Huard: A key trait for each position group in Seahawks’ new offense

The Seattle Seahawks’ offense will take on a different look this season under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

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With strong ties to the Shanahan coaching tree, Kubiak runs a Shanahan-inspired scheme that centers on a wide-zone rushing attack, play-action passing and heavy dose of under-center formations.

As the Seahawks enter a pivotal offseason filled with key roster decisions, what are some attributes that will be important in Kubiak’s scheme? In a recent Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk, former NFL quarterback Brock Huard identified one necessary trait for each of the four non-quarterback position groups.

• Offensive line

With attention to detail being especially crucial in the Shanahan offense, Huard emphasized the need for cerebral linemen.

“Smart and your ability to process,” Huard said. “You couldn’t be a dummy and play in this system. You’ve got to process.”

• Tight end

The Shanahan offense features a lot of multiple tight end sets. Huard said tight ends need to be “tremendously versatile” in this scheme, but focused on the ability to make contested catches.

“You better be able to catch a ball through contact,” Huard said. “You’re gonna get hit. You’re gonna have contested catches, be it through the seams or in the flats. You’ve gotta be a contested-ball catcher within this scheme if you’re gonna play tight end.”

• Wide receiver

With this scheme, Huard thinks the Seahawks would benefit from taking a speedy wideout in the draft. DK Metcalf certainly has top-end speed, but it’s a trait that’s otherwise not particularly prevalent in Seattle’s receiver room.

“I think just absolute, blazing, straight-out speed,” Huard said. “You have it in DK. That’s not necessarily Jaxon (Smith-Njigba’s) game. That certainly is not (Jake) Bobo’s game. That’s certainly not some of the other guys in the bottom of that receiver roster. I’m taking a flier on flat-out speed and somebody that can go and that proverbial take the top off the defense and all of that. This scheme loves those guys.”

• Running back

For the running backs, Huard again focused on the detail-oriented nature of this offense.

“Not just one cut, but discipline,” Huard said. “…  There are going to be direct points they’ve gotta get to, aiming points they’ve gotta get to. A discipline within this scheme that’s not just one cut.”

Listen to the full Blue 88 segment at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

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