Seahawks Maintain Downfield Attack Despite Klint Kubiak Departure

The Seahawks lost offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak after one season at the helm, one in which quarterback Sam Darnold continued his career reversals and the team won the Super Bowl.

It’s not going to do much to alter the overarching philosophies that got them there.

Head coach Mike Macdonald found a style of offense that pairs perfectly with his dominant defense, and the loss of Kubiak, who became head coach of the Raiders, is not going to alter that much. 

Kubiak was a top head coaching candidate but chose the Raiders over the Arizona Cardinals, despite significant financial offers.

Numerous coaches and execs familiar with Macdonald and Seahawks general manager John Schneider expect the playbook to remain largely the same and the Seahawks to continue attacking aggressively with play action deep shots on early downs and looking to pick up chunks of yards even with Kubiak gone.

Darnold himself has hinted at as much, noting the similarities in style and substance with new coordinator Brian Fleury in charge. 

Darnold has been accustomed to change throughout his career, but the objective for the Seahawks now is to streamline things for the QB, who began to reverse his downward trajectory by working with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who share an offensive lineage.

Fleury has spent the last seven years under Shanahan in San Francisco, and unlike some of the new play callers brought in with veteran quarterbacks, like Baltimore hiring 30-year old Declan Doyle to work with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, the Seahawks want to continue to build off what’s in place, not construct a new offense.

“It’s a lot of the same stuff,” Darnold told the media during Organized Team Activity practices. 

Hallmarks Remain Hallmarks

“I don’t think much is going to change at all,” said one NFL personnel exec who specializes in advance scouting opponents and has a deep familiarity with the NFC West. 

“You’re going to be looking for the same tendencies in trends. It’s the same offense. Different play caller, but it’s the Shanahan offense with a big-armed quarterback who wants to push it downfield to the tight ends and (top receiver Jaxon) Smith-Njigba.”

Darnold has been through enough transition since failing to stick and a top pick with the Jets. 

Fleury is going to play to his strengths, and the Seahawks are built to contend for years to come.