This offseason, the Seattle Seahawks went through what most championship-caliber teams face. They lost one of their main architects when offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak left to become the Las Vegas Raiders' new head coach.
Mike Macdonald managed to keep most of his staff in town, but that one loss might be significant enough to derail their season. It's not just that they lost a great assistant; the Seahawks replaced him with Brian Fleury, who has never called plays.
Kubiak's arrival in Sin City drew rave reviews, with Bleacher Report's Moe Moton deeming it a franchise-altering move. In the meantime, the Seahawks will have some big shoes to fill and a steep standard to live up to.
Klint Kubiak's departure could spell disaster for the Seattle Seahawks
"The Las Vegas Raiders' hiring of Klint Kubiak could be somewhat comparable to the Chicago Bears' hiring of Ben Johnson last offseason," Moton wrote. "Kubiak can optimize the talent of All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers and 2025 first-round running back Ashton Jeanty right away. "
Fleury might be new to the organization, but he's not new to the offense, so this should be a somewhat smooth transition. There will be some new plays and schemes, but the concepts should remain pretty much the same.
That said, we've seen what going from an elite offensive playcaller to someone else can do to a team. Just last season, the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions struggled without Kellen Moore and Ben Johnson, and that ultimately doomed their seasons.
At least, this isn't anything new for Sam Darnold. Fleury will be his seventh offensive coordinator in six years, and while some argue he's a byproduct of coaching and the players around him, he should have earned the benefit of the doubt by now.
Fleury spent six years as an assistant for Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers, an offense Darnold is more than familiar with. Just like Kubiak, he'll run his own version of Shanahan's West Coast offense, which should help make life easier.
Fleury will also have to face the steep challenge of replacing Kenneth Walker III and his stellar production. Rookie Jadarian Price should handle the bulk of the work early on, but there are no guarantees about Zach Charbonnet and how he'll fare once he comes back from injury.
He will also have to figure out how to get the most out of Rashid Shaheed. He had just 15 receptions for 188 yards in nine games since joining the team last season, and he'll have to justify that lofty three-year, $51 million contract he got in free agency.
As the reigning champions, the Seahawks are entering a crucial season with all eyes on them, and they won't have one of their masterminds pulling the strings. They should still have the resources they need to get by, but this will certainly be a situation to keep a close eye on from day one.
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