Peterson trade might balance Seahawks' defense

For all their talent and brawn, the prodigious linebacking trio of Julian Peterson, Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill couldn't elevate the Seahawks defense above decent the past three years. As great trios go, they were a few hits short of being Bell Biv DeVoe.

Blame an undersized defensive line, blame an inconsistent secondary, blame the linebackers themselves for injuries and lapses in concentration, but it just didn't work as well as it should have. Out of 32 NFL teams, Seattle finished 19th in total defense during their first year together, 15th in Year 2 and 30th in last season's debacle.

No matter how many Pro Bowl berths Tatupu and Peterson earned, no matter how physically marvelous Hill was, the defense lacked the balance that great defenses possess.

So, as is custom in professional sports, it's time to try something different. On Saturday, that meant saying goodbye to Peterson, a congenial, big-play presence for three seasons.

Seahawks president Tim Ruskell traded the five-time Pro Bowler to Detroit for a fifth-round draft pick and defensive tackle Cory Bartholomew Redding. He's a solid, slightly above-average player who has often been praised for his effort and versatility, which is sort of like when a friend mentions that your blind date has a great personality.

To put it in clear, butchered English: He ain't no JP.

But in the NFL's bizarre system of athlete financing, it's somehow understandable that the Seahawks would want to deal a star linebacker, instead of paying him $6.5 million this upcoming season, for a pretty good tackle who has five years and about $26 million remaining on his contract.

The Seahawks didn't make this move to save money or improve their overall talent level. They did it to redistribute their defense in a more even manner, hoping that better D-line play will stabilize the unit.

And they still have Tatupu and Hill around to ensure the linebackers remain one of this team's primary strengths.

Tatupu was the best middle linebacker in the NFC before an injury-plagued 2008 season, and he just signed a $42 million contract a year ago. The Seahawks slapped their franchise-player tag on Hill, who is due to become a consistent dominant force.

If the Seahawks had a top-10 defense, you could've made a case for them to keep Peterson, Tatupu and Hill together. But as the league's third-worst defense last season, it's an unnecessary luxury to pay top dollar for three linebackers, perhaps the most easily replaceable position in football, when the rest of the D needs a jolt.

It's quite possible the Seahawks could lose this trade on paper, yet win in reality. Peterson turns 31 in July and probably has two more Pro Bowl seasons in him. But sometimes with linebackers, it's better to give up on them too early than hold on to them too long.

Redding doesn't figure to have Peterson's impact, but as an inside pass rusher who can also play the end position, he could be a valuable role player. Put this move with a few other sound decisions, and the Seahawks have a better chance of building a balanced defense.

As the Seahawks go about this process, they will look better in the short term if Hill fulfills his potential. Despite his out-of-character pot arrest in January, the Seahawks remain convinced he's an integral part of their future. Now the question is whether he can go from physical specimen to disruptive force.

During his rookie season, when the Seahawks went to the Super Bowl, Hill had 7.5 sacks. Then Ruskell signed Peterson, and Hill's role changed. Instead of attacking quarterbacks, the Seahawks deployed his speed in other directions, primarily the run game. Over the past three years, Hill has only six sacks and three forced fumbles.

This fall, Hill should get the pass-rushing freedom that Peterson had. If he turns into an elite player and Ruskell can add another young, rising linebacker in that third starting spot, this surprising Peterson trade won't carry as much shock come December.

It seems that Peterson was a Seahawk longer than three years, and for that, credit his highlight-reel talent. He was always doing something special and celebrating by jumping up and pointing at the back of his jersey.

Peterson, No. 98.

Good player, good person, good times.

And now, goodbye.

Well, at least there's an upside. Maybe breaking up the trio will make the defense whole, at last.

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com