Seattle Seahawks fans shouldn't have any concerns about the team in 2026 based on preseason Week 1. What one sees in preseason games is a lie, where teams don't scheme against one another, and backups are the ones mostly playing. But 12s also got a view of the difference between backup quarterbacks Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe.
Not so much in terms of productivity, as the blocking in front of both was pretty weak. That is what happens when the backups are playing. But what offensive coordinator Brian Fleury tried to do with both is telling.
Lock is a better fit in the system than Milroe, and that is not meant as any disrespect to Milroe. He has some physical skill, and he runs better than most quarterbacks, but that isn't what Fleury's scheme needs. Instead, timing and pocket passing are key.
Seattle Seahawks' offense made better for Drew Lock than Jalen Milroe
Fleury's system is likely going to greatly resemble the San Francisco 49ers because that is the team Seattle's new OC worked with for many years before he came to the Pacific Northwest. When one thinks of San Francisco, one thinks of an excellent rushing attack and quarterback Brock Purdy throwing with accuracy.
While Purdy can run well enough, he doesn't normally do so on designed plays. Milroe, however, does. He is a dangerous runner, but an inaccurate passer. Lock is far closer to Purdy than Milroe is, and starter Sam Darnold is even more like Purdy. Darnold can run well too, but only when he needs to.
Neither Lock nor Milroe has a real path to being QB1 unless Darnold gets hurt, and if that happens, Lock is by far the safer bet. Against the Dallas Cowboys in preseason Week 1, the Seattle Seahawks scored only one time, and that came on the opening drive led by Drew Lock. Lock threw a perfect pass to wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. in the end zone.
The play was a timing pattern where Foster ran a double post, and Lock threw the ball before Foster turned to look for it. While 12s obviously wanted Seattle's offense to do much better, ultimately it doesn't matter. The offensive line wouldn't allow that for either Lock or Milroe.
Milroe did appear more in control of what he was supposed ot be doing in his second season than he did as a rookie, and he was more accurate with his passes. But he still was indecisive at times about when to run and when not to. Holding onto the ball a bit too long at times can destroy a drive.
But in Brian Fleury's system, a quarterback deciding often when to take off and run shouldn't be overly important. Darnold and Lock can throw quickly, while Milroe is more of a run-pass option QB.
If Darnold gets injured, Lock will come in and understand how to run Fleury's offense well, even if he isn't as talented as Darnold. If Milroe needed to come into the game, the offense changes in a way that it isn't built for and likely Brian Fleury isn't comfortable with.
Add us as a preferred source on Google