​You could argue that the Seattle Seahawks’ blunt-force, one-wood approach on offense mirrors Mike Macdonald’s “Dark Side” defense, a scheme that helped push them to a Super Bowl appearance last season. Yet the Seahawks’ offense, while potent, carried a hint of underappreciation. Sam Darnold, Kenneth Walker (now with the Chiefs), and Jaxon Smith-Njigba formed the core of a unit that thrived under then-coordinator Klint Kubiak. As training camp opens, the offense looks a touch different with Brian Fleury taking the reins from Kubiak, Walker no longer on the roster, and questions hanging over the running back room and the wide receiver group.
The offensive line, by contrast, stands as the most settled component of Seattle’s attack. All five starters return, a factor that underscores continuity up front and perhaps gets undersold in discussions about the unit. Darnold’s protectors are back as well, which should help stabilize the passing game. In evaluating the offense as a whole, the question becomes: where does it rank? CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin placed Seattle 20th in terms of “offensive infrastructure” across the league.
Dubin noted that the Seahawks’ line is solidly above-average and that the pass catchers are good—Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a standout, and there’s depth at receiver, even if there isn’t a clear No. 2 option behind JSN. The running backs, however, are more of a concern, pegged as average at best until we see what rookies like Jadarian Price can provide. He also emphasized that the new play-caller, Fleury, is a major factor behind Seattle’s modest rank, along with the absence of a proven No. 2 receiver and the uncertainty at running back.
Of course, all these questions could be answered quickly once the season begins, but for now they linger as a rationale for why a Super Bowl repeat feels less likely. Could Rashid Shaheed emerge as Darnold’s No. 2 weapon behind JSN? He has flashed the ability to contribute in that role in the past, suggesting a potential path to more production behind the rookie sensation.
Then there’s the running back situation, with rookie Jadarian Price likely stepping into the lead role in the absence of Zach Charbonnet, who suffered a torn ACL in the playoffs. Even with Charbonnet out, Seattle still presents a team capable of a deep playoff run. A Super Bowl title? That’s a bigger leap of faith, but the NFC West champions do appear to be shaping up as a squad with the 20th-ranked offensive infrastructure in football—an assessment that feels a bit low given the confluence of talent and potential.
All told, Seattle’s offense holds promise and the pieces to climb, especially as Fleury grows into his role and the rookie class begins to contribute. The line provides a reliable foundation, Darnold can leverage protection into efficiency, and JSN remains the focal point of a versatile passing game. Whether the rest of the attack catches up quickly enough to move the infrastructure ranking upward remains to be seen, but the groundwork for a formidable season is unmistakably in place.