Love comes over from New York with a game that makes him an ideal candidate to be the Swiss Army Knife of Seattle’s defensive backfield. As a former green dot defender (defensive play caller) with the Giants, the 25-year-old possesses the instincts, awareness and IQ to make plays from multiple spots. Whether he’s lining up as a traditional safety or as a slot corner, Love’s versatility will enable the Seahawks to move defenders around to create the best matchups in coverage while also producing some mismatches in pass rush and run defense. Considering he just finished his first season as a full-time starter with 124 tackles, two interceptions, five passes defensed and six tackles for loss as a Giants team captain, Love is upgrading Seattle’s secondary with his versatility, intelligence and playmaking ability.
Moreover, Love’s overall skills and positional flexibility will make it easier for the Seahawks to enable one of their top playmakers to reprise the role that helped him set the single-season sack record for defensive backs. Given the impact of pressure on turnovers, allowing Adams to consistently pin his ears back on blitzes should prove quite fruitful for Seattle.
Pete Carroll’s defense hasn’t finished in the top 10 in points or yards allowed since 2016. The Seahawks ranked 25th in scoring defense last season and 26th in total D. But with a three-headed monster at safety capable of wreaking havoc on foes from all over the field, Seattle’s defense could return to dominance in 2023.