BROCK AND SALK

Huard: Seahawks’ defense has ability to be more creative with Adams

Apr 3, 2023, 10:51 AM

Seattle Seahawks Jamal Adams...

Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams celebrates breaking up a pass against the 49ers in 2021. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Seahawks entered last season with a new defensive play-caller, a new defensive scheme, and high hopes for safety Jamal Adams.

Rost: What Seahawks’ moves in free agency tell us about their 2023 plans

Adams, a three-time All-Pro, had a lackluster 2021 campaign that ended with a shoulder injury, but it appeared that he would be used more like he was in 2020 when he set an NFL record with 9.5 sacks as a defensive back in Seattle’s new 3-4 defense last year.

Unfortunately for the Seahawks and Adams, the veteran safety suffered a season-ending quad injury in a Week 1 win over the Denver Broncos when Adams blitzed former Seattle QB Russell Wilson.

This offseason, the Seahawks have added safety Julian Love, who started every game for the New York Giants in 2022, on a notable two-year deal in free agency. That obviously led to some speculation as to what that meant for Adams’ future.

During a recent edition of Brock and Salk on Seattle Sports, former NFL quarterback Brock Huard explained what he’s looking for from the Seahawks this season when it comes to the use of their safeties.

He started the conversation talking about Adams.

“Even at the end of last year, not as an excuse nor an explanation, but you did hear (Seahawks defensive coordinator) Clint Hurtt and those guys say, ‘Yeah, once we lost Jamal, we lost some of our playbook, we lost some of what we were going to do, that we had plans to do this season to adapt some of our scheme to be a little bit creative,'” Huard said. “And that was the one area not just in personnel – the Jimmies and the Joes – but the X’s and O’s last year. There just wasn’t a ton of creativity very often.”

Huard said that the Seahawks’ personnel last year was lacking, as evidenced by the defensive linemen the Seahawks have parted ways with remaining unsigned in free agency.

With Love in the mix, though, Huard expects more from the secondary and Adams in 2023.

“The ability to be creative and use big nickel (a defensive formation with three safeties) and play Jamal down where Jamal is best, and that really is a nickel linebacker in his feel for the run game and his ability to tackle near the line of scrimmage.”

Listen to the full discussion in the podcast from Brock and Salk at this link or in the player below.

Seahawks Draft: Are rumors of trading up from No. 5 legitimate?

Brock and Salk podcast

Brock and Salk

Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft Jackson Powers-Johnson...

Brandon Gustafson

Brock’s Seahawks Draft Profiles: ‘The best center’ in the 2024 class

If the Seattle Seahawks want to boost their offensive line, Brock Huard wouldn't mind if they draft Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson.

10 hours ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Nelson Cruz reflects on his time with the Seattle Mariners on Brock & Salk

‘The Boomstick’ Nelson Cruz joined the Brock & Salk Show on Seattle Sports before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Seattle Mariners 2024 season opener at T-Mobile Park. Cruz discussed his time with the Mariners, what retirement is like, and whether or not he would bring out the boomstick one more time before […]

13 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Mitch Haniger...

Mike Salk

Salk: Scars remain as Mariners return, but hope isn’t far away

As the Seattle Mariners return for 2024, Seattle Sports' Mike Salk writes about seasons, scars, frustration, hope and baseball.

1 day ago

Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft Payton Wilson...

Brandon Gustafson

Brock’s Seahawks Draft Profile: ‘Twitched up’ LB fills a need

Next up in Brock Huard's Seattle Seahawks draft profiles is a very intriguing defender in North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson.

1 day ago

Seattle Seahawks Sam Howell...

Brandon Gustafson

New Seahawks QB Sam Howell describes trade, his role and more

The Seattle Seahawks have a new QB in Sam Howell, and he joined Brock & Salk on Wednesday to describe the trade that sent him to the Hawks.

2 days ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Getting to know new Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Howell

What do Seattle Seahawks fans need to know about new QB Sam Howell? What will he bring to the QB room and competition this season? He joined the Brock and Salk show toady to talk about what type of QB the Seahawks are getting. Can he be a piece that helps this team get back […]

2 days ago

Huard: Seahawks’ defense has ability to be more creative with Adams