After a Week 10 loss in Arizona that dropped them a full three games behind the Cardinals, the consensus among our sources in Seattle is that the Seahawks will be playing with an eye toward the future the rest of this season.

The way we hear it, taking into account the team's current personnel on defense, it's quite possible that future could include a switch to a primary 3-4 scheme.

"At the very least, they are sure to work in more 3-4 looks," one team insider said.
 
At the root of a possible 3-4 conversion, is the prospect of what could be a very formidable LB quartet featuring 2009 first-round draft pick Aaron Curry and veteran Leroy Hill on the flanks with veteran Lofa Tatupu and second-year pro David Hawthorne manning the inside spots. After Tatupu went down for the count in Week Six with a season-ending shoulder injury, the hardworking Hawthorne took over at middle linebacker and has been a nonstop playmaking machine.

Considering Hawthorne's development, Seahawks GM Tim Ruskell was asked recently if the team might consider switching to a 3-4 when Tatupu returns.

"Sure, and that's the great thing about Jim (head coach Jim Mora) and this staff," Ruskell replied in a Q & A on the team's Web site. "It's not just, 'This is my way. You plug guys in, if they can't play then it's the next guy.' You can't do that in the modern NFL. There's too much change, and there are too many new trends going on. Who would have even thought about the 'Wildcat' three years ago?

"It's too early to say whether it could be a full-time change. That's something when you have the time you assess that. You look back on everything and say, 'OK, with these defensive linemen, would it be too big a hit in terms of guys who wouldn't fit the 3-4?' "

The team's current defensive front doesn't seem quite as conducive to a 3-4 as its LB corps.

"They do have (Colin) Cole to play the nose, and (Brandon) Mebane could be one of those hybrid tackle/end types like Darnell Dockett in Arizona," the insider said. "And Cory Redding appears to have the size to be a 3-4 end. Even if they don't go (to a 3-4), a bigger defensive end that would allow them to play smaller at the other end with (Patrick) Kerney could be in the offseason plans."

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