Why Kubiak’s scheme is great fit for Seahawks QB Geno Smith
Jan 30, 2025, 4:21 PM | Updated: Jan 31, 2025, 10:47 pm
If Geno Smith remains the Seattle Seahawks’ starting quarterback in 2025, he’s set to work under his third different offensive coordinator in as many seasons.
The Kubiak File: What insiders said about Seahawks’ new OC
After letting go of former OC Ryan Grubb earlier this month, the Seahawks concluded a lengthy search for his replacement by hiring 37-year-old Klint Kubiak on Sunday. Kubiak has had two previous OC stints, calling plays for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 and the New Orleans Saints in 2024.
In tabbing Kubiak, the Seahawks went with a disciple of the popular “Shanahan offense” that’s in vogue across the league. Kubiak is the son of former Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak, who was the OC for Mike Shanahan’s high-scoring Denver Broncos teams that won back-to-back Lombardi Trophies in the late 1990s. The younger Kubiak also spent a season on San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s staff in 2023.
How does Kubiak’s Shanahan-inspired system fit Smith in Seattle? This week, a pair of NFL experts offered encouraging assessments.
The importance of play-action
A major feature of the Shanahan scheme is play-action.
In New Orleans this past season, Kubiak’s Saints offense dealt with a slew of injuries, but still ranked ninth in play-action passing yardage (1,081) and 16th in play-action pass rate (20.9% of their pass attempts), according to Pro Football Reference. That was a stark contrast from Grubb’s offense in Seattle, which was 31st in play-action passing yardage (513) and 29th in play-action rate (15.0%).
During an appearance Wednesday on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk, former NFL quarterback and former Seattle Sports co-host Jake Heaps said that more play-action can help alleviate the relentless pressure Smith faced while playing behind the Seahawks’ spotty offensive line this past season. Smith was pressured on 38.5% of his dropbacks, which was the second-highest rate in the league among quarterbacks who made at least 12 starts, according to Pro Football Focus.
“How can we create as much space in the pocket as possible?” Heaps said. “A great way to do that is to avoid as much dropback pass as possible and to get into your play-action game. That gets you deeper into the pocket (and) that gets you away from the defensive line.”
Smith showed an ability to thrive with more consistent play-action usage in 2022 and 2023, when the Seahawks were middle-of-the-pack in play-action rate under former OC Shane Waldron. Smith was one of the league’s best play-action passers over that span, ranking top-five in play-action completion rate and play-action passing yardage in each of those two seasons, according to FTN Fantasy.
“You’re gonna get more into that play-action pass game,” Heaps said. “You’re gonna protect Geno Smith a little bit better. And that is gonna allow him to be more accurate, to make better decisions and to not be under duress as much. … And if you can protect Geno Smith, he’s gonna be able to get it done at a high level with the weapons that he has.”
Attacking downfield in heavy formations
Another way Kubiak’s offense could help protect Smith is by using more multi-tight end formations.
This past season, Kubiak’s Saints used “12 personnel” (one running back and two tight ends) on 30% of their snaps and “13 personnel” (one running back and three tight ends) on 8.3% of their snaps, according to Sumer Sports. By contrast, the Seahawks used “12 personnel” on just 16% of their snaps and “13 personnel” on a mere 1.8% of their snaps.
Heavier formations provide extra blockers in the form of additional tight ends, but also take away some receiving threats with fewer wideouts on the field. However, according Bleacher Report NFL insider James Palmer, Kubiak excels at finding ways to still unlock downfield passing opportunities out of those multi-tight end sets.
“I think it fits Geno really well,” Palmer said Thursday on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy. “What (Kubiak) does best is he finds ways to be aggressive downfield and take strikes downfield out of max-protection types of formations. He finds ways (to do so) in two-receiver routes. Like, you’re gonna be able to put extra tight ends in, and he’ll still find ways to get (receivers) open.”
If Kubiak can do that in Seattle, it could end up being the best of both worlds for Smith. It could provide Smith more protection through extra tight ends, while still allowing him to highlight his strength as a deep-ball passer. Over the past three seasons, PFF has credited Smith with 79 “big-time throws” on passes that traveled 20-plus yards downfield. That’s the second-most in the league over that span, trailing only Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen.
“How do you protect him and allow him to use a deep ball that’s still really good?” Palmer said. “I think Klint (and his scheme) can do that. … I just think the way it’s framed up, it plays a lot to Geno’s strengths.”
Listen to the full conversation with Jake Heaps at this link or in the audio player near the middle of this story. Hear the full conversation with Bleacher Report’s James Palmer at this link or in the audio player near the bottom of this story.
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