Seahawks DC Clint Hurtt believes defense will take a step forward in 2023
The Seahawks defense is planning to take a step forward in 2023.
Though it is only the end of May, Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt is confident his defense will take a step forward in the 2023 NFL season.
Part of his belief is rooted in the upgrades along the interior of the defensive line. Another reason Hurtt is confident is rooted in the return of All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner. On Thursday, Hurtt spoke to the media explaining that there is more than enough to be excited about when looking at how the Seahawks will improve moving forward.
"I'm very confident," Hurtt said via the team's website. "We're going to be better, we're going to improve… I'm not going to get into all the stuff and say we're going to do this do that. I don't get into all those things; the proof is in the pudding, and we'll show that during the course of the year as we continue to progress. But I'm excited and appreciative about what John and Pete have put out here with us to work with. We're a developmental staff, so we've got to get these guys up to speed and everything is going in the right direction right now."
During the 2022 season, Seattle struggled to create pressure on opposing quarterbacks while also struggling to stop the run.
Improving in those areas means remaining consistent regarding the team's identity, Hurtt explained.
"Consistency has really been my name of the game for this whole offseason," he added. "The consistency with fitting the run game the right way—if I've got to turn the football back, turn it back, if I'm fast flow spill, be fast flow spill, if I'm a cutback defender, let's do that. But it has to be down after down, there's a discipline to doing that. And again, that doesn't all fall on players and coaches, we've got to make sure we hold them accountable for that too. And obviously cutting back the number of explosives. Control the run game, don't let people run the football on you, and cut back explosives, because explosives lead to points. You fix those two issues, and you're going to have a dramatic improvement right there."
Seattle has an interesting blend of young players and veterans on the roster currently. Leading the group is going to be Wagner, who has seen the highs and lows of NFL life throughout his career.
Hurtt is charging Wagner with leading by both voice and example and with that, he believes the defense will be in good hands.
"You are still dealing with a guy that is the ultimate leader," Hurtt said. "For those things, I wouldn't expect anything different. What I do appreciate about him is, and it speaks to how great of a person he is, he is very humble. He didn't come in assuming anything. He's humble and it's almost uncomfortable for me because I am like, 'Look dude, we all know who you are, your work ethic, the kind of man you are, the effort you put into your everyday process, and the consistency as a player and how he prepares.' For him, he just wants to work and still earn it with new teammates. For me, that's beyond admirable, and for the young guys, I think that is a great thing to be able to learn. For my expectations in terms of him setting the defense up, his communication out on the field, and him and I being an extension of each other in the communication, it's been great."
