Pete Carroll, the head coach of the Seahawks, and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
Thanksgiving wasn’t as pleasant for the Seattle Seahawks as it was for many of us. It was the San Francisco 49ers’ time to feast as the majority of the nation was winding down from a hearty Thanksgiving meal. With a rapid turnaround, the NFC West leaders defeated their division “rivals” 31–13. Though not a single Seahawks unit performed well on Thursday, the offense was especially incompetent, amassing only 220 yards and failing to score a single touchdown. Head coach Pete Carroll appeared to be suggesting offensive coordinator Shane Waldron isn’t doing his job when he made some remarks regarding the offense following the loss.
Pete Carroll Doesn’t Believe the Seahawks’ Offense Is Being “Maximized” by Shane Waldron
Two objectives in the field. In the most significant game of the season for the Seahawks, that was all Geno Smith and the team could muster.
The 49ers defense outplayed the Seahawks offense in a primetime NFC title game on the biggest NFL football day of the year. Indeed, Smith was playing with an injured throwing arm, and the 49ers had one of the finest defenses in the league, but the club was also missing running back Kenneth Walker III.
Even yet, the offense was pitiful, managing just 132 passing yards and 88 running yards. The only touchdown of the game came from a pick-six by Jordan Brooks in the third quarter. Furthermore, when Pete Carroll discussed his offense following the game, the issues he pointed out seemed a lot like ones offensive coordinator Shane Waldron should be responsible for.
“I want to make sure we’re making the most of the guys’ personalities and that we’re using them to the fullest extent possible.” Carroll stated during his press conference on Friday. “Make sure we’re giving the boys the finest routes possible. We have special talents, so we need to make sure we’re making the most of them. I sense that we aren’t. It seems like nothing is being seen.
The defensive-minded head coach, Greg Carroll, went on to name some particular areas where he believes the offensive players may be better prepared for success, mentioning the tight end group and rookie first-round choice, Josh Smith-Njigba.
“You witnessed Jaxon’s playmaking once more last night. He keeps demonstrating qualities that set him apart from others; we simply need to give him more opportunities.” Carroll went on. We have players who, in my opinion, are more adept at different facets of our game. We need to resume using our tight ends to a greater extent than we have in the past few weeks. There are some genuine advantages. All we need to do is bring them to life.
In the case of the Seahawks, one person is in charge of making decisions on routes, utilizing talent, and motivating various players and position groups: offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
Waldron’s Seattle Offense Is Struggling
An offense can appear weak because to injuries and strong opposition, but the Seahawks’ offensive problems extend beyond their Thanksgiving 49ers victory.
As Week 12 draws to a close, the Seahawks might go as low as 20th in scoring offense. This season, they are presently ranked 16th in points scored (229) and 15th in yards gained (3,494). PFF gives Waldron and his offense slightly higher grades. With a 74.8 offensive grade, they rank 10th, but their passing and running grades are 74.0 and 144.0, respectively.
Carroll noted in his remarks that their receivers’ grades are what propel them into the top 10 offensive marks. With a season grade of 77.1, the Seahawk receiver is ranked sixth overall.
Much of the good grades and points put up come from early in the season, though
Waldron’s charges have had a difficult few weeks. The team’s last four games have seen three offensive touchdowns, two of which came in Week 10 against the Washington Commanders, who on Friday fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.
The squad had not scored more than 300 yards of offense in a game in the previous month until that Washington victory. And it’s starting to catch on. The Seahawks have won six games this season, averaging 28.5 points per contest. It is 11.6 in the five losses.
Carroll again hit home how important it is to improve with Smith-Njigba and the tight ends. This season, the rookie wide receiver has only had seven targets in a single game, but when he does get the ball, he makes an impact. Additionally, this season, the TEs (Colby Parkinson, Will Dissly, and Noah Fant) have only caught 43 passes for 519 yards and zero touchdowns.
With the Dallas Cowboys, 49ers, and Philadelphia Eagles in the near future, the offensive coordinator may find himself under pressure if Waldron and the team can’t come to an agreement quickly.
For Heavy.com, Tim Crean covers the NFL, concentrating on the Seattle Seahawks. With bylines at ClutchPoints, Sportscasting, and The NIL Deal, he started writing about sports in 2016. He has covered the NFL, NBA, soccer, sports media, and more.Additional information on Tim Crean
