In the first year under rookie head coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks improved a game from last year’s 9-8 campaign, going 10-7 and finishing just one spot shy of a playoff berth in 2024. A defensive-minded head coach, Macdonald brought in nearby Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to serve as his offensive coordinator. A disappointing offensive performance this season, though, may force a change in that position.
In their first season, Macdonald, the former Ravens defensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator Aden Durde‘s unit finished ninth in scoring defense and 12th in total yards allowed. Grubb’s unit was a bit more middle-of-the-road, finishing 19th in points scored and 15th in total yards.
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Grubb’s scheme disappointed in the run game, where they finished 30th in the league, despite the presence of two second-round picks in Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. The failure to establish themselves on the ground left quarterback Geno Smith in too many obvious passing situations that limited the effectiveness of the passing game.
Grubb, a well-respected offensive mind, was heavily studied by NFL teams during his time in the collegiate coaching ranks. He worked his way up through jobs in high school, the FCS, and multiple Division I FBS jobs before landing with Washington and helping them to their runner-up finish in the 2023 national championship.
Macdonald gave him his first NFL opportunity as a first-time head coach himself, and Grubb’s NFL offensive gameplan may just take a bit of time to grow and evolve. With the offense being the weak spot of the 2024 campaign, though, it makes sense that Macdonald may be interested in looking into a few changes.
In fairness to Grubb, the entire season is pretty evaluative at this point. Seattle brought in a college coordinator who has no NFL experience, and put him on a first year defensive coach’s staff with an average QB. He may just need some time to adjust. The offense hasn’t been abjectly awful, and the Seahawks figure to be angling for a new QB in the off-season anyway.
Perhaps our resident Seahawks fans can clue me in a bit more, but it seems a bit premature to can Grubb so soon after this year’s results, no? Smith’s thrown 4000+ yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s also turned the ball over 15+ times, but those aren’t completely inept numbers. You could certainly improve on them with a top end QB. Adding to that fact is the porous offensive line, and the questions regarding the remaining longevity of the Seahawks’ receiver tandem. There’s reason to be believe that offense could be upgraded on a purely talent level valuation, which is not Grubbs’ responsibility. If it does, then these numbers could improve.
I prefer to see coordinators with some NFL experience in general get first time chances, but Grubb is there now and the offense doesn’t look to me to be helpless enough to warrant his dismissal.
I think Grubb will probably get another season to see what happens, but there will have to be significant improvements. Other than LT Charles Cross, they’ve had numerous injuries on the OL. Veteran Laken Tomlinson underwhelmed. Center Connor Williams abruptly retired mid-season for undisclosed reasons. RT Abe Lucas was on IR most of the year. Backup George Fant got injured and they ended up being down to their 3rd string RG and RT for a good portion of the year. They truly had a terrible season from the OL with way too many penalties, sacks allowed and inept run blocking.
That said, Ryan Grubb failed to get those and other issues corrected. He clearly struggled with the game planning, mid-game adjustments and the play calling.
Hopefully John Schneider will heavily invest in upgrading the OL for a change. But he’s got a lot of tough decisions to make as the Seahawks are currently projected to be significantly over the cap next season.
Yeah, that all makes a ton of sense. Tomlinson wasn’t ever going to move the needle, and at best could have been serviceable. The Williams retirement was a pretty significant blow to how they planned this year going, and they really were counting that move going well. Can’t coming back was kind of a show of how much help they really needed-not because he’s bad, but because their starters were sort of on the fence. Given how much the Seahawks wanted to run the ball, it was a big deal to see how many injuries they had on the line.
Grubb may adjust to the NFL better next year with substitutions and specializations, and adjustments to the adjustments to the adjustments (which, of course, is the ocean of difference between the PAC12 and NFL), but I do agree that next year will be his crucible.
It seems to me that this year may be too early to force the change; if things do not improve next year, the crop of QBs should be better to upgrade the offense as a unit with the coordinator and player together. If Smith indeed does not return, would Seattle run a season with Howell and Grubb to see what they have, and see what their record is to try to get one of those QBs? That would be my question-does Grubb get a year with Howell to make his case, or does Seattle try to make their QB move now?
That’s a good question. I suspect they’ll try to work out an extension with Smith, but even with a better line I feel he’s pretty much already hit his ceiling. I do know they think Howell shows promise, but I’m not sure they’re ready to bet the farm on him.
I agree.
(Autocorrect changed “Fant” to “Can’t”, which I have now noticed, in my comment above)
Not Grubb, but Geno (Oh-no) should be on the hot seat. Any starting QB that throws 15 interceptions in a season shouldn’t be receiving $6 million in incentives, on top of his overpaid contract. Geno, donate the $6 million to local charities, build strength on your freaking weak legs, and get your eyesight checked.
Grubb didn’t really have everything needed to do what he wanted to do. The running game should have been used more and Geno shouldn’t have to run for his life to make plays. Both of those issues are related to a porous o-line. They need to address that in the offseason or people are going to start looking at Schneider.