For one, Darnold already has previous experience working with first-year Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. The two spent the 2023 season together in San Francisco, back when Darnold was the backup to 49ers QB Brock Purdy and Kubiak was the team\u2019s passing game coordinator.<\/p>\n
In addition, there are schematic similarities between what Darnold ran with the Minnesota Vikings last year and what he\u2019ll run with the Seahawks. Kubiak and Minnesota head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell are both products of the Shanahan coaching tree and run variations of the Shanahan scheme, which places an emphasis on outside-zone run blocking and play-action passing.<\/p>\n
But even with that familiarity, former NFL quarterback Brock Huard<\/a> expects there to be a learning curve as the 28-year-old Darnold adjusts to a new team.<\/p>\n That reality was hammered home to Huard as he began watching the Netflix show \u201cQuarterback<\/a>,\u201d which provides a behind-the-scenes look at NFL QBs Joe Burrow, Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff during the 2024 season.<\/p>\n Huard was struck by the fact that even 36-year-old Kirk Cousins \u2013 a four-time Pro Bowler with more than a decade of NFL experience \u2013 appeared to go through a learning curve after joining the Atlanta Falcons last offseason.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a little reminder of how starting over is not easy, even for veteran guys,\u201d Huard said during a recent Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports\u2019 Brock and Salk. \u201cKirk Cousins \u2013 bright guy, been in a lot of playbooks \u2013 was like, man, we have 40 different motions. And you could just feel his gears kind of grinding.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just wanna assume, hey man, Sam\u2019s been with Klint Kubiak. Hey man, Sam knows this language. \u2026 But even with the familiarity of Klint Kubiak, there will be a learning curve. And I think that\u2019s some of what you felt out there at minicamp in the offseason.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Listen to the full Blue 88 segment at this link<\/a> or in the audio player at the bottom of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.<\/p>\n Seattle Seahawks news and analysis<\/p>\n \u2022 Insider: The Seattle Seahawks\u2019 blueprint for success in 2025<\/a>
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