Seahawks DC Clint Hurtt On Giants: ” They have a special running game”

Sunday the Seahawks will face their toughest opponent to date in Saquon  Barkley lead New York Giants (6-1) . The Giants have the second-best rush offense averaging 174 yards a game. Barkley leads the NFL in total yards from scrimmage ( 919)   and is second in rushing with 746 yards on 143 carries.  After price on Wednesday Seahawks, DC Clint Hurtt addressed the Seahawk’s task of stopping Barkley and quarterback Daniel  Jones.

On the defense knowing they have to stop the Giant’s rushing offense

“Obviously, you love the challenge because that’s what it is going to be about. They have a special running back and the quarterback is equally a big threat in the running game. You understand the challenge, you know the responsibilities that are going to take place, but the big thing with them is that you have to be consistent. Play after play, down after down, quarter after quarter, that’s really what they make you have to do. As coaches and players, we look forward to the opportunity.”

On the Giant’s persistence in the run game

“It feels like there is a little bit of a change around the league where teams really are making a big emphasis and focus to run the football. It’s not just our experience with some of the rough games we had in the early part of the year. The commitment to it that team are starting to show, it generally isn’t always like that. They have that and I think it is a big part of their resurgence. They are doing a great job of coaching and the players are playing really well. The focus of a lot of guys in this league is that they want to rush the passer, cover, and do all of those fun things, but football is always going to be about blocking tackling, running, and doing all of those things. Running the football is where all of that starts and they are doing a hell of a job with it.”

On what the Giants late game offense says about their mentality

“It speaks to their will. They are committed to it, they are trying to show their toughness, and impose their will on their opponent. I think as a coach, when you watch that, or even as a player, you identify that. If you have the attitude that we have here, listen, if we know what’s coming, we have to stop that. We’ve had situations where we have not handled that great, but we made those corrections, so that’s why I say that I look forward to the challenges.”

Hurtt was asked about the defensive scheme the coaches made to the defensive line.

It’s a big deal, but I think it’s a little bit overstated. There are only so many alignments and things that you can play, but sometimes with the front guys in all honesty is that you want to give them some other things to encourage them. It’s like you get a little bit more done with honey than you do with vinegar. We will put you in some situations where you can perform and play at a high level and that way, when I ask you to do the things that may not be so fun, it’s like, ‘Okay, I got you.’ There’s an equal balance that goes along with it. They are having fun. If they are playing well, then I’m good to go. That’s the name of the game.”

(On what has stood out the most over the past two weeks)

“To me the biggest thing is just taking time for guys to understand everything that has been going on in terms of who is fitting where, the trust factor, being on the same page, and it’s like okay, ‘You had a whole spring for that, you had a whole training camp for that.’ It’s different than being in the game and it’s different than communicating in our stadium with our fans to get those things done, so it’s a little bit of a process, but we’ve taken great strides in the last two games. We are not taking anything for granted, we have to continue to take that one step at a time, one game at a time, and don’t take for granted that it is automatically going to happen. You have to keep working.”

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BIG TAKE AWAY

The Seahawks DLine looks to have found its rhythm playing fast and attacking the A’ gap. The Giant’s running game will provide a huge challenge in that they will move Barkley around and get him the ball in wide areas on screens, sweeps and off-tackle. This means the Dline and linebackers will have to be disciplined in their run fits and communicate effectively.

Seahawks Uchenna Nwosu on stopping the Giants unique running game

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