Klint Kubiak: Establishing Seattle’s Offensive Identity, Part 3
Let’s get one thing straight: Klint Kubiak’s hire was a Mike Macdonald decision. Macdonald saw what the rest of us did—despite last year’s 10-7 record, the Seahawks’ offense lacked an identity. Sure, a 10-7 record usually gets you into the playoffs, but that number alone doesn’t tell the full story. When Seattle needed balance the most, the offense failed to complement the defense.
Ryan Grubb’s approach? More often than not, it was all gas, no brakes. Instead of grinding down opponents, he opted for shootouts. That is not the brand of football Macdonald wanted to build in Seattle. So, when the opportunity arose, he wasted no time in bringing in a coach who could implement a proven system—one built on a foundation of the run game.
A Return to the Run
Ask anyone who understands football what the Kubiak offensive philosophy is, and you will hear the same thing: Balance, but with a commitment to the run. Former NFL head coach Herm Edwards summed it up best:
"They’re going to be a balanced offense, but they’re gonna run the football."
That is the solution. And it is one we have been hammering home for a while. Look no further than the column titles from last season:
Week 5: Lopsided Offense Leads to Continued Seahawks Woes
Week 6: Seahawks Finally Achieve Balance
Week 8: Seattle’s Identity Crisis on Full Display Against Buffalo
The Seahawks’ 2024 Rushing Woes: A Statistical Breakdown and Coaching Fallout
So yeah, I told ya so! Now that Mike Macdonald and I are on the same page, all should be well. But let us be clear: Balance is not a suggestion, it is a necessity. Seattle must commit to a run-first attack.
The Grubb Debacle: A Case Study in Poor Game Framing
If there is one game that perfectly encapsulates Ryan Grubb’s mismanagement, it is last season’s Week 4 matchup in Detroit. On the surface, Seattle’s offensive numbers were impressive:
516 total yards (compared to Detroit’s 389)
Geno Smith: 38-of-56 for 395 yards
Kenneth Walker III: 80 yards and 3 TDs on just 12 carries
Seattle controlled time of possession: 34:04 to 25:56
Yet the Seahawks lost 42-27. Why? Because Jared Goff could not miss—literally. He started the game 18-for-18 with two touchdowns. But instead of adjusting, Grubb played right into Detroit’s hands. The excuse? Seattle was “forced” to throw after falling behind 21-7 at halftime.
Let us call that what it really was: a cover-up. A coach who understood the flow of the game would have slowed things down, leaned on the run, and kept Goff off the field. Instead, Grubb let Geno throw fifty-six times while giving K9 just twelve touches—despite Walker averaging 6.7 yards per carry. The outcome was inevitable.
This should have been the moment the organization realized Grubb was not the guy. But instead of learning from it, he doubled down, repeating the same mistakes week after week. That, more than anything, sealed his fate.
The Future: A True Offensive Identity
With Klint Kubiak at the helm, Seattle finally has direction. Expect a run-heavy scheme that sets up play action and maximizes Geno Smith’s efficiency—rather than forcing him into a reckless, gunslinger role. This is the kind of offense that wins in December and January.
The Seahawks tried Grubb’s way. Now it is time to get back to what works.
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