Seahawks Consider Coach for Defensive Coordinators

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Head coach Pete Carroll is looking for his next defensive coordinator.

The Seattle Seahawks Football Team has officially released the defense coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and defensive passing game coordinator Andre Curtis about their future mission.

Norton Jr spent four seasons with the Seahawks from 2010-2014, playing a key role in Super Bowl XLVIII victory in 2014. He spent some time with Oakland. Raiders and San Francisco 49ers before being appointed defensive coordinator for the Seahawks in 2018.

Curtis spent seven seasons with the Seahawks from 2015, where he became defensive coach in 2017 then transitioned to defensive passing game coordinator in 2018.

With the Seahawks placing a big priority on defense, several potential coaches have popped up on the radar that could fill the void for a team that ranks 15th in the defensive rankings by Focus on professional football for the 2021 regular season. After a tumultuous season, coaching changes seem inevitable in the 2022 season, it’s just a matter of who gets in or out.

Former Seahawks Coach Tryl Austin and Kris Richard would be a leading candidate for the vacant Seahawks defensive coordinator position.

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Tryl Austin’s Fit in Seattle

Currently serving as a second/senior defensive assistant coach for Pittsburgh Steelers, Austin should be seen as a defensive focal point to help bring the Seahawks defense back into the spotlight. He began his NFL coaching career in Emerald City in 2003, working as a quarterback coach until 2006. This time included attending Super Bowl XL.

During his time with the Seahawks, he worked with many young players and developed them into a Super Bowl team. The average age of the 2005 Super Bowl team is 27.1 per Refer to professional football, and that team includes notable names like Lofa Tatupu, Sean Locklear, and Marcus Trufant.

During his time with Steelers, he helped develop Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was acquired through trading in 2019, to become a free safe for all First Group professionals. After recovering from lacerations and other shoulder injuries, safety Jamal Adams could be a talented candidate for Austin to coach to the same level of dominance.

Fitzpatrick credits Austin and wants him to stay in Pittsburgh. “TA is a great coach. I won’t say too well about him because I want him to stay in Pittsburgh and I know everyone else is trying to get him. ” Fitzpatrick to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.

“I like his attention to detail, the way he approaches the game, the way he lets his players have a say. He has played in the past, so he has a natural love for the game. It’s definitely reflected in the way he coaches. And he’s also experienced so there’s not too much that he hasn’t seen in the ring around the tournament. “

Kris Richard’s Fit in Seattle

Currently, Richard is serving New Orleans Saints as their defensive coach. Before working as a defensive coach for Dallas Cowboys from 2018-2020, it is Richard who will play a key role in the formation and success of the Legion of Boom in Seattle. Richard joins NFL and Seahawks with Current head coach Pete Carroll and served as an assistant coach until he stepped down after the 2017 season.

During his time with the Seahawks, their defense ranked in the top four from 2012-2016 and dropped to sixth in 2017 according to Focus on professional football. During their time with the Dallas Cowboys, their defensive ranking rose from 15th to 12th to 9th between 2017-2019. When he was hired by the New Orleans Saints as defender coach for the 2021 season, the team placed second in overall defense according to the PFF.

When Richard was fired from his position as defensive coordinator for the Seahawks in late 2017, there seemed to be some planning and fit issues in working with Carroll. Seattle Times reporter Bob Condotta noted the difference in Richard’s defensive play and the way Carroll liked the game played in a 2018 article.

“Among the reasons for the dismissal is that Richard could have called the game more positively than Carroll liked. Carroll’s scheme was based on not hitting deep, keeping passes in front of the backline and forcing teams to go a long way to make touchdowns with the mindset that the more you play, the more likely you are to be opposed. attack side. to mess things up”. Condotta wrote.

With the highest paying safety in the league in Adams, who happens to be heavily involved when defenses fail, Richard could be seen as the man for a more aggressive defensive play. He could be the secret that unlocks Adams’ blitzing ability and takes it to the next level. In 2020, Adams was called for 98 blitzes and used over 90 blit in the 2019 season with the New York Jets according to Refer to professional football. This aggressiveness adds up to better usability with a more threatening defensive attack under Richard, and Adams can be recognized as a top safety talent worthy of his big contract. .

While both coaches have served the Seahawks at one point, it’s also difficult to know how they will fit into the Seahawks’ modern defense. Austin is a valuable coach with the Steelers and other teams that may show more interest. With Carroll At the helm, a return for Richard likely won’t happen as it was Carrol who let him off in the first place. However, it will be important to keep both coaches on the shortlist to fill the void in the defensive coordinator.