Klint Kubiak has assumed play-calling duties as offensive coordinator. He has completely overhauled the team’s offensive philosophy and personnel, notching six new starters, including quarterback Sam Darnold. So far, early returns have led to head scratching over how effective this reimagined big-12-style offense really is.
In their season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks lost that game 17-13. This loss shined a light on the struggle the team had in acclimating to Kubiak’s take on Kyle Shanahan’s West Coast offense. Darnold was under enormous pressure to deliver on the day. He threw only two interceptions, but this was enough to cause panic within the coaching staff. Kubiak, by all reports, expressed his dissatisfaction following the Darnold second pick — a valid concern given what has been a lack of progress.
AJ Barner ascended as the Seahawks No. This move follows the subsequent placing of Robbie Ouzts on IR. Rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo emerged to become a solid fourth option. His contributions are shoring up the team’s overall depth at the position. Lockett insertions Since these additions, the Seahawks offense has really had a hard time getting into a groove.
Through three games, the Seahawks have topped 90 rushing yards in just one game. Their ground game is 21st, 96.0 rushing yards per game. Unfortunately, they rank an abysmal 29th in yards per carry, sitting at just 3.3 ypc. Kenneth Walker, III and Zach Charbonnet have both scored four rushing touchdowns this year. They have been unable to find success on the ground with any kind of regularity.
Kubiak’s offense values a quick release from the QB. This is a strategy Darnold has fully adopted, getting the ball out in an average of 2.7 seconds, the 10th-fastest average time in the league among all qualified quarterbacks. This spur-of-the-moment judgement is imperative in Kubiak’s system, a scheme that seeks to manufacture the highest percentage plays.
“We’re excited about the growth that we’ve had.” – Mike Macdonald
Even with all the positive indications, Kubiak’s offense needs a lot of work before it can be considered fully realizing its potential.
Mike Macdonald, another member of the coaching staff, expressed optimism regarding the team’s protection and overall performance, stating, “I think our protection right now is really good and we’ve got to keep that going.” He stressed the importance of stacking wins in the future, stating, “We’ve got to go stack some wins.”
With all these challenges, though, Kubiak is still looking to take that next step high – or higher. He acknowledged the need for a more effective offensive strategy and remarked, “If Klint was standing right here, I’m sure he could rattle off about a dozen things that he wants to improve on, and that’s the mentality we want.”
Whatever’s next, the Seahawks seem to be preparing for that eventual clash with one focus in mind. Their goal is to build on what they learned and correct their offensive failures. With a combination of veterans and hungry first-year players, there’s reason to believe they can still salvage the season.
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