exciting for us as well. Put Darrell (Taylor) in the mix and it should be a good mix. That there’s a really good juice over those guys for sure. “
But even if Mayowa actually wins the starting track from camp, he will not approach this season any differently than he did that rookie minicamp seven years ago.
“I just always had that chip on my shoulder,” he said. “It’s never left. If you’re comfortable now, it’s when you come out. I’ve never been comfortable. I’m still not comfortable eight years later. As long as I keep the chip on my shoulder and I stay hungry, but I feel like I can play this game for as long as I want. “
