Safety is a position of pride for the Seattle Seahawks. Some of the biggest contributors to the defense for the team throughout its history have played the position. Within that position, two main variants emerge and have very different roles.
In this final installation of Football 101, we will be looking at those two variants and explain their roles, while providing examples from the Seahawks history of players who have played those roles. Let’s do this!
Free Safety: Earl Thomas III/Julian Love
The free safety is an important position, being the “safety net” of the secondary. Their main job is to be the ballhawk, lining up anywhere between 10 to 15 yards back from the line of scrimmage to prevent big plays by the offense, whether it be a big pass, or if a running back is able to break past the front seven. Earl Thomas III and Julian Love are Seahawk examples of free safeties.
Strong Safety: Kenny Easley/Kam Chancellor
Strong safeties are enforcers on the defense, assisting the linebackers in run support and covering tight ends and slot receivers. They handle more of the short-to-medium routes by receivers, and can also be used in blitz packages to be an extra pass rusher. Kenny Easley (famously nicknamed ‘The Enforcer’ during his decorated, Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career) and Kam Chancellor are the quintessential examples of strong safeties the Seahawks have had on the defense.
Big Nickel Safety: Nick Emmanwori/Jordan Babineaux
As discussed in the cornerback 101 I previously wrote, Big Nickel’s are generally a bigger safety that come in to replace a slot corner or linebacker. They are there to assist in run defense, can be used in blitz packages, help cover tight ends, and provide scheme flexibility being able to drop back into coverage if needed. Nick Emmanwori and Jordan Babineaux are the main examples of Big Nickel’s for the Seahawks. They are very flexible, being able to line up in outside linebacker, the slot, or in deeper coverage as needed for the scheme.
Safety is a key position. It ensures plays do not get out of hand and can set the tone for the game. Legends like Chancellor, Thomas, and Easley were the definition of tone setters, while current examples like Love, Okada, Emmanwori and Clark hope to live up to the legacy. Who is on your Mt Rushmore of Seahawk safeties? Discuss in the comments, and Go Hawks!
