Mike Macdonald doesn’t sound like a coach ready to pull the plug on Brian Fleury, even with the Seahawks offense stumbling out of the gate.
That matters, because Fleury is in his first season as offensive coordinator and the early results have been rough. Seattle’s attack hasn’t come close to matching what it looked like under Klint Kubiak last season, and after six games, the scrutiny is starting to pile up. The Seahawks’ loss to the Denver Broncos only sharpened the focus, especially with Sam Darnold’s mistakes and an offense that has looked flat outside of Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Macdonald, though, made it clear Friday morning on Seattle Sports’ Brock & Sock show that he isn’t rushing to blow things up.
“Do I expect Brian to be perfect? Absolutely not, but I expect our offense to play Seahawks football," Macdonald said.
"Brian is well prepared and incredibly smart. But on offense, we need to ask who is doing it and see throughout the week that we are taking steps in the right direction, quickly.”
Those remarks lined up with what Macdonald had already said over the weekend when discussing how he views coaching performance.
“We’re not questioning people. We’re evaluating. We’re finding solutions.”
That doesn’t read like a coach planning a dramatic shake-up right now. Fleury is being assessed, no question. But at least for the moment, Macdonald appears to be separating evaluation from panic.
The bigger issue is the offense itself. Seattle had no business losing to Denver last week, and the unit’s lack of juice is drawing more attention with every passing game.
Darnold has been a major part of that story. He’s not only turning the ball over at an alarming rate, he also hasn’t resembled the version of himself Seattle got last season, when the giveaways were still there but the passing production was much stronger and the offense ranked among the league’s best.
This season has been the reverse, and the only notable changes have come at running back and offensive coordinator.
So while Fleury’s immediate job security doesn’t appear to be in danger, the long view is less certain. If the Seahawks offense keeps dragging and Darnold never finds a rhythm with his new play-caller, the conversation around Fleury could shift fast by season’s end.
In Other News...
Seahawks May Be Learning A Painful Truth About Sam Darnold
Sam Darnolds first season in Seattle has been a reminder that a quarterbacks environment can change everything. After looking far more comfortable earlier in the year, his play has slid into troubling territory, with his numbers now sitting near the bottom among qualified quarterbacks and raising fresh questions about what the Seahawks have in him moving forward.
Jason La Canfora has pointed to the kind of roster churn that can quietly reshape an offense, noting the departures of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and running back Kenneth Walker III as possible reasons for the regression. Walker, meanwhile, is thriving with the Kansas City Chiefs, who remain undefeated, which only adds to the sting for Seattle as it tries to figure out what went wrong and whether Darnold can still steady the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Run Game Issue May Be Easier To Fix Than Fans Think
The Seahawks run game has been one of the quieter concerns of the season, and the numbers help explain why. Seattle sits 18th in yards per carry and 30th in EPA per rush, a rough combination for an offense that has wanted more balance. Analyst Daniel Jeremiah pointed to the injury-depleted backfield as a major reason, noting that rookie Jadarian Price is on injured reserve and the current primary backs have not provided the same burst in explosive runs.
There may be a relatively straightforward path to improvement, though, if the roster can get healthier. The possible returns of Zach Charbonnet and Price would give Seattle more options and, in theory, more juice in a ground game that has lacked it for much of the season. For a team trying to stabilize its offense, the fix might not require a scheme overhaul so much as a healthier rotation in the backfield. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Trade Idea Hinges On Whether Eagles Would Move A Star Back
Seattles running game has not looked like the same engine it was a year ago, and the absence of Kenneth Walker has become part of that conversation. CBS Sports Carter Bahns pointed to that decision as one reason the Seahawks have had more trouble getting consistent production on the ground, then floated a bigger-name fix: Saquon Barkley. It is the kind of idea that immediately grabs attention because Barkley would give the offense a proven lead back and a very different level of stability.
There is a catch, of course, and it is a significant one. Barkley is under contract through 2028, and Philadelphia has not signaled any desire to move him, but the Eagles quarterback situation could change the conversation if Jalen Hurts injuries push them toward a broader roster rethink. For Seattle, the appeal is obvious: a shot at solving a glaring need with a star who could reshape the backfield, even if the path to getting him looks complicated from the start. [Read more 🡒]