The winds of change are blowing in the Emerald City as the Seattle Seahawks usher in a new era on offense. Leading the charge is first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who brings with him a philosophy centered around balance and adaptability. While the Seahawks aim to revitalize their rushing attack, don’t expect them to simply pound the rock with reckless abandon. Instead, Kubiak is focused on crafting a multifaceted offense capable of attacking defenses in myriad ways.
The Outside Zone: Kubiak’s Bread and Butter
At the heart of Kubiak’s scheme lies the outside zone running game, a staple of the Kubiak family coaching tree. Last season with the New Orleans Saints, Kubiak’s offense ranked second in the NFL in outside zone usage, a testament to his unwavering belief in the system. By emphasizing the outside zone, the Seahawks aim to stretch defenses horizontally, opening up cutback lanes for explosive playmakers like Kenneth Walker III.
But the beauty of Kubiak’s approach lies in its versatility. While the outside zone will serve as the foundation, the Seahawks won’t hesitate to mix in inside zones, gap schemes, and pin-and-pull concepts to keep defenses honest. As Kubiak himself noted, “We’ve got to do what our players do best… You’ve got to be able to win more than one way.”
Unleashing Kenneth Walker III
Few players stand to benefit more from Kubiak’s arrival than star running back Kenneth Walker III. Despite battling injuries in 2024, Walker has already established himself as one of the NFL’s premier young backs. His combination of blazing speed and explosive cutting ability seems tailor-made for the outside zone scheme.
“He’s a talented player, so I’m really excited about him in this zone scheme,” Kubiak gushed when asked about Walker. “But I’ve seen Ken in all schemes play really good football… Obviously, whatever we can do to get him touches… we’re going to ask a lot out of him.”
– Klint Kubiak on Kenneth Walker III
With a healthy Walker leading the charge, the Seahawks’ ground game has the potential to be a game-wrecking force in 2025. But Kubiak’s vision extends far beyond just handing the ball off.
Balancing Act: Passing Game Prowess
Despite his reputation as a run-game savant, Kubiak is no one-trick pony. His background is actually rooted in the passing game, having coached quarterbacks at multiple stops throughout his career. This expertise should serve the Seahawks well as they look to build upon the success of Pro Bowl quarterback Geno Smith.
Under Kubiak’s guidance, expect the Seahawks to employ a balanced attack that keeps defenses guessing. Play-action passing will be a key component, using the threat of the run to create downfield opportunities. But Kubiak also understands the importance of pure drop-back situations.
“You’ve got to be a balanced team,” Kubiak emphasized. “I think balance is important, and sometimes you’ve got to drop back 50 times to win the game, and sometimes you’ve got to run it 50 times. But when it all comes through, we want to be balanced, and we want to be able to win multiple ways.”
– Klint Kubiak on offensive balance
Assembling the Supporting Cast
To fully realize Kubiak’s vision, the Seahawks are hard at work assembling a top-notch supporting cast on the offensive coaching staff. The team is expected to hire Justin Outten as its new run-game specialist, bringing valuable experience from his time with the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos.
Seattle is also in discussions with veteran coach Rick Dennison, a longtime collaborator with the Kubiak family. Dennison’s expertise in the run game and offensive line play would be a perfect complement to Kubiak’s quarterback-centric background.
A New Era Dawns in Seattle
As the Seahawks embark upon this new offensive journey, one thing is abundantly clear: balance and adaptability will be the guiding principles. By combining a potent rushing attack with a dynamic passing game, Seattle aims to keep defenses on their heels and light up scoreboards across the NFL.
With Klint Kubiak at the helm and a roster brimming with talent, the Seahawks are poised to usher in an exciting new era of offensive football. So buckle up, 12s—the best may be yet to come in the Emerald City.
