3-4 Modified Defensive Scheme and Clint Hurtt

[Aseahawkfan]

https://www.seahawks.com/news/new-seahawks-dc-clint-hurtt-we-are-going-to-be-aggressive

I was listening and read this talk from Clint Hurrt to use more 3-4 fronts. This sounds interesting given the personnel we have and it opens the draft up to a wider possible list of pass rushers.

I'm thinking the following:

1. A 3-4 front can better use Jamal Adams pass rushing ability. A strong safety, even a big one like Adams, is no good lining up on the line getting mauled by the big boys. So a 4-3 not the greatest alignment to take advantage of a pass rushing safety like Adams. But a 3-4 front would be a much better way to use Jamal Adams. You can rush the passer from either side in a 3-4 in conjunction with pass rushing LBs relying more on well disguised or at least not easy to read 4-3 blitzes. Jamal could be a bit more like a Troy Polamalu in a 3-4 scheme. You could use him in a lot of blitz packages.

2. We no longer have to look for a bigger 4-3 DE or a strong pass rushing DT. From what I have seen a 3-4 front is usually one huge run stuffing DT and two big DEs whose primary job is just to keep the jumbo O-line occupied and the backers clean so they can make plays. You usually have good run stuffing ILBs and a duo of pass rushing OLBs you can use for various blitz packages. That should open up our draft to more options as you can draft what are deemed under-sized pass rushers for a 3-4 front. You no longer have to look for that 6'3" 270 plus pound DE who can rush the passer and play the run. Now you can draft three big lumps for the 3 man front, them some LB sized pass rushers to use in your blitz packages and a couple of strong ILBs who can stuff the run.

I think Hurtt's push to a 3-4 might better help them use Jamal Adams effectively while at the same time opening the draft up more to find quality PRs that don't fit the typical 3-4 style.

Should make the draft more interesting as well seeing what the defense start of the season.

[Hawktawk]

I’m excited about Hurrt in general . He sounds like a head coach talking . Let’s see the results but he’s a huge reason for my optimism .

[NorthHawk]

It’ll be different, for sure.
I would think it would mean drafting a LB or two and maybe Jordan Davis at 9
even though they already have Mone and Woods, neither has the athleticism
of Davis. A 3-4 usually requires good play on the corners, too so that might
be a target early.

[RiverDog]

It will be interesting to see how Jordy Brooks fits into this scheme. It would seem to fit his skills well. Also, I'm wondering how BBK, if he comes back from his injury, can man one of the ILB spots.

If one of the motivations for going to a 3-4 is to take more advantage of Jamal Adams, it would confirm what I've felt all along, that we traded a Kings ransom for Adams when we didn't have a good plan for utilizing him. Now we're changing the defense, at least in part, to accommodate him rather than finding players that fit the defense.

That doesn't mean I'm not for this change. At this point, any change is welcome because it's apparent that Pete's way was no longer working.

[Oly]

Another interesting wrinkle here: right now, prices for pass rushing DEs are through the roof. A 3-4 means that we need DL that are undervalued in this market and the single position group -- LB -- that I think is most undervalued right now. If Hurtt can make it work, then it might be a cost-effective way of rebuilding the defense, especially in a league that continues to move away from power running concepts.

[NorthHawk]

A lot of teams are running 3-4 defenses, so there is competition for players that can play in it, however we won't be exclusively running it so we
will need players that can fit both schemes. Fast LBs are a must along with great cover corners, but with the 3-4 the key is disguising who will
bring pressure on any given play.

[mykc14]

There is no doubt that a 3-4 is a better fit for Adams skill set. I'm excited about the idea of using multiple fronts and not just sitting in our base 4-3 Cover 3 scheme. The 3-4 gives you the opportunity to rush different guys from different alignments, which is beneficial. The elite 4-3 stud DE is hard to find and the 3-4 gives you opportunities to get more speed on the field. At the end of the day I think the flexibility that Clint Hurtt is offering in his defense is going to make the biggest difference. Teams figured out PC's D and we had less overall talent to run it. Way too many easy completions. Teams did have trouble running against us, but overall when you know exactly what a team is going to do defensively it is much easier to game plan for.

[NorthHawk]

It may help Adams, but will he last with a bum shoulder?
He may be more of an asset in this Defense so long as he doesn't have to use what little ball skills he has.

[Hawktawk]

The shoulder is my main concern . Prior to his injury he was starting to play well and had a couple picks . He’s an incredibly powerful explosive man . With a record 9.5 sacks by the position missing some games no less it’s clear he can rush the passer . But as my orthopedic surgeon said when he fixed mine in 2013 “ I can do this once then it’s a titanium joint . Mine was a mess but I don’t like it in an NFL player . I know Mike Bennett played with shoulder issues but the key word is played. Well would be another key description of MB. I don’t think Adams is ever going to be pain free . It’s how he deals with it