Our Seattle Seahawks are sitting pretty at a 3-1 start, defending their Super Bowl title in style, but let’s be real: Sam Darnold has been a bit rusty out there. We’ve seen it with our own eyes, missing reads and holding onto the ball too long, making him less-than-optimal in the early going. The question on every 12’s mind has to be, how are we feeling about it? The good news is, despite the eye test, this team is still winning, and a 3-1 start is exactly what you want when you’re defending a Super Bowl.
The QB Question and Fleury’s Offense: Is There a Problem?
Even with Darnold’s early struggles, many of us feel he’ll get it together, that he just needs a little more time and another game or so under his belt. It’s wild to think we beat the 49ers in back-to-back games even when Darnold took a step back, showing the grit this team has. Still, the stats might be there, but the “less-than-optimal” play is visible. It makes you wonder if Offensive Coordinator Brian Fleury’s playcalling has something to do with it. After four games, his offense is telling a familiar story: it’s thriving when playing heavy personnel groupings but really struggling when going light. This early trend has some asking if Fleury’s offense is actually developing some serious problems, even with our solid record. It’s a valid concern for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
New Weapons, Local Heroes, and Macdonald’s Edge
Despite the questions around Darnold and the offensive consistency, there are huge bright spots emerging. Rashid Shaheed, for one, is already proving to be a bona fide “Weapon” for the Seahawks. We saw him used as a ball carrier in Week 4, and the coaching staff is definitely looking forward to seeing him in that role a lot more. The possibilities there? They’re endless, and that’s incredibly exciting for our offense. And how about Dontae McMillan? The Chief Sealth High grad overcame long odds to reach the NFL, and he feels he was “destined” to play for our Seahawks. You love to see a local kid live out that dream. Plus, let’s not forget Head Coach Mike Macdonald. He’s got a “big edge” over the 49ers’ Shanahan, strategically taking advantage of factors in Shanahan’s scheme. This quarter, mirroring our 3-1 start from 2025, has also seen three unsung heroes emerge for our solid start. The coaching and the depth are clearly playing a massive role.
As we look ahead to Sunday, the keys to victory will be all about getting Darnold more comfortable and seeing Fleury’s offense find that consistent rhythm. Can Shaheed continue to break out? Can Macdonald continue to out-coach the competition? Every game is a chance to build on that 3-1 record and solidify our defense of the Super Bowl title. Let’s go, Hawks!
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.
Leave a Reply