Macdonald Explains Seahawks OC Grubb

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Post on Jan 10, 2025

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Macdonald Explains Seahawks OC Grubb: A Deep Dive into Shane Waldron's Offensive Philosophy and the 2023 Season

The Seattle Seahawks' offensive performance in 2023 has been a source of both excitement and frustration for fans. While flashes of brilliance punctuated the season, inconsistency plagued the team, leading to questions about Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron's scheme and its execution. This article delves into the complexities of the Seahawks' offense under Waldron, analyzing its strengths, weaknesses, and the rationale behind key play calls, drawing on insights from head coach Pete Carroll and other key figures. We'll examine how the scheme interacts with the talent on the roster, and speculate on potential adjustments for the future.

Understanding Shane Waldron's Offensive Blueprint

Shane Waldron's offensive philosophy is rooted in a West Coast system, emphasizing short, high-percentage passes to keep drives alive and control the clock. This approach contrasts sharply with the more explosive, downfield-oriented schemes prevalent in other parts of the league. However, Waldron isn't strictly wedded to a traditional West Coast approach. He incorporates elements of modern offensive concepts, such as RPOs (Run-Pass Options) and pre-snap motion to create mismatches and exploit defensive vulnerabilities.

Key Characteristics of the Seahawks' Offense under Waldron:

• Emphasis on Play-Action: Waldron leverages the Seahawks' strong running game to set up effective play-action passes. By selling the run convincingly, he creates opportunities for big plays downfield.
• Pre-Snap Motion and Shifts: Frequent use of motion and shifts helps confuse defenses, creating favorable matchups for receivers and exploiting potential gaps in coverage.
• Spread Formations: Waldron utilizes a variety of spread formations to spread the defense horizontally, creating space for receivers to operate and opening up running lanes.
• Targeting the Middle of the Field: While utilizing the outside, Waldron’s offense frequently aims for shorter, high-percentage passes over the middle. This allows for quick gains and chain-moving opportunities.
• Adaptability: While possessing a core philosophy, Waldron has shown an ability to adapt his play-calling based on opponent defensive schemes and the strengths of his personnel.

The 2023 Season: A Mixed Bag

The Seahawks' 2023 season offered a mixed bag of offensive performances. While the team exhibited moments of explosive offensive prowess, inconsistencies plagued their performance throughout the year. The reasons behind this inconsistency are multi-faceted and warrant a deeper examination.

Strengths of the 2023 Offense:

• Geno Smith's Development: Geno Smith exceeded expectations, demonstrating improved accuracy and decision-making under Waldron's guidance. His ability to read defenses and make quick, decisive throws was crucial to the offense's success.
• Run Game Efficiency (at times): Kenneth Walker III emerged as a powerful running back, providing a solid foundation for the offense. The success of the run game directly impacted the effectiveness of the play-action passing game.
• Creative Play-Calling (at times): Waldron showcased creativity in his play-calling, utilizing various formations, motions, and RPOs to keep defenses off balance. This ability to keep the offense unpredictable was a key to their success in certain games.

Weaknesses of the 2023 Offense:

• Inconsistency in Play-Calling: The offense displayed inconsistency in play-calling, at times appearing predictable and stagnant. This led to stretches of unproductive drives and ultimately impacted the team's overall success.
• Red Zone Inefficiency: The Seahawks struggled in the red zone, failing to convert drives into touchdowns at a consistent rate. This inefficiency significantly hampered their scoring potential.
• Pass Protection Issues: The offensive line's performance was inconsistent, leading to sacks and pressures that disrupted the rhythm of the offense. This directly affected Smith's ability to make quick decisions and deliver accurate throws.
• Deep Ball Inconsistency: While the short to medium passing game was successful, the Seahawks struggled to consistently connect on deep passes. This limited their ability to create big plays and stretch the field.

Pete Carroll's Perspective and Coaching Decisions

Head coach Pete Carroll has consistently defended Waldron's offensive approach, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the evolving nature of the NFL. While acknowledging areas for improvement, Carroll has highlighted the need for better execution and consistency across the board. His comments suggest a belief in Waldron's system and a focus on refining its implementation. Carroll’s post-game comments throughout the season often emphasized the need for the team to minimize mistakes and consistently perform at a high level.

Analyzing the Criticism and Moving Forward

Criticism of Waldron's offense often revolves around its perceived predictability and lack of explosive plays. Some analysts suggest that the Seahawks need to incorporate more downfield passing concepts to unlock the full potential of their receiving corps. However, a complete overhaul of the system might not be the answer. Instead, a more nuanced approach that addresses the identified weaknesses, such as improving the red zone execution and incorporating more deep ball concepts while maintaining the core strengths of the West Coast system, seems more likely.

This involves strengthening the offensive line to improve pass protection and focusing on perfecting the execution of the current playbook before making radical changes.

Conclusion: A Work in Progress

The Seahawks' offense under Shane Waldron is clearly a work in progress. While the foundation of the system shows promise, consistency and efficiency remain key areas for improvement. By addressing the identified weaknesses, particularly through improved execution and refinement of play-calling in specific situations like the red zone and improving pass protection, the Seahawks can unlock the full potential of their offense. The future of the Seahawks’ offense hinges on consistent performance, and whether Waldron can adapt and fine-tune the scheme to better fit the talent and challenges of the NFL. The 2024 season will be a crucial test of whether the Seahawks' offensive identity can finally solidify, and if Waldron can demonstrate the adaptability needed to meet the challenges of a fiercely competitive league.