How Seahawks’ defense is going to look under Clint Hurtt
Photo from: columbian.com
The Seattle Seahawk's defense has not been the same since the Legion of Boom era, but the defense could look dramatically different under new defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt.
Hurtt was promoted from defensive line coach to the defensive coordinator position after parting ways with Ken Norton Jr. This move was something that was needed to bring the Seahawks back to a prominent defense.
He learn from head coach Pete Carrol for the past four seasons and got a feel for what is needed to fix the defense. Hurtt runs a 3-4 defense from his influence with his time in Chicago under former head coach Vic Fangio.
Carrol runs a 4-3 and cover-3 defense but could mix his defensive schemes with Hurtt’s schemes to improve the defense. It could improve the run defense and cover the big-time plays up the field.
The Seahawks would only give up short plays with Carrol’s scheme but is a determent in giving up free first downs. The quarterback would just pass the ball short and it will become positive yards till the offense would get the first down.
The main goal would be for the Seahawks’ defense to have a sense of urgency when going after the quarterback and try to defend the flat routes that most teams (including the Rams) utilize frequently.
This would be something to accomplish by upgrading the corners and defensive linemen for it to work. Going after guys from Fletcher Cox to keeping D.J. Reed would be beneficial in improving the defense.
The key player on the Seahawk’s defensive roster that could improve with Hurtt as the defensive coordinator is Jamal Adams. This is the reason why he was not used properly last season under Norton Jr.
Photo from: bleacherreport.com
Last season, the Seahawks would use him in pass coverage where he struggled. Adams would miss up coverage assignments against speedy wide receivers and create miscommunication with other secondary teammates.
Under the new defensive scheme, Adams could thrive with being the five on the d-line or create innovative ways in putting him in different positions on defense. They use Adams as a five in his first year with Seattle but shy away from it at times due to the lack of consistent plays by other secondary players.
Hurtt would want to maximize Adam’s skillset with the defensive coordinator wanting the defense to be more of an “aggressive defense”.
Along with the change in defensive coordinator, the staff has been revamped by adding former Bears’ defensive coordinator Sean Desai. The connection with three seasons together in Chicago creates a good relationship.
“You want someone strong and that, you know, on the other side of the back-end or front-end, that’s opposite of you, and working that out,” Hurtt said. “And because of Sean, I worked with him for three years in Chicago, so we already had a great relationship.”
The combination of Hurtt’s defensive scheme and the hiring of Desai could make the Seahawks’ defense look completely different and revamped from previous seasons.
