Our first-time play-caller Brian Fleury has been grinding all offseason, installing completely new schemes and terminology into the Seahawks offense, and he is ready to show us what he’s been cooking. He’s been laser-focused on elevating what everyone knows is a potent, but still unrealized, group of athletes who feel like they’re on the verge of something special. With a boatload of tight ends, wide receivers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp, a strong running back corps, and an emerging QB1 in Sam Darnold clearly on the upswing, Coach Fleury has a serious arsenal at his disposal. We know every first-timer in his position will make mistakes, that’s just how it goes, but man, the anticipation for Wednesday’s season opener is through the roof!
What Fleury’s Vision Means For Our Weapons
The big question hanging in the air is how much of an impact Fleury’s vision will have on our playmakers. After years of us asking for it, will we finally see the ball consistently going to our tight ends? Brady Russell has been named as a key piece in Fleury’s offense, and that’s huge. Will Jaxon Smith-Njigba be able to maintain that OPOY-level production we saw from him a year ago, or will Fleury find a way to spread the ball around the yard more evenly? And what about Jadarian Price? How much will he be utilized in the passing game? These are the moments we live for, seeing how the new scheme unleashes this squad. Beyond Sam Darnold, who has clearly been emerging, it’s wild to think about other candidates for our most important player in ’26.
High Stakes For Week One
While the offense is getting all the buzz, let’s not forget our defense has some things to sort out. It’s looking like Nick Emmanwori won’t be playing in Week One, and that’s a tough blow. Losing a key piece that our defense uses to check-mate opposing offenses right out of the gate is definitely a worry. Head Coach Mike Macdonald, now in his third season leading our Hawks, still feels those butterflies going into the season opener, just like he did five years ago when he first called plays at Michigan. This entire team is inspiring confidence as Fleury prepares for his NFL play-calling debut, and while there are definitely reasons for us 12s to be excited for 2026, those areas of concern are real.
Fleury has enjoyed the last couple of days prepping for Seattle’s season opener, and honestly, we’re all just as pumped as he is for Wednesday’s matchup. It’s our first real look at the new era. Let’s get loud, Lumen Field, and see what this new Seahawks offense can do!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
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