One of the reasons why the Seahawks haven’t been back to the Super Bowl since the 2014 season is a defensive scheme that has gone to pot. Early in his tenure as Seattle’s head coach, Pete Carroll enjoyed exceptional success running a heavy 4-3 system with almost exclusive single-high formations – mostly cover 3 but also some cover 1 thrown in.
It worked at first, but over the years as the team’s defensive talent began to bleed out and opponents started catching on, the scheme became less and less effective until finally it bottomed out under former defensive coordinator Kris Richard. Over the last four years with Ken Norton Jr. there were some changes – including bear fronts and more two-high looks, but too often he relied on the same stale concepts and was too slow to adjust – particularly early in the 2021 season. To his credit, Norton began mixing things up a lot more in October, but the damage had already been done and the Seahawks couldn’t climb out and make the playoffs.
Good news: under newly promoted defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt the Seahawks are expected to accelerate their shift away from cover 3 and continue adjusting as needed. Fans should expect to see more two safety formations, more disguises and more varied looks. Hurtt also seems to prefer the 3-4 system up front. Here’s what he said about it in a recent interview with ESPN 710 Seattle.
“You know, when you’re in a 4-3 structure, sometimes it’s really hard to disguise coverages the way you would like to. I’m not saying you can’t, but you’re gonna give the good quarterbacks tells. So get into that system, of being in a 3-4 structure, and the ability to hide coverage, pressures, and things of that nature was really impactful.”
Changing things up schematically will help get this Seahawks defense back to a respectable level. Hurtt will need some new personnel as well, though – beginning with an impactful 3-4 edge rusher. Two of the top options about to hit free agency include Chandler Jones and Von Miller.
