Klint Kubiak’s new Seahawks offense is all in. Here’s what’s next and what’s key<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all in.<\/p>\n
Now it\u2019s up to the Seahawks to run it. Literally.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve put our stuff in,\u201d Kubiak said. \u201cWe\u2019re just trying to accumulate reps on the stuff we\u2019ve put in.\u201d<\/p>\n
That \u201cstuff\u201d is the base of his new offense. That\u2019s run blocking \u2014 his signature outside-zone scheme coach Mike Macdonald hired Kubiak to bring to Seattle \u2014 plus running plays in it, formations, passing plays, protection calls and audible system.<\/p>\n
Of course he will tweak, add and change that base to be opponent-specific for each game week during the season.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 second preseason game, against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lumen Field.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
Darnold has noticeably improved<\/a> over the three weeks since training camp began, particularly in throwing the ball quickly and accurately against Macdonald\u2019s 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\u2019s been \u201ca pain in the butt\u201d trying to pressure, because Darnold is getting the ball out so quickly and precisely for completions.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to get to you,\u201d Macadonald told his QB.<\/p>\n After a few to begin camp, Darnold has not thrown an interception in practice in eight days.<\/p>\n How does Kubiak assess Darnold\u2019s first Seahawks training camp?<\/p>\n \u201cPhenomenal job,\u201d the play caller said.<\/p>\n Kubiak said it\u2019s not that Darnold, 28, has adjusted to Kubiak\u2019s system. It\u2019s that the offensive is molding to its new QB.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re adjusting to him,\u201d Kubiak said of the eighth-year veteran. \u201cHe\u2019s played a lot of football in the NFL. He\u2019s been accurate throughout camp. He\u2019s been a great leader.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd as coaching staff, we want to do what he does best.\u201d<\/p>\n That is rolling out, throwing off play-action and throwing off bootlegs testing the edge of defenses.<\/p>\n Kubiak intends to have his outside-zone running game set-up Darnold\u2019s strengths of play-action passing down the field.<\/p>\n He needs a healthy, productive Kenneth Walker to do that this season.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\nSeattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak calls plays during the first quarter of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lumen Field, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. Brian Hayes\/bhayes@thenewstribune.com <\/p>\n
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) warms up during training camp at Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Renton. Brian Hayes\/bhayes@thenewstribune.com Kenneth Walker\u2019s summer<\/p>\n