DC fires the OC. LOL

[Michael K.]

I’m really starting to lose faith in JS. What was the last even mediocre O Line we had? Okung and Fluker?

Not to mention the hypocrisy of this place. Run it more? One of the worst per carry average in football, but keep trying it. Pete did that and his place wanted to burn him down. Could he have run more? Of course, but anyone that didn’t see this type of offense coming is either a fool or has never watched Grubb call a game. Or both! We threw incomplete late in 4th quarters trying to run out the clock when he was at the UW. And DeBoer would come out and back him saying “that’s what we do”. He wasn’t sticking with a run game with this O Line and Charbo.

Everyone patting MM and JS on the back for moving on from mistakes quickly, and I’m curious why no one asks them to stop making the mistakes? But the next Schotty aught to make this place real happy. Another off season of shuffling around spare parts on the O Line will result in more excuses and more assistants losing their jobs.

[Michael K.]

And is usually the case i really don't care much for calkins opinion. I don't agree OCs are treated like hitting coaches, they are often one step from being a HC, that's a dumb thing to write. I don't understand what his point is, scapegoat? Scapegoat for what, nobody was demanding a firing, they won ten games. That doesn't make sense. He writes articles just to create content. Smith on the other hand i feel delivered a well thought out article.

Agree. Not a fan of his. My posting of ST articles doesn't mean I endorse or agree with them it is just that I know that you cheap bastards can't afford 50 cents a day and I think it is good to have all perspectives presented here even if we don't agree with them.

So, attack the poster and not the post? What did Calkins say that was wrong? Donn says he’s not a scapegoat, but not why he isn’t one, and you don’t endorse what he says, but no reason why other than you usually don’t agree?

Same thing is wrong with this place. People fight people far more than they debate topics.

[D-train]

And is usually the case i really don't care much for calkins opinion. I don't agree OCs are treated like hitting coaches, they are often one step from being a HC, that's a dumb thing to write. I don't understand what his point is, scapegoat? Scapegoat for what, nobody was demanding a firing, they won ten games. That doesn't make sense. He writes articles just to create content. Smith on the other hand i feel delivered a well thought out article.

Agree. Not a fan of his. My posting of ST articles doesn't mean I endorse or agree with them it is just that I know that you cheap bastards can't afford 50 cents a day and I think it is good to have all perspectives presented here even if we don't agree with them.

So, attack the poster and not the post? What did Calkins say that was wrong? Donn says he’s not a scapegoat, but not why he isn’t one, and you don’t endorse what he says, but no reason why other than you usually don’t agree?

Same thing is wrong with this place. People fight people far more than they debate topics.

I was speaking in generalities. I am not a fan of Calkins but it doesn't mean I am not going to post his columns. When I post an article it doesn't mean I agree with it. Most people seem to only post what confirms their opinion but I like to have both sides presented. Nothing to do with this piece.

As I said, like with the Mariners, the Hawks biggest problems are the Jims and the Joes yet PC and Servais and now Grubb are gone and Greasy Jerry and possibly greasy John live to cash more paychecks.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

I’m really starting to lose faith in JS. What was the last even mediocre O Line we had? Okung and Fluker?

Starting to lose faith? It's been out there for a while that he doesn't value interior linemen so it shouldn't surprise anyone that they've gone through 10 centers since Britt and (other than Lewis) a bevy of awful OGs. Yes he could have drafted better but how often has he taken an interior OL before round 4?

[trharder]

So, attack the poster and not the post? What did Calkins say that was wrong? Donn says he’s not a scapegoat, but not why he isn’t one, and you don’t endorse what he says, but no reason why other than you usually don’t agree?
Same thing is wrong with this place. People fight people far more than they debate topics.

Are you actually butt hurt some of us think Calkins is a hack?
What he opined that was wrong was that OCs are interchangeable and it's always a personnel issue. (paraphrasing, but not by much).
MM is the coach and he wasn't happy. MM has also rearranged the roster in season, so we know he holds players accountable.
MM won't be telling us the straight story on why he axed Grubb, but is sure as hell wasn't because he doesn't see roster problems and
needed a scapegoat. What Donn is saying is Grubb has never been the general consensus scapegoat. The O-line has taken way more
blame during the season for all things offense and is a standby excuse for anything wrong Geno does as well. A nice touch by Calkins
to blame the receivers too. Sorry to you and Calkins that MM went off script by firing the OC, but for now, I'm sticking with MM.

[Michael K.]

I’m really starting to lose faith in JS. What was the last even mediocre O Line we had? Okung and Fluker?

Starting to lose faith? It's been out there for a while that he doesn't value interior linemen so it shouldn't surprise anyone that they've gone through 10 centers since Britt and (other than Lewis) a bevy of awful OGs. Yes he could have drafted better but how often has he taken an interior OL before round 4?

Yeah, but as you are probably well aware? I put most of my hatred toward PC on that. A lot of the moves, IMO, smelled like PC. Reclamation projects, feel good stories, guys he could motivate and hype up...etc. This season was eye opening to me. Why did I give JS so much of a pass? Then this. Sorry, if you can't see that Grubb was a scapegoat, then you don't know the definition of the word scapegoat.

Hire pass first coach. Have successful passing game. Fire him.
Have one of the worst O Lines in football, a starting RB that can't stay on the field and a backup RB that is a backup for a reason. Fail to run the ball. Fire the OC.

I've read and heard guys being critical that DK wasn't more involved. Who's upset about that? JS? Because he paid him? Whether JSN was targeted more because teams rolled coverage to DK or because he ran better routes (which is what I believe)? Who cares? The passing game was very successful. Grubb didn't get DK involved? DK has only lead this team in receiving three seasons. Only one of those seasons did we win more games than this year.

JSN tied a team record for receptions in a season with 100. How many of those catches should have gone to DK? How many times did DK drop a pass, fumble a ball or run the wrong route? How many times was he the intended target and the ball was picked because he ran the wrong route, a lazy route or didn't catch the ball? I'd have targeted JSN more as well. But? Johnny paid DK, so better target him. That's a Mariner thing to do. DK was targeted 108 times in 15 games. 7.2 per game. JSN was targeted 137 times in 17 games. 8 per game. I guess Grubb really fucked up to create that 0.8 targets per game difference. Maybe DK should earn his pay instead of Johnny boy insisting he looks smart for paying him.

One guy has 100 catches on 137 targets (73%). The other guy has 66 catches on 108 targets ((62%). Yet? Grubb didn't get his playmakers involved? Based on those numbers, who would you target more?

TE has been a problem in the past. Barner, Fant and Brown accounted for 114 targets, 86 catches, 810 yards and 7 TDs. The rookie Barner alone with 30 catches and 4 TDs. Tyler Lockett was afraid of his own shadow and still had 49 catches and 2 TDs. But? The run game sucked, so kick the guy known for his passing game to the curb, even though he was who he was when you hired him. SMH

Everything I've heard or read? Doesn't hold water with me. If anyone expected more out of this offense they were kidding themselves. MM didn't like the style and JS was embarrassed that his flawed roster is being exposed and this time no one is blaming the VP of Football Ops. So? Scapegoat #1 in year #1 from MacDonald. IMO? Bad look.

[Michael K.]

Are you actually butt hurt some of us think Calkins is a hack?

No, read it again. I'd like to see more people argue points and not see the name of the person who made the point and argue them. There are a lot of guys that I often times don't agree with. That doesn't mean that every point they make is going to be wrong. THAT is what I pointed out, and THAT is what happens in here.

What he opined that was wrong was that OCs are interchangeable and it's always a personnel issue. (paraphrasing, but not by much).
MM is the coach and he wasn't happy. MM has also rearranged the roster in season, so we know he holds players accountable.
MM won't be telling us the straight story on why he axed Grubb, but is sure as hell wasn't because he doesn't see roster problems and
needed a scapegoat. What Donn is saying is Grubb has never been the general consensus scapegoat. The O-line has taken way more
blame during the season for all things offense and is a standby excuse for anything wrong Geno does as well. A nice touch by Calkins
to blame the receivers too. Sorry to you and Calkins that MM went off script by firing the OC, but for now, I'm sticking with MM.

He never said it's always a personnel issue....he pointed out how THIS is a personnel issue. I have made the same points, listed the same reasons. You have yet to do anything to counter any of them. I don't give a shit about a script, I care about how stupid it looks. Hire a guy who does things a certain way and then fire him for doing it that way. Stupid. Build dogshit personnel in the run game then fire the guy that had nothing to do with the players he had to work with because it didn't work. Stupid.

He's a scapegoat. MM hired a guy that doesn't do things the way he wants and JS built a dogshit O Line for the 8th or so year in a row and wants us to not look behind the curtain.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Hire a guy who does things a certain way and then fire him for doing it that way. Stupid. Build dogshit personnel in the run game then fire the guy that had nothing to do with the players he had to work with because it didn't work. Stupid.

The job of a coordinator is to scheme in a way that takes best advantage of the personnel he has at his disposal within limitations set by the head coach. If they can only implement one system regardless of personnel and the directions of the HC then they aren't very good at their job.

[Michael K.]

The job of a coordinator is to scheme in a way that takes best advantage of the personnel he has at his disposal within limitations set by the head coach. If they can only implement one system regardless of personnel and the directions of the HC then they aren't very good at their job.

Valid point, and yes, he should have run it more. Do you think that his reluctance to run it resulted in us losing more games and missing the playoffs, and did it mean after one year he needed fired? Or? Is he being scapegoated. Because you know what I think. I also think the next guy is gonna be worse, and we'll step back because we have Pete Junior in Mike MacDonald. Hired a guy that had pretty good success, but it stressed his defense too much, made him uncomfortable, so he's out.

Personally? I think if we stuck more with the run we'd be right were we are right now. I laid out each week, listed the games I credit or blame the offense or defense, neither or both. I think with this personnel, ten wins was real damn good. But? JS and MM were feeling heat, so heads must roll.

[Michael K.]

No surprise, but I'm not excited about any of these. The Giants OC? Holy Shit.

Seahawks offensive coordinator search: 7 possible candidates to replace Ryan Grubb
Jan. 7, 2025 at 4:42 pm

Bob Condotta By Bob Condotta
Seattle Times staff reporter
Now that Mike Macdonald has made the first significant change to his coaching staff with the Seahawks, firing Ryan Grubb as offensive coordinator to find someone who he feels more aligned with, who will take over?

Macdonald predictably was vague on the topic when he met the media for his end-of-season press conference Tuesday, though he did say that as of “right now’’ there are no in-house candidates for the offensive coordinator job. That, for now, eliminates offensive passing game coordinator Jake Peetz, who some figured could be a candidate.

So who could be on the list?

Here are seven names that could be considered:

Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator, New York Giants:
Kafka’s name is circulating in large part because he interviewed for the Seahawks head-coaching job last season before it went to Macdonald, with Seattle reportedly wanting to interview him for the OC job before being blocked by the Giants. He played quarterback at Northwestern and briefly in the NFL before entering coaching, spending the 2017-21 seasons working for the Chiefs under Andy Reid and then the last three with the Giants as OC. The Giants have obviously struggled, but head coach Brian Daboll largely runs the offense, and the Seahawks could be impressed by his potential. Kafka, though is already drawing other interest around the league with reports Tuesday night that he will interview Thursday with the Bears and Saints for their head coach openings.

Frank Smith, offensive coordinator, Miami Dolphins:
Smith also interviewed for the Seahawks’ head-coaching job last January and his background could be intriguing given the glaring offensive line and run-game issues. Smith was an offensive lineman at Miami (Ohio) from 2001-03 blocking for Ben Roethlisberger and began his career as the assistant OL coach with the Saints from 2010-14 and has been the Dolphins’ OC the last three years. But head coach Mike McDaniel calls the plays, one reason Smith could be tempted to move.

Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator, Los Angeles Rams:
LaFleur is another who works for a head coach who calls the plays, in this case Sean McVay. And like others on this list, that could tempt him. LaFleur was the OC for the Jets in 2021-22 before he and the team agreed to part ways. Macdonald and the Seahawks got a firsthand look at LaFleur’s play-calling Sunday when McVay let LaFleur handle those duties with the Rams’ having little on the line. LaFleur is the younger brother of Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur.

Brian Schottenheimer, offensive coordinator, Dallas Cowboys:
Yes, that’s the same Brian Schottenheimer who was the OC for the Seahawks from 2018-20 before being fired in the wake of a disappointing wild card playoff loss following a 12-4 season because of what Pete Carroll termed “philosophical differences.’’ To repeat a theme, Schottenheimer works for a head coach in Mike McCarthy who calls the plays, and Schottenheimer was said to be popular with players and other staffers during his Seahawks tenure.

Doug Pederson, former head coach Jacksonville Jaguars:
It’s unclear what the future holds for Pederson, who was fired Monday after three years as the head man with the Jags. The 56-year-old was raised in Ferndale and could be intrigued by working for the team he grew up rooting for and getting total responsibility for one side of the ball working for a defensive-minded head coach.

Tee Martin, quarterbacks coach, Baltimore Ravens:
Macdonald knows Martin well as the two worked together in Baltimore during the 2022-23 seasons. Martin guided Tennessee to a national title as a QB in 1998 and played three years in the NFL before entering coaching. His only NFL coaching experience is 2021-24 with the Ravens, the first two as receivers coach. He was the OC at USC from 2016-18 and is obviously well-versed in the John Harbaugh way of doing things.

Josh McCown, quarterbacks coach, Minnesota Vikings:
McCown, the former longtime NFL quarterback whose career spanned from 2002-20, is regarded as a rising star in the business despite having coached for just two seasons. He was Carolina’s QBs coach in 2023 before being fired along with head coach Frank Reich following a 1-10 start. He has earned praise for his work with Sam Darnold this season and is expected to interview for the Jets’ head-coaching job. But if head-coaching jobs don’t materialize, he might be tempted to take an OC position.

Bob Condotta: bcondotta@seattletimes.com. Bob Condotta covers the Seahawks for the Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout the year.