Ryan Grubb comes off as an approachable and very likable person. One wants him to do well, and at the University of Washington, he was extremely successful and earned an NFL job. The issue is that with the Seattle Seahawks, a promising start to the season offensively has turned into a wretched failure.
The issue is not truly that Grubb did not know how to transition well to the NFL, but that he did not know how to adjust once opposing teams reacted to what he was doing. Sure, he never consistently ran the ball enough, but an offense that looked fairly fluid and productive through the first four games of the season has been inconsistent and far less productive in the last 12 games.
Seattle averaged 25.5 points per game in the first four games. Since then, the team has averaged just 19.8. Seattle has scored 16 points or fewer four times. Even when they scored 16 in Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals, six points were due to an interception return for a touchdown by safety Coby Bryant. Grubb's offense, even with a bad offensive line throughout the season, has been less efficient as the season has grown old.
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb doesn't seem overly self-aware
The offensive coordinator was asked in a press conference this week about what he has changed (i.e., adapted) from Week 1 to Week 18 and Grubb's answer was less than desirable for 12s. He said he hasn't changed much at all, and while that shows confidence it also shows a lack of self-awareness. Every great coach and player changes some things over time, especially when opponents are making them change.
The OC also said he has learned that he needs to adapt his system to the players he has. Grubb has been coaching for many years, and he should have already known that he needed to adapt his plan to the players that run it. He likely has been so successful before this season that he didn't need to truly change his scheme because it worked well.
The Seahawks simply cannot wait around for a coordinator to figure out how to coach in the league. A player can be given a year or two, but not a coach. The player isn't directly leading others, but the coordinator is leading half the team. In other words, a coordinator should have a chance to prove himself for two years, at most.
Again, Grubb seems like a nice guy. One should hope he does well, but the fact he admitted that he hasn't sought to change much during the course of the season is atrocious. If he sticks with the team and the offense begins to fail again early in 2025, Grubb needs to be let go.