How Seattle Seahawks Elite Run Defense Plays Big Despite Going 'Light'

Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt revealed what it takes to be successful against the run while playing a lot of nickel and dime personnel.

The Seattle Seahawks have been predictably strong on defense this year. While fans wait for a deadline deal to boost the pass rush, they can revel in how well the run defense has played.

While many projected Seattle to measure up well against the run, it has come in a fairly surprising manner.

The Seahawks are more than willing to let teams run the ball against them, especially against their nickel and dime packages. Through six weeks, they’ve posted the league’s best run defense in terms of yards per attempt, at 3.2.

Defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt spoke on Thursday about how they’ve found success.

Seattle defensive lineman Mike Morris makes a tackle against the Los Angeles Rams / Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

“It always starts with the big guys up front,” Hurtt said. “They have to control the line of scrimmage, and the guys that play behind them can play off of them accordingly … If they can play vertical and get in the backfield and create disruption, the guys behind them can obviously clean up a lot of things and makes life easy”

Interior defensive linemen Jarran Reed, Mario Edwards, and Dre’Mont Jones have been exceptional. Even pass rushers who are seen as inconsistent, like Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu, are strong against the run.

Currently, Seattle ranks fourth in expected points per play against the run and first in success rate, per rbsdm.com.

Some of that credit belongs to veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner, says Hurtt.

“And obviously having Wags back to kind of control and navigate all the traffic also helps,” he said.

He’s remained productive into his 30s, posting an elite 93.1 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus is the best in football. Even as he experiences declines in coverage, his stability in the middle of the field reverberates throughout the defense.

Ultimately, though, it’s an 11-man effort.

“It’s an entire defensive effort,” Hurtt concluded. “So I don’t want to sit here and name every single guy, but collectively it takes everyone to get that done.”

Against a mediocre Arizona Cardinals team, without starting running back James Conner, there’s reason to believe Seattle’s run defense can stack yet another successful week on Sunday.

Until Week 12, when they match up with the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks should have a decided advantage against opposing rushing attacks, regardless of how often they rely on lighter personnel.