It’s all in.
Now it’s up to the Seahawks to run it. Literally.
New coordinator and play caller Klint Kubiak said Thursday following the 17th of 28 preseason practices his offense is completely installed. The opener against San Francisco at Lumen Field is in 3-1/2 weeks.
“We’ve put our stuff in,” Kubiak said. “We’re just trying to accumulate reps on the stuff we’ve put in.”
That “stuff” is the base of his new offense. That’s run blocking — his signature outside-zone scheme coach Mike Macdonald hired Kubiak to bring to Seattle — plus running plays in it, formations, passing plays, protection calls and audible system.
Of course he will tweak, add and change that base to be opponent-specific for each game week during the season.
But the basis is in, in plenty of time to now hone and perfect. The first chance for new quarterback Sam Darnold and the starters on offense to do that in a game setting is Friday night when they play for the first time this summer in the Seahawks’ second preseason game, against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lumen Field.
Darnold, lead wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, new wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and running back Zach Charbonnet are among the veteran regulars who are expected to play Friday. Macdonald said he intends to play the Seahawks’ starters on offense and defense against the Chiefs because their coach Andy Reid typically plays his starters more than many NFL coaches at the start of preseason games.
Darnold has noticeably improved over the three weeks since training camp began, particularly in throwing the ball quickly and accurately against Macdonald’s changing defense. Sunday during practice, Macdonald joked with his new quarterback in from a 14-3 season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 that he’s been “a pain in the butt” trying to pressure, because Darnold is getting the ball out so quickly and precisely for completions.
“It’s hard to get to you,” Macadonald told his QB.
After a few to begin camp, Darnold has not thrown an interception in practice in eight days.
How does Kubiak assess Darnold’s first Seahawks training camp?
“Phenomenal job,” the play caller said.
Kubiak said it’s not that Darnold, 28, has adjusted to Kubiak’s system. It’s that the offensive is molding to its new QB.
“We’re adjusting to him,” Kubiak said of the eighth-year veteran. “He’s played a lot of football in the NFL. He’s been accurate throughout camp. He’s been a great leader.
“And as coaching staff, we want to do what he does best.”
That is rolling out, throwing off play-action and throwing off bootlegs testing the edge of defenses.
Kubiak intends to have his outside-zone running game set-up Darnold’s strengths of play-action passing down the field.
He needs a healthy, productive Kenneth Walker to do that this season.
Walker was in full pads fully participating in practice Tuesday. That was after a week and a half of taking more days off than on.
The fourth-year veteran entering the final year of his rookie contract had a sore foot that kept him out the first days of August.
He missed six of 17 games in 2024. He went on injured reserve in December with an ankle injury prematurely ended his season.
Walker has yet to play a full season, all 17 games, in his NFL career.
“Yeah, Ken, I know he hasn’t been in every practice, but once he’s been able to attend, you see the flash,” Kubiak said. “He’s out there (Tuesday) making plays in the pass game, in the run game.
“I see him just continuing to get better with reps.”
Walker has had two previous offensive coordinators in three years say they were going to have No. 9 run the ball — and Shane Waldron then Ryan Grubb last season failed to do that. And the offensive line failed to block adequately to do it consistently.
Walker said he’s looking forward to this year being different in Kubiak’s scheme and the new OC’s mandate from Macdonald to run the ball.
“I feel like that’s just more opportunities, you know, for me to show what I can do on the field,” Walker said.
“Yeah, that’s pretty much it.”
Walker and Darnold need one unit in particular to excel this season for the Seahawks to contend for the NFC West title and home playoff games that come with it.
The offensive line.
Macdonald, Kubiak, new O-line coach John Benton and new run-game coordinator Rick Dennison have yet to settle on five starters there.
But four look set.
Charles Cross is the left tackle. He is practicing individual drills after surgery to repair a dislocated ring finger on his right hand. Coaches are holding him out of team scrimmaging.
Rookie first-round draft choice Grey Zabel will start at left guard next to Cross. Zabel had a dominant performance in 19 snaps starting the preseason opener last week. It showed why he was the 18th pick in this year’s draft.
The right tackle is Abe Lucas, and Anthony Bradford appears to have won the job next to Lucas at right tackle.
Camp began with Christian Haynes the initial right guard. He was familiar with Kubiak’s outside-zone blocking scheme because Haynes ran it in 49 consecutive starts ending two years ago at the University of Connecticut.
Once the pads came on in the second week of camp, the 6-foot-4, 325-pound Bradford proved to be the guy. He’s just stronger.
The fourth-round draft choice in 2023 from LSU has been the first-team guard for just about every rep since pads came on weeks ago.
“A.B. has been great strides,” Kubiak said. “Obviously, the physical presence, but you see more consistency in his game throughout camp. So I see a guy that’s playing more confident.”
That leaves center. Jalen Sundell has been the starter there the last week. Olu OIuwatimi was starting until he injured his back. Oluwatimi missed another practice Tuesday. Macdonald has said he doesn’t know if Oluwatimi will or can play Friday. So far it doesn’t appear he will.
That would mean Sundell will have started each of the first two preseason games. Kubiak says the center “has to be the smartest guy on the field” — and that in Sundell and Oluwatimi “we have two really smart centers.””
“Really tough competition,” Kubiak said.
Kubiak was asked when he would like to name a starting right guard and center.
“I’d love to have in April,” the OC said.
“Ideally, those guys, the longer they play together, the more they gel together. However, the competition is going to bring out the best of them.”
