The Seattle Seahawks discovered one thing final season that had been lacking for some time: a transparent offensive id.
Below Klint Kubiak, Seattle’s offense turned extra structured, extra linked, and much harder for defenses to arrange for. It was not nearly calling good performs. It was about constructing an offense the place the run recreation, movement, formations, and passing ideas all labored collectively. For the primary time in a very long time, the Seahawks regarded like an offense with a plan.
That was the main target of the most recent episode of Hawks Eye, the place I used to be joined by Bobby Peters of Alert the Publish to interrupt down what Kubiak did so properly in Seattle and what Brian Fleury taking on as offensive coordinator may imply shifting ahead.
One of many greatest takeaways from the dialog was how a lot Kubiak helped Sam Darnold settle into the offense. The construction of the system gave Darnold cleaner reads, higher solutions, and extra probabilities to play in rhythm. As a substitute of continually asking the quarterback to create outdoors the framework of the offense, Seattle gave him solutions constructed into the design.
That issues. Good offensive construction doesn’t take away duty from the quarterback, but it surely does give him a clearer image. Kubiak’s use of under-center seems to be, motion ideas, and layered route mixtures helped Darnold play with confidence and timing.
The identical will be stated for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kubiak’s offense helped flip JSN into a real point of interest by utilizing alignment, movement, spacing, and route design to create favorable seems to be. He was not merely getting targets. He was being featured with function. The Seahawks discovered methods to get him cleaner releases, put him in area, and make defenses account for him on important downs.
Breaking down Sam Darnold’s landing to Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Texans
“Kubak did an excellent job in the red zone in general,” Peters stated. “But with these double post designs and isolating JSN as that outside post runner with his route running ability, it is second to none. So, this is once again another example where we’re free releasing the back and using the tight end as that kind of that check release sixth protector. Um that inside through route there—I believe that’s the F receiver occupying the near safety and JSN from that tight split.
“He’s going to try to sell that outside stem on that corner, get, you know, get him to widen and then cross his face. And Sam Darnold, with five [steps] and a hitch, quick timing from under center is able to let that ball rip.”
Bobby and I additionally mentioned how the run recreation gave the offense a extra outlined basis. Even when the run recreation was not excellent, the specter of it nonetheless mattered. Seattle used under-center seems to be, outside-zone motion, movement, and formation stress to affect second-level defenders and create cleaner alternatives within the passing recreation.
Now the eye turns to Fleury.
The Seahawks don’t want him to tear down what labored. In some ways, his job is to take care of the inspiration Kubiak constructed whereas discovering sufficient new wrinkles to remain forward of defensive changes. That’s simpler stated than finished. Defenses now have a full season of tape, and profitable offenses must evolve.
That’s what makes Fleury’s first season as offensive coordinator so attention-grabbing. Continuity is necessary, however standing nonetheless will be harmful. Seattle wants the identical id, but it surely additionally wants counters, solutions, and development.
So the central query stays: Can Brian Fleury maintain it rolling?
“There’s so much volume in the Kyle Shanahan system, especially at this point, right?” Peters stated. “He’s been calling he’s been calling his own offense for awhile, specially in San Francisco with all those experienced players like Kittle, Juszczyk, CMC. I mean, you’re creating brand new game plans every week with, you know, new tags and stuff. So like he could pull from so many different places just within that tree of different concepts to feature and you know obviously he’s going to try to fit it to his personnel. I guess we’ll wait and see [about Brian Fleury].”
Bobby Peters on what we may see extra of underneath Brian Fleury
“I know Purdy likes that under center drop back and obviously Darnold, you know, we just got done showing an example of him liking it. So even maybe more of an emphasis on that, too. I could see that being an uptick. Maybe they do go down more of the wide zone outside zone route, too. That’s remain to be seen.
”It’s all [about] attempting to remain forward of defensive developments, too. Defenses have gotten a yr of Darnold with Seattle’s personnel on tape. How are defenses going to reply now? Flurry’s going to have to answer that.”
The total episode will get into the main points of what made Kubiak’s offense work, why Fleury’s background with San Francisco makes him an intriguing match, and which components of Seattle’s offensive id have to hold over if the Seahawks need to maintain constructing on final season’s success.
Take a look at the complete dialog on Hawks Eye Podcast.
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