Seahawks' offseason moves may help Klint Kubiak improve offense

Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has been hard at work this offseason implementing his run-first offensive philosophy in the Pacific Northwest. Last year, according to teamrankings.com, Seattle ranked 28th in rush play percentage, rushing on just 37% of their offensive snaps. This predictable play-calling made the offense easier to stop and was a major reason why the Seahawks finished just 18th in points per game.

This season, Seattle wants to do things differently. Under Kubiak, the emphasis is on an outside-zone blocking scheme—and the personnel changes already reflect that. Seattle selected offensive lineman Grey Zabel in the first round of the 2025 draft. They also drafted fullback Robbie Ouzts out of Alabama in the fifth round, who is expected to be the lead blocker in front of the running back. In free agency, the Seahawks signed veteran tight end Eric Saubert, who is very familiar with Kubiak’s scheme from their time together in Denver in 2022. Seattle has committed to Kubiak’s offensive vision, and it already seems to be paying off, even after just one preseason game.

Against the Raiders on Aug. 7, Seattle outgained Las Vegas on the ground, 170 yards to 104. The Seahawks also recorded more rushing first downs (10 to 4) and averaged 5.3 yards per carry compared to Las Vegas’s 4.3. The true test will come on Friday when Seattle plans to play their starting offense against the Kansas City Chiefs in their second preseason game.

The running back situation in Seattle is in a very good spot. Kenneth Walker III, the starter, and Zach Charbonnet form the Seahawks’ version of thunder and lightning. Charbonnet is bringing the power, and Walker is providing the burst.

George Holani catapulted himself into the third-string running back role with a stellar performance in the preseason opener against Las Vegas. He rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries.

But the jump in offensive production won’t come solely from the run game; it will also depend on the passing attack. Seattle has moved off Geno Smith and is now turning to Sam Darnold, who is coming off a breakout year. Darnold threw for 35 touchdowns (14 more than Smith) and 12 interceptions (three fewer than Smith). He thrives off play-action passes, which are a staple of Kubiak’s playbook. In a news conference on Wednesday, Kubiak praised Darnold, saying he “has done a phenomenal job.” It was also reported, according to profootballrumors.com, that Kubiak was integral in bringing the one-time Pro Bowler to the Pacific Northwest.

None of this would be possible without a massive improvement from an offensive line that ranked 31st out of 32 teams last season. The biggest addition is the aforementioned Zabel, who is expected to start at guard, but he was the only major acquisition. General manager John Schneider is largely betting on the guys already in the building.

Seattle does have some promising pieces. Charles Cross, the ninth overall pick in 2022, has been solid in his 48 starts. Abraham Lucas made an immediate impact, but the 2022 third-rounder has dealt with injuries, appearing in just 13 games over the last two seasons. The rest of the offensive line, consisting of Olu Oluwatimi, Anthony Bradford, Christian Haynes and Sataoa Laumea, has been heavily criticized and must improve. Their growth could be what ultimately elevates this offense.

So far, things have looked encouraging. But as the starters begin to see more time, they need to execute and hit the ground running. Seahawks fans are growing restless with an offense that has yet to reach the heights it did with Russell Wilson.