Rams’ seismic move places even more importance on Seahawks’ new OC

The Seattle Seahawks’ path to a repeat Super Bowl title got undeniably tougher after the archrival Los Angeles Rams sent shockwaves through the NFL on Monday with their blockbuster trade for two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

Do Seahawks need to counter Rams’ blockbuster move?

Given the razor-tight margin between the two NFC West juggernauts last season, Garrett is the type of transcendent superstar who could swing the balance of power and position the Rams as the early Super Bowl favorite heading into 2026.

In the wake of the Rams’ seismic move, who needs to rise up most for the Seahawks this fall?

Discussing that topic on Tuesday, Seattle Sports’ Stacy Rost went with new Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury.

Fleury, who spent the past seven seasons as an assistant on Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers staff, will be a first-time play caller in Seattle. And he’ll be one of the few key differences for a Seahawks offense that returns 14 of their top 15 players from last season by snap count.

Fleury hails from the same Shanahan-style offense as previous Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak, but his lack of play-calling experience is quietly hovering as perhaps the biggest question mark for the reigning Super Bowl champions.

“I think the national conversation will be about Sam Darnold,” Rost said on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy. “He’s the quarterback. It totally makes sense. But I think the real power to really get something going and to have this offense counterpunch (the Rams) will be with Fleury.

“I just have no idea what to (expect from Fleury). I mean, (we know he runs) the Shanahan offense. I think it was encouraging that he was a run game coordinator for them last year, that he was with that offense and trusted by Kyle Shanahan for seven seasons. That’s massive. But I have no idea what that looks like here in Seattle.

“It’s funny that the (new) offensive coordinator is just going to be kind of glossed over nationally, because that to me is where the counterpunch is,” she added. “I have no real concerns or qualms with the defense. I think that the counterpunch comes offensively.”

Huard: How new OC Brian Fleury impressed Seahawks

Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus agreed.

“You’re going to need Fleury to have an answer when Myles Garrett is going crazy,” Bumpus said. “… It’s going to be the chess match. This is where the players have to be coached up so good that they know when to slide and they know when to help. When it’s time for that running back to chip, he has to chip.

“And stepping up is going to (have to) be Fleury,” he added. “… Fleury is going to have to come up with a game plan collectively to neutralize (Garrett) at times and take advantage of the shots that you do get.”

Listen to the full Bump and Stacy conversation at this link or in the audio player above. Tune into Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

• Brock & Salk: Derick Hall deal is ‘extraordinary’ for Seahawks
• Reaction: How Rams’ blockbuster Myles Garrett trade impacts Seahawks
• How rare level of continuity can benefit Seattle Seahawks’ O-line

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